OT- Countdown to X-mas: Who ELSE is Freaking Out? - YouLookFab Forum

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OT- Countdown to X-mas: Who ELSE is Freaking Out?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I am in the middle of a serious panic attack! We had a packed weekend of holiday get togethers, a doctor's appointment for my son yesterday (which means driving through the mountain pass in pouring rain three days in a row), now we're dealing with our co-cop order (which was supposed to come in today, but came in yesterday. I tried to arrange for a friend to pick it up, but the coordinator refused to contact my friend and let her know what time to get it- not sure what the deal is with that), and today I have to do my Christmas shopping. I wasn't planning on buying anything for the kids because we are getting annual passes to their favorite amusement park. We were going to go see my parents on Christmas morning to open their gifts and then go to the park as a surprise. Well, I found out the park is closed Christmas Day, so I wanted to get some stocking stuffers to put in with the annual pass so they have something to open (because we won't see my parents or get their gifts until after Christmas).
So- yeah, I am freaking out. Anyone else?

General

34 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Barbara

Veteran

Dang, Khris, sounds like you've got it going on! I sympathize!

What kind of stocking stuffers are you thinking about?

Maya

Veteran

I only have ONE gift for my family so far, and that isn't arriving until tomorrow. At least I was smart enough to shell out the $3.50 to have it gift wrapped in advance (it's delicate and I don't want to risk breaking it).

I'm screwed because I have come down with a really bad cough and cold. I can't even go to work, let alone go shopping, so I think at least from my end, Christmas is going to have to come late.

Louise

Veteran

This is the first year *ever* that I am done and dusted. Shopping friend took me out October half term and I managed to get most of it done. I've booked her again for next year x

ETA~ sorry you probably really didn't need to hear that! x

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Oh, poor Chewy! It is so sad when holidays make you a nervous wreck instead of being a relaxing and enjoyable time.
We chose not to have a hectic Christmas. Of course having quite a small family helps - just my hubby, two our sons and my parents are in Canada. My sons are back from the universities for a 2-week holdays and honestly it feels festive already for this reason. We will do a quiet family dinner and use that week to relax and have a quality time together.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I ordered the kids gifts through Amazon and had them shipped to my mom's house... then spent $175 at Target yesterday on socks and underwear (no joke) for stockings. I have a few random stocking stuffers I still want to pick up but other than that I"m done. I've been assigned the green vegetable for Christmas dinner but can't really do anything about that until we get to my mom's house.
My biggest chore now is packing for the week.

Oh, and we'll be spending Christmas day in your neck of the woods... maybe I'll see you on the freeway

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

HAHAHAhahahaa...I still have to:
* hem and hand embroider 12 napkins
* create two stamped stationery sets
* sew two pairs of jammie pants for my twin nephews
* wrap everything else

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Queen Mum

Veteran

mpj.. you better get off the computer and get busy crafting
ah, I used to be crafty, but then I got old and tired....

Anonymous

I seem to be relatively under control. I still need to get my holiday cards in the mail but that should be done today. Wrapping is half done but I will need to go to the store and get more paper/tape for the other half. Christmas is pretty low-key for us and I have learned over the years how to pace myself. For example, baking stresses me out to the nth degree so I just don't do that any more. And although the holiday card is a big production with a newsletter and 150 copies to send out, its part of my ritual and the one year I skipped it I got major negative blowback so that is a must-do for me. I keep my decorations simple, gifting is low-key. I like to focus on the season....holiday lights, enjoying the solstice, gatherings with friends and family. And if something comes along to take away that joy, I just don't do it anymore.

