Santa Baby - it's the 2026 Christmas Chatter Thread!!

Coxy11

Great to see you’re so far ahead with your planning @mandco I really need to look at my list and get myself organised. There are a couple of little bits I’ve got already for DD mainly and I need to keep track.

DS1 worked one Christmas as he had a job at a hotel. He got well paid for it but it was a bit odd especially as both my parents were with us that year. It was the Christmas after DNephew had died and we had the funeral on 30 Dec. All in all quite rubbish.

I think only DD has always been with us. Expect it’ll be a while until she goes to her boyfs family as he doesn’t see them often - maybe he’ll be with us this year, who knows.

I went to !kea yesterday which is a bit of a trek. Needed to collect a bedside table for DS2. They had some cute Christmas mugs from last year (near tills/in clearance section). They were unmarked so I looked up the price on one of their terminals - £4! I mean really?? They were left behind.

Popped into large mall on the way home and got DD some PJs in Primarni - Nightmare Before Christmas - these are for her birthday in October. I also got some packing cubes and a set of three clear with leopard print trim cosmetic bags. These will be for her Christmas gift along with a nice small wheelie case. She was away with work this week and took the only one we have so it’ll be useful for her.

DH had some friends stay over last night and they are off to a local hop festival today. I’m taking Mum out - we are going to a nice town on the south coast - the place posh people go to retire(!) - so we will have some lunch and look in the various independent shops. May get some inspiration!

Spendless

That must have been a very difficult Christmas for you all Coxy << hugs>>

I bought a small wheelie case from.Tripp last year with some birthday money after you mentioned it and I love it. I also got a small holdall that matches it as there was an offer on at the time.

DH mentioned how much he likes the smell of a diffuser Id put in our downstairs loo, I had another so I gave him one for our summerhouse which is his office. It was from Valentte which Ive mentioned before. Their products smell incredible, look classy and are beautifully packaged and they often have a free offer on. Id had an email saying there was a free diffuser with an order so Ive ordered some bath/body products for DD, claimed the free diffuser that will become part of DH's xmas present. Did pay postage but still worked out cheaper. This is the link for the company.

https://valentte.com/

Parents have started going out to local places, wildlife parks, cinema. I feel for them cos a number of their friends have died or moved away so they do need to go out. Dad is so difficult to buy for, Im thinking of getting him some gift cards to pay for their day trips. I know thsts really a couples present but maybe I can come up with a couple of ideas for him and then giftcards between them.

Coxy11

Thanks for the link to Valentte @Spendless I will check them out x

I am thinking of going to the outlet mall in Ashford as there’s a Tripp store there.

Forgot to say that I went into Bath & Bodywork’s yesterday. I was looking for ideas for DDil birthday which is same day as DD. The fragrances are really strong and I’m not sure whether she likes floral or fruity. It’s expensive for what it is and the packaging looks a little cheap imho. Came away empty handed.