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Christmas

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

Getting ready for Christmas 2020

79 replies

cryingcatmeme · 27/12/2019 08:33

Who has started getting ready for next year especially with all the sales online and in the stores? All the Christmas pyjamas and fragrance gift sets are perfect to horde because they’re staple gifts.

OP posts:
Purpletigers · 10/01/2020 23:15

Emma Bridgewater have an amazing sale atm . Mugs for £5.95 and 6 for 5

Littleshortcake · 10/01/2020 23:25

I bought 2 x boxes of crackers today for virtually nothing in aldi

I have my cards and wrapping paper bought and dcs stocking fillers (picked up stuff for 50p straight after Christmas and put them away) we have a lot on this year and I will be glad of every little saving.

Barbararara · 11/01/2020 09:27

All decorations sorted, and organised into their respective boxes but not yet hauled back up to the attic. I’ve a few to donate to the charity shop set aside but it’s the wrong time of year for that.

I’ve bought very little in advance this year - some cards and one gift. I have plenty to use up. I’ve ordered ribbon and bought some large brown packing labels as tags, not particularly bargainous but it’s useful to have it all together.

Each year I’m learning to simplify a little more. I went for big impact decorations this year rather than lots of fiddly bits cluttering up every surface and found it much easier to live with.

I’m also learning to group jobs that go together naturally rather than having an intimidatingly long to-do list that wears me out just thinking about it. Or doing a job out of order that ends up having to be re-done.

I didn’t anticipate the amount of homework and exams the dc would have which impacted on what we could fit in and their stress levels. That’s only going to increase in the future so I need to take that into account.

We always get gifts of sweets and biscuits so I’ve made a note not to buy any next year.

Getting organised early is always worthwhile, ime, and this year everyone got sick as various times in December so I was grateful to have the bulk of the work done in advance. Will definitely try similar next year.

Holothane · 17/03/2020 00:59

Saving money from January then will get vouchers gifts in September.

dyscalculicgal96 · 13/04/2020 21:56

So far I once again have made a tentative Christmas menu plan for this year. Any more ideas welcome.

This is the list so far:

Roast turkey and chicken
Carrots and peas
Potatoes
Christmas fruitcake
Mints
Wine

Any suggestions or tips on what to do with leftovers needed. Also any recommendations on the best Christmas books to read/board games to play etc wanted too. Ideas on Christmas movies to watch are welcome as well. Does anyone have any helpful advice on Christmas art projects?

givemeacall · 13/04/2020 22:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

organisedmother · 14/04/2020 21:34

Don’t forget Christmas stuffing and sprouts witch pancetta, I only like 5 items on a Christmas plate as otherwise it just looks like an absolute mess and gives me a stomach ache just by looking at it all 😂. the polar express has to be a brilliant family Christmas film... leftovers red Thai curry.

dyscalculicgal96 · 16/04/2020 10:57

I have got some Christmas stuff already. Now I have been searching for turkey recipes this week and also ordered the first of many Christmas presents from Amazon too.

Stompythedinosaur · 19/04/2020 10:12

I've written myself some notes on my phone about what we have plenty of and what we need for next year. I've also filed my Christmas dinner master plan of timings as it worked well last year.

My failing every year is wrapping too late - I hate being up to the early hours on Xmas eve.

1969angel · 19/04/2020 19:05

Please show us your master plan of timings give me a few hints x

1969angel · 19/04/2020 21:05

@Stompythedinosaur

Stompythedinosaur · 20/04/2020 08:10

1969 I'm honestly not sure my list will be helpful to you - it's just a list of what times and temps different bits of our meal go in and out of the oven. We probably have a different meal to most people due to me being a vegetarian, dp having Crohns and a restricted diet and my autistic db only eating certain foods. It makes it a bit of a juggle to have everything warm at the same time!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 21/04/2020 13:08

Lockdown knitting - I’ve just made this. 🙂

Getting ready for Christmas 2020
NoWordForFluffy · 22/04/2020 09:54

I love that, @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER!

I'm doing Christmas cross stitch, but it's not a lockdown thing, just what I do (I have 3 in the same series and it'll be Christmas before they're done, if I don't do anything else!).

Getting ready for Christmas 2020
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 22/04/2020 10:03

That’s beautiful, @NoWordForFluffy !

NoWordForFluffy · 22/04/2020 10:19

Thank you! It's been a mission!

Bowerbird5 · 24/06/2020 12:15

That is gorgeous Gettinglikemy mother . I am hoping to make some Christmas items. I have quite a large stash of roundtoits I am planning to start in August / September because it doesn’t look like I will be going back to work. I have torn out lots of patterns and ideas for this period of life so hope to join in.

RoseBlush1 · 28/06/2020 10:05

@dyscalculicgal96

So far I once again have made a tentative Christmas menu plan for this year. Any more ideas welcome.

This is the list so far:

Roast turkey and chicken
Carrots and peas
Potatoes
Christmas fruitcake
Mints
Wine

Any suggestions or tips on what to do with leftovers needed. Also any recommendations on the best Christmas books to read/board games to play etc wanted too. Ideas on Christmas movies to watch are welcome as well. Does anyone have any helpful advice on Christmas art projects?

Gravy? 😋
Ninkanink · 28/06/2020 15:16

I’ve done my first Christmas shopping for this year! Xmas Smile Xmas Smile

Can’t save photos to post so links will have to do:

wall wreath

Dishes for decorations or to use as candleholders

Ornaments for tree

Ninkanink · 28/06/2020 15:23

@RoseBlush1

Canapés as a ‘starter’ (a couple of hours before dinner, with bubbly) - if you have your meal later in the day - this means that no one will be starving for the main meal and you can relax about getting it done for a specific time. Obviously doesn’t work if you eat at lunch time...

Braised red cabbage with orange and cranberry sauce
Pigs in blankets
Sprouts (roasted, with pancetta, cranberries and chestnuts)
Carrots and parsnips roasted with honey, lemon, garlic and thyme

Ninkanink · 28/06/2020 15:25

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER love your wreath! And your cross stitch, @NoWordForFluffy.

🎄🎄🎄

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 29/06/2020 15:47

Thank you, @Ninkanink. Have now made 2, one more to go. One for Gdcs, and one each for their school Christmas fair raffles, assuming they’ll still be having such things in late November.

Ditto 3 of these for same purposes - you can’t start too early! Anyway, great excuse for avoiding doing Useful Things like clearing out cupboards during lockdown.

Getting ready for Christmas 2020
Ninkanink · 29/06/2020 16:13

Oh how gorgeous!!

Nsky · 29/06/2020 16:24

I have no plans, I buy relatively few gifts, tho I would happily make up food hamper ( useful/ nice stuff ) if I knew anyone would enjoy it.
I tend just to save money and buy as needed.

NoWordForFluffy · 29/06/2020 20:44

Oh, @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER, I adore Santa!

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