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?

I saw a Christmas Tree and Lights outside a house last month

I have started Christmas present buying early this year normally i haven’t gotten any at this point, we normally get Halloween out of the way and then start doing Christmas stuff but definitely feel more organised this year, their Halloween costumes arrived last week, all tried on and fits 👍🏻 i have already bought quite a few small presents for kids, got my nans, MIL and BIL presents and 3 for OH and OH birthday present (week before Christmas) and a couple birthday presents for DD (2 weeks after Christmas) i always feel panicky until i start getting some presents in so feeling quite chill this year lol xx

Taste testing Christmas chocolates.

I’ve booked panto tickets, illuminations tickets, bought some magnetic tiles off Vinted and added to my present stash

I've just ordered DS' Christmas present, so I don't have much left to get now.

Dug out my Christmas planner this week and got my mum’s and husband’s presents sorted.
This weekend I’ll write up what I need for Christmas cake & puds and start buying a few things every shop between now and end November to spread the cost.
clearing out space on my recipe book shelf and the cupboards- needs doing anyway but it’s a more fun job when I have Christmas in mind.
Will be happy if I have the present list sorted by end of the weekend.
On lookout for chocolate brown ribbon and cream/gold wrapping paper.

As far as I'm concerned Christmas was last Christmas. Then I'll probably panic and not have enough time. I just simply can't get my head around thinking about Christmas in October. Or even at the beginning of November. End of November yes then its a bit late.

I've pretty much finished my Christmas shopping, just two last things to get when I get paid at the end of the month.

Just laid out all my purchases on the bed to check I’ve got what I think I’ve got! Swapped a few, lost and then found a few but think I’m nearly sorted bar the selection boxes and other chocolate delights which would just get scoffed if I buy too early!

I need to do this then make a final list or not if there is enough. I’m really enjoying this thread.

Buying Christmas cards, a few more presents and shopping list for making Christmas cake.
Sons are grown up so just get money.
Husband is getting a golf watch - no clue what that does, but it’s safely stashed under the bed

I need to check to see if I need any wrapping paper. If I do, i will buy some this week. Other than that, I will be checking through my lists before I start on anything else.

Managed to give presents to DB for his family today as he’ll be going back to his home country in a couple of days. It’s great getting a few gifts out of the house.
I’ve invited my friend over for a cake baking evening, bought some pre-soaked fruit but will be buying more (like cranberries and golden sultanas etc). It’ll go into a bowl to soak some more with some amaretto.

I finished off the gift our family secret Santa - lots of nice things from the garden centre and a beautiful bird house from Homesense.

I’ve also got a few fillers on the way for DGC’s advent calendar - Christmas hair bobbles etc.

Got two packs of charity Christmas cards today, we send so few these days.

Re decorating already (earlier decorators may be happier!):

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/202411/why-decorating-early-for-christmas-may-make-you/amp

We have time off from cooking between Christmas and New Year and use ready meals. I managed to get some really good yellow sticker bargains from Marks and Spencer yesterday. Usually I’d buy one or two things within the weekly shop over the coming weeks but I got some curry, pasta bake, garlic bread, pizza and lasagne yesterday. That’s all now taken care of along with cranberry sauce and onion marmalade for the cheese board. Oh I bought disposable oven trays yesterday too and the M&S turkey gravy to try with our roast today. We are just doing a crown this year rather than a full bird so would struggle to make my own gravy.

Oh and goose fat. I bought goose fat yesterday too.

I've ordered more books for the kids. I just need one more thing for DD (a top from the Humorous History Company), and then I'm done, bar a couple of gift cards for our nieces in NZ, which I'll do in late November.

ETA: also bought chocolate coins etc today for the bowl of chocolates we have out in December!

I often sit on the Poncetastic thread. So far, I bought the H&B advent calendar and had a satisfying 20 mins opening the lot and sharing the booty.
I've already made two lots of chutney and damson gin. Not enough damsons for jam but I am not very good at that.
I ordered our Xmas meal kit from Abel & Cole.
Today, I treated myself to a Christmas magazine with the winnings from a scratchcard last week.
Coming up, I found it hard to find nice Xmas cards last year as I left it too late, so I'll be looking out for them and a tree ornament for DH who puts up the tree.
I think we are past peak presents time in our family, we are adult Orphans and our DSs don't have partners/children yet. Last year we had a city break in Florence just before Xmas - lovely, but made Xmas a bit rushed!

I’ve bought a few more presents this week , booked our tickets for the Hampton court festive fayre and we’ve made a decision on crackers so quite productive .

Why do you open up your advent calendar? Do you have a second one?

I am testing roasties cooked in various fats every weekend. (Found an account on instagram doing this and thought it was a great idea)
So far tried, olive oil (no go), clotted cream (9/10 great discovery) and today beef drippings (9.5/10 sooo crispy)
Still need to try goose and duck fat.
Also prepared some mini steak bakes for the freezer

Making Christmas cakes.
Bought my Christmas cards.
Looking at booking a pre Christmas outdoor light show in December.

I started knitting a Christmas jumper for the little boy next door to wear in December. I will then move on to knitting a more general jumper for his Christmas present.

Next weekend I need to think about making jam from frozen black-currants harvested in the summer and chilli jam as my Christmas gifts for my team at work.

i need to bottle some sloe gin which has been infusing for several months. I usually give my manager a bottle for Christmas.

Try coconut oil as well!

We put in the meat order (local butcher) after a reminder that no one ate the turkey last year, turkey is now off the menu, H was insisting on two meats, so we are getting a "luxury three birds roast" whatever the fuck that is! I don't eat meat so don't really care, but it's smaller and more expensive per kilo and the teens have been banging on about eating goose (think the youngster heard something about goose and kings)

Fished out the Christmas gentle whodunnit short stories books to see if any more are needed, it's important to me to learn tips, just in case, you need to murder someone and leave no trace in virgin snow "I am sleeping with one eye open"

I intend to spend most of the next two weeks hunting out presents for everyone else and then hopefully chill for November and December.

This week I’ve got the teens to start on their wish lists. I’m not expecting them back for a good while yet, but hoping they’ll redirect some of their expensive whims to the list.

I had a bit of time to spare unexpectedly while picking up one of the aforementioned teenagers, so I had a browse at the Gisela Graham Christmas decorations. I like to add something that represents the dc each year, but I’ve really struggled to find something for ds the last couple of years. Probably should have looked at something more in my price bracket because I’ve fallen in love with a lot of them.

I bought a gingerbread house kit (ikea) and I’ll save some of the left over Halloween sweets for decorations, so I’m counting buying those as Christmas prep too.

This coming week I’m restocking my spices and baking supplies. Last year I couldn’t get raisins or vanilla essence for ages.