Bonne Maman : Advent Calendar Review

We be Jammin'.  That's the lettering I had on my music classroom wall a few years ago but it's also a fitting phrase for this blog post about Bonne Maman jam or preserve and this review of the Advent Calendar I purchased this Christmas season.

This first came onto my radar in 2021 when I viewed Tea With Jann on YouTube.  She had videos of all her calendar openings and Bonne Maman was one of them.  It looked so nice and different and I knew I had to try it out as well.  I do love jam.

I purchased this Advent Calendar from Papa Jack Popcorn which is a Canadian candy company and distributer from Ontario.  The calendar itself was $48.99 and the cheapest shipping was an additional $24.26 so the total was $73.15.  The communication with Papa Jack was terrific and it arrived well protected which I was a tad bit worried about since its all glass jars.  Now, had I known that I would start seeing this calendar at different retailers I could have saved the shipping cost.  I didn't find them locally until December though so if you are impatient like me then ordering from Papa Jack Popcorn comes well recommended.

This Bonne Maman Advent Calendar was 24 days and included 23 preserves and 1 honey.  That breaks down to $2.04 a jar.  The jars are approximately 6 tablespoons of jam which was plenty for Hubby and myself to spread enough on our English muffins which is how we preferred to sample each flavour.  This was our breakfast for all of December.

The great part of this calendar was that I was exposed to many different flavours which I would have never picked out in the grocery store.  I tend to buy strawberry or orange marmalade but I got to enjoy a wide range of flavours and even found some new fruits! My favourite flavours included fig and cherry and even though I'm not a big fan of honey I thought their honey was terrific spread over peanut butter.  So if you desire to try some flavours which you wouldn't ordinarily then next holiday season you should give this countdown a try.

What I didn't like about this calendar is actually a very small detail.  The jars are incredibly hard to pry out of their windows.  I appreciate that the jars have to be secure for shipping but I would have to struggle to get the jars out of their holding spots.  The cardboard calendar itself was sturdy and was easy to recycle.  I've kept the jars but so far am at a loss as to what to do with them.  They would be handy for storing small amounts of crafting items like tacks or buttons and likely even for small amounts of loose leaf tea.  I'd like to know what other people have done with their mini jars or if they got thrown away.

The only store near me which I know has a wide variety of Bonne Maman jam is Walmart.  There are a few flavours which I am sure I am going to check out.  If you love their strawberry then it's always available at Costco for a very reasonable price and it's the one I always gravitate to first.

If you are curious about specific flavours then click on the Advent Photo tab on this blog.  You will find every photo I took of each calendar and item while more detail is found on my Instagram account.

Did you purchase this Advent Calendar?  Are you likely to repurchase, purchase or look for this one come the holidays?  Let me know!  While it was highly enjoyable, I feel like I've now experienced it so there's not a big reason to buy it again but as previously stated, I will continue to buy their brand.

Tea at the White House : Advent Calendar Review

Anyone else sad that we no longer have Advent Calendars to open and share?  There's such excitement over it all and the big build up to Christmas and then - Boom - it's over.  Done.

I do have some other items to share including this review of an Advent Calendar I was really looking forward to opening from Tea at the White House. 

Tea at the White House is a Canadian Tea House and Online Retailer.  They are located in Waterdown, Ontario and boast "A Tea Shop for the Tea Lover, A Tea Room for the Tea Drinker".  They have unique flavours of tea and other items including scones with the fixings and items from the Royal Family.  I have been making a big effort to support Canadian made items and companies so was really looking forward to trying a large variety of their tea flavours through the Advent Calendar.

The Calendar was available for order in October and I snapped one up for $40 CAD.  It arrived promptly in November.  It was 24 days of tea.  Each day was one single pyramid style tea bag.  It breaks down to $1.67 a day/cup.  The box itself was very well made and really nice in a light blue magnetic box.  Each day had a perforated window to peel back to reveal the tea bag individually wrapped in a clear plastic bag.  The box was easily displayed in my kitchen and was a lovely size.

There was an adequate variety of flavours of tea however it seemed to me that many of the first flavours included mint.  The majority of the tea was caffeinated.  While I do enjoy tea in the afternoon, I also use it as a wind down at the end of the day so it was disappointing that there were so few decaf teas in this box.  I don't think I'm really alone in this because we are so busy during the holidays and all need some relaxing moments with a cup in the evening.  I had to adjust my ritual to accommodate drinking this tea at another time of day.

