Our Holiday Lens: Part 2

Our Christmas adventures continued after we left my family's house in Kingston (near Northern Bay) and headed to Des' family home in Southern Bay, back to Kingston, and finally home again. It was a good thing Santa took it easy this year as there were seemingly more and more and more gifts for HP at every turn. He is a loved little boy indeed!

Round two of Christmas present opening started. Thankfully there were older cousins to help!

Sporting some new kicks from Aunt Lou.

And HP wasn't the only one spoiled with awesome presents.
Des showing his glee at his box set.

Our first attempt at a family photo.
Ok, but would be better if we all looked at the same lens ;)

We enjoyed a visit with Michelle, who snuggled HP
while momma and daddy had their first morning coffee.

We played more music at Nanny & Poppy`s.

And enjoyed a semi-quiet ride back home thanks to Fisher Price.
Ipod holder perhaps the best used gift this Christmas!

We enjoyed a quiet family NYE at home, starting with appy`s and wine by the fire.

And a toast to the year gone by and the one ahead. Even HP joined in on our cheers!

Finally, NYD dinner at Aunt Sherry & Uncle Terry`s meant even more hands to hold HP
including cousin Chris

And Aunt Pauline, who spoiled HP with some stylin` clothes

and the always happy-to-see him cousin Emily. HP (and we) loves her.

 

And the festivities all wrapped up with a striped down bottle and cuddle with Aunt Sherry.

T`was a wonderful season for our little trio and a perfect way to a very happy 2011.

We`re now ready to take on 2012.

From our home to yours, we wish you a very happy, healthy New Year!

Ahhh... a family photo where we`re all looking at the right lens AND smiling.
Hello 2012.

Our Holiday Lens: Part 1

Our holidays were hectic and happy. There was good food, great fun, and lots of love. The days were filled with travel, visiting, family and friends, games, and  laughter. There were many hands to hold our sweet boy while momma and daddy rested, relaxed and rejuvenated. We played, we napped, we ate, we talked, we cuddled, we drank, we rested. We celebrated the birth of Christ and our sweet cheeks' first Christmas. All in all, it was a great way to wrap up an amazing year. 

We hung out by the tree.

We snuggled with Auntie.

We played lots of music and had fun.

There was a bedtime story on Christmas Eve.

And of course new matching PJs for the little cousins.

We sprinkled reindeer food for Rudolph and friends.

And peeked to see if Santa could be seen before heading to bed.

But alas, he didn't show up until all the little boys and girls were sound asleep. 

Santa left a very cool ride for HP.

And momma and daddy gave him a retro ecord player.
(And a modern day Fisher Price Ipod holder!)

There was plenty of dog chasing, though B didn't want to be caught.

There was the start of a new hockey fan.
Daddy got tickets to a game in Montreal.

Momma was happily surprised with a mixer.
And yes, that's honest-to-goodness happiness with a kitchen appliance for Christmas.
Serious glee people. Serious glee.

I think HP can taste the cookies already.

 

There was oh so much laughter.



And happy visits with loved ones.

and too many cute expressions to count!

And this was just up until Christmas Day! There will be more from our holiday lens tomorrow...

An Old Christmas Card

It's the same every year. Starting in early December my house is filled with Christmas cards from family and friends near and far. I love checking the mail, reading the greetings, seeing the family photos, and hearing about how everyone's year has been. It is awesome. That is until I have to decide what to do with them once the New Year has begun. Sure, some cards are special and will end up in my pretty tied-up pile that comes out with the decorations each year, but the bulk of them need to go somewhere else and I simply hate for that to be in the trash can.

If you're like me and wondering what to do to with all those cards, consider reusing and recycling. I've rounded up a few fun ideas that should work for almost every crafty skill level:

Take all those photo cards from friends and fam and create a photo collage to be enjoyed year-round. Try framing a collage like this one made by MotherHuddle.com or creating a scrapbook page like Ali Edwards often does. I'm planning on doing this for this year, as well as saving some of my favourites to add in as embellishments on other holiday scrapbook pages.

photo collage from MotherHuddle.com

collage scrapbook page from AliEdwards.com

If you have kiddies (big or small) in the house, try creating your own advent calendar that uses bits and pieces of old cards behind the doors, like this one on the ever-crafty MarthaStewart.com website:

Of course you can also use bits and pieces of those holiday cards to whip up gift tags to use next year, handmade ornaments such as this intricate 3D star, or this awesome little gift bag. I would love to get a little treat in one of these beauties, wouldn't you?

as seen on wikihow.com

The options for kid friendly crafts are endless too. You could sit them down with child-friendly scissors, glue or tape a guidelines for making coasters, bookmarks, tree ornaments, art pages, holiday magnets, puzzles, and more.

Or, if you consider yourself the non-crafty type, you can always donate those holiday cards to a program like the St. Jude's Ranch, which recycles old cards of all occasions into new cards through one of their programs. The old cards are made into new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The benefits are "two-fold in that customers can buy “green” holiday cards for use and the youth involved in the Ranch program receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of “going green”. 

