holiday check list

i look forward to the xmas holiday season.  i like the hustle and bustle of people everywhere.  i like choosing and decorating the xmas tree.  i like the holiday treats.  i like the xmas music.  i like the holiday festivities happening in the city. 

 

yet, once the holidays are here, i forget to do most of what i love about the season.  so, with 12 days left to xmas here’s hoping i can check off each and every item on my holiday to do list (wishful thinking, i know):

 

* listen to xmas music every day
okay, i will be more realistic, listen to xmas music most days.  my personal favourite is ella fitzgerald.  however, i am coveting a very she and him christmas by zoooey deschanel and m. ward; zooey has a voice made for xmas music.

 

* bake and decorate cookies
with the help of the lovely melanie, i could check this item off my to do list but alas once isn’t enough.  i have never been a cook and certainly not a baker so i can’t fully explain my intense urge to partake in more baking and decorating.  two such occasions are already in the planning.  i. cannot. wait!  and if they are any good, maybe i can actually give them as gifts (that would be amazing).

 

* drive around and look at the lights
it never fails, a fully decked out house in xmas lights and decorations puts a smile on my face.  i can’t help it.  i hear the strathcona neighbourhood is a good one for just this activity. 



image from a home in surrey



* watch xmas movies
thus far i have only watched elf – hilarious every single time.  i envision lighting the fire and enjoying some classics (new and old) like how the grinch stole christmas, the polar express, a christmas carol, miracle on 34th street, and it's a wonderful life.

 

* walk the capilano suspension bridge
the park looks magical all lit up for the holidays.  i have always wanted to go but could never actually hand over the monies for the entrance fee.  maybe this year is the year. 

  

* visit the gingerbread houses taking up residence downtown
take an afternoon to visit hyatt’s gingerbread lane… followed by some lunch at one of the many downtown restaurants and perhaps some shopping too.  now, that sounds like a nice afternoon.

 

* stroll the grounds of vandusen botanical gardens while drinking hot chocolate
their annual festival of lights is pretty awesome; dancing lights and candy cane lane.

if you know of any other vancouver festivities that should be put on my check list, do let me know.  what's on your holiday check list?

have a lovely weekend.

candy cane goodness



do you know a perfect way to keep that holiday spirit going?  eat candy cane, of course.

it is the holiday snack... candy cane peppermint anything!  i had been indulging (too much!) on minty goodness for a couple of weeks when my girlfriend told me about the president choice candy cane chocolate fudge crackle ice cream and i about lost my mind.  what have i been missing out on?!  naturally, i have been obsessing about it ever since until last night...

i finally drove all the way to the superstore to pick up a tub. so. very. good.  try it.  it will be the best candy cane ice cream you will ever have. 

for your snacking pleasure, i share my edited list of other minty goodness:

* beta 5 holiday chocolate bar with bits of candy cane and cocoa nibs

* lindt lindor chocolate truffles with a peppermint centre

* president choice's candy cane eat the middle first oreo cookies

* chapman's yogurt mint chocolate flakes ice cream

now, go eat candy cane and experience joy.

i covet... (hint!)

now that i have a xmas tree, i have begun to imagine the presents underneath it.  here are some things i am coveting...

perhaps you can use it as a gift guide that may inspire what you choose to wrap and place under the tree; a gift to self or that special someone in your life (your mom, your sister, your girlfriend, your partner, etc.).



i like the idea of personalizing this bracelet with kai's birthday or a secret message in latin









pyjamas always make a great gift; these are pretty nice but any will do...





blue sapphire earrings; my favourite gem 





a tripod for my iphone... so clever!





i recently tried on this blouse in green; blouses from aritzia always fit nicely



moccasins like these ones from free people



this photograph from 20x20; one print left!







clarisonic, a cult hero, for my aging skin







moroccan inspired blanket from here... loving the pops of colour



 



this juicer so i can make spinach and berry smoothies every morning





ugg slippers for around the house







this cozy kitty sweatshirt in a medium please :-)





a subscription to this magazine







egg cooking spoons for the perfect boiled egg... i almost never get it just right







a blow-dry... so i can have gorgeously styled hair for a night out





a dog please. pretty please? with a cherry on top?

 

weekend pics

one weekend and three highlights...

#1. kai and i started the weekend with the magical cirque du soleil.  it was our first and i think it will become an annual tradition.  we were both amazed, kai was definitely awe-struck.  the acts were spectacular and insane -  my favourite was a woman who built an enormous mobile out of palm ribs, holding it/balancing it with one hand and picking up new ribs from the floor with her toes; it was breathtaking (the audience was as still as she was!).  another favourite was a woman doing a balancing/contortion act on top of a huge bowl of water (i had to remind myself to shut my mouth!). i don't have any other cirque show to compare amaluna too, but we liked what we saw.  will you see it?

 

image from here



image from here

 #2. the highlight of the weekend was going on a 'hunt' for our christmas tree and decorating the house with all things christmas-y!  i even managed to get some christmas shopping done too.  

the h and m christmas tree farm was a nice outing with an open camp fire, hot apple cider (so good!) and free hot dogs.  they provided the saw and the christmas music!  kai had fun running around looking for the perfect christmas tree.  and we did end up with the perfect imperfect christmas tree... we call it slant-y.











 



 

 

some (decorating) scenes from home:  

 





our holiday chocolate, cookies, and candy stash... yum!





#3. this weekend was kai's final soccer game of the year - this means no practise, no games, and no standing in the rain for a few weeks... yes, a definite highlight but if you tell kai i will have to deny it :-)

hoping your weekend included some highlights too.