Small Home Big Start

Day 1: Paint an IKEA Step Stool Red

2012-01-31T07:58:00.000-05:00

I love the kitchen in our new apartment with its tall cabinets, but even at 5'7" I find it difficult to reach the top. The best solution seemed to be a little step stool I could have tucked away in the corner. It would even be great for an occasional seat when we have lots of people over.

I found a great stool at IKEA that fit the bill, but they didn't have it in the colour we wanted, so I decided to paint it.

Before assembling the stool, I sanded every surface with 600-grit sandpaper to prep the surface for the paint.

Following the instructions in the box, I put together the stool.

Then I used this apple red indoor/outdoor latex paint I found at the hardware store. I used a small foam brush to apply a thin coat all over and let it dry for a few hours. I applied a second coat, let it dry completely and then did any touch ups. The expert in the paint department recommended this paint for its durability, however if there are any scratches, I can touch it up with the leftover paint.

Here is the final result! I love it! Its a great pop of colour in our kitchen.

It is also very functional.

When its not in use, I have it tucked in the corner of the kitchen by Whiskey's bowls.

Speaking of my favourite little pup, next up on 10 Tasks in 10 Days, I'm making Whiskey a new dog bed. See you tomorrow!

10 Tasks in 10 Days Challenge

2012-01-30T06:56:00.000-05:00

Today kicks off the 10 Tasks in 10 Days Challenge! Woo hoo! I'm really looking forward to getting some things done around here. Here is my list of what I'm going to accomplish. I'd love to hear what you're working on too, so please send me an email or add a comment at the bottom of this post.

1. Paint an IKEA Step Stool Red

Back in October we bought this bench from IKEA and since then it has sat still in the box in the front hall closet. We originally wanted it in black, but when they didn't have any in stock we decided to buy this one and just paint it another colour. Most of my kitchen stuff is red, so a nice big red stool seemed like a fun idea. Now I just have to put it together and paint it.

2. A New Dog Bed for Whiskey

Whiskey is an expert cuddler and if given the chance he will try to sneak into our bed every night. As sweet as it is, it can also be super annoying when he gets tossing and turning. His old bed just isn't keeping him warm anymore, so its time for a new one. I'm hoping that by making it myself it will be cheaper. We'll see!

3. Put up the Bathroom Shelves

I talked about these shelves earlier in the month when I painted them, but now it is time to get my act in gear and actually install them. I can't wait to see what they look like when they go up.

4. Organize my Craft Supplies

I have a little too many bins of craft supplies - from sewing and beading to floristry and embroidery. Its time to go through all the bins and purge what isn't needed. (And maybe make room for new crafts!)

5. Set Up the New BBQ

For Christmas my parents gave me an amazing new BBQ for us to enjoy some outdoor grilling. Even with the ridiculously cold weather here I am determined to fire it up for the first time. Even if I have to do it in my parka. Maybe I'll even make my Grilled Lime Chicken.

6. Replant the House Plants

At our housewarming last month, my friend Amy gave me this huge Christmas planter. I love it so much, but I need to transfer them over to more season appropriate containers.

7. Put Pictures in Our Empty Frames

While walking around our apartment, I've noticed that we've put up many frames, but haven't gotten around to printing off pictures to put inside them. I need to pick my favourite photos, have them printed and then pop them in the frames.

8. Stain and Install Spice Rack

At the old apartment, I had a wonderful spice rack that I used all the time, but so far I've been keeping my spices in a cardboard box at the new place. This system worked for all of one day until I realized I now have to dig into the box every time I want basil or cinnamon. We've bought some of these spice racks from IKEA and we plan to stain them the same colour as the cabinets and install them.

9. Napkin Rings for Dinner Party

This week I'm having a small dinner party with friends and I would like to be able to put out these lovely new fabric napkins I bought on clearance after Christmas. I think a little napkin ring would be a perfect accent to the table, and its something easy enough that I can do it while watching TV after work. I love projects like that.

10. Recover the Dining Room Chairs

I've mentioned before how I plan to recover these chairs I picked up for free. The fabric has arrived and now I just need to reupholster them. I can already tell this is going to make a big impact in our little dining room.

There are the 10 Tasks I selected. Wish me luck on my journey to complete everything in the next 10 days! First up is the stool, which I'll be posting about tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Our Little Hunting Dog

2012-01-27T10:37:00.001-05:00

We've had a pretty mild winter so far, with very few snow storms or accumulation, which has meant more walks around our area. Of course as I write this we've got a big storm going through Ontario which is effectively leaving everyone housebound, but yesterday it was a different story.

It was a crisp beautiful day, so we decided to head out for a walk in the woods nearby.

It was incredibly quiet and serene out there and we only saw one other person the whole time we walked around.

Garrett helped Whiskey get the best lookout post for all the squirrel sightings.

These two are quite the pair.

Whiskey was on complete overdrive the whole time as he tried to scope out all the creatures in the woods.

While Whiskey sniffed every tree, we enjoyed the fresh air.

How cute is this little coat that he is rockin'? My mom made Whiskey and Shadow these matching coats that are super cozy and easy to put on.

It makes him look fashionable even in his "hunting mode". If we let him off leash in there, I can guarantee you he'd come back with some squirrel/bird/rabbit tail in his mouth. He is quite the little hunter.

I'm off to add on another pair of socks before we head out on a walk again. Its cold! But thankfully its Friday, which means a nice weekend to relax (and get things done) before work on Monday rolls around again. Happy Friday!

Cajun Chicken Pasta

2012-01-26T10:57:00.001-05:00

I love cajun food with a little bit of kick, but its hard to find it up here in Canada which means that I had no choice but to try and make it myself. This Cajun Chicken Pasta is loaded with great creole flavour, juicy chicken and crisp vegetables tossed in a creamy pasta sauce. Usually a dish like this at a restaurant would be loaded with calories, but I was able to cut this back by using less butter and olive oil, and swapping out heavy cream for low fat sour cream. You won't even notice the change as this dish still packs a great punch. We had lots of leftovers and I have to admit that this tasted even better the next day as leftovers. If you're looking for a dinner to shake up your routine, give this a try.

What you'll need:
8 ounces Linguine Pasta
1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, chopped into bite size pieces
3 tbsp Cajun Seasoning
2 tbsp Olive Oil
2 tbsp Butter
1 Red Pepper, seeded and sliced
1 Green Pepper, seeded and sliced
1 Onion, sliced
3 cloves Garlic, minced
6 Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 tsp Dried Basil
1 cup Low Fat Sour Cream
Juice from half a Lemon
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Toss the pieces of chicken in cajun seasoning until well coated. Meanwhile bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

In a large skillet on high heat, melt 1 tbsp of butter in 1 tbsp of olive oil. Place half the chicken in the skillet and do not stir until it is browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook for a few more minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken to a clean plate and repeat the process with the remaining chicken. When cooked, remove the rest of the chicken to the plate.

Toss the linguine into the boiling water and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Meanwhile add the remaining butter and olive oil to the skillet and saute the onion, mushrooms, peppers, garlic and dried basil. I also tossed in half a jalapeno for some extra heat.

Add more cajun seasoning to vegetables if you'd like more heat, but just be careful to not add too much if your seasoning contains salt. In that case use a little bit of cayenne pepper instead.

Add the cooked chicken and all its juices back into the pan, along with the low fat sour cream. Stir until it is all combined.

Add the sauce mixture to the drained pasta and toss until well combined. Tongs are great for this step.

I also added in the juice from half of a lemon for a little more flavour. Give it a taste and add any salt or pepper if needed.

A little bit of Cajun on a cold winter night is a welcome treat.

Printable Version

10 Tasks in 10 Days - Starts on Monday!

2012-01-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

Everyone has that growing list of things to get done around the house and I'm no different. It seems that I have all these fun ideas that I want to do or even just horrible chores that I have to finish and I never get around to doing them.

This is what prompted me to make the 10 Tasks in 10 Days Challenge starting next Monday. Basically you pick 10 things you want to accomplish around your house and you do one a day until they're all done. It requires a bit of forethought to pick your tasks and have all the materials you need, but its a great way to give yourself that push to get things done.

I'd love for you all to join me on this challenge. The tasks can be as little as organizing your sock drawer and as big as repainting a room, its all up to what you need to accomplish. Start brainstorming your list and we'll start on Monday. I've already got a (growing) list myself!

Easy Mini Cinnamon Rolls

2012-01-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

Weekend mornings occasionally call for something special at breakfast. I surprised Garrett on Sunday morning with a big pot of coffee and a plate of these little goodies, which turned out to be the perfect sweet breakfast treat.

Usually I made my mother's Cinnamon Rolls, but on a morning where I don't have time to make the dough I make these using a can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. They still have that great homemade taste, but without all the work.

What you'll need:
1 can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
2 tbsp Butter, melted
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Cinnamon
1 pinch Salt
3 tbsp Raisins
1/2 cup Icing Sugar
1 tbsp Milk

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Unroll crescent roll pastry and pinch seams together to make a large sheet.

Mix together butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.

Spread cinnamon sugar mixture over dough and dot with raisins.

Roll up pastry into a log and slice into 12 pieces.

Place each piece upright in a muffin tin.

Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until golden. Allow to cool for a few minutes while you mix up the icing. In a small bowl combine icing sugar with milk until a thick consistency, adding more milk if needed.

Pour icing over mini cinnamon rolls and serve warm. These little goodies fly right off the plate, they're that good.

Printable Version

Refinishing the Dining Room Table

2012-01-23T08:48:00.001-05:00

A few years ago my dad went out for a drive and found an old table on the side of the road. He didn't think anything of it and just casually mentioned it when he got back. Within seconds I hauled him back to the car and insisted he show me where it is. It was a beat up old solid wood table, but I could see the potential.

Three years later it now sits in my dining room and it looks much better than it did back then.

Here is what it looked like back in October this year when I started working on the table top. The legs were in pretty good shape, so I didn't strip them, or the sides of the table.

The top was a mess of thick chipped finish and lots of marker and crayon drawings.

I quickly got to work sanding down the one side and immediately I could see a huge difference.

I decided not to strip the sides because they had this beautiful two toned inlay that went perfectly with the stain I was looking at.

It took almost a whole day, but I finally got it all sanded down to a super smooth finish.

I love the look of clean wood that's ready to be transformed!

I used MinWax's Jacobean stain, which ironically is the colour my parents did their dining room table in years ago. I had no idea, but I guess it unconsciously inspired me. My dad helped me out by doing the many layers of varnish (and sanding in between).

The table also has three small leaves, which I have yet to finish. I figured I'd leave those for next Summer.

This is what the table looks like now, with these new chairs I picked up from an old office for free.

I love the finish and the rich colour of the stain. Its the perfect backdrop for my recipe pictures now!

The chairs are in pretty good shape and just need to be recovered.

For the upholstery, I've ordered this cotton print canvas from Tonic Living. They are the same company who made my striped futon cover I use in the warmer months.

Now I just need to find time to finish the chairs and then we'll have a full dining room set for next to nothing. Gotta love that!

Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup

2012-01-22T02:11:00.001-05:00

I love to make a big batch of soup on Sundays and then use it for lunches during the week. Its a great way to ensure I've got not only an easy lunch but also a healthy one. This is a simple soup using winter vegetables. Its not only economical, but it is also a delicious alternative to anything you'll find in a can.

