Christmas tips

In my Christmas pass the parcel I put cracker - type riddles, which have to be answered correctly by someone before moving on. There are lots of ideas for these or forfeits on-line. I usually do a 'pin the nose on Rudolph' also found free on- line. Made a bit of a mess, but last year I bought a snowman pinata and filled with gifts and a few sweets - tattoo transfers went down well.

Ooooh, might have to steal the idea of a Christmas pass the parcel "Gilly70". Sounds fun, thank you. What sort of forfeits do you have? My GC are 5,6 and 7. Would appreciate your thoughts. Perhaps would do it on Boxing Day as they tend to be a bit gifted out on THE day!!

I have to admit to an excel spreadsheet which I try and maintain so that I know whether I'm repeating a present to someone. I looked at it for the first time today and have begun filling in the gaps with ideas from catalogues. Then will come the spending bit!!! This armchair shopping is a doddle

I love the individual bag idea. My presents get put in carrier bags which are totally unattractive. I think I must oil the old [and I mean old!!!] sewing machine.

I'm enjoying this thread much to my surprise.

Oh, glamma, I think I will volunteer for that job this year. I love apples - just hope the dentist has finished the work on my new crown by that time.

DHs job is to chew the apple's left for Rudolph and leave bit's on the plate and to spill some of the milk on to a saucer,and to do paw print's from front door as we don't have a chimney,this is a labour of love as DH does not enjoy apple's,he has done this for over 40yrs with our DCs and DGCs.

We spend Christmas with my daughter,partner and GC every year, we take the gifts, desserts, crackers,wine & nibbles, my daughter & partner cook a lovely lunch & we are thoroughly spoilt. I also make a 'pass the parcel', with small gifts and forfeits! The GC love it, but have to rack my brain each year to think of suitable forfeits! As they get older it does get more of a challenge, but they still seem to love it.

I LOVE christmas and all its organisation seeing my family all together and happily enjoying themselves is the only gift I need. I have nearly finished present buying and have made cake etc

Doesn't worry me, jogginggirl. I don't have to do the organising or cooking 'cos the younger generation has taken over. I only hope their offspring will do the same for them one day in the distant future.

Sorry Annobel - I'm just one of those horridly annoying people who likes to be organised - with fragmented families and oldies still to consider, wedding anniversary three days before Christmas and DS birthday on Boxing Day - I need to be organised . Probably not the right time to tell you that I have made cakes and puddings and they are all ready for 'feeding'. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CHRISTMAS..........

I am full of admiration for the organisational skill of my fellow Gransnetters - something I must admit I totally lack. But... but... is Christmas meant to be a challenge? a chore? Because that's what it seems to have become since I was a child. Just throwing this into the mix!

Wow jogginggirl - well done - and I thought I was organised!

I have a Christmas planner book - room for present choices, individual pages for everyone I buy for, card list, notebook for ideas..........everything I can think of. It's my third year of using it..........it has space for 5 or 6 years I think. The good thing is that I can see what I bought for people last year and not repeat.............it works for me

Love DivaWA's idea of the list and crossing things off - we have the 'gifts' box where if I see anything I feel would be great for a present I store away until needed. Although I usually have someone in mind when I buy things I never have actually made a note that I have them - divas idea would help with that!

I am feeling sooooooo smug today - we support a family out in Moldova and every year we send three boxes on the Christmas lorry - one with clothes for each family member, the second with presents for each family member and the third with tinned food, pasta etc (non-perishables) and sweets for the children. We delivered our boxes to the depot today and it's not even November!

Am planning now to get the other presents sorted while I am in the mood!
Don't stop me now !!!!!! (Wish they did a smug emoticon!)

I am inspired by your tip bama2U. What an easy idea - I enjoy wrapping the first present then it becomes a chore. I'm going to use this one - thanks!

Thanks, bama2U. What a lovely idea and one which even I could adopt, despite going into a cold sweat at the sight of a needle and thread.

Over the year I keep my eyes open for Christmas or glitzy fabrics, remnant stalls, store sales in January and party dresses in charity shops are all good sources. One autumn evening, well before the Christmas rush, I make different size bags from the fabric - then at Christmas time I just pop my gifts inside a bag, tie with fancy ribbons and add a name tag. It's so easy, no more fiddling with difficult shaped presents, they look spectacular under the tree, everyone loves the bags especially children and of course they are recycled for years.

Grandchildren love to be in their own home on Christmas morning so we buy pudding and crackers, turn up with the presents and then play with GC and their toys while daughter and son-in-law make dinner. Brilliant.

I make mince pies and sausage rolls with fresh ready made pastry and freeze them before cooking (if you grease the mince pie tins well they will pop out easily when frozen, or ease them out with a knife), I can then take them out of the freezer and cook them as I need them. There are always some left for later in the year and no need to throw unused ones away.
I love the idea of the decorated boxes nanapug - will certainly try that.

Best Christmas tip I ever had was that ' Christmas is a season - not just one day'. Taking this view removes the stress of packing everything into one day, of trying to eat all the Christmas foods together at one meal, of trying to gather and accomodate a scattered family in the same place at the same time, of having over tired and over excited children.

Being Scottish, we also include the New Year celebrations in our 'Season' so have several small and medium sized get togethers and plenty 'time off' to chill as well.

For extra fridge space, we use the 'flatpack' cheap zipped-up-over-a-frame greenhouse as a booze fridge ... it's perfect in the garage, doesn't freeze up, but provides nice cold beers (you can tell we're from the southern hemisphere). in fact anything that needs to stay nice and cold can go in there.

Here's another tip: my mother taught me to store food in glass containers in the fridge (never plastic) because glass provides a 'fridge within a fridge' she'd say. So true! Food lasts so much better in glass - cold meats etc. And no transfer of colours or smells. Recycled glass jam jars are perfect for left overs.

Joanna I;m with you.Unless you really enjoy the process buy a pud at M and S
Also I always order the Christmas food inc. turkey at M and S Their food order
book is out now.
My daughter and I buy cards wrapping paper and crackers in the sales after
Christmas.
Asda had lots of different wines on offer this week Different varieties of fizz
and Cava for £5 excellent for Christmas

I find making mince-pies ahead of The Season very helpful. Make the mincepies as usual; place in the greased baking patty tins and put the tins in the freezer for a couple of hours. Remove pies from the tins and keep in a bag in the freezer. When needed, you can pull out a dozen or so, put them back in the tins, brush with milk and cook as usual, from frozen, maybe cooking a couple of minutes longer than usual. Result - home made mincepies, freshly cooked, less hassle.

Disposable baking tins for the spuds etc. just for this one day a year and not that expensive, but helps make short work of the dishes.

Some great hints, keep them coming please!