Competition - Best Dressed Christmas Tree

What joy our children have had over the years helping decorate our Christmas trees, from the real trees we have struggled to get into the car andthrough the door to the first tree we ever bought when I moved out of home and into a home of my own, a small fake green tree which we just can’t bring ourselves to throw away .

Over the years we have had many designer coordinated trees full of expensive baubles, ribbons and bows but these days I prefer a more simple tree, a tree that is full of memories, one that is filled with decorations my children have made and one that makes me reflect on the years past.

So today we thought we would run a competition "Best Dressed Christmas Tree"so that we can be inspired by your creations and get to know our readers a little better.

Submission are open now, submit your own Christmas Tree snap shot (max 2 trees per entrant) to info@theinspiredoccasion.com.au, we will upload them to the blog and to a Facebook album. At the end of the competition the lovely Louisa from Little Big Company will judge all entries and select what she feels are the 4 most creative and special trees from those submitted.

Whether it’s a designer tree that you slave over every year that looks like something that belongs in a department store, a tree full of popcorn and edible decorations or a tree full of Children's creations and hand me down sentimental decorations. Get your images in NOW!!

This competition is only open to non-professionals and Melbourne readers only

First Prize: Themed and Styled Dessert Station for 20 guests 

(*Conditions apply)

Second Prize: DIY Complete Dessert Station Party Kit for 20 guests

(*Conditions apply)

Third Prize: Edibles Party Pack valued at $150

(*Conditions apply)

Fourth Prize: 2 Dozen Cupcakes Values at $84

(*Condition apply)

3 simple steps to go in the running

1. Submit a picture of your Christmas tree (max 2 trees) with a short blurb on the tree theme to info@theinspiredoccasion.com.au

2. Make sure to leave your name and contact details in the email.

3. Follow this blog as we upload and announce the winners of this competition (Submissions close New Years Eve December 31st 2012) and winners announced on 10 January 2013 at 7pm (Australian Time)

This competition is only available to our Melbourne blog readers.

Terms and Conditions:

• Due to Facebook terms and condition we can only accept entries via the blog. 
• This competition is being hosted on the blog http://www.theinspiredoccasion.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/competition-best-dressed-christmas-tree.html and is no way affiliated, sponsored, endorsed or administered with or by Facebook. 
• Entries are open until 31st December 2012 with announcement on 10th January 2013 via the blog and via email as to winners. 
• All photo submission are submitted via email and the blog and entrants release facebook for any photos that are showcased here, with the competition and any announcement being run and announced on the blog.
• Please note we are located in Melbourne, Australia, and only those located in Melbourne will be eligible for prizes.
•  *Prizes No: 2, 3 & 4 require collection and return (eg: party kit hire items need to be collected and returned,  baked items will also need to be collected). 
• *Prize No:1, 2, & 3 are limited to the themes on our website shop/hire
• Any entrants who, in the opinion of The Inspired Occasion tamper or interfere with the entry process in any way, or who do not properly comply with the entry process, will be ineligible to win.
• All prizes must be taken as stated.
• Prizes are not transferable. divisible or exchangeable and connot be redeemed for cash.
•  The Inspired Occasion reserves the right to supply an alternative prize of similar monetary value.
• The judges result is final and binding and no correspondence will be entereed into.
• Please email info@theinspiredoccasion.com.au if there are any questions.

The Inspired Occasion

Xmas Tree Submissions Below

My traditionally themed Christmas Tree. Annette

I have attached my entry for your competition please.
We needed new lights this year as ours stopped working one week before last Christmas, so my daughter chose "rainbow lights" and we used decorations in mostly those same colours!
Thank you Charmaine

Fletcher Family Tree
Created by my dad or the kids pa. He is totally colour blind and has no patience but he was extremely proud of his effort and the kids thought it was beautiful. Sometimes simple is best. 
Thank you

We have a very tiny house that doesn't really permit room for a traditional tree so I purchased some willow and put these little decorations on it. To my surprise, I've had a number of positive comments. I love Christmas.

Holliday Family Tree
Although it is not perfect it was put together with love. The tinsel is not quite long enough but it symbolises to us that sometimes life is cut short but doesn't mean it is still not beautiful. The butterflies symbolise hope and it has plenty of the kids homemade ornaments too. A tree full of memories that will last a lifetime.

This Tree not only was decorated by my 2 children but also almost each and every decoration is hand crafted, painted or glued my angles. They are so proud off all their decorations. The Patane Family....

I take no credit in the decorating of this tree, my two beautiful cheeky little girls loved decorating this tree with their dad!!! Rebecca

WINNER THIRD PRIZE
Attached is our labour of love! The kids and I spend hours every year setting up the tree with an arrangement of orimental glass baubles to hand made items from the kids. The both know who colour coordinated I am and the decorations are always either red or silver - so sweet!
I hope you like.
Rxx

WINNER SECOND PRIZE
The single working gals christmas tree

My christmas tree is not great because of it's boughs heavily laden with ornaments, family heirlooms, tinsel or lights, it is not stacked heavily with gifts, nor is it likely to make the neighbours jealous. It is however printed on a high grade matt paper, able to be sent in the post and dismantled in 25 secs the day after Christmas. 

