Intentional Giving

The buzz words on a lot of blogs these days is "being intentional".  It often seems to relate back to Christian living but since I haven't done any reading on the topic, I don't want to provide too much of an opinion in case I misstate something.  That said, I think I can easily apply the concept of being intentional about Christmas gifts. 

Personally, I don't like getting a lot of gifts if it means I end up with random things that may be good gift ideas, but just don't fit into my life.  I'd rather get a small inexpensive meaningful gift, than an expensive gift that is kind of generic.  In the same way, I try to buy thoughtful gifts for people.  Not that all of my gifts are homeruns, but I try. 

This year, I want to buy gifts from our neighbourhood, and although I don't have a lot of people to buy for, I want to make sure I am intentional about what I'm buying so I don't waste money and also make people feel special when they receive the gift. 

Some ideas of intentional gifts:

- Take someone out for dinner, or promise to take them out in the New Year. It is a good way to spend time with people, while still giving them a gift.
- If someone works in an office, maybe get some treats for their desk, like Starbucks instant coffee, some 80% cocoa chocolate bars, or a box of special tea. 
- Buy a magazine subscription in a topic that the person likes. It is something they would not likely purchase for themselves, but it comes throughout the year.  And if the magazine is a hit, you've come up with an idea for every year!  Similarly, order the Globe and Mail's Saturday edition to be delivered all year.  There is so much in the weekend edition, including a big crossword puzzle, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
- Pay attention to the trends in jewellery, fashion, purses, etc. and take note of what people would like; sometimes it is hard to buy this stuff for people, but if it is a popular item, it may be something they would enjoy.
- For people with kids, or even people without, it is good to give gift cards for the equivalent amount of admission to museums, aquariums, and other places that provide some entertainment during the winter months. 

I like gift cards as much as the next person, but unless you know the person has something in mind to buy at that store, they usually end up in someone's wallet or drawer and forgotten about.  That said, a Starbucks or Tim's gift card is usually appreciated, if the person drinks coffee.

Ugh! Too many presents #thestruggleisreal

Now, for those people on my list, try to pretend like these gifts are a surprise when you get them!

Friday Favourites

Linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci for Friday Favourites.

1. My favourite new song is Taylor Swift's Blank Space.  Not only is the song great, the video has a very hot guy is very aesthetically pleasing, and I love that Taylor owns the fact that she can be a bit of a crazy ex-girlfriend.

 

2. I honestly love the Yuletide Fireplace channel, it is a favourite of the holiday season and it's back!  I thought I remembered Christmas carols playing in the background, but it doesn't seem to be all the time.

 

3. We finally got a new coffee pot, so I can now make my favourite beverage at home. Our coffee pot broke the week before we moved and we finally got our replacement pot delivered this week.  Not that I don't love going to Starbucks everyday, but it is a little unnecessary when I can (usually) bring coffee from home.  

 

4. A favourite pastime, Pinterest!  I've been pinning a few ideas for Christmas this week. They actually sell these birch candleholders at a market down the street from us, so I'm going to pick up a few this weekend.

 

5. I have to say that one of my new favourite shows (maybe "favourite" is a strong word, but it is Friday Favourites after all!) is Family Feud.  The people are so entertaining on their own, but Steve Harvey makes the show.  I can't get enough!  For some good laughs, search Family Feud in YouTube and get sucked into the rabbit hole.

 

 

 

Happy Friday!  Thanks for stopping by.

 

Menu Planning

I will be the first to admit, I am one of those people that get "hangry", so I was happy when they invented a word for it.  After working all day, I don't mind coming home to make a nice meal, but I do not want to be struggling to figure out what to make and try to throw something together from whatever is in the fridge/cupboard. 

I thought I would share some of my tips for menu planning:

Pick a day where doing a full grocery store trip works for you.  For us, that is usually Sunday, but if your time is more flexible, there are certain days at the grocery stores when the food is fully stocked, when things are marked down, or when it is less busy.  Find out what works for you. 

