Author Archives: bngillies

Merry Christmas!

Posted in Lifestyle by

ONE MORE SLEEP UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

The swaggiest dog in Aus also wishes you a Merry Christmas!

The swaggiest dog in the world also wishes you a Merry Christmas!

The twelve magic days of Christmas are coming to a close. As I write this, Carols by Candlelight is playing on the TV and I’m onto my sixth piece of shortbread of the day. I’m hiding from my extended family in the front room of our house because I can’t handle having all twelve of us in the same room at the same time (even though I’ve downed a few Gin Lime twists and I’m breathing like a zen master).

For those of you who enjoy spending time with your families (that are no doubt a million times more normal than mine), I hope you make the most of this magical time together. To those of you whose families are out of town or overseas, I offer you this cliché; Home is where the heart is. And I mean this in two ways. Firstly, your family knows you love them and they know you’re thinking of them. You are no doubt with them in spirit this festive season. Secondly, your home can be with be with the friends and family you have chosen to be with this Christmas.

Now, it may be the last day of Christmas (for SolSat at least, tomorrow is technically the real last day), but I hope you all remember to keep the spirit of Christmas in your hearts throughout 2014. Being kind, generous and caring towards one another is so important and yet we so often let our busy lives and our own irritations get in the way of that. I know I’m guilty of that myself, but I have my fingers crossed that together, we the amazing readers and writers of Solstice Satisfaction can make the world just a little bit cheerier in the future!

With that said, for the twelfth day of Christmas I simply want to wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. I’m taking a break from the blogosphere to enjoy this time with my family and allow my hands time to relax after typing like a mad-man for twelve days straight.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement these last few months.

All my love to you and your families this Christmas,

Blaire xx

– by Blaire Gillies

Christmas Film Favourites

Posted in Entertainment, Movies by

Christmas movies are, without a doubt, my favourite.  While living in Australia means that we miss out on the picturesque “sitting by the fire drinking hot chocolate in matching cable-knit cardigans” thing, it seems that everyone has a favourite Christmas film that features in their festive traditions.

For example, every year on Christmas Eve, my sister and I settle in to watch Love, Actually together. We eat a ton of chocolate and ice-cream and we swoon over a charmingly awkward Colin Firth stuttering his way through a Portuguese proposal. Then, depending on mood and the amount of remaining junk food, we move on to The Holiday and The Grinch.

As a cinema studies Major, I spend a lot of time watching movies and have come up with this list of the best Christmas scenes from movies.

When Rick Grimes was a softie... aww...

When Rick Grimes was a softie… aww…

“To me, you are perfect”- Love, Actually

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7u6bMBlCXw

Right in the feels. Every. Single. Time.

“Have yourself A Merry Little Christmas”- Meet Me in St. Louis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yudgy30Dd68

Judy Garland is perfect. This film is perfect.

“I Hate Christmas”- The Grinch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lq1JIWQSlc

Saddest, cutest scene in  Christmas film ever.

“It’s A Bit Nipply Out”- Christmas Vacation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxGkcC1VrhU#t=32

There’s a little bit of Clark Griswold in all of us…

“The Three Musketeers!”- The Holiday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjhUKCJYdFg

Christmas is all about being with family, finding family and loving one another. This scene just hits the nail on the head. So beautiful.

“Beth’s Christmas Wish”- Little Women

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Shxwot06qU

You can’t watch this without crying. It’s scientifically impossible.

“I’ve Got Presents?”- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCa9VTs8NIU

Harry’s first taste of family. Too cute!!

“‘Course I do”- Love, Actually (Yes, it gets a second scene.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-bJa2pw6Q

Most adorable thing ever.

“Wait For What?”- It’s A Wonderful Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ne13Zft9Q

Such a beautiful speech that is still relevant to society 63 years on… An amazing film that you simply must see if you you haven’t already.

“Jingle Bell Rock”- Mean Girls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dw7GE_BYjI

Back before Rachel McAdams was Hollywood’s Sweetheart and Lindsay Lohan was a trainwreck. Ah, the good ol’ days…

And of course,

“This IS Christmas Music”- Die Hard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEJ5yuu7JiI

Fifteen seconds of the second best Christmas film ever.

Now that you’ve had a sample of the best Christmas films out there, it’s time to stock up on snacks and watch your favourite ones start to finish!

– by Blaire Gillies

Practical Presents

Posted in Lifestyle by

No, I’m not talking about another kitchen appliance or undies in the Christmas stocking; I’m talking about a First Aid kit specifically marketed for dealing with the classic Christmas injuries and ailments mentioned in yesterday’s post.

