Home for the Holidays 2022

www.csphotos.mypixieset.com

With the holidays upon us, I can't help of be excited for the festivities. The food, the decor, and more importantly, the people. It's a time of year where we get together and celebrate how we are fortunate to have each other in our lives. Every year, I always swear to myself that next year will be different. It won't be a hectic rush to get ready for the festivities. I tell myself that I will start shopping earlier, wrap gifts weeks before, and we'll prep all the food well before the big day. Well, as any parent can relate, living with kids means things never go according to plan. We've had such a busy fall that we are back to square one with nothing being ready as the holidays are fast approaching. We did manage to put up the tree at the cottage with the kiddos and Mandy has started her Christmas baking. I often laugh with her and tell her I workout 364 days of the year just to be able enjoy her Christmas cooking and baking. It's like prepping for a marathon, you have to be committed to the main event.

The holidays are always such a special time in our household. We spend it at the cottage enjoying the quiet of nature as we carve out new family memories. We try to enjoy each moment because, let's face it, the kids won't be young forever. I can only imagine them as cranky teenagers who would rather hang out with their friends instead of their old parents.

As you get ready for the holidays, flip through this issue to find many wonderful ideas of how to decorate your home, enjoy the holidays and bake some goodies. And we can't forget our annual holiday gift guide. Enjoy and remember, savor every moment as 2022 is almost over.

Happy holidays!

Marc Atiyolil Editor-in-Chief

marc@canadianhometrends.com

Photo by Christina Palmer CS Photos

DESIGNER DECOR

This year, for the holidays, I love the idea of a black and white Christmas with a mix of soft pink and hot pink for a unique, eclectic look. A mix of gold and silver accessories add luxury to the tree while a few DIY touches create a unique, one-of-a-kind look!

www.jacklynnlittleinteriors.com

Tree, www.canadiantire.ca; Ornaments, www.crateandbarrel.ca, www.balsamhill.com; Decorative Pieces, www.bouclair.com; Pillows, www.tonicliving.com, www.swdstudio.ca

POP OF PINK!

Use Krylon spray paint in Hot Pink to add a bright pop of color to silver ornaments and a wicker tree skirt.

Ornaments, Ikea, www.ikea.ca: Wicker Tree Skirt, Bed, Bath & Beyond, www.bedbathandbeyond.ca

2022 | ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS

Artistic Expressions is a unique holiday decorating program that starts with your favorite artwork and ends with a masterpiece inspired by art within your home! Here are a few favorites from this year’s projects - www.stageit.one

This stunning Christmas tree exudes beauty through the use of Swarovski crystals draping the tree. These crystals can be seen in the embroidery of the velvet ribbons and the mini-chandeliers. Even the champagne, pearly white and blueberry colored Christmas balls are jeweled in both Swarovski pearls and Swarovski crystals that are a feast for the eyes!

The StageIt.One design team has captured the clarity of a massive ocean sparkling under the sunrise with elegant, oversized sapphire blue ornaments. Natureinspired elements such as poinsettias, berry sprigs and snowflakes, in coordinating colors, create a tranquil yet elegant look.

Holiday Staging with StageIt.One features services for corporate spaces as well, like this Cadillac dealership! The theme for the Cadillac Chrysler Old Mill Car Dealership in North York is Elves! On a visit to their showroom, you can see their 2022 Holiday Tree designed with hard working Christmas Elves, adoringly designed by StageIt.One! “It’s completely Selfie-Worthy!” says Sheron Latibeaudiere. For further details on how StageIt.One can provide one-on-one professional designer influence to make your Holidays one to remember, visit www.stageit.one

holiday season with family

The Holiday Season brings to many families, hope, love and togetherness. With a well-designed space and layout, it can provide the ideal place to bring those core qualities in the holiday season to your home.

In this project, the open concept layout helped us create a space that maximized its function and provided the warmth that the season brings to families. The kitchen island provides an area where you can entertain and gather while steps away from the dining room table you can have a wonderful holiday meal together.

The Holidays are a celebration of love, joy and peace. It is a great time to celebrate in a space that encompasses all of that and more.

Project by Sherhill Construction, www.sherhill.ca

a beautiful built-in entertainment unit

Sofa, Coffee Table, End Table, www.sofaland.ca; Light Fixture, Lamp, www.robinsonlightingcentre.com; Fireplace, www.tufg.ca; White Houses, www.crateandbarrel.ca; Plant, www.potterybarn.ca; Nutcracker, Pillows, Stocking, www.bouclair.com; Rug, www.rugs.ca

MarcAtiyolil

Editor-in-Chief

www.CanadianHomeTrends.com

Inspired by a luxurious marble slab fireplace surround, this living room brings together classic luxury with modern style. A green color palette complimented by earthy finishes and luxurious gold details is both trendy and timeless at once. Touches of black through-out the space help to carry the black from the marble slab into the room while also grounding the space. Adding holiday touches with minimalistic decor and a fun holiday pillow are all it takes to get this living room party ready!

