Lazy Sunday List

I'm going to start doing a regular post every Sunday (or whenever I come up with something) which I have dubbed "Lazy Sunday List". Since I spend my Sundays doing nothing usually, I will now spend them posting a random list on my blog. I will post the first one tomorrow. Hope you enjoy!

1 Christmas Greeting

Hope you all have a great Christmas!

2 Christmas Books From My Childhood

Reading a Christmas-themed children's book at Christmastime is an annual tradition for many families. Usually it's one of the classics Twas the Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but as I child I got sick of those quickly and these two books became my new Christmas favourites.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

My third grade teacher, Ms. Arthur, read this to my class in December 1994 and I adored it. It's a very funny book about the Herdmans, a family of six terrible kids who decide to take over the church Christmas pageant one year, despite never being to church before and knowing nothing about Jesus. It's a must-read and if you haven't read it before, do it this Christmas. 

A Little House Christmas

I was obsessed with the Little House Books back in the day, so I naturally loved this book even though it's just all the Christmas scenes from all the other books compiled into one. But if you love the Little House Books this is a good read for Christmas so you don't have to bother skimming through each book to find the Christmas scenes.

3 Christmas Movies to Watch on Netflix Canada

1. Love Actually

Okay, so Netflix Canada doesn't have a lot of movies, but there are a few pretty good Christmas movies available to watch. The best one (in my opinion) is Love Actually. It's one of my favourite chick flicks. I'm not a huge fan of chick flicks because they're usually so predictable and therefore boring, but this one differs from others I've seen and hated. Love Actually features many different characters and shows how their lives are connected at the end. What sets it apart from other chick flicks is that not everyone in the movie has a happy ending.

2. Bad Santa

I know that a lot of people think Bad Santa is too raunchy or stupid, but I disagree - I think it's hilarious. It's definitely worth a watch if you're sick of all the other crappy, corny Christmas movies.

3. Christmas With the Kranks

This isn't the greatest Christmas movie, but it has its moments. If you already have Netflix, then you really have nothing to lose by watching it (except an hour and a half of your time).

4 Best Seasonal Foods

1. Eggnog

I love eggnog. LOVE IT. If they sold it all year long, I would never stop buying it. So when it arrives in stores, I always have at least one carton in my fridge. Festival is my favourite brand - I know everyone swears by Neilson, but Festival is cheaper and I actually think it tastes better.

2. President's Choice Candy Cane Ice Cream

This is the absolute best ice cream in the world. Anyone who loves candy canes or chocolate or the combination of mint and chocolate must try this. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

3. Christmas goodies

Every year my mom would make tons of Christmas goodies and I couldn't wait to "taste test" them all. Since my mom passed away, this year my brother and I are splitting her usual Christmas baking between us. You can bake cookies throughout the year, but Christmas is the only time when it's acceptable to make five different batches in one week and eat as many as you want.

4. Cranberry Ginger Ale

They only sell this delicious kind of ginger ale at Christmastime and I love it - I realize I could just mix cranberry juice with ginger ale and get pretty much the same result, but I'm far too lazy.

5 Great Christmas Gifts I've Received From Santa

1. Fisher Price Kitchen

I received this when I was two years old and was too busy playing with it to open any of my other presents, so I opened the rest gradually over the next week.

2. Barbie cassette player/ tape recorder

I don't know if you can see it, but the cassette player is there in the background. I loved this thing. You could sing along with your favourite songs and record yourself singing. It was like the poor man's karaoke machine - you either had to know the songs by heart or read the liner notes along with the song.

All the other kids thought my Barbie cassette player was cool too. I can remember three kids my mom used to babysit asking me if they could have it. I never really understood why kids would ask such a thing. Why would I give you one of my favourite toys for absolutely no reason?


This was an awesome Christmas by the look of this picture. I can see a craft set, sticker books, a red pencil sharpener, a piggy bank and a Mega Blocks Dream House.

3. Beauty and the Beast Starcastle

This picture actually has nothing to do with the Beauty and the Beast Starcastle, I just couldn't find a picture of me opening it on Christmas morning. Starcastles were basically a larger version of a Polly Pocket. I loved Polly Pockets so I loved this too - especially since Beauty and the Beast was my favourite movie at the time. I still have this on my dresser in my bedroom at my dad's house. It's missing a lot of pieces though. I was pretty hard on my toys as a child and Polly Pocket-sized dolls were so easy to lose.

4. Various books

Once again, this picture has nothing to do with anything. I loved to read (still do) and I was thrilled (still am) to receive books for Christmas. I remember getting a hardcover copy of Little House in the Big Woods, Skylark (the sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall), Shivers books (a Goosebumps rip off which I ended up liking more than Goosebumps) and a box of assorted Christopher Pike books (I definitely remember getting The Last Vampire and The Lost Mind, but can't remember the others). I probably received others, but I can't remember any right now.

5. Karaoke machine

This present actually didn't work when I got it and I had to exchange it at Wal-Mart for a new one. I remember my mom making the guy open it and plug it in to ensure in worked and being embarrassed. But it was totally worth it. I had so much fun with this - until I discovered SingStar and Rock Band.

6 Christmas Goodie Recipes

1. Toblerone Fudge

Recipe from KraftCanada.com

3/4 cup canned evaporated milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 bar (400 g) Toblerone Swiss Milk Chocolate, broken into pieces

Line 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, with ends of paper extending over sides. Bring milk, butter and sugar to full rolling boil in large saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until completely melted. Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Use paper handles to remove fudge from pan; cut into squares. Keep refrigerated.

2. Crunchy Chocolate Cups

1 pkg. (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 pkg. (11 ounces) butterscotch chips
1 pkg. (10 ounces) peanut butter chips
1 cup coarsely crushed Corn Flakes (or Frosted Flakes)
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

In a large saucepan, melt all packages of chips together over low heat. Stir in Corn Flakes. Add peanuts if desired. Let stand 10 - 15 minutes or until slightly cooled. Drop by teaspoon into petit-four cups placed on cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm.

3. Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
1/2 - 3/4 cup walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 - 1 oz squares semi-sweet chocolate

Cream butter and peanut butter together until smooth. Add icing sugar. Form into 1" balls. Dip tops into chocolate and nuts. Store in refrigerator. These also freeze well.

4. Whipped Shortbread

1 cup butter
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat all ingredients until it looks like whipped cream (at least 10 minutes). Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350° F for 10 minutes (320° if you have a hot oven). Add chopped red or green cherries on top before baking.

5. Gingersnaps

1 1/2 cups shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger

Cream butter and ginger. Beat in eggs. Add molasses. Sift dry ingredients. Add to first mixture. Roll into balls and dip in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake at 375° for 15 - 18 minutes.

6. Cherry Surprise Cookies

2 cups icing sugar
1 1/2 cups coconut
1 tbsp. milk
1/4 lb. butter (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (8 oz.) bottle maraschino cherries
8 crushed Nilla wafers (or Graham Crackers)

Drain cherries and place on paper towel. Mix the rest of the ingredients until smooth. Take a small amount of dough and pack around cherries. Roll into a ball and roll in crumbs.