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?

Cards for abroad posted today (now £2.80 for airmail to Aus and USA!)
Padded envelopes bought for small gifts to be sent with some family Christmas cards to UK.

I got the majority of my santa shop done yesterday AND wrapped the big stuff as soon as I got back. I'll have to take it easy today after all that hard work 😂 so today it's just working with the sports shop on the lost parcel. Thankfully they have agreed to send a replacement/refund.

Made the advent calender for my twin DNiece and DNephew.

Wrote down the IOU ideas for DH's advent calendar.

Reorganised DD's bedroom for a family visit this weekend, so we can do some Cbristmas shopping.

Got some Christmas lights down from the attic. Might even get the DCs to help put some up, this after-school.

Wrote out my butchers order

De-greased 1/2 the kitchen, will do the rest tonight.

Also got to move the dining room table and add another leaf, for the weekend, which is a trial run for Christmas.

I've booked the pottery today for the painting of a Xmas bauble I always do every Xmas. I'm painting it on Dec 7th then collecting 10 days to 2 weeks later. I always do early Xmas first week of December because that's when I can get all DC , foster son and 2 dgs's together. 7 of us will be painting this year. It's one of my favourite Xmas things to do. The other Xmas thing I'm going to do is making a Xmas wreath I'm doing with my sister's for our Parents, Aunties and Grandparents' graves on December 12th. We are all going to Xmas lunch then too.

I've also been picking up a few Xmas grocery items like 2 foil trays to cook the turkey crown in, extra wide foil, boxes of crackers, wrapping paper, tea lights in red, I bought a book of stamps before they went up for the few Xmas cards I still send by post, I've bought 2 boxes of brandy snaps, some cranberry sauce, some mini meringues for making an Eton Mess dessert. We are getting our real Xmas tree from Xmas tree farm on the last day of November. I've started getting a few stocking gifts. I've got MiL some fur lined red boots she'll love, an Amaryllis bulb and pot, Dove cream bath, word search books in large print and a box of Thornton chocolates. I've got DD some chenille gloves, a mini bottle of rosé fizz so far. She and SiL are having euros as their main gift and I've got those. Eldest DS is having large Lego set and I've got that. I've got his gf a lovely 9 carat gold chain and a separate 9 carat gold R initial with tiny diamond chips on it and a bottle of the rosé fizz for her stocking. I've got over half of my foster sons Xmas gifts. He wants new ear phones and a Fitbit I'll get on black Friday. I've already bought DH a bean to cup coffee machine for our holiday home as he misses his coffee on holiday. I've got DH a few stocking bits too. I've got to get DGC gifts yet but I'm waiting for DD to say what they want. I've got to have eldest son and his gf, DD & SiL and 2 DC gifts ready for December 7th as I won't see them over Xmas but we have a tradition of me doing early Xmas with all 3 DC and foster son first weekend of December every year.

I could so do with a Xmas planner. I'm going to try to get one for next Xmas.

Today I bought food for my husband's stocking. Not much left to do now!

Yesterday I bought a small gift for each of the colleagues I work closest with.

Must find my table runner out for a wash today, that's probably all though as I'm out tonight.

We have snow today so no school. Its the perfect weather to get out the (first) christmas tree.

Posted Hotel Chocolate advent to DS and his fiancee yesterday.

Going to test alll the tree lights today-I put on zillions and need time to replace before the decorating!

Setting up christmas village-last years me left this years me a note on my calendar to order more snow and that arrived yesterday.

Have stripped all of DC (all in 20's don't live at home sob) beds and washed bedding ready to make before their arrival.

Put up the Christmas tree during the dreamiest snow day. Had hot chocolates & Santa lollies and built a snow man - perfect start to Christmas. ❄️

shit. bit late to the party this year!
I plan on starting a declutter/deep clean this weekend. dh is also away all day tues so I can then get in the attic and get rid of some stuff. (bought a new christmas tree on wed. its hiding in the car boot for now til i get rid of a couple from the attic.)
I might get the fruit and alcohol in today for soaking then i can make the cakes during the week.
started some christmas shopping though not got much in. in laws are getting harder to buy for, esp as they dont really want anything. thinking i could the dc to make/bake something instead.
if i have time later im going to clear my kitchen cupboards out. ive already sorted my fridge/freezers.

Yay...it's payday (and small back payment 🥳) so I'm off to The Range Christmas with dd1 to see what we fancy from there 🤣

Decluttered two cupboards of doom, did a trip to the charity shop, and to a recycling centre. Bloody hard work but very satisfying.

Spotted a good black friday deal yesterday on the last santa present I had to buy so santa ship is officially done, my last 2 parcels arrived today. Today I got christmas crackers and some biscuits which were on offer. Really feel like I am saving money this year by buying early when things are on offer!

Just beware "The Twitch"!

Soooo...entirely new decorations for the tree it is then 🙈

Dd2 made the mistake of asking for a festive bird but did not specify any further so she has a festive flamingo. & dd1 picked a red balloon dog. Balloon dog is glass though so may not survive the dickheads kittens first Christmas.

Bought another small gift for dd1 while we were out, and a couple of stocking fillers for my Dad. Also checked with a friend that a gift she's bought is alright for the money (I want to buy one of the same, now I know it is), and started a thread in S&B for mens hand cream recommendations.

I'm slowly recovering from a concussion and the dreadful vomiting it has caused so haven't been able to do much. I managed to get the turkey and gammon in the freezer a few weeks ago and I made a start on the gift shopping. It may have to be the year of vouchers.

Sorry to hear that teamistress it sounds ds awful.

Santa shop complete and November monthly pay in my bank so I think I'm going to have a look around today for gifts for parents siblings and siblings in law. I still have to buy for nephews but that can wait for another day.

I bought a bottle of champagne, nice cranberry sauce and nice chocolates in Lidl to put away. I am buying stuff weekly to pop away.

Today I did a practice run of some of the recipes for Christmas. Jamie Oliver roast potatoes & honeyed hasselback carrots were a success - green beans a resounding failure.

If I have time later I'm going to start wrapping gifts so I can fire them in the attic and forget about them. Just have one more big pressie to buy for DS2 - what do you buy a 3 mth old?! - one for my sister, and one for my dad. Leaving DH to buy the presents for his family this year!

The Christmas jumpers I bought off vinted arrived today too, so need to wash those.

I took dd2 into town with a list of make up she wanted to replace. We've managed to buy her gifts for dd1 - Doc Socks, some leather care products and a set of body sprays dd had seen last year but was too late to buy!

Also bought a few more bits for my dad's stocking & something for a colleague 😊

I'm fancying tinsel for the tree this year if anyone's seen any really thick & bushy stuff anywhere?

Tomorrow I'm off to Aldi to browse their festive offerings.

Today I have ordered my brother's christmas present so that is one more ticked off the list. However the company have somehow duplicated the charge. So I have 2 pending payments and have to wait for the second to drop off 😡

I got bushy multi coloured tinsel from the range about 3 christmases ago. Love it! Could do with another section or 2 but they havent had any of it in last couple yrs. Pity as i loved all the colours and how it sparkles.