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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 23, 2022 10:15:12 GMT
I'll admit, I'm struggling with being in the spirit of the season, so I'm just going through the motions.
The tree is up and decorated.
Stockings are hung.
Food is bought, and I'll cook on Christmas.
We baked sugar cookies yesterday (thanks Pillsbury!) and the kids decorated them with icing and sprinkles.
Gifts are all here, though not wrapped yet. This will be the first Christmas that no one asked for anything physically large, and I feel weird that it is going to look like a tiny handful of gifts, even though it is definitely $$$. I don't have the energy to do the whole find a big box to put small gift in, then wrap it to deceive what it actually is. I just don't have that in me this year.
I *think* I have enough stocking stuffers. Just edible stuff. Some bigger things like Pringles cans and cotton candy bags to take up space. I think I still need to buy maybe one more bag of candy.
How is your holiday prep going?
Are you in the spirit of it yourself, or just trying to make the magic for everyone else?
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Post by gar on Dec 23, 2022 10:22:15 GMT
I’m up to my armpits in cheese straws at the mo then I have wrapping to do still. Collecting the beef for the Wellington after lunch and prep that as far as possible later on.
Plenty of stuff to do but kind of under control
😊
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Post by Neisey on Dec 23, 2022 11:30:51 GMT
Gifts are wrapped, groceries are bought so feel like I’m way ahead of the game! Today I will make 2 kinds of cookies (requests of DD and DSO) and vacuum/mop. Tomorrow I will prep what I can for Christmas dinner and make my breakfast casserole.
My vehicle is in the shop so I’m “stranded” at home but that’s a good thing - I’m not feeling the urge to run out and pick a few more things up. If we don’t have it we don’t need it…except for more bubbly for mimosas! SO is on liquor store duty!
I will say I really reduced my baking in terms of variety (did a cookie exchange at work instead) and decided to just decorate the entry way and kitchen/family room, and even then much more low key than normal. I like decorating but HATE putting it all away.
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Post by littlemama on Dec 23, 2022 12:05:37 GMT
Tree is up and gifts are wrapped.
No cookies being made at my house because my mom made a ton of them- she lives alone, so guess who is going to end up with them.
Today, I am going to make a pot of sauce. I'll freeze most of it and keep enough out for the manicotti- there is a sauce recipe that is part of the manicotti recipe, but it isnt as good.
Im not feeling it this year either.
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Post by leannec on Dec 23, 2022 12:08:13 GMT
I'm a teacher and today is my first day off for Winter Break!  I am pretty much ready for Christmas ... it's being in my new condo that makes it super exciting! Today I have to pick up my mum and run a few errands with her and then I need to buy a few stocking stuffers ... then I MUST WRAP! I just put everything in gift bags with tissue but it still takes time ... don't love it.  |
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,566 
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Post by anniebeth24 on Dec 23, 2022 12:59:09 GMT
The blizzard forecast helped to push me into grocery shopping Wednesday night, hoping I got everything.
Gifts are wrapped except for the ones I got for DH. We decorated Thanksgiving weekend when the kids were home, so nothing left to do in that category.
Working a full day today, gonna feel like the longest day ever!
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Post by stormsts on Dec 23, 2022 13:19:40 GMT
I’m about halfway done wrapping gifts. My schedule has been thrown off. My parents were due to arrive today but came Wednesday because of the weather. It was a wise decision on their part but it’s totally messed me up. I pushed up my grocery store shopping so that’s done. The current temp is -9 with the wind chill of -40. No one is going anywhere today. I think I’ll have my mom help me make cookies.
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Post by voltagain on Dec 23, 2022 13:46:44 GMT
Don't hate me. We did Christmas last week end to avoid the weather this going on now. Even the post holiday clean up is done.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,992
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Dec 23, 2022 13:59:11 GMT
No power this morning but should be restored by noon.
I can wrap my final three gifts but this morning’s cookie baking will have to wait.
I planned to put a roast in the slow cooker this morning and cook it on low all day. It’s a tougher cut of meat and usually needs a “low and slow” approach. Looks like w will be eating dinner late.
The good news is I don’t have to leave the house for ANYTHING today. I got all our needs for the next few days covered with a trip to Sam’s and Kroger yesterday.
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hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,621
Location: Adelaide, Australia
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Post by hannahruth on Dec 23, 2022 14:15:08 GMT
Spent this evening finishing off four Santa boxes ready for delivery tomorrow. I still have wrapping to finish but nothing on tomorrow so I can do it all then.
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 23, 2022 14:20:54 GMT
My rule is that if it is not bought, wrapped, or made by noon on Dec 24th it will wait until the 26th.
Usually on the 23rd I am behind with a long to-do list and yet this year I am ahead of schedule.
Decorations are done except for putting out the nativity.
Gifts are wrapped.
Food is bought (except for 1 can of crushed pineapple, lol).
