Welcome!
The Big GrowMama Holiday Giveaway is now closed, as of midnight 18th December, 2015. I will be drawing the winner by random.org and announcing the winner and the two runner-ups on Sunday evening.
Good luck!
To win all this deliciousness, just 'like' the GrowMama facebook page (HERE) and tell me your favourite holiday tradition in a comment on this blog post. Include your email address so I can notify the winner. Giveaway closes on the 18th December at midnight. It's open to NZ'ers only this time- sorry international folks. One entry per person. The winner will be drawn by random.org. Winner takes all. PLUS, two luckyrunner-ups get a pot of the best balm: Lakoko Balm. Whoop!
1. Lakoko Balm. For all skin types, this stuff is the BEST!
2. 100 Acts of Sewing Dress No# 1 Sewing Pattern.
3 and 4. Stephanie Grace Jewellery curls AND heart necklaces. Yes! Really!
And, below:
5. Box of The Tiny Tinker miniature Christmas pinecones.
6. Sword and shield from The Elves and the Woodbotherer. Kid heaven.
7. Thunderpants! Christmas print in men's, women's or children's, you choose.
8. The Tiny Tinker mixed cones for making natural Christmas decorations.
Remember, 'like' the GrowMama facebook page (over HERE) and leave your comment telling us about your favourite holiday tradition to be in the draw. Winners will be announced here on the blog and on the GM facebook page.
Good luck!
We love making Christmas decorations :-) Specifically Pomanders...they smell divine with that wonderful Christmassy aroma.
ReplyDeleteOoo, we haven't made pomanders yet...good idea!
Deletecarla jenkinson
ReplyDeleteto make xmas decorations out of natural and recycled things.......doing some today
You'd love the boxes of cones from The Tiny Tinker then Carla!
DeleteMaking decorations with what ever was in the cupboards!. great giveaway
ReplyDeleteThanks Kerrie! We have trawled through our cupboards rather than buying in new crafting materials this year. With stellar results too!
DeleteMy favourite tradition is spending with the family and playing the same silly games each year!
ReplyDeleteSilly is so good! x
DeleteMy favourite tradition is spending with the family and playing the same silly games each year!
ReplyDeleteFor the past few years we've gone out on Christmas eve looking at local Christmas lights, it's something we really look forward to now and it's a great way to get into the festive spirit!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done this here in NZ yet, I hear there are some good streets in Auckland too. I'll bet there are some sleepy kids on the drive home. x
DeleteThe latest traditions we are working on are relaxed days with no expectations and obligations. Natalie x
ReplyDeleteThey sound like my kind of days Natalie. x
DeleteTo give home-made or home-grown gifts. This year it's tomato plants, feijoa jam and bottles of kombucha.
ReplyDeleteMeganhinge@gmail.com
DeleteI love making gifts too. Seedlings, feijoa jam and kombucha sounds perfect!
DeleteI'm easy, I just like making cookies and decorating the tree with my kids ��
ReplyDeleteEasy is good! x
DeleteWe do an activities advent calendar. So much fun! I've messaged you my email address ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the message. Activities advent calendar...what a great idea. x
Deletemy favorite tradition is our family 'secret santa', we all get a random name and have to find a present and write a 'poem' for the person, and then on the day they have to guess who the giver was. so fun!
ReplyDeleteThat does sound like fun. I like the poem part of it too. Enjoy!
DeleteMaking cards out of cut out and collaged materials. Made one today in collaboration with Miss 3 yr old. Will photocopy and give out to the whanau on Xmas day. In lieu of presents!
ReplyDeleteHandmade cards are just the best. x
DeleteThrowing ourselves into all the things of summer - staying up late(r), late afternoon swims, blueberry picking...
ReplyDeleteoooo...blueberries...I love blueberries!
DeleteWe always have stuffed potatoes on Christmas day for lunch, this is from my family growing up. Now with my own wee family, i will still maintain that tradition but we are going to make new traditions as we go now since we have 2 little people. Adding every year.
ReplyDeleteConsciously creating new family traditions is just magic. x
DeleteMy favourite tradition is having a hot glazed ham on Christmas Day and then leftover ham for days afterwards :)
ReplyDeleteAll meals sorted for Boxing Day then! x
DeleteMy favourite tradition is having a hot glazed ham on Christmas Day and then leftover ham for days afterwards :)
ReplyDeleteWe select a new tree decoration to represent those who are no longer with us
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely idea Kris. x
DeleteMy little boys just decorated the tree today all by themselves. It was so cute and fun and it looks excellent. Gets better every year!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like fun! Exciting times for the little ones. x
DeleteFeasting with family
ReplyDeleteAh, yes...feasting. I love a good feast.