My favourite flavour hands down was German Christmas Cake.  This flavour was so good and totally a Christmas flavour for those of us who enjoy fruitcake and mincemeat pies.  For me the worst flavour was the Ontario Ice Wine which I'm convinced was a poor batch because it was totally floral.  I don't think I was able to finish the cup.

Okay, I'm going to spill the tea here, beyond the name of the tea on the label there was absolutely nothing included to tell you what the ingredients were or how to brew or enjoy the tea.  After opening the tea, I would head to the website and look up the flavour to see if it was caffeinated or not but that's all the website tells me as well.  Instructions like, use water at this temperature and brew for these many minutes would be HUGELY appreciated.  It's possible that Ice Wine tea was so terrible for me because I let it steep too long, but how would I know otherwise?  Another super helpful detail is to tell us consumers whether it's appropriate to add sweetener or a creamer or make it into a latte or it's terrific iced.  These things definitely add to the overall enjoyment and likelihood that I'd not only come back to buy that flavour again but recommend it to others as well.  I'm also going to mention that it sure would be nice to receive some other little perk on the final day.  Back when I first started with the David's Tea calendar, there were mini ornaments included on the last day and I think there were coupons in some as well.

I'm going to admit this.  I really felt like I was missing out on two other Advent Calendars.  I've really enjoyed the Bird & Blend calendar previously but because of shipping costs I decided to not get that one this year.  I felt like there was a whole portion of the tea community enjoying that one and interacting with their social media.  Of course the David's Tea calendar is super popular but another one which I've put on my wish list for next Christmas season is the T.Kettle Tea Advent Calendar.  It was a similar design to David's Tea and the flavours looked intriguing.  I think the folks at Tea at the White House have missed out on interacting with their fans.

I'm definitely not saying to not try this company out for yourself because there are very worthy products.  For the price, it's a nice little calendar but just be wary that there are others out there which I feel are much better.  I really wanted to like this one but I feel rather underwhelmed and likely will not purchase another calendar from them.

The Body Shop : Advent Calendar Review

The Body Shop Advent Calendar was the first countdown calendar I purchased for Christmas 2022.  I bought it in September when I was feeling really sad and rather beaten down.  I decided then and there that during the Christmas season I deserved to reward myself by putting my care first.

It was the debut of The Body Shop Calendar and they actually had two varieties.  I chose the cheaper version which was on sale for $99.  I had my birthday discount as well as another coupon available in my Body Shop profile.  I really recommend signing up for this even if you don't shop there often.  I didn't save my receipt so I don't know exactly how much I ended up paying but I think I ended up with $5-10 off the original price.

Then I took it home where it sat in the bag for a while before being displayed in the guest room on the dresser.  This is a large Advent Calendar.  This particular one had a top which lifted to reveal a 3D diorama as well as two drawers which pulled out.  Each day was an individual box.  This was a 25 day calendar.  Most calendars stop on Christmas Eve.  Each box which varied in size had a thought or wish for the day for you to think about or take action on in some way.  Lot's of them I had already done and others encouraged me to reach out in a way I hadn't thought of before.  I put the boxes into our recycle collection but they would also be useful to reuse for small gifts if you have such a place to keep them for repurpose.  I'm planning on keeping and reusing the calendar container in my ensuite bathroom for storage of cosmetics because it is so well made and really nice to look at.  

The cost.  As I said, it was on sale for $99 and consisted of 25 days.  Not taking the size variation into account, that breaks down to $3.96 an item.  There were no doubles and at least 5 were full size products while most were what I'd call "travel size".

My least favourite item in this calendar were the bath bubbles.  This is a likely unique to me situation.  A few years ago when we renovated, we removed our bathtub.  That may sound weird to some, but we found we enjoyed a really great shower more than sitting in a tub of water.  Luckily, there were only 2 bath bubbles.  A friend suggested to use them in a foot soak and that's likely how I will use them but they are also appropriate for regifting as well.

My most favourite item was the Chamomile Cleansing Butter.  This is amazing.  It's the texture of coconut butter and is effortless to use to remove makeup.  Just massage it on to your face and rinse off with a damp cloth.  It removed all my mascara and eye make up.  It didn't sting at all or bother my eyes.  When this little tub is used this is an item I will definitely purchase.

