FLY Christmas countdown.

[Jas]

Week 1

First Things First - Make a Book!

Get a folder (any sort) as a place to put all your Christmas paperwork
and write Christmas Folder' on it. I use an A4 ring binder and have lots of those clear pocket pages in and some dividers. If you participated last year you just need to find the folder you already made, but put `somewhere safe' after Christmas. I transferred the finalised gift list from 2009 into this year's folder to try and make sure I don't give anyone something too similar to last year's gift!
Write a list of all the people you are going to buy gifts for and make a rough budget for each person (don't fill in the gifts yet). If this year you feel you want to change things, for example you and your sister are just going to buy gifts for the children this year, call her and let her know. Put the list of gifts in your Christmas folder. You can have a divider if you wish labelled 'Gifts'.
Write a list of all the people you want to send a card to. Don't get
addresses just yet. Count the number of cards needed and write it on the bottom of the list. Calculate for an extra 12 cards in case you have forgotten someone (you can always use the extra cards next year!!) Put the list in your Christmas folder (divider - 'Cards'). You can reuse your card list from last year, and just add in any new friends.

Making Bookings

If you are going to be away over Christmas and /or New Year, now is the time to book your travel arrangements and arrange kennels/cattery places for pets.
Hotels and Travel Lodges book up early so reserve for yourself and also those who are coming to visit you. If you plan to eat out on Christmas Day, book now at the Restaurant of your choice if you haven't already. Think about Christmas day and all the other days in the holiday season. Are you staying with family or having 10 for dinner?!! Just because you did it last year (and the 5 years
before that) does not mean you have to do it again this year. Decide what YOU want to do and call the relevant people. If you tell your mother -in -law that you are not going to come for Christmas she can make other plans.
Make your own Christmas traditions and discard any from the past that
you don't want to do anymore. Don't forget to give others the same
opportunity if they don't always want to conform to your usual Christmas rituals.

Get a Savings Card (optional)

If your local supermarket has a Christmas Savings scheme, go and get a
card. Put a small amount onto the card each month, this will make your
Christmas shop so much easier. If you only put £3 onto the card each
week as you pay at the checkout you will save £48 to spend on
Christmas extras.

And most importantly smile when you think of Christmas, don't give a moan!

(fell off "threads I'm on")

LittleCheesyPineappleOne....If you go on to the customise link at the top, you can reset threads I'm on for 7 days

Christmas Countdown 2010 Week 6 12th - 18th October

Cards
If making any cards for Christmas, try and get another batch finished
this week.

Stamps
Buy another pack of stamps and put them in your Christmas folder. Christmas stamps will be on sale 2 November, this year they are Wallace and Gromit

Gifts
Buy another few gifts (try and aim for minimum two) and wrap and
label. Update your gift list. If purchasing online try somewhere like
www.moneysavingexpert.com for discount codes/ codes for free p&p.
Keep your eyes open for sales (Debenhams seem to have one permanently!) and 3 for 2 offers.
If stuck for ideas, hampers/ boxes/ baskets full of little bits and
pieces relevant to the recipient can go down well. Baskets can often
be picked up cheaply in pound shops. Boxes can be old shoeboxes
wrapped in festive paper. The box/ basket can be themed (eg: golf -
tees, a pack of 3 balls, a golf towel, golf ball shaped chocolates,
golf ball shaped soap, a new golf glove etc) make sure you keep a
total of the spend though - it is actually quite easy to buy lots of
little bits and pieces which then add up to more than your original
budget!
If making gifts, aim to finish some more this week.

Childrens Crafts
If the children are making cards/ presents then try and get them
started soon. Half term isn't far away so get in your craft supplies ready.
Photo calendars - always a popular one for grandparents. Time to start rooting through those pictures to find some suitable ones :-)

Christmas Groceries
The shops are already stocking cakes, puddings, advent calendars,
stocking sweets etc. If you plan on buying any of these aim to buy
sooner rather than later - there are some offers on some at the
moment. Buy one or two items a week and put them away in a cupboard that no-one knows about so they cannot be eaten early!!!

Kids Rooms Challenge
Set them (if old enough) the task of sorting through 1 area of toys/
books - old/ unwanted items can be donated to charity shops/hospitals/playgroups
etc... Broken items should be thrown. Don't forget you could make some money selling them on Ebay.

Healthy Options
Now that the weather is cooling down, rather than go straight for
(yummy) winter stodgy foods, how about some lovely homemade soups
(using up the last of the garden produce, maybe?). Puddings can be
warm fruit compotes - yummy - lots of plums around, or maybe you have
apples and blackberries to use up from the freezer/ garden

Kitchen
Go through your tupperware style pots - get rid of cracked/ broken
ones and ensure you have enough lids! Replacements can be bought
quite cheaply from places such as IKEA/ Matalan. Finally check your
bakeware - has some of it seen better days? Do you need a larger/
smaller roasting tray for dinner this year? Either make a note to
start buying a few replacement pieces or add them to your 'wanted' list for Christmas.

have fun & don't stress about the small stuff!

Going to keep an eye on this thread, I'm trying to be more organised with Christmas this year!

Excellent - glad this is back. Got some catching up to do now, but really pleased to have some actions. I had my folder all ready to go but nothing to put in it!!

ooo ooo marking my place panic reaching me. thanks be back later for a good read through (thx toffee)

Gosh, I haven't started yet - I am so behind already! Will definitely be watching (and trying to keep up) with this thread this year!

Jas I've come over to join you! I've taken the week off after half term to enjoy getting ready! A real luxury but who wants extra time off at the end of March! I've got quite a bit left over from over working last year!

