The Ten Spot ~ review

The Ten Spot ~ Charlottetown

A few weekends ago, my parents were in town and it was the prime time to book a pedicure with my mom. I'd been eyeing a new spot that was under construction with plans to open mid Spring. Prior to stepping into "The Ten Spot", I looked them up online to see what was available. They are considered a "beauty bar" and offer a plathora of services. What really caught my eye was that their studio spaces looked so bright and inviting while being minimalistic. 

I booked us in for an afternoon appointment as mom and I spent the day shopping for flowers and planting them, so it was the perfect time to rest. We set out to enjoy the late afternoon, while leaving 'the boys' home to make dinner.

43 Queen Street, Charlottetown

We were warmly greeted upon arrival and offered a beverage. Both of our aestheticians were prepping their work stations, leaving us a few minutes to explore the lovely nail polishes and skin products available for purchase.

Over the next hour we made friendly talk with our aestheticians as they soaked, buffed, shaped, scrubbed, massaged and polished our toes. I went for Essie's ~ Bachlorette Bash (a warm fuchsia pink) while my mom went for OPI's ~ Got Myself into a Jam-balaya (creamy peach), which just so happened to give her an instant tan. 

The girls did a wonderful job checking in with us to see if we needed drink refills and if everything felt okay. The service was exactly what we were looking for, convenient, friendly, peaceful and relaxing.  Sierra and Alyson had great customer service and left me needing an excuse to come back ... so I booked an eye brow appointment with Alyson for the following afternoon. I received the same quality service the next day and Alyson even offered to completely fix my big toe that had a tiny smudge on it. 

I really appreciate a service where everyone takes the time to help you out. From the girls who greeted us, to Sierra and Alyson, everyone was on board to making the service exceptional for their customers. The prices were on point for the quality of work, and I've been doing my best to recommend this new hot spot to friends and co-workers. 

I highly recommend this little gem to anyone visiting/living in the Charlottetown area. They have walk-in appointments available and "quickie" services for those who need touch ups or don't have a lot of time to spare. I can't wait to go back... next time I think I'll go for a manicure and facial. The Ten Spot is a Canadian born company, this being their thirteenth location.

Let me know if you've experienced this beauty bar and your thoughts. There are 12 other locations around Canada, so I hope you take the time to pamper yourself and "feel like a 10". 

~ Erin 

Thoughts on a Thursday

Random is an understatement ...

1. Sometimes, when someone is telling me a story I really want them to finish so I can interject and tell my story that is probably better and directly involves me!

2. Does milk taste like cow boobs?

3. Do you wonder if deaf people think farts are funny? 

4. I like every song on my playlist, but when I put it on shuffle ... I'm lucky if I like 1 in 20.

5. What is up with people wearing camouflage? Do they think they are invincible and all we see is their floating head or butt crack?

This is real people!

6. When I have nothing to text, I usually reply LOL ... is it just me who does this?

7. How many times do you really use a disposable razor?

8. Why do we pretend to sleep to actually fall asleep? 

9. Having long pretty nails is torturous for me. I tap them any chance I get, I scratch myself constantly and when I bang or bend them it is the worst feeling in the world. 

10. Could someone please invent a sock that doesn't fall down in your winter boots. Come on fellow Canadians.

11. Why is it so had to sleep in as an adult? I totally appreciate nap now, and when the opportunity arises on the weekend to gain a few extra zzz's, there I am wide awake at 7am!

These are a few of the random thoughts I get on any given day. I'd love to hear where your brain takes you on a Thursday.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Erin

Friday Favs ~ March 4th

Friday ... it's a wonderful thing. I enjoy my weeks but come Thursday evening I'm always like ...

Over the past couple of weeks I've been fond of a few products and wanted to share. 

Maybelline "the skinny"

The "master precise skinny" gel pencil by Maybelline is a newer purchase. I bought it two weeks back as I was looking for a pencil liner that wouldn't smudge or transfer. I've been wearing it on my bottom lash line as well as tight lining my top lashes. I have it in the colour "defining black" and I'm happy with it's lasting power. The fine point glides on smoothly and doesn't flake. I'm not one to touch up my makeup so this is exactly what I was looking for. It retails for approx $9-12 depending on where you buy it. 

