Holiday Homes Tour 2011

Once again, thatnks to Jen for organising this 'event' - I love having a peak into everyone elses Christmas world..... it's my favourite time of year afterall!!!

So Jen, thank you. I know it's more work than you probably intended for it to me, but we all do really appreciate it! It certainly spreads around a little bit of Christmas cheer.

So, on with the show.

Christmas 2011 - not that different from Christmas 2010.

(Warning: VERY picture heavy - I had a hard time deciding on pictures!!)

The pictures aren't... brilliant quality. Due to using my phone camera, to the lighting, to rushing around trying to get pictures.....

 My advent wreath - it's missing the greenery that is kind of required for the symbolism of new life... but it has the right candles, in the right colours, and I've been lighting it... so I think that that is what is important. I love having this lit at night. I love the ceremony of lighting a new candle every Sunday of advent... I'm looking forward to lighting the Christ Candle on Christmas Day.

These are the same candles as last year, but the Robin in the middle was a gift from one of my students. He's adorable!!

 Up close, and very dark photo of the Robin.

I'm from the family of 'put lights on everything that stands still'.... I love stringing lights around indoor trees at Christmas. It doesn't matter if they're not the Christmas tree - but wouldn't this make a delightful one!!!! (If only those leaves would hold decorations.)

The tree - it's a bit... skinny this year, but unfortunatly, there wasn't an awful lot to choose from!!! I do like it's height though.

 Bad Santa - also a gift, not from a student though!!!! When you squeeze his hand he makes rude comments. I jsut hung him on a picture hook that was there - I took a picture off the wall as I didn't want the tree to ruin it!

Again... light up every tree you can. Luckily, there was a lights sale on at a local budget store!

Please ignore the masses of cabling in the background!

 The tree from a different angle, and my sister, comfy on the couch and over for a movie night.

 Nativity 1: I love this one. The candle is in place of Jesus, who will be put out on Christmas Eve.

 Nativity 2

 My vase of ornaments.

  Nativity 3

 The cards. It's a trerrible photo. But what you can't see is that the strings go all the way around the glass railing, so there's cards on both sides. I've also added strings down the stairs again this year, so there's now cards hanging down there too.

 My only kitchen Christmas decorations this year - the oven mit, and a red teatowel.

 The old door wreath, around a potted plant, and next to it, a star candle.

 Front door

 The outdoor lights this year. The colourful ones took some getting up... and are plugged in upstairs, and then hung out through a window. The ones wrapped around the post are solar lights - so much easier!!!

One last look at the tree. The gifts are starting to pile up under there!

One last bit of Christmas cheer - you can tell it's summer - look at those summery clothes! (though, not as hot as it has been in the past.. it's been a slow lead up to summer this year.)

We were having a bit of fun in the shops the other day. I promise they were having fun... even if they look utterly miserable in this pic!

Apologies, a Reminder and some more Reverb10

This is a cooking blog. Opps.
I've been a little lazy in terms of actually photographing anything I've made recently. In my defense, my parents arrived from France late last week, and it has all been a bit hectic since. I have made some lovely things.... a yummy Seasame Chicken Stir Fry the other night, and last night was Kung Pao Broccoli with Chinese 5 Spice Beef.


December 21 – Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead?

Relax. Nothing is so important that you stress yourself out over it. Take time to stop and think. Slow down.

We're 3 days away from Christmas here in NZ.... oh the benefits of being in the future..... and it's hectic out there. I went out this morning to get some new summer shorts, and it was insane. And I got to the mall as it opened in order to beat the crowds. People tend to forget at this time of year what it's really about. It's not about the presents (as much as I love them) - the purpose behind the presents is to show our love, not to buy as much as we can and bankrupt ourselves in the process.
It's not about drinking, or rushing, or going from one party to another.
Christmas is about family and friends. It's about relaxing and having fun. It's joy and laughter and a time to reflect. But most of all, it's about something else. Something that people often forget..... It's about the birth of Jesus. Christmas, would not be Christmas without Christ. Remember that.

And now? I bring you the most insanely cute, adorable and sweet video ever made:
(The nativity redone by St Pauls in Auckland City.... SO CUTE.)

Holiday Homes Tour

So, I've observed Jen's (Jen on the Edge) Holiday Homes Tour the last year or so, and this year I decided to take part.
We don't really go all out at Christmas - mostly because we leave to go down to our family beach place on the Coromandel (the holiday haven of most North Islanders in NZ) on Boxing Day. (Something I've never been sure about.... I know that Boxing Day is a holiday in Canada, like in the UK, Australia and NZ... but is it one in the US?)

My parents arrive from France today, so the past few days (after schools let out for summer break on Wednesday.... best part about being a teacher!!) have been all about cleaning and tidying and sprucing.

So, let's get this thing started:

Welcome! This is my new Christmas wreath. The old one was looking a little... weathered. I'd love to have a go at making one someday, but at this point, work is just too busy leading up to this time of the year.Plus, bonus - this one only cost me $20 on sale.

This is the old wreath. I hung it in our dining room on the double windows. It doesn't look too bad there... (And out the window you can glimpse the greeness of NZ at Christmas..... though that might not last for long. It's been so hot here so far this summer (hot enough that it's March weather, not December) that most of the country has already been declared to be in a drought.)

As you come in from the front door and into the entry way, you'll see the nativity scene on the china cabinet, bells hanging from a painting, the (fake) mistletoe hanging above the door to the living room, and a glimpse of the (real) tree....

Close up of the nativity scene. Most of these pieces were bought at Trade Aid.

To the right of the living room door, the stairs head down to the bedrooms - it's an upside down house on a hill. The street entrance is on the upper level, so all the living areas are up there... and the bedrooms are downstairs. While trying not to put an pins in the walls, I came up with the idea of stringing the cards along the stair railings. I've actually added another upper level of cards.... the benefits of being a teacher. LOTS of cards. (And presents!!!)

In the kitchen I've put a poinsettia in a red bucket with a snowman... to remind myself that event hough it's not cold here, it is in other places.

Kitchen table, with red/Christmassy tablecloth and my Christmas basket - pinecones etc.... each year I sprinkle more cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, star anise and ginger on the basket. Always smells good :)

The tree. Bit of a disapointment this year. I didn't pick a good one....  Oh well!! No theme. There's never a theme... it's more of a 'put all the decorations you have on it', theme....

Voltives on top of the (very old) TV. I do believe I was watching The Biggest Loser Australia at the time.

Tree with lights in it :) Trying to make things festive.

Technically this is actually a photo I took for this blog (cooking) but you can see some of the lights strung up along the railing..... But really, this is a good picture, because it shows what a Kiwi Christmas is all about. Summer, BBQ's.... etc.

Ahhhh, here we go. Night time, lights on shot of the tree. Pretty!!! It was looking a little more alive in those days.

Advent Wreath. I've tried to stay traditional - I have a lovely one at school (I teach in a Catholic School) but yes... the only thing really missing is the evergreen part... but all good. We're up to three candles lit now. The last purple one will be lit tomorrow night (Sunday here in NZ) and then the Christ candle on Christmas day.

Anyway, I hope you've all enjoyed getting a glimpse of my Kiwi Christmas. I wish I had more summery pictures to put up.. but it's been raining for a few days (so much for that drought!! - though, probably not enough rain to do much) and it's been humid... 100% humidity some days. So no gorgeous sunny days to photograph.

Merry Christmas!!!!!