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There are only 5 days left until Christmas, 4 shopping days, and a whole lotta last minute shopping procrastinators!   I would like to say that I’m done, but unfortunately, I have to exchange one item, pick up something for my grandparents who have no room for anything else (suggestions?!) and a quick trip to the dollar store for tool boxes, screws and nails for the monkeys who have requested their very own tools for Christmas after participating in a Home Depot kids’ workshop. 

I don’t want to shop – I’d rather stay home and read.  I am a self-professed word-nerd bookworm. I love nothing better than a yummy drink, great book, comfy blanket, some quite time and a little chance to escape the chaos of modern-day existance.   It’s a cheap form of entertainment and I don’t have to look pretty to enjoy it.    Everyone knows a bookworm, an occasional reader,  or perhaps someone who should just give a book a try to exercise their brain a little!   Here are some suggestions for the bookworm’s stocking, also perfect as a small gift for a friend this holiday season:

1) The Book of (Holiday) Awesome by Neil Pascha, $12.62 .

Available at Chapters and most other bookstores.  I think I may have seen in at some department stores and Shoppers Drug Mart as well

2) A Charming Bookmark

I first saw this idea on Pinterest and loved it!   It’s one of my 2012 projects that must get done!   Full instructions on the link – they just need ribbon, ribbon clamps, charms, and jump rings – for a few dollars each and a quick trip to the craft store (or use items on hand), you’ve got a pretty, thoughtful gift.  If you’re not the crafty sort, you can find charming and unique bookmarks at bookstores, gift boutiques, and Etsy!

3) Starbucks Hot Cocoa Trio, $6.97

This trio includes 9 sachets of your favourite Starbucks cocoas – double chocolate, salted caramel, and peppermint.  Any good bookworm knows the reading is always better with a hot drink in hand!

4) Personalized Bookplates

Ensure a treasured book always finds it’s way home while ? a time-honored library tradition.  Martha Stewart offers a suggestion on DIY stamped bookplates, but you can also check Etsy, print shops (like Staples or even Vistaprint), or print your own if you have the inclination.   I designed a set of these for myself and had them printed through Kemik Labels (that’s my hubby’s family business.)  They make a unique but thoughtful gift!

5) Chapters Indigo Gift Card

I know many people feel gift cards are thoughtless… but I disagree!  Most times, when I receive a gift card  (for a store I love!), I get excited – because I can shop and splurge on those *wants* without worrying about what I *need*.    The Chapters Indigo gift card is a great idea because you choose the denomination and the recipient can use instore (Indigo, Chapters or Coles or online – at Chapters (books & merchandise) or even better, on the Kobo website for digital reading – yay ebooks!  Did you also know, if you’re really crunched for time, you can also buy eBooks or store credit on the Kobo website and *gift* them to someone via email? ? 

I still have at least 2 more stocking stuffer suggestion guides to go – kitchen and kid related – and we’ll see what else we come up with before time runs out.   In the meantime, get that shopping done, wrap those gifts, and take some time to relax and reflect – it’s not the gifts that matter!  It’s the thought, the love, the memories that go into each and every bow that’s untied.

Egg Free Double Chocolate Cookies

1/2 c butter

1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp milk
1 c chocolate chips

These cookies are delicious! My first batch to bake didn’t flatten at all so I flattened the 2nd batch with the back of a spoon before baking. Entirely up to you.

We sampled while still warm (and therefore they had a wee tendency to fall apart) but they were delicious!  Once cool, I transferred them to a plate and they hold together just fine  My monkeys were happy and I now have a go-to recipe when I run out of eggs but want some chocolately goodness -yum!

My kids are spoiled.  Even this year, though in general we have all cut back due to budgetary restrictions, they were spoiled.  We have had 2 family Christmases already and with a house that needs packing, I’m shocked  at the amount of “stuff” they have and I remind them that they are blessed and fortunate to have so many toys, food on the table, comfy beds to sleep in, and their healthy growing bodies. 

In an effort to remind them to see beyond their own little worlds, we try to use various community and charitable programs over the holidays that they can participate in.  We donate food to food drives, drop our dimes in the Salvation Army kettles, pick out toys for police-sponsored toy drives for local shelters, and load up shoe boxes to send overseas – all in a hopefully successful attempt to get the monkeys to think beyond themselves.   There are so many opportunities to give beyond our families, our friends, beyond the material and just-for-the-sake-of gifts.   This collection of stocking stuffers and small gifts are perfect for twice-the-giving – for the recipient who has more than enough they’re a token, and also for the programs and individuals they support, the resources are invaluable.  We can all change the world a little at a time.

