I have never done one, but I searched on line for some ideas. There were some Christmas themed ones that tell you what they used - pretty much the items you mentioned and maybe some sweets thrown in.
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We are hopelessly behind. All the gifts are here but unwrapped. Clutter and mail is accumulating everywhere. We’ve had an extra dog visiting and oh my - that adds a lot of excitement with three dogs total.
Nothing baked as I can’t have sweets and they are so hard to resist. That will be last minute. Less time to be tempted.
Things will come together. They always do!
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I’m hoping by reading about all the others here who are frantically pulling it together this week, that I’ll muster some competitive energy to start doing something- anything!
So far I … decorated? Lol! I do that in early November like clockwork, so although finishing it recently was late for me, it was on time by most standards.
I think I’ll ask my kids for one type of cookie to bake them, try to buy one gift for each person, and figure out our Christmas Day menu.
I did do one thing a few days ago that I’ve been meaning to do all year. I wrote letters to four of my mom’s good friends, telling them how much their friendships meant to her through the years, and to me as her caregiver these past ten years. I was satisfied with what I wrote, and got them in the mail. 
So, short to do list:
Groceries
Gifts
Wrap
Cards - only a few
Baking
Watch Christmas movies
Drive around to see lights
Put Christmas music on
The last three- I always add easy items to my lists so I can check something off quickly! 
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I think I need a team of elves.
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I’m slowly getting there. Most of my gifts are purchased. I need to go over what I’ve got and see if I need to fill in. But for the most part the purchasing is done. I spent 5 hours wrapping yesterday. Still have 4 gifts that I need to buy boxes for before they can be wrapped, then I have about 30 jars of body butter to wrap for coworkers. I’m just wrapping them in tissue and tying with ribbon. I had two boxes of gifts that I priority mailed yesterday. Crossing fingers they get there in time. I’ve bought cards but not written any out much less mailed! Hoping to do those tonight. I need to bake cookies (did a trial last week of some new varieties) and figure out what I’m making/bringing for a party Sat, Christmas Eve dinner at home, and a veg and dessert to bring to family gathering in Christmas. I’ve got some ideas but haven’t chosen yet. Lastly, I need to put some outfits together for those events. It’s going to be a busy few days.
Any suggestions for an easy fantastic veg, bonus if it can be prepped ahead, please share. The rest of the meal is filets, mashed potatoes, eggplant casserole, and salad.
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I love roasted Brussels sprouts - drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, sea salt and pepper. Roast for 20-30 minutes depending on the size. Mix with cranberries and goat cheese before serving.
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Waiting for a couple of gifts to arrive for grandniece. I’ll do a quick turn around wrap (for Christmas and her NYE birthday) and get them back in the mail to her.
I have most gifts wrapped, except DD1s family, but I’m flying there on the 28th, so that can wait.
The elders’ greenery centerpieces were delivered. I’ll Venmo the 20 something nieces on Christmas morning.
There’s a batch of cookie dough in the freezer. I’ll bake them tonight and make the mail person, property manager and custodian packages to deliver tomorrow or Friday.
I’m still waiting to learn what I can contribute to Christmas Day gathering with DS, DIL, and her family (and the actual location). Hoping I can source what I need at the grocery before the craze on Saturday.
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I said to a co-worker this morning that I feel like everyday I get home from work I get out of the car and it feels like the start of a track race - down in starting position and telling myself, “GO!” because I have a whole list of tasks lined up inside the house!
@taverngirl how about a cold marinated vegetable “salad” - but a salad without any greens. Like the marinated bean mix that Costco sells or the yummy broccoli-bacon salad that is so good.
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Lol, we were on vacay until Saturday, went to go buy the tree Sunday and there was almost nothing left. We have a cathedral ceiling LR so a 5-foot-type tree would look completely lost in that room. The only choice was to cut our own. In the pouring rain.
We got it home (I left it up to the menfolk to do the work) and they put it up … and the top of the tree brushes the top of the ceiling. I don’t remember how tall the ceiling is, but it’s maybe 15 feet?
Then we couldn’t decorate the top without extremely scary gymnastics atop the six-foot ladder.
And after all that, the bloody tree is dropping needles like we bought it a month ago.
Very annoyed with the whole process.
Have made note to self not to go on vacation before Christmas again. I am so behind!
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We got our fresh tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and they were already 25% off and limited selection - I think people overall are putting up their trees earlier and earlier so the “days of old” traditions of getting a tree a week before Christmas is making for scarce selection!
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I agree. One of the places here had trees half price (and very few left) 2 weekends ago!