Sofa, Chair, Coffee Table, End Table, www.sofaland.ca; Light Fixture, Lamp, www.robinsonlightingcentre.com; Fireplace, www.tufg.ca; Trees www.crateandbarrel.ca; Plant, www.potterybarn.ca; Nutcracker, Pillows, www.bouclair.com; Stocking, www.etsy.ca

CHRISTMAS AT HOME

The flattest holiday gift ever is waiting for you at IKEA. It’s never been easier to check names off your list for the techies, foodies and greenthumbs in your life with an IKEA gift card. IKEA Gift Cards can be purchased online at IKEA.ca or at your nearest IKEA store.

Globe Electric’s SMART Spiral Filament Bulb From vibrant, full spectrum RGB colors to invigorating or soothing whites, Globe’s SMART bulbs will let you set the right light for every occasion this holiday and all year round. Using the Globe Suite App, turn your lights on while on your holiday vacation, change the color of your room for Santa or control your bulb with the sound of your voice using Google Assistant, Alexa or Siri. You can even use the tunable white feature to have bright white light in the morning and a relaxed warm light for evenings, echoing your circadian rhythm and great for your health into the new year. Available at Globe-Electric.com or homedepot.ca

RONA is a great place for all things DIY, from supplies to inspiration. RONA offers great quality products/supplies at a great value so you don't have to break the bank to achieve your DIY goals. There are products/supplies available at RONA for everyone from the novice DIYer to the expert contractor including the exclusive Kolbalt Tools line. Kobalt is a versatile brand that offers a wide selection of cordless tools & outdoor power equipment designed to meet DIYers needs!

Affordable & powerful, Kobalt devices come with a five-year warranty (3 years for batteries) & are designed to make life easier for homeowners who need to do routine work around the house. The Kobalt assortment features more than 70 high performance and high quality products in three performance categories: 24 V Max, 24 V Max XTR & 40 V. Battery and charger are compatible with all Kobalt 24-volt MAX power tools AND 24-volt MAX outdoor power equipment tools. - www.rona.ca

Globe

Electric’s Olivia Table Lamp

Unique, functional and on-trend, Globe’s vintage-inspired Olivia table lamps will brighten up your home and have it holiday entertaining-ready with a touch of gold or pink. - www.globe-electric.ca

Echo Dot with Clock The all-new Echo Dot with Clock is Amazon's best sounding dot yet. Enjoy an improved audio experience with clearer vocals, deeper bass and vibrant sound in any room. Check the time and more at a glance with the improved LED displays that shows you the time, alarms, weather, song titles and more. Keep your home comfortable and connected with improved device pairings using compatible smart home devices and create routines to automatically turn on compatible lights when you walk into a room or start the coffee maker right when you wake up. Alexa is ready to help any time of the day. Ask Alexa to show you weather and song titles, set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions, and even hear jokes. - www.amazon.ca

Globe Electric’s SMART Indoor/Outdoor

String Lights It’s easy to create festive scenes that cycle through different colors and effects with Globe’s SMART string lights. Brighten up any outdoor or indoor area and make your space colorful or give it a warm glow - you have lots of options using the Globe suite app! Available at homedepot.ca

Mrs. Meyer's Snow Drop Dish Soap Cuts through grease while making dishes clean and bright. The biodegradable formula Dish Soap contains plant-derived degreasers to make grease disappear. A citrusy and floral Snowdrop is full of good cheer with uplifting notes of mandarin, iced petunia and praline. www.mrsmeyers.ca

Mrs. Meyer's Peppermint Multi-Surface Cleaner Quick and easy multi-surface spray removes stuck-on dirt from nonporous surfaces throughout the house and leaves a scent of cool Peppermint, touched with a hint of vanilla that smells perfectly heartwarming. www.mrsmeyers.ca

Mrs. Meyer's Large Soy Candle in Iowa Pine

This delightful scented candle is made from soy wax, vegetable wax and other thoughtfully chosen ingredients. The festive Iowa Pine has a wonderful scent of freshly cut trees with a touch of clove and cedar. - www.mrsmeyers.ca

Mrs. Meyer's Tin Candle in Honeysuckle A unique tin candle made from plant-derived soy wax and essential oils. The charming recyclable candle tin makes it an instant decoration. Garden-fresh Honeysuckle is a tempting sweet scent; a charming mix of flowers and fruits. www.mrsmeyers.ca

The Christmas List – Is it Naughty or Nice to List Your Home At Christmas?

