Make your own Activity Advent Calendar

Source: Unknown

I was doing my daily facebook stalk, when I saw my lovely and talented friend Megan had posted a picture of the "Activity Advent Calendar" her and her finance had put together. "What is this?" I thought, Having never heard of an "activity" advent calendar before. Anyway, I soon got the scoop, and for those of you, like me, who have never heard of this mysterious thing before, here's what it entails...

Basically it's just like a normal advent calendar you would usually use to count down the days till christmas, but instead of crossing of a number with a pen, or eating a yummy little chocolate, you assign a little unique task or activity for each day. You can cater your activities to your likes and hobbies, either focusing on you time, friend time, romance time, giving time, or all of the above.

Megan, like me, is currently an english teacher. With a little help from some of her students, she decorated these envelopes and made her own activity advent calendar! How cute!

Here are a few idea's to spark your own:
Take a long warm bubble bath with your significant other. Invite a bunch of friends round for hot chocolate and cookies. Bake something with friends. Make something with your friends. Go to a karaoke bar and sing only christmas songs. Watch an old-school Christmas movie. Take some time out to wright down 10 things your thankful for. Sit down with your partner and share 10 things your really love about them. Go stare at the stars! Make a snowman, or if your somewhere where its hot rather than cold, go skinny dipping! Decorate your Christmas tree. Send Christmas cards to friends and family. Have breakfast in bed. The possibilities are endless.

I can't wait to put together my own "activity advent calendar" with Charlie Brown this Sunday. Happiness.

30 days of me: Day 14

Todays challenge is to post a picture of me and my family. I can't find one of us all together- so I'll have to use two.

My brother and I at my 21st Birthday Party themed "Chinese, Japanese, will you come to my 21st please?"

My dad, mom and I on holiday skiing in Switterland. My Brother was there too, but I presume he is taking the photo.

My love for competitions and my dad

My dad!

My step-dad came into my life when I was around 3 or 4 years old (maybe a little younger even), there is a whole story behind how he came to be my dad, but I'll leave that story for another time. Most fairy tales include an evil and wicked step parent, mine luckily did not. My step dad (only refered to as daddy) is just one of the most genuinely amazing people you could ever wish to meet, and I feel so blessed to have him in my life.

My dad, among many things, is a total competition floozy.  It doesn't matter what you have to do to enter, or what you could potentially win, he'll be sure to enter. And don't worry, his pursuits aren't in vain, as he has won several pretty (hmmm, what word to use...) splendid prizes, including, a years supply of pies, a car, a scooter, a soccer-ball decorated weber braai/BBQ, and the list just goes on.

This random huge fluffy toy was won by my dad after entering a competition on the back of a toilet-paper pack.

I have so many childhood memories of sitting with my dad on the floor while he paged through newspapers or magazines clipping out entry forms and filling them in. Or walking down supermarket isles buying dozens of a product (that we would probably find little use for) just to enter the promotional competition attached.

He's always been lucky, and as he often quotes "you've gotta be in it to win it." I guess his little hobby has rubbed off on me, and now I too struggle to pass a competition without entering it.

Hence the reason for me often posting competition information that I've seen on other blogs or around the internet. Which reminds me, have you seen this cool Hostel bookers 25 days of Christmas give away? If not go check it out!

The Christmas competitions have started: Win an ipad two

Little Chief Honeybee has generously put this brand new 16GB white ipad 2 up for grabs. Entering is easy, and even if you don't want to enter this awesome competition (I don't see why you wouldn't) you should go check out her blog at honeybeeinthecity.blogspot because it's really awesome.

25 Days till Christmas! What's on your Wish list?

The festive season is finally here! And not a moment to soon! Christmas has got to be my favorite time of the year; delectable food, delicious deserts, excellent company, endless amounts of alcohol, and PRESENTS!!!Ok, no, seriously I do realize that Christmas is about a lot more than the above mentioned, but those things are pretty cool too! (The very thought of christmas has got me whipping out exclamation marks here, there and everywhere, so please excuse me!)

So for now, let's be shallow and talk about the present aspect of Christmas! What's on your list?

Here's my wish list for Santa, I'm going all out just for fun, I mean it's called a wish list right? So its allowed to be impractical, over the top and fun.

