Holiday Movies!

We have a love for Christmas movies in our family... we break them out in late November and watch them until Christmas Day!! Today we will share some of our favourites!

Elf - it is a full of holiday spirit movie that makes you giggle every time!!

The Santa Clause 1, 2, & 3 - are all equally fantastic - they capture the spirit of Santa Claus so well!!!

Home Alone - what's Christmas without this one? It's on a lot during the holiday season and I could watch it every time!

Prancer - another holiday favourite we watched with our parents!

The Santa Claus - this is definitely another favourite that we watched with our parents...one of the best!

A Charlie Brown Christmas - A classic!!! Who doesn't enjoy this one every single year?!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Animated) - Dr. Seuss was brilliant, and this is another that was hit out of the park!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - This is Angela's absolute favorite Christmas movie!! From Rudolph to Bumble, she loves them all! And she's passed her love of this movie onto her Princess who loves the character Clarice!

A Muppet Family Christmas - This has to be my absolute favourite!! I am a HUGE Muppet fan - Waka Waka! This movie can be found entirely on You Tube too!

The Muppet Christmas Carol - This classic Charles Dickens' story is phenomenally done by our favourite gang!

Christmas With the Kranks - Tim Allen is a fabulous holiday actor and this is a hilarious movie about a couple who cancels Christmas to go on a cruise! (I'm watching this one tonight! :-) Em)

Miracle on 34th Street - a classic that never gets old!!!!

A Christmas Carol (Animated with Jim Carrey) - My husband and I watched this one and couldn't believe how great this one was... it came out in 3D and we regretted not seeing it in theatre in 3D!

 

So, there's a list of holiday movies that are frequented at Christmastime in our family. There are plenty more, but there's a chance that this post would never end then!!! Angela will post any I've missed I'm sure!

 

Emily

Milk Unleashed Giveaway

Milk Unleashed has approached me to help get the word out about their products and do a giveaway. And with the holiday season fast approaching and our time at its most precious with school, concerts, sporting events, extracurricular activities and family priorities. Milk Unleashed offers parents wholesome goodness that is available ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. And aren't we all looking for a simpler way to keep our kids on a good nutritional track in a hectic lifestyle???

What is Milk Unleashed???  Shelf safe milk is Grade A milk that requires no refrigeration until it is opened, thanks to ultra pasteurization and special Tetra Pak cartons the wholesome goodness of milk is preserved. Now kids can get the vitamins and nutrients of milk no matter what time of day or where you are with them be it at the rink, concert hall, dance studio, stuck in traffic or just out shopping for the holidays. It is the same great milk just a different process. Here is 30 things you never knew about milk...  Also here are some great facts about Shelf Safe Milk... Other things on the Milk Unleashed website include:

•           On-The-Go Games and Tips! Even cruising down the freeway can be an adventure!  With these fun games and tips you can have some family time even when you are out on the road! 

•           On-The-Go Snacks! Have you ever wanted to try the world’s best smoothie?  Well Milk Unleashed is here to make all your dreams come true!  Find out the best snacks to grab that will make your next outing even more thrilling!

•           Get Social! Tweet with the #MilkUnleashed hashtag to get revved up for their next family adventure!

Below is the MILK UNLEASHED App with load of information on their product along with activities and snack fun... check out the app below and get some fun.

Giveaway

Milk Unleashed is offer one of our readers a chance to have a Milk Unleashed variety pack consisting of:

            a) One liter of Shelf Safe Milk (Grand Pre or Baboo)

            b) Three single serving shelf safe milks (white and chocolate) from: Chokeo Chocolate Milk,     Grand Pre or Baboo

            c) A calendar and brochure with information about Shelf Safe Milk

            d) Cool stickers and Tattoos

            e) Plus, one bonus prize!

The Winner will be chose via Rafflecopter. And notified via email and will have 24 hours claim the prize pack before a new winner will be chosen!!!

Giveaway will run from today, 

November 30th, 2012 until December 7th, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks to MILK UNLEASHED for the opportunity to spread some easy-peasy holiday  goodies...



Disclaimer: We have received product in return for this post from Milk Unleashed.


Good Luck and Happy Holidays!!

Ange & Em

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

So as Christmas gets near, we will do a feature on Stocking Stuffer ideas for different age groups!

Today we will start with stocking stuffer ideas with a baby (0-12 months old) in mind:
- Face cloths
- Rattles
- Baby Soap
- Baby Shampoo
- Small Santa Hat
- Baby legs
- Socks
- Baby Cream
- Spoons*
- Bowls*
- Cereal*
- Pacifier
- Bath toys
- Snacks; Gerber Puffs**
- Sippy Cup*
- Toothbrush **
- Bibs
- Onesies
- Mittens
- Lovey/Stuffie

*Please note that this list encompasses the age 0-12 months old, so some of these items are more for an older baby 6-9 months old
**Please note that this list encompasses the age 0-12 months old, so some of these items are more for an older baby 6-9 months old

Tomorrow, I (Angela) will show you how to make your own Babylegs... which can serve as arm warmers for little girls (which is my reason for creating them to cover Princess' arms in the winter because she likes to wear her t-shirts ~Angela)

Happy Holidays,

Em & Ange

'Tis the season for Christmas albums!

