Just in time for our visitors!

Chex-headerI was invited to a Holiday Entertaining Event with Chexâ„¢ Party Mix and DIY Expert, Brit Morin. It was yesterday morning and I received the utmost royal treatment as they arranged for a limo to pick me up, and drive me both ways to MakeShop which is located in ‘The City‘ as Californian’s like to call San Francisco.

Make-Shop-San-FranciscoMakeShop is a fun little spot owned by Brit + Co., where you can make things, and buy things. There are laser printers, 3D printers, and supplies to make jewellery and other fun creative things. It’s a great spot!

First I’m going to talk about the sweet ride, then jump into the blogger event.

CadillacI have never felt so fancy.

Palm-trees-and-CadillacsI documented it all.

Selfie-in-limoMy driver told me it was a fully loaded 2015 (3 weeks old) Cadillac SUV. Sure felt fully-loaded with all the gadgets I had to play with, while getting chauffeured.

selfie-rainbowIt’s been pouring this entire week, which is what California desperately needs. So the drive up was a little foggy and wet, but I spotted a rainbow! A rare treat, in California.

Brit-and-Co-HQ

As a creative individual (I’m a Graphic Designer and I love to paint!) I had a blast hanging out with all the bloggers, making Chex Mix. Which I mean, hello — just in time for our visitors! My parents-in-law will be arriving later this afternoon, my sister-in-law the day tomorrow, and this is only the beginning of our December visitors. I’m super excited to entertain!

Decorating-tinsWe learned how to prepare easy-to-make delicious Chex™ Party Mix recipes. I know Muddy Buddies are popular, but my favourite type of mix we made was the peppermint. SO GOOD. We also decorated tins to put the Chex Mix in.

I-heart-ChexI’m not entirely sure Chex is available in Canada, so this was all new to me. Well, I love you now Chex.

Brit-and-Co-Chex-PartyIt’s starting to look a lot like Christmas!

ChexMagic

Snacks-with-Chex

Carla-and-Nancy

Chex

Christmas-place-setting

Photo-booth-and-decor

Chex-Mix

Brit-+-Co-exclusiv

Chex-SpoonCheck that out!, It’s the spiffykerms logo is laser cut into the Chex spoon. Side note do you like my miniature Ikea Christmas tree hanging out on the kitchen counter? I think it’s adorable.

Holiday-tins

Carla-and-I

Chex-Oatmeal

spiffykerms-spoon

Chex-Oatmeal-boxes

sbux-and-cadHuge thanks to Chex and Brit + Co for hosting a fun Christmas event!

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Our first American thanksgiving

Thxgiving-headerWe enjoyed our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, and our first Thanksgiving celebrated in the USA this weekend. We invited our other Canadian friends over to celebrate too, since they also recently moved to California. As Canadians, we were dyin’ for a bit of Thanksgiving grub as ours usually falls during the middle of October. We were overdue for a feast!

Thxgiving-food-prepI had the chance to order food at no cost to me, thanks to Walmart Grocery once again, so I took full advantage of that and placed my order over a week ahead a time so we would be prepared. It was delivered last Wednesday and we had our Thanksgiving planned for Black Friday. Unfortunately my order was a bit of a flop, as chicken wings arrived in replacement of two whole chickens. Walmart assured me that I should always check the box that allows substitutions which in any case they run out of food, they will give you an upgrade. However, I’m thinkin’ chicken wings are a total downgrade from whole chickens. They also didn’t include my chicken stuffing for the birds. In a panic I had to rush out before any of the stores closed early due to Thanksgiving the next day. Not something I had planned to do! I was disappointed in that, and of course had to go on a wild goose chase to find fresh not frozen, chickens. In the end, it all worked out and everything else arrived perfectly fine. Just not those dang chickens and stuffing! While my delivery did have a mishap, I’m still really pleased with the service and still recommend it to people. Especially those who live a busy lifestyle, don’t want to grocery shop on their time off or those who have newborns at home. Imagine diapers being dropped off at your door at a moments notice! Perfect, right?

