Countdown to Christmas part 2

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Wow! Part two!!

8 months to go

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For the first time ever I've doing (actually, an currently doing!) the Next sale.

I've got some lovely scented candles which will make nice presents. Otherwise I've not bought much as the store I went to first didn't stock kids' pyjamas! I'm hoping the one I'm queuing for now does.

Thanks for the welcome!

I didn't used to be much of a Christmas fan. I was a shift worker and often ended up working all Christmas so it sort of passed me by. However, since being ill each Christmas seems somewhat precious and to be savoured!

It's good everyone else's health and jobs are going well. Especially Wooly's scan. I see my consultant in about 10 days and really don't see there being any issues. We have a bit of a thing where if there is bad news he tells me, but if I walk in there and the first thing he mentions is the cricket I know I'm alright! I'm expecting a barrage of abuse off him as the last time England met his country we got stuffed!

Most of us have been on here a few years now so it's like a big friendship group that meet for coffee. And Christmas. Daily.

Disney Store Christmas shop is online now. It's mostly baubles at the moment.

Has everyone been keeping up with Christmas in July? Lottyearns has written up some of the offerings - wine advent calendar at Iceland, and melted cheese in a pot from Co-op (they're also doing Christmas dinner in a box for 1 or 2 people, which I think is a great idea!).

Hello. Can I please join in? Christmas obsessed woman here. Two smallies 4 and one who is almost 6. I decorate the house inside to within an inch of its life, I have begun my Christmas shopping. I am an avid journal writer who keeps a specific Christmas journal for ideas, lists, spreadsheets savings etc. I go all out on decorations, bedding, trees in all bedrooms 3foot fake. And a huge tree in a very small sitting room. I just put all my furniture into the attic (bar the sofa) for December 😂 kids are as obsessed as me and we watched home alone 4 times this week. Hah. Anyway I would really love to join here because all my friends think I am crazy to be already in Christmas mode and planning and buying gifts.
Ho Ho Ho can't wait. 🎄🎄🎅🏻

Hi hubba!

Figaro, good luck with your consultant appointment. I hope you are bamboozled with cricket the moment you walk in! Have you made any plans for Christmas? Started any shopping yet? Or too focused on the cricket?

Hi Hubbabubbaba. I like the sound of your Christmas journal. I think I bore my poor mother to death with Christmas talk so it's nice to find somewhere to talk to fellow avid Christmas fans!

161

Eek...into the 150s soon!

Eeek - so close to the 150 mark!

I've just been working out the dates for when to post on my Facebook shop page about Christmas being 150 days away as that's generally when my Christmas orders normally start coming in! Although I've been much to my excitement getting Christmas orders in since February 😊😊!

Here's a question for you all.... Christmas cake - which / who's recipe do you follow for yours? Last couple of years I've done Mary Berry's , which is lovely, but I've still not found the perfect recipe. Going to be made in October this year.

Morning, not posted for a while as been really busy. But I have just realised I am pretty much done just a few bits for DD and all for DH and DM. I have made a great start on making the presents for other family members and have all my cards and wrapping. Just need a few days so I can sort out where some of the bits are. I have a DD with a christmas birthday so its always so so busy.

I'm not a fan of fruit cake, so don't make a Christmas cake. Shame, as I like baking, but not one of those!

We actually never end up eating all our Christmas cake as it's always so big , and there comes a point that you get sick of it!

We ate more than ever last year though - I was brought up with Christmas cake wasn't cut into until Christmas Eve, and have always stuck with that, but last year we decided to cut into it at the beginning of December and enjoyed it so much more as it felt so much more Christmassy! Can't beat fruit cake with Wensleydale cheese !

Hi nick wondered where you had gone
And 70

I've just been working out the dates for when to post on my Facebook shop page about Christmas being 150 days away as that's generally when my Christmas orders normally start coming in! Although I've been much to my excitement getting Christmas orders in since February !

Ooh, what do you make/sell if you don't mind me asking?
Sorry can't help with the Christmas cake, don't eat it! I'm not keen, usually get a sponge cake instead. Good luck with finding a good recipe though.

Nice one nickdrakeslovechild, sounds like you are all sorted.