On the day before or the morning of that day, make a menu for everyday of the week.  Look at your calendar and plan around nights when you (or all of you) are out of the house and when leftovers are needed for lunches. 

When Dave and I will be home alone at suppertime, I like to make something the night before that we can just reheat, or pick something that Dave can make before he goes to pick up E.  That way we are less busy getting supper ready while trying to entertain E.

Cook big pots of things to reheat or freeze.

 

Another consideration when planning is looking to see what you have in the fridge or freezer and what you can use up before it goes bad.  Or picking a couple of recipes for the week that will use up all of the ingredient you have to buy, like boxes of spinach, bunches of cilantro, etc.

Using up leftover turkey and orzo pasta

 

I find a lot of recipes on Pinterest, and I have lots of favourite cookbooks as well. 

Write down your menu, preferably on a chalkboard so that everyone in the family knows what you're having. 

Make a complete grocery list from the recipes, and then go through your fridge and cupboard to check off what you already have.  Even though I'm in the kitchen when making the list, I sometimes forget to add items to my list thinking I already have them, so if you just add everything, then you can go through and check before you shop.

Then you're ready for the week.  Planning ahead ultimately makes everyone happier - you're eating better meals, you're throwing out less food, and you aren't scrambling at the end of a busy day. 

Good luck!

Avoid cooking what is just lying around in your cupboards

Want it Wednesday - Bring on Christmas

As I said in a previous blog, my official start to Christmas begins after Remembrance Day, so bring it on!  Time to dig out the Christmas decorations and dust off my Michael Buble CD.

Our holiday decorations have always been fairly simple, and I don't plan on changing that now, but this year we will have a mantle, a piano, an entryway, and some larger windows to decorate, so I want to step it up a little bit.  There is nothing I love more than a lantern.  So far, I have one, from Ikea, but I want to get a few more.  They are great for candles and for using as a sort of shadowbox to put decorations in.

Red Lantern from Ikea.  Seriously it is $3.99

 

The larger white candle holder would be good to mix with the lanterns.

 

 

 

 

I am a sucker for felt tree ornaments. Chapters and Crate & Barrel always carry these and I can't help but get a few new ones each year.

 

Bonus points if they are birds

 

Even seagulls

These are mini mittens for the tree.

 

Skating Mice

 

 

I have also been in the market for a nativity scene.  This one has been saved in my favourite for some time, and it is pretty cute, but I almost feel like part of the magic of the nativity scene is that it is breakable, so I'm not sure this is one for us.  It is sold out anyway, but they do have others.

 

Are you getting all of your stuff out now too?

 

 

 

Remembrance Day - Lest we forget

Remembrance Day is an important day to me.  Growing up, we always attended the local services at the cenotaph in my hometown and watched the national service from Ottawa.  I can recite In Flanders Fields, and sing it, and my favourite hymn is Abide with Me, one they usually sing around this time of year.

For me, Remembrance Day has always been about the World Wars.  Those young men and women who answered the call from their country to take up arms and fight the enemy were of a different era.  They signed up, trained for war, and for those who lived, came home and carried on.  Many were not career servicemen, just regular folks, but they were ready to serve. There are less and less veterans from WWII that go to the Ottawa ceremony, but I remember seeing them march and you could see the posture straighten, and their smart salute, and realize that although it may be a little rusty, it was something ingrained in their being.

My grandparents are the people I think about on Remembrance Day, and people like them.  My grandfather was in university and then signed up with the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a navigator.  He spent the war overseas with his air crew.  They spent some time in Scotland and had very few active missions, if any.  He didn't like to talk about his service, and I think part of him felt like he didn't really do anything, since he didn't have a lot of missions.  Of course the very fact that he volunteered is enough to say he did something.  When the war was over he came home, finished his education, married my grandmother and worked as a veterinarian until he retired.

Part of Papa's squadron - he is on the bottom right.