***This post was written by my husband on his blog at www.maritimevinyl.blogspot.ca and we would like to share it here as well!*** - Em


Ahhhh Christmas time is here again! Just this week I started dusting off my Christmas albums for another month of heavy playing and listening with the family.

 

My wife is a huge fan of Christmas music so she is already a few weeks ahead of me but she has been doing pure digital listening until I break out the good stuff.



She writes a blog for her (and her Sister’s) hobby business “Little Pink Thread” and was asking me to do a post about Christmas records, so I’ll write this here and double post it on her blog at www.littlepinkthread.blogspot.ca.




We differ a bit when it comes to Christmas music but we are both open to listening to each other’s albums with an open mind and ear.



Since last year she jumped on the Michael Bublé Christmas band wagon along with the rest of the female population. Honestly, I think he is perfect for this type of music. He gives it that great Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby twist and it really works for this seasonal album. Although it is highly unlikely that I ever spin a Michael Buble album, I am ok with having this on it the background for the Christmas season.

 

Personally I tend to lean to the more classic artists for Christmas music. But before I get there I will finish up on my Wife’s personal favorites.



She was a teenager in the prime of the Backstreet Boys, 98˚ and N’Sync craze so these are always on her list. Michael Buble I can handle once in a while, I have no interest in the boy band Christmas music. She respects this and tends to listen to it most when I am preoccupied (headphones on).

 

 

Number one on her list would be her “Kenny and Dolly Christmas album”. I found her a copy on vinyl a few years ago and she constantly gets me to throw it on the turntable during the festive season.

 

Now onto my list!



Number one on my list hands down is “Elvis Presley’s Christmas Album”. Nothing even comes close. Elvis is the king all the time but he dominates Christmas music in my mind! I have another of his Christmas albums but it doesn’t get near as much play as the original.

 

 

A new addition in the past few years has been “Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart”. Who would of thought that Dylan could pull this off! One year he is Jewish and the next he is releasing the Christmas album of the year! Great job Bob, you never cease to amaze me.

 

A new addition this year which my wife and I both equally like is the Paul McCartney 7” of “Wonderful Christmastime”. This already has been getting a lot of play time and it will only increase in the weeks to come.

Another new addition this year is “Bing Crosby – Merry Christmas Bing”. This has been praised to me as the best Christmas album ever. So far I am not a huge fan. It is little old school for me (which is weird as I love old school) but I will be sure to give it a few more chances to try and change my mind.

Only other Christmas music I can think of playing would be “John Lennon – Happy Xmas, war is over”. This was released on “Shaved Fish”. Nobody can go through the season without hearing this song so much that they get sick of it. Regardless it will always be one of my favorites!

 

So there you go, these are the albums we listen to most during the Christmas season. We are always open to new suggestions so please feel free to leave comments with your favorite albums!

The Elf on the Shelf!

If you haven't heard of the Elf on the Shelf, click the link and read all about it! I only heard of it because Angela has one for her children, Princess and Monkey. Their Elf is also known as Little Eugene, and he is a very popular little elf! Now that I have Little E in my house, I am totally getting one!! Even if you don't have children or grandchildren in your home, anyone can start this tradition! I adore the idea, and it looks like it is so much fun!

Photo taken from the Official Elf on the Shelf website!

The concept behind the Elf on the Shelf is that he or she is sent by Santa Claus to watch over the people in your household. Each night, he or she reports back to Santa all of the good and bad things that happen daily! Your Elf returns to a different spot almost every night and it is part of the fun to have to find the Elf every morning because he or she gets very clever! You can whisper your holiday wishes to your Elf and he or she will bring them back to Santa and, if you're good, your wish may come true! If the Elf is touched by a child, he will lose his magic. Losing magic means the Elf will no longer be able to get back to the North Pole to report to Santa. To get the magic back, sprinkle cinnamon beside the Elf before bed and it helps his or her magic come back and gets the Elf back to the North Pole! The Elf arrives sometime before the holiday season, and in most cases this weekend is the beginning to the Elf's visits!!!

If you are on Pinterest, you can find loads of ideas on which to base your elf's appearance each night, by searching "Elf on the Shelf". On a side note, Angela has told me that it is best to plan your Elf's visit because with the holidays and all the stuff that can muck up your day, planning your Elf's visit in advance makes it a whole lot easier. We will be posting some of Angela's ideas and the Elf visit itinerary very soon. Also Angela has told me of a blog who has created a Elf Magic Restoration Pack for the incidences where an Elf may get touched, with all the excitement in a house full of little ones it is bound to happen... we will give you the link to the blog post and download package as Little Eugene's arrival nears.