Christopher Audette, Award Winning REALTOR®, www.thegroup.ca

You want to get your home sold but the Holiday season is right around the corner. Do you list now, during Christmas, or do you hold off? We spoke to Chris Duffy, an agent with The Group at Re/Max First for his take on what sellers should consider at this time of the year.

Duffy suggests that the best time to list your home is when the time is best for you. There are certain factors that affect selling at any time of the year. The adages that Spring is the best time to sell and that you should never list in December really don’t tell the full story. Supply and demand are the key factors for salability at any time, and in any market. “In December, there are fewer buyers” says Chris “but, they are from a much more serious buyer pool. Further to that, many sellers pull their homes off the market, so the competition is lower. You will likely get less for showings, but a higher quality of shoppers” he surmises.

Chris has several suggestions to maximize your sales potential during this period as well. “Don’t be afraid to list in December, but do it well prepared and with a strategy.” Make sure your pictures are taken before your decorations go up, so if it is still listed in January, it doesn’t look out of place. As is always the case, make sure the pictures portray a well staged and clutter free home with broad reaching and value building appeal. Try and list between the first and tenth or so otherwise wait till the middle of January. And it if it is up, keep it up. “I’ve sold homes on Boxing Day and New Year’s day. People still buy homes during this period, and it’s not a Boxing Day Special” he chuckles.

Make sure your walkways, drive and deck are all cleared of snow and there is a large boot mat at the door. The winter months are sloppy and wet and you don’t want that tracking through the house.

“When you’re ready to decorate do it tastefully and minimally.” The biggest concern is really having your home still feel large roomy and spacious. A tree and a few other festive items are really enough. “You don’t want people coming in and being distracted with great holiday decorations, you want them to come in and be captivated by the great kitchen, or fantastic living room.” Pick a few pieces of your holiday décor and show them off nicely. Don’t overdo it, and don’t forget, people buy year round, so you have to be ready to make your property into someone else’s new home.

Design your project using Cricut Design Space. Cut your design using Smart Iron-On Heat Transfer Vinyl. Don't forget to mirror your design before cutting!

Custom Pillow DIY

www.cricut.com

Weed your design and place shiny side up on your pillow case. Cover with a protective layer.

Cricut Maker 3

Pillow Cover & Insert

Cricut Heat Transfer Vinyl

Cricut Weeding Tools

Cricut Design Space

Cricut EasyPress

Use the EasyPress to set the design into the pillow Case following the time and heat settings for the fabric being used. Cool and remove the shiny layer. Slide cover over pillow insert.

#plantlovers

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

LED PLANT LIGHT Boost plant growth with a full spectrum, energy-efficient, dimmable LED plant light with a built-in automatic timer that lets you adjust the light to suit your plant's needs!

DUSTING MITTS Keeping plants shiny and healthy has never been easier. Micro fibre gloves let you gently dust even the most delicate of plants quickly.

MOSSIFY MISTR The best fully rechargeable continuous water mister on the market! The Mossify mistr lets you recreate the rainforest with an ultra fine mist, perfect for creating humidity for tropical plants without over watering the soil. The sleek, modern design fits nicely into any space, letting you keep it on hand, ready to use whenever you need it!

THE ORIGINAL BENDABLE COIR POLE

Available in 3 different lengths, this bendable coir pole is perfect for climbing, vining and trailing plants. Made by hand using durable, sustainable materials, these poles are great for your plants and for the environment! Using a coir pole helps mimic the natural growing environment, giving plants a healthier and more stable growing environment. This will result in larger leaves and healthier plants. The poles can be bent to suit your plants current growth or used to train your plants to grow in fun patterns and to match the decor and style of your living arrangement!

UGLY PLANTMAS SWEATERS The

Christmas sweater for plant people! Made from high-quality, eco-friendly materials, these are the perfect sweaters for your Christmas parties this year! Pick from 5 fun, plant themed designs!

All products available from www.mossify.ca

JUST JUST LISTED LISTED

Michael Phinney from Phinney Real Estate shares listings that will inspire those who love to entertain!

1618 Birchwood Drive, Mississauga, ON 3+1 BED / 7 BATH

This luxurious Mid Century Modern bungalow has everything you need to host in style, including an exquisite kitchen, an expansive recreation room, temperature-controlled wine cellar with tasting room and more! In the summer, a manicured outdoor space with a 22x44 gunite pool and lush gardens offers even more entertaining possibilities!

27 Woodend Drive, Carlisle, ON

4+2 BED / 4 BATH

431 Spruce Street, Oakville, ON 4+1 BED / 5 BATH

This newly built contemporary farmhouse is perfect for family gatherings! A beautiful kitchen with fully integrated appliances opens to a great room with a beautiful linear fireplace. The home also features a finished basement with a wet bar and a professionally landscaped yard with a salt water pool and Jacuzzi hot tub!

