flist friday (on a saturday): getting ready

[erychan86]

Hello flist!

So December is now here! I want to say I'm sorry in advance, because all my December questions are probably going to be Christmas related!

What I want to know on this flist Friday is basically when do you start getting ready for Christmas...

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?
When do you start looking for presents?
What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?

Also:
[Poll #2058887]

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?
The rule here is hat you have to wait until the 8th of December to trim the tree so I have to wait and the waiting is killing me! I've been wiating for 5 years to trim that damn tree at my parents! (On the boat I was making paper trees for me and Eric, bu we were too tired to celebrate since we were working like slaves on Christmas Eve and Day)

When do you start looking for presents?
I start thinking about presents in October and I go out buying them on the first week of December

What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?
Trimming the Tree... 5 years... FIVE YEARS! The waiting is almost over... Come to mama!!!

Comments

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I miss the smell of a Christmas tree, but honestly over the years we've found that artificial trees are better. It's less messy and we don't have to spend more on a tree that is slowly dying in our living room. Of course, we need to find another one because the one we've had for years came with lights already attached and all of those lights have burnt out. We need to find another one comparable to that soon.

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?
Almost immediately as possible. At the moment we need to really start cleaning the house before any of that happens, though, such as making room for the Christmas tree.

When do you start looking for presents?
It should be way earlier than I normally do it. Most of my shopping is done online, unless I see something in a store and know impulsively that it is for someone. But otherwise, I try to find things online and we all know how shipping goes during these particular times of the year. I worry that the presents might not get here on time, etc.

What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?
I like going into stores and wandering around their Christmas displays. I do this for Halloween too, actually, but there is something extra special about going into a store and hearing the Christmas music and going through the aisles and looking at all the shiny ornaments and different shimmering lights. Just the entire mood of the holiday spirit gets me excited, tbh.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

Awww Christmas displays are so nice <3

I always look for presents online but then I end up being too late for it and I go with the classic shopping... After all that's fun too! :D

I have a fake little tree too now because it's easier, but for years my dad brought home a real tree to trim! It was nice and smelled good.. Now they have a fake one (a pretty good one) because the cats LOVE helping and the real tree was just to messy with them jumping around xD I will go back to a real tree as soon as I have a proper home in the US and I can spend Christmas with Eric :D

[verdande-mi.livejournal.com]

"When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?"

For the first Sunday in Advent is when I usually decorate. This year I have held on a lot, but will put the rest of my decorations out in the coming weeks. It is lacking in nisser here at the moment. I have my advent lights and some other decorations out. The tree we buy some days before December 23 and decorate on the 23rd. I love that and it is me who do the tree these days. I wish I had room in my part of the house for a tree all for me, but sadly I do not. One day. I look forward to decorating it with only my own ornaments. We still use a real tree, but my parents wants a fake one. I do not! What about the smell?

"When do you start looking for presents?"

November/December. Some a done and for all but two I know what I am getting. I hope be done within the next two weeks. I want to be done when I am done with school and work, so that I use the holiday for fun and relaxing things. I don't enjoy shopping, and I like to buy online. I have plans this coming week for a shopping trip with a friend and I hope to get gifts bought then.

"What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?"

I don’t know, listen to my yuletide-playlist? I love that, but I must admit I have a sneak listen in summer when I am hit with a longing for colder weather and December! Also yuletide-dinner: Ribbe I also like to make some new ornaments/decorations each year and usually have a crafts day.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

Since you mentioned the Advent, do you do the advent calendar thing? I've always wanted to, but I always forget to buy one LOL!

I like to buy online too... So that I have time to forget what I bought and be surprised when I get it LOL!

Tell me about it! I was stuck with Rudolph in my head the whole mont of April last year! LOL

[verdande-mi.livejournal.com]

No, not any more. I haven't done those or seen the advent calender tv-show for years. I always mean to watch one tv-show, but it's been ages since I have. There are many in Norway and I have many to chose from, but I never take the time. When I was a kid/teen I would get a package-advent-calendar with a small gift each day.

:D :D Both good reasons!

I am always hit with nostalga for yuletide sometime during summer! For whatever reason :D :D

[jeune-fleur.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, I wish I paid more attention to Christmas *-*. My family is very small and we don't get along well, so basically Christmas is that time of the year where we just pretend alltogether OTL.

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?
On the 8th :3 it's such a pity it only lasts 1 month... but I guess that's the beauty of it all! ;)

When do you start looking for presents?
I usually don't give out presents unless I know the person I want to give the gift to is looking for something particular. I'm more of a "oh, I just thought of you out of the blue and got you this" rather than buying presents for special ocasions (Christmas, New Year, anniversary, b-day...).

What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?
Turning on the tree's light and listen to its annoying music XD.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

I have a small family too but luckily we get along... We don't do much, we trim the tree and we have lunch on christmas day... It's fun and it makes you feel warm, but I really want to have a big Christmas one day with "my own family" I think kids make Christmas more interesting somehow... They get you more involved in the whole thing!

I try to make the tree on the 8th too! :D

I only give presents to my mom, dad and hubby... Some members of my family too, We were used to do secret santa at work, that was fun!

