Tag: Christmas

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Christmas 2024 Bucket List

December is nearly here (how the hell has that happened?) and I’m getting my December and Christmas planner set up and organised. This year I thought I might create a Christmas Bucket List to do through the month.

I searched for Christmas bucket list templates in Canva (check out the whole list if you want to make your own),picked one I liked, created my list and I’ll print it out then add in to the planner.

So what is on my bucket list for Christmas 2024?

I got some of my ideas from this list, but it is very winter focused (not great for ideas when it’s Summer here in Australia LOL). Anyway onto my list.

  • Decorate a Christmas Tree.  Bit self-explanatory. Our tree goes up on Dec 1. This year we’ll have a 11 month old kitty (whose birthday is Christmas Day) and we’re trying to work out a) where we’ll put the tree and b) how to stop her climbing/attacking it.
  • Bake Gingerbread biscuits. I love baking at Christmas time. I’ll do gingerbread, shortbread, Scottish tablet, mini meringues and a few more things.
  • Host a Festive Movie Night. Need to introduce the kids to some good Christmas movies. What would you recommend?
  • Send Handmade Christmas Cards. I need to get these made, especially the ones to send overseas
  • Visit a Christmas Market. I’ve got a few listed in our calendar already
  • Make Homemade Hot Chocolate. Kids are looking forward to this one. Trying this recipe.
  • Learn a new Christmas tradition. Going to get the eldest to research Christmas traditions from around the world in her last weeks of homeschooling and see if she finds something she wants us to try.
  • Start a new tradition. See above. I’d really like to start a new yearly tradition that we do as a family.
  • Read Christmas Stories. We have a box full of Christmas books. Lots of stories for little kids that I think we need to have one more read of then decide if they are generational books (like the ones I have from my childhood) or ones we would be happy to donate to our local Little Library
  • Create DIY Ornaments. Another one for the kiddos to pick something to make.
  • Have a Pyjama Day. Might mix this with our movie day.
  • Reindeer Food. Even though the kids are 14 & 10, they still love the Christmas Eve reindeer food tradition. How to make magic Reindeer Food.
  • Santa plate on Christmas Eve. I’m going to make something like this.
  • Make Christmas houses. These from Sweet Red Poppy.
  • Beach-side picnic. We live near a beach and do this lots over summer. Nothing beats a chippie picnic at the beach – hot chips from the local take away, then drive to the beach for a picnic.
  • Go to the Christmas parade. Doing that next week.
  • Camp out. The tent will most likely get set up in the backyard either the day after school finishes for the year or on Boxing Day
  • Get a festive door wreath.
  • Bujo Bootcamp over at the JashiiCorrin discord
  • Finish Christmas shopping. Nearly done. Only my father-in-law,a nd my youngest niece and nephew to go. Everything else is bought or ordered and on it’s way.
  • End of School year events.
  • Make Christmas Crafts.
  • Go on a Christmas Light Tour. These are getting less and less each year sadly. People are getting sick of their lights being stolen or damaged. It’s also getting more expensive.
  • Journal Your Christmas.
  • Try a new holiday recipe. Going to give a family friend’s Raspberry cheesecake a go.
  • Plan a Family Game Night. Not sure yet, most likely Game of Life. The kids are loving that one.
  • Write a Letter to Santa. Not sure if the eldest will do this anymore.
  • Reflect and Set Goals

Do you have a Christmas bucket list? I’d love to know what’s on yours.

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Merry Christmas

Been feeling a bit blah the last week and just haven’t felt like blogging, or doing much else really. Well except for Christmas stuff.

