"All I want for Christmas"

This past week our house has been a flurry with the excitement of Christmas. We have planned out our loose plan for the day, I have typed up a gift spreadsheet and in the coming week my attention will be on decorations.



Christmas present shopping can be difficult. First, you have to factor in the competition. That's right the thousands of other people searching for perfect gifts for their loved ones.Some of the most annoying members of the opposition are (not limited to, but) as follows:

• Those who sluggishly meander around a store, failing to navigate the intended flow of the store. Get out of the way! This is business, not a casual stroll.

• Those with screaming children. Sorry Mommy Bloggers, your kids are cute, but not cute enough to make up for thirty minutes of straight hollering. 

• People who have bumped in to friends and stand in the aisle, or doorway chit chatting like there is no tomorrow. 

• Snobby shoppers. Probably my least favourite. Usually aged over forty, commonly a woman, who claims territory over a shop, a product or shop assistant because they assume they are spending more than you.

So well done to all of you have done some Christmas Shopping and have left the store or mall successfully*



Last Christmas (and the time before, I think?), my family all had trouble buying gifts for me. So, I wrote a huge list. A list full of a mix of wishful thinking and realistic opportunities. Brad started with the list, made his selections, crossed them off and passed it on. The list went round all of my family, including his. The beauty of it was that I got beautiful gifts that I loved, but had no idea on the day which gifts I was getting. Brad and his Father, being men of logic, decided it was my best idea yet. This year I have created no such list. It turns out that after a few years of gift list prompting everyone has plenty of ideas on what to get me. Win-win.

 Taking a cue from Angela, here are a few things I would not mind. Some realistic, some not.

O.P.I Nail polish, Allyson Gofton's 'Bake', Sam Edelman 'Niland' heels, Hermes Birkin Bag, Stella McCartney 'Stella' perfume, Food Processor, Fly My Pretties concert tickets, Tiffany & Co. 'Legacy' Ring, Giada De Laurentis cook book, Sony Handycam.



*Without assaulting the competition.