livingfamilytravelmediahome decor

Raisin Bread Breakfast Cups with Berries

berry breakfast cups

Hubby was looking for something new to add to his usual repertoire for Christmas brunch and decided on this Raisin Bread Breakfast Cup recipe. Everyone loved them (except for my son who won't eat foods that are mixed! I am hoping he will grow out of this one day soon). So I thought I'd share the recipe with you because they're super easy and light on the belly, so they'd be a nice weekend breakfast treat any time of year. Breakfast Cups … [Read more...]

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas 2013

IMG_00000419

Merry Christmas to you and yours! xo … [Read more...]

10 Reasons Why I Love My Beats Studio Headphones by Dr. Dre

overear-studio-wang-standard-fold-O

I was at the mall today. So I can personally vouch that if you have yet to pick out a perfect gift for someone special, you are definitely not alone! It is a busy world out there. But thanks to Staples, I can recommend the ideal gift for that person who seems to have everything: Beat Studio headphones by Dr. Dre. Whether they're a music lover, business traveller, or public transport devotee, these headphones will make life just that much more … [Read more...]

Handmade Christmas Cards

IMG_00000388

Do you still send out Christmas cards? I lapsed on this a few years back (okay, so maybe it was more than a "few" years back ... more like almost a decade ago!) and never got back on the wagon. But I still really enjoy the act of crafting with paper. My friend Kerry and I recently got together and spent a Sunday afternoon making handmade Christmas cards. There is something seriously calming about crafting. I had a great time and came home with … [Read more...]

Gift Guide for Young Boys (Age 4-7)

Toys for Boys

Are you reading this post because you haven't finished your Christmas shopping yet? Eep -- I haven't either! But, hey, there are still SIX WHOLE DAYS before Christmas Eve. And you know what that means? Yep, anyone who has all their shopping done before Christmas Eve is a super-organized super-star! So if you have a young boy on your list, like I do (my son Max is 5 years old), I have some great gift ideas for you! Playmobil Puzzle For … [Read more...]

This Package Made Me Cry.

IMG_00000274

I was working late, so I put a call into home to see how everyone was doing. My daughter's first words were: "A huge package arrived!" (My son's next words were: "Is it for me?") I asked Stella to check the label and see who had sent it. When she told me it was from Posterjack, I too felt excited and couldn't wait to get home! Remember this family photo that I loved so much, taken by local photographer Sarah McCormack? I had told her that I … [Read more...]

Gift Guide for Tween Girls ($30 or less)

marusenko spheres

Ah, the "tween." Such a silly, awkward moniker for that age when your child is no longer a "little kid," but not quite a full-on teenager yet either. But it really is a stage of its own and sometimes picking up a perfect present can be a little more challenging. You don't want to make the mistake of getting something too juvenile, but you also don't want to push something on them that's too grown-up either. If you're looking for ideas this … [Read more...]

Acceptance is for the Weak.

IMG_00000275

Okay, fine. I guess I *will* have to accept that winter is here and I will reluctantly bring in my patio furniture. This time of year is hard for many of us. We simply just want to hibernate and/or run away to a beach and live on coconut juice. I think this means it's time for me to crank up another Winter Resolution series, eh? Want to join me? I could sure use some company to keep up my morale! … [Read more...]

Meaningful Gifts at Christmas: Have You Ever Considered Giving a Goat? You Should! #PlanGOH

Goat2

I'm not particularly religious; so for me, Christmas is about children and the spirit of giving. That’s why I am excited to talk about Plan Canada’s Gifts of Hope program, which lets you give meaningful gifts by helping children in developing countries. Each of the Gifts of Hope are unique and bring real change to children in communities around the world. For example, one of the gifts that you can give is a goat. That’s right – a goat! The $75 … [Read more...]

Gift Ideas for Your Wine-Loving Girlfriends

fused glass wine charms

Wine and girlfriends go together like peanut butter and chocolate. If you're looking for a special little gift for one of your wine-loving girlfriends, here are my top 5 favourite picks. … [Read more...]

Remember how you used to scrapbook? Yeah, me too …

IMG_00000239

This time last week, I was madly searching throughout my basement for my scrapbooking supplies. My poor scrapbooks have been terribly neglected and ignored for years. But somehow I had gotten myself signed up for a weekend scrapbooking retreat with my long-lost scrapbooking buddies and now I needed to resurrect the stuff. … [Read more...]

Peanut-Free Cookie Recipes (Yummy!)

