January: January started off the shits with regular work-inspired panic attacks, sleeplessness, anxiety, etc. I discovered the joy that is wearing sweatpants. Peter and I decided to start thinking about shopping for a house.

February: Everybody was cheering on Canada at the Olympics in Vancouver (well, everybody in Canada was cheering on Canada). We started looking at homes and I continued to freak out at work.

March: In a last-ditch effort to preserve my sanity I took on the Six O'Clock Challenge with a goal of leaving the office and not checking my Blackberry after 6pm for a week. House hunting continued.

April: We went to the Dominican Republic for a week of sun, sand, and an ear infection that rendered me unable to go swimming or drink alcohol. Arriba! I turned 29 on the 29th and freaked out about it. We put in an offer on our house, and it was accepted.

May: I started my new job and immediately felt better about everything. That's all I got for May. Ummm...I went to the dentist!

June: June was spent getting ready for the big move, trying to spend time outside and soak up the sun, and settling into the new job. I started playing softball and realized how it's undoubtedly my very worst sport.

July: Moving month! We moved into our new home around the middle of July and spent a lot of the month cleaning, painting, and learning how to do things like put in light fixtures and hang curtain rods. My sister got married at the end of the month and I was her maid of honour, and I'm proud to say I only cried twice. I got my first Coach bag and promptly named him Cedric.

August: Toured a Navy boat during Fleet Week, went to the beach a few times, had my annual fried clam feast, and did a bunch of other summery activities. We murdered the ants that were plaguing our kitchen.

September: We went to Boston to see a Red Sox game, shop, drink, and visit the New England Aquarium - it was a fantastic road trip and we've already talked about going again next summer. We attended the wedding of two friends and hosted a little housewarming party. We wrapped up the softball season with a third-place finish in the league.

October: Celebrated our first Halloween in the new house with a whopping 87 trick-or-treaters. Our first wedding anniversary was also in October and we went to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon to celebrate - both were amazing. Spent Thanksgiving in New Brunswick and picked a gazillion apples.

November: Attempted NaBloPoMo. Failed. Attempted the 30 for 30 Remix Challenge. Succeeded! I made 30 different outfits from 30 different pieces of clothing and didn't shop all month in November! (I still haven't posted the pictures...eeee.) I was a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding. We also brought home our little Rory Calhoun.

December: Celebrated our first Christmas in the new house. Cuddled the puppy. Visited with our families and friends. Felt cozy, happy, and loved.

It's been a great year.

Christmas was wonderful this year. Zero drama, lots of board games, 5,000 extra calories per day, and enough booze to float a barge. And now it's over, and I've been in a steady downward spiral of sulk for the past three days.

New Year's Eve is my least favourite day of the entire year and the days leading up to it always blow. This year? No exception. After all the fun and frolic is over, the presents are opened and the advent calendar is tossed, there's nothing else to look forward to - just the end of the year looming and a new one about to begin, which, to me, is less about a clean slate and new opportunities and more about scary unknowns and potential for things to go wrong.

Plus, I hate making New Year's Eve plans. New Year's Eve has such high expectations attached to it. For me, staying awake until midnight is an achievement in itself. Dressing up on top of that? Making plans? Partying like a rockstar? Forget it. I always feel like being a hermit on New Year's. I hate the whole idea of being out and surrounded by crowds of people who are also out and all dressed up in their sparkly Le Chateau finery freshly purchased in the Boxing Day sales and having the Best! Time! Ever! because they feel obligated to. I'm just not feeling it.

Christmas went way too quickly and I'm bummed. I love the feelings of family and togetherness and warm, cuddly, coziness the holidays bring. I hate when it ends and everyone's their usual bitchy, petty selves and it's no longer appropriate to wear flannel pyjamas all day long to guard against the cold weather. I wish everybody was Christmas-kind all year long. I really wish I could hibernate from now until the spring. For me, winter stops being fun about the same time the egg nog expires. Once Christmas is over it`s all about windchill factors and pasty skin and chapped lips and failed resolutions for three months.

I definitely need a winter hobby or a project to get me out of my funk. I`m starting a list of things to keep me busy...writing projects, crafts, and some decorating things to spruce the house up over the winter. What are your suggestions for avoiding the winter blahs?