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Maybe 80%? House is decorated, most presents are bought. I need to go to Trader Joes today and Costco tomorrow. I need to bake Christmas cookies for my granddaughters (4 and 2) decorate. We are celebrating Saturday so my 3 can celebrate with their spouses families Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So I need to figure out how to seat 25 for dinner. And with rain predicted the next few days I am hoping my backyard won’t be a swamp. I started wrapping last night but I ran out of wrapping paper. So I need to buy more wrapping paper. Everything that can go in gift bags is going in gift bags. I particularly like the reusable gift bags from Trader Joe’s.
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Thanks for the reminder that we need more Scotch tape! Just sent a text message to H to get some if he’s out and about!
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Feeling OK about where I am. I learned years ago that FOR ME the more I can get done ahead of time the less stressed and more able to enjoy I become.
Tree is up and decorated, stockings hung, most gifts are here and wrapped (last two will hopefully come today). My kids are all grown so there are fewer physical gifts to buy and wrap these days.
I do still need to set the table but will do that in the next day or two. In terms of food I bought all of the non-perishable items I need – Sunday will be the last push – grocery shopping (meat, fruit, veges) followed by a full day of cooking and baking. For Christmas I am able to make a lot of the meal in advance (lasagna, meatballs, baked goods) which makes the holiday itself more relaxing for me.
Any time all my kids are here it is a good day so I try to savor it.
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We don’t do as much decorating as we used to, but it’s done. We cut down our tree the day BEFORE Thanksgiving, and the place wasn’t too crazy. Day after I’m sure it was ridiculously busy.
There are only 6 of us here for Christmas Eve/day, and we are not sure who will actually be here for Christmas dinner.
Presents all purchased and wrapped.
Some groceries have been purchased, but others will come Friday or Saturday morning. Plan was for husband to make lasagna so we could just throw it in the oven on Christmas Day, but he whined one time too many and now I will be making it. Christmas Eve we will be having our “fancy” dinner.
The house is clean enough - we will have an extra 2 cats plus a dog, so the floors will get done after they leave.
So, I will be stressed, but I think it’s all good.
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Last item on my list is major grocery shopping tomorrow. I’m hoping to avoid the rush, without purchasing too early. Still need to wrap, but we have all cut way back on actual gifts, so not much there.
I’m sitting here, reading CC – so it can’t be too bad 
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We are always low-key for Christmas, but we have reached new “lows” this year 
Got a tree just today – it’s still in the garage. Cashier volunteered a $20 discount at the register because “it’s so ugly”. Perfect! Haven’t decorated a thing yet.
We’ve been busy and have bought NO gifts except chocolate for ourselves. And some food we had sent to out-of-town family. We will cook some delicious stuff at some point.
I’m not buying anything before Monday and I don’t know what spouse has planned. I told the kids we’ve bought no gifts, so we’ll see how the next week goes? They’re used to low-key Christmas, so maybe we should all just go on some shopping trips together. That might be a fun thing to do this year.
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We have been all decorated for a couple of weeks now and I finished baking last weekend. H helped me wrap most presents on Sunday while we watched a Christmas movie.
Tonight we have Christmas with D1 and her fiance since they leave Friday for Connecticut to have Christmas with his family. Since everyone is working today (except D1 the teacher) we are having takeout from Shake Shack for dinner then we will open gifts and play a game. It will be an early night, but it will still be nice to all be together.
I don’t need to shop for Christmas dinner since H, D2 and I are going out to dinner since it is just the 3 of us this year.
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Well…I can relax. The company that was going to come here Friday is not able to come. That gives me a few more days to finish everything except the cookie baking….which I will do tomorrow!
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@ColdWombat love the attitude! Low key indeed. And it won’t matter one bit.
Our Christmas with our kids was last weekend. My husband and I had returned from a holiday at the beginning of December. Ordered a few things from the internet. Including my souvenirs!
We were in Germany and loved the Christmas decorations that I saw but didn’t really want to transport them home. Found out that the store I liked has a US store so I ordered what I liked and had it shipped to my house. Ordered a German Christmas pyramid from amazon for the granddaughter.
Food was from Costco on our way to my sons.
The only glitch was my mom calling 2 days before we left asking what I bought for her to give the granddaughter. So I quick picked out a book for great grandma. Then my mil called the next day. I was out of shopping time and ambition. Told her she could send a check for her college fund. Granddaughter is 2 and has way too much.
Everyone was happy. I was happy. No muss, no fuss.
Christmas Day will be at the in laws. Everyone is pitching in. Should be low key. Declined the invitation to go to my former sister in laws for brunch.
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