Tis the Season...

Follow these tips to ensure that your home is inviting and ready for guests during these Christmas Holidays!

Check that you have plenty of bedding, linen and towels for your guests that are staying over night or for extended amount of days.  Stock up on these bedroom and bathroom essentials early and enjoy some time co-ordinating them into patterns and colours with ribbon for that extra special touch! 

You can create a haven in your spare rooms by setting out these over-night musts that your guests will truly appreciate.

Add some little luxuries in your guest bedrooms including bottles of water, scented candles or diffusers,  chocolates and maybe a few freshly cut flowers in a glass vase. A reading lamp and a selection of books and magazines will also be a lovely touch.

There’s no better way to make a house guest feel uncomfortable than to be working, cleaning, and cooking the whole time your guests are with you. Give you and your guests a chance to relax and really enjoy each other. No one will care if the kitchen is sparkling or the sheets are ironed. And when there is work to do, don’t be hesitant to accept offers to wash the dishes or set the table.

Decorating the Xmas tree
Christmas is the best time of year for gorgeous home and outdoor décor. Decorating your Christmas tree in particular can be a festive occasion when families pull out the boxes of ornaments, lights and other adornments. Combining old, cherished pieces with new purchases creates original recycling chic!

Three top tree themes:

The Traditional Tree
Rich Victorian red, bottle green and classic gold conjure images of childhood Christmases past. This Christmas, David Jones Traditional tree has a slightly more English feel with classic tartans updated in cool champagne tones. Mouthblown glass ornaments are created using centuries-old techniques in Germany, Poland and Czech Republic. These are sure to become instant heirlooms.

The Blue Elegance Tree
Soft turquoise, silver & pearl white create an elegant mood reminiscent of 1950s style. Jewels shine and glitter shimmers while the Snowberry Fairy from Gisela Graham peeks from between the branches.

The Brights Tree
A vibrant palette of turquoise, fuchsia, peacock blue and tangerine work back with gold in a riot of contrasting patterns inspired by Oriental silks. This tree will light up any living room!




Whether you have opted for a simple relaxed feel or a classic Christmas look, there are a few essentials that no table is complete without! Don’t forget Christmas bon bon’s and crackers and Christmas napkin rings.
And remember, like the star on the Christmas tree, the table centrepiece is key for creating your perfect setting.  Most importantly have fun with the theme you choose and have a Happy Christmas!

All we want for Christmas...

Celebrate Christmas with festive ornaments, beautiful cards, wrapping paper and handcrafted decorations that don't cost the earth.

Christmas Cards - Handmade cards will be cherished by your nearest and dearest for longer than a few weeks. Use red or black recycled paper and cut out a prancing reindeer shape, a Christmas tree shape, a hanging bauble shape and so on - then create a collage by sticking the shapes on to a white backgound. Play with different textured paper too, and layer the cutouts in groups of three.

The Christmas Tree - Hang cherished decorations, along with hand tied raffia bows - strings of beads and dried flowers and pine cones from the garden and soft white feathers - and don't forget the star - try a hand made twig star with raffia.

Wrapping Paper - this year, we're using brown paper with black cord and hand cut swinging tags that have been name stamped. For fun, let the kids go wild with red and green crayons first - or create a stencil cut out and have them colour in the shapes - snowflakes, candy canes and stars are easy. By carefully folding the paper and using raffia, you can wrap your presents without using sticky tape - it's a very natural and earthy look.

Christmas Pudding Recipe

Christmas in July
Christmas Pudding Recipe
Serves 12
Preparation 30mins
Cooking 5 hours
This recipe can be made a month ahead .
Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This
recipe can be boiled in a cloth or steamed in a basin.
5 cups (1kg) mixed dried fruit
3 eggs
1 cup (200g) firmly packed brown sugar
300ml sour cream
21/4cups (335g) plain flour
1 teaspoon grnd nutmeg
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
Method
Grease a pudding steamer or basin (1.75litre/7cup capacity), line base with a round of baking paper
Place mixed fruit into a large bowl, stir to separate fruit. Beat eggs and sifted brown sugar in a small bowl with an electric mixer until thick and creamy. Add egg mixture to mixed fruit then stir in the sour cream and sifted dry ingredients.
Spoon mixture into the prepared steamer. Place a 30cmX40cm sheet of foil on the bench, grease foil; top with a sheet of baking paper. Fold a 5cm pleat crossways through the centre of both sheets.
Place sheets, baking paper side -down, over steamer, secure with lid or string. Make handle with excess string. Crush surplus foil and baking paper firmly around rim to help form a good seal.
Place the pudding in a large boiler with enough boiling water to come halfway up the side of steamer. Cover the boiler with a tight-fitting lid; steam for 5 hours.
Replenish with boiling water as necessary to maintain boil and water level during cooking. Stand the pudding for 15 minutes before turning out. Cool.
Wrap the pudding thoroughly in plastic wrap then place in an airtight container or freezer bag. Refrigerate pudding for up to 3 months or freeze for 1 year.

Christmas in July.

WHEN winter arrives and the snow begins to fall, there’s a special magic in the air for us Antipodeans. The chilly air gives is a great excuse for a mid-year
escape, relaxation and Christmas style indulgence.
Celebrated now for 29years. Winter in the Blue Mountains NSW spells Yulefest where hotels, motels and restaurants have traditional Christmas theme decorations and food.
Imagine sitting around roaring log fires with a mulled wine and fine food.
The idea was born when Gary Crakett (proprietor of Mountain Heritage) was talking to Irish guests of the irony of the winter weather in July. Gary asked the kitchen to prepare Christmas style food that evening and so the Yulefest tradition was born.
DECORATE your home in a dazzling white Christmas let’s face it July is when snow capped decorations are most appropriate. A white theme is also sophisticated, warmed up with red or gold.

Tips to help you achieve this look:
Use greenery sprayed in snow as a table centre piece or made into a candle wreath with red ribbon bows for the mantle.
Hurricane lamps with large, white candles and dressed up with more glittery red ribbons tied around the base.
Consider organic candles such as beeswax or soy oil, the smell better and are far better for the
environment.
Use white lights and sprinkle fake snow on the tree
‘Alcornea ilicfolia’ is the Latin name for Australian native holly.
FEAST mulled wine is Christmas in a glass, a
celebration of traditional festive spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.