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Baci

I've had my eye on the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks for a while now and thought I'd use my Shoppers Optimum points to buy one, once I picked out a colour. Sadly, my Shoppers didn't have "Baci" and that was the one I was lusting over. While in NB I stopped in Sephora and was lucky enough to snatch up the last one. The formulation dries down quickly to a matte texture that rests of the lips all day ... no joke! Baci is a nude/pinky/mauve colour that even has a grey tint to it. While looking at all the colours, Baci was something different that can be worn during any season and if I'm forking over $31 for a lipstick, I want to be able to wear it whenever I want! A little product goes a long way so it's reassuring to know I'll have this for quite some time. 

Lip and Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus

I received this Lip and Cheek Stain by The Body Shop from my friend Karen for my birthday and I've been loving it for both options! I have fun using it in the middle of my lips for an easy ombre, natural look. I have the colour, pink hibiscus which is a bright red/pink, however the pigmentation is not as vibrant when applied. The product doesn't last long on the lips but has great lasting power on the cheeks. 

The Look

Shea Eau de Toilette

I picked this up over Christmas as I've always been a fan of "nutty" scents and when I saw the Shea fragrance I thought it would be worth a try. It has a clean nutty smell that is light and a little sweet. It's not overpowering and lingers more like a mist than a perfume. I really enjoy it for the everyday and hope to try their other scents when I'm done this bottle. *Currently on sale online for $7.50 Cdn. 

Sephora sheet mask

I may have mentioned this before but I love these sheet masks! I woke up early the other morning just so I could apply one of these for 30 minutes before getting ready for work. They are unbelievably refreshing and moisturizing!!! Adam always comments that my face looks so much brighter after I use one of these and I couldn't agree more. I usually get 2-3 uses out of one sheet but I've been applying them for a longer period and using up all the serum in one shoot. My skin feels and looks so fresh after using these masks that I which I had a plethora of extras to use daily! They are a must try .. do it ... now!

I'd love to hear if you've tried these products and if they work for you or not. Have a great Friday and a large weekend!

Cheers.

Valentines Day Ombre Nails

I love simple fun holiday nail looks and thought this one was pretty easy to recreate for Valentines Day, so I've attached some pictures to show you how I made this ombre nail look. 

I decided to stick with mostly pinks and arrange them from lightest to darkest.

You could easily adjust this to create a "red" ombre look for something a bit more dramatic.

I wanted the lightest colour on my pinky and the darkest on my thumbs. I enjoy this look best with short nails, so I filed them to my preferred length. 

I sorted out a number of polishes, arranged them in different orders until I was happy with these:

1st I started with "Hubby for Dessert"

2nd was "Sweet Hook"

3rd I used an older Sephora polish in
"No need for a bikini"

4th was "Miami Nice" by Essie

And lastly I used "Cherry Pie" which is more red than pink

The final look 

I'll be rocking these nails the week leading up to Valentines Day. It's fun to have bright girly coloured nails this time of year, gives you hope that Spring is near!

Tag me on Instagram if you attempt something like this. I'd love to see your Valentines Day nails!

Xo, Erin 

Here and there ...

It's been awhile...

and I promise to do better,

so please forgive me :)

 I hope the holidays treated you well and that you were ready to face 2016 with fresh visions and feelings.

I'm continuing to work on me and have been practicing some fun little habits/hobbies. I took up knitting... and I freaking love it. I told myself no matter what, have fun and try... and after 3 classes I've made three dish cloths, one cup cozy and a scarf. It's taking up my reading time but that's okay.

I've also been following these simple steps:

I think the best part of this "5 step" regime is that I don't look at my phone first thing when I wake up. I focus a little time on me, my day and my past. It's a refreshing start to my day and adds to my clarity. Give it a try for a week and report back to me !!!

Over the holidays we had a nice time back home and enjoyed seeing family and friends. 

Oliver sitting pretty for anyone with treats... work it boy!

