Christmas in images.....

Merry Christmas friends!! I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful time! I remember growing up, I always hated the day after Christmas because it was the furthest possible date from the next Christmas. But I have to tell you, as an adult, I LOVE the day after Christmas. It is past noon already and there is a very strong possibility that I am still in my pajamas. Yesterday was the most challenging cooking day I've ever had - it felt like a kitchen marathon in terms of endurance, coupled with short wind sprints from counter to counter.  Here are a few images from our Christmas. Love, peace and joy to you! xoxo 

 Cuddling up Christmas Eve to watch Elf.

Christmas morning gift giving. 

 Playing with our new gifts. 

Getting party headquarters set up.

 Our tree reflects my obsession with all things woodland. 

 Practicing for many real campouts in 2016.

 Starting the appie station set up. 

These three definitely brought the Christmas spirit. 

 The feast - featuring slow cooked ham, yams, mashed potatoes, crispy broccoli, stuffing, brussel sprouts, mashed turnips & carrots, orange soaked cranberries and turkey. 

It was definitely a cozy fit once we set up the second table, but it was our first Christmas without mom, so it felt particularly important to all be under one roof this year. I sure missed her, but felt like she was with me every step of the way and that she would have been proud of all of us for pulling this off. 

Cheers to you friends!

Now, back to my delicious coffee.

xoxo

light my way....

One of my all time favourite things about Christmas is the lights. I remember growing up, riding in the back seat of the family car on long drives back from my nana's house around Christmas time, feeling a sense of magic in the air looking at all the lights. It has never gone away. Here's a few photos from the weekend to light you up.

This is our first Christmas in our new neighbourhood - it is so much fun to walk around because a lot of the homes go a bit crazy:

We got our tree this weekend. I was testing out the lights and caught this quick moment. Last year I knew it would be my last Christmas with my mom, and this year, I know it's the last one I'll share with this beautiful girl. I just love this shot of her - she'll always be my pup.

 This year, for the first time, we caught the Santa Clause parade in Cloverdale. It was pretty to see all the decorated trucks roll by. When I asked my daughter if she'd like to go again next year, she said, "No, I'm good." 

 Our power went out last night, which instantly transforms our living space into a romantic, made for TV movie kind of setting.

 My daughter held the San Pellegrino bottle in place while I tilted the champagne glass and snapped this pic in front of our mantle's Christmas lights. She was so excited to see how our collaboration turned out and immediately wanted her own glass of glowing bubbles. 

I hope you have had a wonderful first week of December! xoxo

Dec 17

Dec. 17th - Christmas image - the appearance of holiday greenery everywhere in the house.

Dec. 16

Christmas image: Dec. 16th - wrapping presents by the tree. xo

Dec. 15

Christmas Image Dec. 15 - All things woodland. It's official. I'm obsessed.

Dec. 10

Christmas image day 10: decorating homemade playdough using Christmas cookie cutters. xo

Dec. 9

Daily Christmas image: Christmas music and red wine. 

dec 8

Christmas image Dec 8: Enjoying our sweet little tree that we hacked off of that tranquil farm.

Dec. 7

Dec. 7: Today was the first time we've ever cut down our own Christmas tree. It was so much fun wandering around the beautiful property with great friends. It's definitely going to be a new family tradition.

Dec 6

Christmas image: Day 6: Pulling out the Christmas decorations. The woodland obsession is on!

Dec. 5

Christmas Image Day 5: Driving around looking at Christmas lights. I think if I lived across from these guys, I'd just put up a giant mirror in front of my house, so that it'd look like I went to the same amount of effort.

Dec. 4

Christmas image day 4: Snow covered trees and little chickadees toughing it out through the Winter. You've got to love a bird that's part of the tit family.

Dec. 3

Christmas image day 3: A classic combination. 

Dec. 2

As part of my daily Christmas image in December, here's tonight's meet up with the big guy. I like this photo I snuck while they were setting up better than the one they gave us. Santa totally rocks. 

Dec. 1

Hello friends! This month I've decided to post daily photos with images that remind me of the Christmas season. Hold on to your freaking hats, here we go!

 I made this little advent calendar stuffed with a little daily adventures ("today we're riding the Christmas train", or "let's go look at Christmas lights and drink hot chocolate"...when in reality they should read "today we're letting mom sleep in" or "today I won't make mom wrestle me to the ground just so she can get my coat on"). 

Mandarin oranges. Every year one of these beauties ended up in my stocking growing up. I tried to give one to my daughter today and she said, "oh mom, you know I don't like oranges in cold weather" like I was some kind of giant idiot for thinking oranges could be served in December.

Stanley Park

One of my favourite Christmas traditions - Bright Nights at Stanley Park

lights around the hood

Merry Christmas!

Here are some random images from our day. I hope you had a wonderful day with your loved ones. xo