I am not at all superstitious and don’t have any fear of Friday the 13th but…still. I did take note of the date when I scheduled Indy’s dentist appointment for this afternoon. I’m hoping if there are any issues, I can convince the hygienist it has nothing to do with a lack of parental oversight and everything to do with the supposed unluckiness of the day.
This was a good week. Despite having lots of good weeks lately, I started the week feeling run down. The cold. The dark. The steady stream of responsibilities in daily life. The postal strike which means no mail is going in or out. Add Christmas prep and all sorts of special events to the mix. So taking a week off blogging was well-timed. (Blogging is fun; I really love it and miss it when I don’t write, so while I realize I could always “take time off” I also appreciate the constancy and community of showing up here regularly.)
I’m feeling a bit more rested (despite sleeping horrifically all week for a variety of reasons) and feel quite satisfied with how the week unfolded. Plus, John arrives home from Europe shortly and tonight will involve an at-home date night.
Let’s get on to Happy Things, shall we?
THRIFTED WINS
Life has been spendy lately. I’ve been doing a lot of “add to cart” for Christmas, along with upgrading/replacing various items.
But there were some noteworthy thrifting wins this week:
#1. Getting Blundstones replaced for free. This is the second time we’ve gotten a pair of Blundstones replaced; because of their excellent customer service, we are happy repeat customers.
#2. Used ski gear. Skiing is an expensive sport. We’re lucky to have a small, affordable hill nearby, but ski gear adds up FAST. Both kids had grown out of their thrifted/hand-me-down skis (technically they were too small last year, but I was too cheap to look for alternatives). I had free skis and boots that I had been given by a friend, but neither fit me well. So last week I spent $225 in cash and ended up with the following:
- Boots for Indy
- Skis for Indy
- Poles for Indy
- Boots for me
- Skis for me
- A new helmet (too big for Indy, but it will likely become his eventually).
Conservatively, everything I bought is worth well over $1,000 (+15% tax!). I’m excited to get out to the slopes to try our new-to-us gear. I do still need to source skis for Belle, but at least her boots/helmet/poles all still fit. I’m going to take their outgrown gear to a local consignment store which should result in some money back in our pockets.
#3. “Use tonight” meat. I almost never buy steak because of the price, but I found two steaks with discount stickers this week at the grocery store. Each discount sticker was for $5 off, so I picked the steak that was cheapest to begin with (giving me a larger percentage off with my $5) and cooked it same-day as a small beef stew. Delicious and economical.
#4. Free Christmas gifts. I’m sad we don’t have a thriving Buy Nothing group locally. But the other day I realized something – JOY is my Buy Nothing group. We have been exchanging random items* for over a decade now. This week she offered me a warmable stuffie (Indy loves Magic Bags as much as his Mama) and some cute earrings for Belle. I was delighted and both will show up under the tree this year. Cost = $0.
*I wish we had taken pictures of everything we’ve sent back and forth over the years. I feel like these exchanges deserve their own Instagram page!
#5. Lost and Found. In the last few years, after parent-teacher interviews where parents are explicitly reminded to look through the collected items, the Lost and Found is opened up for students to take whatever strikes their fancy. So…this week Indy came home with three sweatshirts (2 Champion + 1 Puma) and a Bench shirt. And Belle came home with a sweatshirt she’s been specifically looking for.
#6. Christmas Bazaar. Another thing our kids’ school does is host an annual free shopping bazaar. Parents send in gently used items (books, puzzles, decor, kitchen gadgets, candles, etc) and each child in the school gets to “shop” for their immediate family (parents and siblings). This time of year the school always announces their need for donations and I was able to pull together two grocery bags worth of quality stuff that we no longer need/the kids no longer use. I’m excited to see what our kiddos select – my all-time favourite ornament was picked out by Belle at this bazaar years and years ago!
#7. Pretty bowls. A local thrift store chain accepts returns on clothing items for two weeks since they no longer have change rooms in their stores. I had a pair of dress shoes for Indy that didn’t end up fitting him. Unfortunately, instead of refunds they give a store credit that has to be used same-day. So I had $7.50 burning a hole in my pocket…and ended up coming home with bowls.
At the end of each day I have a random assortment of hair ties, earrings, AirPods, loose change, chapstick and other paraphernalia on my bedside table. I clean it up each morning, but have long wished I had a decorative dish to consolidate the clutter. Mission accomplished.
