Has anyone started on Christmas prep?

[Marthe48]

I've never started this early before, but I've already started buying presents. I got some of my Christmas decorations out yesterday, to sort. Halloween decorations are still on the dining table.

Some of my family members started mailing gifts already. They delivered some in Oct. on a visit to family that live away. They had a nightmare with some of their mailed gift packages last year, like mailed in Nov. arrived the end of Jan. I think at least one was lost and never showed up. I won't mail anything but cards, if I can get a box of nice ones, and not too many people to send to any more.

[snowybirdie]

1. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Please no!

[ailsagirl]

24. +1000

[Shrike47]

2. I've got almost all of my shopping done. If it has to be mailed, I don't trust USPS (DeJoy).

The man set out to ruin the post office Somali delivery could be sold to a rich Republican and he’s doing a damned good job. May he rot.

[NoRethugFriends]

3. Haven't started, and also, all done. (nt)

[True Blue American]

7. Join the Crowd!

My family prefers money so they can get what they want in after Christmas Sales. A couple of token gifts under the tree. Plenty of food and goodies.

[LakeArenal]

4. In CostaRica Christmas isn't a big deal like in the states

I looked for plain old outdoor string lights and can find them anywhere.

So yes I did start.

[Phoenix61]

5. Absolutely!

I have a giant wreath I need to finish decorating that will go outside. I’ve gathered all the difficult stuff to find for my fruitcakes. I bake a dozen every year and they need to soak in Capt Morgan’s for a good 3 weeks. Planning on when to put out yard decorations. My rule is they get turned on Thanksgiving night so…. Between a couple of trips I’m taking and the weather I’ll be getting started with that pretty soon.

[Ocelot II]

6. Since I haven't started and don't intend to, I'm all done.

[Cracklin Charlie]

8. My neighbor put eight artificial trees with lights in her back yard Monday.

Looks so cool…from my house!

Thanks, neighbor!

[helpisontheway]

9. I have purchased presents for my immediate

family. They are all wrapped and under the tree. I have always been an early shopper but this is our first time having our tree up so early. We still have some of our fall decorations up too.

I have most of the gifts for our extended family. I shop all year and put items away for Christmas. There are two that I have not purchased. So I will try to finish those up and get everything shipped next week. Last year I shipped early but the packages barely made it there in time. I was so stressed because of the pictures of post offices with piles of delayed packages.

I love to finish everything early. Then I can sit back and enjoy the holidays (music,movies,food,family time, hot cocoa..all of it). 🎄❤️🎄

[3catwoman3]

10. It was almost 60 degrees in the greater Chicago area earlier this week, so I did...

...put lights on our burning bush in front of the house. But that's all. Every year, I tell myself I should do this before it get so cold, and this year I finally listened to myself.

[Bev54]

11. Yes, all done with shopping and just starting on shortbread cookies.

[zanana1]

12. I bought all the Christmas presents in June.

Beat that!

[Bayard]

13. I've ordered some family and friend gifts

There is a local artisan who crafts beautiful wooden bowls. It takes awhile for one-of-a-kind.

Now, what to get Mr. Bayard......

[Arkansas Granny]

14. I don't decorate for Christmas any more, but I have about half my shopping done.

The younger ones on my list will get a little something to unwrap and a card with money (they all like that shade of green and it always fits). I put a lot of thought into gifts for adult family members and I think I've made some good choices this year.

I won't need to ship any gifts this year. Granddaughter and her family live on the east coast, but will be here for Thanksgiving and I'll send their gifts home with them. When we do our baking this year, we will mail goody boxes to out of town relatives, but we don't exchange gifts with them.

Recently, we have been having a big Christmas party a few days before the actual holiday to exchange gifts and have a buffet style meal. That way, everyone can stay at home and relax on Christmas day if they wish or have Christmas dinner with spouses family or other friends.

[Totally Tunsie]

15. Pretty much done here, except for some last minute

odds and ends and toys/treats for the grandpuppers. I'm waiting for package arrivals as I type this.

My South Carolina branch of the family is driving to MA for Thanksgiving, so their gifts will be carried back with them, rather than trusting to the mail. This scenario always gets me in a holiday mode early, and (to my mind) is the only good thing about my son's family being so far away.

I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year, and hope the spare time by finishing early allows me to enjoy more of the sights and sounds. FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!

[AllaN01Bear]

16. yes. i got almost all of my shopping done a week ago. we are having family thanksgiving

here at my late aunts homestead. some ppl will be getting gifts hand delivered and only 2 will be maild . is that so and so dejoy still in, i thought we had a majiority on the post office board to kick him off.

