She's making a list, and checking it twice . . .

Is it that time already?

You'd better believe it, Christmas season has well and truly arrived.

In Adelaide, my family always kicked off the festivities with the Christmas Pageant. Only then were we allowed to start talking about the big man in red and the upcoming holidays. Mum put a stop to decorations though - we had to wait until 1 December to put the tree up and then of course, there was the opening of the first advent calendar door that was always a special occasion.

I'm going home this weekend for the cricket (my favourite time of the year) and can't wait to put up the Christmas tree with my niece and nephew at Mum and Dad's house. Then I have to come home and work out how I'll deck out my new little pad - I move into a new flat in two weeks and can't wait to style it up. Pink as far as the eye can see . . . and noone to complain :)

Moving house is always a good excuse to ditch the old and invest in the new. I am sick of living like a uni student in a share house and want to start enjoying the finer things in life. I'll be dusting off my Kate Spade plates and Laguiole cutlery and start living like a grown up for a change! The timing is also perfect to put in some sneaky requests for some home related Christmas presents from the fam.

And so we begin Kate's annual Christmas wishlist. As self indulged and spoilt as it must seem, it's so nice to pretend that money grows on trees!

I'd love a cool new doormat for my new flat. I'm up on the first floor and there are two other doorways in my little alcove so I want to make sure mine is the best dressed! The Woodsfolk have a great range, but there are so many cutesie ones out there.

I've been coveting these Celine sunglasses for a while now and am trying to get Mum to cave and buy them for me before Christmas so I can wear them to the cricket this weekend. She's adamant I need to wait until Christmas #firstworldproblems

Market shopping is one of my favourite things to do in the world. If I could swan around all day with a baguette and bunch of fresh flowers in my basket, I'd be the happiest girl on the planet. Lady Chatterley's Affair has just brought out the most fun Portobello Road Baskets that would make market shopping such an adventure. I've got my eye on the pink and green one (aka 'Watermelon Fizz') #hinthint

Food is always a safe bet with me as a gift. I love to give it and I love to receive it. I'm desperate to try out a famous Lune croissant and am psyching myself up to battle the early morning crowds over Summer. I'm trying to work out the best way to get around the queues and think maybe I've struck gold - a Lune Lab experience. Did someone say three courses of croissants? Yes please!

I'm all out of perfume and I feel like a half human. Dramatic, yes. Time to restock my Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia - let's go for the big bottle this time!

I am desperate for some new champagne flutes. Now that I'll be out on my own and it will be so much easier to entertain, I'll need some nice flutes for all that cheersing! I adore the stemless variety they use at Ombra. Can someone kindly track them down for me, please? And the recipe for the eggplant fritte while you're at it!

I'm loving my Spotify beats like noone's business and am struggling with the playback through my handset. Time to invest in some proper speakers - my old ones were for an ancient iPad and my new phone doesn't fit. Apple is infuriating like that. These Bose ones will do just nicely!

My current laundry bag is . . . my bedroom floor so it's time to get my grown up on and invest in some proper storage solutions. I'm open to suggestions, but I want it to look pretty in my room. Not like the blue, white and red striped bogan bag I use when Mum and Dad come to visit (because surely that's a step up from the floor?).

And there we have it. Kate's epic wish list for Christmas 2015.

I might add a few more down the track but it's a start (are you reading this, Mum?)

xx

The way to my heart . . .

This is quite possible one of my favourite posts of the year - Kate's annual Christmas wish list!

My Mum is quite the present giver . . . she always nails it but I've realised it's because I'm quite specific in what I want! A little bit of guidance never hurt nobody, right?!

Look, I know these are all superficial gifts and I must seem quite shallow with this list of shiny pretty things, but this little blog is a lovely little escape from reality and the opportunity to indulge in the surreal.

So let me present Kate's wish list for 2014 . . .

My home girl Sam Armytage has released a book. I need a copy stat.

Nespresso Coffee machine. I tree hugger in me hates the landfill aspect of this gem, but I promise I'll search for a recycling option as part of the deal!

Kate Spade's 'place to go, people to see'. Love me a coffee table book.

Bally poster. This will be on my list every year until I get one. Oh how I hate not having my own house to decorate.

Stella McCartney fragrance. A staple. A must.

A facial. My skin has been rotten lately and I feel like a deep cleanse will be a great start to 2015.

Taylor Swift's album - 1989. Yes, I still do CDs.

Lady Chatterley's Affair 'Ladies Who Lunch' necklace. Because it's not Christmas without some LCA bling.

Kate Spade Tidbit Plate set from Brown Button Trading. Hello picnics in the park!

New pillows. Mine are gross and my neck hurts.

Workout gear. Especially a visor. I really want a visor (Who am I?! And what have I done with couch Kate?!). And the new Country Road activewear range is cute.

New sunglasses. I'm not sure what ones, exactly, but I'll quite happily take yours off you Mum . . .

I'm off to New Zealand in January so would also find a passport holder quite handy.

World Cup Tickets. Yes, I love my cricket.

And some other little stocking fillers (mainly because my brother just texted me to see what I wanted!), I'd love some new PJs, a battery operated electric toothbrush, some folding chairs, bodum coffee cups and a 5:2 fast diet recipe book.

Okay, enough already. You haven't been that good this year, Kate.

**Update! I need one of these! Not sure if it's the lemon or watermelon I prefer, but how fruitastic are they!? So sweet!

Shop here at Lady Chatterley's Affair

Gift horse

I have been lucky enough to play a special part as bridesmaid in a number of my friends' weddings (coming up to seven times now . . . but who's counting?) and I've loved every minute of it. I just love weddings, and parties and running with a theme. Any excuse, really!

I think it's a huge honour to be asked to be a bridesmaid but nothing is as touching as being asked to be a Godmother.

I have been Max's Godmother for a couple of years now and he's one big hunk of spunk. He's coming up to three years old and I just can't get enough of him. Remember this little rabbit?

Well a couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be named Godmother to Maxie's little cousin Paige, my dear friend Bree's daughter. She is the sweetest little thing. 

Check her out with her Godparents . . .

The dedication was in the Rads so I didn't bother to lug her present back home for Bree to have to drag it back to Melbs. I headed over for coffee and cake at their place the next weekend to deliver the present - a gorgeous fuschia pink herringbone woollen blanket.

I think Miss Paige was impressed.

Baby/Christening/Dedication presents are hard - you want something sentimental but something that will last. I thought about all the usual options - money box, books, picture frames, charm bracelet. But I was worried she'd end up with three of each.

Yay or nay to the long term present? Or do you prefer gifts that are more age appropriate?

Sunday Collector got me thinking outside the square with a post featuring a doll her sister had bought for her niece. Dumye dolls are dolls with purpose and I just love love love that idea. For every doll purchased they gift an orphan in need and allow them to make a doll of their own through an art workshop. How good!

Other good presents are personalised canvases (a friend painted a quote from Where the Wild Things are for me to mark Max's big day); anything Georg Jensen; animal heads (West Elm do a great collection) or a painting - like something splendid from the oh so talented Pip Boydell.

Bree's sister Kelly (Max's Mum) prides herself on her gifting skills like me (we love it!) and she came across this beautiful present for Paige. May I introduce the Maven Doll range.

Bree's side of the family chipped in for a Mollie - a gorgeous piece to keep for years to come. Isn't she just something else!?

I think we nailed it this time. What do you think?