Adventures in Aussieland

Welcome to Day 3 of the 12 Days of Blogmas! If you missed out on day two, click here to read it before you start on today's post. I tend to be the person who leaves gift shopping until the last minute. This breeds some panic as I also always try to get people the perfect gift. Luckily, I've compiled three different gift-giving lists to help you with any last minute gift giving ideas. Today, it's all about finding the perfect gift for the fitness buff in your life. 



1. Hydration Pack
One of the most significant challenges one will face while working out is dehydration. If you love running for long distances outdoors, hydration packs are a massive life saver. I used to run outside only stopping when I would see a drinking fountain. Do you know how frequently drinking fountains are found when you're running outside? ALMOST NEVER! Since getting my hydration pack, I've found my runs are more consistent, I've increased my pace, and I'm never thirsty. It's also been beneficial to carry any medications I may need. Because adult asthma is bull sh*t. 

2. Some Awesome Activewear
I don't know about you, but I always feel better if I have some incredible activewear on. For some reason when I feel good and confident in what I'm wearing, I'm able to absolutely slay my workout. Help your friends or loved ones slay their workout with some awesome new activewear. 

3. Gym Gloves
These are perfect for the obstacle course racer or heavy lifter in your life. I never realised how beat up my hands would get until I started lifting. I was the one who would low key judge people at the gym for wearing gloves. Now, I don't know how in the world people lift day in and day out without them! 

4. Hands-Free Leads
I love running with my dog, but sometimes it can be a bit of a pain. Archer somehow lacks the ability to be able to run in a straight line. He likes making sure I'm keeping up the pace while doing a sweep of the road ahead. I have yet to purchase a hands-free lead, but I envy every runner I see with one. It gives them the freedom to focus on the running posture and not frequently trip over the lead or yell at their dog to run straight. 

5. Dice Yoga
I feel like these go against everything yoga is supposed to stand for, but I love using these for stretching. I'm a person that tires quickly from the same routine day in and day out. Unless I've pre-planned my workouts, trying to wing it at the gym makes me look like a lost puppy. I love that I'm able to switch up my stretching and balance exercises with these dice. No need to write a plan, just roll the dice!

6. Gadgets
Being able to track your runs is always a good thing. I have the cheapest FitBit on the market. While its good for monitoring the number of steps I've taken that day, I wish I would have been able to track the distances during my Spartan races. It is, for this reason, I would recommend a tracker a bit higher on the market. I've heard fantastic things about the Gramin trackers and will probably make this my next purchase. These make for great holiday gifts as they can be a little pricey. 

7. Accuroller
Recovery is just as important as the workout itself. I never understood why people used foam rollers until I started to use them. It does wonders for your muscles! I use mine daily now to make sure I'm taking the best care of my body possible. This is the perfect gift to show your active buddy that you care. 

8. Running Belt
There is nothing worse than finishing a run or a race to find your car is broken into with all your valuables missing. Or going for a run and having to shove your house keys in your sports bra. It's uncomfortable and annoying. Running belts are enormous lifesavers. You're able to keep all your valuables on your person and not worry about potential theft or loss. This allows you to relax even more while at the gym or running. 

9. Medal Display Rack
After a while, you start to wonder where in the heck you're going to put all your medals. Shoving them in a drawer just makes them seem a little less special. I've been going the broke girl route of hanging them off a multi pants hanger, but I've been eyeing a medal display rack for a while. This is a fantastic gift to show your support and an excellent way for them to show off all their hard work. 

10. Active Wipes
There is nothing better after a long race than being able to clean the sweat from yourself. I've been to many races and even gyms where there weren't any showers. I workout twice a day so not being able to shower after my morning workout before going to work is just not an option. These wipes are a massive life saver. They give you the ability to clean off enough to pass as functional in the world for the day. 

What do you think of the gift ideas? Did I miss anything? I Be sure to check in daily so you don't miss any of the Blogmas posts!

Welcome back to another instalment of Blogmas! Today, we're exploring the distinctions between Christmas celebrations in Australia compared to those in the US. Being separated from loved ones during the festive season can sometimes diminish the magic of Christmas. Nostalgia for home can surface when you encounter the subtle ways different cultures observe the holidays. This marks my 4th or 5th Christmas spent in Australia, and over time, I've noticed several striking and not-so-striking contrasts in how Australians and Americans celebrate this time of year. Here are five key distinctions between how Christmas is celebrated Down Under versus in America.



1. Christmas Lunch vs Christmas Dinner
In the US, Christmas dinner holds significant importance in many family customs and celebrations. Elaborate feasts resembling Thanksgiving spreads are prepared and savoured with loved ones. Turkey, ham, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, chocolate mud pie, and various delicacies grace the table. Typically, we begin the day with our parents and siblings before heading to another relative's home for the Christmas feast. Some households observe their Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve instead. Regardless of which day is chosen, it's uncommon to encounter an American family that celebrates Christmas lunch.

In contrast, many Australian families embrace a Christmas lunch celebration. Rather than turkey, meals feature seafood and prawns, perhaps some barbecued fare, and pavlova as a sweet finish. Given the warmer climate during the Southern Hemisphere summer, many households enjoy their Christmas lunch outdoors. Several of my friends' families actually venture to the beach for their Christmas meal.

