* Step into Christmas * & 2020 - It's the 2020 Christmas Chatter Thread

rachsecret

Went for a walk yesterday and returned with bag full of cones ready for the oven at some point for our wreaths. Currently in back garden just in case anything decides to infest the house!
This morning I purchased a few stocking fillers/decorations from here: https://www.lisaangel.co.uk/the-sale
The sale is on and there are lots of bits at 80-90% off if anyone is interested. Got the head's up from a thread in 'Quick Grabbit while you can' so can't take the credit. 
I broke up for the 'holidays' on Friday so will be spending some time this week doing an audit of what forgotten gifts purchased in the sales I already have stored in the 'present room' in the old Victorian bedding box that was my Great Grandmother's, then making a start on my Christmas Planner. For the first time last year I bought one of those nifty Christmas planners from Cath K and had the bright idea of completing certain pages in pencil so that I could rub out and re-use this year. So glad I did as there won't be any of them around now that they went into administration.
@princesskitty29 I agree re shopping this year. I think it is going to be an online kind of Christmas and I will be making a start even earlier than usual just in case there are any shortages with deliveries/stock later on. I imagine everyone will be wanting stuff delivered this Christmas. 

Peppapig

RACHSECRET I had my CK Christmas planner for about four years before I could bring myself to write in it. I finally started on it in 2018 and now I wouldn’t be without it. I add in my printed spreadsheets so I know what I bought right back to 2013. I have four sections: cards and presents; decorations; Christmas crafting day; and food. I tend to ignore what the actual pages are and just use all of them as if they were blank and when I run out I’ll cut some blank paper to size and put that in.  Writing in pencil is a good idea but wouldn’t work for me because I like to be able to look back on past years. I also always put one page right in the front with ‘lessons learned’ on it - that way I remember what didn’t work before I repeat my mistakes. One tip though, don’t put it away with your decorations or next year you’ll be buying and planning before you’ve even looked at it.😉

PRINCESSKITTY I’ve lived here since 2008 and I’ve only been to Wrest Park once - and that was just for a picnic on the grass.🤦🏼‍♀️  I think we tend to take things for granted when they’re so close. I’ve been to Woburn Safari Park a couple of times and we go to the garden show (sadly not this year) but I’ve been meaning to visit the actual house for years and still not got there - and it’s literally a few minutes away, I drive past it all the time. I last went inside when I was about nine.

Its so nice to see Christmas chatter again. I had Christmas films on all day yesterday and spent the whole day making Christmas cards. Sadly they don’t look like I spent a whole day on them but I did my best 🤣.

vulpix

Hi everyone,and double Hi to any new people I may have missed.My trouble is I read any new posts but don't post myself then when I do post only respond the the most recent ones I have read.PK is so good at including everyones news,Free was too.Are you still there Free?
Peppa you are right about taking things for granted where you live.I live in a National Park and never visit the tourist attractions.I never ever ride a chuffin bike either,grrrr.I never ever take the scenery for granted though.My fdil (future daughter in law) is from Oxfordshire and she is making me see where we live with fresh eyes.Even places I go to do grocery shopping are wonderful to her.
I had my Christmas gift stash out yesterday.Oh dear, much, much worse than I expected and much, much worse than what I usually have at this stage in the year.I suppose as I haven't been anywhere other than Aldi since March has reduced my opportunity to pick bits up as I see them.
I always enjoy peoples reccomendations of web sites but haven't started buying yet.It seems much more difficult when you have all adults to buy for.
Vx

vulpix

Oh, see,brain like a sieve.PK please could I have the pinterest board info again?

Beshki

You are doing better than me, if you have started buying To be honest I don’t tend to start buying until October-November, but I do like to shop around and spend a long time thinking up nice gift ideas. I love buying people things they will love. We are on a reduced budget this year but I don’t mind, token gifts are often my favourite things to receive. 

mandco

Vulpix - My gift stash is tiny this year too - I used to buy bits each week when shopping but not going out has put pay to that and I've not really found much online either. Found some good deals on toys over the last few weeks so pretty much sorted for the grandkids and donations pile for the little ones but virtually nothing for the older ones/adults
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Not seen any posts from Free for ages so hope she's doing ok  same goes for JJ and the other regulars who are mia

Princesskitty -its not easy trying to organise birthdays at the moment and even at 6 its really hard for them to understand why things are so different to normal. What do you have planned?

Murie that tree is gorgeous bet you can't wait to get it up & decorated- I keep looking at the flat back ones we have redecorated and moved things around so space is extra limited this year 

Rachsecret good idea to leave the pine cones outside for now you def don't want any unwanted visitors - 
 
Bagged a bargain in boots today they have a No7 gift set down to £5 in the clearance sale and it come with a voucher for a free eye cream worth £15+  the set comes in a lovely tin and has a primer black eye liner and cream eyeshadow so all very usable the voucher isn't mentioned on the tin so ideal for a stocking filler or small gift.  Might split the contents and put them in dd advent calendar
https://www.boots.com/no7-fresh-and-fabulous-gift-10278485  eye shadow in the pic looks darker more brown than the one that came in my set but its labelled with the same name

ordered some fabric/ribbon and wreath frames I was watching as prices have jumped quite a bit in the last week or so. Based on the sold figures it looks like quite a few people are making a start on their xmas craft supplies.

