A visit to Santa #ChristmasLinkUp

It seems very early to be wrapping up the Christmas posts but I just realised I would be shutting the blog next Friday so there'd be no use in hosting the link up next week. First of the Month Fiction will go live next Friday and stay open for the next six weeks, until my return in February. There will be plenty of Christmas pics on my Insta over the next few weeks though.

We ventured into the city for our annual pilgrimage to see Santa and the Nativity. Only one child accompanied me, which was sad in itself as I am reminded soon enough it will be a solo visit to view the David Jones windows for me. Life moves on, bringing both the good and the bad (or sad).

My daughter was devastated that Myer had changed their 'ride on' train (but after a decade, I guess they thought it was time). We however, LOVED the Nerf gun shooting range - I know, nothing says Christmas like racking up points shooting at targets.

These felt gift bags at David Jones are gorgeous!

She wrote and posted a letter to Santa and then we headed over to David Jones for the free balloon. Last but not least, were the gorgeous Gingerbread Man's escapade, both in film and animated window. It was lovely to see my daughter's face light up in wonder and joy at the magical excitement. She definitely dreamed of sugar plums in her bed that night. Which reminds me, I must dig out the Christmas Story books.... 

Do you have Christmas traditions? Do you feel sad as the kids outgrow them? Will you continue to do them when the children give up on them?

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking with #MummyMondays

It's December - 25 days to go!

If you've stepped out the front door, or onto the internet, you would know that Christmas is coming.
You now have 24 days to get all the gifts purchased and wrapped, all the visits to Santa and photographs done. Post the cards, make the pudding and all the other Christmas craziness that ensues in the festive season.



I'll admit I've lost my mojo so I might kick start it with the making of the gingerbread village....








What's your go to festive season activity? What makes it suddenly feel like Christmas for you?

Linking with #OpenSlather and #MummyMondays

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Share the Dignity - It's in the Bag #ChristmasLinkUp

It wouldn't be Christmas without charity, and it wouldn't be Christmas without people all over Australia collecting feminine hygiene products and toiletries and gifting them in a handbag to homeless women.

One of my favourite charity ideas, as it's easy to buy an extra item every few weeks over the course of the year and by Christmas have a bag of goodies ready to go. A few weeks ago I got a handbag on sale at Kmart as mine are used until they break, and so no good to anyone.

Just a reminder, collection closes 2nd December this year. Collection points found here.

Make it special for someone.

(More details on what goes in the bag here)
Linking with #MummyMondays and #OpenSlather

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Christmas, Who Gives a Crap? #ChristmasLinkUp

In December, I am often giving presents to groups, bookclubs, mah jong and other circles of acquaintances - it's more a little gesture than a proper gift. The last few years, I've given a gift bag with a festively wrapped toilet paper or box of tissues from Who Gives A Crap? along with a small soap or decoration. I easily give 24 or these, so this year I went with the 48 roll box...

What I like about these is (1) you are doing good for the environment and the global community (their profits build toilets for poverty stricken areas)  (2) if you just buy it for personal use, you can use the paper they're wrapped in as wrapping paper (a double win for the environment and your wallet) and (3) you aren't buying things that will just go into a drawer or the bin.

Now my question, what does it mean if I like the Naughty rolls more than the Nice ones?

Linking with #MummyMondays and #OpenSlather

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The real Countdown to Christmas - Advent #ChristmasLinkUp

Advent Calendars have really taken off, and gone are the simple lift a flap picture ones of my youth. At the very least you get chocolate and I'll admit I'm eyeing off the gin one for myself, but I just can't quite justify the cost....

As for the kids, my youngest is getting the Smiggle one ($39.95) 

The eldest is getting one of the Body Shop ones - a hefty $100, but the actual presents from Santa will be only 2 concert tickets and she already know what they are, so I figure it's sort of her Santa pressie.

The middle boy is where I am stuck - too old for the Lego and Pokemon calendars of years gone by, I'm thinking I'll just do chocolates and little knick knacks and then every 7 days he gets a book voucher (he likes these Manga books but they're $12 a throw and he reads them in 1 night) so he can select a few titles he wants (and evens out between the spend on the youngest and oldest). If you can think of anything else I could put in, let me know. 