DeleteMaking cards and we give our daughter a Christmas box on Christmas Eve, with pyjamas and a Christmas book. ❤️
ReplyDeleteI sew something new for the kids to wear on Christmas day - I wrap it up and put it on the end of their beds. Better than a stocking!
ReplyDeleteNow we're talking! My boy is eight now and has gone off 'mama-made' clothes. Which I was sad about, until I realised I could sew more for ME! Mwah ha ha!
DeleteI sew something new for the kids to wear on Christmas day - I wrap it up and put it on the end of their beds. Better than a stocking!
ReplyDeleteHomemade Shortbread always our tradition and so enjoyed by all those that receive them
ReplyDeleteLovely! We've started making shortbread every year too. It makes me miss my Nana though, she made it every Christmas when I was a girl.
DeleteOurs is decorating the tree with all our lovely old decorations which bring back memories of Christmas's past. And listening to our funny old 50's Xmas carols at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI love all the memories that get unpacked from the Christmas boxes. I must start a collection of crazy Xmas music though, your 50's carols sound fun. x
DeleteTaking the kids to pick out the christmas tree, and then trying to remain calm while we all decorate (dismantle, pull over said tree, spill the water out of the tree bucket on the floor, general chaos)the tree :-)
ReplyDeleteAh, that sounds familiar Jo! Christmas chaos...
DeleteI seem to have an unsustainable habit of having newborns at xmas. Next year I'm going to come up with something that is repeatable.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you have your hands full Renee! Enjoy. x
DeleteThe only actual tradition that we have (carried on from my very wise parents) is that the kids have to make the parents cups of tea in bed before they're allowed to even think about opening presents. ha. I'm starting another holiday tradition back up this year - we're going camping. We used to go camping every summer holiday when we were kids and I haven't done it since leaving home. This year, Great Barrier. Reigniting the camping spirit!
ReplyDeleteCamping is awesome. And I really really like the cup of tea in bed before any Xmas action thing...will put that one to the committee...
DeleteWell, we have a few traditions in our family here.
ReplyDeleteA new (thrifted) beautiful Christmas book every year.
One decoration every year that one day they will take theirs for their first grown up Christmas away from home.
But, the favourite thing for me this year is watching the difference every year in the way the children count the day and weeks of advent. We make a wreath together every year too, but we have a felt advent calendar that I made for Sofia's first Christmas eight years ago and every year it brings great joy. I love watching them take out the decorations and hang them on the tree at the top.
Magical. We have a pile of thrifted Christmas books too. Jed's auntie gifted him the Nutcracker when he was 2 and we look forward to it every year.
DeleteMy boys really love wrapping Christmas presents in recycled paper (usually one of the kids' drawings from the previous year, interesting looking magazine article pictures I have collected or other colourful images from tea or cereal cardboard packaging stuck onto recycled paper - we also use newspaper). This year we have collected different fabrics from op-shops and will make sure we get them back for wrapping presents next year at the extended family's secret santa event.
ReplyDeleteOther traditions include making Christmas biscuits, writing (i.e.drawing/ scribbling) on Christmas cards to friends and family, and making other home-made edible treats and cosmetic products (if I can find the time).
We like to make a bunch around holidays too. I love the alternative wrapping paper ideas...it is so silly to buy special paper that will just get thrown out days later.
Deletemy favourite tradition is helping the kids decorate the christmas tree. we have a bag of ornaments and they love to inspect each one and tell the story of how it came to be, such as the angels made from tapa cloth and the strange porcelain 'christmas train' (?)
ReplyDeletethough of course there are heaps of other traditions i love too, buying and making gifts, wrapping, making sweets, etc.
this is rather an amazing giveaway - thanks for the chance to enter!
X X
Thanks Melissa. Isn't it a wonderful collection of beautiful things?! I like that your kids re tell the stories behind each ornament. We're making our peppermint bark and cookies tomorrow, we've been looking forward to it. x
DeleteLovely giveaway. Out tradition has become gingerbread houses. I make lots if gingerbread houses and all the cousins come over to decorate one each...and some adults who like to have one too
ReplyDeleteI ASPIRE to make a gingerbread house like your whanau, every year I marvel at the photos on your blog! xx
DeleteLovely giveaway. Out tradition has become gingerbread houses. I make lots if gingerbread houses and all the cousins come over to decorate one each...and some adults who like to have one too
ReplyDeleteWe have 3 boys and from the 1st of December we read a christmas themed story before bedtime in front of the christmas tree. Simple but such a special time for our family to appreciate our beautiful tree, just spend some wonderful family time
ReplyDeleteLovely Terri. We have a collection of thrifted and gifted holiday books and look forward to them coming out of the Xmas box every year.
