If restrictions persist we'll still make December lovely, ideas thread

[Walkley18]

I'm trying to think of ideas for Dec / run up to Christmas in case restrictions persist/ get worse. So thinking if no Christmas markets / shopping / usual days out / or larger family events, what else is there? I have older teen kids but still want it to be special. Anyone in? Younger kids ideas also welcome. So far I have:

Find out great streets/ houses with Christmas lights, make a night of it with hot choc etc

Make Christmas tree decorations, chocolate and non edible

Find a lovely pub after country walk, with outdoor heaters to enjoy the countryside / sprinkling of snow (reaching I know!)

December boxes including list of 12 favourite movies we watch in order, so number 1 family favourite on Christmas Eve

If possible discover houses with unusual decorations further afield and do a travel scavenger hunt altogether.

Please join and give your lovely ideas!

@MagpieSong that's amazing!

Mentioned on a different thread : scene setters, from Amazon. They are used as wall decor or as photography backdrops.
We're going to pin one up and have a cheesy photo session.

@Twilightstarbright thank you! I read about a person doing it on a blog and we’ve done it ever since. It becomes tricky to think up new ideas, so I’m always jotting down any I have across the year to use later. They once broke into my (old) make up and wrote song lyrics and Dinos rule across the bathroom sink and mirror! I totally recommend it, it’s great fun!

@SadiePurple - that’s brill, love that idea!

I might get them making and decorating a little Christmas door for fairies or mice that can go in bedrooms, something to go with a book we can read like that story about Middling Mouse (anyone remember that?) or a brambly hedge story or something. We’ve got some clay at the moment we could use for that.

@Turnedouttoes Ebay have some of those door ribbons quite cheap, this pic is from there. Studio have them too but seem v dear, esp for Studio!

Watching

Apologies if this has been said already. I have older teens and I buy them cheap xmas pjs from Primark every year and they get them on November 30th along with a chocolate reindeer and an advent calendar. They love it.

monkeyonthetable lovely ideas!

I thought the bargain threads were a bad influence, thanks to this (lovely) thread I am now googling hot tubs! I have 2 uni student daughters and think that the occasional evening in the hot tub with a festive drink might make up for some of the other things they will miss out on this year. Am I mad?

@VaprousDropProfound

I thought the bargain threads were a bad influence, thanks to this (lovely) thread I am now googling hot tubs! I have 2 uni student daughters and think that the occasional evening in the hot tub with a festive drink might make up for some of the other things they will miss out on this year. Am I mad?

Yes 🤣

I know what you mean, my uni dd is currently self isolating after her boyfriend tested positive. It's been miserable for them.

Love this thread 😍 Place marking for ideas! DP works offshore and usually either works all of December and comes home 27th Dec so misses Christmas, or is home for Christmas but has to leave early morning 26th Dec to travel to work 🙄 so we fit both families in as and when we can based on his rota.

This year however, he’ll be home over Christmas and New Year and we’ll be spending Christmas just him and I with our newborn that’s due next month 🥰 hoping for a cosy homely Christmas starting lots of our own traditions!

Confession, I also googled hot tub hire...

I'm going to collect things from countryside walks and make natural Christmas decorations...

Please post any good findings re hot tubs, am also interested!

I think I read somewhere that Blackpool are keeping their illuminations on through December, they are lovely to drive through if you are close enough for them. Then back home for a lovely supper.

Hoping to persuade neighbours to all coordinate a street carol singing. We did a street party so I reckon they will be up for it.

We're going to do the reverse advent Callander I saw the idea on YouTube think it was Emily norris, thought it was a great idea .
Some fab ideas on here going to try a good few out. Also going to do elf on shelf for my 3 year old my teenage son will help with ideas

A reverse advent calendar is the best anyone can do, particularly this year. Get your DC’s involved rather than a chocolate or plastic advent calendar?

A lovely thread- something to look forward to.
Home Bargains have lots of cheap crafts in the run up to Christmas.
We also have a living advent calendar in our village- people have a day of December each and we do a big reveal of a window display.

@peachypips78 The living advent sounds fantastic. Please post a photo when the first few are unveiled, unless you have some from previous years you could post? I won't be able to do this but sounds great and others may take it on.

Making lists ordering the snow capped tree advent calendar in October, then dads token. Then it’s just dh presents next.

A living advent sounds fab, is love to see pictures as well if you have any? I live in a small village I'm sure folk here would live to take part

We’re doing a family activity advent calendar where we have something that we can all do together each day. All stuff in the house or local area. Lots of arts and crafts because we have a toddler.

@Drinkingallthewine where abouts on the website you linked is the gingerbread house template please? I can't see it on there & would like to have a go :)

I'll see if I can link to last year's fb page...

I can't link but I've found some of our photos. We sell a map of where all the houses are in our village shop for £2, and that money goes to the local cancer charity. Normally we have a reveal at 6pm of each window with mince pies or something.