oh Christmas Tree oh Christmas Tree

I'm very dangerously teetering on the edge of 'every post will be about my love for Christmas' territory over here.

Last year we had a small real Christmas tree in a pot, but that quickly died living on our balcony and under my supervision and I have to ensure that this baby lives until January 7 so wish me luck.

I spent Sunday trekking around looking for the best tree for the best price.

I cannot believe how much the price of trees can vary, from $55 - $120.

What I really want to know is how long do they take to grow, how much is a seedling and maintenance over those years? I can't imagine it working out as much of a profit.

I found this 7ft tree at my local fruit store for $70 (an extra $35 for the stand) and to make a good deal even better, they delivered it free.

We had been planning on putting the middle and right back seat down and letting Nelly room with the tree for the ride home but thankfully we didn't have to resort to that nonsense.

As all of our decorations are at my brothers farm we had to buy new ones this year so decided on a different color scheme, red green and silver as a more traditional look.

We ended up just going to Big W and buying filling the trolley up. The check out girl wasn't impressed with the amount of scanning she had to do and quipped that 'you are going to have too many decorations' but clearly she was wrong. 

I haven't found the 'right' angel for the top of the tree so this ballerina is perched on top for now, she may not be the star of the show but she can soak in the glory while she has the chance. 

She loves a good bauble, this much is evident. 

Oh Nelly, you did inherit something from me after all! Cellulite! That's my girl.

I wanted white flickering lights but apparently marriage is all about compromise so we ended up with colored lights as The Husband wanted them.

It was all worth it when I turned on the lights for the first time and his jaw literally dropped, he was like a child - it was adorable. 

This is his first real Christmas tree, ever. It makes it that much more special that he and Nelly have their first tree together.

I freaking love Christmas. How could you not?

The Little Drummer Boy

Howdy. Now, this post is obviously bordering on the very belated side but what can you do? We are house-sitting at the moment and the house doesn’t pick up our internet connection very well so it took me 2 hours to load the included photos. There would have been more but I had the urge to drown the laptop and would have carried through had I tried to blog any longer.

The Christmas festivities started on Christmas Eve which was spent at Barbaras house (my photos are not in order so the photos where I have a white dress and red belt are from Christmas Eve and the Blue & White Stripe Dress is from Christmas Day) and then kicked on to lunch at Dads house on the 25th and dinner at our house (fear not, I did not cook) with my Mums side of the family. Needless to say, the person who holds the dinner always gets shafted as we are so full from the lunch that its hard to digest any more food.

This is the table at Dads house, which looked magnificent. My table looked crap so I wont even bother sharing it with you.

These Doves are from Ikea and are now hanging on our front door.   

The place cards contained little red lollies which I feel like are Jaffas but you just never know.    

I have a feeling that this tree was the ‘special’ tree at the Christmas Tree Farm. I can just tell that it got picked on for having no curves, not that I’ve ever experienced such a thing. It's always the tall and lanky kids.

I picked up this flower headband on Friday before my cut (I think it was from Ojay) incase I really hated my hair and thought that this would take away the attention from it, but now I realize that it would have drawn the attention in! Doesn’t matter though as I love my hair!!

I don’t normally drink soft drink (unless accompanied by vodka of course) but these little coke cans are too cute.

Sophia!!!! This kid is amazing.

I wore my old faithful dress from Forever New and whilst The Husband was taking this photo of me my mum walked in and then 5 minutes later asked me ‘Do you have anything to tell me??’ as in ‘You look FAT – Are you pregnant?’. Sheesh. Cannot even eat a big lunch these days.

As Faux Fuchsia said – this is Hamtastic.

I was really excited when I heard that there was so much hail in Melbourne that it was looking like snow, our car was underground so it didn’t bother me, but we didn’t get the hail!! Damn it. It’s terrible how much damage it did to cars and what not though.

My brother Lucas got out in the pouring rain to BBQ the Garlic Mushrooms for us, what a hero (and not in the Muzza way).

Yes, she is quite special isn’t she. She said the glass tasted like chocolate cake. It wasn’t just one lick here or there either, it was full on pashing the glass.

Just incase I needed some bags to carry my truckload of presents (which didn’t exist) home, I had them right under my eyes for convenience.

I want one of these!!! It does remind me of a cheery KKK costume though.

Hair cut twins!! Ashleigh-Rose said that she preferred my hair long though, as I look too different. Well, too late sunshine. I’ve been calling everyone sunshine lately.

As far as presents go, I got a trip to Daylesford from el husbo (post to come), cash, framed photos of my nieces and a basil plant. I hope everyone got exactly what they asked Santa for!

Christmas Decorations.

Last night was a long and treacherous one which included double sided tape and blunt scissors. I was cutting out all these damn Christmas Tree Place cards for Christmas Dinner when not only was I covered in sticky tape but I also managed to cut my nail, a day before my manicure. Such a nong sometimes. Actually, always.