We came back with a loaded car filled with great gifts. My brother Conner has started a little venture with his friend and is making furniture from repurposed wood. Here is a table he made us and gave it a distressed look by adding a coat of grey paint. 

Fits PERFECTLY with our up cycled chair !!!

I've heard lots of great things about the Vasanti cosmetics line and the first thing I picked up from them is this beautifully pigmented eyeshadow in the colour Tokyo. I've been wearing it for weeks now and really appreciate that it does not crease on my eyelids. Because it is a pink/mauve/purple shade I find it suits my hazel eyes but think you pair it with any colour. 

Exciting tip: you can wear it as a blush too !

So there is a brief snidbit on where I've been and what I've been up to as of late. I've filmed some YouTube videos, so in the next week or so they will be coming up. 

I also have an easy Valentines manicure blog going up on Thursday, so stay tuned.

Oh and the boy cut his hair!!!

Looking fresh in 2016!

Christmas Wish List

Happy Christmas Eve Everyone.

Santa is starting to make his rounds and I'm sure you are all on his list. Natalie and I have had a lot of fun coming up with ideas and posts to share in the month of December and hope you have had fun reading them. Today, I wish you all lots of love and light going into the final days of 2015. For some, this may be a hard time of year and for others it might be the most exciting. Wherever you are, I hope you are all surrounded by those you love and laugh with.

Today I going to share my Christmas wish list. It a mix of a few things that I would like, not need.  As I get older I gain more insight on what is important in life, and obviously material things aren't one of them. I've done some "thinking" over the past number of weeks as 2015 comes to a close and I'm happy with where I've been and where I'm going and where I intend to be is not marked by the number of beauty products I own or the number of followers I have. Everyday I want to spend more time enjoying and reflecting on experiences and worry less about the things I own. I'm seeking out more simple pleasures these days in hopes to live a life filled with fond memories of wonderful happenings.

Just a quick note on why I would like these items:

1. I have a few pieces from Tori XO and loved the look of these peek-a-boo pearl studs ever since they came out. Tori's designs are stunning and intricate. I'm a big fan of the simplicity and sweetness.

2. Greenery. I'm in major need of some plants in my home. It's not something I've ever been particular good at, keeping plants alive, but I really want to make an effort. I'd love to add some life to our space with the simple touch of greenery.

3. We are in need of a new salt and pepper shaker and thought these ones where cool. Spotted them on Etsy.

4. ADELE on vinyl, enough said!!!

5. I'm a big fan of TOMS, why? ... Because they style my size 12 feet and give back to those in need! I'm in need a a casual boot that I can wear inside and these booties caught my eye.

6. King sheets. We have a king bed and could always use new sheets.

7. Without saying I'd love to have EVERYTHING from Rifle Paper Co, I narrowed it down to this cute notepad. GOSH, I'm in love with all their stationary. Check them out!!!

8. New cell phone case. I'd prefer one from Rifle Paper Co (oh course) but liked the natural yet geometric look of this one.

9. Bite Beauty mix and mingle lipstick in Pomegranate/Palomino. These shades look extra wonderful, especially for this time of year. 

10. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. This story caught my eye as it reads about finding love again, later in life. 

Let me know what you are wishing for this Holiday Season and thanks for stopping by during #BLOGMAS. 

Also, let Natalie and I know if you like these collaborations and if you have any suggestions for us in 2016.

Cheers,

Erin 

A Cozy Night In

We are now officially in winter and if you are anything like me you appreciate the colder evenings cozied up inside relaxing. It's the time of year for ginormous mugs filled with tea/hot chocolate and over-sized sweaters while nestling up on the couch with a warm blanket. As exciting and lazy as it sounds, sometimes a cozy night in is extremely productive.

I aim for one cozy night in, a week and they consist of the following:

1. Shutting off the mobil. This is really important for relaxing. For me, walking away from my phone and social media is quiet calming. I can waste an evening by surfing the internet like no other, but when it comes to a cozy night in, I want to appreciate that "me" time and make it meaningful. 

