Yo! Yo! Yo! Jingling all the way with Hugo & Elsa

I'm kicking off my Christmas chats with the beautiful and talented Michelle of Hugo & Elsa. 

I started fraternising with Michelle's blog many, many years ago. When I was lucky enough to go on the Human Brochure with my family - Michelle went with her family too. It made the weekend so special to share that time with them, and get to know Michelle in person and not just via the interwebz. 

Pretty well living my dream life, Michelle upped sticks with her husband - and set up life in Tasmania 10 years ago. My master plan is to move in to the house next door. A girl can dream. And hey, Michelle loves cake and I love cake. It's pretty well meant to be. 

If I was going to give Michelle something for Christmas, I'd give her a: copper saucepan.

Without further ado, I give you Michelle's super inspiring take on Christmas. 

What do you do on Christmas eve?

Spiffing Crimbo Cocktails at the Dynsdale-Smyths.  We have some friends that live in a very nice house with a beautiful garden in the nearby town, and they traditionally host Christmas Eve drinks.  Called Spiffing Crimbo Cocktails, the theme is sort of Britain 1930s and the hosts call themselves the “Dynsdale-Smyth’s” for the night, and one must come dressed in one’s best. We sip cocktails on the lawn and might play a spot of badminton.  It’s awfully good fun. 

Please tell me your favourite Christmas childhood memory.
Christmases seem to take forever to come around as child.  Now as an adult they seem to come far more quickly.  I love that memory of the countdown to Christmas, which seemed to sooo looong. The giddy excitement, not being able to sleep the night before and trying to stay awake to catch a glimpse of Santa. 

What did you leave out for Santa? 
Milk and biscuits. And  a carrot for the Reindeers

What time do you get up on Christmas morning? 
These days not too early, around 6am. (who even am I?)

Favourite part of Christmas? 
Lunch of course! And the cherries. 

What’s on your wish list this year? 
A happy family.

What's one thing you'll be gifting/giving this year?

Handmade things to eat, I am so over stuff. I’m surprised everyone isn’t feeling the same way. Do you really need that battery operated doohickey? Another set of steak knives? As we’ll be spending Christmas in Sydney we will be bringing with us a suitcase full of delicious handmade Tasmanian gifts like honey, ham, and cider. Batteries not included. 

Find Hugo and Elsa here. 

Follow Michelle on Instagram.

Robin Bloody 'ood

I've signed up for the Robin Hood tax. But have you? What a ridiculously simple and ridiculously awesome idea.



Or click here.

Found via Hugo & Elsa.

Juicy, Delicious, Watery - Ergh, That's Me...?

via

Kindly Mama Mogantosh has awarded me with a Watermelon Award. To be frank, it should be the bananas award. Or the coconuts award. But I'll go with watermelon - apparently my blog is sweet and refreshing. Thanks Rach!

So I must name 6 things that make me happy. And I did do this earlier today, but it's easy to think of things that make me happy, so I'll go hell for leather and hit you with another six, and then I'll pick six blogs that make me feel sweet and refreshed too. Dig?

Six Happy Things

1. Playing 'Wanna Be Starting Something' up loud and getting the Doctor and Tiny to dancey-dance.

2. When Tiny says cat and then does the obligatory 'meeeoow' - over and over again.

3. Selling all my stuff on eBay. Not everything, but just stuff I don't need.

4. Finding new delicious recipes to whip up in the kitchen. Gets me in a frenzy every time.

5. Late afternoon sunshine when the day's been dull and grey. Loving that heat - no matter how weak.

6. For the first time in a long time, lying on the couch and relaxing without the gnawing guilt of thinking I need to be doing something else rather than just 'being'.

Six blogs that are ripe for a-pickin'

1. Tracey from Peppermint Patcher - Tracey's like a warm breeze on a chilly day

2. Kerri from Life and Other Crises - Kerri has a real knack for making me belly laugh

3. Sally at Georgie Love - Sally also makes me laugh, and laugh, and then laugh a little more

4. Michelle from Hugo & Elsa - because I am going to move in next door one day, but Michelle doesn't know it yet

5. Victoria at Earl & Cookie - so creative, so girl genius 'nuff said

6. Megan from The Scent of Water - she's inspiring, she's conspiring, she's wickedly wordsmithy

By no means is this list conclusive. I could go on and on 'til the break of dawn. So play along if you'd like. Six happy things? Hit me up!

I May Be Sporting A Wee Hangover

So instead of banging on about anything, I'm going to send you off to other people. I'm tucked up under a quilt, sipping on lemonade, a box of tissues keeping me company. I'm sad like that.

Looking for an international man of mystery? Nan has some spectacular insights into French lurve.

Feel like a weekend trip to Tasmania? Fancy a seat on the fanciest red tractor? Go visit Michelle. She's been checking out the auctions.

Pip has a genius feline in her presence. As well as a piece in The Age (for some reason I can't link but definitely worth a read! - click over here).

Cindy's asking the big question - Why Do You Blog? My answer - because it's like my online diary, I am bollocks at keeping a written journal; and because I love to write.

And last of all, I'm sending you off to listen to some music. Put your feet up toots, sit back and enjoy one of my all time favourite songs. Have I shared this before?

Ahem. Image is yet another shameless hint for Matt. Pink Schwinn makes me go schawing!