50 days to go and counting...time to get organised as the big man is on his way soon! Countdown to Christmas 2025, thread 3

[NoWordForFluffy]

50

Here we go...time to go go go all the way to the big day.

PSA: you need lots of batteries and sellotape, plus tin foil! #yourewelcome

@NoWordForFluffy from Aldi which is coiled like a slinky and is a total bastard
you had me laughing out loud with that especially as yesterday we decorated the tree and after a really busy weekend trying to get it all done in an hour nearly finished me off. I couldn't get the bloody lights right at the top of the tree and in a hysterical hissy fit pulled all the lights off and threw them on the floor. DH and DC just walked off and left me to it.

Joy to the world.

Oh god, Magnolia. 😬 I could see myself doing that! 🎄 >>> 🌲

Home Bargains is your friend here! Very well priced and they look beautiful! A few decorations on and im sure one style had lights as well. I am very very tempted but not sure where to put one!

@ILoveCatsAndKittens
I'll remember that for next year! :)

23

Anyone else starting to wake up each morning with a faint sense of panic?

Hosting some friends tonight and I'm working and I've got that whole "why do I suggest these stupid ideas" feeling. Its all very well back in September when it seems like a great idea.

That'll teach me (it wont)

It's going to roar by now isn't it?

Happy Tuesday everyone.

Morning!

Not panic exactly, but a mild sense of 'what do I still need to do?!' It's definitely running away with me though.

I'm packing the kids off to their grandparents on Friday night so I can wrap their presents. I've got my cross stitch cards to finish / post and another present to post up to Scotland when I remember where it is. I bought the NZ gift cards yesterday, so ticked that job off.

Thankfully there is no hosting in my immediate future what on earth were you thinking?! as I couldn't cope with that!

Office day today. Booooo!

Morning!

Christmas spirit is in short supply here and my sense of panic is definitely not faint Fluffy

With my rational head on I know I'm probably panicking unnecessarily but I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. All the presents are bought and I can wrap them at leisure as there's no small people here to hide from. All the festive food is under control - just a couple of things still to make for the freezer - and I'm not hosting anyone other than my own children. I wrote all 20 of my cards yesterday and I will pop the ones that can't be hand delivered in the postbox later today. I think it's the getting the house in order that's the problem. Today's job will be dusting and hoovering the dining room and the lounge ready for trees to go up which will probably be Friday's job. The bedrooms are more difficult as DD2 still has lots of stuff still to move to her new place but everything needs sorting in time for DS to come back from uni at the end of next week.

I don’t think I am too concerned about how fast Christmas is approaching (ask me next week and it could be a different story). I keep tweaking my online shopping order. I have most presents I think. Waiting for my parents pressies to arrive and as we are going to see them on 21st they need wrapping as soon as they arrive.

I am working Christmas Eve and Boxing Day then have three days off so planning to yomp Pringles and watch tv for the majority of those days.

Pretty much done here, I think until the dreaded twitch descends
I wrap as I go, otherwise I'd get overwhelmed 😫
Food order done, the few Christmas cards I send were posted today.
We just need to decide on our family charity this year and donate

I needed to use the dining room table to spread out my wreath making gubbins so I haven't hoovered yet 😬.

I'm quite happy with the end result - the ivy was foraged and the pine/spruce is off cuts from the Christmas trees sold by the garden centre at the top of the road. They "sell" them for a £5 donation to the local hospice. berry bits and ribbon were from the Hobbycraft January sale.

@whydoesitalwayshappentome
I think its much more stressful if you're working over the 24/25/26th

Its beautiful @TheWoollybacksWife

@TheWoollybacksWife your wreath is beautiful!

I have a week off before Xmas so plan on wrapping presents then. Had a look yesterday and it doesnt look like ive bought DS much, then remembered this morning a bulky present i had forgotten and also a garden game which is quite bulky.

DH ive no clue at all what to buy him, got him a few Xmas socking bits off santa, but I think ill end up giving him money towards a watch as im unsure which watch to choose!

The food shop theres only us three and we usually have Xmas dinner on xmas eve but we are put during the day this year so it'll be a take away pizza Xmas eve, party food on xmas day then might do the turkey on boxing day.

When does everyone hand deliver cards, is it too early just yet do you think?

Thank you @Glennponderand @ILoveCatsAndKittens

I'm hand delivering some cards this week as it's our group Christmas meal. That will leave two cards to hand out and I'll probably see them next week. I'm either handling them out early or screeching to a halt on Christmas Eve and lobbing them through my friend's letterbox 😂

Gorgeous wreath!

The wreath is gorgeous Woollyback
I do not have an artistic cell in my body unfortunately so it would look like a bunch of twigs if I did it .

Many many years ago I did an ivy wreath , I have ivy in the garden , twisted into a hoop then try to fill in gaps and secure the scraggly hanging tendrils.
It did last a good few days on the front door . And cost me nought as I have ribbon and could cut as much ivy as I wanted . And it was lightweight .
But it was one of those "Well this seemed like a good idea at the time" ventures

Today I drove SH to work and picked him up ('cos I am decent) did loads of washing , vacuumed , and made an AppleCake which is rather nice !

I got some more Christmas cards painted! Makes a change from all the shopping!

@FurForksSake
They are so lovely!
You're very talented 👏

22

Morning!

I gave out my first cards to mates that came over last night.

Love the wreath @TheWoollybacksWife and the cards @FurForksSake

I'm going to a wreath making workshop on Friday.

My amaryllis bud is starting to develop, looks like it might be quite short! I wish I'd done a few more now.

Three weeks and it'll be Christmas Eve and (hopefully) all the planning will have paid off .

I noticed on Sainsbury online there isn't a lot of the chocolate I want , certainly seems to be a lack of Cadbury . I'll need to investigate IRL .
My DC have asked for Cadbury this year , I'll have a looksie in Hotel Chocolat for some of the Clementine SuperNova chocolates which were delicious last year .

I've got some oven cleaner on order , and if DH manages to fix the carpet shampoo-er I'll give it another clean.
On Friday I'll do a last minute de-clutter of the cupboards and pantry , recycle DS old socks'n'pants as he has his new ones .
Pick up M&S order ( click and collect , not food)
Might have a wander round the M&S FoodHall though and see what's going to catch my eye .

I - hopefully - have a free ish day tomorrow so the current plan is to blitz the bathroom and kitchen

1 x works Christmas party done ✔️
Still to go:
1 x graduation ☺️
2 x theatre trips (didn't think this one through tbh..)
2 x meals out
1 x coffee meet up with a friend
Dh has a minor op next week, so I'll be on taxi duty for 2 weeks ☹️
Looks a lot written down 😬

21

Morning!

I'm very soggy after the dog walk. It was intermittent rain when I started. Then got more steady when I was going round. The dog has his dressing gown on now we're back!

We're having a 10kg saltmarsh beef delivery today, which includes two 1kg joints for Christmas. We're having steak for dinner. 😋

I'm on my way to work and its also soggy. Your dogs dressing gown sounds very cute.

Did you really type 10kg of beef??

I got a living one in Lidl. Not in the uk though, but maybe they will be in Lidl in all countries.

Will add a mist of gold paint to its basket and a ribbon.