It's not goodbye....

forever, just for a few weeks. It's summer school holidays over here still, so I am going to take some time off from blogging to rest and enjoy my family. Christmas was a really hard and sad time for us all with our darling little Paris Fifi being ill, and then the devastation of her passing. I would like to thank all of you who have come to visit me here at my little Jacaranda Cottage, and especially to thank you for your comments to offer comfort to our family with the loss of our girl, Paris.

I wish for you all a truly wonderful New Year and hope that is a safe, happy and healthy 2009 for us all. The Australian school year begins again the day after Australia Day, which we celebrate on Jan 26th, so I'll be back to blogging at the end of Jan. I hope you'll come back to visit with me then so that I can share our Summer adventures with you all. Happy 2009 dear friends!

Lots of love............Amanda xxx

Rest In Peace Paris....

We are devastated. Our beautiful little girl, our beloved family dog Paris Fifi, passed away this morning from Lymphoma. Apparently this cancer had been slowly growing in her little body since she was a pup, and now suddenly over Christmas our world got turned upside down when she was admitted to hospital for tests and we were told that she had advanced Lymphoma. Our baby, our beautiful girl was too far gone and died peacefully in my arms this morning. She was 3 years old. We are heart broken.....








For our darling Paris.......you are much loved and will never be forgotten.

Love Mummy xxx

Santa Claus is coming to town...tonight!

From our family to yours...........we wish you all a safe and very Merry Christmas!

Love Amanda, John, Precious Princess.....and Paris Fifi xxx

Decking the halls...

Whew, what a week! I've finally finished all the Christmas shopping.....and present wrapping. Now I have to start preparing for our family Christmas party this weekend. On Sunday we have 40 people coming to our house for a traditional old fashioned sit down Christmas dinner.......all cooked by me! We'll be having a turkey with all the trimmings, a baked ham, roast pork & roasted vegetables, all kinds of salads, quiche, lasagna, cranberry & sweet chilli meatballs, and a selection of seafood. For desserts we'll be having a choice of plum pudding with brandy custard, trifle (my favourite!), chocolate mud cake, caramel tart, cheesecake, impossible pie, and rocky road ice-cream. For the nibblies table I thought I would have a selection of fresh summer fruits, nuts, cheeses, kabana's, olives (black & green), chips and dips. Princess and I went shopping yesterday for the party food and we each had a shopping trolley loaded to the gills! Now all I have to do is start cooking! Just before I start I always feel overwhelmed (we put on this Christmas party for our family every year) and I wonder why I do these things to myself, but I always enjoy it and it does give me an immense sense of pleasure to see all of our family having such a wonderful time too. My husband John dresses up as Santa each year, and together with our Princess who dresses up as an elf, they hand out Christmas presents to all at the party. My husband loves to make people laugh, especially all of my elderly Aunts who giggle like school girls as he gets them to sit on his lap as he asks them have they been naughty or nice this year? Oh how they blush and giggle, and we all have a good laugh too! So with a busy few days about to start here at Jacaranda Cottage, I thought I would leave you with a few new decorations that have found a home here this week....

My husband came home one night with an early Christmas present for me. He knew how much I had been wanting one of these little light up musical Christmas houses, so he bought me one to surprise me....and surprise me he did. I love it!


Isn't it just gorgeous! Thank you Honey!


When Princess and I were out trying to help my Mum get her Christmas shopping done, we spotted this sweet little guy and knew instantly that he had to come home with us!


Who could resist such a little sweetie?!


Of course then this guy had to come along too....


because they're a team and you can't break up such a good team. Right?


Then we found these stocking hangers. I have been wanting some for ages and finally found some. Yay!


Princess got out our stockings and hung them up in the hopes that they will be filled very soon.......


Since this photo was taken Princess has added names to the stockings. She decided that she didn't like them with no names, so she cut out the words Dad, Mum, and Nan from some red felt material we had in the sewing box. Now everyone has their own stocking. I have decided that next year I am going to either buy or make some really nice stockings and have our names embroidered. Princess thinks that's a fabulous idea too!


I also bought a new tree skirt for our little outside Christmas tree. This is the party tree for outside where the party will be (out next to the pool because it's so hot!). Each year I have to get a new skirt because the cat always ends up wrecking them when she sharpens her claws on them!


Oh no! She's claimed it already. I hope it lasts until the party! lol


I hope you have all been having a lovely time in the lead up to Christmas, and that this coming week is a magical time for you and your families. I'll be back to visit in a few days, but first I have to survive our party.....and the heat!

Love Amanda xxx

Baby it's NOT cold outside!

I know lots of you are having some wonderful snow falls at the moment (lucky you!!), so I thought I'd show you what's blooming around my neck of the woods this Christmas. Baby it's definitely NOT cold outside! lol

We have two Poinciana trees in our yard. The one out the front is so huge that it covers almost all of the front of the house! The one up the back near the pool is a little smaller, but still blooming beautifully...




Our Gardenia's are thriving, and the scent......is heavenly!


When we bought this house a few years ago, this Frangipani tree was just a little uncared for, struggling, half dead, sad looking plant. It's taken quite a bit to get it to come back to good health, but last Christmas and this Christmas it's producing some truly gorgeous blooms...


