Christmas Greetings, Wishes, Quotes and SMS Messages! #happyholidays #merrychristmas #quotes #sms

Brianna, © 2022 thismomneedswine.com

Christmas is a marvelous time of the year. Your wait is over and it's time to welcome family and friends with your love and gifts. It's a time of year that many go to church, cook delicious meals and spend time with family. Apart from this take some time out from your busy schedule to share Christmas love and cheer with your loved ones, near and far.

Christmas comes from the words 'Christ' and 'Mass', meaning the day the Mass of Christ is held. The mass is to celebrate the birth of Jesus but not his actual birthday. Pope Julius 1 officially declared that the celebration of the birth of Jesus would be on the 25th December, somewhere between years 335 CE and 345 CE. Little did he know it would spread to so many cultures and religions.

 
With Christmas being one of the biggest Christian holidays, it has grown well beyond religion and celebrated by many around the world. It's a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who to Catholics consider to be the son of God. However, it's grown to become a festival around the world to celebrate with your family and friends. On this special day it's a great time to send a message to all your loved ones, especially whether you're meeting them on that day or not. Here's some ideas for messages via SMS, and social media greetings that you can send them.

Getting Ready for the Holidays #christmas #elfonshelf #recipes #parenting

Elfie, © 2022 thismomneedswine.com

I can't believe how quick time passes. It feels like just yesterday I put the Christmas tree up along with all the other holiday decorations. I had put everything up at the end of November, thinking that it was too soon. It actually feels like it hasn't been up long enough... just this weekend is Christmas. I feel like there's so much I still have to do before the big day. Once again I'm having Christmas eve dinner at my place... feels weird saying my place, since it's four generations under one roof now. Part of the family will be coming for dinner, and I'm making Italian food. On the menu is my vegetarian lasagna... using my famous homemade spaghetti sauce, meatballs (new recipe - posting soon), caesar salad with homemade dressing, and garlic bread. This year I'm not doing any appetizers other then chips with salsa. I want to relax and actually enjoy the company, instead of being stuck in the kitchen the whole time. Even though it's open concept on the main floor, when I'm in the kitchen cooking I feel like I still miss out on conversations.

This past week I've also been trying to conquer getting my daughter to sleep in her own room. Yes, I know she's too old to be sleeping in my bed. I originally let her after the move to Barrie, but time passed too quickly. Now that we've been living at this house for over a year, I finally put my foot down about her being in her own room. I've been using the Elf on the Shelf as an excuse to sleep in her own bed. I told her that Alfie only comes alive at night when children are asleep in their own bed... which is true in my house! So since Alfie came out of hiding from the decoration boxes, when she slept in her room he would come out and play. One night he was hiding on the staircase, and another night he was hanging from her bedroom light fixture. Last night he was hanging out on her headboard watching her sleep... okay, that's slightly creepy when I think of it! But using Alfie as a tool to get her to sleep in her own bed, has actually started working. She's come into my room a couple times in the early morning, and crawled into my bed to cuddle a couple times, but she's doing really good. 

It's been a crazy 6 months - #moving #family #stressed #anxiety

Grandma & Brianna, © 2021 thismomneedswine.com

It's been a long time since I've written anything on this blog, and I'm a bit disappointed about it. I started this blog many years ago as a form of therapy, and it helped me quite a bit. After I built a following, I almost felt like I couldn't fully be myself anymore... especially since some family members and people from work followed me. I guess at some point I kind of gave up and just went on with my life, and just struggled with some issues. So much has changed within the past year, and I can't believe it flew by so quick. 

What's new with me? Well, I sold the condo that I was renting out and bought a house. Instead of two households (mom and grandma, and me and my daughter), all four generations are under the same roof. We moved from Toronto, Ontario to Barrie, Ontario... and I'm so happy to have moved away from the big city. I was getting tired of the possibility of violence, and the fast paced action of the city. 

