THIS is Christmas. Win a $250 Westfield Giftcard!

Brought to you by Westfield Christmas.

If you’ve been hanging around here for a while, you’ll know very well that nothing in my life is perfect. Oh heck, it’s so far from perfect that it’s perfectly imperfect, or something like that.

But let’s talk about Christmas specifically. Christmas is practically a series of disasters here. The pavlova always collapses {thank goodness for lashings of cream and chocolate shavings}, the decorations are always too expensive or too much hard work so we have one stray string of flashing lights at the front of the house, and an inflatable Santa that died last year so had to be transported to Santa-heaven {the tip}. I have high hopes for Christmas presents, that they’ll all be made of wood, and not make noises or be annoying, and each child will open then calmly and politely… but the reality is paper is everywhere, and those toys and whirring and lighting up for months after Christmas. Oh, and let’s not forget the food coma. The plans not to eat too much, or over indulge and then the inability to move due to eating all the food.

Yeah you know what I’m talking about.

I’m joining with Westfield to tell you this, perfection is out. Joy is in. That’s right, JOY IS IN. Say no to perfect, and say yes to having a bucket-load of fun. Let the kids decorate the Christmas tree, even it means the tinsel isn’t evenly dispersed and only sits on 1/8th of the tree.

I’m going to come right out and say it; My name is Chantelle, and I do not have a colour theme this year. And I didn’t have one last year either. And I’m abso-freaking-lutely OK with that. Fabulous even.

Here’s how you can have an fabulously imperfect Christmas:

♥ Don’t make those mince pies by hand. Buy them. Nobody really likes them anyway, do they?
♥ I don’t want to encourage drinking, but have wine on hand. And good beer. Everything is better with a tipple.
♥ Only invite people you want to hang out with. I know we all have to spend time with that aunt that drives us nuts, but keep contact to a minimum. Be a little bit selfish.
♥ Tell everyone to bring a dish. Don’t be sweating it out in the kitchen so everyone else has a great Christmas. Share the load. Make it easy.
Browse and plan online, preferably while eating home-baked goods. It’s good to go in with a clear plan, so you don’t get distracted by all the sparkly things. Find what’s available at your local centre, like entertaining essentials, and make your life easy by totally stealing their gift ideas for kids, or gifts for babies, or the hardest age of all, TWEENS. Or get the gift that everyone really loves, a gift card.

One of my favourite Aussie celebs, Julia Morris, is helping to share the message ‘All We See Is Joy’ and has filmed this cute clip {watch for the dude at 43 seconds passed out from too much food, that’s me!}.

And now I want to make your imperfect Christmas EVEN better. I’ve got one $250 Westfield to give to one lovely person. Just head over to Instagram, or share in the comments below, a photo of your Christmas. It can be from when you were 3 and totally digging that daggy Christmas outfit, or last year when you ate so much you couldn’t move. Tag your photo with @fatmumslim and #ThisIsChristmas to be in the running.

thisischristmas

And remember this Christmas, JOY is in. Embrace the joy people. I will be.

Competition closes November 30th. Open to Australian Residents only.

The winner of this competition is Dee {with her decorating disasters}. x

66 thoughts on “THIS is Christmas. Win a $250 Westfield Giftcard!”

  1. @fatmumslim #thisischristmas. Oh, impossible to choose just one of the happy memories from our Christmases with our gorgeous daughters! It is all about the children and the delight on their faces. This photo is the lovely man in our community who decorates his house in unbelievably resplendent Xmas fashion, and dresses up as Santa, opening his yard and his heart to all the children of the township for 2 weeks, every night leading up to xmas, and gives lollies and love and magic. Generosity of spirit and kids happy faces.. that is Christmas.

  2. It isn’t Christmas day in Australia without a water fight!
    #ThisIsChristmas @fatslimmum
    This was our first Christmas in 5 years with both boys together 🙂 Memories!!

  3. Getting a Santa photo taken with my first born Peter when he was 6 weeks old – he was even awake for it. So many more Santa photos to come.

  4. @fatmumslim #thisischristmas Even though I have hundreds of other photo’s of my kids at Christmas, this photo is one of my favourites. It is of my two youngest daughters proudly showing their personalised Christmas cards they received after “buying” items from the World Vision Smiles catalogue, as well as the gifts they had wrapped and ready to place under the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.
    I want my kids to learn that Christmas isn’t just about receiving, but about giving too. We are so blessed with all that we have, and it is so gratifying to give to those less fortunate.