2. A thick wooly cardigan/sweater or comfy lounge wear.  Being wrapped up in comfortable clothes just sets the mood for the evening. Warm casual clothing that allows for movement is the utlimate attire for relaxing.  

3. Book (cookbook) or magazine. As of lately I've been reading more books but around this time of year I also enjoy prepping delicious homemade recipes and can be found skimming cookbooks too. My favourite thing to browse are magazines and the holiday editions are wonderful for gift ideas and creative treats. 

4. Listening to records. Nothing beats listening to a record. I mean really listening and taking in all the lyrics. Adam and I have our record player in our living room and it brings us so much joy. The sounds from records totally set the mood, we chat about the artists and sit smiling as we breath in the stories from the words.

5. Sipping on a hot beverage. I'm a peppermint tea kinda girl, but enjoy a great cup of hot chocolate (hold the marshmallows) during the cooler months. A hot beverage warms my insides and further relaxes me, allowing me to enjoy the time quality time spent alone or with others.  

6. Soaking in a warm bath. Every cozy night in, always includes a bath. For me, baths allow me to stop the day for a bit, a feeling I never get from a shower. Laying in the tub is detoxifying and stimulates circulation, allowing for a greater relaxation. 

7. Lighting candles. There are so many great aromas this time of year, and with the nights being longer, having candles light increases the sense of calming. Some of my favourites scents include vanilla, cranberries, cedar and mint. 

8. Good food. On nights where I make it a point to relax, I usually make an easy red or avocado sauce for pasta. Or we choose to order in sushi or thai food. We like to keep it simple but tasty. 

9. Husband and dog. I'm an extremely lucky girl and know that if I'm cuddling with Adam on the couch, my feet will get rubbed. This usually puts me to sleep though. If Adam's not rubbing than Oliver is snuggled up, keeping me warm. Both are wonderful feelings. 

10. Flannel sheets. To end a cozy night in, I'm found settling in my warm, cozy bed. I usually sleep with socks (yep, I'm one of those people) but love taking them off when I have flannel on the bed. Flannel sheets scream warmth and coziness and therefore is the perfect invite to say goodnight and enjoy a wonderful rest. 

Slowing your evenings down and unwinding is best suited with a cozy night in. Focusing on your needs while relaxing is easy to do and should be enjoyed often. Take care of yourself, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holidays!


Happy cuddling.

Erin. 

Minty Sugar Scrub Bars

I really enjoy making homemade gifts. There is something about the thoughtfulness behind homemade presents that makes it special to give and receive. When Natalie and I were thinking about  posts to write for "blogmas" we both knew we wanted to incorporate a gift that could be enjoyed by many. After a quick search on Pinterest, we came across a recipe for a Sugar Scrub Bar from A Pumpkin and a Princess. The base of this recipe is soap ~ so it's a bit more time consuming to make, but the final product is just like a tiny bar of soap mixed with a sugar scrub. If this sounds like something you'd like to give to friends/family/co-workers this year, keep reading to find out how we made this recipe our own.  

As mentioned, we can't take full credit for this recipe but tweaked it a little to make it more appealing to our likes.  We began with this recipe as a base: A Pumpkin and a Princess blog. 

We didn't really want a gingerbread scent, so we decided to dig out our essential oils and work with what we liked and had. We ended up using a mixture of Tangerine oil (Citrus Reticulata) and Japanese Mint Oil. The original recipe calls for a mixture of regular baking spices but we thought that a mint oil was very "Christmas-y" and would make a great aroma for a scrub. This recipe made so many bars and after the first batch we decided to add crushed candy cane to give it some extra adorableness. 

We followed the original recipe for most of the ingredients:

1/2 cup of soap (from Michaels, we used the Olive Oil type from Life of The Party brand)

1/4 cup of Olive Oil - it calls for sweet almond oil but A) it is expensive B) essentially has the job of softening the skin, which any oil would do, even coconut oil. 

1 cup of brown sugar

1 tsp of vanilla

essential oils - we used approximately 20 drops (play around with different aromas )

The soap base we purchased at Michaels recommended that it be melted in the microwave (whereas the original recipe suggests a double boiler) so we used the microwave and it took 1 minute at normal power to completely liquify. 