I also bought two adorable medium-sized ramekins. I’m a sucker for polka dots and love the timelessness of white dishes.
MEALS WITH GRAMMIE + GRAMPIE
Monday was a day full of to-dos; at one point my mom called to ask if I wanted to come down to their house for lunch. Carrots, baked potatoes and chicken with homemade pickles and fruit salad for dessert. Um, yes please.
Tuesday was a “snow” day. We were scheduled to have freezing rain and ice pellets but neither really materialized. Nevertheless, schools were shut down. At one point Belle and a friend walked to my parents just to get a cookie. They ended up staying for over an hour, ranting about the injustices of middle school. Fun was had by all. This friend has taken to calling my parents Grammie and Grampie which is just delightful.
Thursday they came over for supper (maple-soy salmon, candied cinnamon carrots, and slowcooker baked potatoes)and then took the kids to their rental to watch a Hallmark movie so I could have a few hours home alone to do some photo organization and wrapping!
SNOW DAY
Some snow days literally feel like they will be the death of me. Other times, they’re manageable. Older kids make it so much easier to still get my to-dos done, but this was our first snow day in the school year and it was a relief to have it run smoothly.
Belle had an early morning dentist appointment (everything was great – no cavities! – though she was a bit bummed because the school cancellation meant she didn’t actually end up missing any instruction time at school). While we waited, Indy listened to an audiobook while also playing several dozen games of Tic-Tac-Toe. He is competitive like his Mama.
Most games ended in a stalemate, but I showed zero mercy and ended up beating him 7-5. Victory was sweet. He did beat me at another game we made up with that little toy lobster on the table, and I graciously admitted defeat.
Indy spent hours outside playing in the snow with friends. Belle played the keyboard. I worked and prepped cookies for the freezer and made the kids hot chocolate with peppermint mocha creamer and made beef stew and crockpot roasted potatoes and tested a new way to make cinnamon coffee cake. Phew. BUSY! After lunch, Indy had another friend over and Belle had a friend over (they walked to get a cookie at my parents – see above).
After supper, Joy and one of her daughter’s came over. While Joy and I watched White Christmas (one of my all-time favourite seasonal events/traditions), her daughter hung out with Belle.
Joy brought candy cane cookies, chocolate mints (Andes brand – where have these been all my life??), and I supplied peanut butter balls and fuzzy blankets. We talked, we quoted the script, we sang. As Prue Leith would say, the evening was a Triumph.
CONCERT TIME
Last weekend was Indy’s big choir shebang. There were THREE shows and they were fairly elaborate productions with various rehearsals. The venue was packed and everything went really well. The music was incredible and it was fun to see Indy whenever he got on stage – he was very expressive and clearly happy to be making music.
I think Indy and Belle’s favourite part of the weekend was the intermission bake sale. A decent amount of sugar was consumed by both kids. My contribution was Smooth Brown Sugar Fudge cut into festive shapes. I forgot to take pictures after I had packaged everything in a cute box with a bow and label but it looked very festive.
I went to the first concert (with my parents), John went to the second concert (with Belle), and I was a parent volunteer for the third concert. I didn’t realize when I signed up to help that the final concert was the one where Indy’s Junior choir got to watch the other three choirs (they have to rotate when each choir can see the other performances because there are too many choristers to have them all stay out in the auditorium). This meant I got to watch the show again from literally the front row for free! One girl kept whispering the whole time and I was the one who was closest to her and had to keep Shh’ing her (my main job as a parent volunteer), but other than that everything went smoothly.
OTHER HAPPY THINGS
- Errand efficiency. One day I had a shortlist of about a dozen places to go/errands to run. I sat down and planned out the most efficient route and then executed on said plan. It felt SO GOOD to cross so many tiny little things off my list. Life can feel like death by a thousand papercuts and it’s amazing to clear up a dozen or so papercuts in one fell swoop. (Any Nate Bargatze fans? I literally snorted rewatching his “one fell swoop” clip while writing this post. Tangent – have you seen his SNL bit on American measurements and spelling? Hilarious.)
