So, apart from buying gifts what else could we start doing now to make Christmas easier?

[CatMandu]

The last few years it's been just dh and dc's for christmas, but this year we have the gp's too. I guess I'd better make a bit of an effort. What do you organised people do at this early stage to start getting ready?

Either make or buy Xmas pud, cake, crackers etc now.
Nearer the time (ie early Dec) i tend to make a sausage meat stuffing and freeze it, i also do mashed swede and carrot as a veg side dish and freeze that.
Order turkey.
Wrap presents early so that you are not doing any on Xmas Eve (when you should be peeling the potatoes!)

Get on a plane and go abroad.

cancel it??

Oh come now, where's your festive spirit?

Was going to suggest you bag an invite to a rellies for Christmas dinner (I've already sorted this) but can see you are the hostess.

Sorry no advice .

I start to empty out my freezer, so I can make things in advance and have room to put them.

I have pickled my pears and this weekend am making my cake.

get stocking stuff done (takes AGES!)

Yes I defrosted some leftover stuffing last night for dinner and it was perfect. Will make loads and freeze, plus the carrot and parsnip mix.

Make cake, make and freze stuffing - wrap pressies and write cards (yes I know I am sad!!!).

Start to deeep clean - a little every week as I hate housework.

I justify doing all this early so I can relax during December - or volunteer myself to help out in school a little more than normal!

I agree with murphyslaw about the cleaning, and also try to declutter early! We often have family staying for Xmas + as organised for Xmas as we are, it's the house that gets overlooked in the run-up.

One year I spent the whole Xmas, (about 3 days of everybody staying), constantly making space! Clearing tables + chairs of bits + pieces before each meal, hurriedly tidying the dc's toy cupboards when I knew relatives would be hunting through them for things, clearing up the avalanche of kids' bath toys so my in-laws could use the whole bath, not a portion of it, it was hard work, mainly as I'd been working long hours during December.

Now I start early November, a little bit of decluttering every few days, it's amazing what a difference that makes + I feel so much more relaxed when Xmas comes!!

I am typing out address labels for all my cards, then next year all I will have to do is add/delete as appropriate.

Get your apple sauce done now and freeze it if you are having pork as well as turkey.

I like these ideas, freezing stuffing is a good one I'll have a think about what else could be done now and frozen.

How do I make my own apple sauce, I've never done it before.

Christmas cards now is also a great idea, we are terrible dh and I at this and often end up not sending any .

Menu plan what you're cooking on Christmas Day and what can be made in advance and when.
Write Christmas Card list complete with addresses (every year we come unstuck at this point - but have still to do it!). Stock up on stamps. Also brown paper, tape etc or parcels.
Stock up on a wide range of batteries and place flat head and phillips screwdrivers (and large and small versions of each) in same box with a pair of scissors capable of cutting through all those wires you get with childrens' toys.
Write lists of pressies all your family would like ready for those inevitable questions.
Umm - start thinking about non-perishables / treats you could start stocking up on. (Crackers, party poppers ... ?)
A couple of emergency gifts just in case?

Um, so about this freezing-of-the-stuffing then. How is it best defrosted? Oven? Microwave? What temp and for how long?

Sorry - I'm a total donkey in the kitchen!

Write out Christmas cards now.
Make a Christmas present list and buy online (often cheaper).
Decide your menus over festivities, cook ahead and freeze (if poss).
Buy all your chocolate/ biscuits/ wine and soft drinks and store in garage.
Preorder your turkey with butcher.
Download all Christmas songs to your ipod.
If you're having a party, sort out invitations.
Clean your house like you've never cleaned before. If you have house guests coming, wash all bed linen and towels and store in the airing cupboard.

Oh, and to make apple sauce, peel cooking apples and chop into 1cm cubes. Add a tablespoon of sugar (any white sugar) for every apple used. Cook for 10 mins until apple breaks down, but not too mushy. If you want to spice it up a bit, you can add sultanas and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Thats a great idea re the screwdrivers and scissors in a box Yomellamohelly! Thanks!

If you are thinking about having oven or carpets cleaned, do it in November. Buy candles, matches, turkey foil, normal foil and cling film. Decide what everyone is wearing on Christmas Day and make sure it fits, has buttons, is clean etc. Clear out the room where the relatives are staying, buy any extra bedding etc which might be needed. If you are using your best cutlery or silver and won't be using it in the meantime, clean it now. Wrap presents as you buy.

Buy December Good Housekeeping! i love their recipes, and they show you what to cook, how to freeze it and how to defrost it!

DEFINITELY start wrapping early, so it's not a huge shock in the middle of December.

cook a couple of really lovely stews or pie fillings to go in the freezer, on the day before get them out and all you have to do is put pastry on top and put them in the oven..

make sure your addresses for Christmas cards are all up to date..

I have a database of those I send cards to, pressies we recieve and send and if we have sent a thank you card.
I buy my cards in the next couple of weeks and they are all written ready to be posted on the first weekend of Dec.

think what you would spend on cards....donate it to charity of your choice....no cards to write - its fab and saves loads of time

My friend had an idea which is so simple but saved so much agro over christmas last year. With childrens toys get them out of the box (an amazing feat), put them together, put batteries in etc, THEN wrap them! When kids open them at christmas they are all ready to go. AND no-one has to go to casualty on christmas day because they tried to use the carving knife to prise a kids pressie away from the packaging after too much sherry.