When My Grandparents Got Engaged

December 30, 2013
While this time of year is usually a time of reflection and sharing photos while looking back at the year that has passed, I wanted to share with you something that I learned about my grandparents that I never knew before. This Christmas, my Grammie shared with us her engagement story -- which even my Mom didn't know all of. I thought it was such a precious story that I wanted to share it with you too. Although it is quite simple, it still very beautiful:

Let me start by saying that both my grandparents were people of the prairies, but they both ended up in Victoria, British Columbia. They loved to dance, and ended up meeting at one -- and went to many more during their subsequent marriage. They became engaged on Christmas Day of the year that they met. My Grandad asked her to marry him while they were alone together in the kitchen of her apartment -- I asked what he said to her, but it remains a secret.

My great-grandparents were in town visiting with my Grammie and her room-mate that Christmas, and  as she came out of the kitchen she held her hand out to her father and said to him "Not all of the Christmas presents are under the tree."


My grandparents during a trip to Ireland.

It made my heart so full to be able to hear such a story from the mouth of my grandmother as my grandfather has not been with us for many years. It's so wonderful to be able to get little snippets of their life together.

Have yourself a fantastic rest of 2013, and go make some precious stories in 2014! Take care :)



0

Last Minute Gifts: Glitter Star DIY

December 23, 2013


I Used:
Papier Mâché Star
Martha Stewart Multi-Surface High Gloss Acrylic Craft Paint in Purple Yam
Martha Stewart Smoky Quartz Glitter
Martha Stewart Glue Writing Pen

I started off painting the papier mâché star with the purple craft paint. I painted both sides at the same time and then strung it onto a stick that I placed across two containers so that the star could dry evenly.

After it was dry, I made little glue dots with the glue writing pen -- this thing is truly amazing -- and then added the glitter. I did the glue and glitter in sections so that the glue wouldn't dry before I had made dots all over the entire star. This part is a little bit tedious, but I found it really easy with the glue pen. I let the one side dry and then made little polka dots on the other side as well.


0

The Gingerbread House

December 21, 2013


I decided to make gingerbread houses with the children at work this year using this fantastic recipe for the gingerbread and the icing, but I kept one of the houses at home for the Little Boy and I to decorate. We sat down today to put it all together. He had a lot of fun putting the candy on the house -- and eating some of it too! He can't wait to eat the little house, and went down for his nap talking all about it. I think this might become a Christmas tradition.



1

Last Minute Gift For Teachers: Wooden Ornament DIY

December 18, 2013
Sometimes the weeks before Christmas can be hectic, and before you know it you realise that you forgot to get a gift for your children's teachers. This year I decided to have the Little Boy decorate wooden shapes that we could make into Christmas tree ornaments for his teachers to hang on their trees as a reminder of how awesome my son is :)



We Used:
Wooden Shapes that can be found in any craft store
Buttons
Glitter
Other Fun Findings
Glue
Wire
Wire Cutters
Round Nose Pliers

I had my son paint and decorate the wooden shapes that we picked out at the craft store. Then I shaped the wire into a shape that would allow it to hang on the Christmas tree, and glued it in place -- you can use a glue gun...I have just misplaced mine -- and just like that you have a simple Christmas gift for your children's teachers.



0

My Finds: Flock and Gather Winter 2013

December 16, 2013


1. Buttons - Ookie Ookie
2. Embroidered Monster - Erika Folnovic Designs
3. Bear Plate and Mug - Carole Epp
4. Stud Earrings - Shannon Welch Silversmith
5. Air Plane Terrarium - Plant
6. Coffee - Bogarts Bay
7. Healing Salve - Uncle Mike's

It's been over a week since the Flock and Gather 2013 Winter Wonder's Handmade Market, but I've been busy being sick -- you don't want me to even talk about it. I still really wanted to share with you all of the amazing things that I found this year, and, believe me, if I had a thousand dollars with me I would have purchased something from every vendor that was there. This is the most amazing handmade market that I have been to to date, and with vendors like these I can only assume it will get even better. Please check out the Flock and Gather blog to see for yourself all of the other amazing people that were there.


0

5 Things For Little Boys This Christmas

December 06, 2013


1. Fun Stacking Blocks - Ollie Blocks
2. Wooden Toys - Wooden Camera
3. Clothes to be worn on Christmas Day and other special days - Bow Tie
4. Dress-Up Play Accessories - Operation Incognito Mustaches DIY Pattern
5. Cute Shirts for every day of the year - Alphabet Shirt



0

Christmas Traditions: Christmas Cards

December 04, 2013


You might think that I enjoy Christmas cards because I make them myself, but my love of holiday cards goes back much farther than the two years that I have been making them.

When I was much younger I would see my Mom getting the family Christmas letter and Christmas cards ready each December to be sent out to our family and friends, and I loved sitting down to read through all of the cards that my family received. As I got older I started writing Christmas letters to friends, some that I hadn't seen in years, and it fostered my newer relationships as well as brought back some older relationships.

I find that Christmas cards bring us together in a way that the other forms of communication in our lives are unable to. Christmas brings about cheer, love and fuzzy feelings and Christmas cards send those feelings on to the people that we hold so dear. They are a holiday tradition that refuses to move on despite the advances that we have made in technology. Yes, some of those holiday cards that have funny songs or little videos that go along with them are fun, but give me a Christmas card that was sent in the mail and you're guaranteed to make me smile.

I like to believe that there are a lot of people out there that feel the same way that I do. How about you?



0
Powered by Blogger.