- San ran her first marathon! You bet I tracked her progress <3
- On Tuesday (the snow day) the kids asked if a friend could stay for supper. This was unexpected; I gladly said Yes, but explained there wasn’t a lot of excess and gave the kids explicit instructions not to take too much (we generally serve ourselves in the kitchen and then take our plates into the dining room). I reminded Indy a second time as he tends to be quite…enthusiastic…with his dishing of food. This is literally how he arrived at the table: One cube of roasted potato. One slice of tomato. One pea. One pickle. One piece of beef. Lest you be concerned, after he got the requisite laughs from the peanut gallery, he went back to the kitchen and loaded up his plate.
- Our first Christmas card. It does feel strange to have a Christmas season largely devoid of cards. When Joy came over to watch White Christmas she hand-delivered what has ended up being our first Christmas card of 2024. How exciting! (This card will most definitely end up becoming a gift tag next year! So few cards are neutral but this one is perfect and will live a second festive life.) We’ve since gotten two more cards. Each one feels thrilling in this cardless Christmas we Canadians are finding ourselves in…
And that’s a wrap on Happy Things from my week.
Your turn:
- Were there any standout Happy Things in your life this week?
- Does anyone else save old Christmas cards to use as gift tags the next year?
- What’s your most recent thrifting win?
- Have you ever gone downhill skiing?
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Rachel
Yay for happy things! I too am feeling the “SPEND MONTH” over here. We are not big spenders on “things” but I also realized I don’t have time this year to spend a lot of time thrifting and second handing things and I just wanted to get kids presents sorted, so we ended up buying new. Out of curiosity, do you buy new or used for Christmas gifts for your kids? Do you think about it at all? We usually thrift and get second hand stuff but I’m aware that at some point the kids might care about whether things are “new” and not just “new to them”.
I love having a “collection bowl” too. I have one in my office and one in the entry way of my house. I always know where to find a hair tie.
Love your happy things fridays as always 🙂
Elisabeth
What a great question – I feel like the answer deserves a full post?! Thanks for the idea. The short answer is we do both, but I’ll explain more soon.
I’m loving having one dumping ground for things on my side table. It’s such a magnet for little bits and bobs that accumulate throughout the day.
mbmom11
Spend month it is! And my sons haven’t given me a wish list yet, so it’ll just get worse. I bought myself some presents ( on sale!) so the kids will have something to wrap.
I managed to hit the thrift store on the 75% off all items day ( they’re moving and need to reduce inventory). I found jeans for me and shirts for my daughter – one doesn’t fit well, but it was only $1, so I’ll just donate it back without guilt.
Glad you had a good break from posting!
mbmom11
Oh, another happy thing- Ernie added you to her blog roll! It makes me happy to see how the internet can build connections and bring people together.
Elisabeth
<3
Elisabeth
I’ll admit it makes me feel good to know that others have been in spend mode.
Wow – what a great time to thrift. 75% is a fabulous discount. Sometimes I end up with an item that doesn’t quite fit the bill (or my body) and like you I feel quite content to re-thrift it and hope it eventually finds a “forever” home.
Lindsay
I have never been skiing! I don’t think I have the balance or bravery for it, but I love the concept of “apres ski” and would be at home in a comfy chair with hot cocoa haha! A happy thing that happened to me this week was having an unexpected lunch date with my Mr after taking him for an eye appointment. It was so nice to just sit and catch up.
Elisabeth
Lunch dates are amazing and I feel like unexpected ones can be even more delightful! That surprise whimsy and joy of spending time with someone you love is great. I know it has been a really hard, busy year for you, so I’m so glad for these glimmers of rest and connection!
Nicole MacPherson
You know I am here to commiserate about the card situation. And I know people have it much worse, all the small businesses who are absolutely wrecked and also people waiting for their passports! Oh, and I went for my mammogram and I asked what the procedure was about results. The woman said “well, you’ll get a letter in the mail” and then stopped talking. We just looked at each other for a minute and she was like “or…I guess if there’s a problem your doctor will call.” Okay!
Hahahaha Indy’s plate. That kid cracks me up.
Brown sugar fudge reminds me so much of my maternal grandpa, who died when I was 11. I don’t have a whole lot of memories about him but I remember he made fudge. Yours is so pretty!
I am always in AWE of your thrifting!
Elisabeth
Indy is hilarious! Both kids are such little comedians. They get it from their father. They LOVE to get a laugh (especially Belle).
