Tea Time

My December calendar always starts out slow and then BAM...it is packed. I love this time of year for all the time I get to spend with others. I know it can get crazy trying to get it all in, see the people you want to see, and host the get togethers you want to host. We seem to get a lot of dinner invites this month that vie for precious spots on the calendar and we like to have people over too (just feels like Christmas). 

But I'd like to offer up an alternate idea or two...have some people over for breakfast/brunch/lunch instead of dinner. Or have people over for dessert (and maybe add in some board games or a Christmas movie). Or maybe just appetizers (everyone brings their favourite one - they are all my favourite, I could eat only appetizers for meals and I'd be happy).  Or have a gift wrapping party, go bowling, see a movie...start some new traditions (that will energize you, instead of make you feel rushed/stressed/ busy).

I recently hosted a tea party for a great group of girls/writers (we've done dinners and brunches in the past) and it was really quite lovely.  We had just as much fun as always and it was something different. Actually, it may have been our best get together yet . We did a gift exchange for the first time. It had to be under $5. and it had to Inspire Creativity - it turned out quite well. New traditions...

Oh the fun you can have beyond dinner parties. Perhaps a Christmas card or letter writing night would tickle your fancy...I'm always down for a little mail time. And if Christmas cards aren't in your immediate future...there are always New Year's Cards!


638/1000 - Eighteen added to the tally.

Mailbox Monday

From World Market - one of my favourite stores!

Here is today's mailbox. It definitely has me thinking of mailboxes as home decor. I heard this week that Canada Post is going to be phasing out door to door delivery and transitioning to community mailboxes. I haven't had door to door delivery since I was...well, a long time ago (in my teens) but it still makes me a little sad that people won't need personal mailboxes or mail slots. So truly, mailboxes as home decor might be the wave of the future (starting trend now). Have a great week everyone!

Mailbox Monday

A Santa Mailbox!

I found this gem in my Christmas tree decorations. The end comes off and you put your letter to Santa inside - I haven't used it yet but this year might be the year! A very festive Mailbox Monday for you.  I keep surprising myself with all of these mail related objects that I didn't realize I had - each discovery is like...well...Christmas!

Happy Monday! It's snowing here - Winter Wonderland!

'Tis the Season...

...of busy-ness? It can be. And that can be a big part of the fun sometimes - all the hustle and bustle. But like many of you I sometimes wish for the occasional quiet moment (this is hard with a toddler and a preschooler in the house). So I've been carving out some little moments here and there of quiet,  peace, and Christmas.

I've been sitting down every night to write a few Christmas cards and it is so lovely to think about each person or family that I'm writing to - each card is a walk down memory lane (from recently to years ago). I think I forget this each year and when I sit down to write cards it is such a gift! It reminds me of how blessed I am to have the friends and family that I do. We received our first three Christmas cards in the mail on Friday and it just warmed my heart (they filled up my mailbox and I was excited to get home and share them with our family). Thank you Shelley, Patti and Jeff. Our very first card was hand delivered and that is quite lovely too. Thank you Harmony.

My Christmas Card Mess-Making Station.
And those puffs keep popping up everywhere!

I realize that there are lots of people out there who won't receive any Christmas cards this year, people who are alone or lonely or who don't have a fixed address. It is heartbreaking. There are a lot of programs that bring people together and give in times of need and cold and trouble. But it can also be easy to walk by and not notice when we are so caught up in our own lives and our own "stuff." You may not be a Christmas-card-mail-sending-kind-of-person like I am but I do hope that you will take a chance to lighten the load of someone in your life or a stranger. That you will love as the season dictates. That you will say to the, often, unseen "I see you, you are known." Think about carrying around a few coffee gift cards, warm socks or food items you can share with someone out in the cold who doesn't have a place to call home (and more if you are able). My Christmas wish...love your friends, your family and your neighbours (we all call this planet home - so that's everyone right?).

Simply love people this week as much as you can. See how it makes you feel...

620/1000 Adding a big 56 to the count - lots of Christmas cards but a few other things too - hooray!

P.S. Congratulations to the 2013 Canadian Weblog Award Winners! So lovely to be nominated and in such good company for the ride.

Mailbox Monday

Christmas Mailbox!

