Christmas Favourite ♥ Tree

There is something so beautifully magical about the

Christmas Tree.

Every year, after putting up and decorating our tree, I always state that it should be there all year long. Christmas trees add so much happiness and joyfulness to a house and they are just simply fascinating to look at.

Over the years my family has collected quite the variety of Christmas ornaments...

There are the breath-taking glass ornaments which my mom bought a few years ago (when she trusted my brother and I were old enough to not break them)...

There are the cute little matching Santa Clauses, Reindeer, Snowmen and Drummer Boys...

And my favourite: the raggedy-looking ornaments which my brother and I made when we were younger. These ornaments aren't quite as expensive or uniformed as the others, but they hold a special place in our hears. Popcycle sticks, construction paper, ribbon and glue were all the materials we needed as kids to make us feel that amazing boost of pride as we placed our homemade ornaments on our tree.

I love the twinkle lights upon the tree that create a lovely glow throughout our family room, and I especially love the angel who sits upon the top of the tree that was picked out many years ago by my mom and her mom. Each year, I feel like the angel is watching over us which creates a very comfortable and cherished feeling.

Yes, I do think that our house would feel much merrier if this tree was around all year long. However, perhaps it is knowing that it is only in our home for about 35 days of the year that makes us truly appreciate the magic that the Christmas Tree creates.

Christmas Favourite ♥ Beauty

Christmas Favourite ♥ Snow

We've waited quite a long time for it but it is finally here... Snow!


While many people disagree with me on this subject I stand firm in my beliefs that all Christmases should be white.


I love snow in the month of December. I love waking up and looking out my bedroom window to a huge white blanket. I love

the sight of snow sitting on all of the tree branches throughout my backyard. I love playing in snow and making snowmen, snow angels, snow forts... if you haven't guessed it already, yes, I am still a child at heart.


There is not much that is as romantic as looking out at beautiful white diamonds falling from the sky. Big snow flakes, tiny ones, coming down fast or slowly hovering the sky until they've rested on a surface... I simply love it all!


Of course, like most people, I do find it a bit of a pain when I have to shovel in the morning... but I find that it is so worth it for the picturesque view and feel of it all.


In the past my family and friends have talked about taking vacations in December to tropical locations; my answer never changes: "No way!" Perhaps I'd travel to a tropical location in February or March when the snow doesn't seem quite as magical, but no one could convince me to go somewhere hot and dry during the month of Christmas. Something about palm trees with tinsel and snow-from-a-can just doesn't seem right.


To quote Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne... Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Christmas Moment ♥

This certainly is a busy time of year. Lots of shopping, decorating, wrapping, essaying... This time of year proves to be especially busy for both of my parents, as they both own their own businesses. Both of their businesses are very busy during this time of year, for their products are in high demand.

I am so incredibly thankful to have such hard-working and caring parents that will do anything for their kids. By doing anything for their kids, this often means having to work crazy hours during the month of December. My dad often comes home in the early hours of the morning and my mom home often around 8 - 9 p.m. after dinner. This can lead to loneliness with a brother still at school, a boyfriend working and a best friend miles and miles away.

My mom will often make our dinner before she heads to work in the morning with instructions on how to make different meals taste better. Today she called home when I got in from school to check up on me. After joking around on the phone a bit, and quickly checking up on one another, my mom signs off with a "I love you, wish I was there."

I looked over at my dog who was giving me the "I need a walk" look and decided to take a stroll around the block with him.

While passing a park, I noticed a small girl walking alongside an older woman, who I can assume was her grandmother. I gazed affectionately at the pair; they were so sweet.

It was at this moment that I felt a sudden pang of sadness.

Two months before I was born, my mom's mom died of cancer. My mom and her mom were extremely close best friends. I imagine them having a similar relationship to the one I am so blessed to share with my mom.

Although I never met my grandmother (Noni, according to my older cousins) I feel a strong connection to her. It is difficult to describe but there is something about her that when I look at pictures of her I feel like I know her. In my head, I can imagine what it would feel like to hug her, to laugh with her.

It is at this time, as I sit here stifling tears, that I feel a feeling of selfishness. I feel like I was robbed of having a grandmother. I was robbed of having that extremely special person in the lives of so many people I know. She was robbed of living out her years; maybe years that she could have lived with my family, in my house.

It's times like these, when I'm alone in my house that I wonder how much greater it'd be to have a grandmother. I can imagine my mom calling her and saying, "Mom, Varouj and I are going to be late at work tonight. Want to go have dinner at the house with Melissa?"

