Tag: Get set for Christmas

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Get set for Christmas! Week 6: Prepare to party…

Want avoid a festive season freakout this Christmas? We’re here to help! Follow along for the next six weeks as we countdown to Christmas with easy-to-tick-off tasks. From stockpiling pressies to getting your home in the holiday spirit, we’ve got it your Chrissy prep covered. What are you waiting for? Press play on the Bublé and let’s get started!

 

Week 6: Prepare to party….

So, you’ve decorated your pad for the festive season (hello, Santa sacks and fairy lights!), got a jump-start on your gift shopping and come up with a fun new tradition for Christmas Day – now it’s time to pop the Prosecco, put your six-inch heels up and get ready to party. Whether you’re hosting a silly season soirée, getting your bonus in free drinks at the office party or just sharing a holiday date night with your love, we’ve got your essentials sorted.

 

What to wear

Being party ready means being ready to eat, drink and not worry about tight fabrics or constricting waistbands! Think floaty frocks that’ll give you the freedom to feast on canapés and comfy flats that’ll allow you to bust your best moves on the D-floor. If you’ve got a number of events on the calendar and you’re worried about outfit repeating, keep it simple with a neutral block colour dress and shake up your accessories to create a fresh vibe for each outing.

1. Biba Cotton Wrap Dress 2. Black and White Diamond Earrings 3. Personalised Make-up Brush Set 4. Katia Top 5. Column Drake Reversible Knee-Length Dress 6. Classic Clutch in Leopard Print Pony Hair

 

What to serve

If you’re hosting a Christmas party, you’re going to want to make sure your guests are well fed and well lubricated – so, stock up on bites and booze! Start by considering what kind of party you’re planning. Are you hosting a sit-down dinner with three courses, a laidback barbecue or a relaxed cocktail party that will allow people to mingle while they snack on finger food? Then think about what decor, serving dishes and glassware you need to make it happen.

1. DOIY Cheeseporn Cheese Board 2. Crosley Auto T400 Turntable 3. Rocky Road Table Cloth 4. Personalised Zinc Ice Bucket  5. After Dinner Fortunes 6. Atlas Crystal Whisky Decanter Set

 

Want some extra entertaining tips? Soak up the wisdom in these party-ready posts:

 

What to play

Every party needs a killer playlist – and that’s exactly what we’ve compiled. Featuring everyone from Usher to Culture Club, it’s two hours of iconic toe-tapping hits. Blast it to get you in the silly season spirit or to encourage your guests to throw some shapes…

 

Playing catch-up? Here’s what we’ve already done…

Week 1: Make a gift list

Week 2: Deck the halls

Week 3: Buy at least one gift

Week 4: Ace the Kris Kringle

Week 5: Plan a new tradition

hardtofind.

Hardtofind is Australia’s leading online curated marketplace for gifts, fashion and homewares.

http://hardtofind.com.au
DO + SEE + GO

Get set for Christmas! Week 5: Plan a new tradition…

Want avoid a festive season freakout this Christmas? We’re here to help! Follow along for the next six weeks as we countdown to Christmas with easy-to-tick-off tasks. From stockpiling pressies to getting your home in the holiday spirit, we’ve got it your Chrissy prep covered. What are you waiting for? Press play on the Bublé and let’s get started!

 

Week 5: Plan a new tradition…

We all have our own Christmas traditions – whether it’s six serves of Aunty Pam’s Pavlova or a round of backyard cricket with that bat your brother found in 1996, how your family celebrates on December 25 is probably totally awesome and unique to your clan. But if you want to shake things up and do something a bit different this year, consider adding some new festive fun into the mix. Here are a few activities we think will become instant traditions…

 

Create a Christmas Eve box

This sweet night-before-Christmas tradition will get your little one (even more) excited for Santa’s arrival. Here’s how it works: You fill a special Christmas Eve box with things to wear, read or do before bed. From festive PJs, to a personalised tree decoration and a Christmas-themed storybook, we’ve got plenty of suggestions for things you can add to your box here. There’s even the grown-up version: a Christmas Eve wine box!

 

Throw down a games challenge

Nothing says ‘fun-filled Christmas celebration’ like a furious clash of competitive personalities. If you’re looking for something to do after all your Christmas Day feasting (that preferably doesn’t involve too much physical movement), bring out a game that the whole family can play. Whether it’s backyard boules, a cheeky card game or old-school bingo, it’ll be even more fun if you put some prizes on the line. Warning: Combine these games with Prosecco at your own risk.