This gracious Estate home offers all the space you could need for family, friends and more. Generous sized rooms, large windows, an in-ground pool, gorgeous gardens and a covered outdoor kitchen are just a few of the features that make this home a must see!

Phinney Real Estate, www.phinneyrealestate.com

Holiday Updates

Whether you'll be hosting a grand holiday party with out-of-town guests or an intimate affair with local loved ones, these top improvements will prepare your home for holiday merriment.

Affordably Add a Guest Bathroom

Adding a guest bathroom will help make holiday guests feel more comfortable while also adding to your home's value. This may seem impossible in spaces without below-floor drainage for plumbing or when proximity to drainage is inconvenient.

A simple, affordable solution is above-floor plumbing systems from Saniflo that avoid the hassle and expense of busting through the floor or concrete to create conventional drainage or installing a sewage ejector system. The Saniaccess 2 is ideal for creating an additional half bathroom virtually anywhere, thanks to a 1/2-horsepower macerator pump system. Above-floor systems like this can process waste from sinks and toilets before pumping it to the nearest drain line that connects to the home’s septic tank or a sewer system. When an up-flushing, macerating toilet — like the Saniaccess 3 — is used for the project, its comparatively low installed cost makes a bathroom addition very affordable. The stainless-steel cutting blades inside the Saniflo unit quickly break down and liquefy incoming waste, then discharging it through small-diameter piping into sewer or septic lines. Consequently, there is no need for the mess and heavy expense of digging through the flooring, especially the concrete variety in a basement or a slab foundation.

DIY influencer Sammy Pampani recently converted an unused storage room into a bathroom. The remodel consisted of removing a pre-existing oil tank, cleaning up the space, and installing a toilet, shower and sink. The Saniaccess 3 was the best solution for Sammy’s planned bathroom. Using Saniflo saved a substantial amount of money on the installation, she says. “The Saniaccess 3, compared with conventional plumbing, saved close to $2,000 and three days of labor. We just love it.” Thanks to Saniflo, Sammy now has an additional bathroom in her basement to accommodate guests during the

holiday season and beyond.

Add a Wet Bar

Simple updates can make a big difference in functionality. You might consider adding an island with running water and a sink. Once again, an above-floor plumbing solution, like the Sanivite, can quickly and affordably create that functionality where no below-floor drain currently exists. Small enough to fit inside a kitchen cabinet, the unit is designed to meet the toughest applications and is capable of handling hot water and grease.

Dane Perkins of GMH Construction estimated that homeowners saved close to $2,500 on a recent sink addition to a basement bar when they chose to move forward with the Sanivite above-floor drain pump solution, rather than conventional plumbing. The homeowners wanted a basement bar for entertaining guests. According to Perkins, connecting the Sanivite was an easy and straightforward

installation: “The most beneficial aspect of the Sanivite is that the pump in itself is already quiet.” Once installed, the system was practically silent due to bumpers included with the product to isolate the noise and vibrations. After multiple tests, Perkins confirms that the Sanivite “had plenty of power to do what it needed to do.”

Add a Basement Kitchen

A popular hang-out spot during the holiday season is the basement. Why not add a full kitchen to your basement, including a sink and dishwasher? The Sanivite is a drain pump for kitchen installation or for any gray water application. It can be used to pump gray water away from a variety of fixtures in commercial and residential applications. The system is able to discharge the waste up to 16 feet vertical and/or 150 feet horizontal. This unit is also small enough to fit inside a kitchen cabinet and was designed to sustain the toughest applications as it is capable of handling hot water and grease.

Accessible Bathroom Planning

When designing a space, long-term use should always be a consideration. The end result should be a space that is highly functional now but also meets potential future needs as well. In the bathroom, this is even more essential. It is important to ensure the bathroom will meet both current and potential future needs of all family members! While we don't like to think about the negative, the reality is that aging, accidents and unforseen illnesses can cause temporary or even permanent changes to accessibility needs and these can require expensive renovations if they are not considered in advance! Here are a few important questions to ask yourself:

IS THE ENTRY into the bathroom wide enough to accommodate a walker, wheelchair or equipment like a lift if needed?

DOES THE DOOR swing outward? This is important for enabling access in case someone falls.

IS THERE A COUNTER that someone can sit at to do hair or brush teeth, either in a chair or wheelchair?

ARE CONTROLS for lighting, fan, and shower located at accessible heights?

IS THE FLOORING non-slip and easy to walk on in both dry and wet conditions?

IS THERE ENOUGH ROOM in the bathroom for a caregiver to assist if needed?

These considerations will have little to no impact on the look and feel of the bathroom but can have a massive impact on the functionality of the bathroom over the coming years.

Bathroom Renovation by Shift Accessibility, www.accessiblerenovation.ca

Christmas

been busy with this year!! There are some easy technology upgrades for your home to help you and your family get the most out of the holidays, no matter how you celebrate. Let’s look at 5 simple technology upgrades which won’t break the bank but could help you raise the roof!