This soup took less than 50 minutes to make and most of that time I spent just waiting for it to finish cooking to I could finally eat it. The smell in the kitchen was fantastic and it tasted just as delicious. It made for a great packed lunch when paired with a small sandwich or crackers.

What you'll need:
1 large Butternut Squash, peeled and chopped
4 large Carrots, peeled and chopped
1 Onion, diced
4 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tbsp Olive Oil
4 cups Chicken Broth
1/2 tsp Basil
Salt and Pepper to taste

The hardest part of this recipe is chopping up all the butternut squash, but once you see all that vibrant colour you can just tell its going to be a great soup.

Add olive oil to a large pot and sauté onion and garlic for 5 minutes until the onion is translucent. Add in butternut squash and carrots; sauté for another 5 minutes.

Add chicken broth and basil to the pot and stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the butternut squash is tender.

When the vegetables are cooked, use a potato masher to mash the pieces. If you prefer a smoother soup, puree in batches in a blender.

Serve this soup hot with freshly toasted bread or a simple side salad.

Printable Version

I Got Bangs!

2012-01-20T06:47:00.002-05:00

After much deliberation following Tuesday's post, I decided to bite the bullet and get bangs.

Ta-da!

I love them! My hairdresser (who is also one of my dearest friends) could tell I was nervous and took many longer cuts before we did the final chop. I'll admit it took awhile to adjust to having bangs and I still get caught off guard when I see my reflection, but I really do love them. Its a nice change from my usual cut.

Another exciting change is that yesterday I swapped my much loved blackberry for a new android, Galaxy Nexus. Its taking a little while to adjust to the new system, but otherwise its great. I love having all the fun features and apps. I'll admit I'm even a bit addicted to some of the games (Bejeweled Blitz!).

Lots of exciting changes going on around here and its also Friday, which is my favourite day of the week. It means the start of the weekend and some time to focus on new projects around the house. Happy Friday Everyone!

Italian Turkey Burgers

2012-01-18T09:47:00.001-05:00

I'm always looking for easy healthy dinner ideas and when I saw fitness model Jamie Eason's Italian Turkey Burgers I knew I had to give them a try. They are a leaner version of a burger, but with so much flavour that you won't even miss the beef. I also added some low fat baked french fries on the side, but I think homemade sweet potato wedges or roasted green beans would have been better if I had them on hand. I'm looking forward to barbecuing these burgers next time!

What you'll need:
1 lb of Extra Lean Ground Turkey
2 medium Zucchini, grated
1 tsp Dried Basil
1 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Salt

Set broiler on high and place oven rack on the top rack.

Grate the zucchini and keep it all, even the water that comes out. This will add moisture to the burgers.

In a large bowl combine the zucchini and spices.

Add in the turkey and mix with your hands until combined.

Divide the mixture into 5-6 balls and then flatten on a foil lined baking sheet.

Place burgers in the oven and broil for 7 minutes. Flip and continue to broil for another 7 minutes on the other side.

Serve these burgers on a whole wheat bun with all your favourite toppings!

Printable Version

Bangs: Yay or Nah?

2012-01-17T09:51:00.000-05:00

Tonight I'm going to go get my hair cut. Its been long overdue and I am desperate for a trim and a bit of a new style.

Its about this long right now and I'm sticking to the same colour...but all I can think about are bangs. Should I get them or not? Will they grow out by Summer?

I'd love to have ones like this, but don't know if I can pull them off.

I also love Jennifer Garner's look. She always has great bangs.

Maybe something like Ashley Olsen, with them more swept to the side.

I like these ones, but I think that length would get in my eyes all the time.

I love Kate's hair on The Small Things. Her bangs are fun but not heavy in her face. If you're looking for amazing tutorials for hair check her blog out!

After much web searching, I decided to try the InStyle Hollywood Hair Virtual Makeover, which lets you test out different celebrity hairstyles. Please ignore the lack of makeup on my face or the super pale skin (hello Canadian winter!) If you're looking for something fun to do, give this a whirl. I'm sticking to my normal hair colour, but this even lets you test out different hair colours with highlights and lowlights too.

First up I tried the Jennifer Garner side swept bangs.

Here is the Ashley Olsen look, with bangs that blend in more with her layers.

What about a deeper side part like Emma Stone?

These Eva Mendez bangs look a bit too curled under.

I always love Reese Witherspoon's hair and these side bangs are pretty cute, but I think I'll stick to something that covers a bit more forehead.

While playing around with the virtual makeover, I shared this piece of Napoleon cake with Garrett. I picked it up at Issac's Bakery in Toronto on my way home last night. If you're looking for a nut free Jewish bakery in Toronto this is the place to go. They make awesome challah bread as well, although I picked up a loaf of their rye bread for sandwiches this week and its pretty good too.

Another highlight of the evening was catching up on "Once Upon A Time". Its probably my favourite new show of the year. Talking about great hair, Jennifer Morrison always has awesome hair on the show. Must be nice to have stylists on set. I wonder if I could get that at home too :)

Snickerdoodle

2012-01-16T06:41:00.001-05:00

There is nothing like a warm spicy cookie and these Snickerdoodles are a great sweet winter treat.

I got the recipe out of this great new cookbook I received as a gift - the Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook. This book is packed with great ideas and I can't wait to try them all!

I loved these cookies dipped in milk or even hot chocolate!

What you'll need:

1 1/2 cups Sugar
1/2 cup Butter or Margarine, softened
1/2 cup Shortening
2 Eggs
2 3/4 cups of All Purpose Flour
2 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Sugar
1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon

Heat oven to 400°F.

In a large bowl, beat butter, shortening, eggs and 1 1/2 cups of sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.

In a small bowl, mix together cinnamon and 1/4 cup sugar.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack to cool.

Make these soon for a fun after school/work snack!

Printable Version

Painting Bathroom Shelves

2012-01-12T11:07:00.001-05:00

After thinking over all the bathroom possibilities that I mentioned the other day, we finally decided on what type of shelves to add above the toilet.

We decided to got with a series of three bracketed shelves like the ones above. We priced it out at IKEA and similar shelving units and they each ran for about $15 a shelf. Not too bad, but I knew I could find a way to make them cheaper.

Sure enough I was able to find the materials to make all three shelves for under $15, less than the price of one shelf at the stores. I love it when you find a deal like that! I bought a white board from Rona for $10 and had them cut it down to the right sizes for free. The brackets ended up being on clearance at another store and they brought them in for $0.30 each!

I decided to paint the brackets using white acrylic paint and I'll seal them before we install them. A few coats with a foam brush seems to be working well.

The ends of the shelves just need a quick swipe of paint to make them all white too. I did this method to the ends of the office shelves and they turned out great.

Now we just need to deal everything to protect against moisture and then they'll be ready to put up!

Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowls

2012-01-11T11:17:00.001-05:00

I love Chipotle but unfortunately the only ones in my area are in downtown Toronto. It isn't very convenient or economical to drive into the city every time I want one of their amazing burrito bowls. The only solution was to learn how to make them at home and save the real Chipotle for special occasions when we're in the city.

I put together all the ingredients we'd need (clockwise): Guacamole, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Salsa, Sour Cream, Chicken, Lettuce, Spiced Beans and Cheese.

Layered together, these come together to make for the perfect meal - a burrito bowl! Lots of flavour and textures going on here. You can customize this to suit your tastes, adding more of your favourite parts (for me its the rice!) or adding other great Tex Mex toppings, like grilled vegetables or pico de gallo. Here are the ingredients I prepared for these burrito bowls.

Cilantro Lime Rice
What you'll need:
2 cups Water
1 cup White Rice
2 handfuls fresh Cilantro
1 Lime, juiced
1 Jalapeno, seeded and roughly chopped
2 tsp Salt, or to taste

Bring water to a boil, add in rice and simmer until all the water is absorbed (I usually use the instructions on the bag of whichever type I'm using). Set aside rice and allow to cool a bit.

Meanwhile throw the cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno and salt into a food processor and pulse until finely minced. Set aside a scoop of this mixture for the guacamole.

Add cilantro mixture to the cooled rice and toss to coat completely. This rice will be the base of the burrito bowls, but it is also great on its own.

Spiced Beans

I would have preferred black beans for this, but we only had red kidney in the cupboard, so it had to do for now. Rinse and drain a can of beans. In a microwavable bowl, combine the beans with a sprinkle of cumin, chili powder, oregano, cayenne pepper and a bit of salt. Add in a few splashes of chicken broth and microwave until warm.

Meat: Chicken or Steak

There was some leftover chicken in the fridge, so I just chopped it up into a bowl, adding in a sprinkle of chili powder, garlic salt, onion powder, cumin, oregano and a splash of chicken broth. Heat up in the microwave.

If I'd had fresh chicken breasts, I'd have made a marinade with the above spices, let the chicken sit in it overnight in the fridge and then barbecue.

Chipotle Guacamole
What you'll need:
1 Avocado
1 scoop of Cilantro Lime mixture (from rice recipe above)
1 tbsp Red Onion, finely chopped

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mash together until smooth. Add more lime juice or salt to taste.

Additional Toppings

There are lots of great toppings you can add on top: salsa, grated cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce or even grilled veggies, chopped hot peppers, pico de gallo.

I tried to do the method they use at the restaurant and layer everything: Cilantro-Lime Rice, Beans, Chicken, Cheese, Lettuce, Salsa and then a dollop of Sour cream and Guacamole.

Garrett and I both loved this dinner and I know we'll be trying it again soon. It would also be a great meal for when you have company over. Make up all the different ingredients and have people mix and match their favourite toppings!

Bathroom Ideas from Pinterest

2012-01-10T14:40:00.001-05:00

My goal this week is to finally get our bathroom fixed up. We've been making do with what little storage is in there, but now we're looking for creative ways to maximize the space.

As you can see in this photo, the only storage is a shallow three door medicine cabinet and a shallow cupboard under the sink, which is mostly filled with plumbing. The only options for hanging towels is the bar on the shower (which I place the hand towel on), the towel bar on the left (which I accidentally knocked out of the wall.) and a clumsy hook on the door which towels tend to fall off of. There is also no storage for extra towels or toilet paper, and no space for anything decorative. I've added a toilet paper holder and one small basket with face towels on the back of the toilet but thats about all that has changed since we moved in.

Thanks to the wonderful world of Pinterest, there are many great ideas brewing in my mind and this is the week I'm going to do them. The main goals are to add more storage, somewhere to hang wet towels and a little bit of fun decor to warm the place up.

Source: Uploaded by user via Amanda on Pinterest

My first thought is to add a small shelf with hooks along the wall for towels to hang and a few pictures frames above.

Source: google.com via Heather on Pinterest

I'd probably go with something like this - fewer hooks, but still plenty of hanging storage. My only concern is that we occasionally turn on the space heater below where the towels would hang. It would just be a matter of changing our habits.

Source: flickr.com via Amanda on Pinterest

As for storing bathroom supplies, I'm leaning towards adding narrow shelves above the toilet, similar to these ones here.

Source: houzz.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I think this would use up the wasted space above the toilet and add plenty of space to put all our toiletries and store some extra things for guests as well.

Source: imgfave.com via Nellie on Pinterest

Another storage option I'm looking at is small stackable bins under the sink, or a small shelf on the cabinet door. The biggest obstacle is the shallowness of the cabinet itself.

Source: bystephanielynn.com via Amanda on Pinterest

For the shelves above the toliet, I'm looking at finding a couple of smaller industrial bins like these above. I also have a few other uses for them throughout the house. Anyone out there in Ontario who happens to know where you can get these plain bins for a reasonable price, please email me!