Dusty

(website)

Uh, yup. I've got a skirt to finish for DD, a tie for DS that needs to be turned and pressed (and dang is that thing tiny - not so easy to turn), a vest for DD, a tiny top and some shoes for my niece who will be born on Thursday, a pair of tiny pants to hem, two hairbows, a scarf, a felt makeup set to finish, oh and I wanted to make a tie for DH but I'm not sure that's going to happen. Plus, tomorrow is DS' Christmas party for school and I still need to make a bingo game, pack the goodie bags, make a rotation schedule, finish painting some craft sticks and cut out 60 some tiny holly leaves out of felt for the craft project. Oh, yeah, and finish the teacher's Christmas gift (it's sewn I just haven't trimmed the threads and stuffed it with goodies yet. Plus, tonight is DS' school holiday program and DH and/or I will likely be wrapping presents at Macy's on Christmas Eve to raise money for the school (and likely spending the rest of the night wrapping presents for the kids. Oh, and we're hosting Christmas at our house this year for the first time because my BIL and SIL are local and SIL will still be in the hospital with the baby (c-section) so I've got to get the house ready for that and plan, buy and cook dinner (we're having pork roast that I just have to stick in the oven so cooking at least isn't going to be horrible).

So, yeah, totally freaking out!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh good- at least I'm not alone!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm in denial, fortunately I still believe in Santa so everything should be okay

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Yep!

So much for a "fun in the sun" Christmas - it is forcasted to be pouring with rain here..... for the next week starting today. Oh yay. And then....

Can you believe for the first time ever, my hubby and I said to all families - "we'd just like to have a quiet family Christmas this year". We are so excited about cooking our first turkey. Until.....

Two weeks ago the element in my oven blew up. It took a week for the repairman to come, who said that the part should arrive before Christmas, only to be rung up on Monday afternoon and told that there is not a single part in Australia and the next shipment will not arrive in the country until the MIDDLE of FEBRUARY 2011! ARRRGGGGGHHHH! I've now gone and bought a new oven and am going to throw myself on the mercy of the appliance people to "please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top" install it for me before Friday.

Oh, and my hubby still has not finished shopping (for me), so instead of having him around to help me with the kids (he starts leave today), he is going into shopping centre hell instead. Which means he will arrive home after a number of hours in an incredibly grumpy mood. <Sigh. You know what - I feel so much better for ranting. Sorry Khris, at least you know you aren't alone!>

Oh well, I guess we'll be eating salmon and salad for lunch instead.

Ultimately we have our health, we (almost) have our sanity and we have each other. I guess really that's ultimately what the day is about, right?!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Wow! Khris, Hugs!! That sounds extremely stressful.
And compared to what you're facing, I shouldn't be complaining at all...but I'm really upset because I'd planned a perfect, probably Mom-proof outfit for Xmas dinner, but I needed a couple of pieces from Nordstrom to make it here to make it happen. I ordered them last week and paid $88 in shipping so it would be sent express...and it hasn't even left stupid FiftyOne yet, so there's no chance at all it will get here by Thursday. I could cry.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Have foolishly promised the children I'd make costumes for the church 'just turn up' nativity on Christmas Eve. Last year was easy - Mary (= convenient blue dress + convenient blue dressing gown with hood. She was 3 and looked cute) and a Shepherd (can't remember exactly what I did but wasn't much hassle and involved a tea towel). This year, infant hearts are set on being a turtle dove (have bought feather boa and little ballet shoes but also net to run up into a skirt...) and a sheepdog complete with mask. No, they didn't really have those in nativity plays when I was little either...

So that's still to do...

Heart goes out particularly to Khris and Michelle - you'll make it work, I know you will!

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I dread Xmas day every year...go to me BIL who gets to me worse every year....incredibly rascist and verbally abuses his lovely daughter every year (she is somewhat heavy and he cant stand that) so I KNOW what he thinks of me! No way out of visiting and I'll just be glad when its over...till next time..sigh

MsMaven

Veteran

We had to cancel out on our Christmas trip to Chicago last night. My husband is going to have to have a surgical procedure on Thursday morning--it's a result of complications from a surgery he had several years ago. (He also has a tendency to suffer freak accidents the week before Christmas. We thought we'd made it safely through until he started feeling unwell on Sunday.) We were going to do our real shopping in Chicago. I planned it so the refrigerator would be nearly empty by tonight.

