Winter Cooking

My favorite thing about winter is FOOD! Lets face it, food is 0ne of my favorite things period! I do however think that in the winter family dinners happen more often. I am not sure I can attribute it to the colder weather or the many holidays that happen come winter but I love it! I am a sucker for family dinners!

A few friends and I steadily exchange recipes and this year many of them are centering around slow cookers. I must admit I am not too familiar with my slow cooker but the idea is fabulous! I work Monday to Friday and would like nothing more than to come home to a mouthwatering dinner - ready to eat! In our house we have decided to have once weekly dinner gatherings and I am going to commit to using my slow cooker this season as much as possible.

Check out this great site for slow cooker ideas!!!

http://www.canadianliving.com/food/menus_and_collections/slow_cooker_recipe_collection.php

Happy Cooking Folks!!

E

2010 - Oh the possibilities!!

I hope you all survived the holidays and are happily entering the new year! This year is going to be a great one..I can feel it.

It may have to do with what happened in my life over Christmas this year.. My boyfriend Dave and I got engaged on Christmas eve, in Tofino. It was super romantic and everything I'd always hoped it would be. We are thinking that it we will shoot for August of 2011 to make sure we are sufficiently prepared!

This year I am focusing on making goals and attaining them. I have decided to make a short list as well as a long one. I'm thinking six month goals and year long ones, I have never before written down and committed to completing "goals". I think it a great step towards growing up.

Do you have any resolutions or goals for this year?

******Christmas Cards!********

I am a big card giver at Christmas time! Dave and I enjoy sending cards to all of our family, it's a great way to feel close during the holidays as most of our loved ones are on the other side of the country!

I am definately feeling the crunch this year! I am handmaking all of my cards this year and having so much fun! I think that handmade cards are so special, giving your time and making something personal for each family is an extra step that i just love to take! I am almost done all my cards now and just in the nick of time, according to the Canada Post Holiday Suggested Mailing Times I will be going to get envelopes today or tomorrow in anticipation of my deadline on the 16th!

I added these cards to this post to give you some ideas and maybe you will pull out your craft stuff and get your creative juices flowing! I also check the kwerner designs blog for inspiration its FABULOUS!!

Happy Crafting !

E

TGIF - Four Shopping Weeks Left!!

This weekend its all about Christmas for me! I am decorating the house, the office and finishing up my Christmas cards! Have I mentioned I LOVE Christmas?

I have been thinking about the supplies I need to get down and dirty making every ones gifts! I have so much to do and so little time...a much heard seasonal chant. I have also been thinking, as usual around this time of year how can I help?

This season is famous for massive spending and consumerism..lets take a moment to just be thankful for what we have! Our Families, near and far, Our health, though we may have challenges we are here to enjoy yet another Christmas.

So many people around the world have little or nothing and its times like these that we must cherish our many gifts and think of those in need. Keep them close to our hearts and in our minds and be aware that if we are in a position to help those less fortunate, now is as good a time as any to give all you can.

Be it sponsoring a local Charity dinner, lending a hand buying presents for a family that you know needs it, or just offering a smile to someone having a bad day - Each one of these things keeps the spirit of the holiday alive.

When I was a nanny for children aged 3 and 5 we decided that at Christmas time we would go through all of their toys and choose some to give away to children in need. The kids were so generous and had so much fun delivering them to the shelter, they really felt that they had made someones holiday that much brighter and I encourage each family to do the same. Teaching your children the value of sharing and caring is something that will stay with them throughout their lives and hopefully bring an end our our often selfish ways...



Cheers and may your holiday season
be magical!



E

Make it - Vancouver!

This weekend I went to a lovely little craft/gift fair....

Make It!

The Handmade Revolution

was showcasing local talent and I went to peruse the merchandise.

I was pleasantly surprised by the selection and there were quite a few things that caught my eye!

Here are a few photos that give you an idea of just what treasures could be found...and remember this was all about being local so these wondrous gifts are all around the city! Keep your eyes peeled!

Take care,

E

'Tis The Season

38 Sleeps, 13 Hours, 35 Minutes till Christmas!!!

Hello all and and may I say that I for one am SO excited for this Christmas season. I can already feel the cheer building up! I am among the many that consider Christmas time magical and just LOVE everything about it. I have long since started on my Christmas gifts and am well on my way to knowing just what everyone is getting form Dave and I this year.

I do try and make something special for each of my friends to go along with the customary baking that is expected each year! This year I am downsizing our gifting commitment as we are going to be out of town for the holiday. We are going to visit Dave's brother Brian and his girlfriend Mindy in Tofino! We are expected around December 23rd and will stay till Sunday the 27th then head back to the mainland for work on Monday the 28th.

I have quite a few projects I'd like to get underway in the next little while like....I am going to make braided rugs from random material found in the house for our laundry room! I'd like to re-learn to crochet, learn to do needle point and perhaps even cross stitch! I am also tossing a few homemade gift ideas around as well like...change purses, slippers, pj pants, jewelry...

I am going to document my Christmas preparations this year in a mini scrap album called Countdown to Christmas. I got this Fabulous idea from good friend and fellow blogger Sheila Ho at Life's Like That..check out her progress here.

Until next time folks,

E

Eat, Live, Pray

I have started my "smart" reading for this year off with a bang. This charming book has made it a smooth transition from smutt to smart..let me explain.

I have some strange ideas about silly reading versus smart reading. Books that make me think and punch out the sides of my proverbial box are considered "smart reading" as apposed to romance novels and the like that are just fluff and for fun, great they are, but they do not make me ponder lifes questions.

Each year during the summer months I fill my head with fanciful stories from swashbuckling pirates to ladies in distress..by reading historical type romance novels. Among my favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Jude Deveraux, Julia Quinn and Hannah Howell. I like to think that I transport myself on vacations of sorts. Then in the Fall when school begins again I revert to my so called "smart books" and try and read current novels that may come up in discussion at a dinner party, in a local coffee or may invoke a question from a fellow bus rider.

The first of my books this fall is Eat, Pray, Love a book recommended by a lovely lady I went to school with. It follows a strong womens adventure to Italy, India and Indoniesia to find herself. It's very well written, witty and easy to follow. I found myself almost immediatly at bat for the books main character, Elizabeth. I am almost done the novel now and I am looking forward to seeing how she does! I was refreshed by her open attitude and the raw vulnerability she so vividly displays throughout the book! Good for her for taking the leap most of us only dream of.

I would recommend this book to anyone! It's a definate page turner and implores you to live life in the now and search for yourself, your true self, amongst all the nitty gritty that life throws at you!

Take care of yourself and each other,

E