Where are you with your Christmas planning?

[BatFinksWings]

Figured I can ask this in here without being lynched 😀

I've started buying the kids gifts - they're 23 and 14 so hopefully their tastes won't change too much in the next couple of months.

I've made a start on food. I predict issues come December so I've already got my joint of beef, chicken and turkey crown in the freezer along with sausage rolls, vegetarian mains and other bits and pieces

I've bought most of my chocolates/ Percy pig goodies / tins of sweets/ cheese biscuits tin. I've also bought wax wrapped cheeses as they're dated so well

Soooo .... am I the only nutter who does this?

In the freezer: the ham, the cocktail sausages
In the Christmas cupboard : my favourite Christmas candle, stocking fillers for DH and the friend we're spending the week with, main presents for the friend, candy canes for the tree, this year's tree decoration, this year's jigsaw
In the pantry: whiskey, port, brandy, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce
To be done this week: making of the cake!

I'm buying something every week as part of our Tesco order - this week two bottles of wine and a half bottle of Fireball are coming - there's a list somewhere of what I plan to get every week between now and Christmas. All going to schedule so far!

I managed to get my last item so all the present shopping is now done. 😍

I know how many guests we have and all their food allergies and preferences and am starting to work out menus. I have begged for Christmas lists from DC and DH. I've eyed up the Lindor pick n mix. That's it!

I've also ordered some new furniture and put a cinnamon scented pouch behind the radiator so the house starts to smell festive. And I've begun a the very deep clean (lonng overdue.)

But no presents or food bought so far.

Got a beauty blender for DD, ordered lamb & veggies from the farm shop, got a Christmas pudding stashed away. If the farm shop order falls through it’ll be pizza for Christmas dinner, not something I can get het up about

So got most of dc main presents today. Some paper chain decoration things to do with them, 4 x 12m wrapping paper and stick on labels.
Going across to another town on thurs to get few more bits.
Will be gathering up bits every week til end of november.

I’ve got all my presents now and just need to get a few bottles of fizz for emergency gifts. Wrapping paper order done, still have plenty of cards from last year. Cheeseboard on order! Beauty advent calendar for myself bought!

I think I’m nearing the end of present-buying for extended family - have one or two things to get for that I think.

I’ve also got a lot of things for DD, apart from a couple of books I’m after and possibly some Harry Potter sweets. Still haven’t got the main present for DD though, which I’m not sure about. If I do decide to get a Switch, I need to sell DD’s previous outgrown frog bike to fund it so I need to get that serviced ASAP!

I’ve also made good progress on other Christmas things - have Christmas clothes and pyjamas for DD, advent stuff and so on, most stocking fillers.

Like a pp I also need to stock up on a few bottles of Prosecco for neighbours, teachers etc. too.

I've ordered the food from Sainsbury's for Christmas Eve (lobster and scallop pie) Christmas Day (the usual turkey etc) and Boxing Day (roast beef). I think it will just be me and my two teenagers.
Presents I'm nowhere - I send a Christmas floral arrangement to my in laws, gifts to my sisters and niece (who live abroad), and something for my stepsons and wives and step granddaughter (not yet one). That's it.
Decoration wise I've got enough to decorate about five houses! I want to buy stockings just for our two cats and two dogs as I have a mantle now (recently moved). I did buy some pretty multi coloured beaded hanging thingys you put tea lights in and those big tissue star things and garlands in lots of pinks and purples and blues after Christmas last year - so I guess that sets the theme. But I'm not sure - I haven't got my head around how to decorate this house yet, plus at the moment renovating so even harder to imagine it all done and ready for decorating!
Plus I've just bought pumpkins so Halloween first!

I'm further forward than this time last year present wise, I'm at half way point.
All childrens gifts bought apart from an outfit of two for granddaughter.

The rest of the gifts are for adults and easily ticked off the list and most are half done

Gifts for pets in the family bought

I've been organised booking things early this year, as I usually am more focused on gifts but really looking forward to events this year so I've booked a few: Fenwicks Sundays with Santa, Fenwicks roof top cinema for my mum and I,
Disney on ice and Panto all ticked off list.

M&S Christmas food order done and back up freezer bits like frozen prawns etc done and adding a few cupboard (boring things like ketchup, mint sauce etc) bits each shopping trip.

New coffee table and rug for newly decorated ounge arriving tomorrow (birthday present to me). I've also bought new candles and Christmas scented cleaning bits (softener, washing up liquid, zoflora, I'm such a sucker for these things)

Still to do:
finish of presents
book hair appointment and OK it with work

write a list of what batteries needed (rechargeable) and buy them
find nice wrapping paper
New roasting tin
Christmas drinks to buy
Christmas sweets to buy ( DH and I have eaten 3 Reeces selection boxes already)
Christmas house clean and decorate (on my holidays last week Nov/early Dec so have a deep spring clean and then put the Dec's up 1st dec)

I'm would like to be done mid November, so I can relax and enjoy December, with maybe a leisurely trip to town knowing that I'm done. I'll probably read this in a couple of months and laugh whilst I'm dashing around.

I have bought things as and when I have seen them, mostly stocking fillers and food. I will continue on with this until I need to consolidate what I have got. I have already bought presents for the small children in our family.

