Countdown to Christmas.... 13 more sleeps!

Don't overlook Breakfast on Christmas morning!
If you don't already, make breaky a special meal too... it doesn't have to be big or elaborate, you'll be eating through the day no doubt, but it's a great way to start the day.

Some ideas:
Spice up muesli or porridge with chopped figs, dates, nuts and tangerine segments.
Serve smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on triangles of wholegrain toast.
Have pancakes with strawberries and brandied cream (a bit naughty, but hey once a year is really okay!)

Don't forget drinks:
Chai tea or the many exotic flavours of Green tea
Hot chocolate (or iced if it's a hot morning)
Fruit smoothies or juices

Sit outside or go to the local park with a blanket for a different view to the morning.
Then again, if you have kids, it may be easiest to have made up some muffins the night before and scoff them down between present / playing frenzies!

What ever you do, enjoy!

Countdown to Christmas.... 14 more sleeps!

Here is an on-line game for you to play... warning, can be addictive and mind numbing.... ornament match game
and one for the kids...
trim the tree

Plus a colouring page for you to download and print out:
Click on the picture and it will appear bigger, then download it.

Countdown to Christmas.... 15 more sleeps!

Here's a favourite sweet recipe, often made by my husband, for you to try out.
Will serve as something special to have on hand for unexpected guests or a yummy gift idea!

Mat's Semolina Squares

This is the traditional version (which has a sweet spices flavour).
A variation (chocolate!) will follow at the end.

Ingredients:
6 tbsp pure ghee (or butter)
3 whole cloves
3 whole cardamoms
8 tbsp coarse semolina
1/2 tsp saffron
1/2 cup sultanas
10 tbsp sugar
1 and 1/4 cups water
1 and 1/4 cups milk

* Place the ghee in a saucepan and melt over medium heat.

* Add the cloves and cardamoms to the melted butter and reduce the heat, stirring to mix.

* Add the semolina to the mixture in the pan and stir-fry until it turns a little darker.

* Add the saffron, sultanas and the sugar to the semolina mixture, stirring to mix well.

* Pour in the water and milk and stir-fry the mixture continuously until the semolina has softened. Add a little more water if required.

* Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the semolina to a shallow serving dish and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. If you wish, you can sprinkle 1/2 cup of desiccated coconut over the top.

* Leave the semolina to cool down and then put in the fridge for about an hour. When set, cut into squares, then triangles and devour!

STORE IN THE FRIDGE AND EAT THAT DAY OR NEXT... IF YOU CAN WAIT THAT LONG!

CHOCOLATE VARIATION:

* Follow the same recipe as above, except:
- replace cloves and cardamom with 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 1 - 2 tbsp cocoa powder (adding these at the same time)
- also get rid of the saffron and sultanas

Got a favourite Christmas recipe to share? Link to it here!

Countdown to Christmas.... 16 more sleeps!

Why not support local talent and give gifts that are unique.
There are heaps of craft markets on every week.
You can have fun in the evening too, with the various 'twilight' markets now on during the Summer!

Look up your nearest with these links:
* What's On Victoria
* White Hat (this link will take you to the twilight markets page)
(sorry only Vic. ones here, do a search on Craft Markets if you are in a different area.)

Here are a few of my favourite markets that are worth checking out:

Rose Street Artists Market
60 Rose Street, Fitzroy
11am to 5pm, Saturdays & Sundays

St Andrews Market
Kangaroo Ground Rd / St Andrews Rd
St Andrews (Mel ref 250 E11)
8am-2pm. Saturdays

The Suzuki Night Market (formally 'Gaslight')
Only from November 25, 2009 - February 24, 2010.
Queen Victoria Market, Cnr Queen & Therry St, Melbourne
Wednesdays 5.30am - 10.00pm

Kris Kringle Night Market
The Northcote Town Hall is hosting a Night Market with a focus on hand-made products
Thursdays 5.30pm - 10pm
27th Nov to 18th Dec. 2009
189 High Street, Northcote, VIC

Countdown to Christmas.... 17 more sleeps!

Cringe when someone asks you this question?
Why not set up a gift registry or wish list for everyone in your family?

* list all your wants/needs and let others know about your list- if they ask, you can give them the list / link.
Every member in our family has a registry and we treat it as a wish list. We add to them all the time through out the year and when an occasion comes up, we have ideas at the ready!
It's also been great for buying something in secret, without giving anything away... and knowing they're going to love it.

* suggest this to "hard to buy for" people.... you know the ones.. they have everything! What could you possibly give them??

* Here are some links for you to check out:
Both lets you add products / services from anywhere.
myregistry (this is the one we use for the shop)
amazon.com

Countdown to Christmas.... 18 more sleeps!

The usual dilemma for most people... what do I do with all these cards? (the ones that you received over the Christmas / New Year holidays)

Options:

* MAKE SURE THEY GET RECYCLED INTO SOMETHING NEW
Visit the festive recycling website by PlanetArk for ideas.

* KEEP THEM (memories...)
In a box with anything else you want to keep from that occasion.
In a scrapbook of that years special stuff.

* ART & CRAFT
Cut out any pictures from the front of cards and use for scrap booking, art projects,
kids to play with, create mobiles...

* HANDMADE TREE DECORATIONS
Cut out any nice designs, stick another piece of card on the back along with some hanging
ribbon. You could even add sequins or glitter for that extra bit of festive sparkle!

* RE-USE, RE-CLAIM
Glue pretty paper on the inside of old cards to cover previous writing......
and send them again. (hmmm, back to the person who sent it to you the year before??)

So there you go!
If it is recyclable, please set the example to others by recycling where you can.
Leave me your comment about other ways you can use old greeting cards (and links to projects).

Countdown to Christmas.... 19 more sleeps!

At this time of year, many people are compelled to get it touch with those they know and love... usually by the 'Christmas card'.
It's funny how we get organised enough to write to 50 people all at the same time, but don't have time during the rest of the year to write 1 letter to these same people.
Better make it special then... and mean what you write!

Here are some ideas for you, about what type of greeting to send:

* Got a favourite photo to share? Make it into a postcard. (K-mart, Officeworks, Harvey Norman are a few places that let you do it yourself.)

* Send 100% recycled paper or tree-free cards made by environmental organizations or ones that give twice (like to charity organisations).

* Glue pictures from old cards or wrapping paper onto homemade or store-bought recycled paper to create new cards.

* Glue pretty paper on the inside of old cards to cover previous writing...and send them again.

* Make a greeting card from scrap paper, fabric or wallpaper.

* For short messages use a large leaf or flat stone. (use nature!)

* Send an E-card!
E-mail your friends a festive message with a Christmas picture instead of sending a card, it saves time, money and paper.

* Set up a space for the kids to make or decorate Christmas cards to give their friends.
All you need is cardboard, a few stickers, glitter glue, crayons or pens.

OR.... START A NEW TRADITION AND SEND NEW YEAR CARDS INSTEAD!
We started this tradition last year. We had a family photo done earlier in the year and I just made that the top of the letter and wrote about what we'd all been up to during the past year.
It was well received. Lots of people who we don't see often loved reading about our adventures and got to catch up with us without actually seeing us.
Plus there was no rush to get all the cards out by Christmas either! Bonus.