Source: bhg.com via Katie on Pinterest

As for on the shelves, I want to get a few jars and tins to hold all the various bits and pieces. Maybe even a few weaved baskets for the towels.

Source: rockettstgeorge.co.uk via Mara on Pinterest

I recently broke the plastic hand soap dispenser we have (don't ask me how I did it, because I don't even know), so I've decided its a sign that I need to get a more permanent solution. I'm on the lookout for a nice simple hand pump, like this one.

Source: marthastewart.com via Amanda on Pinterest

The last solution I've been looking at, is possibly putting multiple towel rods on the back of the bathroom door instead of hanging them on the hooks. It would keep the towels away from the heater, but you also might be able to see them from outside the washroom when the door is open.

There are so many options to ponder over and I think I want to keep doing a bit more research over the next couple of days. Either way, by this time next week I want the bathroom to function better and look prettier than it does right now. Do you ever get to the point where enough is enough?

German Pancake

2012-01-09T10:50:00.001-05:00

A German Pancake, also called a Dutch Baby, is a thin crepe-like pancake that you bake in a skillet. Ridiculously easy to make and incredibly delicious, these are sure to become a weekend staple in our home. They kind of remind me of my mother's Yorkshire Puddings, but with a sweeter taste. Bake one of these up and serve with your favourite breakfast toppings!

What you'll need:
1/2 cup of Flour, sifted
3 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup Milk
2 tbsp Butter, melted
1 tbsp Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt

Preheat oven to 450°F.

In a large bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add in milk, melted butter, sugar and salt.

Gradually whisk in flour, one spoonful at a time, until there are no lumps.

Lightly spray a 9" skillet with cooking spray. Pour batter into skillet.

Bake for 12-18 minutes or just until the edges are golden.

It will slightly deflate as it comes out of the oven.

Serve with your favourite toppings:

Light dusting of icing sugar

Yogurt and berries

Apples and a light caramel sauce

Drizzled with maple syrup, honey or chocolate syrup.

Printable Version

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Linking Up To:
The DIY Show Off

Taking Advantage of the Nice Weather

2012-01-08T12:59:00.001-05:00

Yesterday afternoon we headed out with a few friends for a leisurely stroll through their woods. It was lots of fun, even if we did come back with a slightly injured pup. But more on that in a bit.

Between all four of us girls, we had five dogs, including that cute new rottweiler/german shepherd puppy in the middle.

The guys came along too, but they kept to themselves talking about guy stuff...video games, jobs and the weather. I guess hearing all our girlie gossip wasn't very fun for them.

The weather turned out to be incredibly nice when we headed out. I barely even needed my vest (which is unheard of during a Canadian winter). It didn't start to rain or hail until the end when we started loading into the cars.

For most of the walk we let all the pups go off leash and run to their hearts content. Whiskey was often leading the pack as the smallest and fastest of the bunch.

The newest addition to the group, this sweet puppy named Remy, was struggling to keep up with everyone as she bounded along behind them.

After a long walk, the dogs (finally) started to tucker out and even Whiskey slowed down. You know he's done his walk when he starts begging to be picked up.

On the drive home I noticed that he was licking a one of his paws and upon further investigation, it turned out that he'd ripped off one of his claws. It looked awfully painful, but he didn't even seem to notice. I swear it hurt me more than him.

After a quick Google diagnosis (and a speedy call to my dad) we determined that it could be taken care of with a simple first aid kit and some antibiotic ointment.

In no time, my little patient was all bandaged up and back to cuddling. I'm going to keep an eye on it for the next few days, but I think he'll be okay.

Easygoing Weekend

2012-01-07T16:29:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I realized that this is our first weekend home in our new apartment without anything that we have to do. Its nice to feel like we can do whatever we want and maybe work on some of those things that have been nagging in the back of our minds, like house repairs, new job applications and a little cleaning. Its much less stressful when you don't have to rush to get it all done before you go somewhere or have people over.

To kick off the weekend, I decided to make a nice little Friday afternoon surprise. Nothing says "after school/work" quite like homemade cookies, so I treated Garrett to some fresh out of the oven snickerdoodle cookies when he got home.

After eating our fair share, we packed up a tin of them to take to the city to see our good friends Alison and Dave.

We checked out their awesome new digs (should have taken more pictures!) and let Whiskey run wild all over the carpet. He seemed quite happy at their new home, so we headed out for dinner at a local pub.

How awesome are these "Movember" pint glasses they had?

Do I look good with a handlebar mustache?

Today we've gone out for a walk with friends in the forest and puttered around the house, but now its time for a date night we've been waiting to do ever since my parents gave me movie tickets for Christmas...

Tom Cruise tends to come off as a little bit crazy in real life, but I still love him in action movies. It was a toss up between this or The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but I've got about 100 pages left of the book and I don't want to see it in theatres before I finish.

Its funny to think that a few years ago I would have for sure gone out to the bars/clubs on a Saturday night and now the idea of a movie date with the boyfriend and then a late night walk with the pooch sound so much more appealing. Here's to growing up (and saving a ton of money)!

Friday Morning

2012-01-06T12:48:00.000-05:00

Back in November, I planted my first amaryllis and over the past six weeks it has quickly grown into a towering plant.

When I came into the dining room this morning I saw that it now has six full blooms and another two on the way.

I love how bright and bold these red blooms are. They add a nice pop of colour on these cold winter days.

After admiring the flowers, I decided to make up a big batch of quinoa for breakfast...only to find out that we're out of milk. Don't you hate when that happens? So I popped some bread in the toaster and decided that jam on toast would be a nice substitute.

Then I came back to the couch to find that someone else had taken over my laptop. The second I saw this, I started to crack up and had to get the camera. What a goofball.

I've been working away on the computer all morning and I just looked up to see that its almost time for lunch. How is this day getting away on me so quickly? I've still got some more files to wrap up before I get ready to visit some friends in the city tonight. A great way to start a (hopefully) relaxing weekend.

Happy Friday Everyone!

New Year Goal: Fixing Up The Apartment

2012-01-05T11:29:00.000-05:00

Its been two and a half months since we moved into the new apartment and its come a long way since then. We've kept fairly close to the layout we planned, with a few small changes.The biggest thing now is of course all the little things. My goal over the next few months is to get started on all the bits and pieces we want to change about this place.

Our front hall is probably the most neglected area of the apartment. I want to put up a gallery of photos on the right and some functional hooks near the closet. We could also use a fun and colourful mat for when you first walk in.

In the kitchen we already added this little shelf above the sink, but I still have a spice rack to install, a stepstool to paint and a few more little decor touches, like changing this Christmas scene to something else.

In the dining room, I swapped out my old table for this one that I semi-restored (more on that soon). I've also found some new chairs for the table that still need to be reupholstered. The mini blinds (unfortunately) have to stay put, but I`m thinking about putting up some kind of window treatment to hide them a bit.

In the corner of the dining room is my little home office. During the holiday we installed opening shelving above the desk, but I still need to find a few more storage options. Its slowly getting there.

I desperately need to work on the decor in the living room. For the past month I just kept it Christmasy, but now with all that stuff is away it looks bland and boring. I need some colour and pattern in there to spruce things up.

On the other side of the living room is my large bookcase. I need to go through ALL the boxes in this room and reorganize them. When the final days of the move got hectic, I just started shoving stuff anywhere I could, so I'm sure they're lots of little surprises in there (Oh look! My eyeliner pencil sharpener I lost....seriously can't find it anywhere.)

In the bedroom, I put up a new headboard I snagged, and we've since then installed some wall mounted lighting. Next up is some artwork above the bed and new linens.

The bathroom is also in need of some minor work. While installing a toilet roll holder (there wasn`t one), I whacked my head on that towel bar and it fell down. It was already really flimsy and couldn`t even hold one towel without falling down, so it had to go. We`re on the hunt for a new one. I also bought some new towels to add some colour (more on that soon) and we have a fun storage idea that is in the works. It would take much to make this place more functional.

I don`t know what it is about the new year that makes it feel like a fresh start, but I`m just going to go with it. Our place already feels like home, but its those little touches that can really make it feel like our own. Bring on the paint brush and hammer!

Cheesy Ham and Rice Bake

2012-01-03T07:28:00.001-05:00

Now that the holidays are over, its time to get back to our regular schedule and with that comes the need for quick and easy weeknight meals. This is a great recipe for using up leftover ham and a few staples from your fridge and pantry. It isn't the healthiest meal for New Years Resolution dieters, but pair a smaller portion with a side salad and you've got an easy meal.

What you'll need:
1-1/2 cup Instant Brown Rice, uncooked
1 can Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 soup can Milk
1/4 cup Low Fat Mayo
120g Deli Ham, chopped OR 2 cups leftover cooked Ham, chopped
2 cups Frozen Peas
Ground Pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 425°F

Combine all ingredients except cheese in a 2-liter casserole dish, sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.

Top with cheese and continue to bake for another 10 minutes uncovered.

Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Deliciously creamy and full of flavour. I even froze more chopped up leftover ham to make this again in a few weeks.

Makes 4 servings.
Printable Version

A Cold Winter Night with the Family

2012-01-02T12:06:00.001-05:00

Last night we headed over to my parents' house for a family game night. It was nice to have a quiet evening together after all the mayhem of the holidays.

We fired up the old fashioned popcorn machine that was this years' family gift. I love the retro movie theatre look and it makes some pretty great popcorn too.

My mom made a lovely New Years dinner, which was the perfect way to kick off 2012.

On the menu was spiral cut ham, scalloped potatoes, brussel sprouts, peas and homemade biscuits. Dessert was her delicious gingerbread cake with whipped cream on top. It was delish!

I was really glad that I stayed over for the night instead of driving back over here today, especially when I looked out this morning and saw white out conditions. You can barely see across the river, let alone down the street.

Today's the last day of the Christmas holiday and on the agenda is yoga, watching hockey and putting away Christmas decorations, which I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little bummed about. Its always sad to see the glitz and lights put away for another year.

I do have to say that I'm ready to get back to regular blogging this week - more recipes, crafts and some fun changes to the new apartment. Stay tuned!

Ringing in the New Year!

2012-01-01T11:59:00.001-05:00

We've had a busy holiday season, so for New Years Eve we decided to get together with some local friends for a little house party. All the ladies dressed up in dresses or skirts and munched on goodies while the guys watched Canada beat the US during the World Junior Hockey Game. It was a low key night, which is just what we needed and lots of fun to catch up with all our friends.

Our host was happy to show off his new wedding band

and his wife too! How cute is Courtney's dress?

Their pooch was also a happy hostess...until you stopped scratching behind her ears. Then she moved on to the next guest.

The highlight of my night was getting to ring in the new year with this big guy. I have many adventures to look forward to in 2012 and I'm excited to be doing it all with him.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

A Housemate Christmas Reunion

2011-12-30T07:22:00.000-05:00

The other night I was invited to a very special dinner with some important ladies in my life.

We had a reunion with all my former university housemates! (and our friend Mel, on the far right, who is an honorary housemate anyways). I lived with these girls for four years and absolutely adore them. We've all had an eventful year with moving to different towns, engagements and even a first house, so this was a nice chance to catch up on all the excitement!

It was also the first time that we had (almost) all of our guys together in one house. Even my friend's cute goldendoodle Gibson got in on the pictures.

He is one of the cutest, most cuddly pups I know. I just wanted to curl up on a couch with him the whole night.