 

Dress for the occasion

You know what they say: The family that wears matching Christmas tees together, stays together! (Or something like that.) Have fun with your Chrissy Day dressing and show up to lunch wearing matching festive get-ups. It’ll boost your holiday spirit by around 10000% and guarantee a great photo for next year’s Christmas card.

 

Playing catch-up? Here’s what we’ve already done…

Week 1: Make a gift list

Week 2: Deck the halls

Week 3: Buy at least one gift

Week 4: Ace the Kris Kringle

hardtofind.

Hardtofind is Australia’s leading online curated marketplace for gifts, fashion and homewares.

http://hardtofind.com.au
DO + SEE + GO

Get set for Christmas! Week 4: Ace the Kris Kringle…

Want avoid a festive season freakout this Christmas? We’re here to help! Follow along for the next six weeks as we countdown to Christmas with easy-to-tick-off tasks. From stockpiling pressies to getting your home in the holiday spirit, we’ve got it your Chrissy prep covered. What are you waiting for? Press play on the Bublé and let’s get started!

 

Week 4: Ace the Kris Kringle…

Secret Santa can be equal parts ‘fun festive activity’ and ‘utterly terrifying undertaking’ depending on whose name you pull out of the hat (no one wants to be the person who gets the boss in your office gift grab). But don’t let it become a source of extra silly-season stress – you don’t need to be last-minute shopping when you should be sipping Prosecco. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your Kris Kringle ticked off the list early (also, no one wants to be the person who has to give their Secret Santa an ‘oops I forgot’ IOU).

A Kris Kringle gift usually floats somewhere in the $10-$30 mark (depending on how cashed-up your mates/colleagues are) and can go one of three ways:

  1. A quirky, slightly hilarious gift that’ll tickle their funny bone.
  2. A unique personal gift that says ‘I know more about you than just what brand of tuna you use in your lunchtime salad’.
  3. An all-round crowd-pleasing gift that could be for anyone.

If you get someone you know a bit about, options 1 and 2 are safe bets, but Kris Kringle becomes trickiest when you’re tasked with buying a gift for someone you’ve never even heard of. (Honestly, who knew there was a Dan in Accounts?) On those occasions, you need something that’s cool, versatile and will go down a treat with any recipient. Behold, our ‘I’ve got no idea who I’m buying for’ Kris Kringle picks…

 

1. ‘Get Sh*t Done’ Minimal Notebook 2. Black Truffle Sea Salt

3. Wine Holder 4. Lafitte Reindeer Socks

5. Think Cup in Mist 6. Vegan 100% Natural Shampoo Bar

7. Stay Fit Chocolate Box Set 8. Dirty Chai Coffee Body Scrub

9. Cubebot Ninja Micro 10. Aussie Slang Lingo Cards

 

Playing catch-up? Here’s what we’ve already done…

Week 1: Make a gift list

Week 2: Deck the halls

Week 3: Buy at least one gift

hardtofind.

Hardtofind is Australia’s leading online curated marketplace for gifts, fashion and homewares.

http://hardtofind.com.au
DO + SEE + GO

Get set for Christmas! Week 3: Buy at least one gift…

Want avoid a festive season freakout this Christmas? We’re here to help! Follow along for the next six weeks as we countdown to Christmas with easy-to-tick-off tasks. From stockpiling pressies to getting your home in the holiday spirit, we’ve got it your Chrissy prep covered. What are you waiting for? Press play on the Bublé and let’s get started!

 

Week 3: Buy at least one gift…

Quick question: Have you started buying your Christmas gifts yet? If you’re like, ‘Yeah nah, I’ve still got heeeaaps of time for that…’ we’re going to leave this gentle reminder here: It’s only six weeks ‘til Christmas. SIX. WEEKS. To get all your gifts sorted. To organise your festive feast. To wrap up all your end-of-year work projects. To see every single person you’ve ever met, who suddenly wants to ‘catch-up before Christmas’.

