TGIF v.26

Posted in TGIF by

The high of my week was going out and finding our Christmas tree! This year we wanted to go out and cut one down in “the woods” after being super disappointed in our store-bought cultured trees the past couple of years. Kyle’s mom, aunt, and uncle joined us and we had a fun day hunting for our trees, complete with campfire-roasted hot dogs, hot chocolate and marshmallows! We found our tree and I couldn’t be happier with it! My house is now officially ready for Christmas.

The low of my week was catching a cold. Boo! Kyle had caught it last weekend and was kind enough to share it with me. I’m hoping it will go away before Christmas, so I’ve been pounding back the vitamins and echinacea!

An internet find I loved was this recipe for homemade Shake & Bake from South Your Mouth. Kyle has a sensitivity to corn and its byproducts and the store-bought stuff is loaded with corn starch, making quick and easy dinners a bit tricky. I turned to Pinterest for a homemade recipe and this one is awesome! Tastes even better than the real deal too.

The best money I spent was not necessary an inexpensive shopping trip, but I did a HUGE shop at Costco and now my giant freezer is looking a little less bare. I’m hoping I don’t have to make another huge shop like that in a while!

My favourite Isla and/or Norah moment was getting their letters from Santa in the mail! Isla has discovered the joys of snail mail and I usually just give her the junk mail and she’s happy enough, but to have an actual envelope addressed to her? She was elated! Kyle read her letter to her before bed and she just can’t stop talking about it.

DSC_0022

The song that has been stuck in my head is “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd. I blame the Victoria Secret Fashion Show, but the song has grown on me and now it’s stuck in my head. Also stuck: “Downtown” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Oh, and a variety of theme songs from the Disney Channel, including Doc McStuffins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

My meals of the week were:

Monday: Fried chicken
Tuesday: Meatballs
Wednesday: Beef stroganoff
Thursday: Chicken fajitas
Friday (tonight): Pork chops

My plans for the weekend are hosting Kyle’s dad tomorrow for an early Christmas dinner. Other than that, no special plans! We’ll most likely do some grocery shopping for Christmas dinner and just relax and countdown until Kyle’s off on holidays!

What are you plans this weekend? Do you have a homemade recipe for popular store-bought stuff?

Christmas Blog Swap 2015

Posted in Blog Swap, Christmas by

This year I decided to join in on a fun little Christmas Blog Swap hosted by Leigh and Lindsey! I generally don’t do swaps because I think I’m a lame gift giver most of the time, but this year I thought I’d give it a go. Plus, I love sending (and receiving) mail that’s fun and not bills.

I was partnered up with Jen from Pretty Little Grub. We exchanged a couple of emails back and forth to get an idea of what our personal tastes were and went from there! I had fun shopping around for the perfect ornament to give to her, as well as a couple other little things, but you’ll have to hop over to her blog to see what I came up with ;)

Anyway, it was an exciting mail day when I received my package in the mail! (Fun fact: My MIL works at Canada Post sorting parcels and knows when I’m getting a package before I do. No fair!) It made me happier that the package fit in my mail slot and I didn’t have to make a trek down to the post office outlet to pick it up ;)

20151208_192434

20151208_192557
20151208_192604

How cute is the little gift box? I’m pretty sure I mailed ours away in a toddler-sized shoe box . Anyway, after (gently) shaking the package, I was curious to see what was inside!

Jen picked out the prettiest little mitten ornament for our Christmas tree, and included a yummy Eos lip balm, a cute, festive wine bottle stopper, and chocolate – ALL the chocolate! I may or may not have devoured it all already … you know, to hide it from Isla …

20151208_192817

The mitten is the perfect addiction to my eclectic mix of tree ornaments! Our Christmas tree has no theme, per say, and it looks perfect hanging in the branches!

20151214_094807.jpg

So, thank you, Jen for the lovely ornament!

What’s your favourite Christmas ornament that you have?

2nd Child Holiday Gift Guide

Posted in Christmas, Gift Guide by

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way to share these items. They are simply things I love and would like to share with my readers! 

Christmas gift giving is a tricky one when you have two kids, both girls, both born around the EXACT same time of year. (Three years, six days apart, even!) Poor Norah has a serious case of second-child syndrome; 90% of the stuff she owns are hand-me-downs and I feel a little bad for her sometimes.

Enter Christmas: I was seriously at a complete loss as to what ask Santa to get for Norah. Sure, she’ll only be 6 months old come Christmas and she won’t have any idea was to what’s actually going on, but I couldn’t get her NOTHING, you know?

Enter my little gift guide for the 2nd-born child in your life. Trends have changed a little since Isla’s first Christmas four years ago (!), and while I haven’t necessarily bought the following items for Norah, I think they’re pretty awesome and totally gift-worthy!

211_1_pinkmulti

Image via Padraig Cottage

Padraigs
Isla actually received a pair of these slippers when she was about 16 months old and we loved them! The tough, leather sole is durable and they last a LONG time because the wool stretches out. I’ve been wanting to buy Norah a pair, but they are moderately priced (~$40 for “baby” sized slippers), so for now they’re on the “Pretty Please?” list. A bonus is that these ones are made right here in British Columbia and I can buy them locally in town!

Bandana Bibs
My kids have got to be the worst teethers ever in the way that they will drool for MONTHS before actually getting a tooth. Waterproof bibs that you buy in the store are pretty ugly and not at all fashionable, so when I discovered the awesomeness that are bandana bibs, I jumped right on board for Norah. She owns a couple from Andy Pandy Pudding Pie (also made in Canada) and they’re great because they absorb the drool so her onesies don’t get soaking wet underneath. Now Norah drools in style ;)

oball

Image via Kids II

Oball
Isla had something slightly similar but it was heavy and made of harder, not so bendable plastic. The Oball is made of softer plastic that is easier for tiny, grabby hands to well, grab, and won’t hurt if it bonks them on the head! Norah already has the rattle ball version (pictured to the right), but she asked Santa for the suction cup version that will stick to her food tray! (She feels bad for constantly knocking it onto the floor and making mom or dad pick it up 100 times a day.) The Oball in general is a huge hit in a mommy group I belong to, and I would buy Norah every variety of this toy if I could!

Books
What child doesn’t like having a story read to them? Isla has an enormous collection of books, but the wonderful thing is that there are SO many that she doesn’t have that I can get Norah. Eventually the girls will share all the books, but for now, Norah can have some of her own to add to her own bedroom collection. We’re big fans of the Usborne “That’s not my …” books and all things Robert Munsch and I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice!

Taggie Blankets
Ever notice how babies love to suck on the tags of everything? It’s kind of gross, but they just can’t seem to resist them! However, brilliant minds took notice and there are many companies, both big and home-based, that make taggie blankets. A little while ago Norah was gifted one that was made by Butterfly Baby Pillow (yep – another local company!) and she loves it! There’s soft, plush blanket material on one side, a crinkly fabric hidden on the inside and a bunch of tags for her to gnaw on!

 

So there you go – my simple list of gift ideas! Like I said before, buying something unique and special for the “second born” child can be tough, but there are options out there if you just look hard enough or ask around!

What’s your favourite gift to give little ones?