Gifts in jars

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It was important to me this year to incorporate handmades into my holiday gift giving. Thoughtful presents are the most meaningful and something homemade is always personal and sweet. Add anything that involves food and crafting, and I'm in.

** Spoiler alert... refrain from continuing if you have an inclination you might be receiving one of these lovelies this weekend. **

Bean & lentil soup mix 
For the meat-free in my fam, I opted for a healthy dry soup mix. Layering a variety of beans and lentils, then topping it off with a little packet of spices.

Homemade cranberry sauce 
You'll never find can-shaped cranberry sauce in our house. This homemade option has chopped dried and fresh fruit, as well as pecans. Find the recipe in my mom's book.

Spiced chai concentrate 
The inspiration for these gifts came from my sister-in-laws who love to drink chai. After one sip, you will never go back to bought concentrate. It is so easy and delicious! I can't wait to give these as stocking stuffers. Find the recipe here.

A word to the wise: do not attempt to find mason jars out of season, let alone at Christmas. Yes, I was that crazy person calling retailers and exhausting every option to find a few cases of jars leftover from canning season. I got lucky, but I plan to stock up next summer to avoid the search again.

Did you hand make or create gifts this year?

An unconventional Christmas letter

I read recently that the first commercial Christmas card was commissioned in 1843. And although I am still a firm believer in the art of a handwritten card, my work and play seems to exist primarily online, so I figured our more lengthy Christmas update would too. Pardon this post if you typically visit for inspiration and ideas, today you're getting a whole lot about what the hubs and I have been up to this year... 

{January . February . March} 

The winter months were relatively uneventful for us, with the exception of Chris's 30th birthday (sorry babe, it's something to celebrate!) and adding a roomie to the mix in our home. My sweet younger sis, Brooklynne, joined us in Calgary for several months and we loved having her. Chris hardly minded the influx in baked goods, nor did I mind having a sibling and friend so close. 

{April . May . June} 

Spring and summer brought a whirlwind season of travel, beginning in Laguna Beach, for a visit with our amazing bunch of California friends. We have fallen in love with sunny southern California and take any opportunity to head down and enjoy the beautiful state. 

Next up was a relaxing week in Clear Lake, Manitoba with the whole Gladysz fam, where eating ice cream, playing Scrabble and lounging at the pool completed a perfect summer cabin getaway. 

One of the most notable events from our year was the celebration of our one year wedding anniversary. A picnic in the park, a browse through our wedding album and champagne for two, we reminisced about our delightful wedding day and our first year as husband and wife, agreeing that it was a mix of wonderful learnings. 

{July . August . September} 

In July, we headed West again but this time to Washington state, honoring the marriage of our dear friends, Mindy and Max. Post nuptials, we headed to Seattle to take in the coffee culture, sweet boutiques, trendy restaurants and farmer’s markets.

At the end of August, we found ourselves in New York City for everything but the hurricane that occurred while we were visiting. After two agonizing days of overpriced hotel mini bar food and way too many re-runs, NYC opened for business. While Chris leant his basketball skills to the World Police & Fire Games, I leant my credit card to the Big Apple's finest department stores. We spent days exploring the cities restaurants, shopping, galleries, parks, shows and sights. One more incredible globe-trot adventure together, in the most incredible of cities.

Fall marked a season of new beginnings as I began volunteering with grade seven youth at our church. It's been a rewarding and challenging experience, but a perfect fit with my passion to see young girls reach their potential and make the most of their high school years. I love seeing them grow and learn. 

{October . November . December} 

Mixed in with the travel and sweet memories of the year, we experienced several significant life changes. Most recently, my new business venture. Drawing from my Communications experience and passion for creativity, details and design, I am launching a boutique wedding and event styling business, Pink & Honey. It's a rewarding work in progress and I am eternally grateful to Chris for his support and encouragement as we experience this adventure together. My hope is to officially launch early in the New Year.

In addition to a year of milestones and happenings, I must highlight our regular doses of hosting and cooking, antiquing and decorating, playing basketball and drumming at church (he), crafting and creating (she), road trips to Saskatchewan to visit our families, and exploring restaurants and markets in the city. 

Writing is often the best way for me to openly reflect on the good in life. In composing this post, I marvel at our blessings from this year. Our marriage, health, wellness, opportunities, and relationships with a wonderful community of family and friends.

Our prayer for you this holiday season is that you take moments to celebrate the 'good news of great joy' amidst the enjoyment of traditions, food, fellowship, travel and festivities. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and many blessings in the New Year.

With love,

A.J. & Chris  

Photo by Genevieve Renee

Keeping cozy

As a sun loving, warm weather kind of girl, I need to keep cozy to get through our lengthy winters. Recently I've fallen for several amazing products that I wanted to share with you. They'd make great stocking stuffers if you're still checking things off your list. 

Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair 

Use this leave-in treatment daily on damp hair. You can honestly see and feel the difference! 

Kiehl's Creme De Corps 

This all-over moisturizer is second to none. It's worth every penny and comes in sizes up to a one liter bottle. I use our big bottle to refill the mini I carry in my purse. 

Smith's Rosebud lip balm 

A long time favorite, but they've recently come out with their amazing lip salves in a tube. The rosebud original is still my top pick. 

And if you're not a product junkie but are feeling you need a winter beauty boost, here's a super easy DIY face mask using baking soda and orange from the Glitter Guide. 

Stay warm, stay moisturized. 

Any favorite products you're using this winter? 