As I've gone a little photo obsessed, most of the stuff on this list is camera oriented, sorry if it's a bit boring. But I've tried to add some variety!

Swarovski "Holly Starfish pierced earrings"
I really like the idea of getting at least one Christmas present that you don't need at all. A pure 'want' item that you would never splash the money on for yourself. And this year that lavish and unnecessary gift are these little starfish. I have loved these earrings for as long as I can remember. They are so classic, and go with everything. What's not to love?

Christmas mince pies
My mom's mince pies have got to be the best. But at this point I'd settle for store bought ones. Unfortunately in Korea these little gems are hard-to-come-by (if not impossible)! I didn't even get one last year, hopefully this year i'll have more luck, if not though- definitely next year!

A Pooh Polaroid Camera
This is a totally unnecessary want in my life, but all the "cool" bloggers have one! So I want one too! Plus I think its such a nice idea to take special moment snapshots, put a little magnetic tape on the back and stick them to your fridge.

A Second Memory Card for my Camera
This falls under my reasonable and actually needed category. I would love second memory card for my camera, so that when one is full I don't have to go into panic mode deciding which photos to delete and save. Obviously the bigger the better- but any size will do, I'd just like it to be a "class 10."

A Second Camera Battery
Again a needed and reasonable want, for those days when one battery just isn't enough juice! I believe i need a LP-E8 (who knew)

Body Shop Vitamin E Set
I'v used the body shop's Vitamin E cleanser, toner and moisturizer for years, and I'm totally a fan. Alas, all of mine have run out (pretty much at the same time impressively) and I need some more. I'm categorizing this as necessary pampering. I would replace this myself, but as I'm leaving soon baggage weight is weighing heavily on my mind (see what I did there!). So If someone out there back home wants to treat me to this, you can save on postage:P And I'll pick it up in March!

DSLR Wireless remote

Very helpful for all of those self portrait pictures of me and Charlie Brown. The canon ones are a little pricey but you can pick up a no-name brand for around 6000won on G-market!

DSLR Camera Shutter Release

Shutter Releases are used with a tripod to prevent hand shake when taking a picture with a very slow shutter speed. Like everything in life these range from affordable to not so affordable, but you can pick one up easily for around 30 000won.

Camera Tripod

Don't say you didn't see this one coming after you read about the shutter release. I'd really like a tripod with a tilt and adjustable head. I'm loving this one from G-market available for only 20 000won.

So there you have it, pretty geeky hu!? If you're one of the 3 people I may be lucky enough to get a gift from this year, please consult with Charlie Brown (A.K.A Chris) so that I don't get the same gift twice:)

Now I've shared- it's your turn! What's on you're list?

30 days of me: Day 15

I have decided to skip day 13 and 14 for now. 13 because I'm not sure I'm ready do open such a big door, and 14 because I can't find a nice picture of me and my family all together that isn't like 15 years old! How terrible is that?!

So, I'll come back to that, but for now I'm putting my I-pod on shuffle and telling you the first 10 songs that play apparently!

Source: Unknown

1. Carnival Town, Norah Jones from the album "Feels like home"
2. Breath Again, Sarah Bareillies, from the album "Kaleidoscope heart" (this has go to be one of my favorite albums of the year.
3. Gap, The Kooks, from the album "Konk"
4. I Could Say, Lily Allen, from the album "It's Not Me It's You"
5. Now I'm Here, Queen, from the album "Greatest hits 1"
6. If I Were a Boy, Beyonce, from the album "I am...Sasha Fierce"
7. 1985, Bowling for Soup, from the album "A Hangover You Don't Deserve" (It's impossible not to sing along to this song!)
8. Girl I Wanna Lay You Down, Jack Johnson
9. 7/4 (Shoreline), Broken Social Scene, from the album "Broken Social Scene"
10. I Know, Fiona Apple, from the album "When The Pawn"

There you have it, had more fun making this list than I thought I would, brought back some good 'ol memories. If you give it a go let me know:)

Mulberry handbag giveaway from The Flower Girl

Check out this awesome Mulberry handbag giveaway from The Flower Girl! How stunning is this bag?! Just click on the link, follow four super easy steps and you stand a chance to win.