THE CHRISTMAS GIFT BUYING GUIDE

1- I know what you're thinking - "It's only October dude! Fuckin' chill the fuck out." But what's the most hated thing about Christmas? Running around like a maniac doing last-minute Christmas shopping (and for the receivers, getting shit gifts as a result). So first tip: Start early. I think we're already behind now that it's end of October, because two years ago by mid November I had all my presents wrapped and it felt pretty damn good.

2- ... Because this way you can put some proper thoughts into your gifts. Write down all the people you'd like to get a present for, next to which you can also record their interests, as well as your ideas and finds. Starting early gives you more time for brainstorming and browsing for the best gifts. Also, keeping track of who's already got a present and who still needs one gives you an idea of how much time you've got to cover the list.

3- Be selective about who gets a gift. It's all about the thought anyway! If there's people in your circle you won't be able to wow with a great gift (because of budget reasons or you don't love them as much anymore or whatever), don't give them a mediocre one that'll clutter their home. Write a nice card or give them some home-baked goodies - way better than some stupid business card holder...

4- Let the internet be at your service. Seriously, if there's free or cheap shipping offered to send your gift to a friend at the other end of the world, just do it - opening a parcel is just as exciting as ripping off wrapping paper (just send a separate greeting card if you find it too impersonal... whatevs). By the time it makes it to your home, you wrap it and send it off again, it mightn't even make it to their house this season because it took you too much effort.
If you have no clue what to get (especially for those people that already have everything), let pages like Svpply.com give you a hand with cool shit that's trending around the world; it's also an amazing source for unique stores. On the other hand, if you know what you want to get but it's sold out where you saw it (mainly clothing and accessories), hit up Polyvore.com, which will spit out all sorts of stockists and price points for you to pick and choose. Of course Ebay is a trusted old friend that can assist with all sorts of occasions (and bargains), as does Etsy with vintage-y, hand-madey things.

5- Don't underestimate the wrapping paper... because if you leave that to the last-minute too, you might end up with some tacky supermarket stuff (and cardboard boxes only work if shipped via air mail). If you wanna go all out, do your rounds at the likes of Pulp, Kikki K and Paper2; if you're a hipster cheapskate like myself, a roll of brown paper from the news agency and some twine should still land you some oohs and aahs.

I'm not claiming to be the best Christmas gift giver, however I know I'm much better at it if I get into it early and prepared (as opposed to my boyfriend for example... just kidding. He's actually getting pretty damn good at it - maybe just for me though because I set the bars so high). If you do need a little help with ideas, check out my gift guide below (many of which I'd like to receive myself... HINT HINT NUDGE NUDGE).

From left to right, top to bottom:

1- Kinfolk: "The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings" cookbook

2- Cuisinart: Ice cream maker

3- TMOD: Chalkboard paint kit

4- Ambre Botanicals: Rosemary, thyme and mint invigorating herbal bath oil

5- Voluspa: "Japonica" scalloped edge glass candle

6- Jimbobart: "Sandwich Defender Bear" side plate

7- Monocle: One-year gift subscription

8- Copernicus Toys: Crystal growing: Saguaro cactus

9- Kareena Zerefos: "Beyond the Menagerie" print

10- Less & More: Cosmetic make-up organiser

11- Eliza Spell: "Lithium" brass bracelet

12- Henry Langdon: Cocoa and chai spice

13- Natalie Marie Jewellery: Tiny pyrite ring

14- Laguiole: Cheese knife set

15- Fjällräven: "Kanken" Classic backpack

16- Nixon: "The Kensington" watch

Don't shop too hard. x

[BAREFOOT] WHERE THE KIDS ARE SHINING AND THE SUN IS SMILING

I unfortunately missed the major celebrations, but I did manage to catch a train to Bathurst to join Toby's family for a belated holiday after three days of work over the Christmas weekend. It was one of those magical express vacations where one's mind is completely at peace, days are endless and you wouldn't want it any other way, and you leave taking that happiness with you that is so dearly attached to those exact days because they happened at the right time, at the right place.

