Advent Window- December 24th

It's Christmas Eve! Hooray! Santa Claus comes tonight!

via here

Advent Window- December 23rd

In all the hustle and bustle of the next two days {tomorrow is Christmas Eve! can you believe it?!}, be sure to take a moment to sit, relax and sip a cup of tea {or coffee, or Baileys...} by the tree. Breathe deeply, and savour the season. I'm saying this to remind myself, as well, because in about 15 minutes I'm heading out to the mall. I've got a few groceries to pick up, and am planning to stop at the chocolate shop and the bakery too. Wish me luck as I brave the crowds! And as I wrap more presents tonight!

Are you all ready for Christmas?

photo from my friend Tricia's house- isn't it lovely?

Advent Window- December 22nd

Okay, seriously? December 22nd? How did that happen? We're having a Christmas party at our house tonight, so I'm making sugar cookies. I've already made mince pies and butter tarts, shortbread cookies and ginger snaps. But sugar cookies are sort of necessary, right? So I'm going to whip up a batch before I start the housework and grocery shopping {we need rum! and egg nog!} Angels and stars and snowflakes are on the menu... hooray!

Have you been to any yuletide parties yet? {or done a crazy amount of Christmas baking?} We're expecting at least 40 people over the course of the evening, so I've got a lot of work to do today! Guess I'd better get to it...

via here

Advent Window- December 21st

***

It's the first day of winter. This calls for a Bailey's & hot chocolate, and "Let it snow" on the iPod, wouldn't you agree?

Advent Window- December 20th

Every night while we're sleeping, Santa's elves sneak into the house and leave treats in the advent calendar- stickers, candy canes, mini-ornaments, chocolates... Every morning, we rush to the calendar to see what goodies they've brought for us. It's a holiday tradition I just adore. And speaking of which, aren't these little pinecone elves adorable?

We're just five days away from Christmas now. Five! How on Earth did that happen?

PS: Come back later today for an ornament swap update, and lots of photos :)

via martha stewart

Advent Window- December 19th

Love the red and white, the open staircase, the greenery and skates, the pretty presents on the stairs... Love it all. Wish my house looked like this!

via here

Advent Window- December 18th

"It must be beautiful in Vermont this time of year.  All that snow..."

It's the annual Girls' Christmas Movie Night at my sister's place tonight. Her husband brings home the big screen and projector from school and sets it all up for us in their living room. Then we get cozy on the couch, drink hot chocolate, eat shortbread and gingerbread men, and watch a Christmas classic. This year it's White Christmas. I can't wait!

Do you have a favourite holiday movie? I'm all about the classics- White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol {with Alastair Sim... by far the best version}, and my all-time number one favourite movie ever, It's A Wonderful Life. They really do fill my heart with Christmas joy!

via j'adore

Advent Window- December 17th

We put up our Christmas tree today! Now it feels like Christmas! And it smells like it, too... 

image credit: becky kelly

Advent Window- December 16th

Whee! It's the last day of school! As of about 2 o'clock this afternoon, I will officially be on Christmas vacation! Bring on the tree-trimming, carolling, gingerbread-baking, merry-making good times!

PS: I have taken loads of photos lately of everything from Christmas concerts to pretty paper decorations, from parcels I've received to fancy hotels and the twinkly downtown lights, and will share them all with you in the week ahead. Get ready for it! And in the meantime, hope you are having the happiest of holiday seasons. I want to hear all about it, so get commenting, won't you please?

image via here

Advent Window- December 15th

It's my last day with the kindie class before Christmas vacation {tomorrow I'll be in the library}, so we're breaking out the sequins! Don't you love how they've been used as cheeks in this little nativity? Adorable. And pretty much a must-make project for me and the boys.

Only 10 days until Christmas now. Can you believe it?!