It is at Christmastime that I feel this longing for my grandmother. It is difficult for me to imagine the longing that my mother feels for her at this time of year, a feeling I cannot imagine.

Over the years, I have turned to two grandmother figures who I have been taught to call Mona and Vovoa. These two kind and compassionate individuals are the grandmothers of two of my best friends. While I love my friends and I love their grandmothers, I often feel a twinge of jealousy when surrounded by them and in the presence of their relationships.

The little things that these grandmothers do for their grandkids make my heart melt and make me feel a strong empty void I've felt my entire life. Making their grandchildren their favourite meals, picking them up and driving them places, keeping them company and looking after them all of the time... these are such beautiful things that I wish I had the chance of having.

This post isn't made to make people feel bad. This is me expressing my feelings and in turn, hoping that those of you who are lucky enough to have these special people in your lives - any special people: parents, aunts, uncles, friends - never take these people for granted.

Upon reading this post, my hope is that readers will take a moment to think about all of the people they truly, truly love and be thankful for these people.

Life is such a precious gift. Never be greedy, always be thankful.

Christmas Favourite ♥ Tradition

I strongly believe that one of the most joyous things about Christmas is tradition.

There is something very magical about December festivities that I simply love repeating every year.

Every December 1st my best friend and I (and consequently, my family members) begin our Christmas activities. We begin the day with blasting Christmas music and then rushing off to the local grocery store for food. The rest of the day is filled with baking and one or two classic Christmas movies.

Throughout the rest of the month I follow through with other Christmas traditions that my family and I have conjured up over the years.

There's the tradition of putting up our Christmas tree. Every year my family and I make our tree come alive and look beautiful while watching Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. Every year my brother and I argue with each other about who got to put up the Angel the year before.

Other traditions fill the month of December... ice-skating, Christmas caroling, special movies watched, driving around with the family looking at Christmas lights, Christmas wrapping...

I love Christmas Eve and Christmas Day's traditions especially. Christmas Eve is always held at my house with my dad's family coming over. I love this night so much. It is filled with such anticipation and excitement for the next day.

Every year my older cousins come over at around 8 p.m. and it isn't until around 11 p.m. that we eat as we must wait for my dad to come home from work. My dad has a very demanding job at this time of year and he's got many customers to please on the 25th! By the time he gets home, we are cozied up by the fire in the family room, most likely watching Home Alone or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. After a delicious meal and my brother's nagging, we finally open up our cousins' Christmas presents, as they open ours. This night is so special and usually ends around 3 am.

The next morning is probably the most traditional day of the year for my family... and I love it! My brother and I (to this day... even though we're probably too old) run into my parents room and urge (by urge I mean jump on bed) and plead with my parents to wake up. After much too much convincing, the two finally agree.

They brush their teeth and put on their house coats and slippers (my brother and I had done this what seems like hours ago) and make their way downstairs as us kids wait on the top stair. My parents walk up to the family room and continue to say "Oh my goodness! No!" "Wow! I can't believe Santa didn't come this year!" This use to worry my brother and me when we were little, but we now just play along. After much preparation (quickly making coffee and hot cocoa) my mom finally tells us we can come up to the family room.

We run down the stairs and up another flight only for our jaws to drop at the beauty which is our family room. Our stockings are stuffed and brightly wrapped boxes and bags fill the room as the fire is blazing. While the presents surely are eye-catching, it is my parents faces which I enjoy most. I love seeing the excitement and cheer spread across their faces - they look just like kids themselves!

The rest of the day is filled with laughing, cooking, playing and watching movies... Then, finally we meet with my mom's side of the family. This is always a very merry time. Hugs, kisses, smiles and laughs are shared amongst usually 12 - 15 of us. The food is always absolutely delicious and the company is always precious.

Yes, Christmas surely is a time filled with many beautiful traditions that I hope to always keep forever. What are your December traditions?

Christmas Favourite ♥ Eggnog

After a long and exhausting day of writing essays and completing a much too difficult exam, nothing is better than coming home to a delicious cup of eggnog.

Eggnog, a traditional drink that my family and I enjoy seasonally, truly does add to the Christmas cheer.

Throw some cinnamon in and a few ounces of Mint Baileys... and you’ve got the season’s most favourable drink.

After swishing the thick, lusciousness of eggnog slowly around you mouth, you swallow a scrumptiously smooth and delicious gulp that leaves you with the sweetest and purest after taste.

Mmmmmmmm.... Cheers!

Christmas Favourite ♥ Music

I have always enjoyed a large variety of different genres of music. I appreciate almost anything from Johnny cash to Jay Z or Michael Jackson to the Beatles.

