Thanking Mail Carriers

Since the start of Pandemic Life back in March, how many packages have been delivered to your house? A LOT more than usual, I bet.

Lately, I've thinking about mail carriers in my neighborhood. Their daily grind obviously makes it easier for people to stay home, safe, and stocked with necessities (or parcels from Sephora). But unlike food deliverymen/women, there's no app for tipping postal workers, and I'm not sure handing them cash is totally practical right now.

So, I decided to fill a box with (individually-wrapped) chocolates, candies, mints, etc. The basic plan is to offer them, trick-or-treat style, when the doorbell rings. (Originally, I wanted to leave the box on our front steps with a jolly note, but didn't trust it would remain un-stolen lol.)

I'm no Pollyanna -- I fully recognize how this barely amounts to the tiniest gesture of thanks. Maybe that's okay! The way I see it, getting surprised with a bag of Smarties won't solve life's problems, but it MIGHT brighten up an otherwise ordinary moment in someone's day :)

Image credit (top): Mercury News

Read More

Gift Wrapping Ideas (Featuring Plain Paper)

Happy first night of Hannukah! 

Holiday Season 2020 is upon us. I adore giving gifts for any occasion -- nailing the perfect present for someone else is such an awesome feeling! HOWEVER, I loathe spending money on expensive wrapping. I think a plain paper shopping bag (or brown packing paper!) + fun tissue paper + ribbon makes a sweetly personal and more impactful statement than any expensive offering from Hallmark. Plus, you can have fun getting crafty (if that's your jam).

So, in that spirit, I went through my bookmarks to distill the cutest, most simple gift wrap ideas I've loved from around the web.

My preferred DIY situation doesn't necessarily require tremendous effort or a huge time investment. You might already have useful trims and trinkets hanging around the house. If not, then a fast trip to almost any convenience store is all you really need to get started. 

On the other hand, should you wish to unleash your inner Martha Stewart, feel free to take all the time and energy you need ;)

1. Accessorizing with a cookie cutter? Adorable! (It can even be incorporated as a bonus gift.) Pulling off the idea should be inexpensive -- I've seen holiday-shaped cutters at the dollar store, or you might have some on-hand from past celebrations that are still in excellent shape.

2. Create allover polka dots with pom poms! I really like the effect of only using white ones, but it would look so fun multicolored, or in shades of the same pop color. Another idea: Experiment with poms of different sizes.

3. Dangle one or two little ornaments from the bag/box. Small bells work, too!

4. "Tie" your parcel with a hand-sketched bow :)

5. Bust out the colorful twine, decorative ribbon, etc, and go for a traditional cross-wrap.

6. Adorn your present with old-school paper snowflake cut-outs. (I'm such a fan of this idea!) In case you don't remember making these in elementary school, here's a tutorial.

7. Draw/paint your own pattern all over the wrapping. I'm partial to easy stars (two pics above) and little dashes (just above). Glittery or metallic colors lend a sprinkle of extra festivity :)

8. One big, bright statement pom pom!

9. Basically snatching this idea as-is: Paint some large, colorful blobs all over your packaging. Once dry, use a sharpie to sketch holiday details on top. (My inspo pic has trees, but you can do stars or snowflakes or whatever else instead.) It's probably important to finish decorating your paper before wrapping the gift lol.

10. Splatter paint! Load up a brush and test out your best Jackson Pollock. Again, I'm drawn to the effect of using a single color, but there's no wrong answer in terms of color or how sparse the splatters.

11. Tone-on-tone wrapping with a single bow. Minimalism! Surprisingly elegant, right?

12. Have a blast with washi tape! For simplicity, I linked to Omers DeSerres; search further and you'll find PLENTY of adorable indie options on Etsy or in stationary stores across the city.

13. Get natural :) almost makes perfect has a tutorial about decorating with dried fruit and cinnamon sticks (check her story highlights). Otherwise, you could always play around sprigs of leafy herbs (rosemary is so pretty), evergreens, pine cones, eucalyptus -- endless organic ideas ;)

What gift-wrapping tricks do you have up your sleeve?

Image credit (top): Maine Sport Outfitters
Image credit (gifting): I will circle back to add the links. Sorry for the mess-up.

