To & From Holiday Guide 2013

As I was doing my normal morning routine which consists of checking emails, playing my favourite Facebook games (Bingo Blitz, Royal Story and Hidden Shadows), and reading a few blogs, I came across a fabulous gift guide.

I wasn't scheduled to make a blog post today but I had never heard of this gift guide before and I love it and want to make sure that as many people as possible get a chance to see this.  I grabbed it from a post on House Tweaking called "To and From Holiday Gift Guide".

It gave the link to the guide itself which you can find HERE.

Some of my favourite picks are:

Peacock and Ice Custom Agenda - Page 8

Netflix Annual Subscription - Page 22

Ouch First Aid Kit - Page 25

Cuyana Low Back Tunic - Page 27

Single Hammock Chair - Page 30

Doorbot - Page 52

Xbox 1 - Page 55

Gem Magnets - Page 207

Target Deer Head - Page 211

What would be your favourite picks this year from the magazine?  Go take a peak and let us know which are your favourites in the comments below.

Best Gluten Free Christmas Cookies

I must admit that this article started out with just your best of Christmas cookies till I found a gluten free one and this idea blossomed.  I do feel bad that a lot of the time those with Celiac end up missing out on holidays and goodies due to their very limited diet.  To bring a bit of holiday spirit to those suffering this holiday I bring you the following post.

We found out this year that one of G's kids has Celiac disease.  If you have never heard of this or don’t really understand what this disease entails I will leave a few links below for you to check out.

Canadian Celiac Association

Celiac.com

Celiac Chicks Blog

Jennifersway Blog

Normally my plan each year is to make Christmas cookies to give the kids each year but my health has always stood in the way.  This year since I am feeling much better, I would love to make cookies but time and the holiday uproar may make this impossible.

So I am going to make a small recipe book for her with some of the best gluten free Christmas cookies recipes.  Below are some of the more traditional cookie recipes I found.

 1. Molasses Spice Cookies - Recipe from Celiac.com

2. Lofthouse Style Sugar Cookies - Recipe from LynnsKitchenAdventures.com

3. Snickerdoodles - Recipe from BettyCrocker.com

4. Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Icebox Shortbread - Cookitallergyfree.com

5. Gingersnaps - Recipe from Gutenfreegoddess.blogspot.ca

6. Coconut Macaroons - Recipes from Theprimalist.com

7,  Chocolate Snowballs - Recipe From Themommybowl.com

8.  Peanut Butter and Jelly - Recipe From elanaspantry.com

9.  Chocolate Crinkles - Recipe from heythattastesgood.com

10.  Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies - Recipe from glutenfreeonashoestring.com

Do you know someone with Celiac?  Remember that a lot of people these days have dietary restrictions.  I hope that this round up will help you to include them this holiday.  If you try any of these recipes I would love to hear how they went and your critiques. 

I'm making my list, and checking it twice...

November 23,

Today I figured I would get my Christmas list done!  Such hard work really LOL .  Usually we have been unable to have the traditional holiday due to finances, and it's virtually impossible to get all the kids under one roof. 

But this year is a special year for me.  I am here to enjoy this year, and even though there may not be tons of presents, or tons of people, I want us to have a brilliant day in our own way.  I also want to start some holiday traditions that we will be able to teach the grandkids to do one day.

One of my favorite posts that I saw last year was about a Christmas Eve Tradition.  Now please remember that the 'kids' are between 14-26 so no little ones around but I think this year we will do this with G and then as kids get married and have little ones, we can just add them to the traditional festivities.  Here is the link to the article I found at MomFab Fun 

First thing I want is an embossing gun. I found it at Walmart .  Of course then I need embossing ink and powders to go with it lol.

Next thing I am hoping to get is an envelope punch board.  This device is used to create envelopes at home with any paper.  Another gift that can be found at Walmart.

While surfing around Walmart's craft section I also found a Pink Die Cutter Tool Kit and Case.  This will go perfectly to aid in my vinyl work. 

Another crafty Item that looks interesting is the Silhouette Sketch Pens 24 Pack.  So far you only  need to hit one store to get all my goodies lol.

Any Glitter packs as I have none at the moment. 

I want Pajamas this year!

As usual I hope I get one fairy.  G has got me at least one of these every year.  I love them and have a special glass case they are kept in.  I have no preference as to which one, as long as I don’t have it already.

I have a broken PC Monitor that needs to be fixed.

I need a new external drive since both of mine are no longer working.  Would love to get the information off them too as a gift.

Gift Cards at Lens Mill Store, Dollarama, and Walmart would be easy options too.

And last but not least, I would love to have a shelf built 1 1/2 foot from ceiling on 3 of my 4 bedroom walls for storage and magazines.

Well I am too tired to keep this list going lol so will stop for now.  Have you all thought about what you would like this year?  If you could get one thing (make it affordable lol) this year, what do you want most?  Have you made your list?

Christmas came early at 884 this year!!!!

Geez it seems like every time I want to delve back into this blog something comes up.  But I want you all to know that I am around and thinking about posts all the time. 

I am going to try and come around a few times a week, instead of trying the impossible (at this time), once a day.  I have a lot of projects that I have started around the new house and massive plans for the next year. 

I do have some awesome news.  I finally, after years of coveting this amazing techie toy, I was able to get one!  I am now the proud owner of a Silhouette Cameo and if you are not sure what this is… please click HERE to be taken to the product page so you can see what this machine is capable of.   On the right side of the page there is a blue box, that says "What can you make?".  Clicking on the links below it will give you an overview of this beast :)

I have had the product since last Thursday and have been playing around with it a bit and Friday I made my first Christmas card in years.  I am going to try and get a tut together for all of you who enjoy making home-made cards for family and friends.

Now as much fun as it is to make cards and the like, there is another project that I can do with the Cameo to help make some extra cash around here.  I am going to be making some custom vinyl sayings and monograms.  I am really looking forward to playing around with this Cameo as there are so many wonderful things to make.

We are still unpacking and trying to figure where to put everything.  G is making shelves in the garage to help keep my craft supplies all neat and organized.  I am going to be putting some ideas I have for my craft area together soon for a post, so be on the watch for that. 

After we get most of the boxes unpacked and stored, then comes the decorating.  I am really looking forward to that stage as I have never truly decorated before.  I always had hand me down furniture (which is not a bad thing, but I would take things as long as they were needed), without care for how it 'fit' with the rest of the room.  So with that big project I am quite excited and am hoping to focus on one room at a time till it is done how I envision.  It could honestly be a long time till things are done to my taste but that is ok.  The fun is in the process in my eyes.

The weather has definitely changed here in south western Ontario.  It is cold and windy, with snow here and there mixed with nasty rain.  I hate the 'dark' days of winter.  It can get so daunting and depressive.  How are you planning on bringing some sunshine into your life this winter?

The Christmas season is fast approaching and with it, my brain is in overdrive with many projects I want to make and give as gifts this year.  I have started on a few of them so far and hope to be able to finish and share them with you in the weeks ahead.

I will also be trying my hand at making 'home-made' beauty products to give to the young ladies, for H, N, and M this year.  I also have some goodies in mind for the guys this year also, R has just moved into an apartment with his friend M, so they are needing things for around the house, and I will probably be making C the same as R and M, and not real sure what to do for W this year. 

What can you make for a 14 year old boy?  If anyone has any ideas or suggestions please leave me a comment below.