Rock, rap, pop, country ... I love them all. There is however, one type of music that has forever been my favourite. This is the music I only allow myself to listen to for 26 days of the year but truly makes me feel warm inside. This type of music pulls a strong cord in my heart and I've yet to hear one song that belongs to this genre that I haven't enjoyed.

Yes, my favourite kind of music is Christmas music.

I cannot count the number of times I've looked to the left of my iTunes box and longingly stared at my favourite playlist: ChRiStMaS TuNeS!

This is the playlist in which hundreds of songs wait 339 days of the year to be played. I love hearing those jingle bells in the background of almost every song... I love the happiness these songs bring into my home, into my iPod, into my bus rides to school. My entire mood changes when I begin listening to Christmas music.

I can remember a time when I worked at a store and was explaining to fellow co-workers how much I loved Christmas music and they hadn't quite believed me. "You'll hate it once it starts playing here everyday," my co-workers would state. "It will drive you crazy."

I knew this would be untrue. Sure enough, I enjoyed work about a million times more whenever I heard those Christmas songs playing over the intercom. In fact, I'd say my performance improved and I'm sure my customer service sky-rocketed.

Growing up our Christmas songs included Disney's Christmas... which included our favourite Disney character's (Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, Daffy, Alvin & the Chipmunks, etc.) singing along to the original tunes. Hearing these versions now bring me way back to my childhood as I remember the fun my brother and I would have as we sang at the top of our lungs while running through our house.

As we got older we began collecting other CDs as well. A few favourites are...

A Rosie Christmas (duets sung with Rosie O'Donnell)

The Most Fabulous Christmas Album Ever (songs sung by various classical artists, such as Ann Margret and Bing Crosby)

Christmas Movie Soundtracks (including Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Mr. Grinch, etc.)

All in all, I love the joy and sincerity in the voices you hear in Christmas songs. I love the fact that singing the lyrics along with the artists brings back memories of singing from the Christmases before. I love really hearing the messages that these songs send. I love the visions that come to mind when hearing and singing along to these songs.

I really do love and cherish Christmas music.

So tell me... what are your favourite yuletide carols?

My Christmas Love

As the month of December begins I am filled with the familiar feeling of love, peace and joy.

This month has always been my favourite and practically anyone who has ever met me, or seen me during the Christmas Festivities surely knows that that is true.

While going out for a dog-walk last night, my brother asked me what it is I love so much about Christmas. A smile grew upon my face... my heart began to race... my steps became lighter and my eyes almost filled with anxious, happy tears.

What do I love so much about Christmas?

Everything.

Now, instead of sharing all of the things I love about my favourite time of year in just one post... I intend to start a little Christmas diary on my blog during this magical month.

It is my hope and plan that each day I will write about something I love about Christmas. Short, long, goofy, heart-warming, kooky... I intend to share all of the things I find magical during the happiest time of year.

Please feel free to provide me with feedback throughout the month! I'd love to hear your stories and if you follow any of the same traditions my family and I do!

Santa's Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmastime Officially Here

CLIMB TO MAX!!

How to Marry a Millionare

After watching How to Marry a Millionare three times in the past two weeks, I've found myself recklessly in love with the movie.

This romantic comedy, made in 1953, was never one of my most favourite Marilyn Monroe movies, but seemed innocently sweet enough to buy a few years ago. Up until several weeks ago, I'd only watched it twice and never quite noted just how lovely a movie it truly is.

A story about three women looking to marry millionaires in order to rid themselves of debts and other financial issues blossoms into an adorably classic plot. Schatze, the wiser of the three ladies, steams up a brilliant plan to make millionaires fall in love with each of the girls, so that they will soon marry and live the luxurious lives they wanted ever so much.

One thing stood in their way however: love.

Love does conquer all - especially in this movie, as each girl ends up falling head over heels over what they perceive to be blue collar, average-Joe's.

As much as the girls planned and hoped to fall in love with someone who could rid them of their financial difficulties, they end up finding men who fill their hearts with joy - instead of their bank accounts with money.

This movie though made decades ago, shadows the same unrealistic dreams of the Perfect Man women hope for. Women today are still planning and hoping to fall in love with a perfectly painted imaginary man.

Girls wish for men with money, men with looks, men with the same values, men who are romantic, men who are athletic, men who have a particular eye colour, a particular hair colour, a particular height...

When it comes down to it however, we fall for whoever it is our heart skips a beat for.

Blue collar, white collar... no collar at all...

Reruns

I have every season of Friends, every season of Sex and the City, every season of Full House and every season of Brothers & Sisters.

By owning every season for a number of years, one can only imagine how many times I've watched each episode... let's just say, enough times to know every word of Friends and Sex and the City and almost every word of the other two.