It would make Martha Stewart cry, but for me, I'm light on time and light on family, but heavy on the sense of humor and have places to be darrrrrrrlllling. 

It's also a perfect example of why I need a desert table for my next birthday, clearly I couldn't bake if the fate of the world depended on it.

WINNER FIRST PRIZE
My Christmas Tree
"A VERY MERRY BRIGHT CHRISTMAS"
Thanks for the competition,
Merry Chrissy
Tonya

A little tree for a little house!! There maybe only 2 of us now but we still put up a little something for our grandchildren and Santa may even stop by... Tracey

WINNER EQUAL FOURTH PRIZE
Since my first daughter was born I began to create a village under the tree with a new piece each year. By the time my girls have children of their own (20 years min!), I am hoping to have a beautiful village that they have created each year.
I hope you also like it Venessa

WINNER EQUAL FOURTH PRIZEHere is our handmade tree! It's our daughters 1st Christmas & at 11 months she is very curious so I thought instead of saying "no...don't touch" all day, I would make her a tree that she could enjoy decorating over & over & over again! I had so much fun making all the decorations & Harper (& all her little friends) had a great time exploring it! 

It might be 4 days before Christmas but we finally have a decorated tree. Thanks to Maddy who decorated whole thing by herself 

The Big Give... 4 weeks to go!

Today marks the count down for The Big Give, with only 4 weeks until the big day! While one part of me is slightly worried, mainly due to my own lack of Christmas shopping (!), the other part of me is super excited that we will be part of such an exciting event.

Last night was the first of two volunteer nights and the dedication and enthusiasm in the room was magic. We will be coordinating nearly 100 volunteers on the day and will be spending a good part of the next week working out where best they can assist on the day.

We are also pleased to let you know that we have had some really generous individuals and businesses step forward and volunteer goods, services and cash. Thanks to these fabulous donations, we are now able to tick some of the most important things off our list including; a venue, tables, chairs, most tableware, a Christmas tree, chickens, fresh fruit and vegetables, gifts for the children and an amazing MC.

There are still a few things on our wish list... maybe you can help us out?

- 30 large plastic table cloths
- 350 large plastic plates
- ham/beef
- grocery gift cards for adult gifts ($30 value - Coles, Woolworths etc.)
- art & craft supplies for our children's activity area

If you happen to be based in Melbourne, we also have some paper decorations being made by a fabulous group of mums. If you have an hour or two to spare and would like to make some decorations - please let us know and we will send you the details.

Thanks to everyone for your offers of support and sponsorship. Every little bit helps with an event such as this! All of these little (and not so little) donations mean that Christmas will be that little bit more special for those who can't do this on their own.

Cheers,

The Big Give - how can you help?

It’s the time of the year when our thoughts naturally turn to Christmas and the festive time ahead. The stores are filling with decorations and soon carols will be heard in every shopping centre. It’s a time where we naturally reflect on Christmases past and look forward to what this year will bring.

As a child, my favourite Christmases were those where the whole family was packed around Grandma's big table. Pulling bon bons, wearing silly hats and telling dumb jokes. Eating too much and still having left-overs. My uncle always asking, "so Nay, what's the goss" and all the kids laughing because it sounded so silly!

Now I have my own family and we have all grown up, things are different - but still the so much the same. Family, friends and lots of good food. My uncle still asks "so Nay, what's the goss?' and I still laugh.

I can't be certain, but I would guess you could relate to my Christmases... some things will be different, sure... but I bet the core elements- the food, the family and the friends - are the same. Because really, that's what special Christmases are made of, aren't they?

Last Christmas - Gracie and I

As a parent, I can't imagine the desperation, the heartache of knowing I couldn't make Christmas special for my family. And it's not the toys, the gifts - it's the family and the friends. Having someone care and want to spend time chatting and asking me "what's the goss?". Having enough food to have eaten too much and still have left overs.

This year, we will be adding something new to our family Christmas memories, as we spend the day with those less fortunate. We will be extending our circle and enjoying a very big table, hopefully piled high with food and lots of laughter, as we work with St Mary’s House of Welcome and a dedicated team of volunteers in putting on The Big Give.

The Big Give has one aim - no one should be alone on Christmas Day.

This year, The Big Give will be hosting around 300 homeless and disadvantaged families for Christmas lunch at the Fitzroy Town Hall. Now in it's 7th year, The Big Give has become something of a Melbourne institution. It relies heavily on generous donations and volunteers to ensure this event is a special one for all the guests.

So, we are asking, can you afford to share some of your skills or time to make Christmas special for people who may otherwise have to spend it alone? Details of specifics required are to come in later posts, but if you think you may be able to help we would urge you to contact us via email at: occasions@theinspiredoccasion.com.au

Christmas tree with a difference

I really should be designing right now (we have four clients waiting for invites to be finished) or looking at the 'other' laptop, the one that has my work from my 'real' job on it and keeps pinging incessantly with emails that require my attention... but instead - I have been cruising Google Reader...

And what did I find, you may ask...?

Well - this delightful Christmas Tree by Mae... It's a reusable fabric sticker - I am so in love!

We won't be home on Christmas Day this year, so I am thinking of maybe doing something a bit different... The Mae tree is so delightful - I have a big blank wall... maybe it's the way to go!

Ok - no more procrastinating - MUST get on with work!!