I often joke about how my oldest son is destined to be a foodie -- he's already specific in his salt preferences (Andean rock salt then sea salt, over regular table salt) and his favorite food other than olives in any form is deep dish spanokopita. I harbour no such thoughts with my youngest. He has wonderfully simple tastes -- his favorite food in the world is a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat. His second favorite is macaroni and cheese (homemade, of course). As his birthday is tomorrow, I asked him what he'd like for his special supper and dessert...
Read MoreWhen I was a kid advent calendars brought to mind waxy, tasteless chocolates and cardboard depictions of the stable scene: Mary and Joseph, under the guidance of half of a zoo, some foreign dignitaries, and various hangers-on, watching the beatific Christ child sleeping blissfully in the manger. Not here, not this year. This year we are doing something a little different..
Read MoreLike to make gifts, but are pushed for time? Want to give homemade, but feel uncreative? Essential oil reed diffusers are easy to make with extra points for presentation -- they look so pretty when done! They are also a welcome, more natural way to fill a home with lovely scents!
Read MoreAs all of you know, Christmas is only a little over a month away. Thoughts this time of year turn to gifting friends and loved ones with special presents to show we care, and many of us make extra donations to the Food Bank or other charities in order to give back to our community. This year our community needs an extra showing of generosity. Due to two recent fires in a downtown women-only rooming house and a women's shelter, resources for women in crisis in Ottawa are stretched far too thin...
Read MoreWhen I was a kid I loved Christmas -- I adored the cheesy music, the month-long anticipation of The Big Day had me unable to sit still, I couldn't get enough of the various preparations for family meals, church services, concerts, and school break. This love of the Holiday was still so strong with me that when I met DH we had to strike a compromise in which I could only start listening to Christmas music on December 1st or as soon as the first snow fell -- whichever came first. Given we lived in Nova Scotia, I never got to start early (though the arrangement had to be modified once we moved to Ottawa!)...
Read MoreI love to read. When I say I love to read, what I really mean is that I love to read. This year has been light on content, but high in quantity. Years past have been the reverse. I don't discriminate between genres. Very little is too fluffy or too heavy for me to devour. I'll read just about anything.
This is what makes it particularly hard for me to decide not to finish reading something.
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