Tea Party- New Toronto Digs

I know, I know, I have to hurry up and post these pictures about our Christmas-time fun before the end of January or you guys will think I am such a slacker!!! But hey, let me tell you I am not a slacker, I am an over-sharer! I have to share so much with you that it takes me a while to catch up!

My friends the St.Germain's moved recently to a new century home filled with charm, high ceilings and a little backyard with green grass (well, I think, it was kinda snow-covered)- which is a great bonus living in Toronto.

During the Holidays, we were invited for a little tea party. It was festive and fun, light and bright and full of amazing new things... I love going to someone's new home and going for the 'TOUR' and hearing about all the details they are planning for decorating. Jenny and Szos served some lovely tea and accompaniments and these amazing Christmas plates. They just knocked my socks! A plate for each of the days of Christmas. I got the '4 calling birds'. Loved them!

Here's the little cookie monster loving my big soft ginger cookies... her fave!  She got the 11th day of Christmas plate.

The gorgeous family in front of their Christmas tree. So sweet and full of love, it just oozes out of them and splats on their funky Christmas tree adorned with records, octopus and zebra stripped ribbon. I just love their style!

Loveliest of them all was this little gem of a jar filled with delicious homemade pesto. Such a precious and dear family. Thank you!

Downtown Oakville Christmas Walk

I have to share with you the most beautiful Christmas tree I have ever seen. After the Christmas time celebration and food indulgences, it was time to walk it off. So all the girls packed up tight... and I mean real tight... in Julie's car and went for one of our favourite excuses for a walk... window shopping in Downtown Oakville.

Here we are in the Town Square with the gigantic Christmas tree, cold and full of love. We love this spot, it has our favourite coffee shop- The Green Bean and one of my sister's best friend's store L'Atellier Grigorian, a classical music store. Check out the link- http://www.grigorian.com/webstore/main.php
I know... shameless plug!

After being squished in the car the girls didn't really want to pose for me, but I made them...because that's how I roll.

 

Close up on Stephanie's smirk.... don't know why? She's used to being squished in her car seat? Must have been Mella and my Mom squished on top of her in the back that invaded her space???

We saw pretty birds in evergreen branches (fake)!

Post Holiday napkins for sale (real)!

Nice smelling lavender (real)!

Snow covered streets and people strolling along window shopping (real)!

My Mom loving to pose for this picture in her furry black coat and headband (fake)!

Me, absolutely loving to pose in front of the store of my dreams, where one day soon I will get all my cool, groovy, hip and chic Montreal-style active wear (on sale of course)- Lole (really, really, real)!

Last little bits of Christmas hiding in the snow-covered planters (real)!

Big closeup now- the gorgeous Christmas tree back at Town square. Big shinny gold and red balls, my favourite Christmas colours (real)!

Happy New Year Celebrations with the girls

This year, Brent had to work on New Year's Eve. So we decided to have a girl party! 

Melanie invited one of her BFF's and we got all festive with our masks and crowns.

The girls took it a bit farther with their masks though... I stayed out of that scene.

We kinda missed the Chocolate Fondue scene on Christmas, so I decided to melt dark chocolate and scoop a little individual serving for everyone- then cut some strawberries- everyone's favourites and dip away... It was delicious and decadent!

We celebrated with real French.... sparkling apple juice! But it was French, so it felt real!

Next day, we made our way over to Julie and Barrie and Stephanie's house for our traditional New Year's Day hangout! We had some great musical singing times!

Some laughter with the big green frog ball!

Some happy clapping (Stephanie's trick) with the big green frog ball- look at the concerned mom looking from behind the couch.. just her little head peaking... that's so funny!

Here are the girls with their grayish New Year's shirt. Julie got that great shirt at Anthropologie on sale just a few days before during our downtown Oakville stroll. We love that store!!! But I love spending time with my family on New Year's even more. What a great start to the year!

Nice Nails- Purple Mania

You remember I showed you that amazing nail polish set my sister gave me for Christmas? Well, here is my first attempt at creating some nail designs.

