John's Christmas Present

I always have a pretty long list of things that John might want for Christmas (what can I say... I'm pretty good at remembering things he mentions/knowing what he needs). This year I decided to fix up his office for part of his present.

John's office - before

John's office - before

Since it's the smallest bedroom upstairs I'm fairly certain it will remain an office for a while so I figured it was pretty safe to redo. So the last day before his Christmas break I had a friend come over and help me with the project... and we got it all done while he was at work.

Luckily for us I had somehow convinced John that we should FINALLY finish painting the ceilings upstairs... and since we would be emptying out the rooms to paint the ceilings I also convinced him we should paint the walls while we are at it. This meant that the bulk of the hard work was already done.

New furniture wasn't in the budget so I had to work with what he already had in there. This meant that pretty well all the furniture that was already in there was going to stay in there. I did come up with a plan while he was away for work a week in November for how I thought his office could be arranged differently though.

He has a couple of newspaper clippings that he's saved for years... one was in a slightly damaged frame so I bought 2 of the cheapest frames from Michaels (using 50% off coupons of course). They were meant for a certain size of poster and the newspaper clipping didn't fill up the entire frame... but I wasn't going to pay for a mat on it so instead I turned the paper that came with the frame so that the white side was facing outwards to use as a mat... worked pretty well if you ask me!

John also had this slightly 3D picture of a hockey player (it's the middle picture in the line up of 3) that I had to figure out. I went to Michaels to ask about a frame for that but the frames that have enough space in them to accommodate something 3D like this were kind of expensive (and also not quite the right size) so after much contemplation I opted for just putting a nail in the wall and not using a frame for it at all (see the final pictures at the end of the post).

The wall colour. 

Below are some of the options I was debating on to paint one of the walls in his office... in the end I decided to paint all the walls a neutral colour and use some coloured curtains instead.

So I found the nicest curtain rod I could for an inexpensive price ($14 at Canadian Tire) and some inexpensive but still nice curtains from Walmart. Since his favourite team is the Washington Capitals (and he has a bit of stuff to do with that team) I wanted some of the accent colours to be either red or blue (hence me debating on blue as the wall colour). Which is why I opted for blue and white curtains.

The last thing I added to the room was a couple of floating shelves. This way he would have somewhere to show off some of his "toys", somewhere to put pictures, or just extra space to put something one day. I bought them at Jysk a while ago when they were on sale. I really wanted one large one (which is the size I ended up buying) and one that was the size down from this but they were 2 different shades of white which I didn't like so instead I got 2 of the larger sizes.

We also hung up his whiteboard so it's no longer sitting on the floor (and I guess if John wants to put it back on the floor he can).

I must say the finished product... is not too bad... and we got it all done in the span of 4 hours (while John was at work for the morning)

I also decorated his office door to be more present like

John's office - after
New curtains, pictures hung, brown chair added, and switched out his Winnie the Pooh lamp for something smaller and more neutral.

John's office - after. Pennants displayed, floating shelves installed, whiteboard hung (with festive message), Christmas tree added, and desk moved from corner to the longest wall.

$20 Sock Present

My friends and I did this last year where we filled a pair of socks up with some presents (in total it should all cost about $20) and have a white elephant type gift exchange. This year I thought of this an entire year in advance. I figured if I was left with a couple of extra pairs of Christmas socks they would be easily gifted elsewhere. Because of this I got 2 pairs of Christmas socks for about $3 which left me with about $17 to fill the socks with. I had also purchased nearly a year ago (or maybe it was 6 months ago during the summer) during Bath and Body Works semi annual clearance a bath bomb. I've never actually used one before but I was thinking of a specific friend in this group that would REALLY love it... so I got it on the chance that others would also appreciate it. Anyways, at this point I was at about $12 left to spend. I had something that I had bought that could possibly work with this group a year ago but it was too big to fit in a sock (so I'm using that at another $10 gift exchange instead). Then I remembered that I had seen these cute cactus things at Chapters about half a year ago on clearance. The odds were likely not in my favor that they would have any left in the city but then as it turned out they had a bunch of them at the location closest to me... still for the same clearance price unfortunately (shouldn't it have been even cheaper by this point?) and then for the last piece to finish filling up those socks was to buy an actual real cactus (in case the fake one wasn't up someones alley). John and I had a bunch of leftover plastic pots from our wedding favours so I used one of those to put it in a better looking pot.

