Thursday 8 December 2011

20 things I love about the Christmas Season

Decorating the house
Fire in the fireplace
Christmas music (love the crooners!)
Christmas lights, sparkles
Macy’s Thanksgiving – Christmas parade
The Elf tradition
Eggnog!
Christmas crafts
Christmas issues of magazines
Ornaments (hand-made!)
Christmas movies
Hot chocolate with mini marshmallows
Vacation time
Time with the family
Baking cookies, fudge, cakes
Receiving Christmas cards in the mail
Snow on Christmas Eve
Gifts
Santa’s arrival at mom’s house on Christmas Eve with the small kids all excited
Smell of evergreen and of baking
Snuggling up under a throw in pj’s, with a cup of hot chocolate, listening to a Christmas movie with the lights on the tree all aglow.

Thursday 1 December 2011

December 1st 2011

Today the Elves have arrived! Mr.M & Jujubes. They arrived with the advent calendar. Only 1 day was filled... dec. 1st and it was a piece of chocolate. Joannie ate it saying there seemed to be nothing for her brother ;) I told her it would alternate days between the 2 of them.

Sunday 27 November 2011

More Christmas crafts - Advent calendar

Here's the Advent calendar I made. The kids don't eat the chocolate ones anymore so I decided to make something more permanent. :)

Saturday 26 November 2011

Christmas 2011 crafts

Here are pictures of my finished candy canes


Thursday 3 November 2011

More Halloween pics

Florence
Antoine
Alexandre
Samuel et Olivier

138 trick or treaters this year... ran out of candy!

Halloween 2011 pics!

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Halloween Boobash 2011 résumé

Pictures will follow in another post.

The 4th annual Halloween Boobash was on Friday, october 28th 2011. Friends : Alain R+ Johanne, Alain F + Nat, Denis + Nat, Serge + Kathleen & us.

I was dressed up as a doctor and JC as Indiana Jones.

Menu
Cheeseball + crackers
Chili + tostitos scoops + sour cream
Veggies + dip (Johanne)
Cheese plate (Joanne brought 1 cheese to add to plate)
Chips + chocolate (Nat F)
Mini egg-rolls + flaky pastries (Nathalie-Anne)
Shrimps in beer batter + brie&figs (Kathleen)
Deviled eggs
Thumbprint cookies
Chocolate covered cookies (store-bought)
Cocktail sausages
Pasta Salad

Guests arrived around 8 :00 and left at 1 :30 am.
Lots of laughter, eating, chatting, dancing. We had a really great time.
Great music… from Serge,s ipod 

Note to self : If I prep all this food do not ask people to bring any potluck dishes. We would’ve had enough with what I had.

Thursday 27 October 2011

Halloween craft weekend

Since we were to have some visitors, mom + Kasandra (11), the weekend before Halloween, I had planned some Halloween crafts so we could have fun & chat together. I had also invited Florence (also 11) to join us.

Here’s what I had planned :
- Black eye wreath (still need to buy a wreath)
- A pixie (like in Harry Potter movies) (need blue fimo)
- Tablecloth with bloody hands
- Spider victim (this one I had no idea how to do but I thought mom might have some ideas)
- Giant spider
- Charmballs
- Mummyballs
- 2 eerie Halloween signs. (need 2 pieces of wood or store-bought signs at the dollar-store)

Unfortunately, they were unable to come as planned. I’ll keep the stuff until next year and will get the girls to the crafts at another time.

It did get me to thinking, however, that I just might prepare some crafts for us all to do during Christmas time…. Hmmmm…..

Thursday 13 October 2011

October - Halloween month

uh-oh, just remembered that last year I posted EVERYDAY during october for Halloween. We are now the 13th and I'm just thinking about it.
Guess the 13th is a great day to start putting up some Halloween posts.

Today it'll be a joke
Q. Why didn't the skeleton dance at the party?
A. He had no body to dance with.

