Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Dec 15, 2019 23:08:45 GMT -5
Everything is straightened up. Will do some deep cleaning the next two afternoons. At least 15 presents wrapped. At least ten more to go. Then, DD#1's bday is the week after Christmas, and I need to order some stuff for her. I Wednesday and Thursday will be food prep for the Friday morning staff breakfast. I also need to organize and wrap the 32 staff gifts that DH and I need ready to go for Friday afternoon.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Joined: Dec 27, 2010 21:04:44 GMT -5
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Dec 15, 2019 23:12:47 GMT -5
Let's see: Lots of rain this week, so we should get the final ten large yard decorations up later this afternoon.
62 cards have been addressed, signed, stuffed into envelopes, and postage attached. They'll go in the mail today or tomorrow when I feel like leaving my house. 36 of the cards had to be ink-stamped. I hadn't done stamping in a few years, so that was a pleasant half-hour.
DH went to pick up DD#2 from college on Thursday, and they were able to get three more presents taken care of. They were at stores that were not any closer than the city where DD's college is, so that was definitely helpful and time-saving.
Still need to work on the menu for the office party, then the shopping list and shopping trip. Cleaning of the house also.
We have DH's side of the family's party on Dec 21. We'll leave the late afternoon of the 20 and return on Monday the 23rd.
Christmas dinner plan still not set. I should probably ask my mother what she's doing for Christmas Day. Wait. What? 50 inflatables and another 10 large yard decorations?!? Are you the neighborhood Griswolds? Yup, let me go take pictures of this year's set up. The other ten aren't up yet. I've been told that two aren't going up at all and two inflatables that were working and up are refusing to work right now. The other eight I may have to do myself. They're huge christmas lights--like three feet tall and two feet at their widest circumference. I love them. We also have 50 plastic candy canes that need to go up; they're like two feet tall.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Dec 16, 2019 8:25:02 GMT -5
I'm thinking the outside decorations might not happen. I'll have to see how quickly this snow melts.
Assuming the post office at work opens today, I will buy one more book of stamps and mail the cards out. They follow a local school system's closing/delay status not this building's.
I need to start wrapping up the shopping. I've got most of it done that can't be done locally. I need to organize the gift room. And the tree still needs ornaments.
I'm leaving work early the next two days for doctor appointments so I hope to use that time to catch up on some of this stuff.
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Deleted
Joined: Apr 26, 2024 16:02:59 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 16:34:36 GMT -5
Finally got the Christmas cards in the mail. We just figured out what to buy the one neighbor that we still exchange gifts with. I thought this might be a good year to ease out of the tradition, but I know he's buying us something and he's got some nasty heart problems so I could not NOT buy him a gift. Settled on a nice set of BBQ tools, assorted dry rubs, sauces and a gift card for some good meat. I'm gearing up to judge some houses for the annual community Christmas light contest. Depending on the section I'm assigned, there will be 600-800 houses to look at , and the competition is fierce!
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Dec 16, 2019 16:47:24 GMT -5
Done: Tree is up and decorated.
In-laws gifts and album is done.
Dsis - gifts could be done but I might pick up a couple more things.
Dh gifts done.
My folks gifts done (at least for what they'll actually open).
Holiday cards mailed.
return 1 gift for DD and get a different item
Ds experience gift done
Get pj's and book for each to open Christmas eve.
