special day...

a very low key day for a very special person. he didn't want to do much. breakfast at one but must have small wait times, ice cream cake, and a game of settlers of catan. seriously, when a guy asks for so little how can you not give in? and we did...(plus threw in an added bonus of some presents).

so happy birthday markness! a day of relaxation is probably what we all needed!

love you!

its here! :)

well the day is finally here! everyone is sleeping and i am waiting...i hope you all enjoyed my little countdown. i had a lot of fun doing it. sometimes it took a bit of time to find a bit of christmas spirit in a day. i may not have succeeded all days but overall it was fun trying! plus an added bonus was keeping my parents constantly informed about this christmas twinkie in between our endless phone calls! 

i just have one more thing to say:

   WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON. ALL THE BEST IN THE NEW YEAR!

love

1 more day...

because its christmas eve and i am lazy and enjoying the relaxation i thought i would give you one of my favourite poems to read during this wonderful holiday season. have a great one!

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

love

2 more days...

i don't have a christmas thing as of yet...but yesterday mark and i did this:

i know...i posted a similar picture of this already. but this one is my own. the visit to the legislature grounds is one of my favourite things to do around christmas time. they play music in the speakers, the lights are gorgeous and everyone seems so peaceful walking around.

mark and i chose to go last night. rather late and cold...but we did manage to get this blurry shot:

happy christmas...two more days!
love

3 more days...

three more days people....eek!!! getting excited??? i am. everything is all together, i just have to buy a few grocery items and some wrapping paper as i ran out. but other than that i am really just counting down the days till the big guy comes!

today i attempted my first workout in (i don't even want to recall) how long. it felt fantastic and i am hoping to get back into the routine as i really do value what exercise brings to me.

in terms of christmas-y things. i went to my old job's christmas concert to see my former clients perform in all their christmas glory. they did fantastic and i must say i really do miss those guys. luckily i am able to go back for a bit of relief work this year and next. it was a fun day to hang out with them and all my former co-workers. YOU ALL DID SO AWESOME! :)

till tomorrow!!
love

4 more days...

the best thing about christmas time and the holiday season is something that many people don't have the time to do. relax. rest. sleep. that is what i did today. i managed to finish three spreads in my scrapbooking....one is right here. and i watched a bit of t.v, had a nap, and listened to christmas music. seriously best day ever. i keep telling myself i must get to the gym but sometimes lazy is so much fun! :)

tonight mark and i are doing a pub grub night. nachos, jalopeno poppers, mozza sticks, popcorn chicken and beer. its all for the hockey game...that i may watch! :) he he he

love

5 more days...

the baking continued today...and ended. i now have a new appreciation for mom making the things i just did and continuing to make more. it is hard work! but atleast the work is tasty and delicious! :)

i decided to take on mocha cake duty this year. from what i hear they are in many grocery stores in the maritime's but here nada. so i guess i am taking a bit of my background into christmas. messy but fun. and i am no longer the little red hen as mark rolled them in walnuts and coconut.

next up was the cherry flips. this has become my own personal tradition to make. i started making them because case's mom had them at her house and i loved them. got the recipe and started the process. they have now become my dad's favourite (and still mine). mark iced these as well! i really can't complain! ;)

now it is time for a bit of relaxation before work commences in a little bit! happy days!
love

6 more days...

i know i have written BUT this post is what i have done today. AND believe me...it has been a christmas filled! in the am we had a christmas brunch with some family friends that i have been celebrating christmas with since i was very very very young (proabably 20 years???). we exchanged presents, had wonderful food, and wonderful company...really i couldn't have asked for more!

next i decorated our beautiful tree with the billion ornaments i possess. mark was amazed as he didn't think we would have enough for the tree. little did he know... here is our picture:

while decorating the tree i had to watch a bit of christmas joy of my own. that entailed WHITE CHRISTMAS. my ultimate favourite christmas movie of all time! LOVE THAT ONE. mainly because i always think of my grampie and well up every time the soldiers come together in the end.