We then added the Olive Oil and vanilla (as suggested).

As we added the brown sugar and essential oils and mixed, the mixture became very thick and almost toffee-like. If you're interested in adding little decorations to the tops of the soaps, add them to the pan BEFORE you push the mixture in.

The mixture does take about 5 minutes to harden once it starts cooling off, so you have to work quickly. We used a silicon mould and it worked perfectly!!! Highly recommend. The trees came out very easily after we left them in the freezer for 15 minutes. 

Then we took them out, and they looked like this:

You can package this however you like. I'm giving them as gifts and put them in cellophane and tied them with a cute card, bakers twine and a pearl.

So there you have our little twist on a sugar scrub. We couldn't have done it without A Pumpkin and a Princess! We really had fun making these and commented many times that they were relitavely easy to make and think they are cute and adorable and will make a fun Christmas gift for girlfriends. 

Try these out and let us know what you think! 

 Erin

Birthday Recap

This past Thursday, December 10th was my birthday. And although it might sound luxurious to say I got to stay home from work and lay in bed all day it wasn't so romantic ! 

It's true !!!

I was a mess and it wasn't pretty. Between falling asleep and being ill I managed to watch a few episodes of Gilmore Girls (nice and light as I had no brain power). Most of the day was a hazy and uneventful and I was extremely disappointed I had to cancel dinner plans with friends at the Culinary Institute, but we will be rescheduling in the New Year. 

And although the day seemed like a bust, I had some lovely phone calls and messages from friends and family. It kept my spirits up! 

I thought I'd share a few gifts I was given as I honestly have nothing to share about the day. I couldn't even think about turning a year older as I was so sick and just trying to stay alive ... okay a bit dramatic I know. 

My parents gifted me with two tickets to go see David Myles which took place last weekend. I was a bit apprehensive as it was a Christmas concert and to be honest it's not my go to music, even this time of year. However I've heard David on CBC a number of times and appreciate his storytelling and chats and hoped he would talk in-between songs, giving back stories etc. Adam came with me and was also sceptical as he had never really heard of David besides in "Inner Ninja" and hip-hop is not Adam's thing. 

To say we were both pleasantly surprised was a huge understatement! Wow, is David ever an entertainer! We laughed the whole way through the concert and throughly enjoyed the music. It wasn't just Christmas music which was nice, nor was it the traditional holiday tunes. David Myles had the crowd giggling with all his stories and stomping to the beats. We both left delighted and full of spirit saying " I want to go again next year" and wanted to mention it to others so they can join in the fun too. 

Here is a fun tune David created and had animated by a company in Halifax, NS. YAY, East Coast!!!

A few of my presents

The above picture shows a few of the gifts I received this past week. Some were given on my birthday and others arrived in the mail, trickling in all week. 

This gift from Too Faced is called the "beautifully blushed and bronzed" set and came with two bronzers, two blushes and a brush. They are pretty tiny, but a great way to explore the products without the commitment. One of the bronzers smells like chocolate...bonus!  Adam gave me this along with the watercolour hearts mug by Starbucks. I had my eye on this mug so it's funny he picked it out for me. 

Natalie gifted me a ton of goodies along with the Origins Ginger Souffle whipped body cream and a scarf from Indigo. The cream smells heavenly and is delightful on the skin, while the scarf is white, waffled and warm!!!

My friend April gave me this sweet stirling silver Tree of Life necklace that I know I will gets lots of day to day wear out of. 

Friends back in NB sent me a package full of treats and a few things included a game of charades, some double ball earrings ( pearls and crystals) and some Davids Tea (birthday cake, red velvet cake and chocolate macaroon). 

Another gift from Adam included this Lululemon Bag. It's the "follow your bliss" bag and is the perfect bag for work!!! Before this bag I left the house with what felt like 128376 bags. Adam would shake his head at me every morning and it was embarrassing walking into work looking like a bag lady! So I was on the hunt for a bag that could carry my lunch, books, laptop and extra shoes or clothes and this bag does it all. I'm so happy with the colour as well and glad it's not the traditional black/brown or beige. Thanks for listen to my needs wants needs Adam!