So what disappointed me the most?  Not a lot really except for the 4 body washes.  As I said, there were no repeats and I say that because these were all difference scents as were the hand lotions.  The Body Shop has a huge variety of products so why didn't they include some different things?  There was only 1 lip item.  I surely could have used a couple more lip butters or something similar.  Also, according to the Body Shop Instagram, their most popular item is Hemp Lotion which I am a huge fan of myself.  There were zero Hemp items in the calendar.  So the variety of items could stand a bit of tweaking.  

Come to think of it, there were zero body sprays which I've also purchased in the passed.  They also have things like combs and brushes and hair ties but only a hair band was included which looked to provide help for holding hair back for mask use.  Like I said, it needs tweaking.

Here's what you really want to know - Would I purchase this Advent Calendar from The Body Shop again?  Yes.  I've ended up with some items like body wash which I will use for a few months before having to restock.  I get to pamper myself with some masks for the next while which I feel like we all need more after the holidays than before.  The biggest advantage was that it reminded me how important self care is.

Did you purchase this Christmas Calendar?  What did you think of it?  What were your favourite items or what would you have liked to see included?  If you are curious as to each of the individual items I got in this Advent Calendar click on the Advent Photo Gallery 2022 from the page menu top of this blog.

Thanks for following along as I opened and enjoyed this calendar!

New Year, Same Me

The calendar will soon flip over from 31st to first and I’ve prayed a lot that the anxiety, panic and grief I've experienced in 2022 will be erased. I know it won’t. The day changing or year changing really won’t magically make everything disappear no matter how much I want it to. I can keep hoping though and that’s why I keep looking forward to 2023. 

A season of Hope.

Out with the old.  In with the new.

A ritual or tradition for me at this time of year is to sit down with my new calendar and write in all the important dates.  I'm still one of those people who buy calendars and keep track of such things in writing.  I'm not sure most people do this anymore and just rely on adding it to their phone or tablet.  I do that too.  However, I like to see things in writing.  I like to see a visual of how many days until the birthday or anniversary or concert or whatever next big thing is coming along.  I add birthdays and anniversaries and throughout the year I keep track of appointments and other achievements.

This little tradition also means that I get to flip through the calendar I've just finished and reflect on everything that's passed.  As I've mentioned in previous blogs and if you know me then you'll know there's been a lot going on in 2022.  Enough dwelling!  I want to focus on all the good things instead.  

The Good Things.

I've continued to make my health a priority and while this year's weight loss total is only about 15 pounds, it's still nearly 90 over all and I know in 2023 I will finally get to the goal weight I set out for myself.  

I've worked really hard in my job.  I've had to say goodbye to some special students but at the same time those people have made me far far better at my job of teaching music and I am so thankful and grateful for that.  In August, I had a student achieve the highest exam mark in the province and as a result received a medal commendation from Conservatory Canada.  I’ve had this happen before but prior to the pandemic.  It confirms to me that teaching the joy of music through piano lessons is what I was truly meant to do.

I've made a huge effort to be more gracious and giving in ways I wasn't previously.  I’ve tried to lend an ear and lend a hand. I baked and gave lot's away to friends, neighbours and family.  I'd like to continue to share in that way if I can, not just because it’s the holidays, but because an unexpected surprise always makes someone else’s day a bit brighter and it also brings me joy in knowing that  

I've tried to reach out more.  Rekindle friendships.  Form new friendships.  Join communities.  I'm a homebody at heart.  Whenever I do make myself go out and experience things I always enjoy them so I need to step out of my box more.

I’m hoping I’ve learned from my mistakes because holy smokes I made a doozy of one last year.  It all turned out okay but I still think about it and it still rolls around in my head on those nights I can’t quite get to sleep.  

And OMG I need to be less paranoid.

This is turning into a bit of a resolution type of thing isn't it.  Do you make New Year’s resolutions? That's not what it's meant to be at all because I don't need wide sweeping changes. I also don’t really believe in making resolutions just because the calendar changed.  I like myself.  I like the work I’ve put in.  I can decide to change something on any day, week or month...

...or even any year.

So, friends, in this new year, 2023,  I'm going to be mostly the same me but a better me because we can all strive to be better.  I just want to be a better me now and always. 

Merry Christmas

Before we all get super busy with our Christmas celebrations, I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who has followed and read along with my posts over the last month or more. I’ve received some very nice comments and appreciate the conversations. 

