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?

Not the best pic from last yr but it really filled out the tree i thought

Today I'm working an extra shift to get a bit of extra money for presents.

Yesterday I took advantage of smyths Black Friday offer if £10 off £100 and bought Lego for my boys.
Also placed an Amazon order with a few stocking fillers and randomly a new kettle!!

Today I went to Aldi and bought a tin of their Munch Mix (or some such - a dupe of the M&S snack tin), so that's my munchables sorted. We have the M&S empty tin from last year and Mum will buy us the refill pack, so I will be able to do a taste comparison. Can't wait!

I didn't know this existed, I'll definitely be looking out for this.

Today - as the weather was awful - we stayed in & put the Christmas decorations up. A bit early for us, but we're too busy over the next two weekends. Fulls a lot more festive now.

Today was Stir-Up Sunday so I stirred up and steamed the pudding.

I went to Aldi today & bought one of every item in the shop...not really but I spent an eye watering amount, much of it on festive treats I've now stashed away, a couple of gifts, a couple of bottles of their Bailey's dupe & wrapping paper (lovely looking for the bargain price of 99p!).

The rest will last until Christmas food shop day - although what we eat will become less organised as the month goes on I fear & more a mix of what's there to be eaten 🤷‍♀️

My aim is to run down fridge, freezer, and cupboards, and top up a minimal amount.

So ive managed to get some more kitchen cupboards cleared, sunroom aka kids toy room decluttered (8 bin liners of crap dropped to dump today!!) Dds room cleared and tidied and christmas duvet set on.
Fruit prepped and soaking in fridge for 2 cakes. Once they are baked later this week i will get number 3 soaking.
Tmw i plan to get up in attic and clear what i can. Christmas throws need a wash ready to put out again, need to clean the sofas too.
Try and sort some online shopping for this week as dont have time to hit shops.

Yesterday I put the Christmas cushion covers on. Dc went up to the attic and brought down all the decorations. They had a lovely light tree set up when I got home from work. Might get the kitchen tree up today.

My plan for today is to get my christmas tops out and freshened up .

Hopefully will also fill the advent calendars and wrap the bits I have picked up since my last wrapping.

Today I have picked up some bits in Morrisons for Christmas. We always host on Boxing Day and do a buffet for around 20 people so I tend to pick up a few food items each week to spread the cost as soon as non-perishable items come in or fresh items with January use by dates.

This morning I bought beef dripping and roast potato seasoning for Christmas Day and then for the buffet I've bought some salami, sliced chorizo and the cheese for the cheeseboard (brie, stilton, boursin, double gloucester and a mature cheddar.) It took a bit of searching to find packs with long enough shelf dates. I've also cleared one shelf in the fridge to start stashing things with DH and DDs under strict instructions not to touch anything from that shelf! 🤣

I will give the Christmas cake another feeding this afternoon.

@Justhereforthechristmasthreads that's a good idea actually! I've acquired one dd1 was getting rid of, so that's had a wash already. The rest could do with it!

Today I've relisted some items on Vinted - trying to make a bit of extra spends. And I'm just heading up to do a corner of my bedroom to make space to stash gifts.

Got up to attic today and got rid of a fair bit of crap. 2 full car loads to the dump. Feels great to get that done! Got the old tree out and new tree offloaded into tree bag🤣
Got sofas hoovered out, throws off and washed/dried. Christmas ones washed and now drying. Cupboard in utility room cleared out too. Chest freezer emptied and defrosting ready to move to garage as we dont really need it. Busy day and starting to feel less overwhelmed!

Today I will go and choose and collect The Tree! 🌲

Buy dd1 the Taylor Swift CD that was released today, buy dd2 the Adele merch she was hoping would be up on the website (it is!), and hopefully order dd2 the remaining books from her list to split between Christmas and her birthday on 28th Dec.

Also booked another of dd1's "year of gigs" for her 18th present - tiny support act for a tiny band is headlining her own, tiny venue (60 people max) show!

so 2 cakes baked last night. first feed then wrapped and set away. I used 2 6inch tins so I will do the same again this eve with the 2nd batch of fruit .

Today have cleaned the front room and made space for the tree. Taken a load of stuff to recycling and charity. Bought the stuffed turkey crown and frozen pudding. Wrapped the last gifts.

Ordered DD1's present. DD2's main present and a couple of others so wrapped and put in loft as they are at their dads.

Today I picked up bits for a Christmas themed brekkie to kick December off for my son. Nothing fancy, just pancakes, cream and strawberries that I'm going to make look like a Santa on his plate.

Plus finished off decorating his December box - a few crafts from the Range, winter PJs, an advent calendar and some jumpers off Vinted. Wrapped a shopping box in wrapping paper, and just need to add a few stickers to make it more exciting for a toddler!

Not really Christmas prep but felt very festive - also took him to a free advent fair today. Paid €2.50 to make some Christmas cookies he scoffed in 2 seconds flat.

A massive thank you as well to whomever the PP was that gave the idea of placing all the December grocery delivery orders! Could only get a click and collect slot today - nightmare with two smallies - so grateful I have December sorted.

Finished off the online ordering barring one item (I think!). Also enquired as to whether my dad would like anything specific. I was thinking "main" gift to go alongside stocking of little bits.

You will never guess what he wants...

Pants.

He wants undies, please!

In a men's M.

Like CK but not as pricey, but not cheap cheap either.

🤣 proper gave me the giggles in the bus queue!

2 more cakes made. Christmas trees and decs out. Just need to hoover up the aftermath . doing that tmw. Really wish i had my baileys in now , wee glass would have been nice now ive sat down .

It's tree day here! So tree & decs up, and order one last thing 🎄

Tree up, room decorated. Wrote Christmas cards. Now just need to find addresses and see which ones can go by Scout post locally.

Today I have written the Christmas cards and DH has marzipanned the Christmas cake ☺️

Today I have posted my Christmas cards and wrote a list of the food I need between now and the time my Christmas shop arrives. I buy quite a bit of food I think might not arrive so my actual shop isn't that expensive. My son now has Christmas bedding on, ours went on weeks ago and I've cleaned the skirting boards and gave my daughter's room a good clean and tidy.x