Blogmas 2014 (Day 11)

Day 11blogmas

 

All this talk about food is seriously making me hungary… please tell me its doing the same to you?

As you seen in my previous post I shared some of the holiday baking I do and that is usually started now and next week. Although I have been known to bake the week of Christmas.

Now I will share with you all the food that will be made and consumed this holiday season.

Christmas Eve Day:

  • turkey with stuffing (my dh makes the best stuffing)
  • potatoes
  • carrots with tunip
  • gravy
  • salad
  • fresh buns
  • dessert is from what I made

Christmas Day:

  • (Morning)
    Its usually eggs, ham or bacon, toast, fruit bowl, orange juice with coffee
  • (Lunch)
    Its always left over turkey with the whole thing again or just sandwiches and salad
  • (Dinner)
    Its the same meal as Christmas eve but at my in laws. My mother in law makes one of the best homemade soups so we tend to have that before the turkey dinner and her dessert is usually the drum cake.

I am sure we will all have a similar menu but it would be nice to know if you do something different.

 

 

Blogmas 2014 (Day 10)

Day 10blogmas

One of the best things about Christmas is all the baking and food I make.

One of my holiday staples is

fruitcake
Photo taken from The Spiffy Cookie on pinterest

a Peach Fruit Cake. (Check back this weekend for the recipe). I make this every year and we love it.

mincemeatpies

Mincemeat Tarts. I grew up with this. My mother would always make tons of these in November and freeze them for December. Super easy to make and all you need is froze tart shells (I can’t make pie crust if my life depended on it LOL) and a jar of mincemeat. Scoop to fill each tart cover with pie crust cut a slit to let the steam escape and bake until golden brown.

mincemeatpillows

Another staple that I always make is called the Mincemeat Pillow Cookies (I will also have that recipe coming up on the blog very soon).

fudge

Finally the last thing I always make is Fudge. I always make two batches one with walnuts and the other plain. I will be sharing that on the blog very shortly as well.

What do you make for the holiday?

A great Stocking Stuffer Idea “Send A Cow”

sendacow
the charity’s ambassador Gloria the cow

I have a love and hate relationship with Christmas. I love everything about it from decorating to baking but the one things I hate about it is the shopping. Please tell me I am not the only one, am I?

If I have  a list of ideas then I am okay but if I have to shop for someone who has everything and really doesn’t know what they want then then I am stuck! What do you get that person? Do you buy them whatever and hope that they will use it and not pass it on?

Well my dear readers I think I have one of the best ideas out there for that person that is hard to shop for, let me introduce you to this amazing company called Send a Cow.

About Send a Cow

Send a Cow was started by West Country farmers 25 years ago and in that time has transformed the lives of over one million people. Send a Cow works hand-in-hand with families in Africa, teaching them the skills they need to build lives free from poverty and hunger. By providing training, livestock, seeds and support, the charity helps create stronger communities for the future.

Send a Cow works with poor families in seven African countries, providing practical farming assistance that will last for generations to come and supporting families through every step of their journey out of poverty.

For the past few years we have always been supporters of giving friends and family living gifts in all shapes and forms and I have discussed one of those in previous blog posts and another one will be up on the blog shortly.

I think as a parent its important to let our children know that there are so many people in this world that have nothing and are just scrapping by to live when we have so much that we honestly take it all for granted. We need to teach them that we all need to give back in some form and honestly every little bit helps.

So if your looking for that special gift to give please check out Send a Cow’s Christmas catalogue because they contain gifts that make a difference to poverty-stricken families in seven African countries. Gifts range from ‘Local Cow’ (£205), which provides a farming family with milk and manure; ‘Little Donkey’ (£9) which helps families take good care of their four-legged friends who transport farm produce to market; and ‘Tip Tap’ (£10), a bestseller which improves hygiene levels in areas where soap and water are luxuries.

Gifts start out at £5 and go all the way up to £1450.

Send a Cow’s Christmas catalogue is available in print and online – go to www.sendacowgifts.org.uk 

This week I plan on purchasing a few things to add into stockings and to teacher’s gifts. Will you be doing the same?

Thanks to Jack from Send a Cow for making me aware of this great organization.

GlossyBox November Edition

glossy-box

Glossybox is a bespoke box of 5-6 luxury-sized cosmetic and wellness samples hand-picked by our beauty experts and mailed directly to your door. No matter which subscription plan you choose, from once-a-month to just once, this box is perfect little present from you to you!

There are four different types of GLOSSYBOX subscriptions: a monthly package ($21/month), a 3-month package ($60), a 6-month package ($115), and a 12 month package ($220). All regular subscriptions are recurring, unless cancelled within the term deadline. Please note that Canadian addresses will incur a $5 shipping fee. So be sure to add $5 on to the above totals.

Please note that if you use my referral link and sign up I will receive points that I can use towards a free box, so I invite you to use THIS LINK it will be greatly appreciated.

Yesterday I got my first USA GlossyBox. I was super excited to get this because I have always loved GlossyBox when they were in Canada. This was one of my favorite subscription services.

The outer box has stayed the same as before as is the Glossy Box itself which is nice because the boxes can be reused for something else since they are sturdy and I believe all my previous Glossy Boxes are currently being used.

IMG_0004

 

One thing I noticed right away was the product card. Its on cardstock which is nice. The product card list what the products are, suggest retail value (SRV) of the item, the size of the full size item and tips on how to use the product.

I love the card because its laid out with the item and its spread out and not jam packed on it.

Lets get into the box shall we. As you can see I got 5 items.

