Lightening Online

Hi Everyone,

So sorry for the lack of posts or responding to comments of late.  We are having trouble with our internet so I haven’t been able to load my blog!

A quick update from me:

* Games Room has been concreted and carpetted!  Yah!  Hopefully getting wired today so we can have power and lights in there.

* We’ve moved the office into 1 corner of the games room.

* I painted the old office and we’ve moved Lleyton in there.

* Both boys are excited about having their own rooms.

* We emptied the Built In Wardrobe in Trailer Boys room and installed some shelves and drawer sets we bought.

* I managed to declutter 2 garbage bags of stuff from his room.

* He still has TOO MANY toys!

* Now I can finally concentrate on Christmas!

* We have 19 sleeping overnight Christmas Eve and Christmas Night and 23 here Christmas Day.

* It’s going to be awesome!!!

* As long as it’s not TOO hot!

* Now I’m working on food preparation, baking yummy treats and getting my house company ready!

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and I’m so sorry I haven’t posted more.  I had lots of posts planned.

I’m becoming the Queen of online shopping.

It has a tendency to happen when you live so far away from shops.

Not that I would advocate ALL online shopping because we don’t want to put everyone out of a job.  And seeing stuff is always a bonus.

But the worst thing I find about living so far away from shops is the inability to access bargains on a regular basis.

And bargains sure help stretch our $$ a little further.

Always a bonus when you have 3 kids and 1 income (plus a little bit).

So this morning I did a little online shopping at Surf Stitch.

The are currently having 15% off their sale items when you add the code TURKEYDAY at the checkout.

And it’s free shipping when you spend more than $10.

I was able to get some socks for almost half price.

Great stocking fillers.

New pencil cases - I like the surf ones, they seem quite sturdy.

And a couple of bags (one school bag, one bathers bag).

All practical stuff made “gifty” because it’s label brand.

Not sure how long the discount code works for but wanted to share in case it helps anyone else with their Christmas Shopping.

Let me know if you come across any other great online deals!

* This post is not sponsored or endorsed by surf stitch in any way.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, most of our Christmas Guests this year are staying overnight so I have several meals to menu plan for.

My theme this year is “keep it simple” so that everyone (including me) can relax and enjoy just being together.

CHRISTMAS EVE

At this stage, I’m not sure what time people will arrive but I’m planning on them all being here for Tea.

I’m going to buy precooked chickens and serve with a couple of salads (probably similar salads to what we’ll have for Christmas Lunch).

I haven’t planned any “dessert” but thought we’d do a “sweet supper” of Christmas nibblies (slices, chocolates etc) later in the night.  There just isn’t enough stomach room for all the Christmas Goodies when the day actually comes.

CHRISTMAS DAY BREAKFAST

Pancakes cooked on the bbq.

Thoughts on toppings at this stage include:

yoghurt

fruit

maple syrup

lemon & sugar

Any thoughts on yummy stuff to have on pancakes?

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH

I thought a bbq would be simplest (save cooking and slicing meat).  To make it “special” I’m having a “things on sticks” theme.  Oh, and Farmboy is getting a new bbq/outdoor kitchen for Christmas (we’ve already bought it - not to assemble it).

Meat:

Chicken Kebabs

Lamb Koftas

Prawn Kebabs

Marinated Beef/Vegie Kebabs

Possibly a few sausages for the kids (most will eat the chicken kebabs though)

Salads:

Potato Salad

Noodle Salad

Tosssed Salad

Coleslaw

Other:

Bread rolls

A few dipping sauces - sweet chilli for prawn kebabs, tzatziki for lamb koftas, tomato sauce

Dessert:

Mini pavlovas served with choice of fruit salad or mixed berries (in a “serve yourself” style)

Having said that, today I bought a Christmas Family Circle magazine with a yummy ice cream cake on the cover and contemplating making that!

Maybe we’ll have both????

