Holy Cookies Batman!

This is the first year I attempted to do some real Christmas baking. Usually I intend to do a little something, but I get busy and lazy and it never happens. However, two years ago I decided to bake cookies for all my neighbours. I had five tins of chocolate dipped shortbread cookies that never left our house. In fact, by the end of the week I had devoured them all. FIVE TINS! There was so much butter in those cookies they should have come with a health warning. In the end I did those poor people a favor by taking that bullet. Sure, I gained six pounds and it probably took a couple of years off my life, but it's Christmas! It's no time to be selfish.

This year I baked like I was making up for lost time. In five days I made egg-nog cookies, sugar cinnamon cookies, chocolate dipped shortbread (ah, we meet again...), rice crispy squares in festive shapes, and brownies so chocolaty that they're obscene. I still have a couple of more things to make. Rum balls, because what is Christmas if you're not at least attempting to get blitzed on rum balls? Lastly, what has sadly become a favorite tradition at my house, Christmas Pooh. I feel this needs an explanation. When I first made these they were called Snowy Chocolate Crescents. When I shaped mine they didn't exactly look crescent shaped. They had a distinctly un-crescent shape look about them. Well, if you can't beat them join them, right? I gave in and just coiled them up! Yum! I've actually brought them to people's homes! They look mortified and confused when I hand them the box. Don't drink and bake people! It's a dangerous combination.

As of yet, I haven't eaten everything. I gave a good amount of it away. The rest I've stored in cookies tins. These tins are sitting amongst a sea of empty cookie tins. I guess it's kind of like Schroeder's Cookies. I don't know which tins have cookies in them and which don't without opening the tins. So they simultaneously are all full and empty of cookies; as long as I don't look anyways. Hmmm....I wonder if I do eat them if I am and am not six pounds heavier as long as I don't look at the scale. That sounds like pretty sound logic to me. Gosh, am I the first person to realize this?

Gingerbread Houses and New Traditions

One of the nicest things about any holiday are the traditions that accompany them. When I was young we had a few Christmas must-dos, some of which were silly, but we looked forward to them all the same. One was watching Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. Sure, It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol are more traditional, but does anyone get chased by a squirrel? Does Scrooge get tied up with a bow by Bob Crotchet's crazy brother-in-law? No, I thought not. Now that I've left the nest, so to speak, I continue to watch that movie every Christmas Eve. Did you know that the boy who plays Rusty now plays Leonard on Big Bang Theory? It's true. I'm not sure what the squirrel's up to nowadays.


Before my husband and I had any children we started a tradition of our own. We like to get a big fancy hot chocolate and tour all the brightly lit homes. We now have a good camera, so hopefully we'll get some really nice photos out of it this year. Now that we have kids, we've been anxious to start some new traditions with them as well. Last year I think we found a keeper: Gingerbread Houses!




My parents have a wonderful old log house in the country. A picture perfect setting for Christmas activities together. We bought two gingerbread houses and a TONNE of candy to decorate them with. At the time Miss. A was only two and a half, so I wasn't sure if she would sit still long enough to actually decorate anything. I was so wrong! She was very intent on her task and worked hard with her Grandma and Great-Grandma to create the perfect house.




This year we tried it again and had a great time. My mom even made one of the houses from scratch and a number of gingerbread men to decorate as well. One of the great things is how many different generations of family were involved. Aunts, Daughters, Mothers, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, and I'm sure the circle will increase as our family does. Next year Alice will be an expert and teach her little sister the tricks of the trade. I love old traditions and stories, but creating new ones with family is an extra special treat.

You Don't Have To Shop 'Till You Drop. Tips To Survive Your Holiday Shopping.

Every year I vow to do all my shopping online. Just like promising the dentist that I really will floss, I completely fail to do it. He's stopped giving me free floss now. I have literally stacks of it in my medicine cabinet. I might as well stack all my good intentions next to them, because I'm never going to do my shopping online. By the time I think of doing it, it's too close to the holiday and everything would be shipped late. If you, like me, find you have no choice to head to the mall, here are some helpful insider tips to get you through the ordeal.



