Recipes - The Best of this Life

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The Best of this Life

Women's Lifestyle Blog: Food, Fashion, Family

Home for the Holidays
Recipes
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- Ottawa

Smoothies

Healthy After School Green Apple Smoothie

Healthy Strawberry Milkshake Smoothie

5 Back to School Smoothies for Kids On The Go

Want More Energy? Kickstart Your Day With A Pineapple Green Smoothie

5 Simple & Healthy Blueberry Smoothie Recipes

5 Simple and Healthy Green Smoothies To Boost Your Energy

More Smoothies...

Appetizers

These Easy Grilled Steak Kabobs Make the Perfect Appetizer

Our Christmas Eve Charcuterie Board is a Family Tradition

Delight Your Holiday Guests with Homemade Stromboli

More Appetizers...

Breads

Gluten-Free Christmas Loaf with Figs, Walnuts and Cranberries

Wake Up To Gluten-Free Apple Banana Bread For Breakfast

A Hearty Gluten-Free Pumpkin Oat Bread For A Cool Autumn Day

Breakfast & Brunch

Did you Know? Canning’s Easy and Fun Too!

3 Ingredient Banana Coconut Pancakes

Celebrate 75 Years with Lilydale and This Divine Thanksgiving Turkey Quiche

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

A Melt-In-Your Mouth Spanish Omelette Made with Olives from Spain, Red Potatoes, and Manchego Cheese

Wholesome Bacon and Egg Bread Baskets Made with Natural Ingredients

More breakfast...

Cakes

Rich and Decadent Keto-Friendly Chocolate Cake

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Gluten-Free Brownie Coconut Ice Cream Cake

Celebrate Canada’s 150th with a Spectacular Jos Louis Cake

Gluten-Free Banana Snacking Cake

The Perfect Pair: Perfetto Espresso + Chocolate Cake

Cookies

Gluten-Free Oatmeal M&M Cookies for Christmas

You Have to Try These Christmas Cowboy Cookies, Seriously!

Gluten-Free Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Easiest Coconut Macaroons You’ll Ever Make

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with Quinoa Flakes

Gluten-Free Christmas Oatmeal M&M Cookies

More cookies...

Desserts

A Sublime and Refreshing Lime Mousse for Summer

Throw a Victoria Day Party and Enjoy These Lemon Coconut Bars

The Easiest Coconut Macaroons You’ll Ever Make

More desserts...

Cupcakes

Gluten-Free Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

St. Patrick’s Day Gluten-Free Rainbow Cupcakes

Gluten-Free Mocha Latte Cupcakes

More cupcakes...

Main Dishes

A Simple Thanksgiving Menu That’s Budget-Friendly

Yes, You Need Caprese Steak in Your Life

Simple and Healthy Honey Glazed Salmon

Switch Things Up and Make It a Turkey Taco Tuesday!

A Hearty Potato Casserole and Fiery Appetizer for Brinner

Two Creative and Delicious Ways To Cook with Bacon

Muffins

Classic Gluten-Free Apple Muffins

Tasty & Healthy Gluten-Free Carrot Apple Muffins

Gluten-Free Apple Spice Snacking Muffins

More Muffins...

Salads

salad recipes

10 Salad Recipes for the Holidays

A Fall Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Apples

Sweet and Zesty Clementine Spinach Salad For Spring

Cold Beet Salad with Red Onions and Chives

An Elegant Prosciutto, Pear and Bocconcini Salad Appetizer

Achieve Your “Healthy and Easy” Salad Goals with Eat Smart

Sides

Chive and Garlic Brunch Potatoes #Foodiemamas

Creating Backyard Memories With Summer Barbecue Recipes

The Best Carrot Ginger Soup

Vegan

Homemade Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte #Foodiemamas

No-Bake Vegan Banana Cream Pie

Delicious Vegan Gluten-Free Buckwheat Pancakes

Vegan Frozen Banana Custard

How to Make Vegan Frozen Banana Custard

The Best Vegan No-Bake Cheesecakes Ever

Vegan Spicy Hot Chocolate

Hi, my name is I’m Emily Smith. I founded The Best of this Life in 2011 as a space to create, inspire, and live with purpose. I’m open-hearted, optimistic, joyful and believe that every day holds promise and possibility. I live in Ottawa, Canada with my loving husband and two wonderful children. I’m so glad you’re here and welcome the opportunity to get to know you!

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Snow: Coming to a street near you. ❄️😆⁣
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Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?🎄⁣
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I love having lots of snow for the holidays, it’s so picturesque and festive. ⁣
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But usually by February I’m over the cold and dreaming of spring 🤷🏼‍♀️ So I’m holding on to that loving feeling for now ☃️🎅🏻🎁

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Anyone else planning for 2020? 📝⁣
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What are your first thoughts that come to mind about the past year? Mostly positive, negative, or neutral?⁣
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What was one of your favourite accomplishments?⁣
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In between all the holiday fun, I’m taking time to reflect on 2019 and beginning to think of my goals for the year ahead.⁣
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My favourite business accomplishment of this year has been growing my email list and connecting with so many people outside of social media. While social media is such a big part of my life and business, having those email conversations and getting positive responses to my newsletter has been really rewarding and I’m looking forward to continuing that connection in the new year.⁣
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I’d love to hear your thoughts about 2019 and what goals and dreams are coming to mind for 2020?

