Twelve Christmas Favourites #7

#7 Christmas Favourite – Christmas Stories

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We love Christmas stories in our house.  I have a rather large collection from when I was teaching.  I still can’t resist buying them.  Here are some of our favourites :

Six White Boomers by Rolf Harris and Bruce Whatley

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 The 12 Days of Christmas (pop up) by Robert Subuda

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The Christmas Book by Dick Bruna

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It’s Christmas by Tina Burke

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I love Christmas by Anna Walker

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Christmas Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

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The Mitten adapted and Illustrated by Jan Brett

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The Three Bears’ Christmas by Kathy Duval

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and my all time favourite that I struggle to read without tears (I am such a sook)

You Are My Miracle by Maryann Cusimano Love

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There is just something lovely about reading Christmas stories with Ben before bed.

We where excited to receive a new story from Cousin’s Tom and Maggie this week – Santa’s Aussie Holiday.   I love the inscription xoxo. I think we have read it every night since it arrived in the mail.  THANKS xo

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Twelve Christmas Favourites #6

#6 Christmas Favourite – Santa Photo

Before I had children, I had many rules and “I will never’s!” Then, I had a child and I laugh as you break each and every rule. I soon realised that I should have never said never!!  One rule I broke was the Santa picture.  I remember saying “My child will never do that…..ewww!”.  It’s quite hilarious really that it is now one of my favourite things about Christmas.  I just couldn’t wait to get Ben on Santa’s lap the first year!  Here are the slightly tragic photos that only a mother can truly love:

2007

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2009

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2011

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Twelve Christmas Favourites #5

#5 Christmas Favourite – Christmas Trees

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Photo by Tapio

We made the trip into the big city (heheh Brisbane) to see the Christmas Tree in King George Square.   It’s always lovely!  The lights, the decorations….. oh I love them.  It is just missing one thing – Snow.  But that is not likely to occur in Brisbane!  I’m dreaming of snow this year!!

Hope you have your tree up – spreading Christmas cheer xoxo

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Twelve Christmas Favourites #4

#4 Christmas Favourite – Rum Balls

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I know I have already talked about how good Rum Balls are but they are my very favourite Christmas treat.  Here is the recipe:

Traditional (no bake) Rum Balls Recipe

by Clair from The Cookbook.com. au

These traditional rum balls are very easy and quick to make (no baking required!), make great Christmas gifts and are perfect for when friends drop round during the silly season.

Recipe makes approximately 30-40 balls (depending on size of balls). I usually make double (or triple) quantities, as they go so quickly!

Rum Ball Recipe Ingredients

  • 1 packet plain sweet biscuits (Nice, Arrowroot, Marie or Wheatmeal Biscuits)
  • 3 tblspns cocoa powder, sifted to remove lumps
  • 1 cup desiccated coconut
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2-3 tblspns rum (Bundaberg rum works best)
  • 1 cup extra coconut (for rolling finished balls in)

Rum Ball Recipe Method

Finely crush biscuits in a food processor (or you could put them into a zip lock bag and crush with a rolling pin). Add cocoa power, coconut, sweetened condensed milk and rum to crushed biscuits. Combine all ingredients well (you should end up with a stiff mixture). If it is a particularly hot day, or your mixture isn’t quite stiff enough for the balls to hold their shape, put the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes or so before rolling.

Take large teaspoons of mixture and roll into balls using your hands, then roll balls in extra coconut to coat. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet or shallow plastic container and put in freezer. Once frozen, put into a container and keep in the freezer until ready to use.

Rum balls will last for weeks in the freezer, so you might want to make a couple of batches, well in advance of Christmas

If you are going to make them double or triple the recipe…… they go fast!!  Happy Rolling!!

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Twelve Christmas Favourites #3

#3 Christmas Favourite – Spreading Christmas Joy

Here is a little way our family spread the joy at Christmas.  This is our Christmas video and  a must to watch. Seriously watch it!!  Guaranteed to make to smile, laugh and maybe  belly laugh.  It is the season to be Jolly!

This is for all our beautiful family, friends and readers.

Have a ROCKIN Christmas!!

xo Love xo

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(oh and our rockin dog Bonnie) xoxoxo