1)  Suetables Ornaments, Hospital for Sick Children, $25:  These 3″ silverplate ornaments are tucked into a SickKids branded gift box.  20% of the sales goes to the Hospital for Sick Children.  Not only will they look pretty on a tree, they’ll help raise money in honour of a boy who survived cancer through Sick Kids.

2) Samaritan’s Purse – Gift Catalogue,  Samaritan’s Purse has many options available for impactful gift-giving.  I personally prefer their physical catalogue – it tells you how much it costs to do so much for one school, one family, etc.    If you call their toll-free number to donate, they’ll also send you a gift enclosure card that you can personalize to say what you’ve donated on your recipient’s behalf.    (Online, you can opt for an email) Whether you support their food programs, women’s programs, health and education program, or emergency relief program, you know your money is going to a good cause.    For example, for only $15, you can provide a week’s supply of life-saving food.   (Personally, in the past, we’ve opted for the “Small Animals” option – supplying small animals -chickens, rabbits, etc – for families to raise for food.)  You can also “Pack A Shoebox” online.

3) WWF Wildlife Adoptions, Save A Polar Bear, $40.  With a wildlife adoption, you get a whole adoption kit – personalized certificate, plush toy and collector card, gift bag and of course all the details on the program.  I think these would make great stocking stuffers for kids while helping them learn about our environment and the animals around us.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4) Toronto Fire Fighters Calendar, Princess Margaret Hospital, $26 – This one the ladies will like.  Featuring real Toronto fire fighters, every purchase and donation made to The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation through this calendar will benefit the Fire Fighters’ Cancer Research Fund.  Eye candy and a good cause – who can complain?

5) Kernels Gift Card, Make-A-Wish Foundation;  Until the end of December, Kernels Popcorn will make a donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation with the purchase of any gift card (plastic or virtual).  What a sweet (or savoury) deal!  While you’re picking up one for your friend, you can pick up one for yourself – they don’t expire and until the 31st, they help bring a child’s wish come true!

I find choosing the perfect stocking stuffers for the guys on my list to be a big pain in the butt (which is not the word I would usually choose but I don’t want to offend anyone’s delicate sensibilities.)  Most of the guys on my stocking stuffing list are pretty average.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, they’re extraordinary men, but realistically, they’re as excited about the contents of their stockings as they would be about oh, say, doing a load of laundry.  Yeah, no big excitement factor there, which makes picking a non-typical gift more than difficult.   So what can you toss in the sock that says “you might be typical… but I think you’re great?”  (For demonstration purposes, we’ll pretend that they *deserve* more than a lump of coal…) 

Here is a collection of stocking stuffers and small gifts for The Typical Man – someone who has a little bit of everything, has well rounded interests, and would enjoy a nice cold brew rather than a copy of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

1) The Hockey News Yearbook, $9.99;  These annual yearbooks are available with a variety of teams featured on the cover, but if I were choosing for any of the guys on my list, I’d stick to the Toronto & Ottawa cover.

2) Dumb & Dumber DVD, $12.99 –  I know it’s probably a part of many DVD libraries, but hey, it’s a classic.  And I’ve never met a man (or woman) who does not bust a gut watching the charming hijinks of Harry & Lloyd.

3) Ontario Craft Brewers Holiday Discovery Pack, $11.95;  From the LCBO “Six of Ontario’s finest beers, hand-crafted, locally brewed and perfect for holiday giving.”  I concur.

4) Ted Reader’s World Famous BBQ Sauce – Beerlicious BBQ, Canadian Tire, $4.49 – for the man who rules his ‘cue.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5) Reloadable Holiday QuickPay Card, Tim Horton’s – Available in your choice of currency, my man says this is the best stocking stuffer he can get.  Who doesn’t like Tim’s?  It’s a Canadian tradition!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other ideas for the extraordinary but Typical Man on your list include the standard new socks & underwear (goodbye holey laundry!), pop culture tees, multi-tools, fishing lures, iPod accessories, video games, or lotto gift packs.   And because the typical man is typically a little like Ebenezer Scrooge when it comes to the entire season, feel free to mumble “Bah-Humbug” while trying to make his stocking special.

