Shop Local: A Christmas Challenge!

Recently, I blogged about a Winter Bucket List I had created for other families to complete this season. One of the items on that list was to “Buy a Gift for Someone”. This is something that nearly everyone will do during the holiday season, and one of the easiest items to check off of the Winter Bucket List.

However - anyone who knows me, and knows me well, knows how important it is for me to not only think locally, but to think, shop and buy locally.  This is important to me (and should be to you, too), because when you shop locally, your money is more likely to get invested back into your own town. 

In fact, studies show that approximately 51.1% of small business revenue re-circulates locally.  Basically, when you buy from an independent, locally-owned business, rather than a nationally-owned or “big box” business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers, farms, and so on. This continues to strengthen the economic base of your community; more businesses thrive, which drives down the price of goods and services at those locations. Shopping local is a win, for everyone! (Well, except for those big-box companies I mentioned above, but don’t worry - they can use their trillion dollar bills to dry their tears.)

Because this is so important to me, I have decided to practise what I preach and put myself to the “Shop Local Christmas Challenge”. I have vowed to buy at least 90% of my Christmas gifts from locally owned shops, businesses, and distributors. The remaining 10% allows me some 'wiggle room' if I have an item or two on my list that I cannot find locally. In those circumstances, where I have to depend on a “big box” company, I will use a company located within my own town. Although this isn’t as beneficial as shopping locally – it is still having a small effect on my local economy and something is always better than nothing at all.

If you’re up for the challenge, I’ve included some helpful hints to keep your hard-earned money in your community!

1. Start out small. If this concept is new to you, or you are an avid big-box shopper, don’t feel the need to aim for 90% . Instead, start out by vowing you will find 5 items locally, or 10 – or half of your list. Find a number that you are comfortable with and challenge yourself to meet it. When you're dealing with small businesses, every dollar counts!
   
2. Get online! Access local shops in your community, easier. Nearly every small business or shop has an online presence in this day and age. Facebook is a simple and convenient place to find local businesses in your area.
   
3. Think outside of the box – literally! Shopping locally does not mean you have to be restrictive, a little more creative, maybe, but you won’t have to completely derail your gift ideas in order to meet the challenge. Do you have a local restaurant you love? Consider buying a gift card and spreading the love. Local wineries and breweries are perfect places to find something unique for a hard-to-shop-for person on your list.
   
4. Ask around! You would be surprised how many hidden gems you can uncover just by asking your co-workers, friends and family their favourite local places to shop. This is also a great way to find out about special deals that different stores may have going on throughout the holidays. It’s also a good idea to attend local vendor shows going on leading up to the holiday, where a large number of small businesses offer unique, handmade and local goods, all under the same roof.
   
5. Use your friends/family members who are distributors. Whether it’s Younique, Scentsy, Thirty-One, Tupperware, Origami Owl, or otherwise – we all have a friend (or two) that sell these goods as third party presenters/distributors. Allowing someone you know to benefit from your purchase works in the same way that shopping at a local storefront does!
   
6. It’s about more than just the presents! You can shop locally for everything – not just the gifts under the tree. This year, we got our pictures done by a local photographer. Added bonus? She included Christmas cards in the price of her session. 2 birds… 1 stone! When it comes down to collecting the ingredients for your holiday meals, don’t forget about local farmers and food providers in your area.
   
   
   
   Happy Shopping!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Winter Bucket List

   Like most 20-something year old, North American, middle class females – I love Fall. I love the changing colours of the leaves, and the sounds those same leaves make under your knee-high boots once fallen. I love playoff baseball. I love the freedom to wear an oversized sweatshirt, tights and wool socks, in public, as you proudly order a pumpkin spiced anything. I love making accidental eye contact with a fellow Fall lover and giving the “that’s a wonderful wool-knitted headband you’ve got there” head tilt, and having her reply with a silent “your flannel scarf is one that only dreams are made of” nod. 

   Like any good soldier of the Autumn Army, I know that this season kicks off, promptly, the Tuesday following Labour Day, despite what any calendar might suggest. It’s a glorious day when Fall kicks off, and a tragic one when it comes to an end. However, this year, I have decided to create a Winter Bucket List (similar to this Fall Bucket List I found on Pinterest) to help deliver myself from the despair of Fall ending, and give us some new activities to search out.

