it's my girls' world

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Christmas food must haves

Happy Wednesday. I got this idea from Sarah about food staples we keep in our house over the Holiday Season. Here's what's usually is in stock in our kitchen for the holiday season.... both in the past from our island days and currently...

1- Sorrel... it's a spiced drink from the islands made from the sorrel plant and loads of spices... SO delicious and filled with antioxidants. D and I have also begun to have it spiked. I have some at home but also found it online here.

2- We love pomegranates around the season. My kids love it and I use it as garnishes for my drinks and put it into holiday salads.

3- I'm not a huge eggnog fan but my family is and I'll have a spiked sip or two. For the Canadians reading, this is D's favourite. Creamy but not too sweet.

4- Lots of butter for baking cookies and cooking decadently over the holidays.

5- In Trinidad, the markets would be filled with loads of apples and grapes around the Christmas season so we usually have that here as well.

6- Black cake, a Trinidadian rum cake though it looks like that's in short supply this year.

7- Both Ferrero Rocher and Raffaelo usually find their way into our stockings and our bellies

8- A fresh turkey... I started to do fresh many years ago and unless it's an emergency, we'll never go back. Also, to go with the turkey-- kosher salt, orange rind, fresh sage, thyme and rosemary.

9- Nuts... In Trinidad, it was those unshelled mixed nuts, channa (chickpeas) and peanuts... now here I usually have mixed nuts and cashews.

10- Chocolate chips by the kilo, for baking and pancakes.

11- Peardrax-- again a sparkling pear drink we grew up drinking in the islands at Christmas time... I found it in Walmart here and it's also on Amazon.

12- Trader Joe cornbread stuffing. I'm so obsessed my mom shipped me a package this Christmas as I couldn't make my way across the border.

13- Pastelles- Our Trinidadian version of tamales. I don't have the wherewithal to make these by myself so instead my family and I do a pastelle pie.

14- Lots of different varieties of cheeses, pepper jellies and jams.

15- A smoked turkey leg or thigh for our Christmas brunch

16- Fresh bread for the same brunch or when we were younger those crescent rolls from Pillsbury.

17- Things to make our new Christmas obsession, this baked Christmas tree.

Any of the same, any different? What are your must-haves for the season?

Monday, December 7, 2020

Three Things

Hello, Monday! December Mondays after a low key weekend don't seem that bad, eh? We haven't 'three things' in a while... here's a bit of what's going on with us five with #3 of each of the first four related to Toby! #obsessed

- C is having a great year at school. For the first time ever, she is in a split class with younger kids. This year in Grade 6 being the oldest in the school, there's no choice! Her French immersion class has dwindled from about 23 in Grade 1 to 5 in Grade 6 so they've clumped them with another class. She loves it and loves her teacher who she's had for 3 years and who I think is most likely the strongest teacher she's ever had!

- We kept C in swimming this year and it's been tiring but wonderful. She moved up two levels to the Gold Novice in her swim team so she has four practices a week, up from two but it's been good!

- C has embraced having a puppy so much. She is the bravest one of us all, she will reach into his mouth to give him his meds or take something out. She takes him for walks or is always quick to help out with something puppy related. If you are on the fence about getting a pet for your preteen or teen, I highly advise it.

- She has really taken to the piano this year. We can find her at many times of the day just playing her piano for fun. The only thing is that she doesn't seem to want to do the technical work the teacher gives her as she thinks it's too easy. She prefers to just learn songs that she likes from youtube.

- A is in a 3-4 split in school this year with only 5 grade 3's in the class. I was a little nervous about it as there is only one more Grade 3 girl in her class but she has made a great core group of Grade 4 friends. They are constantly practising a play that she has written and chatting on Facetime. I'm so happy for her.

-A is the litter of the runt in Toby's eyes and when he first came he would try to pick on her. Thankfully, that has mostly stopped but ever so often, she will harass him while he's busy chewing and he will get annoyed and try to give her a hard time.

Bonus #4 for A. She got a very mild prescription for glasses as she is having trouble focusing on the board and on her devices. The optometrist is hoping it corrects itself within a couple years.

D-

- D works from home these days (since March). No distractions (except for an occasional text from me). The internet is finally cooperating in his new spot and no commute. He just heads into the hospital once a week. It's been a change that's for sure with good and not so good but he's settled in.

- He is obsessed with The Crown these days. He started watching it to fall asleep but now he is hooked. I am waiting for him to start Season 3 so we can watch together.

- D is the pack leader or the alpha in Toby's eyes. He is very respectful towards D. Poor D suffers a little from allergies with Toby so though D loves to play with him, he suffers after.

Me-

- For the first time in many years, I'm not attached to a regular gym and instead we invested in a Peleton. I'm pretty fit but guys, the Peloton cycling workouts kick my butt! I organise their library from easy to hard to try to choose the easiest! I love their library of not only cycling but also strength, yoga, outdoor walking and so much more!

