What Can I Do For Christmas NOW?

[MamaPain]

Aside from buying presents I mean.

Lots of the things (ordering food, buying/writing cards) can't happen until later in the year, I'll do them as early as possible but not yet.

I have a big family and we also celebrate Hanukkah so December is a really hectic time. Last year I did not feel on top of it, and there were tears on every day between the 21st and the 29th. Don't want it to happen this year, am trying to get more organised and on it.

Sooo, what can I be getting on with without becoming a total mentalist banging on about the festive season in the height of summer ?

[Badvoc123]

If you have a large freezer you can make the cake and other food Nc freeze?
Other deserts, freeze summer veg which are lovely to eat in winter.
also preserves like jam and chutney?
You can buy Xmas cards etc online now - no need to wait til oct/nov.
I like to make sure I have advent calendars, advent candle etc in good time so I'm not rushing around at the last minute.
Some things are nice to leave til last minute though, like mince pie making :)

[Memphisbelly]

Is it too early to get the sprouts boiling yet?

[Badvoc123]

Not if you are my mother, no :)

[MamaPain]

Could I really make the cake now? Do you think I'd have to freeze it or could I just keep feeding it like when I make it later in the year?

I've made some mincemeat last weekend (always make my own to exclude candied peel which I hate).

Haven't seen any multipacks of cards I like but would happily see any suggestions/links? I do normally take advantage of the 3 for 2 offers in M&S but if I found something I like, I'd quite happily write them all now and be done with it.

Can even you buy advent calendars now?

[MamaPain]

Eurgh no to sprouts at the moment. I did a veg cleanse last week to recover from my holiday indulgence. I think my body needs a break from such things or it may just shit itself out when I next cough!

[Badvoc123]

If you look online you can, yes. I get them from British Red Cross - have had some lovely ones.
Also check out e bay.
You can bake the cake now, feed it as per and then freeze it and forget about it til it's time to decorate it.
I don't go mad on decoration so usually just stick marzipan, ready roll icing and a little star on top :)
It all depends how posh your Xmas is :) you could make a table cloth and matching runner, napkins etc with festive fabric (which will be cheap now :))
You could start looking at a
Autumn foliage for wreaths etc.
I should point out I do none of this ^
Might have to start now, though!

[MamaPain]

Maybe I should just makes lots and lots of lists About the cake, I normally feed continually (twice a week) for about 12 weeks with lashings of booze, (yes it has to be kept away from naked flames at all times) so do you think I should that and then at the end of the 12 weeks freeze until christmas or only feed it once after cooking then freeze. I'm worried it might be dry?

We're quite stocked decoration wise. For some reason in all the panic I buy lots of decorations and not much else. I would like to create something for the front of the house to go with our wreath that isn't a pre-lit reindeer. Maybe I can work on that.

Fuck I'm about to spend a lot of time on Pinterest.

[Badvoc123]

Oh, I love Pinterest but it makes me feel so inadequate :(
I think you could bake, feed and freeze no problem.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I do lists , lists and more lists
I'll start with the Christmas Day/Christmas Eve/Boxing Day menu.

Buy some Amarretto when I see it on special offer.(for marzipan and cake)
Buy some beer to hide away from DH

I don't really cook much in advance, plenty of time for that later. My Christmas cake is a light, Madeira Cake with sultanas, cherries and almonds/pecans/walnuts

I've bought (just in passing) a donought tin (to bake them in) but I'll use it to make chocolate crispie cake wreaths.

I've ordered boxes and bags for gift wrapping

In between now and then, I need to have my gallbladder removed and sort out my ulcerative colitis otherwise I'll be watching everyone else scoffing food that I can't eat

[MamaPain]

Yes Pinterest does have that effect.

Inspired by my need to do something in prep, I've just been up in the loft. Thank god I did whichever little fucker elf put the decs away last year has cocked it up royally and everything will have to be cleaned pre-christmas so at least I can get on with that rather than discovering it the day I want to get them up.

Think I will crack on with the lists, maybe a basic menu plan so I can start stocking up on some food.

Then I'll be able to print my address labels for the cards too.

Feeling excited now.

