What are you doing for Christmas this week?

[Deliveroo]

Disclaimer - yes I know it’s early, but this is the Christmas Board.

Over the years I’ve worked out a 12 week plan for myself so I can get it all done a little bit at a time. Last week was for reading back over my notes, starting my lists, putting aside money for gift cards (I don’t buy them until December but I put the cash in a card now), and dropping off a bag of unwanted Halloween bits from last year to the charity shop.

This week I have to have the who’s going where conversation so I can get stuck into menu planning. We typically host or visit one set of parents, and then have another family get together on each side too. I need those dates on the calendar so the teens can fit their much more exciting social lives around them.

What will you do for Christmas this week?

Some great ideas on here, esp the freezer organising (will def have to learn from PP & hide the Yorkshires!)
Love the accidental purchase of a velvet suit!
Bought a few more decorations including matching ones for my best friend.
Definitely starting serious thinking about food next week.

I’m wrapping presents for dcs (adults) not many as I’m paying for DS and his Dw to have an overnight stay at a spa hotel. Started buying snacks for the Christmas period not buying loads as I end up eating them. I don’t know if I dare post this but I bought the Iceland Christmas dinner yesterday there’s only me and dd and she’s offered to cook it 😬

I’ve made some terrible Christmas cards 🤭

I’m going to try my highland cow idea for a card tomorrow. Stay tuned for more terrible art!

I’ve unpacked my magic suitcase of festive clothing and accessories this morning and dug out the remaining presents that need wrapping. Everything is now in one place, red suitcase has wrapped gifts and grey suitcase has gifts to wrap.

Everything has been bought now with the exception of a couple of sweet treats for the dcs stockings.

I’ve organised the bulk of what I need for the school Christmas fair, I went through it all last night, just waiting on a couple of extras to arrive and I also dug out of my magic suitcase the left overs from last years Christmas fair to add.

Yesterday we dropped of a couple of bottles of wine for the high school Christmas raffle, just waiting to hear when the primary school want from us, I have both chocolate and wine ready to go.

ive been kicking myself because I usually book the santa experience in September, now it’s completely sold out so I’m looking for others in the area this week. I know there will be a local charity one which we go to but I like to do a big one in the days leading up to Christmas so need to get that sorted on that front.

I put the decorations up last night!

Looks gorgeous!

I don’t think I have ever been this ahead of the game regarding Christmas prep and it’s entirely down to joining this thread, I owe you all a debt of gratitude! Realistically making puddings and mincemeat for pies is still in my distant future, but I have been inspired to refresh the decorations, discovered shops I’d never thought of exploring or knew existed. It’s been a wonderful distraction from the shit show that is work. Thank you all!

I spent 2/3 hours in the rain on Tuesday present shopping, but i am finished! Think this is the first time ever i have finished present shopping before December lol xx

Well done!! Don’t want to be bossy but don’t leave the wrapping!!

Present handover with aunt and uncle done and they also took a couple of presents back for family that they'll see soon but I won't see over Christmas so that has saved me posting them.

I have almost finished Christmas shopping other than for my DB in New Zealand so I just need to order something online to be delivered there. DDs are sorted other than the random snack I buy for their stockings from the World Food aisle in the supermarket. They've been really into KPop Demon Hunters this year so I'm thinking of getting some packets of ramen to put in there (that Father Christmas obviously picked up in South Korea on his way here 🤣).

I decided on Taskmaster Christmas crackers - hopefully people will find them fun. Saved some money by buying the ones released last year but I thought it wouldn't matter as no one has played them.

I had moulds made for a teeth whitening kit I'm getting from the dentist as part of my Christmas present from my husband.

Yes this is why i said to OH i want to finish early because i have sooo many to wrap and don’t want to be rushing to wrap everything lol xx

We made DS a food hamper of Korean and Japanese snacks for his birthday. Highlights were random flavoured kitkat biscuits from the local Asian supermarket. They had mini ones with authentic packaging so we got one of every flavour.

