Target has designed a range of beautiful Australian-themed Christmas ornaments this year, for sale exclusively in Target Australia stores. I’ve bought two of each!
As a blogger, and as a person who has lived for some time on the opposite side of the world, I am lucky to have friends in many places and from many cultures. And when Christmas rolls around, I am almost always asked “How do you celebrate?” by my northern hemisphere friends. Here’s a taste.
Long, lazy summer school-holidays, Daylight Savings, the smell of jasmine, Carols by Candlelight in every park. Stockings for Santa on Christmas Eve, a great big pile of toys and tinsel and wrapping paper and smiling children on Christmas morning. For some families, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve or Church on Christmas Day. Ham and trimmings in some houses. Seafood platters in others. Food comas by mid-afternoon in almost every home.
What else happens on Christmas Day?
Water fights in the back yard. Christmas crackers with silly hats and bad jokes. Christmas carols playing on repeat. Watching the Queen’s Christmas Day message in the hope that she will say something as hysterically funny as “annus horribilis” again so that you can make more crude puns. At least one broken toy. At least one uncle or family friend drinking too much and turning obnoxious.
I photographed these adorable Christmas ornaments in the park this week. They were designed exclusively for Target this year and, with prices ranging from $4 to $6, they’re very affordable too!
They’ll make great gifts for overseas friends and I plan on pulling together an Aussie care-package or two, adding in some other items new to Target this year, like Australian-themed crackers, glass baubles painted with Australian flowers, and a range of rather tasty sauces made with native Australian ingredients.
While we’re having this conversation, did you know that Target now stocks a range of high-end fragrances, like Marc Jacobs, Bvlgari, Issey Miyake and Versace, at discount prices? This was news to me until recently, but very happy news when it came to hunting down Christmas presents while watching the budget.
Competition time
Last week Target contacted me and asked if I wanted to give you guys a $40 gift voucher. Since we’re heading into Christmas, I thought that would probably be one of the handiest things you could have right now, so I said “of course!”
To be in the draw to win a $40 gift voucher to spend at any Target, Baby Target, or Target Country across Australia, simply leave a comment below and let me know how you celebrate this holiday season in your family.
For a second chance to win, Tweet about this competition and use the hashtags #targetchristmas and #targetlovesbloggers.
For a third chance, share this post on Facebook, and let me know about it.
Overseas readers
These gift vouchers are only valid in Australia, but I don’t want you to miss out so I’m going to give away a second prize.
I’ll randomly select one overseas person to win some of these lovely Christmas ornaments, plus an assortment of other goodies that I can gather together, and I’ll post them all out to you anywhere in the world. (I might even make the mail look pretty, like this). Just let me know what country you’re from in your comment when you enter.
Both prizes will be drawn at 9pm on Tuesday 11 December (Melbourne time). Good luck!
This post was sponsored by the lovely folks at Target. Perfumes and Australian-themed ornaments sold throughout Target Australia. Baby drool comes separately.
UPDATE: This competition is now closed. Congratulations Amber!
I am now an Aussie but am originally from New England…Christmas here just does not feel like Christmas to me!
This year I am trying to really get into the holiday spirit and to form some family traditions that are a little bit American and a little bit Aussie.
We will do my family’s orange, cranberry and white chocolate “scones” on Christmas morning, eating them and drinking coffee while we open a few gifts.
Then we will have Christmas lunch…ham and seafood…with my husband’s family.
First of all, orange, cranberry and white chocolate scones sound amazing! Second, I really hope you come to a place in which Christmas feels “real” for you soon.
My family and I celebrate Christmas by getting together for a delicious lunch including roast chicken and glazed ham, and mum’s famous trifle. We always have lots of fun and laughter.
Amber that sounds delicious – and joyful!
Don’t enter me in the competition – just wanted to say what a gorgeous pic of Madeleine that is! xxx
I agree! (If I do say so myself). But you are welcome to enter if the voucher would come in handy!
My three children up early Christmas morning and going hard all day with cousins. Steve
Madeleine will also be spending her first Christmas surrounded by cousins, I feel so thankful that she is part of such a big, loving family.
We will be having a Christmas party at home with friends from the school where I work. In the past I have found some great stuff for parties at Target – so I’ll head down this week! We usually have a ” Kris Kringle” where it is mandatory to buy a silly present which is wrapped and given anonymously, then passed around or swapped if the receiver wants something different. I know they are cute too – but an Aussie ornament might be silly AND useful.
Love the Aussie theme for Christmas decorations – does Madeleine come with them??
Well, the Vandertoorn’s will sit on their lovely deck on Christmas Eve with the king parrots and eat mango salad, feta cheese and crumbed chicken.
Christmas Day, after church, we will have a mixture of Filipino and Aussie food at my brother and he’s wife’s house.
Boxing Day , a huge roast with chicken, beef AND pork at the Vandertoorn Seniors in leafy Castle Hill.
Day after Boxing Day, mum and dad will sleep in and kids can fend for themselves with all their loot to keep them company.
WOW, I wish I was spending Christmas with you!
We have a biggish extended family and this year we decided to keep it very low key. None of us have little children so the whole wonder of Christmas isn’t quite the same. This year my folks and the three of us are going out to dinner on Christmas Eve – I think this might be the start of a new tradition !!!!
On Christmas day my folks will probably come over for breakfast and then it will be the three of us at home – maybe watching Mrs Brown’s Boys which A is getting from Santa – or swanning around in the pool – with minimal food and maybe some drinking !!!!
You’ve described my Christmas perfectly! We have brunch with family friends, seafood afternoon tea and then ham/turkey dinner with mum’s side. It’s such a wonderful day or celebrating family! Usually it’s my female cousin who gets drunk and tells us we’re too soft (not so politely) when we all want to go to bed.
We have a small family so usually it’s just us, my parents, S’s parents and our boys. This year we’ll have my uncle and two of his kids and their families so it’ll be more chaotic, and more FUN! I can’t wait to see the boys’ faces when they see all the relatives, presents, food… Bliss.
I will never tire of photos of Madeleine. She is just so beautiful and has changed so much since I saw her at Miss A’s birthday party!
Hi there! Love your blog!
This year, as a first time Mumma we are celebrating Christmas in a big way! We have my one and only sister flying over from New Zealand with her hubby and kids and we have a huge action packed itinerary planned out for the two weeks she’s here. I have literally written down each day what we are doing! From the beach, to the markets, to the Zoo we are celebrating these holidays with all the fun things Melbourne has to offer!! Starting next Tuesday we have a huge two weeks ahead and I can’t wait!
Christmas has always been a big deal in my family! We do pressies in our PJs and we always get a bit carried away too! Some years my dad makes Nigella Lawson brownies and we usually have a few before brekkie
Then we get dressed and laze around, then start getting ready for a big roast dinner. So good. My mum always makes lumpy gravy and the best roast potatoes and my grandma makes the most amazing brandy sauce to go with the pudding,
Christmas was always my grandpa’s favourite time of year. Last year he made the most delicious baked ham and it will go down in family history. Unfortunately he passed away just a few days later and this year, Xmas is just not going to be the same.
You must be so excited about Madeline’s first Christmas!!