Christmas Countdown - Week 7 - 19th to 25th October 2010

Stamps
Buy another packet of stamps and add it to your wrapping/mailing area
or your Christmas folder.

Gift List
Buy a few gifts from your list. Then update Gift list, wrap and label
them. Keep receipts in your Christmas folder (in punch pocket) in
case you need to return anything. (divider - `receipts)
If you think things may need to be returned ask for a 'Gift Receipt'
these are longer length receipts from stores which means you can buy now and return in January.

Now is the time to buy catalogue and mail order items so if they are
out of stock or you're not happy with the item you still have plenty of time to exchange them/order something else in time for xmas (Sylvia had problems with Amazon last year promising a book would be in for Xmas and then it wasn't - so don't leave things to chance!)

If you are having guests for meals at Christmas go to your dining
area. Think about Christmas day and other events. Do you have enough
chairs? Does the table extend - if so do you have a tablecloth that
fits, enough tablemats? Space for the larger table? Maybe you can
have a separate kid's table. Thinking about this now avoids nasty
surprises nearer the time.

Find, buy or sew a tablecloth for your table. If in doubt play safe
and buy a plain tablecloth and add a Christmas table runner down the
centre.

If you prefer check out the Christmas catalogues for paper
tablecloths. Studio Cards do a big range of tableware with matching
accessories (just right for all of us SHEs who HAVE to have co-
ordination)

Kitchen Challenge
Have a sort through kitchen cupboards/pantry. Throw away any food
that is out of date. Put all the baking stuff together, the
condiments together, the tins together etc. Sort-out plates, pans
etc. Throw away any cracked, warped, stained or broken items.

Have a brief think about Christmas Day and other events. Do you have
enough plates and glasses? For a sit down meal you need plates, side
plates, starter/desert bowls, serving stuff and cutlery. For a buffet
style meal you can manage with disposable plates/cutlery if you want
to.

WARNING:
Do not get carried away and start cleaning the cupboards! Just group
things sensibly and throw away the junk. We will clean the cupboards
nearer Christmas so we have a lovely organised kitchen to work in on
Christmas Day

Keep Smiling - less than 10 weeks to go!

pushmepullyou....You cannot be behind with FLYlady
Just jump in where you are and you will be fine.

OMG Jas I am in awe of you! Can you come round and organise my life? This is the most useful thread ever

Brilliant I was a Christmas control journal! I've started Christmas cards and they bear down on me like a two stone weight from above. Presents bought and have designated present case for all presents [hgrin]

Feeling chuffed with myself, will now go and check kitchen ware. I know i need new cutlery and have been looking for lovely dishwasher safe melamine plates for
DC.

Thanks jas

want

Just a little note to all you misinformed mumsnetters who think I am super organised....these are copies of emails from Flylady UK, not my own work!!

I am Much less organised than this!

There is a link to join FLuk at the beginning of the thread. It is a yahoo group, and not easy to find/join unless you know where to look.

Marking my spot. I'll pop back later with a cuppa, mince pie and last years journal [hsmile]

Morning again I've had a mince pie and tea and have now got out my Christmas Journal. Thank you Jas for your tips. Wallace & Gromit stamps will look great. (out 2nd Nov for everyone else) I can't beleive that I didn't write in what I finally got for a friends!or final receipes for Christmas Day. I've lost the photo of the table setting that looked fab! I promise to put down a few lines over the Christmas Hols to remember what worked and what did not!
So My two Christmas tasks for today will be find out which Panto we are going to go to and fix it with DH & friends this weekend.
2 Go around the house looking for Christmas wrapping paer & cards left over from last year!
We normally go to Winchester for the Christmas carols but the family we normally stay with are getting a divorce (Nothing to do with us honest (well! I don't think so!!!))
Would love to keep the tradition but we don't have anyone to babysit our boy for the evening bits & not sure about the cost of a hotel either.

Fab thread!

I have a lot of catching up to do!

Can anyone join in or is it just you FlyLadies?

No, Anyone can join. Maybe we will covert you to our cult and you'll be with us the rest of the year! [hgrin] But you must get a stop watch! I can't tell you what's it's for until you have taken part in the cermony which includes lace up shoes [hshock] and a frilly bra (have asked for naked men to be included but the elders are keeping them in their basements) [hblush]

Already wrapped a tonne of presents but actually need to write it all down and get organised.

Love this thread!

LOL Nuttybear! I have been on some fly threads in the past. I even get the emails!

I am starting to panic a bit as I feel I am so disorganised this year. Haven't even gotten a list done yet.

I have bought some presents though. And made Christmas Chutney.

I live in Budapest and we are off to UK on Saturday for a week so I will do some shopping then. And will get sorted properly once we get back.

Oh! yes Buda I remember you now, how are you doing? Hope the yukky water hasn't been anywhere near you? I used to be Starbear.
Its 10.43 and i'#ve done nothing productive so see you all later.

This thread fell off my list, so am marking my place again - this is so useful.

Jas suggests making a donation to Operation Christmas Child. Before you all rush in, I suggestion you read their leader's article to find out what this "charity" is really about.

amnon - Jas isnt suggesting donations to Operation Christmas Child, FlyladyUK is. The concerns about that charity are well documented and I'm sure most people are aware of them.

I'm feeling smug as I have managed to do the kids stockings and they are getting bikes as main present. Now just have main family to buy for.

Unfortunately I bought 2 x 15m rolls of wrap for the 'santa' gifts and DD saw it....

amnon - My feelings about operation christmas child mirror yours....if I had read the email properly before posting it here, I would have deleted that bit!

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