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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

To tell you that it is only

926 replies

RabidEchidna · 21/02/2012 07:53

307 days till Christmas

Do I have the record for the first Christmas thread of 2012? Grin

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 18/11/2012 16:14

I'm here Rabid-

Yesterday the DC and I decided (more fool me) to do some Early Christmas Shopping at Bluewater.
DS had a Young Driver Lesson booked so we did that and I went to Lakeland Limited (Ysy)
then DC went to Hawkins Bazaar.

John Lewis was heaving busy. Wandered round, CBA searching. Left JL emptyhanded.

DH and I have a DC Free shopping day planned at the end of the month.
He plods round in my wake, muttering and carrying the bags.
I just need to take him into cafes to fill him with coffee/food but he's ok, not as meh as some DHs when it comes to Christmas Shopping (most of it done online though) Grin

RabidCarrot · 19/11/2012 07:06

35

70s I dislike shopping but my first DH loves it, DP only shops on line.
Ineed to get the rest of mine finished though, I hate going in December when the world and hs wife are in the shops and its hot and crowded and manic

BiddyPop · 19/11/2012 09:57

DH was asking over the weekend about Christmas and the presents "we" need to get, and what else "we" need to do. I reminded him that I had gone to the bike shop the day before and given them a cheque (from his account, admittedly) to order DD's bike. Apart from that, I only need to buy:

-1 present for his Uncle (DH wants to just get him a book token as usual, but I want to ask MIL if Uncle needs anything first, as he has just graduated and while still loving books, at 73 and looking increasingly like needing a wheelchair soon, I think there may be other things that he could do with)
-a few more sewing bits for my Sis

  • A couple of more tree decorations if I can find them for future BIL (fruit basket, flower basket, rose and teapot - it's part of a German "Bride's box" although I will call it a new couple box as it's for the male part of the couple - I already found SIL a GREAT bag in summer sales)
  • Something nice and Irish and crafty and suited to a late teen for the Au Pair

I have organised, bought or made (and wrapped 2/3 so far of) the presents for all 36 others on the list. Single handedly.

DH has finally agreed to staying put for Christmas, but had "forgotten" what we were doing when his Mum asked (it's ok though, as she was fairly sure we were staying here for Christmas, it was the plans after that she needed and he'd forgotten).

I am pushing for a goose this year, and will order that this week.

I have booked the Santa experience for DD (a Green Santa planting trees together rather than a shopping centre), and her attendance at the kiddie party in my office.

I have bought the advent calendars for both DD and the AP, and the little bits to go into the pockets on her old-fashioned hanging one (lots of free printable pictures and activity sheets, but a few present things too).

We had the discussion (and DD brought it up!! Love her!! And she's only 6 - it must have made a BIG impression) about the tree - a real tree, but Daddy is not allowed to buy it without Mummy being there because he had to do a LOT of cutting on it last year to get it to fit into the holder, and there was very little on top of the massive wide stump. Mummy is allowed to buy it without Daddy though!! Grin

So all in all, "we" have very little left to do. "I" am looking forward to enjoying December properly for a change (I have booked hair cut and colour (candy cane strips of red!) and a facial early enough to get bookings and block my diary this year). DH has to get his present and DD's present to me, and make sure he gets his butt back home from South Africa in one piece!! (He can do the buying here once he's back) - oh, and take the strain off me for a change!

RabidCarrot · 20/11/2012 07:25

34

buzzgirly · 20/11/2012 07:31

I have been neglecting this thread!

I seem to have most presents or know what I'm getting people, will buy them on payday. Dcs have everything and I'm not buying anything else. I ordered paper and ribbon for wrapping. I have also ordered battery tea lights for our jam jar Santa landing strip - thanks for that idea 70s!

Lemonylemon · 20/11/2012 09:57

70s You are very, very brave going to Bluewater after 1st November Grin I may trundle down there after work one evening if I'm feeling very brave.

34 days to go and I only have 6 presents to get. 3 are vouchers, so I can do that one evening....

The other 3 are for 2 aunties and 1 nanny. Said nanny lives in a nursing home and doesn't do anything. The aunties are girly/very into their beauty care/fashion/etc. So any ideas anyone may have would be appreciated. The presents will need to be posted 'Oop North'.

BiddyPop · 20/11/2012 10:59

Lemony, for Nanny, would a nice dressing gown, easy to use slippers, or nice handcream be an idea? (By easy to use, I mean the kinds that velcro over her foot to be easier to use especially if she has any kind of mobility problems or times when they might swell a bit). All grand for postage. (My Gran is currently bedbound and these are things we've used for her in recent times, for my other Gran (RIP), slippers were great and so were plants for her room but they are not so postable - but could be ordered online for delivery - indoor roses, nice trailing ivy, money tree, Christmas cactus, poinsettia??).

BiddyPop · 20/11/2012 11:03

I am trying to find 4 things for the "Bride's collection" of tree ornaments for future BIL (SIL and her DP are building their house so that is for both and I won't call it bride's box). Each ornament has a meaning associated with it.