Company christmas party -- doneTo do: Finalize dd experience gift. Pick out what will be the Santa gifts. Dh will hopefully go get ornaments for nephews and kids today. (or tomorrow, a week later, whatev's) Baking -- derailed due to illness. We got 1 batch of sugar cookies (about 5 dozen) done. We usually do 3-4 batches. Hoping to have a re-do this weekend. Wrap gifts - we have homemade cloth gift bags that mom, sis and I have made over the years for many. I'd really like to make reusable snowman gift boxes to put them in. So we'd have little snowman stacks around the tree. Not sure that will happen this year but always a goal. Holiday crafting...I usually make ornaments for everyone. Might be a year or too behind. Wonder if I could catch up? Re-do dgm section of photo album for myself and my parents. Sit down with mom and get dgm history letter written to put in album. Those albums won't be here by Christmas but will still get it done and mom and dad will know it's coming. Teacher/school staff gifts -- bath bombs were also derailed due to illness and unlikely to get done at this point. I bought cookie dough that dh can bake up pretty quick (but hasn't happened yet) and we're thinking of getting gift certs for a free breakfast burrito from a diner close to the school. The scariest part is despite my to-do list being so long I'm still so much farther ahead than I normally am at this point. Behind at this point. Updated.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 18:53:44 GMT -5
Wait. What? 50 inflatables and another 10 large yard decorations?!? Are you the neighborhood Griswolds? Yup, let me go take pictures of this year's set up. The other ten aren't up yet. I've been told that two aren't going up at all and two inflatables that were working and up are refusing to work right now. The other eight I may have to do myself. They're huge christmas lights--like three feet tall and two feet at their widest circumference. I love them. We also have 50 plastic candy canes that need to go up; they're like two feet tall.
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CCL
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Joined: Jan 4, 2011 19:34:47 GMT -5
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Post by CCL on Dec 16, 2019 19:20:54 GMT -5
Yup, let me go take pictures of this year's set up. The other ten aren't up yet. I've been told that two aren't going up at all and two inflatables that were working and up are refusing to work right now. The other eight I may have to do myself. They're huge christmas lights--like three feet tall and two feet at their widest circumference. I love them. We also have 50 plastic candy canes that need to go up; they're like two feet tall. Is that your house MPL?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2019 19:27:32 GMT -5
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countrygirl2
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Post by countrygirl2 on Dec 17, 2019 0:24:31 GMT -5
I need to put up my bows and deer outside yet. And batteries in the lights at the mailbox. I greatly reduced decorating this year. The outside of our house is all metal or vinyl and the roofs are to high to put up lights. So up here we don't do it, in Texas I did, had almost 300 feet of fence lights. Hubs even ran electrical outlets to the fence for me to run them. I wish we had the nice driveway lights at the road like we did down there was so pretty.
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tcu2003
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Post by tcu2003 on Dec 17, 2019 13:22:30 GMT -5
Picked up stamps over lunch to mail my Christmas cards (hopefully I can get them in the mail tomorrow), and the last gift for my work secret Santa person.
And I hopefully spread some holiday cheer getting stamps - I know the post office is busy and not fun this time of year, so I asked around before I left work and picked up stamps for 3 coworkers so they didn’t also have to go wait in line at some point.
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finnime
Junior Associate
Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 7:14:35 GMT -5
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Post by finnime on Dec 17, 2019 18:29:21 GMT -5
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Dec 17, 2019 20:40:20 GMT -5
That was very nice of you tcu.
I'm fortunate to work in a large complex with it's own post office. There was a small line today but nothing like the actual post office near my house was Monday night.
I bought the last book of stamps today and got the remaining Christmas cards mailed.
The second tree is up and in need of fluffing. Both need ornaments, toppers and skirts.
I will mail out 5 gifts Wednesday. Several gifts were ordered on Amazon today. I got ideas for a few others so I can finish those up. I bought several gifts today.
I'm baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies tomorrow night for DH's coworker. This is the most decorations we've had in several years. I might pull this all off in time.
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cktc
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Post by cktc on Dec 18, 2019 14:55:13 GMT -5
Got some more gifts knocked out. Ordered my secret santa a Dear Holmes subscription. Her daughter thinks she will like it, so yay for that. 1 week to go, I guess this weekend will be finalizing and wrapping presents and shopping for food stuff. www.dearholmes.com/
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jerseygirl
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Post by jerseygirl on Dec 18, 2019 15:52:33 GMT -5
Addressed all the cards and went to PO to buy stamps and mail Only flower stamps left, oh well I’m looking forward to summer more than Christmas
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plugginaway22
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Post by plugginaway22 on Dec 18, 2019 19:21:00 GMT -5
Decorated tree, mailed cards, gave out co-worker gifts... Also took a break this week to enjoy the Christmas displays at Longwood Gardens, which I adore.