As you take down those card wreaths, garlands and mantle displays this year, take the time to give those old cards new life rather than just tossing them in the trash.

Do you have another fun way to use up old cards?

The Turkey Twist

We are in the midst of enjoying a very happy holiday season with family and friends, so this is just a quick post to give you some turkey tips should you need them. I know we enjoyed a large bird on Christmas Day followed by turkey sammies later that evening, turkey soup on Boxing Day, and still have leftovers to spare. If you're in the same boat, you might enjoy these twists on turkey leftovers.

For Breakfast or Brunch
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Herbed Turkey + Waffles - courtesy of BHG



The Anything Frittata - also courtesy of BHG

For A Light Lunch or Side Dish

Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls - courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

Baked Turkey Croquettes - courtesy of Gina at SkinnyTaste.com

For A Something-Other-Than-Soup-n-Sammies Supper

Deep Dish Turkey Pot Pie - from Kraft Canada

Southwestern Turkey Pizza - from Chatelaine.com

Turkey Vegetable Biryani - also from Chatelaine.com

Hopefully something appeals to your turkey taste buds!

Merry + Bright

The nativity has been set,

The tree has been trimmed,

The cards sent far and near.

The stockings are hung with care.

The presents wrapped and ready,

Yes, Christmas is here for another year.

I am so looking forward to enjoying the peace, calm, magic, and joy of the holidays in the coming days, surrounded by the ones I love and hold dearest to my heart. I wish the same for each and every one of you.

May your days be merry + bright.
Colleen

Guest Post: A Healthy Balance

Making Your Holiday Season a Healthy Balance!
by Tara Antle, BSc.AHN, RHN, RNCP

Here we are, amongst the holiday rush, getting things all done for Christmas.  It’s really important that we factor our health into the mix, so here are some tips to help you maintain your health during the holidays!

• Set realistic goals for a realistic time frame that work for YOU and your life. 
• Be prepared to fall off the wagon and get ready to jump back on track again.
• Allow yourself to eat regularly through out the day…never let yourself get hungry.
• Now…how about that treat, cheat or reward???  No need to waste it on food!
• Make every meal a healthy balance; Make sure you use a plate at social gatherings and stand/sit away from food covered tables.
• Chug – a – lug on water!
• Alcohol…enjoy in moderation…choose light beer, light coolers, dry red wine, vodka, gin (mixed with water or diet pop).
• Have fun with food - get the best value for your nutrient buck!
• Exercise regularly – get that body moving!
• Decrease stress levels, get plenty of rest, and maintain a positive attitude!

The lovely Tara @ home

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy & safe holiday season!

From tomorrow through to New Year's Day, our lives will become a blur of family gatherings, parties, socials, and other holiday festivities. Here to help us find that healthy balance in the midst of delicious sweets, savoury treats, and alcoholic bevvies is my next guest blogger, Tara Antle. Tara, a long time friend, is a Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner (RNCP) with a decade of experience helping hundreds of people reach their individual goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you want to learn more about living a healthy balanced life, you can find Tara at her own private nutrition consulting business, Healthy Balance, in St. John’s, NL.

Guest Post: Fabulous Festive Fimo

We have another guest blogger for you today, Miss Sarah Jones. Sarah takes up residence online at Half Sweet Vanilla where she showcases her love of design, illustration and inspiration. which she insists is best enjoyed with a coffee, tea, or latté. I can't say I disagree. Sarah is by far one of the most creative, artistic, and crafty people I know... as in she's even had demos featured on HGTV's website! I am very pleased to have her join us here with a great idea for a quick and easy craft you (and/or your kids!) can do before Christmas Day. Enjoy!

Fabulous Festive Fimo
by Sarah Jones

Looking for a fun and festive diy project that will add a personal touch to the top of your gifts this year? All you need is the classic sculpting clay; Fimo, an alphabet stamp set, a needle or straw [to make the hole for your ribbon] and an oven.

Unlike those sculpting clays that need to air dry, Fimo is baked. When you are happy with your creations place on a clean cookie tray and into an oven that has been pre-heated to 230F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool and voila! Add ribbon or garland and attached your tags to your gifts! [They are like little gifts in and unto themselves]

Fimo comes in a variety of colours and the options of what you can make are endless. Along with tags and garland try covering jar lids, make customized magnets or ornaments.

Get kids involved too! They will have just as much fun as you seeing their soft clay creations being put into the oven and coming out as hardened masterpieces!

Awesome right? Thanks Sarah!

Guest Post: Who Wants Candy?

Looking for a last minute gift or tasty treat for yourself? Allow me to introduce you to our next guest writer, Martha Muzychka, and her Almond Buttercrunch. Martha is a writer and consultant living in St. John’s, Newfoundland with her husband and son. Martha and I met through our profession several years ago and I have learned much from her over the years, both about communications and craft. When not working with words, Martha likes to be elbow deep in flour and sugar, mesmerized by threads and fabric, or captivated by paper and paint.

Close to 20 years ago, when the Internet was just a fledgling community, I came across a food recipe group. People posted their favourites to share, and the focus was on the easy, the unusual, and the tasty.