We had a delicious lasagna dinner...with four different kinds. Between all of us we have a gluten intolerance, a peanut allergy (me!), a lactose intolerance and a vegetarian. We're quite the group to try and make dinner for! We also had a great salad and lots of delicious desserts. We were all quite full by the end of the night.

And where did our hostess sit the whole night? On a stability ball. As we all drank more wine, she started to sink lower and lower under the table. It brought back many fond memories of sitting around the table after a night out in university.

Amongst us we have two weddings to go to this summer, so we'll get to see more of each other in the coming months, but I still wish that we all lived in the same area and could see them more often. They're such a fun group of people and we spend the whole time laughing when we get together....and I'm sure we'll be laughing around the table for many years to come.

A Wonderful Christmas

2011-12-28T12:56:00.002-05:00

I've taken a bit of a blog hiatus this past weekend to spend some time with the family. It all started on Friday with a lovely dinner with Garrett's family, then another dinner with mine, then a sleepover with the grandparents, a cocktail party with friends and another family dinner last night. Phew! It was lots of fun, but I'm looking forward to some down time later this week.

Christmas Eve night we had some of my cousins over from my mom's side. We're almost getting to all be too big to do the "stairs photo".

During our $5 gift exchange, my uncle got this "one size fits all" t-shirt that my Nana found. Look how tiny it is!

True to its name, it fit!

My littlest cousin (my mini-me) was very excited about Santa coming that night. She checked the Santa tracker on my dad's new iPhone about every 15 minutes. We were getting regular updates of where he was in the world (Ireland! Argentina! Greenland!)

The table was set with fun Christmas crackers (a family favourite), vintage tablecloths, polished silver and the fine china passed down from my grandmother. I love how special it is to get everything out for out big dinner.

We had so much food and it all tasted amazing. I counted about 12 side dishes available. I sampled a few, but kept plenty of room for my favourite part of the meal...

Turkey! There is nothing like turkey with some gravy on it and a little salt.

We had a big group this year with 20 people sitting at the table. I love that everyone still wears their paper crowns throughout dinner.

With all these people, my mom and her brothers were sent off to the "kiddie table" this year.

When all the desserts came out my sister showed up with these adorable reindeer cake pops. They not only looked fantastic, but tasted great too.

Before we knew it, everyone was starting to head home, with the littlest one far to excited to sleep with the thought of Santa on the way.

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families and that you're taking a well deserved break before ringing in 2012!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:42:00.000-05:00

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends. Nothing like the holidays to make you reflect on those who are near and dear to you, and for me that includes all of you too. I truly appreciate everyone who takes the time to come visit this little ol' blog. All your lovely comments brighten my day and I keep me doing what I enjoy so much. Many thanks and best wishes this Christmas.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T09:02:00.000-05:00

I can hardly believe that its Christmas Eve today. I just have to finish up some work, throw the last few things in the suitcase and then I'm heading to my parents' for the next few days. I can't wait to see the whole family and celebrate.

It feels like this month has just flown by! Here is a recap of some of my favourite Christmas posts from the past month:

Christmas House Tour of Our New Apartment

JOY Plates

Our Holiday Housewarming Party

Chocolate Christmas Treats: Pretzel Bark, White Christmas Crunch and Easy Fudge

Casa Loma at Christmastime

Whiskey Attacking the Wrapping Paper

Outdoor Christmas Decor

Family Christmas Carrot Pudding - which I'll be eating tonight!

Homemade Hand Warmers

Egg Nog Scones

Christmas Lights at Niagara Falls

Easy Salted Chocolate-Covered Caramels

Whiskey's Christmas Bow Tie

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Almost Ready for Christmas

2011-12-23T12:21:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day that I have to get stuff done before I head to my parents' home for Christmas. I'm working at home today and have lots of paperwork to do, but I decided I'd rather get up early and get my fun chores done first.

I made a batch of White Christmas Crunch, using dark chocolate swirls instead of crushed candy canes. I've already sampled the corner of it and can confirm that it tastes great!

I (finally) finished sewing the new velvet stockings that I made for us this year. Looking forward to filling them with goodies tomorrow!

and lastly I made a batch of my Mom's Homemade Macaroni and Cheese to take to Garretts' family Christmas tonight. Its one of our family's favourites and is always a crowd pleaser.

I've still got all that paperwork to get done, but its much easier to do it with Christmas music playing in the background.

I hope that you're all having a nice Friday and are enjoying all this Christmas cheer!

Whiskey's Christmas Dog Bow Tie

2011-12-22T11:46:00.001-05:00

This year we have quite a few family Christmas events to go to and I thought it would be cute to dress Whiskey up a bit for the festivities.

Doesn't he look handsome with his little Christmas bow tie? It only took 10 minutes to make it and I was able to do it all with some scraps I had in my fabric bin. You could use the same bow pattern for just about anything - headbands, tops, its up to you.

Take a rectangle of fabric that is twice as wide as the bow you want.

Fold the fabric in half with the good sides in and stitch along one side.

Turn inside out and then move the seam to the centre.

Fold the top and bottom edges in.

Press with an iron for a couple of seconds.

Fold the bow in half with the good side on the inside.

Fold each side over again. This is what the back will look like.

And here is the front view. Pin and set aside.

Take another scrap strip of fabric and fold it in thirds.

Wrap around the bow and secure with a couple of stitches at the back.

I attached it to Whiskey's Christmas Collar with a couple of stitches that I can remove after the holidays

Now Whiskey is all ready for the festivities to begin!

Funny Christmas Videos

2011-12-21T13:34:00.001-05:00

I have a mountain of projects to finish up before Christmas and a stack of recipes that need to be made, but I can't help but procrastinate with some funny videos. Here they are to help you procrastinate from shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, napping.....

Funny Or Die - Drunk History: Twas the Night Before Christmas

with Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Jim Carrey

This is by far one of the best funny Christmas videos I've seen in quite some time. Click Here to Watch!

This North Carolina family found a snake...in their tree! And they're kids wanted to keep it and name it Tinsel.

And lastly, here is a video of a house in a small town in Ontario that timed their lights to the music from Christmas Vacation (one of my all-time favourite holiday movies)

Now its time to pop in a Christmas CD and get back to work!

Niagara in Lights

2011-12-20T11:40:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I headed over the border with my family to do a mad dash of last minute Christmas shopping. Its always so fun to go shopping in the US because they have different stuff than we do and sometimes at a great price too!

As tired as we were, we decided to head over the Rainbow Bridge on our way back into Canada and drive through Niagara Falls. They have an annual light display during the holidays and it seemed like a festive way to end our trip.

The lights were even more amazing than I thought they'd be. I wish these pictures would show you how they all moved. The "fountain" of lights was twinkling the whole time.

A big rainbow sign to welcome you to the parks.

Giant trees lit up, with little trees throughout the park.

Our trusty Mounties!

Toy soldiers lighting a cannon. You can see in this picture how the cannon ball would move and the smoke would rise up.

There was also a massive series of Disney characters, like a waving Snow White and all the dwarfs.

Mickey and the cast from Cars.

My sister's favourite was a "Candy Cane Forest" in one of the parks. As we drove around, we saw all these huge trees wrapped in red and white lights.

They also had many wildlife displays set up in the park. A moose and buffalo squaring off.

A beaver chopping down a tree, while deer hang out by the water.

They even had some dinosaurs across on a little island. I love their reflection in the water.

One of my favourite displays was Noah's Ark sitting in the big pond.

There were many more displays there, but most of my pictures came out looking like this. Its hard to take pictures of lights!

After a lovely drive around Niagara Falls, it was time to head home with all of our shopping bags. As exhausting as it was going around the mall all day, I'm so glad to have almost all of my gifts picked out. Now its time to find fun ways to wrap them :)

Holiday Home with the Family

2011-12-17T09:14:00.000-05:00

This weekend I'm headed to my parents' house to kick off the holiday season! My sister and brother both finished their exams at university yesterday and are headed home, so it will finally start to feel like Christmas with them back. We also have our youngest cousin visiting for our annual little pre-Christmas sleepover with her. I look forward to it every year (and an excuse to watch kids' movies without any weird looks).

My mother has been working hard to get the whole house ready for Christmas and its looking great.

There are even a few gifts already under the tree. How adorable are these presents from my great aunt? The shopping bags that The Bay used this year were very simple and classic this year, so she decided to just use them as the gift bag and just add some bows, bells and a cute rustic ornament. Don't they look great?

I also gave my mom her present a bit early this year because I wanted her to have it for the holidays. Its a hooked pillow similar to the ones you find at Pottery Barn. I just knew I had to get it for her when I saw the poinsettia pattern that went well with the rest of her decor in the living room.

The rest of the house has little festive touches too - like these silver and gold tones in the nook.

Even the basement bathroom got a little face lift! I have always loved that she puts little touches here and there, so you find them all day long. I popped in my old bedroom to put something away and even found a little pink poinsettia set out for my sister and I. My mother really is the sweetest.

And it wouldn't be home if she wasn't making something - mini quiches this time.

I'm off to have a lovely little Saturday with the family and then its back to shopping, wrapping, baking and getting everything else ready at my apartment too. I can hardly believe that its only a week until Christmas Eve!

Easy Salted Chocolate-Covered Caramels

2011-12-16T07:09:00.003-05:00

These caramels are a harmonious blend of rich smooth dark chocolate, sweet chewy caramel and crunchy sea salt. It may sound like an odd combination, but when they're put together they create a treat that is hard to resist. And what If I told you that I was able to make 30 of these treats in less than 15 minutes and for only $5.

The secret ingredient is using these wrapped caramels. I've always loved these little sweets on their own, but enrobe them in decadent chocolate and you've got a whole new creation.

The best part is that they are ridiculously easy to make and they're the perfect addition to any other Christmas goodies you may be giving away this holiday season. That is if you don't eat them all yourself first!

What you'll need:
30 Caramels, unwrapped
4 squares Premium Dark Baking Chocolate
1 tbsp Sea Salt

Melt the chocolate in the microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted.

Insert a toothpick into a caramel and dip in the chocolate. Shake any excess chocolate.

Place on a wax paper-covered baking sheet. Remove toothpick and sprinkle with salt.

Repeat with remaining caramels and refrigerate until chocolate is firm.

Printable Version

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A Holiday Survey

2011-12-15T12:33:00.004-05:00

I can't believe that its only 10 days until Christmas! I came across this fun Holiday Survey on Julie's blog and it seemed like a great way to share some of my favourite treats and traditions of the season.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Nothing warms you up like a nice mug of hot chocolate. Even better if it has marshmallows or whipped cream in there too. I don't like egg nog itself, but I do love egg nog flavoured things - like these Egg Nog Scones I made yesterday. Delish!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa usually wraps his presents and sets them on the couch with all our stockings lined up.

3. Coloured lights on tree/house or white?

Coloured lights outside.

We have white lights on the tree and also put on a string of bubbler lights like my great grandparents always did.

4. Do you have mistletoe?

Always! I have a little ball of it hanging between our kitchen and dining room at the apartment.

5. When do you hang up your decorations?

December 1st!

6. What is your favourite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

I love Christmas turkey. Loaded up with gravy and some salt and pepper. Or my aunt's baked broccoli and cauliflower dish. Those are the only two things that I go back for seconds of every year.

7. Favourite Holiday memory as a child?

One year we woke up on Christmas morning to see that the river we lived on had completely froze with no snow on top. It was like a sheet of clear glass. We laced up our skates and my dad took us all the way up and down the river. I'd never seen it like that before and I've never seen it since. It really did feel like it was magic when I was little.

