Finding My Christmas Spirit :: An Act of Desperation... Or Maybe One of Devotion

After my post about the wine festival a couple weekends ago and feeling so fab about our impending summer, looking forward to sunshine and barbeques, it got me thinking perhaps I've been a little distracted and haven't been focusing on the real message of Christmas. It's amazing that even after a year of living in the southern hemisphere I still struggle with the seasons being opposite of what I am so use to... it feels more like the 4th of July is just around the corner rather than the celebration of our savior's birth. So I decided to challenge myself to a few DIY projects around our house to bring in a little holiday cheer and cherish the season. 

I can't say they've all been successful. In fact, if you saw this month's Ten on Ten post you caught a glimpse of how things have been going over here at Thirty3Gloucester.... For example, this fumble... 

10 points to the first person who correctly identifies the materials used to create this sorry piece of holiday art.... Yep. If you guessed a scrap piece of sheet rock (or 'gib' for the NZ readers) that I stole from my husbands collection and chalk, you are correct.

I'm not really sure what came over me? Clearly I was caught in a moment of pure desperation, grasping for (literally) whatever I could find to imply my need for holiday cheer. God knows the Christmas carols Pandora keeps spitting out isn't cuttin' it, and really isn't evoking much other than frustration and feelings of great distance between this home and that of our loved ones so far away!  

It finally dawned on me that many of these feelings are really my heart aching for some of my own holiday traditions that I'm missing out on for the second year in a row. Like pulling out and using the holiday dishes I've been collecting piece by piece for about 8 years now. And the ornament collection my parents started for me when I was a child, and continue to add to each year. I didn't realize how special a ritual it is for me to get that box out of storage every year, unwrap each one, reflecting on its history and then carefully placing it on our Christmas tree. 

Perhaps I knew this before, but it seems I am clearly recognizing in this season how important the traditions of home really are. They are after all important elements that bind us to family and friends, hold us steady, keeping us connected while we're apart. So to help me relocate my center and redirect my heart back to the true miracle of Christmas, I decided to start a new little tradition and make myself an advent calendar, which tells the nativity story just a little day-by-day. 

This really was an ultra easy DIY, perfect for someone like me who generally lacks the crafty, design gene and even more so, the patience to complete more intense craft projects. This one was a little time consuming, but that's where the 'act of devotion' comes in. Believe me, I didn't pull this all together in one sitting! (I got figity and had to take a beverage break.... and let's be honest, my pen ran out of ink about 3/4 of the way through...) So I spread it out over a couple days. It would have gone much quicker if I had a rubber stamp to make the wreath, but frankly I found it so therapeutic to sit with each card and go through the process of creating each one. On the back side of each card I wrote a piece of the nativity story, beautifully retold on these freebies that I found through a quick Pinterest search.

Now that it's complete and hung I am so glad I put in the time to make this calendar. In fact, I'm considering having the cards laminated so they'll last more than one or two seasons. I think it will be a great reminder to Drew and me of our first full year (second Christmas) in New Zealand and of the many acts of devotion it took to get us and keep us here. This project was also a great reminder that I need to continue to be present in each moment, enjoying every bit of the season we're in and all this chapter of our life has to offer us. 

Wishing each of you a holiday season abundant with love, joy and laughter.
Merry Christmas from the Robinson family! Xoxo

Here's How To Make This Advent Calendar

Materials  :

24 pieces of card stock cut to the size of your liking

1-2 white scrap-booking pens

1 glass jar with the appropriate diameter opening to fit the card stock

Butcher twine, hemp or string (I used hemp butcher's twine)

decorative clothes clips 

Method:

1. Start by tracing the lip of the jar onto each card, leaving and opening at both the top and bottom. 

2. Next, draw the leaves down the shaft of the twig. I imagined a sprig of thyme and tried to replicate it's shape.  

3. Now, shade in each leaf, and add a few decorative berries at the bottom of the wreath in between where the twigs meet. 

