Keep Christmas colours, not gender nonsense
I hope it’s ok that I have a whinge here! But it really annoys me that so much of the ‘first Christmas‘ stuff is only in pink and blue.
For one thing, I am still pregnant so don’t know if I’m having a boy or girl (I’m due on 20 December so buying in advance is pretty necessary!). But I don’t want lots of pink or blue according to gender anyway.
Traditional red stockings suit many people more than pink or blue stockings
I see no reason to distinguish between genders with colours at the best of times, but at Christmas I would much prefer red or green to stick with Christmas – or maybe purple as that is a trendy Christmas theme colour.
Is it just me or can we tell shops to get rid of gender-based Christmas gimmicks and concentrate on Christmas as the only necessary theme?
It’s the big day!
Christmas mess…
I just came across this thought in a magazine (Your Child in Banyule & Nillumbik to be precise) and loved it:
one of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the lounge room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.
I love that mess (especially compared to the mess my kids usually make…) all the wrapping paper and packaging strewn across the floor, new clothes, books and toys scattered around, topped off with tinsel and decorations around the room. It evokes happy feelings of sharing and giving, and its bright and colourful. Love it!
I never clean it up before we go out for Christmas lunch, and generally leave it for Boxing Day (isn’t that the point of Boxing Day anyway??) Does that make me unusual?
Ashbury Christmas lights
For Christmas lights in Sydney, I recommend First, Second and Third Streets in Ashbury to delight anyone! Our kids enjoyed them – and so did we to be honest!
{Stock Love Santa photo of Christmas Lights, not actually from Ashbury}
Mixed up gifts
What is the funniest gift mix up in your family?
I remember one year I got men’s jocks and my uncle got some sewing things (destined for my cousin) – my Grandmother had mixed up some gift tags. SO we all very cautiously opened our gifts from there on as we never knew exactly whose gift we were opening!
Such a lovely treat
I
was at my daughter’s house on Friday when her children got Love Santa letters and /I think they were just lovely. All those little details like the postmark and stickers on the envelope, the truly personal and positive message and the little surprise inside – just beautiful and shows your love of what you do.
ALL my grand kids will Love Santa next year!
The magic of Christmas…
Can you feel it in the air?
Every time you see Christmas lights and smile, feel a twinge of nostalgia at a carol, go back in time at the smell of pine leaves, get excited over presents, or otherwise enjoy the moments of Christmas, you are feeling the magic of Christmas that I love.
Many people complain about this time of year, and I agree that it can be overwhelming to have many events to prepare for and meeting commercialised expectations of gifts, but I think it is lovely to stop and enjoy the magic occasionally.
There are people who will steal this magic away, and it’s up to us to keep it safe. I try not to listen to the anti-Christmas crowd, and I certainly don’t include their comments in this blog (this blog is about Christmas and Santa for families and comments out of that mind set are rejected – sorry if that offends but that’s my prerogative.) Even science, which brings us many things, has its limits and has no real place where people are knowingly enjoying the magic and spirit of the holiday.
How do you deal with people who try to destroy your belief and pleasure in the magical aspects of Christmas? How do you keep the wonder alive and spread it to others?
So we wish you a Merry Christmas full of the magic and wonder felt by children everywhere.
How old is too old for Santa?
When does Santa stop visiting people in your family? Do you think that’s a good age?
Santa likes to fit in with each family, and wouldn’t upset anyone by coming when they feel they are too grown up for him to visit anymore, so he generally stops visiting children when they reach a certain age.
I am curious as to how families know it is time and if you have any traditions associated with that new stage, so let us know…
Bundy lights
We travelled through Bundaberg, Qld and they have some cool lights on display.
Driving through Branyan, Svensson, Avoca, Thabeban and Gin Gin was lovely with all that Christmas cheer and colour.
Maybe 3.5 Santas unless you live near Bundy then definitely 4 Santas!
Love Santa final orders for 2010
Christmas is very close now, and many children are excited with their letter signed Love Santa. It isn’t too late to order one for the special children in your life – in fact you have until 5pm …
Wednesday 22nd December if you live in Melbourne
Tuesday 21st December if you live in another capital city or elsewhere in Victoria
Monday 20th December if you live in other areas (although very remote places may need longer for the Postie to deliver letters in time.)
Ordering is easy – just fill in our online form and we’ll take care of the rest for you on behalf of Santa.
Mulled Wine & Fruit Cake
Mulled wine just has such a beautiful flavour and a warm, happy feeling that I can’t resist this recipe each Christmas although it does seem to fit a cold Christmas more (by name that is, it tastes great in summer, to!)
You need:
125g butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup plain flour
1 cup wholemeal plain flour
450g sultanas (or 400g plus 50g dates, chopped)
250g dried cranberries
450g crushed pineapple
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons mulled wine
Put the mulled wine, butter, suagr, dried fruit & pineapple in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add baking soda then simmer & stir for about 5 minutes.
Allow to cool before mixing in everything else.
Pour into a cake tin (silicon one works well I’ve found) then bake at 180C for about 60minutes. Cook for up to another hour at 150C when it is firm to touch.
If it gets too brown as it cooks, cover with foil.
Cool in tin then enjoy. Serves about 24 people at a party or about two serves each in my family if we have it for dessert…
* Mulled wine can be bought in some places apparently, but it’s easy to make. If you need some quickly for this recipe, just heat some red wine gently with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and (preferably) lemon rind. what ever’s left over is lovely to drink under a Christmas Tree 🙂
Books for kids
It isn’t always easy buying books for kids, especially if you don’t have kids in that age group yourself. Reading the cover of a book doesn’t always give a good indication of the appropriate age group – and I know I don’t always have time to read a book before I let my kids read it let alone for every kids I buy gifts for at Christmas.
I was very impressed by a Dymocks catalogue not long ago as they did list the age for books aimed at kids.
For anybody else after age appropriate ideas, I found an Australian site listing some good books at a couple of ages – and asking for more people to add to their list so it may be bigger by now with luck.
Books are such a great gift but only if it meets the requirements of the reader. Do you give many books as gifts?
BROWSE BY CATEGORY
- About Love Santa
- Baby’s first Christmas
- Children’s craft
- Christmas activities
- Christmas books
- Christmas cooking
- Christmas crafts
- Christmas gifts
- Christmas humour
- Christmas Lights/Decorations
- Christmas Memories
- Christmas spirit
- Christmas today
- Easter
- Green Christmas
- Happy kindness
- International Christmas
- Santa letters
- Santa Memories
- Santa’s snacks
- Christmas elf fun
- Uncategorized
Start your Christmas kit gifts
Â
Â
Order Cut Off Dates
Please note that Love Santa letters need to be ordered before December 18Â to be delivered before Christmas!
Order now to be sure of delivery before Christmas. Keep an eye on our blog for final ordering days as we get close to Christmas Eve.
Â
Privacy Policy
Under no circumstances, not even under threat of having to fill in for Santa on Christmas Eve, will your details of any kind be given, sold or lent to any other party.