i'm grateful for . . . 'the goodies of wrapping up the year'

Greetings all,

Maxabella Loves last I'm Grateful For the year . . . so it's a Christmas cracker of a finale!!
Lovely goodies sent to me this week (my postmistress Anna calls it 'fan mail').  A little house of love Christmas ornament from Leonie at Kiwi At Heart blog & this delightful red bird ornament from Ally at Everyday Miracles blog.  Thanks ladies, big smile on my face & warmth in my heart.

 Canberra locals know & LOVE Erica Soy Candles.  Erica offers half price refills & lives arond the corner (home delivery) yay!!  My latest refills will make our home smell fresh (lime & sandalwood, lemon grass, Victorian rose, pink grapefruit, 'relaxation') & festive this Summer . . .10 tins of Christmassy smelling candles for teacher's gifts: gingerbread, spiced orange, mistletoe, frankincense & myrrh + more.  Wish this was a scratch'n'sniff blog!!

 I read on Tania McCartney's blog a neat review of Lotta magazine, produced in Australia & aimed at school holiday craft projects, delightful.  Better yet, $10 & ad free!!  I've been hanging out for the Christmas edition of Mollie Makes magazine.  Found myself with time to kill in the car the other day, so grabbed New Idea, i don't think i've ever bought a copy but i'd like to know how Rebecca Gibney lost the weight too!! 

 Thursday's Brindabella market was delightful . . . Mel from Canberra Airport organises the marquee, trestles, linen tablecloths & we just display our goods & sell, awesome deal right??  Thanks Mel!!  This time, after nagging Tania for 2 years, planets aligned & she was available to have a stall.  She had baked each of my children personalised GingerBreadMen.  They were exactly the kind of gingerbread we like (soft & chewy) & so cute!!  Thanks Tania!!

 My children's Christmas bikes have been the gift that keeps on giving - especially when they return with a bounty of flowers from the neighbourhood.  I expect their 'wanted' descriptions up on posters shortly, they promise they only pick flowers from the nature strips & paths!!

 Stacey from Cheeky Textiles blog had a 'shopping event' at her place on Friday, it was really great & we're all keen to do it again.  Inbetween the morning & evening sessions, i had a delicious P&C Thank You lunch & collected the children from school.  Jam packed day.  Rachelle from Orange Whisk was selling her incredible gingerbread & vanilla biscuits (you can find them at the Essential Ingredient in Manuka too).  She bought SO many things from my stall, the 3rd time she came around i insisted "take what you want & pay me in food".  Mmmm, so glad she did.  Thanks for having us Stacey!!

 My high schooler has wrapped up year 7 with a bang: parties, discos, gifts, sports ribbons, dancing with their teachers & she lost her last baby tooth (parceled up by a teacher with quite the demand to the tooth fairy).  Her much adored maths & science teacher "Mr B" is returning to Canada with his wife & 4 daughters, after a year long exchange.  He gave her a Canadian twoney ($2 coin) & i promised we'll go to Alberta one day & hunt him down.  My husband went to Canada on an adventure training exercise with the Army 12 years ago & i'm still jealous!!   

 I'll admit, Saturday started off with nibbling gingerbread on the way to athletics, then the Farmer's Market.  Picked up double of my regular purchases of fruit, foccacia, chocolates, sausages, dips & breads.  My fruit bowl is overflowing with apples & pears.  Should survive the first week of high school holidays, my little ones are stuck at school until Wednesday week.  They have 2 days off before the Christmas weekend??!!

 Yay, can you believe this bounty from Donna Hay??  She's offering very generous specials in the lead up to Christmas on line & at her General Store in Sydney.  Next week i'll have 4 prizes in a Donna Hay giveaway, stay tuned, i just have to bake first & we're spending the rest of the weekend in Bowral.

Sending you great festive vibes people.  Love to you all, lots of gratefulness for following me & supporting me this year, love you all & thanks Bronwyn from Maxabella Loves blog for hosting mucho appreciation this year!!  Love Posie