walking in a winter wonderland

(Me at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square)

The other day Steve and I were in Toronto and wandered around the city checking out the new AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) since it underwent some major renovations by Architect Frank Gehry. The transformation is quite amazing, so if you are in the Greater Toronto Area, I would urge to go and see it in person, and if on a budget like most of us, go on Wednesday after 6 pm for free, if you don't mind waiting in a long line outside for abit...it was well worth the 15 minute wait in the cold, thankfully the hot noodle soup we had warmed us up wonderfully! We art-gazed for a full 2 hours after enjoying a delicious cheap dinner in Chinatown at our fave Vietnamese resto 'Pho Hung'. We love our Pho!

(skaters at Nathan Phillips Square)

After the art and pho, we checked out the holiday decorations in Eaton Centre and Nathan Phillips Square, but skipped skating due to being too tired after walking through a gallery for 2 whole hours, so we watched the skaters instead while sipping some hot chocolate. It was a very nice day, even though we didn't get to skate or shop much. Since Steve is in school for the next year and a half, we are on a strict budget. That's okay, our closets and our house is pretty cluttered anyway!! I'm trying to make most of my gifts, which is a good thing, since crafts made with love are usually much appreciated, i think. I hope they are! My niece Melissa and I recently made fun fabric houses that are lavender scented. We scoured through tons of fabrics, buttons and trims to create our own unique versions of home sweet home....or rather home scent home, since they are filled with lavender buds. They are great to prop up on your bed or sofa....I may be adding some to my shop soon!

(fabricated houses made by Melissa & Me)

(back of fabricated houses)

(hall table with Christmas cards I made)

I've been so behind with doing Christmas related stuff....wrapping and sending gifts, decorating the inside and outside of the house, baking, etc....but we did manage to get our tree the other day, although it took quite a long time to make sure it pointed straight up, with Steve having to take it back outside to do some sawing. It is now standing perfectly straight and is decorated too. I really need to get busy and attend to my other Christmas preparations. Only another week and a half til the big day! Yikes!

(City Hall at Nathan Phillip Square in holiday hues)