Appetizer Exchange

Last week, I went to my first ever "Appetizer Exchange Party".  My friend, Christa organized it and hosted it.  It was amazing.  I totally recommend doing it!  Essentially it was a food exchange party where appetizers became the main course. There were 6 couples invited and each couple arrived with 6 servings of frozen appetizers and one appetizer serving all ready to eat.  It was a fantastic evening of savoury food, cocktails, wine, Christmas music and laughter.  At the end of the evening, each couple left with six parcels of frozen, homemade hors d'oeuvre ready for the holidays.

I made Minature Bacon and Leek Quiche.  Delish.

Here is the bag I received at the end of the evening.  Not only was it full of frozen appetizers, but the recipes were attached to the bag with my initial.  So lovely.

I'm already looking forward to doing this again next year :)

-Carrie

DIY Holiday Wreaths

I made a typical Christmasy wreath a few years ago and its done me well, but I decided this year I wanted to try something new, something that would last longer than just Christmas, and my plan is that I can continue to change it with the seasons. I made a grapevine wreath. Its pretty simple and minimalistic. It might get some additions but currently I am happy with it and I love that I can also see it inside through the glass window.

(Please excuse my slanty photography skills). The other thing that excites me about my new wreath is how easy and how cheap it was! I used a 40% off coupon from Michaels (you can print them from their website if you don't get their flyers in the mail) and the wreath cost $2.70 including tax!!!! I already had the ribbon and the berries left over from other projects! I looped the ribbon over the wreath and used a tack in the top of the door. EASY and FABULOUS!

I still had my 'old' wreath hanging around, so I hung it on my garage.

I noticed that you can buy basic wreaths made from fresh pine branches - I think I will have to try that one year - you would smell it every time you walked in the door!

Do you have a wreath? Get a new one every year? Have the same one up all year? Think you might make one this year?

-Lauren

bye bye sauna, hello storage!

just some pics of the latest project Craig and I have been working on:


If you live in a Condo(or any house for that matter), you know just how valuable storage can be.
When we first bought our condo, one of the "features" was a sauna. Now, for most people, having a sauna is a pretty awesome feature to have in your house, and when we told people we were taking it out to make a linen closet, most people we talked to were very surprised that we would give up such a neat part of our house. But, like in many situations, you just have to listen to yourself, and not to be swayed by others opinions.
and, for the record, our sauna in like, 30 years old, it takes about 45 mins to heat up.. and we were using it for storage anyway... so every time we wanted a sauna, we would have to lug out like 40 boxes just for a 10min sauna. so not worth it.

so Linen Closet/ Storage it is!

Here are some before photos: there was a wood bench which has already been taken out

 and the after photos:
- We rubbed the wood walls with Linseed Oil to add some moisture, it made the wood look less dry and marked up. We then added in wire shelves, a hook for Craig's road bike, as well as other hooks in the cubby by the bike for other equipment like our helmets and ice skates.

all in all, it took about a day to finish it all up, and I am very pleased with the results. Next step will to have better organization on the shelves.

How do you deal with your storage/lack of storage in your house? Any good techniques you use?

- Leah

Cookie Exchange

Today I participated in my first ever cookie exchange. Check out my loot!  Its awesome, now all I need to do is stop myself from eating it all in one sitting.  I remembered to take a photo just before putting most of it away in the freezer. The plan is to pace myself so that I can enjoy it between now and Christmas.

There was eight of us participating, all from the same prenatal/mom & baby yoga class - and we all have babies under 1 year. We met this morning to drink coffee and exchange goodies, my contribution was half a loaf of chocolate chip zucchini bread (made with frozen, shredded zuch from my CSA this summer). The plan is that to also exchange recipes soon too.

Anyone else doing a cookie exchange? Its not too late - get some friends/co-workers/neighbours/family together and make it happen!

-Lauren

Its beginning to look alot like Christmas.....

This is the earliest I think I have ever started decorating for Christmas. The past few years our family has decided to make gifts instead of buying them. This adds so much more creativity and fun. We don't have hard 'rules' but like to encourage creativity. Sometimes its personalizing something you have bought (The stencilled hotplate in the previous post was a gift from my brother last year - and its used very often!).

This year my gift is outdoor Christmas decorations. I had decided this in the spring and since I want people to enjoy my gift through the Christmas season, I have started early with hopes to have them all done by December 1st.

Here are pics of two so far, one was done in October - which was enhanced last week to be more wintery with some blue spruce.

Anyone else started decorating early or working on Christmas projects?

- Lauren

Happy Movember!

For those of you who have never heard of Movember, or wondered why you see so many guys with mustaches this month......

MOVEMBER (THE MONTH FORMERLY KNOWN AS NOVEMBER) IS A MUSTACHE GROWING CHARITY EVENT HELD DURING NOVEMBER EACH YEAR THAT RAISES FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR MEN'S HEALTH. www.movember.com

My husband has participated in the past - and although he is not currently growing a mustache, I still want to support this event (including my brother who is working on his 3rd movember mustache) and encourage you to support anyone you know growing a 'stache. I have even noticed a guy at our local coffee shop putting all his tips this month towards it.

And if you don't know anyone growing some facial hair this month - you can support the cause by making sure the men in your life go to the doctors for regular checkup - our health is important!

(and yes that is a stencil of my husbands face - complete with mustache on a hotplate - more on that later)


-Lauren

Sew Sew Sew!

I have only recently started up my hobby of sewing. One of the first pieces I made was this simple skirt. I used the Simplicity 2258 pattern. I am very glad I used a fabric like this one, because it hid all of my mistakes very nicely.
Here are a few pics - let me know what you think!

I initially learned to sew by taking a course at my local college. It was an independent study, where I was able to pick out my pattern and fabric and work away. There was a teacher for support along the way, which was great since I made MANY mistakes! All in all, I'm really glad I took the course, and learned a new skill...one I hope I continue for many years...

what projects are you working on?

-Leah