DeleteMy favourite tradition is gathering around the Christmas tree at my parents house on Christmas morning and handing out and opening the thoughtfully chosen presents one by one. I love surprising family members with a present they didn't know about - unfortunately not too many surprises this year - I learnt the hard way 3 year olds can't keep secrets! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, that made me laugh. Yes, some three year olds are hilarious with secrets aren't they?! AH well, there will be other years for secrets. x
DeleteI love making gingerbread houses from scratch with miss 4.5 and master 2. This year sweet master 4 months will ve observing too!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely image Lizzie! Have fun decorating your houses together.
DeleteWe love going for a drive around to see all the Christmas lights - contemplating how we can best do that with a 2 year old this time around! If only it got dark earlier... for just one night.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, we live a little ways out of town too and hence haven't made it into town to see the lights yet. One day.
DeleteAs our family grows, we are developing more and more Christmas traditions. I love decorating the tree while listening to Christmas tunes. I love watching the kids receive their video message from Santa. I love giving the kids their special Christmas eve pressie of new PJ's (so they look nice in xmas morning photos!). I love the kids piling into our bed on xmas morning to open their santa stockings.
ReplyDeleteAh I was meant to put my name!
DeleteI think my favourite Christmas tradition, although I haven't been able to do it for quite a few years, is making gingerbread people with my mum and niece :) Gosh, you've got me all nostalgic! Even though I can't make gingerbread people this year, thinking of those memories definitely puts me in the Christmas spirit :)
ReplyDeleteOH my...I had forgotten about the gingerbread people, I used to do that with my nana! Thanks for the memories.x
DeleteFavourite tradition is family member from all over NZ and the world heading for the beach for a relaxed Xmas evening dinner.
ReplyDeleteBeach and relaxed are two of my favourite words!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe love making salt dough decorations - we use them to decorate the tree and as gift tags
ReplyDeleteI have never made salt dough. This year might be the year. x
DeleteWe always have sausage rolls while we open our presents in the morning
ReplyDeleteThat has to be the most random tradition yet...I love it!
DeleteDecorating the tree with the kids, opening an early present on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeletecharmedmum@windowslive.com
Oh the early present opening is a good idea...the kids are always so excited by then. Wise people in your family. x
DeleteBaking Christmas cookies with the children which they spend hours elaborately icing, then I spend hours elaborately cleaning up the carnage! ;) Ha ha, merry christmas!
ReplyDeleteYup. Tomorrow we make our annual peppermint bark and cookies too...similar sort of an outcome. x
DeleteWe make a gingerbread house and biscuits and have fun decorating them, then share our house with the cousins kerrie73@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI bet the house doesn't last long! Every year I think I might get around to making a gingerbread house and haven't so far. One day. x
DeleteHi Anissa - With all our Christmas decorations packed up somewhere in a box for the past couple of summers I'm very happy I kept a small bag of Christmas goodies handy to pull out this year - old Christmas cards to cut up and reuse, Christmas Carol CDs (altho now Spotify provides an even greater variety!) a few decorations for some instant bling around the house. My favourite tradition though is getting the girls together with their South Island cousins, watching them making their own memories while I reminisce on my own memories of Christmas' spent with my cousins. They were the best of times!!! Merry Christmas xx
ReplyDeleteCousins are the best. And thanks for the Spotify hint!
DeleteDecorating cookies for Santa on Xmas Eve. The children look forward to it every year. Xx
ReplyDeleteLucky lucky Santa! I hope he hasn't gone sugar free. x
DeleteSo many precious traditions - but there are three I always stick to. One, everyone has to have a stir of the Christmas cake and make a wish (and I take a photo of my daughter and partner doing it every year, so we can look back and see how she's grown and he's, um, grown a little more silver). Two, we set up the nativity set that my mother bought in the 1960s, because that always signalled the start of Christmas for me (and I can tell my daughter stories about my mother, who died nearly four years ago, because that feels important at this time of year). Three, we do something nice for people who don't have the ability to celebrate like we do, because that's also a really important thing for everyone to remember. Hope you have a lovely Christmas! x
ReplyDeleteI love your three traditions. We have also donated a food basket and gifts for local charities every year.
Delete