A FINAL Birthday Letter to my Oldest Son on his 18th Birthday

When my boys were little, I decided to write them birthday letters every year on the day they were born. My goal was to create a "snap shot" of their personalities at the different stages of their childhoods. Today, my oldest son turns 18. As he enters adulthood, I am writing my LAST birthday letter to him. It's amazing how quickly time passes! 😭

To my oldest boy,

I literally can't believe that my first baby is an adult. I guess it's true that time flies when you are having fun -- and it has been an absolute joy watching you grow up. I couldn't be more proud of the wonderful human you have become. Being your mother is a blessing I don't take for granted. 💗

Here are a few of the reasons you are fantastic:

• You are smart, kind, and friendly. Dad and I joke that you are the "Mayor of Antigonish" because you are always chatting with people everywhere we go.
• You are a hard worker, and never complain about all the things you have on your plate. You excel academically, you have two jobs, you play competitive hockey, and you still find time to volunteer and have fun with your friends.
• You are a great big brother. The three of you have a lot of fun together, and you set a wonderful example for them.
• You love: pasta, steak, pizza, peanut butter on homemade white rolls, and Reeses peanut butter cups. You also love the Toronto Maple Leafs!
• You graduated from high school this year and "killed" your Valedictorian speech. I was very proud!
• You started university, and are embracing the new experience. I can't wait to see where your new path takes you!

You may be a legal adult, but you will always be my first baby. I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mom xox

10 NEW Dollarama Christmas Finds & DIYs... celebrate well for less!

I love dollar store finds, don't you? It's a great way to celebrate holidays for less. Today, I am sharing fabulous, budget-friendly finds, and DIYs that you are going to make your Christmas very merry.

For a closer look, you can check out the video I made... or keep scrolling for a written version.

1) I love this dollar store bowl that I found in the "planter" / "pot" section. I filled it with Epsom salts, and added a few acrylic reindeer ornaments. It would also be cute with bottle brush trees and mini Christmas houses and trucks. Use your imagination, and have fun with it!

 

2) Dollar store (or thrift store) frames are perfect to pair with vintage prints. Search for old pictures that are in the "public domain". Then, print at a local copy store and insert into the frame. Easy peasy!

3) Wrapping gifts in handmade packaging makes them even more special, and dollar store brown bags are perfect for DIYing. Add a circle of red cardstock or leather, glue on antlers and googly eyes, and draw on a mouth to create a super-cute reindeer bag.

4) The dollar store has fantastic crafting supplies, and these little wooden snowflakes are adorable. I have plans to use them to make Christmas tree ornaments. What would you use them for?

5) I love gifting baked goods to family and friends during the holidays, and the dollar store has a large number of adorable packaging options. I love the black and white buffalo check bags, and the clear top boxes are adorable too. The stickers are wonderful for sealing packages shut and are great for the backs of Christmas cards too.

6) The dollar store has everything you need for entertaining. Don't forget to pick up some of their fantastic napkins, and grab a packaged of their wooden spoons. The spoons are perfect for dipping in chocolate and adding to a hot chocolate bar.

7) Tree collars are very trendy, but they are pretty pricey. I grab this dollar store basket, cut it up, and popped it around the base of my tree. I think it's pretty cute for a couple of dollars.

8) Don't walk by the Christmas ornaments at the dollar store without stopping for a closer look. I am planning a gingerbread theme this year, so I brought home these adorable ornaments.

9) The dollar store has wonderful, budget-friendly treat options, but these cookies are definitely worth trying. They are a perfect festive treat to add to a hot chocolate bar.

10) I love a cozy blanket, and this furry throw from my local Dollarama is a great option. It comes in a few different colours, and it's well worth the price.

What do you think of my latest finds? Have you found anything good lately?

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

2023 Hockey Gift Guide... fantastic Christmas gift ideas for hockey players and fans (of all ages)

 ***Disclosure -This gift guide contains some products I own, some items that I received for free and a few affiliate links. Please be assured that the opinions in this blog are 100% my own, and I've only included items I think would make fantastic gifts for hockey fans and players. Also, if you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, you will not pay any extra, but I may get a small commission on your purchase. Thank you!***

If you regularly read my blog, or follow me on any of my social media channels, you know that I'm a hockey mom to three hockey-loving boys. Every year, there are several hockey-related items on my Christmas shopping list, so today, I am sharing my top 10 gift ideas for hockey fans and hockey players. There really is something on this list for all ages and budgets.

1) Gongshow Gear - My kids and I LOVE this high quality clothing line, so it's no surprise it made my top ten list again. This year, my boys favourites are the hoodies, pants, and shirts pictured below. The Gongshow clothing is high quality and the designs are always fantastic. We have several items that have been handed down from my oldest to my youngest, and they still look brand new. You can check out all the fantastic styles available for Christmas 2023 here.

Here's my youngest wearing the Post Skate Jogs. Great pants for an active teenager!

Here's my oldest wearing the 1st Round Standard Long Sleeve shirt. I love it!

And here's my middle son wearing the Rink is Calling hoodie. If you look closely, you can see the sherpa lining. So cozy!!!! (And perfect for kids that are too cool to wear a winter jacket. lol)

2) Summer Skates - I love these sandals in the summer... but they are also perfect for hotel stays during hockey season. You can order: custom logos, NHL players, real laces, special edition options, and custom numbers. They make fantastic gifts, and the company also offers team fundraising options. Take a peek at all the styles, and place your order here.

