What does your festive season look like?
Welcome to our first ever special one-off seasonal link-up called Festive Bonbons, proudly brought to you by Stunners Inc., the creators of the monthly What’s on Your Bookshelf Challenge.
As mentioned in my ‘Coming Soon’ post last week we are asking you to share your Festive Bonbons with us. Jo, Sue and Donna have answered these same questions, it’s so much fun to read everyone’s responses.
So without further ado, here are my answers to the questions:
Christmas Tree – do you have one, when does it go up, who decorates it, is there a theme or is it miss-matched?
Yes, we have a tree and to be honest I wasn’t going to put it up this year as we will be away for Christmas… but my daughter, SIL and 2 of my grandchildren will be visiting for my birthday weekend (soon), so I’ve decided we will put it up together then. Nothing like having children around to give Christmas more meaning. I have also bought a felt tree with velcro spots for decorations so the 3 grandkids can have fun sticking them on and pulling them off when we are at our holiday accommodation over Christmas. Over the years we’ve collected decorations from all over the world so my tree is a mish-mash of colour, tinsel and joy.
Christmas carols – yes or no, faves? Traditional or modern.
I like to think of them as Christmas songs rather than carols and these days I prefer modern ones. We once made a playlist of everyone’s favourites for a family Christmas and it was such fun making it and then listening to it unfold on a family road trip. My favourite would probably be the song Joy to the World in full orchestral mode.
Christmas books – any faves you want to tell us about?
I’ve never got into the whole Christmas book genre but I’m hearing a lot of people do! I like the fun Aussie books for kids that give the summer Christmas story, songs and images with our animals and beaches rather than the snowy card scenes. A few of my faves are: The 12 Days of Christmas and Santa Comes to Australia.
Christmas movies – any you watch year after year?
I do like watching Love Actually, one of the only Christmas movies I watch over and over again. I’ve made a list this year of Christmas movies, collected from recommendations from fellow bloggers, and am planning to work my way through them, just to get into the mood!
Christmas cake – yes or no?
No, never made one, never will. I’m not sure why but think it’s because they sound like too much work and basically, I’m a lazy cook. I’ll eat a slice if you make one though!
Chocolate nuts or fruit?
No question about it – chocolate sultanas all the way! My daughters (and if I’m honest me) buy them up throughout the year when we can find them and we all hoard them ready for Christmas. Most make it to the end but some disappear along the way 🙂
Christmas traditions?
Our main tradition is regardless of wherever any of us are in the world, we stop and have a toast to absent friends. We’ve lost a few key family members in recent years and one of my daughters and her family live overseas so it’s our moment to stop and pause for a minute. You can read more in this post: Top 5 Family Traditions at Christmas.
I wrote this post a few years ago in response to a Christmas tag going around and it was fun to revisit my words – Christmas tag
I’m also trying to get a Santa photo each year with my grandchildren but Covid restrictions have hampered that somewhat.
What’s on the table?
No idea yet, but hopefully food of some sort! I’m not the most foodie of people, despite my highly successful What’s on Your Plate posts (I’m laughing as I write that).
Christmas memories?
One of my best ever family Christmases was spending a week in Italy’s snowfields. Living in Australia means hot sunny Christmases for us but in 2007 we spent December in Europe. Which means it was cold and in places snowy – just like all the Christmas cards we see.
We were lucky enough to stay with friends and family in Finland, Denmark, Copenhagen, Malmo (Sweden) and UK and spent the week over Christmas in Livigno in Italy, way up north in the mountains. To be able to go snow skiing on Christmas Day was amazing and the best part of all was that we had our three grownup daughters with us for the week.
Being in Italy with my family, the beauty of the snow clad mountains, the crystal clear sunny days, the ice sculptures, the icy snow, the minus 22 temperatures, the fun we all had, the skiing on Christmas Day with my Argentinian ski instructor, the decorations, the candles in all the windows, the hot chocolates after skiing, the language…..
So many memories – This is what happens behind the scenes at Christmas
All I want for Christmas is…
I just want a stress-free, bushfire-free, pandemic-free, drama-free, flood-free get together with some of my family. I want to go to the beach with 2 of my daughters and their husbands, watch the grandkids play with each other, build sandcastles, splash and swim, sit and read, eat what others have prepared and enjoy our time with each other, while Facetiming our daughter and granddaughter in England. Is that too much to ask for? I don’t think so!
Seeing Stars
I’d just like to share this story about my large stars as pictured above. Two years ago we were in England with my daughter, SIL and baby granddaughter, celebrating Dottie coming home after 98 days in NICU, my birthday, Christmas and the New Year. While walking around the shops I kept seeing these lovely stars, made of cardboard. I asked in one shop where I could buy them and they said I could take them from the shop floor as it was almost time to take them down and they probably wouldn’t be used again.
They folded down flat, so I was able to pack them in my suitcase. Now every time we put them up, we have them hanging each side of the front door, I think back to how we acquired them and smile to myself. I think the shop people took pity on the visiting Australians.
Why bonbons?
We feel that the word ‘bonbons’ creates a festive feel. Bonbons are small bits of Christmas cheer, just like our questions 🙂
A bonbon is a sweet or small confection, especially a small ball coated in chocolate.
We hope you’ll join the link party by clicking on the blue link below. Or, you might want to get involved via Instagram or your social media of choice. We even have a hashtag you can use #festivebonbons.
It’s time to get festive!
Wishing you all the best at this time of the year. I know it can be hard for some and we will definitely be missing some special people again this year. Take care.
Deb xx
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Deb's World 
Oh no! The link party ended! Here’s my post. https://readingladies.com/2021/12/13/meet-the-blogger-christmas-version-festivebonbons/
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I’m sorry the linkup closed before your post was able to be added. I really enjoyed reading your post Carol.
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No worries! I didn’t realize it was a short window and I had so many distractions over the weekend!
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Such a fun link. Sorry I missed it.
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It was so much fun reading everyone’s thoughts Antoinette. Sorry you missed it too.
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