Starting to get busy...

With parent/teacher interviews, skiing, skating, and this week will be the kids christmas concerts just having to deal with the kids school activites are keeping us busy. My son got to ski for the first time and despite sore feet when he came home he loved it and is looking forward to going out again.
Then there are getting the Christmas cards mailed, the gifts bought and will need to be wrapped I still have to go shopping for Vic's gifts without any kids around to help me be less stressful. :) I'll also have to keep in mind about my older daughter's birthday as it is one week after Christmas and will have to start planning for that as well.
I'm not sure how much baking I will be able to get done. I have two banana bread loaves done (one with chocolate chips one without) I'm hoping to make some more so I will be getting a list done up with more supplies I might need to do more baking.
Our elves are keeping the kids busy getting into the occasional mischief. Every morning they wake up and rush downstairs to see what they are up to.
The Santa's Gone Loonie day we had last week was okay. There were more tables with people selling things for kids to purchase...even had the "stuff a bear" thing there. Unfortunately we couldn't stay long as my 4 yr. old was not feeling well and so we had to go home.
The weather is cold and lots of snow on the ground. I'm hoping the pond nearby will be frozen enough for me to take the kids skating. The city usually shovels the snow off the ice which tells people when it's safe to go on it. I love skating and find it quite relaxing. Perhaps I will take the youngest out for her first time and see how she does. :D

A little Christmas...

Well, on Friday past, we had our Santa Clause parade. With lots of snow around and it was cold, those of us standing there watching did our best to keep warm. The parade wasn't very long though I think people would have preferred that though it wasn't as cold as it was last year. What mattered is the kids enjoyed it.
Unfortunately there were so many people that we couldn't enjoy the rest of the festivities. Long lines for hot chocolate, the hay rides and seeing live reindeer. There wasn't nearly as many last year as there was this year. It was crazy and stood in line that barely moved for 20 minutes. Our 3 kids were not enjoying themselves and they wanted to go home...they didn't want to wait an hour in the cold just for a hot chocolate when we had some at home.
So that is what we did...we headed home, made some hot chocolate and put on one of our Christmas movies which was probably more enjoyable than those that did decide to tough it out and stay out there for their turn. And I think the kids enjoyed it too. Sometimes doing something simple together at home can be better than heading out there trying to see the sights and sounds the city had to offer that evening.
What's in store for next weekend? Our annual "Santa's Gone Loonie" at the Civic Centre. The last two years were not very good and we had seriously thought of not going this year but after speaking with a friend of mine I heard it might be better. So we will go and see and hopefully help the kids find gifts to get for each other. :)

Catching up

Since my last post alot has happened and I've neglected to post on any of my blogs. I won't go into what has gone on but I will say that my spirits have been deflated. Here in Canada we had our Thanksgiving last month so seeing Christmas is starting to come out in full force and I'm already wishing it was over. Doesn't normally sound like me but there it is.
I've been going through the motions right now. We've decorated and put the tree up and the kids elves will be coming at the end of the month. They will arrive with Christmas socks for each of them. I'll have to work out what they will do for the month of December.
My oldest who is 10 has figured out about Santa so it will be interesting to see how his Christmas will be. I'm hoping that despite knowing the truth about Santa it will still be a magical time for him.
This Friday is the city's Santa Claus Parade with activities at the arena near my house. (only a block away) They will have hot dogs, hot chocolate, hay rides as well as Santa and his reindeer there too. (yes, they are real reindeer!)
I'm hoping that going through the motions and trying to get through this holiday season will help bring back some of the magic I would feel in years past. Here's to hoping!

Christmas magazine

Well, I finally picked up my first Christmas magazine. As usual, with any holiday magazine, I don't just want a magazine with just recipes...I'm more of an idea girl and if there are a few recipes in the magazine all the better. I just might try them if they are decent. ;)
This magazine is about Christmas ideas. There are different ideas to decorate your home and if its not your style, there is a good chance there is something in here that might catch your attention. It will be on the shelf till the end of December so if it is on a shelf near you...you have time to pick one up if you wish. :)
One bit is on stockings that you don't have to hang by the fireplace. They have colour themes...like the silver, white and blue or the various shades of blue, orange and red, or a winterland green theme, or bold colours, snowflake theme, country, woodsy, a little Scandinavian, glitter, even vintage.
It also has several ideas for wreaths, table setting idea in red and white, gift topper ideas, and ideas to display your snowman collection.
I think after reading this magazine several more times I will keep the pages I like to put in my Christmas binder. :)

Christmas Tree Safety

Safety is always important, especially when there are children around. Being safe is important all year round, including during the holidays. Today I'm going to talk about Christmas tree safety. I'm sure if we all follow a few safety tips then our tree and home can stay intact.

* First...what kind of tree are you getting? If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.

* If you have a real tree...try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily.
* Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles. Check for fresh, green needles.
* Place your tree in a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
* Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source, such as fireplaces and radiators.
* Try to position the tree near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances.
* Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
* Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.

