Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

Tempus Choral Continues Christmas Concert Tradition

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
Musical Director, Brian Turnbull

Musical Director, Brian Turnbull

The Tempus Choral Society’s 2011 Christmas Concert “Swingin’ Christmas” kicked off the holiday season, filling the air of St. John’s United Church with the glorious sounds of beautiful choral music.

Part of Oakville’s Christmas tradition, the Tempus Choral Society featured wonderful arrangements of our beloved traditional songs along with many new and delightful pieces, some with a jazzy beat, others with a more contemporary tone. Director Brian Turnbull and the choir’s accomplished pianist, Jane Wamsley, along with the choir, created a blending of the wide range of individual voices that brought tears to the audience’s eyes and dancing to their feet! A number of talented soloists, small groups of singers, saxophone, bass guitar and piano instrumentations, and the awesome Tempus Chamber Choir added to the variety of this celebration of Christmas sounds!

Related: Click here to view more photos of this event.

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Ideas for Decorating your Holiday Table

Monday, December 19th, 2011
Christmas House

As a little girl I used to always set our family holiday table.  The themes changed over the years from kindergarten snowflake cut outs to antique goblets wrapped in satin ribbons.  I would scour the house and yard for interesting looking objects, dishes and vessels that could be turned from the ordinary into the extraordinary with a little imagination.

Setting your dining table or buffet table for a holiday celebration should be given as much attention as the menu, for the setting helps create and enforce the mood, atmosphere and theme you are trying to deliver whether it be elegant and formal or casual and family friendly.  But this doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank though.

Reuse, re purpose and rethink about what you already have in your home and surroundings and you’ll probably find all the ingredients for a fantastic party décor!

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St. Andrews Christmas House Tour an Oakville Tradition

Friday, December 9th, 2011
Shirley Anne & Wendy

Shirley Anne & Wendy

A Holiday Tradition in Oakville since 1981, the St. Andrews Christmas House Tour opens eight homes, festively decorated, for the Christmas season. An eclectic mix of historical, waterfront and architecturally unique homes, each home is decorated for the Christmas season by incredibly talented local designers, offering visitors a wonderful opportunity to soak up the holiday spirit, as well as inspire them to decorate their own homes for this festive season.

The beautiful St Andrews Church at 53 Reynolds Street was also decorated and open for viewing. A tea room with Christmas baking took place in the Parish Hall adjacent to the church and the visitors were delighted to drop in for a cup of tea. A fundraiser, proceeds this year will be given to St. Andrew Church, the Oakville Marlins Special Olympics swim team and Ian Anderson House, a hospice for cancer patients.

Related: Click here to view more photos of this event.

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Easy Hostess Gift Ideas for the Holidays

Monday, December 5th, 2011
Holiday Cookies

The holiday season brings friends and family together for many occasions like special dinners, sharing a cup of holiday cheer or tree trimming parties.  It`s always an honour to be invited into someone`s home and there is no greater time than the holidays to show your friends just how much you appreciate them.  Instead of bringing the standard bottle of wine to your next party, package it up with the gift of homemade goodness.  There are so many options that you can choose from which won`t tax your time or wallet but will certainly make you be remembered the next time your friends are making their invitation list!  Here are few of my favourite gifts for giving.

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Contest for Canada’s Most Outrageous Holiday Decorations

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Griswold House

The search is on for Canada’s most outrageously decorated home, and you can help decide the winner.

A new web site, OutrageousLights.ca, is searching for Canada’s most outrageous holiday home decorators. The search is sponsored by RetroFestive.ca, Canada’s Christmas movie memorabilia store.

So, when decorating for the holidays, do you “Go Griswold;” or know someone who does?

Most everyone knows someone like Clark Griswold, the goofy-but-lovable dad, played by Chevy Chase in the 1989 movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. His mission to create a memorable family Christmas by stapling 25,000 twinkle lights to his home is pop-culture legend, and the Griswold name has become synonymous with anyone who is over-the-top with their seasonal decorations.

Canada sees its share of Griswold homes each Christmas and OutrageousLights.ca wants Canadians to share photos, videos and stories of the Clark Griswolds they know. The person who most represents the Griswold approach to Christmas decorating will be awarded a $1,000 online shopping spree at RetroFestive.ca, where they can stock up on Christmas movie memorabilia, such as the glass moose mugs Clark and Cousin Eddie toast with in the movie.

“We want to celebrate people across Canada who decorate extraordinarily for the love of Christmas and for the enjoyment of their family, friends and neighbours-people who put fun into the season,” says Tyler Schwartz, owner of RetroFestive.ca. “Outrageous holiday home decorators deserve recognition and appreciation for delighting millions of Canadians from coast to coast.”

From December 1 until December 15, 2010, Canadians can celebrate the outrageous holiday home decorators in their neighbourhoods by submitting photos and videos of nominated homes, along with a short explanation of why they feel a particular home or decorator deserves recognition. Full details are available at OutrageousLights.ca

On December 18, 2010, one nominee will be awarded a $1,000 online shopping spree at RetroFestive.ca, the Christmas movie memorabilia store. Two runner-ups will receive a set of eight glass moose mugs, like those seen in the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.