Need to wrap gifts, bake, and clean house!
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Deleted
Joined: Apr 26, 2024 16:02:59 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2019 10:14:35 GMT -5
Our Christmas is going to suck this year. I have just resigned myself to that at this point.
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Cookies Galore
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I don't need no instructions to know how to rock
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 18:08:13 GMT -5
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Post by Cookies Galore on Dec 19, 2019 13:04:30 GMT -5
I'm pretty much all done my shopping, just have to get my dad and stepmom a restaurant gift card and go food shopping for Sunday. Hubs and I are hosting my mom siblings, BIL, and niece and nephew for early Christmas. I offered to host because I didn't want to drive two hours. Just buying some marinated pork tenderloins, shrimp cocktail, some cheese and crackers, roasting veggies, and making mac and cheese.
I spent six hours at Target yesterday shopping with our police chief, another officer, and a fellow councilmember. The police run a food and toy drive each year and I was able to help shopping this year (last year I helped organize and deliver). While it's both humbling and rewarding to be able to donate almost an entire day to help members of my community, I also don't want to see the inside of a Target for at least a week. 😂
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crazycat
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Post by crazycat on Dec 19, 2019 22:03:51 GMT -5
Our Christmas is going to suck this year. I have just resigned myself to that at this point. Ours too but I don’t care . My DB is in ICU and a very close friend of ours was just diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer . I say - Bah , humbug !
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Dec 19, 2019 23:20:32 GMT -5
I need to get a few more items to "fill in" but at this point everyone has something. One Christmas card has been signed and is ready to mail tomorrow.
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raeoflyte
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Joined: Feb 3, 2011 15:43:53 GMT -5
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Post by raeoflyte on Dec 20, 2019 10:29:23 GMT -5
Done: Tree is up and decorated.
In-laws gifts and album is done.
Dsis - gifts could be done but I might pick up a couple more things.
Dh gifts done.
My folks gifts done (at least for what they'll actually open).
Holiday cards mailed.
return 1 gift for DD and get a different item
Ds experience gift done
Get pj's and book for each to open Christmas eve.
Company christmas party -- done
Finalize experience gift.
ornaments for nephews and kids today. Teacher/school staff gifts
To do: Pick out what will be the Santa gifts. Baking -- derailed due to illness. We got 1 batch of sugar cookies (about 5 dozen) done. We usually do 3-4 batches. Hoping to have a re-do this weekend. Wrap gifts - we have homemade cloth gift bags that mom, sis and I have made over the years for many. I'd really like to make reusable snowman gift boxes to put them in. So we'd have little snowman stacks around the tree. Not sure that will happen this year but always a goal. Holiday crafting...I usually make ornaments for everyone. Might be a year or too behind. Wonder if I could catch up? Re-do dgm section of photo album for myself and my parents. Sit down with mom and get dgm history letter written to put in album. Those albums won't be here by Christmas but will still get it done and mom and dad will know it's coming. Add a couple stocking stuffers The scariest part is despite my to-do list being so long I'm still so much farther ahead than I normally am at this point. Behind at this point. Updated. Wrapping will hopefully happen today on my lunch break. Looking at gift piles, dd has 1 more (gigantic) package than ds. We bought a switch as a family gift, but because he's asked and asked and asked so while I won't give it to only him its primarily his gift and money wise that was the most expensive thing under the tree. I might pick up a package of nerf bullets for him to even up the # of boxes though. No good santa gifts in the stack, but I'm not looking to buy anything else so still have to think on that.
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Rukh O'Rorke
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Post by Rukh O'Rorke on Dec 20, 2019 14:09:22 GMT -5
The goal: Everything bought and wrapped and the house decked out by December 18th.Tasks:Procure Christmas TreeProcure several poinsettiasSupplement decorations as needed- Wrapping paper, etc.
- Overload on food and cheer! aka no shopping from December 19th through January 3rd.
- Gifts for Kid1 and Kid2
One game
Books
- Clothes
- Something nice?
