My Christmas Wish List

Hubby and I don't buy each other gifts, never really did and never really will because we think it's for the kids...however, I do have my wish list...and here it is:

1. Car Port
After the freezing rain on Friday and I had to scrape my car for about an hour, I really wanted this on the top of my wish list, however, where we are, it's not possible to put one in our driveway...oh well - someday maybe when I own a house, I will have a heated garage and that will be even better.

2. Obsession Perfume
I always like to have a perfume, however I have not found one yet that stays on me throughout the day...it smells great when I put it on then it's gone.  A friend of mine always wears Obsession and I love it.  I like going to Shoppers to just spray it on me so I smell like it.

3. Racheal Ray Pot Set
I have seen the sets at Walmart, but never feel the need to fork out the $100 + dollars for a set of pots...doesn't seem like an item I NEED because I do have a set of pots.

4. Half Christmas Artificial Tree
Yep - it's the greatest invention...it looks like a full tree, but it's actually cut  straight at the back so that it sits against a wall nicely. 

That is all I am asking for this year Santa...if I think of more, I will add...of course, I wouldn't mind a money tree, a big, new house, a new car....the list could go on and well seeing how this is my "WISH" list, I can wish!

If I can't get any of these items, I would be happy with a box of Toffifee chocolates (as I am sitting here eating them)...LOL

Hope you all have your lists made!

CAKE BOSS is COMING TO OTTAWA

How exciting is that??  I am super excited and thanks to my friend Sarah for sending me the email, cuz up until now, I have not heard of him this event.  So this morning, first thing I did was went and checked out the details:

Just For Laughs & Mills Entertainment present Buddy Valastro

Bakin’ with the Boss Tour
Join celebrity baker Buddy Valastro for an evening of cakes, stories, and fun.
In this rare live, interactive event, TLC's Cake Boss will share the stories behind his hit series and his colorful Italian family, answer audience questions, and give a live demonstration of the techniques that have made him one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the nation.

Ottawa National Arts Centre

Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 7:00 pm in Southam Hall

Tickets starting at $29.50

I think I would like this for Christmas...just saying...hint hint!!

Happy Friday

Any plans for the weekend?  I have plans, like always, but most of the time, I don't do half of what I am suppose to do!  Oh well...regardless these are my plans:
Saturday - nothing really going on - Hubby is going back to the camp to finish renovating the addition (when will this ever be done?? LOL).  I think Maddy and I are going to make some sugar cookies and decorate them - get a start on Christmas baking cuz I want to do more of it this year!!

Saturday late afternoon, I am hoping to go to St Laurent Shopping Centre so that Maddy can meet Santa before we head over to Montana's for a yummy supper for my kid sister's 25th birthday.

Sunday, I am assuming that it will be Church and a quiet day, nothing planned as of yet but that could change.  

The weather is supposed to be "cooperative" and we're not suppose to get all the snow that they had originally been calling for all week...which is good to me, it can hold off a bit longer however, last night we were bombarded with another freezing rain storm...honestly, I hope our winter isn't going to be like that.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving USA

Just want to wish all my fellow US bloggers a Happy Thanksgiving...it may be late, but here is something you might want to print off to add to your Thanksgiving festivities.

I found these cute printables from Craftily Ever After.  It is simple, you click on the picture you want, print it, frame it and display it. 
Here are the links to three Thanksgiving Prints:

Keep Calm and Cranberry On

Gather Here with Grateful

Keep Calm and Gobble On

Now - to all my bloggers, in Canada we have already celebrated our Thanksgiving, however, Craftily Ever After also has Christmas printables available as well...check them out.

Keep Calm and Merry On

Wise Men Still Seek Him

This blog is full of crafty ideas for those who like to get artsy - check out her other craft ideas!

Top Christmas Favorites

I am in such a Christmas mood - my house is decorated and yesterday I decorated the office too while listening to Christmas music all day - thanks to Majic 100 FM.

Top Christmas Movies
Here is a list of Christmas movies that I love to watch every Christmas...if you have not watched some of these, you have to!