1)  Essie Nail Polish: Turquoise & Caicos is called “a flirty and pretty tropical aqua.”  $8, MSRP.  DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free (available at Shoppers Drug Mart).  

2) Curved Filigree Stretch Bracelet, Rickis, $14.99;  The best part about Ricki’s jewellery is that it’s always buy one, get one half off – so you can pick up something pretty for a friend and add some sparkle to your own wardrobe at the same time!

 

5) Wehausen Infinity Scarf, Spring Shoes, $14.99;  Available in rust, taupe & midnight black. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Need more ideas for the Flirty Girl on your list?  You could try La Senza’s Ooh La La Lace Microfibre Hipster, ($7.50 or 5/$35;)  With a floral motif, lace trim and sassy low rise fit, it’s sexy, sweet & perfectly cheeky!   Or why not pick up a sassy new clutch or cocktail ring (try any women’s retailer or shoe store in the mall), an embellished tank, a pair of tights or leggings, darling lip gloss (The Body Shop, Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart), or some flirty new hair accessories (think feathers or sparkles.)?  Don’t get too serious while picking out the ‘perfect’ stocking stuffers for your flirty friends – it’s all about having fun!

Today I went to Shoppers Drug Mart… twice!  I racked up enough Optimum points to take advantage of their “biggest redemption event of the year” at two different reward levels.  I got some groceries, some stocking stuffers, and some me-gifts because a girl deserves to be pampered.   My first bill came to $287 and change including taxes and I paid a little over $37.  Wow!   Our second time through, our bill came to $66 and change but we paid only $6.58… so we got more than $318 worth of stuff (more actually, as a lot of what we chose was on sale)… for about $44 out of pocket.   What a deal!!!!   (Now, I would just like to point out that I realise it takes alot of spending to earn the top tier reward level multiple times throughout the year… I’m not a compulsive SDM customer, I just take advantage of the 20x reward days and buy all my diabetic supplies – instant crazy points!)

Next… after wandering aisles of a drugstore for far too long searching for the almost perfect stocking stuffers… I thought I could share some of my ideas for finding budget-friendly gifts for the different “types” on your list.   Today, here are some of my stocking or small gift suggestions for the “Crafty Mama“, all $10 or under.

1) Filigree Designer Brads by Stampin’ Up, $8.83




2) Kaisercraft Beyond The Page “JOY”, $6.99

3) My Mind’s Eye “Lost & Found” Christmas Trim, $4.99

4) “Hello Luscious” Assorted Buttons, Basic Grey, $3.50

5) Inkadinkado “Folk Collection” Merry and Bright Christmas Stamp, $7.99

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Now, this is list is by no means all-inclusive.  The craft mama also has an endless appreciation for brads & embellishments, stickers & beads, ribbon & twine, pretty papers, inks & acrylics, paint brushes, adhesives, raw materials, and idea books to get her inspiration flowing!   (And if you really love the crafty mama, you’ll remember to include some easy-peasy craft kits for the little ones to work on so she can have some good quality creative time!)  For a great selection on appropriate crafty mama stocking stuffers, check out the craft aisle at Walmart, hit your nearest Michaels (and don’t forget your 40% off coupon!), pop by a local scrapbook or beading boutique, and investigate the dollar store for some great budget-friendly finds. 

Yesterday, we had a (rare) opportunity to enjoy a non-fast-food, kid-free-meal at the Keg.  Delicious!  It was an enjoyable evening celebrating my not-so-little sister’s birthday with family and friends.   Conversation did not consist of arguments about which superhero is faster or who’s toy is whose… but involved topics about government, health care, hobbies and *gasp* budgets. 

With the change in career path I’ve taken (from a small but regular income to a sporadic income helping to cover my craft addiction) and the purchase of our new home, budget (which hasn’t ever had a lot of stretch) is now rubber-band-about-to-snap tight.  I do well with my grocery budget and always feel guilty for those occasional meals I just don’t want to cook.  However, I’m feeling a lot less guilty about those sometimes escapes from the kitchen – particularly after our bill (and babysitting costs) last night.

