Saturday, December 25, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

1 day until christmas: christmas company!

the holidays give us a chance to catch up and spend time with our friends and family.  this is something we both look forward to- great memories, yummy food and lots of laughs.

my christmas eve is being spent with my lovely family- we are getting together with lots of munchies and treats and of course board games! cranium and scrabble are in the line-up for tonight! also don't forget your eggnog

i made a pumpkin pie for the occasion, here is the recipe for the filling:

gramma's pumpkin pie

14 oz. can pumpkin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1 slightly beaten egg
1 cup milk
and a store bought or homemade pie crust!

mix ingredients in order given and pour into crust.
bake at 450 for 15 minutes or until crust is set(brown)
then lower to 350 and bake until firm- about 20 minutes

don't forget the whip cream! enjoy! 

    
--m
as for drinks during the holidays, my family loves their wine.  wine spritzers are also a favorite.  this is a great recipe, it's light, fruit not too sweet and red- for the holidays!



holiday cranberry orange wine spritzers:

4 ounces of white wine
4 ounces of cranberry juice
2 orange wheels
and a splash of soda or sprite (depending on how you like your sweetness!)

*cA

we hope everyone has a wonderful christmas eve!
1 more sleep!
--c&m


Thursday, December 23, 2010

2 days til christmas: wrap it up

now that everyone has finished their christmas shopping, it is time to wrap it all up!  i love wrapping presents, and even through i admit i definitely go over board, i know my hard work is appreciated. 

instyle's december issue had a great article on innovative wrapping.  they got very creative and used things like flowers, leaves and branch arrangements as an alternatives to bows.  check out a local craft store for a wide variety of ribbon selection as well as some other accessories to wrap up your gifts! 

here is a few pictures i found of some great present wrapping:






2 more sleeps :)

*cA

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

3 days till christmas: christmas light tour

a standard christmas tradition is of course decorating the inside AND outside of your homes.  many people put up christmas lights but others go above and beyond to turn their yard into a fantastic holiday display!  last night we checked out all the "must see" displays in our community and were so impressed! pack a to-go hot chocolate for the road and take the time to see the displays that people spend hours preparing for us to enjoy.  check your local newspaper for a map that points out the best displays in your area.


3 more sleeps!
--m

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

4 days til christmas: last minute christmas shopping!

time is defintely starting to run out.  and if you haven't finished your christmas shopping, you'd better hurry!  stores this week are trying to help everyone out, extending there hours and staying open late every night.  if you are still having trouble trying to find the perfect gift for someone, refer back to our gift ideas post!

happy christmas shopping everyone!

only 4 sleeps left!

---c&m

Monday, December 20, 2010

5 days til christmas: drink hot chocolate w/ friends

one of our favvvvorite things to do together, especially over the holidays is to get together for a catch-up visit and a warm cup of hot chocolate!



if you are like us and your friend is too far away for a get-together, plan to meet on skype with your hot chocolate!

---m&c

Sunday, December 19, 2010

6 days til christmas: take a winter snow trip

growing up in the prairies, i have never experienced a winter without snow.  a christmas without snow just doesn't feel like christmas.  for places on the coasts that don't experience snow, or much of it, i recommend visiting a snowy place before christmas to help get in the holiday spirit.  for those on the west coast, i definitely would suggest: whistler.

on my first and recent visit, i discovered what a great and unique village whistler is and all it has to offer.  besides the obvious snowboarding and skiing attractions, there are plenty of shops to finish your christmas shopping in, a large variety of restaurants and some great coffee shops to grab hot chocolate and warm up in.  and of course a lot of olympic memorabilia, that make for great pictures!


*cA

Friday, December 17, 2010

7 days til christmas: downtown shopping trip

when it comes to setting the christmas spirit and decorating for the holidays no one out does themselves quite like downtown shopping areas.  from christmas lights on trees, to the higher volume of shoppers, billboard gift ideas to giant mall christmas trees; the second you step foot on the street, you know exactly what time of year it is.  personally, one of my favorite things to do is check out window displays.  here are some photos i recently took on a downtown van shopping trip:




in addition to their a-mazing window displays, holt renfrew also has some great in-store displays for the holidays too!


we also happened to pass a group caroling through the stores!


happy christmas shopping!