   I found, this year, that having a seasonal “Bucket List” to complete got us out and about even more than we usually would have. On a slow day (though, they didn’t seem to come around too often) we would use the list to search out a variety of local activities and events that would allow us to return home and check off an item or two.

    This Winter, as we collect memories and check off items on our list, I will be sure to snap a photo (or two, knowing me) and share them with you once our Bucket List is complete! I invite you to use this Winter Bucket List, or, create one of your own. Print it out, hang it up and enjoy making memories with your tribe! After all, ‘tis the Season! 

It's been a while...

Well... it's been a while!

So long, actually, that the last blog post I made,  I was patiently awaiting my over-due daughter (Ryan Alexandra), who is now two, and in a few months going to be a big sister! Some women "nest" when they are expecting, but apparently, I write.

This is us - Kevin, Ryan and I, announcing the growth of our tribe. Photo compliments of Open Shutter Photography by Rebecca Kalp. 

The last couple of years have been the best of my life, and I mean that. I've learned so much about myself; learning  who I am as a Mother has forced me to also learn who I am as a Christian, who I am as a wife, and who I am as an individual - something that any mother will tell you is usually the first aspect of ourselves to go out the window when we enter the raw, real, beautiful, challenging, life changing world of motherhood. But this is a little deep for a re-introduction to the blog. So, I will get into some of those details in posts to come, when I need to unload my thoughts onto someone other than my husband, who *bless his heart* has had to deal with my never-ending curiosity and middle-of-the-night epiphanies for the last 8 years. 

It's November! And what that means, if you are a fellow holiday-lover like myself, is that we are smack dab between two festive seasons. I can thank this stretch in the calendar for my most recent (actually, my first-ever) "Letter to the Editor" of my local paper, The Chatham Daily News. I believe in what I wrote in that letter, even the chopped up, character-maxed version which was submitted to the paper, and so I share it with you.

Dear Editor,

With the holiday season fast approaching, I believe this letter to be quite timely. Everyone, whether they are a parent of a child attending a local public school or not, has their own opinion on how public schools should go about celebrating holidays. 

On one end of the spectrum, you have those who believe that all Christian holidays should remain in public schools; there should be Christmas concerts and Easter egg hunts, and everything in between. On the other end, there are those who believe every holiday – religiously founded or otherwise, should be removed from every public school in order to avoid the possibility of offending anyone who’s cultural and religious beliefs do not condone their participation. 

I am not sure if I belong on that spectrum at all. Here is why:

I whole heartedly believe that it is important for my children to take part in festivities that celebrate our Christianity. So important, in fact, that I would never leave it up to the school they attend to lead those festivities. Yes, it is a matter of such significance, that I would (and do) take the time, every single day, to educate them on Christian heritage, teachings and tradition so that they are sure to never solely equate Christmas with presents, or only associate Easter with chocolate treats in baskets. Celebrating their Christianity is not the responsibility of the public school that I send them to, nor do I rest it on the shoulders of the educators employed by those public schools, whose own personal beliefs may (or may not) reflect our own. 
However, I have a difficult time wrapping my mind around the fact that washing our public schools clean of any religious holidays is the right answer. We say it is in the name of progression, for the purpose of diversification, but is it? I attended public elementary school in Chatham for 9 years. Some of the memories that stand out to me, are:

-Spinning dreidels and singing along to what we learned were traditional Jewish songs used to celebrate “Hanukkah”, as one of my Jewish classmates gave a speech on how the holiday came to be. 

-Attending an annual assembly in our school gym, where if we sang the lyrics to “Christmas in Killarney” loud enough, our Principal would run through the aisle and “click his heels” in the air to the lyric “how grand it feels to click your heels” while the entire auditorium of children roared.

-A guest speaker visiting my second grade class, bringing with her a large drum and teaching us 7 different African greetings. We learned this was a Kwanzaa tradition, and although I couldn’t reiterate those greetings verbatim for you today, I do recall being so interested in this celebration that had existed for hundreds of years, one that I knew nothing about.

