saskatchewanwildnature

Christmas is HERE and in the spirit of all things fun and festive here is a look at some of the Dos and Don't of gift giving!! Some of these are useful, some are tongue-in-cheek - do you have any Dos and Don'ts? ...And if you're having trouble finding those last minute gifts in time, check out this list of 17 Gifts When You're Stuck For Ideas. Do give something they'll use up - check out this list for lots of great ideas  - candles, hot chocolate, bath treats, baked goodies etc Don't become their decorator - ornaments, paintings and nik naks are very personal matters of taste, don't buy unless you're sure! Do choose easy pieces- the exceptions to the above rule are scented candles and photo frames - just don't make the frame too big!   Don't try to 'change their mind' - if they're very vocal about something they dislike, don't think 'oh but they'll like this one!' they wont - case in point, someone once bought me...

Chocolate and Brazil nuts - what could be easier. cheaper to make and yummier?! My family loves chocolate Brazils at Christmas time but for some reason they're pretty expensive these days. Luckily, home-made treats are always appreciated so grab your apron and let's create! Don't forget to also check out my list of Christmas gift ideas - 17 Christmas gifts when you're stuck for ideas and improve your hot chocolate with this post; Chocolatey, spicy, nutty or sweet? Pic n mix your own hot cocoa from scratch!     You will need...  Chocolate, about 100g-150g depending on size - whatever kind you like, you don't need cooking chocolate and it doesn't need to be fancy, the European brands from Aldi and Lidl are good choices as they have a mild nutty flavour like Ritter's 'Alpine Chocolate'. Brazil nuts - we like a whole brazil nut in the middle but you can usually buy "brazil nut halves" slightly cheaper if you prefer A cake pop tray - ...

If you're buying Christmas gifts for someone you don't know too well or you're buying for a friend who always leaves you clueless, there are a few simple tips which will make your gift buying so much easier. From homemade treats to feeding the meerkats - here are 17 ideas/tips when you're doing your last minute Christmas shopping or just plain...stuck!  ***Buy Something They Can Use*** The first, and most important tip for me - give them something they can enjoy using and then dispose of; 1.) Scented candles - a winner with everyone, men and women, old and young. You can also theme it depending on their likes/dislikes; cappuccino for the coffee lovers, Christmas cookies for the sweetie lovers, chocolate for the chocaholics, fruity for the young and summertime lovers, spicy cinnamon or jasmine for the romantic couples or stay safe with a clean cotton, linen type scent.   2.) Fancy hot chocolate - We're talking Green & Blacks , some overpriced Whittards or ...

Biathlon; cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It's an exciting sport; it can all change on one missed shot , racers dance past each other up hills steeper than stair cases . There are mountains, snow and beautiful forests of firs . Although I've never actually skied on real snow, I'm addicted to it - this is the exciting world of Biathlon. The season runs from November to around March with world championships as the highlight. It's the perfect Christmas sport! Little Christmas trees are sprinkled around the courses, the crowds are bundled up in woolly hats and scarves, the huge fir trees are weighed down by heavy snowfall and each venue is surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges. Sometimes the snow is falling during the race - a great sport to watch with a cup of hot chocolate! The biathlon tour moves weekly to venues especially created and prepared months in advance for the races. Whilst there, 4 types of races selected from a possible 6 will be held. Skiers ...

Something about the dark nights and cold weather makes our  Winter beauty regime seem more like a chore. I don't know about you but I'm much lazier in the colder seasons - I just can't be bothered! If that sounds like you or you just want the whole thing to be a lot easier,  here are some short cuts and cheats for your Autumn/Winter Beauty routine. 1. Hand Cream I'm always buying it and never using it! Cheat: Make it much more convenient by keeping a tube  in your handbag, in your car, and/or by your bed. Whip it out at any boring moments during your day and pass 20-30 seconds massaging it in. Bonus tip: only use a very small amount so it sinks in twice as quick! 2. Facemasks Moisturising/hydrating/brightening facemasks are  particularly important at this time of year check out the perfect times to apply your facemask to get the most out of them. Cheat: Use an  overnight mask - no waiting, no mess, no shockingly cold sheet masks (brr!). Choose a special...

Autumn is here and brings the prettiest photo opportunities - here are my favourite recent Instagram shots frommy Instagram account; @PromisingYellow Autumn Beautiful Autumn! Fall, Fiery Fall - no matter what you call it, our transitional seasons always bring a riot of colour and at this time of year, when the low afternoon sun casts a golden glow on already warmed, bronze leaves it's just too good to ignore! This huge tree is on our doggie walking route so one of us got the camera out while the other had a good sniff... Up until a couple of weeks ago all the trees were leaden with big fat bunches of berries like these - 'Season of mists and mellow fruifulness...etc etc' Speaking of fruit, our crab apple tree in the garden was particularly generous this year meaning we've been eating apple crumble solidly for over a month now and my freezer is chocked full of more. Don't be fooled by the spots - crab apples have a delicious flavour to bake with when cooked. If ...