 

 

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The first thing I smelled right away was the Kneipp Herbal Bath: Balancing Lavender. I just discovered what lavender can do for you within the last year or so and I have to say what they said was true. I have been using the oil for quite some time to helped me with my mental fatigue and getting me to sleep. So being able to try this herbal bath has been great. The tip suggest using half a bottle but I have been using less then that and I think I am going to get about 4 baths out of this bottle.

SRV = $20 for 3.38 fl oz and I got 0.67 fl oz $5.50

12 Benefits instant Healthy Hair Treatment. This is a leave in treatment that will help correct the damage from chemical processing, pollution and heat styling. The 12 benefits include seals color, smoothes, repairs, prevents split ends, moisturizes, and a few other things. It smells really good. I haven’t tried this yet because I am waiting to get my hair colored then I will test it out.

SRV= $20 for 6 oz and I got 1.5 oz $5

I believe I got something similiar in my Canadian Glossy Box at one point and its the Kryolan For Glossy Box. Its a Blusher in Glossy Pink. I went looking for it but I couldn’t find it (perhaps over Christmas I will). This is a blush that labelled for all so depending on your skin tone it will give different looks.

SRV= I believe this is a full size $16.17 for 0.09 oz (how weird of a price is that?)

OPI Nail Lacquer in Pink Outside The GlossyBox. I believe this was made just for GlossyBox which I think is really nice. It looks white in the photo but in real life its a very pale pink. Its a great color to put on when you want something on your nails but not alot of color. I love OPI polishes. I put this on yesterday and I am sure throughout this season and future ones this will be worn alot. I love that its a limited and special edition because you know only GlossyBox subscribers have this.

SRV= This is a full size item $9.50 for 0.5 fl oz

Finally the last item in the box is by Juice Beauty and its a Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer.  I have gotten this brand before and I don’t recall if I have used my samples up hmm I will need to check on that. I like that this is suppose to replenish and firm your skin. I love that its organic as well. I am excited to try this out.

SRV= $45 for 2 oz and I got 0.5 fl oz for $11.25.

My over all thoughts on the first box is that I am truly impressed. I have been waiting for GlossyBox USA to finally ship to Canada once ours closed and I really hope that it stays and that we get amazing boxes. SRV wise this box was valued at $47.42 as you can see the box did pay for itself and I am quite pleased with what I got.

What do you think?

Blogmas 2014 (Day9)

Day 9blogmas

 

I ain’t gonna lie but I really don’t like winter and if I could stay in the house the whole time I would be more then happy to. Its hard to believe this is coming from an east coast girl eh? I grew up with winters like this so I should be use to it but I find the older I get the less I can tolerate it. Anyone else like this?

Anyways back to the topic at hand. Here are a few items that I can’t live without during the winter season:

book_piles

 

One of the main things I can’t live without is books. I love curling up on the couch and reading on cold miserable winter days.

hotcoffee_2

A nice big cup of either hot chocolate, apple cider or tea is my survival for the winter months. I think I drink more hot drinks this time of year then any other time.

candle

Not sure if anyone else does this but I find that come the winter months I am always burning candles more so then any other time of the year.

Vaseline_Sheer_Infusion

Another thing I can’t live without is lotion. My hands get so try that I am constantly putting lotion on them.

What about you?

Ready For Christmas Tag 2014

christmas-presents
I had so much fun doing this last year that I thought I would bring it back again this year.
Please leave me a comment if you are posting this because I tag each and everyone of you.
1) What’s your favorite holiday movie?
My favorite holiday movie has to be Miracle on 34th Street and Polar Express.
2) What’s your favourite Christmas colour?
My favorite Christmas colours (yes I am adding more then one) is red and white (or silver). I just love that combination.
3) Do you like to stay in your PJs or get dressed up for Christmas?
We usually stay in our PJs until we have to go to my in laws for dinner but this year will be different because my sister in law and her family is coming into town this year so we will probably have everyone here for breakfast that morning.
4) If you could only buy one person a present this year who would it be?
If I could only buy one person a gift this year it would have to be for Michael because he truly deserves it. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing young man for my son. He is good, works hard and literally doesn’t give me any problems. He makes me proud each and every day.
5) Do you open your presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
We open presents on Christmas day.
6) Have you ever built a ginger bread house?
Yes I made one one year but never did it again. Perhaps one year with enough planning we might do it again.
7) What do you like to do on your Christmas break?
Since I am a stay at home mom during Christmas break we like to try and sleep in, watch movies and basically just take it easy. We need a break from the day to day routine providing we don’t have any hockey or curling plans.
8) Any Christmas wishes?
My only Christmas wish is for everyone to be happy and healthy this holiday season and to be kind to everyone.
9) Favourite Christmas smell?
My favorite smell is cookies baking.
10) Favourite Christmas meal or treat?
My favorite Christmas meal is the whole turkey dinner with potatoes, veggies, stuffing and cranberry sauce. My favorite treat is in Hungarian its Dobos Torta which means Hungarian Drum cake. My mother in law makes it every year and its alot of work. Here is the Dobos Torte Recipe .

Merry Christmas Everyone

All I Want For Christmas Is… #4

alliwantforchristmas (1)

Danya from A Tapestry of Words started this fun little feature on her blog called All I Want For Christmas Is… and basically what you do is share your wishlist of books. I thought that this would be something fun to do perhaps on a weekly bases until Christmas. Can you believe we are a little over a month to go?

I am no where near being started so over the next few weeks I will be shopping, shopping and more shopping for gifts for my family and two Secret Santas I am taking part in. Are you ready?

Here is my 5 books this week: (Sorry had to edit this darn Amazon has my widget messed up)

  • Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
  • One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington
  • Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington
  • Endless by Jessica Shirvington
  • Enpower by Jessica Shirvington