Gift for extended family secret santa 35.11- Stocking stuffers and
candy/treats
Budget: 1k
so far, 274.48 on kids
Total so far: 468.46
Doing ok so far I think.....but wait - omg - I only have 4 more days left on my timeline!!! ok - I've lost track of the money side of this....I've gotten minally more done. Will be having a tree trimming party tonight off to clean and ready - will need more food....drinks....hmmmmm
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Deleted
Joined: Apr 26, 2024 16:02:59 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2019 17:22:35 GMT -5
I bought my youngest a Chromebook off Amazon and it came yesterday, but it is WAY too big. I thought I bought the same size that his brother has, but obviously not. I'm so burnt out I'm just going to stop somewhere tonight and buy a second one that is right. I don't know what I'll do with the first one. I don't even care anymore. I'll be at work all weekend.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Posts: 47,228
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 20, 2019 20:33:49 GMT -5
I am finally done shopping. Found a vinyl from Alice Cooper at Homer's to go with the concert tickets I got my dad. It's copyrighted 2019 so I can be pretty confident he doesn't have this one. Then I got my brother another T-shirt from Curbside. Not as much selection in store as online but I found one with a similar theme to the one I bought last year and he wears all the time. Also found a onesie there for my new nephew, now he'll be styling.
Got a couple small things for the girls. I got Gwen a pocket size drawing/sketch book to go with her new art kit. Abby got a look and find book that is called called "Find who just Farted". I just about died reading it and decided it'd be the perfect thing for Gwen to give her sister.
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Cookies Galore
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I don't need no instructions to know how to rock
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 18:08:13 GMT -5
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Post by Cookies Galore on Dec 20, 2019 21:33:59 GMT -5
Not only is all my shopping done, I did my wrapping today as well. That is not how I usually roll. We have three days of Christmas (my mom, dad's side, MIL) so I usually wrap the morning of for whatever family we're seeing that day. I went to Trader Joe's and Wegmans this morning, so I have everything I need for hosting on Sunday, plus hopefully enough other stuff so I don't have to go to the grocery store the rest of the week.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 20, 2019 22:06:49 GMT -5
I was going to start wrapping but yet again forgot to buy tape.
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jerseygirl
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Post by jerseygirl on Dec 20, 2019 23:15:51 GMT -5
I was going to start wrapping but yet again forgot to buy tape. Gift Bags!!! Sooo much easier and just as nice (Plus I save them and reuse!)
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cktc
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Post by cktc on Dec 22, 2019 12:05:39 GMT -5
I think I've hit a wall in Christmas prep. DH is finally off shopping for his side that I haven't done anything for yet. I might skip the baklava I was going to make for xmas and xmas eve. Stockings are going to be gift overflow and snacks from the pantry. Now I just have to decide if we are going to make a dinner for ourselves or just graze and eat when we go to the other gatherings. I also wanted to make 3 more ornaments, which I do enjoy just not sure I have the time.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 22, 2019 15:48:04 GMT -5
I was going to start wrapping but yet again forgot to buy tape. Gift Bags!!! Sooo much easier and just as nice (Plus I save them and reuse!) I know but every year I get it in my head to wrap. You'd think I'd learn. I got tape at Sam's. 9 rolls. I joked to DH that with the way I wrap that should be just enough for one gift.🤣
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Post by empress of self-improvement on Dec 22, 2019 17:35:29 GMT -5
I bought Santa hat chair back covers at the dollar store, 3 pads of lined paper and 3 velvet art poster coloring sets and shoved one of each with a book for the triplets. I'm quite positive they really aren't going to give a shit. If anything, they can use the chair covers as little sleeping bags. I don't know. They're 3, I don't remember being 3.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2019 18:13:03 GMT -5
Finished Round Two of Christmas Light Judging - aka trying to find the house address. Seriously, if I can't find your address in the daylight, how the hell do you think emergency services will find it at night. I had to take daylight photos and use Google maps to match the house structure to an address!!! Unless you're in witness protection, get a dang set of address numbers and a porch light. Merry Grinchmas
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