Today I got to thinking about why we watch reruns. We know what stories are going to arise and we know how each story's conflict will be resolved in the next 20 minutes. So why bother?

Perhaps because these characters, these people suddenly feel like our friends, our family.

I always catch myself saying "I love Samantha!" "Chandler would do that!" "Kevin always makes me laugh."

We tend to talk about TV show characters as if they are real people in our lives. Perhaps that is the true beauty of owning DVDs of these shows... We don't just watch them for the sake of a laugh or need for drama...we watch them to visit old pals.

There will be times when over the course of a couple weeks, I'll watch 4 seasons of Full House and by the end of it, I feel the need to see my old friend Carrie again. It's like I miss her.

Sounds crazy doesn't it... but ask yourself this: how'd you feel if you never saw your "friends" again?

39 sleeps

I awoke yesterday morning with a smile as I realized the day had come... The Santa Claus Parade would be starting in a mere 3 hours!

Brushed my teeth, combed my hair, put on a red wool sweater and Santa hat... and before we knew it, my boyfriend and I were off to the subway station to head to the Parade.

I couldn't believe my eyes upon arriving at the station. Children everywhere!

A place that normally seems to groggy and dull was suddenly lit up with laughter and smiling faces galore! Upon getting on the subway, we weren't greeted by the usuals (the crazies, the miserable sleep-deprived university students, the tired business people, etc.) we were greeted by kids singing and talking and having a merry ol' time.

It was precious. I felt my true inner child arise as I began to sing along. The adorable innocent faces of these children encompassed huge, bright eyes and uncontrollably contagious smiles. Appropriate questions filled the air...

"How does Santa have time to visit so close to Christmas?"

"Will he remember me from last year?"

"Is Mrs. Claus still at the North Pole?"

It was such an amazingly refreshing feeling to be around these little dreamers. When we got to our stop, I myself jumped for joy and couldn't wait to find our spot.

As it turned out, we found an amazing spot to stand at, where we had a perfect view of the entire parade as it would march, float and dance by. What was even more wonderful was the fact that we had situated ourselves right beside a rather large and joyful family. The husband and wife truly made it fun for my boyfriend and I as we cahibited and joked with them almost the entire time.

Cheering and applauding was nonstop and truly a great way to unleash the Christmas Spirit.

For all of those who have never been before, I highly suggest making the Santa Claus Parade a definite "to do" next year and every year to follow!

Remeber-This Day

Firstly, I'd just like to apologize about the tartiness of this post. I meant to write it on the 11th of November but have been extremely busy.

Rememberance Day is a day in which we remember those who gave their lives for us. Our grandparents and great grandparents fought for our country. They fought for us. They died for us.

During the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month I tuned into Global to watch celebrations in Ottawa - celebrations in honour of those who died for us. While, I didn't go all the way to a ceremony close by to remember the victims of war or show my appreciation towards the Veterans, I did buy a poppy the week prior and have continued to wear it proudly.

I am third generation Canadian and I love this country. I appreciate almost every aspect of it and am truly thankful to live here. Whether third generation, second or first... every Canadian - actaully, every single person living in Canada - should be appreciative of those who fought for this country, as they are the ones who we have to thank for this gift.

Sadly, this is not the case. I am truly disgusted in the amount of people that disregard this day and all that it stands for. You can purchase a poppy at any price! You can drop a dime into a box and thus proudly wear the red and black symbol. How is it that November 11th, one of the most important days of the year, goes so unrecognized?

Is it because it is not commercial enough for those who are so smug, ignorant and greedy? (Note: I am using extremely kind words in comparison to what they're being called in my head.)

I cannot fathom why such ignorant people can live on this land, have freedom and beautiful atmosphere and opportunity and not be able to show the tiniest bit of gratitude. Disgusting. Truly revolting.

While I can run my mouth off about people, I am also deeply disturbed by conglomerates as well. It was very difficult to not notice the featured Google Homescreen Icons last week.

Everyone was tickled pink each morning to see a new Sesame Street illustration displaying Jim Hensen's character's 40th anniverary. Do not get me wrong, I too enjoyed these creative visuals. However, on Novemeber 11th I was in total shock at this:

Need I say more? Google couldn't so much as make one of the O's a poppy? Or put a military hat hanging off a letter? Nothing? Not a single thing? Because I doubt very much that many people noticed the tiny, insignificant letters at the bottom of this page; therefore I doubt very much that many people remembered Remeberance Day.

Not that we should be leaving it up to Google Headquarters to remind us of this important day, but they surely do project the message that make-believe puppets have more of an impact on civilians today than real deceased soldiers do.

