10 Weeks Today! How are you doing?

Gleek

With ten weeks to go until the big day (how fast has this year gone...!) how is your planning going? I have everyone bought for except for my mum, grandad, my pets and will get them sorted in the upcoming weeks.

Have both my grandad (21st Oct) and brothers (18th Dec) birthday presents ready too thankfully, didn't realise just how close to my grandad's 80th we were until Friday!

Took advantage of the 5 for £20 offer from Thorntons (last day today) for neighbours and those 'emergency' presents incase anyone turns up unexpectedly though I'm hoping we get to keep at least one as they look gorgeous!

Everything is wrapped on the day it's bought to avoid nosey nellies going through it and ruining surprises, and it's also to remove some of the urge to break into the chocolate gifts (choc orange, boxes as above etc) before Christmas! I'm waiting for the Choc oranges to be cheaper though (missed the Tesco glitch) before I buy them and I'm not doing anything with the choc coins so theyre still in the nets so I don't give in and eat any of those :rotfl: Haven't got the other pot of gold/table gift sweets yet for the same reason :rotfl:

LittleMissGiggles123

I'm always on a big countdown to Christmas, favourite time of the year in our house. I've already put all my Christmas CD's on to my Mac so that I can put them on my ipod to listen to in the car on my way to work during the run up to Xmas.

I've been practising my Christmas baking every weekend too. I love baking & make a Christmas tree cake for the in laws & for our house over christmas, but this year me & my sisters have agreed that we're not buying for each other this year. Instead we're going to make something. So my idea is a food hamper. I'm going to make cookies, shortbread, mince pies & a Christmas tree vanilla sponge cake. I'll cheat a little bit & put a sweetie jar & bottle of wine in each, but in fairness we always buy sweets & wine over christmas for in the house, so I would be spending this money anyway.

I've also made a list of who we're buying for, so I can shop for one person each time I go shopping. I've put down some ideas for some people on the list, but it's trickier to think of ideas for others!

Also trying to clear out my freezer to then stock up for Christmas. Although my husband actually wants a chest freezer now anyway because i'm always batch cooking & taking up all the space in our freezer.

I've also dug out all the wrapping paper I have been finding hidden under beds, under chests of drawers, under the dning room sideboard (a running theme here). Anyway, every year I say I'm not going to buy paper, but then buy it anyway. So this year i've got all the wrapping paper next to my bed now which gets on my nerves but I'm hoping this will force me to use it all instead if buying more.

Ok, i've rambled on for long enough for now.

X

jackomdj

We moved earlier in the year and I feel totally unprepared this year! I have presents and secs spread over 3 cupboards, not sure where my list is of what I have bought for people ( so some people may have more than I think).

My plan is to get dd's birthday sorted (24th Oct), then go through the cupboards and work out what I need to do.

hayleymoo

I'm starting to get excited for Christmas I'm not super prepared though.

We've bought tickets to see Mrs Brown's Boys for my Dad because he loves that, that's the extent of the gift buying so far! But at least I've made rough lists what to get everyone else, which is a start! My mum will get a breast cancer Pandora charm as she's wanted one for a while, and little bits like PJs and smellies. MIL and FIL will get a canvas print between them, and also little bits like a photo calendar, PJs, smellies for MIL and mug, whisky for FIL. My little cousins are getting a Wii Lego POTC game and some PJs for the oldest (7) and I think some clothes and little toys for the little one (3). My goddaughter will get a toy - some great ones in HB at the moment!

BIL and his new GF - unsure, and I'm unsure what to get DH either! I've thought of some stocking fillers but not much else!

I have started buying sweets and that though - 3 pots of pringles, heroes (1/2 price at Mr T!), Matchmakers, Twiglets and Mini Cheddars - every little helps! I'm going to buy something like that every week when we do our food shop to spread the cost

Me and my mum do a Xmas savings club so hopefully I'll get that before Xmas, and we've been saving some of our Clubcard vouchers since July and have around £40ish - not much, but if they do triple vouchers again it will get us a fair few gifts!

I'm also hoping for a real tree this year, not very MS but I've wanted one for ages!

Oooooh getting excited now!

willow_loulou

Last Christmas was very disjointed and I hated it - I was utterly miserable most of the time. Its going to be very different this year as the people I allowed to have time with my children have again not bothered with them since so I am going to say no to them going anywhere (with the exception of their dad's but that will be shorter) My opinion is if the children mean that much to them contact would be more than a hastily bought voucher to a shop miles away and then sent via someone else the day before a birthday in the 10 months since they last saw them! (I have offered but I am not going to keep asking to be told yes yes and nothing happen)

So after my ramble (sorry) This year is going to be amazing - Im doing xmas eve hampers for the first time and really going over board with the decorations for the first time too. I have most things sorted pressie wise, if not bought decided on and budgeted for. Im also going to do a decent advent calender of some sort - a proper get them excited countdown. We are even going to see Christmas lights and productions and carol things! All in this year!!

I cannot wait! Yay!

wendall

I am quite organised as the kids i say kids (one 22 and one 18) both want money. Have got all their stocking fillers, got best friend and all her family, doing takeaway secret book and spices for both bil's making them into hampers, nieces christmas eve hamper, so only really mil, daughters boyfriend and family to get. I like this time now and tend to pick up all chocs and goodies from beginning of sept so it is less at christmas.

Millie2008_2

Agh, I am totally disorganised this year, compared to the past two years and have bought nothing, except a few bits. I have the cash saved, so no excuse not to make a start and I can also start to make jewellery bits for some people. You have given me the kick up the bottom I needed and I am going to write a list this afternoon as I am off work ill and feeling bored!

hezal

plz suggest me some homemade gifts in jar

his_missus

I cleared out a cupboard this weekend to store Christmas food items and tonight's job is to write a list of people we want to buy pressies for and what we have already bought for people over the year. I've also emailed Sis to see what my neices want, probably most of the toy section in [EMAIL="Arg@s"]Arg@s[/EMAIL]!

ClaireLD_2

Hi Everyone,

I am excited for Christmas and I am sort if organised, I have lists .

I have found out my Christmas CD for the car. Advent calander ordered. Lots of presents bought throughout the year and hampers under construction - first for me, loving this forum for ideas just wish I was more crafty and a better cook.

I got my Christmas cards and wrapping paper in the sales January - felt very mean but half price cards and wrapping paper 10p a roll it would have been rude not to.

Want to put up my tree now lol.

ChloeT_2

Omg, I am SO excited already!

I've bought all my cards and wrap (I'm terrible for spending too much on these as I like everyone's to match perfectly) but this year I've gone for a red and brown paper theme and hit ebay for some bargains!

Got two sets of parents, four grandparents, 5 younger siblings, my BFF and her partner and 4 year old, another best mate, one of my sister's partners and one Secret Santa in work!

Managed to make a start on my dad today, one grandmother is completed, as is my friends little one and my 3 year old sister. Also started one other sister. Currently shopping pay.com's clearance for more as we speak!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS.