The Holidays c/o my iPhone

Twelve Days of Christmas - Last Day of Work!

I am officially on VACATION! I have made the journey up to our family farm for the holidays and am so happy to be here. I will be posting throughout the holidays but I wanted to wish you all a happy holiday season!

EDIT - Twelve Days of Christmas - Movies

I would like to make a correction, rather an addition, to my Christmas movies list.

A Christmas Story, how could I forget you!

This movie taught me very valuable life lessons. Don't lick cold things. Don't play with BB guns and most importantly that every body's great Aunt gets them really unfortunate Christmas presents (and your parents will ALWAYS make you wear them).

A Christmas Story, I am sorry I left you out of my list.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Holiday Wrap

Well my list is complete. The shopping is done. The fun part is over.
Now on to the wrapping.

Every year I try to come up with a different way to wrap my gifts. Last year I used a beautiful red wrapping paper with a delicate red glitter damask. Unfortunately the red glitter stayed with me and my car for much longer then the holiday season.

This year I am going for the silver and gold theme. With the bows and accessories inspired by this and this.

{What do you use to make your gifts special?}

Twelve Days of Christmas - Holiday Goodies

I usually make baked goodies at this time of the year for my co-workers and this year was no exception. We had our Holiday Party yesterday and let me tell you leaving your baking to the last minute does not make for a fun time. I had two kinds of cookies on the go (because I was waiting for the boy to get home with the rest of my ingredients) and a cake! It was a kitchen nightmare. Stuff everywhere! Luckily they turned out.

I used jars instead of boxes this year but they did not hold enough...left overs means I will eat them. All. Probably in one night.

{ I made a Chocolate Espresso Cookie and a Chewy Ginger Cookie - This is the only picture I am willing to share, the mess managed to creep its way into the rest of them!}

Twelve Days of Christmas - Christmas Music

I have a confession. I am a little crazy when it comes to Christmas music. If I had things my way I would start listening to Holiday music as soon as I was excited for the season...usually around the end of Canadian Thanksgiving (early October). My family, however, have banned me from listening to it until November 1st. Since I love Christmas music so much I have put together a list of my fav christmas albums!

White Christmas - Bing Crosby

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole

The Christmas Album - Frank Sinatra

Winter Wonderland - Roger Whittaker

Elvis Christmas - Elvis Presley

Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan

Christmas - Michael Bublé

A Very She & Him Christmas - She & Him

Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey

Christmas Album - Glee: The Music

{ This list is no particular order}

{Song for a Winters Night is actually my favourite off this album but there is no video for it! - Thanks again YouTube!}

Twelve Days of Christmas - Movies

One thing that always gets me in the Holiday mood is catching a Holiday movie on TV. The other night, during a late dinner, I caught the end of an old movie that I had never seen before Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Every year I make it a priority to watch....

1.) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

2.) The Ginch How Stole Christmas - the cartoon version

3.) Rudolf

4.) Elf - this one is a little lower on the list cause its a newie (at least in comparison)

5.) Miracle on 34th Street

6.) Scrooged

7.) Home Alone

8.) A Christmas Carol - the Muppet's version (funny how movie you watch when your young stay with you)

9.) The Family Stone

10.) The Holiday

And just to get you in the mood - this is one of my favourite parts of my number 1 pick!

{Yaayyy for the Holidays! and thank you YouTube for always having what I am looking for!}

Twelve Days of Christmas - Secret Santa Gift Ideas

We have a Secret Santa gift exchange going on at work and I lucked out with a co-worker I actually have something in common with! We have a $25.00 limit so I have been searching online for ideas. So far I have found a few things I think might work.

(PS. My Secret Santa Giftee is Stacy so the items might be a little girly for any of you looking for gift ideas for a manly man)

{1. Criss Cross Mitss - Indigo $22.50, 2. Monogrammed Mugs - Anthropologie $ 8.00, 3. Art Deco Box - Indigo $14.75 , 4. Maple Syrup Candle - The Drake General Store $15.00, 5. Hammered Bowl - Indigo $24.50, 6. I Heart You Egg Shaper - The Drake General Store $10.00, 7. Tic Tac Toe - Indigo $19.50, 8. Campbells Soup Game - The Drake General Store $18.00}

Twelve Days of Christmas - One of a Kind Show

Every year my sister, my mom and I go to the One of a Kind. It is, technically, a craft show but in actuality it is so much more. I love having the opportunity to see all of the amazingly creative people living locally (for the most part). I couple items I picked up this year include a hand knit scarf (snood but I don't know how I feel about that term), delish shortbread (original, chocolate and lavander) and my christmas cards (thats right I did not choose any of my previous picks see here)!

{Grey Wool Snood, Shortbread from Coach House Shortbread Co. & Let It Snow Postcards by Flakes Paperie}

Twelve Days of Christmas - Christmas Cookies!

Every year I make dozens of holiday cookies to give to family, friends, co-workers and neighbours. I always make a variety, last year I made Checker Board Shortbread, Gingerbread and

 

This year I am stepping up my game with a few new options! 

 

{ Candy Cane Stripped Cookies, Chew Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies, Chocolate Peppermint Cookies, Surprise Cookie, Peppermint Meringue}

All images and recipes from Martha Stewart

Twelve Days of Christmas - Holiday Dresses (Top Shop)

I love holiday parties. Especially having the opportunity to dress up. Recently Top Shop came to Canada so taking advantage of the new retail outlet I have picked out a few numbers that I think would suite my needs this holiday season!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

Twelve Days of Christmas - Warm and Cozies

It has been an unusually mild fall but that hasn't stopped me from wanting to snuggle up on a Sunday afternoon with a hot cup of cocoa and a good holiday movie. In my vision of my snuggly Sunday afternoon I am surrounded by pretty things....like these!

{Robe - Anthropologie, Blanket - Dwell Studios, Pillow - Dwell Studios, Pillow - West Elm, Candles - West Elm, Pillows - West Elm}