8. What is on your Christmas Wishlist?

A BBQ! Now that we have a porch at the new apartment, I'm longing for some outdoor cooking.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

We have our big family dinner with my grandparents and my mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve, so we always have a few presents to open then. We also do a $5 gift exchange game after dinner, so everyone at least gets a little something.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

My family likes to put up all the special ornaments from over the years, but on my own tree at home I keep it very simple with a few styles of ornaments - gold and red balls, felt gingerbread men, red berries and cute pinecones. Someday I'll have a bigger tree and have more room for more keepsake decorations.

11. Snow? Love it or dread it?

Love it at Christmas!...but then by January 5th, I want it gone. In Canada we've been known to have snowstorms as late as April, so once that New Year comes along we've got it for awhile.

12. Real tree or fake tree?

I have a pre-lit fake now and so does my family because we all despise putting on the lights. When we were little we used to have a real one that we'd put big coloured lights on. As lovely as the smell always was, I'll never forget finding needles everywhere for weeks after Christmas.

13. Do you remember your favourite gift?

The memories I have the most from Christmases past have nothing to do with gifts, but one year that stands out was when my dad and grandpa put together a big three storey Barbie house for me. My sister and I would play with it for days on end.

14. What's the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Spending time with my family. We live all over the place these days and having some time to sit down and be together is more special than any gift we get.

15. What is your favourite Holiday dessert?

My Great Aunt's Christmas Carrot Pudding. The Christmas spice smell in the kitchen while it is steaming is amazing. Topped with her brown sugar sauce and freshly whipped cream, its the best.

16. What is your favourite tradition?

Having my grandparents and great aunts stay over on Christmas Eve night. Its nice to everyone under one roof for the night and then get up to have breakfast together.

17. What tops your tree?

I have a little rustic star that I bought years ago. I love that its made with little twigs and brings in the woodsy decor of the rest of the tree.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?

Giving a gift is so much more rewarding than receiving. Its even better if you find something for them that they wanted but didn't ask for.

19. What is your favourite Christmas Song?

Its a little bit melancholy, but I've always loved Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

20. Candy canes, yuck or yum?

I used to eat candy canes when I was a kid, but now I prefer them in recipes, like my family's Peppermint Bark or the White Christmas Crunch I made this year.

21. Favourite Christmas Movie?

My all time favourite is Christmas Vacation. My sister, brother and I used to watch it almost every week leading up to Christmas when we were little. Now a year doesn't go by that I don't watch it.

Our family favourite has always been Its A Wonderful Life. We watch it every Christmas Eve after all the company has left after our big family dinner.

22. What did you leave for Santa?

Cookies and milk were always set out for Santa, along with some carrot sticks for the reindeer.

23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

When I was little I had the hardest time waiting until we could wake up our parents - my dad would lend me his watch for the night and I would stare at it the entire time. These days we at least get to sleep in a little. Then its time to open our stockings and presents.

After all the presents are open we have a big Christmas breakfast. The past few years I've made Morton Family Strata from one of my favourite Christmas movies, The Family Stone. My dad also makes his perfect egg english muffin sandwiches and we have some leftover treats from the night before.

24. Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

I'd rather go to a small shop or a mall and see everything for myself. I only resort to online shopping it I can't get something in a store.

25. Christmas letter or Christmas card?

I like to send out a Christmas card, but I do like reading letters from other people to hear how they're doing.

I'd love to hear your answers to these questions too! Share a few in the comments section!

Egg Nog Scones

2011-12-14T10:27:00.007-05:00

I'm working from home today and I knew that I wanted to take a mid-morning break to whip up something fun and festive. These Egg Nog scones were the perfect holiday treat with a nice cup of tea. I'm a huge fan of Mama Pea from Peas and Thank You and these Egg Nog Scones are adapted from her own amazing vegan recipe. These would be a great addition to a Christmas morning brunch.

What you'll need:
Scones:2-1/2 cups Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tbsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar
1/2 tsp Salt
3/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 cup Butter or Margarine
3/4 cup Egg Nog
1 egg
1 tsp Vanilla

Glaze:
1 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
2-3 tbsp Egg Nog
Pinch Nutmeg

Pinch Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and nutmeg.

Cut in butter/margarine until the mixture is coarse in texture.

Combine egg nog, egg and vanilla in a small bowl. Add into dry ingredients.

Stir until a dough forms, which may be a bit crumbly. Do not overmix.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and form into a round circle, about 1 1/2 inches high and 10 inches in diameter. Slice circle into eight equal wedges, and transfer scones to a baking sheet. Bake for 20-22 minutes.

Meanwhile prepare glaze by combing all ingredients in a small bowl and mixing until it comes to a drizzly consistency. Add more egg nog if needed.

Let scones cool and then serve drizzled with icing.

Makes 8 large scones

Printable Version

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Homemade Hand Warmers

2011-12-13T10:48:00.006-05:00

As much as I love Canada, we are known for our bitter cold winters, which is why you can never be too prepared. These homemade hand warmers are perfect for fighting off that chill when you first go outside. They're small, practical and inexpensive to make.

Zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds and you'll have 20 minutes of toasty hands while you walk the dog around the block or wait at the bus stop. (Please see disclaimer at the bottom!)

What you'll need:
Flannel or 100% Cotton Fabric (I was able to use some scraps I had from another project)
Dry Rice
Push Pin
Sewing Machine
Thread
Needle

Start out by cutting two 5"x5" pieces of flannel or 100% cotton fabric.

Pin the squares together good side in. Using a zigzag stitch on your machine, stitch around all four sides, leaving a 2 inch opening on one side. (Please ignore the messed up zigzag stitch - I'm having sewing machine problems!). Trim any excess fabric around the edges and clip the corners off, being careful not to cut any stitches.

Pull the square back out through the opening to have both right sides showing. Use a pencil to push the corners back into place. Iron and pin together.

Using a straight stitch on your machine, stitch 1/4" in around the entire square, leaving the 2" hole open.

Make a cone out of paper, and pour about 1/3 cup dried white rice into the pouch.

Pin opening closed and hand stitch.

This makes a perfect homemade gift when bundled up together. Be sure to include a small card with the heating instructions: 30 seconds in the microwave for 20 minutes of warmth.

Disclaimer: DO NOT put these in the microwave for longer than 30 seconds. If left to heat to long, they can catch on fire in your microwave. Also be sure not to use anything other than 100% cotton fabric, as the plastic in stretch fabrics can melt.

- - -
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Family Christmas Carrot Pudding

2011-12-12T07:34:00.076-05:00

Every family has their favourite Christmas traditions and in mine it is serving this pudding on Christmas Eve night. Its not a hard dessert to make, but it does take some time to cook. Don't let this fool you though - its worth it! You can even make is up to a week in advance to have it ready for the big evening. The past couple of years I've been lucky enough to learn how to make this from my Great Aunt and I look forward to our cooking session every time.

The cake comes out moist and flavourful with a rich brown sugar sauce and of course a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream on top. Usually we're too full after dinner on Christmas Eve to have anything more than a bite, but we tend to eat the leftovers for the next few days. We've even been known to reheat some pieces for Christmas morning breakfast.

What you'll need:

CARROT PUDDING

1 cup grated Carrot

1 cup grated Potato

1 cup White Flour

1 cup Sugar

3/4 cup Seeded Raisins

1/2 cup Currants

3 Red Cherries

3 Green Cherries

1/2 cup Butter

1/2 tsp Cloves

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Soda

BROWN SUGAR SAUCE

1/2 tsp Cornstarch

1 cup Brown Sugar

1/8 tsp Salt

1 1/2 tbsp Butter
1 tsp Vanilla

Grease a glass bowl with a bit of butter on a piece of wax paper. Set aside.

Grate carrots and potatoes, measure out one cup each and set aside.

Cream butter, add sugar and blend.

Add carrot and half cup of potato and mix well.

Chop up the cherries into quarters and then toss with the raisins and currants with a bit of flour. This will help suspend the fruit in the pudding.

Add fruit to butter mixture.

Sift together flour and spices together.

Add flour mixture to creamed mixture.

Dissolve soda in the remaining 1/2 cup potato.

Add potato-soda mixture to the creamed mixture last. Mix everything together well.

Pour mixture into the buttered bowl and smooth out.

Completely seal the bowl with tin foil. Sometimes we tie a string around the tin foil to really keep it tight.

Place the bowl in the steamer pot on the stove and let steam for 3 hours.

Keep the lid on it!

Occasionally check to make sure that there is enough water in the pot. You do NOT want it to burn dry.

Its helpful to keep a kettle nearby with warm water and add that water into the pot as needed.

When the pudding is done, take it out and check that it is completely cooked.

My aunt insists that you always take out a little "mouse bite" to check that it turned out well. Let it cool and then re-wrap to go back in the fridge until Christmas Eve dinner. On the night, the pudding is steamed again until it is heated through.

To make the sauce:

Combine the cornstarch, salt and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.

Put butter in a saucepan and cook over heat until medium brown.

Add in cornstarch mixture a bit at a time and mix it up with the butter.

Continue to stir as it gets brown.

Add in 1 1/4 cup boiling water and continue to thicken.

Add in vanilla, give it all a final stir and then you're ready to serve it over the steamed pudding.

Perfectly fragrant pudding, rich brown sugar sauce and whipped cream. This is the perfect holiday dessert and something I look forward to every Christmas. Please make this for your family too!

Printable Version

Casa Loma at Christmastime

2011-12-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

Its been months since we've had a weekend free of commitments and Garrett and I were both in need of a little bit of fun, so we headed into the city for a lovely Saturday afternoon date at one of Toronto's greatest landmarks....

...Casa Loma! Built from 1911-1914, this castle is now a famous museum with 98 rooms, amazing Gothic Revival architecture and even secret passageways.

Can you imagine that people actually lived here less than 100 years ago!

At one point in the 1930s it was even used as a swinging dance hall, and I can just picture how amazing it would have been to come here to party.

Every detail catches your eye as you go through the castle, like this giant hanging lantern.

Here is the Great Hall, which was all decorated for Christmas. Years ago I came here at Christmastime as a little girl and somewhere my mother has a video tape of me being a "tour guide" to my dad, while prancing around in a tartan skirt.

This is a view from the second floor balcony looking across the Great Hall to the three storey organ on the opposite wall. There is also a real armour statue just below that.

And here is the balcony that I was just standing on. What a great view of the castle from here!

This is the original homeowner himself, Sir Henry Pellatt, one of the men who helped harness the Niagara Falls to power much of Southern Ontario in the early 1900s.

I was in love with this giant Christmas tree. Just imagine how many lights are on that thing!

As we left the Great Hall, we headed down this long corridor, which was all decked out with giant festive wreaths.

Here is the entrance to one of my favourite rooms, the conservatory.

How amazing is this stained glass ceiling? No wonder it took three years to build this place.

A turn of the century barometer and thermometer.

The entire room is filled with exotic plants that are cultivated in the potting sheds adjacent to the castle.

It was probably one of the brightest and warmest rooms in the house. I loved it!

Gorgeous gold orchids.

Vibrant purple flowers.

Every room of the castle was decorated for the holidays, with giant poinsettias and festive table settings, like in this small dining room.

The fireplace mantels were brimming with garlands and candles.

This was Sir Henry's study, which is full of detailed carvings and amazing antique furniture.