*cA

8 days till christmas: christmas baking

what is a christmas celebration without christmas treats!? click on this link for a website with all the classic cookie recipes. get together with friends or family and have an afternoon of baking! and even use your treats as gifts or even better get together with a group and do a cookie swap party!

my favourite: snickerdoodles & chocolate macaroons



8 more sleeps!
--m

Thursday, December 16, 2010

9 days till christmas:rum&eggnog and scrabble

spending quality time with friends and family is what i look forward to most at the holiday season.
cozy up by the fireplace with some rum and eggnog and play a game of scrabble.

allergic to dairy? try silk's soymilk nog or rice dream nog available at local grocery stores

if you are away from your loved ones at christmas- set up skype and click here to play scrabble online


only nine more sleeps! happy holidays
--m

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

10 days til christmas: paint your nails red

what better way to get into the holiday spirit then spreading some christmas red on your nails.  there are so many red shades to choose from, so here are a few holiday shades i picked out:


to check out china glaze's full holiday collection here.

*cA

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

11 days til christmas: trip to chapters


chapters is always a great place to grab some good reading, a starbucks and get in the holiday spirit.  whether you are going to catch up on some homework or work, we definitely recommend you check out our top picks for books:

morgan:
1 the friday night knitting club series. by kate jacobs
2 quentins. by maeve binchy
3 tuesdays with morrie. by mitch albom -or anything by mitch albom :)
4 eat pray love. by elizabeth gilbert

carissa:
1 devil wears prada. by lauren weisberger
2 if you have to cry, go outside. by kelly cutrone
3 into the wild. by jon krakauer
4 ysl: icons of fashion design. by marguerite duras

and from starbucks: the caramel apple spiced cider

--c&m

Monday, December 13, 2010

12 days til christmas: gift ideas.

while we count down the last 12 days until christmas we will share something everyday to help get everyone ready for christmas & in the holiday spirit!

to kick off, we are giving our top picks for some great christmas gift ideas:

what better to warm up the holidays then a cozy knitted scarf.  we're particularly fans of this knitted eternity scarf from urban outfitters in nude.
$28 from urban outfitters

magazine subscription.  this website is great, it has EVERY magazine and yearly subscriptions are up to 95% off cover price!

buying for someone that has everything?  why not make a charitable donation.  our favorite charity is the humane society, they are always in need, and nothing makes us feel better than making more tails wage.  click here to find a shelter in your city or go to http://www.humanesociety.com/


starbucks giftcard.  even though they will be late to try the new holiday lattes, they will still appreciate a week or two’s worth of coffee on you!

for a personal gift- create a calendar.  check your local michaels store or any craft store to get a calendar template.  add your favourite photos to each month to make a calendar anyone would love!


on a budget? do a variety of christmas baking for someone.  visit a craft store for some fancy wrapping and packaging ideas.  they will surely appreciate the hard work and details!


---c&m

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

when you can't find the perfect newyears dress...


being an intern has it’s ups & downs, the biggest downer, hands down, is no income.  while i have done pretty good until now, controlling my spending and tring to stretch out my savings account as much as possible, the time has come to take drastic measures.  while I feel rent and groceries cannot be compromised, new years outfits can(…i guess…).  and while it’s probably possible to find a decent priced dress from f21 or h&m, i’m bored by the same tacky satin, empire waisted, and too short hemlined dress that makes you blend in with everyone else.  i have decided to take it upon myself this year to make the ultimate and perfect new years dress.


these are sketches of the dress i’m going to make myself.  simple, feminine and very YSL inspired.  made from black velvet, the dress will be comfortably fitted with a narrow pencil-like bottom, hemmed just above the knee.  the neckline is an exteremely deep sweetheart, with a gold emroided embellishment.
while I have never made a garment from start to finish, I have been there to witness the process.  i have 4 good friends, who hold fashion design degrees and though none of them live close, I am definitely planning on making good use of their expertise.  oh and I can’t forget about my sewing machine, 90years old; passed down from my great grandma.

*cA

Monday, December 6, 2010

the hot room.

Moksha Yoga- series of postures practiced in a heated room.  
a simply amazing time-out from a busy lifestyle. i love this organization- they have a fantastic philosophy and are very environmentally conscious.  the benefits of practicing moksha yoga are never ending- try a class today. 

my favourite pose: peaceful warrior

Check out the link below to find the studio nearest you.
Moksha Yoga

**source for photo- mokshayoga.ca

times running out!



have you sent out your christmas cards yet?  better hurry, times running out.  here are some adorable and super crafty christmas cards available online:




or, if your feel really creative (and have some time on your hands) you could make your own!