Since our friends have a young child, we had our Thanksgiving meal earlier in the evening since the lil’ bud had to go to bed at an early hour. We had a really nice evening with loads of good food and wine. I made two whole chickens, mashed potatoes, baked asparagus with feta, carrots and cauliflower puff (which I still have to post a recipe on).

Over the course of a few weeks, I picked up some decorations from all over, and put together a nice spread for ourselves, and our guests. The only true decorating I did was these fancy looking but super easy to recreate napkins that I saw on Pinterest. But I picked up some flame less candles for the table which I totally forgot to turn on, and I also made a Christmas Ball wreath from a coat hanger, which is more like a triangle wreath, but hey — it at least definitely looks homemade, haha!

Now, I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking :)
Thanksgiving-table

Snack-plate

Thanksgiving-2014

MP-and-I

napkins2

Alfie-on-shag-rug

Thanksgiving-plates

Old-fashioned-apple-pie

Alfie-snoozin

Roast-Chickens

Cutting-roast-chicken

Roasted-asparagus

Thanksgiving-feast

Thanksgiving-meal

Relaxing-on-Thanksgiving

Jenga-and-Pies

Thanksgiving-dessert

Napkins

Relaxing

What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?

What’s your favourite part about Thanksgiving?

Favourite: Turkey, Ham, Beef or Chicken?

I’m really looking forward to continuing these traditions over the course of the years.

Are you wanting to try out Walmart’s grocery delivery service? Your first order delivery is for free – and if you want an additional 15 bucks off you can use my referral link.  I’ll get $15 for each friend who tries out their service, and YOU will save $15 too. Why not share, right?

Disclaimer: Walmart-to-go provided me with a gift card to try out their delivery service.

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Best places to eat in Carmel

Best-la-Balena-Carmel

Best-The-Grill-Carmel

Best-5th-Ave-Deli

Best-Brophys-Tavern

There are so many great restaurants to choose from when visiting Carmel, it’s difficult to narrow your search down. Whatever you’re craving, Carmel is sure to have a restaurant for it. Although the selection of places to eat is diverse and unique from each other, we enjoyed every bite at the places we ate during our 2 day honeymoon.

la Balena — With their changing lunch menu, you’ll be sure to find something that will tickle your taste buds with flavour. The food and service here was excellent, and we enjoyed our last lunch in Carmel at this Italian restaurant. I would recommend you try their Cavolfiore Fritto (cauliflower appetizer) along with the Frittata. Don’t forget to bring your dogs along with you to this place. Like many shops and restaurants in the area, la Balena is dog friendly.

The Grill — Although the atmosphere of the restaurant wasn’t what I expected with blown up photos of the famous Pebble Beach golf course. The restaurant is smaller than I thought and it can be noisy, paired with paper table clothes on top of linen. We can overlook that for the quality of the food the chef makes. We’d be back again simply for the lamb and salmon we raved about while eating it. The staff were so friendly, popping in to check in on us from time to time. The meals were pricey, but well worth it.

5th Avenue Deli — You won’t be able to eat inside this deli as there’s no seating so it’s a perfect way to grab a quick lunch and explore Carmel, Point Lobos, or drive to Big Sur and have a picnic. There was so much food to choose from, bakery, deli meat sandwiches, and even a buffet style salad bar when you walk in. If you’re stumped for ideas, go for one of their 4 choices of picnic lunch boxes that won’t break the bank.

Brophy’s Tavern — If you want to give your wallets a break from all the money you’ve spent on food, this is the spot to visit. Brophy’s is a traditional American style sports bar serving large portions of pub food to your table quickly. When we ate here, the San Francisco Giants had won their game and were heading to the World Series, so you know this place was hoppin’. It had a great vibe with the local crowd, it was fun seeing them all pumped and cheering at all the TV’s for their our home baseball team.

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