Cookies and candy and chex mix done (with the help of DS). DD will roll and dip oreo balls today.
This morning I am putting the roast in the crockpot for BF's Italian Beef and assembling 2 pans of lasagna, vegetable with white sauce and my regular one with meat and red sauce.
Then I am rolling the sausage balls DS mixed yesterday and baking my Elvin Fruit and Nut loaf.
Then I am done. D.O.N.E.
I can't believe it.
I will have some time to Pea!!
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Dec 23, 2022 14:35:10 GMT
Don't hate me. We did Christmas last week end to avoid the weather this going on now. Even the post holiday clean up is done. And we don't do Christmas until the end of next week. At least that's when all my boys and their families will be here at the same time. So we are dragging this thing out! Lol. I'm basically ready for it all. Waiting on a gift delivery or two. Cleaning house. And making Christmas goodies - lots of them! |
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,548
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Post by Just T on Dec 23, 2022 14:42:56 GMT
I am pretty much finished. Since I knew sub zero temps were coming, I did all my last minute grocery shopping Tuesday and Wednesday. I am officially off work until after New Year's, so I've even got my house clean and some food prep done. I am going to my daughter's boyfriend's parents on Christmas Eve, and I do have a few appetizers to make, but they are easy, and I will do that this afternoon. I am also going to do a bit of baking today with my other daughter. We are going to make my grandmother's candy cane cookies and buckeyes.
I have rather enjoyed a few slow, easy days before the holidays. Normally, I am running like a crazy woman. I think I need to make it my goal every year to have everything done ahead of time to give myself some relaxing days before Christmas. The first two weeks of December are two of my busiest weeks of the whole year at work with two big events I am in charge of, so it's been nice this year to have some down time.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,992
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Dec 23, 2022 15:37:22 GMT
No power this morning but should be restored by noon.
I can wrap my final three gifts but this morning’s cookie baking will have to wait.
I planned to put a roast in the slow cooker this morning and cook it on low all day. It’s a tougher cut of meat and usually needs a “low and slow” approach. Looks like w will be eating dinner late.
The good news is I don’t have to leave the house for ANYTHING today. I got all our needs for the next few days covered with a trip to Sam’s and Kroger yesterday.
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Post by padresfan619 on Dec 23, 2022 17:14:02 GMT
All that’s left is to make the cheeseball for tomorrows appetizer and put together the book shelf and race track my son is getting from Santa. Happy for a low key Christmas!
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Post by chaosisapony on Dec 23, 2022 17:23:14 GMT
My cat died last weekend and I am not coping well. I did get the tree up, but there's no gifts wrapped yet and very little other decorations put up. I still have pumpkins on my kitchen table. I just can't bring myself to care about any of it. No one comes to my house for the holidays so I really question why I even bother every year.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,938
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Post by pilcas on Dec 23, 2022 17:23:24 GMT
Doing mashed sweet potatoes today as well as the dessert. Need to wrap a couple more gifts. It’s a pretty lousy day today so no desire to leave my house and if I can get off of the internet everything should go we,l!
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,818
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Post by TXMary on Dec 23, 2022 17:28:28 GMT
I'm in good shape and eating peanut brittle for breakfast so there's that.
The decorations are all up and the gifts are all wrapped except for two that are coming today and one tomorrow.
I still need to make one batch of cookies and I'll do that today. And vacuum and straighten up the living room, dining room and kitchen. I got my grocery shopping done yesterday before the Artic blast hit and I have a few things to make tomorrow that I can't make early but DH will be home and we can get them done together.
I have cut back a lot this year and it feels so good to not feel so stressed and rushed. My only problem is that cedar season has kicked off and I have the headache from hell.
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 2,818
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Post by TXMary on Dec 23, 2022 17:31:35 GMT
My cat died last weekend and I am not coping well. I did get the tree up, but there's no gifts wrapped yet and very little other decorations put up. I still have pumpkins on my kitchen table. I just can't bring myself to care about any of it. No one comes to my house for the holidays so I really question why I even bother every year. I am so sorry about your cat. We spent the first weekend of December out of town for our birthdays. Had a great time but when we got home we noticed right away that our 14-year-old cat was not feeling well. She was fine when we left. Took her to the emergency vet and he told us that she had cancer and it had spread and she was in pain and we made the decision. I miss her so much and it's definitely put a damper on our celebrating. Big hugs to you. |
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
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Post by luckyjune on Dec 23, 2022 18:27:56 GMT
I have a ton of tasks to complete today. I have not wrapped a single gift. I need to make french toast that needs to be refrigerated overnight. I need to vacuum and tidy bathrooms.