My list is not that long as it has been a work in progress of cutting it back for a good while now and my DH has been told that from now on he is doing his side of the family, not me which actually means they will probably get nothing and deservedly so.

I fancy this as a pudding over the Xmas period

www.nigella.com/recipes/glitzy-chocolate-puddings?utm_source=mailer_rotd&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Glitzy_Chocolate_Puddings_20211013

It looks quite easy and won't entail much extra space in the fridge unlike bought in puddings from M & S etc.

We’re in the middle of selling our house to buy a smaller house, so Christmas plans are up in air 🤦‍♀️ Non perishable food already bought and a delivery slot booked. That’s about all I can do for now.

herecomesthesun

They look fantastic.

Picked up a tub of Quality Street today, also got mincemeat for pies in my online order.

Still no idea what to buy for DD2.

Booked all of our festive days out (Santa visits, festive lights, local panto)
Booked CenterParcs winter wonderland for us and in laws (8 adults, 4 kids)
Sorted DD's birthday party - a week before Christmas Day!
Bought all of the kids (DD & 3 nephews/niece) 1 present each as they all have their birthdays in the 10 days before Christmas Day!
Ordered a turkey breast joint, festive colin & steak pie from M&S for the week between Christmas and new year as we have lunch at SIL's and I think this year there will be 17 people so not much chance of leftovers!
Got my festive waitrose slot booked in to save me visiting any shops between Christmas and new year if I can help it!
Ordered DH the new Fenwick's food and drink advent calendar

@MsSquiz - what is a festive colin? ( Visions of some bloke from accounts being wheeled in to make cracker jokes while you carve the turkey.)

Half way through the kids gifts, finished or almost finished most of the adults gifts. I already have my disposal roasting trays. We've been saving up on the asda gift shopping gift card, so enough money for a big shop on the 23rd. I'll be starting buying foods with a long shelf life that I can stock up on this week. So I'm getting somewhere.

christmasfood.marksandspencer.com/elf-colin-the-caterpillar-serves-10-/p/fdp60524175?prevPage=plp

This is the Colin green (Sadly not Colin-from-Accounts)

@leavesthataregreen - a festive Colin the caterpillar cake

Opps the last few posts weren't showing up for me.

I am pretty much nowhere with planning! We don't know where we'll be yet, either home with DP's sister staying, or staying with her. However I will get Hotel Chocolat Advent calendars for our teenage DGS and my friend's DS as I did last year, they went down well. Come to think of it, I could send those to my two nieces and their DHs. This is just random musing, I need to start making lists!

[quote NotanotherboxofFrogs]@leavesthataregreen - a festive Colin the caterpillar cake[/quote]
Oh that is fantastic!

I've got ds Christmas pj's, I got those in the sale last year. I've got most of his presents just a few smaller ones to get now. I've also got all his advent calander bits and a few Christmas bath bombs, which he loves.
I've made a Start on Christmas food/treats although I'm not sure weither I will be working on Christmas day or not so I won't be ordering a turkey. I'll try and get one closer to the time if I can, if not a chicken will do. I'm feeling pretty prepared but I need to book a day out but can't until I get my December rota, I haven't worked long enough to have earned enough holiday hours for a whole weekend of, so I'm hoping I get one weekend off at least. I got wrapping paper the other day from home bargains. I still need to get a gingerbread house and cards and chocolates for my family but I'll do that when I get paid.

I started picking bits up a while ago.

Cupboard/freezer food list is around 3/4 done
Need to pick up the last few bits for the diy advent calendars at the weekend & order a couple of stocking fillers online.
I plan to spend a morning in town, in December, before work, to buy any stocking fillers I haven't managed to secretly pick up while out with dd1 this weekend (I'm quite good at secret shopping even with the girls stood on top of me )
Fruit is soaking to make our cake and one for my dad.
Gingerbread dough in the freezer for the house.
Pastry for mince pies made and frozen too.

Main presents not bought yet - they both need up to date laptops so holding off a little while for those, hoping for a Black Friday deal or money off an X spend or something along those lines.

They're not getting much else - probably blankets/bedding/pj's/books and a bit of money for some clothes. If I see anything else I'll pick it up.

I've made my friend's present, just need to make a nice label. Need to buy for my dad, nanna and grandad. Grandad's always happy with a beer selection box or similar, so that's easy. My dad always says thanks for whatever then tacks a sarcastic comment on the end, so I'm not even thinking about him yet. & I always struggle with nanna.

I've planned to make our cards so will pick up some nice papers in town at the weekend too.

Actually, typing all that has been really helpful! I was just looking at my stocking fillers list, with all its scribbley notes, and feeling a bit like I hadn't got far & should get a shift on. But...I've actually done quite a lot! & I'm happy with that

I almost forgot the girls' dad though...I do have a list for him too, as I've thought of things. Will maybe pick up a couple of the smaller bits there at the weekend too.

@leavesthataregreen haha! A festive Colin from Accounts could be fun too, but the chocolatey heaven of Colin the caterpillar cake is definitely more my thing! I first discovered him 2 years ago when I was due to give birth to DD and I would have a slab of Colin with custard every evening! I'm pregnant again this year and planning on doing the same!