In Preparation For Christmas Today I Will.....

[onlyhereforthechristmaschat]

...clean out the freezer and make a meal plan to use everything up before December.

I hope you don't mind me starting this thread this year @beautifulsunflowers I absolutely loved this last year. I watched from afar and followed along doing one thing everyday to spread the cost, time, energy and Christmas cheer throughout November and December.

What is one thing you plan to do today to get organised?

I've been browsing for a new Christmas tree. I've measured the living room floor to ceiling and I reckon I can get away with 8ft but I'll probably go with a 7ft so I don't have to get the step ladder out to decorate it.

Desperately need to deep clean and declutter the house before Christmas.

Not had Christmas at home for a number of years (live overseas for now) so this year going all out and getting quite festive (yes I know its way to early for some).

Planning decs as well, just put outside baubles on a tree (no one else can see!)
as well as lights, my goodness I will need lots of batteries but they look so good!

Really cut right back with gifts for a number of reasons, but have done a advent calendar for DH with some silly/practical/food/toiletries, pretty pleased with myself TBH!

I admire those who are ahead of the game on the food front....but I have Baileys....may have to check its ok to drink!

Thanks @JoanCollected I need to do a meal plan for the Christmas holidays so I will do that now.x

Well, all my plans for Sat/Sun went out the window!

Today, I need to collect two presents ordered into my Argos. Then, type out the recipe for making my favourite Christmas liqueur.

I thought of a few more I have done.

• I bought good glass and stainless steel stackable large storage containers with lids in Ikea - always struggle to get bowls of leftovers in fridge so this way I can put them in, stack them and heat them in the oven easily.
• Already bought all christmas PJs for family, they're hanging in wardrobe. If I leave it too late I find it so hard to get a full set for 6 to match.

Today I ordered a football jersey that DS wants from Santa.

DH put twinkly lights up in the garden on a timer yesterday. I've shopped for most gifts now and wrapped all but one. Dogs gifts still to do, but it's only new poo bags holders to find. Tomorrow I'll be rearranging cupboards and chucking all out of date stuff to start putting a few Christmas comestibles in. Not many as we are dieting. I don't go nearly as mad as I used to with treats.

I’ve been away for the weekend so haven’t managed to update on here. I came back yesterday and booked my Asda delivery slot for the 23rd and transferred the money I’ve been saving all year into my regular account so it’s ready to spend!
This morning I wrote my Christmas card list. Last year there were 5 people less on the list due to deaths and couples splitting up so I am feeling very blessed that this year there will be no one missing and I will have 1 addition instead as we are welcoming a new baby into the family later this month.
The next thing on the list for today is to book hairdressers and nail appointments for December.

Yesterday I bought a jersey for older DS, today I got one for younger DS and tracksuits for both. That's christmas day clothes sorted. Also saw a Christmas sweater really cheap in tesco so I picked that up, it was 7euro which I think was 5 or 6 pounds.

Today I've sampled the mince pies I brought to check the quality happy to say they passed the test so I'll buy more tomorrow along with the large pouch of quality street that somehow got eaten last week.
I've brought a few gifts already and I've been sadly looking at 3ft artificial trees because my toddler is a maniac and I've got to put my tree out of reach which means it will have to go on the sideboard we would normally have a large real one but never mind.

This week ill be doing same regarding the freezer listing and using.

Next week I'm going through my Christmas Dec's and donating all that I no longer use. There's been a few posts on local pages for young families needing decorations etc.
Then sorting through wrapping I have , I send to get all new each year so each dc has their own so all old rolls unopened will also be donated.

Then start wrapping what I have and writing a list of what's left to get. Altho apart from 1 dc I'm certain all the others are done . Except Xmas eve box pj's

Updated my Christmas planner.
Ordered Lego tree ornaments.
Collected Magic Mixies lamps for DD and DNiece from Argos.
Got the ingredients to make apricot brandy.

I have booked 3 days off in Dec to prepare food, wrap, decorate and potter around.
Love these, I put christmas movies, drink hot chocolate and enjoy the quiet time

@Lalanbaba that sounds lush 😊

I'm just on my way to collect a Boots perfume order for the girls, browse chocolate advent calendars & buy those with dd1, and have a wander of Primark for stocking fillers after seeing some on TikTok last night.

Get the Christmas cards out (I usually top up my supplies in the January sales) and ensure I have enough. Like a lot of people I send far fewer than I used to but I still enjoy sending and receiving from friends and family we see rarely.

I'm also going to check last posting dates for abroad right now....

@lucysmam sorry to gatecrash the thread but if your boots order is a click and collect. Check it in store before you leave. In mid October I had an item missing, they said they would send it out and that never appeared either. They have now gone silent on me when I asked for details on how to escalate it higher

Here they are if anyone else wants to check.

So whilst I am here I may as well join in.

Today in preparation for Christmas, I have updated my to get list and budget. I am aiming to have all gift side of thing done by end of November so have 3 and a bit weeks left 😱

Ooh, @Lalanbaba you've just reminded me - today I want to buy some wrapping paper so I can get started on some very desultory wrapping up. I usually leave it really late and this year I'm determined to get ahead of the game!

@Justhereforthechristmasthreads thank you, it did occur to me to maybe move to the side & check it.

Today I wrote a list of all the shops I want to go to over the next few weeks. I won’t buy anything from half the shops but I like to have a mooch about and make sure I have seen everything before going back to the very first idea I had! Today’s shop was the Range. I saw some nice outdoor decorations but will need to show DH and see what he likes before buying anything.

Thanks for the link @IDareSay I didn’t realise the dates were quite so early

I have ordered the dogs stocking fillers and his Christmas dinner.
Finished the treats shop ready to be delivered on Monday after much debating over whether it was to extravagant to spend £9 on a cherry and almond stollen just for me.. i decided it was not.
I need to wrap the kids stocking fillers but I really cant be bothered its such a faff!

Today I went to TKMAXX looking for stocking fillers for grown up dd. Didn't find anything this time, but I did spend a happy 10 minutes sniffing bars of soap and bought a lovely little tin with orange and cinnamon soap in it, to be used from mid- December onwards. It was only £2.99. I'm a suckered for little tins and also for bars of soap, so win win!

Well, I came out of Primark with a single stocking filler each that dd1 picked & carted around the shop 🙄, a Grinch shelf sitter to add to my rather large collection, and a pair of pretty bow earrings. Not quite what I went for 🤷‍♀️

Perfume order is fine - the young lady at the counter gave me a face when I shuffled along & unpacked it there 🤣 but @Justhereforthechristmasthreads makes a good point about potential for disappointment & it's a lot of money not to be right! She did dispose of the packaging for me too, which was nice.

Advent calendars bought for everyone, and dd1's best friend who is having a tough time at the moment. She's expecting something silly so got a Hot Wheels one so as not to disappoint (last year was Peppa Pig).

Might start wrapping tomorrow...only might though!