Each approach has its merits and drawbacks. I've come to understand that Australians may prefer lunch over dinner partly due to their magnificent climate and somewhat less religious practices compared to Americans. Many US families attend church services on Christmas morning, making an evening meal impractical. When you're anticipating a day's finale with cherished companions, a midday celebration can feel a touch anticlimactic.

2. Carolling vs Carols by Candlelight
Australia celebrates with Carols by Candlelight, a cherished tradition spanning roughly seven decades. Communities and friends assemble in parks to sing festive songs and witness performances. Vision Australia's signature event in Melbourne on Christmas Eve remains the nation's premier gathering. Though I've yet to participate, attending Carols by Candlelight is considered an essential Aussie festive custom.

America observes carolling in its own distinctive manner. Groups venture from house to house performing Christmas melodies, wrapped warmly in winter attire whilst enjoying hot chocolate and spreading holiday spirit. During my school years, our choir would perform carols throughout the campus. My family occasionally carolled around our neighbourhood too. It proved an excellent way to foster community bonds and goodwill. Plus, singing festive tunes is always enjoyable! It's nearly impossible not to grin whilst singing "Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer".

3. Decorations vs Lack of Decorations
I've genuinely found this challenging since arriving in Australia. Certainly, some neighbourhoods feature homes adorned with lights and festive embellishments. In my experience, however, this isn't the norm here. Back home, particular areas expect residents to decorate for the season. And not just a modest string of lights either—I'm talking elaborate, spectacular displays worthy of viral videos. I acknowledge that festive celebrations aren't universal and not every household marks Christmas, yet more visible holiday spirit throughout Australia would be pleasant. The retail sector certainly ensures it's impossible to overlook festivities.

4. Nativity Sets vs Surfing Santa
Throughout the US, many households display nativity sets as part of their festive décor. In our home, we weren't permitted to position the Baby Jesus within the scene until Christmas morning. Each year brought friendly competition over who would place the infant. My classmates similarly maintained nativity displays. To be frank, I was raised in a Catholic family, and my closest companions shared this background. This might not represent the broader American experience, but within my circle, it was the norm. Along with our advent calendars, we eagerly awaited Christmas's arrival.

The Australian Christmas captures a distinctly relaxed atmosphere. Combined with their stunning weather and the laid-back temperament characteristic of Australians, it's fitting that Father Christmas himself embraces a more carefree approach. Prior to delivering presents to deserving children globally, he takes a break and enjoys surfing on Christmas Eve morning. Genuinely, this stands as the most impressive festive tradition I've encountered. I applaud Santa taking time for leisure and catching waves before commencing his duties.

5. Cold Weather vs Warm Weather
This distinction significantly shapes how the season is celebrated. Australia lies in the Southern Hemisphere, making December warm and sunny. White Christmases don't occur in Australia (barring the occasional Tasmania snowfall). Growing up, I nearly always experienced snowy Christmases. My grandmother's place in rural Michigan felt like stepping into a festive storybook. Snow blankets lay over everything, and you'd spot wildlife moving through winter landscapes all day. Our household bustled with noise and excitement. Packing 35+ relatives under one roof was like the opening of a horror film. Here in Australia, the season brings pleasant warmth, sunny days, sandy beaches for creative play instead of snow angels, and cheerier moods overall as no one risks frostbite.

At the end of the day, Australian and American Christmas customs aren't fundamentally that distinct. Really, it comes down to whether you're observing the season alongside people who matter to you. Marking holidays in a foreign nation presents genuine challenges. Which festive traditions define your country's celebrations? Have you ever observed the season abroad? What was that experience like?

If you didn't catch day 1, head back to check it out! You'll discover brilliant present recommendations for the wanderlust enthusiasts in your life!

*The holidays are right around the corner. If you live in Australia like me, you’ve been bombarded with holiday goods since the end of September. The holidays in Australia are slightly different than the white Christmas’ I had in the US, but some things are still the same. I’ve always struggled on what to get people for Christmas. I think it could be because I overthink everything! I thought it would be fun to do a little holiday series for those who often struggle to come up with gift ideas. 


*This post contains affiliate links. I do receive a small percentage from every purchase. These purchases help me continue to deliver unique content for all my readers. Thank you to those who choose to contribute*

Pin this now for all your friends!

Today is all about buying for the favourite traveller in your life. This person jet sets all over the world, what could you possibly get them that could equate to the experience of immersing oneself in a new culture? I personally think people who travel are the easiest to buy gifts for. Here are some of my top gifts ideas of this holiday season:


Scratch the World Map
I finally bit the bullet and bought one for myself. I’ve been super envious of all my friends who own one of these maps. It’s so exciting to be able to scratch off a new country! I've put mine above my bed and then placed photos of my travels around it. The most amazing centrepiece for my room. Every traveller needs one of these maps in their lives. 

Love this map? Get it here.

