Christmas Ornament 2018

As is our tradition, we picked an ornament to commemorate the year and it gets placed at the top of the tree. Since we took an amazing trip in the fall, we picked up an ornament in Venice. 🙂 This is the 10th year that we do this and our collection of memories/ornaments is growing steadily! This one is of a mask that’s a popular sight in Venice. Love it.

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Christmas Family Visit 2017

Now that I’ve recuperated from the whirlwind that is my sister and her two daughters, I can write a blog post about all the fun we had during their holiday visit.

They arrived on the 21st on an empty flight and landed at Billy Bishop airport. With the news showing a jam-packed Pearson airport (busiest day of the year apparently), it made sense to fly to the island airport. Traffic was actually light due to many already being off work.

We got back home and everyone settled in. We made lunch (rigatoni with cherry tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella) then had fun playing a rousing game of Christmas charades. The girls are getting old enough to play games that adult enjoy playing too. 🙂 Fun!! We then headed out to Michael’s to get some holiday craft materials that we wanted to tackle during their stay (more on these later!).

We were also cat-sitting for my sister-in-law’s cat Dusty and after a nervous first day, he adjusted quickly and joined in some of the activities. 🙂

The following day we were planning to go to the Distillery District to see the Christmas Market. During the day, we made the first batch of treats: Smore’s Cookies. They were really yummy and my kitchen helpers were awesome!

The girls also wrote their letters to Santa for Jingles the Elf to bring them to him. This is a kit that comes with magical paper (and a storybook explaining it all) that shrinks when you bake it (with the help of an adult) so they’re small enough for the elf to carry back to Santa. It was really neat! You can see the large letter in the first pic. Then, the shrunken versions in the 2nd and 3rd pic:

We also played 5 Second Rule, a fun and simple game where a player has to name 3 things that fit the category in 5 seconds. This was a lot of fun!

Next was our visit to the Christmas Market. We all hopped on the GO train, played a Christmas-themed version of the alphabet game all the way downtown and got to the market just as the sun was setting and the lights sparkled. 🙂

On the way back to Union Station, we stopped for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory and it was warm and cozy. Their Christmas decor was fantastic – just what we needed to warm up!

The next day we made the next batch of cookies; these were mainly for Uncle Chris: Maple Bacon Cookies. Holy moly were they ever good!

We made the first craft which was a 3d puzzle-like train made out of foam which was harder than it looked. On the box, they provide a suggested time to finish it (an hour I believe) and we did it in that amount of time:

We played a bit more charades then got ready for our “Christmas by Lamplight” evening at Black Creek Village. We drove: Drove to the village and drove Uncle Chris crazy with our carol-singing in the car. 🙂 Ha! The village itself was beautifully decorated for the holidays and most of the buildings had something festive going on – see a more complete post here. In short, it was amazing. I’d go back in a heartbeat – highly recommended!!

The next day we made cinnamon-baked doughnuts. Oh my.

Baking is hard work:

Had Cadbury hot chocolate (best ever – all others have now been ruined):

We had an impromptu coloring session:

We finished up some wrapping to make sure we were all ready for the big day. We all dressed up and had a nice charcuterie, cheese, cracker and fruit dinner with cranberry orange punch (cranberry cocktail, orange juice, sparkling water, cinnamon stick and couple of cloves). I could eat it every day. 🙂  But then I’d end up looking like Santa, so, no.

We watched a holiday movie (I lost track of which one!!) then the kids were off to bed to try to get some sleep before Santa’s arrival tomorrow morning.  We left out some cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

Maddie read Twas the night Before Christmas to us. 🙂

We managed to take a pic of the tree after Santa came 🙂

Dec 25th – Christmas Morning!!!! Sue, Chris and I grabbed our coffees, cookies and doughnuts and the kids opened their stockings. They joined us for cookies, then tackled the gifts. 🙂  Everyone was very happy. I loved what I received from kitchen goodies from Chris (a beautiful pan, cutting boards and tools that I needed) to an awesome winter scarf and Harry Potter slippers from Sue. It was a great success!

The girls spent most of the day playing; we took a break for lunch (leftover meats and cheeses), then we started on dinner! The adults kicked off the festivities with a bit of brandy. 🙂

Then we watched The Sound of Music – it’s tradition! And off to bed!

