Merry Christmas... and hello out there!

It's funny how now that I've found myself with a day off, and literally no work in sight for at least a week, I suddenly have time to blog. All morning as I've tinkered about my house, I have been thinking about the blog posts I'd like to write. Perhaps, I should use the next week to blog profusely, ensuring I have more content in 2012. For any readers who decided to stop by again, it has been nearly six months since I last posted. I promise I haven't just ignored you, I have also ignored my house. The bright spot is I have tried to focus on spending as much time with family and friends as I could, considering I spent the past 2 months traveling.

I did think it was worth sharing a few updates on my house.

Since my last post about the craft room, it is well on its way to being complete. The ceiling repair is nearly complete. We wallpapered two walls. I hung curtains, which not only match the wallpaper perfectly, but were a great clear-out deal at Wal-Mart (only $10 each)! We only have the floor left to finish. I do solemnly promise, I will post a finished photo.






Rearranged my living room into separate 'living spaces' for watching TV and eating. With the craft room / office nearing completion, I no longer needed to use my table as a desk, and we have actually ate at the table. Shocking!

Harvested a huge tomato crop. So large, I had to buy additional canning jars for all the tomato sauce and salsa I made in September! At one point, I worried about what I would do with all of it, but there are only a few jars left! 

A perfect tomato from my garden. Mmmm.

Rows of freshly-canned tomato sauce and salsa.

My most recent addition was new couches! I wrestled with the decision to buy new living room furniture most of the year, but common sense finally won out. Cats + new, leather furniture = disaster. With Christmas around the corner, there were several listings for like-new sofas on Kijiji, and we picked up these barely-used, comfy, brown couches for only $300! Now, if only I could replace the chair my cats have claimed ownership over!

The cats favourite spot to watch the world go by.

Finally, you won't see these photos anywhere else, but I even managed to get my house decorated for Christmas. Returning home from travel, with only two weeks to go before December 25, I hauled out the totes of decorations and 'decked' the fireplace, front door and put up the tree. Undoubtedly, I'll be spending some time over the holidays catching up with bloggers and checking out your decorations, but for today, I have to get back to the baking. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and should you not hear from me again for some time, best wishes in 2012!

- Savvy Homegirl

A Wonderfully, Happy, Christmas

Last night, bf and I watched "Love Actually". It was the perfect 'end' so-to-speak to what was about as close to a perfect Christmas as you could get. Four days of lounging, family, turkey dinners and sweets, lots of sharing, gift-giving and of course, love. Wow, I sound so mushy.

"Love is all around us, c'mon and let it grow."

In 27 years, this Christmas ranked up there as being one of the best. We truly enjoyed every moment spent with our families. There was lots of catching up, lots of laughter and lots of moments we wished wouldn't end.

I spoiled everyone with gifts and  didn't care what I received in return. I relished in the sheer joy of giving the people I love the most, gifts that made them really happy. I am blessed to have such wonderful family and good fortune to eat until our bellies are full. And in the true spirit of the season, I witnessed old quarrels forgiven and relationships mended.

Now, with all that mushiness, it seems so superficial to tell you about the wonderful gifts I received. I have to share though, because I have been unable to put these 2 amazing books down since the moment I ripped off the paper (or cereal box in the case of my sneaky cousin).

Bakerella's Cake Pops book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How thoughtful was bf? He knew I read her blog and have attempted these tasty treats occasionally. He was even aware that Bakerella was in Toronto doing signings earlier in December, but we were out of town. Even if I never muster the energy to tackle cake pops again (they are a lot of work), I love every bit of this book. It is jam-packed with tips, like why not try making 12 the first time, instead of 48! Don't try to dip frozen cake pops in candy. Wow, wish I'd seen both of those tips the first time!


Also, bf spoiled me with a hammock. In the summer, I was longing for a hammock for my backyard. Now I have one to hang from my tree!


Book # 2? 


Domino Book of Decorating of course!


I love it. I love every bit of this book, and I could just flip through it for hours on end. If I weren't so scared to mess it up, I'd have dog-eared half the pages by now. I admit, I'm not even a talented decorator, but I marvel at how the books has captured hundreds of simple ideas and made them look House & Home-worthy. It will be a fixture on my coffee table, possibly forever.



I truly hope my readers had an joyous and wonderful Christmas too. Congrats to Micaela over at Five Blondes on her new, baby boy! What a perfect Christmas gift!

All I Want for Christmas

1 most sleep and here's what I'm hoping will be under my tree tomorrow:

For my reading (and drooling) pleasure...