My sister-in-law put things in perspective when she looked at their bill and mentioned the home improvements they could fund but get put off because “we just don’t have the extra money right now.”   I looked at our bill and realised it was almost half the cost of my 2 week grocery shop – yikes!!!   I’m not complaining – we definitely enjoyed our evening out and how can you go wrong with filet mignon and adult company?  But… I did have to wonder how other people (random strangers – uh, or maybe even Kevin & I while we worked full-time and didn’t have kids) can justify regular entertainment or dining out multiple times a week?  It’s funny how budget priorities change – and I’m feeling a little better about our $12 fajita dinner for 4 tonight – or the occasional take-out subs.

I realise it’s been a little more than 2 months since my last post.  Most already know that life has just been super, crazy busy here and we’re just rolling with the changes.     I’m no longer doing daycare and it was a fabulous decision because it means I’ve managed to squeeze in extra hours crafting and developing a little hobby business called “Wisdom & Whimsy“.   For now, I’ve got a Facebook page showcasing cards, gifts & home decor items I’ve crafted with some power-tool help from Kevin.   Lots of custom orders rolling in… aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, I’ve been using the chop saw all by myself.  Scary, I know, but so far I’ve managed to keep all 10 fingers!

Also in recent changes, our house was on the market, and we put an offer in on a cabin-y cozy bungalow on 2 acres about 30 minutes north of where we are now.  The last day of our offer on the new place, we tied up all the loose strings on the sale of our house and all is good – in the first week of January, we take possession of the new house and the 2nd week of January, we turn in the keys on this place.  Ch-ch-changes!

The boys will be in a more rural school, busing to and from.  Justin is excited because he’ll be in school 5 days a week (just like Kaleb!).   Kaleb is more of a thinker and he chews on all the little what-ifs – he says he’s excited though and can’t wait for a tire swing and a tree fort…. me?  I’m just happy the neighbours won’t be able to hear our incredibly loud existance.

That’s been life here in a nutshell.  I may have forgotten to post regularly, but I definitely wasn’t ready to give this up.   Hopefully now that life has somewhat resettled – as resettled as can be with less than 2 months to pack and move – I’ll get back into the swing of regular blog posts!

I’m finding after a very busy summer and seven years in the same home that I’m craving change!   The small changes come with the stealthy approach of autumn weather, the start of a new school year (with both boys in school at least part of the time!) and little projects around the house.

It’s not feeding the need, though – I want bigger, better changes, not just normal routine-of-life-blink-and-you-miss-it change.  I want to move.  Very badly.  Soooooo… we’re on the property hunt!  And after walking through one house after another, we’ve come to the realisation that small budget means it’s hard to find everything on our checklist – nevermind the wishlist!   So we keep looking.  No rush.  At least we’re headed in that direction.

Anticipating a move also means my daycare days are coming to an end.   I can’t say I’ll miss it (although I’ll miss the somewhat reliable income!)   My families have all been made aware that we’re getting antsy and that they’ll have to make alternate arrangements.   Move or not, I think it’s time to reclaim our space and my boys would enjoy having a mom who’s not being pulled in 7 different directions – and honestly, mom would enjoy having energy and patience for the monkeys alone.  The way things are now,  they’re both wearing thin.   So we have to come up with another plan to keep me home before and after school while still earning grocery money.   Labels, anyone?

To help simplify life, we’ve been trying to declutter (oh my gosh, where does all this *stuff* come from?  Seriously?  Does it breed?)  That is a task of monumental proportions.  I have donated bags & boxes to the CDA Clothesline program, we’ve tagged extra bags for trash, and I’ve been listing on Kijiji and Freecycle – and yet, there still seems to be no end in sight!  Clutter, clutter, everywhere….

I’m also simplifying our mealtime routine and catering to my boys a little more.   This means my crockpot has been put to good use recently.  For some reason, they love meat done in the crockpot – maybe because it’s so tender?   Crockpot meals aren’t my favourite, but we pick our battles!   Here is our mealplan with this week – we’re aiming for quick and easy to cut down on the chaos with back-to-school.