Two beautiful days spent with a wonderful family that loves, learns and shares - a lot. Everyone and everything was so cool and relaxed that I lost all my good manners and straight away lounged on the sofa, took a nap on the floor among the cricket-watching family, and lay down in the grass anywhere around the house. Well I just remember I was very happy. Thanks again, so much, for having me.

 

[BAREFOOT] SANTA WOULD'VE WORN SPEEDOS

Believe me, it might feel weird for a second, but Christmas in summer is 38957201928 times better than in the cold. Christmas here in Australia is spent with family and friends gathering on balconies, at beaches, having barbecues, watching cricket (not that I'm interested but), going for swims, getting shitfaced in the sun. Christmas equals walking around barefoot, getting boozy tans, and making sad faces if it's not 200 degrees and the sun is not beaming. Christmas in summer is fricken awesome.

I was working a fair bit over Christmas so I didn't have the time to go to the beach or walk around barefoot much, but I definitely didn't have to pull any sad faces. Sydney summer has been very moody, and it was grey and rainy before Christmas. But it's almost like the weather god/man/person knows what days of the year matter, and 24th and 25th of December were so beautiful that I bet everyone forgot about the crap weather just a couple of days before. Polly and I got our boozy tan at our lovely spontaneous wharf-side Christmas Eve dinner at Hugo's (how touristy ha), and I was invited to a super fancy Christmas dinner at Sara and Jodie's (with Christmas turkey! My first!), at which I nearly dozed off on the couch because I was so full. The French and Italian surely know how to celebrate.

With my express trip to Bathurst to join Toby's family on the 27th (see upcoming post :) ), it was definitely a wonderful Christmas for me this year. Although I nearly lost it when I was doing my Christmas baking and cooking (bloody butter in the cookie dough kept melting), everyone seemed happy with their treats. I just threw the ugly cookies out.

And I think I mentioned in a previous post that I was gonna wrap my presents in newspaper? It was quite entertaining to find pages and pictures that related to the receiver of the gift (some male-turned-female model in a Givenchy ad for Susan, the Optus deer for Toby, some topless athlete for Polly etc). I think only Phong's Sudoku page was a little irrelevant.

Hope everyone had as much fun as I did. x

[BAREFOOT] OH TANNENBAUM

I haven't been on my blog for so long it almost feels weird already! Sorry for being MIA for the past couple of months - I had things on all the time and haven't really been taken many photos, so I got a little lazy. You know how there's always something to do but nothing really significant, you feel busy but you're not supposed to be? Anyway, that's my excuse for spending more time on tumblr instead, I guess because it requires less brain work. (See what I've been up to on that one last piece of cake and nightlightsaver)

But yesterday was our last exam, and it's finally holidays! Started it off with an extended 6-hour eating-and-drinking session from Hemingway's over to Jah Bar; more activities and festivities are lining up from today onwards and I know it's gonna be a mad pre-Christmas week. Lots to do for Christmas too - wrapping presents (I've been efficient this year and have pretty much finished my Christmas shopping, just waiting for some last deliveries!), making and writing Christmas cards, baking until my oven gives up, which reminds me that I actually have to get more baking utensils first. Some inspirations for this festive season:

• This month's Gourmet Traveller, with recipes from Bar H's Hamish Ingham and The Fat Duck's Heston Blumenthal (green tea choc truffles! Date, fig and apple chutney! Potted duck!), and Donna Hay Magazine, with this amazing Christmas cookie box

• Simple hand-drawn Christmas cards

• Summery decoration

[Sources: kraftykuka; a blog with a view; aranciata]

So, I'll be off to my favourite Manly Market now (if you read this this morning and you're around you should not miss it, because it's only once a month and super rad! See you at the primary school), but before I leave I probably should write a quick to-buy/to-do list, otherwise I'll just run around town buying stuff that don't need to be bought, doing stuff that don't need to be done (I got books from the library lying around that need to be returned, gift cards that need to be redeemed, I even bought the wrong light bulb for my night lamp yesterday because I keep forgetting to bring the blown one along). I'll be back with more christmassy things soon - enjoy your holidays x