Tag: Ugly Christmas Sweater

35 Weeks To Christmas Day 2017

Christmas 2017

Christmas Day 2017 is on a Monday and there are 35 Sundays to go before we reach Christmas. It doesn’t sound so long until we get there, huh? Maybe now is the time to start planning if you want a stress free Very Merry Christmas this year.

Spring

It’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment (April) and conifers are dropping any extra pine cones. The earlier ones are small, the later ones are larger. If you want pine cones for your decorations, then now is the time to collect them. It’s easy enough to carry a plastic bag with you if you are walking anywhere near pine trees or even put a few in your pocket each time you are out. Store them in an open bowl to make sure they are dry and you will then have your own pine cones to add to a pot pourri with cinnamon for a Christmassy smell nearer the time or you can get gold paint or craft glue and gold glitter and decorate them ready for use around the house. Both ways of using cones are useful, they don’t cost much and you can use them as a children’s craft if you want to keep the kids busy on some weekend or just enjoy the decorating yourself!

Watch a Pine cone decorating Video

Some people are highly creative and there are a great many ideas for using pine cones in the video below!

Ugly Christmas Jumper

If you are a keen knitter and like the idea of creating your own Ugly Christmas Sweater, then now is the time to start collecting ideas for a pattern and costing out the wool. If you are not a knitter and can’t persuade anyone to knit for you, then you will be able to find Ugly Christmas Sweaters on line to buy nearer the time. It would be good to start saving for it now, if budgeting might be a problem.

Christmas Preparation Steps 3 and 4

get the guest bed ready

get the guest bed ready

Accommodation for Guests

I usually find mid to end October is a good time to look at any accommodation needs if I have guests coming. I check that I have enough bedding (and beds) and do a clean of the spare bedroom. It can tend to get used as a dumping ground for all those projects that never seem to get finished! It’s also a good time to check whether any duvets or blankets need to pay a visit to the launderette or dry cleaners for a spot of tender loving care.

If you need more bedding, you may find that a friend or relative can help you out with loaned items, if you give them some notice.

Christmas Clothing

sweater

Christmas sweater

Christmas is traditionally a time for getting a new outfit, especially for all those Christmas parties. It’s also the time for those ugly Christmas jumpers! Did you know that there is a world-wide International Ugly Christmas Sweater Day? It’s on the 3rd Friday in December and in 2016, will be celebrated on 18th December, exactly one week before Christmas. But now is the time to think about, buying, borrowing or creating an ugly Christmas sweater ready for the big day. Some people use the day and the sweater to encourage donations to children’s charities.

Christmas Pajamas

It’s also time to think about whether you want to get some special Christmas Pajamas, even matching pajamas if you are part of a couple or family. Nothing like everyone being dressed in matching green or red pajamas, keeping toasty warm, while opening presents under the tree on Christmas morning.