Season's Greetings from under the grey skies of South Coast Australia. It's a rare treat to be awoken by rain on Christmas morning and as a winter-bug at heart I was delighted! I have had a wonderful day and I'm sure many can relate to that sparkly feeling that is paired with the company of loved ones, indulging in delicious food and gracious receiving gifts. I would like to wish you all a very merry christmas and I hope you all have marvellous day! 

Out & About | Finders Keepers Market

Source: 1, 2 from Finders Keepers Facebook page, 3, 4 my own fuzzy phone photographs

Last weekend (Saturday 7th of December) I attended the Sydney Finders Keepers markets with my sister. If you aren't familiar with these Finders Keepers it is essentially a showcase of the latest designers I like to think of it as 'real life' Etsy. I wrote a post about the happenings of this charming event and because it is a little lengthy I have split this post!

Happy Holidays | iii

happy holidays from paperdollchronicles on 8tracks Radio.

 I simply can not fathom that Christmas is less than ten days away! As part of my Happy Holidays series I've decided to incorporate Christmas playlists into my blog, inspired by Jessica of Vintage Machine. I feel a sense of nostalgia during this holiday season and always revisit the albums and films of the past (next post will be on Christmas movies). Christmas music is in a league of it's own and is an incredible tool in transforming the atmosphere of the holidays. I hope you enjoy my custom playlist and perhaps (re)discover some old gems. You can follow me on 8tracks at  paperdollchronicles

Tracklist 1. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
2. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Micheal Bublé
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
4. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby
5. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
6. Here Comes Santa Claus - Elvis Presley
7. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan
8. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - She & Him

Instagram Picks

  

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I love the micro-blogging aspect of Instagram, which is easily my most used app on my phone. I thought I might share with you a few of my favourite instagram picks of this month so far. You can follow me here 

Happy Holidays | ii

1. Assorted canvas tote bags

2. Cambridge Satchel Company 

3. Various reading paraphernalia  

4. Jelly Bean sandals 

5. Gorman melon socks

6. Aesop goodies

7. Reid Ladies Vintage Bicycle 

Merry Christmas and welcome to Happy Holidays Part (ii), this second edition to the series will focus on exchanging gifts. This Christmas season is quite different for my family as we are breaking our tradition of traveling overseas. A typical Christmas morning is waking up in a foreign country and spending the day with family, exploring and participating in local community events. I have included a family holiday photo from our travels in Cambodia, this was taken in 2012 in Angkor Watt temple in where I hand fed elephants that my family rode around the ancient ruins. It was my ethical decision to refuse these giants chauffeur service because I respect their beautiful nature and didn't want to fuel the commercial exploitation of them. However, hanging out with these cuddly guys for an hour was a once in a lifetime experience and truly a priceless gift.

Here are a couple of items that I would love to receive but I trust my family's ability to purchase items they think I might like. I am a avid believer that gestures are more significant than buying consumer goods. This year I have been crafting up a storm, designing cross-stitch embroidery, making little Christmas tree ornaments and sewing buntings as gifts for my nearest and dearest. 

List | Weekends

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I hope everyone is having a delightful weekend, as I type this message I'm basking in the dusk light of a  beautiful Sunday evening. Here is a list of things I love about weekends...

+ Local markets

+ Coffee from favourite cafés

+ Spinning records

+ Stretching out the morning routine 

+ Long walks with my pups

+ Taking care of forgotten household tasks

+ Washing bedlinen and drying it in the sun

+ Baking sweet treats

+ Visiting my grandparents 

+ Daylight savings for extended hours outside 

+ Lazy clothing like long cotton skirts and messy hair buns

+ Gardening: seeing too the veggie patch and chooks 

Happy Holidays | i

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Season Greetings darlings, welcome to the first segment in the Happy Holidays Feature! I am sorry this is delayed considering the Holiday Season is well in full swing. Although this post doesn't accurately represent my premature excitement for christmas as I personally wrestled the family tree out of its hibernation  in the last week of November! I have been spending some time on Pinterest lately and oh my haven't I caught the festive-bug! I can't help but admire the modern adaptions on trees which such a old tradition, however these are not everyones cup of tea (my family is still very traditional with its twenty year old battered tree). I hope you get a giggle out of the Snape christmas tree as I did (Oh tumblr you old fiend!)

Reading Carina's blogposts on Christmas we discussed in the comment section the struggle for Australians to experience all the blissful serendipities of this marvellous festive season. Christmas is in our Summer and that 'wintery Christmas magic' of my dreams isn't a reality. However, we make our own traditions and the key elements of being surrounded by family is the most important factor. This 'Happy Holiday's' feature will include some of those details that make this festive season special for me. 