Whitewater Cooks Chocolate Chip Cookie logo (1)

I'm not sure why, but lately I feel like baking cookies. And I don't want to bake cookies that I can't include in my kids' lunches, so I was browsing about looking for peanut-free cookie recipes when the most obvious thing occurred to me: "Ask my baking-savvy blogging buddies!" But it seemed selfish not to share all this yummy goodness with you. So, here, my friends are some fabulous recipes for you to bookmark. … [Read more...]

I Will Remember.

cbc map

I will remember World War I. It began in central Europe in 1914 and in my home city of Ottawa, this is how many families experienced the loss of a loved one: CBC: click here to view this map online, with interactive links. I will remember World War II. My grandparents lived through this time. It is impossible for me to imagine the turmoil, fear, and grief that they must have all experienced. But I will remember. … [Read more...]

Ottawa Senators Tickets (100 Level! 4 Tickets!)

giveaway for Sens Tickets

Photo Credit: Kris Krug (Creative Commons) I have a confession to make: I've never seen an NHL game live. I always figured that if I said this out loud someone might revoke my Canadian citizenship, but you won't tell anyone will you? Sure, I've been to events at the arena where the Sens play (the most recent one that comes to mind is Oprah). But I guess I'm just cheap when it comes to watching live sports. It is seriously expensive to take a … [Read more...]

Tree Stump Furniture: I’m Obsessed!

Reclaimed wood side table

I'm not sure why, but I have developed a massive crush with tree stump furniture. By "furniture," I mean side tables or stools. I love the natural textures and the casual look of them. Plus, they are versatile and can be easily moved around to different rooms. I've been collecting images in a Pinterest board and here are some of my favourites: … [Read more...]

$185 in Cold, Hard Cash? Yes, Please! #FallCashGiveaway

#FallCashGiveaway

I like to save giveaways for Mondays. It just seems right somehow. So it gives me great pleasure to offer you something that I'm sure every single one of you could find a use for: CASH! Yep, that's right -- cold, hard cash. Not a toy, gift certificate, or coupon code. Just the straight cash this time. How? Well, it's because I've teamed up with some fabulous blogging friends (with big thanks to the two organizers: Tales of a Ranting Ginger and … [Read more...]

Amanda Lindhout and the Power of the Human Spirit

amanda

Thanks to the Ottawa International Writers Festival, I had the tremendous opportunity to meet Amanda Lindhout and hear her story in her own words. If Amanda's name does not ring familiar, let me explain who she is. She is a young Canadian woman who has published a memoir (A House in the Sky) of her experience as a hostage in Somalia for 460 days. Let that sink in for a moment: Four-hundred and sixty days. These were not 460 days in a … [Read more...]

Easy Appetizers: Bocconcini with fresh basil and tomato

bocconcini cheese

This easy appetizer is a new favourite of mine because it's light and doesn't leave you feeling all full before a meal. What you'll need: 1. Bocconcini balls 2. Cherry tomatoes 3. Fresh basil 4. Toothpicks 5. Balsamic vinegar What to do: Cut a bocconcini ball in half and slip it on the toothpick. Follow that with a full cherry tomato and then some fresh basil. Drizzle some balsamic vinegar over the top, and if you like, … [Read more...]

My Cosmetics Quest: A Review of 100% Pure Lip Glaze

clinique almost lipstick glaze in black honey

If you're not familiar with "My Cosmetics Quest," it's a journey I set for myself back in November of 2012 (you can read what sparked it off here). You can also catch up by reading related posts on face cream, body lotion, makeup primer, hair colouring, and shampoos and conditioners.   Okay, let's talk lip colour. Half the time, I forget to apply any kind of lip colour to my lips before running out the door. But really, I look much better with … [Read more...]

We are Thankful for Thanksgiving

Our oven needs replacing

It is starting to become a tradition for us to host Thanksgiving dinner at our home. When it comes to prep: Hubby handles the cooking, while I handle the decor. He doesn't get stressed out at all by having people over or cooking a big meal. In fact, he loves it! So we are especially enjoying this element of having moved into a house three years ago that can handle a large dinner gathering. One thing we didn't count on was our oven dying. … [Read more...]

10 Things that I Know for Sure at Age 42

what i know for sure at age 42

I share the same birth date as Candace and was so inspired by the piece she wrote in honour of turning one year older, that I asked her if she would mind if I did the same. Some days I feel like I know everything now that I'm 42, while other days I feel like I still know nothing. In between those extremes are the things that I now know for sure. Here they are ... … [Read more...]