  5. @fatmumslim #thisischristmas
    This was my Mum and Dad last year halving a Christmas ham so I could take some home. And of course they are using a hacksaw from the shed ? . This is christmas at our place

  6. @fatmumslim #ThisIsChristmas Enjoying lamb on a spit with family. Pasted with herbs, lemon juice and garlic , slowly rotating for 4 hours, cooked to perfection.

  7. This is my family on Christmas Day. I love them dearly but I have a lot to buy for. That’s me fourth from the right. @fatmumslim #ThisIsChristmas.

  8. Last year our Christmas included calling an ambulance when my 4yo fell on his head, a beautiful run away dog visiting us at lunch and plain white paper plates cos i couldn’t find the pretty ones. It was a great Christmas. #thisisChristmas

  9. @fatmumslim#thisischristmas
    ??????
    I’m sorry my post is not a happy one. This x’mas will be very hard for me after losing my mum in February & my nan in July 2015. You can see how close & fun & mad we are by our photo. I’m doing my best to be brave & soldier on?

  10. This is at a Christmas pub crawl we do every year, it’s a guaranteed catch up & an excuse to wear ridiculous Christmas hats & costumes!

  11. @Fatmumslim #Thisischristmas. Granddaughters first christmas eve at nanas, she was so worried santa wouldn’t find her.

  12. Look what I found under the christmas tree!! Best present in the world 🙂 @fatmumslim #thisischristmas

  13. @fatmumslim #thisischristmas
    Every year since they were babies my kids have had their photos in their Christmas stockings. And every year is like this. Impossible to get a good picture of all of them. There’s always one that doesn’t look or smile or does something crazy. But like you I look back at these as time goes on and remember nothing is perfect. Except them being imperfect. It’s a great Christmas tradition that reminds me to look at the lighter side of life and always be happy with its glorious imperfections.

  14. @fatmumslim #ThisIsChristmas
    Christmas 1962, I was two years old and I still remember it. I absolutely loved this rocking horse which was second hand and done up by my Dad. That’s my Great Grandma in the background. One of the best Christmas days ever.

  15. This is how my girlfriends and I spend our Christmas party every year… This year we won’t be, as my brave beautiful friend has just had a double lung transplant a week ago and doing well!!! That’s my Christmas present this year!! #ThisIsChristmas

  16. #thisischristmas @fatmumslim
    The first Christmas when my kids were both at an age to understand and the joy on their faces was unforgettable ??? definitely hard to choose a favourite memory!

  17. #thisIsChristmas @fatmumslim
    The first Christmas when my kids were both at an age to understand and the joy on their faces was unforgettable ???

  18. I have so many for you.. sand angels at the beach, small people full dresses at my bedside at 4am!.. Excited faces as we put up the tree.. but this one sums up the success of Christmas for me..

  19. @fatmumslim #thisischristmas
    Me, 4 years ago, watching with love as my niece sees that Grandad bought her a new bike. It was such a special moment.

  20. Decorating Disasters 101: When your two year old decides to get in the spirit of things and include some extra special decorations he found for the Christmas tree…

  21. @fatmumslim #thisisChristmas Last year my then 5 year old son had a full arm cast (bright pink). This year, my 9 year old smashed his face on the driveway the day before our Santaland booking. #alwayssomething

  22. @fatmumslim #thisischristmas
    This is the first Christmas after my twins where born. Talk about stress lol. Now all grown up. Eldest son married two years ago and daughter married in February. Only one left at home ?

  23. We do themed Christmases! In the collage are Cruise Ship (lounge singer), Greek, 50’s Diner and Mexican. The food, drink and decorations are themed too 😉 This year the theme is Polynesian. @fatmumslim #ThisIsChristmas

  24. @fatmumslim #thisishristmas

    This is Christmas, my Peanut getting his yearly photo with Santa! As you can see he is really comfortable just chilling with the jolly old man himself.

  25. This is my Christmas…
    My wonky tree, the kids Santa photo, Mistletoe that we make and hand out to emergency services workers, Christmas lights and Stockings!
    And the most important thing of all…the food, glorious food!

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