Freezer Meals

               Just because I’m pregnant, I‘ve been making meals that freeze well and stocking up. This is for days I’m not feeling great, and can’t really cook. When that happens I can just use something I preheat the oven and toss it in.

                If you’re able to do this, and would like to MAKE all your freezer meals, go nuts. But if you’re strapped for time (and let’s be honest most are at this time of year) freezer meals are already made at the store for you. I’m likely going to have a few of these as well, because I want to be well stocked for this time of year.

                I can just come home from work exhausted this time of year anyway, so that is definitely one instance where these meals can come in handy. These are helpful for nights you have events on, like the kids concert, or a Christmas party. When you need to simplify. Stock up now and these can make your life much easier.

                We bought a deep freezer in the last year, and I’m thrilled because I usually lose my freezer all together this time of year. This time, I have so much space…which is good, because I’m using even more freezer space in my next post… which by the way is the very first post in December.

                K, Luv ya, Bye

                Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Clean Appliances

                It’s here, of ALL of my blog posts in this entire series, my least favorite task of them all. Cleaning the appliances. I don’t really know anyone who enjoys cleaning, but I would take almost any other task over cleaning out the appliances…especially the oven. This being said, because of my pregnancy, I can’t really do it. So instead of loathing the jobs, I m coupled with guilt that I’m putting them on Cale too.

                Okay so let’s get out of that darkened state there. This may be the worst part of getting ready for Christmas in my opinion, but it’s still getting ready for Christmas, so that’s something. It’s time to get the oven, the Fridge, and the freezer sparkling. There is a lot going through these appliances in the coming weeks, so we want this to be done now.

                After you’re on the other side of this task, make sure you’re going out of your way to prevent spills and splatters, and when they do happen, address them quickly. We don’t want to do THIS one twice!

                K, Luv Ya, Bye!

                Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Black Friday

                Here it is, Black Friday. In North America as a whole, this is the start of the Holiday season (though let’s be honest here in Canada, we can start a little earlier).

                Today’s post is short and sweet, because it’s Black Friday and I work in retail, so I don’t have time for much more. If you’re heading out to shop check out my last post, tips on how to handle Black Friday. If you’re not, take a moment to sit back and realize something. If you’ve been following a long with my blog, you’re on top of this and have been getting ready for a while. And as you’ve been quietly getting stuff together, and actually you don’t have a LOT left, the rest of the population is starting NOW. And they’re stressing out and feeling a time crunch.

                I always feel like I need to walk into stores in a specific mindset at this point…so I don’t go crazy. I try to never go shopping in a rush. I want to have plenty of time, so I can chill take my time and not panic. Because the people around you, likely will be in a panic.

                Thus concludes the Black Friday post!

                K, Luv Ya, Bye!

                Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Prepping for Black Friday

                Black Friday is kind of a newer concept to us Canadians, but speaking as some one who has now worked two, I have some tips on how to handle Black Friday shopping should you decide to venture out in it. I’ll also point out from my experience, Canadian Black Friday is a lot less dangerous.

                Go early! Yup those people who are lined up outside the store before it opens have the right idea. This is when the stores have the best selection, and where I work, chaos seems to go up as the day continues.

                Go Comfy. This is not the time to wear your heels. Nope, you want your comfiest pair of sneakers, and yoga pants. If you’re comfortable, you’re going to be far less stressed.

                Don’t stress! So everything doesn’t always work out when you go out for the Black Friday deals. Stores can only carry so many of one item, so keep that in mind. The other note, you still have a month until Christmas eve, so you have time for plan b still.

                Bring water. Seriously, if you’re doing a marathon or a sprint here, the stores can get really hot! You can keep it in your car if you want, but hydration is very important!

                Those are my Tips! Let the official Holiday Shopping Season Begin!

                K, Luv Ya, Bye!

                Nancy, Cale and Alice

Planning baking

I bake basically once a year, and Christmas is when I do. Now is the time to figure out what baking you’re doing this year. I tend to be some one who can over do it, that being said I actually can’t this year, so my typical like 7 types of cookies is down to 3-4. So I’ve picked a few favorites to work with this year. There are other aspects to consider when you’re planning for baking. Who is helping you for example?

I have hubs helping me this year, and I’m actually really excited about this. Now if you have the kids helping you, there’s probably going to be a little more planning on your part, so factor that in.

Once you have a plan in mind, start making a baking specific grocery list, if you haven’t already incorporated this into the previous lists we’ve made (I’ve put obvious staples, but not specifics). Add these to that list we’re knocking stuff off of on weekly basis. Odds are you’re still going to have to buy some of it when the big baking day comes, but just like our master grocery list, it can knock down on the chaos.