* When it comes to lights, when decorating your tree, always use lights listed by a testing laboratory. Some lights are designed only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
* Connect no more than three strands of push-in bulbs and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
* Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use tree lights.
* Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
* Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
* Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and extend their life.

* Of course one should never use lit candles to decorate the tree and make sure any lit candles in the room are placed well away from tree branches.

These are just a few ideas to help keep you and your loved ones and your home safe.

Being a good host or hostess

When the holidays arrive there are also guests that come to visit. This is no exception for Christmas. Having guests stay over the Christmas holidays is a wonderful pleasure but it does involve extra work and responsibility for the host/hostess who will want to make sure that their guests not only enjoy the hightlights of their stay but the quiet moments too.
Getting ready for Christmas can keep one busy enough as it is so it is good to prepare guest bedrooms well in advance. Make sure there are plenty of basic needs such as fluffy towels, tissues, guest soap, etc. If you plan ahead you can let them enjoy sticks of your own homemade scented soaps if you enjoy making such things. I'm sure they would appreciate such a luxury.
If you are able to...perhaps you could provide a coffe and tea-making set. Something that many enjoy using especially if they wake up at unsociably early hours. Arrange a tray with an electric kettle, a small cup and a jar of ground coffee (or instant coffee if it's easier) or different flavoured teas if they are more of a tea drinker like myself and a tea pot. :) Add wrapped sugar and a decorative tin o fbiscuits with milk and fresh fruit to be replinished daily. You would probably know your guest well enough to add other items they might like.
You could make a small selection of books and magazines for friends who like to travel light, and may not bring their own reading material. Check that the bulbs are in the reading lamps and prvide a flashlight or one of those plug in extra nightlights to help night-time navigation to the bathroom.
Flowers help to make a room more welcoming and can bring a breath of spring or summer to the guest rooms. Dried flower arrangements are another option that prevent the need for last-minute preparations.
When guest arrive, make sure to show them such essentials like light switches and plug sockets are and which cupboard space is available. These are just a few ideas and I'm sure your guests will enjoy the warmth of such hospitality.

I actually saw a sign of Christmas!

Yesterday I had some spare money to spend and thought I'd see if Walmart had their Halloween stuff out. It was in full force. But that's not what surprised me. As I was walking through the isles seeing if there was anything for me (for Halloween) to get I turned the corner and saw on one side of the isle the Christmas lights for both indoor and outdoor! So I managed to pick up some blue outdoor/indoor lights as I'm planning on having a small christmas tree in my bedroom. :) I made sure they were LED lights as I'm trying to slowly get rid of the lights that are not LED. The more energy we can save, the better on our pocketbooks when the power bills come in.
Blue being my favourite colour, I decided to have a blue/silver theme to it as the main large tree we put up in our living room is always a collage of ornaments varying from the nice Hallmark ones to the ornaments that my kids have made. :) I've always wanted to have one of my own in my room so I think this year will be the year. :D I'm not sure the size of the tree yet...I'm going to wait on that till I see what trees are going to be there this year.

Pope warns that sidelining of religion puts Christmas at risk

Westminster address used to protest at 'marginalisation' of Christianity in public life
John Hooper, Sam Jones and Riazat Butt guardian.co.uk, Friday 17 September 2010
Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Westminster Hall, London, to give his keynote speech.

Pope Benedict tonight used the keynote address of his visit to Britain to protest at "the increasing marginalisation of religion" in public life, maintaining that even the celebration of Christmas was at risk.

In a dense, closely argued speech to an audience that included four former prime ministers, the pope said social consensus alone could not be left to decide policies. And he pointed to the global financial crisis as an example of what happened when pragmatic solutions were applied in the absence of ethical considerations.

Before speaking, the pope sat in an enormous red leather chair to listen to a speech of welcome from the Commons Speaker, John Bercow. Then he rose and walked to the lectern to deliver his own thoughts. His address was met with a sustained burst of applause.

Below him, seated in neat rows that stretched to the back of the vast, 900-year-old hall, were hundreds of parliamentarians and religious leaders.

Among them were Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Sir John Major, Lady Thatcher, William Hague and Nick Clegg. David Cameron did not attend as he was at the funeral of his father, who died nine days ago. He will meet the pontiff for talks tomorrow.

The occasion was rich with symbolism. The pope was accepting what he called an "unprecedented invitation" to address Britain's great and good in Westminster Hall where the Catholic saint, Thomas More, was tried and convicted for refusing to put expedience ahead of his religious convictions and bowing to the demands of his king, Henry VIII.

In a key passage, he said: "I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalisation of religion, particularly of Christianity, that is taking place in some quarters, even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance." This was a clear reference to Britain, whose tolerance he praised on the first day of his visit.

He went on: "There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere. There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none. And there are those who argue – paradoxically with the intention of eliminating discrimination – that Christians in public roles should be required at times to act against their conscience."