Here are a few of our favourites...

Original summer skates... available in 7 different colours.

The Hip - Canada Flag Road Sign - part of the brand partners collection.

NHL Player Summer Skates - Of course we have Auston Matthews (and a matching skate lace beverage holder).

3) Ollie Bots - These cute little wooden robots are made with love and tied together with hockey skate laces. The Ollie Bots project was started by my son's buddy and teammate (Oliver Smith) who sadly passed away at the age of 12 to a rare form of bone cancer. For a $20 donation, you can help raise funds and awareness for Ewing Sarcoma. Find out more here. 

3) NHL24 - If your hockey fan loves video games, you probably already have the latest version of this game on your Christmas shopping list. Grab a copy here.

4) Hockey books - Books always make fantastic gifts, and hockey books are perfect for hockey fans. Check out the wonderful option here.

5) Personalized Hockey Ornaments - I love a personalized, handmade gift, don't you? I make these high quality tree ornaments in my online shop, and you can order them here for only $10. (Shipping anywhere in Canada for $3.)

6)  Hockey Blanket - This cozy blanket is great for a hockey player to take on the road, or for a hockey parent to cuddle up with in the stands. You can purchase it from Amazon here.

7) Hockey Player Funko Pops - These are such adorable collectibles, and they make a fun and inexpensive Christmas gift. Of course, Auston Matthews is a favourite around here, and you can purchase it here.

8) Wall decals from Oliver's Labels - Personalized wall decals make wonderful gifts for kids. And, and how cute is this large jersey wall decal? Use my link here, and save 10% with code: EastCoastMommy.

9) Hockey Nightlight - This is such a cool nightlight for a hockey fan... and they make them for goalies AND players. Check out all the options for sale on Amazon here.

And... if you are local to Antigonish, you can purchase these colour changing personalized LED lights (with remotes) in my store here.

Any one of the these TEN products would make a wonderful gift for the hockey fan or hockey player on your Christmas list. My boys and I have tried most of these items, so if you have any questions, please just let me know!

Happy shopping!!!

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

When you can't get together on December 25, why not try hosting "Fake Christmas"?

It isn't always possible to be with loved ones on December 25th, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate Christmas together. My husband's family is in Ontario, and we live in Nova Scotia, so we always gather for "Fake Christmas" in November. It's a lot of fun, and a special annual event for all of us. Today, I'm sharing how it works -- and I've got some FREEBIES too!

Here are some of the activities we enjoy. It's a good idea to print off the checklist and see how many items you can "check off" during your time together.

To print a copy of the "Fake Christmas" checklist: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Building gingerbread houses or decorating cookies are both fun.

And exchanging gifts is always enjoyable. We always do a little "gift giving" game. Everyone brings a $5 gift, and we roll the dice to determine which gift each person ends up with.

Here's the chart we use. To download a copy: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 picture.

Don't forget a group family photo.

And, of course, a party favour is always appreciated. This year I used my Cricut to make personalized Christmas tree ornaments. Cute, right?

I absolutely love the idea of celebrating the holidays with family that can't be together on December 25. What do you think of this "Fake Christmas" celebration?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas here...

2023 Christmas Finds for LESS

When it comes to saving money, prepping EARLY for Christmas is key. I also love to stock up on dollar store finds before they are all sold out. Today, I'm sharing some of my favourite 2023 Christmas dollar store finds.

Check out my list below... or take a closer look by watching the video I made here:

1) These LED lights are great. They come with a remote, so you can change them into any Christmas colour you like. They are fantastic plain, but they are also a great surface for Cricut decals. I'm planning to add a nativity scene to mine.

2) Reindeer are super trendy this year, and these dollar store reindeer ornaments are super-cute. I'm planning to paint mine with black spray paint for a high-end look.

3) These snow globes are cheap and super cute. The DIY possibilities are endless. I bought a bunch, and I have some fun plans for them, so stay tuned. 😉

4) I've been seeing a lot of "bell" décor in high-end stores this year, but it's quite pricey. I have a plan to DIY my own bells using these dollar store supplies. I think it's going to be great! :-)

5) Kleenex boxes look ugly and can take away from the look of Christmas décor. That's why I love this plain white kleenex box cover. Cute, right? You could also DIY these boxes. You could add a monogram... or you could add something with a Christmas theme.

6) Bottle brush trees are versatile and inexpensive. I love these beige ones with a wooden vase. They look great on a tiered tray, and they are fantastic for DIYs.

7) I love lights that add a nice glow to décor. These dollar store lanterns are a great size, look fantastic, and add a festive glow to the holidays.

8) The dollar store has really fun wrapping paper options, but the good ones sell out quickly... so make sure to grab your favourites right away. Here are the ones I bought...

9) You don't have to be a child to have fun with a toy train. I found this one at the dollar store, and it's a great size. I plan to put it around the base of my tree. 

Which of these 2023 Christmas bargains is your favourite? I love getting ready for Christmas early so I can relax when the holiday season arrives. Where do you fall -- team "early" or team "last minute"?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas here...