This year I personally will be purchasing my Elf for Little E for Christmas, and he will return to us at the beginning of the holiday season next year when she is a little older and is starting to understand the concept!! I know Little Eugene will be appearing soon in Angela's household... bearing gifts and tons of excitement for the kids! See below for a photo of Little Eugene's arrival from last year.... he was having a good old fashion Miramichi Kitchen party with some of the kids' most favourite toys!!!

Feel free to share your ideas and photos from your Elf's visits, we will be sharing more clever appearances Little Eugene makes as we get closer to Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Emily & Angela





30 Days Until Christmas!

Hey Everybody!!!!

My most sincere apologies for not posting anything in a while, I returned to work from my maternity leave and never realized how busy and how much of an adjustment to my routine it would be!! But guess what? I'm back and posting each day to help you could down the 30 days until Christmas! We have big plans... stocking stuffer ideas, handmade gift ideas, and even perhaps a little sale coming your way!!

Thanks for understanding... I am super excited for these next 30 days and hope you are too!

Emily :-)

With that, here is a little something to get you into the Christmas spirit!

Package Pal 2012: What I gave and what I received!

Well, this lovely blog, C. R. A. F. T. , as in the previous post host a Package Pal Exchange event and for the second year I joined in on the Christmas version! I first want to thank Jamie, from C.R. A. F. T., for all her hard work she puts in to this event. If you get a chance please take part in it because you won't regret it!

My lovely partner this year was Michelle, a beautiful artist behind i.lluminate. You honestly need to check out her shop. Her talent is just mind blowing and she just introduced her Christmas cards to her shop!!! Michelle has now become a great crafty friend and it is all thanks to the PP Exchange 2012!!

Here is what I sent to Michelle...
I searched the awesome-sauce site of Pinterest, follow me if you want (LilPINKThread). And if you don't know Pinterest, where have you been (just kidding), it is the ultimate place to store all those sites you bookmark but now it has pictures and you can put them into boards under themes. If you are a member, please email me and I will send you an invite but be aware it is extremely addictive and time management is not your friend when you are on...
As I was saying I used Pinterest to find things that I could recreate for Michelle...being a fellow Canadian I knew that winter is quickly approaching and so I created some winters cozy and Christmas fun for her to enjoy.

Here are the sources for my creations...
A Crochet Dishtowel Hanger... pattern can be found at Little Birdie Secrets' blog
Owl-some Hat.... pattern by Inner Hooker, get it here in her shop
Boot Cuffs... pattern can be found at See Vanessa Craft's blog
Crochet Christmas light Garland.... pattern from AdKnits blog
Mustache coffee cozy.... cozy pattern by Me at Little Pink Thread; mustache applique pattern by Lauren at Tutus & Tea Parties' blog

*I want to thank the lovely crafters for their inspirations and ability to use them in creating a memorable Package Pal exchange for my partner, Michelle!

And I am happy to say Michelle received the package and was so excited in receiving them!!! I am so happy to have participated and to have a new found crafty friend!!!!

Looky Looky.... 
Michelle being the talented person she is created for me, my very own one-of-a-kind Birthday Calendar!!! Yep this is all mine!!!! I had a jaw dropping moment when I opened it because I could not believe that this was made for me!!!! Me!?!?! With a sweet note from Michelle with the reason behind her creation for me suit me to a "T". I carry little slips of paper or keep old calendars just for holding onto birthday and anniversary dates! Michelle also included one of her birthday card designs too!! As I turned the page my 5 yr old daughter was taken back by the papers and colours, she tried to claim it as hers but there was no way I an giving this up! I told Michelle that I was so excited to have this I really didn't wanna use it (but I will.)

Thanks again to Jamie for the lovely event and for all her organizing she has done to get these off all year! This was the best exchange.... and I think it is great way to bring crafters together! Will be watching for the 2013 PP exchanges signups!

Happy Hooking!
Angela :)

C.R.A.F.T. 2012 Package Pal Project

With the month of November in it's first day I thought I would show you what I was able to participate in for the second time. C.R.A.F.T. is a DIY blog that four a year puts together a craft partnering even called "Package Pals". It is way for people be crafty and in one month put together a package specifically made for your partner, another crafty person!
This year I participated in the October event... I got to meet a wonderful and very crafty blogger from Quebec, Michelle. She has the creativity I can only dream of and her art work is utterly AMAZING!!!
Michelle can be found through her blog, i.lluminate, once you are there you have to look around and check out her etsy shop... you will be blown away by her creations!!!