Secret Santa

Last night Matt and I snuck out of the house. We gently closed the door behind us, and left our two sleeping children and sleeping kitten, and crept out into the street. 

We were heading out with our arms full. Of garbage. For we were off on a merry adventure, to spread Christmas cheer to all of our neighbours. 

We really, really were. We really, really did.

For you see, dear reader, we forgot to put our garbage bins out before Christmas. And then we came back to some funky garbage that was brewing good and proper in the heat, and an almost overflowing recycling bin. 

We lived for a fortnight. Our dustbins they runneth over. I had a hissyfit. Matt ignored me. 

And last night, it finally came around to yellow bin night, and we snuck out. I told Matt we were just like Santa, giving all the neighbours recycling bins some presents so that they were nice and full. 

I don't think he was buying it - I think he was more pre-occupied with someone walking out and catching the two of us, in our PJs, in the middle of the street gifting garbage. 

Thankfully at 11pm most of our neighbours are fast asleep, and we got to declutter good and proper. 

I can't wait 'til I receive all our neighbours thank you letters. 

Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart

The very next day I got an inflatable Santa suit and wore it to work.

And now friends, all my colleagues have until mid-January to recover from me being dressed as Santa for the afternoon. I am on holly-days.

PS - If you are staying in the Hunter Valley, or just driving through, be sure to check out the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights. Amazeballs.

Castle VS Gorman:: A Hot Collab

What happens when two ridiculously talented Australian women get together? One heck of a red hot collab.

Check out the brand spanking new Gorman + Castle collaboration. I really, really want that t-shirt. Santa, listen up home boy.

Rachel Castle can do no wrong. Lisa Gorman - nope she can do no wrong either.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

Check it out homegirls.

Get it while it's hot. And it's hot. Oh man. It's super duper roasting hot.

Speaking of girl geniuses. Can't go past Regina Spektor. Or Lana del Rey.

30 Sleeps:: Christmas Countdown

Back when I was a little girl, when we were visiting Sydney from the country, we always, always visited the Queen Victoria Building. It is one of those places that always left me in awe. All the people buzzing through, the many shops to peruse, the architecture - a real slice of Sydney history, the stained glass windows, the tiled floors, and that clock. I always lingered for that clock at midday. It is such a great memory, and even now, as an adult, I love hearing that clock, and I always race up the top of the QVB to see it swing into action.

But duty called this week, and Tiny and I raced up the top of the QVB for a different reason altogether. Santa.

Actually: Santa, reindeer, and two huskies. Hell-o QVB.

But firstly, let me start at the ground floor, where you'll see the base of the 24 metre Swarovski Christmas tree, the largest Christmas tree in the Southern Hemisphere, it's pretty darn beautiful and pretty darn sparkly. If you know me well, you know I love sparkles. Unfortunately, the tree is not for sale. So we left it there and caught the escalator up to the second floor.

It was there at the Swarovski strewn Crystal Garden we were greeted by a real live Nutcracker. I love the traditional Nutcrackers. And well, all of this love - this excursion was pretty much a match made in heaven. Tiny got to see a fairy, feed some reindeer, pat two huskies, and sit on my lap while I sat and chatted with Santa. Because she got so shy. Fair enough I say old chap! So I got to have my photo with Santa too.

This is the first time Santa has ever appeared at the QVB and it's a pretty dreamy experience. If you're looking for something to get your smalls in the spirit of Christmas, definitely check it out. I'm all a-buzz still, and have promised to take the Doctor much to his delight. You can check out days and times here.

Santa.

Have you had a heinous Santa experience? A few weeks back my Mum and I lined up with the smalls at David Jones to see Santa. By the end of it, I really couldn't wait to get out of there. Couple rude Santa with a two hour wait = cranky PMM.

Rude Santa asked repeatedly what Tiny's name was. I told him. About three different times. And then he wouldn't believe me.

If you're reading this dear Santa, you won't be getting any mince tarts and beer this year for being so darn rude to me. Hear that?

Maybe next time we'll just go with the Portable North Pole.

image via

Giveaway: There Are Only 18 Sleeps To Go!

To Northern Hemispherers this may sound odd. Because it hasn't been hot, bone scorchingly hot, I don't feel like it's Christmas.