You like? I saw this idea in my December InStyle Magazine. It's perfectly uneven but you know I love stripes and I gave it a shot... maybe the greens next????

Christmas Day- A review of love, celebration and food!

Christmas... Happy Birthday Jesus! At our home we celebrate real early (like I heard Melanie get up at 5:40am) with pyjamas, love and lots of coffee (for me)!!!!

 

Our one and only pride and joy- Melanie- gets spoiled rotten every year! We just can't help it. But she's all grown up now... no more 'toys' - it was board games, clothes and beauty stuff this year... my little girl is growing up! 

Showing off her Fuzzy hat with her fuzzy cat right behind her.

 

Brent showing off his Maple Leaf fuzzy dice... Melanie bought him that and bought me a candle with her own money this year... I tell you, she is growing up!

Mother-daughter pyjama wear. My new Old Navy pyjamas- I am so excited to have taken part in the exciting black Friday online shopping sales... the clothes fit me perfectly...oh, and thanks Brent for buying them for me. Yes, we are at the stage where I buy my own gifts and he, his and pretend they are from each other... well at least you get exactly what you want!

I love this Love frame that I got from Brent. I love LOVE! I can't wait to fing the perfect photos to full this lovely frame up!

Brent got a Patriots insulated beverage cup, just like he heavily hinted at.

This year we hosted his family for a casual Christmas Brunch. I set the table, Brent cooked lots of bacon and sausage and I had blueberry french toast soaking in the fridge overnight just waiting to bake for about 1 hour, when they arrived I just had to make 18 scrambled eggs!

Here we all are celebrating, Brent's mom, sister Helen and her boyfriend, niece Kiki and us. A Halliday Holiday Brunch. 

I love this fresh and bright picture of us on Christmas morn. We are at peace and in love.

The cousins and the gramma... they need to finish those eggs though!

 

OMG, can you believe how absolutely gorgeous this photo is? Stephanie the little Santa baby! Christmas afternoon we always get invited back to my parents for Christmas dinner. So we all put on our party wear and headed back. Stephanie was definitely the best dressed.

She's was trying to get familiar with the new traditions. Like this overflowing Christmas stocking that was all for her!!!!

 

It took some time, but she eventually reached out and wanted to unwrap her own presents.

She got real comfortable... and I mean, take off your pants real! She didn't even have any turkey yet and had to take off her pants. She just loves walking around too... just not with pants I guess.

Ok, I had to share my cheesy sweater with you. I got this sweater way back in 1998. It was cool then. and I have kept, hoping one day it would fit again. Well this year it did. Actually, it was too big! Dont' you just love how it matches my parents Christmas tree? Next year, it will be too big and will be gladly donated to Goodwill where a lucky person will find the deal of their life on this awesome creation. Did I mention that I got in Arizona at Marshalls?

Look at the cute mommy and baby playing with the creche and the characters. How sweet that the little baby decided to hold the little baby Jesus. Well, we all started sharing about how when we were kids we used to play with the characters too and someone's head would always break off and my Dad would get mad because he always had to re-glue them.

 

Well, scan to the next scene... Stephanie starts to pick other characters and starts to bang them together. Like mother like child... she broke Joseph's head off. What a proud family tradition moment. Look at Julie so happy and smily holding poor Joseph's head in her hand.

Next comes Turkey time! My mother always cooks a perfect turkey!

This year, Brent's mom joined us... yes, mom, you do have to wear the goofy hats through the whole dinner.

Here's my little plate. I was still suffering from the tail end of the flu so I was staying away from the vegetables and fruits- so this is why my plate was turkey and potato heavy! Brent's mom brought everyone a nice little box of Lindor. Sweet!

Warning, this is not a healthy recipe. But a celebration Pecan Pie. My mother made this most delicious pie with love. So I tried a very small piece- even eating just 1/16th of it, I couldn't believe how sweet it was. Just proving that I am so not used to it anymore- that's great, really!

Ok, last warning... another celebration desert- these are called Pet de Soeurs- you may ask... what does that mean? Nun's farts... nice, eh! These French Canadians come up with the weirdest stuff! It's leftover pie crust that you brush with butter and brown sugar and then cut in strips and roll and bake and  voila! Christmas comes only once a year folks, so enjoy the Nun Farts!



