Holiday

[gidgetgh]

Be gentle. Remember, this is the holiday forum, LOL. 

Two days ago, I dragged out the Christmas gifts I’ve bought so far. I have them all written down and they were all in a chest and dry sink in our office, but I dragged them out and brought them downstairs and arranged them by person.  Then I went to The Container Store and bought gift boxes to fit everything.  No, I haven’t done tissue paper and wrapping yet. 

Today I stopped at the post office and picked up a few flat rate boxes for a few out of town gifts so I could see if the gifts would fit in them. They did. So I won’t have to find shipping boxes later. 

This weekend, I’ll bring down our Christmas cards and address the envelopes. I always start that on Columbus Day weekend. 

I’ve gotten a really good start on my shopping. 

[loriqvc]

Congratulations, @gidgetgh! I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes to get everything done early. This year is actually my new record for finishing all my non-food gifts; last Sunday night, I wrapped and tagged the last item and added it to my guest room closet stash for safekeeping.

[Mominohio]

I applaud you! 

I'm usually done shopping and have the baking underway by Halloween, so no criticism from me!

People can scoff all they want, but I find the holidays to be much more enjoyable when I start early, take my time, am able to do  all I want to do (how many times do you hear people about 5 days before Christmas say they just didn't get to this or that?), and have 90% of it done by the first of December. That way I can relax, watch the holiday shows, go to the theater for holiday presentations, hit the holiday symphony performance, go to kid's school functions, and in general, relax and enjoy visiting with friends and family. 

I've always been, in all aspects of my life, been about being the early bird!

[Love my grandkids]

Good for you!

[chrystaltree]

It's October.  Too early for me to go into full on Christmas mode.  

[Daysdee]

I'm over half finished and I did finish buying the items I donate to local charity.  I have Christmas cards on hand, but won't address them until around or just after Thanksgiving.   I did a lot of online shopping.   Have bought some items from QVC for myself (household and cosmetics) but no Christmas gifts from QVC.    

[esmerelda]

@gidgetghUgh!  I'm exhausted just reading what you've been up to!

I used to address Christmas cards on summer vaction (August).  It worked great!

With a couple of special exceptions, I'm out of the gift-giving business.

And am cutting baking down by about 90%.  

There are so many other things I'd rather do.  Well, just one...read!!

But carry on, have fun, and merry Christmas!!

[gidgetgh]

I don’t bake at all for Christmas. 

One thing I’m doing this year for hairdresser, mailman, guy who cuts our grass, our cleaning ladies and a few extras for others, etc is that I rounded up some 10 oz. new, Tupperware Servalier bowls, red containers and white lids.  Very festive, LOL. I’m going to put those puffy melt away peppermints in them along with some Andes Toffee candy things that come out for Christmas.  Put a red bow on the white lid and they’ll be good add on gifts to go with their tips, I have 13 of them so I have extras.   A few friends will get them also. 

We exchange with two neighbors. They bring baked goods which we never end up eating.  This year I’m going to a grocery store by us, Fresh Market, and get them a small gift basket. They had great ones last year, but I saw them too late. The gift baskets have cookies and Ghirardelli chocolates. 

I still have quite a bit of shopping to do, but I’m way more than halfway done. I always get gifts for my sisters three children, all adults, and brother in law on Black Friday. I do have one small thing put away for each of them. 

Then we have my husbands grandson.  He’s turning 6 next month. Too early to shop for him. 

I think I’m done with my sister’s gifts. I haven’t pulled hers out yet to take inventory. But I think I’m finished.

My two stepsons will get something small (have no idea what yet) and a gas gift card and a check. I already have the gas gift cards. 

[rustysmom]

I have bought a few items but I am so happy that I finally broke down and bought a 6ft. folding table so that I can use it as my wrapping table.  I can no longer get down on the floor to wrap gifts and in the past would have to clear a spot on the dining room table and mess up the table decor or use a tv tray table to wrap gifts.  This year I can set up new table in the family room in front of the tv and have room on one end for the paper, tape, scisors and tags and the other end for the axtual wrapping, and watxh Hallmark Christmas movies while wrapping.  I have wanted to do this for so long.  Last weekend Big Lots had a friends and family sale where everything was 20% off with your rewards card so I took advantage of it and bought a folding table.  I just know it will make it so muxh easier to wrap this year.

[Marsha2003]

Congratulations to all of you who are starting early!  I agree that having everything finished by Thanksgiving gives me the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy friends and family during the holidays.  No last minute stress and free time to help my parents do their shopping and wrapping.