COUNTDOWN: one

Only one shopping day left!!!!

Ok.... I haven't lost it, I do know how to count, and I do realize that technically, there is still one more shopping day left after today.... we'll get to that tomorrow  :)

Please, just humour me for today....  Look at today like it is your last shopping day.  Use it wisely to do any last-minute store shopping; driving here, there and everywhere; and impatiently standing in line with others just like you....

I have no gift ideas for today, other than to give of yourself and maybe pay-it-forward.  Treat someone to a coffee, a perfect stranger.... give up your spot in line to someone who's arms are overflowing, because when it comes down to it, you've left everything to the last minute, it can't get any worse....  Keep your emotions in check, and remember what the season is all about....  Spread the holiday cheer by wearing a smile even if you don't feel like smiling; say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas to everyone you make eye contact with.... You'll be amazed at just how happy you'll be just by simply spreading the love....

For me, Christmas is not about the presents.... it's about time.

 The time we spend with our friends and family.  Times past that we reflect upon.

Time.

We think we have so much of it, but we do very little of actually enjoying it.  So, finish your shopping, as quick as possible with that cheer-filled smile plastered on your face.... then when all is said and done, go and be with the ones you love....  There's no greater gift you can give someone than the gift of your time....

Tomorrow is another day, but spend your time wisely.... stay tuned  ;)

COUNTDOWN: three

TROIS!  TRES!  KOLU!  SAN!  THREE!

3 shopping days left!

By now, you're really feeling the stress, maybe work is getting in the way of the finishing touches of that long list of people to buy for.... don't let it get you down.  You still have options.

Gift cards! 

Yes, I agree, they can seem not well thought out.... impersonal, even.  Not true.  Get creative.  Find your nearest centre that sells a variety of different gift cards for retail outlets or attractions that aren't in your area.  For us, around here, Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall are THE best places to find amazing gifts!

You can seriously pick up any retailer or major restaurant chain gift card at either of these drug stores.  And that's not it!

Last year, in a quest to find a great adventure trip for my husband, zip-lining (so. much. fun.), I came to find out that the place I wanted to take him had gift card adventure packages available for purchase at my local Shoppers Drug Mart.  SCORE!  It ended up being his main gift.  WIN-WIN!

So, in short, don't underestimate the power of a gift card  :P

Have a great day!  ;)

COUNTDOWN: four

4 shopping days left!!!!

We're getting down to the wire, and I am pleased to say that I am 99.9% complete.... just a couple of last minute stocking stuffers.... and of course, the groceries....

So, with just 4 shopping days left, what is an easy, do-it-yourself gift that's sure to please?

Homemade Foot Scrub! 

After being on your feet for those long and hectic shopping days, what could be more inviting than a warm soak and relaxing scrub?  Sounds like heaven to me!

Here's a recipe for a foot scrub that uses ingredients you probably already have in your cupboards....

1/4 cup oatmeal (ground or not)
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons brown sugar or course sea salt
a couple drops of essential oil (your choice)

Mix together all ingredients and place them into a nice jar or container.
Add a tag with instructions: add enough water to make a semi-thick paste, soak feet in warm water for 5 minutes then apply paste to feet and massage for 10 minutes each foot; rinse with warm water; dry feet then apply a thick lotion; wear socks to help with absorption of lotion.

A nice little treat for your feet!

Have a great day!  Happy Shopping  ;)

COUNTDOWN: five

F-I-V-E, FIVE!  5 shopping days left!

The excitement is building, and the stress levels are rising.... oh no, oh no, you still have a few people to buy for, what will you do?

How about one of the easiest, most personalized gifts ever?  What could it be, you ask?  Well, I'll tell you....

Make personalized labels for a few of your recipients favourite things.  For example, if you were going to do an inexpensive bath and body basket, you would buy soap or body wash, some bath fizzies, a body puff (or if you're a man a soap activator, as my husband calls them), and maybe a bottle of lotion.

Remove all of the commercial labeling (if possible), take some pretty paper (or plain) and create your own labels that are personal to your recipient.... give the soap an update with a nice wrapper, slip the bath fizzies into a clear plastic treat bag and attach a matching hang tag, also use a hang tag to attach to the body puff, and create a new label to slip over the commercial lotion bottle label.

What could be easier?

It's personal.  You know the recipient already likes the products.  It can be relatively inexpensive.  A-and!  It was made by you.... sort of....

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a lovely day  ;)

COUNTDOWN: six

6 shopping days left!  You heard me, SIX!!

I love crocheting, betcha knew that though.... Aaaanyway, if you know a few basic crochet stitches, you can make some quick, easy, and useful gifts....

It's ba-ack!  The POT SCRUBBIE!  Yes, people, the pot scrubbie.

When you first look at it, you wonder, Is this thing really going to revolutionize my dish washing experience?  Honestly, no.  But, they are very eco friendly, they last for-ever, and can be made in some pretty fun and funky colours.... Doesn't everyone need a little colour to brighten up the mundane job of scrubbing pots?  I think so.

Anyhow, the basic pot scrubbie is simply two circular, single crocheted coasters sewn together.  That's it.  Revolutionary?... Again, no.

If you aren't into giving pot scrubbies as gifts, give them (single thickness) as coasters.  And, if you don't know how to crochet, you can make coasters using just about any kind of cloth you can get your hands on, hand stitch or use your sewing machine to sew together sandwiched fabrics; or use 4" x 4"  tiles and mod podge pretty scrapbook paper to them, then attach little cork or felt pads to the bottoms.... Super simple!

Give it a try!  Your gift recipient will love them!

Have a super day  ;)

COUNTDOWN: seven

Only 7 shopping da-ays left til Chri-istmas....  