On the 26th, after having eaten a load of treats and lord knows what else, we headed out to Crawford Lake to enjoy the outdoors and hiked the boardwalk around the lake. It was a cold one but we were all bundled up and pretty much the only ones there! Even the drive up was quiet and scenic.

We stopped for lunch at Boston Pizza on the way back home and made Christmas ornaments – we got the makings of this from Michael’s as well and these turned out great!

We braved the cold again the following day and walked the trails near our house on our way to Starbucks to warm up. We came across a dad and his son tobogganing in the area (we heard the dad screaming from a couple of blocks away) and he asked Sienna and Maddie if they would like a ride (to spare him from having to go again teehee). The girls were super excited to have a run. 🙂

We had fun playing follow the leader on the way back to warm up. There was hopping and jumping involved. Luckily, no video. 🙂

And that’s it! We survived another family visit, packed as many holiday activities as we could and from what I hear, the girls are already interested in coming back to Aunt Val’s next Christmas. 🙂 A year to recover should be enough. I think.

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24th Day of Christmas: Heritage Villages

Our family loves to visit heritage and pioneer villages; the ones that have original homes and buildings and the staff are dressed in period costume and stay in character while they explain how things were done back in the day. I just love the simplicity of how things used to be.

This year, we went to Black Creek Village in North York during the Christmas by Lamplight event on Saturday night. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas, with  decorations and treats from yesteryear. There were carolers circulating around the village. All the houses/buildings were decorated and staffed with amazing team members, some offering entertainment including caroling, dancing, old-time games and crafts. Others offering treats including mince tarts, candied orange peel, turkish delight, gingerbread cookies, cheese straws, peppermint pastilles, and more!

We had a great time! Can’t wait to go back next year!

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23rd Day of Christmas: Christmas Markets

Last night was my first time visiting a Christmas Market. We headed down to the Distillery District just east of downtown Toronto late afternoon and braved the throngs of people to enjoy the festivities. It truly was a magical setting with Christmas music playing throughout the area, the lights and enormous Christmas tree.

There were booths selling all kinds of holiday treats and goods. We got fudge (classic!), and enjoyed hot doughnuts (omg) and had a tasty curry for a quick bite.

The shops and galleries were nice too and gave everyone a chance to warm up from the chill outside.

There is a whole section for food and drinks (for young and old).

I can’t wait to go back next year but I think we’ll go during the week as it was ridiculously crowded, but that can be expected on a Friday evening. Still a good time!

We warmed up with hot chocolate before heading downtown:

On the GO Train, heading downtown. We played the alphabet game with Christmas themes. An extra passenger bailed us out when we got to Q. 🙂

The entrance to the Christmas Market:

The tree!!

Chris and I 🙂

Munching on warm doughnuts – holy moly they were good!!

These were near the entrance/exit – they looked cool!

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22nd Day of Christmas: The Wisdom of Children

There’s nothing like seeing things through the eyes of a child, especially during the holidays.

Case in point is my 10-year old niece Maddie. We were shopping at Michael’s yesterday picking up some holiday craft stuff.

We were talking about her letter to Santa and I innocently (honestly, with this one, I should have known better) asked her if she had been good this year.

She admitted: “I was a little bit naughty.”  Then she added with a shrug and her hands up in the air “But who hasn’t??”

Her answer was so unexpected that I cracked up (pretty loudly) in the aisle.

Wise beyond her years that one. 🙂 (Also a bit of a smart ass).

 

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21st Day of Christmas: Christmas Commercials

Christmas is a sentimental time and retailers pull out all the stops to create commercials that tug at everyone’s heartstrings. I love holiday ads, from the funny ones to the ones that make me all sniffly and tears-eyed. 🙂 In fact, the only ads I ever watch are Christmas ads ans Super Bowl ads.

John Lewis – cute take on a child being kept awake due to a monster under the bed.

M&M’s – love this one. I wish this would actually happen this way if such an event were to occur.

Paddington:

BBC One: Love the dancing dad who knows he ain’t doing the flip LOL

John Lewis – The Fox and The Mouse – OMG get the Kleenex out. Love the song too.

