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After all the gift guides. After the shopping in snowstorms and shopping with sick children. After the stress and the worry and the croup, we are a day away from hosting my hubby’s entire clan- 14 adults and 7 (!!!!!) little people and two days away from celebrating with my family and friends at my parent’s down the street. And you know what, it’s all good. I’m ready. I’ve got a plan. It will be chaos but I have a plan and it will be what it will be. There will be lots of food, hopefully for the love  of all that is holy, there will be lots of wine, the kids will have a blast and they’ll fight and they’ll cry, but they’ll love it all. And ultimately, it is ALL about them.

Mad Christmas Cookie Baker & Sad Christmas Tree

The last week, scratch that, the last couple of months, have been very difficult. We lost two wonderful people this year, practically back to back, my beautiful Grandmother and my hubby’s most important person, his Grandfather. Two incredible people that impacted our lives in too many ways to count. Another two of my favourite people in the whole world got sick and are fighting to heal. My thoughts are with them every day and I will try to write, call, visit as much as I can in 2014.

Professionally there were many many highlights. I designed two commercial spaces that opened this year to great reviews, a butcher shop and a clothing store. I started this website ostensibly as a portfolio but increasingly for this blog. And in my very very very late thirties, I discovered that I love to write (who knew?) I started reworking with two old clients. I gained a bunch of new ones. And though I got let go from a contract only three days ago (so icky), the professional highs far outweighed the lows.

Socially, I have gotten closer to my old friends, something I never really thought possible because we were always close. But they are my family. My rocks. And they have become a wide net of love for my children. My kids have a lot of family here but these friends, that I have had since first year of University, love my kids and me and my hubby just as much. Roro, CC, Erica, Chado, Marco and D, I love you guys so much it is crazy. And newer friends, people I met through my kids, that have become my people. We see each other almost every day, we help each other through every crisis. We eat and drink and cry and laugh. We enjoy each other’s children and enjoy each other even when the kids aren’t around. Sometimes more when the kid’s aren’t around. J you are the bestest of the best and I love you so.

And now at the end of one year and looking forward to the next, I want to be more mindful and more calm and more aware.

My love and I get closer all the time. Our children not only bind us but make us happier and stronger and more in love every day. We are getting married in a ceremony in Sicily this coming June and almost all of my favourite people in the world will be there. In moments of stress, I think of how magical it could be and I feel better instantly. And it really is pretty fun to think about.

 This is where it will all go down! So exciting.

I want to keep my parents close. As close as they’ll let me (they have a much more active social life than I do) because they are hands down the best people I’ve ever known. They have shown us so much love and support that sometimes it takes my breath away. They love my guy like he was born to them, and my children are the lights of their life. I feel blessed we could give them these amazing little people to love. They marvel at them almost as much as we do.

I want to be healthy and active so that my children learn about being healthy and active. I had a rough year of back pains and baby weight that just wouldn’t quit. But I started to be more proactive. I started drinking veggie and fruit smoothies in the morning, going to see an amazing acupuncturist and working out (a tiny bit). In 2014 I will attempt to do more.

I want to learn to enjoy every minute or at least to stop and acknowledge how lucky we are and to go along with that sentiment, I want to make photo albums for our kids. I’m sad about clicking away and dumping it all on the computer and not having hard copies of all of these milestones and memories. As a child, I loved looking at baby pictures of myself and I want my children to experience that. I want us to not just run away on weekend getaways with the kids- we had some amazing trips in 2013, but I want us to try to do more fun stuff here, in the city. I want my kids to become the die hard Montrealers that I am. All while still opening them up to the world outside their city.

Professionally, I want to keep growing and learning and being excited about my job. But I still want to pick my kids up from daycare every day before 5:00 and not do any work in the evening until after they are asleep. This is a struggle as I need to work more, financially speaking, but I also want to be there for everything they need. This struggle/juggling act will continue into 2014 and every year after that. Such is the life of the freelance mama.

But most of all, I want my children to be healthy. To strive. To be curious. To be silly. To keep loving each other, and boy do they ever love each other. I’m not sure what we did to make them so bonded, but this is something that gives us great joy. Their little faces light up every morning when they lay eyes on each other and it is my fervent wish that they carry this with them throughout their whole lives.

