Decking out!

Okay I admit it..much to Liam's and Lucy's shagrin I have began to decorate for Christmas.

"I don't want to even look!"

The "Main Event" a.k.a tree - has yet to make her yearly debut. In all honestly - it is a tad early to break that diva out. ,,,, maybe next weekend?? I cannot wait because then the seasons spirit can really get into full swing!

Bring it..... Eating, Entertaining, Family and Close friends!

Cheers to that!

We went to Potter's to check out their Christmas Fanfare...

I tell you that place is a DESTINATION to get you in the spirit - if you aren't already! It is a serious system overload of festive greatness! There is also a massive elephant statue from "The night at the Museum" there - Random!
So that was fun!
I decorated one of our mantles with mittens.

The whole little project cost me a whopping 11$ at the dollar store. And it helps to create a cozy and homey but festive feeling.

Charlotte is a little young still this year to understand the advent calendar concept. Next year these may be the perfect solution for putting little treasures in every day for her!

This treescape is on my front table. I got it from Ikea last year. I'm going to find some little forest dwelling critters to put in and around to make it more of an outdoorsy look.

For some reason this really reminds me of my childhood in Ontario. Having lived practically on a golf course lined with pine trees, we used to spend countlesss brisk but extremely sunny days days toboganning down the hills with neighbours and friends. The cold took a back seat and the fun of it all drove.

 One day I would love to take the fam back to relive it all again! One of the millions of joys of having children, is being able to relive some of your childhood memories with them.

For this year this 20$ Ikea paper tree decoration will have to do. This will be my little piece of Kincardine "Home" .

That is it for now but I will definately be doing more in the nap times to come!

We braved the extreme wind and ventured out on monday to get some Christmas books at the library. This girl can now say "SHANTAAAW" - translation "Santa" - like nobodies business!

The firetruck in the library may as well have been disneyland as far as she was concerned. Loved it!

It's snowing.. pillows!!

No not really but it did snow last night while, simultaneously, I hit the pillow jackpot at Homesense. I have been longing to find the perfect ones for our bedroom since wallpapering it about three months back. The paper is sort of like a hologram and depending on factors like the time of day,  natural or lamp lighting, the angle you are standing in the room - the colours are always different. So, to find permanent pillows that would look good all the time was not going to be easy. Last night I went out with one of my favfriends for a great girls night out, complete with a leisurely wander in Homesense and dinner at Cactus club to top it off.  I was about to pay for my other pillow treasures..Christmas ones... and I looked back and there in all their glory saying "do not leave the store without me... I'm made for you!!" 

 I was a little unsure about the navy floral at the store...the only reason being that it may be too busy on the eyes with the detailed wallpaper. But Honestly?

Something seems to be missing. The navy in the pillow seems to have a way of tying it all together for some weird reason? Makes it look all rich and and lusty.

I think they are ALL keepers.

I also got these.

Candy Canes Anyone??

So it snowed here yesterday..Does that mean I can decorate now?

I loved it, They were ginormous, freezing cotton balls,so quiet delicate and soft. And the best part it didn't start to stick untill we were all finished! So no slippery drive home!

A day at the Beach

Hard to believe this was November 10th.

Leah had a hard time believing it too. She made herself mighty comfy on the damp cold verging on muddy "cushion" like it was July and her landing was sugary, dry and warm.

Now Hudson, he came prepared! All decked out in a full waterproof rain suit. Good thinking Susan!

The sun was welcoming and rejuvenating and when the breeze was still, it could have been any month really, except November.

I love these days and am so thankful to live so close to such beauty....

These two are special side kicks and could really and honestly play forever together.

This was a pre shot before things got dirty. The shovel went a little astray and it's gritty sloppy muddy contents had quite a deliberate and abrupt landing on coat, face and hair. Right before we were about to leave, of course. Charlotte didn't seem to mind one tiny little bit. She was about to do a repeat performance before I intervened. When does that change I wonder? For now I am happy that she relishes in play and lives in the moment and gets such joy out of the small things.

Virtual Vacay!

I don't know what it is.... but I think it's because it is November, and I can't quite kick the Christmas thing into high gear quite yet....

 but I want to plan a trip...I want to go somewhere exotic. Somewhere fun and completely different from here.

I think also that two people very close to me went off Jetsetting recently.

Vanessa went to Turkey, Istanbul to be exact.

I was shocked to learn that it isn't warm there this time of year which is surprising.

And Leslie, while she is always off and away somewhere.

I pick Greece, an island far off.

I did not know that there is over 6000 islands that make up Greece!

Get this ...

only 227 are inhabited.

I'll take one of your hands.

And spend countless hours frolicking and rolling here.

Our boat would be at our service so we can come and go as we please.

So we can go into civilization and have a leisurely breakfast, full of people watching and conversation.

Peruse a local market and get some dinner complete with
fresh seafood - crispy sink your teeth into calamari,  vegetables and fresh feta.

Then journey back to the temporary homestead.

To watch this...

One day!!

Daddy day and mom go play!

I went to the West coast Women's show earlier this month.

 Chelsea's husband Ben called me and said " Chelsea needs a break so do you want to go with her

for the day to Abbostsford to this Women's show thing?

I thought hey not sure what a "thing" is but if it means that I have a day away from the everyday

I was GAME.

It was lovely and leisurely and needed.We had an uninterupted drive there free of me not having a repetitive strain kink in my back from contorting my body in a rather unusual way in order to to pick up a plastic horse ( or insert anyother random object here) that was purposely thrown. In order to stop the accelerated sing songy question like "uhoh?" that quickly evolves in to the more demanding"uh-u-huh-EEEEEE!"