Well, you know I have another exciting thrift find to reveal next week. I’m glad you’ve pre-approved it 🙂
It sounds like the mail will be starting up again next week, but I cannot imagine the backlog. Gah. It will be crazy. I don’t know when I should attempt to mail my Christmas letters out? It feels a bit silly to send them immediately because it feels like it will take a while to sort all the chaos out. It does help that they haven’t been accepting mail from other countries and at least the US isn’t letting people try to mail things to Canada. A gong show. And it doesn’t sound like either party is close to getting what they want and now probably hundreds of small businesses will be shuttered because of it. I very much support workers rights, but it is disappointing it had to be timed right before Christmas. I feel like public support for their plight will be lessened by the disruption to people’s lives and livelihoods timing it so close to Christmas. I wonder if the union thought the timing would force Canada Post to capitulate to demands more quickly? But then they didn’t happen and GAH. What a sad, messy mess.
Jenny
Your Happy Things always make me happy! So many happy things this week, and I love all the holiday in this post. Your brown sugar fudge looks DELICIOUS. And, I love the idea of the Christmas bazaar at the kids’ school. Some genius thought that one up!
We used to have one at the kids’ elementary school, except it wasn’t free. And the items were all cheap crap, like a “#1 Dad” pen that broke in a day. It’s fun for kids to select gifts on their own for people- and I like how your system allows people to get rid of unwanted things, while letting the kids bring home something that’s actually nice quality.
I’m very sad for you that this postal strike is still going on!!! What about important things that come in the mail, like bills, or medications? I’m just wondering how everyone is managing.
One last thing- I feel for Belle. To think you’re missing school for a dental appointment and then have it be a snow day=unfair!!!
Elisabeth
The brown sugar fudge is SO sweet, but I find it addictive and Indy is obsessed with it. He actually made a batch with my mom last week. I was really happy with how the shapes turned out using cookie cutters! A little more fun than normal squares, I figured?
Yup – things like bills and medications are not getting through. It’s especially horrible for people up in Canada’s North because they don’t have things like UPS and FedEx. Canada Post is literally it. I think that people who are on government assistance for income supplements may be able to get their cheques (not sure how that is worked out), but I’m sure people will have died because of the issue and there will be quite a few small businesses that likely won’t be able to survive such a horrendous blow to their holiday season 🙁
Suzanne
Elisabeth, you are truly the QUEEN of thrifting. I am blown away by your ski equipment finds! That is some serious savings!
The card thing is SO SAD. But you WILL get cards and they will hopefully help make some other corner of winter a little brighter and more merry.
Elisabeth
Thank you for such effusive praise 🙂
It looks like the postal employees are being forced to go back to work next week. No one has gotten what they want out of the whole thing and no Christmas is going to be a mess for many people (passports stuck in limbo, small businesses that literally couldn’t ship their merchandise at the most important retail time of the year). Gah. But, I AM looking forward to getting Christmas cards after the big day. It will extend the delight of the holidays.
Maria
HAPPY THING!! The strike may end next week!!! I am not sure how I feel about the feds stepping in, but I also really want this thing to end.
Your thrifting is impressive. This past week we had a good thrift find involving a new set of dishes.
Elisabeth
I feel like it was inevitable. It’s just sad all around. No one is getting what they want and it feels like so much damage has been done to small businesses and isolated regions in the North. It does make me wonder who Canada Post will survive? If so many other delivery companies are making inroads, their revenues will go down further which will mean they can’t pay their employees more. I’m glad it’s not my problem to solve!
Alexandra
Yea for a busy fun sounding week, if you skip the snow days and dentist appointments. And Blundstones are one of the best. I’ve been buying their boots since like, forever. And yes, I love that without a quibble they will repair and or exchange. As for the thrifting? I come from just such a family. My mum made good with six kids to clothe by either sewing, knitting and or thrifting items.
Meanwhile, enjoying the skiing with the new equipment. I’m envious. I haven’t been skiing since before 2016. Not allowed.
As for damn Canada post? You already know I’m spitting mad with them. I can’t believe this might be the first year without cards to hang. Bah humbug! I juts hope New Year brings us all a ray of sunshine with a deluge of cards and mail.
Elisabeth
I’m trying to look on the bright side – getting Christmas cards well after the official day will likely bring some unique delight to an otherwise dreary January!
Alexandra
Agreed. It will be a second Christmas, much like a Hobbit’s second breakfast. 😉
Lisa’s Yarns
I started a comment and got interrupted so I think it did not go through! Bah!