Anyone have any decisions on themes this year for tree decor, house etc. I kinda always change it up a bit but use some of my best bits so usually end up a traditional look. Last year it was very Scandi in my house and flicking through mags (last years) I think I would love the white minimal look. But then would I be bored with all the same colour. I am quite eccentric and my home style is very eclectic and personal- IKEA, lots of books and pictures and toys! Would I need to tone down my whole house for the white theme to work! Advice or opinions? Cheer!

@73kittycat73 I do all sorts, but for Christmas I do letters from santa! I LOVE it as I make every one totally personalised, gets me feeling even more Christmassy!

I would love a piece of Christmas cake right now - had to make do with a slice of Wensleydale instead!

Been talking Christmas food with hubby today - making noises about some of the beautiful stuff I could buy from booths... he's still not having any of it! He wants to make it all!

How big is your freezer tootsie? Could he prepare it all a few months in advance?

It's lovely that he wants to make it, but if he doesn't then he's neither use nor ornament in the food department (well, presumably you think he's ornament, hence the upduffed state!) And you will have other things to think about nearer the time.

Can you compromise? Deadline of 30th November for him to prep and freeze delicacies, otherwise you'll do a Booths/M&S order.

Is everyone else well on with their Christmas 2017 Pinterest boards? I love that you guys won't think I'm a loon for asking that

Hi tootsie. The letters sound fun! I bet it does feel very festive.
Bah humbug to your other half! He should let you dream a little at least.... (Is he the kind that takes over the kitchen and uses every utensil, pan, and tray you have to cook and you are left to tidy up the mess? 'What mess?' they cry! )
Hubbabubbababy, I really like the scandi theme. The minimal would be very hard to keep up, do you have young children? I still do my decorating very 70's and 80's. Tinsel on everything that sits still long enough, fake tree with yet more tinsel (Can't stand gaps on the tree.) and multi-coloured lights. Very outdated it seems but to me it's Christmas!

Sqquuueeeee! I managed to get a few minutes quiet chat with DH this morning and persuaded him that I should buy a Balsam Hill tree in their Christmas in July season! I need to make a phone all in th morning.

I also have about 10 black sacks for car boot and charity shops, and we brought a car load to the dump today too. Fairly major decluttering all weekend - and I am currently shattered with a thimble of wine before bed.

Haha!! He's a nightmare in the kitchen - every pan, spoon, baking tray etc. I suppose at work he's used to having a kitchen porter to clean up after him and do all the washing up! Me, I use the same mug for a cuppa tea all day!!

In fairness to him, he is so proud of his Christmas dinner, it is brilliant, that I know he won't actually let me down, despite us having our hands full. He usually orders all the meat/veg through work and preps and stores it there to save on space.

I'll be in charge of the cheese though - I spend far too long at the booths counter ordering that! That and Christmas cake and Christmas pudding.

And for the 'nice' evening foods for Christmas Eve / Boxing Day / New Year's Eve I may just do it and order from booths or m&s .... I've planted a seed that may work in my favour - doing big shops online so I don't have to try shopping with a toddler and new born! I think that could be a winner.

Hay kitty yep. Two small ish ones. Scandi again. Has anyone seen any sneak previews at any of this yet as stuff. I know in August here in Ireland one major shop. (Posh place) will have The Christmas stuff up. I usually get some inspiration from there.

I also have about 7k pins on Christmas on Pinterest 😂 as I said before I am an addict.

And tootsie how lucky are you a hubby who cooks. Mine can't even make toast 😖😤

Sneak peak at This years stuff. Sorry I am half asleep.

Oh Biddy, Christmas tree shopping in July, nice one! I bet you're really excited! Funnily enough I'm planning a major declutter too. My washing machine is broken so my mum has been washing for me (Luckily she only lives next door.) and I've been bringing the piles in and leaving them there, taking the odd bit out when I need it. Yes, I have a floordrobe. hangs head in shame But, it has inspired me to declutter the actual wardrobe so it might all fit back in again. I've ordered coat hanger from amazon and everything. Good luck with your clean out, and with the tree picking!
Yup tootsie you see it's unreasonable to go food shopping Christmas time with two so small children. Maybe try leaving M & S, and Booths catalogs out on strategic pages when your DP will accidently come across them? Plant the seed as it were...
Hubbabubbababy sounds like minimal would be too hard work then. I don't know about Ireland but this site: www.christmasuk.org/
has some write ups about shops Christmas ranges. Hope it helps anyway.

Coat hangers, I have bought more than one. :p