Decking the halls...

Whew, what a week! I've finally finished all the Christmas shopping.....and present wrapping. Now I have to start preparing for our family Christmas party this weekend. On Sunday we have 40 people coming to our house for a traditional old fashioned sit down Christmas dinner.......all cooked by me! We'll be having a turkey with all the trimmings, a baked ham, roast pork & roasted vegetables, all kinds of salads, quiche, lasagna, cranberry & sweet chilli meatballs, and a selection of seafood. For desserts we'll be having a choice of plum pudding with brandy custard, trifle (my favourite!), chocolate mud cake, caramel tart, cheesecake, impossible pie, and rocky road ice-cream. For the nibblies table I thought I would have a selection of fresh summer fruits, nuts, cheeses, kabana's, olives (black & green), chips and dips. Princess and I went shopping yesterday for the party food and we each had a shopping trolley loaded to the gills! Now all I have to do is start cooking! Just before I start I always feel overwhelmed (we put on this Christmas party for our family every year) and I wonder why I do these things to myself, but I always enjoy it and it does give me an immense sense of pleasure to see all of our family having such a wonderful time too. My husband John dresses up as Santa each year, and together with our Princess who dresses up as an elf, they hand out Christmas presents to all at the party. My husband loves to make people laugh, especially all of my elderly Aunts who giggle like school girls as he gets them to sit on his lap as he asks them have they been naughty or nice this year? Oh how they blush and giggle, and we all have a good laugh too! So with a busy few days about to start here at Jacaranda Cottage, I thought I would leave you with a few new decorations that have found a home here this week....

My husband came home one night with an early Christmas present for me. He knew how much I had been wanting one of these little light up musical Christmas houses, so he bought me one to surprise me....and surprise me he did. I love it!


Isn't it just gorgeous! Thank you Honey!


When Princess and I were out trying to help my Mum get her Christmas shopping done, we spotted this sweet little guy and knew instantly that he had to come home with us!


Who could resist such a little sweetie?!


Of course then this guy had to come along too....


because they're a team and you can't break up such a good team. Right?


Then we found these stocking hangers. I have been wanting some for ages and finally found some. Yay!


Princess got out our stockings and hung them up in the hopes that they will be filled very soon.......


Since this photo was taken Princess has added names to the stockings. She decided that she didn't like them with no names, so she cut out the words Dad, Mum, and Nan from some red felt material we had in the sewing box. Now everyone has their own stocking. I have decided that next year I am going to either buy or make some really nice stockings and have our names embroidered. Princess thinks that's a fabulous idea too!


I also bought a new tree skirt for our little outside Christmas tree. This is the party tree for outside where the party will be (out next to the pool because it's so hot!). Each year I have to get a new skirt because the cat always ends up wrecking them when she sharpens her claws on them!


Oh no! She's claimed it already. I hope it lasts until the party! lol


I hope you have all been having a lovely time in the lead up to Christmas, and that this coming week is a magical time for you and your families. I'll be back to visit in a few days, but first I have to survive our party.....and the heat!

Love Amanda xxx