I’m a little more organised this year compared to last, and spent Wednesday scouring the Internet to put together my Christmas menu. Wow, a whole two weeks before! This is something that I usually put off until the very last minute as I see to all of the other urgent things like – presents! I also don’t have the pressure to be super prepared because it’s usually just us on the day. I still like to do something special though, and the kids adore the pretty table and whole experience.

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It’s so important to support our local stores at Christmas time. What would the world be like if it was all about huge shopping malls full of chain stores and Internet shopping? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t reject that type of shopping, but there’s something special about your local bricks and mortar, not to mention the importance of a community for your wellbeing.

Read more on Wallace Rd Corner Stores Gift Guide…

Do you remember my 5 Decorating & Food Questions series? Well due to popular demand, I’m bringing them back. This time I’ll be adding some other topics to the series, like 5 Blog Questions for one. Of course the person I wanted to lead this new line up is none other than Jaclyn Carlson, of Blog Society! You’ve no doubt heard me rave about this woman since hiring her as my coach during and after this blog’s rebranding. She is a wealth of knowledge in the industry and because of this, along with her open demeanour, she has created a huge community of bloggers that network and support one another. This woman rocks!

Read more on 5 Blog Questions with Jaclyn Carlson…

Now that we’re into our last month of the year, I’m looking back at what shaped me. For me a good part of it has been reading and listening to inspiring women. Here are my top three women who influenced me this year:

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Most of us enjoy a good kitchen before and after. It’s a way to get an idea of what we might be up against for the day we undertake the task, and also to gain a little inspiration. My lovely friend in the UK, Amy, has kindly shared some photos and her kitchen renovation story with us. After reading about it, I realized that we each made similar costly mistakes, so if you’re thinking of upgrading your kitchen soon, read on. If you’ve already, well then you might be like me and feel a little kinship with Amy and her experiences and of course have a good nosy at the stylish end result.

Read more on A Kitchen Renovation Story…