How is your planning/prep going?

[Devo1818]

I'm trying to get organised and hoping for a relaxed December.

Done list:
75% gift shopping done
Little bit of wrapping done
Specific list for rest of gift shopping.
Supermarket delivery slot booked
Freezer cleared out
House (mostly) de-cluttered
All activities booked

To do list:
Get decs etc out of loft to check
Complete gift and misc shopping
Write food plan list and update supermarket shop
Wrap rest of presents

Probably more things I will remember along the way. How are you all doing?

(Anyone tempted to respond "nothing, it's October" you really don't need to, the thread isn't aimed at you personally).

Oh, I forgot - I have bought enough mini toiletries to do an Advent calendar that teen DD may appreciate.

95% of shopping done. Need to get generic wines & biscuits for extended relatives and will probably pick up a few top up gifts for DCs but all the must have gifts are done.

I never food prep, what’s available Christmas week is fine with us.

I have bought a new table cloth and some Christmas themed serving boards. I’ve definitely got some colouring table mats but need to check with I have a colouring table cloth and crackers. I know I have one box of battleship ones left from last year but think that’s it.

Need to sort wrapping paper. I need to be more onto what I’m doing this year and make sure Santa’s presents are not wrapped in the same as ours, I also need to be more onto labelling while wrapping. Someone recommended preprinted labels from Santa which I’m going to use.

I was going to buy a new tree this year, I’m still deciding, with everything going on with cost of living I may hold off. I do like to buy a few decs each year but DH is now going to the states for a week with work so I may just see what he brings back.

Bought myself a lovely Christmas top yesterday, impromptu buy, very happy with it for Christmas Day. I do need to check on the Christmas jumper situation. I’ve put a lot of weight on and most dont fit me anymore. I usually only have to buy for my oldest as the younger ones get hand me downs, but I have a feeling that they might all need new ones this year. Same with DH, he has a number of musical/light up ones that I think need replacing.

I need a fire guard or gate for the tree. I never needed one with my DCs but we have a very bouncy and excitable pup, large breed so not a tiny thing, she also likes to chew so I need to keep her away from the main tree which will be in her viewing spot. We have beautiful bay windows the tree looks lovely in but the dog likes to watch people go by from there. I’m even considering moving the tree this year.

I do need a new set of lights for outside.

Christmas card will be what we buy through the school that the dcs draw. Most won’t even get used but I can’t not buy them.

All pre Christmas activities booked, Elf the musical, Santa experience, Pantomime with brownies, panto with school. I do need to find something for between Christmas and NY, we don’t do a big NY eve thing, usually we’d go away for a couple of days mid week but decided to cut that out this year to save £ plus we now have the pup.

All DDs presents are sorted, stocking and a small presents sorted for DSD and DSS, DH needs to buy their main presents but he's waiting for black friday.
Family secret santa is sorted as are all my nieces and DH.
Festive trips are booked and I've started on some xmas food.
I've got to book a Tesco slot when they are out in November.
I'll be wrapping in November and hopefully be finished doing everything by December as I did it for the first time last year and really enjoyed it rather than being stressed.

80% of presents bought.

Advent calendars and a couple of food treats for kids stockings bought.

That's it though. I'll wait a few weeks now before I'll finish as I'm waiting to find out if it'll just be the 5 of us for xmas or if it'll be 14 of us 😳 hoping for the former.

Better than usual.
Wont be able to do anything for maybe a couple of weeks end nov/begin dec. So have got ready earlier on purpose.

I forgot I also have an evening booked with my friends where we are making a Christmas willow star and will have dinner out afterwards. So that's a Christmas night out and a door decoration organised.

i have been asked to go into the junior school to help make willow lantern angels for the Nativity. It is held outdoors with the audience moving from scene to scene gathering up the performers as they progress. It started last year to avoid the rammed church and it was a huge success.
I think the angels need to be about 2foot high and will be hung from bamboo poles.

My vision on the left and the reality on the right.

Done
Lego advent calendars bought
Sainsbury’s delivery slot booked
Trip to Father Christmas booked
Panto booked

To do (next week)
Go through what crackers, Christmas cards and wrapping paper we have left over from last year and make a list of what we need
Check to see if DD’s Christmas jumper still fits her (and buy new one if needed)
Make a present list

To do (Nov & Dec)
Buy presents and wrap
Buy non perishable foods
Probably get Christmas tree 2nd weekend in December

I’d normally make a Christmas cake next week as well but we’re in the middle of a house extension and I can’t face doing it this year.
Also I’d normally order an M&S food order to collect on Christmas Eve but we’re not sure if it’ll be finished in time so need to have a chat with builder to work out what we’re going to do.