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?

I put together two parcels for my penfriend in Australia. We're celebrating our 30th anniversary/friendship this year. I picked up some Irish souvenirs for her during the year and got a nice Irish made Christmas ornament. Everything is ready to go off in the post on Monday. Normally we just send each other Christmas cards if I remember to send them off before last posting date to Australia. I'm feeling super organised this year .

I bought two presents - a lovely soft dressing gown for DD and a jumper for Ex-FIL (I'm very fond of him). I picked out a jumper for my Dad but I wasn't 100% sure of his size. By the time my sister got back to me with his size, I'd already left the shop. But I'm hoping to do some more shopping tomorrow, and I can get it then.

I spent a lot of time admiring the Alessi crib and assorted figurines. I won't buy them because

(1) It would add up super expensive. The crib alone is £80 and then you buy the maji, shepherd, star etc. separately.
(2) My cats would not appreciate the expense and design

But they're gorgeous.

I ate a mince pie.

I want to start wrapping soon so I can get rid of all the bags and boxes. The house is feeling very cluttered.

What about a Baby's first Christmas bauble. This one's cute https://www.mamasandpapas.ie/products/bauble-neutral-2023-45463xm01

The Early Learning Centre are good for toys for babies and toddlers. At the top of the website, you can select by age.

If you'd prefer to get her clothes, Next have some lovely clothes for babies.

I need to think of presents for ds2 (aged28) and ds3 (aged 26). Ds2 is going to Australia in January, to work for 4 years, so his main present is cash, because he won’t have room in his suitcase for stuff, but we’d like him to have something to open. Ds3 is also getting cash - he usually saves it up to go towards a holiday - but again, I still feel he needs something to unwrap.

I am leaning towards clothes - a nice jumper for ds3 and t-shirts for ds2 - is that too unimaginative?

Today I've got my fresh Xmas tree from Asda. I've picked up a hoodie for my 2nd sons stocking and a sweatshirt for DH's stocking. Later this evening when FS is on bed I'll be starting my wrapping. I've already bought all the gifts for Fake Xmas which I'm doing with my 3 DC and 2 DGS's on December 9th. I've got my cake bouquet ordered for the 8th. I've still got to get a frozen turkey breast but I've got beef. I'm cooking a full Xmas dinner for them all and gift swapping with DD, DSiL, 2 DGS's, eldest son and his gf. Youngest son and Foster son will be there but won't be swapping gifts with them until December 25th. I'm far ahead of where I usually am. I usually don't start shopping until December. This year I've bought all wines, spirits and chocolates too.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius it's not unimaginative if they will like jumpers/T-shirts. My DDs are similar ages and definitely prefer useful stuff - bonus points if it's an upgrade on stuff they would buy for themselves.

Today I have bought the last stocking filler for my DD1. I'm pretty much done now. I'm not a twitcher so I won't worry about last minute panic buys.

Today I’ve ordered the final bits for Xmas box so that’s done now. Also ordered last gift for dd2 and last gift for dh. Done for all kids and dh now just need to collect the items this week.

I wrapped (in tissue paper) the presents for DD Dec 1st Box . I buy her skin/nails/showergel/lipbalm that she can use all December rather than everything on Christmas Day .

And I cleaned loads, used the big vacuum (the one that feels like a workout) .
Going to add some store cupboard Christmas groceries to the list tomorrow .

Today I'm going to M&S and will pick up some biscuits chocolates for some gifts then I'm going to a farmers market to get fudge and whatever else I can find.

Christmas dinner menu has been finalised. I work with young people in care and will be working Christmas day. I'm going all out this year...well as all out as the council budget will allow and hoping to make some excellent memories for our children. Today I'll print out the menu and write an in depth shopping list. I also need to decide what kind of cheesecake to make.

Yesterday I wrapped all the gifts I bought so far so they need to go up into the loft at some point.

Once at work later I'll print off vouchers I bought yesterday.

I'm hoping to be finished shopping by 30th November so I can enjoy the festivities as stress free as possible.

Hmmm, planning Christmas menu and writing food shopping list. I nailed some of the wrapping last night but loads more to do as stocking fillers take forever! So will continue that this evening.

Still not had a mince pie so I might break the seal on that today 😎 and have a mulled wine!

Feels like I'm wading at the last minute, room for another?

I've got my DM and my dsis and her family coming for Xmas Day and my own family of five. I'm in the middle of organising a nice Christmas table, with mixed success.

I tried to buy some fake greenery to drape across the table but when it arrived it looked like something dragged in by a dog. So that's been jettisoned. I'm collecting new plates today because our mismatched and chipped current stash looks miserable. Hopefully this will go better than the centerpiece.

Today, I will order the Switch games for my eldest son's present stack. I will also dispatch DH and kids to the shops to buy Christmas presents for the dog.

Today I am going to work for the seventh day this week so I can earn enough money to pay for Christmas 😂

I really need to stop dithering and decide on the Christmas menu today.

I’ve had a look at the things I’ve got for guests stockings and a few things needed for the men to even it out so have a think on those.

Decide which of 2 options to get Dh so I can buy that when I’m in the city tomorrow as both showing low stock..

@onlyhereforthechristmaschat that's so sweet of you and I'm sure your young people will have a fab time. My local rotary association does a gift and Christmas dinner collection for children in care. It's worth contacting your local branch to see if you can benefit from this year's collection.

Yesterday I wrapped the stocking presents and 50% of main presents- just waiting for 1 more to arrive.
This morning I’ve made the red cabbage for Christmas Day, and enough to go with a gammon Christmas week with some left over to accompany tonight’s casserole.
Tomorrow I’ve got a day off and the boilers being serviced so starting to feel quite ( unusually) organised 😊

Today I have cello wrapped the 2 hamper gifts I have put together.

I also found the gift I had mislaid for my dad. Phew.

Today I bought Monopoly Crackers from Lidl - much cheaper than the DIY ones I'd been eyeing up.
I've also ordered the present for my boss.

Nothing today. My arthritis is playing up so much. But I did discuss plans with DD(almost 21). It seems that she is now spending Christmas in Spain with her Dad where her Dads mum, her Uncle, Aunt and their very young children live. I am really happy for her because she hasn’t met her little Cousins yet.

So she can celebrate Christmas with her Stepdad and me later when she returns.

This morning, I went for a run. I need to do lots of exercise in the next month in anticipation of the excess over Xmas and NY!

I’ve just made 36 fat pigs in blankets, now in the freezer.

- shameless boost -

DH bought me an early present! I am snuggled up in Christmas duvet. (This follows a conversation earlier in the year where an acquaintance said she had a Christmas room full of all the Christmas household stuff and I said I had none of that, not even a tea towel.)

My life is now officially complete.

Rack my brains madly trying to think what the heck I can get for DH.

I also need to do this 😏
Had a productive weekend getting the house cleaned and organised, tree going up on Friday. Got a George at Asda and M&S click and collect to get today then need to go through all the gifts I have and write a list of what I still need to get

P.s. 4 weeks today guys 😁

*@Nearlyadoctor and any others pre freezing red cabbage. How will you heat it on the day?