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Christmas

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

Ok summer, off you pop I want to plan Christmas

146 replies

QueenOfIce · 01/08/2019 13:05

I'm giddy already, eager to design my Christmas decor it'll be the same as every other year probably

I want an abundance of candles, twinkly lights, candles that smell of winter and Christmas. Making mulled wine, gingerbread and planning festivities.

Am I on my own here? Confused

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ILoveGroot · 04/08/2019 10:08

Thegracefuloctopus John Lewis usually have an advent candle, or Yankee candle do an advent calendar with candles! Grin

sideorderofchips · 04/08/2019 12:09

Check out amazon for Yankee candle
Calendars. They are quite cheap
On there

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/08/2019 13:28

That's cutting it fine, March is a good time for that

In my defence Queen , in March I had my last elderly guinea-pig who didn't have form for climbing and wrecking trees .just hoovering up Christmas veg trimmings

The cats came to live with us in May and with all the questions that go with adopting new animals, I am remiss enough not to have thought about The Tree . >

We've fallen in love with these mini panthers and I hope they'll be ice-cool about Christmas decorations . I can go with a pre-lit tree and some extra lights and keep them on static
Xmas Grin

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/08/2019 15:28

Ooh I love advent candles Xmas Grin
We have a little Advent Tree , it has 24 tiny ornaments to hang on it , once it's full up it's really pretty . I used to put a couple of chocolate coins in each door of the little cabinet , then changed it to a £1 coin ( the DC did alternate days) .

It used to sit on the floor (where the cats tower is now) or on the top of the stair turn (where the cats like to sit) ...........can you see a Theme Emerging here ? Xmas Grin

I might buy a chunky advent candle and put it in a heavy glass vase .

The Yankee advent was a bit meh when I bought one , only three fragrances repeated throughout and the Votive being 'Christmas Eve'

My favourites are 'Sparkling Cinnamon' and 'All Is Bright'

But the candles I've had lately are waxy smelling rather than scented .
I bought some Neals Yard Oils and used them in a plug in burner .

The Christmas vlllage in the hurricane lamp is lovely , Ikea has a great range of things like the glass lanterns

Nosavingshere · 04/08/2019 19:07

I always start my official countdown on the 1st aug so I’ve been on my pre countdown countdown for a few weeks.
Haven’t bought anything yet but I’m excited about the stuff starting to appear in the shops

BiddyPop · 05/08/2019 04:06

I’ve effectively started my Holiday Grand Plan early this year. Got back from holidays and the house is in a state, DH cancelled cleaners until the end of August. So I deep cleaned bathroom and hot press on Saturday, and started our room. Did DDs room yesterday and more of our room. All laundry from holidays is done and put away. My plans include finishing our room and a serious overhaul of the spare room, the shed and the storage unit, with a lot going to charity shops/dump. Life has been too busy this past 2 years and it’s showing!

We also made a decision - we are not traveling for Christmas after all as we would be away the whole break and we need some downtime at home. So different plans need to be made.

This year’s decoration has been bought though - a Dutch windmill. 🤶And i have finished the x stitch on 1 small project and halfway through a 2nd. If it works out, I will have a bunch done on time for presents - and if not, just a couple! 😁

MaitlandGirl · 05/08/2019 04:29

This year is the first year I’ve felt settled in with having a hot summer (this will be our 11th Christmas) and had massive plans for a beautifully decorated house and an amazing 3 day Christmas celebration but DD2 is now going away for 7 weeks on Boxing Day.

Christmas lunch has now become a VERY simple BBQ and my plans of a drunken evening round the fire pit on Christmas Day have been cancelled as it’ll be an early start to the airport.

I’m not complaining as my MIL has declared a BBQ isn’t a proper Christmas lunch so isn’t coming

NoWordForFluffy · 05/08/2019 06:27

I can't sort the house until the allotment is needing less time! And I don't have Fridays off like I did last new as I'm in a new job.

I'm allowed to ask for flexible hours after my probation has ended though, so might ask to work 10 in 9 as 5 in 4 is a killer but 10 in 9 is bearable. That'll give me time leading up to Christmas to do stuff!

Where's your DD going, Maitland? Sounds like it might be exciting for her!

Biddy, I think you're right not to travel. It's exhausting always being on the go. You should just hole up and do the bare minimum!

ysmaem · 05/08/2019 13:29

I'm the same. I'm holding put until the kids are back at school next month then the planning really begins

ChristmasInJuly · 05/08/2019 13:54

I wouldn’t call having all presents bought by November “scarily organised” at all. My worst nightmare is rushing round the shops in December when they’re packed, or items I need being out of stock online - I like to enjoy my December by doing festive activities with my children, but each to their own.

