christmasinjuly

CELEBRATE!!! Why? It’s Christmas in July

Can you believe more than half the year has already passed us by? I for one, can’t. And while I busily attempt to press pause on my life, over and over again, the days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and before we know it we’ll be ringing in the new year again. Really? Already?

So before we get there, let’s take some time out, reach out to family and friends again, and throw a party. Why? Because it’s Christmas in July. And, really, who needs an excuse to crack out their Michael Buble orMariah Carey Christmas CD?

Unlike the northern hemisphere, its winter here, so when we think about throwing a Christmas in July celebration, all the traditional elements of a Northern Hemisphere Christmas come into play- images of snow, snowmen, holly, warm meals…..The polar opposite of our traditional sun kissed, bbq/beach celebrations.

What does your perfect Christmas party look like?

Beach or Snow?

Turkey or Ham?

Trifle or Pudding? But I’m not talking about serving the same tired old plum pudding, or fruit cake, if you are looking for something different to impress your guests with, why not try this fantastic Red Velvet pudding.

Homemade Red Velvet Pudding– A twist on the traditional

Homemade-Red-Velvet-Pudding
Image and recipe from : Tastes of Lizzy T
You can find the full recipe and method at Taste of Lizzy T’s. You will need about an hour and a half to get the whole pudding together and it makes approx 4-5 cups.
Now I would change the decoration from pink and red hearts to red and green star sprinkles, or perhaps broken pieces of Flake, but get creative and see what you can come up with!
  • Red Velvet Pudding:
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • ¾ cup Basic Pudding Mix
    • 1/2 C Cornstarch
    • 1 C flour
    • 1 1/2 C white sugar
    • 1 t salt
  • 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 teaspoons LorAnn red velvet bakery emulsion (Red Velvet Flavouring)

Mulled Wine – A super simple recipe

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Image and Recipe from : Home Life
I’ll admit I have never had mulled wine, but only this week another retailer (a Frenchman from a small wine boutique no less) offered me my first taste, presumably to get into the festive spirit! Mulled wine is a classic hot beverage best enjoyed beside a glowing fire with family and friends and perfectly suited to Christmas in July celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ingredients:
  • 2 bottles red wine
  • 1 apple, stuck with 6 cloves
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 litre apple juice

This looks like the easiest recipe ever and I’m determined to give it a go! Simply mix all ingredients together in saucepan and heat gently over a low flame. Serve in pre-warmed cups.

 Wreath– A Gorgeous decoration suited for either your door or table
Holiday Christmas Wreath - fall holiday decor - wreath design - arts and crafts via Apt Therapy
Image: Inspire Bohemia

No house should go unadorned for Christmas, and for July celebrations I love this wreath made with a combination of Leucadendron Argentum and Pink Proteas.

Winter is a great time for Native flowers, and whilst neither of these flowers are native to Australia, but rather, South Africa, our climate is perfect for them, so they grown in abundance here on our shores. I also like that it is play on the traditional red, white and green, utilising the silver green foliage of the Leucadendron teamed with the red of the Protea. If you like something that is unique and textured talk to one of our wonderful florists about creating something special for you. Fresh flowers truly do make your house feel alive, and can be tailored to your individual tastes or Christmas theme.

Gift Giving On a Budget– Making presents and keeping costs down

Glowing-Family-Luminaries-from-Our-Best-Bites
Image from Our Best Bits

Are you loving this gift idea as much as I am??? Create simple, sentimental gifts for family and friends that freeze a precious moment in time. These could literally be the talking point at any dinner party. As you can see in the above image, they look amazing clustered together, and whilst they look great in daylight hours, the real magic happens when the lights are low and the flame is flickering.

Full instructions can be found at Our Best Bits

So there you have it, something to drink, something to eat, something for decoration and something to give…..

Now, time to start that Christmas shopping list….it seems I have a lot to organise!

Fwf x

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