Save Money With These Gift Exchange Ideas #savingmoney #giftguide

Remember the old days when magazines dominated the casual reading pleasure? Those big, thick, colorful catalogs showing brand new consumer products from your favorite giant department stores? Think Sears, Macy’s, FingerHut and others to take you back to those times. These days, however, with the explosion of the internet, you can simply search for the same things online - without bothering to wait for the absent magazines which, by the way, you will never see again as you did in the 90's and early 2000's.

Today, picking the gifts you want has been made ever easier by Amazon Gift Lists, various registries (non-wedding and wedding alike), and gift exchange websites that are outright dedicated to helping you choose. In the following, we try to recapture some of the new Christmas spirit, by focusing on wonderful gifts that speak more from the heart than they do from the wallet.

1. A Remembrance of Things Past
What does this mean, exactly? Well, in addition to being the title of a famous work of literature, this simply means you should catalog the wonderful time your family has together this Christmas. Things may not always be the same - in fact, it’s pretty much guaranteed they won’t, as children grow up and start their own families, etc - so a family journal is a great idea to preserve the memories. Spend a bit on a lovely, embroidered notebook for the collection of short, sweet thoughts from family members throughout the year. By the end of the year, you can all read them together by the fireplace.

How to Have a Toddler-Friendly Christmas

Brianna, © 2017 aspicyboycatandmyfatass.com

When you have a toddler in the house, it's hard to have nice decor, especially when it comes to Christmas decorations. They seem to always get played with, chewed on, broken or lost. This year with my toddler, my desire to decorate went up against my desire to not have my home destroyed. I had to make some major compromises. I have a toddler that's walking, and is super excited and curious about the fun decorations. She loves and has to touch and play with everything, and somehow always has sticky fingers! She also seems to love to try and eat everything that she can get her hands on.

Luckily since my experience from last year, I have come up with some tips for toddler-proofing Christmas. If you have a toddler or a mobile baby, your are going to wanna pay attention!

Shatterproof Ornaments
I have come to the conclusion that no matter how high you hang an ornament, your toddler will find a way to get to the one she wants. Yes, the ornament will somehow end up on the ground and used like a ball. If you have shatterproof ornaments, it wouldn't be a problem. You would still find them in corners all over the home, but at least they will be in one piece.

Fake Trees Only
Pay close attention to what your tree is made of. The reason you don't want a real Christmas tree, is when you have a toddler, and the tree starts drying out, it will create a huge mess. They will want to play with the water at the bottom of the tree, as well as the stuff that falls from the branches.Just go fake... it's so much easier. Just make sure that the tree is non-toxic. Some artificial trees contain lead in them, so you would want to do some research prior to making the purchase.

Happy Holidays! #christmas2017 #happyholidays

Brianna, © 2017 aspicyboycatandmyfatass.com

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

This is the first year that I haven't done any holiday celebrations on my blog. I've offered giveaways for as long as I can remember, but this year I've just been too busy with family life. I'm taking a break this season, and looking to be back in the game for the holidays next year!

Christmas With a Baby!

It's Time to Announce the Winners for the #HolidayGiftGuide2015 #winner

It's that time, time to announce the winners for the Holiday Gift Guide 2015 giveaways! This year I kept the holiday giveaways short, as I've been very  busy with the little Munchkin... I hope you all enjoyed the fun. With that said, here's the winners...

Holiday Gift Guide: Finally Getting Some Sleep Thanks to BabySense #Giveaway #Holidaygiftguide2015

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Photo credit: BabySense site.

It's that time of year again, when people start thinking about shopping for the holiday season. I'm famous for having all my shopping completed early, and this year is no exception to that. In the spirit of Christmas, I'm working with a number of companies who have joined in my Holiday Gift Guide 2015... and this is my ninth post!

My little munchkin was born this past July, and it's been a fun journey so far. She's going on five months now, and a day doesn't go by that I'm not amazed by her. I look back at pictures from day one, and I can't get over how much she's grown and changed... my little angel is growing so quickly. We've been trying to sleep train her, and have been trying to get her to sleep in her crib. She's still having a hard time falling asleep, unless she's cuddling with her mommy feeding. So I'm currently trying to break that habit, and get her to sleep directly in the crib. Since she's sleep training, I'm incredibly thankful for getting the opportunity to work with a company called BabySense.