It wasn't easy this year considering the restrictions that were placed on what we could put inside of the socks. No chocolates (and I had a BUNCH of Lindt chocolates that could have gone inside from our advent calendar). no chapstick. No tea and no coffee... and those are only the restrictions that I could remember. So, I think I did alright all things considering.

I was pretty close to choosing a yellow topped cactus but then I saw this one lonely red looking one and thought that better matched the season.

Luckily, socks are stretchy and will be able to accommodate the larger items... I'll just need to put a tag with a warning on it to roll the sock down instead of just grabbing things out of it so that the cactus stays intact.

Advent Calendars

How do you even know when Christmas is without an advent calendar to help you count down the days? 

Over the past few years John and I have done a few different versions of these

One year we got the cheap $1 ones (we each needed our own of course so that was actually $2 and the chocolates are hardly worth that price). I also made this advent calendar one year where I counted down to Christmas with reading a bible verse (or 2) every day.

Last year I bought us a Lindt advent calendar right before December so it was discounted... but even then... you're stuck with so many white ones that aren't that good)

This year though I made us this advent calendar

I went to the local Lindt store and got 26 different flavours of their truffles to fill in the slots with (there are 2 in each - one for each of us). I had been collecting toilet paper rolls since the summer (at least!) and I even moved all of those toilet paper rolls from the condo to the new house when we moved. Right before I made this advent calendar I debated on switching it all for something that might look a little more attractive but I don't know... I don't think it looks all that bad. Does it? At the very least we know it will taste delicious! And, there are no plain white truffles inside this advent calendar!

I already have an idea for what I want to do next year... something just has to go on an extreme sale at the end of this Christmas season first so that I can justify purchasing it.

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

Every year I start setting up Christmas stuff after November 11th. We've already had our Thanksgiving here in Canada a month ago by this point so why not?

Here's a little look at what our place is starting to look like set up for Christmas...

Our Christmas tree has always looked the same... always red and gold. I think because for a long time all I had was red ornaments that an old roommate passed on to me.

Here's a look at our tree from a couple of years ago (I'm sure it looks very similar!)

I'm not sure if you've spied the track set up around the tree... and the one lonely house that is lite up (there are a few more on the other side of the tree near the back too) but John has a lot more room in the new house to spread out his train set this year. 

Did you know that sometimes Michaels (the craft store) offers free classes where they supply the bulk of the supplies? Because they do. I went to one in the fall with my mom and sisters to make a floral pumpkin design (all we had to do was purchase the pumpkin) and returned to make a wreath a couple of weeks ago (all we had to do was buy the wreath base - it was on sale for $8 when I bought it plus I have a teachers discount so it was even less than that!). I wish they would have supplied something red for the wreath but apparently their theme was "gold" or something. I didn't look at the cost of all the things I added on to the wreath but I'm sure it all adds up fairly quickly and I could likely sell this $8 wreath for $50 now (so if you are interested in my wreath I'll give you, my readers, a discount and you'll only pay $45... or you can just watch for the next class at Michaels and maybe you can make your own (but you might have to wait for next year for that).

Would you believe me if I told you the pink was John's idea? Because it was! Well originally he had said red but we already have red on the tree and who says all the different things in the house have to match?!? The flowers were a couple of extra ones from the wreath decorating class I took that I found another use for.

Christmas Wish List 2017

Now that we've got a house coming up with a Christmas Wish list was easy... we've got more than enough space!

An office chair.  I thought I liked one from JYSK then I sat on it and rethought it.... I'm still looking for the perfect one so check back for an update?

Jodi Picoult's newest book... assuming she has one (every year she has had one for me to ask for but I didn't see a newer one than "Small Great Things" when I wrote this... which I've already read).

I really, really, REALLY want a better vacuum and next time they go on sale at The Bay I have every intention of taking every gift card we have for that place and using them all on the vacuum.  So gift card's to The Bay.

Speaking of gift cards we are always spending money at home renovation stores (Rona, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, etc.) so gift cards any of those places would be appreciated

A friend gave me a pair of moccasin slippers a number of years ago and they've worked great (especially the years I only lived in a one story place) but now that I'm going up and down stairs more often I need something that fits me properly and isn't slipping off my feet the first couple of steps I take on the stairs.

Mitts.  I feel like I always ask for mitts for Christmas because I use them well.  This year I'm going to ask for ones that might last me longer and keep my fingers warmer (and still look oh so stylish).

