Events

TO KICK OFF ADVENT 2017, we’re having a Tree Trimming Party! We’ll be breaking out the tinsel, the eggnog, and the Favourite Photo Ornaments. You can find my DIY for Favourite […]

IT’S CONCERT TIME! Today, we’re off to Massey Hall for the annual Saint Michael’s Choir School Christmas Concert, featuring Handel’s Messiah and an array of Seasonal Favourites. Okay, so maybe […]

TODAY IS OUR FAMILY BOOK EXCHANGE! Secret-Santa-Style, we’ll each choose someone in the house to buy a book for. Used and road-side finds are A-okay! Click here to see our […]

MAKE FINISHING SALTS! Each year, we make a big batch of something magical, glam it up, and give it away as our signature gift! Today, we’ll be creating some gorgeous […]

TUESDAYS IN ADVENT ARE GIVING DAYS! Today, we will be donating funds towards a “Safe-Delivery Kit” at PlanCanada.ca. From the organization: There are few bonds as strong as that between […]

TODAY WE WRITE CHRISTMAS CARDS & LETTERS TO SANTA! (Yes! All of us are writing letters to Santa!) But, here’s the twist, folks. Don’t mail those letters to Santa yet. On […]

TORONTO CHRISTMAS MARKET! Today, we’re heading to the Toronto Christmas Market to browse the stalls, ride the Ferris wheel, and sample the hot chocolate. The main focus of our trip […]

A VERY BRITISH NETFLIX CHRISTMAS Tonight, we’ll watch Season Two of Netflix’s The Crown and do some “Very British Christmas” things. We’ll make (and probably burn) sponge toffee, sample a few […]

MARKET INSPO DAY  We’re going to head over to the busy Saturday St. Lawrence Food Market to take more photographs today. We’ll tour the food stalls, indulge in as many […]

LISTEN TO CHRISTMAS RADIO PLAYS AND SKETCH A SCENE Tonight, we’re going to listen to some old-school radio plays, not via radio, but via youtube. And, as we listen along, […]

BLIND CHOCOLATE TASTING SAY, WHAT? Today, we’ll grab a box or two of chocolates from the drugstore or from a fancy chocolatier, or both. We’ll divide them into quarters and […]

IT’S ANOTHER #GIVINGTUESDAY WE’VE GIVEN TO THE DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK! Click the logo below and give. It’s just that simple. Return to the Advent Calendar 2017 Monthly View

DECEMBER 13th MARKS THE FEAST OF SANTA LUCIA! Today, we light candles, or “wear light in our hair,” and brave the winter weather by going for an evening walk or […]

DINNER AND STAR WARS! DINNER AND STAR WARS! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Today, we’ll be sneaking off for a screening of Star Wars, The Last Jedi. […]

IMPROVISE A CHRISTMAS MYSTERY RADIO DRAMA Round up your jingle bells, your train whistles, and all your best sound props! Inspired by last Sunday’s radio listening party and by a […]

CHRISTMAS COOKIE MARATHON! Today, we’re making ALL of the Christmas Cookies! Check out my 12 Days of Holiday Baking for all the recipes! Return to the Advent Calendar 2017 Monthly […]

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE COCKTAILS! Let’s make this a low-tech Sunday. We’ll sing carols, make cocktails and kid-friendly mixed drinks, and read our Family Book Exchange books. […]

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER! There’s nothing like the smell of Sunday brunch, especially on a Monday night! Bacon? Eggs? Coffee? Maple Syrup? Magic! Seeing as it’s the last Monday of the […]

MAKE A DONATION TO FORESTS ONTARIO Forests Ontario is dedicated to making Ontario’s forests greener. Their ambitious tree planting initiatives, extensive education programs, and decades of community outreach have helped […]

BREAK OUT THE MITTENS AND TOQUES! WE’RE HEADING OUT TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! Since we’re closing in on the winter Solstice, we might as well take advantage of all […]

SPA DAY AT HOME Break out the sheet masks and polishes. Today, we’re going to have a spa day at home. And, we’re doing it on the cheap, with whatever […]

PYJAMA EXCHANGE & PIZZA PARTY Today, we’ll be exchanging pyjamas by the fire. Of course we’ll put them on right away! Then, we’ll order pizza, pour the wine or fizzy […]

CHOCOLATE MALT BÛCHE DE NOËL & A BRISK WALK Every year, or close to, I come up with a new recipe or flavour profile for our Christmas Yule Log Cake, […]

IT’S THE LAST DAY OF ADVENT! Here’s my Christmas Eve Checklist for 2017 □ Take another brisk walk outdoors and come home to a hot cuppa! □ Prep the mains and […]

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Return to the Advent Calendar 2017 Monthly View

TREE TRIMMING PARTY It’s December 1st and the Scouts have set up their Christmas tree lot around the corner beside the AME Church. We’ve had an artificial tree for years. […]

Today, each of us is going to write a Punk Rock Christmas Carol. Signing bonus if you mention seltzer or incorporate the sound of carbonation. Here are some Ramones lyrics […]

CHRISTMAS COOKIE WARS! Today marks a Battle Royale between the Ancients and the Moderns Today, our favourite Christmas Cookie recipe will go head-to-head with a rookie-newcomer for the title of […]

Adopt and Invent an Animal Tuesdays are traditionally giving days on our Advent Calendar Today, we’re going “adopt” an animal from a favourite charity We’ll be letting the kids decide […]

FRIED CHICKEN TOUR! Today, we’re starting stage one of our Fried Chicken Tour of the City of Toronto! T’s crazy about fried chicken and looking for the best in the […]

We’ve got a late night tonight. So we’re going to spend the tail end of it having… A Late Night Tailgate Party Get out the red and green tortilla chips, […]

Mail the Christmas Cards! With our best wishes to the hard-working folks at Canada Post! RETURN TO THE ADVENT 2018 EVENTS PAGE

Checkered Tablecloth, The Works! Tonight, we’re fixing on an old fashioned steakhouse dinner with steaks & burgers, frites & baked potatoes, beer & whisky + dessert! RETURN TO THE ADVENT […]

Christmas Concert at Roy Thomson Hall Today’s the first of the two Saint Michael’s Choir School Holiday Concerts at Roy Thomson Hall. This season marks a shift from the event’s […]

CHRISTMAS CANNING Today, we’re making some extra special holiday gifts. Alongside my famous Whisky Fig Cranberry Sauce, we’ll be tackling either Lillie O’Brien’s Persimmon, Saffron & Vanilla Jam or her […]

SKETCH THE TREE AND SPONSOR A LIVE ONE Today, we’ll spend some time sketching our Christmas tree. We’re fishing out all of the old boxes of oil pastels and charcoal […]

Pyjama Day + Building the Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich Each year, during Advent, we grab a pair of crazy holiday pyjamas for at least one person in the family (usually Bea) […]

Feast of Santa Lucia Family Book Exchange is ON B & T are swapping titles again this year. They’re hunting gently used books for each other (and an extra for […]

Holiday Game Night with Cocktails for Mom and Dad Tonight, we’re going to play holiday versions of all of our favourite games. We’ll haul out the game of “Christmas Clue” […]