In the spirit of the Christmas season approaching, I thought it was essential to share a tradition that is near and dear to my heart.

Every year, I bake my Nana and Grandad’s famous Cherry Cake for Christmas.

Let me tell you – I am not a cake person by any means, but this Cherry Cake is one of my most favourite pastime traditions at Christmas.

Every time I bake this recipe, the aroma of the smell brings me back to memories of when I was a little girl in my grandparents house.

I reminisce of memories of them and visions of having a ‘spot’ of tea with a piece of Cherry Cake in their kitchen.
It’s my absolute favourite.

Here is the Recipe if you all would like to try it:

In spirit of the long weekend, I thought I would write a camping post.

If you enjoy CAMPING then this post is for you! My family and I absolutely LOVE Camping. It’s been a haven for us to enjoy family time and the outdoors. The kiddo’s love to bike, play games, swim at the local beaches and make smores and hotdogs by the fire.

If you plan on visiting the Fraser Valley anytime soon, I’m including some of my favourite local camping spots for you to visit that I think you may enjoy. Not to mention we have lot’s of sunshine here in the Fraser Valley every year, making it one of the best places to go camping; no matter if you’re in an RV or tenting.

Here are a few local spots I think you will love:

It’s that time of year again, long summer nights, days spent by the water, and kids always looking for something new to do. For parents, it can be a struggle to find something exciting to do with the family, especially one that’s COVID friendly. We have created a list of activities below that will hopefully help create new summer memories.

Kraus Berry Farm

Starting in 1974 with just 1 acre of strawberries, Kraus Berry Farm has grown to over 200 acres growing and producing some of the best berries and vegetables in the Valley. Today, the on-site Harvest kitchen produces over 100 homemade products ranging from baked goods, fudge and ice cream. Not only do they produce delicious baked goods, but they also are home to award winning fruit wine. Saddle up to their wine tasting bar and enjoy their variety of wines. Kraus Berry Farm is a destination to be enjoyed by everyone.

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” — Randy Pausch.

I hope this season finds you safe and well. Many of us have had to get creative connecting with friends and family. As we move into the holiday season, I feel that connecting and showing gratitude will go further and will mean more this year than ever. Here are a few thoughtful gift ideas that you could send a loved one to show your gratitude. 

When thinking about shopping this season, consider buying local. I sincerely hope you have a wonderful holiday season. If there’s anything that I can do to help you and your family this year, please reply to this email or give me a call.

This year, I know many families are leaning on traditions (or creating new ones) to keep the holiday season as jolly as possible.

Here are some unusual and fun ideas to try with your family this winter – including the one my family made up!

SECRET SURPRISES: Put together a gift basket for someone in your neighbourhood, and leave it on their doorstep to make them smile. Whether it is silly or sweet, the size doesn’t matter. It’s about letting someone know you are thinking of them.

THE CHRISTMAS PICKLE: Hide a pickle in the tree, and the first person to find it gets a small extra gift. Sure, you can buy a pickle ornament, but I suggest you go crazy and hide a real dill pickle in there!

WINTER SOLSTICE: The shortest, darkest day of the year is celebrated around the world by many cultures. Look up the traditions of your ancestors, or make up your own! Whether you spend the day in pyjamas or make your own lanterns, here are some ideas to get you started: https://www.rd.com/list/winter-solstice-traditions/

FIND A CHRISTMAS TREE:CLARK GRISWOLD STYLE
This past year my family and I created a new tradition for our family. Have you ever watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? In the movie, Clark Griswold created this tradition every Christmas to take his family into the ‘Great Outdoors’ to find the ‘Perfect’ Christmas Tree.

We’ve now started this same tradition. The only difference is we don’t cut down the largest tree where the branches shatter the windows in our house, and flying squirrels don’t attack our family (thank goodness!).

It’s those “small” moments, when you drink hot chocolate with your children in the fresh mountain air that remind you: these traditions are what my children will remember and will tell their children, and maybe even carry on every holiday as well. And if you haven’t watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, it’s definitely worth a watch this holiday season. Christmas wouldn’t be the same for us without watching that movie!

What does your family do every year? Share your special traditions in the comments. Who knows? Maybe you’ll inspire someone to try something new.

Is your pantry a little out of control? Fall is the perfect time to get it back into shape. As the season changes, you’ll probably find yourself cooking different meals. 

Here are a few tips to get your pantry organized for the new season. 

I don’t know about you, but I feel less stressed when things are organized. I hope these tips help you get ready for the new season. If you’re interested in finding a new home with a better pantry, I’m here to help.