We've got more floors in this house than in the condo that want to be smelling nice and I currently only have one plug for wallflowers at Bath and Body Works.  For now we could use one more probably (I like the more discreet looking ones like this).  I've got a few scents to go inside but I wouldn't say no to more... is it weird to put a different scent on different floors?..  I haven't decided yet so just in case it is maybe 2 of the same scents... I don't recall which ones I like but typically not seasonal ones or food items.  Once I had a blue one that I really liked but I don't recall what the scent was.

Speaking of Bath and Body works... I exclusively use their hand soaps thanks to a certain aunt of mine.  I'm not fussy about what the scent of those is... I like them all!  I also like candles and their perfume... which apparently they don't have a lot of?  This is news to me but I know I like this scent.

Now that we have a laundry room that isn't also a bathroom we've got space to spread out!  I like the idea of a laundry sorter/bin thing for in the laundry room and this one by Neatfreak seems like a good idea.  The individual bags lift out so even if we just keep that hamper upstairs I would only need to carry one bag at a time down to the laundry room.

We could also use another laundry basket.  Now that it isn't about 10 steps from the laundry room to the bed where I sort the clothes I seem to drop a lot of clothes while going up all the steps.  A laundry basket for clean clothes would hopefully keep me from having to back track to find all the missing socks I dropped along the way.

Maybe if I had a clothes drying rack like this one I would keep my clothes off of the deep freeze, washer, and dryer when they are laying flat to dry.

One set of the oh so cool sounding Dragon Cutlery from Ikea

While you're at Ikea picking up some cutlery, and a drying rack you may as well pick up a couple of these boot trays for us (2 please).  Also, while hosting a Thanksgiving dinner at our place I came to realize that we only had 2 trivets and I wouldn't mind more (and these ones are hopefully slightly better quality than the dollar store ones I currently have).  One large trivet and 2 smaller ones  would hopefully be enough!

Not a big fan of plain coffee over here but I am a fan of adding special syrups to my coffee to make it taste SO much better.  I haven't ever tried the sugar free syrups and if they have sucralos in them I'm not sure I want to... so make sure my syrups are packed with that tasty tasty sugar!  You can get them at a lot of places (I've seen packs of 3 or 4 at Winners; Marshals probably also has them which means Home Sense and Home Outfitters likely have them as well) These ones are all from Bed Bath and Beyond (which I've heard has some of the better prices for them).  They didn't have a lot of options online when I made this post and they might have other options now but I know I would like hazelnut, vanilla, and caramel and I'm open to other flavours as well!

This oven mitt.  We only need one as we got this exact one for a shower present as well (it would just be nice to have a mitt for each hand).

I found these canisters at Marshal's about a month ago.

I like both of these designs (there were other ones... but these are the ones I prefer). You could use the prices for size references... I think one of each size would be perfect if you could find them!

Finally, I think Christmas is the perfect time to get new pajamas.  These ones look pretty much perfect and I'm a size medium.  But don't pay their regular price for them... I feel like they are constantly on sale (when I typed this out they were on sale for $29.95)

And that should pretty well do it...

What I Got For Christmas

I have 2 days to make up for in Blogmas because I was too sick to look at a screen, type, eat, sit up... you get the idea.  But I'm finally feeling mostly better now!  This means that you finally get to see what I got for Christmas!

What can I say about what I got for Christmas in 2015 other than I was pretty blessed.

You might have noticed a bunch of orange numbers every where on that picture... well they all correspond with the description here!

1.  John's sister got me a curling wand.  I was really looking forward to this present.  I've used it once and loved the results (even if I am still quite the armature at it).  Finally, no more having to curl my hair with my flat iron!

2.  Santa brought me some Bath and Body Works hand soap!  I LOVE Bath and Body Works so Santa did well.  He also brought me a holder for their soap which I didn't currently have.

3.  This is a giant blanket scarf.  Red plaid... just like I requested.  John bought it for me.  He actually bought 2 very similar scarves for me and I was having a hard time deciding which to keep... in the end I think I'm going to keep this one (although I still have both) because it's what I originally had asked for.

4.  Gift Cards!  My parents got me ones for Aldo (I want to get a new purse with it) and Winners (I already used part of it on my phone case).  John's sister gave me a Starbucks one... which I'll definitely put to good use.

5.  Santa brought me some kitchen stuff.  I had asked John's mom for some new measuring cups and she must have passed on the message to Santa.  There is also a bowl, measuring spoons, and this thing that I imagine is used for sifting/shaking powdered sugar before... which I didn't have before it showed up next to my stocking!