Sorry, that's my attempt at singing in the tune of Twelve Day of Christmas  :P

Give the gift of memories in the form of a family photo....
but, not just any family photo....
How about a fantastic photo throwback?  What do I mean by throwback?

Well.... check out these fantastic retro-style photos....

The fifties family.... found on Pinterest

TOTALLY 80's.... Pinterest

60's couple found at My Retrospace

50's milkman and pregnant housewife, via Pinterest

Wouldn't it be so fun to do a hilarious retro-style family photo shoot?  

Dress up, snap some shots, print the pictures and pop them into vintage thrift store frames!
Then gift them to Grans and Gramps everywhere!

This is SO happening next year!

Have fun photo-shooting!

;)

COUNTDOWN: eight

Only EIGHT.... count 'em, EIGHT, shopping days left! 1-2-3-4-5-6-7.... ummmm, 8!

For the young people in your life...  There's nothing better than rolling, squishing, and molding play dough.  It's a fantastic material that sparks creativity in children and adults alike.... AND!  Bonus.... is so very simple to make big batches yourself!

Another project pulled from 3 monkeys archives....

Snowflake Play Dough,
first posted here in winter 2009....

Sorry for the poor quality photo; but, it's hard to capture sparkles :P

In a large bowl combine:
2 cups white flour
1 cup table salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar (what else do you use this strange stuff for????)
1 tube of white, pink or light blue opalescent glitter (I used about a 1/4 of a cup, but certainly use your own discretion for this part)

In another bowl/measuring cup/or some sort of liquid holding vessel, combine:
2 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon of oil

Add liquid to dry ingredients and mix well. Depending on what it feels like after all of your ingredients are mixed, you may need to add more flour if too smushy or more oil of too dry. Once it has cooled enough to hold, kneed it together until it feels smooth. Then package it in freezer bags or wrap it in plastic wrap. VOILA! Pretty sparkly "Snowflake" Play Dough.

Alternatively; you can omit the glitter(or not) and add liquid food colouring (with the liquids, of course), or two packages of kool-aid (for colour) to the dry ingredients. I use neon liquid food colouring and it makes very vibrant coloured play dough (and hands while making it)... the kool-aid makes nice pastelly colours with a great smell. For very intense colours, you can try sourcing out powdered food colouring. If there is a cake decorator in your area, they may be able to hook you up with powdered/paste food colouring sources.

Package this together with a short, thick dowel that can be used as a rolling pin, a bunch of fun cookie cutters and wooden craft sticks to use as knives to cut the dough.

Super easy gift that is sure to please!

Have a lovely day....   ;)

COUNTDOWN: nine

Nine days left til Christmas!

Baking!  Baking!  Baking!

Bake your recipient their favourite treat.  It's personal.  It's delicious.  And you know it will be very much appreciated.

Here's a quick little recipe for shortbread.... quick little story:  I had never made shortbread before last week.  For some reason, I always thought it was too finicky to make.  But, in my pursuit to please my guy, I decided to dive in.... and now I'm left feeling rather silly for thinking it was so difficult.  Seriously, 5 ingredients and you have one of the lightest cookies with just the perfect hint of sweetness and buttery-ness (yeah... it's a word)....

You'll need:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup extra fine sugar (you can use regular granulated, you may just get a little crunch)
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract

Whip the butter for 5-10 minutes, yes, that long... please use a hand blender or a stand mixer and save your arms....  Whip, whip, whip!

Add the sugar.... mix, mix, mix for 5-10 minutes more....

Add your yolk and extract.... whip for another 5-10.... oh, my aching arm!

Then do 3 to 4 additions of the flour, using your trusty hand blender for a few minutes between each addition.  By this time, your arm should feel like it's suffered some kind of ancient body stretching torture.... that's when you know you've beaten it enough!

No need to complicate things here, roll into 1 inch balls, throw them onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and squish them down with a fork, bottom of a glass or anything close by.  You're looking to flatten them to about 1/4" thickness.... Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven til the edges are just getting lightly browned.  Again, people, I cannot give you an exact time as ALL ovens vary.... mine runs a little on the hot side, so my cookies are generally finished 4-6 minutes before suggested bake times.  For example, these cookies for me, are ready to take out around 8 to 9 minutes.  Use your judgement, and keep a close eye :)

When all is said and done.... package these little morsels of melt-y marvellous-ness in a unique way.... the thought and effort will be welcomed and enjoyed!

Have a fantastic Thursday folks!  ;)

COUNTDOWN: ten

Only ten shopping days left til the big man appears!

We'll be counting down from today until the 24th by sharing some simple, quick and heartfelt last-minute gift giving ideas....

LAST-MINUTE IDEA #10:

From 3 monkeys archives, the I LOVE YOU JAR.

A super simple little gift that tells someone exactly how you feel about them.  A project that for me, takes the place of and is more doable than scrapbooking.  Whenever I see my children do something new, or funny, or we create another special family memory.... I jot it down and slip it into the jar.... easy-peasy!

All you need is a jar (I love vintage canning jars), pretty scrapbook papers, assorted markers, scissors and your favourite memories, feelings and thoughts about the recipient.

You could also adapt this to create smile jars (jokes), inspiration jars (uplifting quotes).... the possibilities are limitless.... give it a try.... a simple, from the heart gift that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Have a great day everyone.... HO-HO-HO!  ;)

BESTIES OF ETSY: gifts for men

 Shaving soap by Red Leaf Bath and Body, Etsy.

 Grey wool scarf by Andy VE Eirn, Etsy.

Dog tags by Sky Koltun, Etsy.

 Wooden barn board box by Paradise Hill Designs, Etsy.

 Wool men's hat by Woolibear, Etsy.