Tell me your Christmas organisation tips!

[quirkycutekitch]

Will be getting a tesco slot ASAP (why didn't I think of this before)

What other tips can you wise MNrs let me in on that make it all a bit easier?

OK-
start by writing what I didn't need last year.

Cake - I made 4 small ones and took two to my family. So I might make a couple of smaller ones and eat the iced/marzipanned one in December rather than Christmas.

No pudding- we don't eat them

Buy one packet of Sainsburys Taste the Difference Pies (but don't leave it too late like I did one year)

Wrap everything mid-December (I've bought boxes,bags,tissue and ribbon to make it easier. Stocking gifts though get over-wrapped to spin it out)

Plan days out in December (I've booked our Family Trip and Theatre + Tea for DD and I)

Go to London on a weekday to buy beer for DH

Do a Costco trip in November to stock up on binbags,dishwasher tablets

Avoid Lakeside/Bluewater like the Plague at weekends

Buy as much storable food (to put in garage and freezer) as possible. Bottles, tins, frozen early on.

Shopping trip for DH and I in November (Traditional for us. We do the last Friday in November and try to get as much as possible)

Lists Lists LISTS

Get my hair cut and dye it in mid December

If anyone is ill, then hopefully (Cross Fingers) I'll be organised enough to cope.
Now that my DC are Secondary School age, we don't have as much going on at school, but DD does School Performances which was lovely last year.

Bought DS a Christmas Jumper already to save me searching every shop two days before the last school day (he told me on the Tuesday night he needed one for Friday. I only had the Wednesday available).

Got the DC Christmas Bedding, ready for the 1st.

Stock up on Paracetamol/Flu remedy/some bland easy meals/ice-cubes/nice bubble bath for me

Make sure we have a full tank of fuel, screenwash, de-icer, salt for the path

Make sure everyone has gloves,waterproofs, proper winter shoes

Oyster Cards topped up in case I can't drive

Get some films for in betweeny days

Don't bother with the Sales. Too much aggro and really, there aren't the bargains anyway,

I am practically drooling at the organisation ideas here - AMAZING! I hope my level of motivation is this high tomorrow morning!
Like others, I have a full freezer over Christmas - I'm always able to whip up a meal for six or freshly baked cookies over the festive period but at no other time during the year

Oh yes, in my calendar for next month I have written down everything we didn't use/eat from last year. For instance, we bought some nice puddings but they went in the bin. We just weren't hungry. A couple of nice chocolates from a selection pack did us just fine.

amazing list there 70, will be copying some of that, particularity ill provisions.

wow 70isalimit and Biddypop hats off to you both! I aspire to that level of organisaton.

(Haven't you left special veg treats for your gsp 70? )

If you have guests staying and mahoosively full days, then suggest getting all clothing for yourself and dc, picked out and washed/ironed in advance to last the entire time they are here (a bit like getting ready for a fortnight's holiday) as that simplifies things enormously (especially if they have commandered your washing machine and ironing board).

Also suggest having one "posh" going out outfit ready (complete with shoes, bag, accessories etc) by mid-November for theatre/Christmas outings etc

Also, if you have other people's dc staying, don't forget to organise a few activities/games in advance (family visits are wierd in that visitors have loads of time on their hands and you are rushed off your feet) so nothing worse than having to think of something creative and imaginative to keep dc occupied while you are up to your eyes in meal planning.

Immediately Christmas is over, write down what worked and what didn't for following year (or else you will forget).

We live in a country where it is expected that you put your name and address on the back of any post (and it's advisable to do this for parcels anyway) so, if you are sending a lot of cards and presents, why not get a rubber stamp made up with your address on it to speed up the process?

Start updating address book, post labels, contact details for all family, friends, colleagues whom you want to contact over Christmas NOW. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a big card-writing session and then having to stop and search for Great Aunt Agatha's address who has moved etc.

And with regard to parcels, agree with others, it is vital to start early as packing presents is always more time-consuming than you imagine.

And although card-writing doesn't take as long - sometimes it is the personal notes and letters and photos enclosed inside that hold you up - so try starting to write a few/taking a few shots now - and getting all of those organised well in advance.

Agree also with collecting as much bubble wrap, small boxes, rolls of parcel tape, wrapping paper and labels as much in advance as possible!

oh dear 70 that should have read 'left out' veg treats for your 'gps'?!!

(Guinea pigs, not grandparents)

Stewed, I was actually thinking about investigating getting return address labels printed this year, a stamp may be an even better idea as it will last.

