Let's Talk - November

Today's topic is Christmas Traditions.

For the past couple of years we have hosted a Christmas party for our friends and neighbours, this will be our third year. It is one of my favourite new traditions.  We love seeing everyone, some of them we only see once a year so it is a special time.  

We send Christmas cards.

We get a real tree from Plant World.

We always go to church on Christmas Eve and the singing of Silent Night with candles has always been a favourite, particularly for remembering those who aren't with us any longer.

Another fairly new tradition is putting together our Rockefeller Centre puzzle before the end of Christmas Eve.

My family has always had lobster, and Dave's family likes it too, poor Dave is the only one who can't eat it.  We got oysters on Christmas Eve for the first time last year and I think that will be a new favourite tradition too. 

I think the most important things about traditions is that although is fun to do the same thing every year and make things special for that reason, we also need to remember that if we miss out on something for some reason that we don't get too disappointed about it and not let it ruin our whole holiday season.  Christmas should be more than a list of things that we need to do in order for it to be complete.  Christmas is more about the special times you spend with your loved ones, no matter what you're doing (or eating).

Our Christmas lights went up over the weekend - let the decorating begin!

Linking up with Andrea and Erika.

Let's Talk - October

Today's topic is recipes - what's cooking in your kitchen lately.

We cook a lot at our house, and part of that is because of the planning we do.  We make a meal plan each week and try to cook ahead when we can so it doesn't take long to throw together a meal when it is time to eat. Now that I am on mat leave I have all day to prep meals and pick up odds and ends for recipes so I can be a more flexible. 

Now that the cold weather is here, we will be eating more stews and soups.  You can find a lot of the recipes we use on my Pinterest boards.  You can find me at "Sarah Mac" (and my photo is me and E on a tobaggan).  I usually go here first when I am planning meals as there are a few standards. 

Our favourite cookbooks are mostly the same as they were with a few additions.  Here is our shelf of cookbooks today.  I will consult these for some old favourites or for some new ideas after I get tired of my Pinterest recipes.  

I also have a bigger sweet tooth than I thought I had, and since I am home all day now I am often searching around for something sweet to snack on, and mostly just end up with a handful of chocolate chips.  I want to make more cookies and sweet breads.  I have Pinterest boards for desserts and for breads, and I plan on baking a bit more.

Linking up with Andrea and Erika today.

Let's Talk - September

Today's topic is Entertainment - our favourite books, movies, magazines, blogs, etc. 

Books

I am always reading something, I usually have my book club book and another book on the go.  I used to have to finish a book before I started a new one, but that wasn't practical when I have a deadline for finishing my book club book or if a book is due back at the library.   My favourite kinds of books are novels by Canadian authors who have been shortlisted or won some sort of prize, like the Giller Prize.  I also like books by mainstream authors like Liane Moriarty, Elin Hildenbrand, etc., but I don't get to read those often.  I also like the odd non-fiction book but only if they have been recommended to me. 

Movies

I love Oscar nominee movies and other mainstream ones that are dramatic or romantic comedies.  I do not like horror movies or obscure science fiction.  I shared by top three favourite movies here and those are a good example of what I like.  Other movies I love are The Wolf of Wall Street, The Departed, and The Great Gatsby (hmm, Leonardo DiCaprio fan much?). 

Television

We typically just watch shows on HBO and Netflix, and sports.  I will watch more TV while I am on maternity leave, but it will mostly consist of a lot of HGTV and Food Network.  

Magazines

I don't buy a lot of magazines but when I do pick one up, the ones I pick are House and Home, Today's Parent, Toronto Life, or Women's Health.

If someone on my Twitter has shared an article from The Atlantic or The New Yorker, I usually read it, they do a great job.  

Podcasts

I listen to two podcasts on a regular basis - This American Life and the Jay and Dan Podcast (the former TSN anchors who are now in California working for Fox Sports One).  They are completely different but keep me entertained on my way to work and back. 

Blogs

I read about 8 blogs a day:

Shay

Shearer

Andrea

Erika

Narci

Sarita

Jillian

Sarah

(and others that I find through Instagram and link ups)

Most people post on a daily basis and I love reading about their lives and learning about new things.

I'm linking up with two of those bloggers today for this link up party:

Andrea and Erika

Let's Talk - August

Today's topic is Fall Favourites.

I love summer and I'm not ready to let go of it yet!  But I do love fall and it is always good to have something to look forward to.  

My favourite things about fall are:

Starbucks Fall Drinks!

(This pretty latte is not from Starbucks, it's from Baka Cafe on Bloor West)

The fall colours

Thanksgiving food

Halloween pumpkins

Cooler weather

Having a theme to decorate with (summer decorations never really seems to happen)

Enjoy the rest of summer!

Let's Talk - July

Linking up with Andrea and Erika for Let's Talk.  Today's topic is School Days.  This is kind of weird for me because we are in the middle of summer, but in Texas where Andrea and Erika live, the kids actually head back to school very soon.

