Shopping Saturday - Early Christmas Sales

Finally, I will be able to show all the items that I have been creating for the last couple of months.  One of my neighbor has invited me to a girls night out party at her home.  Aside from my items for sale, there will be other ladies who will be selling their stuff.  Something creative, something sparkling and some special skin care products.  She will be serving appetizers and I promised her that I will bring some finger foods and some new sweets to try.  Although I probably would only know about five ladies (from our neighbor that I have met), it will be a good networking event for my creations.  Here's some of the aprons I just made the past week.  There are four more apron to be completed by today's day.  I am hopeful that I was able to finish all of them.  Some aprons are reversible depending on the fabric.  Reversible apron lasts a bit longer because you can keep wearing one side until it's dirty, then use the other side before washing them.  

Therapeutic Thursday - What makes the list

Having a beneficial effect on the body and mind.  This is the definition of therapeutic that is applicable to this post.  Some uses a type of over the counter drug, some drink a specific combination of liquids, others resort to the non medicinal or non consumable cure.  That's for me.  Using some other form of pain reliever or some form of distraction.  So what makes the list of therapeutic things that helps my body and mind.  Let me just repeat it, this is my list and it works most of the time.  By the way it's also not a list of remedies, it's just a list that is therapeutic also known as something that feels good for the body or mind.

• Listening to music
• Playing an instrument, guitar or keyboard
• Sewing and creating new projects
• Painting or drawing
• Scrap booking or card making
• Crocheting or embrodery
• Dancing and singing
• One hour massage
• Golf (including watching on TV)
• Reading a good book
• Writing to family and friends - either snail mail or email
• Baking and cooking
• Manicure and pedicure (I do it myself)
• Playing tennis or squash
• Shooting pool (billiards)
• Blogging and writing poems
• Ironing (yes, you read it right)

You are probably wondering why walking is not on my list.  Actually it is therapeutic also but only if I am walking at a golf course and actually playing.  Now that you've read this post, what's on your list?

Minutes Monday - Quick meals

Once you retire, you will find that you have so much time in your hands. So look forward to it. But today it's about quick meals done in minutes.  When I am trying to figure out what to make for breakfast, lunch or dinner, a lot of times is checking what's available in our fridge and go from there.  I know some people plan dishes then shop.  Unless it is for a special dinners, I just get the main items, meat and vegetables.  So what do I make, your question. 

Here's some of our meals that I have made in the last month.  They are easy to prepare and does not take time to cook.  We really try not to go out for our meals except when we are already out and about, then I'm going low and need food.  Not enough time to get home, so we eat out.  Try making some of the following quick meals and you'll be surprise how easy it is and yet so delicious.

Home made using Pillsbury Pizza dough but added all fresh toppings.

Grands biscuit makes easy cinnamon mini rolls.

Baked tilapia in foil with salsa on top, wild rice and quinoa and steamed snow peas.

Garlic shrimp on pasta with white sauce, basil and peas.

Good old tuna sandwich on home made bread and cut up veggies and dip.

Mixed vegetables with left over chicken using 2 packages of Ramen Noodles.

Sharing Saturday - Christmas workshop

There was only one box of Christmas decorations that came with us during the move.  We tried to take only some of the ornaments that had meaning or special.  We knew that we could always buy more or make some for this year's real tree.  That's right, we decided we are going to try and find a nice real fir or blue spruce or pine tree and maybe buy it from the lot that Laurie (x-realtor) owns in Armstrong.  Although we don't really know where it is, we will have to check with a friend for the location.  Last Wednesday, we thought it was time to create some new ornaments.  We were able to find some already made from a thrift store and they look pretty new.  So what is the result of our afternoon of ornament making.  Check out the photos below.  I can't hardly wait to hang it on the real tree which hopefully we will get by the first week of December.

We bought two of these golden Santa and Jeff painted both so it looks brighter.

We bought tea lights and decorated them using pipe cleaner, ribbons and black paint.

These are candle holder that I added flower and rope to be hung as ornaments.

Our Christmas flower arrangement for the front entry. 

We bought the golden balls for 25 cents for 6 and decorated it.

This is for our front door. I think I got this at one of the garage sales in October.

