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Christmas

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

Countdown to Christmas Part 3

999 replies

Wheelycote · 07/08/2017 17:20

Jingle all the way.....

Part 3

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28
FridgeCut · 26/08/2017 09:12

I am so grateful I booked our holiday to France, the forecast is good currently so we shall get some summer weather!

tootsieglitterballs · 26/08/2017 14:56

@FireflyGirl we are doing the NYMR train too this year - DS 1 will be almost 3 (and DS2 a couple of weeks old!) but we can't wait! Booked a couple of days ago and couldn't believe some dates were already booked up! Luckily we can do the weekday one , especially as the schools round here don't break up until after that date so it should be lovely!

NoWordForFluffy · 26/08/2017 14:57

The train we do opened for booking in March. Which is when we booked it!

tootsieglitterballs · 26/08/2017 15:06

@NoWordForFluffy gosh - that's early! The NYMR one only opened on 14th august I think it was, and most weekend slots are fully booked already!

NoWordForFluffy · 26/08/2017 16:50

I lie...it was January!

It was utterly brilliant last year though: Santa train

SleepForTheWeek · 26/08/2017 17:02

Started my Xmas shopping online last night - got quite a lot.

Amazon Fire Kids are on offer btw on Amazon!

TheWoollybacksWife · 26/08/2017 17:03

Xmas Sad I haven't got anyone small enough to take to visit Santa.

I'm biding my time and waiting for grandchildren and then I'm going to monopolise Christmas and be the subject of many, many AIBUs. Mwahahaha

SockEatingMonster · 26/08/2017 17:09

I used your cornerstone link @TellMeItsNotTrue to buy a razor for DH's birthday, thank you (here's my cornerstone link for £10 off if it's ok to post it here?)

I also received a load of stuff I had ordered from Aliexpress for DD's 18" Designafriend doll. I think they'd fit any of the 18" dolls like American Girl etc. Prices vary, so I have posted what I paid when I bought them about 3 weeks ago. You may need to shop around with other sellers to get the same prices now. Ordering from the mobile app is sometimes cheaper too (no idea why!)

The black patent school shoes from this listing for £2.04. The quality is better than some of DD's actual shoes. I will be ordering some of the other styles.

Knicker and crop top set £1.47. Fantastic quality.

The blue Lilo and Stitch backpack from this listing, was £2.25 when I bought it. Again, amazing quality. Two zippered compartments and you can even adjust the shoulder straps like on a real backpack.

This outfit currently at £3.96 but I paid £2.62. The leggings are excellent quality. The shorts look different to how I expected (longer and wider) but, again, excellent quality. The top is disappointing as I have expected it to be cotton, instead of the sort of shiny lycra type fabric it is in. Still, well made and well worth the price.

I also ordered some Nerf-style bullet storage bags which I am very pleased with:

This large bullet bag that doubles as a target I paid £6.60, but I think I've seen them for less on eBay.

Smaller bullet bag £2.92

I have ordered these multicoloured bullets for £2.90 and this wrist bullet holder for 54p which both look good but have yet to arrive.

SockEatingMonster · 26/08/2017 17:16

Whoops, mean to post that on the bargain thread Blush

As you were...

tootsieglitterballs · 26/08/2017 18:01

@NoWordForFluffy that looks like a lovely one! Hoping next year we will be up for travelling a bit further for things like this - this year even Pickering feels like a long way!!

AnotherShirtRuined · 26/08/2017 20:36

I live abroad but will be going to London next week for a few days. Even though it's a work trip, I'll have a few hours off here and there. Any advice on where I should go to pick up Christmas cards, ornaments, treats, etc.? I would like to make the most of my trip but aware that August/September may be a bit early for most shops to have their Christmas stock in.

TheWoollybacksWife · 26/08/2017 20:54

@SleepForTheWeek do you know how long the offer will last? I'm tempted to get the 32g version as the sales price is the normal selling price of the 16g version but I'm having a bit of a wobble as it comes with a year of Fire for Kids Unlimited which would only have 9 months left by the time he got it.

I will probably buy it anyway as I love a bargain but...

SleepForTheWeek · 26/08/2017 21:02

Thewoolly I'm not sure but I bet they'll be full price closer to Christmas! We went for the 16gb as you can get a memory card to expand the memory so really the only difference is a 1" larger screen.

Good point about the kids unlimited - but perhaps it needs 'activated' before use so as long as you don't set it up too early you might still get the full year?

It's DD's birthday in October so that's what she will be getting

FridgeCut · 26/08/2017 22:09

@AnotherShirtRuined Selfridges probably your best bet :)

TheWoollybacksWife · 26/08/2017 22:23

@AnotherShirtRuined I had a quick look at a couple of department stores and I think only Selfridges will have an active Christmas department for a few weeks yet. Could you order some stuff from other places like Matalan to be delivered to your hotel/place of work?

Selfridges

VivaJen · 27/08/2017 00:02

119 🎄

NoWordForFluffy · 27/08/2017 08:09

I'm just too excited about Christmas. It's weird that when you look at the number of days it seems so close, but the idea of it being 1/3 of a year away makes it sound much further away!

We picked up our bargain John Lewis Christmas tree 🎄 yesterday and the bloke working at the train station commented on it being almost the season!

I read that Strictly starts on 9th Sept the other day. That's the TV 📺 countdown starting! 🎅 Xmas Grin

SideOrderofSprouts · 27/08/2017 08:54

Morning all!

Hollyhop17 · 27/08/2017 09:44

Hello, can I join please? Finding out there is a Christmas board here has literally made my morning (and those night feeds more tolerable!) Grin

I am a ftm of a 7.5 week old and massive Christmas nut. I had a really bad day with him on Wednesday and coped by watching Christmas films all day!

So looking forward to this year, not only do I have my pfb to dress up and make memories with, but I can eat and drink! Last year I was 10 weeks pregnant and suffering from hyperemesis..

Waves

FridgeCut · 27/08/2017 09:58

Welcome Holly!

Off to france tonight, planning on picking up some foody bits to gift at christmas :) also hoping to squeeze in my crochet stuff to make a start on my wreath. Maybe.

Annwithnoe · 27/08/2017 11:03

Very jealous of you Fridge. Happy memories of the days when we would return from France with the car packed solid with lovely food and wine before we had to fit three car seats, a mountain of Lego and a tangle of dolls in instead.

Hollyhop, he'll be a perfect age when Christmas comes! Excellent Christmas planning on your part!

OhOurBilly · 27/08/2017 12:22

Welcome Holly

Ooh foody bits from France Fringe you lucky thing! Definetly squeeze your crochet in.

I ordered a big super chunky ball of wool to try and crochet up a hat for ds for winter. If I manage, I had high hopes for making him loads of stuff, haven't picked up a hook since he was born!

FridgeCut · 27/08/2017 12:46

Ann - the one year old can hold the baguettes and the four year old can hold the wine, that will work won't it? My poor kids can't have dairy and are both doing the milk ladder to try and wean them back on. I feel a bit mean taking them to the land of cheese! Ice lollies and chips for them :)

My youngest turns two just after we get back so I am bringing back some cheese for the birthday party. I have cold bags and ice blocks at the ready Grin and wine too.

TheWoollybacksWife · 27/08/2017 13:26

@SleepForTheWeek I bought it! I opted for an unregistered version as the 1 year subscription only starts when you register it to an email address.

I also bought DD1 a colouring in book of teacher swear words 😂

SleepForTheWeek · 27/08/2017 14:59

@TheWoollybacksWife great! I didn't even know you could get an unregistered version - doh!