Monthly Round-up: December '25

Skip to: December Top 10

Ok, so I under-estimated how long it would take to get this post done during the school holidays! In between being asked for snacks and keeping the kiddos entertained - I've not had much time to write! Here we are, a whole month after Christmas, catching up at last. My youngest has a friend over so I am actually left alone for a while (is this a hack?? Perhaps more friend visits to come - good for me and great for them!)

Christmas was wonderful, I miss all the fun already! Yes, it was busy and there's always lots to do, but it's peak core-memory creation for our boys, so I absolutely adore it all. I gradually set up decorations during the first week of December, and added a few new pieces along the way. We used a shared spreadsheet to keep track of all the niece and nephew gifting, and tried to order most things online to avoid the craziness of shopping centres in December.

Here's this months' round-up:

• I had another quick trip to Townsville, and on my return I was met with a magical sight! Ben had set up brand new outdoor Christmas lights, and it was such a wonderful surprise to come home to.

• Our good old Nespresso machine finally broke after 10 years (great machine, highly recommend for a pod coffee). A semi-automatic was on the wish-list for a new one, so after some research we decided on the Delonghi Magnifica. It's been fun playing barista and having freshly ground beans every time :D
  

  

  welcome home flowers and donuts

  

  outdoor christmas lights at night

  

  pretty christmas lights around back patio

  

  

  new coffee machine - delonghi magnifica
  
  

• Christmas eve and Christmas day - absolute bliss <3 The night before Christmas we drove around a few local streets with stunning light displays. It's a tradition we have done for many years, and it's still exciting as an adult. Christmas day started slowly - but first coffee - then discovering the treats in our stockings, followed by our favourite Christmas breakfast of ham & cheese croissants, "fancy" yogurt (Tamar Valley) and summer fruit salad - yum! Then we sat around the tree in our pjs and opened some gifts, then lazed around, checking out new toys and eating far too much chocolate. In the afternoon we drove up to my sister's place and settled in for more food and good times. Being together with family and seeing everyone having a great time is just the best thing ever!!

• We ended the month (and year) with an impromptu family dinner out at a local buffet restaurant, which was a hit with the kids. What do you mean you can have as many chicken nuggets as you want?!! I was also a big fan of the seafood bar (hello giant prawns!) and of course, the dessert bar. Puddings, cheesecake, tiramisu and apple crumble to name a few. More buffets in 2026 please ;)
  

  

  christmas eve light looking

  

  christmas breakfast - croissants, yogurt, fruit salad

  

  opening presents

  

  

  happy new year! prosecco and twinkling lights

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December Top 10

Here's what I've been loving this month. A random assortment of whatever I had on high rotation, whether it was a snack, a TV show or a song, maybe you'll discover a new favourite of your own!

Circa bar

Frameo digital photo frame

Homemade eggnog

stranger things season 5

pedlar project cafe

beach sand exfoliation

mangoes and cream tim tams

1. Circa bar in Berwick - our favourite local spot for a drink. We were lucky to squeeze in a date night just before Christmas & enjoyed a variety of exquisite cocktails and finger foods (the duck spring rolls are elite!!)

2. My new Frameo photo frame, one of the best Christmas gifts I've ever received! I wanted to be able to see the thousands of photos stored on my phone, and this digital frame is the perfect solution. Now some of my favourite photos and memories get to see the light of day, and I can even send pics to my mum who also has one!

3. Eggnog. Ok hear me out. When it's homemade, served ice cold with a sprinkle of cinnamon... chefs kiss! Such a delightfully festive drink.

4. Stranger Things - of course. Really enjoyed the final season, how they wrapped up all the loose ends and finished on a positive note. Watching it with our eldest son, who is a huge fan, was a special experience <3

5. My top songs this month (not including the Christmas classics I had on repeat!) Spotify Wrapped also had no surprises - top artists being Blink 182, Glass Animals, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga & Fleetwood Mac. Here's a couple I've added to the rotation:

   1. Don't look back in anger - Oasis

   2. Lose control - Young Franco

   3. Dracula - Tame Impala

   4. Hungry like the wolf - covered by Muse

You can check out my 'Current Faves' playlist here - always adding and updating.

6. Pedlar Project cafe in Townsville CBD. Excellent food, coffee and service, and I especially loved the outdoor dining area that was naturally shaded by a canopy of trailing plants and palms. It was a lovely respite from the North Queensland sun!

7. Scrunching my toes in the sand at the beach - the BEST exfoliation and feels amazing.

8. Shopback app, especially over Christmas. If you can get a little cash back when purchasing a gift for others, it's like a little gift for yourself too!

9. Aldi's turkey roast - this must be the 5th year in a row I've grabbed one for Chrissy. It's the perfect size for our small gatherings, and usually cheaper than other supermarkets. A juicy and flavoursome roast without the fuss, that's a win for me.

10. Mango and cream Tim Tams!! A sweet summery treat, and they were perfect on top of my Lamington trifle (recipe here).

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And that's a wrap on December! Bring on the new year - I do love a fresh start and the optimism it brings. Making future plans, enjoying some downtime over the school holidays and of course, some fun in the SUN!

Thanks for reading,

Jess