December 2015 – Page 3 – Just An East Coast Girl

Christmas Wish

Do you remember growing up waiting for the day when the Sears Christmas Wish Book would arrive? I sure do. Back when I was little my Mom did a lot of her Christmas shopping from Sears…for the bigger items. She was always busy working and found it hard to be out shopping.

My sister and I would anxiously wait for the “Wish Book” to arrive in the mail and then we would each have our turn to look. Mom always told us we could put a little mark beside a few items we really liked and she would choose what to get us for Christmas. It was so much fun and such a special memory from my childhood.

These days I rarely see a “Wish Book”. Mom still gets it. I stopped at Mom’s today for a visit, for coffee and for a quick peak at the Wish Book, for old times sake. Mom said, “What would like for Christmas this year?” My choices have changed a bit over the years…

What would I really like?

I would like PEACE and LOVE. No more world violence and catastrophes, no racism, and hate. Oh so many things…I could compile a long list…but that is not our world these days…it makes me sad.

1Corinthians 13:13~ Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.(NLT)

That is my Christmas Wish!

Better than the Griswolds!

That’s what he said! David is home today after being away on work meetings the past week. He flew on the corporate jet so they waited until today to fly home which gave the weekend for a little exploring and a few quick visits with friends and family.

Last night after having dinner with his sister, they went out to see some Christmas lights. Well, one house of Christmas lights! It was better than the Griswold’s ( if you’ve watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation)

It is so amazing what some people do with lights this time of year. I would have loved to see this to walk through this Fantasy Land of lights. I am so thankful he took some pictures and video.

Here’s a peak…

Oh so beautiful…I can’t wait to grab a coffee and go for a drive to see some of the beautifully decorated homes here.

Glad you’re home hon!

All Over The World

I have been so fortunate, so blessed and I’m truly thankful to have travelled to some really interesting and beautiful places in December over the last few years. I was thinking about that this weekend …missing some places, events, people.

The World celebrates Christmas! They light things up. It is a special time of year…

Here are just a few places I’ve been thinking about…

Bangkok, Thailand

Phuket, Thailand

Shanghai, China

Beijing, China

Of course Shenyang, China

Seoul, South Korea

And I can’t forget Brazil…

Wow, it was fun to look back a bit…

All these places are lovely, I am so happy I’ve been there…there are so many more places to see. I often said I would love to spend some time in New York City in December but then there’s places closer to home…maybe Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara on the Lake. I have been to all these but not at Christmas time. BUT no matter where we are or where we travel, one very special place this time of year will ALWAYS be HOME!

Just hanging out in the kitchen

Today seemed like a good day just to be hanging out in the kitchen. It’s Saturday and it’s the first Saturday in December which means that Christmas Daddies is on television. ( Normally it’s on the first Sunday but this year is the first year for the new day Saturday) I REALLY enjoy watching this telethon. BUT, to be honest sitting all day…during the daytime in front of the TV doesn’t thrill me so I had an idea…

I can just hang out in my kitchen all day with the TV on and I can do my Christmas baking. Why not? It’s PERFECT!

And to start, well before I started Christmas baking…a new baked treat for Abby girl.

She was thrilled and VERY polite when I gave her the whole plate. One at a time was fine with her, no need to devour them all at one.

And then it was on to the really fun stuff. Cranberry Bliss Bars, Peppermint Bark, Almond Bark, Pecan Bark, Peppermint Patties and Peanut Butter balls. And poor David is not here to sample…he’s off exploring Charleston, SC today before he heads home on Monday.

Poor David…he’s missing out… haha

And…6 hours or so later…my table looks like The Land of Sweets…Who doesn’t love tasty treats at Christmas. These are the special ones, reserved only for Christmas time.

And the plus to all day baking in my kitchen, I saw the whole Christmas Daddies program with the grand total of over $410,000. pledged to go to make Christmas special for children in the Maritimes!!!

I have a bone to pick with you…

On June 5th 1873, two brothers James and Gilbert (G.W) Ganong founded Ganong Bros., Limited in St. Stephen New Brunswick.

In 1885, Ganong candy maker Frank Sparhawk invented the “Chicken Bones”, a pink,spicy cinnamon flavoured hard candy shell filled with bittersweet chocolate. Do you remember these?

Ganong Original Chicken Bones is a Canadian Holiday treat, passed down through family traditions and Holiday memories. This year celebrates 130 years of tradition. A Canadian tradition!

Yum! I just had to pick some up.

Home Alone

This week I am Home Alone. Well not all alone, James is here but busy with school and work. David is in meetings all week in the USA, so I feel like I am alone.

I have been spending my evenings passing time watching Christmas movies…like 3 movies a night!!!! I NEVER do that, it’s just too much TV. But, it’s been a rainy dull week and besides last night when James was off and we went out, I am cozy inside.

Do you remember the movie Home Alone? It’s a Christmas movie.

When 8-year-old Kevin McCallister acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.

Yes, that movie.

This Christmas marks the 25th anniversary of Home Alone. Most people will probably just celebrate this momentous occasion by re-watching it with their family or friends. But director David Javier decided he would honor the iconic film with his very own dance-filled homage to the beloved family Christmas movie. It’s… interesting. …. you should probably just watch and decide for yourself.

( Click on the link below)

https://youtu.be/88gb95z0Izw

Happy 25 years Home Alone!

East Coast Brew

I love coffee. The first cup of the day is my favourite but a nice coffee in the evening relaxing is great too, oh and I can’t forget mid afternoon…ok ok, I just plain like coffee, too much really.

With all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials out there online, I came across another special…

The East Coast Coffee Company had a great promotion. Wait, what? East Coast Coffee! I was curious. Where is this company from and what is their coffee like? So I ordered it!

I did a little research and the East Coast Coffee Company is from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. How cool!

Ecologically friendly, Kosher, Biodegradable, 100% Organic and Fair Trade, East Coast Coffees are high-grown specialty grade Arabica beans. Located in Eastern Canada on a rugged coastal port city, the service and traditions shine through in the brew! Whether you’re from here, or just long for the taste of the Maritimes, it’s always a little taste of Home.When you order East Coast coffee, it is delivered right to your door from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

I am really impressed …This East Coast Girl is lovin’ East Coast Coffee!