Well, 2012 has been quite a year, hasn't it! At this time last year I was living in Camrose with G and working at the Canadian. Fast-forward 365 days and I live in Edmonton with my fella Ian and his animals, working at Metro Edmonton. How quickly things change!

The first big change came last March and April when I joined Metro and moved from Camrose back to Edmonton. We found a wonderful apartment downtown and were happy to be back in the big city.


Also last spring, Miss Bee and I met Krista Dee and Rueby Retro for the very first time in Olds for some good ole antiquing. I don't think the town quite knew what hit them!


The spring and summer were filled with great outings, shopping and basking in the sunlight, but I also lost both of my maternal grandparents, who I miss very much, in July and September.

I bet you thought I meant Ian? Well, he's my second new love of my life :) It feels like we've known each other for much longer than four months.

Last year I also did up some resolutions. I don't think I've done very well on them though. I haven't been exercising as much, I think I took less outfit photos and feel like I didn't clean my house as much as I'd have liked to. That said, I was more social, spent more time with family (sadly, much of that was at funerals) and I think my posts have had more variety. You win some, you lose some. I don't have any resolutions for 2013 other than to be happy!

I want to thank all my wonderful readers for sticking with me over the last year. Blogging is something that's very important to me, but it's nothing without you guys!

I hope you all have a wonderful, happy New Years Eve and a fabulous 2013.

XO Laurie

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas! This post is a little behind others, but I've been spending the last week (which I had completely off, thanks to Metro!) lounging, knitting, reading, eating and drinking - just what Christmas should be, in my books.

I was spoiled enough to have 3 Christmases this year - one at home in Saskatchewan with the Callsens, a small one Dec. 27 with Ian and another with his family on the 29.


PRESENTS!!

These aren't even half of the presents I got- I was spoiled rotten! One of the most exciting things isn't even pictured. Ian told me that he's going to buy a record player for us - thus the records in the last photo! I've always wanted a record player and I'm very excited to get one once we save up.

How was your Christmas?  I hope you all got spoiled as well.

Despite feeling unprepared for the holidays this year, I still freakin' love Christmas. Miss Bee and I made double-date plans to go to Christmas Reflections Fort Edmonton Park with our fellas waaaay back in November, and so when we finally went on Thursday we were both pretty excited.

Christmas Reflections is something the park does every year around this time. Most of the summer stuff at the park is shut down, but you can take a wagon tour through the park, do a little shopping, make crafts, sip cider and even visit Santa.



I was also excited that Ian brought along his camera and newly-replaced lens to take fancy photos. I love having a professional photographer for a boyfriend. That said - Ian is a photojournalist, and therefore is all about the candid shots. Be prepared for a lot of derpy photos of me (which is my default/ neutral look, unfortunately).

Ian took ~60 photos, so I've narrowed it down to my favourite 23. Yup. 23. This is a picture heavy post.

We started things off with a little stroll down 1920s street, where we wished the Capitol Theatre didn't falsely advertise that they were showing Clara Bow films. Jerks.





Then, we popped into a store to make a Christmas craft.

Scissors are hard, I need to concentrate.

I was wearing a $9 Christmas sweater and my great-grandma Callsen's brooch.

Socializing. Just not with each other.

I made a Santa button. I'm very passionate about Santa.

EHRMAHGERD SERNTAH CLERSE!

Carrying on...

Look at the mini tree with its ittle topper! SO CUTE.

More derpy pointing action. Aw yeah.

I'm not the only weirdo.

Writing my letter to Santa, asking for a muff, petticoat and a 54 convertible too (light blue!)

Boom.

These two are adorable.

Looking normal.....

I call this one "The Canadian Flasher"

Yum, cider.

At this point we had a discussion about the best Christmas songs. Thomas and Ian suggested Christmas in Hollis, while Bee and I waxed poetic about how much we love Sleigh Ride. Then we both admitted that we do a little bouncy Sleigh Ride dance whenever we hear it. This is why we're friends, people.




We ended the night with a bonfire and a wagon ride tour through the park.




XO Laurie

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The boxes are unpacked and the house is 90 per cent organized  - it's time to start decorating for Christmas! (or as I've come to call it, Kitschmas)

Despite having a nasty cold (luckily I still have some super-duper awesome American grade cold medicine from California) yesterday was a day full of cleaning, organizing, vacuuming and decorating. I'm usually a "No Christmas before December 1" kind of girl and this year was no exception - although I have been listening to a few Christmas songs as I drive to work.





Most of the decorations are up, although there are some things that I'd like to make, once I find the sewing table underneath the giant pile of books and yarn. Luckily, that's the only thing that needs to be sorted.

Are your decorations and tree up yet?

XO Laurie

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Don't forget about the deal eShakti is offering Retro Reporter readers. From now until December 31, first time eShakti shoppers can receive $25 off their order with the coupon LAURIEMARIECALLSEN.