Author: shesinfluential

Wrapping Presents #CTChristmas

By shesinfluential December 22, 2015

With only 3 days left until Christmas it’s time to start wrapping those presents and getting them under the tree.

If wrapping presents is your least favourite part of the whole gift giving process, we’ve got some tips to help you out.

Make your own wrapping paper with brown or white craft paper and use stamps or cookie cutters to make designs.
Put everything in a box. Nothing is more awkward to wrap than something not square/rectangular.
Buy wrapping paper with lines on the back. They make it so much easier to cut.
If your wrapping paper doesn’t have lines, use a meter stick or a square ruler.
Pre-cut all your pieces of tape.
Wrap on hard surfaces, not on the carpet.

And of course, turn on the Christmas lights, make yourself some eggnog and crank that holiday music.

Have more wrapping tips? Share them with us in the comments!

Fashion

My Favorite Holiday Shoes

By shesinfluential December 16, 2015

Holidays mean holiday parties – from family Christmas parties to New Years bashes I’m getting excited to get decked out to the nines! Instead of buying a bevvy of sparkly dresses, I’m opting for making the piece de resistance my shoes! Here are some of my favorite sparkle steppers to buy for this holiday season!

Jimmy Choo Abel Mirrored Pump

Le Chateau Glitter Ombre Pumps

Double Strap Glitter Mule

Lifestyle

Breaking News! Loblaws is selling beer!

By shesinfluential December 16, 2015

Starting yesterday, grocery shopping will be a one stop ordeal! This week, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that on December 15th, six-packs of beer will be sold in Ontario grocery stores. Big-name brand Loblaws is one of the first 13 retailers that rolled out the inventory, with another 60 to follow in the following weeks.

There are 25 stores across the Greater Toronto Area, and 16 in South Western Ontario that will be licensed to sell beer. By May of 2016, over 150 stores will carry the beverage.

Four stores in the Ottawa area — College Square Market, the Real Canadian Superstore in south Kanata, Farm Boy in Orléans, and Brown’s Independent Grocer in Stittsville will carry Beer. In Toronto, the Loblaws at 50 Musgrave St., and 17 Leslie St both carry beer, as well as the Real Canadian Superstores on Weston Road and on Gerry Fitzgerald Dr.

Will you be buying beer from your grocery store?

Recipes

Frothy Eggnog Recipe

By shesinfluential December 16, 2015

Eggnog is a classic holiday drink! The frothiness is perfect and makes the drink uber-rich. Eggnog is always a classic holiday hit – it just tastes like the holidays! It’s sure to be a hit with any family or friends who walk through your door. This recipe is one of my favorites, it doesn’t just taste like sweet milk like many eggnog recipes!

INGREDIENTS

6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup superfine sugar
2 cups whole milk
3 cups heavy cream, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup bourbon, preferably Maker’s Mark
1/4 cup dark rum, preferably Mount Gay
1/4 cup Cognac, preferably Remy Martin Grand Cru
Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS

Beat yolks in a very large bowl until thick and pale. Slowly beat in sugar. Whisk in milk and 2 cups cream. Mix in bourbon, rum, and Cognac. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
Just before serving, beat whites until stiff peaks form. Fold whites into eggnog. Whisk remaining 1 cup cream until stiff peaks form, and fold into eggnog. (Alternatively, you can fold half the whipped cream into eggnog, and top with remaining half.) Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Holidays

Pictures with Santa #CTChristmas

By shesinfluential December 15, 2015

Christmas is just over a week away! Have you given Santa your wish list yet?

One of our favourite traditions is getting our picture taken with Santa Clause.

Whether it’s a family photo or just a group of friends taking a picture with Santa it’s a great opportunity to get together and create a memory. And it can be an easy way to get a photo for your Christmas cards.

We’ve seen a lot of great Santa photos, whether it’s a classic photo of everyone smiling and looking like they’re having a good time or the family or friends aren’t taking things seriously. Ugly Christmas sweaters are incredibly trendy right now, and make for some pretty funny photos.

Do you take a photo with Santa every year? Let us know if it’s part of your family tradition in the comments!

Decor Holidays

Favourite Christmas Ornaments #CTChristmas

By shesinfluential December 8, 2015

Have you got your tree up and ready for the holidays? No? Don’t worry, there’s still 17 days to go.

If you’re still looking for some design inspiration, make sure to check out the Canvas Christmas Collection from Canadian Tire. Because whatever your colour-theme, they’ve got you covered, from traditional red and greens, to more modern teal, silver, and bright colours.

My favourite ornaments?

The Artic Teal Glitter and Vine Ornaments

I love that little bit of glamour from the sparkles mixed with the outdoorsy feeling from the vines.

If you have a favourite ornament share it in the comments. Perhaps it’s something new, or something that’s been with you for years.