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To prepare this gift (which is handmade, original and funny, so you’ve ticked all the boxes there) all you need is a hamper, some cellophane and a quick trip to Chemist Warehouse.

Breath mints – in anticipation of a Christmas kiss at your work break-up party.

Aspirin – for the Boxing Day hangover, or for the headache caused by being forced to watch the test match with people who inexplicably care about cricket.

Sunglasses – unfortunately, the sun is always brightest the morning after a big night.

Miniature Booze – hair of the dog. I recommend Tequila, but not everyone is a masochist.

Berocca – to help fight the aforementioned hangover and get help get back in to shape to start drinking again at lunch time.

Bacon – in my house, medicinal bacon is a thing and now that you’ve read this, it’ll no doubt be a thing at yours, too!

Gaviscon – because six helpings of roast and infinite dessert seemed like a great idea right up until it wasn’t anymore.

Band-aids – for the cuts and burns you got cooking your Xmas feast as well as the blisters you got dancing along with High-5 when watching Carols by Candlelight.

Arnica Cream – for the shiner your dad gave the seedy uncle for staring at your mother too long.

Ice Packs – for the genius who falls off the roof/step ladder/chair/back of the couch trying to decorate the house.

Aloe Vera gel – for the sunburn you got from falling asleep on the beach. White Christmas my arse.

A ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign – because Boxing Day shouldn’t start until midday; Grandmother’s just never seem to remember that rule.

An I.D bracelet with name, age, address, an emergency contact and blood type- for the drunken friend who feels that Christmas night is the appropriate time to rival Bear Grylls. They probably won’t make it past the mailbox, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

So while you’re out doing all your last minute gift shopping, make sure to stock up on these Christmas essentials. That way, you know your gift will be used and appreciated rather than stuck in a drawer along with yet another Mariah Carey Christmas CD from Great Aunty Edna.

– by Blaire Gillies

Nine Lords A Leaping…

Posted in Lifestyle by

While we’re all busily exclaiming what a wonderful time of the year Christmas is, we tend to forget the all the bad things that happen in December, too. The injuries we get as we rush around like crazy people trying to make the season as magical as we can.

We all go a little nuts at Christmas. Stress mixes with joy mixes with alcohol mixes with the general vexation at having to spend time with our extended families and we start to make mistakes. In fact, if OH&S had a say in the matter, the nine lords wouldn’t be allowed to leap. They’d be allowed to walk slowly and carefully in an orderly line to avoid hurting themselves and/or others.

vital_web_387949k

KITCHEN
Christmas Dinner is possibly the most important meal of the year. We’re out roasting pork in the webber, prawns on the bbq and all manner of baked goods in the oven for dessert. It is almost impossible to escape this meal unscathed – each year we all gain burn scars (battle scars) as a reminder of what a wonderful dinner we managed to serve our family despite all the hot grease and sharp knives that tried to thwart us.

THE TREE
I know you’ll hate me for saying this, but you are not as strong as you think. The Christmas tree you chose is actually heavier than you think. Trying to lug it around yourself will cause a hernia.

Also, the tree is no doubt much taller than you. If you’re trying to get the star to sit perfectly on top, please use a step ladder. Standing on your tiptoes on top of a chair balanced on a phonebook is not as genius as you might think.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Did you know that there are people out there who are Professional Light Installation Specialists? Their job is to set up full-on scaffolding and harnesses to use while they decorate your house. Why? Because every year, more than 10,000 Australians get admitted to hospital with injuries sustained from falling off their roofs while they put up the lights. The last thing you want to be eating at Christmas is applesauce because you’ve had your shattered jaw pinned shut.

I don’t know the statistic for this one, but a lot of DIY Dads end up in strife when they try to ‘fix’ last year’s Christmas lights and wind up electrocuting themselves.

FOOD
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas in Aus without prawns on the barbie. Unfortunately, some novice chefs haven’t quite mastered seafood yet and wind up giving their family food poisoning for Christmas instead of a My Little Pony and a cricket set.

ALCOHOL
The number of booze-related injuries that happen over the Silly Season is astronomical. There is no limit to the hurt people inflict on themselves when they’re six or seven drink in. With that said, I warn against the obvious- don’t drink and drive. No matter how ‘fine’ you think you are, it’s not worth the risk.

Also, don’t run in heels, chop anything with a sharp knife, get in a bitch fight with your drunken Auntie, decide swimming would be a great idea at 2am, do table dancing or strip teases, wrestling,  lick anything you normally wouldn’t, jump of the roof because you’re “obviously Batman” or confess to your mother-in-law that, yes, her bum does look big… in everything.

Stay safe this Christmas!

– by Blaire Gillies