The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

It was an amazing parade! We had front row seats right near the starting point and got to see the extravaganza up close and personal! And with that, I'm checking another item off my life list!



I took hundreds of photos, but for now I'll leave you with some of my favourite people and things: Snoopy, Woodstock, Questlove and the gang from Sesame Street.

Halloween 2015

Halloween 2015 was sometimes a challenge. Lenny has developed what I think is a totally understandable fear of the gore around the holiday. She's easily spooked right now, particularly by bugs and spiders and the like. What are you gonna do? It didn't keep us from celebrating, although it did keep her from Trick or Treating. It was her decision to skip it and she was very happy with it.

Halloween 2015 was also about decorating pumpkins. Thanks, Dollar Store, for the "easier than carving" plastic facial features. Seriously. THANK YOU.

Halloween 2015 was a five year old all dressed up as Skye from Paw Patrol and marching in her SK parade.

"Ruff ruff! WINGS!"

She was THRILLED.

Halloween 2015 was an after-school party on Friday with some of her classmates and besties. It's so fun to watch the kids play together and to get to know their parents.  I'm starting to feel like we're part of a community.

The mummy hot dogs and vampire donuts were a big hit, thanks Pinterest!

Also, I made a Kid Friendly Halloween Party Playlist on Spotify so you don't have to! That's 2 hrs and 20 minutes of good tunes for your future Halloween revelry, right there (play it on shuffle).

Halloween 2015 was about letting my kid make up her own mind and respecting her decisions. It was also about vampire teeth (which apparently, are not spooky). Vampire teeth. A lot. It was a lot about vampire teeth.

Handmade Holiday Roundup

I was thinking, as December approached that this year I'd like to try and make some gifts.  I'm not the craftiest girl in the world, but I like to give it a shot this time of year.  Handmade gifts are so much more meaningful.  And affordable.  And now that Len can help me, they'll be more fun!

So, without further ado, five handmade gift ideas that I've actually tried and executed over the last few years.  If I can do it, you can do it.

Honey Preserved Clementines

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

Etched Glass

Homemade Playdough

If you've got any great ideas for easy but lovely handmade gifts for those of us that are only mildly crafty, let me know.  

Christmas 2012: My Holiday Jams

Here's what I've been making merry to this season.  A few of the regular suspects and a couple that surprised even me.













Click here for my more detailed take on the essential Holiday soundtrack.

Christmas 2012: 5 Clever Holiday Cards for Geeks

Narrowing this list down to my 5 faves was no easy task.  Internet, keep up the good work.

Santa Geek via uluckygirl on Etsy

Chewbacca the Red Nosed Reindeer via Castle McQuade on Etsy

Bah Humbug via twras on Etsy

...and this one made me lol...via a sea of ink on Etsy

If this isn't the ultimate...I don't know what is via sweetgeek on Etsy

Thanksgiving. Take Two!

Thanksgiving is one of those annual culinary touchstones.  You do not mess with Thanksgiving.  Even if you're Canadian and you already celebrated Thanksgiving in October. Because, let's face it, a lot of us in the Great White North double dip when it comes to Thanksgiving.  But for me, the second Thanksgiving, the American one is ALL about the food. Which is why, I must admit, I was a little nervous about the idea of facing this challenge: replacing butter with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter in two of my most popular Thanksgiving dishes.  Would my Roasted Brussels Sprouts be received with the same cries of "I didn't know I liked Brussels Sprouts"? Would the last slice of my Sweet Potato Pie be fought over like it is every year?  Only one way to find out!



Roasted Brussels Sprouts

What you'll need:
2 cups of Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and sliced in half, lengthwise
1/4 cup of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, melted
3 slices of low salt Bacon
3 Shallots
Salt and fresh ground Pepper to taste

Directions:

Toss your Brussels Sprouts with the melted I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and your Salt and Pepper and roast for 20 - 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

While they are roasting fry your bacon until it's nice and crispy.  Drain the bacon and use the remaining bacon fat to fry up sliced shallots.  Combine the bacon and the shallots to use as a topping for your Brussels Sprouts.

Verdict:  These are just killer! You'd never know that certain ingredient was missing.  Just don't tell Julia Child!

Sweet Potato Pie

What you'll need:
2 Sweet Potatoes
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 tablespoon of Nutmeg
1 tablespoon of Cinnamon
1 Egg
8 tablespoons of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
2 Frozen Pie Shells (yes, 2, trust you'll want more than 1)

Directions:

Place the whole sweet potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water, bring to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are done all the way through. Let the potatoes cool slightly, and while they're still warm you can easily remove the skin.

Add the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, Egg, Sugar, Nutmeg and cinnamon and blend together.  I like to use my hand mixer, but a stand mixer or a wooden spoon and some determination would work as well.  Just make sure to blend the filling until it's really smooth.

The next part is a little tricky, so stay with me (natch). Fill the pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Let cool and serve.  Preferably with Whipped Cream, because why not?

Verdict:  Another home run, and with our secret ingredient, why not have another piece?

After the success of this little experiment I can't wait to try making my Turkey and Stuffing with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.  Happy Thanksgiving to all of my wonderful American friends and Happy second delicious big meal day to my fellow Canadians.

Happy Canada Day!