One day someone posted this knock off recipe for a well known candy delight -- almond roca. I immediately latched on to it, especially since it didn’t require a candy thermometer. I have lost count how often I have made this recipe, but with few exceptions, it has always turned out well.

I used to make about 400 pieces for an annual fundraiser, but now I make just a couple of batches for my child’s school Christmas bazaar and another couple of batches to eat and share at Christmas.  Just a couple of tips: do not double the recipe; use a commercial butter, and not a local dairy butter; and do not touch the candy while it is liquid. It is extremely hot.

Almond Buttercrunch**

2 cups white sugar

1 lb butter (use Lactantia)*

1/2 cup sliced almonds***

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Line a baking pan with foil. Do not use an insulated pan. Use the old rimmed cookie sheets for best results.

2. In a heavy pot, melt butter with the two cups of sugar over medium to medium high heat. Heat to boiling and keep stirring the sugar butter mixture with a wooden spoon. When the mix turns golden (light tea colour) add the sliced almonds. Keep stirring until the buttercrunch turns a deep amber.

3. If it starts to smoke, turn down the heat. DO NOT TOUCH THE CANDY! It is extremely hot. When it has turned the deep amber colour (or the colour of a nice deep honey), pour the candy into the foil lined pan and spread with the wooden spoon. Do NOT lick the spoon, just sayin'.

4. After five (5) minutes, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and let the heat melt the chocolate. Spread all over the candy. Let cool completely. Don't bother with a knife to cut this. Just snap it with your fingers into small pieces. Keep in an air tight tin.

* If you use a local butter, such as Spyglass, the candy will not work because it has a high water content and the candy will fail.

** I have made this without nuts for my son's school bazaar. One pan will make about two pounds of candy. I usually bag it up in four or six ounce lots. One year I found small take out containers on sale at Michael’s and they looked super cute hung on a tree.

***A friend with whom I shared the recipe told me she added a half cup of dried cranberries to the candy and that the results were delightful.

Thanks Martha! I can't wait to try these.

Guest Post: Getting Out & Active In the Winter

I'm happy to introduce another guest blogger for you today, Amelia Mayer. I guest posted for her a while back and have to again say how much I love their family policy of getting outside for at least 15 minutes every day. Amelia joins us today to share a few quick tips on getting out and being active in the cold of winter and the busy holiday season. Amelia loves adventuring with her husband and two young boys in the mountains of Wyoming. As a family they believe in the power of fresh air and hot chocolate.  Amelia blogs at www.talesofamountainmama.com.


I admit it: Getting outside as a family for us is just easier in the winter. As weird as it sounds, we are not huge fans of the heat. We just perform better when the air is a bit cooler (and our attitudes are a lot better too!)  Plus, with Daddy being a wildland firefighter, summers are just CRAZY for us. We relish the winter months of being able to be together as a family.

However, like everyone with kids, it also means finding a way to keep everyone warm and happy.  We work hard to fit in adventures (which also translate into workouts for at least Mama and Daddy) nearly daily. Here are some of our tips for making it work:

Ways to get outside:

A little snow + a sled = family fun!

* Go sledding (with little kids this always turns into more work for Mama and Daddy, but the laughter is priceless!)
* Make a snowman
* Go biking (we tend to have less snow in town so this is possible for us.  We love Strider bikes for the kids and they work great in the snow too!)
* Make a fort (use snow, fallen sticks, old leaves, or firewood! :))
* Go skiing or ice skating even if you don’t know how or aren’t very good at it.  It is healthy for our children to see us learning too. And laugh at yourself (they will laugh too!)
* When all else fails, do a family “Chinese Fire Drill”.  Translation - throw on a pair of shoes/boots and run around the house 2 or 3 times (carry the little ones if needed!)  Your heart will be pumping, your blood flowing from the cold air and I guarantee you will be laughing (in fun AND possibly shock!) 

Ways to Keep Warm:

layers +layers+layers=warm!

* Layer, layer, layer!  Our kids almost always have a liner glove inside their mittens and numerous other layers depending on how cold it is. We love Icebreaker long underwear as a base layer.
* Along with layering, stay away from cotton.  Wool and synthetics will keep your  kids warmer longer (and KEEP them warm when they get wet...which inevitably happens...)
* Encourage them to keep moving by moving yourself!  Monkey see, monkey do!
* End the day/adventure with warm drinks.  Hot cider or hot chocolates are big winter treats around here!

“I am WAY too busy for that, especially around the Holidays!”
* Even 15 minutes outside (with or without your kids) makes for a happier and refreshed perspective.  I have learned over the years that there is a time for everything, but that “thing” I HAVE to do can wait for a few minutes of recharging in some fresh air.  Plus, everyone is in better spirits AND more productive after some time outside.
* Remember, that you are your children’s primary teacher. If they see you making a million excuses about why you don’t want to go outside, they will do the same. Hence the “indoor kid” epidemic/obesity epidemic. 

‘Tis the season for fun in the snow/wind/fresh air.  Don’t let it pass you by!  Get out there!