CHRISTMAS DINNER/TEA

Christmas Night is one of those differences between Farmboy’s family and mine.  My family have ALWAYS served an evening Christmas meal (even if it’s simply leftovers).  Farmboy’s family tend not to eat it.  In fact, the Christmas before we got married, we spent lunch with my family and tea with his.  His parents didn’t even bother to come home from their lunch and we didn’t end up eating.  It’s the first Christmas where I actually went to bed hungry (not knowing I was meant to “stuff myself silly” at lunch time).

Soooooo, last time we had Christmas with his family (some of them), I suggested we do a cheese/antipasto/dip style platters.  That worked really well.  We included things like carrot sticks and fruit.  It was pretty simple to do and people could just “pick” as they wanted to throughout the evening.

Image via Wikipedia

I’m pretty sure now that it’s November, I’m safe talking about Christmas.  Right?

Right….????

We’re hosting Christmas this year for Farmboy’s family.

It’s been planned for almost 2 years now - had to give everybody a couple of years notice to make sure everyone could come.

I’m really looking forward to it.

And as an added bonus, it’s getting Farmboy moving on a few finishing off jobs like enclosing our patio! :)  A deadline is always helpful when it comes to getting those jobs done.

Since the decision has been made, I’ve had a few logistics to work out:

1. WHERE to put everyone.

We thought it would be fun to have all the cousins sleep here the night before and the night after Christmas.

That’s 14 extras to bed down.

Sorted.

1 family in the lounge/office (which will hopefully soon be a bedroom)

1 in the caravan

1 couple in the boys bedroom

boys in the camper trailer

girls (2 of the 3) in DD’s bedroom.

Bedding and a couple of beds still to be sorted.

2.  WHAT to eat

Menu planning has probably been the biggest of my decisions so far.

I wanted NICE enough for Christmas.

But SIMPLE enough to feed 24 without it stressing me out.

And with most people staying here, we’ll need:

a) Christmas Eve Tea

b) Christmas Day Breakfast

c) Christmas Day Lunch

d) Christmas Night Tea

Plus drinks, snacks etc etc.

(All of this has now been decided but I’ll write a dedicated post on that)

3.  WHERE to eat

Not to mention, seating (and tables) for 24 people.

This will all pretty much take place in the pergola (weather permitting).  We’ve bought some trestle style tables and will buy some cheap chairs to have enough.

4.  WHERE to put the Christmas Tree

With a house full of people, finding somewhere to have the Christmas Tree so that we can all sit around for the “present opening” is a challenge.  Thankfully, the timing coincides with building a shed for a games room so the tree can go out there.  It won’t be lined or anything so not really suitable for sleeping people in but as long as it’s not too hot, it should be fine as a place to “hang out” and a back-up eating place if we can’t eat outside.

5.  DECORATING scheme

I’ve decided to go with the colours red, white and gold.  The details of what and where I’ve yet to decide.

I will admit, I’m having a lot of fun in the planning process.

I LOVE Christmas.

And this is the biggest Christmas event I’ve hosted.

Hopefully I can relax enough when it actually arrives that I can enjoy myself too.

Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas.

Relax and enjoy the day. Perfection is a myth (and highly over-rated).

Make sure you tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Do the bits that are meaningful to you and don’t be afraid not to do the things that aren’t.

Hope this makes you smile:

Don’t you hate it when you write half a post then come back the next day and it’s no longer there????

Oh well, let’s try again….

Every year our Christmas Day tends to look a little different.  Some years we spend it with extended family and occasionally we spend it with just our immediate family.

This year we’re doing a bit of both.

We’re having lunch at home with just the immediate family and then heading down to the family shack (near the beach) in the afternoon where we’ll have tea with Farmboys parents and 1 of his sisters and her family.  We’ll then spend almost a week there (the other sister is due to arrive a couple of days after Christmas).  I’m sure it’ll be bedlam down there but lots of fun.

Christmas morning we love to attend church.  This means that the kids often have time to look in their stockings but not unwrap many presents.  Our church is about 40 minutes drive away and with a 9am service, it’s a reasonably early start.  It is wonderful to see our church family on Christmas morning though and focus on the true reason for the season.

We’ll then come home and open gifts (and eat lots of nibblies so we’re too full for lunch!  LOL).