Advent Window- December 14th

I love vintage glass balls in pastel colours for the tree. It reminds me of my childhood, when many of the baubles on our Christmas tree came from my grandparents. I picked up a few "new" ornaments at an antique shop this past weekend, and I can't wait to hang them on our tree this year. One of them looks just like the striped silver ball above, and I love it! Stay tuned for photos later this week, when the Pugh family tree gets decorated!

via tumblr

Advent Window- December 13th

It's Christmas Craft Day today in Kindergarten! We'll be making candy cane & pipe cleaner reindeer, paper plate wreaths and other treasures. If my class were older {and less enthusiastic with the glue!}, we'd attempt these tissue paper trees. Aren't they beautiful? And don't they remind you of the scene in Charlie Brown's Christmas where Charlie Brown and Linus go to the tree lot? Love...

Advent Window- December 12th

We've got our Christmas tree! It's currently leaning up against the cherry tree in our front yard, but hopefully it will be in our living room tonight, and decorated in the next few days. Yay! I can't wait. Trimming the tree is one of my very favourite things about Christmas...

Is your tree up yet?

image by Richard Faust, via pinterest

Advent Window- December 11th

I let Alan choose the picture for today's advent window. Seems he and I share a love of snowmen. And so do our boys! You should see their beds, piled high with stuffed snowmen of every description. Oh, how they are longing for the real thing, though. Sawyer keeps asking me, "When is the snow going to come, Mum? Soon?"

Advent Window- December 10th

I'm hoping to finish the last of my Christmas shopping this weekend. Then I really must start my wrapping. Aren't these boxes wrapped beautifully?

Advent Window- December 9th {and gratitude}

This pretty pink Christmas decor is far too girly for my house full of boys... but I can indulge in a bit of glamour here on my blog, right? That's what I thought. Isn't it beeeautiful?

Hope you all have fabulous weekend plans! I'm off on a getaway with my mom and my sister until Sunday night {we're "practicing" for New York City this spring!} and I'm so excited. We'll be staying in a snazzy hotel, lounging about in the hotel pool, eating out, Christmas shopping, watching holiday movies in our room, and just generally having a fabulous time. On Sunday afternoon, we're heading to a matinee of Christmas music at the Chemainus Theatre {remember our trip there last year?} I have no doubt it's going to be a wonderful weekend.

Oh, and since I'm in such a good mood, here are some other things that I'm grateful for this week, too!

* peppermint bark from Purdy's

* a Christmas parcel from the lovely Micaela {photos next week!}

* dinner out with girlfriends {paid for with a gift card I've literally had for years, and had forgotten about!}

* Christmas cards in my mailbox every day

* Burt's Bees lipbalm {with cranberry shimmer}

* all the twinkly Christmas lights in my neighbourhood

* paper angels with tinfoil wings = best bulletin board ever

* good friends who are always willing to help me out

* my best friend, who is on the other side of the world, but is always with me

* Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan singing God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen {listen and you'll love it, I swear}

Happy Weekend, friends! 

E xo

Advent Window- December 8th

Much as I love vintage glass baubles, I am also a fan of simple, homemade ornaments. This Christmas tree made of colourful felt circles is pretty, isn't it? I have a friend who teaches Grade 6, and she's making them with her class this week. I wonder if I can convince her to make an extra one for me?

Does your tree have homemade ornaments on it?

via sew, mama, sew!

 spotted on pinterest

Advent Window- December 7th

I love these little paper houses. My mom bought me a vintage one last year that I adore. Its glittery roof is just gorgeous! I can't wait to get out all the ornament boxes {some time this week} and see it again. I'd love to have a few of them to display in a little village like this. Will have to keep an eye out next time I'm thrifting...

How has the first week of December been for you? Feeling overwhelmed yet? I am. Trying to keep calm and carry on, though. To enjoy the music and the magic of the season. All the more reason to get out those decorations, right?

image via here

Advent Window- December 6th

I love these bright red and green stockings and the felted ball garland. Stockings on the mantle piece make a house so festive, don't they? We don't hang ours until Christmas Eve, though, just in time for Santa. How about you?

via pinterest

Advent Window- December 5th

I absolutely must get my Christmas cards finished and posted by the end of the day today! Isn't this vintage one lovely? The scarves, hats and mittens are oh-so-festive and old-fashioned. They remind me of something you'd see in Little Women...

I'll be back later today with scenes from the weekend. Until then, Happy Monday!