6.  I bought myself a new phone (well technically it was free and the plan that it comes with is better than what I had previous so I'm pretty happy about this non purchase).

7.  Gold star ornaments for my tree from John's sister.  They never made it onto my tree this year (I thought about putting them on but I was so busy at Christmas time and so sick that it just didn't happen)... so something to look forward to next year!

8.  Santa apparently always brings all the kids in this family Froot Loops for Christmas.  Obviously there is a story behind this and here it is... Those kids were only allowed certain cereals during the week.... they were the boring ones with hardly any sugars in them.  On Sunday's they were allowed slightly more sugary cereals though.  Sadly, Froot Loops never made the cut.  Except of course on Christmas... on Christmas they could eat any cereal they wanted and I guess Froot Loops was what they always wanted and so Santa always delivered it for them on Christmas to eat.  I of course have an opened box of Froot Loops already in my cupboard and eat them whenever I please (I also ate them whenever I pleased growing up).... but Santa clearly didn't want to leave me out of all the Froot Loop fun.

9.  Everyone and their mom got an adult colouring book for Christmas.  This one came from my family $10 gift exchange game (but I know that my sister brought it).

10.  Black knitted mitts from John's parents.  Mine never last more than a winter or 2 so I'm always looking for new ones!

11.  A new toque from John's parents!  This one is SO warm... I'm looking forward to wearing it this winter season.

12.  John also got me some new snow pants.  My old ones don't fit me anymore and I have room to grow in these ones!

Everything is sitting on a throw blanket that I also got from John's parents.  It is so cozy and warm and I love it.... it really came in handy while I was sick and needed about a million blankets on my bed to keep me nice and toasty through the night.

I forgot to include the book I got from John's grandparents... that is definitely worth mentioning because I love this author (did I read probably about 8 of her books in one year because I had just discovered her and couldn't get enough?  Yes, yes I did.  Anyways, the book is "Leaving Time" by Jodi Picoult.  I haven't started it yet but I'm sure it's going to be great!

Very thankful for everything I received for Christmas but am even more thankful for the sacrifice my Lord and Saviour gave for me by sending his only Son to Earth so that our sins could be forgiven... the reason I celebrate Christmas

I hope all my readers had a lovely Christmas!

An Interruption

I'm going to go ahead and interrupt our regular scheduled Blogmas post for this announcement: I've been sick this Christmas. Sick enough that yesterday, when I was supposed to be writing today's and tomorrow's post I ended up sleeping all day instead. But fear not!  Once I'm better... Which will hopefully be really, REALLY soon I shall complete these last 2 posts (psst... It's on what I got for Christmas and New Year plans). But for now, it's back to sleeping. 

What I Gave This Christmas

Day 29

What I Gave For Christmas

First, with John's family the kids all drew names... I got his sister's name that lives up North so I bought her present forever ago it seems so that John's mom could bring it to her when she visited.  She got a rectangular pizza stone (which I found at Home Outfitters for a reasonable prince - trust me it wasn't easy to find it!) and a Sephora gift card.

I gave John part of his present early because his favourite NHL team was here at the beginning of December.  His present was 2 tickets to the game (and he picked me to go with him!)

But then I figured he needed something to open Christmas as well.  I was going to sneak the little Lego man (the middle item) into his stocking here but I didn't think we would be here at on Christmas so I just put all the items in a gift bag and brought it to his parents place.

What is everything?

Well, from left to right we have...

1.  An Ovechkin Christmas tree ornament.  The guy at the store told me it didn't look anything like Ovechkin and I told him that didn't matter.  What matters is that now John will have an ornament on his tree from this girl (because he has a bunch of different ornaments on his tree from different girls - his mom, his piano teacher, his Sunday school teacher.... he needed one from me!)

2.  Ovechkin Lego man.  John likes Lego.  John likes the Capitals.  John likes Ovechkin.

3.  This was the first thing I bought him... just a travel mug.  Why?  Because he doesn't have one.

Can you tell what the theme was?

I would like to think I really did well with his present... and I didn't even have to ask him what he wanted!

For my parents I bought them a gift card for ticket master.  I find them so hard to buy for so I usually end up getting them tickets to something.  Originally I was going to send them to a hockey game with my aunt and uncle but that kind of fell through when I needed to have the item purchased before I left on Christmas Eve.  So, now they can pick something that they actually want to see.