Read More

Made-In-Montreal Panettone (And What To Do With The Leftovers)

Montreal is home to a big Italian community -- which might explain why, come December, there is no shortage of panetonne in markets and groceries stores. While it's totally acceptable to stan those mass-produced loaves, we're lucky to also have a bevy of special, artisanal options made right here in the city.

Here are some local standouts. A word to the wise: Order yours ahead of time to ensure you're equipped for Christmas :)

 

Left to right:

Arte & Farina (1256 Ontario St. E) FYI, A&F's panettone is also available at Epicerie Conserva.

Automne Boulangerie (6500 Christophe-Colomb) This is a new-to-me bakery and I've heard really good things!

 

Elena (5090 Notre-Dame W) Elena's token baked goods are great. (I longingly remember pistachio amaretti cookies from last summer.) I suspect their latest festive offering won't disappoint.

Hof Kelsten (4524 St. Laurent) I consider theirs the OG trendy artisanal panettone. Hof Kelsten is famous for their takes on traditional recipes. (Hello, chocolate babka!) Plus, the colorful packaging is something out of a Wes Anderson movie. 

*

In my experience, there is always, ALWAYS leftover panettone hanging around after the holidays. It's inevitable. Assuming you can't bring yourself to eat another (now drying) slice of sweet bread, how do you salvage the rest of it? Bread pudding, or french toast, or dipped in your coffee like a biscotti... Basically just revive the rest at breakfast time :)

Image credit: Sous Chef
Image credit (panettone): These images are linked back to their sources

Read More

Gifting Locally

Over the weekend, our inboxes began to bloat with pre-Black Friday e-mail blasts. It's hard to ignore the siren song of those extremely, ridiculously tempting deals.

The thing is, when it comes to holiday gifting this year, I really want to shop more methodically and responsibly (and less like a trigger-happy maniac armed with a dozen discount codes). There is a small handful of specific, timeless items I'd like to buy (or restock) on the 27th -- I'm looking at you, UGG Adirondack boots and Glossier Moon Mask. Aside from those, I've challenged myself to support smaller businesses with the rest of my holiday shopping list.

Good news: If you're on the lookout for lovely local gifting in Montreal, the options are truly endless! Let me help get the ball rolling with a few of my favorites :)

  

The soy candles from Lycka Atelier are incredible. I recently bought two: blueberry muffin and pineapple-coconut. Both smell good enough to eat!

Raplapla is the sweetest Plateau toy shop for all the hipster babies in your life.

Goye makes such dainty, delicate ceramics and jewelry. I'm lusting after, well, EVERYTHING in the shop, but the floral bowls and planters (omg those scallop edges!) really have my attention.

On that note... Why not book someone a pottery class at Les Faiseurs?

   

For plants, dried flowers, cute pots, gorgeous fresh arrangements: Jardin de Mathilde (15% off your first order if you sign up for their newsletter) and Vertuose are my MVPs.

Drawn & Quarterly will satisfy all your literary needs. Don't skip their kid-friendly satellite shop, either.

While we're on the topic of books, Westmount's Appetite for Books offers cooking lessons -- often in coordination with a newly released cookbook. (Class sizes are obviously scaled back at the moment.)

  

Les Barbos and Lili Graffiti create the most beautiful prints and paper goods.

Boucle et Papier is my favorite stationary store in the city. (THERE, I said it!) They are a one-stop shop for checking off every possible gifting need on your list: greeting cards, gift wrap, paper products, party supplies, candles, calendars, and tons of tiny whatnots that make perfect stocking stuffers. 

Personally, I love Pitou Minou & Compagnons for all things pet-related -- ESPECIALLY their location on St. Laurent and Mont Royal. They aren't exactly a tiny company, but they are from Quebec and the staff is suuuper kind and knowledgable.

  

Swing by Amber and Smoke Vintage for one-of-a-kind trinkets and housewares. Ashley keeps her inventory stocked with treasure -- you have to move fast, though, because her stuff often gets snatched up quick.

Treat someone to a photo session with Sadie from l'orangerie photographie! She always brings out so much love, personality, and style in her work (but magically makes it seem effortless).