finally remember the cookie monster cookies...i decorated them tonight!

like the little red hen i am...he he he ;)

 love

7 more days...

whether it is at my place, your place, her place or his.

whether we have turkey, ham, fondue, roast, desserts, or appetizers

whether we play games, watch movies, go to candy cane lane, or just plain goof off

whether i can come, you can come, i am absent or you are

our christmas party always seems to go on after (i think) ten years now!

i love how we are all friends after this long (about 16 years now)!

since i don't have the pics from last nights festivities yet...here is a glimpse of past ones (and no i only went back four years)

2009

2008

2007

2006

love

p.s. i know this post is late but i did the dinner yesterday (on the seven day mark). what can i say, i am too busy celebrating christmas to post ;)

9 more days...

tonight is the last night of my first (long) clinical rotation. wow. what can i say. i have learned tons about myself, and my future job. but i am tired. assignments, research, and work really has me looking forward to the christmas break (plus i will only get so many more of these fantastic school breaks, right??).

today i managed to do some christmas baking. i did butterscotch squares. everyone seems to enjoy them. here is the recipe if you are interested:

 

1/4 cup of butter/margerine

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1 package of butterscotch chips

1 bag of mini coloured marshmallows

1 cup of rice krispies.

melt butter and peanut butter in a large saucepan over low heat. stir in chips till all are melted. cool until you can hold your hand onto the bottom of the pan. add marshmallows and rice krispies. stir until coated. pack down in a 9*9 pan that has been greased. refrigerate. cut in squares and enjoy!

AND i prepped the beginning of the cookie monster cookies. this is a recipe my mom got when i was little and she has been making it ever since. great recipe for easy cookies that one can decorate later. i will keep you posted on that one!

have a good one!

love

10 more days...

going through my old photo albums brought me to these little christmas items...

do you remember sitting on santa's knee?? i do...in fact it wasn't too long ago...

2003

2006

love

11 more days...

so i am stuck at home with the continous christmas cold. this time fevers, chills, throat pain...oh my! luckily i wrote a post yesterday about christmas-y things since today i am feeling a little grinch like (the cold and going to the doctor...grrrr). so here it is....

lights, camera, action!

i love christmas lights. some people go crazy, some go subltle, so have their own little style, while others follow the same suit. regardless i love it all. it makes me happy and i feel festive. back in the day when i worked in the mall my favourite time of day was that walk back home on closing shift. everything was quiet, no cars in site, except for christmas lights. they just make me so happy.

i didn't take any pics of ours...as i am not a great photographer when it comes to night time shots...but here are some lovelies to help you feel what i feel...

 photo credit

 photo credit

photo credit

photo credit

love

12 more days...

he he he...i know i missed a day. i told you it would happen. i really have no excuse. my assignments are done, i have no research to do this weekend but everything just got the better of me.

i must say i had a bit of the christmas blues this weekend. it hits me at times. sometimes it is just really hard to be away from my parents. everyone here is so great and supportive but a girl just misses her mom and dad once in awhile. luckily for me, calls are great and skype (er...well) is there.

but alas i have the most incredible, sweetest friends in my life (who i saw on sunday) to keep me laughing and listen to my sob stories. AND i have another special person in my life that constantly listens to my sob stories...and then i have my lovely mother who is there always to make me feel better.

so thanks girls, guy, and mom! i love you very much. you helped push the christmas-y blues out of my mind and focus back on the christmas season.

love

15 more days...

wow...15 more days??? are you guys ready for the big day??? i certainly am not. got a bit more shopping to do, lots more sights to see, many parties to attend, and tons of baking to commence. but i guess this is what the countdown is for!! ;)

today, what is my christmas thing?? well i was suppose to go to my first christmas party of the season. not only that, but i was going to see all my former colleagues from my old job. yes it was the staff christmas party!! i was pumped. i hadn't seen or talked to many of those ladies and gents in ages (only the occasional drop-by now and then). sooooo it was going to be fun. plus there was dancing, dinner and i would get to dress up...what more could i have asked for???!!