These were pretty much it... there were a few smaller ones and I think John put my name on his present to his parents (and I put his name on my present to my parents).  

How I Spent Christmas

Day 28

How I Spent Christmas

This year for Christmas I spent it with John's family (because my family was getting together on Boxing Day).  We spent it opening presents, eating, celebrating, and remembering why we celebrate Christmas

I hope that however you spent Christmas this year that it was festive and great and perfect for you!

Boxing Day

Day 26

Boxing Day

Boxing Day... The day after Christmas... December 26th.

I'm not sure if it is like this everywhere but where I'm from there are a lot of pretty good deals to be had the day after Christmas.  I only started taking part in Boxing Day festivities in recent years... because I finally had extra money to spend, I needed furniture, and because I wasn't having a family gathering so I had more time to get out and go shopping.  I've still never waited in a long line at like 2am though... because that just isn't for me when it's this cold outside!

Anyways, this year I'm planning to get a new cell phone because I'm still using an iPhone 4s... which means I'll also be hunting around for a new plan.

I also really want these shoes but I've been looking (online) for them in my size and it's starting to look like they are all sold out (at least at places that will deliver to Canada)... I'm a little sad about this but I could have gotten them a while ago.  So I guess I only have myself to blame?

Last year I got a new winter jacket from North Face (online).  It took a while to find the one I wanted, in my size, from a store that would ship to Canada but I was so SO so happy when I did find it.  I had my eye on this jacket for a loong time (even trying them on in the store here so that I knew my correct size)... so I was super excited when I found it and I was even more happy when I got it within a couple days.  If you live somewhere that it gets COLD in the winter (I'm talking like -30's and colder) then do yourself a favour and get yourself a really good winter jacket!

I also got new black boots last year.  There is nothing special about these black boots except that they are leather and will hopefully last a long, long time.

The year previous (so 2013) I had just moved into my place so I was in the market for some furniture.  I picked up my bedroom furniture and mattress on Boxing Day.  The furniture I got from a discount furniture place and I don't recall if it was discounted more because of Boxing Day... but I'm still liking it so I'm going to go ahead and say it was a good purchase.

I've always considered buying a new tv on Boxing Day because mine is pretty ancient... but I don't watch enough tv to make that seem worthwhile.... at least not yet.

What has been your most successful Boxing Day purchase?

Outfit Of The Day

Day 25

Christmas Outfit Of The Day

Just a little #OOTD for all of you

Confession: I took this picture a while ago and planned to wear this on Christmas so that it wouldn't be a complete lie.  Is this what I'm currently wearing?  Well, if you are reading this at 7am then probably not....  but I am planning to wear this today!

You may remember the sweater from My Christmas Wish List... I caved and bought it for myself (and people are complimenting it and I'm loving it - it was cozy!).  Otherwise, I'm wearing a white shirt that I've had forever (in this photo I'm wearing it at least... that may be the one thing I change about this outfit and wear a t-shirt instead... just in case I get too warm... the t-shirt will look better I think.), and jeans.  Since this sweater has such a big collar I always wear my hair up with it... we'll see if that's what I decide to do on Christmas.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas Day!

In case you missed... here is my post on What Christmas Means to Me

What Christmas Means to Me

Day 24

What Christmas Means to Me

Christmas to me means a bunch of things... but when I first started thinking about this post I thought of this quote from our good friend... The Grinch

I like it, because for myself, it's true

A few days ago John called me requesting a Christmas Wishlist for his mom and I really struggled thinking of what I needed.  I knew I didn't really NEED anything so obviously I eventually put together a list of things I wanted.... 

For me, Christmas isn't about getting presents

I mean, it's lovely to get presents and I appreciate them all... I might even be a little disappointed if one year I didn't get any.  But presents are definitely not the most important part of Christmas and I don't want to ever think that I have to get presents because it's Christmas.

So the question remains, what does Christmas mean to me?

It means spending time with family and friends

It means giving to others before yourself

It means going to at least one Christmas themed church service

It means having a bunch of fun with a bunch of different people

It means good food and great company

It means seeing people you haven't seen in a while

But most importantly it means remembering why we celebrate this day and remembering Jesus' birth and all that he did for us.

God sent his son to Earth to save us all from our sins.  God sent Jesus to Earth so that one day he would die... for all of us!  Which really, is the best present of all... because think about it.... if someone stepped in front of a bullet that was heading straight for you wouldn't you be forever grateful for that person?