Book an online workout class at Studio Mile End (formerly Wanderlust Yoga). I've taken their Barre and Studio de Base -- they are loads of fun and super accessible for beginners!

  

Puzzles and board games are heroes of the pandemic. Randolph and Le Valet d'Coeur both have a seemingly endless selection of entertainment, as well as helpful staff.

For music fans and vinyl lovers: Aux 33 Tours, Sonorama, and Cheap Thrills. (Thanks for the tips, Josh.)

Boozy business: Veux-tu une bière?, Dépanneur Peluso, Ils En Fument Du Bon will satisfy any need for microbrew beer and/or intriguing organic wine.

Stocking someone's pantry Italian-style: Epicerie Conserva and Il Miglio are cherished all-stars in our house.

Consider a Th3rdwave coffee subscription for the caffeine addict in your life.

Not a groundbreaking idea, but an excellent one nonetheless: Gift cards to favorite restaurants, cafes, bars, etc. 

Donate to a meaningful local charity or grassroots organization in your loved one's name. Here are some ideas: Hoodstock, La Maison d'Haiti, Desta, Meals For Milton-Parc, The Open Door, Sun Youth, Chez Doris, Native Women's Shelter of Montreal.

*

There you have it! Even though this is hardly an extensive list of Montreal's local shopping landscape, I've hopefully given you enough juice to jump-start your Nice List :)

What are you planning to gift others over the holidays?

Image credit (top): Time Magazine
Images of merchandise come from their company's respective websites

Read More

Winter Holidays: How Soon Is Too Soon?

Obviously, the answer depends on the person, right?

For me, the sight of anything Christmas-related in October feels premature, but waiting until the eleventh hour to dig out your twinkle lights is such a missed opportunity for prolonged festiveness! November is my sweet spot to get all the holiday heavy lifting out of the way -- so that, come December, I can sink into the holiday spirit worry-free :)

Our wee tree normally goes up by mid-November. Same for stockings and novelty decor like snowflake-printed dishtowels, homemade wreaths, and a bootleg Elf On The Shelf that I got from Dollarama. Our menorah is put back on display, but the candles only emerge at Hannukah. (I'm a big fan of these cute ones from Indigo!)

  

While decking the halls, I might queue up a holiday playlist on Spotify, or stream some classics like Elf, Home Alone, or Christmas Vacation (HUGE favorites in the Sciortino family). However, once decorating is done, it's critical to pause the holiday entertainment until December, or risk getting sick of it all.

As for gifts... I start picking them out really early. Like, first week of November. And (brace yourself) I even maintain a holiday spreadsheet to keep track of whose presents are left to buy, total spending, etc. I know. I'm nuts. The thing is, Christmastime or not, I get unreasonably panicky by last-minute shopping -- ESPECIALLY in a cramped, nearly-picked-clean store. Being proactive about gifting is my coping mechanism. And I also get to shop ;)

  

This year, I'm aiming for a more relaxed attitude toward the holiday season, since the pandemic has me homebound with plenty of time to spare. That being said... I just put two tiny firs on my kitchen table, and that aforementioned spreadsheet is already getting some action. Apparently, I can't help myself lol.

What are your thoughts re: gung ho holiday preparedness?

Image credit (top): Pinterest -- sorry, I lost the link!

Image credit (trees): All ours from holidays past -- 2014 to 2019 :)

Read More

6 Scary-Ish Movies To Watch On Halloween

This post goes out to my fellow squeamish moviegoers :)

My tolerance for horror films is a hard ZERO. I've been traumatized (no exaggeration) enough times to finally accept what's good for me -- and that's to entirely avoid the genre.

However, whether I like it or not, the days leading up to Halloween are a minefield of jump scares and a general sense of looming creepiness. Even when I dodge getting peer pressured into watching the latest horror shlock, there's always the possibility of being caught off-guard by a terrifying commercial or browser pop-up at midnight in the pitch darkness of my apartment. You're not even safe in your own home!

I have a strong (enough) handle on thrillers and suspense, though. So, if you're looking for movies that will bring you juuust to the edge of fear, without ruining your sleep pattern for weeks to come, I've got you covered!

