My first Aussie Christmas

A belated Merry Christmas to you all!

I hope everyone had a fantastic day filled with food, family, and fun. 

I was prepared to be some sort of mess on my first Christmas away from my family - ever- but all was well. Between all the food, preparing of food, eating of food, and having the best time hanging out with both sides of Will's rather large family, I thankfully didn't have any time to be blue. 

Christmas Eve was COLD, so it actually felt like Christmas at home. Christmas day was another story, but I must admit that it was pretty glorious drinking champagne out in the sun and having our lunch outside at a beautifully set table. There was even a game of cricket, which I will need more practice at. I thought watching Will play so much would result in some sort of skills osmosis, but nay.

So all in all, a fantastic Christmas! 

Plus, I'm incredibly tan. What more could I ask for?

Funny story: Will and I went camping (my very first camping trip) with some friends recently and, long story short, had an incident in which the campsite was burned down. Hence this gift. And I got camping magazines. Cheeky!

Melbourne at Christmastime

Some snapshots of Melbourne at this joyful time of the year!

Our building has a beautiful tree that welcomed us back when returned from Texas.

Living in the CBD means we are around all the major Christmas decorations put up by the city. The main shopping road has lights all the way down that remind you it's Christmas even when it's 80 degrees!

There is an awesome projection show at the Melbourne Town Hall that showcases Christmas around the world.

I'm still getting used to a Southern Hemisphere Christmas (though let's be honest..it only recently even got warm!), but you can't beat beautiful days in a beautiful city.

Our apartment isn't lacking Christmas spirit either!

All the Ryan + partners stockings. Please note that mine has Chester, Henry, and a kangaroo on it. I happen to think mine is the very best!

After panicking over the fact that Will's parents didn't yet have a tree, off to the bush we went to cut one down!

The days have been warm, and I am in top tan form...in December. It is both awesome and a little bittersweet. 

I think the US goes more "all out" for Christmas, though I've been pleasantly surprised by the decorations and festive music here in the city. 

And most American-like of all...the stores are packed to the rafters and open until midnight this week. Capitalism!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

The last American Christmas

On this, my last American Christmas [for a while, at least], I asked that thing be as Christmasy as possible. 

Beautiful tree. Check.

Fully decorated house. Check.

Cold weather. Check-ish. It's Texas. 

Christmas cookies galore. Check check.

Giant Christmas lunch. Check check check.

There was also the annual Fab Four Christmas gathering, a short-lived stint with a very difficult puzzle, and a whole lot of laying around watching Son of Anarchy.

Side note: If you've never watched this, do it NOW. I got addicted reallll fast.

Most importantly, I got to spend a lot of time just hanging out with my parents and enjoying all the happiness that comes with Christmastime.

So, I was quite pleased with my Christmas of 2013.

You may say it's too late to talk about Christmas, but I say nay

It might almost be February, but that will not stop me from talking about Christmas!

Since I wasn't able to share before going to Europe, I figured now is as good a time as any!

The first of several random kitchen utensils I acquired. Thanks to my mom, I'm on my way to having a very well-stocked kitchen!

Mom has secretly been wanting Uggs to keep her feetsies warm. They'll serve her well when she house sits for my uncle in NYC next month.

And dad had NO idea he was getting an iPad.

They're cuties.

My favorite gift! I'm so domestic.

And the traditional bow on Bogey's head picture.

There you go, a little Christmas cheer in January!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas, you lovely people!! 

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May this day bring joy and blessings to all of you! 

And copious amounts of food!! 

Duh. 

 I'm headed back to Houston this evening. Leaving home on Christmas...womp womp. 

 But it's all in preparation for my flight to Dublin tomorrow morning!! 

 See y'all in 2012 :)

Twas the night before Christmas...

And in my house that means...

Last minute baking.

Source: batemanbuzz.blogspot.com via Sandy on Pinterest

Wine.

From our personal cellar, of course.
[lies]

Source: houzz.com via Noelle on Pinterest

Dinner at a Mexican restaurant [it's a tradition we accidentally started several years ago].

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And Christmas pies.

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Merry Christmas Eve, friends! 

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...and cats

I present to you, our Christmas tree:

And I present to you, our Christmas tree + me + my cats because it's not Christmas without a portrait with your "children."

This happened last Friday evening...

It's too early, I know.

Judge me.

But I was home alone, bored. And putting up a Christmas tree sounded so festive.

Plus, look how mesmerized Chester is.



HO HO HO

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone had an absolutely beautiful day filled with family, too much food, and good cheer.

Our usually large, real tree was replaced by this teeny tiny cute one this year due to home remodeling. Hey, it still does the job!

Bogie with his traditional Christmas bow.

Boris the beagle got a bow as well.

Maybe I've been eating stuff like this since I got home on Wednesday.

Tasty Moscato for the Christmas lunch.

Parentals on our evening walk to combat fattiness.

Chester felt the Christmas joy today.

The day is coming to a close, so here's looking forward to a great last few days of 2010!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

My small family is celebrating in our usual way...by going out to eat [Mexican, of course] and coming home to wine and finger foods.

Watch out for Santa tonight!

Photoshoots and cookies on a merry Christmas Eve Eve

I love being home, especially around Christmas. And while we may not have a Christmas tree this year [thanks, home remodeling], it's nice just to be here with my parents and being able to catch up with old friends that I don't see nearly enough.

Plus, Chester is enjoying having lots of space to play and other kitties to socialize with.

Today I met up with some of my best friends, Ronnie, Swampy, and Haritha, for our traditional Christmas gathering. We usually have go-to restaurants for this occasion, but this year we switched it up and went to a great place called the Guenther House. It's an old mansion in a historic area of San Antonio that has been turned into a little restaurant downstairs. We had a great time catching up and staging photoshoots everywhere we went.

Then we came back to my house for sugar cookie baking. Domestic? Yes we are. But maybe we also made some hurricanes to accompany us.

Oh, so I also tried Zumba today. Anyone else done that before? It's an excellent work out!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!