A Lovely Thing About Christmas...

"A lovely thing about Christmas is that it is compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together..."-Garrison Keillor

Ah, Christmas. Obligatory church (that we always enjoy), fried ham sandwiches, Nat King Cole and family. Nothing beats it. Traditions, they are funny things, everyones are different and equally as important....  I hope everybody has a wonderful holiday season, whether they celebrate or not, that traditions were repeated with vigor and that the new year brings all kinds of new and wonderful experiences. For now check out some very festive inspiration!
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Love all of this...every last bit!

Rectangle wreath!

White on white..with handmade felt rosettes!

Bling!

Very unique

My Favorite!

What my parcels looked like this year. Cute right?

I Believe That If Life Gives You Lemons...

"I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade...and try to find someone who's life has given them vodka...and have a party!"- Ron White

I was on Cupcakes and Cashmere and was inspired! Infused liquors! Sure, I have done all that before...raspberries make awesome vodka and even better vessels to put vodka in my belly. But! I had never thought using that as a gift. Brilliant!

Here is what I did... I bought a massive, I am talking big enough to comatose a couple of people, bottle of vodka. I sliced up a lemon, pulled off some fresh mint and opened up a pomegranate. I poured the vodka in mason jars, added a few slices of lemon, a couple sprigs of mint and some pomegranate seeds. I sealed them up and let them sit for four days. The vodka turned pink, and I strained it and poured it into individual bottles...to be served with soda and a slice of lime, or however the recipient likes to dress up their vodka!
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The idea Of Licking Stamps...

"The idea of licking stamps seemed like great fun to me!"- Moon Unit Zappa

I like to be just a little bit crafty, just a little thrifty and I also like to ensure people know a little bit of time and effort was put into their gifts. One way I do this is by making my own tags for gifts. Super simple, cost effective and they make the gift seem a little more festive (I do think Martha S.would approve!).  This year I went for lime green...I usually do black and silver but my wrapping paper is tartan with a black ribbon so I thought the green packed a bit of a sparkly punch!

What I do:

Cut small pieces of card stock (I used cream), used a festive stamp in festive ink and edged it with glue and glittered the glue while still damp. I went with "JOY" and a really fun partridge in a pear tree one! Cute right?
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Life Would Be Better If...

"Life would be better if girls had mute buttons, boys had edit buttons, bad times had fast forward buttons and good times had pause buttons."-Unknown

A nurse on the birth unit got creative and started to make earring's, selling them for $6, proceeds to fund her nursing licence as she was on maternity leave. They are cute fabric covered buttons and after purchasing two pairs, I had to try and make them myself. They are super simple, everything you need can be purchased at Walmart and they are a perfect budget-busting,DIY gift for friends during the holiday season.

You will need:
-assorted fat quarters of fabric (a buck square)
-earring posts and backs
-hot glue gun
-fabric coverable buttons

The directions are on the back of the button box, but you basically cut a small square of fabric, a little bigger than the button you will be covering. Place fabric followed by button in the white rubber holder, tuck the edges in and place button back on top. Pop back into place with the smaller ring they provide. Next push down the grommet used to sew button to shirt and use the hot glue gun to glue the earring post in place. Let cool and voila! Perfectly adorable earrings for you and your friends at about a quarter a pair. If that isn't budget friendly, I don't know what it!
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I Am Six-Foot-Two, Four-Hundred Pounds

"I am six-foot-two, four-hundred pounds. I may look like the guy on the ten most wanted, you know I am nothing to be scared of. Well I'm no fun on a teeter totter honey, your feet will never touch the ground. I'm gonna do more for you than those other guys could, I'm gonna love you pound for pound."-Matt Andersen


Matt Andersen...where do I even begin? A home grown East Coast phenomenon hailing from small town New Brunswick, he plays the guitar like I have never seen before. His lyrics are witty and he has huge and endearing stage presence (and not just because he is a large man with large chops and large hair). And man oh man, can he ever sing the blues. He is the first Canadian EVER to win top prize at the International Blues Festival in Memphis and he tours over 200 venues a year. If you ever get the chance to see him, don't pass it up. I took my father to the Indian River Music festival for his birthday and I recently took my boyfriend here in Halifax. Neither had seen him live before and both had their minds blown away. Keep in mind he sells out fast, often doesn't have an opener and his only back up is a bass his very talented friend plays. Tickets are reasonably priced and he often plays for three hours... I can't wait to see him again!
Check him out at  www.stubbyfingers.ca
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Not  a bad venue eh?

Indian River Church!

After All....

"After all, it is not where one washes one’s neck that counts but where one moistens one’s throat."
- Djuna Barnes

I am a lover of all hole-in-the-wall spots. The kind of places that just sort of sneak up on you, are totally unassuming but with a great cup of coffee. After hearing a little bit of buzz about a little spot in the North End, I had to check out Coastal Cafe and see what all the fuss was about. There are only a handful of tables, interesting art and dozens of unique menu items. I am talking lamb and goat cheese tacos, salt and pepper in old Perrier bottles and wake-you-up-with-one-sip steaming hot coffee. This is my kind of haunt. My mother enjoyed it just as much as I did. Perfect place for breakfast, lunch, people watching and reading The Coast. Check it out  at http://www.thecoastal.ca/. Enjoy!
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My Brunch of eggs, salsa and guac. served up one one big, crunch tortilla! Yum!

A Face Is Like The Outside Of A House...

