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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Anyone want to take part in a 'Lessons Identified' for next year?

132 replies

everydayaschoolday · 27/12/2013 15:36

I'll happily go first:

  1. No need for small pressies in advent calendar; kids only wanted the small piece of chocolate!
  1. You cut back this year a bit and nobody noticed; cut back a bit more again next year.
  1. More than 2 bottles of shloer is required Xmas Smile.
  1. All the material/clothing items (character bath towels, slippers, dressing gowns etc) from the elves on Christmas Eve worked well as our adapted Christmas Eve hamper.
  1. Prep the veg and set the table on Christmas eve next year.
  1. Hide the chocolate brioche from DH otherwise it'll be gone before christmas morning breakfast Xmas Grin.
  1. Fewer, well chosen items were highly appreciated this year. The no tat challenge was a success.
OP posts:
TheDayOfMyDoctor · 27/12/2013 22:34

Do prep food in advance and freeze it like I meant to do but never got round to it

Don't try a dessert you've never made before on Christmas Day

If you buy your presents early, do keep some of your present budget back in case of unexpected items on the letter to Santa and/or last minute inspiration

Do get DC to write their letters to Santa early in December

Do have some spare boxes of chocs & selection boxes in for neighbours who unexpectedly appear with some for you

I'm also going to make a note of who we got cards from and compare it to our Christmas card list.

Original poster
everydayaschoolday · 27/12/2013 22:36

thanks everyone for lots of good tips for next year Wine.

OP posts:
2kidsintow · 27/12/2013 23:03

Turkey crown worked nicely and provided more than enough meat. But next year remember to take the bacon off in time to get the skin crispy.

Hot air frier (like the actifry) worked marvelously for cooking pigs in blankets and for super crispy buffet food.

Remember where I've put the pudding I've just bought today ready for next year. :)

Won't be catering tea next year as it will be someone else's turn. :) but will still need to tell self to buy less.

Must remember not to buy gifts for the couple that haven't exchanged gifts for 2 years now, and to buy something less 'token' for the lady who turned up with chocs for us AND gifts for the kids.

Not leaving wrapping til Christmas eve and doing it over 2 nights made things more relaxed.

Ohfuckeryitsmarzipan · 27/12/2013 23:09

Don't decide to make little stockings for everyone at work..in effing November.
Dont wait till 23 December to get the turkey. (And have to pay a fortune for one the size of my thighs)
Don't let dh anywhere near m and s, or tesco, or sainsburys.

DoubleLifeIsALifeOfSorts · 28/12/2013 02:57

TeenAndTween what a good idea. I do have some pressies left over so will reserve for those miserable flat moments.

He actually was quite happy tonight as he got me all to himself again which is rare for him, so we snuggled in my bed and did loud and off key Christmas carol and songs singing and read all his new books Xmas Grin

I'm also hoping to do a 12th night little gathering to give Christmas time a good send off, no idea whether it's a good idea but thought I'd throw it in to the leanings anyway

Retropear · 28/12/2013 07:36

Waitrose Pannetone is the best and worth the trek for.M&S doesn't cut it.

You don't need several boxes of party canapés even if they are 4 for 3.

Don't try to move a child into and decorate the spare room before and after(it cuts short the celebrations and causes unimaginable chaos amidst the chaos).Confused

Have everything wrapped before bloody Xmas Eve,when am I going to learn?

MamaBear17 · 28/12/2013 16:19

Try and convince dh to stay at home rather than have to go to mils followed by my parents all in one day. Not going to happen though!

ProfYaffle · 28/12/2013 16:26

Totally agree with checking wrapping paper stocks before buying more next year and wrapping as you go along.

Lidl mini stolen bites are amazing, buy 3 packs next year!

ChippyMinton · 28/12/2013 16:35

Serve the gingerbread house as pudding. Everyone loved picking off the sweets and demolishing the roof. In past years it sat around being admired then was binned.

2kidsintow · 28/12/2013 16:57

Don't bother with the Christmas eve hamper. The DDs didn't miss one this year and I didn't have DH going Xmas Hmm at them getting extra presents just before Christmas.

And accept the twitch - some of DD2's best gifts were twitches that were got last minute.

2anddone · 28/12/2013 16:58

First year without h living here so a few things to add to my list for next year!!

  1. H doesn't live here I do not need to spend 6 hours baking beef patties, mince pies and sausage rolls as me and dc are not that bothered and so the amount of food waste here is bad this year Blush
  1. Build the large Playmobil in advance even if it is just the one item that gets opened first, this year dc couldn't play with anything straight away which meant present opening was a lot quicker and then the day felt really long.
  1. Stay strong and refuse offers of going elsewhere, this year h came back for a couple of days over Christmas to be with dc and it was just the 4 of us how it has always been at Christmas, I will stay home just the 3 of us next year if h has another partner by then as dc say they love being at home.
  1. Have the party again next year everybody said I was mad having 11 children and 5 adults the day before Christmas Eve I loved every minute of it Grin
  1. Not bother with the big Christmas meal next year move it to boxing day as the dc were too excited to eat and swap boxing days meal of ham, salad and jacket potatoes to Christmas day MUCH less faff and I will get to spend longer playing with dc new toys.

