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Do you feel like your wallet is hemorrhaging over the holidays? Has the clock magically spun out of control, leaving you wondering how it is only two weeks til Christmas? Do you need some help reeling it all back under control?
For starters, here’s a few ways you can save a few dollars over the holidays;
- Put your Christmas lights on a timer. Not only will it save you running outside in the freezing cold to flip the lights on and off, but it will reduce the number of hours they are left on if you forget. A timer ensures holiday cheer in a measured amount. A dollar saved is a dollar earned.
- Shop Online. This will save you time and money. You won’t have to endlessly circle the mall parking lot looking for a parking spot (price of gas is sitting around $1.24 today). You won’t be tempted by items you don’t need (just a quick trip into the drug store could set you back $100 in a heartbeat). Most companies throw in free shipping if you spend over a certain amount (free is great, especially at Christmas!).
- Remember the reason for the season. It is about spending time with those you love. Perhaps you can pare back the monetary gifts this year, and focus on the gift of time instead. Make a snowman with the kids. Visit a sick or elderly relative in hospital. Set a family date to volunteer at the food bank or a shelter this year. Years from now it will be the moments spent together that will be remembered, not the numbers of presents under the tree.
- Make it a Homemade Christmas. Can you bake? Hand out Christmas cookies to the neighbours (who doesn’t love shortbread?). Do you knit? Knit mittens for everyone on your list (great for kids who always lose theirs). Are you handy in the workshop? Carve wooden ornaments for the person who has everything. Whatever skills you have, put them to work to offer homemade gifts that mean so much more and cost a far cry less!
- Tame the teacher gifts. Your children’s teachers don’t need 20-some-odd “#1 teacher” ornaments every year. Offer a homemade gift to them as well. I bet they would love your homemade strawberry jam. Or make a donation to the food bank on their behalf. Many school have breakfast programs that you could contribute to as well. Of course a box of kleenex might be all they really want to keep one gift from being given this year – the gift of a cold!
- Break out the Crock pot. Crock pots are the master of time savers. You add your ingredients in the morning and return home to a home-cooked meal at the end of the day. When you are trying to accomplish a million and two tasks in the last few weeks before the holidays, this frees up the time you need.
- Here’s a recipe you can try out while you are at it from food.com
Drunken Garlic Crock Pot Roast
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 lbs boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 24 garlic cloves, minced (about 4 tbsp.)
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 8 ounces lager beer
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (cut back for a less sweet taste)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- cornstarch (dissolved in water, for gravy)
Directions:
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoons of the oil and brown roast on both sides, seasoning with salt and pepper; remove to a platter and keep warm.
- Add the remaining tbsp of oil to the pan and add the onions, cook until they just start to wilt then add the garlic, them cook until the onions are tender, a few minutes more.
- Add the bouillon cubes to the hot water and stir to dissolve; add that to the skillet along with the beer, brown sugar, mustard, and vinegar; stir to mix well.
- Pour mixture into the bottom of the crock pot.
- Place roast on top of liquid, cutting into pieces if it doesn’t lay flat.
- Set the crock pot on low and cook for 7-8 hours.
- Remove meat from crock pot and pour liquid into a pan on the stove; heat to a boil, and mix a slurry out of the cornstarch and water; thicken pan liquid with slurry to make a gravy.
- Serve gravy over meat or with potatoes or noodles.
Merry Christmas! Don’t forget to slow down and breath once in a while!
Related articles
- What Teachers REALLY Want for Christmas (Aside from Motivated Students and Job Security) (blogher.com)
- December DIY Projects (inyourneighbourhood.wordpress.com)
- A Very Homemade Christmas Roundup – Part 1 – Crafts (pacificmerchants.wordpress.com)
So how are you holding up under the holiday pressure? Is it getting to you yet? Can you tick off indoor and outdoor holiday decorating yet? How about that shopping? Maybe you’ve got a leg up on party prep?
Hmm, I suspect you need a glass of inspiration to get you going (from whattodrink.com)…
FROSTY NOGGIN
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz Rum
- 3/4 oz Creme de Cacao
- 3 oz Eggnog
- 3 cups Vanilla Ice Cream
- Whipped Cream
- Green Creme de Menthe
Directions:
Blend ingredients until smooth. Pour into parfait glass. Top with whipped cream, decorated with a few drops of green crème de menthe. Garnish with a rolled cookie.
NOW,
Time to go down to work. Check back in the archives of this blog for some decorating ideas. I’ve got some here and here. That should get you started at least and maybe you will be able to convince someone to help you if you promise them their own glass of Frosty Noggin.
So how about that shopping? You are in luck as there is another Christmas craft sale that runs all weekend at the Western Fair Progress Building (900 King St E). The 34th Annual Christmas Craft Festival runs from December 5th – 8th. Admission is $6, but if you visit their website, they have a $1 off coupon for you to print off. Hours are as follows.
