TOMM Christmas

[FiloFaxx]

Is anyone else following along The Organised Mum Christmas? I was so excited to follow leading up to it starting but I've not completed everything in the lists for the first two weeks 🙈 I'm guessing I'm alright to tailor it to suit me as I go along 😂🎅

Me neither, this week has been hellish so I've ticked a few things off but not finished either week.
It's fine, we'll catch up, it's not mid-September yet!

I do but as you say, some things roll over to the following week. I find that fine as it is spread out over a long time there's never loads to do each week.

Being trying to follow it but am currently ill so not even completing the usual Level 1 jobs, never mind Christmas.

I'm aiming to, got week 1 done no problem but won't be able to do week 2 until all my children are in school full time, they're really stretching out the reception settling in time this year
It's my first year doing it, has anyone successfully completed the whole thing? Did it work for you?

Yes, dh's face was a picture when advent calendars arrived this week.

Yes, dh's face was a picture when advent calendars arrived this week

I've bought mine but then I'm DF abs they were right in front of me in the free from section I'm the supermarket so it would have been rude not to

Yes, dh's face was a picture when advent calendars arrived this week

Pressed send too soon, which ones did you buy?

I got a Lego one for my youngest, a gluten free one for my middle and a pretty Alison Gardiner picture one for me. My eldest just wants to chose a basic one when they come out in the shops. Nothing earth shattering but I'm enjoying ticking off the boxes and feeling organised.

Oh those Alison Gardiner ones look fantastic. I quite like the Advent Candle as well

I got the candle last year, but I kept forgetting to light it and once I forgot about it and power through a whole week by accident. It's wasted on me.

What is this of which you speak?
I was about to tell you it was too early to be worrying about being behind, but then I’ve just ordered advent calendars so what do I know?

I got the candle last year, but I kept forgetting to light it and once I forgot about it and power through a whole week by accident. It's wasted on me.

I bought one from John Lewis a few years ago. It's like some kind of everlasting candle. It takes hours and hours to move from one date to another.

We've had it about 5 years and still only half way through it.

The DC think it's funny. I still light it but have another one on the go now through Advent.

@JellyTeapot - I've done it the last 2 years and found it really helps!

How is everyone getting on? 🎅

@FiloFaxx

How is everyone getting on? 🎅

I wrapped neices presents last night!!!

Advent calendar ordered
Ikea wrapping bought (see above about wrapped presents)
Have bought DH a couple of things (probably about everything as we said thats all we'd do this year)
Photos for relatives ordered and sorted into piles for relevant relative. (next job will be writing Christmas cards and letters where appropriate)
Santa has sorted everything for child apart from chocolate (still have a couple more bits for DH to get)
Have decided on inlaws presents but will get later on (mainly cos DH needs to pick exact thing and that involves nagging for several weeks)
Need to start buying baked cupboard goods (crisps etc) and soft drinks and tonic this week. Mince pies are on the hot list but need to check shelf life. Have checked that we still have bottles of mulled wine left over from last year so don't need that.
Must pick up sausages and bacon to freeze this week.
House tidy in progress - kitchen cupboards done, wardrobe done, next i think is toy boxes then book shelves and bedroom shelves.
Have trawled the internet for best decorations to buy - dunelm and john lewis are on my hit list but stock isn't in yet.
Need to do garden centre decoration run (stock not yet in). Ds also wants a cactus so need to do that fairly late.
Need to buy stamps (including one for Canada).
Have checked date Booths Christmas orders open (2 weeks)
Have organised date to see BIL's family
Need to organise dates with SIL and MIL.
Need to write wish list for DS for relatives who ask.
Need to write Christmas card list
Need to pimp a Christmas gin or brandy
May decide to look at Christmas pud recipes this week.
Have ordered Christmas pjs this week.
Still need to find (cheap) christmas socks i like.

I would say i am slightly ahead of where I'd normally like to be by now, but i think thats a good thing this year.

I should also say Christmas starts 1st December in this house, and i go mad on decorating. I hate doing anything but enjoying the season once the decs are up so that takes a month off planning time (hence why i like start early)

@RedToothBrush wow you are organised

I’ve done the organised Xmas for the past 4 years and it really helps budget and not panic buy plus I love Christmas so much it really spreads the joy out for me! I like to have everything done by 1 Dec too so that I can just enjoy the season.

So far:

• I’m midway through the declutter/ donate/sell of toys, crafting stuff, etc which always takes the longest for me.
• Anout 50% of presents (some of these have to be posted far and wide so I need them early). I have got the ones for friends, OH, about half of kids. I have a dedicated shopping day booked on 15 November to get the rest.
• Food got a few bits in already in our massive freezer.
• Xmas cards ordered via school.
• Xmas treats and visits all booked including light show, concerts, and family break between Xmas and new year.

I love TOMM

Too organised it seems.

Tonight:
DH: you know such and such have a sale on...
Me: errrrr.....
DH:....! Oh!

Bastard. Bastard. Bastard.

Week 6!

For the first time I've ticked everything off already 😂

The controversial tip of disposable baking trays ticked as I have some that I got given last year 😬

I've for hiding places for presents already.

I'm not going out on New Year's Eve 🤣👍✅

🎅

@redtoothbrush well done that's really organised. I would say though the thing that comes with sales is chances things sell out quickly so not always better off! So it's bargain vs risk if its something someone really wants.

@upintNorth it's giving me more motivation to hear your success after doing it for a few years! I keep wanting to and then end up giving up or running out of time so really trying this year 😂

I'm a bit behind because I was too lazy to go into the loft and try the lights. I mean, they've never let me down to date and I've never felt obliged to check...what are the chances this would be the year they didn't work? Actual now I've written that down I feel compelled to check - I don't fancy eating my words.

I'm not fussed about the baking tray. I'm going to give that a miss.

I am storming ahead with gifts though and got all the international contingent of the family's presents wrapped today.

@FiloFaxx glad it helped!

I don’t follow the list slavishly, as some things aren’t relevant to us - but the main ideas, present buying, booking events and food slots early really help. It’s the food slots and toy shop sales next (usually end October or Black Friday) it also spreads the cost

@FourTeaFallOut

I'm a bit behind because I was too lazy to go into the loft and try the lights. I mean, they've never let me down to date and I've never felt obliged to check...what are the chances this would be the year they didn't work? Actual now I've written that down I feel compelled to check - I don't fancy eating my words.

I'm not fussed about the baking tray. I'm going to give that a miss.

Mine didn't let me down until half way through having it up last year one lot stopped working so I know I need to get new ones for this year. I really should have looked in the January sales but I had a new baby so it wasn't on the radar!

[quote UpintNorth]@FiloFaxx glad it helped!

I don’t follow the list slavishly, as some things aren’t relevant to us - but the main ideas, present buying, booking events and food slots early really help. It’s the food slots and toy shop sales next (usually end October or Black Friday) it also spreads the cost [/quote]
I'm new to the food delivery world (with exception of my M&S turkey!) and just recently tried click and collect in advance of my December shops. I haven't been paying the monthly fee so can't get my slot early so hoping I'm OK and have the November date marked in my calendar 😂 I'm usually one for going into the supermarket early morning on 23rd or even 24th!

How’s everyone getting on?

I’ve missed a few weeks and have booked out the next two Friday evenings to catch up!