Mummy Maggie Chronicles: Christmas

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Christmas Eve 2011 Magic

25.12.11

After dinner on Christmas Eve, we decided to take a drive to look at the festive Christmas lights. It's a tradition in my family, as I'm sure it's a tradition in others too. It makes me feel nostalgic for my childhood Christmases, especially because I'm away from my family this year...*sniff* :(

We found this really cool place near our town where this business owner goes ALL OUT with his light & diorama displays. EZ was totally in his element! {Little A slept through all the fun!}.

We also started a new tradition of opening one present {NEW PJS!} on Christmas Eve too. The kidlets looked so cute in their festive jim-jams!

The top L photo needs explanation. I asked EZ to put his head closer to the cookies so I could take a better photo. This is what we ended up with and wouldn't change his position -- so we just rolled with it!

We got home pretty late after looking at the lights, so we quickly put out cookies & milk for Santa {Santa is NOT a vegan, by the way!}, then laid out the reindeer food {oats & a carrot!} on the porch because everybody knows that reindeer don't come in the house.

Merry Christmas!

24.12.11

Merry Christmas from our Family to Yours!

I couldn't resist the chevrons - since 2011 was the Year of the Chevrons in our home!

Thank you for following my adventures in mummyhood, decorating & DIY. I really appreciate all of you who take the time to read our blog and stay in touch with us.

There's so much more to come in 2012! Stay tuned!

Christmas Mantel 2011

22.12.11

Better late than never, I *finally* finished our Christmas mantel and decorations - 3 days before Christmas. Yay!

I decided to keep it somewhat simple, and let the festive bright colour and sparkle speak for itself!

Linking up to these fun parties:

{via}

My {Herbivore} Holiday Wish List!

12.12.11

Don't forget to enter my Holiday Scentsy Giveaway - click here for details! The Giveaway closes Wednesday December 14th, 2011 @ 11pm EST :)
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For those still wondering {or care!}, yep -- I'm still vegan! Going on about 5 1/2 months now and loving it! Yes, it's a bit of a challenge at times in terms of convenience, but I get to experience a wonderful and expansive array of veggies, fruits, grains and other products {and by "other products" I really mean the vegan donuts & cupcakes from vegan bakeries! DELICIOUS!}

So what's a herbivore to want for Christmas this year? Well, in addition to my BIG WISH list {DSLR camera, VitaMix, Silhouette Cameo}. Here's my not-so-little vegan-friendly wish list in no particular order :)

1) Cool necklace from the Exaltation Shop on Etsy :) Only $21. You can also get one that says "vegan"!

{VIA}

2) The Happy Herbivore cookbooks offer low-fat, uber-healthy & delicious plant-based recipes that are quick & easy to make. The author {Lindsay Nixon} just released new cookbook called Everyday Happy Herbivore. I'd love that too!

{VIA}

3) Since becoming vegan, one of my new favourite magazines to read is VegNews. It offers the latest information, news, articles and recipes -- even fashion trends -- that all comply with principles of compassionate and plant-based living. Subscribe here - and it even has a "tree-friendly" version!

{VIA}

4) It's no secret that I'm a wee bit obsessed with make-up {although my work colleagues probably think I just got out of bed without combing my hair some mornings!}. I've been doing some research into vegan-friendly, cruelty-free make-up & beauty products. One company that keeps coming up with rave reviews is Everyday Minerals. The online only company offers a wide array of mineral-based make-up options. I'm anxiously awaiting the free trial kit of samples that I ordered this past weekend. I saw this $20 "No Makeup Kit" with bronzers, eye shadow & lip balm in their gift section. I love little kits :) Isn't it fab?

{VIA}

5) Speaking of natural beauty products, the amazing LUSH now identifies their vegan products! SO AMAZING! I perused their website today and fell in love with this citrusy-smelling dry shampoo called "No Drought". My current dry shampoo is too fake-flowery. I'm super excited to try this :)

{VIA}

6) I'm also dying to try the Clarisonic Mia facial cleansing system. It's a sonic brush that gently but effectively deep cleans your face. It looks like a bit of a contraption, but I'm told is AWESOME. And I need a bit more amazingness & indulgence in my life :)

{VIA}

7) Lastly, no wish list would be complete without Lululemon. Although I do think they are a bit "sizist" sometimes, I'm still a sucker for their chic workout wear. Seriously, sometimes the only thing that makes me exercise is getting to wear the cute clothes :) Like this little puffer-style pullover is perfect for those brisk mornings. I like to be cool when I run, so even on the cold days, this would be just fine for me. Isn't it adorable?

{VIA}

I'm sure this list could go on for days, but I'll stop here for now :)

What's on your wish list this Christmas season?

The Elf has Entered the Building...

11.12.11

Have you heard about "The Elf on the Shelf"? Well, it's sold out everywhere, but I managed to find one this weekend in a trendy boutique that sells cool kids clothes. What a score! {The best part was I had store credit there so it was FREE!}

If you don't know what this Elf on the Shelf business is all about, you MUST check out the website.

{It's a bit bizarro with all the "Elf is keeping an eye on you" business, but the kidlets LOVE it!}.