I’ll be back in the new year (maybe a bit before) with some new posts and some news 😉

Hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year

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Christmas 2013 pt 6

Can you believe it is nearly Christmas? Are you excited yet? Or are you like hubby and can’t wait for it to be over? I’m still pottering along with the Organised Christmas challenges. Hope I’m not boring you too much 😉

Day 26
Christmas task: Picking Christmas outfits. Will depend on the weather Christmas day. I haven’t even started my handmade gifts, namely cause they are all food gifts so will get done the weekend before Christmas. I trialled a new gingerbread recipe in the Thermomix over the weekend so this will be our gingerbread recipe for this year. You can check it out on the recipe community.
Household task: I cleaned the laundry. Well I caught up on the washing that was sitting on the floor :/

Day 27
Christmas task: Sat down and wrote up what food I need to buy for the food gifts and Christmas day.
Household task: My laptop desk is my office at the moment so gave it a good clean. Also cleaned around it. Even gave my keyboard and mouse a clean *yuck*

Day 28
Christmas task: Made sure all the bits to go to Scotland where finished. Mum is posting them soon.
Household task: Cleaned the lounge room, again. Looked like a bomb had hit it – all be it a glitter/tinsel bomb. Within 5 minutes there was toys everywhere again 🙁

Day 29
Christmas task: Spent the day with Mum working on some Christmas presents 🙂
Household task: Gave the bathroom a good clean.

Day 30
Christmas task: We’re going to friends for an early Xmas tea next week and will go for a drive on the way home to check out the lights.
Household task: Spent the afternoon cleaning up the sunroom as Miss had stuff everywhere. Little does she know her table will be going out into her cubby house she’s getting from Santa and mum gets her sunroom back again 😉 It’s an awesome room for reading/napping during summer and winter. When it’s clean it’s one of my favourite rooms.

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Christmas 2013 – pt 5

Day 21
Christmas task: Stock stuffer organisation is underway. Well for 2 people in the house. nothing for mine yet 😉
Household task: I’d created a cleaning kit when I did the 20 days organisation challenge earlier this  year so have just topped it back up.

Day 22
Christmas task: Christmas cards mailed.
Household task: Cleaned our dishwasher. All sparkly clean again.

Day 23
Christmas task: Started planning our Christmas baking. I’m making lots of homemade foodie gifts again this year.
Household task: Cleaned our oven. It was YUCK!

Day 24
Christmas task: Did some freezer friendly baking and stocked the freezer again. Also tried out a new gingerbread recipe in the Thermomix. Added it to our list of stuff to make for presents.
Household task: We got stuck into cleaning the kitchen. Gotta love working in a clean kitchen.

Day 25
Christmas task: Have wrapped the majority of out presents.
Household task: Have made my weekend task to clean our bedroom. Started today (Friday) by stripping our bed and washing the sheets, rotated our mattress, put away our clean clothes (yay have an empty clothes basket again), pulled out summer clothes from storage, decided they needed a wash then put clean sheets on the bed. Over the weekend will wash summer clothes to freshen it up, clean up scrapbooking stuff and get the last of the Christmas stuff out.

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Christmas 2013 – pt 4

Day 16
(Can you believe we’re only a month out from Christmas!!)
Christmas task: We only have 2 rellies that we send Christmas cards to so these are done and will get posted later this week (along with their presents). I spent some time wrapping presents after Miss K goes to bed. I recently blogged about our advent plans along with a free download.
Household task: I’ve created a file in Evernote of all the dates I’ll add to my Inner B organiser (I get the refill for Christmas) after Christmas.

Day 17
Christmas task: Think I’m pretty much up to date, even have clothing sorted for the couple of Christmas dos we’re going to. Go me lol
Household task: Kitchen drawers are all organised from when I did a huge kitchen clean/cull when we got out thermomix.

Day 18
Christmas task: Created a Christmas playlist. Shared it on Spotify
Our area for displaying cards is still up from last year. It’s some Xmas twine hung above our fireplace and we’re used it on and off through the year to display our birthday cards
Household task: Hubby & I sat down and worked out a list of chores missy could do to help us out over the holidays. It will be interesting to see how long the novelty lasts for her.