*cA
---


* red fridays is a non-profit canadian organization that helps canadians send christmas cards to soldiers away in mission.  all you need to do is set aside an extra christmas card, address it to "a canadian soldier" and write a message of thanks and seasons greetings.  then put it in an envelope and send it to:
     
          Red Fridays Foundation of Canada                
          Christmas Cards to the troops
          PO Box 31063 Westney Heights RPO
          Ajax, ON
          L1T 3V2 

Sunday, December 5, 2010

pizza party!

dough recipe:
2 cups white or whole wheat flour
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp quick rise yeast
1 cup warm water

mix 1 cup flour, water, sugar and yeast. add second cup flour and mix. 
knead and let rise on warm stove until the dough doubles in size.
flour your pan and stretch out dough.
add sauce and your favourite toppings! bake at 450 F for 12-15 mins

my favourite topping combos: 
*pineapple, banana peppers and onion
*shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes and feta

enjoy!
--m






a new thing: blowouts.


i recently discovered, this great new salon, dry bar.  the dry bar is a hip little salon offering only blowouts to their customers.  that’s right for $35 dollars, your hair will be washed and blow dried to your choice.  the menu offers 5 different blowouts:  

the manhatten; sleek & smooth. 

mai thai; messy and beachy.

southern comfort; big & voluminous.

cosmopolitan; loose curls.

straight up; a signature blowout.  

dry bar also offers the option to add shots to your shampoo, as well as scalp massages at an additional rate.  celebrities including emma stone and whitney port have both been spotted getting a blowout at dry bar.  so far dry bar is only located in la, but are hopefully planning to move up the coast very soon!  

*cA

Saturday, December 4, 2010

sweet saturdays.



happy saturday! what better way to celebrate the weekend’s arrival then to bake some cute and delicious cupcakes!
*cA

Thursday, December 2, 2010

find the perfect christmas dress.


to help everyone deal with the stress and chaos december brings, forever 21 has made finding dresses for every occasion easy.  canada.forever21.com allows customers to search holiday dresses for work parties, family affairs & new years.  all you have to spend is $60, and shipping is FREE. plus, don’t forget to check out their great accessories to complete your look!  here are some great pieces i found:




1) cap sleeve harringbone dress $27.80 2) braided chain and rhinestone necklace $12.80 3) glamour pearl clutch $17.80 4) chiffon embellished dress $33.80 5) dita suedette heels 27.80 6) floral bodycon dress $17.80

*cA

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

little taste of mexico.

while almost everyone i know is taking a winter vacation this year to escape the cold, i will be left freezing and only dreaming of the heat.  nothing suits cold winter days better then a warm bowl of soup, and this one happens to also satisfy my craving for mexican food!


taco soup

ingredients
1 pound veggie ground round
½ cup red onion, chopped
3-4 celery sticks, chopped
½ jalapenos chopped
1 cup of cooked corn
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 package of taco seasoning
5 cups beef stock or broth
3 cups of water
salt & pepper to taste
taco chips
shredded cheese


directions
boil broth and water
add celery, corn, jalapenos, onion and garlic
add cooked veggie ground round
add taco seasoning to taste (may not need whole pkg)
add salt and pepper
garnish with taco chips and shredded cheese

enjoy!
*cA

Monday, November 29, 2010

fall on vancouver island.


my favourite season- can't beat the ocean, leaves and sunshine. i could spend all day exploring the parks and trails here on the island.  do what you can to maintain the parks in your area so that everyone can enjoy them- respect the ecosystems and prevent littering.

--m
** lululemon groove pant, american apparel hoodie, abercrombie and fitch jacket, scarf-h&m

Sunday, November 28, 2010

winter wonderland.

3 months of living in van has been more than enough to make me realize how much i love west coast weather & HATE prairie winters. with that being said, on my trip home this weekend my backyard did look beautiful and if anyone appreciates a good snowfall, it's d.

my outfit: dress- lux from UO, cardigan- dex, belt- H&M, boots- aldo.

*cA

Monday, November 22, 2010

welcome to scarves&socks!


welcome to scarves&socks by morgan and carissa.  we made this blog as a way to keep in touch and share important and exciting news with eachother.  we hope other's will enjoy it too!  check back soon for news on what we're up to, eating, watching and wearing!