Essentially, it's a book & an Elf in a box that is "delivered from the North Pole" for the Christmas Season. The Elf watches the kids to see if they are naughty or nice, and reports back to Santa every night.

Image via here

The Elf reappears the next morning in a new location {a shelf, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the pantry...click here for some creative ideas from Complicated Mama!}. There's even an iPhone App for more ideas to set-up the Elf! There is seriously an App for EVERYTHING now!

The Elf cannot be touched by the kidlets or else he loses his Christmas magic ability to return to Santa nightly to make his reports. And if Santa doesn't know if you've been naughty or nice, he can't give you presents.

This little bendy Elf has a LOT of power & influence in our house!

We're really excited about this new Christmas tradition in our house! We have yet to name our Elf because EZ only wants to call him Lightning McQueen. I guess we'll wait till next year to give him a proper Elf Name!

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf?

Sounds of the Season

10.12.11

{It's Season for GIVING! Don't Forget to enter my SCENTSY GIVEAWAY!! Click here for details!}

Ok. I admit it. I've been listening to Christmas music since before Halloween. Seriously. Music is kind of a big deal in our house, so during the Holidays in non-stop Christmas music!

My *favourite* band introduced a new Christmas album this year and it was released in October. I've mentioned my adoration a few times on Facebook & Twitter, but She & Him deserve their own post on this here blog.

via

I absolutely ADORE their soulful vintage sound which echoes my imagination of what Christmas was and should be like {simple and lovely with a punch of retro}, but with a hip and modern twist. Don't get me wrong, we can all use a little Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" now and again, but overall I find most new Christmas music is over-the-top and over-sung.

She & Him's rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside" is one of my favourites - the male/female parts are reversed! But "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is equal in its awesomeness. Silver Bells is also pretty amazing. "Have Yourself an Merry Little Christmas" is one of my favourite songs ever, and their version is emotive and soulful.

I think I also love She & Him because "She" is Zooey Deschanel, a talented indie actress. She has a new TV show "New Girl" and it's pretty great. Big A likes to remind me that she was recently spoofed on SNL for being "the quirky girl", but that's what I love about her - she's unapologetic about who she is.

Here's a link from YouTube of She & Him's recent appearance on the Jay Leno Show!

Definitely pick up their album "A Very She & Him Christmas" this Holiday season, you won't be disappointed!

Our Christmas Tree! 2011 Edition

8.12.11

So the Christmas Season is here! Very exciting! We *finally* managed to get our tree up this past weekend! Big A likes real trees {and I do too, except the gay designer guy inside of me wants a Black Glittery tree or even a Hot Pink feather tree!}.

Anyway, our tree is HUGE. In a good way. It's funny how life changes. When I was younger, all I wanted was one of those monochromatic decorated trees, like all white - but now I'm all about FUN COLOUR! Hence, the addition of pink and purple. Last year I added the blue. And the year before that I added the green.

We watched "Elf" while decorating the tree {which I rented for $5 from iTunes then realized it was on TV for FREE a couple of hours later. That's my life!}.

The kiddos had fun decorating the tree with our glittery shatterproof ornaments. We still have a couple of remnants from our pre-kid Christmas tree days, but most of them broke in the Great Christmas Tree Collapse of 2008. I guess it was a sign of things to come.

Don't mind the shirtless EZ - he's figured out to put his own clothes on, which means he can also take them off. Don't worry, he was wearing pants! We have *some* self-respect & decorum in our house! But isn't that Santa hat adorable? Yes, it's sequined. Don't tell him when he's 15 that his Mummy used to make him wear sequins :)

Little A, on the other hand, would have NONE of the glittery Santa hats. There was too much to explore! She got into every little box and made sure she fully inspected each ornament's shatterproof-ness!

Cool Christmas Wreaths

24.11.11

Ok I admit it. I'm *so* NOT a wreath person. Generally, I find they don't look chic or expensive. I find that most people feel obligated to "decorate" with a wreath because it's easy and expected, and frankly, wreaths are widely available.

Simply put, hanging a wreath on your door = easy. Decorating a tablescape or mantel = not as easy.

I'm going to have to swallow my words when you see the gorgeous and COOL wreaths I found on Pinterest. Aren't the just LOVELY?

Image via here

So...am I converted to wreaths? Maybe. I guess you'll see by my Christmas decorating :)

Hipster Christmas

23.11.11

While perusing Pinterest earlier this week for Holiday decorating & DIY ideas, I came across these cute Hipster Holiday decorations. Enjoy!

Well-traveled Snow people via here

Cute Moustachioed Christmas ball via here


Too cool for school Pantone Colour Chistmas balls via here

I'm dreaming of a PINK Christmas

21.11.11

Yesterday, I was *really* in the Christmas spirit! I don't know why exactly because it's still warm out and I didn't do anything in particular to spark this spirit, but alas, I'm feeling Christmas-y.

I felt like decking the halls and trimming the tree, but we still haven't got our tree yet {Big A insists on a REAL tree}, so I took to my beloved Pinterest to see how others are getting their Holiday decorating started!

This year I want to change up our decorations a bit...and add a punch of pink {and other merry & bright colours too}! Life's too short for the expected :)

Here's what I found for "Pink-spiration":