EERO WI-FI SYSTEM Since we’re hosting more people this year than in the past few years, it might be time to upgrade to your wi-fi network at home. Not only will everyone’s devices work all over the home, a new wi-fi system will ensure that all the holiday music, shows and movies you stream will work without buffering or cutting out. It will also ensure that everything in your house runs more smoothly, and you can even set bedtimes to make sure the kids don’t stay up all night!

RING SMART VIDEO DOORBELL You get so see who is coming and going, you get a record of everyone who has come to the house, and you get a visible deterrent against porch pirates. RING also sends you alerts to identify certain people…from knowing when

Uncle Mort and Cousin Eddie are outside your door to getting an alert Christmas eve that the big guy is on the property….he knows when you are sleeping, knows when you are awake and now you will know when he is in your yard!

SONOS There is something about the music of the holidays that just takes us back to being kids and all the great memories from that time. From hanging out at home with the family to hosting the perfect holiday gathering, great music is a must. A simple way to add really high-quality music, really easily, is with SONOS. They make 2 portable players that will let you easily create great sound in any room (or several rooms).

SMART LIGHTING Lights are synonymous with the holidays and there are some easy ways to up your lighting game this year. Smart bulbs from companies like HUE replace existing bulbs inside and outside, so you can use their app to program your lights to be any combination of colors. No switches or wiring to mess with, just any color of the rainbow, anywhere you want.

Pair those smart bulbs with a smart plug from companies like Amazon and make it easy to automate and tie in all the lights in the home while controlling them with you voice. “Hey Alexa, activate Christmas” turns on all your lights (inside and out), your inflatables and even starts some holiday carols playing over your smart speaker! It’s a little Santa, a little James Bond and a whole lot of fun!

PROJECTORS Finally, we come to one of our favorite holiday traditions… enjoying movies and concerts on the big screen! One of the best investments you can make is a short throw projector. Brands like Samsung make projectors which are nothing like the traditional kind we are used to. Gone are the days of struggling with wires and placement!

Placed only 2” from the screen, short throw projectors have built in speakers, apps like Netflix or Disney and are literally plug and play! All you need is a sheet, a blank wall or a portable projector screen and you too can enjoy some awesome family time watching all your favorite holiday movies…like Die Hard!

So, there you are. Some easy options to elevate your holiday experience this year. All these ideas are easy, make great gift ideas, do-it-yourself friendly and will add loads of fun to your celebration, no matter where you are and who you are with.

We want to wish everyone a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season filled with wonderful memories facilitated by great technology!

Michael Freedman AI Technology and Design www.aitechdesign.com

TIPS FOR ENJOYING YOUR FIREPIT IN WINTER

Keep some wood in the fire pit under the tarp so it stays dry and can easily be started at any time. Keep the rest in your shed or garage when not in use.

When the fire is going, keep the wood close by stacked or in a log holder, this way you don't have far to go to stoke your fire.

Make sure that you are using dry wood to keep the smoke minimal.

Store the chairs in a garage/shed to keep them dry/unfrozen.

Have a big fire to feel more radiant heat during the colder winter days/nights.

Clear the area around your fire pit of snow to prevent it from melting during the fire and forming ice after it is out.

Move your fire pit into a more sheltered area out of the cold winter wind.

Bring out some campfire blankets to the fire to help you take full advantage of the fire pit's heat.

Bring out hot beverages to keep you hands warm (Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, whatever your preference is).

Cook soup/stew over the fire.

RAILINGS: A CHRISTMAS DECOR ESSENTIAL

If you are quite in the mood for Christmas decorating your house (I mean who isn’t?), we have a few useful tips to make this process smoother and even more enjoyable!

Railings are a part of interior and exterior design that most of the time become invisible to your eye. It’s time to spice them up with some garlands and make them stand out. Not only will you have a beautiful piece of art in the end, handrails are especially easy and convenient to decorate. You have a free standing structure that has a square or rectangular shape making it a perfect piece to put dome décor on.

Front porch rails look especially beautiful with pine branches over the top bar (can be used for both framed glass rails and picketed versions), while you can add some lanterns next to the railing.

For the interior, you can add some coziness and merry mood by installing some garlands over your handrail or entire guardrail. If you have glass railing, you may also draw snowflake patterns on glass.

For the rail around your terrace or deck, we recommend using some ready-made planters with Christmas plants or décor. You may install them at the stair railing or use some hangers to put over the top of the handrail in a few spots.

We hope you enjoy your Christmas decorating and have a wonderful holiday season! - www.art-metal.ca

tool chest

FOR QUICK SNOW CLEAN UP FOR WALKWAYS AND DECKS, the brushless snow shovel is the perfect choice. Quickly and quietly (don’t worry, it won’t wake the neighbors) remove snow before guests arrive! This snow shovel is part of the Greenworks 40V family of tools, which are built with medium weight construction and high-efficiency motors.

