Christmas time with Matt and El'ise

Insider Style caught up with this year's runners up Matt and El'ise to chat all things festive, holiday plans and the New Year ahead...

Matt and El'ise walked away with a life-changing $460,000 profit from this year's Block.

How will you be spending Christmas this year El'ise? 
This year is the first year we will be overseas, we will be in Hawaii. So, fingers crossed we will be spending pool/beachside with a cold cocktail in hand and playing cricket and board games in the afternoon AND then when the kids go to bed 'Cards Against Humanity' will come out. My whole family will be heading over as it's my sister’s wedding on the 3rd of January so we are spending a whole month over there. We are so excited!

Do you have any family Christmas traditions? 
Sure do! Each year on the 1st of December we put up the tree and the Santa photos are pulled out and placed with pride on my mantlepiece above their stockings. Then the kids go and visit Santa to have their yearly photo taken and whilst there they are forced to tell him what they would like for Christmas (gotta have the inside goss) I have a feeling that I will be one of those pesty Nans as I have also told them that I will make sure that they will be doing it till they're at least 50 otherwise their Christmas gifts will not be received. We also have an Elf called Cindy Lou that flys in on the 1st of December and causes complete havoc in the home. I think the biggest Christmas gift of all is Cindy Lou flying back to Santa on Christmas eve as there is a lot less stress when she is not around.


"On the 1st of December we put up the tree and the Santa photos are pulled out and placed with pride on my mantlepiece above their stockings," El'ise tells Insider Style.

El'ise what is on your Xmas wish list, in terms of homewares, or products? 
This year I’m dying to get my hands on an Air Fryer! It is something that I’ve wanted for a while and I would also love to get a new Kitchen but I have a feeling that won’t be delivered on Christmas day if I'm a really good girl I think it will come in the year with our new renovation.

High FUN factor at the Bothe house! "We have an Elf called Cindy Lou that flys in on the 1st of December and causes complete havoc in the home," El'ise tells Insider Style.

What will be on your Xmas lunch table? 
This year I wouldn’t have a clue but I'm really hoping that we get to try a lot of the local foods like Kalua pig, Poke, Poi and Laulau etc. The verdicts out on the kids though as they might have different plans on taste testing it all.

Are you one of those people who like to deck the hall and go all-out with Xmas decorations? 
HELL YASSSSSS I love to sprinkle Christmas joy wherever I go. I love, love, love amazing table decorations and a super fun Christmas tree colour coded of course. I also have a separate tree for all of the homemade goodies the kids do as I love showing them off.


Matt and El'ise's stunning colour coded Christmas tree! "I also have a separate tree for all of the homemade goodies the kids do as I love showing them off," El'ise tells Insider Style.

How do you avoid the Christmas chaos? 
We don’t we just embrace it all. There is no point running from something that you can't hide from so just welcome it into our home. As we have Christmas at our place most years the best thing to do also is to ask everyone to bring a dish as its less stress on the host. Also, do Secret Santa with at least one family side to cut the cost and the chaos.

Any tips to keep the stress away and spirits high? 
To keep the spirits high bring out the games like Watch Ya Mouth, Cards Against Humanity, Pie Face and enjoy the day by playing cricket or basketball as team sports and always good for a laugh! Laughter will always keep the spirits high!
 
Christmas tree - real or fake? 
I love a fake one and Matt loves a real one but let’s be honest, I win because he's not the one that needs to clean up the mess of the real tree 
 
Table setting styling tips? 
Use heaps of greenery as you can interchange the items each year are reuse the green. It also fills heaps of space on the table!


El'ise's tip is to use plenty of greenery when styling your Christmas table.

What will next year hold for you?
There are a lot of things exciting in the Pipeline but nothing has been confirmed yet...
 
Any reno projects in the works? 
Our home renovation! I’m so excited that we are able to put some of our winnings into it as we were struggling to do what we wanted to do before The Block winnings and now we will be able to do a bit more than what we initially thought so watch this space.

What is on your holiday list for the New Year?
There are so many amazing places we want to go but after our Hawaii trip next year we will be travelling the state and caravanning with the kids. We are a big camping family and its something that we're craving and missing the most. Watch out OZ we're coming for you!


Matt and El'ise went to insane lengths to get on The Block - read all about it HERE

El’ise and Matt open up about the hardest obstacle they’ve had to overcome as a couple HERE

El’ise opens up about the tragic story that touched her heart and inspired her art choices for The Oslo. El'ise pays tribute to a St Kilda murder victim through the art in their home. Read more HERE

Take a tour of El'ise and Matt's finished Block home! A wrap up of all the room results and images HERE