Countdown to 2016 - A whole extra day to wait...thread 2!

[MrsDilligaf]

Well hello avid countdowners....

A shiny new thread for us

Link to the last thread here

I've placed my Waitrose Christmas order today. I may not keep it, but it's there, just in case!

With regard to booze, I doubled up my Nectar vouchers last year, so got £40 of booze for £20 of Nectar points. They then sent me another £10 of points to thank me for doubling up. Bloody bargain, I think. Hope they do it again this year!

92

Morning christmas campers.
it so chilly this morning- we had to scrape the car. This is means winter on the way. I felt so xmasy i put my santa socks and xmas pudding undies on. Much to DH disgust.
I have booked our xmas party at work, onlywork in a team of 15 and they know what i'm like so i was voted the xmas planner. Last year i got to decorate our unit. I was like a kid.

I think I only scraped the windscreen once or twice last year. I like the feeling of freezing weather.

Dh and I, in our quick phonechat this morning, discussed changing the duvet over the weekend (both of us not sleeping this week). We think it's a cold thing. But we realized that we never actually dropped to the summer-weight duvet this year.

I also plan, when I am putting away the mountains of laundry this weekend, to do a "summer to autumn" wardrobe change. It's definitely gone beyond sleeveless tops time!

I have QVC on, they're doing a couple of Christmas in sept days (today/tomoorow I think) Yankee candles at the moment.

I'm planning on buying the grey flannelly plaid bedlinen from Matalan if its nice (then I can Poncetastic the effect with a Christmas fleece for the big event)

Now thinking about Christmas Cake ...Mmmm but I'm on wheat free so I'll leave cooking it for a while.

Off to look at Matalan...

We have had summer weight in all year (it did get washed when my newborn projectiles an entire feed of bm and formula all over it last October while my husband was away. I cried. Sobbed. And got the duvet from the spare bed. Five week old babies have a very large range) and I'm nky sure if we will go to the winter one this year. I'm not sure where it is actually. We just have throws on the top, that way I can peel back from my half a throw and dh stays warm.

Tis the equinox today, the nights are getting longer... I am getting the urge to mull things.

We have had winter weight all year, A) it's all we own B) I feel the cold very much C) when it was boiling just had a flat sheet over the top.

Poor DP boils to death while I cocoon away

We've not had winter weight on since before my first pregnancy 2012-2013. I think we went to autumn briefly (all seasons duvet) but that was as far as we got!

We only have one duvet per person (apart from DD who just snuggles in with me (or more accurately, kicks the covers off the both of us)) - they are bamboo and meant to be suitable for all seasons. So far so good!

We've had a 4 tog for years (M&S one ver' naice, I wouldn't have spent so much but I got a 30% off voucher)
So in Summer, cotton sheets, in Winter flannel/cotton
I am a horrible sweaty mess a tad hot'n;hormonal (I'm 50) so until I get through the other side, I don't need a high tog.

91

Oooh soon be into the eighties

Dare I raise the hoary chestnut that is "Are we having a Christmas Meal" at the Staff Meeting next week?

Do I want to get burdened with organising it? Nope (been there done that)

Do I even want to go and try to eat vegetarian,wheat free,dairy free,alcohol-less food/drink with work collegues? Again , nope.

I'm a sahm, i didn't go to the Christmas do anyway but now I miss it! I'm going to see if my dh will come for Christmas lunch at the garden centre with the kids one day. Bit of fun!

Can I join? Just booked a panto and have the idea for big day out but haven't booked it yet.
Does anyone else find the earlier they start buying for DC that when it comes to getting it all out on Xmas eve they realise they bought way too much stuff? Has anyone got a solution to that? Lists? Keep count?

I keep a list, but it still never really hits me how much there is until I get it all out and pile it up somewhere.

I keep lists. They're usually all over the place on random scraps of paper so a few days ago I bought a lovely red leather-bound notebook that is now my Christmas book

I have just broached the idea of where to have Christmas dinner with DH. I like being at home, just us (no DC). DH likes being around people, however, neither of us likes the way the others family do Christmas. My parents house is chaotic, visitors throughout the day and night, everyone pitches in, lots of food / drink offered and mess everywhere. FILs house is very quiet, no one is allowed to help with cooking even though he struggles, minimal decorations and all mess to be tidied ASAP. MIL is not an option due to distance and time off work.
Anyway, I mentioned it, DH looked like this and said its way too early. Annoying bugger. Someone stop me looking at going away for Christmas again because we did that last year and agreed not to do it again so soon because I desperately want to be in New York next christmas

I set a budget. Both boys main presents are done, next is stockings and outfits. I keep a list of what I want to buy for stockings. I also biy and get other people to give it. So I got a toot toot house bargain and my mil will give that and pay me.

I've got my winter hand wash out :-)

I feel like my Christmas mojo is definitely warming up.

The DCs both had friends to sleep over last night. They were all perfectly well-behaved but even so, I always feel a bit on edge waiting for something to go wrong so I didn't sleep too well. DP took the DCs out for most of the day today and I spent the afternoon reading through all 8 (yes, 8!) of the Christmas bargain threads. Feel a bit cross-eyed now.

It's probably not the done thing to mention it on here but I also had a quick looksie over at NetMums Christmas section (sorry hardcore MNetters). Last year they had an absolutely addictive thread where posters put up pictures of things they had bought. It was my pre-Christmas guilty pleasure. They don't seem so active this year which is a shame! Maybe it will get busier towards December...

90

Checking back in, I can't believe how far down on the Xmas topic we are, shows things are hitting up the for Christmas season.

70 - our Christmas meal is all booked and paid in full. It was booked in June/July! Im very excited. however I haven't organised it.

Eeeeek hitting = hotting obviously!!

Saw some Christmas stuff out in Boots the other day. Shamelessly going back today to have another look. There was a little Pusheen section which was super adorable.

Had a trial run of Nigella's Christmas Morning Muffins today. I think they're nice, but nobody else seems to agree! (I think the cranberries are putting them off a bit)

What does everyone else have for breakfast on Christmas morning?

Happy Rudolph Day!!!

Warning - Post contains a rude word!!

Well yesterday didn't go quite as I planned. I had a list of jobs to do. I was merrily ticking them off and my afternoon was supposed to be about starting the holiday grand plan (but late but hey ho). Martha was REFUSING to sleep so I thought "I'll stick her in the car, run over to Amersham and she'll sleep".

Five minutes from home I ran into the back of another car. I believe I yelled Fuuuuck!!!

Airbags went bang, windscreen went bang, Martha screamed, police, ambulance, and three lovely, lovely people who looked after us until DH came armed with cuddles and reassuring words.

I feel such a bloody idiot - I thought the chap had pulled away - he did, then hesitated, he stopped and I didn't.

Ironically Martha had a lovely time making friends with the policemen, ambulance crew and entertained everyone in A & E.

We're all absolutely fine, I'm gonna have a seat belt shaped bruise but I'm thanking my lucky stars it wasn't any worse.

The car on the other hand is a bit of a mess so Christmas Presents might well be off the cards for DH and I depending on what the insurance company says!

Tea

Generally croissants, posh jam, and champagne. I was thinking of trying those muffins... I might give them a whirl

Oh MrsD poor you. Glad to hear nobody was seriously injured. As for the rest it's just expensive metal and the insurance company will sort it out.

Tea we have toasted chocolate chip panettone for breakfast on Christmas Day and Boxing Day with juice and a bowl of fruit.