Help me prepare

[yellowflowers]

We have a new baby due the week before christmas. Dd's birthday also the week before Christmas (she'll be two). Providing all well and we're out of hospital etc we'll go to my mum's house about five miles away for Christmas day. But I want all Christmas presents and dd's bday presents sorted by early nov.

So dd is easy. We'll probably get a toddler friendly dolls house for bday and a balance bike for Christmas.

Nephew also easy. He'll be one. I am already getting some bits together - books, clothes, bath toys.

Leaving dh, bro, sil, parents and pil to buy for with budget of about £20 each. Ideas please...

I love it

I shall look and get back to you :)

not helpful but look

Here goes: (total budget: £100)

Husband: Budget: £38

Brother (totalling £7)
I'd go with a DVD boxset, perhaps: www.amazon.co.uk/Sherlock-Series-Blu-ray-Region-Free/dp/B003TO541O/ref=sr_1_42?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1337080826&sr=1-42

Sister-in-law (totalling £15)
Earrings: www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/d/8644586/9ct+gold+sapphire+%26+cultured+freshwater+pearl+earrings/

Parents/PIL = (totalling £40)
I'd go with a kitchen gadget: either a George Foreman, or a Sandwich maker.
www.amazon.co.uk/George-Foreman-2-Portion-Compact-Silver/dp/B002MRS1GE/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1337080368&sr=1-2
www.amazon.co.uk/Russell-Hobbs-17936-Sandwich-Kitchen/dp/B002MRS1NM/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1337080390&sr=1-5
I'd also buy the same one for both sets of parents so there is no squabbling.

Hope that gave you some ideas :)

To help you with your planning, you could do what I've done and buy a spiral bound A5 size notebook from Poundland. I have menopausal brain(!) and it helps me to write shopping lists, menus, ideas for gifts etc. Previously I just wrote on bits of paper, but having a book means I can check previous years records so that I don't give the same gift two years running. If you have a habit of buying things far in advance and putting them away, a record in your book of where they are could be useful!

I find it helps to plan meals in advance, of course you don't know exactly when your baby will arrive, but you could make meals for the freezer in advance, and have a list of non perishables to be bought and stored, chocs, biscuits, crisps and nuts, drinks, and so on. It helps me to tick off the items on my own list so that I don't buy too much!

There are great gift idea's here

It's only may!

Only joking i think it's a great idea and means you will be less stressed and end of pregnancy.

Going to do the same as have hectic return to work/study coming up and just won't have time!

For little girls, the Peggylicious range of gifts are lovely. I bought my niece a book and bag for her birthday and she loved them! www.peggylicious.me