Taking Stock – December

Taking Stock December 17

Hello there! How were your holibobs? I’m smack, bang in the middle of my bloggy break but I wanted to pop in, wish you all the happy and take some stock! I’d love it if you joined me. Make yourself comfy, grab a cuppa and let’s get stuck in, shall we?

Wishing: Everyone the happiest of holidays.

Staying: In Sydney for Christmas. Love me a stay-cation.

Filling: Up the wine rack from Vinomofo. Rose is my new favourite and my new motto is “think pink.”

Roasting: Pork shoulder, spuds and yorkies for Christmas dinner. Crackling for days!

Taking Stock December - roast dinner

Eating: All the things!

Drinking: This Choc Molten Marvel Tea – so yummy!

Snacking: On kale and basil pesto. Can’t stop, won’t stop!

Frequenting: The fridge… A lot.

Freezing: The mince pies so that I don’t eat them all myself.

Baking: My way through the archives with this Cherry Friand Slice and these Chocolate Coconut Cakes.

Chocolate Coconut Cakes 2

Making: This Bistro Cheesecake for Christmas Day dessert. I think it’s our new old favourite recipe!

Sharing: My recipe for a minimalist Christmas.

Meeting: Santa. The best things (and Santas) in life are free!

Asking: Santa for a photo not a gift. Because now I’m a minimalist!

Taking Stock December - Santa

Buying: Small presents for the kids.

Gifting: Experiences not things.

Personalising: And sending free Christmas ecards with Red Stamp. 

Donating: Money we would have spent on paper Christmas cards to the Asylum Seekers Centre.

Knowing: That the best gifts are the ones money can’t buy.

Peeking: Inside my advent calendar.

Taking Stock - Advent Calendar

Wondering: If there is such a thing as “too old” when it comes to advent calendars. I think not!

Writing: Love notes in our advent calendar. Less calories than chocolate!

Admiring: Natalie. She’s so inspiring!

Dressing: Up for the annual Christmas photo.

Taking Stock December - Christmas photo

Wearing: My Christmas T-shirt while I can.

Coveting: Matching Christmas PJs for next year. David is not so keen.

Feeling: Festive. I frickin’ love Christmas.

Going: To the movies. Three times in one month – a personal best!

Laughing: At Daddy’s Home 2It’s hilarious!

Crying: All the way through WonderLoved the film so hard, I’m reading the book now.

Learning: How to use my camera at Coffee with Olympus.

Taking Stock December - Coffee with Olympus

Delivering: Homemade edible Christmas gifts to my doctors. I love their work!

Opening: Gifts from my secret elf in the FMS Gift Exchange. She stalked me well!

Hoping: My mum feels a bit better. Wish I could magic her the gift of good health for Christmas.

Enjoying: Afternoon tea at The Langham to celebrate the launch of Victoria and Abdul. So fancy!

Hosting: Mochi Elliot for a sleep over. She’s the model house guest.

Taking Stock December - Mochi

Reading: Patient 71 by Julie Randall, Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella and Wonder by R J Palacio.

Watching: Mindhunter, Fauda and Stranger Things. BEST!

Reviewing: My list of 101 Things in 1001 Days.

Ticking: Another thing off my list – watching Fauda, a series with subtitles. So good!

Celebrating: All the holidays with Christmas and Hanukkah gingerbread. Best of both worlds!

Taking Stock December - multi faith cookies

Remembering: My uncle David. I can’t believe it’s been one year since he left.

Booking: Tickets to St George Open Air Cinema. My favourite summertime experience.

Seeing: The Australian Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Magical!

Taking Stock December - Alice in Wonderland

Listening: To Christmas tunes.

Loving: The Christmas tree.

Planning: To keep the tree up for as long as humanly possible.

Keeping: Up the tradition of watching Love Actually on Christmas Eve.

Smelling: This Peter Alexander Christmas Pudding candle. It’s divine!

Taking Stock December - Christmas pudding candle

Signing: Up for the 10k at the Australian Running Festival in Canberra.

Trying: To run off the excess calories I consumed at Christmas. This could be my life’s work.

Finding: My running mojo.

Running: Rings around Sydney once again.

Visiting: Family and friends who are like family.

Putting: My selfie stick to good use!

Taking Stock December - Friends

Missing: All our friends and family in the other hemisphere.

Disliking: The UK/Australia time difference.

Liking: That technology makes the world feel a little bit smaller. Praise be to Face Time!

Taking: A bloggy break.

Deciding: Whether to jam and cream or cream and jam at The Tea Cosy.

Taking Stock - The Tea Cosy

Bookmarking: All the Christmas recipes I want to make next year. It’s never too early to start planning!

Volunteering: Lunch ladying at the Asylum Seekers Centre times two with my super, smashing team.

Looking forward to: 2018 and all that it has to offer.

Thanking: You for all your support this year. It means so much to me!

What were your December highlights? If you have a tree, when will/did it go down? Did all your Christmas wishes come true?! Tell me all the things!