Those school memories differ greatly from the home memories I was making at the same time each year, those consisting of packing Christmas Shoeboxes in our church basement to send to those less fortunate overseas, participating in my churches Christmas concert, setting up our living room nativity set and reading the story of Jesus’ birth. Never did I feel offended, though, to learn of how other cultures across the world celebrated their holidays.

So my questions is, is removing these celebrations, and in turn the corresponding lessons and teachings that invoke thought, wonder and exploration of cultural differences the answer? Or instead of taking holidays out of our public schools, should we be making the necessary changes to include more? Should we be less invested in making sure that nobody is offended and more concerned with the idea that everyone is involved, trying harder to guarantee that each student is given their own stage (in an environment free from judgement) to educate their classmates and teachers on the customs and traditions that they and their families take part in, whether those families be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Agnostic, Atheist or otherwise? 

Hold your bows!

I loved this DIY for so many reasons. 

Firstly, the fact that I completed it – from start to finish- in less than a day!
Also, I completed it while nearing the 42 week pregnant mark. I can't lie and say that I was battling through swollen feet or an achy back to do so, because fortunately I feel fantastic. Maybe this last minute ‘must-do’ translates into the whole ‘nesting’ thing moms tend to take part in pre-labour. Or maybe I'm just wishful thinking.

I also loved doing this project because of the materials that I was able to put to use.
The plank that is used to hold the clothespins is no other than a trusty piece of corn crib that my Dad ripped off when I asked if he had any spare barn board lying around. This, in itself, is a testimony to the kind of Papa (and Dad) that he is. You need the shirt off of his back? Sure. Plank off of his corn crib? Absolutely.  I'm overjoyed that our girl’s nursery will now be home to a little piece of the Family Farm.

The clothespins that I used (which I dyed yellow using Rit Fabric Dye from Michael’s) were the same clothespins that were used to hang up photos of Kevin and I when we said our “I Do’s” almost 2 years ago. Another plus to DIY’ing your own wedding: This will be the umpteenth house project that we’ve been able to re-use the decor from our special day for!

So, there you have it. A simple, rustic-looking headband holder for our eventual newborn who could not care less that I have a corresponding bow for every possible outfit she will be forced into. 

Do you have a little lady in your life that needs a place to display all things fancy? I am now officially on maternity leave and am taking orders. Feel free to contact me for a custom build. Any colour, size or theme – I’m your girl.

 Happy headband holding!

In the name of all things Pumpkin

I may have jumped the gun on the whole baking with pumpkin thing, being that I rolled out these bad boys in just late August, but I just couldn't walk by the pumpkin puree in the grocery store one more time without throwing it in my basket. Every time I would try, it would stick out to me, mocking me, really. It was almost as if the can had dual intentions – neither of them honourable. On one hand, it wanted me to start my fall baking parade before the calendar had even flipped to September (seemingly blasphemous in my mind, for whatever reason) and on the other hand it wanted to derail my attempts at eating as healthily as I could. Though, if we're being honest.. a series of work-related events leading up to me taking maternity leave did a pretty solid job of sending that train off track momentarily. Regardless – the can was mocking me.

“Don't you wanna’ make a pumpkin pie?”
“Look at me I'm the main ingredient in pumpkin loaf!”
“Mmm, wouldn't I taste great in a pumpkin spice cupcake with cream cheese frosting?”

So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and launch a can or two in my grocery basket. I was going to transform this pumpkin puree into something I wouldn't feel guilty about indulging in – Pumpkin Protein Muffins. It still felt a little weird consuming them in late August, but, YOLO.

Since initially posting the muffins, I've received 9 different Facebook messages requesting the recipe (actually demanding it in one instance – you know who you are). So, I thought I’d make a blog post about it! After all, it is now officially September. The lines between late Summer and early Fall are illegibly blurred at this point. I, myself, though I may be bias, consider it to be ‘game on’ when it comes to any pumpkin-pie, apple-crisp, cinnamon-spice, candy-corn or salted-caramel recipe your heart desires.