I'm doing my best peeps. The shops are packed with bodies throwing caution and $$$ to the wind. Our house is festive. I've been making lists and checking them twice, heck who do I think I am, Santa? I'm out to a Christmas party tonight and I will be wearing sparkles.

We have no Advent calendar. Egads.

However, I do have something exciting for you gals to get you in the spirit. Come closer, nope closer still, I promise I don't have halitosis.

We all know how I love Fruit Mince tarts. I've just taken delivery of some Baker's Delight Fruit Mince Tarts and Lemon Tarts, and I will not disclose how many I have already consumed. (But scroll down and you'll realise I didn't learn a thing from the Supersize me post).

To get you in the spirit, Bakers Delight have given me 5 vouchers (so you can get in the mood and get your own Fruit Mince or Lemon Tarts) to give away to Australian PMM readers. All you have to do is share your favourite Christmas song that gets you in the mood... For Christmas.

Mine? I love the Cocktail Christmas CDs. I always sneak them on. And then my FIL takes them off and puts on some old-timer Christmas carols that make me feel like I am at the morgue.

I'll draw the five winners on Friday night.

So. I Am Back.

We're back in town after a week away. How quickly that week of holidays passed and tomorrow we're back into the grind. Ho-hum. We had a magical Christmas, the first where the Doctor really understood what was going on. The burning excitement. I remember it well. Can't sleep. Butterflies. The Doctor was sure he heard Santa whirring through the sky. Perhaps it wasn't a helicopter, maybe it was the fat man himself in a hotted up sleigh.

We had a wonderful time with my parents. I didn't want to leave. But when we did finally have to leave, we left with more than a handful of wonderful memories.

- a frivolous and very fun water fight punctuated with hearty laughter

- eating waaaay too much beautiful food

- going in search of Christmas lights with a very animated three and a half year old chattering away wearing reindeer antlers

- a baby who smiled the whole way through the festivities

- doting grandparents who cuddled, snuggled, loved and laughed

- ice cream

- a red swing in the grapevine

- a fast red tricycle Santa kindly left for the Doctor

- the naughty reindeer eating all the food and knocking over the water bucket on their way out

- a great-grandmother wearing a pale pink paper crown

Christmas. You just can't beat it, can you?

Hear Me Breathe

This year's shaping up for a super fun Christmas. The Doctor grasps the excitement, he keeps getting me to re-write his Christmas list. Each time it's longer and longer, to the point I had to interject the other day and say "whoa, this list is huge, I don't think Santa's going to be able to bring you all of this, I don't think it will fit in his Santa sack." Quick thinker that he is, the Doctor responded, "Well Mummy, I have a great idea, we'll get Santa some new bags so he can!"

How can you trump that?

Needless to say, I think the simpler the gifts for my little ones, the better.

I've almost finished the shopping. The Doctor accompanies me to most places which makes 'Santa' shopping VERY tricky. And further to this, it's as though K-Rudd has been in his ear, single-handedly the Doctor is doing his best to restore the economy by forcing me to buy random things or he'll mutiny. Kinder Surprises come in handy, yes?

Anyway, this weekend we continued our crazed Christmas crafting. While I did this tree (which I know is a wee bit wonky), the Doctor threaded pom poms with a very sharp needle. And I have to say, the little dude Loved it. Capital L intended.

The little felt Christmas tree was an idea I saw on The Black Apple a year ago. It's been in the back of my head since then, and well, I bought all the stuff, the foam tree however met with the Doctor's teeth and he bit the top off. Hence, no felty Christmas tree. Until now. It's got lumps and bumps in all the wrong places, but don't we all?

Before I blow a gasket and feel like Christmas is spinning me 'round on my head, hear me breathe. Calmly too.

A Marriage of Tastes

I've hit upon a brilliant idea for Christmas (ok I took some heavy inspiration from Cath). Some might say genius (maybe if they were delusional).

Cast your mind back to this weekend. Ah yes. The Mexican stand-off over the washing up. Can you believe this is still continuing? Well, my beloved is in for a real treat from Santa this year.

His very own personalised washing-up gloves. How special is that?

I can't wait to hide them in his stocking for the 25th! But firstly, I have to stitch 'em. Now that should make for some interesting viewing.

Happy Christmas SweetiePop - I can't wait for Santa's elves to transform you into some sort of washing up wizard!

By the way, does anyone know a great pair of pinking shears that aren't going to cost the earth?