For cleaning while you're on the go, Greenworks' robotic vacuum cleaner is powerful enough to clean dirt and hair from floors, carpets, and more. The two side brushes and middle rolling brush provide ample suctioning power for quiet, efficient cleaning. Perfect for homes with pets. Intelligent obstacle avoiding and anti-drop sensors help this low profile (3.23 in. height) vacuum cleaner easily clean under sofas, beds, and furniture where dirt and dust hide. Schedule your Greenworks robot vacuum remotely from anywhere with the user-friendly Greenworks SMARTg app, also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant which can easily be controlled by voice commands.

Staff Favorites

For flexible cleaning for all areas of the house and vehicle, the Greenworks 24V Brushless Cordless Stick Vacuum (in white) lets you cut the cord while keeping the powerful suction you need to get the job done. Compact, lightweight, and easy to store, vacuuming becomes less of a chore. An efficient brushless motor gives you more power, quiet operation, and longer motor life. Three power modes allow for the flexibility to control the amount of power used based on your needs allowing for longer run times. The LED touch display screen makes viewing power mode, error messages, and run times easy and convenient.

Deck the halls and prepare the house for holiday guests with the 24V Brushless Drill / Drive and Impact Driver set. This powerful set is compact and lightweight, making it a great choice for a wide variety of projects!

NOTHING BEATS A FRESH CUT CHRISTMAS TREE! START YOUR OWN FAMILY TADITION BUT CUTTING DOWN YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE THIS YEAR.

THE LIGHT WEIGHT, BATTERY POWERED 80V CHAINSAW FROM GREENWORKS IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR ON THE GO!

dramatic LUXURY

For this family of five, a child friendly space with plenty of room to entertain was on order. After taking time to get to know the homeowners, it was determined that an open concept space with plenty of room to gather would be the perfect solution for their lifestyle. The home was very traditional in style and closed off. In order to achieve the desired effect, the walls were opened up to extend the kitchen area as well as opening the family room to have access to the kitchen.

The focal point of the design is a beautiful kitchen with an oversized island that is perfect for hosting large family events. It can be used for food buffets or as seating so guests can gather around. Of course, a larger island requires more

material which did cost more. In order to offset this cost and remain within budget, we saved by keeping the space minimal. For example, a feature wall planned for the front foyer was removed from the project in order to allow for more budget for the main areas such as the kitchen and family room where the homeowners had made clear were the priority.

Staying on budget is important but it should not come at the cost of quality. For this project, working with an in-house designer and a complete team that includes many of the services required (structural, tile, paint, etc.) allowed the contractor to ensure all aspects of the project worked together without additional unexpected costs.

Renovation by Heavy Duty Homes, www.heavydutyhomes.com

CHRISTMAS IN THE

kitchen

Introducing Blossom, a KitchenAid® Design Series Stand Mixer. Blossom invites you to let your creativity flourish each time you step up to the Stand Mixer. The soft thyme green color and botanical accents are inspired by the aromatic herbs and edible flowers used in cooking and baking. The hammered copper bowl develops a unique patina over time, reflecting your growth as a Maker www.kitchenaid.ca

Ghost nets are responsible for harming marine life through entanglement and the disturbance of reef environments. As of 2021, through the manufacturing of the Oceaware Collection, approximately 17,000 kgs of fishing nets have been removed from the East China Sea. Oceanware is crafted from recycled resins captured from discarded fishing nets. Utilizes existing waste from the ocean, reduces the need for virgin plastic and prevents harmful plastic pollution from breaking down in the world's oceans. Oceanware is an eco-friendly kitchen tool line. The handles capture the essence of the seashore with deep blue and aqua tones. These durable, eco-friendly knives have virgin stainless steel blades and come with sustainable blade guards for safe and secure storage. - www.cuisinart.ca

With intuitive, versatile controls; exhilarating power; and durability backed by a 5-year warranty, the new Explorian® Series E310 will forever change the way you cook. It’s never been easier to become a Vitamix owner and enjoy healthy, whole-food recipes at home. Ten variable speeds allow you to refine every texture with culinary precision, from the smoothest purées to the heartiest soups. The pulse feature lets you layer coarse chops over smooth purées for heartier recipes, such as chunky pasta sauce or thick vegetable soups. The powerful high-performance 2 HP motor can handle even tough ingredients to create high-quality blends and clean up is a breeze. With a drop of dish soap and warm water, your Vitamix machine can clean itself in 30 to 60 seconds – no disassembly required. www.vitamix.ca

The Galley represents a whole new category of kitchen appliance—a complete culinary system where one can prepare, cook, serve, entertain, and clean all in one central and convenient place. The kitchen is even more functional and ergonomic with a cooktop next to the Workstation. This new kitchen work line concept is much more efficient than the traditional work triangle. Kitchens that feature a Galley Workstation invite more rewarding interaction. Conversations flow more freely, and every stage of meal preparation is a collaborative act. Many hands make light work, and most problems can be solved by working smarter, not harder.

