Christmas 2025 #2

[duckdinner]

I bought the new winter spice Options hot chocolate. The back of the tub says it's baked apple and cinnamon flavoured, which is right up my street!

 

[duckdinner]

I found it to be more apple with chocolate and cinnamon than a chocolate drink with apple and cinnamon as the side flavours. It's kind of weird, but in a good way! I think I prefer last year's praline version, but it's still a nice, festive drink

 

[g321]

I lost my mum on the 1st December unexpectedly and I know she wouldn’t be impressed with me for not putting up my tree, especially as my son loves Christmas, so I’m just navigating the best I can this year.

I’m so so sorry. Please be kind to yourself, just getting through this Christmas is more than enough 🩷

 

[g321]

I found it to be more apple with chocolate and cinnamon than a chocolate drink with apple and cinnamon as the side flavours. It's kind of weird, but in a good way! I think I prefer last year's praline version, but it's still a nice, festive drink

the praline one is cheap on Amazon! I’ve stocked up and also got my dad to order some for my stocking as it’s my favourite options flavour 🩷

 

[g321]

third post in a row oops but also this year I got a wrapping paper bag/organiser thing and I was organising my ribbons in it last night because that’s how I get my kicks and all I could hear was Monica from friends when she’s freaking out over her ribbon drawer “WHERE WILL THE RIBBONS GO”

 

[duckdinner]

third post in a row oops but also this year I got a wrapping paper bag/organiser thing and I was organising my ribbons in it last night because that’s how I get my kicks and all I could hear was Monica from friends when she’s freaking out over her ribbon drawer “WHERE WILL THE RIBBONS GO”

I love my wrapping paper & accessories bag, it genuinely brings me so much joy! I started wrapping some presents earlier and found a tub of the M&S peppermint biscuits I put in there a little while ago that I totally forgot about Since I was only wrapping Mr Duck's presents, I've saved them for the weekend when I do my main wrapping shift

 

[PuritySpiral]

I bought a wrapping paper bag years ago and love it. Several years ago I amassed rolls and rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, the to extent it would have been silly to buy more so for a couple of years we had a 'save the planet Christmas' where wrapping paper was repeated on the kids gifts & stockings This year I think it might be reasonable to go out and choose some different ones but I guess I'd better get my skates on before everywhere sells out.

For those in love with their wrapping paper bags, may I suggest a heavy weight sellotape dispenser? Game changer.

 

[AllieBee]

I bought a wrapping paper bag years ago and love it. Several years ago I amassed rolls and rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, the to extent it would have been silly to buy more so for a couple of years we had a 'save the planet Christmas' where wrapping paper was repeated on the kids gifts & stockings This year I think it might be reasonable to go out and choose some different ones but I guess I'd better get my skates on before everywhere sells out.

For those in love with their wrapping paper bags, may I suggest a heavy weight sellotape dispenser? Game changer.

My game changer is a pair of electric scissors. Also wrapping at our kitchen island on a barstool, perfect height, no more losing pen, sellotape, scissors, no more backache after crouching on the floor for hours

 

[Prince fan 1999]

My game changer is a pair of electric scissors. Also wrapping at our kitchen island on a barstool, perfect height, no more losing pen, sellotape, scissors, no more backache after crouching on the floor for hours

Wait what?!?! Electric scissors?!?!

Costco wrapping paper! That is all

 

[Ziggzaggz]

I use an Ironing board for wrapping presents

 

[PuritySpiral]

My game changer is a pair of electric scissors. Also wrapping at our kitchen island on a barstool, perfect height, no more losing pen, sellotape, scissors, no more backache after crouching on the floor for hours

Sadly no breakfast island here, but electric scissors?!

 

[SarcasmSpecialist]

At the suggestion of this thread, I wrapped gifts at the kitchen island yesterday. Game changer. Thank you!

 

[Sukysue]

I bought the treat bags from Aldi and bags from IKEA . Game changer

 

[JustHereForTheAgriculture]

third post in a row oops but also this year I got a wrapping paper bag/organiser thing and I was organising my ribbons in it last night because that’s how I get my kicks and all I could hear was Monica from friends when she’s freaking out over her ribbon drawer “WHERE WILL THE RIBBONS GO”

I trust you also keep a pen in the wrapping paper bag to write out the cards. Because if you even THINK of moving the phone pen

 

[Tatooine_legend1]

I didn't really know where to ask this, but this thread seems appropriate. Which are the better store bought gravies? This isn't necessarily a xmas question, but more generalised to roast dinners. I am lazy when it comes to gravy. I can't be bothered to make my own, even though I'll probably try in the near future, but when I buy gravy I prefer to buy some decent store bought stuff, rather than just standard gravy granules. Not that there is anything wrong with the basic granules, but I'm wondering if there are better quality gravies out there. Just wondering really.

 

[I_Like_Tractors]

I bought the treat bags from Aldi and bags from IKEA . Game changer

IKEA also do cardboard boxes for 50p a piece that make brilliant boxes for teens, they can be filled with skin care bits, sweets and stuff, they're a really good size (about A4 in terms of width/depth and about 8-9cm deep)

Edited to link: https://applink.ikea.com/tY8M9r9M4w--20551091--gb--en

 

[ReginaPhalange3]

I really like M&S gravies. I had vegetarians over one occasion so bought the plant based gravy and it was delicious! I've never had a bad gravy from M&S.

I didn't really know where to ask this, but this thread seems appropriate. Which are the better store bought gravies? This isn't necessarily a xmas question, but more generalised to roast dinners. I am lazy when it comes to gravy. I can't be bothered to make my own, even though I'll probably try in the near future, but when I buy gravy I prefer to buy some decent store bought stuff, rather than just standard gravy granules. Not that there is anything wrong with the basic granules, but I'm wondering if there are better quality gravies out there. Just wondering really.

 

[Spanor511]

Nothing beats Red Bisto for me

 

[Carefree]

I got the M&S turkey granules and also the chicken cupboard ready one, as a backup. It's only me that it'll be for anyway and I like it thick.

 

[duckdinner]

Nothing beats Red Bisto for me

One of my favourite lunches on a miserable, cold & rainy afternoon is fresh, crusty bread dipped in Red Bisto gravy