a little christmas mix

With Christmas music making its appearance earlier and earlier every year (honestly - there's a Monster Mash - Little Drummer Boy mash-up on its way I'm sure), you can pretty quickly reach your limit for Rudolph, Christmas Shoes and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.  Here is my antidote.


And of course you can never go wrong with Charlie Brown's Christmas...

december

Milk glass and apothecary jars, vintage ornament from my grandmother and letters from my dad's old anagrams set.  These are a few of my favourite things.

And just like that December is upon us.  We've had more drizzle than snow so far but that hasn't dampened my holiday spirit.

I've hauled out my advent calendar and started to trim the house a bit for the season. 

In recent years I've decorated in a style best described as "vintage tinsel explosion."  I've loved it but this season I'm finding I'm craving simplicity from the music I play to the gifts I'm choosing.  So I've enjoyed creating a cozy oasis of found items from around the house and the backyard.  When I bought this house five years ago, I loved the stand of cedars at the very back of the yard and was excited to use them in Christmas decorating.  I finally got around to it.

I'd rather wander in my backyard than a big box store.  (The mercury glass inspired ornaments are from last year's #bringitdowntown trip to Savour Decor)

No need to pack away this cozy corner after the 25th!

Our local markets are in full swing for the holidays.  I wish there was some way to capture the fragrance of the Christmas tree and wreath stalls.  I splurged on a wreath of boxwood, juniper, cedar, pine and fir.  It was a touch pricier than a standard fir or spruce but the mixed greenery means it doesn't require any extra decoration. 

On Saturday afternoon, I picked up my Uncle John to help him out with come Christmas shopping downtown.  We live in the same city but don't get to see one another very often so  in the past few years this has become a nice bit of uncle-niece bonding.  Of course, I had to stop at Urban Almanac - Ben whipped up a Choclatea for me.  It might be my new favourite drink.  

Sunday brought more markets and more wreaths as Denis and I hit the Boyce Sunday market and then the Northside Market.  (I finally tried the Ethopian food - it didn't disappoint.  Can't wait to introduce it to my dad!)

D. at the Boyce.  (and modelling his birthday hat - one of my favourite recent knitting projects)

How was your first weekend of December?  Have you started decorating?

#bringitdowntown tasha tea

Pretty much since Andrew Wilkins opened the doors to Urban Almanac (75 York St.) fourteen years ago it has been one of my favourite shops in Downtown Fredericton.  The store has been constantly evolving and expanding and about 18 months ago he added Tasha Tea and a tea bar.  While I am an avowed coffee drinker, I've loved exploring the high quality blends.  

 enjoy a special offer from Tasha Tea after the jump

think art stuff

Last week I had the chance to attend another private shopping party at ThinkPlay and Endeavours (412 Queen Street).   Owner Luke Randall gave me the low-down on what's hot this holiday season.  Be sure to check out the Black Friday deals at the end of this post!

christmas ideas close to home

On Sunday afternoon Alicia Tracy (of The Hot Lollies) opened her charming Lansdowne Street home to showcase local art, craft, food and home decor.  A cozy home, great refreshments, Bing Crosby singing and inspiring talent? Who needs the mall?   If you're looking to love local this Christmas (or anytime) be sure to check out these folks.

The Hot Lollies - Renna and Alicia's gourmet cheesecake lollipops have been the rage since they started in 2007.  The Lil Lollies packs are perfect for sharing! 

Love on the Bum - Bright fluffy tutus, whimsical accessories - if you have a little one who loves to play dress-up, check out Amie Palmer's cute creations.

Tangled Love Decor - Chavah Haddon's creative and colourful refinished, re-purposed and upcycled furniture and accessories will brighten up even the darkest winter day.  One of her pieces might have come home with me...

LS Knits - Crocheted hats, cozy felted mittens and cuddly soft toys - you can check off lots of your Christmas list here.

G.L.C. Jewels – Who doesn't need a little sparkle this time of year?  I love the disco ball studs and at $13 a pair you can stock up on a few different colours.

Kris LeBlanc Art Kris's vivid paintings and prints offer up a colourful take on nature and some of Fredericton's favourite landmarks.

Moco Catering & Kitchen Parties - 'Tis the season for entertaining and if you can't face the thought of spending a holiday party in the kitchen, why not give Chef Brian Foster a call? 

And if you're looking to pamper someone (or maybe even yourself) keep an eye out for Sanctuary Botanicals and B Polished Esthetics!

The littlest entrepreneur.  Sophia was adorable.  You know I didn't get out of there without one of these ornaments!