Thurs. Dec 5, – 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fri. Dec 6, – 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 7, – 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 8, – 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You will find plenty of Christmas decorations and gift giving ideas. It is London’s largest Craft Show and Sale with over 150 artisans participating over the four-days. No excuse not to grab a few gifts (or all of them) at this sale!
I can even help you out with some of your party prep. Will you be carving a gigantic turkey, ham or roast beast of some sort this Christmas? If so, you will need to have a carving knife on hand. In case you didn’t know, a sharp knife makes that job easier. No monster muscles required when your blade is sharp, as it will slide through whatever you have to slice like butter. If you are inept when it comes to that, head down to Covent Garden Market on Saturday, December 7th between 8 am and 1 pm. Sharp my Knife is there every 1st Saturday of the month to sharpen knives and scissors.
In case you’ve got too many to carry, they also offer a mobile service where they come to your home and sharpen everything from knives, lawn mowers, garden tools, axes (think about that for your Christmas tree hunt!), chainsaws, food processor blades, paper shredders and more.
All I can do is give you ideas. The rest is up to you. So get out there and make the season bright! And if you get enough done, maybe you can join in on the Salvation Army Santa Shuffle Fun Run and Elf Walk at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on December 7th. It raises money for families in need during Christmas and throughout the year. Registration opens at 8:30 am, race begins at 10 am, and overall fun and good tidings will last until noon.
Have a great weekend!
Snow arrived before December this year and appears to be sticking around London, Ontario for the long haul. That’s okay because it adds a seasonal touch to all the Christmas decorations that are around. Of course for many, it isn’t truly time for the Christmas countdown until a few things happen. Do you know what I’m talking about? Read on to see what festive events are taking place this weekend in London!
Festive Events In Your Neighbourhood
It isn’t officially Christmas without the Lighting of the Lights in Victoria Park. Every year the city decorates Victoria Park with thousands of lights, ornaments, figurines and more. On Friday, November 29th, the fun begins at 6:15 pm. There will be carolers, a variety of entertainment, skating at the rink and more. At approximately 6:45 pm the Mayor and City Counsellors will lead everyone in Christmas carols, then count down to flip the switch for the lights. 3, 2, 1… and the park will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland. The lights will be on every night from 5:30 pm – 11 pm until January 1st, 2014. For an extra special sight, why not go to the 12th floor of City Hall (300 Dufferin Ave) to view the lights from the City Hall Promenade Deck. The viewing hours are as follows;
Friday, November 29 to Monday, December 2, inclusive | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
Tuesday, December 3 | CLOSED |
Wednesday, December 4 to Sunday, December 8, inclusive | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
Monday, December 9 & Tuesday, December 10 | CLOSED |
Wednesday, December 11 to Monday, December 16, inclusive | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
Tuesday, December 17 | CLOSED |
Wednesday, December 18 to Tuesday, December 24, inclusive | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
Wednesday, December 25 | CLOSED (CHRISTMAS DAY) |
Thursday, December 26 | CLOSED (BOXING DAY) |
Friday, December 27 to Monday, December 30, inclusive | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
Tuesday, December 31 | CLOSED (NEW YEAR’S EVE) |
Wednesday, January 1 | CLOSED (NEW YEAR’S DAY) |
With the lights all aglow it is full steam ahead for the Canadian Pacific Holiday train to pull into town! This is the 15th year that the Holiday Train has hit the rails, and on December 1st at 8:30 pm it will pull into London. Make sure to arrive to the Richmond St railway crossing between Oxford and Central at least 15 minutes early to see the train arrive. Donations will be accepted for the London Food Bank. Seeing the train lit up isn’t the only perk though. The train also features a boxcar full of entertainment in tow. On the London stage, we will get to see The Brothers Dube and The Claytones on our stop of the train.
Do you think they will blow the whistle before they draw out of sight? Choo, chooooo…
And lastly, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to Eldon House for their Traditional Victorian Christmas. London’s oldest residence will be decorated in the traditional festive way from November 30th, 2013 – January 1st, 2014. Hours are 12 pm – 5 pm. Admission by donation.
If a tour through the house to see holiday decorations of the past isn’t enough, then register for their special Christmas Tea on December 1st. Sittings are at 1:30 pm and 3 pm at a cost of $10 for adults and $5 for children. Enjoy tea and treats in the beauty of a Victorian Christmas, but make sure to call for a reservation, as seating is limited!
How do you get into the festive spirit at Christmas?
Related articles
- Riding Along On The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train (wnep.com)
- Your Official London Holiday Guide: It’s a wonderful time of the year! (iescblog.wordpress.com)
- Christmas Spirit In Your Neighbourhood (inyourneighbourhood.wordpress.com)