4. Then, number the cards from Day 1 to Day 24. 

5. Turn the cards over and inscribe a piece of the nativity onto each card.

To hang:

1. Assemble the cards in order.

2. String the twine into place, fastening it with tape, tacs, or some other fancy method you come us with. 

3. Add the clips, evenly spacing them across the twine.

4. Attach the cards to the clips in order of days 1-24.

Enjoy!

Tis the season :: South Island Wine and Food Festival

I'm not sure what I'm more excited about. The fact that Christmas is only two weeks away or that summer is upon us holding the expectation of another fabulous festival season! Wait... I just reread that last sentence, paused and then totally laughed out loud to myself... What a beautiful contradiction for a girl from the Northwest corner of the United States to ponder... I really don't think I'll ever get use to living in the opposite season as the calendar I was raised on says it is....

Anyway, the impending season was oh so evident on Saturday at the South Island Wine and Food Festival. The weather could not have been any more gorgeous bringing with it a mob of sunshine seekers keen to soak in its rays. I was so distracted by all the great sundresses and cute, strappy sandals that it has me itching to do some serious summertime dress shopping!

It felt so good being out in the sunshine enjoying some of the south island's finest fare, entertainment and sharing the day with so many great people. For the first time since moving here, Drew and I found ourselves toggling between multiple groups of friends from different circles all out for a good time. It finally feels like our network is growing and I had such a great time meeting new faces and getting to know a few of Drew's workmates a little better.

This season is already off to a great start and I'm eagerly looking forward to all that is in store!

Thanksgiving Leftovers :: Reflections Of A Year And A Very Full Harvest

Where do I begin? This is the question I've been contemplating for the past couple days... When I last left you, Drew and I were about to enjoy some American football and delicious eggs benedict. Well, the morning progressed very nicely and Drew and I managed to have a wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving Friday as planned... and then the phone rang. It was our Immigration Case Manager, Felicity, calling to inform us that our application for New Zealand Residency SUCCESSFULLY passed all inspections and we have been A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D ! This is the moment where I sit shaking on the couch with tears welling up in my eyes in disbelief that this lengthy and expensive process is finally over and we are now able to live freely in New Zealand as legal Residents, eligible for the same benefits and rights as New Zealand Citizens! This is incredible! And hopefully you'll forgive me for not jumping online straight away to shout the awesome news (not really my style). I've needed a few days to process. Let it sink in and reflect. Breathing deeply a sigh of relief and feeling that weight lifted... 

It also dawned on the two of us today that it is December 1st (November 30th in the States). Drew and I started our New Zealand journey exactly 365 days ago today with the hope that we had saved enough money to travel this beautiful country for at least a few months. Then hopefully find some work and set up a home-base. Our original goal was to live and work in New  Zealand on projects related to the Christchurch city rebuild for at least one year. We have accomplished all of these goals. And now as residents we have the ability to make this place home for as long as we choose.

So as I stand here in my tiny kitchen prepping a lovely chicken stock and mix up a little batch of chicken salad for tomorrow's lunches from Thanksgiving dinner party left-overs, I reflect on a year overflowing with blessings. A year of transition and uncertainty. One brimming with excitement and adventure. A year full of countless lessons learned. One of knowing my husband a little better each day. Walking together. Sharing laughter and tears, and cheering each other on through some pretty painful terrain, and persevering. 

This has been a year full of experiencing God's amazing grace and knowing how deep His commitment really is to this little family; keeping us close and holding us gently like a tiny grain of sand in His palm... I am overwhelmed by our accomplishments (and failures) this year. I am grateful for and so very proud of every risk we've taken. It is true. If you never try, you'll never know. And there's nothing but regret for lack of action.

I am thankful for my husband. I'm grateful for his spontaneous, adventurous, relaxed spirit who reminds me to not take everything so seriously all the time and pushes me to have the courage to turn my ideas into action rather than spend too much time mulling over and planning every perfect detail. He is patient and kind. And he is committed... even though this shit gets tough! 