This video is a few years old but is still very much applicable.  It tells the story of Christmas through social media

This past Sunday my church did their children's Christmas concert and play... they played this song during it which I feel like tells a good part of the Christmas story and a bunch of things that Jesus would do in his life time.

Hope you have a very blessed Christmas this year!

Christmas Drinks

Day 23

Christmas Beverages

Today for Blogmas lets talk drinks.  To be more specific let's talk delicious hot drinks because it is getting cold up here!

When considering what drinks to add to this post I said to myself "Now Christine, everyone knows how to crush up a candy cane and put it in hot chocolate"... so needless to say I didn't include that one (just kidding I changed my mind and included a hot chocolate recipe - that does not include a hot chocolate mix).

Confession: I'm not big into the alcohol but if you wanted to make these a little more alcoholic I would suggest some Bailey's or Kaluha.

Confession #2:  I took pictures of each and every single one of these drinks (I really did make them all.. I promise!) but then they pretty well all looked exactly the same.  So enjoy the few pictures I included.

Up first we have one of my absolute favourites to make!
Pumpkin Spice Latte
I LOVE to make this for a few reasons

1) It gets made in my crockpot which means I can turn it on before church, head out to church for a couple of hours and come back to something warm and delicious...  There is just something nice about a warm cup of pumpkin spice latte after coming back from church on a chilly morning.
2) It's pumpkin spice (need I say more)
3) It's pumpkin spice without the price tag of having to go to Starbucks.

Now, I have a REALLY small crockpot so I have to cut this recipe at least in half (when it is just John and I though I'll cut it down to a quarter recipe.

I make my own pumpkin pie spice instead of buying it in the store you can find a recipe for some here.  I've also never purchased allspice before but one can make it using some spices that you likely already have in your cupboard (equal amounts of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg) .

I don't have espresso (I don't even know if you need a fancy special espresso machine to make the stuff) so I just make strong coffee... no one has ever complained.

I've been making this for years and it has never done me wrong.  So you should definitely try it this holiday season and maybe try it with these Pumpkin Cookies



This next recipe will go great with my Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cream Cookies because well..
Cookies and Cream Hot Chocolate

Bonus: This one is seriously easy to make.







I'm a big fan of the coconut frappachino at Starbucks during the summer time.... so I set my sights on a hot beverage that might compare... which I came across one that involved both caramel and coconut I knew it would be good.

Caramel Coconut Hot Chocolate


We don't have those Nestle chocolates where I am (that I'm aware of) so instead of using caramel chocolates (which I guess I probably could have found something more comparable) I just added a bunch of caramel sauce that I would put on ice cream.  It turned out great... I actually like this one just as much as I liked the pumpkin one.  Just watch the coconut that you're toasting (I put mine in the toaster oven)... it seems like it is taking forever and then you go to respond to one text message and BAM it's burnt.

You can enjoy this beverage with my Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Finally, I thought this post needed another coffee option PLUS I was missing out on doing anything with eggnog and that just isn't right.

Eggnog Latte

Much like with the Pumpkin Spice Latte I used strong coffee instead of espresso for this one.  I didn't think I would enjoy this one too much because I know that I don't like the eggnog option at Starbucks with their holiday drinks... well, I much preferred my version of it!

Don't forget to enjoy this with my Eggnog Cookies... the perfect pairing!



Hot Chocolate
Ok, I know I said I wasn't going to but for those of who are too afraid to try something new and exciting John came over a while ago and told me he was looking up where the best hot chocolate was in the city... he had a couple of options but then we decided to make it ourselves.

In case you are only wanting to try a couple of these lovely drinks my favouites are the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Caramel Coconut Hot Chocolate.



Now it's your turn... have you tried any of these?
Considering to try one of these?
Which one sounds the best to you?

Christmas Stockings

Day 22

Christmas Stocking Stuffers For EVERYONE!

Today I'm talking stockings... Christmas stockings (and what we're all putting in them)... except I don't think I'm putting anything in any Christmas stockings so well... I would say this is all a lie BUT if I needed to fill some stockings this is what I might include (or maybe I'll look back on this in a few years for ideas).

I can't imagine me spending more than $20 on Christmas stocking stuffers.... can you imagine if you have more than a few kids... just the stockings could end up costing a bunch!  So, shop smart folks.. Walmart has a $5 movie bin with many great movies in it... Michaels has 40% off coupons all the time... and well the Dollar Store has rows upon rows of stuff for under a few dollars.