Some of the Christmas music more than annoying is creepy xD

[favoritexrecord.livejournal.com]

I always loved having a real tree, because of the smell. But it is messy. My mom bought a fake tree two years ago and we love it! We got a really nice one so it looks real. Plus our dogs always tried to eat the branches or drink the water from the tree stand, so the fake tree is safer for them.

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?
The weekend after Thanksgiving!

When do you start looking for presents?
Usually after Thanksgiving as well, unless I happen to see something before then that I think would be a great gift for someone.

What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?
Going to stores just to look at their Christmas decorations or anything Christmas-themed they're selling. And also watch Christmas movies! Though I do watch the Hallmark Christmas movies in November too.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

We have a fake one too now... The Cats love to "help" and the real tree was suffering quite a lot because of them! xD But I want to make a real one again one day...

Wow you start quite early!!! That's good! :D

What is your favorite Hallmark Christmas Movie? I saw a bunch of them but not too many! They are sweet!!!

[favoritexrecord.livejournal.com]

I like any of the ones with Lacey Chabert (Matchmaker Christmas is a good one). I also really liked Ice Sculpture Christmas. =)

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

I'll check them out! Thank you!

[imagine-peace.livejournal.com]

Sorry to say I won't be answering these questions much because I don't celebrate the holiday! It's okay though.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

No problem! Can I ask you why you don't celebrate? You don't have to answer!

[imagine-peace.livejournal.com]

I don't mind answering- I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses and we don't celebrate because most customs come from pagan origin. There are other reasons, but our website may answer them better for you: https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/why-not-celebrate-christmas/

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :) I'll take a look! :D

[crinkle.livejournal.com]

I've only ever really experienced a fake tree, my sister had a real one once, and it was SOOO messy.

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?
December 1st, we were a few days late this year.

When do you start looking for presents?
About 6 months before sometimes.

What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?
Going to this department store in the city to look at the Christmas displays - I didn't do it this year though :( also driving around looking at all the beautiful lights on people's houses.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

6 months prior to christmas? Wow I am envying you! You must be so prepared on the 24th!

[crinkle.livejournal.com]

They have all the toy sales to put them on layby around then, so that's pretty much Blake done for christmas and his birthday lol. Then I buy more as I see it, and he always ends up with way too much D: yeah, everything is done by the 24th, everything has been wrapped mostly for a good couple of weeks!

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!
Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ (https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqbrowse?faqid=303).

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...? Dec 1st.
When do you start looking for presents? Sometimes as early as October.
What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December? Christmas food! Like trifle and rum balls.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

RUM BALLS! <3

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

THEY ARE ♥!
Especially with Bundaberg Rum.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

You're killing me, you know that right?

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

Ooops, sorry. How so?

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

I am so hungry right now LOL!

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

Ohhh. Well. Go find food? XD
I should find food too. Or get some sleep. I stayed up way too long again.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

LOL! Tell me about it! I should head in that direction myself xD

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

I'll go if you go? *shrug*
Is nearly 6am here. :|

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

WHAT? It's just evening here! I'm getting under the covers just to make you go to sleep! What time do you have to get up tomorrow? Also what are you doing up? :D

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yesss. My sleeping patterns are frakked. I'm just attempting to write up a post that will probably explain some of it. :P

I've been clearing out emails and stuff. Don't have to be up til 2pm. Only have acquisitions editing from 2-3pm and some other editing work that I'll most likely do during that same hour.

Only evening there? That seems a bit anti-climatic. :P

[lifefailsme.livejournal.com]

We do the decorations and tree the first week in December. It depends when but we make a whole day of it and thee kids have their own tree while I do the family tree.

Everything comes down Boxing Day (26th) or the day after. We're sick of it all by then LOL

Christmas presents are Gina's thing, she buys throughout the year so it is all done and dusted by the first week in December. She is very organised thank goodness cos I so am not.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

Gina is awesome!!! LOL you get the tree out as soon as Christmas is done LOL!

Awww it's so sweet the kinds have their own tree... Do you pout DW decorations on yours?

[lifefailsme.livejournal.com]

LOL Really am sick to death of Christmas by the 26th heheh The kids dont mind, they're used to it.

We have two of the same tree so the kids have something to decorate because I am a weird about the tree being just right. It takes me hours to do, we have 26 years worth of baubles to put on there and make it look it's best.

[batmarg.livejournal.com]

When do you start getting your home Christmas ready as in trimming the tree, putting out decorations...?
The day after Thanksgiving. I go w/ Daddy to get the trees (usually his friend got them & we pick them up at his house). We put the 10-12 foot tall monstrosity up at the church (recently with help from my uncle). Then we go home, have Thanksgiving leftovers and put up our tree/decorate. Hopefully next year I'll be adding a tree in my own house to the mix. And I'll go with a real one. It's what I'm used to (plus, I won't have to store it).

When do you start looking for presents?
Actively: October. But sometimes it's July-Sept and I just see the perfect thing for someone at a good price and grab it.

What is your favorite thing to do that you only do during December?
Drive around looking at Christmas lights. And seeing the christmas displays in stores.

[erychan86.livejournal.com]

Wow... You guys get ready quickly! Thats's great! :D

Christmas lights are so nice <3