To all of my fellow Fall loving friends, you're welcome:

Ingredients:

½ can of Pumpkin Puree

½ cup of Greek Yogurt (I used Vanilla but I’m sure any would do)
½ cup of applesauce

3 egg whites

1 ¾ cups of Old Fashioned Oats

¼ cup of Protein Powder (your choice). I've also made a batch of these sans le powder and they turned out great so if you are concerned and would prefer to leave it out – go nuts. Literally, add crushed nuts of your choice in place of the protein powder!

1 ½ cups of Baking Stevia OR 1 cup of sweetener of your choice ( I used organic blueberry jam because my mom went on a canning jam frenzy this summer so I had multitudes to use up. I got the sweetness factor, didn’t have to use any fake sugars AND the muffins came out on the moist side – which I enjoy!)

1 tsp Baking Soda

2 tsp Baking Powder
Then, add in whichever spices your little Fall loving heart desires. I used cinnamon, but you can use pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, whatever!
As far as add-in’s go – I threw in some cacao nibs but, again, you can be creative. Chocolate chips, walnuts, dried cranberries, or fresh fruit – your options really are endless as these portable little guys are the perfect vehicle for just about anything.

Baking Instructions:

Throw it all in a bowl, mix well, portion it out into a 12-spot muffin tin and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until you can stick a toothpick in without it coming out covered in puree. I tend to do the toothpick test 3 or 4 times before I know they are finished, but that’s because I seemingly can’t wait to eat the pumpkin. It’s the grown-up equivalent of licking the wooden spoon when making cookies.

Eating Instructions:
Throw on a sweater and your favourite pair of tights, tuck them into some knee-length boots, sit on your front porch, watch the leaves change and ENJOY! Fall is only here for a little while.. get it in ya’!

An Irish-Canadian Girls' Interpretation of "Skinny Italian"

Tonight’s blog post was not a premeditated one. In fact, it wasn't until halfway through my cooking venture that I decided, perhaps, this concoction was blog-worthy! I know you're probably wondering, if I didn't realize until halfway through my preparation, how do I have photos right from the start?  The sad, pathetic answer to that is because that’s what I do sometimes. I take pictures of my cooking process – whether I have the intention to share it or not. The universe is likely going to give me an early onset of Alzheimer’s... almost like a payback for my need to photograph meaningless things and more often than not, share them with the world. At least I'll have an incredible amount of photos to look back on as I try to reminisce.

There are a few reasons why this “Skinny Italian” is a favourite in our household. You see, Kev’s favourite cuisine (at least before we met and in our earlier days of togetherness) is Italian – specifically, pasta!  I, on the other hand, couldn't choke down a bowl of his beloved starches to save my life. You heard right, I don't like pasta. Spaghetti, lasagna, bowtie, linguini – you name it, I hate it.

Although this truth has put me at a disadvantage in a handful of social situations, it has worked in my favour when I have attempted to cut down on carbohydrates. With about a month and a half left in my pregnancy (and, from what I’m told, a month and a half of going to bed wondering how you could possibly get any bigger and then, in fact, waking up bigger) I have taken it upon myself to attempt to eat as healthily as possible without denying my body any of the necessary nutrients it needs to finish growing this baby.

The “Skinny Italian” dish allows me to satisfy Kev’s taste buds without ending up looking like I should be tied down in the next Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Another reason it’s a favourite ‘round these parts is because it’s easy! With a prep time of 5 minutes and a total cook time of under 20, it’s the perfect solution when I'm strapped for time or energy - or both!

Here’s how I create my “Skinny Italian” dish. I challenge any of you pasta-loving creatures to give it a go yourself and see if it hits the spot!

1 -Start simmering marinara (or your favourite pasta sauce) in a large pan.
2- Chop thawed, boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and add it to the simmering sauce
3- About 5 minutes after you've added the chicken, add chopped vegetables of your choice. I used onion, red and orange peppers, mushrooms and corn.
4-Once the veggies are added, add cream cheese and chicken broth to the mix. (Eyeball it and adjust your pouring based on whether or not you want to eat this with a fork or a spoon. Scientific, I know).
5-After about 15 minutes have gone by, drop in a few handfuls of spinach. The spinach will cook down quickly and add an element of freshness (and colour, if you’re into that whole “eating with your eyes” thing) to your pan!
6- Once your spinach has cooked down – you’re good to go! Make sure your chicken is cooked thoroughly, turn off the heat and serve!
*Seasonings added throughout : Oregano, Basil and Thyme

Disclaimer: I am in no way of Italian descent (though I did pretend I was for a few days in 4th grade), nor am I incredibly knowledgeable of their food fare. I am an Irish-Canadian who was raised largely on meat, potatoes, and vegetables from my own backyard. If my seasoning or use of cheese is not genuinely, 100% Italian – my sincere apologies! 