The French oak panels on these walls took artisans three years to carve. The detail is incredible.

A plump little Christmas tree, brimming with presents.

When I went through my photos last night, I noticed that I had a real thing for all the mantles.

I seemed to take a picture of them in every room. They were just too festive to resist.

One of Garrett's favourite parts of the castle was this hidden passageway beside a fireplace. Its tucked behind a small panel that could be closed if they didn't want people to know they could get up to the second floor from there.

Upstairs you can see the living quarters of Sir Henry's wife Lady Mary Pellatt, who was the first Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides of Canada.

The whole room is set up as if she were coming in for tea time.

An elegant Victorian style Christmas tree is tucked away in the adjoining room.

Another beautiful mantel decorated for the holidays.

Even her adjoining bedroom was made festive.

How shabby chic is her (giant) bathroom...aside from the fact that its covered in exquisite marble.

This hydrangea chandelier is amazing. I wish I could have got a better picture of the fine details in it.

Here are the very masculine living quarters of Sir Henry. This is the room with the balcony overlooking the Great Hall.

His bathroom has an 8 spout shower (unheard of at that time), which could be individually controlled with several knobs. It even has a rain spout on the top!

His giant desk overlooks the rest of the city of Toronto just south of the castle.

You can even see the CN Tower from the view now (that needle just left of the centre).

To get an even better view of the city, we climbed up to the third floor to reach the tower's stairs.

After what felt like 1000 steps we reached the top of the chilly tower and looked out at the city through frosted window panes.

Then it was all the way down to the basement to go through the secret tunnel that leads down the road to the stables, garage and potting shed.

The giant stable doors were amazingly detailed and complimented the gorgeous white subway tiles. Back in World War II, the stables were used as the secret location for the development of ASDIC, which stands for Anti-Submarine Detection investigation Committee, an early sonar apparatus. No one knew it was there, not even the city of Toronto!

The stables themselves are beautifully kept, with giant tiled floors and detailed carvings in the stalls. The name plagues of the original six horses of Casa Loma still remain carved on the wall.

Next to the stables is the Potting Shed, which houses all the exotic and domestic plants that grow through out the house and in the gardens outside.

Half the shed was filled with giant hibiscus trees that were full of these wonderful yellow blooms.

Here is a map that shows how extensive the gardens of the main house are. Its a beautiful sight to see in the summer months.

We also happened to be there when another special guy was visiting the castle.

Santa was taking visitors and seemed to be spreading festive cheer throughout the castle. Every little kid was lined up to see him.

It was a wonderful afternoon spent in one of Canada's greatest architectural treasures and I hope we get to go back there again in the summer and see the gardens in full bloom!

Outdoor Christmas Decor 2011

2011-12-10T09:54:00.002-05:00

I think I love decorating the outside of the house for the holidays almost as much as I love decorating the inside. It makes it so inviting and festive when we get home or when we have company visit. I hope that neighbours walking by enjoy it too, just as I enjoy going through the neighbourhood and seeing other's decorations.

For our front door, I used a wreath I made for the old apartment last year. I made it by adding wire to plastic gold balls from the dollar store and attaching them to a store bought wreath. The big bow was made using cheap wired red ribbon and attached with wire as well.

As soon as we moved into the new place I knew that I wanted to put wreaths on these windows for Christmas.

I ended up getting a great deal on these wreaths during a sale at Michael's. They were $3.50 each and the ribbons were $1 at a local dollar store. The hooks I hung them up on were a large pack for $1. The whole project cost only $23.50 for 5 wreaths. Not too bad considering that some of the ones in the stores are that much for just one wreath!

On the window sill here, I hope to had a window box that I've started working on.

I've placed fake greens in it for now until I can get to my friend's property to cut some evergreen. I've place dogwood branches in the back for some height, and gold sparkle gourds in the front for some sparkle, but I still need to play around with it more and add some ribbons, rearrange the branches and eventually find a way to mount it to the sill.

Now all we need is a bit more snow to make it look like a white Christmas!

- - -
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Adventures in Wrapping

2011-12-09T09:20:00.000-05:00

I finally made it out shopping this week and have a few gifts to wrap now. A quick trip over to Martha Stewart (love her website for some inspiration) and I was flooded with great gift wrapping ideas.

Silver wrapping paper decorated with ribbon and twine.

Brown paper parcels topped with pieces of evergreen.

A simple silver bell.

Bringing some of the outdoors in.

With a few ideas brewing, I started wrapping...until I was interrupted by this...

...someone was quite interested in all the wrapping paper.

I just had to share this quick video of what ensued when Garrett started pointing his laser pointer at the wrapping paper. Poor Whiskey just couldn't help himself and had to go in for the attack. Needless to say, the wrapping was set aside for another day.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Christmas Home Tour 2011

2011-12-08T10:12:00.004-05:00

Is hard to believe that we moved into this apartment less than two months ago. Its already starting to feel like home and even more so with all the Christmas decorations out now.

The Christmas tree is up and I threw my favourite Christmas quilt over the back of the couch. My mother bought it for me years ago, before I ever bought the couch, and it was a lovely surprise that they matched.

The first thing I do every night when I get home from work is plug in the tree. The glow it gives off warms the place up so much.

Across the room is the big bookcase with the front hall and kitchen on the left and the dining room on the right.

We had been eyeing a clock from Lowe's lately, but the $99 price tag was just not doing it for us, so I was so excited when I found this almost identical clock on sale at Winners for $16! It looks perfect with this cute rosemary tree that Garrett brought me home and a few of my favourite holiday votive holders.

When you first go into the dining room, my little home office is on the right. Last week we bit the bullet and put up these shelves for extra storage. Despite all the work, I love them!

I have all my work bins on the top, with some Christmas fabrics I've been using lately to make Reusable Gift Bags. I also have a great divider for all my ongoing files, ingoing/outgoing mail and even a few lovely Christmas cards I've received but haven't found a place to hang them yet.

You'll also notice the return of my beloved Maltese Falcon as he gets in the festive spirit with his Santa hat again. The little nutcrackers are from some great memories of going to the ballet with my one of my dearest friends.

The rest of the dining room I've kept very simple, with a Christmas runner along the table and a lovely arrangement that my friend Amy gave me.

How cute is this little sleigh?

It is practically brimming with flowers and I hope to re-pot them after the holidays for our first official house plants. (Lets just hope I don't kill these ones too)

For a simple little candle arrangement, I poured some epsom salt around a candle in a large candleholder and placed festive red berries nestled in the "snow".

During the day, I open up the blinds and you can see the Christmas wreaths that I've hung on the outside of all of our dining room windows. I've always wanted to do this and now I have the windows for it! You can see more about our outdoor decor this year here.

As you go back through the dining room, you enter the kitchen and see the J-O-Y plates I made last week. I am still over the moon with them. They make washing dishes that much more bareable - though I'll confess Garrett does most of them and I do most of the cooking, so I guess he enjoys this over the sink more than me.
The rest of the house has little bits and bobs - a small wreath in the bathroom, festive red plaid flannel sheets on the bed, a candy cane here and there. I even got in the mood last night and did some wrapping after we came home from the mall. Nothing gets you in the spirit like a tree full of presents waiting under the tree for your loved ones!

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Chocolate Christmas Treats

2011-12-07T09:57:00.003-05:00

For our Holiday Housewarming Party this past weekend, I made a tray of various chocolate goodies that not only tasted great, but were ridiculously easy to make.

White Christmas Crunch - like caramel corn with white peppermint chocolate on top.

Pretzel Bark - sweet and salty at the same time, with some crunch.

Easy Chocolate Fudge - smooth and creamy with a great fudgy texture.

Now I want to share these recipes with you! They take less than 15 minutes to make, are 5 ingredients or less and make great gifts too!

White Christmas Crunch

This was my absolute favourite of the bunch and was a huge hit at the party. I know I'll be making more of this very soon.

What you'll need:
35 Saltine Cracers
1/2 cup Butter
3/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
6 squares White Chocolate, melted
1/4 cup crushed Candy Canes

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Arrange crackers on a 15x10x1 inch baking pan, lined in foil.

Cook butter and sugar in saucepan on medium-high heat 3 to 4 min. or until butter is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring occasionally. Bring to boil and cook for 3 min. (Do not stir.)

Spread onto crackers.

Bake 4 to 6 min. or until golden brown.

Spread melted chocolate to completely cover crackers.

Top with crushed candy. Refridgerate for 1 hour to cool completely.

Break into squares. Eat a big piece before company arrives. Its essential.

Pretzel Bark

What you'll need:
1-1/3 cup chopped Pretzels
8 squares of Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate

Melt the chocolate in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted.

Stir to melt any remaining pieces. Stir pretzels into chocolate.

Spread onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

Easy Chocolate Fudge

What you'll need:
12 squares of Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 tsp Vanilla

Microwave chocolate and milk in microwaveable bowl on high 2 to 3 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 2 min.

Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Blend in vanilla.

Spread into prepared pan. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Use foil handles to lift fudge from pan before cutting into squares to serve.

Printable Versions:
White Christmas Crunch
Pretzel Bark

Easy Chocolate Fudge

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Holiday Housewarming Party

2011-12-06T10:03:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, Garrett and I had a little Christmas Housewarming Party. We invited over just a handful of friends who live nearby. I would have loved to invite more people, but our apartment is just too tiny.

For food, I stuck to easy finger foods - veggies, chips, pretzels, popcorn, holiday candies, Hot Artichoke Dip with toasted torilla wedges.

Using a similar method to the Easy Mini Pizza Bites Appetizers, I made a spinach pizza wreath, which was eaten up in no time!

I cut the center out with a knive before I baked it and then cut it into small slices when it came out. The bow is made from a red pepper.

Amy, who is a wonderful Christmas baker, made this delicious Peppermint Cheesecake.

The secret ingredient - Greek Yogurt!

I also made a platter of various homemade chocolate goodies, which I'll be posting recipes for later this week. They turned out great and I'm sure I'll be bringing them to a few holiday parties we're invited to.

Somehow we managed to pack everyone into the living room and we all sat down to watched pics from the wedding last month. It was a fun way to catch up post-wedding and reminisce about how fun it was.

We received many lovely gifts including scotch, candles, wine...and something to put the wine in....

...I got my own "Carl"! Anyone who watches Cougar Town knows what I'm talking about!

We also received some lovely Christmas planters and now our house is brimming with beautiful flowers. Its so lovely to come home from work and find the house all festive.

After many hours of merriment, some of us were ready for bed. I just love that these two fell asleep together (with Whiskey no less) by the Christmas Tree. Considering how loud we all were that night (sorry to my neighbours!), I have no idea how they could crash so easily.

It was a wonderful night spent sharing our new home with some dear friends. I can't wait to have more people over soon. They are many a dinner party in our future.

Bringing a little "JOY" to the Kitchen

2011-12-05T09:31:00.004-05:00

We just finished decorating for Christmas over the weekend and I wanted to share this fun craft that I made for our kitchen. It was so easy, that I was able to do it in less than 15 minutes and for under $3!

The inspiration came from these "JOY" plates that I saw on Better Homes and Gardens and I knew I could make them to work into our Christmas decor.

While on our trip to IKEA last month, I found these simple plates for $0.79 each and grabbed three.

I found a font that I liked on Microsoft Word and printed out J-O-Y in big letters on simple white paper.

After carefully cutting the letters out, I used double-sided tape to stick the letters to the center of each plate.