For my friends, as we've already started our 'must catch up before xmas' dinners, I've got a few of the English Tea Shop tea calendars for $17.

For my good friends in need, I've got the L'Occitane advent calendar for $89. It's a lot but the stuff is good quality and a little self care will make all the difference. L'Occitane also has a luxury one, which I'd love - I'm trying to rationalise  it will be perfect for our travels in January, all those travel sized facial moisturisers etc, but somehow I don't see it happening.

Do you go mad for Advent calendars?

Linking with #MummyMondays

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all - I hope you can enjoy the extra day before Christmas and get everything done that you need to.





Wherever you are in the world, travelling or at home, stay safe and drive carefully.


Link your Christmas posts below, First of the Month Fiction will be up next week and open for the month, and I'll see you all in February.

Sending you all tidings of comfort and joy!

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"Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." ~ Washington Irving

I was just wondering what I would write about for this week's xmas link up as I really haven't been out and about in the shops, but rather at presentation day after presentation day and project expos and a myriad of other school enterprises.

Then I received an email from Rafiki Mwema, asking for any assistance they could get. If there is one worthwhile activity at Christmas, it is charity. Remember those less fortunate, make someone's day brighter, give money, time, help. Whatever you can. That is the spirit of Christmas.

If you can't donate or sponsor, why not purchase something from the store?

Even just like and share their Facebook page or Instagram? Maybe this is just the cause someone you know is keen to get involved in.

I know far bigger bloggers than me have promoted this cause, but I am adding my small drop in the bucket, in the hope it does eventually overflow for them. 

Give someone over the ocean and far away a merry Christmas, a safe January, a comfortable February and a year of all we take for granted.

A little house keeping. I'll be off the blog next week until Friday for the last Xmas link up for the year. I'll also get First of the Month Fiction up before the New Year, so swing back for that.

Linking with #OpenSlather

Add your xmas posts below

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What a cracker! #ChristmasLinkUp

Kids just love crackers, and this year there's some excellent ones to keep them entertained at the table!! I saw them at Chef & the Cook in Camperdown but you can probably source them everywhere.

Musical Crackers! Create a xylophone or whistle orchestra, complete with music to play (and even conductors baton!) 

Luxury crackers with cooking utensils in them! $69.95

Keep them busy at the table with magic tricks, origami, balloon animals or even moustaches for photo fun! $39.95.

Do you get xmas crackers for your table? What kind do you like?

Link your xmas posts.

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Linking with #MummyMondays

Reindeer Games - #ChristmasLinkUp

Christmas also coincides with our long school holiday and businesses often have a shut down, so for those not going away, Christmas is a good time to play together. Santa can bring some games to ignite that family spark and get kids off the computer.






This game has 4 escape room challenges. Looks great for teenagers.  $59.95 at Big W.

















This one I purchased as I thought it would be a good one for train travel (or plane travel) as you could just take the cards and timer. Educational too. I even got one for a friend who is taking the kids to Europe as I thought it would be exciting for the kids to know the attractions before they get there. $20.00 at Big W.

My daughter got this game for herself awhile back, and when we went away on mass, kids of all ages (including a few teens) were keen to play it. It's basically Russian roulette with cream in the face. Kids love to play it, and love to watch it being played. You do have to buy that whipped cream to play though, and clean up. $10 at Kmart.

This is not a new game, but it's a great game if you have little kids of different ages. Little butterflies are shot out the trunk into the air and you have to catch them in a net as they come down. $12 at Target.

 Santa will also be bringing some backyard fun in the form of totem tennis and a slip'n'slide.

Will your Santa be bringing gadget-free fun? Do you play together over the summer holidays?

Add your Xmas posts below.

Linking with #MummyMondays and off topic for #LifeThisWeek

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All wrapped up - #ChristmasLinkUP

One of the things I truly hate about Christmas is the waste - wrapping only to rip the paper off and throw it away. Here's a few little tips on reusable wrapping - very low cost at Ikea.
Gift bags!!
They come in all sizes and quantities - and while the recipient may throw them out, a good deal of them will recycle them with gifts themselves (or pack them away for next year). Saves the planet, saves you money. Win/Win!

