Countdown to Christmas 2017

[SideOrderofSprouts]

365 to go

That's an excellent explanation of Rudolph Day Biddypop. I really like it, my big focus is avoiding stress and getting stuff done throughout the year just makes it sooooo much easier in December.

This is my Rudolph List:

January
Tie up all loose ends
Ensure all decorations, china & Christmas related items are put away properly
Set up Gift Shelf, check what's already there and note.
Go through birthday list for the year and buy cards

February
Make plan for cash only Christmas, set up standing orders, supermarket card & penny jars
Set up computer file for photographs to save throughout the year to use for Christmas Gifts.

March
Set up tracker for gift ideas
Gather Christmas recipes, note tried & tested recipes and new ones to try throughout the year. (don't forget drinks)

April
Plan holiday crafts & home made gifts
Update address book

May
Check bank holiday sales for Spode Christmas Tree & gifts
Check savings progress

June
Buy kilner jars for Gifts-in-jars
Check gift shelf
keep an eye on the sales
Start Christmas crafts

July
Set up holiday plan (from organisedchristmas.com) and personalise
Celebrate Christmas in July
Schedule beautician & dog grooming appointments

August
Check on savings & craft progress
Update photo files
Schedule haircuts
Plan Halloween costumes
Bake Christmas cake

September
Set up Master Gift List
Go through all plans & calendar
Focus on clearing out freezer

October
Plan Holiday meals & catch ups
Make Holiday food shopping lists
Start buying a couple of extra items each week
Continue to work on recipes & practice

November
Cook for the freezer
Write Christmas Cards

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I like your list VivaJen!

Ooh! SO glad you all want to come along, will ditch the current guestlist in favour of the lovely Christmas-sistas on this thread!

Loving that list VivaJen

Thanks for the explanation! And what a great idea. I am now going to fully immerse myself in all Rudolph Days. Such a nice thing to have to look forward to as well.

Do you know we have had snow here today!
it's freezing! Have cranked up the heating and scoffed buttered toast crumpets and pancakes don't spare the butter
I can't believe how a bit of snow puts you in the wanting to cosy up and eat comforting food mode lol
to think earlier on in the week I shaved my legs and painted my trotters ready for my open toed sandals lol they are back in the cupboard
Hope all ok been watching Broadchurch omg it is excellent try to watch it if you can

It is mad Mrs it has been lovely and sunny here today and my washing has been merrily drying in the breeze so no thoughts of christmas here sadly!

Been a gorgeous day here (Bucks) bit of a nip in the air but nice.

Anyone else wondering where on earth this year has gone? I can't believe we're almost at the end of March!

I was thinking that Mrs D- it's crazy.
It blooming cold in London, looks miserable too.
not much to report on xmas front. Just thinking about what to do over Easter. Anyone have any plans. Dh is workin on sat after good friday. He came home yesterday and told he has found me the perfect egg. Means i have to find him one now.
oh yeah almost forgot 277

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It's wet and cold here today. And windy

Very very rainy and windy here today, and the wind is bitterly cold. I am in the Midlands.

Easter...well it's my birthday shortly after Easter so I'm trying to decide what to do on my Birthday!! (Whipsnade Zoo is in the lead so far)

Might go to my parents on Good Friday - Easter Sunday but I will have to buy Eggs and cards.

Might make a start on those at the weekend.

Awful this attack in London I am so sorry for those involved , it makes our little safe haven here mean so much, hugs everyone , stay safe.

It awful what has happened.
My younger sister works in st pauls. I asked her if they would let them home early and they said no, most of london in lockdown.
Thankfully the underground line she gets wasn't disrupted and she got home ok.
I feel for all the people who have been hurt.

It's awful. My heart just goes out to everyone and their families involved.
Dh was meant to be there tomorrow. I am thanking god and my lucky stars and everything else DD2 had a school play today or he would have been there today. That's stress I couldn't deal with at 36 weeks pregnant! He's been told he doesn't need to travel to London tomorrow now, he can work from home.

(and when i say there, i mean literally there)

I am glad your ds is ok my dear Lolly
and your dh is ok too Notanother, a new life to look forward to though and that is what we must all focus on and pull together

I know i feel like hiding in here in our happy place :(

I know it's horrible isn't it Sprout but we will be fine my dear ,we won't be beaten ever , nothing will break us

Focus on the good news stories coming out of this, the people helping, the police doing a job their trained for etc etc. Try and look for the humanity in the devastation, focus on that and it all seems a little less black and scary.

Glad your loved ones are safe lolly and Notanother

And yes, we need to focus on the compassion and humanity.

I ordered a Burberry mascara for one of my 15 yr olds. We're in the sticks and not near any big stores. They are doing free delivery this week, for Mother's day.

Love the list Viva I've always left everything until November but this year money will be tight so I'm thinking I may take advantage of your planning skills

Morning everyone. I was just wondering, for those who buy gifts through the year, how do you get around buying things that people might then buy themselves before Christmas? Or do you just buy general stuff that could be given to anyone?

I don't tend to buy things that people would by themselves. For example, I've bought my brothers and sil's a board game (a joint present, we have a big family so we buy family gifts for the adults and then individual gifts for children) it's not something they get for themselves.

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I was standing in Brussels yesterday morning doing the minutes' silence in memory of the attacks last year (which 2 of my staff were caught up in - luckily they were fine but very shook up). But as our meetings were so intense all day, and ran late, I only found out about London when I got back home last night. DH is gone to London today, he rang to say it's very busy with security, traffic is manic and snarled, and a surreal atmosphere around. (I was away from home for 9/11, he was in South Africa for Mandela's funeral, and also passed the Stade de France on the train to the airport to come home 90 minutes before that was blown up - so we both slightly take such things in our stride in terms of dealing with the practicalities, but still feeling desperately sad for those who are injured or worse).

On buying ahead, I tend to get a few more generic things, that can be used for birthdays or Christmas, to have as emergencies etc. But I will also work on the basis of my list of people, and buy things that I think they are unlikely to get themselves. (Except DM - I sometimes buy Chanel No.5 (non perfume - talc, soap, bath oil etc) in the duty free whenever I pass through and see them, as I often can't think of something for her and she loves those extra things). But I already have some lovely pebble heat-protection mats for DPs as they have a seaside theme to their conservatory and love to eat there on a glass table; one year I saw 2 lovely Bennetton handbags in the summer sale that DSis and DSIL loved at Christmas and wouldn't have bought themselves at the time both being students; if I see an interesting book for either 1 particular DUncle or for DH's Uncle, I will get that whenever I see it as 1 is abroad and the other doesn't get to good bookshops and both love books, particularly history ones - that sort of thing.

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