The past few weeks have been a mega-emotional, sleep-deprived sprint to the end of the year fueled by caffeine, alcohol, and apparently, based on the volume of tears shed, hormones. Every minute has been crammed with things to do, places to be, people to see. Everyone has been working like a maniac trying to finish off projects before the Christmas holidays, everyone's tired out, and everyone's fighty and nitpicky. I love this time of year but hate the tension in the air - the way it feels like everyone's been stretched to their very limit, like giant rubber bands that are either going to bounce back to normal over the holidays, or completely snap.

I'm really looking forward to the break. I feel like it's been go, go, go for us all year long. Last winter was a complete gong show for me at work. In the spring, we were busy house-hunting, and I started my new job. Summer was consumed by getting the house and getting settled, and then in the fall there were a couple of trips, bringing home Rory, and adjusting to life with a dog. It has been a terrific year full of blessings and it's going to be nice to be able to put the brakes on for a few days, relax, reflect on 2010 a little and get ready for next year.

Today is my last day of work before the break and I've been making lists of holiday do's and don'ts that I will and will not be partaking in over the next several days.

I will:
+lounge around in my Barbie pyjamas for spans of 24-plus hours
+spend obnoxious amounts of time playing Scattergories, Monopoly, Cranium and any other board games on hand and beg +and bribe people as much as necessary to get them to play with me
+eat all the walnuts and cashews out of the bowls of mixed nuts, leaving only the peanuts and greasy peanut skins
+force the dog to wear antlers and pose for a photoshoot
+offer Peter the top bunk when we go to visit my family

I will not:
+drink coffee that doesn't contain Christmas cheer (i.e. booze)
+go on or anywhere near the Internet for several days (byeeeeee blog! and Twitter! And book of faces!)
+swear on Christmas day
+make stupid faces when the camera comes out
+wear anything that doesn't have an elastic waistband

Merry Christmas, Happy (belated) Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, happy Festivus, happy weekend...whatever you're into, I hope you have a lovely time. I will be back after Christmas, after all the merrymaking dies down and it's time for shit to get real again, with the always fun New Year's Resolutions post. Cheers!

1. Dogs do not go to university. Fun fact: if you have a baby today, the projected cost of his or her tuition at a public university for four years is $257,113 (a whopping $524,579 for tuition at a private college. Side note, my eggs better start looking for part-time after school jobs NOW if they want to get some book learnin' in God knows how many years when we decide to grace the planet with offspring). Tuition for dogs: $0.

2. Dogs don't dirty diapers. I would rather pick up Rory's Tootsie Roll-esque turds off the sidewalk and carry them around in a little baggie any day, when the alternative is wiping up diarrhea that looks like guacamole. Bonus point for dogs: they poop twice a day and they are predictable, unlike babies, who spew from both ends pretty much non-stop, so I've been told.

3. Dogs love you no matter what. Your adolescent dog isn't going to decide to hate you one day. They are loyal to a fault. Conversely, your kids will probably wish you dead hundreds of times in their lives.

4. Shopping for dogs is cheaper than shopping for children. You can get a dog a $4 bag of treats and a $2 chew toy for Christmas and it'll be like winning the lottery. You can't give a child a $4 bag of treats and a $2 chew toy and expect them to be satisfied. On the Santa Claus call-in show on the radio, the other night, a kid asked for a new laptop, PS3, and an iPod touch. A dog would never do that.

5. Dogs do not need a room full of furniture to call their own. They're OK with a corner, a soft blanket and a little carrier.

6. Dogs don't cry when you throw snow in their faces.

7. Dogs don't swear or ask you where babies come from.

8. Dogs don't need to be bathed very often, and when you do wash them, you get to laugh at how skinny and teeny they look with their fur all soaked.

9. You don't have to have "the talk" with dogs. Although apparently they can still get STDs.

10. Rewarding dogs with food when they do something good is not only OK, it's encouraged.

Edit: I forgot some really obvious ones:

You don't need to push a 10-pound dog out your vagina to acquire it.
You don't need to give up coffee and booze for 9 months when you decide to get one.
You LOSE weight with a new dog (all those walks!) instead of gaining it.

I think the advantage is pretty obvious.


Bonus: They're sooooooooooo cute. Proof?


Much better than the alternative.

