my weekend in summary - Christmas 2010

this weekend is an easy weekend in summary - because Christmas whips by us without so much as a whisper...
Friday: we packed up everything for Christmas (including our gifts), and drove to peterborough to my gma's house. last year was the first year that we spent Christmas Eve at our grandma's house - it makes thinks less hectic on Christmas Day. and even though it's nice to sleep in your own bed, it's a blessing every time i get to spend a day with my gma - and watch her enjoy life. Unfortunately this was also the first year we spent not as a whole family - as my sister K has moved to Vancouver, so we were missing her presence the whole weekend.
Saturday: Christmas morning began early (as it always does). we woke up, opened presents, and then after cleaning up, we had our traditional eggs benedict for breakfast. then, my parents went for a walk, and my sister and i watched Sex and the City 2. We waited for K to call. Once we had a chat with her, people started showing up for dinner. Dinner at our family events are a combination of a feast, 18 conversations, and playing 3 comedy-genre movies at once. People wonder why I am the way I am, but I have learned that my ADHD has been a fantastic coping mechanism for fitting in, in my family! People think we're joking, but in reality, everyone who comes to a family event (as it seems to work as a test for future relationships) sits in shock and awe the first few times. We are an extremely close knit family, and we have a lot of fun.
knitting with the cousins
we worked on the food - turkey, ham, potatoes, carrots, turnip, tofurkey, 3 kinds of stuffing, 2 kinds of gravy (dinner with vegans and vegetarians can get complicated), and finally the nearly 30 of us sat down to eat. we gorged ourselves on food - photos to follow - and then ate desert that none of us needed. we then found a movie - as the 'kids' always go out to see a movie on Christmas night - and headed to the 10:10pm show of the fighter. Amazing. Go see it.
Christmas dinner with part of the gang
Sunday: woke up fairly late (11 ish), and then after taking some major pain meds, went to the mall for some seriously slow boxing day shopping. it took twice as long as normal, but we were successful in getting some good deals. i also got to spend some time with my cousin, and then at the second mall, with my friend elise - my lisey doll - who i donned with at laurier. it was so great to catch up with her.... the last time i saw her was at homecoming. when we got home, my grandma had 'cooked' (aka. ordered chinese food), and we had yet another family dinner... it was awesome. my cousin then picked me up to go out for the night - we went to her friend's house, then to two bars where we met 2 more of my cousins - her brothers. it was a great night to hang out with them... they were like my brothers when we were little, and i love spending time with them.
3 of the brothers.... from left, my dad and 2 brothers
it was a fantastic weekend with my family... i'm so lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.

countdown to Christmas: 1 day - holiday food

Until recently, I had spent Christmas eve with my friend Chantel's family - but as the years go on, we want to spend more and more time with my gma, and the fam. so, now we drive to my gma's place on Christmas eve, and spend Christmas morning with everyone - no travelling required!
needless to say my 2nd favourite part about the holidays (ALL holidays) is food - next to family.
i love it all. i love food in general, and when there is an excuse to eat a lot of it, i become an extremely happy person. a few holiday food pieces to share...
1. a tutorial on icing sugar cookies like a CHAMP (from cupcakes and cashmere)


2. recipe and tutorial on latkes (my best friend jake half celebrates hannukah - i should make excuses to eat these more)
3. there is nothing i like more than my mom's gingersnaps. though... i would be willing to give these peanut butter ginger snaps a shot.

I hope everyone gets their traditions in this evening - safety first!

countdown to Christmas: 2 days - all i want for Christmas... is you

a few things i've been pining over for the holidays... and things that i may buy myself once the holidays are over....



1. cement pearls - from metsa design
2. pan set from mjolk Japan
3. world map from these are things
4. pocket fern dress from red prairie press
5. handmade paper bunting from toast (well... anything from toast really)
6. handcuff necklace from erica weiner (i have her harmonica necklace, and LOVE it)
7. 'bliss' necklace from laurel denise at room 6
8. personalized family tree from Lake Jane on etsy
9. watch - the small player or the chalet from nixon
10. hand embroidered pendant from the merriweather council on etsy

countdown to Christmas: 3 days - holiday party clothing... and everything in between

i just love an excuse to a) dress up, and b) wear sequins. so the holiday parties that come with the holiday are ample oppourtunity to wear classy, trashy, and just plain shiny outfits. my favourites below.
party wear from cupcakes and cashmere
nail art
sequins - lots and lots of sequins.
wear it loud, wear it proud. i'm pretty sure i heard that in reference to a drag show - but who's to say it's not relevant in day-to-day life??