The Shopping Date: The OOAK!

A major value at Christmas is the idea of giving, right?  Some think of baby Jesus coming to earth, giving hope and redemption. Or of the wise men who heard of the birth of the King brought gifts to celebrate his birth and to thank him for coming.  For others it is Santa and his bag full of gifts for all the children all over the world.  Still some, it is simply time together with family eating and taking time from the busy aspects of life, perhaps a few sharing of gifts.  And so, we each pass on our various traditions on from year to year, from generation to generation.

I like to spend a lot of time thinking about each person on my Christmas list.  What do they want? What do they need?  What they would appreciate, find funny etc?  Some years I have made things that I thought were meaningful.  But over the years, I have tried to make an effort, not only to give but to be more thoughtful in my giving.  What I mean is, buying a gift can be giving two ways.  When you purchase something locally made, not only are you giving a gift to a friend or relative, but also you are giving back to your community, to a man or woman who works in maybe their home studio, carving and creating with thought and care on something that they are passionate about.

As a new small business owner, I can most certainly appreciate that.  And am deeply grateful to the people in my community who have supported me this fall.  Without friends and referrals, Magnolia Coasts would not be what it is.  And as that small business owner, I take much pride and expend great energy and creative powers on what I do.  I work on sets, think about the families before they arrive and plan accordingly, work with them on the set and then think about them as I work on their photos--how they met, where they come from, etc.  Much the same as a person making a bowl might wonder how that bowl is being used, where it sits most of the time and about the family that uses it.  Have you ever thought of that?  The artists wonder about you.   I speak with some amount of understanding in this.

The One of a Kind Show celebrates creative artists, small business owners not all that unlike myself, (although with usually many more years of experience).  My mother-in-law, Magdalene and I made a date of it and went for the whole day this weekend to walk around, talk to shop owners, get to know them a little bit (which of course you do, if you go back to the same booths each year).  You see the new artists who are maybe there for the first time, you meet familiar faces of artists who have been there for many years. I even had a few artists give me cards to send photos of their shops to them, which was fun for me.

So, this is what Toronto has to offer, but it is not the only way to "give back."  Similar ideas exist, have existed and are popping all over, in large and small cities alike--markets, craft fairs, locally produced and sold products.  And if they aren't, well, the ever increasingly popular way to buy "locally" is through Etsy--a virtual artist market where you can buy directly from the artist/producer and ship wherever you want.  Some of our most beautiful things have come this way.  So, this year, think "local," shop local and support small businesses if and whenever you can.  It can be your way of giving back.  And it sure makes a huge difference.

Pottery with the Junction as the design.  I so love having our city, our country incorporated into art in sometimes not so obvious ways.

I am always impressed and was again this year.  Well done One of Kind Toronto.  Well done!  Today is the last day.  So get out there if you haven't already.  And if you didn't get a chance, well, there is always Etsy!

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• The OOAK Toronto
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My Gingerbread Man: A Gabriel Date

Yesterday, during one of Maggie's big naps, Gabriel and I took some time to build a gingerbread house.   As it turned out the pieces were all a bit mismatched and didn't fit the frame it came with but it still came together and we had fun doing it.  Gabriel warmed up the icing and then cut open the bags of candies.  They went rolling all over the floor and he had to rescue them.  And by rescue, I mean eat.  He giggles the whole time saying, "That's S(f)unny!" and grin his big toothy grin. 

So the house ended up looking a little sloppy, because like I've said before, cake decorating and all that fancy stuff with baking is not really my thing.  And I was busy trying to slow down the intake of Gabriel's sugar.  But it was really fun to build with Gabriel.  As he is getting older, he is really into building things and some of his favorite youtube videos are ones where they put trucks and houses and helicopters together.  I can tell already that Lego will be our best friend moving into the future, just like it was for both my husband and I.

With the two littles, naptimes and our weekends full of photo-shoots as we head into the holiday season, we might have to get a bit more creative in finding ways to celebrate from home from time to time.  And so this is one of those dates.  A "date-in" at our house.

Hope your weekend is wonderful and filled with cheery Christmas adventures!

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• Tree-Lighting and Tree-watching: A Family Date.
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Gabriel Reads: Star of His Really Own.

So it's been a while now that while we read  before naps and bedtime, that Gabriel will finish lines of a story, especially when they rhyme.  We thought for sure they were memorized and we thought that was pretty neat.  Than one night he grabbed a book from us and the coolest thing happened.....

Gabriel started "reading" the entire book to us.  Now this isn't a rhyming book, it's a story.  Not only has he memorized the entire book from looking at the pictures, he can recite the book from memory in the bathtub without the book in front of him.  Ok, so it's not word for word, but still.  Jordan and I were astounded.  I am sure similar moments have happened in your house.  Milestones you never anticipated would happen so quickly (be it one thing or another) and ones it seems you wait for forever.....  Children are really just the most fascinating little people to watch, aren't they?   

