Next year I'm going to ponce like my life depends on it

[DucklingDaisy]

I have a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old, came down with covid just before Xmas and have had a lot of other stuff on, so this year I was pleased just to get presents and dinner done.

Next year I have ambitions to ponce like I've never ponced before. The kids should be somewhat easier ages for it. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway.

Can I see photos of your best Christmas pouncing from this year? Fancy tables, DIY wreaths, elaborate cakes, magazine-worthy wrapping, tastefully perfect trees (the decorations have gradually migrated to the top of mine as every time the baby takes one off we put in back on higher). I want to live vicariously through you.

I'm definitely having more Christmas next year, this year was low key and great but we're mid renovation and finished painting walls on 23rd, rest of the house still a mess. Still better than last year when we were in temporary accommodation in between houses and had to get emergency decorations at the last minute as we couldn't recover our stuff from storage.

That Michigan house is just lovely.

I wrapped all presents beautifully with bows and ribbons and tasteful matching papers and tags, all in shades of pale green, white and burgundy - looked brilliant under the tree. Then DH did his wrapping in blue paper covered in gingerbread men and the effect was somewhat spoiled but the presents were perfect so all is forgiven....

Having had Christmas with a 4 and 2yo within the last few years, I will gently suggest managing your own expectations of how much easier it is likely to be next year
but good luck anyway

In this context it means traditional/homemade. So things like homemade decorations, homemade food, vintage and retro styles.

Hi @DucklingDaisy - I have two children, the same age and could have written your post!

I am going to handcraft a lot ready for Easter, and get back into the swing of things ready for next Christmas.

Ahh thank you. Was so confused. Like others I thought talking about scrounging

ive been poncing for years then! I make everything that I can. Decorations, cake, mince pies, trifle, biscuits, candles, gift tags, fresh evergreen displays, liquor, stuffing. Even hand made the kids’ stockings but that was years ago. Crocheted and hand sewn baubles one year and they are still going. Hand stuffed and ‘upcrafted’ some cheap crackers. Plus I use my late grandmother’s Christmas vintage Austrian table cloths at Xmas dinner. That’s my favourite thing.

Have had hideous cough and cold all week, so just to have put a dinner on the table and stuffed money in cards was as poncy as it got in my household. I know from experience if I plan a big build up, arrange an outing, book a show or arrange to go to a big do, something shit happens.

means scrounging here i was going to ask if you were getting some free stuff

Please don't be hard on yourself next year if your hands are too full with your kids to make your Christmas very poncey! It will get easier as they get older.

I can highly recommend the pickled sprouts on the previous thread.

Also I'm massively pleased about these felt tree ornaments I made depicting my daughter's past Christmas jumpers. As if this is at all necessary 😂

Oh my goodness @CousinKrispy they are adorable.

I thought you meant dragging the kids round begging for Christmas. Quite disappointed that you're not trying to have like a Christmas dinner poncing crawl, getting sprouts from mrs Jones and a turkey leg from Mr blogs.

I made crackers for the dinner table. Personalised with names (ordered from Etsy) and filled with bespoke gifts.

I also tied little ornaments (glittery stars) and unnecessarily ornate ribbons around my wrapped gifts.

I love to ponce about at Christmas, but last year I was you and was totally out of it with Covid. Was so nice to be back to normal this year! Get well soon OP.

I'd say it meant pretentious and/or ambitious in this sense. So "poncey food" would involve foams, jus and towers.

In the context of MN Christmas threads "poncey" or "poncetastic" is used in a self-deprecating sense to mean making a big effort for something that looks impressive and like it belongs in a Kirsty Allsop TV show - may or may not include lots of handmade stuff.

This is interesting - my understanding of to be poncy is to be really over the top fancy and elaborate (hence my very fancy Christmas lights contribution!)

@CousinKrispy WOW 🤩

I made Christmas tree brownies this year which I am ridiculously proud of. That’s about it tbh

Ummm not sure how I’d feel about someone putting a photograph of my house on a public forum.

Same here

You know your house is probably on Google street view don't you? And the above poster hasn't said 'this is Mr & Mrs Jones' House at 73 Waterford lane, Michigan'.

What exactly would concern you about it?

All from the garden. Poncetastic!

Also, my understanding of Ponce is an outdated and awful derogatory term aimed at gay or effeminate men. How on earth has it evolved into handcrafting Christmas??

To me it's something that involves a lot of effort and is a bit showoffy, so that is often homemade, traditional type stuff but elaborate lights can definitely also count as Christmas poncing imo.

I like that people thought I meant scrounging. Please show me your photos of your elaborate Christmasses... and also your addresses so I can come knock on your door next year.

These are amazing, also you've given yourself a lifelong commitment now 😁

Yeah because being on Google images is exactly the same thing as it being shoved in peoples faces on a forum thousands of people use. The people on this thread aren’t going to look up that individuals address are they!!!! Most people would be livid if they were browsing this forum and saw a photo of their house on it!