When I was a little 'un, I loved me some Kraft Dinner. I demanded it for every meal. The way my parents tell it, I sometimes ate it for lunch and supper for several weeks straight, so the fact that I wasn't riddled with rickets and scurvy as a toddler is pretty much a miracle. Just the sight of my mom shaking that little pouch of neon-orange 'cheese' powder before pouring it over the soggy noodles and mixing it up made me salivate like a Pavlovian dog. And speaking of dogs, I would also lick my plate after finishing my KD to get every last taste of the cheesy sauce. It's safe to say that I would have married Kraft Dinner if it were legal.

Once I started school, my Kraft Dinner consumption dipped sharply, but at least once a week I'd eat a big plate of the brilliant orange noodles, sometimes with a side of vegetables or chicken strips, sometimes on its own in all its processed and unnatural glory. In college, Kraft Dinner took a backseat to the newly discovered and exciting alternative: Lipton Sidekicks. In the same amount of time and for the same amount of money I could have a "fancy" meal! Like Fettucine Alfredo or Creamy Carbonara Noodles! I felt like a baller eating my linguine-with-androgynous-chickeny-powder-mix straight from the pot, instead of ghetto-fab KD.

I was out on my own. An adult. Adults don't eat Kraft Dinner. They eat tri-coloured rotini with a mysterious, lumpy, sour-milk-smelling white powder on it masquerading as creamy alfredo sauce.

Then I became enamoured with all things healthy. All of a sudden, info like fibre content, fat grams, calories and carbs became grossly important and mixing cooked noodles with packets of neon-coloured powdered flavouring suddenly seemed like a horrible idea. My old standbys, Sidekicks and KD, stayed on the grocery store shelves in favour of things like baby spinach and Special K and boneless skinless chicken breasts.

I understand this is a lot of backstory about my eating habits but BEAR WITH ME.

Last Wednesday was one of those days - not a bad day per se, but decidedly 'meh'. I came home from work, all bitchypants and ravenous and ready to stress-eat the shit out of a carton of candy cane ice cream. Peter picked up on my mood and wisely decided to make supper:



...white cheddar Kraft Dinner.

The verdict? This was one of my favourite meals I've had in a looooong time. So simple and so undecidedly un-nutritious but absolutely comforting. We classed it up a bit with some red wine. I ate seconds and didn't think twice about the carb-loading. It was creamy and cheesy and delicious. It probably cost about 50 cents for each of us. Ahhhhhmazeballs. Way cheaper than therapy and probably just as effective. KD has earned a regular spot in my pantry once again. It's the circle of life.

I have been listening to the 24/7 Christmas music radio channel for a week now, in the car, at work, at home, everywhere I go. This means I have heard every Christmas song at least 20 times, even the really horrible ones, like "Christmas Shoes". It has also given me a chance to really listen to the lyrics.

The most disturbing conclusion I have come to is that "Baby It's Cold Outside" was just a 40's version of "Blame It On the Alcohol". As in, uber creepy. Let's take a look:


I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour

The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight
To break the spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

C'mon baby

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh darling, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm - Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Man, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before

I've got to go home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - I thrill when you touch my hand
But don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

(Lyrics courtesy of http://www.stlyrics.com)

Um. Creepy. HOW IS THIS A FEEL-GOOD CHRISTMAS CAROL? Can't you just imagine some smarmy smooth operator with slicked-back hair trying to feel you up while you're just trying to politely enjoy your whiskey sour? It reminds me of trying to extract myself from the unwelcome embrace of a slurring, Jagerbombing cheesedick at the Alehouse. NOT GOOD.

Behold the lyrics to "Blame It On The Alcohol" (paraphrased a bit because this song is actually THE LONGEST SONG OF ALL TIME):

Blame it on the goose
Got you feeling loose
Blame it on Patron
Got you in the zone
Blame it on the a a a a a alcohol
Blame it on the a a a a a a alcohol

Ay she say she usually don't
But I know that she front
Cause shawty know what she want
But she don't wanna seem like she easy
I ain't saying what you wont do
But you know we probably gonna do
What you been feeninn deep inside
Don't lie now

Girl what you drinking ?
Gonna let sink in
Here for the weekend
Thinking
We can
See what we can be if we press fast forward
Just one more round and you're down I know it
Fill another cup up
Feeling on yo butt what ?

You don't even care now
I was unaware how fine you were before my buzz set in, before my buzz set in...

Oh see
She spilled some drank on me
And now I'm knowing she's tipsy
She put her body on me
And she keep staring me right in my eyes
No telling what I'm gonna do
Baby I would rather show you
What you been missing in your life when I get inside.

