My birthday and New Year Giveaway!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my friends and followers a very happy New Year, filled with all that is good - love, health, and happiness.  This year, I spent New Year's Eve with my in-laws at their home, together with family, cousins and friends.  We ate dinner, nibbled on desserts, drank and celebrated the first minutes of 2012 together with a champagne toast.  On New Year's day, we had lunch at my parents' home and spent the afternoon together with them. I am thankful to be here, alongside my family and friends, with a clean slate and a fresh start to another year.  I am already making plans for this year and thinking about all that I want to do and make happen. 

A few days before New Year's Eve, Nuno, the girls and I went on a little getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake to celebrate my 35th birthday!  We left our snowy city of Barrie and drove approximately two hours southwest, to the town of Niagara-on-the-lake (20 minutes from Niagara Falls).

I've celebrated many of my past birthdays in Niagara Falls because it's one of our favourite getaways.  It's far enough away from home, but still close by, and the girls and Nuno are always on holidays this time of year, so it works out splendidly!


Before arriving in N-O-T-L, we stopped off at Niagara Falls to visit one of our favourite shops - the Hershey store!  No visit to Niagara is complete without a stop in here. 

In my bag is a little something for the giveaway. You will see it at the end of this post!

Our beautiful room in the historic

Prince of Wales Hotel

This painting was hanging in our room.  It reminded me of

the girls and I.

 

Shortly after checking in, Nuno and Annabel enjoyed some relaxing time in the room.  Anita and I, similar, the way we are, couldn't wait to get out there and browse the shops.  Here are a couple photos I took along our walk. 

Exiting our hotel

The Cenotaph town clock is located in the centre

of the main road.  It is a memorial built to honor
those who died during World War 1

On our little walk, we went into one of my favourite hat shops
and I bought myself an adorable knit hat with a rose on it.
And in two other shops, I found a couple of other things for my giveaway! 


Once we arrived back at the room, Annabel was already waiting for us, with her swimsuit on

I took this shot of our hotel late at night, after we arrived from
our dinner.  Isn't it beautiful?  This was our first time staying here.  Some of you may remember
 we had a "proper" tea in this hotel last year, in the tea room.  It is incredibly beautiful, inside & out!

On the day of my birthday, we drove across the border into the State of New York.
We had lunch at The Olive Garden in Amherst and browsed one of the huge outlet malls in the area.
We didn't find any better deals on the US side, so we headed back over to our side.

A slice of Tiramisu!  YUM!!

In the evening, hotel staff delivered this beautiful rose to the room.
They did not know it was my birthday, but how fitting!

It was time for dinner, we hadn't made any reservations, so we went out for a walk.  And look...it started snowing...just for me (one of my wishes, by the way)!

We ended up having dinner at Bistro Six One.
I was pleasantly surprised with their food and ended up eating
THE best grilled salmon I've ever had!  I will defintely be stopping
in here again.

On our way back from dinner, we saw this horse and carriage outside
the front doors of our hotel

Breakfast at the hotel restaurant on the morning after

Nativity scene outside of the Trisha Romance Gallery

The Trisha Romance Gallery in N-O-T-L
houses her beautiful paintings and prints!  She's a favourite of mine!

Greaves Jam, where I found one of the giveaway items!

And...one last stop in Niagara Falls before heading home again.

And Now...

My New Year Giveaway...

Everything you see here, I purchased in Niagara Falls & Niagara-On-The-Lake (except for the candle).  You will receive one Hershey's Black Cherry & Almonds milk chocolate bar, one package of 3 assorted dish towels, a 64 ml jar of Greaves pure strawberry jam, and a champagne bucket candle to officially commemorate the start of the New Year! 

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment on this post and become a follower, if you are not one already.  I will enter all of your names in a hat, and my girls will help pull out the winning name on Friday, January 6th!  I will anounce the winner later that day!

Good luck, everyone!

Happy New Year to you all!  Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful first week of the year!

I will be in touch again soon. xo