For the techie in me that hopes this savvy gadget will also improve my efficiency, not to mention keep me connected to the Internet ALL THE TIME...

For the Julia Child in me...

For the girl that dreams...

For the practical side (that's a humidifier)....

Wreathed Up With You (and a random recipe)

Check these out! After seeing my wreath, a co-worker was inspired to create her own beautiful creation. And not just one, but two!

 She sent me these photos, and I had to share them with you. Aren't they beautiful?!

LOVE them!!

On a completely separate note, I've been trying to find THE recipe for cabbage & ramen noodle (aka Mr. Noodles) salad. Poor bf has been eating cabbage salad every night for dinner, but I finally found the right recipe tonight here. Actually, I should clarify, I was looking for the right dressing. The salad is pretty standard - cabbage, sunflower seeds and/or almonds, and Mr. Noodles. The key to the dressing is found in one of the comments on the recipe - rice wine vinegar and sesame oil and not too much sugar (you can always add more). YUM! Bf cleaned out the bowl!!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

It's amazing how after 3 weeks away, a cinnamon candle, some pine boughs and a $12 artificial tree can put you right in the holiday spirit!

The first thing I did last week (after laundry) was pull out my Christmas totes and haul out the decorations. Strangely, it seemed there were more than I recalled putting away last year. I guess that's what happens when you scour the post-Christmas clear-out aisle.

I did not end up buying a tree four weeks ago as I'd once planned, and luckily so, because it turns out I bought one last year!!! For $12!!! What a deal!!

You can see, I even had help to assemble it.

I also acquired a lifetime supply of Christmas balls. But for these, I had a plan.

So, I set to work on a rainy day this past weekend (yes, I said rainy) putting up my little tree, stringing boughs along my mantle and decking the halls where they needed to be decked. My naked-looking home finally got a strand of lights on the front tree, and my mood started to feel all-the-more festive. Unable to meet up with my parents to do a little Santa-gift-handoff, bf even took it upon himself to assemble the little, pink "wagie" a.k.a. wagon, for my niece.

 

Meanwhile, I made good work of the Christmas balls I'd bought on clearance last Christmas. I saw a wreath in a magazine years back, made entirely of balls on a styrofoam ring. I filled a tub with balls, plugged in my glue gun and one "Home Alone" movie-later, I had a Christmas wreath for my door.

 The best part? The balls reflect the lights outside, so while I may have fewer lights this year, my house still seems just as bright!

Christmas in July

Well, maybe not quite but arn't these two cute? Bf suggested a trip to Value Village on the weekend, and I developed an immediately grew fond of these little salt & pepper shakers. For $3, they were mine! They're tacky, paint is chipped, and it's not the right season at all, but I couldn't leave them on the shelf. Besides, maybe they'll bring more Christmas-like weather to the area.

35 degree scorcher without humidex today. YIKES! My air conditioner is working overtime, and I fear it's only burning electricity. My house was 84 when I arrived home from work today and the thermastat is set to 80. I think I hear the money being withdrawn from my bank account now!

My poor plants are hurting too. I missed watering them last night, and my garden has wilted terribly. My once-vibrant cherry tomato is a hurting unit, and my flowers look so sad. [This is where I wish I had the talent to draw a cartoon flower with the most sorrowful sad-face you have ever seen.] I put a succulent outside on the weekend and also forgot sunscreen. It's burnt to a crisp. What's the verdict? Do you think it's dead?

Have a Savvy Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours... whoever and wherever you are out there, I want to wish you a very merry, savvy Christmas!

Over the years, my family has started to spread out and Christmas Day had became rushed and hectic. In an effort to remove some stress from the day, we opted to celebrate a little early around the farm. Following a yummy lasagne dinner (I love my mom's lasagne) and our local church service, we opened gifts and enjoyed a few drinks in each other's company.

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Fergie & Penny didn't miss out on the action either. Doesn't Fergie realize that we can still see him, just because he can't see us? This ripped apart bag of paper, which was in the bag before we went to bed, was his little gift to me. On the right, can you spot the feline? This spot beneath the tree has become her favourite spot to take in the action.

This Christmas again blessed me with gifts that will head right to good use in the Savvy home, but the chance to relax at my parents' farm with my family is always the most welcome present for me during the holidays. This year, there was an extra bonus! The expectation of a new baby in the family means I'm going to be an aunt!

I would be remiss if I didn't share my gift from my parents, who I think went a little over the top, but I'm going to let you guess what they bought me anyway...