I haven’t decided what we’re having for lunch yet.  I like a hot meal but the kids prefer salads to vegies.  I’m contemplating a mixture of both.  Why not?

We’re planning to eat out on our new back decking.  Farmboy has been busy putting up the roofing these past couple of days (updated photo’s soon) and we splurged on an outdoor setting (just a cheap one though).

At some point after lunch we’ll clean up, pack up and head down to the shack.

I’ve suggested we keep things really simple for the evening meal.  Generally people just feel like picking so we’re planning to have anti-pasto platters, cheese, dip biscuits and some fruit.  Simple stuff to prepare and we can just graze the night away. 

I’m not one to want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen on Christmas Day.  Even with having a mix of salad and vegies it won’t be a lot of work.  Just a few simple things.

I do like to make a few goodies in the lead up to Christmas but they are mostly used as gifts for those in the extended family we don’t actually “buy” for.

All in all, it should be a lovely relaxing day spent with family.  I’m really looking forward to it. (and now I had better go and do some wrapping - still plenty of that to do before the day arrives - luckily I LOVE it!!!!  ).

Remember a little while ago I hinted that I was getting something pink for Christmas?

Well, our Christmas has come a little early this year so now I can show you.

Do you know how long it is since I’ve owned a bike?

Hang on a minute while I work it out……

I was 12 and now I’m …..

……

……

I’ve run out of fingers but let’s just say it’s been a while.

I gave up riding due to 3 catastrophic events:

1.  We moved to Melbourne from Port Pirie and Melbourne has WAY more cars!!!!

2.  I tried to ride it down our street (at our new place) which had a HUGE hill and stacked it first time!!!

3.  They brought in a new law saying you HAD to wear a helmet.

Truth be told, number 3 was the major deciding factor.  I mean, what self respecting, almost 13 year old wants to be seen dead in a helmet????  Different these days - it’s more “normal” now.

It even saves me having to do my hair properly before I ride to the shop.

Only then you have to wear your helmet in the shop so no-one can see how bad your hair looks!!!!

ROFLOL.

Anyway, Farmboy has been trying to convince me for years now that we should buy one another bikes.

I keep putting him off.

Until we went to the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo on our big trip and hired bikes to ride around on.

And I HAD A BALL!!!!

So, this year we bought each other bikes for Christmas.

And no, you haven’t missed Christmas.

Because we’re having a short break at his parents shack now, we decided to get them early.

We’ve gone for a ride every day that we’ve been here so far.

The kids are loving it!

And because all the holiday makers haven’t moved in yet, it’s been nice and quiet traffic wise.

There has been one little problem….

Given it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a bike….

Can anyone say saddle sore????  ROFLOL.

Over the past few days my blog reader has been filling up with posts about how stressed people are about how quickly Christmas is coming.  Or commenting on how they just aren’t getting into the “spirit” this year.  There’s even been a number with the word “humbug” in the title.

I know how they feel.  I’ve been there.  There’s every likelihood I’ll go there again.

Commercialism and perfectionism is squeezing the life out of Christmas.

I was discussing Christmas with my sister in law this past week.  A few years back I said we weren’t buying adult gifts for the siblings anymore.  She made a comment on how it does get expensive.  The thing for us wasn’t the money.  It was the stress of finding something that wasn’t a total waste of everybody’s time and money.  Finding the perfect gifts for everyone was completely STRESSING me out.

It was such a relief to have that burden lifted.

It was around that time that we decided we were going to SIMPLIFY CHRISTMAS.

I now don’t do anything “Christmassy” unless I feel like it.

Fortunately I generally LOVE Christmas and LOVE buying gifts so of course, that helps.

Some years we decorate the whole house.  Some years we don’t.

As long as we do Santa and the Tree, the kids are generally happy.

Some years we do Christmas craft and cooking.  Some years we don’t.

Some years we have more elaborate Christmas fare.  And some years we keep it really simple.