[MamaPain]

And bloody hell 70 get yourself sorted, it won't be the same will it if you can't eat until you're close to explosion.

[StairsInTheNight]

Buy cheap Bailey's and other Xmas alcohol.

Make sloe gin in a few weeks.

But most importantly book your panto tickets now! And winter wonderland, nutcracker,etc. That way you get great seats.

[Katieweasel]

I know people think I'm mad but I start buying something every week from about now to put away. Things like pringles, bottles of coke and mixers, bottles of schloer, large family bags of crisps, frozen desserts. I buy one thing a week and that way I don't even notice the cost.

[StairsInTheNight]

That's a good idea, Katie. I'm sorting our kitchen cupboards in September and I'll make a space to fill with stuff like that!

[Badvoc123]

70...I had my gallbladder out on 30th Nov last year!
It was a tough recovery due to getting a chest infection the week after and Ds getting a bad d and v bug but so glad I had it done!

[Badvoc123]

Yes to lists.
I am a list person :)
I already have a list of who I need to buy for, my budget (ha!!) and what I have already got.
I have already got all ds2s gifts! All in the sales too!
Have pre ordered lots of DVDs on amazon too that come out near Xmas.
I only plan to make mince pies and little Xmas cakes this year.

[MamaPain]

Just to show off say I entertained around 35 people last year on Christmas Day, so it isn't that I'm a melodramatic wreck, more that there is no time or leeway for fucking up.

My lists are going insane and am thoroughly enjoying it, although I did just realise my notes are synced with DHs phone so he is going to come home tonight very alarmed by what has probably appeared in front of him. Technology strikes again!

Once I've got it sorted I will post what I'm writing in case its of use to anyone else.

[MamaPain]

And Katie that is a really good way of doing it. I was starting to stock up in October last year but I think it wasn't early enough. Am going to start getting bits now.

[Badvoc123]

35!?
Wow. Kudos.
I do a buffet in Boxing Day for around 20 but it's no huge bother really.
It's ds2s b day next month and his thread has just reminded me I hadn't got his b day cards yet!
So thank you!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I'm working on the gallbladder/colitis problem (otherwise Christmas Dinner will involve no roast potatoes and no cheese'n'fruitcake), got an appointment next week, but I'm not on the waiting list yet

DH and I are vegetarian, the DC aren't so they have chicken breast .
Slumping on the sofa after dinner to watch the Dr Who Special is a Tradition in our house.That cannot be achieved with a slice of Quorn and some steamed carrots

I can put tinned or bottled food in our garage, we have a freezer there as well (so any BOGOFs, any batch cooking, bags of ice, ice-cream , can go there because it isn't constantly opened and rided like the kitchen freezer)

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

raided not rided (the DC don't ride round on the freezer )

[MamaPain]

Ohhelp you have fantastically reminded me that i wanted to see if I could freeze potatoes and have them come out as good as freshly done ones. I will definitely be cooking some tomorrow and try that once the weather cools down. Less veg prep would make my Christmas eve much better.

I think yes I may need to try and minimise stress because it is such an intense time for our family, and lots of not so healthy food make me have quite extreme highs and lows.

Such a good idea to buy in January sales. Think I'm totally over it all by that point but i should just force myself for the stress reduction.

[Badvoc123]

I was really fobbed off after my first attack :(
GP referred me...massive stone.
Saw a dr who basically said it might never happen again and sent me on my way!
Middle of Nov last year I had a horrific attack...I was bedside myself with the pain as the stone had actually lodged in the duct.
I was on tramadol, nefapam and oromorph.
I was sent to hospital 3 times by the GP but they kept sending me home with painkillers.
In the end they kept me in for the op but it was cancelled 3 days running...so I discharged myself and went private.
My op was done 3 days later.
Do try and push for the op before oct - the NHS simply can't cope with demand for acute care in winter :(

[MamaPain]

Sounds awful Badvoc. 70 you must get it sorted while its the quiet season, I haven't been there myself thankfully, but my mum has had her gall bladder removed. At one point it moved and she thought she was having a heart attack. She was in such agony that she was lying NAKED in the hall way saying her last goodbyes to my dad, ambulance got a bit of a shock.