Before the Lululemon bag !!!

So there is a little recap of my birthday and a few presents I received. I try not to think about getting older and instead count my blessings, appreciating it's a privilege to grow old. But let's be honest, pooping your pants on your birthday is only funny when you don't have the flu!!! This year should be a blast ... onwards we go!

Erin

Cute Winter Wear (For Colder Climates)

Living on the East Coast can pose a challenge for those of us with a fashion conscious mind. Specifically during the winter. As much as we'd like to, we can't wear heels, wedge boots or cute knitted headbands. It's pretty much a snowstorm everyday, all-day- for 4 1/2 months ... thinking of joining us? Ha ha 

Socks, hats, mittens, cozy underwear and lots of hand cream are necessities at this time of year ... to weather the picturesque white fluffy stuff.

Together we've curated a list of our top-drawer must haves for the winter season. Below is a list of items we currently own and wear! 

Erin ~

Hat ~ I'm a collector of hats every Fall. They just seem to come out with the cutest/simplest creations and I just can't keep my head hands off them. This hat is from Old Navy, I bought it a few years back and I love the pop of maroon it brings to my wardrobe. I'm a wearer of the "bauble" ... but it has to be  a fitted hat for the bauble to work for me. I never pay more than $20 for my "toques", and I'm enjoying the homemade versions that you can find at craft stores/fairs.

Scarf ~ I purchased this blanket scarf 3 years ago at American Eagle. Over the years I've been favouring plaid and couldn't help picking this up as I can seriously wear it as a blanket ... that's saying something for a 6' tall female. Because it is a versatile blanket/scarf I tend to use it often and love that not only is it "trendy/cute" but it's warm too.

Leg warmers ~ I'm a kid of the 80's so leg warmers are ingrained ... or at least I tell myself that. My mom gifted me these a few years ago. They are from Roots and are old sweater sleeves ... cute right? ... Pinterest worthy too! You can find me wearing these all Fall and frolicking around my house too, pretending I'm a dancer. Ask anyone I know, I'm always freezing, so these help warm me up without having to turn the thermostat on and sweating out my husband.

Boot ~ I have a hard styling my size 12 feet!!! Trying to find stylish footwear is not so easy when you have "canoes" for feet. So needless to say, I usually end up paying a higher price tag for the boots/shoes I do end up getting and with that, I get better quality too. One pair is from LL Bean, I bought these last year and wish I could wear them all year long. They only came in a size 11, but reading reviews everyone mentioned that they ran big so I took the plunge and ... obviously they fit perfectly. The other pair I bought 6 years ago at the ByWard Market in Ottawa. They are beyond comfortable and keep my feet warm, whether I'm hiking with the family or shovelling the snow. 

Natalie ~

Jacket ~ I've always been a Pea coat kind of girl. They look nice and seem to be warm enough - for a quick trip from the house to the car or the car to a store. But when I got puppy last Fall I knew that if I was going to enjoy long, blustery walks, I was going to need to find a coat that would keep me warm on the coldest of days. That's where this Columbia coat comes in. I'm LOVING it. It's a super-warm, down filled coat that is long enough to cover my thighs and bum. Nine times out of ten, I find myself having to peel it off after a walk because I've stuck to it due to the heat. It's got this neat technology called Omni-Heat - which basically looks like tin-foil in the lining of the coat! It's so warm that I tend to wear a tank-top or a short-sleeved shirt underneath! This was definitely a pricey purchase, but so, so worth it!

Boots ~ A few years ago (before the Sorel trend) I saw the Sorel Tivoli boots on display in a local store and knew I had to have them. They are the most comfortable, waterproof, warm winter boots I have ever owned. They are perfect for walking with Huey, hiking through the snow or shovelling out after a big snowfall! The particular pair I have do no have removable liners and are beginning to show their age, but are still warm and waterproof, nonetheless. I've been on the hunt for my next pair of Sorel boots because I don't think I'll ever need to find another brand. 

