Happy Holy Christmas Everyone!
Wishing you all a year of health and happiness, from my family to yours!
祝大家圣诞节快乐，也祝大家新的一年里更健康幸福快乐！
Phew~! 2016, what a hasty year!
This year, once again, has been incredibly busy and more challenging than ever.
Earlier this year, I set myself a big number of small goals to achieve; and the idea of these mini goals were to help build my confidence and strengthen me in the areas where competency are obviously still lacking...
For examples: Money Management and Social Skill
In the current society we are living in, money matters more than you can imagine.
Thanks to my profession and social circle, I have managed to come across with many different people with different perceptions about money management.
I must admit - the number of people who really know how to use their money wisely are, in fact, very little. Genuinely speaking, I hope to retire earlier (before 50's); as such, I have started working on improving my understandings on several financial aspects which hopefully will make my dream comes true.
On Christmas Day...
Apart from Easter Good Friday (usually falls on March-April), Christmas Day is the only day on which I can sleep in late. Today, I woke up at 9am with a big grin on my face (knowing that I don't have to rush to work) and ready to celebrate this jolly big day with my family.
I am not born Christian, Christmas has never been significant in my childhood life.
For the 1/3 of my life living in two Christian families, I have come to learn, adapt and now adore Christian celebrations; and Christmas Day now is bigger in my life than ever before.
This is me, checking out the reverse camera function on my new smart phone that Santa aka my husband gave me on Christmas Day.
(^o^)
Every year, we adopt the traditional Christmas celebration.
By that, we mean, Roast Turkey is always served on Christmas Day.
I always have my Christmas tree and presents ready 2 weeks before Santa comes to visit us.
I enjoy watching the colours of my Christmas Tree!
This year quite a few people gave us Lotto scratches as presents.
They must know I like scratching for $$$ luck!
All sorts of different presents, wrapped in colourful papers!
Christmas Eve... The Night Before...
This is the night most people often don't know what other people do on Christmas Eve.
If you have children at home, quite likely this is the night where the presents are opened and the kids dancing all night with their hands & gifts both up in the air...!
But for us, it is always a very peaceful evening where traditional old English Christmas songs are played in the background and me bustling in the kitchen trying to get the dessert ready for the next day.
NOTE: Christmas Songs ≠ Mariah Carey's or Michael Bublé's Christmas Carols.
Christmas Trifle
In Year 2012, with the combined effort, Alex and I made a hugh Ginger Bread House.
In Year 2015, we decided to make a traditional cherry Yule Log for a change.
This year, we thought Summer Trifle would be perfect for this scorching weather of Queensland.
I work on each of these layers with great care and love!
Finally, Ta Ta...!!!
I sealed the trifle with utmost care but I almost dropped the glass bowl as I was carrying it to the fridge because it was too cold and wet to hold. My adrenaline skyrocketed to the roof!
Luckily my husband caught my hands in time. He saved the world!
This is our Christmas Trifle 10 minutes before it was brought to our parents' house!
Christmas Lunch
I didn't bring my camera with me, so I have to snap the rest of our Christmas feast pictures with the camera on my new phone. The amount of food was phenomenal, as if the feast was prepared for half a team of Rugby players. Roast turkey, smoked trouts, beans, brussel sprouts, salad, prawns... you name it!
In real honesty, this is the best part of Christmas;
To be with your family on Christmas Day, tucking into big feast with plenty of laughters and fun!
Christmas Presents
After leaving our parents' place, we headed back home, did a few things and finally time came to open the presents!
This year, we have got a lot of great presents from our friends and family.
This is a snapshot of some of the gifts, but there are loads more!
Trying out my Napoleon Lip Gloss Set!
Thank you Santa aka my husband!
So, this is it, my holy Christmas Day in Year 2016!
Sadly, it comes and goes too quickly; and soon New Year countdown will follow.
Merry Christmas to all of you; I hope you have had a tremendous day with your loved one and may 2017 brings you hope, health and happiness!
And don't forget to continue sharing your love and kindness to others!
Cheers! *Mia*
