Christmas Baking- Nuts and Bolts

Let me start out by saying that I'm not one of those people who start celebrating Christmas at the beginning of November. Lights, trees and decorations don't come out until December 1st at the earliest. That said, I do like to get my Christmas baking done as early as possible so that when the holidays roll around I can just relax. It also gives me extra time to eat it straight out of the freezer.

For the next couple of weeks I'm going to share some of my favorite Christmas treats starting with my mom's Nuts and Bolts. I don't know what it is about this recipe that blows every other version out of the water, but I'll continue to eat them by the handful to figure it out.

Nuts & Bolts

1 lb butter
4 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp garlic power
3 tsp onion powder
3 tsp celery salt
1 tsp marjoram
1 tsp savory
1/8 tsp cayenne
4 c Cheerios
4 c Life cereal
4 c Shreddies
Pretzels (however many you want)
2 c salted peanuts or mixed nuts
2 bags Bugles*
1 box Cheese Nips or Goldfish

Melt butter in saucepan. combine all other ingredients in large roaster. Pour butter over all and mix well. Bake at 250 for 2 hours stirring every 15 min.

This makes A LOT.

*As you may have noticed in the photo, I didn't use Bugles. I went to 3 different stores to find them and couldn't, so I used Hickory Sticks instead. Now I think I might prefer them to Bugles.

DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner

I read recently that you should clean your makeup brushes AT LEAST once a month. Uhhh, whoops! The last couple times I've bought makeup brushes, the kind woman at the cosmetics counter has asked if I have brush cleaner. I don't know why, but I always lie and say I do. I think it's because I'm already spending kind of an unreasonable amount of money on a brush and I figure I'll just get around to it later. Well, it's later. Enter homemade brush cleaner. Anti-bacterial dish soap and olive oil. That's it!

1.) Pour 2 tbsp. of dish soap and 11/2 tbsp. of olive oil on a plate
2.) Dip your brush in the solution and rub it in a circular motion in the palm of your hand. The color will start coming out of the brush

3.) Rinse the brush by rubbing it in a circular motion in your palm under warm -not hot- water
4.) Dry your brushes upside down by using clothes pins or bag clips. This keeps water from running into the handle and wrecking your brush

Voila! Clean brushes for zero extra dollars.

Ahh the Weekend

Well, we got our first snowfall and it was actually quite nice. I always love the first one, especially when the weather is still somewhat mild.

Sunday, on my way to my old apartment, I came across an amazing memorial for those who fell in World War 2. The white crosses go on and on and you can't help but think of "In Flander's Fields." It really is something to see. If you're on Memorial Drive in the next week, take some time to stop by.

I started packing up the old place. I haven't lived there for a year and a half or so and I had organized most of my stuff before I started subletting it, so I took some time to go through my keepsake bins. Wow. I was not nearly as cool when was 14 as I thought I was. It was nice to reminisce and appreciate the friendships that I've kept since then. A few more hours of sorting and cleaning and I'll officially be out of there.

Florence Friday

Happy Friday!

Tough to say which of these is more amazing.

New Florence + the Machine



Florence, Italy


What if you were listening TO Florence while IN Florence? Whoa.

*Side note- does that Florence and the Machine song scream Annie Lennox to anyone else?

Have a great weekend!

Green Calgary

Tonight Green Calgary is having their Red Wine, Blue Cheese, Green Art Gala at Hotel Arts. Unfortunately, I can't make it tonight, but I fully intend on checking out the following Green Art Market in Hillhurst this weekend. Just in time for the holidays, it'll be a great chance to check out some local artists and pick up some really cool gifts. All the proceeds go towards supporting local sustainability and all the other great things Green Calgary does. Check it out if you can!

Typography

I've always loved words and fonts. I only wish I had the talent to create beauties like these...

All found here

It's Coming...

Winter. I'm still a little in denial even though I saw snow yesterday (it didn't stay on the ground which means it doesn't count). Like most unpleasant things, I like to leave preparation for winter until the very last minute, but I'm seriously considering some proper winter gear this year.

Warm, water-proof boots for instance. These Sorels would do the trick. I don't really remember the last time I owned a pair of functional winter boots. It was probably when I was still under my parent's care, before I became too cool for warmth. I'm over that now.

I've been longing for a Canada Goose jacket ever since a trip to Whistler a few years ago. The price always deters me, but I think this is a jacket I would use for years to come. An investment piece, if you will.

Body scrub and oil. Because this skin ain't pretty this time of year. I'm loving Skoah products right now, but I've also got a few homemade body scrub recipes I'd like to try.

I'm in no hurry to experience winter, but I think the anticipation of it's arrival is almost worse. It's November. We all know you're coming. Let's do this.