Thanksgiving Thursday - American holiday

Why celebrate two Thanksgiving, someone ask? Because the turkey was on sale or better yet because Jeff really likes cooking turkey.  Maybe it is because since we got married we have always celebrate Canadian and American thanksgiving.  But this year it is really interesting because our Canadian thanksgiving was celebrated with our American friends who were visiting Canada for the first time.  Their first visit happen to be our home.  Today as we celebrate our American thanksgiving in our home in Vernon, we are joined by our new Canadian friends who is part of our great neighborhood.  Actually she was our realtor for our home and she is so amazing.  After the sale and all the paper work, she still continues to help us with so many other things related to the our new home.  We cannot thank her enough so we though what better way to show how we truly appreciate all the help she has provided and ask them to join us for thanksgiving dinner.  We will also get a chance to meet her husband for the first time, who by the way was also helpful checking certain parts of the house to make sure it was safe while we were still away.  I am sure you are wondering what will be our menu.  Turkey is the main dish, then the sides - mashed potato, stuffing, grilled assorted vegetables, not to forget gravy and maybe some home made bread/bun. Then for dessert - Tiramisu (personal size in a white wine glass). This is my only contribution as Jeff does all the other stuff I mentioned. For today we would like say our thanks for the following:

• For our family, for understanding our decision to move to Canada (western side)
• For our friends, who helped us during our move, garage sale, etc.
• For my Canadian friends who encouraged and congratulated Jeff on coming to the better side;
• For the Border officers who made our crossing so smoothly and stress free
• For the government employees who made all our application process easy
• For our new neighborhood who opened their arms and welcome us as well as opening their homes for brunch, dinner and drinks.
• For our banker, insurance agents, car salesperson, Telus and others who just made the transition to our new city so uncomplicated.

Mayhem Monday - Minions all together again

All hell broke lose, that's right, it happen when I was opening one of our moving box searching for an item that I packed.  It happened about a month after we moved.  When I opened the box that was marked Christmas stuff, I was almost in tears when I found our Minions Nativity Scene in a mayhem.  I seem to recall that I packed it so carefully and make sure enough protection surrounded it.  Jeff said, "not to worry because we can put it all back together with some glue".  We had to find another star since we did not want to make another one.  Finally Jeff put it all back together and one day we found the perfect star.  Now it is just waiting for the rest of the Christmas decorations to be in place.  Of course we need a tree.  This year we decided we will get a real one.  Our prior realtor of two years ago owned a Christmas tree farm and hopefully we can check out and pick our own tree.

Original taken Christmas of 2016

August 2017 after the move

October 2017 after Jeff glued the manger

Back together again with the star November 2017

Selection Saturday - NHL and NFL

This is how you know that winter is here to stay.  You start making up lists of your sports teams.  It's like our own hockey and football pool.  Only difference is that it's just for me and Jeff.  That's right we have finally decided to pick our teams to make it more exciting when we are watching these games.  There is no prize, no initial fees or weekly pot.  Just a simple game of your team vs my team.

We picked our teams for the regular season and then look them over once the playoffs begins.  OK you must think, we have way too much time in our hands.  Maybe a little, we are both retired.  But truly I do this stuff while watching the game so I actually don't waste my other time doing my hobbies.  You must be wondering which teams we have and did I make the right choice.  Who knows, it was all pure luck, except for some teams who are my favorites already. Good luck to both. LOL

NHL:  MY PICKS:  Lightning, Senators, Canadiens, Sabres, Devils, Penguins, Capitals, Flyers, Blues, Jets,  Avalanche, Kings, Flames, Ducks, Oilers.

JEFF's PICKS: Leafs, REd Wings, Bruins, Panthers, Blue Jackets, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Hurricanes, Predators, Starts, Blackhawks, Golden Knights, Canucks, Sharks, Coyotes.

NFL: MY PICKS: Cowboys, Giants, Rams, Cardinals, Vikings, Packers, Saints, Falcons, PATRIOTS, Jets, Chiefs, Chargers, Steelers, Browns, Titans, Colts.

JEFF's PICKS: Eagles, Redskins, Seahawks, 49ers, Lions, Bears, Panthers, Buccaneers, Bills, Dolphins, Raiders, Broncos, Ravens, Bengals, Jaguars, Texans.