What are you most pleased about in this years Christmas preparations?

[whateveritakes]

I brought a Laura Ashley tablecloth in red gingham on impulse as I have friends over and a manky table. I could cry as it looks so nice and brings my cluttered Christmas tat together to look really Christmasy. It was in the sale and has made Chistmas for me (also thanks to my lovely friends).

Also brought a signed shirt this year off ebay. It's the most perfect present and in a frame and all the money went to charity so I feel good for spending money (even though it had a very reasonable reserve and no one else but me bid!).

DH got a job in November after a long time out of work, so having 2 more paycheques before Xmas was the best thing. It meant we decided to get the children an extra present and DS is getting Skylanders which he really wanted last year too but didn't ask for as it was too expensive. Am really looking forward to his surprise when he opens it.

Pack of ten christmas cards from Tesco - 9p - I kid you not 9p !!!

The Octonauts advent poster with stickers out of the December magazine has been working really well.

I made some stockings for me and DS and they turned out splendidly.

DD1's main present which is a total surprise and which I think even Miss Cynical 17 year old will be chuffed with!

And dd2's main present, again a total surprise although maybe not quite as exciting as dd1's.

That I haven't gone mental and hoarded snacky crap like I did last year (which I'd eaten by Dec 18th and had to replace)

Our new cooker is being fitted tomorrow! we have been without an oven for 3 weeks now and I was beginning to think about stir frying the turkey.

I made fudge - first time I have dared mess about with boiling sugar. It is lush and I can't wait to give it as presents.

cyanarasamba you beauty! I'm not buying for all my massive family, but fudge would be an excellent idea! Our Granny used to make it for us as kids and it would be an awesome and thrifty gesture, all the little ones would enjoy too!

Watching 5 year old DD become completely absorbed in playing with her playmobil advent calendar

That me and DCs (age 5 and 8) started producing their Christmas presents for relatives in the autumn holidays. They decorated 6 coffee tins (used Illy coffee tins that I can't bear to throw in the pin because of the price so I spray painted them red - took like 15 layers!) with sparkly nail varnish and glued shells on the top that they found at the beach this summer. They also decorated 6 mugs with porcelain pens and made salt dough Christmas decorations. It took forever, but the result is brilliant, I worked very hard at not helping them too much, so it's totally their designs. Relatives had better treasure them forever!

On a more snug note, I am really proud (of myself) that it wasn't me, but DH who on December 15 had to go and get another tin of Quality Street for the Christmas holidays because he ate the first one with hardly any help from me ;) I still can't fit into my skinny jeans from last year though ...

Go for it weevil! I used the carnation evaporated milk recipe. I did have a thermometer though, which helped!

I loved the wooden Christmas tree advent calendars with drawers I bought the boys off the bargainous Christmas thread - I put a sweet in each drawer and a Christmas forfeit or question.

I love the fact that we have a real tree this year, although it looks like Xmas has vommed all over it as I let the boys decorate it themselves and haven't adjusted anything!!

You're bringing it all back to me! Granny used to drop a bit in a teacup of water to see if all formed a ball. She used to show me how to do stuff.