Under $50 Gift Guide

Seeing as Christmas is just under a month away, we thought it’d be a good idea to compile a list of gift ideas that may be of interest leading up to the big day. Each of these are worth only $50 or less, so are within the perfect price range for your loved ones, all without splashing the cash too heavily.

Here’s hoping this guide may be of some help to you!

C&S

1. Karen Walker - Rings (Bear, Mini Star, Rabbit) ($49.00)

2. Seed - Women's Tessa Strap Jelly Sandal in Tangerine ($39.95)

3. Emily Green - Tiffany 9 Bead Necklace with a Silver Plated Chain ($49.00)

4. Arlington Milne - Tassel Key Ring in Mint ($29.95)

5. Tigerlily - Viva Candle in Coconut Lemon & Lime ($39.95)

6. Marc Jacobs - Julio iPhone 5 Case ($48.00)

7. Kikki K -2014 A5 Daily Leather Dairy in Lemon ($44.95)

8. Witchery - OCRF Cushion ($49.95)

9. Forever New - Macaroon Ring Case in Lilac ($7.99)

Farewelling Xmas

{A real-life baby reindeer}

It's always something hard for us to accept, but with the New Year only days away now, it is time to say goodbye to the merry and jolly Christmas fever that we have grown to adore over the past few weeks. In order to farewell Christmas, we've put together a snapshot of a few of our favourite things from this year's festive season.

C&S

{Christmas lights in the city}

{Owl on the clock tower}

{Gingerbread snowflakes}

{An array of wrapped presents beneath the tree}

{Homemade gingerbread house}

{Pretty light display while out night shopping} 

{Festive chocolate cake pops}

Christmas Cupcakes

Seeing as Christmas celebrations are in full swing, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to whip up some festive cupcakes for the occasion. With the Christmas air around us everywhere we go, and the beautiful smell of pine from the tree filling the house, we were inspired to prepare an array of cupcakes which reflected this jolly season. We used the same vanilla cupcake recipe as previously posted here, and this new vanilla buttercream recipe which includes a bit of lemon juice, adding a beautiful, light touch and cutting through the usual sweetness of the icing. Using roll out icing dyed various shades, we created little candy canes, stars and holly leaves to sit on top of the cupcakes.

Wishing all of our readers a very Merry Christmas!

C&S

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Wow, we can't believe it is already December! Which means... Christmas is just around the corner - 19 days to be exact! 

Christmas is definitely our favourite season and a highlight as the year draws to a close. It is such a lovely time of year with the echoes of carols ringing whilst shopping, and baking all manner of festive treats, which fill the house with the comforting aroma of spices such as ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Watching the Christmas tree glitter with its colourful ornaments and glowing fairy lights never fails to bring a smile to our faces as the anticipation of Christmas grows. It is a time of year which you can spend with family and friends and give back to others in the community. There is nothing better than embracing the season head-on with a spot of Christmas shopping, gift wrapping and baking (of course!), which was exactly what we did when the 1st of December came around.

{Cinnamon Sitck Red Rose Wreath from Provincial Home Living}

{Homemade advent calendar}

{Gingerbread (using recipe as previously posted here)}

{Sweet printed Christmas gift wrap}

Still the Season to be Jolly

After a hectic Christmas Day filled with delicious food, present giving + receiving, and carols playing on repeat, the time has come to pack away all the season’s paraphernalia for another year. With this task now put aside, Boxing Day sales are a must, along with finishing left over Christmas treats, and of course enjoying all of our new gifts. We have put together a collection of our new-found favourite Christmas tunes that will be sure to make an appearance come Xmas 2012, which we hope you too enjoy:

Winter Wonderland – Jason Mraz

Someday at Christmas – Jack Johnson

Joy to the World – Sufjan Stevens

Drummer Boy – Jars of Clay

Happy Xmas – Sarah McLachlan


Happy holidays!

{Our festive Christmas table setting}

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

This has always been one of our favourite times of the year, with Christmas only days away, and the new year looming. Last minute gift shopping, present wrapping, carols playing wherever you go, the fragrance of real Christmas trees and the Yuletide cheer that is spread about are just some of the joyful festivites of the season that we always look forward to. It’s hard not to get caught up in the whirlwind of the holiday season, and for us, Christmas baking really takes us away, being our top priority each year. You know it’s Christmas when you can smell freshly baked gingerbread as it wafts through your home. We used this recipe, and it is easily the best we’ve come across!

GINGERBREAD

125g butter, softened

½ cup (100g) firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg yolk

2 ½ cups (375g) plain flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

3 teaspoons ground ginger

½ cup (125ml) golden syrup

Preheat oven to 180°C. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and creamy. Add the egg and golden syrup and beat until combined. Sift dry ingredients and stir into butter mixture. Mix to a light dough and knead gently on a lightly floured surface until smooth. If warm, rest dough in fridge for 30 minutes until firm.

Roll out between 2 sheets of baking paper until approximately 3mm thick. Cut gingerbread shapes from the dough and place on lined baking trays and bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Re-roll dough as many times as necessary.

Cool on trays before icing and/or decorating.