We are having a different holiday this year. DD is a biotech lab supervisor and this is her year to be on-site on Christmas day, so we adjusted our family gathering to Christmas Eve morning, followed by an early dinner at my parents' house. DH and I will be on our own for Christmas day, which has never happened in our 30 years married.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,563
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Post by pinklady on Dec 23, 2022 18:34:51 GMT
I’m done with almost everything. I need to squeeze some oranges for juice Christmas morning and I need to give the dog a bath.
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Post by kibble on Dec 23, 2022 18:38:32 GMT
It's not too bad for me. I went super minimalist this year and only put up a pencil tree with about 20% of our usual ornaments and a wreath. Everything else is still in their totes. I just didn't want to do all that work.
I took today off work so my husband and I went and got the last minute groceries this morning at Wegmans. Thankfully he did most of the grocery shopping earlier this week because between the storm coming and Christmas it was a madhouse there.
Wrapping is 95% done just a couple odds and ends. We are not planning on any company for Christmas Eve and are just making dessert and ordering food (if we are able to with the storm) Today I'm just cleaning and doing laundry. Not hurrying with it, just want to be done tomorrow before the Bills game comes on.
We are hosting Christmas dinner for 9 but my husband will do most of the cooking. I only am doing Caeser salad, fresh green beans and rolls. It's nice to not feel rushed for once, though fingers crossed we don't lose power.
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Post by natscraps on Dec 23, 2022 18:46:22 GMT
We are in a blizzard warning until tomorrow with -30F wind chills so I'm glad all the errands are done. We will go to my stepdad's tomorrow for dinner and he will come here Sunday for an early supper. He lives right around the corner and the bad weather should be done by then. All of the gifts for DS are wrapped and Santa has said everything is ready to go for Sunday morning. Our big family Christmas with DH's side isn't until Monday. I still need to wrap the gifts for that but I've got plenty of time. Finally put ornaments on the living room tree last night. DS's tree in the family room has been decorated since Thanksgiving. I might make a batch or two of cookies but then that means I'll have a mess to clean up and I just don't wanna. Homemade chicken soup is going in the crockpot for dinner. Anything else that needs to be done is done.
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Post by elaine on Dec 23, 2022 18:52:39 GMT
I am so far behind! And I’m sitting here at the dealership waiting for my oil to be changed and state inspection + sticker.
Tonight, I am prepping my corn casserole, sweet potato soufflé, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and cranberry jello salad.
Tomorrow will be sausage balls, the whole big turkey dinner, and then prepping the Christmas morning egg & sausage casserole.
Tonight will also involve lots of wrapping - half the gifts are still unwrapped.
I had a Zometa infusion yesterday - hopefully, my last!!! - and I am really dragging today.
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Post by Zee on Dec 23, 2022 18:54:53 GMT
My cat died last weekend and I am not coping well. I did get the tree up, but there's no gifts wrapped yet and very little other decorations put up. I still have pumpkins on my kitchen table. I just can't bring myself to care about any of it. No one comes to my house for the holidays so I really question why I even bother every year. I'm so sorry 😔 |
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Post by belgravia on Dec 23, 2022 18:59:00 GMT
It’s kind of a shit show here because we were supposed to be away, but due to weather cannot fly out. So we dragged out our tree, it’s lit but no ornaments 🤣 Today is our daughter’s birthday so we just had brunch and mimosas. Going out for dinner tonight. Ran around getting groceries etc yesterday to put together some kind of Christmas dinner. Need to wrap a few more gifts. Luckily we can laugh about it all.
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Post by voltagain on Dec 23, 2022 19:19:33 GMT
Don't hate me. We did Christmas last week end to avoid the weather this going on now. Even the post holiday clean up is done. And we don't do Christmas until the end of next week. At least that's when all my boys and their families will be here at the same time. So we are dragging this thing out! Lol. I'm basically ready for it all. Waiting on a gift delivery or two. Cleaning house. And making Christmas goodies - lots of them! Have fun with all the "kids" together! |
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Post by elaine on Dec 23, 2022 19:37:44 GMT
My cat died last weekend and I am not coping well. I did get the tree up, but there's no gifts wrapped yet and very little other decorations put up. I still have pumpkins on my kitchen table. I just can't bring myself to care about any of it. No one comes to my house for the holidays so I really question why I even bother every year. (((Hugs))) |
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Post by Bridget in MD on Dec 23, 2022 23:32:25 GMT
This is the first year I feel like i am not scrambling to stay afloat. Gifts were purchased and stocking stuffers too. Cards were done early and now I am just puttering around. Meal/schedule planned and gifts were wrapped today.
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Post by dewryce on Dec 23, 2022 23:35:56 GMT
Well, I haven’t wrapped a single present and we leave at 6:30 tomorrow morning. 2 of the 3 presents I asked DH to take care of since I’ve been sick for a month won’t be here in time. We have 1 (of 5) Christmas trees put together but it has no ornaments. It’s been sitting there since right before DH’s surgery 6 or 7 weeks ago. So, you know, not great. Just one of those years. Ah well.
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