Wednesday 7 September 2011

What makes me happy... in Fall

Smells
- Warm smell of vanilla when cooking
- Smell of crisp air
- Pie in the oven
- Smell of a warm fire

Colors
- Spicy, shades of oranges, yellows, reds, brown, eggplant
- Leaves changing colors

Cozy - warm feelings
- Warmth - candle, throws
- cozy up the house (cocooning) - pillows, curtains, linens, rugs, flowers, plants, candles, flannel sheets
- Comfort cooking: caramel apple porc chops in the crockpot, spaghetti sauce, grilled cheese sandwiches with soup, smell of warm bread, apple pie, apple crumble, casseroles,
http://www.countryliving.com/cooking/recipes/comfort-foods-1109
- Apples, pumpkins
- Watching movies snuggled up in a warm blanket
- Cozy fluffy socks and warm sweaters
- Flannel pjs

Other things that Fall brings and that make me smile:
- Halloween
- Indian Summer
- Fall magazines
- Crafting
- New tv programs
- Watching Macy's Thanksgiving parade
- Watching the Greater Snow Goose pass overhead

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Fall is a coming

List of housechores to do for fall (before winter), some are done by me and some by JC.
- Clean windows
- Take down screens & put them away
- Cut flowers
- Bring in firewood
- Put away summer clothes
- Take out mittens & hats
- Decorate for halloween
- Fill up trick or treaters' Halloween bags
- Put away patio table & chairs
- Put away gazebo
- Cut hedge
- Start cooking to fill up the freezer.
- Spaghetti sauce
- Put carpets at the doors
- Winterize the cars
...etc...

Monday 25 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 25 - Merry Christmas in July!

Merry Christmas in July! and thanks for joining me during this month.
Since it's the last day for CIJ how about another CIJ movie - a classical? and this time accompanied by a s'mores jar.

Joyeux Noël en Juillet!! et merci de vous être joint(e)s à moi ce mois-ci. Puisque c'est la dernière journée de Noël en juillet, j'ai pensé à un autre bon film de Noël - un classique. On pourrais accompagner le tout d'un petit pot de 's'mores'
Source: http://phar-ma.com/smores-in-a-jar

Sunday 24 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 24 - Glitter church

Christmas eve - let's make a glitter church. I remember mom had some village houses like these when I was younger. Much nicer than the plastic ones I now have.

La veille de Noël (en juillet) - pourquoi pas une église en carton? Je me souviens que maman avait des maisons de cartons quand j'étais jeune. C'est beaucoup plus beau que les maisons de plastiques que j'ai!
Source: http://littleglitterhouses.com/paul/small_glitterhouse/hl_beginning_glitterhouses.htm

Saturday 23 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 23 - Melted snowman craft

I find those so incredibly cute! they are nice and easy to do. I just might make something like this next year.

Je les trouve vraiment mignons! facile & cute. Je crois que je vais essayer d'en faire l'année prochaine.

Source: http://www.etsy.com/listing/69656019/ill-be-back-someday-handmade-snowman

Friday 22 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - Day 22

Friday night at the CIJ movies! And why not have some Frosty cheeseball with crackers?
Vendredi-cinéma avec des films de Noël. Et pourquoi ne pas accompagner le tout d'un bonhomme de neige boule de fromage et quelques biscottes?

A glass of wine with this?
Un p'tit verre de vin avec ceci?
Source: http://familyfun.go.com/winter/snowman-snacks-crafts-printables-games/snowman-recipes/frosty-the-cheese-ball-800502/

Thursday 21 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 21 - Gifts of hope

Why not make a family gift this year to some organization or other that helps out?
Like this one.

Source: http://plancanada.ca/Giftsofhope/default.asp
Buy one of these four legged mammals and you'll be helping provide a family with almost 100 litres of milk each month. Which adds up to a whole lot of nutrients to keep a family healthy and enough milk leftover to start a healthy family dairy business.
Pourquoi ne pas faire un cadeau de famille à une organisation ou une autre qui aide dans le monde?
Comme celle-ci.

Wednesday 20 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 20

Family recipe book - I think that's a great idea for teens, young adults and even other family members. Gather all family recipes which you can find (grandma's, great aunts, must-haves, etc...), either print or handwrite them in a notebook and you can add pictures either of the dish, of someone enjoying the dish, or of the person making the dish. We did this a few years back for the teens in the family. Now every Christmas we just add a few more to put in their book.

Livre de recettes de famille - Je crois que c'est une idée superbe pour des ados ou des jeunes adultes, ou même d'autres membres de la family. Réunir toutes les recettes de famille que vous pouvez trouver (celles de grand-mère, des tantes, des incontournables, etc...), les imprimer ou les écrire à la main dans un petit livre. Vous pouvez y ajouter des photos de l'assiette, de quelqu'un qui mange l'assiette ou de la personne en train de cuisiner l'assiette. Nous avons fait des livres recettes pour les ados il y a quelques années. Maintenant à tous les ans nous ajoutons quelques recettes.
Voici de quoi pourrais avoir l'air le livre, mais utilisez votre imagination!
This is what the book could look like, but use your imagination!

