Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Christmas

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

Countdown to Christmas part 2

999 replies

SideOrderofSprouts · 26/04/2017 20:27

Wow! Part two!!

8 months to go

OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
FridgeCut · 27/07/2017 09:56

It's always the way, you try and cut back but it doesn't work. This year I am just making my Christmas shaped fudge and giving giftcards in hand made gift card holders. I am working 28 hours a week at the moment from home around my kids so I just don't have the time I did last year. I might give cinnamon rolls though..

HairsprayBabe · 27/07/2017 10:05

There is no way I could to 1/2 the stuff I do if I had kids,
I try to set aside one day a week to hamper prep by october, and I try to do long term stuff, pickles, jams, chutney, liquors before the start of October - in theory!

OhOurBilly · 27/07/2017 11:48

blue I got BabyBill's one from not in the high street but etsy have loads, much more pricey though. I'll see if I can find any in instagram shops for you.

Wheelycote · 27/07/2017 18:55

Hairspray you sound very organised!

Wheelycote · 27/07/2017 18:58

Fluffy hope the hangover has been kind to youWineSmile

Wheelycote · 27/07/2017 18:59

Those of you who make hampers. What do you put in them?????!?? And do you put in a basket??

FridgeCut · 27/07/2017 19:09

Last year I did biscuits, flavoured gin, coffee syrup, fudge and something else.

Some years have got as elaborate as handmade and waxed cheeses...

Wheelycote · 27/07/2017 19:14

Fridge ShockShock** you waxed cheeses...wow!!!!! I'm in awe

NoWordForFluffy · 27/07/2017 19:45

I ate my way out of the hangover, Wheely! 😂🐷😂🐷😂🐷

And still gave stellar legal advice to my client, ha ha!

I put posh chutneys, jams, biscuits, tea etc in my hamper to my parents. And yes, in a basket.

NoWordForFluffy · 27/07/2017 19:46

Oh, do we reckon the M&S food offering will be in the next edition of Good Housekeeping, out next week? Bored of waiting now!

FireflyGirl · 27/07/2017 21:32

Have you pestered them again? I'd love to know! They haven't featured in any of the Christmas in July write ups on Christmasuk.org!

NoWordForFluffy · 27/07/2017 21:41

I know. It's bloody wrong, I tell you!

And no, I haven't...they're playing it cool and just being cagey!

Wheelycote · 27/07/2017 21:43

What's christmasuk.org?? As I'm googling it

Fluffy eating is a perfect hangover cureGrin

NoWordForFluffy · 28/07/2017 02:20

149

Just woke myself up coughing, so Argos 3 for 2 bought and I'll collect over the weekend.

Into the 140s. I remember this time last year it absolutely rattled past after 150! It'll be here before we know it! 🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅

HairsprayBabe · 28/07/2017 07:59

You waxed your own cheese! Xmas Shock I am really in awe now!

This is my inventory for this year, I tailor them so not everyone gets everything, e.g. DP's grandmother doesn't drink so no booze for her, and I do smaller jars for singles/couples and bigger jars for families!

Honeycomb
Yoghurt Cranberries
Christmas Spice Liqueur
Cranberry and Tangerine Vodka
Cranberry Gin
Vanilla Vodka
Toffee Vodka
Ginger Vodka
Chilli and Seed Crackers
Lemon and Thyme Crackers
Shortbread
Chocolate Truffles
Apricot Almond White Buttons
Cranberry Pistachio Milk Buttons
Ginger Macadamia Dark Buttons
Coffee Fudge
Smokey Spiced Mixed Nuts
Mexican Cacao Spiced Nuts
Nut Brittle
Peppermint Bark
Vanilla Fudge
Chilli Jelly
Yellow pepper and Ginger jelly
Plum Chutney
Winter Fruit Spice Jelly
Chai Tea Jelly
Cauliflower pickle
Celery Pickle
Radish Pickle
Chilli Pickle
Herb rub
Curry Spice Mix
BBQ Spice Rub

The only things I buy premade are the yogurt cranberries, sometimes I add in dark chocolate coffee beans or ginger depending if I can get it at a good price or not!

tootsieglitterballs · 28/07/2017 08:39

Wow @HairsprayBabe - that's super impressive! I struggle to get the Christmas cake make in time (I've never failed yet though - one year i started soaking the fruit beginning of November, and made the cake on Christmas Eve 🙈)

Wheelycote · 28/07/2017 08:54

Morning morning allGrin it's Friday!!!!!!

Wheelycote · 28/07/2017 08:57

Hairspray just seen you list Shock

You lot are fab. Got to go to work and will catch up properly tonight and did I say it's Friday!!!!!!! Thank flippin chiffin it's Friday Grin

VivaJen · 28/07/2017 11:49

@HairsprayBabe that is a serious list!!! How many hampers do you make up? What's in the average one?

HairsprayBabe · 28/07/2017 12:15

I did 14 last year Jen will probably do the same number this year and I do them in 3 sizes, family, couple and individual, i divvy the items up according to taste and in terms of numbers it is usually something like:

Family
3 booze, 2 jam, 3 chutney, 7 confectionary, 3 baked goods, and all three spice mixes, so approx 20 items

Couple
2 booze, 1 jam, 2 chutney, 5 confectionary, 2 baked goods and all three spice mix, so approx 12 items

Individual -
Slightly more tailored as BIL is dairy free and GMIL doesn't drink but tends to be about 8 items from the list. I also use slightly smaller jars as no one wants to be ploughing through the same chutney/jam for weeks on end!

Not sure how I will divvy up the pickles, as they are new for this year, but you can be sure my grandmother has her sights on a large jar of pickled cauliflower!

Of course if there are bits and bobs left over I just add a few extra things here and there.

I also create a book with blurb.com, with a round robin letter, photos from our year and a load of recipes either to use with stuff from the hamper - e.g. what to use the herb rub for or cocktail recipes for the booze. Or just new recipes we have enjoyed from this year.

Yes I realise I am a complease Christmas Jobs worth!

SideOrderofSprouts · 28/07/2017 12:18

Yay my disco shower head arrived

OP posts:
HairsprayBabe · 28/07/2017 12:58

What is a disco shower head? Does it change colour?!

SideOrderofSprouts · 28/07/2017 13:34

Yes!!!

OP posts:
SideOrderofSprouts · 28/07/2017 13:35

Here

Countdown to Christmas part 2
OP posts:
HairsprayBabe · 28/07/2017 13:39

omg i must have it!

Swipe left for the next trending thread