Here is a little clip of the story he's been reciting at a minimum of five times a day for the past two weeks:

http://youtu.be/xR5xW7c2yeo

For those of you that cannot understand what he is saying here is a loose transcript.

The boy loves stars really much
Boy’s watching the stars window
Really own.
Seek and star.
long walks together.
Catchin star.
The next day
Waited, lunch, waited, after dinner, some more
Sun’s go away.
Saw the star.
Boy’s jumping
No jumping
Catch him
Carefully climb the the tallest tree
Star way out of reach.
Father’s boat
It’s so heavy to carry
Fly the ship to grab the star....

Stay tuned over this next couple of weeks while we share a few winter suggestions for some of our favorite reads.  Just in time for Christmas purchases!

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• A Couple of Milestones Over the Week

Tree-Lighting and Tree-watching: A Family Date.

This weekend we officially launched the "it's totally appropriate to really talk about Christmas".  Yes, Christmas is definitely a favorite time of year, and I like to savor.  But I like to save it until just the right time so it feels extra special.  Have to admit having a tree in our house for photography on Oct 31st has been a big weird factor for me.  I am not sure how the kids will actually know it's Christmas since there are already some staged presents under the tree.  Although I am sure the excitement will be palpable in this house. 

Anyway, and starting Christmasy things, we decided to go on some of our first Twelve Dates of Christmas too!  We wandered over to our favorite Nursery to admire the big display of lit Christmas trees and ornaments so fancy you can't imagine.  And flowers, wreaths and all sorts of baskets.  The Sheridan Nurseries are always so beautiful.  We've look forward to going at any time of year, but especially Christmas.  

We needed to get some things of our own but decided we could do it all as a family and enjoy just wandering while Gabriel tried to cuddle into the mechanically moving stuffed Reindeer and various other animals.  Simple, right?   Nothing intense.  Just time together.  We had some cider and picked out our Christmas goodies while Magdalene slept the entire time in the stroller.  Then we pulled the wagon home with our loads. 

And then later that evening, we piled the kids in the car and drove to Celebration Square to see the Mississauga tree lighting.  They had all sorts of things going on--ride on train, visit with Santa, carriage rides, ice-skating, food trucks, free concerts.  But for us we just went to listen to some music and let Gabriel run around and see the tree once it was lit.  He ran around and around and around and loved dancing to the music in particular.  This boy still has a great love of music! It was a little bit crazy--Jordan and I sure got our exercise both running and carrying Gabriel and Magdalene at various times.  It sort of looked a little like this:

We had to hide out of the rain for awhile until the tree got lit and bought some snacks to keep Gabriel in one place for more than five seconds.  With the rain, I can only imagine what it would have looked like had it been snowing.  But despite the rain, there were so many many people there, which was exciting to see.  It was a little late for our littles, but we decided we'd bend bedtime to do some fun things this Christmas so long as it's not too often.

 Zamboneeeeee!!  It's been years since I've seen one!

We stood and listened to the former Mayor, Hazel McCallion, who was mayor of Mississauga since 1978 until just recently when she retired at the age of 93!  Apparently, quite the woman, as you can imagine!

And this was Gabriel's favorite part, the countdown to the tree lighting.  Five... Four... Three... Two... One... Blast-off!!! He kept repeating over and over in the car on the way home. 

Hope you had some great family time this week, celebrating Christmasy things and enjoying the place where you live!

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•  Twelve Dates of Christmas.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas.

So with all of the craziness of masters completion and small home business start-up, spending time together as a family and as a couple has been a little on the not-really-happening-much side of things.  Which makes me a whole lot sad.  After all, isn't that why a person works from home?  To spend more time with family?  I am sure that things will even out eventually, but this Christmas I really do want to make spending time together as a family a priority.

Following the lead of one of my favorite bloggers in New York City, we are going to attempt the "Twelve Dates of Christmas: Toronto Style!"  Basically, we want to make the time up until and shortly after Christmas all about going and doing things together as a family, and a couple, spending more time in this beautiful (if not, at times, congested and cold) city of ours!  If you want to join us in doing the same, we'd be happy to hear about it and might even change our list for some better ideas from you!

What are some of the items on our Twelve Dates of Christmas Bucket List?  Well, thanks to some mamas in my mama group and a little searching around on the Internet, here are the top 12ish things we want to do this year:

1) A Carriage Ride.  Our Gabriel loves horses.  And if we don't make it out for a sleigh ride, a carriage ride is perfect too.  Port Perry (about an hour away) has free carriage rides which started this past weekend.  Fridays from 5-8pm and Sundays from 12-4pm 

2) Mississauga Tree Lighting.  It really sounds too good to be true.  Toy train rides, sleigh rides, DJ skate party, tree lighting, food trucks, pictures with Santa, Holiday Market.  And it's all this Saturday, Nov 22nd at 6pm-9pm.

