It's beginning to feel a lot like...

blank canvas: rockefeller center circa 2006

I know it's still only November, but I'm already getting giddy thinking about the holiday season. This year, I will finally have my very own Christmas tree! Growing up in a Hindu family, we didn't celebrate Christmas [though we took advantage of the Boxing Day sales!], and I did exchange gifts with friends and spent a lot of time at my cousin's place, whose house was always festive and traditional.

E grew up celebrating Christmas, and though we both don't like the commercial aspect of the holiday, we are excited to begin our own family traditions and continue those he shared with his family.

To jumpstart my ornament shopping, I joined the lovely Micaela's Ornament Swap! I was paired up with a fellow Canuck, Erin and after perusing her fantastic blog, I set out today in search of the perfect adornment for her tree. As I was walking along Queen St West in downtown Toronto I stumbled upon a fabulously ornate store called Ten Thousand Villages.

From their website:

"Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit Fair Trade Organization (FTO). FTOs are non-governmental organizations designed to benefit artisans, not to maximize profits. They market products from handicraft and agricultural organizations based in low-income countries, providing consumers with products that have been fairly purchased from sustainable sources."

I only had about 20 minutes before my parking meter ran out, so I had to move fast. [I have bad luck with trying to outrun meter-maids...] TTV had so many gorgeous ornaments decorating their faux trees that it was hard to narrow down my choices, but in those 20 minutes I managed to collect about 20 beautiful, handmade embellishments that would be perfect on almost any evergreen.

I can't share my wares just yet because I want Erin to be surprised when she receives her swap package, but as soon as my tree is up and decorated, I will be sure to post it here.

Do you celebrate Christmas? What are your holiday traditions? Have you started any of your own?

one of the ornaments i had to pass up...though i may go back for him b/c he's utterly adorable!

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Mall Walking

[ready to feast on pad sew noodles]

Recently, Indy and I ventured to a mall together. [This is a big deal since Indy already abhors shopping though I think it's more the sounds and lights in the mall than the actual shopping...he's much like his papa in this respect.] We met up with Paula, who came prepared with toys and books for Indy...and she didn't even have her own kids with her! Now that's a prepared mom!

I was amazed at the number of other moms with strollers crawling the mall and kept thinking, "Why are there so many moms here in the middle of the day?" only to realize, "Duh, I'm one of them and this is the best time for us because all the other people are at work!" Only difference? My kid wanted to run amok and touch everything while all the other babes were either sleeping or watching the world go by perched in their strollers.

Though we didn't stay as long as I could have sans bébé [that whole nap schedule thing got in the way] and I didn't buy anything for myself, we had a great day and Indio was so tired that he fell asleep before we left the parking lot. [Guess it's tiring trying to outrun your mama at every clothing rack!]

[dollar store treasures that complement the current firetruck/garbage truck obsession...just hope they don't contain BPA or whatever other chemicals I should be scared of.]

Paula and I have already set our next mall date, but this time Indio already has other plans!

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