Scarf ~ Because I tend to wear fairly neutral outwear, I find myself drawn towards bright, colourful scarves and accessories. This particular scarf was a gift to my mom (from a client) and I immediately fell in love! I like that the purple is still "wintery" while bringing a touch of personality to my taupe coloured coat. I have a number of scarves that I rotate throughout the season, so my look is constantly changing.

So there are some of our favoured items that keep us looking "cool" while staying "warm"! The photos were taken this past weekend and usually by now we would have snow and I would not be wearing a vest, however the sun has been out and warm temperatures too so we took advantage of what we had to work with. I'M NOT COMPLAINING, I wish our winters were less white if you know what I mean. 

By December, I feel like we are in winter but I can't believe we will be out of 2015 in less than 3 weeks. Hope you are enjoying our first "Blogmas" and remember to click on nathennessey.com to follow Nat on this December journey too.

Cheers, 

Erin 

Shopping Local for the Holidays

We all know there are a slew of reasons to shop local, and the holiday season can the best time to take advantage of the unique gems your community holds. Prince Edward Island is a land of artisans, from potters to knitters, graphic designers, painters and jewelry makers this Island is swimming with talent.

One of my favourite things about supporting local business' is the connections you make with the business owners/workers. They recognize you when you walk in their doors, they recommend products they know you might enjoy and suggest personal/homemade gifts that are usually made by locals.

My second favourite thing is the uniqueness of the gifts you are able to find. More often than not, the gifts are one of a kind or there is a small production, meaning it's an original. That's something you will never find at your big box stores. This uniqueness is special and always meaningful. Receivers will appreaciate these stand out gifts.

So my suggestions to taking advantage are to seek out local shops, farmer markets and chat with business owners. If they don't have what you are looking for they will surely suggest a local retailer that does. Also, read your local entertainment listings and take advantage of your cities website. Christmas fairs and Etsy pop-up shops are easy to find if you spend a few minutes investigating.

Adam, Oliver and I took a stroll downtown last Sunday and came across Victoria Row's Christmas Market. It was a beautiful day with and lots of vendors out showing off their crafts. We walked about with a few gifts and some apple cider.

Shop your neighbourhood, many towns and cities have a night(s) leading up to Christmas where they keep the doors open later, provide treats and local musical talent while you and friends can bounce from shop to shop. It truly is a unique experience and will definitely get you into the Holiday Season. 

Keep your lists simple and shop local. Give back to your community and your community will give back to you!

"Grow Your Community, Shop Local"

Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies

There is lots of baking taking place this time of you. Whether it's for the upcoming holiday season or because you find yourself stuck inside away from the cold craving some good tasty homemade treats. 

I'm not a huge baker ... I enjoy sweets but I haven't really found that "love" of cooking or baking. I appreciate eating food/meals that are homemade and from scratch but rarely do I find myself in the kitchen making them. 

However, there are some rare like really rare occasions when I spot a recipe and I just need to try it out. Hence this recipe by TheCakeMerchant. Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies ... YES PLEASE! I'm a sucker for shortbread cookies (hold the cherry though), I love them to bits and thought I need to try my hand at this interesting variation as I'm also a lover of anything cinnamon.  

The recipe was easy to follow and resulted in an abundance of cookies that I took to work. Adam and I had a few the night before and we contemplated keeping them for ourselves, but in the spirit of giving (yeah right, we just didn't want to have to run extra kilometres for eating all the cookies) I followed through and shared them with co-workers. 

I wasn't surprised when they were all gone by noon. I'm glad everyone enjoyed them and many complimented me on the "twist" to the traditional shortbread cookie. They all appreciated the brown sugar and cinnamon as much as Adam and I did.  

I think it's the simplicity of a shortbread cookie that I like, this variation spruces them up just a bit while still tasting delicious.

Enjoy with a cup of tea.

~ Erin

Holiday Baked Goods

Happy Monday!

For today's "BLOGMAS 2015" post, Nat Hennessey and I decided to collaborate and try our hands at two Pinterest-y holiday recipes. We did lots of pinning and searching to find these recipes and we think they turned out tasty! We also added a family fun recipe that Natalie enjoyed as a child, thanks to her aunt. It's "our" addition to the Pinterest holiday collection!

