Fa la la la la la la la laaaaaa

friends,family,food,music,singing,stockings,love,presents,laughter,morefood,morelove,drinks,redandgreen,movies,visiting,winterwonderland,memories,peace,sniffles,merrychristmastoallandtoallagoodnight.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!!

hohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohoh

hohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohohoho

Oldie but a goodie...me with Santa, age 5. Hope Santa found you all, and if you're not a Christmas kid, then Happy Holidays to you all.

xo

The drive

I drove home from Ontario to Nova Scotia for the first time since I was a kid. Lots of coffee stops, scenery and visiting with my Grandparents. Here are some snippets;

Lots of Timmys when I'm with the grandparents

Maps and roads

Dusty windows and sunshine

Coffee and shades.

Clear sailing.

Classic Canadian lunch :) 

night skies.

First sights in Nova Scotia, open space. yes.

Hope you all find your way home safe. xo.

Look what I woke up to today...

snowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnowsnow

xo.

Holly Berry Martinis

Being home includes seeing lots of family, relaxing, old friends, visiting, a full fridge...and a full bar! One of my oldest and dearest friends Kristen came over for holiday catch up and we decided to create a new festive drink! We called it the Holly Berry martini...here's what we did;


In a shaker combine; 
1 ounce of Vodka
1/2 ounce of Blueberry Liquour (this was from Ironworks distillery which is in Lunenburg NS but you can find flavoured liquors at any liquor store)
1/2 ounce of Triple sec
Cranberry juice

We served them in big beautiful martini glass with some ice and a splash of cranberry juice. Deelish! xo.

Little bundles of joy

My adorable two year old cousin Nate was opening gifts from Grandma and Grandpa and watching him buzz with excitement was hilarious! He was so careful opening the presents, (he didn't know he could rip them) and when he finally saw the gift inside his little hands would shake and he would step away because he was so overwhelmed. Wait until Santa comes to visit him...he is going to pass out! 

Hope we can all find a fraction of his excitement over the holidays. xo

Why I love Quebec

I love Montreal
I love practicing my french
I love poutine
I love beer from a vending machine and bottle openers attached to the bathroom sink.

Almost home. xo

Cheers ladies, its Christmas time!

Had an amazing girls night with Mistletoe Sangria, delicious food, present stealing and martini's on College. Everyone was dressed up, lots of red lipstick, they loved my decorations and there was plenty of girl talk.

Photo love from Red.

As for our drink? 


We picked up some plastic martini glasses for fit our decor and made a huge pitcher of Mistletoe Sangria. remember a while back I posted the Food and Drink Magazine from the LCBO and how much I loved it? Well that is where the recipe came from! 

To a pitcher or punch bowl, add 2 oz spiced rum, 2 oz cherry brandy, 1 bottle (750 mL) red wine, 1 cup cranberry juice, 1 cup pomegranate juice, 1 cup lemonade. Add 1 cup blueberries, 1 cup pomegranate seeds. Stir to mix.

Pour into glasses with ice and garnish each with a sprig of mint.

  Makes 8 to 10 drinks

Now we doubled some parts and tripled others. So make a batch and then keep adding...also, it depends how silly you want to get and how many people are there. We got really silly, with a bunch of people 

I'll be home for Christmas

My mom was asking me the other day
"what do you want for Christmas!?"


This question has taken on so many meanings as I have matured. When I was younger I wanted toys and toys, then clothes...then I was a tween and I thought my mom didn't 'get' me so I didn't like anything she bought. Then, I wanted gadgets like cellphones and digital cameras. The next year I probably wanted the most advanced version of said gadget. Then I wanted clothes I had picked out but my mom wrapped, but I felt to sad knowing what all my gifts were! So I didn't like that. When I was getting ready to move out, I wanted house ware and sheets and luggage. Then there have been plane tickets, more clothes, new phones, gift cards and straight up cash money! 


But this year...this year, I want to just go home. Being home, back out east with my family is enough. I'm so lucky to have all of my grandparents under one roof this year to celebrate the Holiday.  Christmas presents used to be the only thing I liked, but now that I'm older, it's the whole experience of Christmas. And it's one of the few times we can get everyone together. I can't wait for seafood chowder on Christmas Eve, Baileys and coffee Christmas morning, butter tarts, long winter walks, seeing my parents, my brother, my oldest and dearest friends and lots of love love love.

This is my favourite version of I'll be home for Christmas. Makes me wanted to curl up in a big chair, starring at the frosty lake with a hot cup of tea. Soon enough.

Packing

Planning outfits, squeezing in presents, a big suitcase a little bag...

Packing is SO HARD, but it also makes me heading back out East that much more exciting!!! 

Tips to a successful pack:


1. Roll your clothes- It creates more space AND less wrinkles. 
2. Don't do it last minute- Okay so some things will always be last minute. But at least haul out the suitcase, sit it on the ground a few days in advance so as you have free moments you'll throw some stuff in. It helps, I promise.
3. Pick outfits, not just items- this will help you not have a bunch of random loose pieces. And also then you can plan for appropriate undergarments  and layers.
4. Don't overdue the shoes- as a shoe lover, I know this is so difficult, but be realistic! I'm taking my signature winter boots and a pair of heels. I may be tempted to bring sneakers for the big nature walks me and my mom do, but I think she has an extra pair! Good ol' moms.
5.Great music- don't be stressed, mellow out and enjoy it. Your adventure is just beginning.

Been there...

Done that...

But this year, aiming for an easy suitcase packing experience 

xo

Christmas Cards!

I love making my own cards for Christmas cards. this year I decided to stick with a classic colour scheme and shapes of the holiday season. I went to Midoco in the Annex and picked out pretty paper that was stiff and not flimsy then I just drew my own shapes and glued them on with a gluestick. I put rectangle pieces of paper under the shapes so I could write the person's name on it.

Super easy and cute! And if you receive one, please know it was made with lots of love. If you don't its only because I don't have enough hands to craft for the world (though I wish I did)