I want my kids to hold on to the wonder that the Holidays can bring for as many years as possible. I need to remind myself that, in my effort to make it all great for them, I need to enjoy some of it too. They learn by example. They are sponges. There is nothing like driving around town with my son and hearing his bursts of road rage to make me realize how much of a sponge kids are! It’s a little worrisome…

Happy Holidays and thank you so much to the many of you that have been on this journey with me these past few months. For the notes, words of encouragement, and comments, thank you. And to the people I’ve run into that have said they enjoy reading this little thing, thank you. I wish you a happy and healthy and joyful New Year.

xa

This year, Christmas sort of snuck up on me. I’ve thought about gifts in a general, blog-purposes kind of way, and our tree is decorated. But with babies home sick from daycare, and car batteries not starting, and giant snowstorms hitting, I have physically not been able to get out of the house to shop. The hubby and I ran out to Toys R Us with one sick little monkey yesterday, threw a bunch of things into our cart and got the hell out of Dodge. Not the thoughtful shopping for that perfect something for that perfect somebody I had hoped for. I suppose that is just sometimes the way it is when you have little ones: they really have a way of making you veer off course. Though my kids gifts are halfway done, I am still missing key people on my list. In my particular case: mom and dad (hi!, I love you), gift swap presents x 2, daycare workers x4 (so many), elderly neighbours, and a couple of my BFF’s kids x3. In your case it could be your kid’s teacher, your colourist, your aunt or your boss. Really anyone left on that list.

So if you are like me and still have some shopping to do, I thought I’d write about a couple of cool, fun options. Also, every one of these options is made by either a friend or acquaintance of mine. Full disclosure. Why? Because if you have a web site and you don’t plug your friends’ work in your first annual gift guide series than what kind of person are you? Also I have very talented friends that do beautiful work. And more importantly, this can help you find interesting and non-massed produced gift options. The opposite of the Toys R Us route 😉  Also BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD EVER STILL HAVE GIFTS TO GET ON CHRISTMAS EVE. EVER. That is literally the worst thing you could do to yourself. I mean the holidays are hard enough. Amirite?

BUTCHERY, i.e. the really shameless plug:

Our lovely butcher shop, Boucherie Lawrence is offering a learn-to-butcher-a-whole-pig-class! In a small group, under the supervision of two butchers, the recipient of this gift can learn to butcher a pig into various cuts of meat. This would be great for anyone really interested in cooking and in getting hands on experience.

From the shop are tons of small treats, perfect for gift exchanges or other people on your list. Larger gift baskets filled with anything from locally made jams, preserves, and maple syrups to oils and popcorn are also available.I’ll be filling the shop’s tote bags with all kind of edibles for my children’s teachers. With these present options, I will cross the daycare workers, gift exchange presents, and neighbours off of my list. Done.

FOR THE SOFTIES:

My friend Jen Ham of Pompon is a beautiful and very talented lady. She makes lovely, hand crafted soft toys that are just the sweetest things ever. Basically the polar opposite from butchering a pig. And from Toys R Us. Such is life, full of dichotomies! My son O has had a blue bunny made by her that he got the day after he was born, and it is still alive and kicking after four plus years. Also she makes beautiful mobiles that I would gift to any expectant parent. So cute.

ART FOR EVERYONE:

Bree ree is my friend Todd Stewart’s print studio. All-around great guy and super talented artist, he makes beautiful prints of cities, landscapes and buildings. I have his Montreal print in my son’s room and his London print in my daughter’s. I think it is primordial to have art in your home and so very important to have art in your kid’s room. These would make wonderful gifts for just about anyone on your list.

MORE YUMMY FOOD STUFF:

I really love gifting food: a nice bottle of wine, a beautiful jam, a jar of honey. Maybe it is because I can rarely spend money on the fancy versions of those things for myself, so it is fun to purchase these things for others. Maybe it’s because I love to eat. Preservation Society is Camilla Wynne’s great company. She makes small batch preserves using mostly local ingredients. Jams, preserves, and savoury treats as well- her celery caesar is the bomb! If you have a loved one who loves brunch and loves Bloody Caesars or Bloody Marys, this is for them. Love the products and I have a deep love for the packaging/merchandising. Great gift option for anyone on the list really.

Another wonderful company selling great food products is Société Orignal. They establish relationships with farmers all over Quebec. They travel and really get their hands dirty working with small producers of delicious products. I especially love their honey and they even started producing milk and butter with a local farm. A great organization to support all around.

