Day 12: Have a Christmas Cocktail!




Its Friday and we are half way through the countdown. What better reason to have a cocktail exists?

 Either track down a bar featuring some sort of Christmas Drink or be the bartender yourself and try on of these:



Hot Butter Rum
I've always been fascinated by the idea of Hot Butter Rum or if whiskey is your thing have a Hot Toddy.

Or you can go the Mulled Cider or wine route. I'm investigating this situation further myself. Never had mulled cider!

Go you could go seriously Canadian with an Iced Wine Cosmo!
Day 11: Get a Christmas Magazine

For 7 out of the last 8 years, heading home has meant boarding a plane. Usually I travel earlier than this year and I got in the habit of picking-up the Christmas edition of InStyle magazine as a pre-flight tradition. Now even when I don't fly I like to go find it and look through the crazy luxury gift-guide and 'what to wear' sections.

So choose a magazine as a Christmas treat for indulgence sake. Doesn't have to be style, get decorations, cooking ideas or whatever else will feel like it would be something special to you.

Day 10: Get the Decorations Up

Some people go all out and put up the tree and all the decorations at once. I like Christmas to slowly creep through the house, until eventually there is Christmas everywhere.

So if you haven't started, pull out the boxes of decorations and start adding a bit of christmas decoration everyday.

Turns out we have a mini-tree for our sitting room and I think a small investment in christmas lights is in order.

Day 9: Plan a Holiday Get-Together with Friends

Squeezing in friends as well as family with all the holidays and travel can be hard, but rather than forget them, schedule in some time for a friend holiday celebration.

Even if you can't fit it in before the holidays, make some plans in January. Things are always a bitlow down post-holiday and a get together to look forward can be perfect!

I'm feeling very lucky to be living in a big travel hub and looking forward to seeing a bunch of friends as they pass through the city!

Day 8: Write Your Christmas Cards

Writing Christmas Cards is almost a lost tradition but I don't know anyone who doesn't love receiving them.  So even if you don't plan to mail them, pass them around just pass them around to a few friends or co-worker. And hopefully you will get a few back to hang around your house!

If you are feeling extra christmas crafty you can make your own.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/christmas-cards-you-can-diy-in-under-an-hour

Or if you want to be extra charitable, many charities also selll christmas cards too!

Who will you send cards too?




Day 7: Enjoy Some Hot Chocolate



Hot chocolate is classic christmas drink. Long before all those fancy syrup combinations, having hot chocolate was the sort of treat that was ready made for the holiday season.

Now if you want to go enjoy a whole cafe experience, I have recommendations for you depending where you are.

You will notice that both of them involve mexican hot chocolate. In my personal opinion this is the way to go, but there are sweeter versions, if spice isn't your think.

Torontoians should head to St. Clair West for ChocoSol, which was voted best hot chocolate by BlogTO.

For all you Londoners, the recommendations is Paul A Young for Aztec hot chocolate. I'm planning to head in this direction after work today!

If you are in the mood to make it at home, I have always relied on this Nigella Lawson recipe which was a favourite among my room-mate in Chicago. (Booze aren't required but come highly recommended.

I have also recently stumbled across this set of Chocolate recipes courtesy of howsweeteats, which if you are looking for a more crazy hot chocolate flavors seems to be the way to go!

Please share your hot chocolate picks and other recommendations!
Day 6: Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

As this is my first year here, I don't have a store of christmas decorations. I'll grab a couple things but This will also be a year for making things. And my favourite go to Christmas decoration is paper snow flakes. All you need it white paper and scissors. I love these.

The trick is you want lots of cut outs and as little paper as you manage. You want them to be very lacey.

Stick the finished product up on your windows for a festive window.

I'm also intrigued with these popsicle ornaments.
http://www.fabdiy.com/diy-snowflake-popsicle-ornament/

Here a few easy DIY Christmas Ornaments
http://www.plaidonline.com/blog/post/2014/01/10/15-Easy-DIY-Christmas-Ornament-Tutorials

If you are ready for the master-class check out these ideas
http://www.ohlovelyday.com/2011/12/diy-holiday-winter-wedding-decor-diys.html

You can also gather evergreen boughs for great window box decorations and fill christmas planters along with great big red bows!