Saturday, December 31, 2016

Best of 2016

I'm in beautiful Trinidad and Tobago sipping a cup of tea, peering through an open window and looking at the lush greenery outside. What a wonderful time to reflect on 2016.

We started in January by unpacking and moving all our stuff our lives into our new home. We will not forget the kindness of our family (my brother and my sister in law especially) and friends during this very hectic time in our lives.


In February, we went on a very appreciated vacation to Mexico (crutches for D and all)


March brought March break, lots of friends coming to see our new home and our introductory visit to Great Wolf Lodge



In April, we celebrated our firstborn's seventh (!) birthday and welcomed spring.


Our in-laws visited us in May to celebrate D's birthday, oh and this happened. 


June brought lots of visitors(my in laws returned and my mom) to help out with my broken collarbone and we sadly had to say a 'see you soon' to my brother and his family.



In July, lots more pool time, swimming, horse back riding and girls rock camp, a quick roadtrip to Rochester and this little lady's birthday party!


My love and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary with 5 days in Calfornia: San Fran, Napa and Sonoma. The girls chilled out in the NYC with my mom.


Oh and we glamped in our backyard with friends.


School began again in September. And so did our 21 day fix ;-s

 

In October, we celebrated Thanksgiving, went to Oktoberfest, did Divali and then had a mad rush to get ready for Halloween the day after in October
 



November was fun with my first girls' night away and another family trip to GWL. (and I got a new nephew)


And then December was a wonderful Christmas once more with family and friends (recap coming when I get my act together) and a trip to Trinidad.

Wishing all my readers, friends and family all wonderful and happy things in 2017. Thank you for following along on our little adventures.



Friday, December 23, 2016

Merry Everything!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! School's finally out at the end of today! Too late this year, IMO. The next few days are stacked and packed with lots of friend and family time, dinners, parties and good cheer.

Wishing you and yours the most festive of seasons filled with beautiful moments and cherished memories... with a cookie or two thrown in there!

Here are just a few shots from our holiday shoot.


Our friend, the amazing Andrea took them in our new home/back yard. I highly recommend her if you're in the GTA!!

During this festive season more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to our family and friends who have been there for us this past year bringing little bits of happy, support, fun and friendship. In the season's spirit, we say simply and sincerely THANK YOU and best wishes for the most Merry Christmas! 

#becauselifeisprecious

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Let's talk Christmas--- with Kate

Christmas with Kate has a ring to it, no? Kate from the Green Fashionista had me at hello with her love of shopping, travelling, fitness, fun and champagne! Her favourite stores are Sephora, Target and Kate Spade--- ummm are we shopping soulmates?!  And she's a mama to a beautiful new baby named Serena-- she even picks great baby names ;-)



Here are a few of her answers...

What's your best childhood holiday memory? 

Going to the tree farm the day after Thanksgiving to pick out our family Christmas tree. Sometimes we were there for hours, walking through the grounds on the search for the perfect tree. There was a giant Frosty the Snowman in the middle of the farm, they played Christmas music throughout, and served hot cocoa in the greenhouse served by the owner's wife who was dressed up as Mrs. Claus. 


(I still can't believe your tree lasts that long-- you might make me a real tree convert yet!)

At holiday parties, I sip on... 

Champs of course! I also enjoy holiday sangria, champagne punch, and gingerbread martinis.

(Gingerbread martinis?! Tell me more...)

What's your ideal host/hostess gift? 
A bottle of their favorite drink (i.e. wine, champagne, vodka, rum, Skinny Girl, etc..) in a fun wine tote. Everyone loves stocking the bar!


(I see you're a BBW candle fan as well)

(How) do you entertain over the holiday season? 

We have an annual Christmas party at the house at the beginning of December which is always a great time. The highlight of the evening is always the white elephant gift swap, and the photo booth always produces priceless pictures. 


(A photo booth at a party is ALWAYS a great idea)

What are your holiday decorating secrets/tips 

Pick up decor items over the years instead of all at once, and gift your significant other and immediate family members a new ornament each year that would have meaning to them. It helps fill up their Christmas trees, and when children grow older they'll be able to start their own Christmas tree with their personal ornaments from over the years. My mom and grandmother did this for me, and I couldn't be more thankful for the tradition. It's so much fun to unwrap those ornaments each year. 

(The special personal ornaments tradition is one I really hope to do for my girls!)

 

What's your current favorite holiday tradition? 

Going to the tree farm with my husband and new daughter, and coming home to decorate it while listening to Christmas music and sipping on holiday drinks. 


What's Christmas Eve and Christmas Day like in your house? 

On Christmas Eve, we go down the street to sit by the fire under the stars with our fav neighbors while toasting to another great year. Christmas Day, we start the morning off with breakfast casserole and mimosas by the fireplace while opening gifts and stockings. Then we facetime/skype with our family who are up in Connecticut. 

(Fun all around!)

Thank you so much for posting, Kate! It's been fun getting to know you even better.

3 more days until Christmas!!!!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Our special Christmas ornaments!

Do you have any favourite Christmas ornaments that when you start to trim your tree, brings a smile to your face? Here are just a few of our special ones. 

The first year we got married, I found this in a Homesense! 10 years ago though technically it certainly wasn't our first Christmas together. 

These are just a few of my glass and feather ornaments that I bought when  starting my little collection of Christmas ornaments in 2007 when I did a green, yellow and rust Christmas tree.


And then of course when my first baby was born.

I have A's but still need to put a picture of her into the frame. I scrambled to get one after she was born as I totally spaced on getting her one and my mom finally found one! #secondchild #momfail


D's older patient gave him this handmade ornament one year with a note saying that he was her angel. 

My aunt gave me this mall ornament last year and we love it. It has all our info on it but let's not put it here!


When we went to the Christmas market last year, A got this ornament. Most expensive acorn ever.

And C was really into birds so she got this one.

This year they chose an ornament each. C chose this one as she wants to visit here one day.

And A chose this snowman cutie!

 You can check out the rest of our Christmas decor here.

What are your special ornaments from your Christmases past?

Linking up with Beth and some other lovelies!


Monday, December 19, 2016

Breakfast with Santa 2016

More like 3rd visit to Santa 2016!!

There was this one first.... 


And then this one at A's little recital


But because this one was our very favourite experience for the year, we are telling the tale. We did it through the PC Cooking School in our area. In the bigger Zehr's/Loblaw's/Real Canadian Superstore in Canada, they offer cooking classes for kids, families and adults. C has done one so far and the girls and D did Gingerbread house decorating and loved it!  At only $10 per person for the experience, I highly recommend it and we hope to be doing it for years to come.


First off, a lovely breakfast for about a dozen kids and their parents. Eggs, pancakes, sausages, fruit and juices. And caffeine for the grown ups. After the troops were happy and fed, there were some edible Christmas crafts until Santa got there.


Grinch and Rudolph for the win!

Then the big man himself came. And boy was he a jolly old soul! 
He came around to every single person, chatted and laughed and posed for pictures. Then all the boys and girls gathered around him and more funny stories ensued before picture time. He took time to chat with each child, give them a candy cane, made sure the organisers and the parents took ample pictures and then the kids got a gift bag filled with treats, candy canes and vouchers (for a free cooking class AND groceries! I took those)



Each kid got their own personal photo, a sister shot and even a family shot! They were so patient with us!

All hopped up on candy canes, we then did some grocery shopping ( I used the grocery voucher) and headed home. NO more mall Santas for us! It was such a wonderful experience, so very civilized and relaxing that we hope will become an annual adventure for our family.

Linking up with beautiful Biana today.


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