My fast and hard rule about gift giving is always gift something you’d be happy receiving.What kind of Grinch wouldn’t want to receive a yummy jar of honey for the holidays? Seriously? This is so much nicer to receive, in my opinion, than something you won’t use or  an impersonal gift certificate (p.s. I’d love a gift certificate too. I need underwear and socks). Really, buying something handmade, non-mass produced and lovely to boot, is as close as you can get to making something yourself if you don’t have the time or the will or the talent to make something yourself. Almost like the macaroni art or ceramic teapot you made for your parents when you were a kid. Except way nicer.

xa

This is probably the most difficult gift guide to pull together. I love my kids, obviously, and I have a deep love of shopping, equally obviously. Putting these two loves together creates a head- exploding/rush to the heart/intensity that is difficult to keep under control. For my son, I love buying toys and books. Boys clothing is not that exciting – how many stripes and checks can one really get excited about ? And at four years old, he is at the age when clothing is a pretty boring gift. Not to mention that he is quite discerning so I give his gifts a lot of thought. Now my daughter on the other hand, would be thrilled with the bag the gift came in. Maybe it’s a second child thing or maybe it’s her personality, but she is sooooo happy to get something that is specifically for her, that it doesn’t matter so much what it is. She likes toys and books but she LOVES clothes. I have no idea where she gets that from. When she was born, I received a ton of hand me downs from girlfriends and my mother bought her many an adorable outfit, so I had to buy her very little. But lately, she has grown out of the hand me downs and I have found myself itching to buy her clothing and I am afraid that it has become a bit of a problem. So to purge these extreme desires to purchase stuff for my kids, I will vicariously do it through this guide because I a)neither have the money, b)neither think it is a good thing to shower kids with too much stuff, c)neither have the money. Voilà!

I’m going to start with clothing because I love it so. Loulou is playing a Christmas tree in her daycare holiday show. I know! A bunch of two year olds playing trees. I can’t even. Remarkably, Lou owned not a stitch of green clothing so when I was downtown (a very rare occurrence), I popped into Baby Gap. It was madness! And it was so cute! It was impossible not to want to grab everything. I brought a pile of clothing to the cash and then reason reentered my brain and I left with only a green dress in my hands. All this to say, that I really like the Baby Gap clothing out now and their sales are pretty incredible.

There are few things more irresistible on a kid than tartan, polkadots, and stripes or all of the above. I mean C’MON! And for my superhero-obsessed little man, these sweaters might make getting clothes under the tree not such a bad thing after all.

Because I love me some JCrew and many people prefer to shop in their pyjamas in the comfort of their own home, here are some ideas from their kid section.

For him:

For her:

And locally, two great brands that do really fun kids clothing. Electrik Kidz make these great leggings that are unisex and really cool. Toddlers are an active bunch and running, jumping, and practicing your summersaults is way easier when you are wearing cozy tights instead of bulky pants.

And Supayana also makes pretty and whimsical kids clothing. I love the foxes and owls. So sweet.

Toys and play things:

I really want to make my kids a teepee for Christmas. A little private play area, where they could read a book or play with dolls. A little magic corner. The real question is: will I get myself together in time to make one? I know I’ll feel so great about it if I get ‘er done but also I know that it will be more complicated than I want it to be. This is what I picture in my head:

There is a real chance that I won’t get it together in time and that I’ll splurge on a ready-made one. Maybe from La Fée Raille? A local designer of sweet toys and super sweet teepees?

I’ll get back to you on that project…

To continue  in that handmade gift vein, my talented friend Amy just launched a web zine full of great design and creative ideas for kids of all ages, Pomelo. She found these super cute paper costumes for dress up time that my kids would just love. From Omy, they are fun and cost between 15$ and 20$ each. 

I don’t know about your kids, but mine are BIG into animals. These 3D puzzles from Topozoo could be a good under-the-tree treat.

Books! We have a rule for birthdays and for Christmas. There can be toys and clothes but there always, always has to be a book or more under the tree. At our house we love all books by Oliver Jeffers, an Australian born, Northern Ireland bred, currently Brooklyn-dwelling author. His books are magical and kids can get stuff out of them at any age.

Our son has recently gotten into chapter books. We started with Frog and Toad. My hubby and him just finished reading Charlotte’s Web and they will tackle Stuart Little next.

I feel like I could write this guide all day long. There are so many great gifts out there, I could shop for my kids forever. I need to keep reminding myself though, that the kids get overwhelmed by quantity. They love to get one or two special things. Anything more and they get crazy and hyper and it’s not fun anymore. And let’s face it, the actual act of heading to the toy store or mall on a freezing winter day doesn’t exactly sound like all that much fun either. But seeing their eyes widen at the sight of a new action figure or a lego set or a new outfit is so very worth it.