Read more here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/17/pope-warns-sidelining-religion-christmas-risk

100 Days left!

Well, I see by my Christmas countdown we are left with only 100 days left before Christmas!
I thought it was appropriate today too that a friend of my who is a brother in the Carmalite order spoke about preparing for Christmas. Good things to think on but I learned something new that I never knew before...
In Carmel, the 25th of every month is called a 'little Christmas' and they can sing Christmas hymns at one of the offices if it is not a major feast day. I thought it was lovely how they call each 25th of the month Little Christmas and I might incorporate that into my day every month.
The day today is sunny but chilly. An arctic wind is blowing down from further up north that one needs to wear a sweater an a jacket out.
We've also started purchasing a few Christmas gifts this week. Next week I'll be on the look out for stocking stuffers. :) Won't be too long before Christmas will be upon us! :)

Rudolph's voice, Billie Mae Richards, dies

This is a sad passing:

Rudolph's voice, Billie Mae Richards, dies
Last Updated: Friday, September 10, 2010 | 7:23 PM ET

CBC News
Billie Mae Richards, widely known as the voice of Rudolph in the animated TV Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, has died.

Richards, who was 89, was a well-known voice personality at the CBC.

She died in Burlington, Ont., west of Toronto, her family said.

Richards gained fame for her work as Rudolph in the 1964 holiday production, which also featured the voices of Burl Ives and Canadian actor Paul Soles.

She was also well known in the 1950s for starring in the popular CBC radio program Jake and the Kid.

Kung Fu Panda Christmas

A few years ago it was Shrek the Halls — an exploitation of Christmas and a pre-launch to the last version in the Shrek franchise. It must have worked because Dreamworks Animation is doing it again, this time with Kung Fu Panda.
My kids loved Kung Fu Panda...now there is one that is for Christmas! The kids will love it! :D Go here to read more about it!

http://www.realchristmas.com/2010/09/kung-fu-panda-christmas/

When to Start Planning for Christmas

I love the planning but don't like the stress. How can we really enjoy the Christmas holidays when we feel stressed and frazzled trying to buy and get things done before the big day. A little planning can help big time in reducing the stress and frustrations during the season and alot more enjoyment.
For me...anytime of the year is great for planning for Christmas. First...once the holidays are over and all the Christmas stuff goes on sale it is the best time to do it. Things like Christmas cards, wrapping paper, bows, ribbons and the like are really cheap...cheaper than when the Christmas season comes around again. Keep in mind though not to purchase things that may be torn, ripped or broken just because it's on sale.
Also, I watch for sales all year round. Every holiday and season has them. For example...purchase things on sale when mother's day comes around for the women on your Christmas list, or father's day for the men...etc. Watch for the sales and shop wisely.
Write down a list of all the people you are buying for to keep with you. I like to carry a little notebook and have a couple pages for each person so I can write down what I have picked up or found...or even writing it down to be picked up at another time and where/what store it can be found at.
Now some people love to shop online. When you shop on the internet, you have plenty of time to “window shop.” And items are not seasonal. They are available all year round. And of course sites have sales and promotionals just as the stores do. I myself don't prefer this method but if it works great for you then go for it. :)
Remember...when you purchase gifts...remember to write them down and if you know who you are giving it to then put their name down beside it. (re: the notebook I mentioned above)If you don't write down who gets what then you will end up spending more time trying to figure out what gifts go to whom.
Another time saver is wrap the gifs sooner and not later. I remember one year I waited till Christmas Eve to wrap gifts...for everyone! It was horrible...I spent hours in my room at night wrapping and I was so exhausted come 2 am I only had a few hours before the kids were bugging me to get up, letting me know Santa came. Not fun and I was grumpy the whole day still having to not only unwrap, get the toys out of those boxes that have a thousand of those wires tied to them, clean up the mess and cook the big meal...I was NOT a happy camper needless to say. So I wrapped a few at a time so I could make them look nice and not rushed. Then I put post it notes to whom it was for and what was inside on each one so that by the time Christmas came around I didn't have to try and remember what it was I had wrapped.
If you like baking or cooking like me and like to try new recipes...collect them all year. Don’t wait until you a need a recipe to start looking for one. Start collecting recipes from friends, magazines, and on food containers. Put them in a container or notebook. Then...test them! Put stars beside the ones you like and would be proud to serve. When it comes time to whip something up, it will be fast and easy to make choices. Nothing like trying a recipe last minute and it ends up in a disaster and you don't have something to serve!
Christmas can be enjoyed all year. You don’t have to wait for the season to begin. All year you can collect recipes, get decorating ideas, window shop, and make purchases. Make your choices wisely. You don’t want to experience buyer’s regret. I found doing all these tips helped me to not only relieve the stress during the busy holiday season but was able to enjoy and have fun during the Christmas season.

A New Christmas Blog

This blog I've created is a new one as the other one I had ended up getting glitches and it just couldn't be fixed. :( So we'll see how this one goes and if I continue to have trouble then I'll just not bother with my blogs anymore. Just having alot of trouble trying to work with them.