Do you do anything special on the 1st Dec (other than opening the first door on the advent calender) ?

[spookysal]

I get out the box with Christmas books, puzzles and DVDs.

I also want to put Christmas duvets on the bed (if I can find any).

What do you do?

MinnieBar I KNEW that duvet was from China when I saw the title said "Gentle Santa"

Wtf? They always these subtle translation troubles!

"Gentle Girl Thing of Beauty Hairslide" and "Peaceful Man Jumper"

I'm now after a Christmas duvet. Santa is going to make DS (5) sleep in his own sodding bed rather than with DH in mine.

This why I am after a naice one - because it probably won't work and while I do sleep with a lovely Gruffalos Child single duvet in DS' bed, I don't like the polyester

I have some long metal 'skewers' with metal snowmen/Father Christmases, and stars, and some wooden ones, with angels and children on them. Also a couple of wooden Christmas trees and reindeers.

[blushes even more as it seems so naff but it's really lovely in a defiant kind of way]

And you have plants too? I DEMAND that you upload a picture when they are in situ!

Oooh, Mintyy they do the Gentle Santa Chinese duvet in a Winter Wonderland blue too. It is absolute hell - brilliant

BIWI that sounds lovely, no need for the defiance!

Ooh, Minnie, that duvet is great! Nice find! :)

BIWI, your festive window boxes sound great. Photos please, in due course.

I usually plant the boxes with white cyclamen.

Shall try and remember to take photos this year!

Oh, and I usually tie a tartan ribbon around the boxes as well.

I really want to get a Santa duvet now after reading this thread!

BIWI that sounds lovely!

Our elf will arriving on 1st with christmas colouring books, dvd,crafty bits and advent calendars. I was also going to put in some nice writing paper/pen/envelope so we can write to Santa.

... and I buy Christmas loo paper from M&S and have a Father Christmas loo roll cover for the top of the toilet [dies a bit more at admitting all of this]

OMG at the duvet cover!

Well, I went a bit mad last week and got dragged round the Country Living Christmas Fair in Islington by a couple of Christmas-mad friends. Bought a nice garland to go on the mantelpiece and one of them dried orangey wreath thingies for the front door and a few more decorations. Have never done anything Christmassy so early in the year before now!

Unfortunately I didn't see any Santa loo roll covers or I would have been sure to buy one .

I have "The Snowman" themed kitchen roll squirreled away for Christmas

I get out the advent tree and the Elf.
But DS birthday is the 7th so we don't do any more decorations till about the 15th.

Not duvets but I've got Christmas fleeces (years old, from Lakeland Limited.)
One for the sofa, one for each of DC beds.

And I listen out for the supermarkets and shops playing "FairyTale of New York" and turn into a gibbering wreck when I sing along (it was playing in the labour ward when I was having my PFB)

Christmas Handtowels in the downstairs loo - Yes
Cinnamon and Orange L'Occitane soap for me -Yes
The Snowman kitchen roll-Yes
M&S silver star loo roll -Yes

(I know there is The Snowman looroll but I can't wipe my bum on The Snowman

BIWI, that sounds lovely. If I was still local to you I'd do a neighbourhood tour or the lights and definitely include your area!

I'd love a Christmas fleece blanket, I am on the lookout. And a Christmas quilt. Hopefully we will have one more child so I am waiting a while, as I will get us all coordinating sets once I know if and what child I may be blessed with!

I've seen Christmas toilet paper, I am tempted! I used to use that M&S starry toilet paper throughout the year, just because I like stars! :)

70s, I am sure The Snowman would be honoured if you wiped your Christmas bum on him! :)

If anyone finds a christmas fleece could you link please!

I am still fantasising about DH's face if I were to buy one of those duvet covers... it'd be lots of with a fair amount of and thrown in.

To be honest, I myself would most likely be going 'My eyes! My eyes!' every time I went in the bedroom

spooky I quite like this one from the Disney store, quite Nordic, not v Disny IFSWIM...

www.google.co.uk/search?q=christmas+fleece+blankets&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=0MWjUODIBYXAswbdqICoBw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=690#biv=i|11;d|Zlec5zKrgqxLtM:

Oh wow, Binfull, that Disney one is adorable.

I really like that binful and both dds are mickey mouse crazy atm so would go down a treat. Buying two won't be cheap though!

Oooh, one christmas fleece for the sofa is cheaper than four duvet covers...

I think a few of you should be going us on FN poncetastic thread!

I've seen a variety of nice Christmas fleeces in Dunelm Mill and in Primark. Probably elsewhere too...

For us the 1st means:
Christmas decorations come out (the non-tree ones), and an Advent wreath/candle holder with 4 candles, one to light each Sunday.
Advent calendars obviously
Children's books with Christmas themes come out from the same box in the loft, we have amassed quite a collection now
I also have a couple of new Christmas books - one of them an 'Usborne Makes' for Christmas compendium, I'm looking forward to that :-)
If I can find one, a new Christmas pattern wipe-clean tablecloth for the kitchen table.
A couple of Christmas mugs that don't get used the rest of the time,
and of course:
Christmas TeaTowels!