What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding
This book was recommended to me via the Girls LOVE Travel Facebook group. I have to say it is incredible! I always look for an excellent book to read while travelling (or even back at home) and I’m jubilant I stumbled upon this book. I highly recommend this book. I think eventually I need to make a whole post about books to read when travelling. 

Be sure to get yourself a copy by clicking here.

Multi-purpose Travel Wallet
The perfect gift for keeping all of your travel needs beautiful and organised. I never travel without mine! It helps keep my boarding pass, passport, relevant documents, and whatnot organised and in one place when travelling. This is incredibly helpful at the airport. You don’t need to go digging through your bag, struggling to find anything, while the people in line behind you get steadily more and more impatient because clearly, this is your first rodeo. 

Organise yourself for your next flight!

Handbag Organiser Inserts
Oh, my sweet Lanta. I used to have one of these, and in between moving from the US to Australia, it died. My purse is a giant jungle of lost things. Finding anything is impossible! When I had my organiser, everything was neatly organised. This is definitely on my holiday wish list. 

Organise my messy purse NOW!

Travel Journal
Every traveller needs a travel journal! Whether it’s a blank journal, a travel wish list, or a travel journal with a little bit of prompting, it is a journey must have! I personally have a small journal that asks where I went, where I stayed, who I met, and then a place to write general information about that trip. It has a travel packing list, a place to write down the information about where I’m staying, and a place to write down emails and addresses to all the people I send postcards home to. 

One of many travel journals to choose from.

Airline Gift Cards
This. This right here is every traveller's dream. Who needs a $20 Starbucks gift card when you could give a $20 airline gift card. It may not be a whole flight, but that $20 saved on a flight could be days worth of food and activities in a foreign country! 

Southwest is just one of the many airlines that sells gift cards!

Decorations
My wanderlust is never satisfied. When I return from a trip, my soul longs to see more of the world. I’ve found some fabulous home decor that shares my spirit. As I tend to keep museum stubs, plane tickets, and other mementoes from the various countries I’ve visited, I keep those items hidden away in storage books with a map of the world or the particular country. These books blend seamlessly into my bookshelf, and it's easy to access when I want to go on a trip down memory lane.

Aren't these awesome?

Recently on the Girls LOVE Travel page, someone posted a world map duvet cover, and I instantly fell in love! Even just looking at the picture jump-started the hamsters in my brain to begin planning my next adventure. To come home and cuddle in such happy memories would be awesome! 

My bed NEEDS this!

Another great gift is some artwork. Yes, there are pictures from every trip lining the walls of a traveller's home, but sometimes it is also important to incorporate various pieces of art. For the traveller who does not return with art pieces from the countries they visit, why not get them a beautiful canvas art piece or a decal? 



These are just a few ideas if you’re stuck on what to get the favourite traveller in your life. Are there some gifts ideas I missed (I’m sure I did)? Share what gift you would like to receive most or gift ideas I did not include in the comments below. 







*This post contains affiliate links. I do receive a small percentage from every purchase. These purchases help me continue to deliver unique content for all my readers. Thank you to those who choose to contribute*

Living in the United States, Halloween was always one of my favourite holidays. I enjoyed everything about it! The change in the weather. The ability to dress up and pretend to be someone else. All the glorious candy. And of course, getting to face your fears. 


In Southern California, it had become a yearly tradition to go to Knott's Scary Farms and Universal Horror Nights. Each year I would eagerly wait to see the incredible special effects makeup and pray that at least one scarer would be able to scare me. When you work in the mental health field, little scares you. So the rare occasion that I would let out a scream, I was happy. When I moved to Melbourne, I knew my favourite Halloween traditions may be increasingly difficult to find. 

The past four years, Halloween has become a bigger deal in Australia. When I first moved, many of the schools did not allow students to dress up and good luck finding any haunted houses. Now it seems more and more haunted houses are popping up all around Melbourne. This year, Hauntville is a new haunted house with a festival area I was super excited to check out!


Located at Burnley Park a close walk from the Burnley train station, this fun, festive Halloween extravaganza includes two scary haunted mazes, a variety of kooky carnival games, a creepy crawly eatery, and plenty of opportunities to interact with the less... lively characters you'll find around the park.  

Entry to the grounds is free but if you're wanting to access the haunted houses, there is a fee. If you're a little unsure if you want to be scared, get there early and grab some witches brew. It may help you calm your nerves before your scares. Didn't have a chance to eat beforehand? There are plenty of incredible food trucks waiting to cater to your every food need. 


Once the moon is bright and full, make your way over to Cirque Du Slay or the Yarra River Coffinworks. Here, you'll face your fears while struggling to find your way through the zig-zagging maze. Beware! Every step may take you down a dangerous path and the thrill of a lifetime. The biggest question? Will you make it out alive?

Got little ones who may scare a little easy? Visit Hauntville from 4-6 for a less frightening, but still entertaining experience. Dress your younger haunts up for the daily costume competition or let them go on the Trick-or-Treat walk. The scare houses are open during this time as well except there will be no scarers popping out throughout the maze. 

Hauntville haunts are open until 28 October from 4:30-10:30. Click here to get your tickets! And be sure to get them soon because this is a scare-tastic event you don't want to miss!