Tuesday 19 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 19

How about Snowman popcorn wrappers? They could be added to a movie basket composed of a dvd, a throw, popcorn seasoning, some m&m's, etc...

Pourquoi pas des emballages bonhomme de neige pour popcorn? Ceci pourrait être inclus dans un panier cinéma composé d'un dvd, une jetée, des assaisonnements de popcorn, des M&M's, etc...
Source: http://debsheartandhome.wordpress.com/category/homemade-holiday-gifts/popcorn-wrappers/

Monday 18 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 18

I love sitting on the couch with a throw, some hot chocolate, some Christmas music and reading a Christmas book.
A few book suggestions:
- The night before Christmas Clement Clarke Moore
- Christmas in the big woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
- Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
- Gooseberry Patch recipe books

Quoi de mieux que de s'assoir comfortablement avec une jetée, du lait au chocolat chaud, de la musique de Noël et un bon livre de Noël.
Quelques suggestions de livres:
- La nuit magique de Noël - Clement Clarke Moore
- Noêl dans les grands bois - Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Pas de Noël cette année - John Grisham
- Les quatre filles du Dr. March - Louisa May Alcott
- Livres de recettes de gooseberry patch (en anglais seulement) - Ce livre a des recettes, des idées décos et des bricolages très simples

Sunday 17 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 17

How about some snowman stew?
Pourquoi pas un ragoût de bonhommes de neige?
Source: http://cuteeverything.com/cute/food-fun/snowman-party-stew/

Saturday 16 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 16


I don't have the tutorial for this but it would be kind of easy to make.

Je n'ai pas les instruction pour faire ceci, mais ça semble assez simple à faire.

Source: http://cottageinthemaking.blogspot.com/2010/12/gingerbread-apron.html

Friday 15 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 15

Friday night at the movies.
I chose 'You've got mail', it's not, striclty speaking, a real Christmas movie, but for me it is - it brings all the good Christmas feelings with it.
And to accompany that movie why not some rumballs?


Source:http://www.dreamhomedecorating.com/free-homemade-gift-ideas.html#rumballs


Vendredi-cinéma.
J'ai choisi 'Vous avez un message' avec Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan. Ce n'est pas un 'vrai' film de Noël, mais pour moi il évoque tous les sentiments de Noël.
Et pourquoi ne pas accompagner le tout de boules au rhum?

Thursday 14 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - Day 14

For me a great Christmas would be spent in a cottage with all my family (including parents & siblings). Now to rent one of those places you have to reserve a long time in advance. Things to be determined:
- Number of people
- Outdoor activities (snowshoeing,walk in the woods, ice-skating, sledding)
- Indoor activities (movies, board games, crafting)
- Family pictures are A MUST.
- Food (fondue, raclette or potluck), each family could bring 1 meal.
- PJ's for all - Christmas ones!
- Number of nights - I think 2 would be great
- Don't forget to bring a book to write down memories.
Any other ideas?

J'aimerais bien passer un Noël dans un chalet en famille (incluant les parents, frères, soeur). Mais, il faut réserver longtemps d'avance pour ça. Choses à prévoir:
- Nombre de personnes
- Activités extérieures (raquettes, promenades dans les bois, patin, glissades)
- Activités intérieures (films, jeux de société, bricolages)
- Surtout ne pas oublier de prendre des photos de famille.
- Bouffe (fondue, raclette ou casseroles), chaque famille pourrait amener un repas.
- Pyjamas de Noël pour tous!
- Nombre de nuits - je crois que 2 serait parfait
- Ne pas oublier d'amener un livre pour y inscrire tous les souvenirs.
D'autres idées?

Wednesday 13 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - Day 13

Since I stop CIJ on the 25th (Merry Christmas!), I am already at my half-way point for CIJ blogs.
Lots of gifts will be gift cards, so why not make some gift-card holders that are nice?

Déjà à la moitié de mes publications pour Noël en juillet (j'arrête le 25 - Joyeux Noël).
Plusieurs cadeaux seront des cartes-cadeaux, alors pourquoi ne pas faire des portes-cartes spécialement pour l'occasion?
Source: http://creativepad.typepad.com/creative_pad/2009/11/seasonal-saturdays-mitten.html

Tuesday 12 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 12


Source: http://fullofgreatideas.blogspot.com/2010/12/golfers-snowman-ornament.html

Craft for our men out there (teens & older too) - golfball ornament
Un bricolage pour les jeunes hommes & moins jeunes hommes - une décoration avec une balle de golf.