Papa's service medals

Papa's log book

My grandmother had her own stories, and she was a "farmerette" during the war.  Girls from the country worked on the farms to cover the shortage of men.   She also went into nursing, but did not continue with this profession after she married my grandfather.  She had many stories of the local boys that didn't come home and the effect of that on their families.

Remembrance Day has expanded to recognize our more recent involvement in peacekeeping and active missions in the Middle East.  The service of our military since the World Wars is certainly important and should be recognized.  My father was in the military for many years, retired now, and he could tell many stories of the work done around the world by our military and the work he did and that is continued to be done by our military is something that needs to be recognized everyday, not just on Remembrance Day.

On Remembrance Day, I am not interested in the politics, and controversies around why wars are fought, how they are started, why Canada is involved, I just want to remember those who served in the name of this country.

...we will remember them.

Weekend Recap

Our weekend was pretty typical, but we made the most of it.

 

On Friday night we went to a gala. One of the girls at work did my hair and makeup so that was a treat. Fun night with some people from work.

 

The weather on Saturday called for rain so we quickly raked some leaves before they got too wet.  No matter how many leaves we rake and bag, I still can't believe how many leaves are still on the trees.  We'll be doing this for awhile.

 

We went to a birthday party on Saturday morning.  E and I bounced around. Those are for the parents to use too, right?

 

We walked down the street both days.  On Saturday it was raining and E enjoyed using his own umbrella.  On Sunday it was a little nicer.  We got some winter boots for E, so let the snow fly (or wait, maybe let it fly after we get our snow tires on).

 

Thanks for dumping water all over the floor your help with the dishes. #yesmom

This was our Sunday supper.  It is kind of a brunch meal, but it is so tasty.  Fluffy corn and cheese pancakes with maple pancetta, tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, and plain yoghurt.  A Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal.  E called them "taco pancakes".

 

Our pomegranate tree seems to have adapted to the inside.  We aren't really plant people but we've managed to keep this alive since April.

 

 

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend too.  Rest up for the holiday season!

Friday Favourites

Linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favourites.

If you're new to the blog arriving via the link up, welcome.  This is my little space to talk about things that I like to do, random as they are.  Check out the subject links on the right and see what I'm all about. 

1. My favourite cups at Starbucks. I know I'm not the only person who is excited about the return of the Starbucks red cup.  I got a coffee on the first Monday of November and enjoyed some leftover Halloween treats in my office.  Merry Halloween!

  

 

2. My favourite thing about Arbonne, sharing fun, new products with people.  I hosted my first Arbonne "party" at my office this week.  It was not a typical presentation, I just put out some products to try, made some protein shakes to sample, and put together some take-homes. Now is the time to get shopping for the holidays!

 

 

3. My favourite fall activity.  This is a leftover picture from our visit to the park last weekend.  We pushed some leaves together with our feet so the boys could jump into the leaves.  I realized that E doesn't know how to play in the leaves!  We will have to remedy that this fall.  The smells and sounds of crunchy leaves always take me back to growing up.  Our youth group raked leaves for seniors in our congregation a few years in a row, and then went back to the church for some hot chocolate. Simple times, but strong memories.

4. My favourite thing about Remembrance Day - hearing stories about the war.  This week I attended a lecture at the Royal Ontario Museum called "Canada's Hundred Days, 1918: Why Don't Canadians Know About Their Greatest Victories".  The speaker was Jack Granatstein; many Canadians know him as the historian who talks to Peter Mansbridge during the Rememberance Day and other televised war related ceremonies.  It was a pleasure to listen to him speak about the First World War, one I don't know much about. 

5. My favourite new vegetarian meal - Aloo Gobi.  This is from Michael Smith's cookbook The Best of Chef at Home (the same book where we make our pancakes). It is sweet potato, cauliflower, and peas with aromatic curry spices.  Very tasty and colourful and simple to make.

Happy Friday!