During my Big W expedition to buy a few extra toys for my nephews and nieces, my bag full of other Christmassy goodies broke whilst I was waiting for the check out and my arms were full of toys so I couldn’t even bend down to pick all my crap up. I nearly burst into tears as I was starving, needed to pee and my arms and shoulders were killing from carrying so much stuff. It took a few minutes of me attempting to put the toys somewhere and trying to bend down without dropping even more stuff before the guy behind me took pity on me. Seriously, a line of 10000000 people and it took a few minutes.

I must have looked amusing struggling so bad that people didn’t want to stop the entertainment. I don’t know about you, but if I see someone drop something and their hands are full I always help them out!! I walked home very slowly with my ginormous shopping bags and S asked “Did you really carry all that” and to which I replied that Christmas should be cancelled!!!

I also started to wrap presents and stick labels on them, but forgot to buy the string stuff that I was intending on using so might do that today or tomorrow if I have the time.

In other news, my niece Sophia is over from America for Christmas and I could not be more excited to see her!!! The Husband and I are headed away for a few nights after Christmas, cannot wait.

 

I didn’t buy Ashleigh-Rose a birthday present a few months back because she was in Europe so I took her to Doncaster on the weekend looking for a present. It was definitely a labor of love. She wanted Barbie’s and then decided she didn’t play with Barbie anymore, then she wanted a real puppy and I said no, then she wanted a toy which was $200 (for a toy!!!!) and I said no as Christmas was close blah blah blah. Anyway, we ended up Build A Bear, which is like Hell.

I asked the staff member how she does this all day and her answer was simple “I overdose on sugar every day” haha. Ashleigh-Rose picked out her bear and dressed it in a fishermans outfit which was actually not very cute ha. I decided to get S a little present and I got him a bear and dressed it in a NBA uniform, as he is obsessed with NBA. Pity it wasn’t purple and yellow but the Knicks are good enough. When I got home and gave it to him he actually did love it, but perhaps he is just a fantastic actor. I bought all of his Christmas presents online and only 2 have come, and they are tiny so it’s going to be a sad Christmas for him, unless they come before the 7 January which is his actual Christmas, then he wont be so sad.

Deck The Halls & All That Jazz.

I was a bit slack and after slaving over the office tree, our own Christmas Tree was a tad deprived of love until yesterday.

I had decided to take advantage of the bargain bauble prices at Big W and to add some purple on to our tree, but now I am not sure if it was the right move...

There was also quite the scene at QV Big W yesterday with 3 or so little punks who were high on something or other causing trouble and putting up a fight for the big burly security guards. Quite the spectacle I tell you! Those little punks were dropping the C word like it was going out of fashion, seriously, in Big W?!

This is our tree now, but I just don't love it. Too messy. I really hate clusters, but am not about to put in any more effort to re do it. Don't mind the Lakers banner. It has prized position in our apartment!!

All of the new decorations that I got ranged in price from $1 - $4 so a bargain was had!

Along with Noel (insert The Husbands corny 'Who is Noel?' joke here), I also got Joy, Peace and Love in blue/white/purple.

Slightly over our star but I know that next year we will have a house, with a real tree and I will be buying all new decorations so no point rebuying now.

These bows were $3.94 for 2 and also came in pink and purple.

And this is me with our tree in December 2009...

You can read that December 2009 blog post here should be looking for more ways to procrastinate!!

Christmas is Coming!!!

Guys. I am SO excited for Christmas. Once the 1st of December hits, so do my good spirits.

Last year I remember staring at the office Christmas tree and thinking how dull and ugly it was, so I took it upon myself to give it a make over this year.

I figure that if I have to look at it, I need to like it at least!

The office tree before I got my greasy mitts on it... It is practically crying.

I went to Big W and spent a whopping $18 for 112 baubles. I am impressed!! I might actually go back and get some more for our tree.

The tree AFTER I was done with it! Voila. Much better.

I wrapped some cardboard boxes in silver paper with alternating pink/blue/purple curly ribbon stuff for the full effect. It was a very productive morning in the office as you can see.

Now, for an outfit post. These have been few and far between lately.

I'm wearing:

Jacket: Target

Skirt: French Pony

T-Shirt: Kookai

Necklace: J Crew

Handbag: Bodhi

Shoes: Windsor Smith (I know, I need to give them a break already!!)

Does anyone else hate Casual Friday or is it just me?

Look. This was me at my sister Cats 21st. I was 7. I don't remember wearing the make up, but I loved being Princess Jasmine!!

See the girl behind me? That is actually none other than my brother Greg!! We don't muck around.

(Sorry Greg). Jo is the mask! Liz just messaged me to tell me Greg is wearing her dress!!

Now, if the above Christmas tree did not get you in the Christmas spirit, this sure oughtta!!

LLOYD!! 

Ahh, Lloydy. I miss him.