Monday 11 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - Day 11


Source: http://frederictonquiltersguild.blogspot.com/2010/12/tutorial-elegant-rag-garland-lights-by.html

What better way to use up scarp materials? or just beautiful fabric? I've been wanting to do one of these for a long time. Guess I'll have to buy the fabric before Christmas and make it after Christmas (when I have some time). Impossible to buy Christmas fabric after Christmas around here.

Belle manière d'utiliser les restes de tissus ou encore de beaux tissus. J'ai envie de faire une de ces gurilandes mais il faudra que j'achète le tissu AVANT Noël, même si c'est pour faire après Noël, car autour d'ici les magasins de tissus n'ont pas de tissus de Noël après les Fêtes.

Sunday 10 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 10

I love a Gingerbread theme Christmas (but I don't like to eat Gingerbread men - too many spices).
This is just a picture (no tutorial) but I'm posting it because I like it.

J'aime bien les décors de Pains d'épices pour Noël (mais je n'aime pas manger le pain d'épices... trop épicé).
J'ai juste mis une photo parce que je trouvais ce coussin beau.


Source: http://www.issuedwivescrafts.com/webshop/viewitem.php?groupid=2&productid=38

Saturday 9 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 9

I had written down a schedule of what I wanted to post each day for CIJ and wouldn't you know it I seem to have misplaced it. Ah well, I'll find something to post.
How about decorating your car?


Friday 8 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 8

Another Friday at the movies for CIJ. My 2nd favorite Christmas movie 'ElF' (I must admit I watched it for the June Rudy day). How about some pretzel hugs with that?

Un autre vendredi-cinéma pour Noël en juillet - mon 2e film de Noël préféré 'Le Lutin' (j'avoues que j'ai regardé le film le 25 juin - pour Rudy day). Et si on accompagnait le tout de Pretzel hugs?

Source: http://applevalleygirl.blogspot.com/2010/11/project-9-giving-christmas-hugs.html

Thursday 7 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 7


How about a Snowman jar today? A hot coco mix in a jar
Un petit pot de bonhomme de neige aujourd'hui? un chocolat chaud dans un pot
http://deliacreates.blogspot.com/2010/12/neighbor-christmas-gifts.html

Wednesday 6 July 2011

CIJ 2011- day 6



I found this cute tutorial to make a burlap tree. I just love the country christmas look!
J'ai trouvé un 'tutoriale' pour faire un arbre de Noël en jute. Moi j'aime bien les Noëls champêtres et rustiques.

http://jpalltrades.blogspot.com/2010/11/burlap-trees.html

Tuesday 5 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 5

Christmas menu - the important word here is SIMPLIFY
- Use crockpots (I've got 2)
- Use warming plates (I've got one with 2 sections)
- Make in advance meals
- Use the freezer!
- Buffet style (potato bar, soup & bread bar, chinese, appetizers, salad bar, etc...)
That's what I've come up with so far.
Here's a copy of my Christmas freezer list (couldn't find a way to put it in annex so here's the list)

Liste pour congélateur du Temps des fêtes / Christmas freezer list
Viandes & mijotés /Meat & stews

¨Sauce spaghetti (en pot – re : entreposage) Spaghetti sauce (in pots)
¨Chili
¨Saucisses italiennes (cuites/coupées) Italian sasauges (cooked & cut into slices)
¨Jambon (haché & cubes) Ham (cubed & minced)
¨Poulet (cubes) Chicken (cubes)
¨Poulet précuit (pour sautés) Chicken (cooked for stir frys)
¨Steak haché cuit avec oignons Ground meat cooked with onions
¨Saucisses / bacon Sausages / bacon
¨Boulettes de viande Meatballs
¨Filet porc préparé pour stir-fry Porc tenderloin for stir-frys
¨Dinde cuite & désossée Turkey (cooked & deboned)
¨
Desserts & pains Deserts & breads
¨Fudge
¨Sucre crème
¨Galettes chinoises
¨Dessert X
¨Dessert Y
¨Muffins
¨Pains à déjeuners

