2014 end countdown....

x KL

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Christmas. Take 11.

Well, THAT was a depressing post! I'd actually decided to post some of my better gift ideas and somehow went off on a tangent. Funny how good intentions can derail like that!

Anywho, thankfully the pessimism I felt pre-Christmas eventually lifted.

 I decorated the tree. Wrapped pressies and organised food and family. 

My monochromatic + metallic theme was sabotaged by Santa's wrapping!

 We had two Christmas's.The first was with Mum and Dad on December 23rd (also Dad's birthday) where I made a really simple Aussie style, mango and chicken salad, served with king prawns, fresh bread rolls and followed with pav. Easy peasy lunch for ten!

Then we celebrated here with the children and their partners on Christmas Eve with a more traditional European baked dinner of turkey, lamb and chicken, peas, roasted veggies and lashings of gravy. 

Luckily the weather was cool and forgiving! This is the first hot Christmas meal I have ever prepared for a large number and it was surprisingly easy; I had all day to prep (hubby generously helped) and roast the larger pieces of meat and then we served it on platters so everyone could help themselves. There was very little left - which is always a good sign!

our Christmas Eve table

Desert was macerated fruit (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries) in brandy snap baskets (Shh...store bought ones) with brandy infused whipped cream and ice cream + a mini Flake chocolate in each! Yum. All pre-prepped and put together to serve in less than 5 minutes. (Yup; I'm no cordon bleu!)

We then opened presents on Christmas morning while eating croissants and mini egg / bacon and feta pies I'd made the day before so the older children could scoot to their partner's family luncheons. 

And we got a real surprise gift from Santa!

As this was our first year with all 'knowing' children...we tried to add some fun for our 12 year old by getting him involved in the Chrismas Eve, Santa arrival prep. This included making e-mail videos through PNP for the older children, who J decided to nominate as on the the 'naughty' list. (Yup. He's 12. And a boy. LOL!)

Imagine our surprise on Christmas morning on finding alien wrapped gifts for us all in our stockings from Santa! We were on the 'naughty' list too with chunks of coal* inside!

BEST present ever! Still LMFAO!

*Without channeling Scrooge, I'll quietly note that daughter #2 is currently dating a miner!

Merry Christmas!
 

x KL

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You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

Christmas

Some years, I am bursting with enthusiasm about the upcoming festivities and enthusiastically prepare to celebrate with gusto. Others, I approach the season with a bit of a Ho - Hum attitude. 

Unfortunately, this year is unfolding as the latter.

It may be because this will be the first year, in 25 years of motherhood, that there are no Santa believers in my household. J, newly 12, realised the truth at Easter and sobbing, also lost the Tooth Fairy and Santa in one painful moment of realisation .

It could be that my life has been recently touched by friends grief. The loss of a Grandmother, the sudden departure of a young Mum, a long battle lost by a child. And the sad memories of losing of my Father-in-law and Aunt rekindled.

Or the stress of a looming client deadline - with them immigrating from overseas and anticipating a completed home for Christmas. The tile supplier informing me this week that their tiles (ordered in August) are quite literally on a slow boat from China...W.T!

Perhaps, as my adult children establish their own lives, and extended family grow, the coordinating efforts to celebrate together has become such a drudgery, that the event has lost its lustre.

Maybe I'm just tired.... The Table Debacle was resolved only yesterday.

The top floor bathrooms show no further progress because our tiler became unavailable.

Mattress gate concluded a fortnight ago.

Or perhaps it's the heat. It's hot! I'm hot. And honestly, just not bothered!

 Trying to look on the positive side, with less than 5 weeks before Christmas, I am very relieved to have purchased 98% of our gifts.

The wrap is really to go and my 2014 theme decided; metallic + white, 

(which is rather unoriginal as Christmas 2013 was bedecked similarly)

I might try and action the tree this weekend. It can only end one of two ways....

The Christmas spirit will either be created or drunk...

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

Liebster

 The Leibster Blog Award is a fantastic idea created to promote and support new blogs.

 I follow Jess from A Little Part of The World, who recently received this award. She in turn, generously nominated me.

Now, I don't consider myself as a 'new' blogger, having surpassed my 4 year blog anniversary and 500th post. Also, I was nominated for this award almost exactly three years ago, twice! (HERE) Back then, the Leibster was sans questions, so it has morphed a little as it has been passed about! I do however always welcome new readership and love finding new blogs to follow, so here we go!

The rules that came with this nomination were:

1. Link back and recognise the blogger who nominated you.
2. Answer ten questions given by the nominator.
3. Nominate ten other bloggers for the award.
4. Create ten questions for nominees to answer.
5. Notify your nominees.
6. Get an award button and display it proudly.

 My answers to questions from Jess:

What is your greatest fear? 
Poking myself in the eye with a needle when sewing by hand. Weird, I know!

What is your earliest memory?

The hullabaloo I caused shoving a Flatsy Doll into the suction tube of a ventilator when I was four. I'd had heart surgery and broke the machine. Oops!

When was the last time you had a really good belly laugh?

Last night. My man-boy who's taller than me at 12, came screaming out of the laundry because he saw his own reflection in the dark window. Still chuckling!

Have you ever broken a bone? If so, what and how?

Yes my toe. I dropped a scythe on it whist teaching in Papua New Guinea.

Chocolate, Strawberry or Vanilla?

Vanilla

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Weird. My son asked me this last week. I was told creating peace and wish-giving were not super powers... so - To be able to heal things.

What is your dream holiday destination?

I miss my three 'nest leavers' so much; so anywhere we are together

What do you want for Xmas?

One, stress free dinner with all my family together without rush or deadlines imposing.

What’s your favourite type of music?

Eclectic. I like it all!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Where I am...but in a finished house!

My nominations are:

1. Natalie from In The Night Sky
2. Laura from Elsee
3. Trish from A Dream House for Trish
4. Giulia from Something Gorgeous
5. Toni from Something Gorgeous
6. Johanne from House by the Water
7. Heidi from Adelaide Villa
8. Shielzy from My Hudson
9. Leanne from Lime & Mortar
10. Treacy from Our Forever Home

And my questions are:

1. What is your earliest memory? (It's a good one Jess!)

2. How many homes have you lived in?

3. What do you love most about blogging?

4. How would your mother describe you?

5. In five words describe your interior style

6. Current obsessions?

7. What's your most cherished possession?

8. Name three things you're grateful for

9. What are you passionate about?

10. Describe your perfect Christmas

Thanks again Jess for your nomination!

If you're looking for some new reading material / inspiration, check out Jess' blog and those I nominated too!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

 You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!

You may say I'm a dreamer....

 ....but I'm not the only one.

A few months back we took a family weekend trip to Jenolan Caves. 

On the way there, we stopped in beautiful Leura for lunch and supplies. My daughters and I couldn't resist a quick peep inside the local shops too. We were very taken with a window display created using multiple white dream-catchers which were stunning, unlike the abysmal pictures! They obviously stuck a chord, as my daughter A has asked for one for Christmas. 

I get stressed easily and have learnt that the secret to alleviating this is being well organised. 

With most of my Christmas shopping complete, I have frantically tried to source something similar and eventually found a local shop prepared to make a white version, of their design (pictured below) for me.

Cost? Approx $100.

W. T.  F. ?

Guess I'm making one...

Wish me luck!

x KL

Thank you for stopping by my blog.

You are very welcome and encouraged to comment, I love receiving feedback!