K, Luv Ya, Bye!

Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Putting up the Tree

                After the last 2 posts, you probably assume this post will be about putting up the Christmas Tree, you would be right.

                I’ve been over why we go early, and what my feelings are on this. That was in my post about the outside lights. If you want to read it feel free, but I’m not writing it again.

                Today we’re talking about hauling out the tree and getting that started. Now if you get a real tree, you may have no choice and HAVE to wait. I on the other hand do not. This year I had a couple more must haves though.

                Sometimes artificial trees…really look artificial. So this year, I have some green garland, that I added more lights to, and once the tree is assembled, we’re going to put this around the “trunk” (can we call it that? Around the pole?) to give it more fullness.

                You’ll also want to pick up some of those hooks too in case you need them, or you can’t find the ones you bought last year.

                In our house, the TV is only on if there is a Christmas special on when we’re putting up the tree, otherwise, it’s Christmas music.

                This is another one where once it’s done, we turn out the lights, make that the only one, and have hot chocolate and cookies, and watch a special…after.

                Well our tree is up, Christmas is here in the Matheson House

Decorating house

                In my last post, we started talking about decorating, and why we start now, and how this part isn’t for everyone. I’m not going to go through all of that again, so if you want to check it out, please do so. I also talked about how we break decorating down into 3 parts. Here is number 2.

                Now we’re decorating inside, excluding the tree (guess what #3 is). In older posts, when we were talking about inventory of decorations, and planning the decorating. I feel like this planning is utilized the most in this part. The other thing to remember as you do this is have some stuff to hang your stuff up with. I use 3m strips so I usually have a multi pack of them, and make sure I have that all set to go. There are a few we us thumb tacks and push pins for.

On our last post, I mentioned that we like to have hot chocolate after the lights. For this one, we usually like to have something special after, like a pot of soup, or something to snack on as we go. Decorating is an event in our house. With food, and movies, and all things to get us in the spirit. We also like to take our time because opening these decorations can be a flood of memories too. I also want to savour this year too. As excited as we are that this is our last year without a little one in the house for Christmas, it’s our last year without a little one in the house for Christmas. While I’m not sure I’ll miss it, like ever, I want to remember this Christmas too.

                Decorating inside, that’s the latest.

Christmas Lights

             

              It’s official, the next big day IS Christmas. I enjoy getting my decorations up early to enjoy my decorations as long as I can. As a result three of my next four posts are about decorating. Decorating is a topic that can get heated. By no means am I telling you to start decorating now, I’m going to, but obviously it’s your call. We do at our house, not ONLY because we enjoy it early, but also, it makes sense for us. We work in retail, we’re about to embark on the craziest time of year, so yes we get to come home and enjoy it early, but also it’s done. If you choose not to follow what we’re doing I encourage you to take notes, and have your decorating scheduled.

                There that’s enough of me attempting to not make waves. I think I’ve said in the past, I break decorating down to 3 different events. This way too we enjoy the actual decorating because we don’t get overwhelmed. The first part we’re doing also makes most sense to start now, because it’s the outside decorating. Give it a couple more weeks, and getting up on your roof is going to get really cold (truth be told, it’s a bit cold now). We get them up, but not actually on yet. They go on for 5 min the very first night they’re up so we can see them, but that’s it. Turning them on, we wait for one of two things. Either December 1^st, or when a few neighbours start turning theirs on…whichever comes first.

                Ball is in your court, lights, step one of decorating.

                K, Luv Ya, Bye!

PS, We also like to have Hot Chocolate after we’re done the lights as well, and potentially enjoy one of our first Christmas movies of the year.

Remembrance Day!

                Happy Remembrance Day. Yes this post  is popping up on a day that I don’t usually post. However we have covered Thanksgiving, and Halloween on this blog series already, we couldn’t miss Remembrance Day.

                As I get older, this day means more and more to me. As a child, it was a day we made sure we were wearing a red flower, there was a moment of silence, and the day off School. As I get older, I watch the ceremonies on TV, and look around at all I have. This is when I realize how lucky I am to live in this free country, and all the things we take for granted every day, that people actually died for. It’s moving. I find myself in, or near tears every year when I think of this. There were people who gave up their lives, so we could have better ones.

                At 11:00, please take that moment to remember and recognize, how lucky we actually are, and what people gave up to make it happen.

