It's GBBO, Strictly and the start of the -ber months...the countdown to Christmas 2019 is officially ON (thread 5)!

[NoWordForFluffy]

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Morning!

We went out yesterday. My head hurts. Shhhhhhh! 😂

Cristmas we’ll find out at the 20 week scan I think!. Finally got both names ready.

There's something called the nub theory, but I've no idea a) what it is and b) if it works! You've got a 50% chance of being right though.

It cools down by the time I leave work now, so the summer part of the day is short lived! 😂 Mornings are really chilly though, not just 'cooler'.

Ah so cute! I have no idea of the sex either it's still really warm here in the sun even now

Mind if I join you ladies? I adore Christmas and am already planning. 2019 has been the year that i’ve tried to cut my waste and in particular my plastic use so i’m carrying that on for Christmas too. So far I have done the following:

-started collecting toilet roll middles to make my own crackers
-started collecting scarves and fabric from charity shops to do furoshiki wrapping
-started making wish lists for my boys (and think i’ll do them for me and DH too) on www.thingstogetme.com/
Used to use Amazon but I wanted to move away from them, and also have a focus on minimal plastic/materialistic gifts and more “experiences” or money as gifts

We do secret Santa with both sides of family for a lot of our gift giving so we’re already minimal with gifts anyway to be honest, but I am starting to gather stuff to make little plastic free gift hampers for whoever my recipients will be. And i’m making a peg doll family tree for my mum- I hope she loves it!!

Think I might order a turkey from a local farm. I already buy my veg from a farm shop.

Is anyone else trying to minimise their waste? Any good tips? What am I forgetting?

We're trying to reduce plastic use, mostly by making small changes. I used to assume if you put something in the recycling bin, it got recycled. Turns out that isn't what happens!!

So, I use bar shampoo/soap and have an eco egg, and I'm trying out eco-friendly deodorant. We don't buy plastic bags, and buy food in paper packaging rather than plastic where possible. It's hard, though.

I cook a lot from fresh, and prep it up on a Sunday. The amount of non-recyclable plastic from the fruit and veg is disgraceful - I don't need my cucumber/lettuce wrapped in plastic!

I've also bought scarves and material for Christmas wrapping. I craft, though, so there will be cards!

Peg doll family tree sounds awesome. Might have to look into that...

I'm going to wrap with brown paper and ribbon this year for people I think. Not stockings though!

The peg doll is an absolute labour of love but I do love tiny little fiddly crafts. I did superheroes for DS1 and Gruffalo characters for DS2, framed in a box frame with scrabble letters. Actually that’s a good point- anyone know where I can buy frames that aren’t shrink wrapped in plastic?! Why is that?

In terms of stockings, I haven’t quite decided what to do but it might be brown paper for those. Again, I need to minimise what goes in their stockings because it’s mostly plastic toys really! Must remember to keep an eye out for some different options. There is a zero waste shop near me that does an alternative to kinder eggs- a tiny box with chocolate and a little wooden toy in it so i’m going to get those for any little kids we end up buying for. DS1 just started school so he might want to give presents to his little friends I suppose.

I imagine different things will come up as time goes on that i’ll have to think of alternatives to!

Actually I have some little stamps and shaped hole punches that I bought from Hobbycraft so I could make wrapping paper with those, coloured tissue and brown paper!

Aw frazzles, that's a lovely pic.

Dh picked these up for me today. He knows me too well.

Gold Star for Mr Nero!

Re stockings - I bought some jute bags and put stocking presents in those. They came in plastic but I plan to use them every year instead of wrapping paper. I'm going to look for some slightly bigger ones as not all the presents for in those.

Bonus - sticking presents in those is easier than wrapping too

Thank you all :). I tried the nub theory @NoWordForFluffy, but apparently there’s no nub. The skull theory and Chinese sex predictor says boy.

We have a water filter now so don’t use any plastic bottles, or bags. But will use brown paper to wrap presents and try to use presents that haven’t much packaging. I’m considering getting my family a lot of lush stuff

Hi everyone, thanks for the advice upthread to have Christmas at home instead of a hotel. I have taken a deep breath and announced we'll be at home this year and guess what, the sky hasn't fallen down, the kids are happy with the idea and I feel nothing but immense relief and excitement!! We'll see everyone on Boxing Day anyway but for once we'll be able to play with our kids rather than lose them to their cousins while we chat to other adults.
To celebrate my very grown up decision (I am nearly 40, it's about time) I have ordered some personalised cotton sacks from ebay - total bargain - two with each of the DC's names on so I can fill the spares by early December (apart from tangerines!) and Santa can just calmly swap them for their doppelgangers on the big night. Beyond pleased with myself.
Loving the Christmas magazines Nero and the eco-friendly gift ideas, keep them coming!

Well done to your DH Neros! He did very well.

I've almost done the second third of my cross stitch. Just some eyes and tree lights to do, then I can move on to the top!

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Morning. It's dark and dry. It's meant to be nice until Sunday when rain is forecast.

Our new Christmas bedding is on the line after having a quick wash. Can't wait to get it onto the bed!

Frazzles, does nub theory work on the 12 week scan anyway? I've no idea! I didn't find out with either of our kids until birth. It's the only two times in my life I've been patient! 😂😁

Fantastic news cakegoblin enjoy your planning.

I found out the sex with all 3 of mine frazzles. I had a sizing scan at 34 weeks with DD1 and it was very obviously a female bottom on the screen. Then it just seemed natural to find out with the other 2. I was convinced DS was another girl so that was a bit of a shock but I had 20 weeks to get used to it.

Well done on the cross stitch Fluffy 😊
Am just getting up and sorting myself out to take the car for a service 🙄

I thought DD was a boy, so that was a surprise when she was born! I'd been prepared to have a little Ewan, but no!

Then I did think DS was a boy, but after being wrong the previous time I didn't like to bet on it!

I had fortnightly scans and weekly appointments because I'm diabetic one of the perks

This is not aimed at anyone specifically because even though l suffered with infertility for 13 yrs l find myself reminiscing about my pregnancies scans and births because it is such a lovely thing for everyone but some of us regular posters suffer from infertility and it's very painful for them to see scan pics and hear baby talk all the time.

Yes, Mrs, that's true. Obviously new posters wouldn't know that, so it's not a dig, just letting people know that this isn't the pregnancy / antenatal board where you can talk about your baby all day and night to your heart's content!

Thank you for saying that Fluffy 😊. l felt awful posting but it didn't feel kind to me tbh. No offence intended.

Ah sorry Mrs

Oh sorry @Mrsmadevans, I hope I wasn’t talking about it too much. Obviously I’ve seen other people talk about their DC on here so didn’t think anything of it when I shared the pic. Will stop now x

Have pm'd you Wreck 😊 xxx

Have replied.

I'm thinking of getting the dc pick n mix for in their stockings. Will probably get dh one too, holing Wilko do another half price on them closer to the time although they last forever don't they? Not sure when they'll have another one though.

Last working day of the week today then five weeks until half term we're going to London on Halloween can't wait!