1) Get Organized. You don't want to be wandering aimlessly through the mall on Christmas Eve wondering what to get everyone. (Yes I'm looking at you men) Make a list of who you need to buy for. What gifts and cards need to be shipped out and when should you have them in the mail by. Canada Post has a helpful guide on their website for you to refer to.

I find it helps to make a rough chart of who you need to buy for, ideas of what to look for, and ultimately what you ended up purchasing. Some people are easy to shop for, others not so much. A little chart you can keep in your pocket or wallet will help you stay focused.

2) Search From Home First. Once you have a general idea of what it is your looking for, search online and in flyers to see who is likely to sell what you want. You're not going to find everything at one mall or store. This will also allow you to compare price points between the retailers and make your money go further. Once you know what stores and malls to hit, you can organize your route accordingly. There's nothing more frustrating then backtracking through crowds and traffic when you could have avoided it.

3) Set a Limit. It's important to set a spending limit per person and for the items you're looking for. Overspending on one person often leads to overspending on everyone else. You know, to keep it fair. Think about what is reasonable to spend on each person on your list. That doesn't mean everyone has to be the same, just make sure there's a ceiling in place. No less important is making sure once you find a possible gift, is it reasonably priced. Don't be so desperate to cross things off your list that you'll let yourself be gauged at the register. Do your homework and spend wisely!

4) Get Out Early. This refers to two things. Firstly, don't leave your shopping until the last minute. If you can get started in November that would be great. There are less crowds and it is a lot less stressful. Of course people rarely do that. Those who do can't help but brag about it. Don't be that person! You risk immediately being put on someone's naughty list. Secondly, the early bird catches the worm. Wake up early, have a good breakfast, and get to the stores when they open. There will be less crowds and the staff will be better able to help you faster.

5) Eat! Don't leave the house on an empty tummy. Eat well and bring some snacks with you. We all know how pleasant you are when you're hungry and your blood sugar is low. Yeah, I'm talking to you. If you're out all day, stop for some lunch. Trust me. Everyone turns into three year olds when they're starving and tired. Keep your energy and spirits up!

6) You'll Catch More Flies With Honey Than Vinegar. When you're shopping and need a favor or exception made for you, be nice. The merits of this should be obvious, but many people don't get it. People are much more willing to help you if you're being respectful and reasonable. Those who are rude and demanding often don't get their way purely for that reason. Sure, the squeaky wheel gets the grease eventually. You could escalate it up the ranks, but is that what you really want to be doing right now? Plus, it's really not in the spirit of the holidays to act like such a...Grinch.

7) The When and Where of Asking Questions. You don't go to a mechanic if you have a question about your dishwasher. You need to ask the right person your question if you want to get the right answer. If you have a question about the merchandise such as the price or additional colours, ask a sales associate on working on the sales floor. They are equipped to answer these questions. If you would like a price adjustment or amendment to the return policy, ask someone that can give you a "yes". This might mean asking a sales associate to call someone for you or going to customer service. Don't stand in line and wait to ask the cashier! They are nine times out of ten not able to answer your question. This holds everyone up, including you, and will make you no friends. However, while you are at the register, ask the cashier the return policy. They are usually extended during the holidays, be aware of the deadlines. They will also have particular policies relating to how the item may be returned. Some may only issue store credit, others will return only in the tender it was purchased. Be aware of the particular return policies of the stores you purchase from. If you see it as potentially problematic, you may be able to ask the manager for an exception. Remember, be nice. If what you ask is reasonable people are more than happy to oblige.

8) Don't Leave Purchases In the Car! People are just waiting for you to do this. Often someone will dump off purchases and then go back to shop some more. Worse yet, the receipts will be in the bags! Very bad elves will watch you, brake into your car, and later return your hard shopped for gifts! I've seen it many times.

