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?

Rearrange the furniture to make space for the tree.

A spider crawled on me... I don't mind spiders in general but personal space means not climbing on me.

I’ve finally made my to do list, and the list of who we need to buy presents for, and I’ve ordered some of them.

I still need to make a start on the Christmas cake.

Cleaned the spare fridge freezer. Bought new plastic boxes to go on top. They are for the mince pies, crackers, crisps, chocolate etc. There are only two of us. Bought the paper tablecloths to cover boxes, so the temptation isn't there. Bought a gnome stocking hanger, half price from B&M. It's to hang pre lit pine trees in a hoop, from the mantle piece, bought from Aldi, which is a copy of what they sell on QVC (I was chuffed with that bargain).. Bought star toilet paper and kitchen roll from Heron. I wanted a change from the snowman. My DP has health issues and needs to nap, he wears a eye mask. I've got him a Grinch one from Home Bargains, I'll replace his in December without saying a word. Tomorrow I'm planning out what I want to buy, treat food wise this coming week and get that done.

Cleaned out and reorganised the spares cupboard in the utility room to make space for Christmas treats. Got rid of a load of cardboard and now have a lovely free shelf just calling out for lindt and cheesy Christmas trees, biscotti, stollen and mince pies 😋

I went to the garden centre yesterday and bought some red and white flowers and compost for the large pots by the front door and some solar-powered outdoor pot Christmas lights. Had some Christmas cake with a cuppa when I got back.

I started wrapping on Friday and cleared out kitchen cupboards, yesterday was at York Xmas Markets and today I'm at a local Xmas Fair to see if I can pick up some more edible gifts.

Tomorrow I am starting to paint the front room room ready to put the tree up in December. Back to work Tuesday - Friday, so will have to wait till next weekend to sort anything else out lol.

Most of my planning seems to be just reading this thread .

We are having a very low key, stress free Christmas this year, just DH & I and two relatives. No one's staying over which is a relief. I have made a list of what to prepare in advance - brandy butter, stuffing & bread sauce and clearing out freezer space. Have delegated making the Christmas cake to one of our guests.

We no longer exchange gifts (apart from one friend and any relatives under 18).

I have started writing my cards - we send (& receive) a lot but that's something I really enjoy.

I will order some specific fudge that we sampled in the Summer which my elderly DM loved so that will be a nice surprise for her.

Today I will eat food from the freezer to ensure that there is space in it in time for Christmas.

That is all.

Go me.

I got more Bailey's and vodka, plus chocolate coins, in the shop today. I'm about to commence baking for freezing, as we're moving before Christmas, so being prepared will save me doing much baking once we've moved!

I have also fed the pudding!

Today is Christmas cake baking today.

This morning I bought some stocking fillers for dd and sil. My aim is to buy a couple of things each time I shop, so it's only the apple and orange that need bought last minute. I stopped doing stockings last year and sil was so disappointed that I decided to reinstate it.

We are finishing off making our Christmas cards and gift bags today - looking forward to that being done. I planned it in the hopes of saving money when in reality it would have been cheaper just to buy them 😂 but it’s got us in the Christmas spirit. Will probably address and stamp them tonight all ready to be sent in December, just so I can feel a little more prepared.
I am also picking up the last of my daughter’s presents today (except one big one I’ll need to buy last minute) and ordered a book for my secret Santa.
Desperate to put up decs but will wait a little longer.

Research and order another lot of presents for family who live abroad.

Probably nothing today 😂

Yesterday I got my parcel for Australia in the post, withdrew the cash for those getting cash and got the diabetic socks for my grandad that had been on my to do list for ages

I also purchased a very spendy refillable advent calendar - must stop seeing things for me/the house and using my budget 😂

Tomorrow I plan to start wrapping

Ooh @Coffeeandchristmascake how lovely - a free shelf just waiting for Christmas goodies. I attempted to clear out a cupboard earlier. I found that my bread proving basket had gone mouldy (yuk!), so that's gone the journey. It's now turned into one of those scenarios where the counter tops are full of stuff that needs to go back in, and there's soooo much of it. I'm having a sit down for 10 mins to gear myself up to restarting. A clear shelf is my goal! My reward will be a cuppa and a Waitrose orange and cranberry crumble topped mince pie which are A-MAZING.

Yesterday I bought a load of limed pine cones from the florist in Fenwick. (only 20p each!) They are so pretty I can't stop looking at them. I wish I'd bought more now and am considering making another trip tomorrow.

Was sitting on the 'What are you buying your Teenage DS?' thread and got a couple of great ideas, so I ordered those before I'd even got up. Have updated my Christmas Book where I write down all my ideas for people, where I've ordered stuff and tick off when it arrives (mostly to make sure that I don't overshop for one, easy to buy for, person and someone else only gets one tiny thing). Plus it gives me an illusion of control, I've got everyone I need to buy for listed as headings so nobody gets forgotten or left out.

My kids are all adults now. But when they were growing up I was an extremely poor single mother of five, so now I have a decent income I enjoy treating them and selecting nice little gifts that I know they will love. They had a lot of crap Christmasses when they were younger and never complained, bless them.

Probably not doing anything today. I have been over-exercising (I have Rheumatoid arthritis) for weeks. I must just rest and read. But….then my phone is calling me to just look on Etsy. No. I’ve decided what I am getting. No browsing.

Been out to a few shops this afternoon and got some good stocking fillers, starting to feel a bit more organised, I'm normally about 85% done by now, and I'm probably only about 25% this year!

Oh Oh Oh! My younger son and his girlfriend just came round - they'd been out on a walk and he proposed to her!

So my Christmas is now going to contain a good deal of wedding discussions!

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat ❤️❤️😍. Probably because they didn't feel lacking.
Xmas was always about more than presents in my house.

Today I have glued together a broken photo frame in anticipation of Xmas

Same here , it's in the oven now smelling soooo nice .

I got the Advent Calendars for my (adult) DC . They didn't like the Hotel Chocolate ones last year , DD didn't like the Elfs Stocking so she palmed it off to DS .
I;ve gone for Cadbury ones this year .

The Dec 1st Boxes are pretty well sorted , just one for item for DD .
Now I'm looking at them , there's probably most of her presents bought except some :evi jeans that she needs to try on.
We're going out in a couple of weeks to get them and have a scout about for books or clothes .

Well. I didn’t plan to do anything today but I just ordered three shirts from George at Asda. Click and collect. Less than £40 and all cotton.
So that’s probably it for DH. Just the box set of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and DD(20) asked if she could pay for and give him the 2023 Private Eye annual I got.
We each have a big box of hotel chocolat so….he’s not easy to buy for and I don’t want to buy for the sake of it.

And about 2 hours ago I ordered a black cat plushy for DD(20). I have 2 black cats and it’s actually about their size. She’s got a real thing for plushies at the moment.

I will probably only be getting one more gift for her. Finished for DH so only the cats and something else for my singing teacher. And some tubs of celebrations for the departments in the Orthopaedic hospital that were/are part of my care. Can’t wrap until my cast is off but it feels good to be almost done.

Aww @Vroomfondleswaistcoat that’s so sweet 🥰

I've just finished wrapping today and mainly just buy for my 3 sons
I pack them into an ikea blue bag each
Which spreads them out and the tags stay on, I also know I haven't lost anything