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've just put my Christmas cake in the oven. Mary berry reckons it should take about 4 hours.

It's the first time I've attempted to make a gluten free Christmas cake since my daughters coeliac diagnosis, so a little worried how it might turn out. I'll just have to drench it in even more booze if it turns out a bit wrong!

Feeding my Christmas cake

Sorting out the freezer so I have a drawer free for the frozen elements of Christmas lunch and the desserts I’ve got coming on this week’s food order

I might start doing some unpressured online research into what I want to buy for presents (all adults, small budget so it’s not a big job or one which is stressful) as the weather is awful here and we are anticipating a day at home

I've been shopping with disabled adult DC for bits for him to give to his sibling. He likes to actually look at stuff in shops, although the 'main' present will probably be bought online. He's happy, we've got what he wanted and we're having a coffee in a café before going home. Might wrap what we've got later ...

i am hopefully going to get the Christmas stuff including stocking fillers down for the loft so I see how much I have for each child and work out what I need.

We moved house 6 weeks ago so most things there were not in use where put in the loft so we could paint.

Going to soak the fruit for the Christmas cake and pudding

Making a nice lunch for some friends who are coming round

Make the shopping list for the mahoosive cook-a-thon I am doing next week for all the prep ahead food

I’ve just finished decorating my Christmas cake this morning. Plus I’ve ordered some gardening presents for myself.

So only bits for me today

We started yesterday with tinsel instead of paper chins for hanging half of our collection of Christmas decorations from. We've tended to buy decorations from the various parts of the world we have travelled, so it's even more of a trip down memory lane.
Bought a stash of delicious mince pies, but although their BBD is December 27 they won't last that long.

Well, you could always stay out of the dedicated Christmas board. Just a thought.

Whilst waiting for my 3 DC this morning I popped into Asda to check out Christmas stuff. Bought 1 litre bottle of Baileys (£13 at moment), 2x special crumble pies (doubtful if the Baileys and the pies make it to Christmas), a couple of books for stocking fillers, and I decided to make a hot chocolate station, so bought 3 Christmas themed storage jars to hold the hot chocolate powder, marshmallows and assorted chocolate chips for topping.

Ordered some stocking fillers this morning!

@Mummumgem oooooo where did you order fabric from? I’d like to make a tablecloth this year.

We bought ds some chocolate dinosaurs for his stocking when we were food shopping today 😝

What I've got left to do is...

Buy the remaining few bits on my list (this week)
Wrap everything (next weekend)

Then, before the end of November:
Write cards
Fill the advent calendar including writing the activity cards
Order the cheese hamper
Final Christmas week food plan and update Sainsbury's shop
Put up decs and buy and decorate tree
Have the kids write their letters to Santa (and buy the one gift each they ask for).

Early December - deliver teacher, childminder and sister's family gifts and Christmas cards.

That's it!

I'm making the Christmas pudding! Will do the cake tomorrow.

I'm marinating my fruit for the Christmas pudding in orange juice and brandy (Mary Berry's recipe). She says to do it for an hour, but I'll leave it overnight and make it tomorrow.

I have some Christmas bits coming in tomorrow's supermarket shop too. 🎅🏻 🎄

@ChristmasIsComing2023 can I ask where they came from please? My dino mad DS would love them

I'm just crocheting a blanket for a Xmas present today, and browsing the bargains thread but trying to save for black Friday as it's right before payday!

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/311678471

They're supposed to be for cake decorating but it is just chocolate shaped as dinosaurs 😆

Fed the Christmas cake with brandy. Bought some presents yesterday along with wrapping paper, gift bags, tags and some small presents. Got another present today. Updated my gift list. Spiced red cabbage was made a few weeks ago and is in the freezer

…say yes to a Christmas meal with neighbours in a local pub on 6th Dec and send my deposit to the organiser 👍

Today is the first taste a mince pie day, by declaration of dd who says they’re delicious.
Have also purchased and frozen a lovely piece of sirloin on the bone (thanks for reducing that Waitrose!) for Christmas dinner.

Fire is lit, wine is poured, film is on. Perfect day.

Eat a chocolate orange, the mint ones are scrummy.

I bought Christmas cards from the Red Cross shop, and a glow in the dark space cushion and rug for dgs's space themed bedroom, from Lidls, the last rug in the shop! It's his birthday just after Christmas so I usually try not to drown him in toys!

Today DD and I have been bauble shopping. It's her first Christmas in her own place and she is beyond excited. She said she loves being a grown-up and able to splurge her own money on Santa toilet paper. 😂

Haha this

I hid all the presents I have bought so far in the loft.