ocean.

steph’s shot.

incrediblehusband’s shot (he’s good, eh?)

to better things,

steph

 

ferry.

the ferry.

about to sail back home after a weekend on the island.

loving the sun.

(the only 15 minutes both ferry rides where we weren’t fogged in).

loving the sun!

 

to better things,

steph

 

my new favourite photo.

black and white for the expressions.

 and colour for the warmth.

(i can’t pick which one i like better!)

christmas wrap-up.

christmas involved:

pie baking.

crazy amounts of snow.

hair long enough for a first ponytail.  and all the flipping of said hair.

reading the christmas story. a magical christmas eve.

my childhood dollhouse- renovated and regifted to toddlergirl.  (who gasped and clutched her hands to her heart upon seeing it).

incrediblehusband’s 30 birthday. (aka: christmas day). a wireless remote for my camera.  testing it out- fun!

playdoh cookie making with grandpa.

wii fun.

and a wintery drive to visit our friends.

to better things,

steph

snow. snow. snow.

serious snowman building.

 snow angel. toddlergirl & daddy.

starting a snow fight.

 family photo… toddlergirl runs away and laughs!

Christmas 2008 House Tour.

My friend, Shawna  encouraged us to post a  photo tour of  how we decorate our home for the holidays- which is a great idea!  I’m a little late in getting it posted, but here it is…

front entry way

(with garland made from leftover bits from the bottom of our 9 foot tree and a bazillion strong staples).  cost: tree bits=free, ornaments=$1.97 at walmart.

the hallway. 

the nativity set (a gift from the emerge c&c group)

my candle houses (a gift brought back from my parents when they were in lithuania)

 

toddlergirl’s nativity set.  because i think it’s important to have some ornaments kids can play with.

cost:  about $6 at the dollar store.

dining room.  (i must admit, i’m somewhat minimalist).

advent candles in centre of table.  cost: about $2 ikea, glass candle holders (wedding gift), kid dancing in left hand side of photo with a headband… priceless.

my edible decor.  i love decorating with what i’m already buying and using.  this week it’s green apples, limes and avocados.  next week- who knows?  maybe pomegranates and mandarins.

i believe anything in volume (lots) and repetition (lots of the same) can look beautiful.  for example: take 5-6 unwrapped white ivory, soap, put them in a huge apothecary jar in the bathroom and you have usable decor!  i even use cheerios and fruit loops in large, old fashioned glass jars in the kitchen as part of my decor.

dining room refurbished now-sideboard.

glass vase with red & silver balls (about $10), bright red vase (gift), black pedestal candle ($3 on sale at superstore), silver twig wreath ($12 superstore), assortment of white dishes (about $20 total on sale at homesense), real fruit (about $8)

cabinet in living room/dining room (which makes a handsome and handy liquor cabinet/table linens storage).

twig tree ($12 on sale at a grower’s nursery), reusable advent calendar (gift), jar with tealights (about $6) – which is super handy when needing to replenish candles throughout the house.  glass vase with red & silver ornaments ($20)

stockings.  we have a total of 4 (in creams & chocolate colors) and i hope to have them monogrammed with our initials for next year, once all members of our family have arrived

cost= $12 each stocking from superstore.  and they are well-made, quilted material.  we bought the matching chocolate brown tree skirt from superstore as well for $29. (i love superstore’s product design & merchandising lately!)

 

the tree.  each year i have visions of changing colour schemes, but i just can’t seem to do it!  i have to have a bright, cheerful red and crisp white with bits of silver here and there in order for it to be christmas-y.  we have a collection of incrediblehusband’s decorations from growing up (although the garfield ornament gets hung near the back of the tree- orange and black don’t match the rest!)  now we’ve carried on this tradition with toddlergirl.  she gets a new ornament every year- something to signify that year and what about it was special. 

cost:  real tree, 9 feet tall, blue spruce, smells great ($50 at home depot)

thanks for coming on a tour of our home at christmas! 

to better things,

steph

silent night.

toddlergirl. asleep (finally). with her own little christmas tree.

waiting for the cookies.

toddlergirl and her stuffed bunny wait for the cookies to bake.

the tree.

 tree arrival.

tree. up.

breakfast at de dutch. our family tradition before decorating.

tree. decorate. 

tree. done!

5 things i’m loving right now: christmas edition.

1.  DRINKING (the hot variety):  celestial seasonings candy cane lane tea.  the name sounds a little over the top, but this tea is so good!  (and i’m a true coffee drinker).  peppermint, vanilla, orange peel, cinnamon, and hints of  blackberry- you can’t go wrong.   my mother was on a quest to stock up with this tea a couple of years ago (just after christmas) and i thought, “how good can it be really?”  if you’re a peppermint fan, it’s that good; really.

2.  more DRINKING (the cold beverage):  POM pomegranate juice.  if you like tart drinks- this stuff is delicious.  and being pregnant and all- the wine intake is very limited- so i’ve taken to drinking this with all sort of mocktail concoctions.  my favourite is pomegranate juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and a bit of gingerale.  this stuff is loaded with potassium and antioxidants- so it’s good for you too.

3.  LISTENING:  enya; and winter came.  her music is hauntingly beautiful.  “o come, o come emmanuel,”  is top of my playlist lately.

4.  EATING:  nonni’s biscotti.  specifically the “caramel latte” version.  goes especially well with above mentioned tea.

5.  DECORATING:  our nine foot christmas tree!  seriously… nine feet.  our ceilings are vaulted- and it was incrediblehusband’s goal to have this feat of tree-dom.  a photo to come soon. 

 

to better things,

steph