Holiday Gift Guide: Amazing Artists Around the World With Novica - $50 Gift Certificate #Giveaway #Holidaygiftguide2014

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

It's that time of year again, when people start thinking about shopping for the holiday season. I'm famous for having all my shopping completed early, and this year is no exception to that. In the spirit of Christmas, I'm working with a number of companies who have joined in my Holiday Gift Guide 2015... and this is my eighth post!

I'm born and raised in Canada, but I have to say I've always had a love for other parts of the world. I love living in Canada and being Canadian, and have a love for all types of art. I guess you can say I'm a bit of a dreamer, and wish to someday travel the world to enjoy a wider range of art. I came across an awesome website that showcases artists from around the world, where you can purchase their art: Novica. Novica is in association with National Geographic, and everyone has heard of them!

Novica features artists from around the world: Andes, Bali and Java, Brazil, Central America, India, Mexico, Thailand, and West Africa. By purchasing from Novica, you're helping those smaller companies and artists that may not have that much money. Visit Novica Live and find out how you can become a consultant, or even host your own Novica party!

Holiday Gift Guide: Cuddling With My Cutie and Her Swaddle Designs Blanket #Giveaway #Holidaygiftguide2015

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Brianna, © 2015 aspicyboycatandmyfatass.com

It's that time of year again, when people start thinking about shopping for the holiday season. I'm famous for having all my shopping completed early, and this year is no exception to that. In the spirit of Christmas, I'm working with a number of companies who have joined in my Holiday Gift Guide 2015... and this is my sixth post!

Prior to having my little bundle of joy, I was contacting a number of companies for baby items to review. Anyone who has children, you know that baby products can surely add up quickly if you're buying most of them.  Even though I had a baby shower, there was still quite a lot of things that my daughter needed. I was fortunate to get to work with some awesome companies, and I truly enjoyed testing out a product from the company Swaddle Designs.

Holiday Gift Guide: Awesome & Fun Shirts From Snorgtees #Giveaway #Holidaygiftguide2015

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

It's that time of year again, when people start thinking about shopping for the holiday season. I'm famous for having all my shopping completed early, and this year is no exception to that. In the spirit of Christmas, I'm working with a number of companies who have joined in my Holiday Gift Guide 2015... and this is my fifth post!

I'm a huge fan of wearing t-shirts, as I like to be comfortable. I normally like the woman's style, so it hugs my curves instead of making me look boxy. I've reviewed many shirts from different shirt companies, and I keep coming back to a few of them... Snorgtees is one of my favorites! I've reviewed their t-shirts a few times in the past, and if you're interested in reading my last review click here. I love that they give different shirt styles to choose from, sometimes different colors, and a wide variety of sizes. Sometimes they include plus sizes as well as kids sizes, as well as also available in hoodies.

Holiday Gift Guide: Five Finger Tees is the Perfect Gift for Anyone on Your List! #Giveaway #Holidaygiftguide2015

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

It's that time of year again, when people start thinking about shopping for the holiday season. I'm famous for having all my shopping completed early, and this year is no exception to that. In the spirit of Christmas, I'm working with a number of companies who have joined in my Holiday Gift Guide 2015... and this is my third post!

If you have a sense of humor like I do, you'll probably find that the funny t-shirts at Five Finger Tees will crack you up. Five Finger Tees is a family owned and run business, with a passion for designing and printing t-shirts. The prices of their t-shirts are affordable because they do all the work, from customer service and designing, to printing and shipping. As their motto goes, "We are Five Finger Tees - Prices So Low It's Like Stealin!"