I completely forgot th e clothes bit. Yes, definitely have good outfits thought about and ready to go. If you have to reuse any, plan their wearing to allow time for washing in between wears. I always try to have all dirty laundry washed, dried, and bonus points for in the hot press/bedrooms by Christmas Eve.

And I like the idea of having activities planned. EVEN making sure the favourite board games are accessible can help. Nt buried in a cupboard that is stuffed with bits from a last minute clearing up dash.

Can I recommend Bloomfield and Rolfe for address stamps? They do loads of other things - we just got an Ex Libris stamp - it's beautiful.
I'm eyeing up an address stamp next...

www.bloomfieldandrolfe.com/shop/#!/Address-Stamps/c/3796918/offset=0&sort=normal

I've learnt from bitter experience Biddy

Love that stamp shop Werewolf! Pls forgive slight thread hi-jack, but you don't happen to know of any lovely on-line boutique stationery shops in similar vein do you? Used to shop at Papergrain but it seems to have closed.)

I love Paper Tiger for stationery - they have totally droolworthy shops in Edinburgh.
www.papertiger.co.uk/

Will have a think for more.

Thank you!

Bloody hell, its only Christmas!
We don't have hoards of visitors descending, but apart from that we have 3dcs and I work full time, but am a bit stunned at the level of planning and organisation some people do.
My few tips would be wrap as you buy so you don't have to do it all at once. Colour code the wrapping paper so if labels fall off it doesn't matter e.g silver paper for dd1, green for dd2 or blue for Ds or whatever your colour scheme is.
Put stocking fillers in carrier bags for each child then just decant on Christmas Eve without any sorting to do.
Prepare red cabbage and toasties ahead and freeze. Use good quality ready made gravy with a dash of wine/port on the day. Order box of wine from Virgin or some such.
That's about it.

Roasties, not toasties lol

Wow, some great ideas here. Round of applause needed for biddy,

Stewed the Guinea-Pigs don't need to be on the list , there's no way we can forget them. I will stock up on hay and bedding for them though, I can't ask DH to stagger home on the bus with a pre-packed bale . (I had surgery on Monday and 3 hours before toddling off to the hospital I was buying up hay and Readi-Grass for them)
DH did a Sainsburys order and put all the piggie veg onto the list (it lists Favourites, I must buy a lot of parsley )

They'll get the Christmas Day veg peelings. OK they have to wear a Christmas Hat but it's worth the trauma.

just for 70

Hope you are recovering well from op btw!

DementedMa, I work FT too, hence why I am so organized. December tends to be extremely busy, I have family 2.5 hours away (my DPs and PILs) to either spend the week with (in rented accommodation - Christmas is the one time of year I need to be able to retreat for all our sakes) or else have gifts down with them in time for Christmas Day, we both have family living in other directions too (siblings in other parts of Ireland, but I also have 3 siblings living overseas - and that includes Partners/Spouses and some nieces/nephews as well), DD has her birthday on 26th, and also has aspergers/ADHD so needs routine (even if that is changed from daily to what we do every Christmas) and also a chance to let off steam regularly (she currently does sports 6 days a week).

I don't spend all day organizing, but by doing a little regularly from pretty far out, it means I can enjoy the couple of weeks run up to Christmas and also have a fair chance of getting some family time and down time over the Christmas break itself. And not going into the overdraft.

We actually keep Christmas Day pretty low key. But there is so much going on that time of year, that I have to think and prep ahead.

And thanks to loads, I don't tend to think about it, I just do it.

I hope you are feeling better soon 70s and having lots of fun looking around online in the meantime. (Even if you are not crafty, you could lose days if you wander into Pinterest!!).

Oh, and I second the thanks for Werewolf's link to the stamp company....I may well invest there!! (And possibly an Ex Libris one too - we have an extensive selection that I keep meaning to get bookplates for).

Awww cute guinea-pigs in Christmas Hats

I have a photo of my DD two boars (we still have the younger one but the older boy died) in their hats on the kitchen floor.
Younger boy is looking up "Fridge. Friiiiiidge"
Older one is "Just grin and bear it. The Sprouts Tree is worth the humiliation"

70 @ "the sprout tree is worth the humiliation" Brilliant!

Biddy agree it is all too easy for time to pass and then spend the entire holiday stressed and on catch-up. (I didn't used to be organised - had totally unrealistic expectations of how long things would take - but have learnt from each Christmas as it happened.) I don't work full time and only one dd, but have 9 people coming to stay over the Christmas holiday this year and a very visitor-unfriendly house, so need to be ahead of the game or else it's miserable for all concerned.