Home Safety Check

               This is not a terribly, fun post, and what’s more it’s kind of a personal one for you. It’s a home Safety check up. If Home Alone has taught us anything, it’s that accidents are a lot more common around the Holidays. But seriously that’s true. And nothing can ruin your holiday quicker than some accident happening. We’d like to avoid that, so now is a great time to make sure your house is safe.

                Check and change batteries in the smoke detectors, check the fire extinguisher. Feel outlets to make sure they’re not too hot, and check for things like frayed wires. Make sure you’re not overloading outlets.  If you have little ones around, the list gets much bigger. Everyone wants a safe and Happy Holiday Season, now is a great time to make sure that’s going to happen.

                Once again, everyone has specific things to add to this list as well, it’s a great time to make that happen.

                K, Luv Ya, Bye

                Nancy, Cale and Alice

Parties and Events

               This post is all about the parties. Most of us will attend at least one party, be it the staff party, or a New Years Eve party. We know they’re coming. This one for me is a little more all encompassing. While yes, we’re talking about parties, like a cookie decorating party or an ugly sweater party, it also includes events, as far as I’m concerned. Where I tend to not be a host so much, I do need to make sure we count these events too. I have a pot luck, and I like to do something special for all my decorating events, and a special movie night, and a special looking at lights night too (which we do Christmas Eve too, but we have a night with just us as well). They’re not really parties, but they are events you need to figure out, and it's generally speaking food related. I’m also the head of the social committee at work, so I’ve been planning that Christmas party for a while too.

                This post tends to be a lot more personal, you need to figure out what is specific to you. It’s a short and sweet post, but hopefully, it helped you to put things in perspective for your own Holiday events.

K, Luv Ya, Bye!

Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Groceries, the Frozen edition

               

           

              Time to regroup and revisit the grocery list. So if you’ve been sticking to your previous assignment and knocking out the non-perishables, then the list is probably, at the very least very short by now. And it’s time to re do that list.

                Have a look at what you, have, what you might need, and redo this list. You may remember some stuff you forgot at this point too. It’s also time to start incorporating the frozen items into your weekly shopping too.

                If you recall, we were talking a while back about knocking a couple things off your list weekly to stretch that budget. Up until now it’s been the non-perishables, and we had a cupboard for it. Now that we’re adding the frozen products to the list, I usually put a big C on the items that are off limits so that I know, they’re not part of the weekly list, they’re for Christmas.

                Keep using Flipp too, it will continue to help save you money.

                K, Luv Ya, Bye

                Nancy, Cale and Alice

Christmas Card List

               I kind of love a lot of the projects on the November to-do list, and this is another one. I’m talking about the Christmas card list. No, we’re not doing the cards yet, we’re figuring out who we’re sending to. Why? Because we may need to do some leg work when it comes to gathering the addresses. I have an address book, it’s sitting on my end table, and I think it may have been sitting there since last Christmas.

                Make your list, edit the address book, that’s your current project. I recommend having an address book, because it will make gathering and organizing these addresses much easier for you, and for next year too. Another tip for next year, as cards come in, add and edit your address book

                Another tip, figure out what all you’ll need for postage. We only have two cards generally that leave the country, so it’s pretty straight forward for the most part. But going back to when we were talking about budgeting in the early days, I always forget to budget for postage.

                Let this also count as a wakeup call. We spoke about getting on Christmas gifts early. If you have been procrastinating on this, and need to send any gifts, no more procrastinating, because you’ll need to get those sent soon too. 

Movies and Music

Now, before we get into your Christmas assignment I have a very simple task for you. Back in September, I mentioned that this blog IS for Christmas planning, but we recognize all the important dates. Well there is only one more coming, and it doesn’t take a lot of your time. Today, I’m reminding you to go out and get your poppy for Remembrance day.  Leading up to the day really requires little effort, this is the majority of it. We will have a special Remembrance day post, so watch for that.

                 In some households, the month of December is when Christmas and the Christmas crunch really start, in mine, it’s November. Welcome to the month where I tend to start having the MOST fun, and get rather productive.

On the note of “productive”, It’s time to gather the Christmas Movies and Music. So this could be done a couple ways, you could have your collection and just need to dig it out. Or you might need to find these digitally, or make a playlist, or go out and grab what you need. Whatever your method, now is a good time to start.

                I never get through all my Christmas movies, but I have the specific ones I can’t miss every year (White Christmas happens a couple times). You may also be the type who likes watching them when they come on TV. I do and I don’t because they edit them down, but I get excited when I see that Rudolph is coming on.

               

                Like I said, a fun one!

                K, Luv Ya, Bye

                Nancy, Cale and Alice