9) Make it Easy On the Giftee. Not every gift is a perfect fit. Some, regrettably, will find their way back to the store. Make the return as easy as possible. Keep tags attached wherever possible. No one wants to leave the price ticket on, but the more information the store has about your purchase, the easier and faster the return. If you can not rip off or conceal the price, keep the tickets separately in case a return might be made. Keep the receipts! If an item is returnable without one, and this is rare, they will require your personal information. Your Aunt doesn't want to give her phone number or drivers licence information away just to return a sweater.

10) Unwind Afterwards. Go home, soak your feet and enjoy a glass of wine. Or two. In fact, pick up doughnuts on the way home, your earned them.

Working Retail at Christmas? You Can't Choose You're Customers, But You CAN Choose Your Attitude

Being on the front lines during the Christmas shopping season can be a stressful endeavor for even the jolliest of hearts. At first, your heart is buoyed by the holiday music playing, the festive decorations and the merry demeanour of customers and fellow employees alike. Everyone is looking forward to the holidays and it seems to put a spring in their step. However, as the calender counts down and there are fewer days between now and "C" Day, those happy smiles tense and those footsteps lose some of their spring.

As a retail worker, whether it be at cash, customer service, the sales floor, or even in behind the scenes, it can be one of the hardest times of the year. Quite frankly, I found it took all the fun out of the holiday for me. It simply just wears the cheer right out of you. When I worked, you weren't allowed to take time off during the holidays. That meant working until 11pm Christmas Eve, Christmas Day off, and then back the next day to face the crowds looking for deals on Boxing Day. There is no time to slow down and enjoy the holiday. However, it is what it is, so you might as well make the best of it. It would be very easy to turn a difficult situation into a terrible one if you let it. You can't control a lot of things in life, but the one thing you can control is your response to it. My advice to you is choose your attitude. It is probably the one thing I learned from my former employer that has really stuck with me all these years.

There are a lot of things that can make working during this busy time of year stressful. Poor management, not enough employees on hand, scheduling conflicts, sick calls, the crowds, the noise, the increased workload, and the equally stressed out customers. Why are they playing Rocking Around the Christmas Tree for the sixth time already?? There really isn't a lot you can do about these things, they are, for the most part, out of your control. Wait, don't burn that Christmas tree down yet! How you respond may make a huge difference to how your day goes and every one's as well.

Customers are why you have a job. That's a cold hard truth. If not for them, there would be no store and you'd have a lot more time on your hands. As stressed as you and they are both, they are not the enemy! How you respond to them and your job is very important. This is the choose your attitude part. That being said, there are some difficult situations you may find yourself in. Here are some helpful tips.

1) Smile! A lot of customers are already stressed out and angry before they even get to you. Don't give them a reason to lash out. A surly expression is just the excuse some people are looking for to let off some steam. Acknowledge that they're there, say hello, smile, sympathize with how busy it is. Make eye contact. People just want to be recognized half the time.

2) Don't stand for abuse! Some customers, despite your best efforts, are looking for a fight. They can be rude and down right abusive at times. It is not your job to stand there and take it. Though perhaps some customers think it is, and that's why they think they can get away with it. If you find yourself in this situation call a manager or supervisor to diffuse the situation. That's their job. Do not lose your temper. Move on to the next customer as soon as you can.

3) They are always watching. An important thing to remember is that other customers are always watching you. How you interact with another customer has an impact on future interactions. This applies equally to how you interact with other employees too. When it's really busy, no customer wants to see a bunch of employees goofing around when they should be working. It totally peeves them off! Why shouldn't it? If they're standing in a line of fifteen people they are probably wondering why you aren't helping out. Don't add fuel to the fire!

4) Be aware and proactive. If you notice the lines are getting bigger and it's getting increasingly busier, call for back up! Call before it gets out of hand. Know who you are going to call if you think you'll need someone. If no one is available, call a manager or supervisor. Again, it's their job. You do not control how many people are working that day. At least the customer sees you're trying to do something. Be prepared! It's not just for boy scouts.

5) Pay it forward. It is the holidays after all! If you see a customer that is in need of assistance, give them a hand before they ask. Be friendly. Take an interest in what they're doing. While you're working it doesn't hurt to make a little small talk. Don't slow anyone down by any means, we're all busy these days, but it's nice to feel like a person every now and again. If another employee needs some help, by all means give them a hand! These are the sort of things that brighten a person's day! By going out of your way to make someone's day better, you make everyone's day better. Even your own.

