In our family Santa doesn't fill the stockings, our family members do. We have a lot of fun trying to find the perfect little gifts to tuck inside and, as much as possible we buy them from the shops in our neighbourhood here in Ottawa.
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Nothing heralds the holidays for my taste buds quite like a slab of war cake next to my morning cup of coffee. This is a traditional recipe in our family, dating back to days of wartime rationing -- this version an adaptation of my great aunt's! It only gets better as it ages, so make two -- one for eating and one for keeping.
Read MoreLots of folks are feeling the pinch this year when it comes to holiday spending. Here are some great gift items for under $30 that are functional, stylish, and unique. Make them stand out even more by pairing them with something homemade!
Read MoreA number of years ago, suffering holiday burnout, I decided to simplify my holidays. Under the "keeping it simple, keeping it fun" motto, I issued myself an annual gifting challenge -- one year everything had to be "previously loved", discovered in thrift stores and antique shops. Another year, I used reusable wrappings for everything -- tea towels and fabric ribbons make great wrapping paper and a gal can never have too many new tea towels! What are your holiday strategies to keep the holidays fun and stress-free?
Read MoreI'm officially at the half-way point in the pregnancy now. I'm feeling a bit more relaxed about it, but still have worries in the back of my mind about something going "wrong". It wasn't until a follow-up u/s with #2 that we realized he had a kidney problem -- that didn't show up at the routine 18wk u/s. I fret a bit that something similar might happen with this one because I now know that it can -- with #1, I was blissfully naive about such things and didn't give them another thought. As far as gender guessing, anything is still possible -- Baby kept legs stubbornly crossed, so we didn't get a peek. This bothered me at first but not so much now. I rather suspect this one is a girl -- probably because I know a girl would cause the most upheaval in our tiny house. ;) [...]
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