Every year we have breakfast with Santa with friends of our who have children the same age, it’s become a tradition over the past 3 years that I love. So I’m waiting for tickets to go on sale, it’s normally August because it’s so popular. I think I’m going to wait until DC are a bit older but then we’ll be doing an annual Christmas panto Smile

ChampagneBuffet · 05/08/2019 14:29

I have most of my list sorted. We’re trying to make it not about presents this year and about being with family. We’re getting one main present and then a couple of presents that we need

sideorderofchips · 05/08/2019 20:19

Don’t forget that on a lot of site like superdrug that from
September if you search ‘gift’ you get a good idea of what they will be selling on the run up to Christmas

So make a note of what you want and then wait for the price to drop

The reason they do this is because sale items have to be sold at full price for 30 days before going on sale. So they hide them on the sites so they can advertise them at the cheaper price

justasking111 · 05/08/2019 20:33

My instagram influencer friend received a load of candles from Yankee Candle, not sure if they are for sale yet. The christmas one is divine. Just checked the christmas one is not for sale yet so keep your eyes peeled. She has bought all her xmas trees, and is making xmas decorations. If you like xmas you will enjoy this lady on instagram. Scroll down for her xmas decorated home.

www.instagram.com/stig.of.the.bumpkin.dump/

QueenOfIce · 05/08/2019 20:41

Is the Christmas Yankee the sweet chestnut one?

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MaitlandGirl · 06/08/2019 15:24

@NoWordForFluffy - she’s actually flying back to the UK to visit family before she starts her teaching degree.

She’s counting down the days.

IAintWroteNoPoetry · 06/08/2019 16:47

I've bought DH's main present so far. But we're hosting this year so I'm planning what food to have for that, i'll be getting the good food magazine this year.

NoWordForFluffy · 06/08/2019 17:39

Ah, that's brilliant, Maitland! She'll be ready to pop by then!

tryingtobebetterallthetime · 07/08/2019 17:27

I am blaming you lot for the fact that I have now ordered some card stock with lovely tartan designs, a new stamp of cute birds, and a die cut of deer in a forest. All for my Christmas cards. But you snooze you lose, right ? Poor DH just doesn't get It!Smile

RaisinRainbow · 09/08/2019 07:58

I start to get the Chrsitmas feels at this time of year, and faint glimmers of planning, even though every year it is a variation on a theme.

But I do so love the anticipation!

I make edible gifts so that will be closer to the event, but the planning, dreaming scheming and imbibing of Inspo begins here!!

BiddyPop · 09/08/2019 09:06

I bought lemons yesterday and a bottle of vodka for a batch of limoncellos for presents (its an 80 day recipe). And I'm also aiming to put down a batch of mincemeat this or next week. Some may also become presents but lots will be for home consumption. Although I did find 2 jars at the back of the cupboard that I cleaned out on Wednesday from previous years that will make special batches of pies!😋

TalkingOrmer · 09/08/2019 09:24

@BiddyPop could you share your limoncello recipe? Pretty please 😊

BiddyPop · 09/08/2019 09:45

With a veg peeler, peel off the zest of 15 lemons. (I juice them as well and also add that usually, although might be making lemonade syrup this time).

I can't remember the exact quantity of sugar, I just lob in about 3 cups and adjust at the halfway mark if necessary.

Put the zest, juice, sugar and a 70 cl bottle of vodka ( cheap supermarket vodka is perfect) into a large container, close it, give a good shake and put in a cool, dark place. Shake daily for a week to make sure sugar dissolves, then weekly.

After 40 days, the original recipe called for the sugar to be melted into boiling water (70cl), cooled and added, but as I use the juice, I add it at the start. But I will check the flavor at 40 days, add more sugar if needed and possibly some water. Shake weeekly for another 40 days.

Strain out the zest, bottle into smaller bottles, put the first into the fridge (or freezer) to get well chilled to do a proper quality control test. I tend to serve it diluted with 7up or San Pelegrino Limonata as a lovely pre-dinner grown up lemonade, or occasionally as an actual shot after a meal.

TalkingOrmer · 09/08/2019 10:39

Thanks @BiddyPop

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/08/2019 16:51

I really want to make Werthers Otiginal Vodka (but I don't drink) DH woudn't like it , not sure if DD would . DS doesn't drink much , he's cider not vodka.

I was in Costco today and though there's no Christmas stock - that'll be starting in mid Sept - they had some Hallowe'en decorations Xmas Grin

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