Discover what sets this kitchen all-rounder apart. It begins with quality construction. Every Workstation is handcrafted in the USA, fabricated from one piece of 316L 16-gauge stainless steel. With seven standard lengths available, you can install a large Workstation as the centerpiece of your kitchen island to prepare, cook, serve, and entertain, and a WashStation nearby to keep the cleanup process easy and efficient.

To get the most out of the Workstation, line it up with your cooktop to make the transition from prep to pan as seamless as possible. Additionally, Galley Workstations are designed to accommodate a standard oven tray, so you can prepare ingredients within the Workstation before popping the tray into your oven behind you. If you’re partial to open-air entertaining, Galley Workstations are excellent additions to any indoor or outdoor living space. Contain ice and garnishes for cocktails or use the Galley as a serving station for all your holiday season delights.

Euro-Line Appliances, www.ela.ca

Drinkmate’s OmniFizz countertop unit is one of the leading home carbonation systems. Its proprietary technology allows consumers to carbonate any kind of beverage safely and quickly without dilution. www.drinkmate-canada.com

The FoodSaver® 2-in-1 Food Preservation System is the ultimate gift that helps make busy lives a little bit easier by saving FOOD, MONEY and TIME. Keep food fresh up to 5X longer than ordinary storage methods like zipper bags, foil, plastic wrap and containers. The FoodSaver® system saves by buying in bulk, buying on sale and preventing waste. Entertaining is a breeze, marinates in minutes instead of hours and perfect for cook ahead-batch cooking and meal planning.

The FoodSaver® 2-in-1 Food Preservation System is available online or in-store at Canadian Tire. This vacuum sealing system has simplified the bag and sealing process. Making custom sized bags has never been easier; each time you cut a bag, the system will automatically seal it, saving you time. And with the clear sealing window, you can see your bag as it seals, allowing you to control the seal location. This 2-in-1 unit features a handheld sealer, making this perfect for the fridge, pantry, and freezer. www.foodsaver.ca

Kare Granola is handmade in small batches with locally sourced organic, gluten

-free, plant-based, and 100% natural ingredients that are valuable to your health. Order from a selection of unique, bold flavour options or create your own custom granola mix for the perfect breakfast or snack! - www.karegranola.com

Darbo’s 80% Fruit line of spread s are the newest in a 140-year legacy of jam-making. Their tradition of using only four ingredients persists to this day as does their gentle, low-heat production process, which allows the fruit to retain its natural flavour. With more fruit packed into every jar, the 80% Fruit product line can rely less on added sugar and more on the fruit’s natural sweetness for a healthier, like-homemade jam. Available at select stores across Canada just in time for the Holidays! - www.darbo.at

When you need a strong and intense taste of tomato, Mutti’s Doppio Concentrato (Tomato Paste) is the perfect choice. This paste uses only the highest quality, 100% Italian tomatoes – no by-products from other tomato processing. Use it to deepen the flavour and thicken recipes like Bolognese, casseroles, and stews. And with a cap that can be resealed, you can use it as needed without it going bad!

www.mutti-parma.com

Mutti, the #1 Italian brand of tomatoes, is bringing to Canada unmatched fresh tomato taste with Polpa, consisting of cold-pressed, 100% sun-ripened Italian tomatoes, finely chopped with just a pinch of Mediterranean sea salt. Use it with any recipe that would typically call for fresh tomatoes - even bruschetta! Available at grocery stores across Canada. - www.mutti-parma.com

GE's 30” Gas Range (JCGSS86SPSS) offers true European convection for superior cooking. With two ovens, you can prepare all your holiday favorites with ease! Stylish Stainless Steel finish ensures this beautiful range will have a timeless look as well!

www.canadianappliancesource.ca

Samsung's French Door Refrigerator (RF23A9771SR - RF23A9771SR/AC) offers ENERGY STAR Certified performance in a fingerprint resistant Stainless Steel finish. With features like LED Lighting, an ice dispenser and an interior water dispenser, this beautiful refrigerator ensures hosting guests and preparing holiday meals will be a breeze! www.canadianappliancesource.ca

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR APPLIANCES FOR YOUR FIRST APARTMENT, FIRST HOME, DREAM HOUSE, CONDO, GUEST HOME, OR VACATION SPOT, THE CANADIAN APPLIANCE SOURCE SHOWROOMS HAVE WHAT YOU NEED - INCLUDING FABULOUS HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS!

