Moving On From Christmas to a New Year..

So our Christmas flew by.. yours?

Sorry for the lack of posts but today is our first day with no festive plans!

The kids had a blast on Christmas morning, of course...

The hit of the day was the plastic slinky!

He wants to be an engineer and build solar powered cars, so lego comes naturally :)

She has discovered the joy of reading, and neon hair :)

The eldest darling wore her new ski jacket and pandora bracelet

 the entire time she was magnifying everything in the house... 

"eww, Mum, come see what my hair/tissue paper/dog treats look like"

Days filled with skiing, skating, walks in the snowy woods and travel to see the families..

it was full of laughs and hugs, just as it should be, 

and I'm thankful for all of our blessings.

(and my new Kate Spade bag! 

A complete surprise, from my honey, who knows what I would love before I do :)

Now comes the next part, packing up and moving on.

I don't know if any of you experience this,

 but removing all the excess and then giving the house a good clean

 leaves me feeling ready for the New Year.

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Maybe it's trying to find space for the new "things" that have entered the home over the holidays,

 but this is usually when my organizational side kicks in and the need to start cleaning out closets..

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Over the next few weeks I am going to tackle some of our bigger storage and organization problems,

hopefully you'll come by and share your tips with us!

Today I'm packing Christmas decorations.

I wrap them in tissue and place into labelled (glass balls, etc)

 red plastic storage containers in the basement.

I guess it's not a surprise that I like color coding everything :)

How do you store your decorations?

Are you still in Christmas mode or have you packed up already?

til next time..

Open House and Merry Christmas!

It's here :)

Thought you may like to see

a little Christmas sprinkled through our home...

The entry - I made those sequined balls one year, and they always add a little sparkle somewhere.

We set up the nativity scene in the living room, and have been reading the story of Christmas nightly..

A few amaryllis brighten up this corner.

Onward to the kitchen - where the goodies are...

It's cookie heaven around here! 

Hopefully the neighbours will clean us out this evening,

 I have to stop eating them!

Then down to the family room, the greenery on the mantle smells fantastic :)

I gathered a few boughs from the forest out back, and tucked in some of our feathered friends.

This is the first year we have had such a traditional tree.

I began collecting angel ornaments in white, silver and gold when Natasha was born,

 and there's quite a few.. but this year they stayed packed.

The kids wanted to put all their Christmas crafts from years past on the tree, so we got out all the red decorations, and added some candy canes and balls to our collection...

The wrapping has a homespun feel, to go along with the tree.

Craft paper, bits of twine, and the paper D. bought with the kids :)

Since we usually do not add much red, this is a really festive departure.

I am actually feeling a bit of red overload!

 None of the presents from D. are here yet, of course, he always wraps his on Christmas Eve, LOL.

Tonight we are off to Mass, and then the kids each receive one present to open

(it's always new pj's and slippers!)

Tomorrow we will have a huge brunch with Mimosas,

 a little afternoon skate at the outdoor ice down the street

 and then a wonderful dinner with family...

what could be better?

I hope tomorrow finds you with friends and family...

Merry Christmas :)

til next time..

Ahhhh... books

Are you doing your last minute shopping?

You are not alone! Many people are still searching for that "perfect present" for their loved ones.

artsjournal.com

The best present is just down the road at your local bookstore.  Whether for children, teens, adults or seniors, books offer immediate enjoyment.  Books can be keepsakes, proudly displayed for years to come, or traded in at Used Bookstores for other books down the road.  There is no batteries, no waste, just a chance for you to give the gift of knowledge, escapism,  beauty, inspiration, laughter - whatever you choose.

Besides, is there anything more lovely in a Home than books?  They are so personal, so revealing about the Person that lives there. I think a room without books or art is like a person without a soul, empty. They are so beautiful on display, and provide endless hours of enjoyment.

The iconic Billy Bookshelf, from Ikea:

ikea.ca

These can easily be built in for a high-end, custom look:

chezlarsson.com

Here is another beauty, from Ikea, perfect for a more Modern look or a room divider.

ikea.ca

Another Modern Option, this Beautiful Bookcase from Opus Yoo is art and storage in one:

  opusyoo

Tight on space? Use your Halls! Here a Bookcase welcomes you in:

homesweethome

Heaven! Books as Architechture -an entire wall of books becomes part of this home:

scatteredwords

And finally, Books as Art - Witty Art:

equation Marcos Breder

 I could go on and on. 

Now I feel the sudden urge to organize my own bookshelf!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Yea or Nay: A Nutcracker Army

Taking the girls to The Nutcracker ballet this weekend - 

have you ever seen it?

 magic.

The girls and I attend each year, carrying on the tradition D. and I started when we began dating.

The boys come down to the city with us, and go to a hockey game :) to watch a different sort of dance.

My youngest, Coco, has begun a Nutcracker collection.

each year she manages to persuade me to buy her one during intermission.

You can see her tree here.

I have never bought a Nutcracker to put on display in the house, other than Coco's.

You?

Would you place a large statue to stand guard at your front door?

tuck them amongst candy on the mantle..

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or perhaps greenery?

    

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Would you place these at your holiday table?

Or tuck treats into these boxes?

(these are witty, yes?)

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Would a metallic nutcracker grace your buffet..

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or your mantel?

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Would you prefer the minimal West Elm take on tradition?

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I'm quite sure Coco will be keeping her collection in her room, 

although we were out shopping the other day and she was lobbying hard for this enchanting fellow.

He stands at SIX FEET.

"Maybe next year, sweetie."

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til next time..

The Joy of Baking... and Giving Away

Don't know about you, but around here Christmas feels like Christmas 

when the aprons come out and the kitchen is covered in a fine layer of flour,

the Nutcracker playing in the backgound.

We bake for our teachers, neighbours, friends and family,

and dropping off those baskets brings a happiness that opening no present could.

Monday I made peppermint meringues, these are an annual tradition -

 the other recipes may vary, but one year I skipped the meringues, and it wasn't pretty!

Tuesday was our fourth snow day - 

so we all made ginger sparklers (the easiest version of gingerbread)

 and sugar cookies with lemon glaze, my personal favourite.

I only ate one, okay - maybe two, or seven, can't remember..

Tuesday night we packed the meringues into jars (after felting the lids)..

wrapped the cookies with paper and tied them with strings.

(and forgot to take a photo :)

They did look something like this, we used bits of wrapping paper to dress up the kraft paper.

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Then we packed those goodies, a few chocolates, some specialty teas, mandarin oranges and candy canes into baskets and sent them off to school today for the kids teachers.. all 10 of them!!

Next week we repeat for friends, family and neighbours...

With two large families, and no one needing ANYTHING, 

we only buy for the kids, and the adults exchange homemade goodies.

I have given out these recipes loads of times, and if any of you would like them, 

just let me know - I'll send you a copy.

Time spent baking beats time spent at the mall.

til next time...

Kitsch Rules This Candy-Colored Vintage Christmas..

Danielle of The Thompson Family Life blog has a way with kitsch.

In her hands, you would appreciate the design of a plastic bobble head! 

Her Christmas decor gives new meaning to festive - this is one home you will leave smiling..

found via Design Shimmer

Refreshing to see someone having a laugh with their space, isn't it?

Sometimes the decorating world is a bit of a heavy :)

Head over to her blog for some fun gift wrapping ideas.

That's what I am tackling today.. if they turn out half-decently, I'll post them!

til next time..