1. Christmas Shoes - I know, it's a sad one but I love it!

2. All I Want for Christmas - this is an older movie, but again, it's a good one.

3. Home Alone - not just the first one, watch all three!

4. Stolen Miracle - have to admit, getting kind of sick of this one because it's always on, but I always watch it at least once.

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - seriously, who doesn't like a good laugh!

Top Christmas TV Shows

1. Bluetoes the Christmas Elf - where did he go?  I have not seen this show on for AGES.

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas - a classic!

3. Twas the Night Before Christmas

4. Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas

5. Annabelle's Wish - okay, this is actually a movie but I couldn't think of another TV show that I HAVE to watch...I should put the classics like Frosty and Rudolph, but I do not enjoy them like someone else I know...should we mention this story here about my good friend Jill having an "incident" over us not wanting to watch Frosty the Snowman....nah, I'll save that but feel free to ask about it!

Top Christmas Songs

1. O Holy Night - Martina McBride
2. Where Are You Christmas - Faith Hill
3. Deck the Halls - SheDaisy
4. The Christmas Shoes - Newsong
5. Merry Christmas Mary - Paul Overstreet

There are a lot more songs - I just love Christmas songs but it's more the newer stuff, I don't like the "classic" stuff!

Check out this link for some upcoming Christmas shows and movies on TV.

Great Christmas Gift Idea...

Susan, over at GirlSunday Designs is having a promotion right now over at her Etsy store.  She makes reusable snack and sandwich bags and most recently, The Messy Bag and The Produce Bag.

Ashley had a giveaway a while back to win one of Susan's reusable snack and sandwich bags and I actually won this giveaway.  This is what I won:


Reusable Snack Bag in Lava Light pattern



Reusable Sandwich Bag in Bright Owls pattern

Maddy loves putting her snacks in the snack bags and bringing them in the car and to Church.  I have found other uses for the sandwich bags as well such as storing crayons to keep in my purse for when we are at a restaurant.  The possibilites are endless with these reusable bags. 

Most recently, Susan contacted me to be a "product tester" for one of her newest creations - the Produce Bag.  I was super excited to receive them in the mail.  I don't know about you, but I find myself always fighting with those plastic bags that the grocery stores provide...I can never find the right end and am constantly licking my fingers just to get it open.  Then to make things worse, when I do get it open and I put my apples in them, I then find my apples rolling across the grocery store floor because the bottom of the bag has given out...so NOT COOL. 

These produce bags are perfect. 

• They are made of nylon and super light so it won't interfere with the weighing process of your produce.
• They are washable
• They are strong and durable
• They have an easy and handy drawstring closure
• They are see through so the cashier can still get product codes from the items inside.
• They are multi-purpose - you can throw one in your gym bag, you can keep it in the car with kiddie toys - I have found it also makes a great storage item for Maddy's bath toys.
• Some stores will actually credit you the 5 cents for bringing your own bag - BONUS.

The only downfall I see is:
It's another bag that you have to remember to bring in the store with you - however, almost ALL grocery stores now charge 5 cents for a bag, so most people are entering grocery stores with their reusable grocery bags, so when you are done with the produce bags, just throw them in one of your grocery bags and you will be all set to go.

Produce Bag

Produce Bag

Right now, if you head over to GirlSunday Designs - you can get a 20% discount off your total purchases by putting in PIXIE in the promo code box. 
These make a great Christmas present for someone or a stocking stuffer.  Take advantage of this great deal.  

I think the Messy Bag is the next thing on my list to purchase...it is something that has sooo many possibilities.  I would use mine in the car, like a garbage can but with cute designs.

It Feels like Christmas

Well minus the snow...this morning we woke up to a sheer blanket of ice covered roads thanks to freezing rain all night.  I don't mind snow (who am I kidding, I hate driving in the stuff, BUT I would rather the snow than freezing rain).

This weekend I was in the Christmas mood.  Saturday - Maddy and I took out all the Rubbermaid containers and started decorating inside.  I even put my tree up...my poor, pathetic tree.  I am not finished yet, as I like adding things here and there and I still have to do outside.

I wish I could take credit - but this is NOT mine

Saturday evening I went to babysit Kaylee and Jessica and brought along Christmas ears and stuff - I wanted to do a little photo shoot with them, however, they weren't up very long for me...I got them changed, diapered and fed and they were both sleeping by 7:30 and were still in bed when Mommy and Daddy got home around midnight. 