I am thankful for another year to spend here in New Zealand. This time as a 'resident' rather than a 'visitor' (visa lingo) and look forward to new fruits bore from all of the cultivating and planting we've done over the last year. 

Wishing each of you a very Happy, Healthy, and Full Holiday Season. Xoxo

A Thanksgiving Soiree for Two

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Hope you're enjoying a wonderful day relaxing and rejuvenating in the warm surroundings of family and friends. Drew and I kicked off our Thanksgiving last night (Thursday in New Zealand), which in my mind marked the start of the holiday season! (It's Christmas music from here on out folks! Well, at least until New Year's... or until Mr. Robinson appears to be close to blowing a gasket, then we'll add a little today's hits back into the play list ;)  

We had such a wonderful, low-key evening together at home complete with a fabulous feast - dinner party for two - style. I love the holidays and well, any special occasion that allows me to go all out on the menu! Honestly though, I always seem to go overboard and make way too much food... Oh well, just means we have plenty of left overs to get us into next week!

Drew took today off of work (Thanksgiving in the States), so we could relax at home with an indulgent brunch, stream the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and some American football!...  that's actually what Drew's attempting to do as I type this post....

While I patiently wait, thought I'd share a few shots from our little feast last night and let you know we're thinking of all of you back home.  I hope to share more later this weekend. Until then, lots of holiday love from this little home. And now I'm going to get back to my mimosa and eggs benedict.... 

Cheers! xoxo

{Bouquets of Fresh Garden Herbs} {DIY Tablescape - Great Conversation Starters...} {Signature Cocktails - The Way to Start Any Great Party} {Oh How I Love My Garden in the Spring!} {Party Prep!} {Dutch Oven Roasted Chicken with Fresh Garden Herbs} {The Best Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sours - E V E R ! } {Pumpkin Soup with Chili-Cran-Apple Relish and a side of just baked rosemary & roasted garlic beer bread - Made with our very own Homebrew!} {My Favorite Party Guest} {Roast Chicken on a bed of French Beans-Roasted Baby Carrot and Fennel}

A Day At The Races

It's Show Time! Drew and I have been hearing this phrase and seeing posters for Cup and Show Week for at least a month or so, but I don't think either of us really clued into the gravity of this festival... Kiwi's do love any excuse to party. There's really no denying they love their festivals even more, and let me tell you this annual spring festival does not disappoint!

We originally planned to go wine tasting and stay out at Hanmer Springs last weekend since Drew had Friday off work to celebrate Canterbury's anniversary, however we decided last minute to save a little money and stay in town. We knew Cup and Show week was in full swing, but didn't really know what was on, so decided to check out what all the fuss was about... next year we'll be better prepared! 

After doing just a quick search Thursday night we realized C&S week is a full-on festival that kicked off the weekend before with a raging block party, an urban assault obstacle course competition, a fashion show, horse races, greyhound races, the A&P Show (similar to a county fair), and much more! (If I hadn't been out of town for most of last week maybe we would've done a better job earning participation points.) Anyway, after realizing what we were missing we immediately purchased tickets to Saturday's event - Christchurch Casino 150th NZ Cup and New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas Day horse race.

We knew we wouldn't win for best dressed, but quickly scavenged through our closet to find something decent to wear and I'm glad we did! Oh the finery! Ladies in their Sunday best. Dapper gents. Hats galore! I wish I had taken my Nikon and actually captured some better photos... Oh well. This was my first time to a horse race and it was such a blast! We even managed to win 3 out of the 5 races we bet on! We didn't actually win any money, but we did break even. I think that counts for something. :)  For those of our friends weighing a visit next spring - this would be a good time to consider!  We took notes, so next year we can really do it up!

(Oh and I should (although hesitantly mention) it is also Mo-vember, which my husband is proudly supporting... I questioned posting a few additional photos of him intentionally 'photo-bombing' several pics that would have otherwise been rather nice... They were however quite hilarious so I may put them up on FB. We'll see....)