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?

Went to the Range to get a wooden advent calendar for DD (20 months). The only ones left were broken so I'm thinking I'll just get a milky bar one this year and do the proper one next year.

Also got 2 rolls of wrapping paper, a letter to santa book, some crackers with racing reindeer and some Christmas stickers.

Then went to Superdrug and got DN's present and sweets for other DN. Not bad!

@Footprintsinthesand earlier this week Aldi had a sweet wooden Advent countdown where you move a little house along to mark the days. There was nowhere to put treats though. If you particularly want one that you can put things in drawers or pockets then Hobbycraft have blank wooden ones with drawers that are intended to be painted or decoupaged. You could really go to town and get creative.

Today I bought two more things for my stash of non perishable food. I have hidden the shortbread biscuits from the teenager with hollow legs.

I've also had two presents delivered for him and reserved my tickets for his Christmas concert.

Ooh, I'm going to our local Dene for a Yule log this weekend. I hadn't realised about the decorating aspect to it all. I'd love to see a photo if you'd care to share. I will reciprocate next week once I've done the same.

<scuttles off to google pics>

Only 1 litre. We have about 5. That should see us through Christmas

We've 5. 2 more coming at the weekend!

I’ve bought a bottle of gin for a friend and ordered a few charity calendars, one will be for us and two will be gifts, also 2 packs of brown butter mince pies and a new cinnamon panettone at Waitrose.
Hope to do a little wander around town tomorrow and get something else.

I haven't done much this week in preparation.

I'm undecided about buying the baileys just due to how high calorie it is. Wetting that down when thinking about all the cheese and other food I'll consume sounds silly, so yes, one bottle will be purchased!

Next actions will be getting advent calendars.

Ooh, is that the Bunettone, or is it a different one?

@RainbowZebraWarrior yes, it’s the one. We haven’t tried it yet so can’t comment but we all like Cinnabons and Pandoro so I guess we will like bunettone too.

Pick up some selection packs as stocking fillers for adult DC.

@RainbowZebraWarrior here is our Yule Log, has the remains kept of last years and last years stub of advent candle on the back to burn too.

Today I wrapped nearly everything!
Only got a few things left to get now and done.

Today I wrapped up all the stocking presents and bought our cat a Dreamies christmas selection :)

I have put up our outside tree lights.
DH will complain they are a trip hazard, but he can sort that bit.

Oh @WeirdPookah It is a thing of beauty. And so many berries on the Holly - sign of a harsh winter they say. I'm very excited about going to collect mine on Saturday.

I didn’t plan to do anything but I just ordered a metal pin badge of a rat eating a slice of pizza. From Etsy. That site is a dangerous place for me. My daughter will love the badge though.

I finished knitting the camel’s legs today - I keep having to hide it under the cushion whenever dh wanders through. But I just have the neck, head, blanket and hat to do.

I was in town today to collect one of DD’s presents and also bought chocolates for her stocking.
Also went to Flying tiger - it’s a really dangerous place! I was in a hurry so just did mental (and long) list for the next week but bought DD a little present for today - she was really excited, she likes little surprises spread out over festive period.

Wrapping! I have started the wrapping! I know I'm in control and on schedule if I'm wrapping at this point..'Wrap as you go' is definitely one of my biggest lifesavers for later on. It always takes longer than you think. It also helps me work out who has stuff and who I've still to buy for. So that's my fun tomorrow.

It's just into Black Friday but I couldn't face looking before bed. I want to look for a couple of games or maybe a jigsaw. And I've a couple of kids books to get too.

I have done plan for next two weeks to clear the freezer out today. Operation tidy the house starts tomorrow (maybe after some wrapping) in preparation for a week Saturday which has been designated Christmas tree day because I can't do it the three weekends after.

Operation clear the shit out of the playroom may or may not also commence.

Need to start planning meals for Christmas week as we are having someone to stay, so need to know roughly what my plan of attack is, so I can then start to do Christmas food list. I've started on crisp etc. I think that's the job for Tuesday/Wednesday next week.

Christmas shopping as of today feels under control now. Photographs for family have been ordered. This means I can do Christmas cards next week. My older family members much prefer printed photos rather than digital. It actually gives me a reason to send Christmas cards then too and I don't have to worry about gifts because I know it's appreciated more than anything else.

Christmas socks bought. Christmas PJs still need finding. Still need to get coffee.

I need to track down Christmas teatowels tomorrow...

Have to work out gifts for teachers yet too.

Sending off my first box of presents. A bit more wrapping. Making sure I've got all the gingerbread decorations

Probably end up browsing stuff for myself rather than the other people I have to buy for.

Very easily distracted but I can be the only one?

I've ordered my Christmas cards . Might make stuffing today , I usually just sit he breadcrumbs aged and freeze them but this year I'm thinking of actually making the whole thing and freezing it

@RainbowZebraWarrior thank you! Yes, the bush in my parents garden where I got the holly has lots. I said the same thing to my husband!

Today I got chocolates from Lidl in the Swedish week as a Christmas present, my youngest will find hilarious, as they are called Ploppi, they also have lovely boxes of Moomin biscuits, which I also got.

Went to M&S and got a tin of their Viennese biscuits, as always have them since I was a child. We tested Lidl's version and while they were nice, they were not as good nor special to our taste.

I have checked the price of festive friends in various shops. I’m sure some places usually have them on offer at 2 for £2 or whatever but couldn’t find any offers. DC get a box each every year, one of our little inexpensive traditions 😊. My teenagers were devastated in 2020 when I couldn’t find them anywhere!

I have also ordered stamps today, and bought a couple of packs of squishmallow stickers for my younger children’s stockings.

I want to go and look in the charity shops to see if there are any good dishes etc, my chocolates bowl got broken last year. I could just save my money and use a normal bowl but there’s just something I enjoy about getting out the special Christmas chocolate bowl!

No, I bought myself two pairs of earrings on Etsy last week when I was looking for other people!