We arrived after one little wrong turn... and it was seriously massive!

And oooooooh the Estrogen in that room!

Hi Chelsea!

And I couldn't resist this I am not a Young and the Restless fan but did get caught up in the

swooning of this actor from that show. I thought I can't pass up the opportunity to take a picture of  a real live star as blurry as it is!

We spent at least a couple hours there, we neandered through and time was on our side. As if it said you can stay here as long as you like...so we stopped to fill in all the give away trips. I have yet to gather up my winnings yet...they must be holding off till closer to Christmas till they let me know (: Charlotte is loving baking with me the last month

I found the perfect little cupcake apron!

Serious cuteness!

And I picked up these little gems from Boske kids!

Irresistable Legwarmers!

It was awesome and filled the void of changing it up a little.
We even went to East Side Mario's for dinner.
Oh yeah it was a serious day away kind of day and I milked it for what it was worth!
It was that much more refreshing to come home to start the week off right!

11680 Days

As of Oct 20th that is how many days I have been on this earth,that is how many sunsets, sleeps and daybreaks I have witnessed.

When I was a little girl I never ever thought me being 32 years old would ever come. I mean inevitably it would come, but at the time it seemed such a far, far off number into the land of adulthood.

I remember playing barbies in my basement and the "much older" , pant wearing, less makeup, much much more mature barbie that was in the mix was" in her 30's". Frankly,the reality was that chick wore pants which made her the "square"

But she was the "chosen one", the one who refrained from going out to the dances, or the parties, the married one and she always stayed home.

Because of course she was "that much older".

Now that I am 32

I truly don't stray too far from what I believed when I was 6.

I love to stay home

I love to wear pants

yoga, or leggings preferably.

Most days,I don't put on makeup - save a skif of mascara or gloss.

 Odd party I am game, but not if I don't know all the "w's"

But I don't feel 32.

But honestly?

I don't feel square and could not be happier!

Happy Birthday to me!

Favourite things this week

Splashing!

Reading ..

 I thought it was about time I pulled out an old "vintage" fave of mine. Richard Scary.  SHE loved it!There is nothing more nostalgic than a staple book from childhood.  I feel so lucky that I can give her a piece of the good ol' days. It is special that the exact book looked back at me when I was her age. My once tiny fingers poured through the same pages.  

Leaf pickin'

and sunny fall days, snackin' at the park with friends!

This little lady paid no mind to the wet slide.

Go big or go home !

Pumpkin Patch!

A
couple weeks back we went on a little trip to the pumpkin patch for Coley's birthday!

I forgot my camera, while a little on purpose actually... because having been at a pumpkin patch before it involves mud....alot of it!
That mixed with Charlotte who these days
 bounces from serious independance to wanting to be picked up. .faster than a ball can!
 So... Camera, mud and toddler in arms could be a juggling act that would not turn out well. I just did some phone pictures which never seem to work out. I would love to have been able to capture this...  a perfect representation of a pumpkin patch

Thank you pinterest!!

Instead it was a lot of this..

Hellooo Mud!

We schleped our way through the corn maze..Which way to go ? Please note proper foot attire was NOT worn - not for the sake of being forgetful. But,for the sheer fact that little missy wanted nothing to do with the act of walking in boots. ..it's been a work in progress and we now have success! This little girl frolicked to a birthday party in her footwear of choice - good ol' rubber boots - on Saturday . Bright sunny crisp fall day without a drop of puddles, mud in sight. New trend alert!

 party dress, and rubber boots.

Go figure!?

Peek a boo!

Charlotte veered directly to this pumpkin saying "pupde,pupde" a.k.a Pumpkin.

I guess this was the one- it's decided!!

Look at that still on the vine and in all her glory.

There is something so authentic about picking a pumpkin right off the vine. Cold, smooth, and full of mud...I felt like farmer Julie out there picking my crop! The vine is very prickly thou - Now I know why most patches already pick them for you - no liability (:

Why hello friends!

This one had some serious eyes for Char! It was to the point where I had to pick her up...

Happy Birthday Coley! You are Char's very special friend

Here's to muddy days of fun!

xoxoxo

Fall Calls

...More like beckoned me from the tallest rooftops..saying time to break out the crockpot, tart apples, casseroles, butternut squash and sweatshirts. I replaced my Scentsy warmer from 'sunkissed citrus' to 'sentimental cider.And that, in and of itself kicks my olfactory nerves right into motion. Which in turn triggers all the things feel good and cozy.

 I don't know what it is but the older I get the more that I crave the fresh, crispness of fall.

For me, the first few weeks of fall is the ONLY time blustery,grey, damp days are acceptable. Almost like a transitionary period where mother nature says you better start realizing that you are in store for many many many months of this so enjoy it now. And she, in turn she puts on a spectacular show.

                                                          

of the deciduous kind..

                                            Somebody else is putting on a show for us lately.
                                                         

                                                    

                                             In all her domestic divaness                                                

                                                    And the literary tip of the day?
                                          The brain absorbs more if you read upside down..
   

 The clouds lifted mostly every afternoon last week and it called us all outdoors for a family walk.
                                                                 The WHOLE family.

So for now we must say..So long to late sunny warm summer nights and adorable summer dresses.

.

Farewell delicious drippy icecream

and beach days that I never want to end....

We will miss you ...

Welcome Fall!!