Friday Favourites

Lobster season started in my hometown this week.  I saw a story shared on Twitter of an all female  lobster crew, likely the first one in Nova Scotia. I always appreciate stories like this.  We'll be getting some South Shore lobster at Christmas, best kind. 

Because of Thanksgiving in the US, Sirius XM radio is free this week in the cars.  I always love the Prime Country station :)

So I mentioned in Wednesday's post that I am reading a super sad book about (slight spoiler alert) a sick child. So I've been a little extra patient with putting the kids to bed this week, and twice I've played a couple of games of cards with E.  I don't love board games but I'll play cards.  We played Uno one night and War another night.  It was fun and we just did a few hands before I made him go to bed. 

(I know this game is Monopoly Deal, this photo is from a couple of weeks ago)

Maman in First Canadian Place.  I thought this was a sit down restaurant but it's more of a counter with a few seats.  I wandered in the other day to check it out and the smell of the baked goods sucked me in and I had to get a cookie and coffee.  Apparently the cookies were on Oprah's favourite things list a few years ago, and I will admit that tipped me into getting one.

Linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci.

Preparing for Advent

That's sort of redundant, since Advent means preparing for Christmas, but you get the idea.

Last year I was part of a 12 days of Christmas via email where we received little gifts each day - a workout you could do at home, some guided meditation, a playlist, etc.  To start off we were asked to consider the following questions:

What is your intention for the Christmas season?
How do you want to feel at the end of the season?
What story/thoughts do you want to give up?
What are you excited to share with others this season?

I thought this was a worthwhile exercise because it got me to think about what the Christmas season was all about and how it would sustain me even into January.  We can get caught up doing all of the things and forgetting about the things that really matter.  No one will remember if you made three desserts or just one (or if you bought it!).

I am part of the 12 days of Christmas emails again but I've already started thinking about what my intention will be and what I want to take away at the end of the season.  Things that are important to me are connecting with the wonder of Jesus's birth, making our home a welcoming place, and remembering there is no magic formula for a happy Christmas.  It's easy to get disappointed that you run out of time to do everything, and although traditions are great, Christmas will still carry on even if you miss out on some things.

What are you going to focus on this season?

What's Up Wednesday

What we're eating this week...

Sunday - leftover tacos

Monday - Greek salad bowls (grilled chicken, greek salad, rice, tzatziki, hummus, pitas)

Tuesday - Mac and Cheese with Broccoli

Wednesday - Pot Roast

Thursday - Turkey Pot Pie

Friday - Pizza at Movie Night

Saturday - something simple since we are off to a party

What I'm reminiscing about...

As always, I am thinking about Christmases past.  Remember those creme de menthe parfaits on Christmas Eve, Mom, Louise, Alexie?  I'm sure we only had them once or twice but they are a strong memory!

What I'm loving...

Christmas lights.  My building has big tree with twinkling blue lights, and the column in the middle of the lobby is wrapped in twinkling white lights.  It is dark(ish) when I get to work and darker when I leave work and the lights make me smile.  I also love to see the lights on our house when I get home.  (This is last year, but it's similar this year)

What we've been up to...

Finishing up the basement.  It's almost done, just waiting for a closet door.  When it's done I'll do a post to show it to you.  Dave did all of the work taking it from an empty cement room to a cozy hang out.  I did a little shopping for decorations on Sunday and picked up this little guy.

What I'm dreading...

We've been spoiled with mild weather, so I am actually looking forward to some snow and cold, so I'm not sure what I'm dreading at the moment. Maybe you could say I'm dreading my Visa bill in January ;)

What I'm working on...

I've got two things at work that need to be done by year end so I'm working on that!  Since we are going to Hawaii in January I am not really taking any Christmas holidays so hopefully I'll have enough time to get it all done.  

What I'm excited about...

Getting our tree this weekend.  We used to go to Plant World but it closed this past year so we needed to find a new place.  I think we'll try Sheridan Nurseries on Burnhamthorpe.  We'll get it on Saturday but then decorate it on Sunday.

What I'm watching/reading...

Nothing really, just Raptor games lately.  We need to start some new shows but our evenings have been busy.

I wrote about my November reads on Monday.   Now I'm reading Clare Mackintosh's new book, After the End.  I'm not sure I will be able to read it on the subway. It's really good, but so sad!!

What I'm listening to...

Christmas music of course!  I have a few of my old favourite albums saved on Spotify - Matt Anderson, Bing Crosby, Michael Buble, Vince Guaraldi Trio (Charlie Brown).

What I'm doing this weekend...

Movie night at the school on Friday night, getting our tree, doing some decorating, and a Christmas party on Saturday. 

What I'm looking forward to next month...

All of the Christmas things - decorating, Disney Plus, Santa, concerts, family visitors, and of course celebrating the birth of Jesus! 

What else is new...

We booked a winter holiday for March, can't wait!

Linking up with Shay and Sheaffer. 

Weekend Recap

We had a fun weekend with our out of town guests!! Dave's cousin and his family came to see us from Ottawa.  They arrived around suppertime on Friday night so we had some lasagna, caesar salad and garlic bread.  The kids played around for a bit and then once we got them to bed we sat around and chatted.  

On Saturday morning we were up bright and early.  Once we got organized we struck out for the Bloor West Village "Santa in the Village".  They had a few kids' activities and some roaming carollers.  Santa was there too but we didn't stop in to see him this time.  The sun was shining brightly and it wasn't too cold.

They had some really cute balloon sculptures.  A tree and Santa!

Making an ornament.

Then we attempted some gingerbread men.  The icing was a little hard to get out of the packets, but E did a great job.  Q was happy with just his cookie in the end. 

We tried posing the kids for a photo in the sleigh but Q wasn't having it.

Home for some treats - the gingerbread and the pastries we picked up at the bakery.

Q loves his new Operation game.

When the little kids went to bed, Dave made cookies with E and L. 

After nap time we got everyone bundled up again for a walk in High Park.  First stop was the zoo.

Duck watching

L tried to pull the sword out, no luck!

That's E and L on the tire swing.

A small hike into the woods with homemade cookies.

We headed home and had tacos for supper, so simple. The kids watched some shows but we had a bit of an earlier night than the day before. 

Before everyone took off we went for a walk down by the Humber River.  Can you spot E?

This was after E stuck burrs on my coat!

Our guests left after that to go home, E went to a birthday party, and then I went out shopping.  I planned just to go to Home Sense to get a few Christmas decorations and some stuff for the basement, but ended up at a bunch of different stores.

I came away with this guy, a few other decor items, a little tree for Q's room, frames, and new sneakers for E.

It was a successful trip.  When I got back Dave was getting the Christmas lights out so I helped him with that.  We had leftovers for supper and then I went to yoga.