OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

Pooky

anniebooklover wrote: »

Other than that, what do you buy the parents who need absolutely nothing? It's the same problem every year. Last year I "bought" them a well for a community in Africa as well as little personal gifts. Have no idea what do this year.

My parents are like this - last year I made them a garden hamper - used a plastic planter as the basis and filled it with seeds, bulbs, gloves and bird food etc, it went down very well.

HTH

jtb2412

Ohhh ! Have just found this thread and I would love to join in ! I'll start reading from the beginning after dinner but briefly .... for the last 2 years running i've not been organised and have left buying pressies until December. Also for the last 2 years running, hubbies wages have been paid on Xmas eve (should have been the week before !). First year due to Bunsfield oil disaster and 2nd year problems with BACS payments ......... so this year i'm determined not to be a dithering mess and I want to be finished by the end of November AT THE LATEST ! lol

Anyway, i'll stop gibbering and go and get dinner .... back after i've read from the start (be midnight if i'm lucky ! lol)

Look forward to meeting (virtual of course) some of you !

busy_mum_4

maryb wrote: »

Mary I know what you mean I'm always feeling discouraged because I start out meaning to be well prepared and then I can't find things I bought ages ago.

I read a tip recently which i might try - if you put something away, then as you do it try and remember three things about where you put it eg it's on the shelf below the spare towels in the cupboard outside the bathroom etc

What's the betting I still find loads of stuff in January!!??

Wouldn't it just be easier to make a list and have a special christmas present box hidden in house or in loft?? This is what I do then it is all together, Asda have got cheap plastic boxes with lids.

kippers

Really curious as a few of you have mentioned mince pies and shortbread for xmas. I can understand mince pies but i've never associated shortbread with xmas? Maybe we are strange, but my DH loves shortbread and i make it regularly for him.

Also, i would love to make sweets and biscuits as presents for people at xmas, but i see my family upto a week before xmas to give presents so i think the biscuits and sweets will have gone soft by then?

rchddap1

I put anything i buy for presents in a certain place. So if I'm looking for something I know exactly where it is. simpler that way.

jtb2412

I think i've caught up and read everything ! lol

One of the main reasons for being organised this Christmas is that we also moved house (away from family) last year. We have a mass exodus on my parents house for a few days before Christmas and have a traditional present swap on Xmas eve (my birthday :j !) before travelling back home at about 8pm at night !

Last year due to me shopping on Xmas eve, the car was packed full to the brim on the way home and resembled something like santa's sleigh going up the M25 :rolleyes: !

This year I aim to have all the shopping done, wrapped and relatives presents taken to my parents when we go up in early December (my girls birthday's too - didn't plan very well did I?)

So far I've:

Sorted out about 10 female presents from my Boots stash - ready to wrap when we get back from visiting relatives next week.

Found the Xmas cards I bought in the sale last year (for something silly like 10p a box - very nice ones they were too !)

Found a recipe for Xmas puddings (making them for all the 'families' within our family - hope that makes sense ! ) My dad bought me (from a carboot:money: ) some perfect shaped/sized baskets that they will sit in.

Written out my xmas present lists with what i've got so far and ideas for others.

Been saving money each month for DDs laptop. She starts her GCSEs next year and we promised her one for then (worked very hard at school to achieve some fantastic results so we're more than happy to do it on this occasion, plus it will help her over the next 2 years too).

That's about it for now ......... although I have been reading the Xmas cake thread and i'm thinking of making one to try and then maybe next year, can give cakes to family instead of puddings. Will keep you all posted !

anniebooklover

BizzyMummy the theatre tickets are a good idea for my Mum so will look into that. My Dad has no interests other than horse-racing, well, betting. :rolleyes: There aren't that many presents you can get to do with that so he tends to get money, which always seems impersonal to me.

Pooky I did my Mum a tea-break hamper last year with tea, biscuits, crossword puzzle book, tea mug, etc. I made a car care hamper for my Dad with screen wipes, demister pad, car wash, screen wash, little first aid kit, etc. He has used almost all of it so that was quite a success.

kippers I would say that shortbread is more associated with New Year, well in Scotland anyway. As they are only a week apart I would say its allowable to include them in Christmas cooking and baking.

joanie

Hi just popped in - I am on lunch break at work so have scanned this thread very quickly !

Really excited to find it.... will pop back later when i get home and have more time to catch up...

just a quickie though.... have you found this site ?? http://organizedchristmas.com/

sorry if it's allready been mentioned.... lots of tips / crafts / and a countdown calendar with daily tasks etc.

back later.......

maryb

rchddap1 wrote: »

I put anything i buy for presents in a certain place. So if I'm looking for something I know exactly where it is. simpler that way.

I put them in a certain place too - it's remembering the place that's the problem.:D (If I put them anywhere easy to find the offspring get there long before Christmas)

missysx

my favourite time of year is from 1st october (my son's birthday) to new year. i have my two son's and husband birthdays in a space of 6 weeks, then halloween and xmas

i normally start my xmas shopping in september, however i have to admit to buying the first present yesterday. to making my list of who to buy for a couple of days ago and to bringing the decorations in from the shed to sort through..

i can't help it... but my excuse this year is that i'm due to give birth in january and i'll be 36 weeks on xmas day so i'll be too heavily pregnant to leave it all to the last minute