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What is the ONE Christmas story you read every year without fail? 📖🎄⁣
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For us it would have to be ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. It’s a classic! 🎅🏻🎁⁣
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These days, story time has been quite festive! Here are some of the other holiday books we’ve been reading:⁣
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• How the Grinch Stole Christmas⁣
• Room for a Little One⁣
• The Nutcracker⁣
• How to Catch an Elf⁣
• Merry Christmas Little Mouse ⁣
• The Polar Express ⁣
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Do you have any to add to our reading list? ⁣
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Wrapping gifts: LOVE it?? Or HATE it??⁣⁣
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I’m team love all the way. I can’t wait to get started! 🎁 ⁣
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Speaking of wrapping gifts, our Home for the Holidays 2019 Gift Guide is live on bestofthislife.com !!!🎄⁣⁣
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If you want to take a peek at some of my gift ideas for the season, click the link in my bio (swipe left for a preview). ⁣
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Happy gifting friends!

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22 days • 9 hours • 8 minutes • 10 seconds until Christmas! 🎄❤️ But who’s counting!? 😆

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Happy December friends! ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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I can’t believe we’re entering the last month of the year...and this decade. 😲 ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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The 2010s were such a wonderful time for me with beautiful memories. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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That’s not to say I haven’t had my fair share of hardships and bumps in the road these past ten years, because I have. But at the end of the day having my family by my side is what I will always cherish the most. They made this past decade incredible. 💕 ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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As we begin to close off this year and move into the holiday season, I hope this last month, before 2020, is a festive and amazing one for you.⁣
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December brings with it lots of holiday and winter activities! I’m sure you’re probably already pretty booked up, haha, but if you’re looking to add some activities and reminders to your calendar, grab a pencil! ✏️ 📆🎄⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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1. Bake Christmas cookies ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
2. Do some online shopping (cyber Monday!)⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
3. Get winter-ready (change your tires)⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
4. Have your kids write a letter to Santa⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
5. Go tobogganing ⁣⁣
6. Sing Christmas carols⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
7. Put up your outside decorations⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
8. Make a winter craft ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
9. Decorate a gingerbread house⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
10. Bake a homemade fruitcake ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
11. Create a holiday music playlist⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
12. Make a signature holiday drink⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
13. Visit a holiday light show⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
14. Prepare for ALL the snow (do you have a good shovel?)⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
15. Build a snowman⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
16. Throw a holiday party⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
17. Watch all the holidays movie ⁣
18. Read a book⁣⁣⁣ (Christmas Shopaholic!) ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
19. Host a board game night⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
20. Slip on a pair of cozy slippers or reading socks⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
21. Welcome winter ❄️ ⁣
22. Tackle a puzzle while drinking hot cocoa, obviously.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
23. Take a walk in the snow ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
24. Celebrate Christmas Eve, what’s your tradition?⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
25. Have a wonderful Christmas! ⁣⁣⁣🎄⁣
26. Happy Boxing Day! Sales anyone?⁣⁣⁣⁣
27. Go snowshoeing⁣⁣⁣⁣
28. Dream about the new year...goals.⁣⁣⁣⁣
29. Build a fort ❄️ ⁣⁣⁣⁣
30. Enjoy an outdoor fire⁣⁣⁣⁣
31. Ring in the New Year with bubbly! ⁣⁣⁣⁣

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What a week 🙈⁣
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Sinus infection and antibiotics ✓⁣
Kids home from school with colds ✓⁣
Cease & desist sent for spam duplicate of my website ✓⁣
Behind on everything in life ✓ ✓ ✓⁣
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TGIF. I’m so ready for this week to be behind me! Plans for the weekend include getting 100% better, chillin’ like a villain, and then catching up on all the things. 😆⁣
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How was your week? Any plans for the weekend? ⁣

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Hot cocoa, cookies and candy canes, oh my! 🍪☕️🎄⁣⁣
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I created this sweet little personalized sign with my Cricut Maker and some black premium vinyl, acrylic paint, and jute twine. It's perfect to hang just about anywhere for a touch of farmhouse decor! I found it a happy new home in our bedroom. @officialcricut #CricutCreated #Ad⁣⁣
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What do you think? 💕⁣⁣
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If you’re looking for ideas to create your own personalized gifts and seasonal home decor for the holidays, I’m sharing a roundup of 25 holiday projects you can make with Cricut on the blog! (link in bio) ✂️ ⁣⁣
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From reusable holiday gift bags to DIY advent calendars, you’ll find lots of inspiration!🎄

© 2019 Emily Smith