I had wanted to share a few more things, but our schedules get so jam packed this time of year so those memories and stories will have to wait for another time. I will do some follow up posts about my advent calendars, which I loved and which I thought were the best for my money so stay tuned for those.

I plan on keeping up this blog now that I’ve attracted you all here but if you’ve found yourself here from ABC Football and wonder where that talk is, don’t fret, I fully intend on getting back to that site as the CFL season ramps up for 2023. 

I hope you have a fantastic Christmas shared with those you love and you get a moment to rejoice and marvel in the glow of the lights, bask in the sounds and immerse yourself in the delicious smells of the season. 

Let It In

I had wanted to write a blog about our 30th anniversary and the Christmas that followed our wedding.  Truth be told I don't remember lot's about the Christmas at Fredlund's house and feel like I should because most people in Hubby's family recall that as THE Christmas.  Maybe it was because I was so new to the family and it was just all overwhelming.  I'm not sure but when I think about it I also think about all the family members who aren't with us anymore and that reminds me that even though I've been trying to share all kinds of heartfelt things on this blog, the holidays are not full of happy memories for everyone and some people are living with celebrating a first Christmas without their loved ones.  We are also that family.

It's been a year.  That's all I can say.  2020 was a cakewalk compared to 2022.  Stay at home and bake brownies all the time while working from home?  Sign me up because back then everyone was well in my family and safe.  2022 was a year where I didn't dare ask 'what next' and kept saying over and over God will not give us more than we can bare.  

It's been a test of Faith.  When the pandemic hit, we stopped attending church like most people.  We keep saying we need to go back but haven't.  We've watched like many do on YouTube.  I know attending church is important but I also think praying in the quiet stillness of home is what's helped me endure.  I'm reminded that no matter how messy our life is, God is there to help us pick up the pieces.  And man, 2022 has been messy.

I've had to lean on a lot of people.  Of course my family and friends were there for us but it was my coworkers who probably should get an award for the amount of venting they've endured!  At the same time, wow, what special people they are.  They listened without judgement and it really meant a lot.  The ice cream cake for my 50th birthday, which should have been a fun day, was amazing but happened during a time of grief and misunderstanding.  The Moderators on ABC Rider Fans just took over when things got really tough and they listened and listened and listened some more.  It's because of all of these people that when the holiday sparkle was slightly ignited back in November, I decided to let it all in.

Kicking Up Their Heals

At some point during the Christmas season, my parents would attend my Dad's work Christmas party and I would get to go spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  I was young and it was a long long time ago now and I don't remember specifics but I know spending time with them was always special.

We'd sit at the dining room table and play card games.  Grandma and I would play Go Fish and Grandpa would play Solitaire.  We'd drink tea but Grandma would always call it "coffee/tea" and laughed about the time she poured tea into Grandpa's coffee making it real CoffeeTea.  Grandma would also say things like "heavens" when I'd tell a far fetched story and reply with "they're busy kicking up their heals" when I'd inquire as to what my parents might be doing.

I remember cousin Kim being there once and teaching me how to draw Snoopy and I remember Grandpa carefully teaching me how to make an origami bowtie.  It's something I can still remember how to make today.  However, one very special thing stands out first and foremost.  One time Grandpa got out the Consumers Distributing Christmas book and it very well could have been the Sears Wish Book or both.  I was writing my letter to Santa Claus.  Grandpa told me it was very very important to tell Santa all the page numbers, product numbers and prices of everything I wanted.  I wanted a lot.  This was the year the new Barbie-like doll Sindy came out.  She had an elaborate house with incredibly detailed furnishings.  There were tiny dishes and cutlery and just amazing things that tickled my fancy.  I carefully wrote it all down for Santa.

In those days, Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We would exchange gifts with them and have snacks.  This particular time there were many gifts with my name on them.  When I got to open my presents they were all the items I had so carefully listed for Santa Claus making my wildest childhood wishes coming true.

It would take hours to set up that Sindy house and it took up lots of space but it was so special.  It would stay set up forever because it took so much work but as I grew up and was less and less interested it all got packed away.  I'm pretty sure its still in storage at my parents.  I don't know if there's anything like it for kids these days.  I don't know if today's kids would even want to play with such things, but I sure did, and for a while it was the best gift ever.