Month: November 2021

Categories
Gifts

Stocking Stuffers: 16 Year Old Girl Edition

My eldest niece turned 16 this year; and it really hit me hard that the little girl I first met 10 years ago has blossomed into an incredibly smart and kind young woman. Words cannot express how proud she makes me and how lucky I am to be her aunt. Anyways… enough with the mushy stuff. Usually for her, I pick one of her favourite stores and fill her stocking with a variety of items from said store. Which were a HUGE hit with her!

Previous “Store-Themed Stockings” have included the following.

-Sephora
-Chapters
-Bath & Body Works
-Cabelas
-Ardene’s

However, this year will be an eclectic mix of items to match her changing interests and needs.

-Bluetooth Shower Speaker
-Fidget Toy Phone Case
-Journal/Notebook
-Crystals
-Funky Socks
-Candle
-Card Game
-Wildflower Seed Package
-Sample Scents

Stay tuned for two more stocking stuffer posts in early December; for adults!

Categories
Fashion

Dress Like….

Jackie O!

This woman is on MY list of fashion icons. I was inspired to write this post after reading Hannah Huber’s feature in WMagazine, entitled: Jackie Kennedy Through the Years –A Look Back at the Original White House Style Icon.

Earrings: Cezanne 14 mm Pearl Studs from The Bay
Blouse: Icone Stretch Poplin Shirt in ‘assorted’ pattern from Simons
Skirt: Vegan Suede Pencil Skirt in shitake from Ricki’s
Stockings: Opaque Control Top Tights in black from Nordstroms
Boots: Lille Mid Calf Boot in black from Aldo
Purse: Shay Shoulder Bag in brass/saddle from Coach
Coat: Structured Front Zip Coat in black from Melanie Lyne
Glasses: Jackie Ohh II in brown gradient with shiny tortoise from Ray Ban

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

Writing Prompt Wednesday

I was gifted this awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.

What about you?

Categories
Gifts

Stocking Stuffers: Tweens Edition

As my nieces and nephews get older, I find it tougher and tougher to find good stocking stuffers; either the items I find are too ‘young’ or too ‘old’ for them. This year I spent a lot of time researching online and asking some of my students for some help.

-Fidget Toys
*In particular the Infinity Cube
-Card or dice game
*In particular WhatchamaDRAWit or Tenzi
-Funky Socks
-Stickers/decals for notebooks, binders & chromebooks
-Pez
-Scratch Art Notes
-Personalized/inspirational/themed Pencil Pack
-Hot chocolate mix
-Diffuser

Categories
Entertainment

What’s On My PVR?

white remote
Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com
  1. NCIS: Hawai’i
    This show follows Jane Tennant, the Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor and her “unwavering team of specialists, balances duty, family and country, while investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security and the mysteries of the sun-drenched island paradise itself.” (CBS)

  2. Married At First Sight
    “A group of singles agree to marry partners chosen for them by a team of relationship experts. Looking forward to a perfect match, they meet their mates for the first time on their wedding day.” This season is in Houston, Texas. (LifeHD)

  3. Deadliest Catch
    “Crab fisherman risk their lives as they battle Arctic weather, brutal waves and a ticking clock for big money on the Bering Sea.” (Discovery)

  4. Corner Gas Animated
    “The residents of Dog River, Saskatchewan deal with not-so-everyday situations in their everyday lives.” (CTVComedy)
Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

Writing Prompt Wednesday

I was gifted this awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.

What about you?

Categories
Gifts

Stocking Stuffers: Toddler Edition

This year my toddler aged nieces and nephews will be getting STEM toys as their main gifts for Christmas. For some great STEM toy ideas check out the list compiled by Good Housekeeping in September.

In terms of stocking stuffers I went to Mastermind Toys and ordered some really great items…

-Go Fish! Card Game
-Jumbo Magnifiers
-Great Pretenders Unicorn Necklace
-Mood Mudd
-Kinetic Sand Buried Treasure
-Toy Harmonic
-Crayola My First Washable Palm-Grasp Crayons
-Playdoh Mini Classics
-Sand Stuffies


The next installment of my Stocking Stuffer series will be November 22; for 12 year olds.

Categories
Reflections & Lifestyle

World Kindness Day

This year, November 13th is World Kindness Day. As a teacher we endeavour to inspire in our students the power of kindness. We want them to grow up to be successful but above all we want them to grow up to be KIND HUMAN BEINGS. We stress to them that, ‘kindness makes the world go round.’

Here are some great sites and resources to help you celebrate this year…

Inspire Kindness
-You can find your complete guide to World Kindness Day, ways to participate, resources for both schools & businesses

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
-You can find quotes, videos and a blog to get your inspired, sign up to become a RAKtivist and of course resources for educators

Scholastic
-An article for parents about 6 easy ways to encourage kindness in children

Kind Canada
-This is a “not-for-profit organization that inspires and engages all Canadians to purposefully include kindness in their daily lives, support charitable causes and enhance the well-being of others”

Penguin Random House
-A list of the best books on kindness

Categories
Writing Prompt Wednesdays

Writing Prompt Wednesday

I was gifted this awesome journal for Christmas this year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I thought it would be fun to spend a few moments each Wednesday working through this journal and then sharing them with you.

What about you?

Categories
Food & Drink

Tomato Soup Cake Recipe

One of the first desserts I ever made by myself for my family was a Tomato Soup Cake; the recipe card was tattered and stained, having been the the box since, what I am assuming was the 1950’s. Looking at the handwriting brings back so many found memories of my grandma. It is a recipe I make in the fall and when I am feeling nostalgic.

close up shot of brown pastry
Photo by Emma Jones on Pexels.com

Ingredients

1/4 cup margarine
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
1 can Campbell’s Tomato Soup

Frosting: I like to use pre-made Betty Crocker frosting; either the cream cheese or creamy white varieties. But to be honest, this cake is AMAZING without it as well.

Directions

1. Grease a 9 X 13 cake pan.
2. Cream the margarine, sugar and eggs together.
3. Add in the dry ingredients; mix well.
4. Add in the tomato soup; mix well.
5. Pour batter into the cake pan and bake and 350F for 30 minutes.
6. If frosting this cake; wait until cake is fully cooled.

**Variation of this recipe: You can add raisins and/or walnuts (1/2 cup each); add them to the batter after mixing in the soup**