1. What is your favourite Christmas food?

I would have to say the ol’ traditional trifle – layers of peaches and jelly and custard and alcohol soaked sponge, it’s so perfect for a summer Christmas. I have fond memories of waking up on Boxing Day with my family and fighting over the leftovers for breakfast!

2. What is your favourite Christmas movie?

Definitely ‘Love Actually’. A rom-com set at Christmas time, you can’t get better than that! It has an all-star cast, it follows the love lives of eight people in the lead up to Christmas, and it’s British… need I say more?

3. Your favourite Christmas drink?

During the daytime I’ll take a vodka, lime, and soda, and at night a Peppermint Bailey’s on the rocks goes down nicely… but honestly, anything is better than Eggnog for me!

4. Is there something you love to do every Christmas? 

SO many things – I love whipping out the Michael Buble ‘Christmas’ CD and singing along (I possibly started this in late October); putting up the tree exactly a month out on the 25th November; and planning a yummy festive menu. Whilst buying all the presents is a bit of an effort, I do enjoy wrapping them all matchy-matchy and seeing them under the tree.

5. Do you have any Christmas family traditions?

We have many… Christmas Eve has always been spent at my husband’s Nana and Papa’s house with their 6 kids and then 20-odd grandkids. Then we see his immediate family for breakfast, his Mum’s relatives for lunch, and then finally see my immediate family (the whole 4 of us) for dinner where we are usually too full to eat a thing! Wearing corny bon-bon paper crowns and opening presents in turn so we can see what each of us gets are amongst the family traditions too.

6. Do you have a favourite shop that you visit at Christmas time?

Any shop with a sale sign becomes a favourite of mine at Christmas. Last year we literally went to the shops the weekend before Christmas and bought every single present in one epic trolley-filled day… Now that was the definition of being under pressure! We usually hit the sales on Boxing Day too and then get out of the craziness after about an hour (especially when cricket and a cold beer is calling).

7. Do you bake at Christmas time? If yes, what are your favourite things to bake? Would you share the recipe?

I love baking at Christmas, and usually it’s something different each year inspired by Pinterest recipes. Last year we had a belated ‘Christmas Warming’ (a house warming cross Christmas party) for all of our friends and I made North Pole Cupcakes and Red Velvet Cake Balls via Bakerella. The truffles were a hit and were SO easy to make considering you cheat by using a packet mix… granted some things taste better from scratch but when time is limited then these are just as good!

8. Where will you be spending Christmas this time of year?

I am excited to say that we will be in Cape Town – I have relatives there that we are going to see – it’s been eighteen years since I last spent Christmas with them (back then I was in primary school) so it’s been a long time coming. I can’t wait to see how Africans do Christmas and New Year’s festivities.

9. Where does Santa leave presents in your house?

Always under the tree and some in my stocking hanging by the window. When we were younger, Santa used to fill a ‘Santa Sack’ (aka crafted pillowcase) and leave at the end of the bed for us – we weren’t allowed to come out of our rooms until 6am, so this kept us occupied after we woke up so early due to excitement!

10. What do you leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve?

Currently zip – poor Santa! Perhaps when we have littlies of our own we will leave out some milk for Santa and carrots for the Reindeer (bless my mother for always thinking of the animals’ needs!)

11. Finally, do you think you’re on Santa’s naughty or nice list and why?

Boy I hope I’m on the nice list! With an upcoming auction of our house, today’s the day to find out! 🙂