In preparation for Christmas today I will……

[Beautifulsunflowers]

…….organise the freezer space and get if it stops raining I’ll go into town to WHSmiths to hopefully get the dark chocolate toblerone for ds’s stocking. I’m also going to make a few more Pom poms for my Pom Pom wreath.

Whst are you all doing today in preparation for the big day?

stillholly I’m also trying to shift a couple of pounds pre-Christmas, cutting out carbs...sort of.

Going to local train station to buy 3 lots of train tickets for Christmas activities... I like to (hopefully) speak to a human being!

I’m making a start on my knitted Santa that I’m making for DS.

Also finished off sorting playroom, sorting out old toys to donate and to make some room for new toys after Christmas.

I picked up my click and collect order from Boots. 2 bottles of Fuzzy Duck Baylis and Harding bubble bath/shower gel in light up glass bottles. Beautiful and half price.
I know B&H gets a bad press on MN but I don’t see the big deal. Off MN a lot of people do like it.
One is for a friend along with something else not sure what yet. I will probably give the other to DD(20).

I'm doing lots of online ordering of presents, just in case of postal strikes (I like to have everything in, if not wrapped well in advance). And I actually AM writing a Christmas novel (although it won't be due out until 2025) so that's been helping me feel festive!

I've made a Christmas candle (Tangerine and Nutmeg) and bought some Brandy Butter from Sainsburys. It's best before 3rd Jan 24, so thought why the devil not. At least it's one more thing ticked off the food list. I also did a quick sweep of the pantry and fridge so got rid of a few malingerers.

I've never had Brandy Butter. Maybe this Christmas is the one where I buy some and try it.

Hang on a sec... back up. @Vroomfondleswaistcoat you're writing a Christmas novel? Oh my goodness, you have to let us know when it's out. Oh gosh, I'd love to know what it's about. I'm just watching The Holiday at the minute and thinking to myself how formulaic it is. It's a nice, comforting watch though and brings back fond memories for me. (I was backpacking in NZ when it came out and I went to see it on my own, which I think was the first time I'd ever done that, and I now do it all the time)

I've written the cross stitch cards I made and packed up two Christmas parcels with presents in, ready to be collected by RM tomorrow.

Feels like I'm getting somewhere now!

My local Aldi had the coquilles st jacques in the freezer so I bought some to stash away as we always have them at Christmas.

I've wrapped two gifts and will review my gift list today. Both DC are winter babies so need to sort birthdays out first.

Buy my dd Taylor Swift Xmas gifts. I have to start somewhere.

Another brandy butter virgin here.
How do you eat it??
Do you smear it into your Christmas pudding or put it on the side?

I may try some this year...

I put a dollop of it at the side of the pudding, and eat a bit with each spoonful - this means it doesn't melt too much, which I prefer. Other people will put it on top of the hot pudding, so it melts in.

Always used custard and/or single cream but will live life on the edge this year and have some brandy butter on offer too 🙂

I'm an author, so I'm always working on books - it just so happens that the one I'm writing right now is for sometime around Christmas '25. I started it in September, when Christmas was just a dot on the horizon, so I'm now going through and putting a bit more 'Christmas' in - makes me feel Christmassy!

Get my lazer hair removal looked at
Try to find some nail varnishes
Order 2 things for my daughter (easy to buy for)
Try to think of ideas for my son!

Bought some packets of handwarmers to go in DH's Christmas stocking. I'm going to look for some nice gloves to go with them. I could knit him a pair, although I don't know if I've got time between now and Christmas.

Today I'm finally finishing a big sort-through and clear-out of our living room (currently being used as a storage area due to building works upstairs). I will be very happy to have my haven back!

I swapped out my Autumn scented candles for Winter ones.

Decorated our Yule Log with greenery from the park, will be dried by Yule so burn better.

Decorated mantlepiece and fire surround area!

According to my emails I've got a parcel arriving today, and that's just about all the online presents bought. I'm going Christmas shopping in town in a couple of weeks with one of my daughters, so I want to make sure that I've got everything for her before we go. I don't mind her seeing the bits I'm buying for everyone else!

I'm hosting a big family Christmas and I lived house in September to a doer-upper.

I have decided that after finishing painting my son's bedroom today I am doing no more decorating and just getting ready for Christmas.

I have already put tinsel on the bannisters which the kittens are busily destroying,

I'm thinking of getting a Christmas hanging. Not sure what.

I have bought some crackers and cards from Shelter. The crackers you can pop your own little gifts in and they have a hat and joke already in.
Trying to make Christmas less stressful and overspendy. Going to try and make careful decisions about what we actually need food and gift wise.
Still be fun and have presents but I feel a bit jaded with some of the Christmas hype.
I will enjoy looking for little personal things to pop in the crackers.

Today I am deep cleaning the house in preparation for Christmas trimming (and also because it was next level unclean following a few chaotic weeks when cleaning has taken a back seat), and ordering presents as and when I think of them.

Today I put coloured lights up outside.
I need to do some white ones too, but that will be for another day.

Nothing directly but I'm overseeing some work on the house that will mean I can finally get the dining table in the right place and make room for a big Christmas tree,