 

#bringitdowntown : the sequel

I'm so excited to have been asked to #bringitdowntown again this year.  Like last year Downtown Fredericton invited 15 social media types to Bring the Love Downtown.  Each of us have been given $100 Downtown dollars and the only condition is that we document how we spend it.  This year, in a new twist, five wildcard spots were offered and people made their pitches on Facebook and Twitter.  I'm really happy with the choices - some of my favourite locals were chosen and I know they'll do a great job! 

Last year I brought it downtown by:

• delighting my inner child at Thinkplay and Endeavours
• decking the halls at Savour Decor
• indulging in some beautiful yarn at Yarns on York (which ultimately became this)
• raising a glass at Corked

This year we've all been asked to get curious and try something new.  I think I'll be spending this evening poring over the Downtown Fredericton directory to find some ideas.  

I'd love to hear your suggestions! Where should I spend my Downtown Dollars?

You can follow all the fun on Twitter - we're using the hashtag #bringitdowntown

holiday album

Wow. That went fast.  Hard to believe Christmas vacation has come and gone for another year and I head back to the routine tomorrow.  As quickly as it sped by, I had a wonderful time with family and friends and lots of delicious eating.  Hope you had a great holiday and made lots of memories!
 

Clockwise from top left:
Christmas lights at St. Mary's; Christmas dinner on new dishes from my grandparents; gorgeous white Christmas; Christmas Eve visiting with Luke; Mom's lobster stew - butter, cream, lobster - yum!; spontaneous shopping trip with Jennifer at Made You Blush; Christmas Eve panna cotta with raspberry coulis; gifts with Denis; Finn's first Christmas with mama Lori and papa Leon; champagne and sparkles on New Year's Eve; Boxing Day breakfast in Rothesay with my brother, sister-in-law and our families; ringing in the New Year with Pretty in Pink at the Boyce Farmer's Market.

it snowed

Meaghan Smith's It Snowed has been in pretty constant rotation around my house since mid-November.  Like her debut album The Cricket's Orchestra (which earned her the Best New Artist Juno), It Snowed is playful, nostalgic and charming. So of course I jumped at the chance to see her in concert at the Charlotte Street Art Centre just a few days before Christmas.  If you don't own The Cricket's Orchestra and It Snowed, get yourself over to iTunes and remedy this immediately!


It was a perfect winter's night with a light dusting of snow and the converted school auditorium at the Centre was a cozy setting for Meaghan's sweet and funny stories and songs. Was there a dry eye after her adorable story about her grandpa?  She even gave a shout-out to Fredericton shopping (ahem, #bringitdowntown!)

Can't imagine a better way to kick off a week of holiday celebrations! Thanks for a great evening, Meaghan!

(Oh, and her fetching chapeau is courtesy of Oh Dina! you'll want to check out those creations!)

christmas movies

Phew! now that I've finally wrapped up Christmas performances onstage and behind-the-scenes I can finally settle in to my own holiday celebrations- catching up with friends, spending time with family and lots of cider,egg nog or hot cocoa while watching Christmas movies and planning menus, wrapping presents and finishing last-minute gifts.  Last year (when apparently I had more time to write about such things) I put together a list of my 12 films of Christmas.  Not sure I'll make it through all of them over the holidays but here is a look back at my top picks:

Miracle on 34th Street

Little Women

Meet Me in St.Louis

Home Alone 

The Bishop's Wife 

Elf 

Christmas in Connecticut

A Christmas Carol

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

White Christmas

A Christmas Story

It's a Wonderful Life

I'd love to know: what are your must-see Christmas films? 

deck the halls

If owner Janice Lapointe McLaughlin would let me I would probably take up permanent residence in Savour Decor. Open just over a year, the shop on Queen Street is a relative newcomer to Downtown Fredericton but it's fast become one of my favourite spots. Full of classic pieces with a hint of whimsy, this is a store that proves that a cozy and inviting space doesn't mean sacrificing glamour.

Vintage-inspired pieces and a warm welcome await you at this charming downtown boutique

Helping Janice create that magical blend of sparkle and natural elements is local decor expert Lee Shakotko of Interiors by Lee and BarbaraLee Designs, an event design company she owns with her mother Barb Clark. On Monday night, with my Downtown Dollars in hand, I had the opportunity to see Lee's creativity in action when Savour Decor hosted a Christmas decor workshop. 

Lee demonstrates her secrets to a stylish and whimsical Christmas tree.

Peacock blue is one of the hottest colours this Christmas

In addition to giving us pointers for creating a lush tree, dramatic table centrepieces and a welcoming front door for the holidays, Lee also gave us her take on what will be hot in decor for 2012.  A few of her top predictions?

