i love christmas.
hi i am emily.
i love Christmas because i get to see my family and friends. also i get to do lots of cooking and partying and eating and talking and laughing.
go Christmas!!!!
talk soon…
Santa’s 20 cent biscuits (millionaire’s shortbread)
Some years ago, my daughter called the shortbread we made for Santa 5 cent biscuits (why? who knows! She was only 2 at the time!) We’ve now found a recipe for millionaires shortbread in a school book and this year we’ll make 20 cent biscuits 🙂
Make shortbread as usual and let it cool.
Heat a tin of condensed milk with 25g brown sugar and 25g butter until it simmers – don’t leave it to sit or it’ll stick. Keep stirring as it cools and thickens.
Spread the caramel over the shortbread and let it cool completely.
Melt some good chocolate ( a 250g packet gives a generous covering plus a little reward for the chef!) and pour it over the top.
Cool, slice and put on a plate for Santa – or for me! Yummy and easy – what more can you ask for in a recipe!
White Christmas in Melbourne!
Last night, on our way home from a Christmas party, we saw an unusual sight 🙂
In Narracan St, Vermont, there are two houses with Christmas lights. One is lovely but completely dwarfed by the other which is absolutely covered with lights, Santas, reindeers, moving things and more. Every so often, it also snows on the people looking at the lights – yes, snows!!!!!!!!!!!! (Ok, for the cynics it is a pump blowing bubbles but it LOOKS like a snow fall and the kids adore it!)
Well worth a visit – 4 santas for this one!
Oh, and take some coins with you – there is a wishing well with proceeds going to the Make a Wish foundation.
Ornament exchanges
Every year since my business began, we have been doing an ornament exchange with my clients.
Any member who wants to be involved signs up in November and is sent their recipient. Sometime in December, each participant receives a Christmas ornament from a secret Santa somewhere in Australia. Some people say their favourite colour. I love that my Christmas tree holds a special ornament from some of my clients for every year my business has been running.
I received my latest Christmas ornament today – a gorgeous hand made reindeer. It is now hanging in pride of place on my Christmas tree.
Love Santa letters
All letters we’re helping Santa with have been sent now, but it’s not too late to place your order and delight a child before Christmas Day.
If you live in…
Melbourne – order by Monday 22 Dec
Australian capital cities or regional Victoria – order by Saturday 20 December
regional Australia – order by Thursday 18 December
Note that these allow an extra day in case Australia Post is running behind, so you could try a day later and make a wish!
The Simple Pleasures
As a Foster Carer, Christmas has never been the same two years running. Luckily that’s just the way I like it! We have many lovely, touching memories of course but last Christmas really showed us that money spent and beautiful wrapping can be meaningless. Let me explain:
Christmas 2007 I had 3 children living with me, one of whom was a 5 year old with developmental delays, who had no memories nor understanding of Christmas. Her birth family life had been one of poverty and trauma, and she had no expectations as she had no reason to believe the magic of Christmas existed!
I had saved, bought and wrapped 6 gifts each for the 3 children and piled them beneath the decorated tree on Christmas Eve. The children had left cookies and lemonade out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and I sprinkled fake, plastic snow across the carpet from the front door (no chimney!) to the tree before going to bed.
Christmas morning at 5:30 my other 2 children were up, waking me and keen to unwrap, having carefully counted and inspected their labelled gifts. Keen to begin, they roused the little girl and told her to run and see what Santa had brought. She came slowly out of her room, yawning and not in any hurry as she had no anticipation of goodies.
Then she stopped and began to laugh and jump up and down with happiness. “Mama, Mama” she yelled “Oh look it, look it!”. Had she seen her mountain of gifts at last? No, her delight was in the $2.50 packet of plastic snow that Santa had left behind.
Aussie children playing in a Christmas snowdome
That little girl sat and threw ‘snow’ over herself for almost an hour laughing and calling to us to see the miracle that had taken place. Yes, she did come later and opened her gifts, but she was drawn back to play in the ‘snow’ throughout the rest of the day.