Holiday Gift Guide: Good Sleep Begins with Cloud b - Twilight Buddies Giveaway!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Photo credit: Cloud b main page 

It's that time of year again, when people start thinking about shopping for the holiday season. I'm famous for having all my shopping completed early, and this year is no exception to that. In the spirit of Christmas, I'm working with a number of companies who have joined in my Holiday Gift Guide 2015... and this is my second post!

One of my favorite times of the year while growing up was the holiday season. I'm in my 30's now, and it's still my favorite. This year will be the first Christmas that I celebrate with my daughter, and I'm super excited about it. As many of you already know, she was born this past July... I had already been partnered up with the company Cloud b for a product review and giveaway before my angel even arrived. I had originally hoped to get this post published a couple months ago, but having a newborn is more work than I truly expected. Now what does that have to do with the holiday season? Cloud b is an amazing company that would make for the perfect gift for many children of all ages.

Holiday Gift Guide: A Timepiece That Never Goes Out of Style #wearJORD #jordwatch

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Photo credit: JORD Pinterest

It's that time of year again, when people start thinking about shopping for the holiday season. I'm famous for having all my shopping completed early, and this year is no exception to that. In the spirit of Christmas, I'm working with a number of companies who have joined in my Holiday Gift Guide 2015... and this is my first post!

I'm someone who loves my smartphone, and you can usually find me on it quite frequently. I use it for keeping in touch with family and friends, as well as having fun via social media. Many people use their phones now in order to tell time... well not everyone is able to keep their phone on them in certain situations. At my previous job I wasn't allowed to have a cellphone out in the open, as we were dealing with clients confidential documents. How was I able to keep track of the time? Ah... an old fashioned clock... wearing a watch! To me it's not always about just telling time, a watch is a piece of jewelry, it's something trendy, and you can have one to match different outfits.

Looking For Sponsors For My Holiday Gift Guide 2015!

Looking for companies who want to participate in my Holiday Gift Guide!
Every company that decides to participate, will get a permanent spot under the "Sponsor" section. For the event, I will be listing the participating sponsors on both this page (at the bottom), as well as the "Sponsor" section.

How will this help your business? Your company will gain exposure, and this would be cheap advertisement! Plus, everyone loves the holidays... it's fun!

Day 12: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways - Win a $50 Gift Certificate For Blue Steel!

I'm a woman who LOVES all kinds of girly stuff... make-up, fashion, and of course anything that sparkles. At the top of my list would have to be jewelry, as a girl can never have too much. I recently came across a company called Blue Steel, and I must say I fell in love with their sparkling beauty. The online store carries all kinds of funky jewelry for both woman and men, and at all price points. If you're looking for something different and unique, you'll be sure to find some of that there.

They feature a wide variety of classic, contemporary and artistic styles created in surgical grade stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, and sterling silver. You’ll find jewelry that begs for a night out on the town, pieces that make lasting special gifts, styles that perfectly represent who you are to the world, and many beautiful ideas for matching couples jewelry.

I was sent an item for review from Blue Steel: Dragon Fire - Bold Design Deep Red and Black Carbon Fiber Stainless Steel Bracelet. A powerful statement piece, the bracelet combines the lasting strength of stainless steel with a bold, deep red, carbon fiber inlay for a handsome fusion he'll love. The surgical grade steel won't stain or tarnish, so he'll enjoy the fire energy of the dragon for many years to come. Engravable too!

I own a fair amount of jewelry and wanted something different from what I already had. My partner isn't one who wears much jewelry, so I wanted something that was casual, unique, top quality, and could be for either daily wear or for special occasions. The pictures don't do this piece justice, as it really is a nice item for anyone's collection. It's heavy duty, has a gorgeous shine, and won't pull on your arm hair if you're a man that's hairy. This would make for the perfect gift for that special man in your life this holiday season!

Interested in getting something from Blue Steel? Of course you do... it would make for the perfect gift this holiday season... click here! Interested in checking out their Facebook and Twitter? Of course you do... you never know when you may come across a deal!

