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?

Today I have bought DH a new pair of gardening gloves to go in his stocking.

@onlyhereforthechristmaschat I've been buying vouchers from my butcher every week when I pick up my weekly order. Last year I was a bit gobsmacked at the final bill so I'm offsetting it a bit. I know it's all the same money at the end of the day but I feel I'm smoothing it out over a couple of months. I've also requested that he sticks to the weights I've ordered - last year's turkey breast was over 1,5 kilo more than I expected and that added ££ to the bill.

Today I cleaned out the freezer which resulted in the discovery of an incredible quantity of bananas! I've now made 4 banana bread loaves, 36 banana and white chocolate muffins and a tray bake! Much of it to put back in the freezer 🙂

@TheWoollybacksWife its great isn’t it, I’m so glad I’ve spread the cost over the year and I’m not stressing out as usual.

Today I’m going to book dinner for DH and I for the 23rd. One of the very few traditions we have just the two of us is to go for dinner. Today my mum and I are going to the local garden centres with for our annual day out. Everything is absolutely stunning but very expensive so I won’t be surprised if I come home empty handed!

DH currently outside in the garden putting up the new twinkling lights to add to the current set of twinkling lights 😀

The neighbours have said they like them whatever the time of year so we have been switching them on every evening when it gets dark.

I have finished buying the few Christmas cards I needed and plan to write the international ones this week so I don't miss the last posting dates (which I have missed every year since time immemorial). Also made a list of how many generic cards to buy in the January sales.

Today I WILL put all the banana baked goods in the freezer!

Today I bought a pack of 4 red candles from Ikea, in varying sized, to "do something with" for Advent.

I picked up some new wrapping paper and one annual for DS today.

I’ve bought and frozen pigs in blankets, also made sage & onion stuffing, that’s in the freezer. I still need to sort the rest of the freezer contents though.

Booked my Tesco’s Christmas click and collect for December 23. How much!?!

Ordered PlayStation for ds. Bought wrapping paper (3 for 2 at Morrisons), whilst I was in there I saw a miniature Baileys and Kaluha set with two little glasses for £8 so I slung that in my trolley!

I was about to say nothing but, actually I booked my Christmas Tesco first thing this morning & had completely forgotten til I read @Wardrobebirth 's post!

I have sorted the 2 Dunelm Delivering Joy gifts. Picked up the tags ages ago so they are now ready to drop back to store.

I've also boxed up 3 gift hampers they just need one more thing in each before I seal them

Today I will make make pigs in blankets and red cabbage side dish

Any tips for making the pigs in blankets ahead?

Bought wrapping paper!
Any recommendations for where to buy ribbon? Fabric one that hopefully I can reuse next year

Are you anywhere near a Yorkshire Trading Co?
They have some good ribbon offerings.

I saw nice ones in Home Bargains, too.

Ordered the rest of my wrapping paper online yesterday. As well as christnas bedding for the DC who complained last year that they didn’t have any!

Going to go to Flying Tiger and Sostrene Green after work today to look at their Christmas stuff and hopefully buy some bits to put in the DC bedrooms.

I just wrap chipolata sausages in streaky bacon. Then I thread them on a wooden skewer or two. I got about 10 on each skewer. Then I put them in a foil tray and wrap it in foil. Freeze until Christmas eve

Deep cleaned kitchen and dining room

Will finished wrapping tomorrow

Yesterday I picked up some chocolates while they were on offer. I also booked my 23rd December home delivery slot. Today I have my weekly food shop coming, I have some crisps and crackers included in it to put aside for Christmas. I don't usually but christmas food ahead so this is a big improvement for me!

Today I also hope to wrap some santa presents while DC are at school.

I now have all Christmas food bought or on order apart from vegetables. Will probably buy those on 23rd when we go to collect the beef.
Christmas fair at local garden centre this evening, I doubt I shall leave empty handed!

Today I took down all my autumn decor and have dusted the higher/hard to reach places, cleaned the coving etc while I there.

Working my way round room to room, top to bottom in each.

Clean slate.

Today I am going to put up some outdoor lights. I've already wrapped some gifts. I am also going to take down autumn decorations so I can clean ready for the switch. I'd like to get the tree up next weekend.

This evening I will be buying the fruit for the Christmas pudding so on Sunday it can start soaking in sherry for a week ready for Stir-Up Sunday on the 24th, the only say anyone should be making their puddings.