TOMM Christmas Countdown

[StrictlyAFemaleFemale]

Hello
Is anyone else doing TOMM this year? There weren't any takers on the prep thread. Would anyone be up for keeping each other company or holding each other to account?

I cleaned the pantry out at the weekend, ready for “the Christmas Shelf” of food, the new freezer has been put on ready for “the Frozen Christmas Food” …. This is following a discussion on Saturday, during which it was decided that several items would be bought each week so that the cost was spread out sensibly.
This might have something to do with last years fiasco when plans were constantly put off until a mad dash was needed and a bill paid of over £300 in Tesco😱
I was nearly blue-lighted home with shock!!

I've not signed up but want to be organised.

Is anyone else feeling like they're still trying to complete their end of summer / new school year clear out? I feel I've been stuck here for the whole half term.

Whoop whoop! Sold a game on Facebook today.

WEEK 8
Book appointments for hair and beauty, and if necessary pets.

If you want to start new traditions now's the time to prepare that. Our elf will be a Scout or Guide this year so I'm going to make a tiny necker.

Book your taxis for Xmas and NYE.

I’m dragging my feet! I finally had a look through my Christmas things this week and remembered that I wanted to get a new tablecloth and some candles for the table. I thought I’d bought them in January but it was only when I was actually looking at the stuff that I remembered I couldn’t get the right size cloth. Nice to have that done now - no surprises on Christmas Eve!

I’m fairly low maintenance in the beauty stakes so this week I’m just going to pick up a packet of false nails and think about what I’m going to wear. The days of needing taxis are long gone

I don't feel organised at all 😂 but DD2 birthday and the celebrations are finished with. Back to school and work tomorrow so should get back into a rhythm again.

I don't normally book hair and beauty stuff for Christmas these days but I do fancy getting my nails done with a festive feel. I'll probably end up just painting them myself (badly) with red nail varnish.

I must confess I'm not doing particularly well at this. I had an awful cold and there were redundancies at work, plus DH we not away for the week on a course. I'm absolutely knackered. But we should according to TOMM be writing envelopes for Christmas cards, and checking final posting dates.

I'm trying to get a photo calendar done but waiting for photos from my sister.

I’ve been steadily reducing the number of cards I send each year. I only send them to elderly relatives now because they do appreciate them.

I’m going to put money in envelopes now for gift cards. Meant to do this a month ago but life got uexpectedly expensive.

I need to sort photos for the granny’s too

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale sorry to hear you’re under the weather. Sounds like a tough week. Is your own job safe?

Thanks @Nonplusultra yes my job is safe but my work bestie wasn't so lucky ☹️

I don't bother with cards anymore either. Luckily I live in Denmark and they are just not a thing here.

Gaaah my beautician just cancelled my leg wax! Annoying as I have very little flexibility at the start of December (DDs birthday, light festival, weekend away, girl guide Christmas sale).

Week 10
We're supposed to be planning the Christmas meals to stop ourselves over ordering and over eating. Also checking that the turkey fits in the oven, and working out how long it will take to defrost. Tbh I usually do this much nearer the time.

Although I suppose now is as good a time as any to make Jamie Olivers get ahead gravy.

I have finished the photocalendar so that's one big thing out of the way.

Week 11
Sort the house. Messy house bootcamp if you must.
Check tree light bulbs
Stock up on batteries
Check smoke alarms
Check medicine cabinet, throw out everything that's past its use by date and restock. Put dates in diary f you need repeat prescriptions.

I think it's only me left but oh well.

Week 12
Check you have enough chairs, crockery, glasses etc if you're having guests over.
Buy Christmas crackers.
Buy emergency gifts (Suggestions in the book at wine or gift cards) and think about teacher gifts.

I’ve fallen behind! I think I’m going to get vouchers for the teachers.

I've gone through the app this morning, finally ticked off advent calendars yesterday!
It still thinks I'm on week 3 but I've done bits on lots of other weeks too.

I've been very haphazard about this so far! 🤦 Can anyone find me a link or screenshot of the list of steps for each week?

I have a nice block of childfree time tomorrow and intend to get organised and catch up!

In MN settings you can give the OPs posts a particular colour. So if you do that then look at the thread you'll find my posts with the weekly tasks.

WEEK 13
Decorate.
Check that you have

• corkscrew
• soft drinks if you're entertaining
• enough foil for resting the meat
• ticked everything off

I have finished the second photocalendar (no mean feat - there are 95 birthdays on it), bought and ordered most of the presents now, wrapped most of the ones that have arrived. DDs birthday presents are wrapped.

I normally roast a chicken in the slow cooker with some veg and save the juices from that for gravy, but DH keeps roasting the damn thing in the oven. Although DD felt brave enough to try some chicken and liked it so maybe she'll eat some turkey at Christmas?

I still haven't made the elf necker, but one of the Guides is well up for tying a tiny friendship knot for me 😁

How on earth is it going to be the last week? 🤯 I'm behind still but as in a task or 2 from a couple of weeks. I can't believe how quickly time has gone. I was done this time last year!

Gemma is going to be doing a Christmas catch up next week!

I tried to copy the Facebook page but it didn't work but head to Facebook for a look!

Thanks OP.

Looking though your weekly task list I'm actually not doing too badly! Phew!

Which is fortunate as my littlest now has the chicken pox!! So much for my plan to pull out the stashed kids presents this week, check who still needs bits and wrap stuff etc. 🤦 I'm hoping his pox scab quickly ha ha.

@PumpkinSpicedTea thanks for the link! I think I'm in a different Tomm group on FB, so I'm pleased I'm now following the OG.

It's quite easy to slip behind isn't it? All you need is a round of sickness or a birthday and it really throws everything. Having said that I'm still much further ahead now than I was this time last year.

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale there is a page and then a group that Gemma (The organised mum) is admin along with some others so it might be the same one!

Hoping to do a clean up of the unfinished tasks this week. It's December on Friday!!?