The basic golden rule here is treat others as you'd like to be treated. You might work in retail, but you are a customer too. You have certain expectations when you're looking for assistance and on the other side of the counter. Make those your Jiminy Cricket while at work. After work, have a stiff drink and soak your feet!

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. For About The First Hour.

It's November and everyone is starting to feel the stirrings of holiday excitement! It seems as soon as Halloween is done, the very next day the stores are brimming with Christmas music and gift ideas. I have to admit it gets me in the holiday spirit! I think ahead to decorating the house, putting up the tree and visiting with all my family. It wasn't always this way though. Once apon a time I worked in retail and the sound of Frosty the Snowman filled me with dread!

In retail, as soon as the calender flips from October to November, you are existing in a perpetual state of Christmas EVERY DAY. The human psyche is just not equipment to maintain that level of holiday cheer for nearly two months straight. Not helping the matter is the holiday music play list. There are not that many songs on it. If you're only shopping you may not notice this. However, if you are in the store the whole day you're the lucky soul who gets to hear Walking In a Winter Wonderland about a dozen times. I had two saving graces that got me through the shopping season. The first was that I was in charge to doing the Christmas and other holiday displays. To your horror, I'm sure, there is a period where Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas displays are up at the same time. I'm soooo sorry! The second was that I didn't have to run a cash or, heaven forbid, work at customer service. I've done this, and it is amazingly stressful.

I have had the good fortune of working on both sides of the counter. Most people who work in retail would love if everyone has to work there at some point in their lives. It teaches you a lot about yourself, about others, and about human nature in general. I'd like to think that I have a certain amount of wisdom in this area that I can share. Granted, it's not glamorous by any means, but if you aren't learning something in whatever you're doing, you're doing it wrong. So I plan on doing two more blog posts. One from both perspectives; the retail worker and the customer. The holiday cheer can quickly run on empty when you're stressed, waiting in line FOR EVER, and generally feeling like NOTHING is going your way. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Hopefully I can provide a survival guide for both parties that will keep you all from strangling each other.

And So Begins the Charade

It seems early, but the holiday season is now in full swing! The stores are decorated to the nines and Christmas music is being piped it with a gusto! I've even seen a house with it's Christmas lights on this evening. Of course I'm sure some would be quick to point out that we haven't actually taken ours down from last year. The big difference is we won't turn them on until December. There just comes a point where you've procrastinated so long you may as well just leave them up. I doubt anyone would really notice anyways. The garland in July, however, may be a different story altogether. Meh.

Our oldest is three, and has a general idea about Christmas and Santa, but I'm not so sure how real it has been to her in the past. After all, she was only two and a half last Christmas. During work "holiday parties", she was even terrified of Santa! We've talked him up a bit since then. She's old enough now that we can plant the seeds of Santa Blackmail in her little mind. Muhahaha! "You better eat all your dinner. Santa is always watching..." Most of all though, she's at the age where we can really start to get excited about the holiday as a whole.

Today we took the kiddies to their first Santa Claus parade! I don't think Miss. A had any idea what to expect. We went with a bunch of friends and their kids too. It was a really wonderful time out with everyone, if a bit on the chilly side. When the parade started, Miss. A was curious but cautious. It wasn't long before she really got into it. She waved at all the people and the floats. When marching bands came by she was excited about the music and the instruments. "Look Mom, music!" The costumes, the candy, the floats; she waved her flag excitedly and gave out high fives to those marching by. When Santa showed up she stared at him in child like awe! Which is quite fitting what with her being three. Baby K sat and watched everything with interest. She seemed pretty happy being entertained by the events passing in front of her. She must have been because it was LONG past her nap time and she didn't fuss once. She's such a sweetie!

I'm really looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year. It's so exciting to see a little person really experience it for the first time. Miss. A is super excited. I can't wait. I feel like a kid a Christmas!