Holidays

#CTChristmas Twitter Party

By shesinfluential December 4, 2015

With the holidays just around the corner, I’m doing my last minute shopping and I’m sure you are too! I’m so happy I swung by Canadian Tire at the beginning of the season – it’s a one stop shop for all things Christmas! They have everything you need for both the inside and outside of your house – from delicate ornaments to table runners to faux trees!

I love their silver CANVAS collection – the wintery silver hues has turned my living room into a winter wonderland! I love choosing a less traditional silver over the traditional red and green. It’s modern but still feels Christmas-y.

Want to know more about the great things Canadian Tire has to offer? Join me on December 8th for the #CTChristmas Party!

Twitter Party Details:
Date: December 8th, 2015
Time: 8:00 p.m. E
Hashtag: #CTChristmas
Host: @CanadianTire
NO RSVP
Prizing: 10 x $100 @CanadianTire Gift Cards

Anyone can participate but only Canadians can win prizes, excluding those in the province of Quebec.

Decor

#MYCanvas – Christmas with Canadian Tire

By shesinfluential December 3, 2015

With Christmas just around the corner, I’m getting excited for entertaining friends and family! I swung by Canadian Tire to pick up some decorations for my holiday table. I’ll be entertaining several groups of friends and family so I’m really looking for a tablescape that everyone would love! I swung by Canadian Tire to get the creative juices flowing and found so many wonderful decorations that would be just perfect for my tablescape! Canadian Tire’s new CANVAS collection has so many great decorations to glam out your holiday table.

I started off with a crisp white tablecloth and laid the CANVAS Holly Holiday Silver Table Runner over the middle. This festive runner works wonderfully on a round table like mine or a rectangular one! Pro tip: add any extra CANVAS ornaments you have to a large bowl or use them as decorations on your charger!

This CANVAS owl ornament is festive, but without being uber-Christmasy!

These CANVAS silver glass cluster balls would look wonderful on your table. Lace them with silver ribbon to create a low-key centrepiece!

Recipes

The Perfect Holiday Cocktail #CTChristmas

By shesinfluential December 2, 2015

There are only 23 days left until Christmas – can you believe it?

On a cold winter’s day, nothing is better to warm you up then a toasty cocktail! This Hot Toddy is one of my family’s favorites – the dashes of cinnamon and honey just taste like the holidays!

Ingredients

SERVINGS: MAKES 2

2 tablespoons honey
1 cup hot water
6 tablespoons bourbon or Apple Bourbon (see below for recipe)
2 3×1/2′ strips lemon peel
2 cinnamon sticks

Preparation

Stir honey and water in a 2-cup measuring cup until honey dissolves. Add bourbon (or better yet, Apple Bourbon, in which case you’ll use 1 Tbsp. honey). Divide between 2 Toddy glasses. Twist a strip of lemon peel over each drink, then add to glass. Stir each with a cinnamon stick and serve.
To make Apple Bourbon, combine a 750-ml bottle of bourbon, 4 cored, sliced Fuji apples, and 4 cinnamon sticks in a pitcher. Cover; chill for 3 days. Strain and sip of use in recipe above.

Holidays Recipes

Holiday-Ready Almond Cookies

By shesinfluential November 26, 2015

One of my favorite part of the Holidays is the sweet treats. These Almond shortbreak cookies aren’t too sweet but still satisfy my sweet tooth. Switch out the jam to your preference!

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 ½ cup icing sugar, sifted, plus extra for dusting

4 large egg yolks

1 tsp finely grated lemon zest

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ tsp almond extract

¾ cup ground almonds

3 cup cake and pastry flour

¼ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

¾ cup blueberry jam

Directions

1. Beat the butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks and then add the lemon zest, vanilla and almond extract. Beat in the ground almonds.

2. In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder and salt and add this to the butter mixture, stirring until blended. Shape the dough into 2 discs (the dough will be soft), wrap and chill until firm, at least an hour.

3. Preheat the oven to 375 F and line 2 baking trays with parchment paper.

4. Knead the cookie dough a little to soften it (this will help prevent the dough from cracking when rolled). Roll out the first disc on a lightly floured surface and cut out cookies using a 2-inch teardrop cutter and place these on one baking tray (the dough can be re-rolled). Roll out the second disc, cut out cookies using the same cutter, then cut a hole in the centre of each of these using a cutter a 1/2-inch smaller and place on the second tray. Repeat with any remaining dough, keeping track so you have the same number of tops and bottoms. Bake the cookies for about 15 minutes, letting the cookies without holes remain in the oven an extra 2 minutes. Cool the cookies on the tray before filling.

5. Sift icing sugar over the cookies with the holes. Stir the jam to soften and spread a teaspoonful of it over the bottom of the base cookie. Gently press a dusted cookie on top and continue to fill the others. Let them set for about an hour before storing in an airtight container.

6. The cookies will keep for up to 3 days.
via the Food Network.

Enjoy! Let us know how much you liked them in the comments below!