1. Rum balls
2. Sausage stuffing
3. Glockenspiel
4. Sugarplums
5. Little Drummer Boy
6. Yule log
7. Corncob pipe
8. North Pole
9. Nutcracker
10. Silver bells
Real tree or fake tree?
Knicknacks or minimalism?
Read the guide on the choc box, or take your chances?
Angels or elves?
Bing Crosby or Jimmy Stewart?
Homemade gifts or bought gifts?
Celebrate the day with family or friends?
Coloured lights or white lights?
Gifts or charitable donations?
Candy canes or jelly beans?
Bring forward traditions or start your own?
Snow or no?
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, or White Christmas?
Line up for Santa, or go caroling in the snow?
Get into the spirit (early or eventually), or Scrooge until the end?
Hot chocolate or hot apple cider?
Shop early or shop late?
Red or green?
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas or A Charlie Brown Christmas
Mandarin oranges or cranberries?
Stuffing or mashed potatoes?
Kiss under the mistletoe, or snuggle by the fire?
Silver or gold?
Celebrate at home, or celebrate elsewhere?
Contemporary or classic Christmas tunes?
Holiday parties, or stay home in PJs?
RED CUP.
YES!
Apparently taking a picture is REALLY HARD, though, because I sure am focusing…
Today is Remembrance Day in Canada.
If you’re not from Canada, you can read more about it here.
On November 11, we take time to remember the sacrifice of those who came before us, and those who still live with the memory of that sacrifice today. We also think of those serving in our forces here and overseas, and give thanks for what they do every day.
We should do this more than once a year, without a doubt. I know I should, at least.
Every Remembrance Day we’ve been in this house, we’ve stayed at home to watch the planes flying salutes overhead, and spend our moment of silence (the traditional remembrance act) with that incredible reminder filling our eyes and ears.
I’ve also had the privilege of attending ceremonies in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Victoria. There is nothing like standing alongside the people you are honouring to humble you, and make you realize the true price of the freedom we generally take for granted.
Thank you so much for all you did for us, and do for us.
We remember you.
1. Red cups at Starbucks. I know, I know… I am sucked right into the most obvious commercial ploy known to man. But.
2. Starting early.
3. The Christmas Train in Stanley Park.
4. The smell of the cinnamon/nutmeg/clove mixture we keep simmering on the stove all day long from November onward.
5. White lights everywhere.
6. The quiet of a perfect, icy night.
7. A Child’s Christmas in Wales — we listen every Christmas eve.
8. My Christmas category.
9. Dreaming of snow (not Vancouver 7-Up Slurpee snow, but TRUE SNOW.)
10. Making fun of my grandfather at Christmas dinner, just before he steals half the turkey from my plate in retribution.
11. My mom’s 14,000 Christmas trees around her house.
12. A veritable infestation of mandarin oranges.
13. Little girls in their Christmas dresses, all velvet and new patent shoes. I remember having a new one every year.
14. Busting out the sparkly rings at parties. (No, I don’t own it. YES, I wish.)
15. “Sharpening” the ends of candy canes and threatening people with my “holiday shiv”.
16. The boxes of chocolates that need “guides” (I like caramels, orange cremes, and cherries.)
17. My mom’s holiday (I think she actually wears it year round now) lotion that makes her smell like a cookie.
18. Our $3 Santa hats.
19. Pretending that it’s environmentalism that prevents me from wrapping gifts when really I JUST SUCK AT IT. Well, I don’t suck at it. I just don’t LOVE it. And try putting your gifts next to ones my mom has wrapped. Shame.
20. Someone to truly appreciate the mistletoe with this year.
Love to all!
Our tree is up.
I’ll show you pictures tonight.
The red cups aren’t here yet, but SOON.
And the music? OH, YES.
My goodness.
My life has certainly seen a lot of ups and downs in the last three months.
On one hand, wow.
On the other hand, whoa.
So much work, I can’t even tell you. Strange challenges, crazy deadlines, major things accomplished. And beyond that, learning the (fairly lame) lesson of how to deal with mistakes (with shaking my fist at the sky.)
(I don’t really like mistakes. Even though I make a ton of them, I’m no fan.)
Overall, for better or for worse, I feel like I’ve been too busy to stop and think.
Which means I don’t stop to write, either.
That’s another mistake.
So.
A little late-night love list, to get me back in the game.
THINGS I LOVE
Gradon (you knew that was coming)
Iron Chef
Calla lilies
Redeemed haircuts
Yoga balls
Ballet flats
Snuggling in for an extra 15 every morning
Big, silly rings
Hamsters on a piano:
Bright pashminas
Soy candles
Tootsie pops (cherry)
Staring down the impossible
Crisp, bright fall days
New pajamas
Gray pearls
The upcoming red cups at Starbucks
A fresh black Sharpie
Sweaters (well, the thought of buying more…)
Dreaming of pedicures
Magazines
Haiku
Giggling out loud when I listen to podcasts on the bus
Fresh white towels
Freelance work that pays!
Putting up our tree this weekend
***
And you?
