Christmas Crafting: Potato Stamps

A couple of weeks ago Mom was heading out east.

This was the perfect opportunity to get Christmas gifts to relatives and avoid shipping costs.

I decided to make a project of the wrapping and introduced Fiona to Potato Stamps.

We used to do this as kids and I love the look they produce.

All you do it cut the potato in half.

We used cookie cutters to get the shape we wanted.

Make sure you dig the cutter in at least a 1/2 inch.

 With a paring knife cut around the shape and you're done.

I wanted to make this project with what we already had.

Unfortunately our paint had turned. {It looked curdled, did you know this happened?}

Enter: Homemade Paint.

Really easy recipe, pretty good results.

The only issue we had was that it foamed {a lot} so I had to spread some out on a plate and get the bubbles out before it was stamp-able.

It would probably be good if you just let it sit for a while too but I'm impatient.

 Fiona loved it and the kraft bags {that we already had} looked so sweet.

 I'm pretty sure we will be using this technique for all our wrapping this year so if you get a gift from us act surprised would ya?

I was sure I took a shot of the finished product but can't find it, you get the idea though.

Another Christmas Tradition Saved

I have the best memories of making Gingerbread houses as a kid.

Every year we would make a date with my dear friend Diana's family.

Our parents would fashion houses out of graham crackers and melted sugar.

Mom would whip up a batch of homemade icing with just a touch of glycerin to make it shine.

The candy would be laid out in bowls and we would get to eating decorating.

It wasn't Christmas unless this tradition had been properly observed.

Since then gingerbread houses have come a long way.

The creativity some have is amazing.

One year Jeff and I decided to try something a little like this...

You can find this brilliant design at Gingerbread Log House.

Unfortunately ours ended up looking like this.

After that we got out of the gingerbread game.

Well, as with many Christmas traditions, the kids are bringing them back.

Auntie Brie and Uncle Tim came over on Friday night. 

Pre-fab gingerbread house for Fiona in hand.

These things are amazing.

Beautiful and you can get right to the good part, eating decorating.

Fiona is still raving about it.

Just so you know, I'm not giving up on the log cabin idea.

I'm going to hold that thought until the days when I can be in the kitchen alone.

Dear Strollercize: I Hate You, I Love You

Don't worry I'm not going to submit you to my poetry again.

{If you fancy a refresher, you can find my work here.}

I went to my first strollercize class at the Kinsmen Sports Centre when I was 7 months pregnant with Fiona.

I didn't go in with any expectations but this class blew me away.

This is not a class designed to ease your post-partum body back into exercise.

This is not where you go to meet other Moms and have a chat.

This is a jump-in-head-first-couldn't-catch-your-breath-to-chat-if-you-wanted-to class.

It's a mix of cardio and strength training.

Think circuit training or boot camp.

I definitely credit it with my quick rebound after Fiona.

Once I got pregnant with Cedric I stopped going and it fell off my radar.

Well, I finally went back and am again blown away.

I ran a 10K in September, I'm not in terrible shape.

This class kicks my butt.

I'm talking hurting for 3 days after.

{I am also pushing 80 lbs instead of 40 lbs like last time.}

The up-side is that I got over a fitness plateau that I've been at for months now.

And after going only once a week for 3 weeks.

We haven't been feeling the best so I missed last week's class.

But now I'm all fired up to get back to it today.

The other bonus is that there are bouncy castles for the kids after.

{Always nice to have a carrot for good behaviour right?}

I'm also really proud of the Husband who's been hitting the gym every day this week.

We need that guy to be around for a long time so the healthier the better.

Bringing Home the Tree

It's one of the great challenges of the Christmas season.

How are we going to get the tree home this year?

We're never prepared.

Luckily the lot we go to always has some twine for us to tie the tree down.

Let me reminisce about our different solutions each year.

2008: Jeep Diesel = roof rack = easy-peasy.

2010: Yaris = tied through the interior =wasn't sure we'd make it.

2011: Jeep SRT8 = no roof rack + toddler in a car seat = sticking out the back window.

 2012: 2 car seats + Mitsubishi with roof rack = {see 2008}

I was sad that I didn't find all the years since my favourites were 2005 and 2007.

This was before I realized that I needed to record moments.

{You were right Mom, ok?}

2005: Living downtown in the loft = walked home with the tree on our grocery cart.

{You know, the ones your Grandma has.}

This was by far my favourite, it felt like a scene from a romantic comedy.

Not to mention we overheard a group of girls gushing "Awww, that's so romantic!"

2007: Toyota Tercel + no roof rack = improvisation.

This year we didn't have any kids in the back and I guess didn't feel like tying.

We drove home with the tree crosswise through the interior and hanging out each back window.

This was my second favourite.

Even though I was in charge of holding onto the tree, I was still well aware of all the pointing and puzzled looks coming our way.

Does anyone else have any good stories?

Work Is Your New Favourite

{The Christmas movies are out so I apologize in advance for any Elf or Grinch quotes.}

Jeff  and Jason are working a ton, almost every night and weekend.

Obviously our family time has been minimal.

So minimal that I was starting to worry that the unthinkable would happen.

Would we actually not find time to get a Christmas tree?

Well, Jeff and I had a blowout discussion this weekend.

We all came to the conclusion that we need to start a schedule.

When you work for yourself no one is assigning shifts.

You work when you decide to.

This can be great.

When you're still in the growing stages, not so much.

You end up feeling the need to work as much as possible.

The business is your baby.

You want it to grow and thrive.

You're terrified of failing.

We understand that this is what we signed up for and are willing to put in the time.

It was, however, getting out of hand.

For example, the looming thought that we would be Christmas-tree-less.

I'm happy to report that Christmas has been saved and this is what we did last night.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party {Of One}

We've been under the weather lately.

Everyone's still functional but coughing and pretty sniffly.

Because of this we made the decision to lay low this Saturday instead of heading out to our first Christmas party of the year.

This was not an easy decision because this party we missed was an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

Those who have known me for a while know that I love a good Christmas sweater.

About 5 years ago we started hosting an annual upside-down-turkey-ugly-Christmas-sweater-cabin-party.

It hasn't happened since the kids came but we still have our sweater collection.
Here's a small sampling from 2007.

Fantastic right?

These weren't even the worst ones but I can't track any more pics down right now.

I was bummed that we didn't get to show these beauties off at the party so decided to use this platform instead.

You're welcome.

First, this is my gorgeous frock.

 You can't really tell from the picture but my sweater was lousy with pom poms.
And here's Jeff's.

Yep, that's Uncle Sam Santa and his friend the patriotic snowman.

This one was so special we had to highlight it with lights woven through and run off of a battery pack.

If you have your own personal collection I would LOVE to see some more.

Festival of the Trees

This one snuck up on me.

Thank goodness our besties from down the street asked us to go today.

We would have missed it.

And this is one that I don't like to miss.

Many festivals really don't cater to the babes.

We drag them along anyways and luckily our kids are pretty adaptable.

{Eg.  Impromptu song & dance performance on the steps in Churchill square while waiting for the fireworks that scared the bejeezus out of Fiona anyways.}

Festival of the Trees is different.

There's so much for the kids to do.

We try to look at the trees and usually find something they like along the lines of Sesame Street or this year's giant snowman.

Really though, the Santa letter writing and cookie making stations are where it's at.

This year Fiona also enjoyed the "happy feet" piano and hockey.
{And here's the usual self portrait of me wearing Cedric.}

If you haven't been, it's worth it.

Even without the kids, I always love how it gets me in the Christmas spirit.

I leave you with a video of a future member of the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team.
{Daddy would have been so proud.}