I get the advent calendar ones for my little gifts to bookclub, mah jong and the other 'groups' I'm part of. (412.99 for 24)

 There are larger ones in packs of 12.

And for big gifts, get a festive looking carry tote, that can be part of the gift itself! ($3.99)

Ikea is also selling seed embedded cards that can be planted to grow Swan River Daisies. The proceeds from the card sales go towards the HeartKids charity in Australia. Double win for the people and the planet.




Another alternative is to forgo wrapping and give actual paper! Who Gives a Crap? has festively wrapped toilet paper or tissues and kitchen paper towel. The proceeds go to building toilets around the world. See their impact on greenhouse gases and forests here.

Not environmental but worth a mention, Central Park has a selfie santa gift wrap and Christmas Choir flashmobs this festive season.


Link up your Christmas posts, old or new, below or add any Christmas tips to the comments!

Linking with #MummyMondays

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Advent - Christmas Link Up

We all know what an Advent calendar is, but do we know what Advent is?

'Today, the Advent season lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6. (Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between November 27th and December 3rd each year.) ' (from this website)

A brief chronology from this site tells us that the first known Advent calendar is recorded in 1851, so they aren't a new thing. At the beginning of the 20th century  Gerhard Lang produced the first Advent Calendars with little doors to open, previously they'd been crossing off or adding pictures or candles. Advent Calendars filled with Chocolate were already available in 1958. Who knew? When I was a kid we only got the picture one - and only once and then used it each year, carefully shutting back the flaps and putting it away until the next year.







I have gone to ebay for pokemon lego to fill an Ikea reusable one, and the girls are getting make up ones for a bit of fun.

As a treat for myself, I got the L'Occitaine one ...

but then received this sensational one in the mail from a friend! It's full of all different teas for each day! I've never seen it before but it is the perfect gift. I literally squealed with delight when I opened it!

Ikea also sells little bags that you can put number stickers on and make your own, for the more creative.

I acknowledge it's all quite farcical as we're actually just counting down the days until presents. By getting daily presents. So technically I'm intellectually against this, but like all traditions, logic goes out the window and common sense does not prevail.

Do you do the advent thing? Do you think it's stupid and commercial? Do you make your own, and if so, what do you put in it?


(Housekeeping. Please feel free to link your Christmas posts. I will however have to delete non Christmas ones. They can be pro-Christmas, Bah Humbug anti-festive, Gift ideas (but link back to the Christmas link up please), seasonal food ideas, old or new but they do need to be Christmas related.) 
Linking with #MummyMondays,  

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New Christmas Traditions

Last year I was put onto a wonderful charity idea, where you take a handbag and fill it with toiletries and treats for adult women. I won't go into all the details - they're here. What I love about this is that it's so easy to do. If you are a savvy shopper, every time you notice something suitable on sale, you grab an extra one. Come November, hey presto, a heavily laden goodie bag is full! 

There are many collection points all over the country at Bunnings. so they're easy to get to or you can sponsor a bag online and save yourself a trip.

The bags are due by December 1, so they can make it to the recipients by Christmas. There are some rules on what you can't pack, so read over the instructions before purchase.

While I organise the kids Advent Calendars, this new tradition for me has also been on my mind. I've been down in the dumps lately so I decided to finish off the purchases and have the bag ready to go. I have to say I really enjoyed getting the final touches and the lovely goodies to go with the more practical side I'd collected over the last month or so.

I also got some of the Thank You body lotion so I'm giving twice, which made me doubly happy. They've also started making a Coffee Body Scrub for $14.95 which makes for a great girly present. The Thank You products come with a tracker code so you can see which part of the world the profits from the product you purchased are going to. (My coffee scrub profits are going to a hygiene project in MANDARBARI WASH, BANGLADESH.)

When do you start thinking about Christmas? Have you started any new traditions? What would you put in the bag? Do you like the gifts that give twice?

This is the first of the weekly Christmas link up. Please add one Christmas themed post below. #ChristmasLinkUp

Linking with the #OpenSlather and #MummyMondays

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