I remember 1 year we went away in the camper trailer for Christmas.  It was the first Christmas after my breakdown and I wasn’t ready to be around people yet.  Money was tight that year so we kept everything VERY simple.  I made a couple of basic salads before we left and cooked a turkey and bought some shaved ham.  All I did Christmas Day was cut up some basic salad items (tomato, cucumber, lettuce).  Dessert was a bought cheesecake.

It was the least effort I had EVER put into Christmas that year and do you know what????

It was AWESOME!!!!

It still ranks up there as one of the BEST Christmasses we have ever had.

So if you’re struggling to get into the “spirit” or feel like you’re just not going to achieve everything before the big day gets here, cut yourself some slack!!!!

There was nothing commercial or stressed about the very first Christmas (okay, maybe a little stress over the inn being full and of course, the labour!!!!  ).

Why do we let media and peer pressure force us into doing what we don’t want to do?

I don’t believe that means we lack the Christmas spirit.  Could be it’s quite the opposite in fact.

Dare to be different (if that’s what makes you happy).

Carve your own way this Christmas.

Focus on peace, joy, thankfulness, family and friends this Christmas.

The rest is all simply “trimming”.

Yesterday Farmboy and I took off to do some Christmas Shopping.  The closest regional centre is a little over an hour and a half away (in either direction) and with harvest coming up on us so quickly, we hadn’t had a chance to do much Christmas shopping.

The kids finish school next week (and it’s a busy week too) so we decided it best to hurry up and go while we still could.

We had a lovely day out together which included a nice “date lunch” at the marina.

As a bonus, I got to see my niece and nephew who we haven’t seen since the June long weekend (due to being away on our trip and then a series of illnesses that have kept us from going for a visit).  My niece has gone from a newborn to a 6-month old.  I got to have a lovely cuddle!!!! 

The shopping expedition was quite successful.  Farmboy and I found what we had decided to buy each other for Christmas.  And they were cheaper than we were expecting to pay (probably not the highest quality BUT this way we can see how much we use them and if they don’t last due to lots of use, can buy better next time).

I’m going to keep you guessing on what they are but mine is pink!!!!  (Farmboys isn’t ROFLOL).

I had to concede defeat and purchase Singstar Princesses hearts desire without getting a bargain.  Only 1 store had them and while they were supposedly on “special”, the special price was full price at other stores.  It was either pay that price or risk not being able to get it.

Next step will be to get everything out and work out exactly where I’m up to.  I know I need 1 thing for Trailer Boy and a beach towel for Singstar Princess (hers got damaged while we were away).

I still have extended family gifts to buy but I knew I could do those when the kids are with us in just over a weeks time (I have an appointment so knew we would be back).

We did buy 1 impulse purchase.  That happens to me most years.  We have everything worked out and then add on another little gift.  It’s something the whole family will enjoy though. 

I just CAN’T WAIT until Christmas now.  It’s my favourite time of the year!!!! 

How is your Christmas shopping going?  Is it making you smile or making you frustrated????

What a pity I know Father Christmas won’t be bringing me one.

I wonder if I sat on his knee whether he would???? 

BUT, all is not lost because I’ve decided to do the unthinkable!!!!

I’m going to steal save up for one.

That’s my new savings challenge.

This could be a bit more challenging than my last one though.

This time I can’t use savings from our regular budget (because it’s for me and not the family).  This time the money has to come from other sources.

Things like:

* survey payments

* pocket money

* gift money

* blogging revenue

* ebay sales (maybe - if I ever get around to actually selling something)

* any other weird and wacky ideas I can come up with to generate a few dollars (within reason of course ROFLOL).

Goal Amount: $2000

That’s pretty high for a laptop I know but I’d like to get something reasonably decent that I can edit video footage and stuff on.

This is only an approximate amount.  I really need to do some more research and work out what I really want before I know the exact cost.

Starting Amount: $50

Amount Still Needed: $1950

I expect it’s going to take me a little while so I won’t update you (and bore you) too often.

Fortunately I have 2 laptops to use in the meantime.  I just don’t have any with working CD-Rom drives - hence the justification for buying a new one. 

What are you dreaming of this Christmas?