On the whole we had a really lovely Christmas.

bzoo · 28/12/2013 16:59

When your DP announces a 7 course feast - buy loads of cheap cutlery! Washing between courses was hellish to my hands! We had remembered more plates.... GrinGrin

Original poster
everydayaschoolday · 28/12/2013 19:34

Buy batteries as I go along and open boxes and put batteries in toys then repackage. Too much faff battery-fying everything as well as snipping all those annoying packaging wires grrr.

OP posts:
Original poster
everydayaschoolday · 28/12/2013 19:38

2anddone I don't imagine this was a particularly easy Christmas for you, but I'm glad it was lovely. Cake Brew

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/12/2013 20:40

Don't try and organise a Fun Festive Family Day Out for a grumpy teenage DS (14) who stomped round London (OK it was peeing down and the shops were all a bit meh and not very Festive for some reason)

Then Kew Gardens was in a downpour.
They are too old now for fun days out

Though Nice Things were:
DD and I went to the ballet
DD and I did loads of shopping trips (DH and I do a major shop at the end of November)

BUY ONLINE - lots.

I don't need cake or puddings.
Trifle - yes
Ice-cream - yes

SuckItAndSee · 28/12/2013 20:47
  1. you need more cards that you think
  2. ditto wrapping paper
  3. Don't panic about "have they got enough?". they always have.
  4. Don't buy them a selection box solely because your DM always refused to buy you one. They will get give 6-7 others in the run-up to Christmas, you will eat half of these, and gain 10lb.
  5. Don't buy the cheap stollen again.
  6. Christmas cake needs an extra 30mins on top of the timings given in the recipe.
  7. Buy more pink champagne, less of all other booze
onedev · 28/12/2013 21:14

When you buy things through the year, make a list & remember to update it.

Keep all the presents somewhere that is easily remembered where they are!

Don't buy so much picnic food - snacking for the sake of it isn't good & leads to your eldest telling you that you look like you've got a fat bum!! (He's 6, ouch !!)

Wrap as you go along rather than a mammoth session on 23rd / 24th!

Skogkatter · 28/12/2013 21:22

Have a film on DVD.

raisah · 28/12/2013 21:28

Check wrapping paper stocks now & buy extra rolls to supplement existing wrap now. All wrapping paper & cards half price or less. I just bought a pack of 6 curling ribbon rolls for 70p & a bag of sticks on bows for 50p from Tescos.

2anddone · 28/12/2013 21:32

It wasn't easy everyday but h was so greatful that he had been invited he was on his best behaviour (usually like grumpy in snow white!!) and we ended up having one of the best Christmas's we have had since dc were born!!
Was very pleased when he left boxing night and I could spend the whole of the next day slobbing in my pj's Wink

Must add I do not need to buy wrapping paper I have enough to wrap the contents of Toys R Us.

And also make more Rhubarb and Custard Vodka it was lush Xmas Grin

thankfeckitschrismas · 28/12/2013 21:49

If you buy stuff online, check it when it arrives the reseal the box. That way you can hide them in plain sight

thankfeckitschrismas · 28/12/2013 22:07

Keep a roll of puff pastry in the freezer and a spare jar of mincemeat just incase

DianaOfThemyscira · 28/12/2013 23:10

Photograph the presents you have bought/make a list of gifts to refer back to in case of The TWITCH.

Hold off for the last minute pre christmas sales before buying expensive electrical stuff

ALWAYS eat out on Xmas day

Always have a spare present or five, just in case! Chocs/cars/dollies/craft things cover most people!

Don't ever rely on ex knobhead to buy Santa's main gift again. He will hold it hostage at his house so that HE gets the credit for buying it Hmm meaning you have an Xmas Eve panic and have to rush out to duplicate the gift so DS has his main present to open on Xmas morning.

Buy gift wrap/new decorations in sales.
Buy gifts in sales throughout the year.
Make a text message/calendar reminder note of any gift ideas/hints you get from people through the year.

onedev · 28/12/2013 23:34

What's THE TWITCH?

starofbethlehemfishmummy · 28/12/2013 23:52

Get your 2014 diary/claendar out now and start writing notes ready for next year -
Put a note in for mid november of where you have put the refillable advent calendar and a note to buy sweets to go in it.
Ditto left over wrap and cards, xmas puds, crackers etc.