Sunday afternoon we headed down to the city and had "Christmas Dinner".  It was a spontaneous thing but ended up being an "early Christmas dinner".  My sister in law called on Saturday to see if we wanted to go for dinner on Sunday cuz they were "craving" a turkey dinner with all the fixings, and seeing how she is hosting dinner this year, she decided it was going to be trial run.  She then invited the whole family over which was cool.  My other sister in law is going for surgery mid-December, so come Christmas time, she won't be able to eat or will be limited to what she eats so we decided, our dinner yesterday, was her Christmas dinner.  We had turkey, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, turnip, homemade gravy and buns....the coleslaw was missing, but she promises there will be some on Christmas Day.  We finished off with a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing that I made, and another sister in law brought over a homemade butterscotch and lemon pie.  We played a few games of poker (us losing both) and then packed everything up and went home.

I am now tuned into Majic 100 listening to their Christmas music all day long....aahhh I just love Christmas music. 

Have a good week!

HAPPY FRIDAY

I LOVE FRIDAYS!  I love it because it's pay day for me and it's the weekend...how more exciting can that be?

This weekend, I don't have any specific plans except for...

Kaylee and Jessica

I get to babysit these gorgeous twins on Saturday evening so their Mommy and Daddy can have a break and head out to a local community Murder Mystery...hope they relax and have a great time!

I just love spending time with them (and their Mommy too I suppose...haha) even when they aren't in their best mood.  I just love staring at their expressions and watching Maddy make them laugh...well Kaylee anyways...she just LOVES Maddy.

The rest of the weekend - I might try to start decorating for Christmas.  I want to get out and buy a few new things for my pathetic Christmas tree...

I might also take in a local craft fair to see if I can get any gifts...if nothing pops out to me, I know I can get Maddy and all the other kids on my list some cute clippies and accessories from Sweet Petite Bowtique because she will be there selling her crafty items.

I also have an order from a co-worker for those necklaces we made at Craft Night at Lindsay's...although she is switching things up on me and she wants words written on it...I have ideas of how I am doing this (without using the metal punch set) so that will keep me occupied when I have nothing else to do. 

I also hear there are "flurries" in the forecast for the weekend, so we'll see if we have to shovel ourselves out come Monday morning or it will be just a light dusting...I'm okay with the light dusting!

Have a good weekend everyone

A Child's Work

I came across this great website...it's called A Child's Work - it's kids Craft Kits for all ages delivered monthly to your mailbox.  How cool is that? 

Each craft subscription is sold monthly, and packaged in affordable increments. We understand the tight budgets many families live with, so our subscriptions are as low as $5.50 per month with (shipping included!), so that parents can afford to provide an educational alternative to TV without going broke. Choose from 1, 3, 6, and 12 month subscriptions. Your child will receive a total of 4 craft kits each month. Each monthly shipment contains enough unique crafts to keep your child entertained once a week. All 1st time orders come with Stickers, and a card announcing your child's subscription. Most Crafts come with pre-cut pieces, so scissors are not needed, just make sure you have glue handy.

I think it's a great idea and it is something I am thinking about signing up to.  I think it would be exciting to receive a new package every month and have something that Maddy and I can do on weekends. 

They have lots of themes for both boys and girls - you choose what you want, they send it, you spend time with the kids doing it and the outcome is some beautiful art work!

Let me know if you do sign up and tell me how it's going once you start receiving your crafts. 

It's Time for a Change

I have recently been thinking of doing something different with my hair.  I am not 100% sure what to do as I am always scared of cutting it off too short.

Most of my life I have had short hair and always thought about growing it out and now that I have left it grow, I sometimes hate it.  I hate that my hair is SUPER thick so when it starts growing out, I have to deal with the headaches.  I know people think longer hair is easier to manage, but I don't think so...but I have naturally wavy/curly hair too so maybe that is why. If I actually take the time to straighten it, I'm okay but most mornings, I just wash it, scrunch in some mousse and run out the door. 