• It's in 2 boxes, one is a huge, rectangle.
• It's for every room of the house.
• It sucks a lot.

Okay, the last one was the gimme - they gave me a central vacuum! The bonus? My family will have to come visit me to install it in my home! I think this will call for an extra-special trip to Buffalo for chicken wings!

Hope Santa has been extra nice to all of you this year as well! Take care today, whether you're relaxing with family, like me, or you're heading out on the road. Merry Christmas!

Boxing Week Deals

With bleak news reports telling us over and over about the tough economic times we are experiencing this holiday season, the days leading up to Christmas (specifically Christmas Eve) and the Boxing Day sales following would certainly indicate otherwise. Stupidly perhaps, I delayed picking up event tickets until Christmas Eve, and I faced 20 minute waits just to get into the parking lot and then hordes of people within the mall. The Christmas elves were surely looking down on me smiling though, as I got spaces in front of the building twice that day!

Not one to ever get excited about Boxing Day seals, I ventured out on the 27th with my rather embarrassing collection of Christmas decorations (or lack thereof) still very fresh in my mind. Most years I look at the clearance Christmas items and think, "I don't need it now anymore, I'll get decorations next year." Not this year! My eyes were (and still are) open for 'great deals' on Christmas decor.

Quite impressed with the collection at Zehrs last week, I decided to see what kind of 'slash and sell' items remained. Success! With all decorations 50% off, I scored these great birch bark trees for $2.49!

Other great Christmas clearance sales that I've come across this week:

• Home Depot had 50-75% off BEFORE Christmas. I found garland for $3.49 and mini-LED lights for only $2.49!
• JYSK Always the discount decorators dream, my office colleagues scooped up all the tin 'moose' the Stoney Creek store had, but I found these cute table toppers. Also for just $2.49!
• IKEA While I haven't been there yet this year, I found very unique, affordable decorations after last year's holiday season.
  

If you've come across some great decor sales, please share or email me to let our readers know!


Find a large selection of Clocks at HomeDepot.ca!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

With only one day to go before Christmas, I am taking my time today to enjoy the holiday and spend some time at my house before I head to my parent's farm for Christmas.

Once I'm on the road, however, I'll be anxious to get home and immerse myself in the country Christmas traditions that I grew up with. Christmas mass this evening, egg nog and treats at my Grandma's home and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation will undoubtedly be on the itinerary for tonight. My favourite tradition on our farm is Christmas brunch. We take our time milking cows and doing chores in the morning, then come in to a great spread of food - scrambled eggs, pancakes, fruit, yogurt, toast, cheese and fresh coffee.. yumm!

Whatever your traditions are, I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a safe holiday season.

If you'd like to include pancakes in your tradition, here is a great recipe that we have been using at the farm for years, and I now make regularly on Sunday mornings by myself.

Oatmeal Pancakes

1 1/2 C oatmeal
2 c milk

Soak oatmeal in milk and let stand for 5-10 minutes.

1/2 C whole wheat flour

1/2 C white flour

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 ts salt

1/2 ts cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together. Beat 2 eggs, 1/4 C melted butter together and pour into the centre of dry mix. Mix well. Add oatmeal mixture and mix until combined.

Heat oil/butter on hot griddle, pour onto griddle.

Chocolate chips or blueberries are favourite additions to these pancakes, but they are also good with banana slices or apples. My favourite way to eat pancakes? Slather them with peanut butter, slice bananas on top, then coat with syrup! YUMMY!

Display Your Christmas Cards With Style

Are your holiday cards starting to droop on your mantel? Looking for a little pick 'em up to show them off to your company this week? Try some of these cute and decorative ideas from November 2007's House & Home magazine!

• Tuck cards between the window frames and use double-sided tape to attach them to glass of interior french doors.
• Tuck cards into the frame of a mirror
• Glass table tops can be used to display treasured items all year-round. Take advantage of the opportunity to display your cards under the glass.
• Cut slits in the back of cards with a utility knife. Slide a piece of ribbon through the slits, then tuck the end under a heavy stack of books and allow the ribbon to fall down in front of the shelves.
• Substitute a centrepiece to your chandelier, and hang your colourful cards with fish line or thin-gauge wire. Tie a chandlier crystal to the end of each string to weigh it down.
• Punch holes in cards and string on a piece of ribbon. Tie to a bannister or mantle lines with garland

Holiday Decorating Made Easy

Driving home last night, I couldn't help but notice the number of UNdecorated houses. It made me wonder, are there a lot of scrooges out there? People going away for Christmas that can't be bothered? Just procrastinating because it's still 10 days away??