- Mrs. Claus over here is all done her shopping and decorating... immersing myself in a quiet but festive season, that's for sure!

- I am Toby's main walker and do at least one with the kids or D taking the other one. All the fresh air has been so wonderful for my well being.

Toby-

- He is quite potty trained now and rings his bell to go outside or barks for us to let him out. He'll have an accident once in a while but he's doing sooo well!

- We also crate trained him for quite a while now so nights are great with him going to bed between 9-10 and getting up at around 6-7. If D is up before, he'll take him out before but we are really pleased with him.

- He had all this energy and my neighbour thought he wasn't getting enough exercise. I increased his walks to twice a day and it has made the world of difference. He is a much happier dog!!

Here he is with his puppucino... a little whipped cream SB gives him when we go.

Have a festive week, friends! Linking up with Tanya for Hello Monday.

Friday, December 4, 2020

Friday Favourites--- December Baby!

Happy First Friday in December, folks. I usually have a holiday party on either the first or second Friday in December but not this year!!! So instead, we'll focus on the family fun!

1- We joined my American first for a Zoom call and then in solidarity had our own Thanksgiving lite. My family loves my turkey! It's the dry brine and all the butter I bath the bird in.

Then part two with the leftovers.... We always serve our first set of leftovers on our fancy table all setup.... it prolongs the celebration and we need that sort of positivity in 2020.

2- Then onto December and our North Pole Breakfast!! Patraj and Noelle are back with their usual mediocre antics (they aren't as crazy as some of the other insta-elves that I see.... though, with a new non-believer in the duo, I'm getting some help there.

Once again, it being 2020, our North Pole breakfast consisted of way more sugar than usual. (we saved quite a bit)

3- And then to add to the awesomeness December 1st was a snow day!! It was so beautiful!

4- We also did some ugly sweater cookie decorating-- Costco for the win!!

Someone's cookies aren't a hot mess this year!

5- And finally, someone is really into her selfies these days.. Here's just one from the dozens on my phone.

Linking up with Andrea.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

What's Up Wednesday- November 2020

Hello, lovelies and yay for the Wednesday before American Thanksgiving!! It feels like my very favourite time of the year is finally here though it's looking different this year. Here's what we are up to...

, What’s Up Wednesday {04.29.20}

What we're eating this week:

Monday: roasted chicken, salad and potatoes for the kids

Tuesday: fish tacos

Wednesday: leftover chilli

Thursday: I usually do a Thanksgiving lite in honour of our American neighbours and my family. I'm thinking of a couple turkey legs, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rolls, brussel sprouts and a caesar salad.

Friday: turkey day leftovers!

Last year's American Thanksgiving! My familyloves it.

What I'm reminiscing about:

Christmases past with my parents/parents in law coming to visit, Christmas get-togethers with family/friends and holiday parties. It will be a very different Christmas for us for sure but I think it will be super special in its own right.

What I'm dreading:

Dog walks in the cold. So far it hasn't been too bad but we take the pup out at least twice a day for a short walk... I put on a Christmas playlist and enjoy the sunshine and the puppy adventures. As the temps get colder, it won't be as fun.

Our first big snowfall of the season was this week....

What I'm loving:

We have mostly finished our Christmas decorating and I'm loving how cozy our home is.

What we've been up to

We got our Peloton bike and I thought I was somewhat fit but man these classes are kicking my sore behind. Love the mix of strength and cardio! Peloton owners, who are your faves?

What I'm working on

All things Christmas... wanting to make this Christmas special for the girls without being excessive. Keeping things simple as this year at home makes me want to minimize the plastic and the stuff and get them things that they will use but will have fun with as well.

What I'm excited about

This holiday season. Lots of home time and so much love.

What I'm watching/reading

We have been watching shows as a family. Yay for Kaitlyn winning DWTS-- I watched her on The Bachelorette and she's wanted to be on DWTS for so long... she got her chance and killed it! I got emotional a bit when she won!

Our family also watches the Voice, The Masked Singer and I Can See Your Voice.

I'm finding also that my Prime Time Dramas are doing a wonderful job dealing with the pandemic. Shout out especially to Grey's Anatomy. My mom (an ICU nurse) has described life in the hospital and as a Covid survivor the very same way that they have been dealing with it. She (and I) cried watching the first couple episodes.

What I'm listening to:

Christmas music and the Hamilton soundtrack--- my eleven-year-old is obsessed.

What I'm wearing:

All the joggers in all of the land. When covid is done, I'm going to have a tough time wearing regular pants again.

What I'm doing this weekend

Some baking and some cookie decorating.... and some Black Friday shopping--- Obvi.

What else is new:

Puppy update.... our 16-week old little love, Toby is doing well. We take him on two walks a day and that's really helped with his energy. He does sit, down, up and stay on command and is the cutest when he is the sleepiest. We adore him but he keeps us on our toes!!!!