Just A Minute | November

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Watching... Catching Fire at the cinemas with my darling sister The Kings of Summer a charming movie about group of friends who escape to the woods in a makeshift cubbyhouse it stars Parks and Rec's Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) The Way Way Back a coming of age story set in the summer holiday town of America who is dealing with family issues and finds solace at working at a waterpark stars Australian actress Toni Collette.

Celebrating.. Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary with a trivia public event with friends, 21st birthday parties, Christmas with upholstering the family tree in the late weeks of November.

Listening... City and Colour I was lucky enough to meet the ever swoonsworthy Dallas Green and see him perform twice at the majestic Sydney State Theatre. I also watched Boy and Bear live (twice this year aren't I lucky?!)

Reading... According to my Goodreads account I am four books behind in my goal of reading thirty five books in 2013 so I might have to get a move on! This month I read The Help Kathryn Stockett Beauty Queens Libba Bray and currently reading On The Road Graeme Simsion

Loving... My new passion for cooking. I have made a vege quiche, Chinese stir fry, sushi, satay vege, rice paper rolls, TVP spaghetti bolognese, fresh salads and a couple of batches of sneaky cookies, banana & coconut cake. I might need additional cooking books as I'm baking up a storm (hint maybe as a Christmas gift)

Feature | Versatile Blogger Award

What delightful news that the sweet petal Emily nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award! Emily and I have cross paths -or rather wires- many times online using on multiple social accounts (tumblr, goodreads, polyvore) and again on this internet blogging platform. Her blog is the charming Miss Black, previously Stardustings and I simply adore her blog updates! I visit Miss Black when I am in need of outfit inspiration or to restore the equilibrium of cute and dreamy in my life. Thank you for this nomination I am entirely grateful and charmed!  

The 'Versatile Blogger Award' is an award given to you from your blogger peers, for writing quality posts that have somehow touched them, having good quality photographs, and the uniqueness of the subjects covered. The award is to honour the bloggers who bring something special to your life. 

This award has a few disclaimers:
1. Thank the blogger for nominated you and share his/her link
2. Share seven facts about yourself that your followers may not know yet
3. Give this same award to up to fifteen bloggers, then comment on their blog to let them know about it

1. You could say I have dabbled in many careers with work experience in nursing, law services, barista, retail, preschool assistant and I'm currently studying to undertake placement in museums or libraries. 

2. There is no doubt that I love food; preparing it, cooking it, watching shows about it, learning family recipes. However, I am one of those people who says 'I'm not fussy' but has a few dietary requirements I am dairy & gluten intolerant (medical) and for six years been a vegetarian (moral). I would like to say this lifestyle is easy but it isn't however, both my sister and my mum are vegetarians. 

3. You might not guess but I have had hair a rainbow of colours. Born with light brown hair I have experimented with dyes and henna potions for a few years now. I have yet to find a colour that I am comfortable to spend more than two/three years with and I thank the beautiful Kérastase haircare products for keeping my hair in tiptop condition. 

4. I have a huge backyard at home so needless to say my childhood featured a few fury, fluffy or scaly friends. My sister and I have had shared responsibility of cats, dogs, horses, fish, tropical fish (the divas of the fish community) birds, tadpoles, stick insects, mice, chickens, geckoes and we have even babysat our neighbours pythons. But I would like to honourable mention a hairy family member who will forever be in my heart, Matese the Stumpy tail Blue Heeler who died last year at nineteen. As of today we have Mozart (Toy Poodle) and Zane (ShitZu) twenty ridiculously sized Koi fish, eight hens (Gaga, Tandori, Bluey, Duck, Paris, Gingy, Picasso and Beyoncé) 

5. According to my family I watch too many shows... here are a few: Parks and Recreation, American Horror Story, New Girl, The Mindy Project, Arrested Development, Buffy, 2 Broke Girls, Breaking Bad, Workaholics, GIRLS, Orange Is The New Black, U.S The Office, Hannibal, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Call the Midwife, Miranda, QI, Doctor Who, 

6. Photography is an interest of mine no doubt due to my exposure to art from my family and pursuing it in my final year twelve Visual Arts project. I have a couple of film cameras Diana Mini & 35mm, polaroid Instax & 600 models and two digital cameras. I am currently saving my money to put towards a fancy SLR camera but my family is divided on Canon verses Nikon and I am in need of further research before placing my alliance. This one is on my mind but as of late I have fallen under the spell of iPhone photo apps and using Instagram to share snippets of my week. 

7. My room is my favourite project that I am constantly changing and must be a couple centimetres smaller from the amount from when of paint I have lacquered onto its walls. I have a particular penchant for interior design and I can't wait to develop my ideas further into apartment when I move out of home at the end of next year! 

I have nominated Jessica of Little Henry Lee and Anna of 11:11