Getting Ready for Christmas

I know its not even Thanksgiving yet, but its time to start making a list of things I need to buy/make/decorate for Christmas. Since I live in the city with no car it makes it hard to get around and buy the things I need, so I make a list before Thanksgiving and when I'm home in the country I get everything there to bring back to my apartment.

So far here are the things I have on the list:

Amaryllis Bulbs

I love the bulb potted in this birch tree piece- I wonder if my Dad could make me a few like this- (hint hint Dad)

Paperwhite bulbs- my Mom hates the smell of these, but I love them!

**Does anyone have any tips on how to get these to grow short and not be so tall that they fall over before they bloom?? Please share, I would be very grateful**

Silver glass ornaments from Target (a box of 12 is $1.99, best deal ever)- I love to use these all over the house. I put them in glass jars, any open container in the family room, and all over the mantle.

I have to make two boxwood topiaries and a wreath.

My parents have a huge boxwood in the backyard, who knew boxwood was so expensive at the florist? So the tree out back gets a yearly trim at Thanksgiving so I can make these for free. This decoration takes some time, the topiary pictured here is about 12 inches tall, and to make two of them took me around 5 hours-ugg!

For my front door I think I am going to try and make a wreath like Erin made from Elements of Stlye. Hers looks so pretty, I think I can do something like it.

So, what does everyone do to get ready for Christmas decorating? What is on your list of things to buy for decorations?

Pictures from apartmenttherapy.com, flickr, marthastewart.com and from Erin at Elements of Style.