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 Christmas meat order has been delivered and popped into the freezer. I've made some lists for gift shopping and what food bits we need. I'm absolutely determined that all bits of shopping and ideally wrapping be finished by the end of the first week in December

I've been back to Aldi and bought a polar bear squishee for DD. While I was there, they had some chocolate biscotti reduced to 9p so I bought 6 boxes (I left some on the shelf) They will be good for teacher gifts as I'm making little hampers for the lovely SENCo folks.

Had a quick flick through the Aldi Christmas catalogue with DD before she went to school. There are quite a few things in the food section that we like the look of. Going to have a cuppa now and make a list. There's a handy list of dates at the back of the book which I've posted below in case it's useful for anyone.

I picked up from Tu Click'n'Collect my children's Christmas outfits, I love them, they are even nicer in person!
Red Paisley Christmas Print Dress
I was going to do some wrapping as the weather forecast was so bad, but turned out bright and sunny, so went for a walk to get the order instead!

DD is currently decorating a ginger biscuit house.
It is a kind of Christmas thing, but won't last more than a week so probably doesn't really count.

Today I have wrapped my presents for my parents ready to take up next weekend.

I cooked and froze pigs-in-blankets, carrots and parsnips this week. Bought mince pies, crisps and chocolates over the last few weeks. Also put presents- I started buying in March- on the spare bed so I know that I have everything for DD’s and DH.

Other than that I’ve thought about doing lots, does that count?

I found very posh Maple flavoured streaky bacon reduced to 88p so will be making pigs in blankets today to be frozen )

@AdoraBell @redjoker your frozen pigs in blankets, do you actually cook them or just freeze them ready to cook? If you cook them do you then just heat them in the oven on the day?

*@TeaMistress me too. Have been adding items to my Amazon and M&S basket for weeks thinking i would wait until black friday to order but i've just ordered them all this morning, mainly gifts for nieces and nephews, i want them here and wrapped before december so that's something less to think about

@Broodywuz I cook them on low heat so they aren’t browned and then defrost and reheat in the oven. With the veg I blanched them and will roast them. It’s always worked for me that way.

I wrap the bacon around them and freeze them raw and then cook on the day as normal. I wouldnt always bother, just the posh bacon couldnt be passed up!

For years ive had a very certain notebook for all my inportant notes. it has been lost for a year!

Ive put off making this years xmas 'lists' (food, shopping cleaning) becuase i lost it. Mid level anxiety about ack of lists and 6 weeks to go

I FOUND it. bloody DH stole it, order has been resumed

Writing my own Christmas wishlist today!

I have managed to sort quite a few presents out today, bought a lot and have also made a list of all the remaining presents that I need to get so I am happy with that.

I've looked through all my cupboards and found 6 wrapped gifts from previous years which I'd hidden but 'lost'. I've unwrapped to see who I can allocate it to or donate to a charity Christmas gift collection.

It's the start of November, so I haven't even thought about Christmas. A friend of mine told me in JUNE that she'd got my present. Fucking hell, that's very sad.

@YouWontHearTheLastOfIt
Why post on the Christmas board to complain?

Money off fairy lights in B&M today. So of course I bought some 🙂

I think it's more sad coming onto the Christmas board specifically to moan about your friend buying you a present 😳.

Anyway, in order to do what we want for Christmas in terms of nice food and gifts I have to spread out the purchases. It's six weeks away and I've only got one more payday til Christmas so I'm well into my preparations. I refuse to get into debt for it so doing little and often throughout the second half of the year works for me.

Today I bought DH some shower gel for part of his stocking presents. I know for his main present I want to get him a cross body bag or new wallet so I had a little look in Fossil but am going to shop around a bit first.

We've got four family birthdays just before Christmas and another two not long after, so I'm trying to sort these birthday presents before I get onto Christmas. I have lists EVERYWHERE and I'm not even hosting Christmas this year!

Just taken delivery of a new set of china, as the old one was ageing badly. So I've also bought new everyday & Christmassy tablecloths etc. I'm going for a natural, woodland theme this year but with subtle glitz & sparkle. I barely managed to resist a tiny, wood & painted tin ornament at the garden centre today, of woodland animals carrying presents - the price helped me not to buy it, but it was so squee.

Has anyone got recommendations for seasonal smells? I can't find candles with a true pine scent - I have one leftover from previous years but I'd really like fresh ones. A reed diffuser or spray would do; I just want something that smells like the Christmas tree I'm not going to have.

This one is my go to.

We opened a Bailey's yesterday and I'll likely do some wrapping later as I've parcels to send off all over the place, but the presents need sorting first!

I may watch Die Hard whilst wrapping / drinking Bailey's! 🎅🏻🎄🎁

No Fluffy watch a nice Christmas Film instead....

<runs away> ha ha ha

Fighting talk!

I'm not watching anything until I can locate the sodding remote control. Christ knows where he's gone!