Here are six movies I got through with hardly any residual paranoia lol. Some are a little goofy, while others are straight up chilling. Truth be told, plenty of films fit into what I consider "non-scary scary movies." For this list, I tried limiting myself to new-ish ones that are easy to find online. Here we go!

  

1. A Quiet Place is great if you're in the mood for sci-fi (and don't mind having a tension headache from holding your breath for two hours).

2. Us gets very close to being too terrifying for me, but it's packed with so much cleverness and levity that getting through it is fun and, ultimately, doable.

3. The Invisible Man will make you question reality.

  

4. Ma's premise doesn't make a ton of sense -- seriously, would a bunch of teenagers hang out at some strange lady's house? Just go with it anyway and you'll be pleasantly, horrifically entertained.

5. Ready or Not is so, so ridiculous and super gory -- in a fun way lol.

6. Train To Busan for anyone in need of a good zombie fix.

Don't forget the popcorn... And maybe a blanket to hide behind from time to time ;) enjoy!

Image credit (top): House Beautiful

Read More

10 Super-Easy DIY Halloween Costumes

Since Halloween is creeping closer, I put together a handful of low- to no-effort costumes you can probably scrounge together without leaving the house. Perfect for watching scary movies on the sofa. (Because you're a smart, responsible adult who follows federal health guidelines and won't party during a pandemic.) (Right?)

Bonus points for additional props ;)

 

BUBBLE BATH -- If you have a bag of white balloons (clear would also work) and some scotch tape, then you are 75% of the way to becoming a bubble bath! A shower cap completes the look, and a loufa, back brush, or rubber duck gives you extra flair.

GUM BALL MACHINE -- Similar concept, but with a bag of large rainbow pompoms and a construction paper coin slot at your waist. I think you'll need hot glue for this costume, so make sure to choose a t-shirt you're ready to destroy lol.

  

DAMIAN FROM MEAN GIRLS -- Any Mean Girls fan is familiar with this perfect scene-stealing moment from the movie. Guaranteed, each component of this costume already lives in your house. You need a zip-front hoody (completely cinched around the face), a pair of oversized sunglasses, and a sign with Damian's iconic line.

MAGIC 8-BALL -- Special shout-out to my pregnant friends! Write your favorite Magic 8-Ball saying on a piece of construction paper (cut into a triangle), wear all black, and tape the fortune to your baby bump.

TO-DO LIST -- Load up a few dozen post-its with individual notes and reminders (real or imaginary), then stick them all over yourself. Done!

 

CHILL PILL -- This costume only really requires a colorblock outfit (you can even do a two-color shirt if you don't want to wear a skirt) with cut-out letters taped down the front. I suppose you can be any pill of your choosing, but "chill" seems like the appropriate choice for a couch-bound Halloween.

CONTESTANT FROM THE PRICE IS RIGHT -- Initially, I only thought to make the classic name tag. Then, I saw how simple it is to recreate the colorful podium (provided that you have discarded delivery boxes at home). The costume works either way! You need colorful construction paper, a thick black marker, tape or glue, plus cardboard and string (if you're also making the display). I wouldn't worry about the color-coordinated t-shirt lol.

  

THE DUDE FROM THE BIG LEBOWSKI -- I mean... You're basically wearing pyjamas, a bathrobe, and Birkenstocks. (You're going for that pleasantly shlumpy stoner vibe.) Long, messy hair and sunglasses are essential. Extra credit for toting around a rug, a White Russian, or an empty 1L milk carton.

BURGLARS -- Very straightforward, very cute! The black-and-white stripe top looks great, but an entirely black outfit also does the trick. Black gloves, black tuque, black mask (or draw one on using makeup/face paint). You definitely need a bag for your loot, and you're done! Bonus points for drawing a big dollar sign on an old tote bag.

OLD SCHOOL SHEET GHOST -- Do people ever actually dress up like this for Halloween? Because it's the route I'm taking ;)

*

So, are you wearing a costume this year? I would freakin' LOVE to see the look you whip up for the occasion!

Image credit (top): ABC7 News

Image credit (costumes): Google

Read More