   Oz & Lou and their Chanukah treats: Iron Man & a tutu for Loubelle.

Now I need to stop writing and start looking at various web tutorials on teepee making. Oh boy.

xa

I love to shop. I really love it. It could be for clothing, for furniture, for food, for accessories. I could be buying for clients, family, or for myself. It is all good. I do it for a living and I do it for fun. In the love of shopping apex though, the very top is buying presents for people. I love buying presents. I think about it, make lists, research, and think some more. I wish I had enough money so that I could buy gifts for people all the time. The people I love to shop for the most are my honey and my children. As stated in my previous post though, my guy is getting no non-wedding related gifts this year. We will buy presents for our kids but we decided that instead of presents for each other, we’d put the money towards our wedding. Sorry, Babe. If he were to get presents though, they would look something like the gift guide below.

I love love love a nice, manly watch on a guy. And I know that in this day of iPhones, no one really needs a watch. But it looks so good and grown up. There is something about a watch on a man that says I am an adult and I care about time. And being on time. And I care about not making people wait for me all the time, when they have stuff to do too. Sheesh. These examples from Nixon and JCrew are definitely manly man watches. And I won’t be late anymore watches.

I don’t know about your guy, but my guy is waaaaaaay into craft beer. Really he is obsessed. I think in order of love he would probably say:  1. kids, 2. football in a tie with craft beer, 3. me, 4. good food, 5. college basketball, 6. everything else. Anyhow, he loves the craft beer and no trip to the United States is complete without one or many beer runs. These various and quite beautiful beer bottles then litter my counter top and are displayed on shelves until they are moved to the fridge, and then finally, sometimes months later, consumed. In a bid to regain my kitchen counter space, how about a beer making kit? If your guy  (or gal, girls like beer too), is into craft beer, this affordable and rather attractively packaged kit could be a pretty great gift. He’ll make his own beer, read about all the recipes he can try in the accompanying book. Then you can even throw in this vintage bottle opener from etsy. AND buy a six-pack of beers from Trou Du Diable brewery, that you can pick up at Boucherie Lawrence. Nice.

Sunglasses are kind of like watches. Just an accessory but when you graduate to the non-plastic watch, you graduate to the non 6$ a pair sunglasses. They kind of go hand in hand. Always a classic, Ray-Bans look good on just about any face type. You just need to find the right style for your face shape. There are the aviators and the wayfarers and I think most people fit into one of those two camps. For instance, I look good in a an aviator but I look terrible in the wayfarer. I think my guy is also an aviator but I’d have to see…

My mother always says that as long as you take care of your teeth, have a good haircut, and wear nice shoes, it doesn’t really matter what you are wearing. Maybe it’s an old Romanian expression. I don’t know if this is true, but I make it a habit to agree with my mother on most things. She is often right. In the shoe, sunglasses, watch family, I would include a nice bag. A cool backpack or messenger bag. I love the Montreal company Mo851. I don’t love their name but I love their products so very much. Not inexpensive but really nice quality leather goods. And they have really great sample sales a few time a year when prices drop like crazy and people line up around the block to get bags, jackets, and wallets. The splurge/feeling flush for the holidays, present is on the left: the “army style shoulder bag”. On the right: the more affordable iPhone case. The case even has two pockets and a spot for cards- so if your guy is a minimalist like mine (i.e. leaving the house with his phone and bank card and that’s all), this is a great gift.

And finally, for some cozy. It isn’t the holidays in Canada without some scarves, warm and wooly sweaters, socks and tuques . These are some of my favourites. I saw these (1) scarves from Breed at a new shop called Lo’Well. I love anything nautical (yes, still). The pattern on the knit is subtle but really beautiful. JCrew does certain things really, really well. Lately, I feel like they can do no wrong. One of those things is menswear: their suits, shirts, sweaters are all really nicely designed. I love these sweaters: (2) the Canadian Sweater Company Cowishan Cardigan and (3)the nordic dot sweater. The Smart Wool sock is my Mother in Law’s favourite stocking stuffer for everyone in the family and in winter, we don’t wear any other kind of sock. They may not be pretty, but trust, they are super warm. If it isn’t clear to you yet, I have a stripe obsession. Not just for me but for everyone in my family. This (5) knit tuque from the Gap is pretty darn cute. The kind of thing I would definitely steal from the hubby, on occasion. And it isn’t very warm but I really like this ball cap from, yes again, JCrew. It is an Ebbets Field Flannels Montreal Royals ball cap. I love the vintage look and I love the colour combo. Maybe for my dad? The only ball cap wearer I know. Or my son? So good.

