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?

My pudding is currently steaming on the hob.

The next few food deliveries will have Christmas things in them (booze, biscuits, crackers, advent calendars, selection boxes etc).

My next step is to wrap presents and post them home, as I've almost got everything I need now.

@MissMarplesNiece - I usually buy mincemeat but add a grated apple to each jar of the stuff I use.
Takes the edge off the sickly sweetness, makes it go further, is less calorific… all things being equal 😏

Start to think about where we are likely to have dinner (most likely at home) and who we may need to invite to join us.

Then a conversation needs to be had with DH as likely to be my side that we will be inviting.

None today. Childcare day for two grandsons.

Went to Asda this morning and ended up coming home with a second Christmas tree for our kitchen diner. Only a small one for on top of nest of tables - only £15 pre lit so I’m quite happy with that.

Also picked up some baubles for the main tree as i’m changing the colour scheme.

Only went for some socks for DS!

Doing some online ordering today, as I've now got a list of things I need to buy. Also might start planning the Christmas menu this evening so I can start to add the storecupboard bits to the shopping each week.

I had my 10% off Lidl app coupon, so I got several frozen things, some cute reindeer milk mixers, a plush hoodie and some sweet tubes for stockings.

I'm going to feed the Christmas cake this afternoon.

I've got a couple of things arriving for gifts today so that'll be my parents' presents sorted.

Yesterday I transferred my random list where I just write things down as I think of them , to Proper List .

Sainsbury/Waitrose/M&S/ and Miscelleanous

I am hoping (fingers crossed) to have most of it done by end Nov .
Then I can enjoy December , I've got some booked days/nights out in Dec to look forward to

Same, op... Looking at freezer space because I need to get my duck into it.

I purchased some lebkuchen and Toblerone from aldi and Xmas treats for the stocking.

...be trying to make sure I have enough presents to cover DH's birthday Christmes eve, my siblings 5oth boxing day, 7 birthdays in December, oh and yes also Christmas presents! Same every year, that month is just crazy, my own bday too but don't get much chance to think of that lol 😆 Lot of saving up needed, often just feel like shouting ffs!!

This evening I managed to do all but about ten of my Christmas cards - those are the more “difficult” ones where I need to add a message about a brereavement or something or someone important, and I’m leaving those ones until I’ve girded my loins and have a morning free to finish them off.

I’m so pleased to have most of the cards done, as I bloody hate doing them at the last minute, and now the bulk of them are sorted. Yippee! That’s a dreaded task made much easier!

This week I also need to order and pick up a tree skirt as all the ones I liked sold out early last year. And start thinking about wrapping and sorting things in preparation for December.

Hear you re the deep clean! Honestly find it the most stressful thing about Christmas, getting the house all clean.

Ordered a tee shirt for DH as part of his present.

Ive booked a days annual leave for it (shush dont tell anyone!)

I have to carefully schedule it, it needs to be clean for the decorations but also clean for general xmas vibes, I am an absolute maniac

I will.....bury my head in the sand and pretend it's not happening.
But also get my xmas cards out by the 1st December and not the 24th which is what I normally do.

Today I have got out what I have so far and checked it all fits in the correct stockings

I have made a list of what I still need to get for the stockings

I have checked the 2 snack boxes I am making up and added a couple of things to my list to finish them off.

Going to spend the afternoon wasting time on the internet searching for stocking fillers and trying to resist buying all the things I have been tempted by for me😂

Last night and today I bought/ordered the remaining presents for my parents. When they arrive I can wrap them ready to deliver in a fortnight as otherwise I won't see them probably until after Christmas Day.

I have also checked our Christmas Card stock and bought some more from the Tourist Information centre which sells charity cards for a multitude of charities.

Main shopping is done. A few things still to arrive. I wrap as I buy [smug face]. Tonight I'm hitting the bargain shops for stocking fillers & nice sweets.
Will start to add treat food to each weekly shop now to build up a stash. I like to not have to shop between Christmas Eve Eve and New Year.

Today I bought a present for my nephew so that's another thing ticked off the list.

I also bought a few bottles of Cremant that should see us through the festive season.

Not exactly for 🎄day, but I just finished my Mary for my (nth) Narivity set, for Gdcs’ school Christmas raffle. Only the baby, manger, two sheep and a donkey to go…..

That's lovely @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER I've made a couple of those knitted nativities. The sheep are very fiddly and my donkey was rather wonky!

Today I had planned to collect some decorative bits for my Christmas cakes but the sugarcraft shop was closed for an emergency so I went into Sainsbury's and bought a pack of chocolate Santas for the Christmas Day pocket on the advent calendars.

I’m so pleased to have found this thread - I expect to become a regular!

We are hosting DPIL for Christmas - they’ve stayed before but not for years and we’d only moved to this house the previous week, so standards were low and we ate at DSIL’s house, whereas this year we’re cooking. I’m quite excited about it - our kids are 9 and 4 and I think they'll be pleased to wake up at home.

So far, I have:

done an Ocado order for Christmas Day breakfast and lunch (though I need to go back and think about snacks and other meals on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day);

been through our bedding stash and worked out what I’ll use on each bed;

bought a Christmas oilcloth for the kitchen table;

ordered gifts for my team at work;

decluttered the kitchen cupboards to make room for Christmas groceries;

ordered napkins to match my Christmas table linen;

booked tickets for a show the weekend before Christmas;

sorted out Christmas jumpers for both kids so I don’t get caught on the hop like I usually do;

got new PJs for the kids to wear on Christmas Eve (family tradition); and

bought a cheap present for the kids to give to their cousin’s puppy, who they adore.

Big remaining jobs - off the top of my head:

presents for my godchildren;

presents for teachers;

presents for my parents; and

order a Christmas tree to be delivered.

Our garage was flooded at the weekend and we don’t know yet if any of our decorations were spooked, so that’s this weekend’s job.

I bought some stocking fillers for dp and ds, a present for my mum, 2 smaller presents for dp and ordered make your own calendars for the grandparents gifts today 😝

Browse the Christmas food in Aldi