Peppapig

Has anybody tried the technique where you add spray paint to water and dip paint glass baubles? It looks good on You Tube but it would be great to have real opinions. I’m thinking of it for our second craft for the craft day. My plan is to buy 10cm or 12cm glass baubles and dip them (they dry straight away) and then add a small string of led lights inside and hang from one of the freestanding metal hangers. I’ve bought the hangers and I’ve got various baubles saved in my watch lists but I don’t want to buy them til I’m 100% sure we’re doing it.

VULPIX I’m the same, when I come to reply I can’t remember who said what and with the new format forum I can’t look back without losing what I’ve written.  FREE still posts on Instagram so I think she must be ok - hopefully all our old friends will be back now we’re into peak Christmas prep time, I’d love to know how they’re all getting on. 

I haven’t started buying yet either although I’m doing lots of viewing and thinking. I’m another one with lots of adults to buy for. We’re doing our £10 limit for adults again this year although DD2 would rather have one bigger present than lots of little ones so she’s lobbying for secret Santa next year. I’ve got four grandchildren to buy for (11, 8, 6 and 1) because we don’t see the others at Christmas so we send money and their parents buy the pressies on our behalf or put the money towards the cost of Christmas, whichever they want.  Mum being in a nursing home now makes it a bit different now because there’s one special person missing on Christmas Day but at least she doesn’t really realise she’s missing anything and we’ll just go in and see her as normal (assuming we’re able to go in by December).  I’m really looking forward to having the tree back this year as we had to forego it last year because of the kittens.

freespirit66

Aww you soppy lot, I’ve felt quite emotional that you are thinking of me 🥰 Tbh with the new forum I didn’t even know where to reply! I haven’t even posted this year at all, on any threads. I do try to keep an eye on you all lol. I speak to Murie a lot (she keeps me sane) and have spoke to PK and PEPPA and Joyfully Festive keeps us all going with Christmas pics. 

Well this year has been a strange one to say the least, my MH has struggled a lot!! Not just the virus but the way people are turning on each other, it’s very upsetting and bewildering and downright ridiculous at times. We are lucky as a family we stayed home and stayed safe, the kids wfh, not sure when they will go back. 

Thumper struggled after 9-10 weeks so he went back and was so much happier. His school are fantastic, supporting him with his autism. We couldn’t ask for more, I don’t know what he will make of breaking up today for summer?? 

For some reason I had a sixth sense before lockdown and got most of my Christmas shopping online in the sales (I know smuggy mcsmugface) I only have one person left to buy for. 

PEPPA I’ve never tried the bauble dipping, it sounds fab! I have thought about the secret Santa but it doesn’t seem to work out fair as DD2 and OH will be buying 2 secret Santa’s  from the same household so wouldn’t save money like the rest of us. I hope you will be able to see your mum at Christmas 

MANDCO Thankyou for the No7 tin from boots yesterday, fab bargain

VULPIX oh how I could do with some lovely scenery, my DD1 and I went to a do a tip run and came the scenic route back it was so calming and relaxing

Right I think I’ve bored you enough now! (I don’t know how to get rid of these double spacing)  I think I’m going to need a refresher course x

mandco

Free its great to see you I think of lot of people have really struggled with their MH this year had been a lot to deal with and being isolated from friends/family has made it so much worse. 
I do feel for Thumper things are not easy for them at the best of times but lockdown took it to a whole other level.  Glad his school have been so supportive and that he has been enjoying it and hope its not too hard on him that they are now going into the school holidays.
We had already moved to homeschooling as Taz's school were useless and not supporting his needs so that was not so much of a shock to the system but he really struggled with all the changes to his routine having everyone home all day not being able to go out. He's still not great but things are slowly becoming more stable - long term lack of sleep is slowly frying my mind though

Peppa I've not tried the spray paint baubles but it sounds really interesting -   I've brought some ceramic baubles and some marbling paints to do with Taz which I guess is a similar concept but I really like your idea of the spray paint ones with lights in
Great news on them saying they will be lifting the restrictions on care home visits - I can't imagine how hard its been on you I'm sure there will be restrictions and a ton of health & safety to deal with but hopefully you won't have too long to wait
 

vulpix

Free,I hope this means you are back.xxx I think everyones mental health ebbs and flows to some extent,mine certainly does.A couple of years ago I never thought I would be back here rattling on about Christmas.I have been doing a lot of pinterest Christmas browsing the past few days.Comforting.
Vx