At 11.59pm I got an email from le beau with a video clip of him on cello and Adrian on piano, playing Happy Birthday! I love it! Helen also sent her birthday wishes, though didn't play the harp as traveling with a harp isn't that easy. :P I'd share it but sadly he's asked me not to. :( So instead here's a picture of the roses he sent me (some of them). 


SHOPPING! But first we must see Annie in the early hours of the morning before a 6.45am departure. I like the beginning, classic Annie and new Annie.  I love Will Stack's OCD thing about detol, though I'm not at the point where I'd drink it. But after 500 hands yes I need detol! Mrs. Kovacevic was funny, she was in the Wolf of Wall Street. And Cam's clown friend found a job in PR when he's not a clown. :P

In the end I thought that Hannigan almost dies or something saving Annie? Also the actors were her friends and co-artists rather than randoms. Fake mother is Lily, Andrea's friend from 'Devil Wears Prada'.

We really liked the movie, though le beau remembers the 1982 version clearer than me, I prefer this new version. I love the music and especially 'Maybe' and the title song. It's absolutely amazing that the main character is actually 11.  

Parts of 'Opportunity' reminds me of Beyonce's Halo, did anyone  think that too? A big musical number's a great ending can we do that for our wedding? :P

We really like Gloria Jeans and had the raspberry Tim Tam which was very nice, though still love Starbucks in December. I didn't eat any of the cream before I took that picture btw, also I like sprinkles over 100s & 1000s. They were stingy on the cream. :( the smallest serve of cream ever - I could be bias as I love my local store (with all of its great offers) and friendly service, also great wifi as there isn't many people there on a weekday.  

At 7.15am there was no parking at Chadstone, though we were on the Myer side. Just because you paid for it doesn't mean it's yours, and so I did buy a lot of things both online and instores, good thing too, as I got the last Benefit Sizzling Six $30 set in stores. 

L'Occitane didn't have the $15 pack I was after, shipping was $10 so we let it pass. Along with the online only Peter Alexander eye mask. So glad I smelt the candles before I bought them (or didn't) as the Glasshouse Xmas Trios aren't nice! Unless you like/know someone who likes all 3/3 together then it's best not to get it. 





Tiffany Tree! We haven't seen this till now as we rarely go to Chadstone, last time we were here was during the mid-year sale. I really like Tiffany, but very glad we went with le beau's family jeweler instead, even if I never actually went into the shop because it's in Sydney.


Happy Lab is pretty cool, it's all about the packaging and popcorn! Xmas stock on 50% off, we got a stocking with two bags of popcorn for $15. I would have thought the popcorn be $8-ish for a bag normally. But they're $15... Everything was sold out before lunch except the Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Balls.




Things I like that didn't buy because it's not my style. Also not sure what happened to the lighting in the left picture. Forever New has so much stuff that has that similar pattern from clothing to wallets, bags and phone covers. 












Accessories. Sportscraft, two belts for $7 with a $20 birthday discount. $13-ish each before that, was $20 before that. Hats I collect, yes even big practical ones, not just tiny top hats. 


The lines were very long! Pictures are lines of Lush - that's to get in, and Bubble Cup. Lines everywhere! 20min-ish wait for the bathroom. People also parked everywhere, on footpaths there was at least 8 cars, the cops were having a fun day taking pictures and writing up fines.





Lunch at Subway, seafood I love. Coke maybe not, regret not getting a juice :P though it depends on the person if they'll give you that or Coke/water.






Lincraft has 40% and they had ModPodge! Also I picked up some glitter cardboard for backgrounds in pictures. One is faulty though so we have to get that exchanged. 


Free drink from Chatime! Coconut milk tea with coconut jelly. We had an error and so I had to register again and it went through on the spot! Normally takes 12/24hrs.


