100 Posts!

This is my 100th blog post!!

When I started this blog, I knew I wanted to be consistent with my postings.  The blogs I read most often are the ones that post everyday.

Not to give away my blogging secrets, but no, I am not up before 6:00 every morning writing each post. I am able to schedule my posts ahead of time so I can usually do a few at once in the evenings.  Sometimes I am up late doing these, but I do not find it to be a chore, I love putting these together.  For those who know us personally, it is a great way to let people know what's going on with us.  Dave said the other day "I read the blog to keep up with my own life!".

I am always amazed when I look at the stats for this page. I'm able to see how many page views I get per day, the location of the viewers (by country, not more specific than that), and if they've arrived by Facebook, Twitter, through a Link-Up, or whatever.  I can understand the Canada and US page views, and maybe one or two other countries, but there are people from Russia, Poland, Ireland, and other places that look at my blog occasionally. 

So thanks for stopping by, and thank you for your comments (both in person and on the blog). 

(Katniss photo bomb)

First Annual Christmas Drop-In

This weekend we hosted a Christmas Drop-In party.  I have always wanted to have this type of party where we can invite our friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers to stop by for some holiday cheer and general merriment.  We are finally in a house that works for this kind of entertaining.  We invited a lot of people, and I think it was a success.  People started arriving at 2:30, and we had a full house for several hours.

Our drink list. Mostly people drank wine and beer, but the scotch had a big dent in it by the end of the night.

I rented wine glasses so people wouldn't have to drink wine out of plastic cups.  It was fairly cheap, and almost all of them were used so it turned out to be a good idea.

 

Goodies spread out on the kitchen island.

Vegetables and dip

Meat cheese and crackers

Shrimp butter and oat cakes.  My grandmother used to make this shrimp butter and my grandfather would make the oat cakes. 

 

We also had meatballs in the slow cooker (although they kind of got lost since they weren't on the island with everything else).  After people started arriving we made some sausage rolls, and some egg rolls, pot stickers, etc.

 

Table laden with sweets 

Sugar cookies and rum balls

An assortment of treats, including a few gluten free things.  My mom sent the fruit cake and rum balls, Dave's mom made the almond crescents and peanut butter balls, and I made the rest.

Vanilla Bean Cake

Peppermint Mocha Cake

 

Our guest book.  I had also prepared some Christmas related trivia sheets and a word search, just in case people needed some entertainment, but they weren't needed.

This guy was ready to party in his "decoration" (fancy) shirt.  A lot of kids were here and they had a great time playing in the basement and helping themselves to cookies.

 

 

It was so wonderful to visit with family and friends, especially those we don't see too often, and to meet our new neighbours.  I'm using our guest book as a study guide so I can remember everyone's names.  People were also so generous to bring us a little gift, we have lots of wine and sweets to hold us through to the new year, and also some other "hostess" gifts.  It was very helpful having Dave's parents here to help out.  They poured drinks, replenished the food, and made great conversation to welcome our guests.  We enjoyed having people in to wish them a Merry Christmas!



Friday Favourites

Linking up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favourites:

 

Welcome to those coming through on the Link Up.  For those of you who recall my Christmas Decorations Part 1, I posted Part 2 earlier this week.  See here.

This week I wanted to show you some of my favourite things for stocking stuffers (what I like and what I get for others): 

 

1. Magazines.  I like the "Year in Review" type magazines, like People or MacLeans.

 

 

 

2. Lottery tickets.  In this house, you're never too young to play a scratch ticket or break open.

 

3. Chocolate bars, nuts, gum, mints, etc.  But not just any, it's always important to buy the person's favourite. 

 

4. Unstoppables.  This will be a new one. I tired these after I saw Erika talk about them a few times, and they are awesome.

 

 

5. Mini Liquor Bottles or some craft beers.  Obviously not appropriate if the person doesn't drink much but is an opportunity to try something new.

 

5. Paperbacks.  Books can be gifts all on their own, but it's also fun to get some less serious books to stick in someone's stocking, maybe not one they would buy for themselves.

 

 

  

6. Oranges.  This is a tradition for a lot of older people when they didn't get oranges year round so they were truly a special treat.  I like to put them in stockings as reminder of simpler times.

 

7. Toiletry items are really only good if you're very familiar with what the person likes. We have avoided them for the past few years because we have been travelling.  I know I need a few things this year, so maybe I'll drop some hints (ahem, shaving cream, razor blades, mascara, deodorant, toothbrush).

 

8. A new ornament. Some people are ornamented out, but I am always looking for something cute and different.

 

9. Different spices or sauces for cooking.  The grocery store is filled with specialty items now.

 

10. Gift cards in small denominations - Starbucks, iTunes, etc. Always welcome and put to good use.

 

Do you have big stockings or more modest sized ones?  Do you wrap your stocking gifts or is the stocking itself enough?  Do you open stockings first? Are you forced to eat breakfast before opening gifts?

 

Happy Friday!

 

SANTA!!! (I know him)

 Obviously, I don't actually know Santa, just a little quote from Elf. 

We hung out with Santa earlier this week at Sherway Gardens.  I talked about this event a bit here. We started our evening with supper at McDonalds in the food court. I'm just going to say it, I love McDonalds, I do, I'm not ashamed.  The only fast food burger better than a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, is the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese that I ordered this time. 

E rocked his nugget Happy Meal.  He's probably had McDonalds less than 10 times in his life, but he knows what to do.

Hey, stop eating your yoghurt and eat your nuggets and fries!

After a quick outfit change, we headed down to see Santa. 

Waiting patiently

Santa had a pretend snowball fight with the kids.  E got in on the action.

 

I have no idea why he was lifting his shirt.

 

This is the Reindeer Hokey Pokey

E practiced what he was going to say, he wants Lego.

 

 

I've told E he needs to send a follow up letter to Santa, which we will work on next week.  I'm thinking something like:

 

Santa,

Further to our meeting of last Tuesday, I wish to confirm the following:

- My address is (insert address here);

- I would like Legos for Christmas, a lot of them;

- I will take clothes but I would prefer if you leave that to Mom and Dad, just toys from you; and

- I have been a good boy this year.

 

Thank you again for the time you spent with me last week, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Thanks,

E. 

 

(Hmm, too formal?)

 

 

Christmas Decorations Part 2

As I promised last week I am presenting Part 2 of our Christmas decorations. 

Added a few more things to this shelf.

Including these guys.  This is a big knitted boot filled with cloth animal ornaments, suitable for E to play with. He has mostly just emptied the animals on the floor so he can "wear" the boot.

 

Nightlight in the kitchen, and another in the upstairs hallway

 

Stockings hung with care

Stars on the way upstairs

Tree Skirt

I found a nativity scene in a store by our house, so I rearranged the top of the piano.

 

 

 

Our little helper

 

I am pleased with all of our new items.  I love that Christmas decorations now go on sale before Christmas.  Nothing wrong with a little 40% off during the first week of December!  Our house is ready to welcome our party guests on Saturday.