 

 

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20th Day of Christmas: Explaining Santa

I can’t remember what year it happened for me growing up, but there was suspicion leading up to the full-blown realization and many whispers with my siblings about what they thought and whether they believed or not. But sure enough, Santa came that Christmas, sure as the sun rises and sets.

We never felt betrayed about our parents lying to us about Santa. I don’t even remember being disappointed – I think we suspected it for a while before we were old enough (and willing enough) to acknowledge the truth.

My eldest niece is at that point now – she’s started to ask her mum about Santa but then quickly said not to tell her because she wasn’t ready to know. 🙂 It’s sweet. I think it’ll be her last year.

Santa Came!!! (My nieces Christmas morning 2014)

Author Martha Brockenbrough published a letter in the New York Times that made it easier for all parents out there. Her daughter had figured out the truth about Santa and Martha handled it beautifully:

Amazing.

Happy to be on Santa’s team. 🙂

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19th Day of Christmas: Holiday Funnies

These crack me up – I love a good laugh. There seems to be more and more of these circulating. People are getting increasingly more creative too!

I gathered a few of my holiday-themed faves – Hope you get a giggle or two out of them like I did. 🙂

Ho ho ho!!! 🙂

 

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18th Day of Christmas: The Christmas Tag

For those participating in Blogmas (a daily Christmas post), there’s a post going around that consists of a series of questions to be answered by the blogger. Here is mine!

Christmas in Montreal

What is your favorite Christmas Film?

It’s tough to pick just one. I think it comes down to which holiday movie I can watch over and over. It’s a tie between Love Actually and Home Alone.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?

Growing up in Montreal I can’t remember NOT having a white Christmas. We’ve had very few since we moved to Toronto though and I like snow up until Boxing Day. Then, spring can start. 🙂

Where do you usually spend the holiday?

Usually at home and family visits us. Right after we moved, we would make the trip back to Montreal but lately people have been coming to us.

What is your favorite Christmas Song?

I’ve always been a fan of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney’s Silver Bells. It just creates the picture perfect Christmas scene in my mind, with city sidewalks, busy sidewalks, decked in holiday style… In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas. 🙂

Do you open any gifts on Christmas Eve?

Nope! Christmas morning only. That said, my husband’s family does gifts the night before so depending on where we spend the holidays, it can vary. But at our house? Christmas morning.

Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. And Rudolph. And the one that grandma got run over by although he probably got kicked off the North Pole tribe.

What holiday traditions are you looking forward to?

Watching the Sound of Music and singing along. Putting up the tree. Making cookies and watching holiday movies. Eating by Christmas lights instead of turning the regular lights on. Giving the perfect gifts. Eating After Eights.

Is your Christmas tree a real one of a fake?

Fake – I’m a nature lover and can’t bear the thought of cutting down a tree just to let it die after a few weeks of enjoyment then throw it away like yesterday’s news. It makes me sad to see all the discarded trees by the curb once the holidays are over and they’re not needed/wanted anymore. Like the smell of pine? Buy a candle. Like a real tree? Plant it outside and enjoy watching it grow every year.

What is you all time favorite holiday food?

The whole meal: Turkey, mashed potatoes, maple carrots, peas, cranberry sauce.

Do you like giving gifts or receiving them?

Giving. I like picking the perfect thing that will make the recipient so happy. Especially if it’s something they’d never buy for themselves.

What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received?

That’s easy. The year my husband did all the shopping himself and didn’t ask me for any hints. I loved the surprise and he nailed it with items that were perfectly “me”. It was awesome.

What would be your dream place to visit during the holidays?

I would love to stay in a cozy snowy cabin (with a wood burning fireplace) in the woods somewhere close to a village with quaint shops and restaurants to stock up on food and goodies. Everything decorated for the holidays of  course, and just ourselves to keep us company, maybe some games and some outdoor gear to go on hikes and enjoy nature and wildlife.

What made you realize the truth about Santa?

I’m not quite sure. I think all the kids kind of clued in at the same time and that was that. But, I like to think we each have a little bit of Santa in each of us and that keeps the magic alive.

Do you make New Year Resolutions?

No resolutions. I’ve got a pretty serious Life/Bucket List and every year I look back on what I accomplished and plan ahead for the things I want to accomplish next year. No disappointment, no failure, all excitement and fulfillment. It’s pretty awesome. 🙂

What makes the holidays special to you?