I had fun seeing coworkers this week in Manhattan. I stayed out so late but I rarely get to socialize with this group so it was worth the exhaustion. I am still catching up on sleep as I napped for an hour today and could have kept right on napping if we didn’t have a play date!
I went skiing a few times when I was working in Colorado during college winter breaks. I did not grow up skiing so it was terrifying for me. So if I never ski again, I would be ok with that. It’s also so so so expensive here in the states!
Elisabeth
There are always tradeoffs to decisions like that, and sometimes it is 100% the right tradeoff to be a bit more tired the next day.
Skiing is pretty terrifying. I think that even expert skiers feel some terror, but it is exhilarating. I buy our season’s passes in the early sale, so I think it’s about $200/pass. Which is SOOOOO cheap compared to most hills. Granted, it’s a tiny little spot, but it’s the perfect size for our family.
NGS
Imagine the absolute FLOOD of cards you will get once they resolve the strike! It’s going to be like Christmas all over again!
Elisabeth
Engie, I am hoping for a FLOOD, a TSUNAMI, and a TIDAL WAVE of cards to ease the pain. I am excited for the deluge. One small silver lining to the whole debacle.
coco
I love your new bowls.! That’s my addiction, kitchen things, especially bowls, spoons, containers, cups. I can keep buying them if there’s no storage constraints.
My last ski trip was 2009, long long time ago. I am looking forward to take the family to Usuahia for their first ski trip next year after our move. that’s where I first ski too.
Happy thing this week is some good news on potentially moving as a family in March.
Elisabeth
Kitchen things can be so pretty AND functional.
Can’t wait to hear the good news. I’m sure the next few months will be very busy…but also exciting!
Michelle G.
Your ski gear thrift haul is impressive! I used to go cross-country skiing often, but I’ve only been downhill skiing once – and that was enough! I think people who can do that are amazing! I didn’t know it was possible to track San’s progress! I’m sorry I missed out on that. Your bedside bowl is beautiful and such a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?
Elisabeth
I grew up cross-country skiing and liked it. I can see picking it up again when I’m a bit older? For now, the kids really want the excitement of downhill skiing so it’s a nice family sport, but I also feel like since I learned to ski later in life, I will NOT be confident as a senior. I cannot believe some of the quite elderly people (like late 80s) zooming at break-neck speed down the hill. Kudo’s to them, but I am terrified as a fairly flexible 30-something year old!
Stephany
I’m a bit shocked that the strike is STILL HAPPENING in the midst of the holiday season. Gosh. I really feel for everyone affected!
Your thrifting finds are incredible. I am amazed that you got so much ski gear thrifted! That stuff must be SO EXPENSIVE brand-new so way to go!
Elisabeth
I am shocked, too. I can’t believe they weren’t mandated back sooner. But I hope that everything is resolved soon and the workers feel like get a fair pay increase and the corporation is able to pull themselves out of debt.
It’s a bit crazy how expensive ski stuff is. Like poles that are $100s? I think I’d rather cut down a stick in the backyard as a makeshift pole over shelling out that sort of cash!
Kyria @ Travel Spot
I love that fudge; it looks great! I am not a fan of fudge as it is usually too sweet, but yours is so pretty. I maybe would have to try it if it was near me! I am so glad that you got the money back for the boots! Also the price of your ski gear is pretty good to me. I have not bought gear in ages, but we always buy used and I feel like I still have have spent about the same price on one pair of skis (20 years ago) that you did on everything!
I always use old holiday cards to make gift tags and have fun finding ones that will fit the shape of cutout that I use. Although now, obviously I don’t do that, I still really enjoy doing it when I can! My recent thrifting win was three Smartwool sweaters (retail over $100) for about $15 each! Plus the store had a coupon and I got another 40% off after that and free shipping. Happy things for me this week are being home, seeing old friends, and getting ready to see my family in a few days. Yay!
Elisabeth
This fudge IS sweet and I am not a fudge person, but I find this kind very addictive. Indy in particular is obsessed.
Ohh…explain the cutout. Like you cut the cards into a specific shape to make a tag? I just leave them “whole” , but I love the idea of having a consistent shape.
That is an amazing win! Smartwool isn’t cheap, but it’s such great quality. Gold stars.