So, if you want to avoid a heap of new grey hairs courtesy of a stressed-out festive season, you might want to start ticking gifts off your list, like, right now. No need to go overboard and finalise pressies for everyone. Keep it simple and start with one gift. Whether it’s something for your mum, dad, grandma or teenage cousin, locking down your first Christmas present will put you on such a super-organised high that you’ll practically feel like Santa.

Need a bit of giftspo to get you started? We’ve pulled together a collection of our favourite gifts for all your key peeps.

 

Gifts for mum

1. XL Clutch in Leaves Print 2. ‘Hiding Out From Little People’ Decanter 3. Mumma and Mini Matching Swimsuit Set 4. Personalised Family Tree Necklace

 

Gifts for dad

1. Personalised Leather Watch Box 2. Two of a Kind Negroni Cocktails and Glasses Set 3. ‘I Couldn’t Pick A Better Dad’ Engraved Guitar Pick 4. Silicone Toiletry Organiser

 

Gifts for grandma

1. Personalised Gardening Gloves 2. Personalised Family Names Heart Necklace 3. ‘My Favourite People Call Me Grandma’ Ceramic Mug 4. Hand Wash and Body Wash Gift Set

 

Gifts for grandad

1. ‘The Grandfather’ Men’s T-shirt 2. Personalised Whisky Glass Tumbler 3. ‘Best Grandad’ Personalised Message Handkerchiefs 4. Personalised Solid Oak Photo Frame

 

Gifts for teens

1. Pretty Useful Tools Manicure Kit 2. Edition K 1,000-piece Puzzle 3. Commute Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 4. Personalised Boys’ Thongs

 

Gifts for kids

1. Personalised Rocket Bento Box 2. Personalised Circus Name Train 3. Colour-In World Map Pillowcase 4. Personalised Children’s Wooden Tool Belt Toy

 

Don’t forget the added extras!

While you’re on Mission: Christmas Gift Buying, don’t forget all the little extras you’re going to need before you pop those presents under the tree. Think cards, gift tags, wrapping paper, sticky tape and ribbon. Wrapping gifts as soon as you buy them is a great way to avoid that last-minute gift wrap chaos – plus, it’ll keep your pressies protected from any prying eyes that just happened to find their way to the back of that top shelf in your wardrobe…

1. Bauble Gift Tags 2. Personalised Christmas Dog Wrapping Paper 3. Personalised Narwhal Christmas Gift Tag 4. Christmas Card (Set of 10)

 

Playing catch-up? Here’s what we’ve already done…

Week 1: Make a gift list

Week 2: Deck the halls

hardtofind.

Hardtofind is Australia’s leading online curated marketplace for gifts, fashion and homewares.

http://hardtofind.com.au
DO + SEE + GO

Get set for Christmas! Week 2: Deck the halls…

Want avoid a festive season freakout this Christmas? We’re here to help! Follow along for the next six weeks as we countdown to December 25 with easy-to-tick-off tasks. From stockpiling pressies to getting your home in the holiday spirit, we’ve got it Chrissy prep covered. What are you waiting for? Press play on the Bublé and let’s get started!

 

Week 2: Deck the halls…

Nothing says ‘I’m ready for the festive season’ like turning your home into Santa’s cave, with more Christmas decor than Mrs Claus could rustle up. But there’s a fine line between delightful holiday decorating and too much tacky tinsel. So, how do you get the balance right? That’s where we’re here to help, starting with the big one…

 

The Christmas tree

You might be a few weeks away from pulling your trusty tree out of storage, but if you’re planning on some new decorations for this year, now is when you should be thinking about them. Are you sticking with your previous colour scheme or going with something new? Are there any new family additions or memorable moments you want to mark with a keepsake ornament? Decide on what it is that you need, and our trusty guide on how to decorate a Christmas tree will help you pull the whole thing together.

1. Australian Christmas Tree Wall Decal 2. Christmas Reindeer and Gingerbread Toy 3. Personalised Initial Christmas Tree Bauble 4. Personalised Clear Polar Bear Mr and Mrs Decoration 5. Christmas Felt Ball Garlands 6. Happy First Christmas Ceramic Baubles

 

The holiday table

Whether you’re hosting Christmas Day lunch at your place or having all your mates over for a boozy silly season barbie, setting the tone with the right table decor is key. Think table runners, napkins, ice buckets and glassware. Want to create something extra special for your nearest and dearest? Use personalised ornaments as place settings that double as Christmas keepsakes.

