I have started Christmas Shopping and I am happy and excited.

[SecretPlansAndCleverTricks]

Got a little stash of books and stocking fillers hidden away upstairs

hugs self with excitement

thumbs nose at Christmas-In-June-Refuseniks

Mmmm.....interesting

Love this thread. I also buy new outfits for christmas day and dress my little ones up as elves and santa clause haha. I'm probably taking this too far but I get us all new pjs to wear on christmas eve too (dp's aren't too christmassy though).

I would quite like to get new jammies for myself and DH really, expensive though!

Last night I decided what DVD I am getting for DS' stocking - the original Winnie the Pooh movie that I had when I was little (the one based on the proper stories). He's really into WTP, could get him some toys along those lines I guess, provided he doesn't move onto something else by then! (unlikely) No idea what to get for DD, we have hundreds of DVDs already as it's something of an addiction in our house. They also get to see a lot of newer movies as I get free rentals with my job, and really I'd want to get something they hadn't seen before. But I'm also a bit protective and like to 'vet' anything that might be a bit scary

We have now decided that for his 3rd birthday in late August his main gifts will be a scooter and a nice character backpack (both for nursery) so not really toys... Leaves scope for more at xmas although I would like to get him a toy for his birthday too. Not sure what though. Maybe something little that can be wrapped up and put inside the backpack!

That sounds like a nice birthday gift, I'm sure he'll love it. Can't think of a toy though. Does he like any crafty stuff / play dough? You could put that inside his backpack. My dd is obsessed with making things at the moment, messy but keeps her occupied :)

I'm going to buy dd a dolls playset for her 3rd birthday. She loves playing with her dollys and bathing them, putting them on the potty and tucking them in to her baby sisters cot. I've saw a set in toys r us with a stroller, travel cot. baby bouncer and play mat in it. She would love it.

fuzzpig - does your DD like the Muppets? DD really enjoyed the new Muppet film recently and since then we have shown her a few of the old ones and they have gone down a storm. Particularly good as you cen pick them up for a few pounds each.

As for toys, what about some games? Orchard ones are great, DD loves Crazy Chefs and Shopping List.

Board games is another obsession we have a massive floor to ceiling wall unit full of them! (mostly 2nd hand if that makes it slightly better) I always get too many for DD, that's the main thing I need to declutter really. I am quite tempted by Magic Cauldron though...

She's not seen the muppets at all! I was going to rent the new one soon though :)

Definitely rent the new one, it is great. Then go on YouTube and enjoy the Manah Manah song!

Reading this has felt like a guilty pleasure

I shop for Christmas throughout the year. If I see something I buy it there and then, otherwise I forget what it was or I can't find it again.

Last year I bought the ds's a melamine Christmas patterned (snowmen, candy canes, snowflakes, reindeers etc) cup and plate from Paperchase. They were fab and each year they do different designs.

Yippee, the Christmas Toy DVD arrived!

I might also get White Christmas for DH and I to watch once the DCs are in bed. Saw it for the first time at a work do (not as weird as it sounds - we have movie nights) last year and DH hasn't seen it for over 10 years despite really liking Danny Kaye.

I got a fantastic handbag in Bennetton's sale - it will either go to one of 2 of my 3 sisters if I draw her in the siblings' KK lottery (bit "worky" so no use to the 3rd), and to SIL if I get another sibling in the KK.

I updated my list today, and found that I am pretty much sorted for all nieces and nephews bar 1 outfit and 1 boys toy. I have lots of things that are re-gifts, things I DID manage to finish sewing, and lots of Christmas books bought in sales. I have plans for most of the rest of the adults (lots involve foodie hampers) and I know I will need 3 sets of PJs (me, DH and DD for Xmas Eve) and a couple of bathbombs too.

I don't know what DD wants yet, and I haven't a clue what to get DH this year. (I got a set of Christmas beers and snacks last year that went down VERY well - unfortunately, now I have to be equally creative!).

Biddy I seem to be following you around on these threads today :o (despite the fact I should really be doing my essay)

I really like the idea of something nice for the DCs' bath, they still share although they might not be by Xmas as the bath is tiny. Problem is while DD would be fine with a bath bomb, DS has quite bad eczema so I wouldn't want to make it worse. Any ideas anyone?

You can get stuff that turns the bathwater into jelly, if that appeals? Then you get a powder included to de-jellify iit. Hawkins Bazaar sels it.

Hasn't Hawkins Bazaar closed? I don't know what I'm going to do for stocking fillers without it.

Sorry, bit off topic but does anyone know when the Next sale is? Just been looking online at the kids clothes and have seen a lot I like but I'm sure they do a sale around about July?

As for Hawkins Bazaar I didn't realise it had closed, it was a great shop for stocking fillers / unusual gifts.

A lot of them have closed but they do still exist, I went to bluewater and they still have one there. I expect they still sell online too?

Not closed (one in Metrocentre if you are northern) they just tend to only open around christmas time.

Looks like the Next sale will poss be the 14th July. Not confirmed, but just a little rumour I've heard arnd.

Ive never done the sale at Next.is it worth geting there at 5am.or is same stuff avaliable online?

Thanks, I'll maybe just wait then. I've never done the next sale at 5am either, I really don't think I could. Last time I went at about 11am and managed to pick up a few bargains. I think everything sells out pretty quickly online though.

I've just been to Toys R Us and bought my daughter a Graco dolls playset that I wanted for her birthday. No more shopping for me!!

I am a religious 5am-er. I think it is well worth it. I kit the kids out completely and then only have to buy the odd things throughout the year. IMO it is well worth getting up that early twice a yr, however yu have to be prepared to be pushy and not take any crap else people will literally walk all over you.

Oh and write a list of what you want to get b4 you go. HTH

I wish I could do the mad scramble at a sale thing but I find an average supermarket shop too much! There's no way I could handle a Next sale. I have done Boots on boxing day a couple of times as DH used to work (and therefore get discount) there and it was hell, thankfully most people were going for cosmetic stuff so I just headed for the toys.

DH actually got hurt a couple of times when they released some of those No7 protect and perfect products. Shoppers can be lethal :o

Fuzzpig, today I am following you as I didn't get back on again yesterday!! I use a LUSH bath bomb, as it is a special treat, and DD has a little excema but is fine with that. Perhaps you could ask them? Or a health food store or homeopathy kind of place (is there a Nelson's near you maybe?) might have an idea of what might be suitable but still special - at least thinking this far ahead, you might be too early for things to be out but you have time to do the research and find likely options.

Must keep the Next sale in mind, as I will be up early that morning to collect DH from the airport and DD will still be in Granny's house - so I COULD do it alone and put away my loot without interference before heading to airport.

I was rooting for a teacher present I knew I had last night, and came across 2 bath sets I'd forgotten about so that's 2 maiden aunts sorted as well!! (Different sides of the family to original gifter - and I don't like that brand but it is quite luxurious).

We will be staying in Bristol for a few nights in August and I might get a bit of shopping time while I am there. Are there any great or unusual places there that I should try to get to? (In Dublin, we have most of the usual high street stores, but I have never seen a Hawkins Bazaar, for example).

Good news that I can still use Hawkins Bazaar online, I thought it had gone for good.

Well I have just ordered my first Christmas present online, so I have officially started!

I need to get it all done by the end of October as November I'm too busy and I can't bear shopping in December. Suppose I had better start a list of what I need to get and what I've already got, otherwise I can see some people ending up with nothing and someone (probably DD) ending up with a mountain.