Nice Nails- Christmas Sparkle

Thought I would share with you some of the designs I wore during the Holidays. I call it Christmas Sparkle. I took a green and red shimmery polish and alternated the colours and then added a top coat of clear glitter nail polish. I tell you, everything is better with glitter!

A Review of Christmas Eve and the Tourtiere

I know they are a little late coming... but I am a busy girl and have so much to share! Here they are at last.... the Christmas pictures you have all been waiting for!

We always celebrate Christmas Eve at my parents home. To us, it's as special as Christmas Day.  Our parents spoil us with food and love and presents. And this year... a beautiful Christmas angel joined us...

Stephanie... my little niece. She's too young to really be into it yet... but look at her warming up to the idea in her Grand-maman's arms.

Nice first Christmas family photo... so many smiles (Stephanie is smiling inside).

See.... I wasn't kidding about the presents our parents spoil us with... The tree was exploding with presents and the 2 precious grandchildren were loving it!

The Hallidays official Christmas 2012 photo. Brent left his shinny shirt at home!

 Here's a family photo tat my Dad's tripod took. It's a little dark, but captures the Christmas smiles!

Mother-daughter cute smile... never ask my mom to smile... she tries so hard, the opposite happens. I love her!

Another Mother-Daughter time- shinny and full of eyeshadow this Christmas time!

Mella got Zumba underwear.

My beautiful sister gave me a Britto Joy frame. Which I just love! I have to take the most joyous picture and put it in there... I am sure it will involve our daughters!

Mella's dad became Justin Bieber.

Julie also gave me this awesome nail polish collection. I can't wait to use them all and share them on the Nice Nails segments of this blog.

I asked my mom to regift an old puzzle she had so that I could have fun during the Holidays. It turns out she was trying to torture me.... it's the hardest puzzle ever and I am only halfway done. I promise to take a big photo when I have mastered the button world... I know my brother is itchy just reading this note.

My mom knows how much I want to go to Paris. So she said ' I know you've always wanted to go to Paris, so here's a calendar for you'. She's so funny, eh!

Melanie enjoyed some Penguin wear - my mom's favourite animal!

 

... and so did Brent...

 

Stephanie was trying to get into the 'ripping the paper off the present'... she was still in the 'learning' stage.

This is such a precious mother-daughter photo. There sure are lots of mother-daughter love photos on this blog today eh!

Stephanie got her big present from the grandparents... she was so proud to walk around with it!

Okay, but seriously, my parents knocked my socks off when I unwrapped this beautiful Britto box. What's inside you ask?

... a gorgeous teapot. So amazing and colourful and decadent. My mother said- with both of us having tears in our throats- that she knows how much I wanted this teapot and even though she thinks I don't need it, she thought I deserved it for working so hard on my weight loss effort.... my heart sang with butterflies. By the way that's my symbol of love, and what is the teapot covered in butterflies with a butterfly on top.

So here is the tourtiere that my mother make every year. It's a tradition that we cannot live without. We stopped doing the over the top chocolate fondue, but this we just can't stop. She makes it so delicious... no recipe sorry, family secret!

My mom also serves this every year- the pickle tray with olives- yum- pickles- yum (only if they are sweet like Habitant) and pickled beets- yuck and double yuck!

Yes, you have to put the hats on your head...

Here's my plate, a little coleslaw and a little tourtiere, it's all about portion control folks!

 

Ok, here too... portion control... those white stripped chocolates are crunchy bars in disguise... my sister's favourites, and I got to enjoy a few! That's all you need really.

My mom made this splendid butterscotch bunt cake. So moist and delicious!

So after dinner, the tradition is that the kids put on their pyjamas... Look at Stephanie's butt!

This picture is a perfect shot for the last photo of this Christmas Eve blog. It shows my mom's absolute love of her grand-daughter, the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights and the perfect LOVE of God through us all on the eve of Jesus' birth. Amen!