Get gifting purchased by end of November and any pressies to be posted on their way by the end of the first week in December.

Get a good box set and allow four evenings for wrapping – Dexter – Seasons 1-5 Complete [DVD] was my choice for 2012!

Getting together with good pals from far away before Christmas was great fun, using the time between when the kids break up before Christmas was lovely.

Popcorn and movie night to mark the start of the Christmas holidays with The Polar Express [2005] [DVD] [2004].

A magical movie which taken you on a roller-coaster ride serving you hot chocolate by singing waiter in this holiday classic.

Plan the food, plan the food and plan the food – before you buy the food!  Otherwise too much will be bin bound – an expensive mistake in 2012.

Stock up on Calpol, Infant Neurofen and cold and flu medications – be prepared – its wouldn’t be Christmas without Calpol!

Having a relaxed approach to Christmas day and by relaxed I mean no sit down meal until Boxing Day works.  An immense buffet is the way forward and I got to enjoy them opening & being excited by all that Father Christmas brought.

Choose a boxset or two to see through the festive season, there is time and the TV schedules get some quality programmed viewed of your choosing.

Getting together with good pals after Christmas would have been fun too – make a new year plan that’s not at home when Christmas is at home.  Four different walls would have been a welcome change!   Have already had a chat with Independent Travel Expert Laura Featonby and Lanzarote and Egypt are under consideration, although the house project may command the £’s!  

A January dryathalon is a good idea!  Day 17 in 2013 and not a drop of alcohol has past my lips!

Here’s to an amazing year and Christmas in 2013!

Christmas 2011 is done. The last tasks of Christmas are the first of 2012: take down and pack away decorations – I miss the twinkly fairy lights already. Write thank you cards for the many gifts that have been unwrapped and enjoyed over the last few weeks.

Thank you notes have been drummed into me literally from birth – I know my mum sent them on my behalf until I was old enough to write my name and then the notes myself. I send many more gifts to children than I receive thank you notes for, the thank you’s I do receive I am delighted by. Writing them is a tradition I’m passing on to my children. In my book it’s courteous to thank those who’ve sent you gifts, especially if you haven’t seen the giver to thank them in person.

I struggled this year to stay on top of what was from who this year as the wrapping paper flew I have to be honest! This year I have used a great photo of Lil H and Diva G meeting Father Christmas to make postcards to say thank you to family and friends. Am I alone in my love of the traditional thank you note? Is snail mail out of date in 2012? What do you think?

Today I settled down to my Christmas gift list, sadly not a list of what I would like* (*If anyone would like me to write a list of what I would like I am more than happy to write one!) but a list of who I am buying for and what I am buying them.  Over the years I have cut the list of who I buy gifts for down and with friends this year I have agreed “no gift exchange” with anyone that will agree it with me!

Armed with my honed list of who, mostly relatives, the gift selection begins. The reality is that the adults have everything they need / want, and then some. This makes finding a gift that delights harder every year. No one wants or needs more stuff do they?  This year my gifting will mostly be consumable gifts – gifts that can be used, eaten, enjoyed etc.

With family all over the place, up in Northumberland, down in Brighton and many places in between, I need gifts that don’t cost as much again in postage and will arrive, last years delivery challenges for online orders have not been forgotten! Interflora is one of my favourite brands to work with and I’m delighted to be writing about their recently unveiled Christmas collection which has helped me out enormously.

Christmas Hampers

It’s not Christmas without a hamper and Interflora have a great selection of Christmas hampers. Lots of treats to eat and the hampers are great looking storage afterwards for teddies, toys, blankets etc.

Poinsettia

My mum always has poinsettia plants, I do too now, it’s an unwritten, unspoken tradition. A gift, even one to self, that lasts the whole festive season. I think Interflora’s outdoor barrel is a festive welcome by any front door, something to brighten the winter darkness, so much better than socks!

Mistletoe

Let’s not forget the smooching flower, mistletoe! Send a party host a unique gift of mistletoe and get puckering up!  There is free delivery on many lovely gifts including traditional wreaths, holly trees, candle displays so not sure what to get someone that has everything this year check out http://www.interflora.co.uk for some inspiration!

Related links
Web: http://www.interflora.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/interfloratheflowerexperts
Twitter: @InterfloraUK

Wishing all customers of Dandelion Lounge, all those who take the time to read this blog and follow me on Twitter a Very Merry Christmas! 
With very best wishes for 2010. 
Me, Mr L, Lil’ H & Baby G x

This week I took Baby G to make a plate for my mum, her Grandma, for Christmas.  I did this with my lil’ H and wanted to create the same in pink so Grandma would have the “full set” - please note there won’t be anymore to collect! 

Violet Posy is hosting a “Thrifty Christmas” carnival and although this is a late addition to the carnival there is still time for anyone inspired into create their own baby plates to get them painted, fired and collected in time for the big day!

I’ll be collecting Baby G’s next week … ok whilst that’s one gift sorted there are still many more that aren’t so I’m back off to Google … ciao for now! Cx