Someone special and thoughtful picked this up for me - a Christmas mailbox! How cute! Perfect for wrapping up a sweet little gift. My daughter has been delivering me all kinds of mail in this little tin wonder (princesses, stickers, and puffs - see below). My kids have both been loading it up with puffs and emptying it out, and loading it up and...

Puffs, puffs and more puffs!

Have a wonderful week everyone! 

Snow Mail!

December is almost here...so I'm sure you all have your advent calendars ready to go (tee hee). Hopefully, my Advent Calendar Mondays got you a little excited or inspired to get in a festive mood. I know December can be a stressful month so do your best to stop and appreciate the little things. I know the joy the advent calendar brings in my house (so much excitement in the morning!) what will it be for you? I know we will also make jam from summer apricots, make birdseed ornaments for the tree in our yard, drive around and look at all the houses with lights (and yell, "Christmas House" every time we see one - under direct orders from my daughter), and decorate a gingerbread house (actually, a carousel...new in stores this year I think - Piper's pick).

Family Gingerbread Party 2012

Actually today we made snow! It's been a beautiful sunny, but cold, day here in the Pacific Northwest. We don't get a lot of snow but we got something very cool in the mail last week.

Thank you Auntie Jenna!

And not only was it so fun to receive, it was sent in a paper-lunch-bag-made-envelope with washi tape to pretty it up and seal it up (I wish I'd taken a picture of it before we opened it but I let Piper have it as soon as I checked the mail). Add "snow" to your list of cool things to send in the mail (with just a regular stamp too).

It's always an exciting month at the mailbox for cards and notes and packages. I need to get going on my own stack so I can send them out next week. I love picking out gifts for my friends and family,  and making them too. In fact, my nieces' gifts this Christmas are all handmade (I may post about this later...but top secret stuff right now).  I also love to wrap (crazy right). Seriously I should hire out my services (but I do make a big mess).  

In the quiet moments (usually after children have gone to bed) I love curling up on my couch, with a steaming cup of tea, taking in the beauty of the Christmas tree & the Nativity, the sense of calm and if there were gentle snowflakes falling from the sky it might just be perfect.

Find your perfect moment and make it happen - it is a season of joy, let yourself be joyful.

564/1000 one penpal letter going out but look out for Christmas cards adding to the count next week!

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

Advent Calendar Monday

     I know Chocolate Advent Calendars are very popular and maybe why a lot of people love the coming of December but that's not my story. Chocolate calendars didn't make their debut in my house until I was almost in my teens. And they were really just an excuse to eat chocolate in the morning/everyday (not the best chocolate either). Having said that there are a number of gourmet chocolatiers that are putting out Advent calendars these days that would make any chocolate aficionado drool and I could definitely get on board with these (Rogers, Purdy's, Lindt...). Mmmm...I do love good chocolate!

My memories are of Christmas story/Nativity Advent calendars - beautiful colours and sweet tiny pictures behind each door. It became about conversation every morning - "What do you think it will be today?" Followed by "Oh tell me about that one?" What a great way to start the day and slow down for conversation during a very busy month. Children grow up so fast, so any opportunity to create moments, memories and traditions is important and meaningful (I remember those moments).

Vintage!

This is the kind I grew up with - German most likely. It actually has a fold out and a slide on the right side to make the animals move. My Mom found this one in her Christmas decorations a few years ago. I've kept it in the package until now.

A collection!

These are some I've used over the years and a couple still in the package - one tells jokes, another is the Nativity story, another is the Christmas Carol story and a few others. This is just a small number out of what I've found in my Christmas decorations (Advent Calendars are rather flat, take up little room so... perhaps having lots doesn't make me a hoarder...I hope). 

Maybe, I'm tuned in but I've been noticing a lot of Advent Calendars out there as I've been shopping around. A resurgence perhaps? Or maybe they've never taken a dip in popularity (I hope not). The problem is remembering to get them before December 1st so now is the time - a little joy each day!

Adding two to the count (my blog post didn't make it up last week...I had the chance for a few days away with my husband and it was lovely).

563/1000 (going to add big to the count soon...Christmas cards and such!).

A little post script: My Mom just reminded me that my Grandma used to give me Advent calendars too.  I don't remember that but it warms my heart