Christmas Nostalgia

This year I have been making a bit more of an effort to get myself into the Christmas spirit. Don't get me wrong, I still love the festive season and all it offers, but it has lost that little bit of… sparkle, I suppose? As a child Christmas was pretty much the best day of the year, potentially even topping birthdays and those days you found an ice cream truck in the middle of nowhere. The tumultuous teenage years that saw me try to work out a bit more about myself saw me change my interests multiple times, and we all had those moments of "not more clothes" (not know, clothing vouchers are always a request from me!). Growing older also saw my transition from being a sole present recipient to being a present buyer. I started working when I was fifteen, and I have been buying presents ever since. This used to be bit of a drag for me, but know I love giving gifts more than receiving them. I've also found that now that I am edging my way into adulthood, I always seem to know what I am getting for Christmas. It's still great to get the gift, but the excitement is somewhat lost when you unwrap a gift you chose yourself. My increasing awareness about the consumerist culture of Christmas can often dampen the occasion now too (I recently read this fantastic article and it really highlights this issue in Australia). Having spent my teenage years working in retail, I have witnessed many child tantrums and stressed individuals under the pressure of Christmas.

But this year I am trying to get myself back into this mood of the season. Our little Christmas tree was up on December 1st, I've spent hours trying to find perfect gifts, and planned some Christmas baking. Chris is even on the hunt for matching Christmas t-shirts for us to wear, but I'm not so convinced that I could actually wear one! I'm not going over the top, but I am trying to find the right groove for myself and Chris for the season. I would love to be able to make more gifts myself, but as of yet I don't have the time or expertise to do so!  

And it's starting to pay off. A bit more of a positive outlook and reflection, and now I am counting down the days until Christmas! 

Have you changed how you think about Christmas over the years? Is there anything you do to help get yourself in the spirit?

Reanna.

Christmas in Melbourne: Gingerbread Village

As mentioned the other day, Chris and I have always aspired to make a gingerbread house. So you can imagine our excitement when we chanced upon Melbourne's Gingerbread Village at the Town Hall last year. We were just as enthused when we found out it was on again this year, so we fought our way through hordes of children to visit (note: no children were hurt in the process).

Please excuse the quality of these photos, there was no lighting in the building to better allow for the Christmas decorations to shine!

I cannot imagine the amount of time and effort would have gone into making these masterpieces. These photos hardly do them justice. There are so many little details that grabbed your attention, made you laugh, or captured what Melbourne is like.

Luna Park was my favourite, though the MCG, the Arts Centre and the Melbourne Zoo were pretty fantastic too!

Except this. Is this even in Melbourne? (Yes, the roof is made of pasta)

Chris had to hold me back from taking a bite out of one of the lights of the MCG, everything just smelt so delicious! There were people offering gingerbread for sale outside, but I resisted. Though the gingerbread ice-cream did sound intriguing.

We have a few more Christmas outings around the city planned for the coming two weeks. Two weeks, can you believe it! Do you have any favourite Christmas activities? Or are there any around Melbourne I should check out?

Reanna.

5 Ideas for Christmas Deliciousness

Christmas is getting so close that it's starting to scare me. Christmas carols are playing at work (my boss played Mariah Carey's Christmas album on repeat for four hours. Torture), lights are popping up around the neighbourhood, and mince tarts are everywhere. And I say all this scares me due to my impending list of Christmas presents to buy. But I will succeed! 

In an effort to get into the swing of the Christmas, I thought I'd write up a couple of Christmassy themed posts! Today, I thought I'd share some great recipes for the season I have spied on some of my favourite blogs. Fingers crossed I can make some of these when I get the time!

This delicious rhubarb ice-cream fits the Christmas bill perfectly with flavour and colour. And it has the added bonus of being vegan! I've always wanted to try out a tofu based ice-cream, so this one will hopefully pop up in my freezer some time soon!

These fruit mince pies over at the Healthy Chef (one of my favourite sites to peruse for healthy alternatives) sound amazing. And this is in light of the fact that I work at a bakery that is making mince pies daily. I love the healthy twist on this favourite Christmas treat.

Chris made up a batch of infused olive oil today, adding in a bit of rosemary instead of thyme. It was fantastic with some homemade foccacia. This would be a great gift idea, as there are so many alterations and it's so incredibly easy!

Making a gingerbread house has always been on Chris and my to-do list, but we have never gotten around to it. This year we endeavour to change that, and yesterday I stumbled upon these great gingerbread recipes. With a gluten free or spelt option, this is right up my alley!

Oh it's happening.
(Or are we aiming too high here?)

Another great homemade gift idea is these Pineapple and Lime Pectin Jellies! Who doesn't love lollies, especially when they are vegan and gluten free. The lovely lady behind the recipe is even making them by the dozen and has them for sale if you don't have the time to whip up a batch yourself!

And I am sure there is much, much more out there that will fill my blog feed in the coming weeks. I'm looking forward to getting more into the Christmas spirit! If you have any favourite Christmas recipes or foodie gift ideas, I would love to hear! I hope your Christmas preparations are going well.
Reanna.