Thanks to Blue Steel one lucky reader has a chance to win a $50 gift certificate. To qualify you must be 18+, and be a resident of US/CA.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received an item(s), in exchange for my honest opinion, and a review of my experience. I did not receive any other compensation or incentive nor was I required to write a positive review. Individual results or experiences may vary.

Day 12: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways - Win a $50 Gift Certificate For Blue Steel!

I'm a woman who LOVES all kinds of girly stuff... make-up, fashion, and of course anything that sparkles. At the top of my list would have to be jewelry, as a girl can never have too much. I recently came across a company called Blue Steel, and I must say I fell in love with their sparkling beauty. The online store carries all kinds of funky jewelry for both woman and men, and at all price points. If you're looking for something different and unique, you'll be sure to find some of that there.

They feature a wide variety of classic, contemporary and artistic styles created in surgical grade stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, and sterling silver. You’ll find jewelry that begs for a night out on the town, pieces that make lasting special gifts, styles that perfectly represent who you are to the world, and many beautiful ideas for matching couples jewelry.

Day 12: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways - Win An OhMiBod Club Vibe 2.0H!

My husband bought me an iPod over a year ago for Christmas, and then for my birthday this year he gave me an iPhone. I've become addicted to the wonderful applications for the two Apple products, that I'm always downloading something new. A while back I received an interesting product from OhMiBod, which is a company that offer products that vibrate to the beat of your music. They also offer an application that's available for download, that works in-sync with the toy and music. The Freestyle W Vibe that I received almost a year ago, is one of the best quality vibrators that I own to date. I was excited to test out their new Club Vibe 2.0H, as I knew the previous massager was amazing.

What's the difference between the two? The first toy is a rabbit style vibe, and the new one can be used pretty much anywhere on the body, and actually can be worn inside your underwear. Sounds like fun doesn't it?!

Club Vibe 2.OH is a revolutionary wireless and USB rechargeable - remote control vibrator. This sophisticated, lightweight and slim line vibe begs to be worn out on the town. Tucked away neatly in its custom black lace thong, it will accompany you comfortably to any destination whether its a night club or a dinner party. Its 5 intensity levels allow you to use the vibrator in a loud atmosphere or in a special quiet place.

As with the original Club Vibe, the Club Vibe 2.OH has a velvety finish and vibrates and pulses to club music, concerts or to your lover’s voice. But with Club Vibe 2.OH, the mic is built into the wireless remote control and can be kept in a clutch, in your hand or in someone else’s - adding to the extra excitement of not knowing what’s coming next. :)

The remote control has a range of 15-20 feet and 5 intensity levels for Club (ambient) mode. The remote allows you to switch the vibe from ambient to manual mode and cycle through 5 amazing patterns with a simple push of a button. Club Vibe 2.OH is one of those vibrators that you’ll want to bring with you everywhere!

This is such a cool massager/vibe, that I'm even giving one to my best friend for Christmas. Yes... this item would make for an excellent gift, or even any other of their vibes that they offer.

Interested in getting your own OhMiBod? Of course you are! Click here to visit and grab your items today! Interested in visiting their Facebook and Twitter pages? Of course you are... you never know when you could save and get a deal!

Thanks to OhMiBod one lucky reader has a chance to win an OhMiBod Club Vibe 2.0H! To qualify you must be 18+, and be a resident of US/CA.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received an item(s), in exchange for my honest opinion, and a review of my experience. I did not receive any other compensation or incentive nor was I required to write a positive review. Individual results or experiences may vary.

Day 12: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways - Win An OhMiBod Club Vibe 2.0H!

My husband bought me an iPod over a year ago for Christmas, and then for my birthday this year he gave me an iPhone. I've become addicted to the wonderful applications for the two Apple products, that I'm always downloading something new. A while back I received an interesting product from OhMiBod, which is a company that offer products that vibrate to the beat of your music. They also offer an application that's available for download, that works in-sync with the toy and music. The Freestyle W Vibe that I received almost a year ago, is one of the best quality vibrators that I own to date. I was excited to test out their new Club Vibe 2.0H, as I knew the previous massager was amazing.