Day 19
Christmas task: I addressed our envelopes as we did our cards, so ahead on this. Don’t actually own any Christmas books or DVDs that aren’t always out.
Household task: We’re lucky and don’t have anyone staying with us these holidays. Good thing too as they’d be sleeping on the couch cause we don’t have a spare bed 😉

Day 20
Christmas task: We got the tree & decorations out of the garage and gave them a bit of an air & de-spider web. I hung our advent calendar all ready for Dec 1.
Household task: I hate our under sink space but I’ve tidied it the best I can. A visit to Howards Storage World is in order next time we visit Hobart (I really wish one would open in Launceston – much closer)

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From the Den Kitchen – Christmas goodies

One has to love Pinterest at this time of year. Food ideas galore!! I thought I’d share with you some of the foodie things I’ve pinned plus a few other foodie bit & pieces.

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Christmas Pizza shapes

Christmas kabobs (mini marshmallows, slices of banana, strawberries, grapes)

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Candy Cane Ice cream (Thermomix)

Christmas sugar cookies
(Thermomix)

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Christmas Choc chip cookies
(Thermomix & non- Thermo)

Christmas cheese board
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Mint Chocolate truffles Peppermint fudge

Some of the things I have linked to before but still have some great foodie ideas:

What’s your favourite thing to make over Christmas?

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Have yourself a very appy Christmas

Disclaimer – I am a Me Books blogger and receive books for review. All opinions are my own.

One great way of staying organised or keeping the littlies (or yourself) entertained is to pull out your smart phone or tablet and use an app or two. Christmas is no different & I thought I’d share with you some of my favourite Christmas apps. Quick note – these are app for iOS as it’s what I have. I’d love for you to comment with your favourite Windows phone or Andriod apps

First up is an app I’ve used for the last couple of years. Simply called Christmas!!

Christmas

This app by Gourmet Pixel Ltd is simple but full of great things. It’s a Christmas countdown, an advent calendar, a place to keep your gift list (hidden from prying eyes), it has games, music, jokes and wallpapers. Best thing – it’s FREE

 

mzl.qvsxldka.175x175-75Another app I used a bit last year was Fake Call from Santa (FREE). Very useful to encourage good behaviour. “Oh look Santa is ringing, I can tell him how good you’ve been.” Worked really well for us last year when a certain little person wouldn’t go to bed til late. What? Do whatever works for you, right? Right. Let’s move on.

mzl.kvoongpo.175x175-75For a bit of fun, Talking Santa (99c) from the people who brought us Talking Tom, Ginger and all their friends. ‘Talking Santa is packed with countless hours of holiday fun for the entire family! Speak into your microphone and listen to Santa repeat your special holiday message aloud.’

mzl.jhgmoytc.175x175-75More fun for all the family? Elf Yourself (FREE) from OfficeMax allows you to become the star of a personalized video featuring your photos on holiday dancing elves. Simply upload up to five photos of you, your friends, family and more from your camera roll or Facebook. Select a dance theme, and the app will generate a custom ElfYourself video that you can

mzl.egptvtoe.175x175-75Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar – Village 2013 (FREE)is a gorgeous vintage advent calendar. Mum had it on her Macbook last year and I found the 2013 version in the App Store while looking for new apps. ‘From 1st December onwards, a new animation becomes available to view each day – maybe a funny animated sketch, or a heart-warming Christmas story – to the background of a delightful Christmas scene, and accompanied by traditional classical music and carols. ‘

V4HttpAssetRepositoryClient-mzl.xzwjlxzz.png-2216541463713913802.175x175-75Books are a big part of our lives and the Me Books (FREE but books cost) app has been a great addition to traditional paper books in our home. Lot of kids favourites like Peppa Pig, Charlie & Lola and Peter Rabbit, all read by celebrities like Alan Davies (of QI fame), Richard E Grant, Rik Mayall, Sir David Jason and others.
There are some gorgeous Christmas themed books in the Me Books store – A Message for Santa, Mucky Puppy’s Christmas, The Little Reindeer, A little bit of winter and Elmer in the Snow. I’ll be doing a review on these books a little closer to Christmas.

mzi.pinhoukf.175x175-75And finally on my little list is Yummy Christmas (FREE). It’s super cute recipes for making with kids over Christmas. Recipes include things like Fruity Christmas trees and Rudolph sausages.

 

Other apps you may consider