1.  2.3. 4.

5.  6.

If I could, I would 100% buy my guy every single thing on this gift guide. Maybe not 5 watches but you know what I mean. He deserves it all and more for being an extraordinary daddy, a loving and wonderful partner, a beautiful person, and for being my very best friend. And even if he wasn’t all those things, I’d probably still want to buy him this and more because I love him and because I am addicted to shopping.

xa

‘Tis the season for every design/lifestyle/mommy blog on the planet to post gift guides of every kind. Guides for everybody in your life, be they human or animal. Because I never like to feel left out, I thought I’d do the same. Today’s instalment is all about what I’d love to find under the tree or what I’d love to be able to afford to gift. That being said, we are planning a destination wedding with close friends and family next June, so the hubby and I decided that we would not be exchanging gifts this year. At least no non-wedding related gifts allowed. So this is my wish list for your Christmas. Or for mine, in a year or two.

Growing up, my parents had a Hudson Bay blanket and they probably still have it. It reminds me of cottages and cozying up on a couch with a stack of magazines. I love the multicoloured stripe but the brown and cream one is pretty too. They even have a duvet cover version.

Weirdly at home, we never listen to music on our phones or iPods. It’s all radio, all the time. Actually this isn’t weird if you consider that we don’t own a dock for our iPhones. These (a) from Anthropologie are cute and unobtrusive. Exactly how I like my electronics. And on the topic of electronics, these (b)  little, hyper portable speakers from west elm are so darn cute. These would be perfect for listening to music with the kids out in the yard or even for our many impromptu bathroom dance parties. Also small enough to stuff in a stocking.

a.    b.  

I’m not super familiar with Kinfolk magazine but I’ve leafed through their new book at the bookstore and it looks dreamy. I love cookbooks! Even if I barely use them because of a very picky four year old, I love nothing more than to get cozy and leaf through the recipes, bookmarking the ones I’d like to try. The French Market Cookbook by Clotilde Dusoulier is one I’d like to peruse. We have been eating more vegetarian food at home and my recipe well is running dry. These would make great gifts for your entertaining loving bff or your mom.

I really love what JCrew has been doing with jewelry in the last two years. These are statement pieces. Items that would look amazing with a plain white T and jeans or with a dress on a date night. And imagine the heart flutters when you open the box and find one of these pieces inside? Oh boy.

I have a purse and shoe obsession that is difficult to tame. Always have had but especially since having kids and realizing that boots and purses look good no matter how much baby weight won’t go away. I love love love Baggu bags. They are inexpensive, fun, and well made. If I come across a Baggu grocery bag, chances are I will buy it. The ones below can be found at west elm and are a fancy and festive version. Perfect for a weekend away. Or as a stylish diaper bag. And they can even be monogramed to make the gift receiver feel extra special !

Below are practical gifts I’d totally want to give or get. Not from my honey. He better not get me a slow-cooker. But, for/from family, these are super presents. I’ve wanted to try slow-cooking for a while now and the Cuisinart model below does a million other things besides slow cook like roast, steam, and sauté. As for the coffee maker, it is quite ironic that I’d even put it on any list. Don’t get me wrong, we are a coffee loving family. What we don’t have is a coffee maker. We have a behemoth of an espresso machine that used to be at our restaurant and that eats up all of my counter space and that hasn’t worked in, oh about 2 years. We have an aeropress that my brain refuses to remember how to use. So I am a coffee prisoner, only getting coffee when my hubby is around to make it for me. Pathetic. I want a simple, dummy-proof, push a button, get a cup of coffee kind of machine. This Krups one from west elm looks pretty and compact. And it’s on sale. These would be perfect for the sister-in-law or mother-in-law in your life.

My super talented friend Meghan Price started String Theory with a friend a few years ago. They make gorgeous scarves and shawls and ONE DAY, I will get one. Maybe a Christmas present to me, from me ?

So fun to think about a wish list. So nice to dream about what you’d love to give to your favourite girlfriend, your mom, your best friend. As for me, all I really want are happy, healthy children. For real. And a Bay gift card so that I can buy underwear. For the wedding, of course.

xa