"A face is like the the outside of a house, and most faces, like most houses, give us an idea of what we can expect to find inside."-Loretta Young

For over a month now I have been tying with all my might, using every inch of my under five foot frame to  convince someone to take my money in exchange for their properties. It is much harder than I ever could have imagined to buy a set of flats in the city. With real estate comes Realtors and with Realtors come selling agents. With flats come tenants, with tenants come tenure and with tenure come tenancy acts. Can you see the trend? Ah, if nothing else I am getting a very good education in real estate from an excellent realtor and an excellent mortgage broker (I can hook you up if you are in need of either).

I have been so busy between working, travelling (Calgary is lovely as are all of my my friends that live there), trying to buy houses and helping my aunt open her bistro that I have had no time to bake, craft, be creative, drink excessive amount of coffee or do anything that I normally do best. Sigh..

Anyway, here are some house things that I love...if only I had walls to apply them to and rooms to experiment with...double sigh.
Enjoy!
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Head Board Envy..

Couch Envy...

Rustic/vintage with no fear or color!

Headboard/bedroom envy.

Mirror and bedding...love the gingham!

Serious closet envy!

A 41 Inch Bust And A Lot Of Perseverance....

"A 41 inch bust and a lot of perseverance will get you more than a cup of coffee, a lot more."-Jayne Mansfield

One of my all time favorite things is the entire world is coffee. Better than fresh fallen snow, crunchy leaves and a beautiful piece of art. Don't get me wrong, I also love all of those things but there is just something awesome and perfect about a warm mug and hot coffee dressed up however you like it. I am going to spotlight a perfect little place that I like to frequent. One sunny ferry ride to the dark side, a two minute walk up Ochterloney street and you will come across Two If By Sea. A cute minimalistic cafe that houses beautifully crafted harvest tables, church pews and some of the best coffee in town. They serve pour over and french press (my favorite) and their 49th Parallel espresso will blow your mind. The barrista/owner teamed up with a local Dartmouth baker and together they make sweet, sweet coffee croissant love. Every week they have a featured croissant, I am talking goat cheese and caramelized onions, fresh basil and roasted tomatoes rolled up into a thick, flaky, butter overloaded pastry. It is well worth the drive, the ferry ride or the walk down the road. As their slogan states "Quality is no accident".

 Check out the site- http://twoifbyseabakeshop.com/
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Zane`s Machiato Heaven!

Any Man Who Can Drive Safely...

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves"-Albert Einstein

With fall turning to winter, winter bringing snow and our sandals and airy dresses long packed away, it is time for a change. I have been dreaming in color lately. M.A.C colors that is. Peachy cheeks, berry lips, heavy brows and even heavier eye liner...sigh.I have been rocking a liquid or fluid line cat eye for years now, but the heavy one with the heavy penciled brown below blows my mind a little bit. Add a soft peachy blush and some red lips and BAM perfect new years eve punch packed to your ensemble. I work... but a girl can dream right?
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MAC Peachtwist

Whirls and Twirls from new Glitter and Ice Collection

Classic MAC Red

We Are Like The Wicked Witch......

"We are like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread then eat the little brats alive.."-Orson Scott Card

 “Going so soon? I wouldn't hear of it. Why my little party's just beginning. "- Wicked Witch of the West Wizard of Oz

The end of October brought about a few changes and challenges. Adam moved over, I tried my hardest to buy a house and I took a trip. The house fell through, I guess that is what happens when one doesn't have an oil tank, furnace or legal electrical along with an unmotivated seller. If nothing else, it was a very good learning exercise. I guess you could say I have been one busy lady!

Adam and I road tripped to Boston. We ate at Quincy Market, saw a Bruins game and drove to Salem (with a pit stop at Ikea...wow what a place!). Salem was great. It is a beautiful little town, approximately 47,000 people reside there. Famous for the trials where nineteen people were hung on the basis of being a witch (not to mention one man was crushed to death). The town is full of history and people flock there year round to get an interesting history lesson and to get spooked. Halloween weekend brings around 100,000 visitors a day, BandB's get booked at exaggerated rates, pubs and taverns fill to the brim and ghost, ghoul and witch enthusiasts get to live a bit of the dream. We did a couple of museums, had lunch in a very artsy cafe, drank cider and went on a ghost tour. A man walked us around a very dark Salem in period clothing to places where paranormal experiences have occurred and told the tales behind them. Sadly no ghosts appeared, but the cider, the bright moon and crunchy leaves made for a very lovely spooky walk. I enjoyed the history, the architecture and the company. I can not wait to go back again!
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Festive displays like this were on every street corner..

What a view!

So fitting!

Got caught in a bit of hocus pocus...

Lovely well kept houses, loved the pumpkins over the doors!

A Professional Is A Person Who...

"A professional is a person who can do his best work when he doesn't feel like it"-Allistar Cooke

Even after working a twelve hour shift, there is something that gives you the get up and go when it comes to entertaining. At least that is how it seems to be for me. If I know someone is coming and there is stuff to be done I am instantly not tired.

Wanna impress your guests even though you may have worked a full day? If you are having a big dinner, something easy to make is home made cranberry sauce. I don't know what it is about that sweet and tart smack, but cranberry sauce is my favorite part of a festive dinner. Next time skip the can (and those awful yet nostalgic rings it leaves in the jelly) and use this simple recipe to impress your guests or better yet put it in a mason jar and bring it as a hostess gift. Orange juice and fresh zest gives this version a  little extra unexpected punch. Enjoy!

Orange Cranberry Sauce!

In a sauce pan combine 1 cup OJ, the zest from one orange and 1 cup of white sugar..and heat until boiling. Add four cups of fresh or frozen cranberries and continue to a boil. When boiling turn heat down to a simmer and simmer for 15 min. Heads up the berries do pop and make a wonderful sound when they do it! Allow to cool and jar or serve!