unfortunately, i caught a christmas bug. without going into too many grotesque details, i am sick. so i am going to sit with my christmas blankets and catch up on sleep. not a great one but a christmas-y thing all the same!

love

16 more days...

a christmas story:

a small little family of a young mom, young dad, little girl and little boy moved far far away.

they handled it well, keeping up with people from their hometown through letters and phone calls.

however as the christmas season approached, the little family got lonely. the young mom would make calls to her mother and father often during this time. this helped her and her young family in aiding the feelings of homesickness.

the father of the young mom took matters into his own hands. he went outside, looked at his lot of beautiful trees and cut one down. he wrapped it up as tight as can be and sent it in the mail.

the young mom received a wondrous surprise. her father had sent the young mom's family a little bit of home with that beautiful tree.

it was a wonderful christmas...and as tradition went: my family received a christmas tree every year from my grandparents up until they passed away.

this was the last tree we got:

love

17 more days...

i had an idea of what i would write about but this came in the mail...

christmas parcels! i love mail AND who doesn't love a parcel! :) eek!
and with that parcel...

sweets and with those sweets....

huge sweets!!!! ahhh seriously weight will have to be my friend this christmas!
love

18 more days...

in my car i brought out the christmas cd's. it is a 6 disc set with a of variety artists. i have already told you of one...here is that and some others...enjoy!







love

19 more days...

so i wasn't going to post today. no reason in particular, only to say i didn't think that i would be doing anything particularly christmas-y today. then a not-so-secret reader told me that i will be posting today as she needs it. i managed to figure out something....thank goodness for the grocery store! :)

so robyn....this is for you!!

christmas oranges and egg nog. unfortunately for me i don't think i bought enough egg nog as mark can drink endless amounts! hopefully the 4L i bought can hold him over for a week (at least i don't drink it). the oranges on the other hand i can't stay away from...

yum!
happy christmas days!

20 more days...

even with birthday celebrations yesterday, i still managed to sneak in a little christmas cheer. whether it was this gift i received from my mom:

...yes that is right. a christmas shower curtain. the bathroom now has a bit of cheer! :)

or getting out of the restaurant with mark and jimi, and walking towards the fantastically decorated tree at city hall. a tree whose lights look to be crying. OR as jimi says, "the tree is weeping because he can see that all his friends are books". yeah the library is across the street...lol

or listening to bony m pumped ever so loudly in the car with jimi and i bopping our heads while poor mark wonders how he ever got involved in this family...he he he

i heart you christmas season!

also: a heartfelt thanks to all those people that took me out to dinner, sent me facebook messages, phone calls, texts, and skypes. you truly are great friends and you made me feel so very special on my special day!

love

21 more days...

ahhh you really cannot escape the christmas food and going to the store yesterday was no exception. i found almond and cherry hershey kisses....so here is to christmas candy!

note also the most fabulous christmas mug right there...from my grammie. her christmas started when she brought out her christmas kettle...mine starts when i bring out my mug!

love

22 more days...

okay so i am kind of cheating...but i found this link to my favourite show...gee i wonder what that is?? he he. enjoy them singing christmas songs!!

love

23 more days...

what have i done that is christmas-y today (and yesterday)???

put the ornaments on my advent calendar...

love

24 more days...

christmas countdown is on. remember this? i wanted to do something special on my blog to celebrate my favourite season...christmas. i got to thinking and the countdown won. basically i will say something that i have done to celebrate christmas on a regular basis...or atleast i will do my best to make it regular....i mean i am still in school (p.s. mini countdown on that 17 more days!).

of the things i have done for christmas thus far:

-decorated the house for the lovely holiday season...minus the tree
-chritmas shopped and completed half the people on my list (parcel is already at my parents place)
-watched the family stone and my personal fav, miracle on 34th street...the natalie wood version (accept no substitutes)
-planted lovely christmas flowers (or atleast that is what i consider them)
-mark's dad put up our lights...i will officially turn them on now!!

the frenzy has begun...i am excited!
love