I'm the sort of person who does last minute Christmas shopping. In fact, I'm a last minute Christmas decorator too. Part of the reason is that dh is a December baby, and I don't like to focus on another celebration until he's had his birthday.The other reason is I rarely plan that far ahead.
So, to be honest, Christmas often catches me by surprise.
People are talking on twitter about the presents they've already bought (how organised are they?) and I've seen some decorations out in the shops. But then I received a box of my November (Aust) book the other day... with Christmas ornaments on the cover! That was a pretty good wake up call that the Festive Season is approaching.
Return of the Secret Heir was out in October in the US, and the Australian cover uses most of the same image, just done in the Australian office's style, plus the gorgeous white ornaments. I like it. And maybe with this reminder, I'll even get organised for this Christmas.
So, tell me, are you a forward planner when it comes to Christmas? Have you bought any presents yet? Dusted off the tree? Got any tips? Or are you a last minute planner like me? I'll give away a copy of the Christmassy version of Return of the Secret Heir to one commenter. :)
I'm usually organised a bit beforehand. My problem is holding off giving gifts out prior to the day. Or, worse, forgetting where I've put certain presents, or even that I've bought them!
ReplyDelete*Love* that Christmassy cover!!
We have family members' birthdays in December too, Rach. On the 2nd, the 11th, the 24th and the 25th. I've always thought it must be hard to get a proper birthday celebration in during Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAs for Christmas, I'm usually sort of prepared. But that's less to do with the fact that I'm super-organised and more to do with the fact that I hate battling the last minute Christmas crowds. :-)
P.S. Love that Christmassy cover!
Ah, Rachel, a kindred spirit :)I too am always rushing around last minute at Christmas. And always saying next year I'll be more organised.
ReplyDeleteLove that cover!
What a gorgeous cover, Rachel. The Christmas decorations with the red flowering tree below give a good Chrsitmasy feel.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a delay Christmas person. I have an early Dec birthday and I wait until after that before I think about Christmas. Makes it a bit of a nightmare shopping but I usually hit the bookshop and do presents in one swoop (compulsory book presents!).
Cath
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI try and plan ahead, but I always end up buying last minute gifts like gift cards because I've run out of time and ideas.
Rachel ~ I love the white Christmas decorations on your Australian cover.
ReplyDeleteI have the North American version sitting in my TBR.
I'm semi-organized in that we have our presents bought. We don't have to give many presents as we draw names in our families.
Oooh, I like those white ornaments on the cover!
ReplyDeleteBoth my birthday and Mr Leah's is on the same day in December, and growing up both of us had families that insisted that the Christmas tree etc didn't go up until after our birthdays. And consequently we too wait until after the 7th to worry about Christmas.
(Also, we're both terribly disorganised!)
I'm always organised with my Christmas shopping (it's already practically done) - a combination of Dec/early Jan b'days, *hating* crowds, and, well, just liking to be organised :)
ReplyDeleteLove the added Christmas baubles to the cover, Rach. Although scary to think they are already needed!
Love the Christmas decorations on the Australian cover of the RETURN OF THE HEIR, Rachel.
ReplyDeleteRachel, your dh is a Sagittarian - he must be a lovely man! ;) I'm a December baby too - a not-so-surprise package for my parents 5 days before Xmas. So having said all that, Xmas still sneaks up on me - I'm one of those pesty people that keeps the poor Post Office delivering cards right up until the day! Just as well we don't do the present thing any more in the family!
ReplyDeleteI love love love your cover - those decorations are fab!
:)
Sharon
Robbie, I've done that in the past too - forgotten that I already have a present for someone and found it in January. Another reason to do the shopping at the last minute! :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle, you have more end of year birthdays than us! It's so important that they still get their special day and not let it get lost in the Festive Season.
ReplyDeleteHelen, by rushing around at the last minute like we do, we often get those discounts that retailers offer. Perhaps there's method in our madness...?
ReplyDeleteCath, good thinking about bookshop presents. I often do that too. In fact, I'm about to make my birthday and Christmas wishlist (just in case anyone asks for ideas :)) and I think it will be 100% books this year (as it was last year!).
ReplyDeleteJane, I'm *hugely* fond of receiving gift cards because it's not only a present, but a shopping expedition as well! Win-win. :)
ReplyDeleteKaelee, those white ornaments are cute, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteHuge kudos for having your presents bought already. You might not have many, but I haven't bought *any* yet, so you're way ahead of me!
Leah, you and your dh have the same birthday? How adorable! I bet it's a very romantic day this year when you celebrate your first birthdays as a married couple. :)
ReplyDeleteAnita, I'm not very surprised that you're that organised! Though there is something to be said for shopping when the carols are playing in the shops and everyone is feeling all festive. We sometimes go to the midnight shopping to avoid the crowds and still get the Christmas spirit.
ReplyDeleteNas, thanks for dropping by! I love that cover too. Flowers and a hero - what more could I want? :)
ReplyDeleteSharon, funny you should mention it becauase he *is* a lovely man as well as a Sagittarius. I wonder how you guessed that Sag's are lovely...? ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely Christmassy cover, Rachel!! Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI like to be organised when it comes to presents--none of that last-minute battling-the-crowds stuff for me!
coming in late to say every year I dream of being a forward planner but alas.....
ReplyDeleteEmily, this is the book you helped me plot when you stayed with me. Seems so long ago now though, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI would have guessed you'd be an organised present-buyer - you have such super organisational skills!
Zana, it seems we have that in common! Though I do start work on lists early - I have lists for present suggestions for everyone in the family, and often get calls from family members wanting ideas. So I'm *kinda* organised early. ;)
ReplyDeleteRachel, I'm always caught on the run. I don't know why, it's not like Christmas is a surprise. But somehow I'm never organised. But I'mnot as bad as my db who shops on Christmas Eve and wonders why he can't get what he's been planning formonths.
ReplyDeleteSue MacKay
Yes Rachel, same day, just three years apart. It's great, as an adult I'd not really paid attention to my birthday, but now we always take the day off work and make a proper celebration of it :)
ReplyDeleteSue, it's strange how that happens, isn't it? Maybe because we know there's always such a long lead in, we expect to have enough time to do everything we want?
ReplyDeleteLeah, I think that is so fabulous. Your romance must have been in the stars. =)
ReplyDeleteHa! I like to think so :)
ReplyDeleteI am a last minute planner myself, never do get things a head of time.
ReplyDeleteVirginia, it's never as easy to plan ahead as we think it will be, is it?
ReplyDeleteI shop all year for presents. I'm the kind of buy it when I see it kind of present shopper. I tell you it makes life easy.
ReplyDeleteMarybelle, that is a very sensible approach! Maybe that's the way I could make it work for me...
ReplyDelete