Canada Post's Letters To Santa

Canada is great because of things like this. I'm not sure how long Canada Post has been doing this, but I'm so glad they still are. Such a nice idea.

Bayberry Candles on Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve

“Light a bayberry candle on Christmas Eve and allow it to burn completely until it goes out on its own, as shortly after midnight as possible. After midnight, the closer to midnight it burns out on its own, the more prosperous one will be in the new year. You can do this on New Year’s Eve, also.”

I don't usually write about upcoming posts for my Mom Says section, but this is the one exception. And I'm writing about it so early in December so that you have time to order these candles if for some strange reason you actually LISTEN to my advice. (I always buy them off Amazon since they seem to be the cheapest on there.) (And they're surprisingly hard to find in candle shops.)

Anyway, where does this tradition/superstition come from? Lots of places, apparently. Just Google "legend of the bayberry candle" and you'll see for yourself. Why do I do it? Well, because my mom is probably the luckiest person I know and if she tells me to burn a candle, then I'm gonna burn that candle. 

“This bayberry candle comes from a friend,

so on Christmas Eve burn it to the end.

For a bayberry candle burned to the socket,

will bring joy to the heart, and gold to the pocket.”

— Legend of the Bayberry Candle Poem

Tip of the Day - Frozen Grapes

Is it lame to like wine that's really, really cold? (Not red wine, of course - I'm not a barbarian.) But for white wine? God, yes. It's gotta be freezing.

What do I do? I keep frozen grapes in my fridge, always. Why always? Because they make a good snack, too.

So whenever you have a bottle of wine that's just been bought or has been sitting out - you just plop these mothers in and it'll chill up nicely. Obviously, it's better than ice cubes because those will melt and water mixed in with wine is gross.

Broken Glass Tip

Broken glass on the ground? CLEAN IT UP WITH A PIECE OF BREAD! I heard about this trick awhile ago and only remembered to use to recently and, well, it's genius. Remember this!

Jewelry Displays

When I'm a more together person, I want to display my jewelry just like this. Not now... not ready for that yet. But soon.

Shoe Storage

This is maybe the most beautiful way that a lady's shoes can be displayed. Just lovely. 

Earrings Holder

Good way to store your earrings, yet still look pretty and not cluttered. 

Laundry Idea

Home idea: Hang damp button-down shirts from a towel rack mounted under a laundry-room shelf to save space. 

Maybe this doesn't seem that great/smart, but it is. And IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE! Especially if you hate hanging things on clotheslines. (Why would you hate such a normal thing as a clothesline? Oh, I don't know. Maybe because clothespins are a nuisance and hangers are more dignified?)

Necklace Display

When I decide I'm gonna live somewhere longer than six months, I'm definitely doing this (though I really should just try this now since it's a gorgeous idea). Having all your necklaces proudly displayed like this? For the world to see? Get outta here. My room's gonna look like Anthropologie or some shit (and I say that in a positive way)! Gotta do it.

Tip of the Day - Silence Cabinets

An easy way to silence cabinet doors (or any kind of doors, really) that slam? Slice a cork into thin disks and superglue it onto the inside corners of the frame. And voila, peacefulness!