[Tomconroy]

17. Didn't we just have Christmas?

[MissB]

18. I have yet to begin.

Dh and I will be visiting both of our kids over Thanksgiving and will get some ideas then. We may buy each other a gift. But other than that, gift giving is really low key. I generally give consumables to most everyone - store bought wine or homemade goodies, home canned jams/pickles etc.

I will decorate this year, but it'll be an effort. We are tearing out our kitchen during the month of December, which means that stuff needs to shuffle off to other places so my usual decorating will be a bit abbreviated. One kid will be home for that month so he will be doing a lot of helping of tearing out and relocating items.

We're also having our floors sanded soon thereafter (to line up with the installation of matching hardwood in the kitchen) so alllll of the first floor furniture needs to move.

It'll be fun. Yeah. Fun.

[tblue37]

19. Once my kids grew up, I gratefully hopped off the Christmas train. Christmas is really

rough on women, because we are generally expected to "make" Christmas wonderful for everyone else.

[Marthe48]

23. You made me tear up

There is always a point when I can look at my effort and tell myself 'I made Christmas' It might not be wonderful for everyone, but it is always the best I can do.

I'm not there yet, but that moment is almost as good as when I get a moment with the spirit of Christmas and feel wonder.

[Diamond_Dog]

20. So true.

Last edited Fri Nov 12, 2021, 04:54 PM - Edit history (1)

When my kids were small, I baked, decorated, shopped, wrapped, hosted. Now that they are grown up I am happily relieved I don’t have to do all that any more. Christmas is so much more enjoyable.
I put up a tree and fix a nice dinner and that’s it.

[cinematicdiversions]

21. Got out the red and green beach chairs. Nt

[msongs]

22. send them out on dec 26th of 2021 for xmas 2022. never too early nt

[Wolf Frankula]

25. No this is November

[link:|

Do what the turkey says.

Wolf

[elleng]

26. Most Hanukkah gifts bought;

may return to shop for a few more tomorrow.

Hanukkah candles bought.

PRACTICALLY done.

(First Night of Hanukkah is NOVEMBER 28.)

[Generic Brad]

27. Done

We're shipping them out tomorrow. Last year we mailed packages out the week after Thanksgiving and they finally reached their destination in February. We are hoping for a better turn around time this year.

[Skittles]

28. I have my cards to send overseas

plus I online-ordered a couple of cards that say SANTA IS ON HIS WAY TO YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE HE NEEDS ONE MORE HO

yes indeed

[Marthe48]

31. lol

I like your card. I have a vintage Christmas card that is pretty suggestive

[lastlib]

29. I lifted the calendar pages to see when it was........

Does that count?

Actually, I did buy a present already. It shipped fro Ireland, and thinking about supply-chain issues, I opted to buy it early and hope it would arrive before Christmas. It arrived in a week. At least she was surprised and happy with it.

[jcgoldie]

30. yes

We wont win the war on x-mas by procrastinating!

[Marthe48]

32. I didn't know if supply chain and P.O.

issues would be a concern. I rarely go in to shop, but I went out yesterday, into our local Big Lots, vac and masked. It is a big building, and rarely crowded. I had no trouble finding things on my list and when I commented to a clerk who was stocking, she said they hadn't really had a problem.

I took a birthday package to the p.o. this morning, hoping it'll get to CA. in time.

If my experience continues to exceed my expectations, I'll drift back to my usual seasonal plans.

I really enjoyed reading the comments.

[mnhtnbb]

33. This is my first Christmas in my new house.

Last week I finished landscaping, which included planting a 5 foot Oriental Spruce. For the first time in over 20 years, I'm going to put outside lights on a tree.

No cards this year. I also have a new 5 ft fake tree for inside. When I downsized from a house to an apartment several years ago, I ditched a lot of Christmas decorations, including all tree ornaments. So I've actually been acquiring some new tree ornaments.

I'm looking forward to putting up my new decorations in my new house this year.

[hay rick]

34. I'm ready for the War on Christmas!

Let me be the first to say "Bah Humbug!"

[AllaN01Bear]

35. not yet . have my "big " treee , about 4 foot out from last year.

have a little one w led lights and use that as a light backup when the regional power utility cuts the power for high speed dry windy conditions . will go hog wild after turkey day.
its just me , my self and i so i decorate for me . on front door i have a christmas wreath w lights in it and i decorate the trees.