1. Red Wreath Personalised Christmas Table Runner 2. Set of Personalised Vintage Fork Cheese Markers 3. Personalised Reindeer Christmas Napkin 4. Personalised Silver Ice Bucket 5. Christmas Red Spot Linen Napkins 6. ‘Christmas Spirit’ Decanter

 

The advent calendar

Your official Christmas countdown begins on December 1, and whether you do it with a cute card advent calendar (no sugar high for the kids!), reusable baubles that let you add your own treats, or 25 days of gin or whisky samples, an advent calendar is a pre-Christmas gift that keeps on giving! (And don’t forget your four-legged friends waiting for Santa Paws…)

1. Fill Your Own Bauble Advent Calendar 2. Australian Whisky Advent Calendar 3. Personalised Christmas Advent Calendar Hanger 4. Pet Treat Advent Calendar 5. Christmas Advent Village 6. Personalised Shakies Nativity Advent Calendar

 

The sacks and stockings

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s going to need somewhere to put all those pressies the elves have been busy making. But a beautiful personalised sack or stocking isn’t just something you put out on December 24 – these sweet keepsakes deserve to be put on display in your home where they can boost your pre-Chrissy excitement.

1. Personalised Denim Christmas Sack 2. Personalised Luxury Velvet Christmas Stocking 3. Personalised Pet Paw Print Christmas Sack 4. ‘Ho Bloody Ho’ Personalised Christmas Sack 5. Personalised Mr and Mrs Faux Fur Stockings 6. ‘You’re On My Naughty List’ Christmas Gift Sack

 

Playing catch-up? Here’s what we’ve already done…

Week 1: Make a gift list

hardtofind.

Hardtofind is Australia’s leading online curated marketplace for gifts, fashion and homewares.

http://hardtofind.com.au
DO + SEE + GO

Get set for Christmas! Week 1: Make your gift list…

Want avoid a festive season freakout this Christmas? We’re here to help! Follow along for the next six weeks as we countdown to December 25 with easy-to-tick-off tasks. From stockpiling pressies to getting your home in the holiday spirit, we’ve got it Chrissy prep covered. What are you waiting for? Press play on the Bublé and let’s get started!

 

Week 1: Make your gift list…

Santa’s already started making a list and checking it twice – and so should you! Your first task in our ‘get set for Christmas’ challenge is to figure out exactly who you need to buy for and what you can afford to spend. Set up a note in your phone, get an app to plan your pressies, or, if you’re more of a pen-and-paper gal, we’ve created a downloadable gift list that will help to plan what to buy, without breaking the budget.

 

Decide who’s getting gifts.

Start by making a list of the people closest to you (think family, friends, significant others) and work your way out from there to include other potential gift-getters (we’re looking at you, teachers, neighbours, babysitters and office Kris Kringles). It’s a good idea to think about…

  • Hostess gifts – it’s party season and a good guest never shows up empty handed!
  • Charitable pressies for any toy or gift drives you might like to contribute to.
  • Kris Kringle gifts for your colleagues, family or group of friends.
  • Teacher gifts (don’t forget, you’ll need to get these sorted before the end of term, which is as early as December 13 in some Aussie states!)
  • Emergency back-up gifts for anyone who gives you something totally unexpected.
  • Thank you gifts – whether it’s for your personal trainer, your babysitter, your boss or the guy who delivers your newspaper, it can be nice to show your appreciation.

 

Make a (realistic) budget.

Next, think about what these gifts are going to cost. When it comes to setting your budget, think big picture: How much can you afford to spend in total this Christmas? Then pencil in a rough figure next to each person’s name on your list. It’s wise to leave a little wiggle room in your budget for any unexpected gifts – and don’t forget all your other holiday expenses. Holiday parties, festive decor and travel around the end of the year can all add up!

The best bit about prepping for Christmas eight weeks out is you can spread out the cost of your silly season splurges over multiple pay packets. But don’t overcommit. Be realistic about what you can afford – maybe it’s something small, like a bottle of wine in a personalised wine bag, or ready-to-grow herbs. Remember, it’s the thought that counts!

 

PS. Some gift ideas to get you started…

hardtofind.

Hardtofind is Australia’s leading online curated marketplace for gifts, fashion and homewares.

http://hardtofind.com.au