Dinner was out last stop, the SA was lovely. For your birthday Nandos gives you a free meal, so I got 1/4 chicken (breast), chips (wow that's a big serving for small!) and apple juice. :)

Didn't pay for anything I ate today other than popcorn, so that was pretty awesome. Once again we missed Cold Rock ice cream as we crashed and they only open at 6-11pm. :( 



Day two shopping adventures! First and only purchase for me was Christmas Deco from Daiso, 2 for $2.80. All these things are for headpieces I'm creating. I love the tiny baubles!


Met up with Andy for lunch (a boost for me) and burger for him. Sportscraft has left the building (Melb Cenrtal) relocating in the Emporium 2wks ago.



The GAP here is completely different to Chadstone! It's as normal, and not a junk yard, hoarders' delight or clearance bin set up. At Chadstone you had to line-up to get in and there was stuff in piles on the tables. He bought some pants at some mainstream shop. The reason he invited me to come shopping was to be his stylist, but I don't really do guys as le beau has his own style, dresses him and occasionally me (he dresses me older to match him). His style is preppy and designer. Meanwhile Andy's style is mainstream - but we found him a stylist! (x) the manager at yd. was great! He's got his own style, knows the latest trends and there's no pressure to buy everything you try on. Andy got some shirts and his first pair of navy dress pants. We're working on him not dressing like a morman (when they're recruiting).

The above and a visit to H&M took all afternoon and evening, or at least till 8.30pm. Along the way was lots of waiting, a lack of the 'bored husband' seat and we got some reeds (it was on sale, my 3rd one with 48hrs) and a lovely Frozen inspired hairpin that I'm going to make into a brooch/pendent. 

At H&M I met Emily's sisters XD How often do you come across a mannequin with your signature hair style? Cue *We are Family*. We did send this to Emily, but she already saw them.




Finally we got to go for food! Churros, pasta lunch for tomorrow from Vapiano and pizza on the waterfront at 10pm.


The pizza had a real homemade style to it, simple but yummy. Nothing amazing though, I still prefer Crust.



What we bought over two days, well mainly the Friday. The bag is the Camilla Cross Body Bag ($30) from Kate Hill's Annual 50% Off. It's for work, where you can't bring a big bag with you, this is the one for water and the contents of my pockets. We bought lots of things that smell/look/taste nice. :) Mostly unplanned purchases because some shops I wouldn't shop at normally.

Le beau is glad I didn't buy more candles - yet. :P Though I bought x3 reed diffusers instead. Why? Because I can smell everything! You have no idea how disgusting it is to travel out West. Also I can smell things that you aren't suppose to smell. The only thing I can't smell is cancer, I'm not at that advanced level yet. :P I'd hate to have a dog's sense of smell.  




I love Lovisa! And there we got some deco thingy earrings, a basic locket (I collect them) and a wire tiara. I wonder of that guy on Little Collins does custom wire things...










I love these earrings! Le beau says one day I will find "the one" pair of earrings that will convince me to get my ears pieced. But the idea of getting shot through the ear with a needle doesn't sound too good. Plus consider how much $$$ I've saved but not buying most of the earrings I like. But it's also a deeper thing, there was a place I was at, a different time, a long long time ago when I was little, a place where if you wear a scarf you're asking to be strangled, braids cut and ears ripped if you dare wear earrings. It was a bad place.


Moving on to nicer things isn't this hairpin/clip lovely? Sadly it doesn't suit me, so I'm converting it into a brooch or pendent instead. I love how the colour themes look Frozen inspired.



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We don't actually celebrate Christmas, nor have we ever gone home for Christmas, so it's just another day. We don't do presents either (other then Secret Santas) as I get presents all the time (entering competitions is a hobby), also the next day is my birthday so I always get cash, or giftcards to my favourite stores. Instead our tradition is stocking up on cranberry jelly for the year (to go with chicken & brie sandwiches) and maxing lists of places to go to and things to buy the next day.