Autres Other

¨Os à soupe Soup bone
¨Won-ton soupe Won-tons for soup
¨Fromage râpé Grated cheese
¨Légumes surgelés Frozen veggies
¨Pain Bread
¨Beurre Butter
¨Boule fromage (couronne poulet) Cheeseballs (chicken cheeseball)
¨Ailes de poulet Chicken wings

Menu pour Noël - l'important ici est de SIMPLIFIER
- Utiliser le crockpot (J'en ai 2)
- Utiliser des réchauds (J'ai 1 réchaud 2 sections)
- Prépare le plus possible à l'avance
- Utiliser le congélo!
- Style buffet (bar à salades, bar à soupe & pain, bar a patates au four & garnitures, buffet chinois, buffet d'entrées, etc...)
Ce sont mes idées à date.
Voici une copie de ma liste pour congélateur que j'utilise dans le temps des fêtes

Monday 4 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - Day 4

Stocking stuffer ideas for young adults
- $$
- Gift cards (gaz, restaurant, stores, specialty shops, coffee shops, telephone minutes, itunes, movies, ....)
- Lottery tickets
- Christmas ornaments
- USB keys, computer mouse, computer gadgets
- book
- CD
- DVD ($5 at Walmart for some classics and some other great movies)
- Perfume samples
- Consumable foods: gum, chocolate, dry sausages, nuts, etc...
- Socks
- Underwear
- Wine charms
- Coasters
- Earphones

Idées pour remplir les bas de Noël pour jeunes adultes
- $$
- Cartes cadeaux (essence, retaurants, magasins, boutiques spécialisées, restos-déjeuners-café, cartes-téléphones, itunes, cinéma...)
- Billets lotterie
- Décoration de Noël
- clé usb, souris d'ordinateur et autres gugusses d'ordinateur
- Livre
- CD
- DVD ($5 chez Walmart pour des classiques et autres bons films)
- Échantillons parfum
- Grignotines: gomme, chocolat, saucissons secs, noix, etc...
- Bas
- sous-vêtements
- Marques-vins (??) ... des guédilles qu'on mets après les verres de vins
- Sous-verres
- Écouteurs

A good link for stocking stuffer ideas according to age, traditions, what can be found at the drug store, at the grocery store etc, homemade stuffers ...

http://www.plumpstocking.com/

Un bon endroit (en anglais seulement) où trouver des idées selon l'age, les traditions, ce qui peut être trouvé dans une pharmacie, dans une épicerie, faits maison, etc..

Sunday 3 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 3

Day 3 of Christmas in July - how about a craft today? I liked this one for the teens.
Jour 3 de Noël en Juillet - pourquoi pas un bricolage aujourd'hui?



http://www.bootandcrown.com/catalog.php?item=3

Saturday 2 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 2

Today I thought I'd post some pics of bathroom decorations. After all, that room is used alot during the Christmas season.

Aujourd'hui j'ai décidé d'afficher des photos de décorations pour salles de bains. Après tout, cette pièce est très utilisée pendant la période des fêtes!




Santa on the toilet could be put in a frame for the season. Christmas window clings (from the dollar store) can be added to the mirror, Curtain rings can be made Christmassy with a hot glue gun and some accessories. Use Christmas towels and Christmas lights in a basket full of pine cones.
Enjoy your 2nd day of CIJ!

Le Père-Noël sur la toilette pourrais être mis dans un cadre pour la saison. Utilisez des décorations auto-collantes pour fenêtres pour décorer les miroirs (au magasin du dollar), les anneaux pour rideaux de douches peuvent être décorées avec de la colle chaude et quelques accessoires. Utilisez des serviettes de Noël et des lumières de Noël dans un panier rempli de cocottes.
Profitez-bien de cette 2e journée de Noël en juillet!

Friday 1 July 2011

CIJ 2011 - day 1

This is it the start of CIJ!

I've decided that every Friday during this month will be Christmas movie night suggestion + a recipe.

So today's suggestion is 'Christmas vacation' - for me that's the movie that starts out the Christmas season.

How about some hot-chocolate on a stick to go with that?

Have fun!



C'est le début de Noël en juillet


J'ai décidé que tous les vendredis du mois seront des suggestions de soirées de cinéma de Noël + 1 recette.

Alors aujourd'hui, le film est 'Le Sapin a des boules' - pour moi c'est LE film qui annonce la période des fêtes.

Et pour accompagner le tout, pourquoi pas du chocolat chaud sur batonnet?

Profitez-en bien!