3) Tree Cutting.  So we already have a tree.  Yes, a real tree that we have been using in the studio.  But, let's face it.  A tree we bought Nov 1st is not going to make it until Christmas.  But we got our tree here in Milton.  And we liked it so much we are planning on going back as a family and getting another one.  Plus, they have a cute little Santa Workshop with handcrafted gifts, snacks and warm drinks.  We cut our own tree down with a hand-saw.  Not sure if you need to bring your own or not!

4) The CP Holiday Train.  The train is coming through Toronto only on November 29th and Vaughn on Nov 30th on it's way across all of North America.  When the train arrives, the boxcar doors open and the concert starts.  It has a free concert to raise money for the food bank.  

5) Christmas Parade.  One of the cutest little neighborhoods east of Toronto is Streetsville.  They are having their parade Nov 30th at 1pm.  More info here.  And if we don't make it there, we are planning on checking out the Etobicoke/Lakeshore parade which is rated #4 in all of Ontario.  Saturday, December 6th at 10am.

6) The Distillery District.  Every year, the Distillery District hosts a large Christmas Market.  We went last year and loved it!  Great shopping in all the boutiques and plenty of places to eat and have coffee/hot chocolate, etc.  At Christmas they put up a whole series of little wooden huts which sell wares.  It's probably the most festive place in the city this time of year.  One of my favorite shops there is the Distill Gallery which supports and carries all sorts of works by artists from around Toronto.  Support local artists!  Yay!  It opens Nov 28th and runs until Dec 21st.

7) The One of A Kind Show.  I am an artist at heart and love everything about art and supporting local small business.  This show is incredible!  They have artists from all across North America who create the most beautiful pieces--jewelry, stained glass, pottery, clothing, food, metalworks, soaps, hats and gloves, and the list goes on.  We go every year and often buy a number of Christmas gifts here, if not only stocking stuffers.  It runs for about a week and they have one night of late night shopping until 11pm on the Thursday.  More info here. It runs Nov 27th-Dec 7th.

8) Skating at Nathan Phillips Square downtown.  We are going to have to just let go of our super organized bedtime routine and just do it!  Take the littles downtown, have some supper and then hit up the skating rink once the sun is down.  It's so gorgeous all lit up at night with the towers in the background.  Opens Dec 1st!  We skated last year at the Natrel Rink on the river, but I think it's the lights overhead us while we skate at night that is the most enticing part.


9) A Good 'Ole Hockey Game.  Last year husband took Gabriel to see his first real Marlie's game.  So it's not the Leafs but it was just as exciting for Gabriel.  And likely started a dream of a future career in hockey, I might add.  So we are keen to go again.  They are back in town on Nov 23rd, and playing Nov 30th, Dec 2nd, 6/7th, 13/14th.  But you can find a schedule here.  And tickets range between $10-55, so you know, a bit more affordable!

10) Nutcracker Ballet.  I saw the Nutcracker once many many years ago, but as a university student, I was soooo zonked that I fell asleep.  How terrible is that!  So I am bound and determined to see it again.  This time at Humberside Collegiate where it is kid-friendly in case we want to take the littles and affordable.  On Dec 18/19 (7:30pm) or Dec 20/21 (2pm).

11) See a film couple date.  Even if it's not Christmasy, the plan is to go on a movie day with husband.  Maybe grab a hot chocolate before or after and catch a flick.  One of our favorite little cinemas is a not-for-profit in Roncesvalles, called Revue.  It's a cozy, one room theatre in a favorite neighborhood.

12) Grab the best Hot Chocolate in town.  Whenever I think of winter, I think Hot Cocoa.  And have we ever been getting our fill since the temperature dropped.  But I'd like to scope out the best hot chocolate in town.  I've got a few places on my list!  Is it The Chocolateria in Roncesvalles? or Delight Chocolate in the Junction?  We shall find out....

13) Casa Loma.  We have never been to this illustrious castle but we have only heard wonderful things.   A 100 years of Christmas?  The Snow Queen, Santa, Winter Wonderland, Cookie decorating? In a beautiful stone castle?  Sure!  Starts Nov 27th-Dec 28th.

14) Window gazing at the Eaton Centre.  We have heard that there are some beautiful window displays down there.  Hoping we find that luxurious time to just wander around and let the kids look at the window displays downtown. Sometimes the most simple dates are the sweetest and most beautiful.

So I threw an extra in there for good measure. This is mostly just a wish-list and if we happen to cross most of them off, I'll be happy although we are aiming for the 12! 

