so its only....

[RabidCarrot]

364 days till Christmas

81

Well done 70s for getting the message out!!!

I was I Poundland yesterday, I love that shop! I got a box of candy canes, I couldn't get any last year. I also got some battery disney candles for dcs - not sure to give them to dc on 1st December or on Christmas Eve?

Oooh - if you can change the batteries buzz give them on the 1st , then when/if they run out , you can keep them going.

Otherwise , maybe the week before?

My DS has a December birthday, so we wait till about 14-10 days before to decorate.
(The Advent Tree goes up on the 1st though)

Then we start in earnest when they finish school. Which this year IIRC is the Friday before.

80

Eighty Days, Ooooooohh

Wow, it's getting really close now!!

70s - I think I will give candles on 1st and they can have them by their beds until the big day. They are only £1 each so will buy a couple more.

We're off to the big city today to see Disney on Ice. I think I will squeeze some shopping while I'm there.

Have fun buzz!

Wow, 80 days doesn't sound like much. Need to get going on DS' Fix It Felix costume!

I am slowly getting there. I did a big load of cleaning yesterday, more to do today. Bit we went to ikea as well. DH got champagne glasses for hi DM as her present to have a full set. And I go 2 packs of the Christmas tree gingerbread biccies (traveling so DH accepted as the way to decorate tree where we'll be and not have to bring home a big box otherwise!).

Need to tick my list now this morn, and do another decluttering job while dd at sports (gaa match followed by hockey training!).

79!!

Sorry about typos at mo, am on iPad and hate it. But laptop dead and net nanny at work has banned MN.

Did all the cleaning yesterday, 2 big sacks in bin and recycling, and 6 bags of loathes and toys recycled through DSis for her 2 DCs and BILs 3 DCs as well.

Need to update my spreadsheet latter when I get to work, dossing over coffee around the corner yet. But I have read a report I need to earlier. Oops, better get going, a meeting starts in 4 mins!!

78

Disney on Ice was ace, dd loved it!

Shopping with the 2 dc was not an enjoyable experience at all, and ikea on a Sunday with a moany 4 and 1 year old was absolute torture!

IKEA at a weekend with DC would be an absolute torture.
(DD and I went 3 weeks ago on a Saturday and couldn't even get parked )

My DC love IKEA though. They like the sitting on furniture and the ice-cream at the end but you realise just how huge it is when you have little DC . Especially when they need a toilet NOW .

BiddyPop did your Ikea have all its christmassy bits in? I want to go this week but will put it off until they have IYSWIM!?

Not much. Spiced biscuits to hang on a tree but nothing else yet. I felt aggrieved there were
No gingerbread houses yet, but peeps here bought them last week in UK.

We usually do idea early on weekends, so do showrooms, lunch, drop dd to play area while we shop downstairs, all meet to buy choc heart biccies and home as the hordes are arriving.

Saundra's afternoon is a WHOLE different ball game. Saturday. Geez, what is it with this iPad and spellings?!

I bought a family present today of tickets for an American football game next summer just before school returns that I will wrap under the tree.

Apparently gingerbread houses are due late Oct or early Nov, I don't know about the rest. If we are back, I will report.

77

Thank you, can't face going there twice!

76 the time is going so fast!

Definitely thinking about it more as autumn sets in! Have got a few more presents lately, mostly using local stores.

I mentioned up thread I think about how my parents will be visiting for Xmas for the first time in several years and I'm quite nervous due to apathy... well I spoke to my mum and she is willing to join in with stuff. The other day I asked my dad if there's anything he wants to do on Xmas day and he said "as little as possible". Now obviously I respect his right to relax etc but the fact is he does pretty much nothing all the time (there are big issues here needless to say...) and it is incredibly frustrating and makes me sad because I just want to have a fun Xmas for my DCs (and me too TBH, it's not like I had any as a kid).

I guess he might help DS with a jigsaw if I'm lucky...

It's dropped 10 degrees here over the past 2 days, there is finally a nice autumnal nip in the air.

I got DH,s agreement to book panto last night for Christmas week, so I,ll do that later today.

I m trying to figure out how glam I wanted go with my clothes, I have a few nice casual outfits, but do I want a formal something for Xmas day itself, and can I get the few important pounds gone to make that idea work well? (Being the black sheep of the family, who "dresses like a granny" and is thought of as the fat one but am skinnier than the rest of the girls, I am in the mood to show almost 40 is not a death knell). I shall have to look around well in the next month or so. It probably doesn't help that thought though that I also want a "naff Xmas jumper" for wearing other times.

Biddy - I know what you mean about clothes. My family's and I always dress up for Christmas, but this year ils are coming over and they like their trackies. I am back at slimming world so if I can get to my target weight I will be treating myself to a new dress. Or I could wear the dress I had last year that I was bulging out of!!

I have decided not to bother with panto this year, dd really didn't enjoy it last year so I'll wait till she's a bit older.

Just about finished with dcs Christmas shopping, waiting for boots to restock so I can get a few bits in their 3 for 2 sale. I need to start on family adults which is almost more difficult. I think this may be the year of the voucher!!!

75

It has gotten so cold here, winter is on it's way!

It's tipping down with rain here (just been out to cut some grass for my guinea-pigs, they can't go out in the rain)

Bought my Christmas Hamper mugs for the DC
A "Ripleys Believe It or Not" book for DS

DS Christmas PJs

And 2 huge bags from the Card Factory for their Stocking Gifts (2 for £1.50)

WHSmiths have Annuals on Buy 1 get 1 for a £1 but I don't know if mine would be that enamoured.

DD (11yo) says she wants a set of pens and a colour-in book but most of them are for much younger children.
Might have to fall back on the old favourite pictures that you scratch off the black cover to reveal colour.

@ trackies for Christmas Day.
One of our newer Traditions is dressing up nicely for dinner.
(Though in previous years it was nice jeans/cords and a smart Christmas top, we go the extra mile now that the DC are older)

Trackies would = no dinner in my house

I thought of you ladies the other night when I was walking past the Christmas shop near City Hall which has a bright red countdown to the big day in the window. Walking past only because it was gone 9pm and it was shut. But I may have to have a little peek. I can't be trusted in Christmas shops though. My credit card took a right bashing in Libertys the other day.

fuzz, I hope your father ups his game on the day. Else, just never invite them ever again!

biddy, sounds like we are the same age! I think we may go glam too, make it special. I have a lovely ballgown languishing in a wardrobe, never worn. Maybe I'll wear that! :) Then trackies or festive PJs to lounge in afterwards.

Feeling like I'd really like to start stockpiling gifts now, but we are in a really tight space as it is, still hoping to buy a place and move before Xmas. Our house went on the market last Friday, so there is a chance we could sell quickly. Here's hoping.

Thanks lentil :)

70s, re: the colouring book. There are loads of brilliant grown up ones available on amazon, and I recently picked up a gorgeous one in The Works in town. I love really good pattern ones with some good quality pens (we use crayola supertips and Berol as they are child friendly but apparently staedler are brilliant). Life is too short for rubbish colouring :o

I'm planning on putting a colouring book in each stocking this year as I found a fab Escher one that DH will enjoy. Is there any particular thing she's into, nature etc?

I'm off to bed now but will find a few links tomorrow. Be warned, if you search 'grown up colouring books' you may find some unsavoury suggestions...