Georgia bound... for a wedding styling workshop!

You heard me! This undoubtedly tops my list of amazing discoveries...

xoxo

That's right, Joy Thigpen, Creative Director of OnceWed.com, stylist and creator extraordinaire is hosting a wedding styling workshop.

Not a word of lie, I sat in front of my laptop crying my eyes out in happiness. I've been praying for an opportunity like this and with every word I read, I could not control my girlie emotions. After pleas to my wonderful husband, and support from my amazing family, I am officially Georgia bound in a few months!

For two days, among an intimate group of 20, I'll be immersed in the goodness of classroom time and hands on styling with topics including:

• being inspired
• developing your personal aesthetic and voice
• drawing out and enhancing your client's style
• what you need to know about photography in order to be a good stylist
• what makes a good image
• putting together a shoot
• putting together a wedding
• working with photographers
• how to style an image
• styling tips, tricks, and tools
• branding
• getting published
• and more!

Could it be more perfect?! 

We will be learning from the Martha of event styling who creates and inspires this kind of loveliness... 

xoxo

xoxo

xoxo

xoxo

xoxo

Joy is one of kind in her field and I can't wait to learn from the best. This workshop is a dream, a golden opportunity, an absolute pleasure, and I am so blessed to be attending. Expect a trillion blog entries post trip, as well as one motivated, inspired and excited stylist. 

Cheers to Champagne & Crafts

Thanks for your sweet responses and suggestions for the Champagne & Crafts night I hosted a few weeks ago. Guests went home full, happy and covered in glitter and glue, leaving only traces of a great night in, new friends made and crafts created.

The menu ended up being light, girlie and delicious. I opted for cold apps and desserts, so we could craft and snack the night away.

{eats} 

- Petit sandwiches - 

smoked salmon, cream cheese & cucumber on white

red pear, gargonzola & walnut on wheat

turkey, brie & cranberry on mini croissants

{sweets}

mini lemon tarts

mini coconut cupcakes 

{bevs} 

champagne 

lemon infused water

Please pause here to thoroughly appreciate the beautiful edible vintage buttons my sweet friend, Sheena of Sugar! Wedding Cakes made. Clearly this gal understands details... 

Bubbly in hand, we ventured into the mounds of lace and doilies and mason jars and paint. Everyone enjoyed fabricating all kinds of beautiful candle holders, vases and water pitchers.

Food tends to bring people together, but in this case, crafts were definitely the common bond. Hoping our night inspires you to host your own craft party. Cheers! 

All photos by the lovely Blair Marie  

Fashion exchange and Greek secrets

Last week I attended a fashion exchange party, where all the gals brought clothes and accessories in good condition. The evening was spent drinking wine, eating great food and trying on clothes. We took what we wanted and anything left was donated to the Walk-In Closet, benefiting women looking for jobs and in need of appropriate work wear.

December brings all sorts of fun of parties, which usually involve food. I love having apps on hand so I can easily take them to a get together. For the clothing swap, I made a big batch of Greek tiropetakia - warm feta goodness in flaky pastry.

I found the family recipe scribbled on a scrap of paper in my recipe box. Guess I somehow managed to get it on paper via my mom or Yiayia (grandma), who usually prepare these by memory.

Although simple in ingredients, working with phyllo is not for the faint of heart. Find some friends, maybe some ouzo and get prepping for those festive parties.

Tiropetakia

Ingredients:

2 eggs

2 cups feta cheese, crumbled

1 cup cottage cheese

1 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 package of phyllo pastry, thawed

Instructions:
- preheat oven to 350 degrees
- beat eggs in a medium sized bowl
- add feta, cottage cheese and pepper and stir to combine filling
- cut phyllo into two inch strips, width-wise
- brush two layers with melted butter and spoon one teaspoon of filling onto the end
- start with one of the corners on the end with filling and fold over creating a mini triangle

This will help...

- arrange triangles on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden and bubbling
- enjoy!

Once cooled, tiropetakia can be chilled and re-warmed at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until crispy again. Hot out of the oven and ready for a holiday party.

A guest! DIY shoe clips from Life Like Honey

It's been a huge blessing to have met and made some wonderful new friends lately. Today, I have a guest post from Teaka, who I call my new Internet friend. We connected through a mutual friend and have bonded online over all things blog, craft and lifestyle related. Teaka is a fashion design student who also writes Life Like Honey where she blogs about personal style, marriage and all the sweetness of life.  

You must check out her Marriage, Love and Fun features where couples contribute a post about their marriage and relationship. It was so meaningful to share mine and Chris's story recently. 

Teaka is a true DIY ambassador and was kind enough to put together this great tutorial for shoe clips using felt and clip-on earrings. 

Here's Teaka...   

To make these cute felt flower shoe clips you'll simply need two sheets of felt. You can easily find these at a local craft store. You'll also need an old pair of flat clip on earrings. The stronger the grip the better. Finally, you need your good old glue gun.

Cut two strips from one sheet of felt (for the flower) around 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick, then make 1/2 inch cuts along the strip almost right to the edge. Cut a square so you have a base to start your flower on.

Start with a dab of glue and begin working the felt strips around in a circle always glueing down as you go.

When you get the size you want simply cut off the remainder of the felt square at the bottom and glue on a small leaf.

Now add a nice amount of glue to the clip-on earring and apply the flower.

Tada! Now you have some cute new shoe clips to freshen up an old pair of shoes. Hope you give this tutorial a try and love it!

- Teaka