(T-PAIN !)

Girl I know you feel good
Dancing like you look
Couple more shots you open up like a book
I ain't trippin? (cause I'm a read ya)
Shawty I ain't trippin? (I just want to please ya)
I'm a take a shot of nuvo
Shawty then you know
It's goin? down we can go and kick it like judo (judo)
You know what I mean
Shawty got drunk thought it all was a dream
So I made her say ahh, ahh ahh
Now she got her hand on my leg
Got my seats all wet in my ride (all wet in my ride)
All over my ride (all over my ride)
She look my dead in the eye, eye eye
Then my pants got bigger
She already knew what the bigger
Had her looking her boyfriend like ahhh ahhh

Now to tha ballas popin' bottles
With their Henny in their cups
Screaming money ain't a thang
If it ain't throw it up in the skyyy (sky)
And hold your dranks up highhhh (high)
And to my independent mamas
Who can buy their own bottles
If you looking like a model
When them broke fellas holla
Tell them byeee (bye)
Hold your drinks up highhhh (high)

(Lyrics courtesy http://www.azlyrics.com>

SO.

Let's compare.

Baby It's Cold Outside: sung by a horny man.
Blame It On The Alcohol: sung by a horny man.

Baby It's Cold Outside: attempts to get a girl drunk in order to hook up with her.
Blame It On The Alcohol: attempts to get a girl drunk in order to hook up with her.

Baby It's Cold Outside: alludes to boners ("I thrill when you touch my hand")...we all know that thrill means sport massive wood
Blame It On The Alcohol: alludes to boners ("She look my dead in the eye, then my pants got bigger")

Baby It's Cold Outside: sounds like a horrible defense in a sexual assault trial ("But...but...it was snowing! It was up to her knees out there!"
Blame It On The Alcohol: sounds like a horrible defense in a sexual assault trial ("But...but...she got her hand on my leg! Got my seats all wet in my ride! All wet in my ride!")

Conclusion: they are the same song. And they are both disgusting. Gentlemen never existed and ladies in the 40s were still getting hit on by creepers - they just had better grammar.

Today's Ten on Tuesday questions can be found here!

1. What is your favorite kind of cheese?
I have to pick just one? But...but I don't want to hurt the others' feelings. I love my cheese and I love them all (almost) equally. I like a nice mozzarella for everyday and brie for fancy times.

2. Do you prefer fudge with or without nuts?
Without - nuts just add confusion.

3. How do you feel about cats?
Cat-people, you might want to skip to #4. The truth is I don't love cats. In college I lived in a house with five disgusting cats and one of them used to poop/throw up (I'm not sure what it was) on my bed and pillow at least once a week. I hate how they scratch around in their litter box covering up their turds and then 30 seconds later they're roaming around on the kitchen counters and table. They're dirty and mean and snotty.

4. Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts?
Can I say neither? I'll go with Julia Roberts just because I liked Pretty Woman.

5. Do you wear a watch?
I have two watches and I wear them both occasionally. One is Gucci and one's from Walmart - what does that say about my personality?

6. What are a few of your favorite songs from the 90′s?
So many...I have songs that remind me of different grades. Wonderwall by Oasis and Santa Monica by Everclear will always remind me of Grade 9. Ghetto Superstar, Grade 11. Obviously there was no theme to my 90's music choices!

7. Do you like scented candles?
Yes, in moderation. I have a pumpkin spice one that I really like and we got some that smell juuuuuust like Christmas trees, which are my favourites.

8. What do you like on your hamburger?
If I'm out drinking we'll go to McDonald's drive-thru (I'm not the one driving obviously) so I can get a cheeseburger dressed like a Big Mac. If we're at home making burgers I just like ketchup, mustard, maybe mayo, and some cheese. I also am a big fan of the peanut butter burger. Don't knock it till you try it!

9. How often do you cut your fingernails?
Not sure - I just file them when they need it.

10. Do you sleep in socks?
Not very often. I used to always wear socks to bed and kick them off in the night. Peter hates it when I wear socks to bed so sometimes I do it to be a brat.

I have been reading Reverb 10 posts on a lot of blogs since December began, half wishing I was participating and half secretly grateful I hadn't signed up for yet another venture that would no doubt become an epic flop as the holidays take over my mind, body and soul (anyone remember NaBloPoMo?)