Kids Stockings

- movies
- little stuffies
- travel sized games or card games
-  books
-  little toys
-  colouring books
-  stickers
-  headbands
-  socks, mitts, toque, scarf
-  candy, chocolate


Teen Stockings

-  make up, nail polish
-  movies
-  gift cards
-  books, magazine subscription
-  electronic game (I don't play any of these... but I'm thinking like Nintendo which is probably SO not in).
-  socks, mitts, toque, scarf
-  hair elastics
-  candy, chocolate

Adult Stockings

-  books, magazine subscriptions
-  socks, mitts, toque, scarf
-  movie
- gift cards
-  nail polish
-  small kitchen gadgets of some kind, coasters
-  ornaments
-  sunglasses
-  small notebook, pens
-  candles
-  tea
-  coffee

DIY Chistmas Framed Art

Day 21

Christmas Frame Art

Folks, this one is so simple to do (and you barely need any supplies to make them!)... it shouldn't cost you more than $10 (but hopefully it will be even less because, like myself, you'll be able to re purpose some of the things you have at home.

Here's what you'll need

1.

Some picture frames.

I already had these (pretty sure they come from Ikea in a package of 2).  I was lucky and mine were red but I think a lot of different colours and styles of frames would work for this.  I actually considered removing some of the artwork from some of the frames I currently have up around my place and making them into Christmas frames just for this season and then putting all the proper pictures back in them... but I didn't... but you could!

(my apologies for the sideways picture)

frames

2.  

Wrapping Paper.

Any kind will do.  Here's my collection of Christmas wrapping paper that I had to choose from

Christmas wrapping paper

3. 

Tape, Scissors, and Glue 

(you may not need both glue and tape... I used both but it isn't necessary)

4.

Cardboard.

I cut up a cracker box so that it would fit inside my frames (I figured out the size by tracing the back part of the frame... no measuring for me!)

cardboard

The steps are simple enough... in fact the first step you can already see done above

1. 

Glue or Tape wrapping paper onto cardboard.

You can see that when you glue the wrapping paper on the cardboard kind of bends... this is why it might be a better idea to use tape BUT.. keep in mind that you are putting it in a frame anyways so it will lay flat in there.

2.

Glue or tape the wrapping paper on the back of the cardboard.

I just wanted it to be on there nice and secure.  I also wanted to make sure my wrapping paper covered the entire front... this was just easiest.

3.

Put wrapping paper covered cardboard back into frames

4.

But frames up around the house

I told you it was easy.

Psst... in one of these photos you can spy My Advent Calendar (just click on that link to learn about what I did for one this year).

Presents for Everyone!

Day 20

Shopping For That Hard to Buy For Person

Confession:  I've got A LOT of gatherings over the next couple of weeks (just check out my Christmas Gatherings post!) and so I'm prewriting a lot of these last few days (my goal is actually to extend this right until the end of December... we'll see how that goes).  Not that I haven't been prewriting most of what I've already done... I just feel like these next few days might be obviously prewritten.... so you've been warned!

Anyways, this post is all about what to get for that person that has everything (or is just really hard to get a present for).  

Let me tell you folks, you are making it too hard!  This person is actually the easiest person to buy for... chances are you can get your shopping for this person done within minutes... possibly while you are doing your grocery shopping or from the comfort of your own home!

And here it is... the present that is sure to please that person that already has everything they could need:  

Tickets to ANYTHING!

Here is a list of tickets that you could get:

- Concert Tickets

-  Ballet Tickets

-  Comedy Show Tickets

-  A special event Tickets (like if Cirque du Soleil was coming or something)

-  Dinner Theater Tickets

-  Sporting Event Tickets

-  A Family Show 

-  Tickets to a play

-  OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU FIND THAT THE PERSON MAY BE INTO IN YOUR CITY

OR... get them tickets and a hotel stay for somewhere outside of the city you live in if you want to be extra generous (or a bunch of people are contributing to the present).

Now, some of you are going to be all "but they already have season tickets to every sporting event, or "they hate the arts", or "what if they are busy the date that I get the tickets for".  

Well fine then.

(chances are if they really wanted to see whatever it is you got them tickets for they would change their plans though)

Go out and get them a gift card to a restaurant.  They can go out to dinner which means they don't have to cook it... everyone is still happy.

(psst,... this the one you could probably accomplish while grocery shopping... just check out their gift card section)

In a week or 2 I'll be (hopefully) doing a post about what I got others for Christmas and I think this ticket/gift card idea is going to work with 3 people that I'm buying presents for.

