Updated on December 6, 2019
FASHION FRIDAY: CHRISTMAS ELF!
TGIF Guys,
Only 19 more days to Christmas! Hard to believe how time is really flying! I’ve started the countdown to Christmas with my cute little elves, Tiny and Tim, who I’ve had for years. Unknowingly, they must have been my inspiration for today’s Fashion Friday!
For me, Christmas fashion is about being playful, colourful, traditional, and of course lots of sparkle and glitter. You can never be too OTT at this festive time of year! I bought the red suede Design Lab boots last Spring at a local store which was closing down and selling off everything at 70% off!! My favourite time to shop! I knew I would get good wear from them at Christmas. How right I was!! The khaki green sweater top is Roots, a good Canadian label. I wore it a lot over Fall and am happy to be able to wear it over Christmas too. The red plaid pants are Nygard. I bought them last Christmas and like the boots, are getting a lot of mileage from them!
Hope you are enjoying the build-up to Christmas and have time to mingle and tingle! Have fun with your fashion and remember the great thing about eye candy is… it’s calorie-free!!
Hugs,
Patricia xo
Posted on December 2, 2019
MONDAY MUSINGS: JACK AND SASKIA
Hi Guys,
I am sure you may have heard of the stabbings in London Bridge recently. I was curious to put faces on these two unfortunate people who lost their lives in this random terrorist act. What I discovered made me so sad, I had to fight back the tears. They were young, just around my children’s ages, bright, intelligent, well-educated and motivated to make a difference in this world of ours.
Jack Merritt was only 25 and a Graduate from Cambridge University. There was a photo of him beaming from ear to ear when he got his degree. Only a month ago he was in Spain celebrating his birthday with his beloved girlfriend Leanne. Their lives and big dreams all ahead of them. Saskia was only 23, a lovely fresh-faced girl who wanted to work in the criminal justice system. In fact both Jack and Saskia were at a meeting to support the victims of criminal justice. Wrong place. Wrong time! Why, Universe? Why? Their deaths just don’t make sense to me — or anybody else for that matter!
What made these two deaths especially sad was just how they could have been anybody’s child that I know. They were good kids, worked hard, did their best, beloved by friends and parents —and now gone. Their bright lights, like a flickering candle, extinguished forever.
Not just their lives, but their parents’ lives too, their grandparents, their friends, their pets, their cousins, their uncles, aunties, school teachers, work colleagues — everybody who knew them will never forget how one random satanic act can destroy the lives of hundreds.
Rest in Peace Saskia and Jack. In honour of their lives, let each and every one of us reading this today perform some random act of kindness for a stranger or somebody in need. Let’s show the world and ourselves that Peace and Love are stronger than hatred and violence.
May the souls of Saskia and Jack rest in peace for evermore.
Love,
Patricia xo
Posted on November 29, 2019
FOODIE FRIDAY: MOMMA’S MEAT LOAF!
TGIF Friends!
I don’t eat meat, but my husband Kevin does and every time I make this yummy meat loaf dish for him, he has a smile from ear to ear. He relishes it! The good thing is it lasts for a few days, so that’s his dinner done for 4 days! It heats up beautifully, and is so easy to make! The only part I don’t like doing is squishing the bloody raw meat in my hands! We’ll get to that part later!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds best ground lean beef
3/4 cup quick oatmeal
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tbsps brown sugar
1 tbsp. dijon mustard
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine ground beef, oatmeal, milk, egg, onion, salt and pepper in a medium sized mixing bowl. Using your hands incorporate everthing into the meat. This takes only about 30 seconds as you do not want to overmix! Transfer mix into a large loaf pan and press it down evenly.
In a separate bowl mix together ketchup, mustard and brown sugar. Pour over the meatloaf. Bake in oven for approx. 1 1/2 hours.
Let sit for about 5 mins. before slicing.
EnJOY!!
Hugs,
Patricia xo
Posted on November 25, 2019
MONDAY MUSINGS: I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT.
Hi Guys,
How was your weekend? Hope you had fun as the build-up to Christmas intensifies. I must say I love it! The sparkle, the glitter, the colour, the Christmas trees, the Christmas music, the soppy movies — talking about movies, you’ve got to watch ‘Christmas at Graceland’. I watched it last night and notched up a new dream for my bucket list, which is to visit Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home, some day — preferably at Christmas!
Elvis loved Christmas — in fact he went hog-wild at Christmas giving very generous gifts and money to charities and everybody that he loved! To see Priscella Presley decorating the tree with his favourite Christmas decorations brought a tear to my soppy eye! After she had laboriously decorated the tree, she said Elvis loved nothing better than to throw the glitter all over the tree and then take credit for decorating it lol!
Supporting charities at Christmas can be a fun thing too. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going to a very enjoyable Victorian Fashion Show and Afternoon Tea. It was hosted by The Cridge Centre for the Family. A wonderful respite home for victims of domestic abuse. They do such incredible work and provide a warm safe haven for Women and Children going through hard times. Yesterday’s fund-raising event was a wonderful start to the Christmas season.
After a yummy afternoon tea served in china cups, delicious finger sandwiches and decadent desserts, we sat back and enjoyed an educational Victorian Fashion Show. The elaborate costumes, complete with oceans of fabric, gut squeezing corsets, harsh hats, and strict rules of etiquette, made me so happy to be living in this more relaxed century. I just wondered how on earth Victorian ladies were able to use the lavatory with any level of ease! It must have taken ages to pull up all those 10 petticoats they wore!
At the end of the show on our way home, we were serenaded by a talented Pianist and Soprano singing “I could have danced all night”. I still can’t get the song out of my head lol! I hope you enjoy these precious days and weeks leading up to Christmas. Start creating your own traditions!
Hugs,
Patricia xo
Updated on November 22, 2019
FASHION FRIDAY: THE LONDON LOOK!
TGIF Guys,
Hope you had a chance to enjoy a yummy warm bath oozing with aromatic bubbles of bliss! Nothing like a bath to soothe those aches and pains in body and brain!
Today’s fashion inspiration came from my gorgeous daughter, Ali, who now lives in London! I was thinking about her, and so wanted to put together a ‘London Look’ especially for her. Hope you like it Ali! It’s all about the Burberry! There is nothing quite as classy as a pop of Burberry in a scarf, bag, umbrella, or pashmina. I decided to team it up with my va va voom red shoes and red beret. My long beige duster coat, silk blouse, beige pants and RL belt, complete this casual chic London look. Hope you like it as much as I do!
Have a fabulous weekend and do lots of what make you happy!!
Hugs,
Patricia x