Fortunately we have some friends who are having a pot luck dinner Christmas day, so we will be getting together with them and also meet some new friends.

Last night my son emailed photos he had just taken--big snowflakes coming down, two Christmas trees, one in each corner of the house. Such a lovely scene.

I'm feeling a big let-down today, but anticipating that DH will feel much better by Sunday. I had bought three new sweaters to wear on the trip. I'll wear the red one on Christmas anyway.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm sure you'll be on top of it all in no time, Khris

I am done and dusted too.

catgirl

Veteran

I am so disorganized that when my mom called yesterday to say "we're getting onto the plane", I said "But you don't get in until tomorrow night!". I had them arriving a day later on my calendar! Gah! But we preordered a Cajun turkey with fixings so I have very little cooking to do, and just about all of shopping (but no wrapping) is done.

On top of that, I spontaneously decided to have a "Christmas cocktails" party at my house on Thurday!

I'm with you, Chewy.

Mellllls

Veteran

I'm way ahead of the curve this year for me. Just need to pick up one more gift card and finish my xmas cards but if the gift card doesn't happen no biggie. and wrap....can't do that til after i fly home though. our xmases are very low key though so i dont do nearly as much as many of you do.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I got my shopping done for the kids (yay!), but now I have another gift that I need to get. I actually have all of my side of the family confirmed for a post-Christmas breakfast get together before our day at the amusement park on Tuesday. Of course, there is time from now until then for tragedy to strike at least once.

Debora

Veteran

Done and dusted??? Just when I think I've learned all the "Angie-isms", Angie throws a new one at us!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Hugs to MsMaven: I hope your husband's procedure goes smoothly! Hurrah for good friends to help lift the sense of letdown.
Biscuitsmom: that sounds very, very trying. Best of luck!!
Fortunately I'm all done with my presents, which feels good.

Steph

Veteran

I finished everything today--I basically chose to do it all in one day (yesterday). Since I don't host, that just means that I did my shopping (I only purchase for four kids, so I got all their gifts; I had purchased for the adults awhile ago) and then when I got home I saw that my holiday cards had arrived, so I hunkered down and several hours later I had written out 77 holiday cards, and stamped and addressed the envelopes. Today I had to mail some packages. I'll probably wait until the day I travel (Christmas Eve) to pack.

Queen Mum

Veteran

haha- sent the boys to the mall today to grab something for my husband. It is so handy to live within walking distance of the mall.

April

Veteran

Khris, you have my sympathies. I hope you'll be able to find some peace.

For me, the yearly freakout comes (strangely enough) over creating handmade greeting cards for my coworkers. Every year I swear I'll start early and will plan my design well in advance -- yeah yeah yeah. I just can't get my mind around holiday cards before November. So I wait too long and then I'm all stressed out.

Why do we do these things to ourselves? Could it be PERFECTIONISM rearing its ugly head?

MsMaven

Veteran

Thanks for your kind thoughts, Michelle. My son said they are going to freeze some of their food and will keep it for us for a January trip.

Debora

Veteran

Khris, if it makes you feel any better, I still haven't decided on a menu yet for Christmas dinner.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I am packing tomorrow morning for our flight to Vegas. Haven't bought a present yet for my parents, but my Mom and I will be hitting the Fashion Square Mall on Thursday so we'll be buying up a storm then!

I really hope this trip goes well. Maybe I can convince my parents to do it again sometime; it's saved us so much work and stress already, and we haven't even left yet!

LeahJanes

I'm done but not dusted. My house has a nice fine layer of dust that has been mocking me during the past very busy week.

I have one more gift to buy, all my wrapping to do, and a bunch of cooking to tackle. Lucky I am not entertaining a crowd so the cooking part will be a blast. I love holiday food!

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