I'm sure there are other things and ideas of what you could get that person that already has everything though... so leave your ideas in the comment section below!

Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies

Day 19

Mint Cookies!

52 Weeks of Cookies:  Week 25

I'm almost halfway done with my one cookie/week posts!  If I'm being completely honest with you all (and I would like to think I always am)... it has been a bit of a challenge.  But I WILL finish what I've started... and I WILL still fit into all my current pants at the end of it.

Now that that's out of the way.... this week I made some Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies that I found on Taste of Home.

You may remember my last attempt at Thin Mint Cookies and how I didn't enjoy them too much (I mean... the taste wasn't bad but the cookie part... that was just so hard!).  Anyways, these ones are a little better (although,I still think there is room for improvement).

I didn't do anything differently from what the recipe said to do (as far as I'm aware at least).  I left the cookie dough in the fridge for probably close to 24 hours before cutting the dough and baking it.  As per usual I halved the recipe.... and then decided there wasn't enough icing so I left the icing recipe as the usual amount for a full recipe.

I found the recipe to not "fluff up" as much as I was hoping for.  Going off the picture on Taste of Home.... it does seem like they either tripled the icing recipe or used a different recipe altogether... oh Taste of Home... you failed me on the icing!  So, I was finding the recipe to be a little too runny... especially when you put the other cookie on top.  To solve this I just stuck them all in the freezer for a little bit and then stuck them together... then I stuck them back in the freezer because that is where I store my cookies!

My other qualm with these cookies is that the cookie part is a little dry... I wish it were most moist.  I think I could improve on these quite a bit for next time... I'm thinking one of those homemade Oreo recipes and just add some mint and green food colouring the icing (and not adding in vanilla to the icing).

My rating for these cookies?  7/10... what can I say... there is room for improvement!

Last week I made some Sugar Cookies that are always delicious!

Christmas Gatherings

Day 18

SO MANY HOLIDAY PARTIES!

John and I just counted all the Christmas gatherings that we have and get this... we have 9.  Some are a lot smaller than others but still... 9.  I also had 1 other Christmas party without him.  It's a lot... especially considering there are 5 days straight and a total of 9 between the 16-28 (never more than one on any date though).

BUT, here are a few of my Christmas Gatherings (and some of the traditions we have)

1)  I always get together with these girls

just a bunch of sisters and cousins

We usually do a scarf exchange but this year we just did a $5 gift exchange.

2) Both sides of my parents family

We used to do one gathering on Christmas and the other on boxing day (and then alternating which family we'd see on which day every year).  For the record, my parents are still very much together... it's just getting together with some extended family.

Now that we've grown up and become a little more busy (with many of us getting married) it doesn't work out to organize it for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.  So we just find a day that most of us are free and choose it!

On my dad's side we do a $10 gift exchange.  The rule used to be that the present had to be purchased from Canadian Tire and the goal was to save the most money (receipts had to be included) but this year it has morphed into any $10 present.

On my mom's side we don't do presents.

But we will: listen (and possibly have a role in) the Christmas story, sing Christmas carols, eat, play games, visit... or well I'm assuming we will do all of this based on how it is from other years.

3)  Both sides of John's parents family.

I don't know what his traditions are or what it will be like... maybe I'll have it figured out in a few years.

4) Life group Christmas party

Last year we went to one member's place in the country but alas, he is in Germany this year.... 

So this year... I'm hosting it!  Well... technically I already hosted it (it was on the 16th).

We are putting together a Christmas hamper for a family in need and delivering it this day as well.

5)  My immediate family

this would be my parents and sisters and all our significant others.

When we were kids we always had our Christmas on Christmas eve (because we were always busy on Christmas and boxing day) and would go out to eat and to look at Christmas lights.

6)  John's immediate family

We are with them on Christmas day this year (and Christmas eve... because they want to see a lot of me... yes, I'm assuming it is me they want to see).

7) Work parties

This year, I didn't have one and usually bigger corporations get theirs out of the way earlier on but because of Grey Cup festivities everything got bumped back a little later so this year we are attending John's on the 19th.  It's a fancier event.  Dresses will be worn and corsages will be offered (by his work... not by him).

And I think this pretty much covers it!

If I were teaching this year... I think I might feel that a 2 week break was not nearly long enough!

Here's to still being able to fit into all my clothes in the New Year!

How many Christmas gatherings and parties do you have this year?