But I liked yesterday's Reverb prompt so much I couldn't help but jump on the bandwagon for a minute:

What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

1. Gucky nail polish. Ladies, I know you feel me on this one. Nail polish is cheap. It lasts for years. Every season, you buy brand new colours because it's a quick, affordable and easy way to update your look. As a result, I have probably 50-60 nail polishes when all I really like to wear are a few darks, one nice red, a couple nudes, some summery brights and one sparkly little number. Solution? Throw out everything that's separated into two very distinct layers in its little bottle. Anything I owned in college is gone. Duplicate colours are dunzo (really, how many bubblegum pinks do you need?)

2. Dark circles. See also: dull skin, cranky mornings, overcaffeination. This year, I will go to bed when I'm tired. No more doing "one more quick thing" before hitting the hay. I hate being sleepy and in 2011 I want to get fully caught up on my rest and if that means going to bed at 8:00 some nights, so be it.

3. Messes. I don't clean our house nearly enough. It's CLEAN but it always ends up being a crazy Saturday-killer because things have piled up all week (or weeks) long. I love having a clean house but I hate wasting a Saturday to get one. Solution: I am going to start planning things to clean here and there throughout the week. It's not like I'm going to feel like scrubbing the toilets on a Tuesday after work but the more little things we can do during the week, the fewer Saturdays need to be wasted with Mr. Clean.

4. Clutter. Magazines from 2003. Shoes with soles that are completely worn through. Random Tupperware lids with no containers that they fit. I hope to get rid of lots of junk in 2011, and find a place for other things. Photos in albums. CDs in sleeves. Files backed up. Receipts organized. How will I do it? A rainy day, my iPod and some boozy coffee to get me through.

5. Chequing account insanity. Right now, my paycheck goes into my chequing account which also comprises my savings account, my emergency fund...this is no good. This year I will finally get my finances in order. My goal initially is to track my spending for three months - every penny that comes in and goes out - and then to take it to a financial advisor to help me set up a savings plan I can handle. I'm not saving for anything too specific - retirement and perhaps a house renovation fund and a vacation fund. But I know the chequing account thing is horrendous. I need to make my money work harder!

6. Flab. I have a gym membership, and I'm in there five days a week, faithfully. Problem: I eat chocolate and cheese, seven days a week, faithfully. Solution: sparkpeople.com. I used this site a few years ago to track all my food and exercise and lost about 30 pounds as a result. I have kept the weight off, but lately I've been feeling a little frumpalicious. I want to get back on the wagon and tone up in 2011 and hopefully turn 30 in April in the best shape of my life.

7. Unnecessary cheapie purchases. Next year I hope to buy fewer, but nicer, things. Instead of buying three new pairs of shoes that are on sale for $30 each but that I feel ho-hum about, I want to buy one pair for $90 that I really love. (But only when I need them!)

8. Lost time. Dicking around on the Internet is probably my worst habit. I want to spend less time arsing around creeping Twitter feeds and celebrity gossip and actually do things that I love: writing (NOT Tweeting). Baking. Playing my piano. Spending time outside with my hubby and dog. Seeing friends. Watching movies. It's not like I'll be on my deathbed one day saying, "shit, I wish I'd tweeted more."

9. Torture device bras. For some reason I have a drawer full of bras with underwires that dig in, straps that won't stay put, elastic going all cockamamie, WHY?! Why do I hold on to ratty old bras like they're Starbucks stocks? I don't even have boobs anyway.

10. Not knowing what to say. I am the worst at instigating a conversation, like if I'm at a networking event or a group thing where I don't know people. I never know how to introduce myself or how to start a conversation. I'm not shy - I'm just not good at kicking things off. The fix: I will make a list (how geeky does this sound) of topics to ask people about upon first meeting them. I promise I'm not as much of an antisocial loser as this makes me sound. MOVING ON...

11. Losing track. There are so many things happening, day to day, and I forget. In 2011 I want to get back to writing in my paper journal, if not every day, at least several times a week, as well as taking pictures more often and using the video camera we got as a wedding gift to record snippets from our lives. We've only used it twice so far and there's so much stuff that would be great to document - Rory as a puppy, making changes in our house, and so many other little things that will be awesome memories one day (if we can remember them).

...these are a few of my favourite things.