Most recently, when I have gone to my hairdressers, I have been getting an angled bob which I like cuz its shorter in the back and longer in the front and it takes very little time to straighten it, however it's still time consuming.  I think back to when I had short hair, and think it was much easier...I just washed it, blow dried it for like 5 - 7 mins and then put wax in the back to make it spiky...simple enough for me!

I have been looking at some pics online and don't really know what I want to do - so any ideas, please pass them on. 

I also like coloring it - I have never gone darker, usually blond highlights and one of the last times I went, I added blond, red and caramel and even some strips of black underneath...I liked it.  I once suggested we color it a brown with caramel colored highlights and my hairdresser laughed at me and told me to put on a plaid shirt and I would be a farmer (because of my freckles)...

Me (on the left) with my straight hair
(Beautiful Jill on my right)

Me (on the left) with my curly hair
(Beautiful Hollie on my left)

This is something similar to what I had when I had short hair, although it wasn't quite as long

This is what I have been getting my last couple appointments - the angled bob



This is something I think i like, but can be curly, untamed hair pull this off??

WHAT SHOULD I DO???



CHAPTERS

Today I was dreading the fact that we are in the middle of November and I still have not bought ONE single present for Maddy or anyone else for that matter.  I was getting worried.  At lunch, I went over to Zellers and ended up find a cute game that I think Maddy will love, so I bought that and found some ideas for my nieces (but will have to wait for next pay day).  When I came back to the office, I started looking online for some other gifts and I stumbled across Chapters website. 

I am sure everyone has been there to buy books but they have a wide selection of toys, games and puzzles for the kiddies too.  I searched and browsed and added things to my virtual cart.  When I went to checkout, I was super excited about the ***Free Shipping on orders over $25***...HELLO, that is like perfect!

The next thing I was super excited about was that I could pay INTERAC through this website which meant that the money came right out of my bank account which was also a plus for me. 

I was pretty excited after doing this then I got another final surprise upon completing my payment...I received the confirmation from my bank account and was sent back over to the Chapters website and there were my order details along with a COUPON CODE for my next Interac purchase online...Save $5 on your next online purchase!  SCORE!!!!

Anyways, now I am feeling a bit better now that I have officially started Christmas shopping...I only have 3 gifts down but that is a start!

How is your Christmas shopping going??

Weekend Update

Uuggh...Monday mornings, how I HATE you...

This weekend was pretty packed but somewhat boring too.  Friday night I came home from work and made another cake (cuz my first two didn't turn out) and because it was for a "client", I needed it to be somewhat perfect.
The third one turned out much better...while it cooled, I headed over to Lindsay's for Girls Craft Night.  
This is what we made:

When I came back home - I started icing my cake and decorating it.  This was the final product:

Saturday morning, bright and early, I got up and packed our overnight bags.  My sister in law turned the big 4-0 and her husband was taking her to Mont Tremblant for the weekend, so I had to go down there and watch my 11 year old neice, the dog Tucker, the cat Percy and the hamster, Annabelle.  I dropped the cake off and then headed to Aylmer.

Tucker

While my niece was at a birthday party, Maddy and I took advantage of the nice weather and went to the nearby park and played there for a good hour then went back to relax before going to pick my niece up.   The three of us then went to Saint Huberts for supper and then rented some movies at Blockbuster.  The kids choice: Toy Story 3 and my choice: Sex and the City 2.  We got home, got our jammies on and curled up on the couch.  By 8:30 - we were all almost asleep and upstairs to the beds we went...by 9:00, kids were sleeping and I was on my way, so much for watching my movie.

Sunday, we headed over to Carlingwood for a quick trip to the Bulk Barn, then strolled the mall.  Nothing exciting!  When my "babysitting" job ended, Maddy and I took a quick trip back to the camp to find the guys mostly packed up, playing one last game of poker and putting their guns away for another year - there were no deer shot this year, but this is all the booze that was drank:

6 x 60 oz, 14 x 40 oz, 5 x 26 oz

I came home and made a quick supper, made some bran raisin muffins and just wanted to go to sleep.  It is now 7:30 and I am doing everything in my power to stay awake for Amazing Race while the Hubby is already in bed snoring....

Hope you all had a great weekend and welcome to another work week!