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

Yay, got my ELC delivery yesterday and it looks really good. Still not sure whether to keep it for birthday or christmas though.

I'm not meant to be buying anything else but I've just ordered a Gruffalo kids baking set (apron, little bag, rolling pin and cookie cutters) for dd. It's so cute, now I'm loooking for Gruffalo pjs for her too.

Oooh I love The Gruffalo am looking forward to dd being old enough to do more than listen to the story.

I'm one of those who buys things throughout the year. Got loads already :)
Today I brought two light up tinkerbell dresses from boots they were 1/2 price & I used advantage card points so were FREE!

My dd's bday is mid Dec and dc2 is due a week before Christmas so I plan to have everything done by oct

I got the magic flannels in Disney store yesterday - £2 each for toy story and tangled. Quite surprised they were that cheap (not even on sale!)

Also got some extremely cute converse-style mickey mouse shoes for DS' birthday.

Wow everyone seems to be so organised!

My dd will be 4 at Xmas - do you think she will be too old for a balance bike?

I've started too! Feeling all smug - I am never this organised!!
(It's only because I joined Mums United (www.mumsunited.com/send-invitations.php) & their sales only last a few days & I can't bear the thought of missing a bargain! :P) - but short stuff will have prezzies under the tree even if nobody else does!

Next year, I might join the shopping in the sales gang... always sounds like a good plan, but I never have any cash left by then!

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I bought lots of wrapping paper on paper chase back in Jan for about 80p a roll and have just had lots of bits delivered from the dot com gift shop sale, which I now need to hide!

Oh my word. The dot com gift shop. Its AMAZING.

Feints.

Disney store has some really cool melamine Minnie mouse plates with ears for £4.

Gnocchi there's some great bits on there isn't there, i've bought little bags for my nieces and will be filling with the little pencil pots, rubbers etc.

They had some gorgeous little Gruffalo mugs on clearance in WHSmith yesterday. I'm torn between one for a stocking filler or maybe using them as alternative party bags for DS' birthday party (filled with sweets)

Oooh a mug filled with sweets is a brilliant alternative to party bags!

I did not spend ?10 in the paperchase sale yesterday.

Gnocchi I was planning on wrapping them in cellophane after :)

G'wan FTU, what did you buy :o?

I love the idea of a mug filled with sweets instead of a party bag. I'll have to look in WHSmith too and see if they have any left, I'm getting a bit obsessed with finding Gruffalo presents for dd :)

Oh, I KNEW I forgot to do something on Sunday - I was in a Dept store with a paperchase (there a while) and WHSmith (new) and meant to pop back to them before I left. Darn....oh well, might have to persuade myself to go back one evening this week!!

Gruffalo mugs as party bags sounds FAB!!

I DID pick up a Moshi Monsters zip pull, which will go into DD's stocking, when I was doing the food shopping though. (Failed attempt to get another pack of "sticker mosaics" - she hasn't asked for them, but she has been using the one she got last Christmas when she wants some quiet time to herself and as that's working so well, I want to get another set before she finishes the last picture).

I also got 4 disney mugs for DNieces and DNephews (will split the packs) ?4 each, and a Minnie Mouse cake stand for DSis (who's big into baking and still a big kid at heart!!).

So I am slowly making some progress....

Can I ask for those in the know, where would be good to explore in Bristol for different ideas? We'll have a couple of days there next month.

Haven't had a chance to go back to WHSmith so may have missed out on the mugs :(

I think we've figured out what to get DSD - she posted a load of Harry potter themed converse shoes on Facebook and oh so subtly tagged me :o dread to think how much they'd cost!

If anybody's littlies are into The Tinga Tales, Poundland has the stuffed animals from it selling a pound each.

I picked the Elephant up yesterday purely as it is lovely and bright and thought DD would like it in her stocking and haven't seen the TV show but might go back and get all the characters (think there's four).

All the Happyland sale stuff at elc is out of stock This thread has convinced me that I need to get DD some for Xmas. Can you seasoned planners tell me if there are usually any more sales between now and Xmas?

Damn the Gruffalo mugs were all gone. :(

Doblet - I was in mothercare just now and they had loads of happyland on sale.

Will go into store tomorrow, I was looking online. I am itching to get the starter kit. DDs birthday is January so hopefully can get her some bits to add to it in the Xmas sales.
I love this thread, I'm getting loads of ideas

I'm pretty sure ELC will have another sale on Happyland before christmas doblet if you don't manage to get it instore. I've just checked on hotukdeals and it seems like they have these deals on every couple of months.

If there is anyone in Dublin, Benneton on the Green is closing for refurb so their sale is good this year - everything must go!! I'm going to pop back in later this week to see if I can find a few other bits and pieces.

I got dd a hello kitty art box yesterday in Tesco which were reduced to £5. They also had Chuggington ones.