[+] a thin-crust cheese pizza and a (big) glass of red wine after a long day at work
[+] A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch (the old cartoon version, not pre-skankalicious Little J as Cindy Lou Who), Mickey's Christmas Carol, and Rudolph


[+] making a Friday night date to decorate the tree and drink Bailey's
[+] sparkly gold nail polish that I might consider ugly any other time of the year

(currently wearing: Wet 'n Wild Shield)

[+] HGTV
[+] Grooveshark
[+] Joe Fresh Barbie pj's


[+] advent calendars (and the fact that I have a Disney Princess advent calendar. And eat my chocolate before I get out of bed every morning. And I'm 29.)

(Don't act like you wouldn't.)

What are some of your favourite things these days?

Also...how in the bloody hell is it December 9 already?

My shopping habits have changed dramatically since we moved to suburbia extraordinaire in July, and by 'changed', I mean 'disappeared'. Gone are the days of leaving our apartment building and walking for less than a minute before we were sipping on elaborate caffeinated drinks with approximately 40 names and 4,000 calories and browsing in our favourite bookstore. 'Getting coffee' now means 'going into the kitchen and brewing some Maxwell House', or driving to find some mass-produced drive-thru swill. More of my clothing purchases than I care to admit have come from Joe Fresh at Superstore or Winner's in Bedford. Shopping now means driving 20+ minutes, and as a result, shopping trips are fewer and farther between.

When I was asked to participate in the Shop Fashionably Late event at Bishop's Landing on the Halifax waterfront, I couldn't say yes fast enough. To break it down, five local bloggers were invited to come to Bishop's Landing on Friday night to participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange. We were each given $50.00 and one hour to shop for gifts for another blogger. Shopping with SOMEONE ELSE'S MONEY?! Getting to scope out the selection at Bishop's Landing? Browsing in the kind of shops where you can't purchase winter tires, milk, shampoo, Christmas lights and tampons in one place? Heavenly.

So Friday night, myself and the other four bloggers met up at Cafe Ristretto for delicious lattes, coffee, squares and cookies, picked up our gift certificates and our instructions, and drew our names. I chose Anthony's name. Ooooh, this was going to be hard. I've read his blog but I had no idea what would make a good gift.

My first stop was easy - everyone likes booze, right? I beelined for Bishop's Cellar, which is an amazing wine store in Bishop's Landing. I've been there before and love not only their selection of wines and the fact that they're open late at night, but also their staff. They are absolutely fabulous, helpful, and know their wine without being snotty about it. Quite the opposite, actually. I told them I had $25 to spend and wanted a really nice red and was promptly shown what is supposed to be a fantastic red wine. I wish I could remember the name of it! (What's nice is that it's saved on my file so next time I'm in they can look it up and I can buy it again.)

With half my money spent, I had another $25 to use wisely. I chose to head to Rum Runners Rum Cake Factory to get a little something sweet to go with the wine. Again, the girl behind the counter was super helpful and friendly. She let me sample the various cakes (traditional rum cake, chocolate rum cake, and whiskey cake). I decided to pick up some of the whiskey cake. It tasted less boozy and more like a spice cake and set me back about $7.00 for a small package. It had been made fresh that day.

I finished off my gift card at the One Stop Wood Shop. This place is a gem. Full of beautiful woodworking, art, and furniture, every piece is unique and of exceptional quality. Again - awesome staff (Bishop's Landing is like the Disneyland of Halifax - the happiest place in the city). I selected a bowl made out of eco-glass, which I found out from the clerk is actually recycled pop bottles from Spain. Giddyup. $15 plus tax later, I'd spent all my moolah and the best part of an hour.

Back at the cafe we swapped presents and it felt just like Christmastime. I was thrilled with my gift: a wooden candleholder made from a tree that was uprooted during Hurricane Juan, a tube of pink lip gloss which has been going everywhere with me since Friday, and a bottle of awesome pinot grigio, which just so happens to be my favourite kind of wine.

There will be another Shop Fashionably Late event at Bishop's Landing this Friday, December 10 and if you are in the Halifax area it's worth checking out. In addition to the stores I visited there are a few beautiful clothing, jewelry, and accessory shops that are real hidden gems I didn't know existed, as well as a cigar store and some great restaurant options no matter what your palate. If there's someone you're having a hard time shopping for, I guarantee you'll find something nice at Bishop's. The stores are not crowded and the staff in all the shops I visited were more than helpful. The merchandise is unique. And there were carolers - I'm feeling Christmasy just thinking about it! Go go go!