What makes the holidays special is being able to spend time with family and friends, enjoying holiday festivities, eating great food, playing games, and taking some time to rest, relax and be thankful for all that we have.

 

If you’re reading this – tag, you’re it! 🙂

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17th Day of Christmas: Traditions

One of my favorite traditions is that each year, we acquire one ornament that represents a highlight for us that year, whether it’s travel-related or a specific activity – it can be anything that reminds us of great memories for that particular year. For that year’s Christmas, we place the selected ornament at the top of the tree. We choose to forgo a regular “topper” like a star or angel in favor of something meaningful to us. Every year when we decorate the tree, we place our memory ornaments and it brings back great memories. 🙂

On our tree, we hang those ornaments (we’re at year 9 so far!) as well as homemade rustic ones that I made (Christmas tree twigs and ribbons, cinnamon sticks wrapped in plaid ribbon and paper snowflakes). There are some “regular” ornaments too and a couple of others that have a special spot (gifts from friends).

See below for our traditional annual ornaments:

2009: At the end of 2008, we moved from Montreal to Toronto but our washing machine didn’t make it and we survived, hilariously, without a washing machine for 40 days. Thankfully we had a ton of clothes but the pile of laundry was never as big as that year! We had to commemorate the event. 🙂 (Note: This was the year we started our annual ornament tradition and our move was such a big change for us that we needed something to commemorate it and the washing machine saga fit the bill.

2010: One of the activities we started enjoying since we now lived so close to Niagara on the Lake was wine tasting. The region is well-known for wine. We went to a ton of wine events and festivals that year which sparked a new hobby / passion.

2011: In 2011, we had an amazing time on a vacation where we visited Grand Cayman, Orlando and Cozumel and had a blast. We named the worm Alonzo after one of the hosts of the Amazing Cozumel Race activity we did. So fun!!! Not to mention the 2 Margaritavilles we stopped at and had a blast with nachos, margaritas and singing along to Jimmy Buffet songs.

2012: This year we went to Alaska which blew our minds. The untouched scenery, incredible wildlife and feeling like you’re the only one around for miles made us fall in love with the place; we can’t wait to go back. We’re still in awe. We picked this ornament up at a local artisan shop – it’s made with wood and reindeer and beaver fur. Love it.

2013: One word: Paris. Fabulous trip where we saw spectacular art and historical monuments and ate delicious food. Truly a trip of a lifetime…we seem to have a lot of those! The ornament depicts the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Arche de Triomphe, all places we got to visit.

2014: Again, one word: Hawaii. Another incredible trip. We named this hula-girl ornament Hana after having driven the “Road to Hana” on our trip which is a well-known scenic drive – gorgeous views, fabulous food and culture. We visited Kauai and Maui; we preferred Kauai because of it’s natural beauty and it’s still relatively untouched by tourism (at least in 2014).

2015: In 2015, we did a lot of exploring in the conservation areas and hiking trails near our new house. We try to get out and enjoy nature as much as we can and that year, we really outdid ourselves and got out there during all four seasons.

2016: Last year, we took a road trip around the maritimes and explored New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI, The seafood and scenery were to die for. The loop around Cape Breton will always be a highlight – just beautiful. We still order goat’s milk soap from the Great Canadian Soap Company; we stopped there on our trip and met the goats so of course, we have a bond now. 🙂

2017: This year we traveled to Italy and boy, did we ever have an amazing time. We ate all the food, we drank all the wine, we visited so many gorgeous places, saw amazing art, met fabulous friendly people. This is another spot we can’t wait to return to. But for now, we’ll daydream while peeking at the ornament that we picked up in Florence.

Looking forward to what 2018 will bring! We already have a cruise to the Greek Isles planned (plus Croatia and Montenegro) and I suspect that might be where we pick up next year’s ornament. Opa!

Here are some of our other special ornaments that brighten our holiday tree:

I gathered sticks from the nature paths around our house, bought some Christmas ribbon and made little tree ornaments. 🙂

Cinnamon sticks hung with plaid ribbon – smells good and looks adorably rustic:

I love paper snowflakes. I can’t help it.

This was a gift from a friend back in Montreal (thanks Olga!!) I still hang it on the tree every year – I love to cook. 🙂

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