I have always loved school.  I remember being in elementary school and packing up my backpack days before school started and wearing it around the house; I was so excited to get back.  Shopping for new school supplies was always a favourite, and I still love the supply room in my office where I get to go and pick up a fresh pad of paper and pen anytime I want!  #smalljoys

I grew up in a small town, and there was only one choice for school.  My elementary school had two buildings, the little blue one for the grades primary to two, and then the big yellow one for grades three to six.  The yellow one was really old, I think we celebrated its 85th birthday when I was there, in the late 1980s.  I found this old picture of it from its early days.  It hadn't changed much when we were there, other than being surrounded by newer buildings.  It still had the old bell up in the tower that we would ring on special occasions.  There was one class for each grade, music, and a library.  We didn't have a gym or a cafeteria.  It has since been torn down.

When I was grade six a new school was built and we all went there along with two other elementary schools in the area.  Then there were three classes for each grade, a gym, a cafeteria with hot lunch, and a big field.  

Our high school held grades seven to twelve.  There were about 500 students in total; my graduating class had 60 people in it.  I took French Immersion throughout high school so the people in my class remained about the same for the six years.  In senior high (grades 10 to 12) we didn't take as many French classes so we had classes with lots of different people.   The tore down the high school a few years after I graduated.  I happened to be home that weekend so this is me sitting on the steps, behind me is what's left of the gym.  I wrote this post about high school last year.

I went to two different universities.  Dalhousie in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for my undergraduate degree in English and then the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton for my law degree.  I made so many great friends at both places and really don't have much but fond memories for both schools.  

Law School Grad

E started school last year and he got along well there.  He is excited to go back and start French Immersion for Senior Kindergarten.

Let's Talk - June

Linking up with Andrea and Erika for Let's Talk.   Today's topic is Red, White and Blue, but since I'm in Canada, I'm shortening that to Red and White!

I love this dress from anthropologie. It would be perfect for a hot Canada Day weekend.

The best dessert to celebrate with on Canada Day is of course strawberry shortcake.  Not only are the strawberries in season, it is the right colour.

Patio lanterns always make me think of Canada Day, probably because of this song:

You can find these in any home store like Home Depot and Lowes, or some fancier Edison bulb ones at Crate and Barrel.

This shirt from the Drake General Store is a great way to show your Canadian patriotism.  There are little Mounties all over it.  It comes in kids and adult sizes. 

We will be spending Canada Day camping in Algonquin Park, can you get any more Canadian than that?!  We don't have any big plans other than the usual camp activities and maybe some sparklers.  And as long as I can listen to Wheat Kings by the Tragically Hip, I'll be fine. 

Let's Talk - May

Linking up for Let's Talk.  Today's topic is what we have planned for the summer.

This is our first summer where E has not been in daycare, so we had to book a few summer camps.  We booked a couple of weeks at the High Park Nature Centre.  We are really excited about this one; E went to a birthday party there a few weeks ago and it looks really fun.  

He also has a couple of sport camps that he'll be attending with a friend and he will love that! 

To fill in the non-camp weeks, E will spend a week with Dave's parents at their house, and another week here with my mom.  

We also have a trip to Cape Breton planned for a family reunion.  

Dave and I are taking off a week at the end of July but haven't made any plans yet.  We may just stay in Toronto and do tourist things.  

We have two camping trips planned as well - on in Algonquin and one at the Pinery.  Both times we are going with friends which will be more fun. 

Aside from these things, we will also be looking forward to lots of pool and splash pad visits, Blue Jays games, patios, ice cream cones, and popsicles.  No drinking for me, but Dave will enjoy a few cold beers. 

Bring on summer, my very favourite time!

Let's Talk - April

Linking up for "Let's Talk".  This month's topic is Hair and Beauty.  I know that is the first thing you think of when you think of me, haha.

 I have never been someone who spends a lot of time on my hair and make up.  I do more than the minimum but I don't think of it as a priority.  I know I could do better at washing my face and getting regular hair cuts, but I do wear make up everyday to work, but rarely on the weekend. I use nice hair products and flat iron my hair before I leave the house, but I have had the same hairstyle since I was in Grade 9 when I grew my bangs out.  I'm okay with that, I will never be that person who spends hours on their beauty routine or scheduling regular facials, hair appointments, or mani/pedis.  

I posted about my beauty routine here.  Not much has changed since then. 

I have started using a peach concealer under my eyes and I picked up a Nars powder after my Arbonne one ran out.  

Thanks for checking in!

Let's Talk - March

Linking up for another instalment of Let's Talk.  Today's topic is Moms.  

I am very lucky have a wonderful mother, who had her own wonderful mother, my Nana.  Because of these two women, I had no fears about becoming a mother myself.  I knew being a mother wouldn't be easy, and that I'd probably make a few mistakes along the way, but since I had such good examples of my own, I knew that overall I would be a good mother because I didn't know any other way.

I shared some photos of my Mom and Nana last Mother's Day.  Here is a link to that post. 

As a mother myself, I always joked that I would probably be the mean one and Dave would be the fun one.  I like rules and good behaviour and Dave is more likely to be silly.  Now the joke is "Wait, if Dave is the mean one (meaning more strict) and the fun one, so then what the heck am I doing?!"  To which Dave replies, "I don't know".  But really, sometimes I am "nicer" and sometimes I have little to no patience for silliness.  Thankfully Dave and I seem to even each other out on most days and E is a happy and well behaved kid.  It is definitely interesting being a "boy mom" since I never quite know what to do when we are playing with cars or trains.  I do like to build things with Lego so as E gets older and more into Lego, I can definitely play that with him.