For those of you who forgot to Remember... please: take a minute and appreciate that you're in Canada and thank those who are responsible for it.

Tweet Tweet

It's no wonder why they've called Web 2.0 "Social Networking."

Practically the entire reason why we join these social networking sites is to have new recognition and fun, flirty social behavior.

Facebook, MySpace, Flikr, Twitter, YouTube, Blogger...

The entire reason surrounding these popular sites' existence is being social.

Why have facebook if you can't post or comment on pictures?

Why have YouTube if no one watches your videos?

Why have a Blog if nobody reads it?

Over a year ago I created a Twitter account. After immediately adding an abundance of my favourite celebrities I quickly lost interest in tweeting. It seemed all I did was read, read, read instead of posting tweets myself. My reason for feeling this way? Because nobody was reading my tweets - my 140 character stories.

About an hour ago, however, my best friend decided she'd check her tweet page. After helping her out with a few bells and whistles and talking about how she wanted to get into this Twitter realm, I am suddenly totally Twitter tuned! I can't wait to post lots of mini-stories and spread the word of my Twitter account!

This goes to show... being social is truly the funnest part of networking.

If you'd like to follow me on Twitter click the link!

Decisions, decisions

We make so many decisions everyday.

Cereal or toast?

Stop at the yellow light or gun it?

Buy lunch when you know you shouldn't... or satisfy your craving?

Stay at school to work in the library or just go home to your room?

Start essay or watch another episode of Sex and the City?

How many of these decisions we make everyday stop us in our tracks and have us think logically?

Perhaps if yesterday, I'd chosen toast, I wouldn't have spilled milk from my cereal across the kitchen floor causing me to clean and delay my day by 15 minutes...

Perhaps if I'd just gunned the yellow light I'd have arrived at class on time and not had to take the chair that was broken which has consequently given me a back pain...

Perhaps if I'd have listened to my gut instinct and not boughten the tuna wrap at lunch, I'd have had $10 extra dollars in my "in case of emergency" pocket...

Perhaps if I'd stayed at school to work in the library, I'd have finished my essay...

Perhaps if I'd actually started the essay instead of watching three episodes of SATC, I'd be done by now... not still procrastinating to write the stupid thing!

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps....

Perhaps all of that would have been more efficient... but I did enjoy my cereal, my wrap, my song at the red light, my non-traffic drive home, my cozy room alongside my sleeping dog and who couldn't use a few good SATC episodes once in a while?

Good decisions, different decisions, hard decisions... perhaps there are no wrong ones.

Aren't you glad I made the decision to write this post instead of my essay? Ricky?

I Love You, Man

I just love time shared with my best friend.

There are moments when we're both fighting for breath with serious stomach cramps from laughing at something that no one else in the world will understand.

While I love laughing with her and surely love the after-laugh pangs that only an Ab Rocket can compete with, we also fill our nights with heart-to-hearts and talktalktalking.

Just last night for example, as we were heading into bed - slightly tipsy - we managed to have a serious conversation, a mini-fill-in conversation, a back-to-back "I love you man" duet and a few laughs leaving us gasping for air.

We both have many friends and people in our lives whom we love, but we often remind ourselves just how lucky we are to have found each other so early in life. Many people have an abundance of friends, but I appreciate and am so gratful for just having that one best friend who has been and always will be there through thick and thin.

I love you, man.

Tanned & Tainted

People are still fake tanning? Seriously? What is the reason? What is the reason for putting yourself at a 75% risk of having skin cancer? An unreal glow... in the winter... while everyone knows it's fake?

I'm unafraid to talk about this subject so harshly because I once was a fake tanner. Not often by any means, but if there was an event taking place between the months of October and May, I often found myself tanning several times before the special date. The second I found out that tanning beds played such a huge part in one's likelihood of getting cancer, I made up my mind that I would never ever fake and bake again.

It boggles my mind when thinking about those who have yet to stop. Upon the rush of Facebook Halloween albums being posted this week, I've noticed this fake and bake glow on the skins of many friends. WAKE UP.

"International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. A new analysis of about 20 studies concludes the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before age 30. The new classification means tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation are definite causes of cancer, alongside tobacco, the hepatitis B virus and chimney sweeping, among others." - 'Tanning Beds as Deadly as Arsenic, July 29/09 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32187497/ns/health-cancer/

My goodness, are these the extremes people are willing to go to in this day and age for our cosmetic and materialistic needs? Are people literally dying for a tan?

Seriously people. STOP using tanning salons. It is not worth it.

That is all.