If you haven't decorated yet, and you're looking for some easy ideas for inside, here are some that I stumbled across a few weeks ago:

• Fill a pretty glass jar or bowl with mini candy canes.

• Use your favourite ornaments as paperweights on piles of books or files.

• Get some dried branches and put them in a tall galvanized tin. Hang ornaments from them.

• Cover the tops of bookcases with evergreen branches and juniper berries.

• Create a line of tea lights along a shelf or down a hall.

My own holiday decorating favourite? Fill a crystal bowl, large vase, or other large, decorative container with balls and ornaments for a quick centrepiece for the table or mantel.

For more ideas, check out the rest of the article at The Sparkling Single. Then come back on Wednesday for colourful suggestions to handle the greeting cards that have started filling your mailbox!

Buy Local & Act Local This Christmas

If you're like me and planning to spend your Christmas bonus on home repairs and upgrades, you may be looking for some additional ideas to stretch your wallet without compromising the holiday season enjoyment of giving.

Luckily, when it comes to thinking and acting local, we're not just limited to our holiday dinner tables.

Here's what I mean:


Shop within your network. Amongst your friends and co-workers, you may be surprised by the number of "entrepreneurs" - from Mary Kay to Pampered Chef, Stampin' Up to Creative Memories, home pastry chefs to jewellery makers. You'll keep your hard earned cash not only within the local economy, but in the pockets of the people you know best. Plus - the guarantee is usually second to none!


Buying wine? Buy VQA! The Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) label guarantees the wine is 100% grown and produced in Ontario. An imported wine purchase puts $0.67 back into the local economy versus $11.50 from a VQA wine purchase. What better reason do you need?


The Giving Tree. Before you head to Wal-Mart for your Christmas tree, check around to see if you can support a local charity with your tree purchase. Often local service clubs or youth groups, like the Scouts, sell Christmas trees as a fundraiser.



Act local! Not sure what you will do with another gift basket from the $10 special bin? Skip the gift exchange and spend the afternoon volunteering together as a family at a local soup kitchen, helping the food bank prepare baskets, or carolling at a local hospital or seniors home.

Tis the Season to be Green!

While our society hangs in the midst of the "green revolution" and an uncertain economy, this Christmas will undoubtedly be affected by both. Daily, you hear stories and read articles about how to save some money this year, without sacrificing the joyfulness of the season.

Here are some tips from CAAmagazine's winter 2008 edition that I thought were different but also useful. Check them out!

• It's not only what you buy, but how you buy it. Carpool or take transit to the mall and don't forget to pack your own reusable shopping bags.


• Rather than purchasing presents with wasteful packaging, consider giving experiences like sports tickets or gift cards for restaurants.


• Decorate with LED lights - they are up to 90 percent more energy-efficient than regular bulbs. Put them on a timer to further reduce electricity usage.


• Trim last year's holiday cards to make this year's gift tags. Consider funky alternatives to wasteful wrapping paper - old maps, scraps of fabric or inexpensive tea towels.


• "Treecycle" your Christmas tree. Rather than lying in a landfill, it will be ground into wood chips for mulch or outdoor uses. Check with your municipality for a drop-off centre or pickup service in your area.

And one more great idea that comes to my mind:

• Send e-cards, rather than traditional greetings cards. You'll not only save some trees, but also help reduce carbon emissions to transport all those cards. Extra bonus - Donate the money you'll save on stamps and cards to a charity.

I've Got the Spirit - and I'm Looking for the Home With TOO MUCH!

The first day of December, and I have had the festive spirit for a few weeks now. Brought on by row after row of poinsettias at the grocery store and brightly lit Christmas trees in the windows of eager homeowners. I even passed a Santa Claus waving at traffic on the highway yesterday (perhaps trying to coax them to buy a Christmas tree?)

And while I have found myself longing for snow before flipping the switch here, I have noticed more and more houses on the way home from work, lit up with twinkling blue, red, green and yellow bulbs.

Of course, there are also those homes that you can't miss - they look like Canadian Tire's seasonal department threw up all over them. The best one I've seen yet is around the corner from a friend's house in Regina. The glow from the house literally can be seen from around the corner.

Regretfully, I didn't take a picture. So, now I'm on a mission to find the tackiest, most 'over-the-top' house out there that may compare. If there's one on your street, take a picture and email it to me - savvyhomegirl@gmail.com

I'll post the pictures here on my blog and you can vote on the most "enthusiastic" holiday home!