I love sitting down with the kids and writing letters to Santa. I love the part where they get to practice their penmanship and learn basic letter writing skills. I love the wacky things they come up with when they are writing. And I love the part where it "locks in" their Christmas wishlist (sorry kiddo, you already sent your letter off to Santa asking for X, you can't change … [Read more...]
Mommy Brain vs The Hidden Christmas Gifts
When I was a kid I would get Christmas gifts pretty much year round. One morning in February I'd be getting ready for school when my mom would suddenly pop into my room holding a new pair of gloves or a package full of socks. One afternoon in July, she'd suddenly come around the corner with new colouring books or a building set. Each time she'd be muttering to herself about how … [Read more...]
A Netflix Holiday Episode Guide, 39 Christmas or Holiday Season Themed Episodes from My Kids Fav TV Shows
My girls and I have been in a holly jolly mood, streaming Christmas shows on Netflix pretty much non-stop over the past few weeks. We are already nearing the end of the list which I'd created of holiday shows with French audio as an option. I was momentarily stumped as to what to watch next. But then it occurred to me that many of their favourite cartoons and kids shows … [Read more...]
Warm Up Your Cold Winter Nights with Mulled Wine { Recipe Favourites }
Homemade mulled wine is so simple to make. The recipe basically amounts to toss a bunch of things in a stock pot, simmer, and enjoy. You're cutting the alcohol with cranberry juice and apple juice or cider. So it won't get you silly as quick as drinking plain old wine. Plus there is just something so cozy about a warm drink on a cold night. The mere act of holding a warm mug of … [Read more...]
All I Want For Christmas is ME
Dear Santa, I think I've been pretty good this year. I might deserve a present or two. So let me tell you what I would like to see under the tree. N O T H I N G. All I want for Christmas is me. Me alone, all by myself, with my family nowhere to be seen. Seriously, dear husband and kids; please, forget about buying me knick knacks, earrings and other things I don't want or … [Read more...]
Help Your Friends and Family to Give the Gift of Education This Christmas with #HeritageeGifting
Each year around this time two things happen. The first thing is my mother-in-law gives me money towards my two daughters' RESPs. The second is my girls receive a pile of Christmas gifts from various relatives near and far. Since most of these people only see my children at Christmas and holidays they, for the most part, have no clue what my daughters like, or what they already … [Read more...]
Every Who Down in Whoville
I've got a soft spot for these over priced Grinch Who Stole Christmas knick-knacks from Department 56. I didn't give in to the urge to but, but I did snap a few photos of the large and cool display they had set up at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. … [Read more...]
Fish Who Can Fly & Other Bizarre Christmas Wishes
I sat in the front room helping my daughters write their letters to Santa. The seven year old was busy carefully copying out all the words I had helped her spell, putting in her request for a new Snap Circuits set. The four year old was more hesitant, she didn't know what to write. After asking about whether Mr Claus celebrates Halloween and thanking him for his previous … [Read more...]
Last Minute Gift, Think Netflix?!? #StreamTeam
I am all about the last minute gifts. While I keep a well stocked gift trunk there is always someone I forget about, or someone I don't realize we'll be seeing or exchanging with until that right down to the wire last minute. So every year on here I've highlighted some of my last minute gifts of choice, and this year my suggestion is... Netflix giftcards! I guess they … [Read more...]
Cookies for Santa
Christmas Cookies {Cake Magic}
Er.. or perhaps more precisely, cookie magic. … [Read more...]
Power the Holidays with Duracell this Season
As we all know Christmas time brings new toys, aka new things that need batteries! Honestly it seems like 9 out of 10 of the toys my kids receive from friends and family at Christmas time (you know all the ones hubby and I don't buy?) need batteries! And we all know there's nothing more disappointing that a child receiving a Christmas gift without the accompanying batteries to … [Read more...]
Get Creative – DIY Magnetic Advent Calendar – Make it in 30 minutes for Under $20
For several years now I've been locked in debate with my husband, with him thinking we need new advent calendars, and me using copious amounts of tape to mend the not-so-sturdy cardboard boxes and keep the one we had going. Then last year I came up with the brilliant idea to make a new advent calendar to hold our traditional Playmobil pieces. See for as long as my eldest has … [Read more...]
I’m Not Ready For Christmas Yet. Like Seriously, Can’t We Wait Until December to Start This Thing?
Last week it started snowing. Big fat fluffy flakes that instantly melted as they hit the still warm ground. My children cheered and jumped and spun and screamed the entire way to the bus stop. They tried to catch each fuzzy round flake on their mittens and their tongues. I thought their snow excitement was cute until I realized that my kids equate snow with Christmas. Since … [Read more...]
The World’s Largest Christmas Store
Bronner's Christmas Wonderland bills itself as the World's Largest Christmas store. The place has over 100,000 square feet of Christmas goodies. There's plenty of other reasons to visit Frankenmuth, there is so much MORE than just Bronner's, but Bronner's is more then excuse enough for a visit, if you get what I mean. It is a packed floor to ceiling, every spot is full of … [Read more...]