* greys are here to stay as the go-to neutral

* peacock blue and wasabi green continue to offer bright punches of accent colour - think the colours in peacock feathers

* vintage and vintage-inspired pieces are still popular but give them a fresher lighter look by mixing with the clean lines of mid-century or Scandinavian design

* rustic and natural elements get a similar mix and match treatment - we'll be seeing more rugged wooden dining tables mixed with streamlined or chrome chairs

I'm obsessed with birch right now so I love this whole look.

Visions of sugarplums would surely dance in your head in this bed.
 

I love getting tips on incorporating the latest trends but in the end it's all about knowing what you love. Lucky for me Savour Decor is full of endless inspiration.

Turn cooking into an occasion with these measuring spoons.

Napkin rings that would look at home in Grandma's jewelry box.

So in the end how did I choose to spend my downtown dollars?  I opted for a few ornaments that reflect the rustic glamour that is Savour Decor's specialty:  a textural wool felt heart and a little pouch of 10 mercury glass-style baubles.  I predict these will stay out long after the 25th of December to add a little shimmer to long winter nights.

Don't forget! Savour Decor is joining in on Downtown Fredericton's Black Friday events with No Tax and Surprise Sales on November 25.

where to find them:

the shop: 406 Queen Street

on twitter: @SavourDecorNB

on facebook: search "Savour Decor"

Interested in Lee Shakotko's decor services?  Contact her at lee@interiorsbylee.ca

toyland, toyland

What better place to start my #bringitdowntown Christmas shopping spree than a toy store?  On Saturday night I headed to ThinkPlay and Endeavours at 412 Queen Street for a private shopping party.  With a ticket to the after-hours event guests got refreshments, a discount on their purchases, gift-wrapping and lots of good cheer!  And who wouldn't want to wander around a locked toy store after hours?
 
"A local real estate agent actually asked us about the idea so we hosted a private shopping party for her and her clients and it was a great success.  So we actually expanded that a few years ago to other groups.  When we were doing our Christmas planning Angela and I said, 'why don't we try this again and why don't we open it up to all of our customers who might be interested?'" explains owner Luke Randall.

When Luke first opened ThinkPlay in 2004 I joked that it was my childhood dream to have a friend who owned a toy store.  The shelves are always stocked with the most creative, silly and unique toys and games.  With new finds arriving regularly, every trip is sure to unearth new surprises guaranteed to make you nostalgic (Fraggles, Smurfs and old school card games) and make you laugh (someone on your list needs instant underpants or an inflatable turkey, admit it.)

 
Bridging the two stores together is the wonderful candy display.  Luke is just back from a major chocolate show in New York so keep an eye out for delicious new additions in the near future!

My dad is an artist so I always try to include something from Endeavours in his Christmas gifts.  And of course one of the many benefits of visiting the local downtown shops is the personal touch - Luke is always good at remembering what materials my dad is using at any given time!

Check out pendeavours.com for their online pen store!

With so much to choose from how did I spend my Downtown Fredericton dollars? I ended up choosing something that would help me bring the love to lots of my friends and family this year.   Luke always has beautifully designed boxed notecards.  So why not pick up my Christmas cards here?  We joke that he stocks Edward Gorey particularly with me in mind. They're nostalgic, quirky and very offbeat - right up my alley!

Check out ThinkPlay and Endeavours on BLACK FRIDAY

As part of Downtown Fredericton's Black Friday events, the shop will be opening bright and early at 6 a.m. with specials changing every two hours. 

6-8 a.m. - 40% off all Winsor Newton Brushes, Calico Critters and 4M Science and Craft Kits

8 a.m. - 10 a..m. - 405 off all Golden Mediums and ALL candy (Yum!)

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. - 40% off all Kroom Toys and Furniture and $25 off all easels over $100

12 p.m. - 2 p.m. - 30% off all Copic sets and Neo Pico sets and 25% off all Curious Chef products

2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - 30% off all Groovy Girls stuff and Winsor Newton Sets

Where to find them:

 the store: 412 queen st.

facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/endeavoursart or search "ThinkPlay Toystore"

twitter: @thinkartstuff

a little clue to one of the places I'll be spending my downtown dollars!

#bringitdowntown

susan holt brings the love

While I continue to plot and plan how I'll #bringitdowntown check out this great video from Susan Holt and how she brought the love! Great Downtown Fredericton ideas for Christmas and year-round!

#bringitdowntown

For the nearly 15 years that I've lived in Fredericton, downtown has been my playground.   There have been a lot of changes over the years and today the heart of our little city is the most vibrant I've seen it with great locally-owned shops and boutiques, a variety of restaurants and cafes and a lively arts scene.  So when Downtown Fredericton asked if I'd like to participate in the their holiday campaign Bring the Love Downtown I was quick with a "Yes, please!"

Here's how it works.

Downtown Fredericton has invited 15 social media personalities (confession: I'm blushing to be included with this group!) to spend $100 dollars downtown in any way we wish. There's only one catch - we have to document how we spend it!