I got a glass gingerbread cookie jar from B&M this morning, teen DD kept sending me pictures of it from tictok with helpful comments like ‘isn’t this soooo cute’ etc. A complete bargain at £3.50 though! Went into M&S and spent substantially more on chocolate coins, bubbly Santas and peanut butter reindeers to fill it. Having opens it all out now I will need to pick up more sweets as it holds a fair bit - teenager will be happy when it appears in December.

I've made more mince pies today, as well as some sausage rolls. 😋

Just checking in to say im unbelievably impressed. BUT I have somehow also managed to buy 2 pressies. However this was completely unexpected 🤣

Nothing this week other than working on two crochet projects for the kids. My DD wants a rather free form swirly crochet poncho and I’m making my son a throw in his favourite football teams colours. I think I’ve bought all the presents I’m going to. My son wants new pans/pots which knowing him will be £££. I’m visiting my sisters who live abroad at Easter so will be bringing their gifts then. Only other people I give gifts to are my step grandchildren and they are sorted as I commissioned some plushies.
Food I ordered a couple weeks ago . Christmas cards I’ve yet to order but I found out it’s £3.40 stamp for outside the UK! And at £1.70 for first class letter I need to get the cards sorted (and perhaps trim the list) so can be sent second!

I’ve cleaned my fridge and the oven clean is booked for 24th. Also finished my daughter’s stocking today. So that’s all my presents bought now.

Not much really but have made my lists of what to buy food wise and who to buy for. Did knock a couple of items off the list when I went to Iceland earlier though.

I will be wrapping this week.

This week I will be mainly eating mince pies so as to get my eye in.
Mostly Waitrose brandy butter topped and /or limoncello ones

I added some bits to my food delivery that is coming tomorrow. Buck’s Fizz, iced fruit cake… other bits I can’t remember! Also going to refine my shopping list.

What a nice idea for a thread. You've all been busy.

I was delayed starting my Christmas preparations. I was in Portugal at the end of October and then I got word that a school friend had passed away suddenly. So I had her funeral when I got back. I've just started to think seriously about Christmas in the past week or so. In fact, I only took down my Hallowe'en decorations at the weekend.

Anyway, better late than never.

I had a browse in some shops yesterday. I mentioned it on another thread, but Arnotts (department store in Dublin) has a gorgeous Christmas shop. A whole area is devoted to Christmas decorations and they have Christmas trees here and there, decorated with the baubles. All very festive. So I had a really nice browse there and I have a bauble in mind for DD's stocking.

Anyway, I picked up a different stocking filler for DD (not the bauble). And settled on presents for my ex-MIL (I'm very fond of her) and my two closest friends. But I'm holding off on buying them until the Black Friday sales on the 28th. They're expensive, so I'm not going to pay full price for them. But if they're reduced, they should be in the right price bracket.

I'm off today and tomorrow, but I have to get a medical procedure done tomorrow. So might be an opportunity to write my Christmas cards.

I'm going to have some breakfast shortly and then I'll start making lists.

I have meal planned the whole 2 weeks. I’ve never done this before and am always flummoxed that planning beyond the big party we have the Saturday night before Xmas and the Big Day itself is required. Like, why can’t we just eat cold turkey and ham for 12 days?😂

So last weekend I sat down and planned it all to within an inch of its life - well, one main meal a day 19 Dec - 2 Jan (19 Dec being the first day last kid back from uni). Including visitors etc. I then food ordered x 4 deliveries and am making two big meals to freeze this weekend whilst I’m quiet. I’m feeling VERY pleased with myself and wondering how it will all fall apart as the kids decide last minute they are hanging out with mates instead/have gone vegetarian/developed some aversion to whatever.

Well I've been to Asda today and spent nearly a third of the Christmas Savings Pot on foodie bits, wine, Bucks Fizz, Mulled wine, soft drinks and some christmas stocking gifts. So have quite a few items ticked off the list now.
Still need to look at some beers - alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic - it's just a matter of working out which store has the better deals for a multi purchase.
DS has indicated that he, DIL and GDD will be coming a few days earlier as DIL can wfh whiile staying with us. So now need to menu plan some extra meals. DS likes cooking so might encourage him to suggest and cook a meal or two. 😾