Using my favourite super fine black Sharpie marker, I carefully traced the letter and then removed it.

I used a fatter Sharpie to fill in the letters.

Ta-Da! So easy and it looks like it has been perfectly printed on the plate.

Its so easy that I even did it with the mutt on my lap. It was a miracle that I didn't make any smudges....but if I did I could easily have wiped them off with a tissue right away and then continued on.

I love how they turned out! And the best part is that this little project was ridiculously inexpensive. The plates cost me less than $3 and I already had the markers. I placed the plates on our new shelf in the kitchen and helped keep them in place with some stones. The little church on the left is a village set that I've been working on for the past few years (but have yet to finish).

I love looking up at this while cooking dinner or doing the dishes. It brings a festive little touch to the kitchen! I'm happy to have them there now, but I might even hang them up on the wall next year using some plate hooks.

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The Elf on the Shelf

2011-12-02T11:32:00.001-05:00

Ever heard of "The Elf on the Shelf"? I caught wind of this idea last year and I think its one of the cutest things I've seen in a long time. The idea is that every day from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, each family's scout elf watches over the children and then every night goes back to the North Pole to report back to Santa about whether they're being naughty or nice. Before the family wakes up each morning, the elf flies back and hides in a new spot in the house.

Source

Sometimes he is somewhere just watching over the family....but more times than not he's been up to something mischievous. Here are some of my favourite situations that this little elf gets himself into (and some super creative parents behind it too)!

Making snowflake paper chains with other toys.

Source

Icing Sugar Snow Angels

Feeding the family pooch

Source

Catching up on his knitting

Relaxing at the beach/sandbox.

Replacing all the photos in the house with pictures of himself

Source

Tea time with a friendly stuffed toy

Turns the milk green

A competitive game of scrabble with the Hulk.

Source

Freshening up in the shower.

Making a snowman out of marshmallows

Painting the little kids' noses red and then leaving them a note to look in the mirror.

Source

A "snowball" (mini marshmallow) fight

Putting more mini marshmallows to good use in some hot cocoa.

Source

Graffiting the walls

Source

Having a nap under the Christmas tree

Playing "Guess Who" with Santa

Source

Nipping into the freezer for a treat

Replacing all the stockings with the family's "unmentionables"

Source

Doodling on all the family photos

Shredding toilet paper all over the bathroom floor

Getting caught up in all the toilet paper

Source

Watching some Christmas specials from the comfort of the bed

Looking out at the horizon with a telescope

Making a mess in the pantry

Bringing back a letter from Santa about how good the kids are being.

Or writing his own letter to them about how naughty they've been

He can even write the tiniest of letters

Going fishing for goldfish crackers

Getting caught nipping into the chocolate chips

Source

Reading his favourite Christmas books

Source

A dinner date with Barbie

Source

And he may even get to excited to wait to open the presents on Christmas.

How cute is that idea, right?

"The Elf on the Shelf" book is becoming so popular that its even been turned into an animated film by Hallmark this year.

There is also this cute video about "Christmas Training Camp" for the Elves.

Southern Style Biscuits

2011-12-01T10:23:00.000-05:00

Last night I went to go visit my parents and get my snow tires put on. Garrett and I decided to stay for dinner...especially when we heard what my mom was making - roast chicken with all the fixin's, including these homemade biscuits.

Using a recipe she found online, she gave these self-rising biscuits a try. They didn't rise up as much as she'd have liked, but they still tasted great. Especially with some butter!

What you'll need:

2 cups Self-Rising Flour
¼ cup Shortening
1 cup Milk or Buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a large bowl, cut the shortening into the flour using a pastry cutter on your fingers. It should look like the texture of cornmeal. Form a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour the milk or buttermilk in the well. Use a fork to stir the flour in the milk, being careful not to overwork the dough.

Roll out the dough to 1/2 inch.

Cut out biscuits with a 2 inch cutter. My mother used my great grandmother's biscuit cutter (aka an old soup can).

Place biscuits on a greased baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

They were crisp on the outside and warm on the inside. Perfect for spliting open and spreading some butter on. I even grabbed the last one to take home and have with jam on it this morning. Its was delish!

Another freshly baked treat my mom made us was my Nana's apple crisp recipe, which I hope to share with you guys soon. Its the perfect combination of crispy toated oats and carmelized apples.

It was quite a delicious treat for a Wednesday night!

Southern Style Biscuits - Printable Version

Our Tree is Up!

2011-11-30T10:20:00.001-05:00

Last night, Garrett and I dug out the Christmas tree and started decorating....while watching The Walking Dead. Nothing says Christmas like zombies, right?

Whiskey was quite concerned about all the commotion going on...but not enough to leave his post on the couch.

The great thing about a smaller tree is that is takes no time at all to get it all decorated! I love how bright and festive the room looks once you have the tree up.

In the spirit of being thifty this year, I only wanted to use ornaments I had, such as these large gold balls and cute smaller red ones.

I also used the Gingerbread Man Ornaments I made last year.

I found these cute little plastic candy canes in the bottom of the bin and decided to use them...because if they were real they wouldn't last until Christmas around here.

How adorable is this little reindeer that I got on a gift last year. I think it almost looks like my little pup.

There are still some odds and ends to put up around the house, but its already starting to feel like Christmas in our little apartment.

Apparently all this decorating was just too much for Whiskey....so he fell asleep...in the oddest position. Almost looks like a kangaroo, right?

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Mushroom Beef Barley Soup

2011-11-29T08:43:00.001-05:00

Last night was a very cold and chilly night, so I decided to make a big pot of Mushroom Beef Barley Soup. The smell as it was cooking was so delicious that I could hardly wait for it to be ready. Its the perfect cold weather pick-me-up and is loaded with healthy vegetables, lean meat and whole barley. Its a meal in a bowl and worked great as a dinner with a side salad, or as a lunch all on its own.

What you'll need:
1 lb. Stewing Beef, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Dried Thyme
2 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1 cup diced Carrots
1 cup diced Celery
1 cup diced Onions
2 cups sliced Mushrooms
1 clove Garlic, diced
4 cups Beef Broth
1/2 cup Pot or Pearl Barley
1 tbsp Tomato Paste
1 Bay Leaf

In a large dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp of oil over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt, pepper and thyme, and then toss in the pot to brown.

When browned, remove beef to a plate and set aside.

Set aside a few pieces for your dog because he just looks too cute today.

Add 1 tbsp oil and lower to medium heat. Add in onions, celery and carrots, stirring regularly, for about 5 minutes or until the onions start to go translucent. Look at all those delicious flavourful brown bits that will give this soup a deliciously rich taste.

Add mushrooms and garlic, and continue to cook for about 5 minutes or until the mushroom liquid starts to evaporate

Stir in beef and any juices from the plate. Add broth, tomato paste and bay leaf.

Pour in barley. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for an hour, or until beef and barley are tender.

Stir occasionally and add water if the soup becomes too thick. Discard bay leaf before serving.

I can see this becoming a winter favourite in the coming months!

Printable Version

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Getting Organized for the Holidays

2011-11-28T09:33:00.000-05:00

For the past few years I've been using Organized Christmas to keep everything running smoothly over the holidays. They have great printable sheets to make your own holiday planner and make it super easy to know where everything is. I usually print them out and create a simple planner in a thin binder. There are many printables that they offer, but these are my favourites which I'd like to share with you!

I love to send out Christmas cards, but it isn't always easy to keep track of them. This little Christmas Card List is perfect for doing just that. It lets you list the address and phone number and also has boxes for sent and received for not only this year, but all the way to 2014.

Another must have is the Master Gift List. Not only does it let you list the gifts you're giving, but it also provides a column for you to budget how much you'll spend and then add in your actual amounts later. For those of us who are on a budget, this is a great way to keep on track. I also like to use the Gifts to Make List with this as well to organize what gifts I'd like to make and keep me focused on the deadlines, so I'm not sewing in all hours of the night when the final week of Christmas comes around.

Though I don't need to use their Holiday Menu Planner because my mother does Christmas Eve dinner at her house, I do like the Weekly Meal Planner to keep track of what groceries I need to buy during this hectic season. I'm thinking of using something like this all year round in the New Year.

One of the not so nice parts of the holidays is that there is usually lots of cleaning that needs to go on before the decorating can begin, and with us having just moved into the new apartment, the list is quite extensive. This Chore Checklist is perfect for listing all those last minute chores you need to get done and goes perfectly with the Room-by-Room Decor Planner.

The final pages that I like to include in my planner is the Holiday Baking List to write down all the yummy treats I'd like to make in the coming weeks and the Holiday Budget List to make sure that all this festive spirit doesn't break the bank.

I try to be an organized person, so a planner like this helps to keep me on task and also keeps my mind at ease that nothing will go amiss...which makes it much easier to kick back and watch some Christmas movies with a lovely cup of hot chocolate!

A Nighttime Santa Claus Parade

2011-11-27T11:07:00.000-05:00

This weekend, we headed out with my good friends and their sweet little babe to catch a Santa Claus parade at night.

Everyone bundled up from head to toe (even Whiskey later on) and headed out.

We anxiously awaiting the parade to start.

Whiskey kept looking down the street to see when it would start.

The first float we saw was horse drawn that jingled the whole way down the street.

There were policemen on motorcycles...

...and an old vintage firetruck with sirens.

Even a symbol of snowy Canadian winters - a plow - was all decked out for the holiday.

There were miniature 18 wheelers...

...and a cheery town crier.

A massive box of popcorn made its way down the street...

...followed by a huge lit up gingerbread house.

It was about this time that someone requested that her photo be taken as well. This is her attempt at "cheese"...just need to work on opening those eyes.

There were lit up batons being twirled...

...and rows upon rows of children dressed up as Christmas presents.

Even one of my most feared icons (Mr. Peanut is not a favourite among allergy sufferers) made is way down the street, followed by one of the all-time best lunches...a giant Pita.

There were incredible bands like this marching group. They were amazing performers that had us wishing we could watch them longer.

One of my favourite floats was the Boy Scouts - they had made a giant waterfall for a canoe, and were set up roasting marshmallows on a fake fire.

As the night started to get chilly, Whiskey asked for Garrett to pick him up. I love the surprised look on his face...he just saw another dog right before I took this.

Even the babe wanted to get up too and have a better view of the floats coming up next.

She was very quick to inform us that this was in fact a unicorn...not a horse like we said.

The local firefighters had a beautifully lit up float...

...and were going around giving high fives to kids. I don't know who was beaming more, them or the kids.

There were huge bagpipe bands playing Christmas favourites...

...and classic cars revving their engines.

These two were starting to get excited when they heard familiar jingle bells ringing...

...it was Santa! The crowd roared as he drove by, and children yelled his name. Its hard not to get into the Christmas spirit when you see how excited they all were.

Even the poor old Grinch was getting high fives from kids.

It was a wonderfully special night with some great friends and the perfect way to start the holiday season. After some ice cream for dessert and a bittersweet goodbye, Garrett, Whiskey and I headed home to decorate our tree. It was hard not to after all the Christmas spirit we saw. But more on that soon...

Getting Back into the Groove

2011-11-26T13:17:00.001-05:00

The past few months have been very chaotic with the new job, new apartment and all the wedding stuff that we did, so I was really thankful when we had a normal Saturday lined up this morning.

Garrett and I have both been slacking in the fitness department, so we headed over to a new gym where I could do a class (my legs are still shaking!) and he could fit in some strength training. It felt so good to get it all done and out of the way before 10am!

