so its only....

[RabidCarrot]

364 days till Christmas

133

Saw my first christmas shop display!

The card factory in reading had a wall of christmas gift bags and cards.
And there were quite a few people buying them.

Oohh fuzzpig ive just ordered dh the lego deloreon for dp, he will love it!

Just seen a display of christmas cards in packs and individual ones in a local card shop. They had wrapping paper too. Another gift shop had some baubles with names on but they did look like last years left overs.

I don't know if I ever mentioned it before, but Trim the Tree trimthetree.net/ are lovely for personalised decorations etc. I don't work for them but have bought a good few over the years from them for various things (to mark our first outing on Santa train, for a couple of Bride&Groom presents, 1st house, expanding families etc). They are really lovely and good quality decorations. I was on the site yesterday looking for something for my Aunt, and they still have lots up at the moment but new designs for 2013 aren't there yet.

They are based in Ireland so price in euros.

Fuzz - I saw the Lego delorean the other day - how cool is that?! I may get one for my dh too, plus some Lego for dcs.

I ordered some pjs today for my dcs and nephews from character.com - got 4 sets for £12! I really enjoy the bargain hunting side of Christmas shopping!!

(Lurker sneaks in) Can anyone play?

132

Absolutely - the more, the merrier!!

I started filling in my HGP calendar this morning on the bus!! Getting excited as the weeks are now started on a real countdown!!

Thank you :)

everyday - we pile in whoevers first to do the countdown.

Holds candles up, lit like a Barry Manilow concert ................

Ooooh Santa, you came and you gave without takiiiing, and you rode in your sleigh, oooohh Santa...

Found a stocking filler today. Monsters University top trumps. Couldn't buy as DD was with me!

131

Biddy - I'm going to start the HGP too, and I will stick to it or try my best! You're right about it being the big countdown.

Next week I'm going back to work after 3 weeks holiday, and even more traumatic dd will be starting primary school. How exactly did that happen?

Loving all the Christmas chat but can someone tell me what HGP means? TIA

HGP is the Holiday Grand Plan - as found on the Organising Christmas website. (Me and links do not get on well together sorry). It's basically a 14 week plan, (which actually takes 16 weeks) starting on 1st September, giving you a week to deep clean each room, and also having various tasks each week to prepare for Christmas. Which should mean that, by Christmas week, you have had some fun times, all is organised and you are not stressed but ready to enjoy the holidays and whatever it throws at you.

(The reality for most people is that they start off well, get something done in each room but not a full deep clean of everything done, get ahead on some holiday organising so while not stressed to the gills, are still doing some running during Christmas week - but not quite as bad as Asda Mum!!).

(Hums the chorus quietly in the background and notes lyrics for Christmas week....)

Card Warehouse has all its Xmas cards out, and in Morrisons they have grab bags of mini cadbury wishes which are usually only out at Christmas!! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Thanks Biddy will go and look for the thread now. Had IVF last year which led to a miscarriage in late November, I felt very stressed and didn't want to do much so this year I want to do loads of organising in advance to make it one to remember .

I've done a lot of gift shopping and have craft items ready for during December so would be great to get the house ship shape too.

Will look for the website, not thread.

130

One hundred and thirty

129

we're into the one hundred and twenties now Christmas Thread People.

I've just paid in my first savings to my savings account for Christmas and it's only August.
Aaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhh!

129! Not too long at all really it's dd1's birthday at the end of September, so September normally goes fairly quick what with her growing back to school her birthday and party. Once that is done we'll be into double figures. Sooo exciting!!!!

Obviously she goes back to school, not growing back I'm so excited I can't type properly

I am starting to think more about Xmas now. DS turns 4 in less than 2 weeks (and like buzz's DD will be starting school!) and then we can really think about it after. We are really trying to do less gifts now so am thinking much more carefully rather than getting everything I know they will love (which is a lot - they do play really nicely with a huge range of stuff but I am now accepting that it doesn't mean they need it all!).

We haven't done any activities at Xmas before. Last year was my first since diagnosis of CFS/ME and I was too scared to really do anything. However I am now settled at my vastly reduced hours so I actually am managing to have a life! I was browsing the St Martin in the Fields website today and noticed they have an Xmas family concert on my birthday. Tempted!