This year we made a gingerbread house! Isn't it beautiful? 95% foam 5% doubled sided tape. It features glitter which I love! With a real version edible glitter is very expensive with 5g being $10, and you'll need more than one colour.



Christmas actually starts at the stroke of Midnight on Halloween, but the locations tend to be far away and only accessible via car, so we didn't get a chance to stop by till December and half the stuff on the list was sold out. The Swedish Christmas drink ($1.50) was very nice and fizzy, unlike the spiced apple drink ($4.50) which wasn't fizzy but still very nice, and perfect by the fireplace with gingerbread cookies we made, with the dough ($4.50) we bought - which was perfect! The apple drink was meh, it's canned apple juice really, nothing special there.

P.S. Ikea's candle are nice but you can't really smell them at all when lit. Best to go with Glades Melts or Yankee Tarts/Candles. 



We made two trays of these and two trays of random shapes, they were perfect! And only takes 6mins to bake, at 7mins they're a bit, just a tiny bit burnt. You can literally just stand there and watch them back - I did. As I've never made them or any cookie successfully before I used pre-made dough from IKEA. Growing up we never made cookies or anything, as we never had an oven and still don't as mother doesn't see it necessary, also because it's rare that anyone will eat anything I cook - other than le beau, though he's only been around for the last four years. Pictured is my friend's oven. Cookies were great, and finished within a few hours too. :)


Coles had these gingerbread houses which the baker recommended, clearly he didn't eat them as it tasted hard and plain, like cardboard or maybe a cookie for a dog - and I wouldn't give these to my dog. I think it was more a novelty thing, which passed on that point as I had lots of fun decorating it. But on the box the plastic (well they feel plastic) faux Smarties are cut in half to increase surface area to attach to the window frame, it didn't come pre-cut and totally not safe to do yourself. Recommend? Yes but only as a decoration. Don't eat it.

What I actually wanted was the one by Gingerbread Folk for $37, whose cookies I've had before and it was great! But because I didn't buy them as soon as they came out they were all sold out, house & cookies. It doesn't come with candy, so that'll be an excuse to get some bags :P though at the same time I'd like to buy a mixed bag with just the right amount. 


We also bought some other Christmas Edition things from Coles. The gingerbread cookies were soft, spongy almost with a icing sugar coating. They were ok but I didn't really like them, unlike the stars and elves with popping candy! Le beau cleared out the shelves of them for me in Geelong. :P


This year I participated in the blogger Secret Santa, and received some lovely gifts, which we resisted opening till Christmas. *Lit candle not included, we're just experimenting with props and their influence on lighting.


My SS was Jen (questjen.com) one of the co-hosts of the Blogger KK, here's a lovely picture of her. And above is what she got me. A bunny stand, snowglobe (I love snowglobes!), something edible a marshmellow candy pop, something to smell, a rose candle! 

And a antique style necklace that will be great for work - I like to turn up in costume, and that's what I'm known for at work. :P Our work place (well one of them) was built during the Georgian era and goes to the the 1950s (big dresses!) though it's set in the prior and ends right after WWI. But we don't like to talk about WWI because it symbolizes the end of an era, of glamour balls and social changes at Downton Abbey and the likes.

Thanks Jen! Looking forwards to burning the candle while watching historical documentaries (for work) I would say I like to keep up to date, though unlike IT history doesn't get updates, it's more of learning more about the amazing era - I love history!



From my beau I received a huge box of skincare! This year we're doing a SS only (so one present per person) as we spent quite a bit on a trip to Fiji last Christmas and traveled business class (le beau & co, excluding me). Our budget for SS was $50 and I think he may of went over it... But in the card he also said it was a birthday present... I hate combined gifts... but over the next few days he did send me some surprises. :)


Meanwhile I got Helen (one of the harder ones, I mean what do you buy a surgeon who buys everything she likes) with help I got the link for her etsy wishlist :P and bought her these lovely earrings, and a few other cute handmade items.




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