If you want to join us on our adventure to have 12 dates this Christmas no matter where you are, post your photos on facebook or instagram with the hashtag #12datesofxmas.  The more simple the better, I say!  We would love to see what you come up with! Enjoy your family time and your beautiful city no matter where you are.

xo

Light Up the Square Celebration - Saturday November 22
Warm your heart with holiday magic as the Square lights up for the first time this season. Mississauga Celebration Square will be transformed into the North Pole. Skate outdoors with a party DJ, take a photo with Santa, become an “elf in training”, learn the art of crafting and merry making, take an enchanting sleigh ride or hop onto the toy train! There will be curbside cuisine from food trucks and a Holiday Market. Mayor McCallion and Members of Council will be in attendance. Stage performances include Rebel Coast performs and Virginia to Vegas.
Celebration Square - 300 City Centre Drive – Mississauga, ON - See more at: http://mississaugakids.com/christmas-activities-mississauga/#sthash.q8D6X2ls.dpu

Light Up the Square Celebration - Saturday November 22
Warm your heart with holiday magic as the Square lights up for the first time this season. Mississauga Celebration Square will be transformed into the North Pole. Skate outdoors with a party DJ, take a photo with Santa, become an “elf in training”, learn the art of crafting and merry making, take an enchanting sleigh ride or hop onto the toy train! There will be curbside cuisine from food trucks and a Holiday Market. Mayor McCallion and Members of Council will be in attendance. Stage performances include Rebel Coast performs and Virginia to Vegas.
Celebration Square - 300 City Centre Drive – Mississauga, ON - See more at: http://mississaugakids.com/christmas-activities-mississauga/#sthash.q8D6X2ls.dpuf

Mississauga Santa Claus Parade - Sunday November 30
The Historic Village of Streetsville will play host yet again to a favourite Mississauga Christmas event! There will be a crowd of about 60,000 along Queen Street for the Santa Claus Parade starting at 1 pm. There will be as many as 75 groups presenting floats, bands and entertainers. Mrs. Claus and Santa Claus will be in attendance! Please note Britannia Rd and Queen St. will be closed prior to and during the parade. - See more at: http://mississaugakids.com/christmas-activities-mississauga/#sthash.q8D6X2ls.dpufwz

Lessons Learned.

Well, this morning was quite exciting in our neighborhood when a firetruck came rolling through, lights flashing.  It was a cold morning this morning, so while loading Gabriel in the car, I shut the door, apparently with my set of only functioning keys.  While reaching to load up Maggie, Gabriel clicked the lock button and locked himself inside.  A moment of panic set in, when I realized I had an extra set in my purse on the ground beside me.  Phew!  Always thinking, Stephanie.  Like a good mother.  Always prepared.  Well, I reached in and pulled them out only to find the battery dead.  I clicked and clicked, but nothing happened. 

Well, I said to myself, surely if he locked himself in, we can find a way to get him to unlock the door, right?  At first Gabriel thought this was all quite funny.  He could buckle himself in my seat, pretend to drive away.  He could take off his coat if he wanted to and he did right in front of me in a showy display of independence. Haha.  Freedom!  I coaxed and coaxed him to try to unlock the door, open the handle, etc. which to his credit he tried to do, but couldn't seem to figure the unlock part out on his own.  His excitement turned to eagerness to help before panic and then utter despair when he realized he was really and truly stuck and there wasn't anything I could do.

I called around trying to find a tow company close to us, but most were too far away and at this point, at what felt like -10C at 9am in the morning, Gabriel was starting to get really upset and cold.  He was blowing on his little fingers and sucking on them trying to keep them warm.  Meanwhile, Magdalene, in my arms was also getting cold and restless and upset.  I remember my friend Lucy, that time this past summer when her twins got locked in the car, had called the fire department.  I knew they were close to us and could arrive quickly.

One dead key battery, several attempts at coaxing, a call to husband who came rushing home, a few phone calls to various tow companies, the car dealership and CAA (where we are not members), thirty minutes in the cold, one phone call to the fire department, and one smashed back window later....  Gabriel was retrieved from the car. 

He was definitely upset and scared, but the moment that window smashed and he saw the firemen and firetruck, the cool factor definitely set in.  The firemen were very understanding.  Apparently this is some rite of passage for two-years-olds-turning-three?  We were all quite thankful for the firemen who then let us climb inside the truck to peek around, gave Gabriel a stuffed Dalmatian puppy and took our picture.  Lucy's twins even stopped by to check it out, remembering fondly their locked-in-the-car-adventure as well.  It made me feel better that even such a sensible and put-together mother, like my friend Lucy, could make a simple mistake like locking her children in the car too. 

It was a scary (and expensive) lesson to learn.  And such an easy mistake to make.  But all was well after a few cuddles and some hot chocolate.  Well, Gabriel will live to tell the tale of the day his mother locked him in the car on a cold morning in November.  But at least we are all safe and sound!  And smiling nonetheless.