The first recipe we tried our hands at was Peanut Butter Balls! Peanut butter is a staple in both our households and making them into balls and adding chocolate seemed like a great idea! Neither of us had made PB balls prior to this, so we had a few mishaps along the way ... but they turned out and we were throughly enjoyed!

Here is a link to the recipe we used - it's from SheWearsManyHats. The recipe was easy and super simple to follow and only took us about 10 minutes to prepare. Note: the recipe says it makes 25-30 pb balls. We got about 13 "normal" sized peanut butter balls out of this.

We followed the directions by mixing the ingredients together and forming the peanut butter mixture into a large ball. We then put it in the fridge ... however, we were impatient and didn't quite leave it in long enough to stiffen. This was the result after attempting to dip it into chocolate...

After that mishap, we decided to form them into the bite size balls and put them in the freezer for an hour (while we carried on with the other recipes). 

The chocolate melted easily in a double-boiler and after an hour, the balls were a breeze to dip as they were slightly frozen. We added a sprinkle of crushed candy canes on top - and ta-da, they're good to go! Another modification we made was to use "honey roasted peanuts" which we found at the Bulk Barn in the "grid your own" section. Here is our finished product:

Our second recipe was a bit more labour intensive. We came across a recipe for "Reindeer Crunch" that was just too good looking to pass up! The recipe can be found here from FamedCooks.

Although the recipe was more labour intensive, it was fun and easy to make. This would be a great option to make with children in big batches for school Christmas parties. Again, we followed the instructions, the only substitution we made was with the chocolate drizzle. A walk through Michaels led Nat and I to pick up some salted caramel flavoured Wilton candy melts to use instead of chocolate. What a great choice that was!

As perviously mentioned, the recipe was easy to follow. Once the sugar, syrup and butter were melted we poured it over the popcorn which was waiting on two cookie sheets ready for the oven. Once the popcorn was in the oven, we started melting our chocolate wafters in the microwave and when the popcorn was done, we drizzled it over the top.

The finished product sat for about 1 1/2 hours at room temp, but the original recipe says that throwing it in the fridge will speed up the "hardening" process. Check out final product below: 

Finally, we tried our hand at one of Natalie's favourite childhood memories! Every year at Christmas her family would host her aunt's family at their house - and every year her aunt would show up with these amazing cookie wreaths. This is what they look like before decorating... which the children get to do.

Natalie laughs about it now, but says that for the longest time she "COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WERE MADE"! (Keep in mind she was 5-10 years old) Here is the recipe to the magic...

You will need (for 2 large wreaths):

~ 1 batch of your favourite cookie dough recipe. We used this one.

~ 2 round pizza pans

~ cake boards (or cardboard circles covered with tinfoil or wrapping paper)

~ icing and decorations (ready made royal icing is the easiest)

You want to start by making the cookie dough as you usually would, just follow the directions. 

When the dough is completely mixed, you want to roll 1 inch balls. We used about 17 balls/wreath. When your balls are rolled, it's time to place them in a circle on your pizza pan. The key here is to MAKE SURE THE COOKIE DOUGH BALLS ARE TOUCHING!!! We essentially want all of the cookies to mush together when they spread out while baking. They should look like this when you have placed the balls correctly.

When you bake them, follow the directions in the recipe and let the giant cookie cool completely before trying to remove it. 

I found the easiest way to get the cookie off the pan in one piece was to loosen it from the pan with a flat spatula, put the cooling rack on the top of the cookie, flip it out so it's upside down, then place the cake board on the cookie, which was on the cooling rack and flip it over again so the cookie is upright.

We found some ready made royal icing and picked up a few treats to decorate it. We used crushed candy cane, smarties, pull and peel liquorice and let our childlike imaginations fly!

Here are the results:

These wreaths would be great addition to any Christmas party for kids or even as a great fundraiser around the holiday season!

We hope you've enjoyed seeing our picks from Pinterest. Let us know if you attempt the recipes and be sure share the results with friends and family. 

HAPPY BAKING