* Crockpot Stroganoff
* Dinner at the in-laws
* Crockpt meatballs, corn on the cob, noodles  –  we tried the frozen PC BlueMenu Italian Chicken Meatballs last night (because I’m lazy like that!), and they were a surprising success.
* Tonight, pork stirfry on rice
* Crockpot orange beef (I found a recipe on the Disney site) served with more noodles
* Grilled chicken, potatoes, salad
* Some type of tex-mex pasta
* Turkey Shepherds Pie

Last night, I tried to clean up my front perennial bed.  I say tried because I may have gotten a little happy with my pruning shears!   Now I want mums – I love mums!- and some glittery pumpkins and such to put on display.   I love fall and hope this lull in tropical temperatures means it’s here to stay!

My Mom turned 50 last week (gasp!) – which, on a side note, means I’m no longer in my 20s (*sigh*).  I had no idea what to get her that was a little more special than a GC to the mall – 50’s an important milestone!  What to do, what to do….

Lightbulb moment – let’s check Pinterest!  I remember that my mom pinned a picture of these wooden block decor things that said “Family Is Everything”, originally featured on   So I stole borrowed the idea, and because I’m a last minute kinda girl, printed off a picture, tucked into an envelope and presented it with flowers and made it an IOU.

This weekend, I was in the mood for crafting – worked on some baby monograms for my sister-in-law, who is presenting them as a gift – sorry no pictures this time (yet)!  I also got Kevin to “help” me with some sawing? cutting?  What’s the proper term?  As well as drilling… yah, he doesn’t let me near the power tools!  We created this work of art:

The original blog where we found our idea doesn’t offer a tutorial but sold them as a kit… so here is how we did it:

Supplies –
* (1) 2″x3″x4′  pine board (not pressure treated, you’re going to want to look for hobby wood – pine was the cheapest but you might find some knots.)
* sanding block
* scrapbook paper
* acrylic paint
* paint brush
* carpenter’s or craft glue
* mod-podge (or other adhesive)
* giant adjustable clamps
* sandpaper
* wooden dowels (1/4″ x 1 1/4″) – found a pack of them in Home Depot at the end of the hobby wood aisle.

Depending on the supplies you have on hand, this project should run you less than $10.  I can’t give you a total timeframe because nothing is a sit-down-and-do-it-all-at-once project around here – we have lots of interruptions and distractions so we squeeze in steps between laundry loads, mealtimes and stories.

First, figure out what you’re spelling… we did Family is forever.  Which means I needed 7 blocks of various heights and a platform for them to rest on.  Apparently, a 2×3 is actually more like 1.5×2.5 so keep the actual dimensions of your board in mind.  We Kev cut our board to 2 @ 6.5″, 1 each at 10″, 4.5″, 4″, 3.5″, and 3″.  The letter blocks are going to be centered on your base so figure out your centre line and drill holes for your dowels on the base and in the corresponding letter blocks.  Kevin did this part… so uh, you can do the math.   Your end letter blocks (F & Y in our case) will have 2 dowels  inserted on the side, not the bottom, one going into the base, one going into the neighbouring letter.  We drilled after painting and sanding, etc… not such a bright idea!

Now, sand like crazy getting rid of any rough edges on the cut sides and the drill holes.   I used a sanding block but I think next one I make (for me!) I’ll use our little hand sander. 

Once it’s all smooth and pretty, decide on your base paint colour and add as many coats as necessary to ensure everything is covered nicely.  I did 3 coats (and due to the drilling mistake, will probably now have to do some touch ups). 

Trim your patterned paper to fit your squares leaving a border of the painted block.  Mine were (2) 2″x6″, 1 each 2″x2.5″, 2″x3″, 2″x3.5″ 2″x4″.  You don’t need one for the base block.  Adhere to painted blocks as desired – I used mod podge and allowed to dry.

For the letters, I used my Cricut to cut the saying out of vinyl.  If you don’t have vinyl you could use paper and just podge it to the scrapbook paper/wood.  If you don’t have a die cutting machine, you could just cut them out by hand – print them using MS Word or something similar and grab the scissors! Or paint them on if you have a steady hand.  I think painted would like nice but I’m not that artistic.  They can be different fonts, heights, etc.  Just make sure they’ll fit on the accompanying paper.  Seal everything with a coat of mod-podge or other sealant (acrylic spray, etc.)

Glue the dowels into place, and glue the blocks into place, clamping with each addition and allowing the glue to dry.  If your measurements were right, it should all fit together tightly.  My only hint is to adhere the smaller blocks to the base before attaching the end ones.  Once everything is dry, sit back and enjoy your masterpiece – but take a picture first and let me see how it looks!