12 Days of Christmas with: Simple Things

Day 7 and we're hanging out with Belinda of Simple Things. Her blog is clean and simple and I dig her style. She's a favorite.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
-My favourite Christmas tradition is cooking Christmas dinner with my family. My grandparents are Danish and celebrate on Christmas Eve. We spend the day before in the kitchen cooking traditional Danish food like roast port with crackling rodkal (roast cabbage) and ris a l'amande, laughing and sharing stories. There is so much love in the house and it's a beautiful place to be. I also love the opening of the advent calendar! The advent calendar is another Danish tradition that my family follows. It is so much fun to get a little surprise ever day.
What is your favorite gift you've ever received?
-The best gift I have received is a copy of Charley Harper- An Illustrated Life by Todd Oldham. I often spend hours looking through the beautiful images in this book. I even have a tattoo that was inspired by one of the images in this book. 
What are you hoping to get for Christmas this year?
-This year I am hoping to receive a set of mp3 mixtapes from my partner to put on my iPod. He is a DJ and has a HUGE record collection that he is in the process of recording digitally. He has a real ear for music and is great putting together mixes that set a particular mood. I already have some of his live sets, but it would be nice to have something that he has made especially for me. 
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
-My favourite Christmas memory is spending Christmas Day at my other grandparent's house. It is very different to the Danish-style Christmas celebration but I loved it just as much. It is summer here in Australia at Christmas time so it is always a hot, sunny day and we eat cold chicken and prawn salad for lunch (well I don't personally because I am vegetarian!) As children we would sit on the itchy carpet next to the plastic tree and open our (always fun and totally impractical) presents squealing with delight on discovering what we had received. It is a very vivid memory, full of joy and colour. Here I am with my brother and sister on the itchy carpet. That's me on the left with the whistle in my mouth. I have always enjoyed being well accessorised!
What is your favorite gift to give?
-My favourite gift to give is something that I have made myself. Over the past few years I have been making aromatherapy potions for friends and family. I customise them according to their ailments. It's very personal and people love to receive it. I have received such positive feedback on them that I will be making a few available to buy soon. Watch this space!
What is your favorite Christmas carol?
-My favourite Christmas carol is "All I want for Christmas (is my two front teeth)" by Nat King Cole. We have never really been into carol-singing in my family, but my mum always sang this to me. It makes me laugh.