This is our daughter's favourite flower, so she is thrilled! She always has fresh ones in her room all Summer long...


Aren't they just beautiful...




It's been a long, hot, busy weekend here at Jacaranda Cottage. Christmas shopping, taking Princess to a dance event, then attending a 50th birthday party last night. Today we're taking it easy, swimming in our pool, watching Christmas movies, and doing laundry. Tonight my mum will come over here for a roast dinner, and then we are all going to see the Christmas lights. Can't wait! Hopefully I'll get some good photo's to share with you next week. Until then, have a fabulous day dear friends!

Love Amanda xxx

I'm reading my list...

and checking it twice. Just like Tweety is doing here, but I wanted to stop by quickly to wish you all a happy day. I'm busy getting some Christmas shopping done, and will see you again soon!





I love Christmas! ~Amanda xxx

Student Of The Year!

Hi all! I trust you are all having a wonderful week and getting excited about Christmas being only a couple of weeks away?! I know we are! lol

Well our weekend turned out to be a fabulous one! We had our friends over for a party on Saturday, and even though it was absolutely stinking HOT, we had a great time! It does help a lot at this time of year that our whole house has a/c through-out and we have a pool to cool off in. Yes, that helps a LOT! lol The kids all had such a fun time playing in the pool, then watching Christmas movies in the nice a/c while eating their delicious desserts! The adults all had a terrific time visiting and enjoying the yummy food too!

Then on Sunday we had our daughter's dance school awards night dinner to attend. They all had to wear formal clothes and walk the red carpet to receive their awards (those who won an award). We are so proud of our Princess for lots of reasons, but we were thrilled when she ended up winning 4 trophies!

The hall was decorated so nicely with all of these old movie projector cut outs. The theme of the night was Old Hollywood. The girls certainly did all feel like stars on the night!


Here is our Precious Princess being escorted down the aisle to accept one of her awards!


This award is for Student of the Year in her age level...


This award is for Best in Judging Comp....


This award is for winning the Choreographic Comp in her age level...


And this....this huge trophy is for Student of the Year 2008 over all the age levels! You could have knocked us over with a feather when our Princess' name was called out for this award! I was too emotional on the night to take photo's, and had to take all these photo's at home the next day! lol


Yep, Senior Student Of The Year! Woo hoo!


Well done Princess! Daddy and I are just so proud of you. Always have been. Always will be. You're AWESOME!

Thanks for letting me share this with you all. It's a big thing in our house at the moment, but we'll be back to normal in a few days, and back to blogging about Christmas too! I was wondering...is there anything in particular that you would like me to blog about regarding Christmas in Australia, or about anything else you might find interesting about Australia? If so just leave your question in the comments box and I will try my best to blog an answer for you!

Wishing you all the most wonderful of days.........love Amanda xxx

"Oh Santa!".....

Please stop here...


yes, this way...don't get stuck in all the snow now will you? lol


that's it, right here!


There is a lot of Santa love going on at Jacaranda Cottage this year, even if he is burying Paris Fifi alive!


I thought Santa would like a special treat.....


because I really do believe in him.....


but I'm sorry Santa, this one's for me!


Yes, there's a lot of Santa love going on around here in my nest...


hello little thrift store Santa candle (original price on the bottom on the candle says $30. Bought at a thrift store for $2!)


never even lit, but he's ready to light the way for us here in our home!


along with this thrifted musical Santa. Perfect condition, sings "we wish you a merry Christmas" and bought for $4! (I can't believe what some people give away!).


Yes, there are Santa's and Reindeers appearing all over the cottage....


you just never know where you'll see one...


smiling back at you...


or waiting to let you know the time! (thrifted clock $2.50, works perfectly!)


always ready to welcome you in....


and hanging around the dvd player shelf waiting to watch a Christmas movie! (more thrifted Santas....all these 50 cents each!)


so take a seat on the couch and rest your glass of eggnog upon the coffee table with these happy fellows! (Glass Santa bell thrifted for $1)


or you could select a book to read from the book shelf...


Santa and Rudolph are minding these precious old (very old!) family books for me to keep them safe from harm...


They are also just hanging around my office walls waiting patiently for me to write this post!


Rudolph has to have a rest sometimes you know, and when he does, Santa fires up the old motorbike to go about his day....


So while the real Santa is off running errands, he has left a reminder of his happy smiling face to greet you at the front door of Jacaranda Cottage...


and together again, they will meet you around the back too!


They are always ready to lend a helping hand in the kitchen....


anywhere they are needed....


and sometimes after helping with food preparations, there is some laundry to do...


so they'll hang around and have a cup of coffee with me....


before helping me dry the dishes....


and we'll talk about how busy their days are going to get very soon....


Santa and his reindeer don't mind though, because they know that Christmas brings family together....


and that is why he is always happy to serve you!


So Rudolph is standing tall and proudly waiting for Santa's call...


that will be coming soon.....


so please, take a glass and make a toast to Santa and his reindeer.....


for he really does "rein" supreme!


I have left you with a really long post today to tide you over for a few days. We are hosting a Christmas party for our friends this weekend at our little Jacaranda Cottage, so I have to get busy cleaning, baking, and wrapping presents for all!

Wishing you the most wonderful of days............love Amanda xxx