12 Days of Christmas for Real Mums
On the 1st day of Christmas my family gave to me
A day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 2nd day of Christmas my family gave to me
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 3rd day of Christmas my family gave to me
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 4th day of Christmas my family gave to me
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 5th day of Christmas my family gave to me
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 6th day of Christmas my family gave to me
6 new pairs of shoes
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 7th day of Christmas my family gave to me
7 foot massages
6 new pairs of shoes
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 8th day of Christmas my family gave to me
8 maids a-cleaning
7 foot massages
6 new pairs of shoes
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 9th day of Christmas my family gave to me
9 girlie movies
8 maids a-cleaning
7 foot massages
6 new pairs of shoes
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 10th day of Christmas my family gave to me
10 romantic dinners
9 girlie movies
8 maids a-cleaning
7 foot massages
6 new pairs of shoes
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 11th day of Christmas my family gave to me
11 books to read
10 romantic dinners
9 girlie movies
8 maids a-cleaning
7 foot massages
6 new pairs of shoes
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of uninterrupted sleep
On the 12th day of Christmas my family gave to me
12 days and nights free
11 books to read
10 romantic dinners
9 girlie movies
8 maids a-cleaning
7 foot massages
6 new pairs of shoes
5 hours at a day spa
4 glasses of wine
3 hot tradesmen
2 boxes of chocolate
and a day of un-interr-upted sleep
Written by an awesome bunch of Real Mums on the Retell Therapy Forums – thanks to Mad Cow, Gin please, Vamp, Alison, Lincmarc, Chrystal, MissieK, Wintersun and edited by Brunadette.
© Amanda Cox (Real Mums Pty Ltd). You are free to use this article on your website or other online or offline (print) material, in emails and e-newsletters or e-zines on the condition that it is printed in full, as above, includes the resource/bio information and a link to www.realmums.com.au and/or the original article itself. No part of this article may be reproduced in part only or without reference to the author and link to the site/original article. We like to know where the article has been used, so please let us know. If you’re unsure about these terms of use, or would like Mad Cow to write for you please email madcow@realmums.com.au
Santa has told air control he’s coming…
Air Services Australia (who manage our airports) has confirmed that Santa has told them what sleigh he’s bringing this year! Watch out as they track his progress until Christmas morning…
Wrapping paper reuse
Who else collects and reuses wrapping paper? Just at Christmas or year round?
We always fold up the decent bits of paper (those the kids have ripped to shreds go in the recycling bin!) and keep them for future use. Some relatives look down at us for it, thinking we’re being cheap and lazy. Yes, it does save us money (some of which goes into buying better presents for said relatives!) but more importantly, it saves the environment.
The creation of wrapping paper involves chopping down trees, processing the paper (which uses fossil fuels and huge amounts of water) and printing the paper. Then add in the footprint of wrapping paper – how far does it travel to reach your Christmas tree? And if you collect enough paper, it is one less thing you need to worry about buying next Christmas (potentially saving pollution of driving to the shops, too!)
Other ways we save on wrapping paper are:
- using paper we already have (e.g. from the deli) and getting the kids to decorate it – saves paper and money, entertains the kids and provides a personalised wrapping paper
- using something practical instead of paper – tea towels and ribbons in particular wrap gifts nicely
What does everyone else think about green gift wrapping?
Another Aussie version of jingle bells
Damien added an Aussie version of Jingle Bells last week, but I know another one so I thought I’d give it to you as well!
Jingle Bells
Dashing to the beach
With my boogie board and towel
Look at all the waves
Hear the surfers yell, YEE HAA
Put your sunscreen on
Don’t forget your hat
Because you will get sunburnt
If you don’t remember that
Chorus
Summer time, Christmas time
Mosquitoes, bindies
BBQ’s, sausages
Tomato sauces and flies
Jump into the pool
With your flippers on
Watch the dog catch flies
Sing a Christmas song
Christmas in Australia
Is very, very hot
So snow and sleighs and jingle bells
Is what we have not got
Chorus x2
3 wise women
How different things could have been…
Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise
Women instead of Three Wise Men?
They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and brought practical gifts!
Christmas Lights Kambah
19 Tepper Circuit Kambah
Lovely display of Christmas lights. All donations go to the onconology unit at the Canberra Hospital
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