A Letter Twining "How-To"

Today’s blog is brought to you by popular demand. I’ve always wanted to say that.

Truthfully, though, the topic of today’s blog – “Letter Twining” – is one that I was asked to create by a number of my fellow DIY crafters! So, what the people want, the people get!

I, myself, hung my twined monogram letter (C – for Carpenter) in our hallway where I am in the process of creating a shabby-chic, mismatched display of all things love. See inspiration below.

(If you want to see more projects that I have completed or plan to complete in my own home – check out my “Home Sweet Home” board on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/caresselle/home-sweet-home/ )

However, these decorated letters have been growing in popularity and in the last month and I taken an order for a wedding head table (twined and accented with camouflage fabric) as well as a nursery (twined and accented with light pink ribbon and pearls). I will be finishing my own twined letter with 2 floral accents, made of lace, because I have an unhealthy obsession with the whole twine and lace combination. But, the first step in the healing process is admitting that you have a problem....

I will say, the process of twining wooden letters is one that takes some time. Because of the intricacy, it isn't something you will want to rush. In total, to complete one letter, the process took me about 3 hours. I started it last night and completed it tonight. As soothing as the process is (similar to what I believe knitting must be for those who knit) it is also one that takes an incredible amount of patience. Unfortunately, I’m not always the most patient person (I’m working on it) and so for that reason, I split my labour between two evenings. I took a mental break, of sorts. Besides, there are only so many hot glue gun burns these swollen, pregnant, Oktoberfest sausage-lookin’ fingers can take in one sitting.

Also, don't give yourself a fresh manicure before twining. Speaking from experience.

Step 1/What you will need):
· Your Letters (I purchased mine at Michael’s)
·         Twine (I buy mine in bulk online, but for smaller scale projects it is also available at Michael’s) ·         Hot glue gun
·         Scissors (believe me, this is not 6^th grade and you are not unpeeling a Clementine – you will not be able to twine your letter successfully with one, solid, uncut piece of twine).
·         Something Metal (this is for flattening the twine against the letter in those more difficult curvatures of the letter. I used scissors but a nail file would work great, too!)

Step 2: 
Twine over the edges that will not be covered in the same motion as your twining. This will require cutting the twine into approx 1-inch pieces and gluing them width wise (or length wise depending on what look your going for) to your letter.

Step 3:
Begin twining your letter, covering the work done during your 2^nd step, first.

Step 4:
Continue twining. This is where the process has the opportunity to be relaxing. Remember to glue the twine down periodically (on the side of the letter that will not be showing) as you go.

Step 5:
Make an indication mark with a sharpie on the back of your letter where any holes exist.
Note: this is only necessary if you will be hanging your monogrammed letters. If they are going to be displayed on a mantle, head table, or if you are going to be adding a ribbon to the letter and hanging it on a door, this step isn’t necessary.

Ta-da!
Once you have fully covered your letter, you’re done! If there are any weak spots where the original under-letter is peaking through, this provides you with a perfect place to glue your accents, whether it be a flower, pearls, gems, ribbon, seashells, or something else! For more great monogram letter ideas check out:  http://www.pinterest.com/joycem/letter-monogram-ideas/

There you have it (said in the exact accent of the man from Art Attack) - you can create letters to be displayed around your own home (nursery, living room mantle, on the wreath to your front door) or to showcase at your next event or holiday party. I also think they make great gifts, though, you may want to wait until you’ve got the hang of it first – unless the gift is for your parents, then, it doesn't matter how tacky it turns out. Remember, these are the people that spent hundreds of dollars on a Christmas tree only to proudly display your stale macaroni ornaments.

Happy Twining, folks!