Have you started anything yet? Shopping? Projects for decor? Cooking?
So far I have baked a lot of cookies! Ok so they are for the Ann’s Entitled Life 15 Days of Holiday Cookies. Only one will freeze until Christmas … assuming they remained uneaten. Which they won’t. There is actually one recipe I will never make again – they are too good and I have zero self-control.
I did see that we don’t have any fish in the freezer. Hubby and I will take a trip down to Clinton street to see what they have. This means I need room in the garage freezer – which means I need to defrost it and organize that freezer. The fun never ends.
We host Christmas Eve. I need to decorate, buy gifts, buy and make food, and make sure the liquor cabinet is stocked. The liquor cabinet is well stocked! I will have to buy wine: Brotherhood Riesling. ‘Cause I like it!
I shop at the ATM for everyone except Hubby, my parents (I bought my father’s gift!) and my grandfather. I don’t worry about Christmas shopping. I took a bunch of Christmas decor pics last year to share a few ideas with you all… if I find them that is. 😀
So for four months out, I guess I am doing ok. At least I have the menu ideas down. 😛
So, how are your holiday preparations going!?
KimH says
Oh boy.. I havent even thought about it yet this year.. Not much like me, but I think not having a job and loads of extra cash on hand has something to do with that too. I’d like to go to a no present Christmas but not sure what everyone else would think about it. My girls would probably be ok with it.. but the guys probably wouldnt like it at all. 😛
Ann says
Present shopping for my parents is hard. My mother likes nothing. My father is easy, but then my mother usually hates what we all get him. LOL
Ann
KimH says
I usually dont shop for my parents.. Every once in a while I’ll find something that I think they’ll like.. They do like the Ohio apple baskets I’ve sent to them..
I was telling my mom that I dehydrated cherry tomatoes with salt & olive oil and they’re a wonderful snack, she said she’d rather me send her some of that for Christmas more than anything else.
I did buy 4 packages of Saffron Crocus and planted them so that I could send her some Saffron for Christmas too. I think she’ll love that in addition to the dehydrated tomatoes.
Stephanie B says
I have a love/hate relationship with the holiday season. I love the food, family and fun. I love watching my son and seeing his face light up at Christmas. However, the season is never easy for us. My parents are divorced. My dad lives right around the block from us, but my mom lives an hour and a half away in the country. And when I saw country I mean no cable lines and if it snows we are screwed because the plow only comes once or twice a day. My husbands parents live 3.5 hours away. It wouldn’t be so bad, but everyone wants us to travel to them and that means lots of driving for bus and finding someone to care for my elderly grandmother (who lives with us because she has dementia and needs care)
As for how ready I am…I have a list of cookies I am baking this year, and an idea of what I am buying for my little one and hubby. My parents and brothers are so difficult to shop for and my sister lives in California (I am in wny) som I need to find something I can mail without breaking the bank. I do know for sure I am taking.my nearly 3 year old on the polar express this year and I couldn’t be more.excited for that!
Ann says
Stephanie I have no idea how your parents get along, but wouldn’t it be easier to have everyone come to you? Especially considering your grandmother’s situation? Or Christmas Eve with one person, Christmas Day with the next and Thanksgiving with someone else?
When I was married to my ex it was never easy. Christmas Eve was non-negotiable, it was at my grandparent’s house (which made that day simple). After that, we had to work out a way to make everyone happy without driving ourselves nuts. We ended up with his family for Thanksgiving, my Mother’s for Christmas dinner, and then we filled in the blanks as best we could.
I agree, it isn’t easy to make everyone happy over the holiday, especially with extended family.
Ann
Stephanie B says
The only time I can get my parents and in laws together is for my son’s birthday. We refuse to leave the house for Christmas day and invite everyone over for dinner, but it is rare that anyone comes. Instead we celebrate for a two week period at the end of December. Thanksgiving we rotate every year. I wish I could just tell everyone to come to us, but last year I tried that and you’d think I tried to cancel Christmas! The reactions weren’t so great. In the end it is easier to try and appease them than ruin our holiday. Hopefully the snow stays away until after the new year…or at least no huge storms!
Debb F says
Wow now that is a dose of reality. Christmas is weird for me since everyone died…. It’s just me hubby and the critters. My mom is alive and I have a brother and his family and a sister and her family, but they have grandkids and often that means everyone wants to see the babies, or they have a full house and so I know they don’t mean to forget us but they do. I am sure it is more about space, as in no one has enough for everyone! But I will make a meal for us and we will be busy with church. I got my moms present already she loves cuddle duds to wear in the cold east coast winters. And I have picked up a few teeny things here and there, but this year I will actually be able to shop since hubby is working. But I was not ready to think it is this close….ugh.
Ann says
Sorry Debb. It creeps up faster than we think though!
Once of these days I will become that person that has everything in place fo the holiday by Halloween… either that, or we will say the heck with it, and go on a cruise.
Ann
Shell says
So far I have one gift purchased for my grandson and that is it. I thought that was pretty good though.
Ann says
LOL I can’t wait for grandchildren. I have grand plans of buying gifts throughout the year and then having the living room look like a wrapping-paper-factory exploded!
Sonny-boy better get a move on. 😛
Ann
Debb F says
Ann I agree with you that when the time comes if I am so blessed I will shop all year for them. And Shell I am right there with you and think you are doing great!
Stephanie B says
That’s adorable 🙂