While we were out we decided to do a bit of grocery shopping and run some errands.

We found big red bows for a Christmas project I'm doing next week. $1 each at the dollar store is waaaay cheaper than buying the ribbon at Michaels and making them myself.

We admired all the fresh green wreaths in stores...but not the $30 price tags that came with them.

If our place was just a wee bit bigger, I would have loved to pick up a fresh tree, but for now we're just going to use the new pre-lit one I got last year.

A quick trip to Rona for some brackets and new shelves. More on that soon!

And my favourite purchase was a big ol' box of clementines! I have a serious addiction for these every winter.

We just bought them a couple of hours ago and I've already eaten four.

Lastly, I wanted to show this amaryllis bulb I just planted. I can't wait to see it sprout up more!

Soon it will grow tall and into a big red bloom!

The rest of our day is filled with home improvements, dinner guests and maybe even some Christmas decorating. It feels so good to be getting back into the groove of things!

Have a wonderful Saturday everyone!

A Beautiful Fall Wedding

2011-11-25T09:28:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, Garrett and I were in the wedding party of our dear friends Courtney and Dave. It was a beautiful night full of many happy memories and I've just now had the chance to go through all the photos and reminisce.

Courtney was such a lovely bride and she did a great job with our bridesmaid dresses.

Earlier that morning we didn't look very glammed up while we got our hair done. This is like one of those before and after shows, haha! No makeup, old clothes and serious dark circles....at least for me. Court already at that blushing bride glow going on.

A couple of hours later, her hair was almost complete and just had to wait for the curls to relax a bit.

It took two hours for the poor stylist to do my hair. Thats how much of it there is. Even hours later (and the next day!) these curls barely relaxed.

Next up, the other bridesmaids got their hair done, while the bride's pooch joined us for cuddles and treats. She could sense that something was going on.

The mother-of-the-bride created a beautiful lunch spread of quinoa and rice flour crepes!

There were so many great fillings to chose from - pineapple, apple with schnapps, bananas with rum and blueberries.

We all filled up our plates as it would be while before we had a chance to eat again.

It was one last kiss from the father-of-the-bride (so sweet!) and then we were off.

This is the gorgeous dress that the bride found. I had only seen a cell phone pic before this and was in awe when I saw the real thing. So elegant and light...it honestly looked like she was walking on a cloud.

Her lovely red calla lily bouquet, shoes, garter (something blue!) and necklace.

Her mother (also in a stunning dress), helped tie her up as we all nervously waiting for the ceremony to begin.

I got to walk down the aisle with my sweetheart and our good friend Tyler.

The freshly married couple! He was beaming the whole time.

Both rings on now :)

After the ceremony, we headed downstairs to the reception hall. It was so convenient to have them both in the same building.

Over the course of the week before the wedding, I was lucky enough to get to know one of my fellow bridesmaids who lives all the way out on the west coast in British Columbia. Such a sweet girl and I can completely see why she is one of Courtney's good friends.

The first dance, with the head table all decked out behind them.

Always one of my favourite parts of a wedding - the father-daughter dance. I think they played something from Tim McGraw, but I could hardly tell with everyone sniffling around me.

Mother-son dance. It looked like whatever they said to each other was pretty funny.

Cutting the cake! They were experts after practising at the rehearsal.

Getting the garter...

...and then tossing it to all the eagerly waiting men. At least one person was injured in this shuffle. Who knew that guys were so excited at the thought of being married next...or many it was just their competitive spirit coming out.

The rest of the night was spent catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

And of course, lots of dancing, drinking and merriment.

You know its a sign of a good night when your best friend gives your big ol' boyfriend a hug. I love that these two get along so well.

There was also plenty of pranking...doesn't this groomsmen look like a baby with garter on his head!

Courtney is now off on her honeymoon in Costa Rica (so much sunnier than here right now), but when she's back, I know she'll read this, so....Court, thank you so much for including me in your special day. It was an honour to stand up there with you and celebrate one of the sweetest couples I know. Congratulations on a life of love and happiness.

Our Little Thanksgiving Dinner

2011-11-24T09:21:00.003-05:00

Back in October, Garrett and I couldn't be together for Canadian Thanksgiving due to work schedules, which is why I decided to surprise him last night with our own little one.

When he got home, I'd set a little a table with a nice chicken dinner and all the fixin's!

I made a roast chicken because we didn't need a whole turkey for two people.

There was also super flavourful gravy.

...and of course potatoes to go with it.

Green peas with butter

Crescent dinner rolls

And for dessert?

Peppermint Oreos

It was a lovely little dinner for two and now we have all these great leftovers! (Whiskey was happy for the scraps too)

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and family!

My Favourite Cranberry Recipes

2011-11-23T09:26:00.000-05:00

I love cranberries, especially this time of year. As many of you get ready to celebrate American Thanksgiving tomorrow, I'm sure that you'll have plenty of leftover cranbbries and cranberry sauce. Here are some great recipes to use them up!

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins

Cranberry Clementine Bread

Apple Cranberry Bread

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

All this talk about cranberries has be craving some of my aunt's perfectly sweet cranberry sauce!

Christmas Housewarming Party Invitations

2011-11-22T12:48:00.000-05:00

With moving into our new apartment only a month ago, we thought it would be fun to have a little Christmas themed housewarming party for some of our friends in the area. I've send out a quick message to everyone invited, but I wanted to email (or mail if I get my act together) a cute little invite with all the details.

The only problem is that I'm torn between which of the four styles to use. Which do you guys like best?

1)

I've wiped out the details, but it just lists basic info (date, time, address, RSVP). I wish it was a little less blurry, but I love the little vintage image of the couple bringing home a tree.

2)

The rich colours are close to the colours I'm decorating with this year. All I need to add to this one are the details...and maybe an image?

3

This template is adorable and I wish I knew where it came from. The retro style font at the top is my favourite.

4)

The last choice is also the most bold. I'd just be adding the details below the text there.

So what do you think? Please leave your vote in the comments section!

Snapshots of a Weekend

2011-11-21T09:59:00.002-05:00

Between a wedding, birthdays and getting stuff done around the house, it was a whirlwind weekend around here. I'm going to post more on the wedding later this week, but for now here are some snapshots of our weekend. Just looking at them is making me tired again. I think that Mondays should require a mandatory nap time!

Walking down the aisle with Garrett and our good friend Tyler. They were both so handsome in their suits.

Watching two dear friends take the plunge. They were beaming the whole night. (Thanks to Amy for taking pictures with my camera!)

Dinner at my uncle's house on Sunday. My mom brought a beautifully made birthday cake that got a little smooshed on the car ride there.

The birthday girl - my much loved Great Aunt Marian (try her lasagna recipe!)

Blowing out the candles.

New lamps on either side of the bed. Already a big improvement from before.

Using our new front hall mirror (a sweet gift from Garrett's parents). Now I just need to put that old table leaning there into storage.

On tonight's agenda is soup making (its been forever!), hitting the gym (also been way too long) and starting on my Christmas crafting. I have so many funny ideas to show you this year!

Happy Birthday Garrett!

2011-11-19T06:25:00.006-05:00

I may be off celebrating my friends' wedding today, but its also a special day for one very important person in my life.....

My sweetheart, my sous chef, my roommate, my partner in crime, my everything ♥

Garrett, I hope you have a wonderful birthday and even if we're having wedding cake rather than birthday cake, I'll still try to sneak in a few candles ;)

Rehearsal Dinner

2011-11-18T10:12:00.000-05:00

Last night Garrett and I went to the rehearsal dinner for our friends' wedding tomorrow. After almost nine months of talking about it, its hard to believe that its that time already!

When we drove up to the location of the wedding, our jaws dropped. I had no idea that it would be so nice!

There were so many unique little details like these dragon lamps.

The inside was even more gorgeous and all decorated up for Christmas.

Everywhere we turned there were more decorations.

We even got to peek into dining room and see it all set up for the wedding.

Before we left, we added the centrepieces to the tables. The bride and her mother put these together themselves using various tall glass vases, black rocks, red apple blossoms and some real bullrushes from their property, spray painted black. I think they're going to look really nice on the night of the event.

Afterwards, we headed over to the groom's parent's home for a nice dinner with thei family and all our friends. Several gifts were passed around, including this album that the bride's sister gave her, full of pictures of the happy couple.

I ended up giving them a belated shower gift that took longer to get here than expected. But I was glad to be able to give it to them before the wedding!

Its a pewter ornament that was cast out of real holly leaves.

and on the back, their names and wedding date is handstamped.

Here is the last picture I'll have of them before they're MARRIED! Hard to believe its time for the wedding already.

A nice picture of the groom and all his groomsmen.

And the bride with her three bridesmaids and some of our good girlfriends too.

To end the evening, they did some practicing for the cake cutting.

Tonight we're off to have manicues and pedicures and then before we now it, it'll be time to get ready tomorrow morning! So exciting! :)

Its Snowing!

2011-11-17T13:29:00.000-05:00

I'm on my lunch break right now at the office and I just looked outside to see that its SNOWING!

I still feel like a giddy kid when I see it. Even if it means that I have to drive slower to get home, and I have to shovel the steps to take the dog out, I'm still excited.

And I'm even more happy that I bought my new Sorel winter boots last night. What are the odds that I'd do that the night before the first snow?

They are big and super cozy. I would have worn them around the house all night if I could have.

I'm sure that if Whiskey looks out the window at the apartment, he'll probably be dreading the thought of winter.

The chihuahua in him just doesn't appreciate the cold weather.

Occasionally I can get him to go for a run out at my friend's property.

Running around and wrestling with Keela is a good distraction from the cold...for a bit...

...and then he's back under the covers, trying to get warm.

Easy Mini Pizza Bites Appetizers

2011-11-15T11:15:00.001-05:00

Today is a busy day (working both jobs back to back!), but I wanted to stop in quickly and share this great appetizer idea I did this weekend for a bachelorette party I was helping host.

Using frozen store bought pizzas, I was able to make quick and easy pizza bites in fun flavours, along with a garlic dipping sauce. Normally store bought bite size pizzas are about $5 for 10 pieces, but I was able to find whole size gourmet pizzas on for $2.88 (over half price!) and was able to get 8-9 pieces out of each. With 3 pizzas, I was able to get 25 pieces for less than $9, which was more than enough for the 10 girls at the party.

To start out, I unwrapped all the pizzas and let them sit out 10 minutes to thaw a bit.

Using a biscuit cutter, I cut out 8-9 circles, trying to go around and make the most of it, without getting too much crust on each one. I saved the scraps to bake up as a snack for Garrett later on.

The biscuit cutter I used was actually my great grandmother's....made from an old soup can. I loved thinking about all the biscuits and goodies that four generations have cut with this now.

If you wanted to get festive, you could take a spinach and cheese pizza like this, bake it and then add a few cherry tomatoes to make a Christmas Pizza Wreath! Maybe even add a red pepper bow :)

Back to the bites, I arranged all three flavours on a baking sheet - Bruschetta, Spinach and Goat Cheese with Veggies - and baked them according to the original packaging, maybe just slightly less time though.

They turned out to be a great hit and I'm sure I'll be making them again!

As for our bachelorette party, everyone had a great night celebrating!

The bride was all decked out in her bachelorette finest.

and we even took an SUV limo to our final bar destination.

Nothing like spending a Saturday night with some of my favourite ladies!

Now its only four days left until the wedding...and I still don't have shoes! Eek!