I am missing a fruit basket, flower basket, rose (I think I can get in M&S), and a teapot. All I can find are glass ones costing £££ in the US.

Any ideas??

Lemonylemon · 20/11/2012 11:43

BiddyPop Many thanks Grin

I'll have a think for you...

Lemonylemon · 20/11/2012 11:53

BiddyPop Go to christmastreedecorationsoutlet.co.uk - there's a little green teapot on it....

Lemonylemon · 20/11/2012 11:54

Sorry, in my excitement, I didn't do a proper link - here it is....

www.christmasdecorationsoutlet.co.uk/shop/department/christmas_tree_decorations/

BiddyPop · 20/11/2012 12:12

Thanks Lemony, that's lovely!! (And I had never seen rugby playing Santas before, obviously the Welsh are more interested in those than the other 3 Nations!!). I think I might get some of the mince pie or pudding candles too to give in my Mum's hamper (she's diabetic, so it will be nicely sweet without being bad for her!).

I'd never found that site before, but now firmly bookmarked Grin

RabidCarrot · 21/11/2012 06:54

33

RabidCarrot · 22/11/2012 06:54

32

Badvocsanta · 22/11/2012 07:37

32?
Squeeeee......!

Badvocsanta · 22/11/2012 07:38

For these struggling for gifts...try dotcomgiftshop. It's ace.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/11/2012 21:28

32 days

I've got my PFB birthday in 2 weeks (he'll be a teenager officially ) Grin

I need to get out and do all the niggly little bits. You know the shopping that means going into every blardy shop in town for 1-2 things that you can't just buy all at once. (That would be too simple)

Though I'm thinking of doing the bulk of of the the M&S online to save me the darned queues. (Then I can spend my reward vouchers in peace ) Grin

RabidCarrot · 23/11/2012 06:55

31

Lemonylemon · 23/11/2012 15:28

31 days to go and only 3 presents to buy.... Grin

BiddyPop · 23/11/2012 15:48

M&S - duh, I was in there at lunchtime (needed to buy wine for an afternoon thing in the office) and forgot to get the rose decorations I was supposed to....darn.

I looked at the pile of unwrapped things under the study desk last night, and opted instead for finding a book on the shelf to put me to sleep (I had re-read the others beside my desk and needed a swop). I am supposed to be giving my sis a big bag of them tomorrow when she visits (as I won't be down "home" before Christmas Day), but I might leave it and hope Dad is up for meetings at some point next month.

The good news is that my Sis is bringing my pudding from Mum after I had a shop-bought horror last year. (It's a bit poignant, as last year Mum had slightly lowered her quantities so for the first time since I got married, I didn't have one of hers, but she decided to increase back to usual levels this year - but also Gran died during the year, so in effect, we are getting her pudding this year). It's nice though, not sad.

better get the rest of my work done before I can crack open that wine...

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/11/2012 23:40

Today I sloped out for some child free/DH free shopping. Yes. Only disadvantage was I had to go back to the car twice to put stuff in the boot.

I bought:

crystal glasses for DH. A lovely trifle bowl (for Christmas Eve trifle)

stocking filler Airfix kits for DS.
Pencils.
Boxes for their Christmas Eve Hampers.
Toiletries for DD (Soap and Glory)

Going out on Fri with DH (he can carry everything Grin ).

Then everything else online or in the last week.

RabidCarrot · 24/11/2012 08:40

30

RabidCarrot · 24/11/2012 17:57

Went to "build a bear" with 12 year old DS2 to build a bear for my nephews Christmas gift, (he is 8 weeks old)

NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy mother of God I need a drink

buzzgirly · 25/11/2012 07:41

Less than a week till the 1st. I am sadly so excited about this as our elf is arriving with advent calendars, christmas books, DVDs and some crafty bits.

Presents wise I still have a few DVDs to get, mil's pamper voucher and some nice chocolates for my grandparents. BIL's girlfriend is expecting their second baby just before Christmas Day, so getting them a joint Xmas/new baby present of vouchers for a local photographer.

I still need to book pantomime, taking my 88 year old Granny as part of her present. Myself and a couple of friends are taking dcs to another Xmas show, this will dd's last chance to go as she will be in school next year (sob).

Rabid what build a bear crazy? We don't have one near us, probably the best as dd would be having a tantrum every time we would go near it.

When is everyone putting tree/decorations up? I really wanted to do it on the first, but I have a destroying 10 month old who tries to eat everything he finds so it might have to go up late ths year!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/11/2012 09:16

Build-a-Bear is a flipping nightmare and the worst time is when there's a Childs Party on.Confused

The staff are so over "Hiiii. How are you guys"

(Though I think about going in there because they have a Snowman toy. I have a Snowman toy on my kitchen cupboard that is about 10 year old aaaaahh)

My DD has a BaB with all the dresses .I don't think a Snowman toy would relish being put in a blue skater's dress Grin