You can follow all of our downtown adventures on Twitter with the hashtag #bringitdowntown

And now I'd love to know how would you spend $100 in downtown Fredericton?

it's beginning to look a lot like...

 

 

 

(click on the photos for shop information)

12 films of christmas: it's a wonderful life

"George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die."

It's a Wonderful Life is more than a great Christmas movie; it's a great movie period.  In fact, I think it's status as an oft-played Christmas classic distracts from what a masterpiece of film-making it really is.   We're so familiar with the broad brush strokes that we forget just how rich and textured the story is.

George Bailey is a thoroughly modern hero; a man with great potential and great ambition who has, he believes, been thwarted by fate at every turn.  Blind to all the good he's done and all the lives he's touched, he's in the throes of a very dark night of the soul.  This was Jimmy Stewart's favourite role and it's hard to imagine anyone else in it.  Loyal, earnest and humble, George is perfectly imperfect.  There is a great post on The Art of Manliness on "Lessons on Manliness from It's a Wonderful Life" - well worth a read.

Donna Reed is luminous as Mary Hatch Bailey.  Legend has it that Ginger Rogers turned down the role as "too bland."  Hardly.  The girl has gumption.  Would that I could be the type of woman to turn a run-down house into a vacation paradise after my new husband spent our honeymoon money keeping the family savings and loan afloat.  And don't forget that while Clarence may have engineered George's spiritual recovery, Mary was the one who rallied the neighbours 'round to save the old Building and Loan.

I've always loved the telephone scene between Mary and George - it's tense, complex and passionate.  According to iMDb, "Jimmy Stewart was nervous about the phone scene kiss because it was his first screen kiss since his return to Hollywood after the war. Under Capra's watchful eye, Stewart filmed the scene in only one unrehearsed take, and it worked so well that part of the embrace was cut because it was too passionate to pass the censors."

You've got to keep the tissues handy for this one. After countless viewings, I usually start sobbing during the scene with young George and the pharmacist and stop somewhere around the credits.

My Christmas to-do list is done and I am looking forward to curling up with cider, knitting, a box of Kleenex and George Bailey.

Merry Christmas to all!
xo

12 films of christmas: a christmas story

When I was growing up I remember seeing a lot of ads for A Christmas Story on CBC or TBS and I was totally unmoved.  Who'd give up time with Bing or Jimmy Stewart to watch some kid who wanted a bb gun?  Oh the folly of youth!  I was well into adulthood when a friend insisted that I had to watch this movie.  It immediately moved to the top of the "Christmas-isn't-Christmas-without-it" list. (and was so close to being the top of this list...)

From Flick and the flagpole to the battle with Scut Farkus to the old man's 'Major Award' and Ralphie's pink bunny suit, it's hard to pick a favourite moment.

Ostensibly the plot revolves around Ralphie's quest for a Red Ryder BB Gun with a compass in the stock, and a sundial.  But mostly it's just a series of memories and vignettes around one particular Christmas for one particular family. Based on a series of semi-autobiographical anecdotes from author Jean Shephard (who shows up as the narrator and the bearded man behind Ralphie in the line-up for Santa.), it feels sort of like snooping in old home movies or photo albums.

Just try to find a more true depiction of what it's like to be a kid at Christmas or a more authentic portrayal of "kid-dom" period.  I double-dog dare you.

12 films of christmas: white christmas

It's the first day of winter and half the province seems to be underwater.  I think most people are dreaming of a dry Christmas more than anything at the moment.  But I think many of us secretly hope for at least a dusting of snow...snow... snow.

White Christmas is definitely a sentimental choice for me.  I watched this so many times growing up and still can recite the dialogue right along with Bing and Rosemary.  Sure, it's as sappy as Vermont maple syrup but that's why I love it.  It's an explosion of music, colourful costumes and holiday cheer.

 As a bonus check out Holiday Inn, the original film that introduced the song White Christmas.  It has Bing, Berlin songs and Fred Astaire.  (But you'll want to take a pass on the unfortunate blackface number for Lincoln's birthday.)



Fun fact: The Vermont inn from White Christmas is the remodeled Connecticut inn set from  Holiday Inn.

caroling caroling

 Caroling, caroling, now we go

Christmas bells are ringing

Caroling, caroling thru the snow

Christmas bells are ringing

 Joyous voices sweet and clear

Sing the sad of heart to cheer

Ding dong, ding dong

Christmas bells are ringing

Went caroling in our neighbourhood tonight followed by cocoa and cookies at the Moore's.

 Brendon recovering nicely after his tumble off a neighbour's porch.  Amazingly both he and the ukelele came out in one piece.

Lucy the Terrier being uncharacteristically sedate.