IRD's top Christmas picks - Part 2: Cherie Hartley

Best holiday movie: Love Actually

Without a doubt one of the best Christmas classics of all time and guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit. It’s a favourite tradition of mine to watch this every year, and somehow it always manages to bring a tear and a smile simultaneously! Christmas cheer and cheesiness all mixed into one.

Best holiday movie: Love Actually

Without a doubt one of the best Christmas classics of all time and guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit. It’s a favourite tradition of mine to watch this every year, and somehow it always manages to bring a tear and a smile simultaneously! Christmas cheer and cheesiness all mixed into one.

Holiday travel essential: Swimmers

I grew up on the gorgeous mid-north coast and every Christmas holidays I head back up to Port Macquarie with my hubbie and kids to spend some quality time with my family. Every day there is spent either in the pool or at the beach so if there’s one thing I can’t travel without, it’s my swimmers (or should I say my multiple swimsuit options). All of my summer holiday memories growing up involve countless hours at the beach; swimming, surfing, exploring the rocks and playing in the sand, and I’m so glad my three boys are getting to make the same memories for themselves. 

Best Christmas tradition: 

Watching Carols by Candlelight at the Myer Music Bowl on Christmas Eve with my Mum is a favourite tradition… the kids are now getting old enough to stay up for a while and watch some of it to o so it’s lovely to pass the tradition down. 

Getting the cheesy ‘Santa’ photo with the kids has also become a tradition as it’s such a good way to document the boys growing up! Every year we make the obligatory trek to the Mall and line-up with all the other kids to get the shot. Each of the three boys have been terrified of Santa at some point in their early years and therefore I often end up (very unwillingly) in the photo, with one of my petrified children clinging to me for dear life and as far away from Santa as possible. Maybe this year will be different…