Panasonic's Countertop Microwave (NNCD87KS) is a great gift idea for the new homer on your list, or anyone ready for an update! The convection oven offers 1350W watts with 1.2 cu. ft capacity and can be converted into a build in as shown here, to suit whatever your needs may be! - www.canadianappliancesource.ca

WHETHER

custom style NEW BUILD

Mount Cedar Homes is a construction management firm that specializes in custom homes and major renovations.

The owner, Jad Atwe M.Eng., P.Eng., PMP, elaborates on the thought process that was followed during the design of the main floor area for the company’s latest custom home build.

The planning phase is an exciting time as we work with the architect, designer and our clients to explore different options, understand what works best for our client’s lifestyle, taste and budget. Every home comes with a unique set of requirements that include: lot size, location, zoning, budget, etc.

The project optimization begins with proper space planning. On this project there was about 970 sq.ft. of main floor area that approximated a square. Creative planning of the layout with a full understanding of how the homeowners wished to utilize the space ensured efficient design without sacrificing a large proportion of the space to hallways.

When entering the home, a large 8ft main entrance door provides a dramatic and luxurious atmosphere. This continues walking into the foyer area that is open to the second floor above. Depending on the space the company is working with, incorporating an open concept layout combined with large window and patio door openings makes the main floor feel spacious and airy as exterior light is invited into the living area.

In terms of the interior finishes, wide planks of engineered flooring that extend throughout the entire space helped provide a continuous flow. Custom vent covers add charm and a seamless look.

The kitchen is a focal point with two toned cabinets for contrast. White oak for the lower cabinets closely resembles the flooring with the navy uppers. For appliances, the selection criteria were based on performance and energy efficiency. This allowed to splurge on quartz countertops, quartz backsplash and a porcelain slab at the fireplace mantel.

The end result is a space that flows easily and includes elements that provide a luxurious feel. Finally, Jad emphasises the importance of engaging both the design and construction teams early on, as this helps deliver a spectacular home within budget.

Mount Cedar Homes, www.mountcedarhomes.ca

VEGAN Orange Granola Fudge

White Chocolate

www.karegranola.com

INGREDIENTS

2 cups soaked raw cashews

1 cup soaked raw coconut flakes

1 cup cacao butter, melted

1/3 cup coconut milk powder

1/3 cup icing sugar

1/2 cup Kare Orange Sun Granola Zest of one orange

1 tsp plant-based orange food color (Optional)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

Soak raw cashews and raw coconut flakes in water overnight or for about 6-8hours. The longer they soak in water, the creamier they get. For extra creaminess, soak for 24-48 hours, but change the water every 6-8 hours.

Blend them in a high-power blender to get the extra smoothness and

creaminess.

Pour the paste into a bowl and set it aside.

Now, get your raw cacao butter; they usually come solid. Use your knife to chop it into chunks. Raw cacao butter comes in different shapes and sizes depending on where you buy them. Some already come in small pieces and some in slabs.

Melt the solid cacao butter in a bowl.

Two methods: a) microwave for every 30 seconds until completely melted, or b) pour water in a pot and let it simmer, put a heat resistant bowl on the pot, pour the solid cacao in the bowl and let it melt.

Now, in your blender, pour the melted cacao butter, icing sugar, coconut milk powder, pinch of salt, vanilla, and then the cashew coconut paste.

Blend for 30 – 45 seconds until it is very smooth to create a white chocolate ganache.

Pour the ganache into two separate

bowls or cups. One is for coloring, and the other is plain.

Add orange food color in one and mix until evenly colored.

Use a mold to create the designed shape. If you don’t have a mold, you can use a cupcake tray, cupcake sheets, or a small baking tray. First, use a tablespoon to pour one spoon of the plain white chocolate ganache into each mold.

Use a tablespoon to top the white chocolate with Orange Sun Granola. Make sure the granola covers the ganache. Cover the granola with the orange-colored ganache using a tablespoon.

Garnish the top with more granola and orange zest. Put the mold in the freezer for about 2 hours until it solidifies. Drizzle more white chocolate ganache on top. Remove from molds and enjoy. If using a baking tray, use a knife to cut them to your desired portions.

• 6oz sparkling water

• 1 Cranberry Lemonade Bomb

• 1-2 shots of vodka

• Lemon wedge to garnish

1. Add some sugar to a small plate.

2. Rim the glass with a lemon wedge.

3. Dip the glass rim into the sugar to create a sugared rim.

4. Add the sparkling water and vodka to the glass.

5. Drop in Cocktail Bomb Shop's Cranberry Lemonade Bomb.

6. Garnish with a lemon wedge and enjoy!

Get ready for some fun drinks cocktail bombers! COCKTAIL BOMBS™ are your solution for fun and delicious cocktail mixers. No need to buy cocktail ingredients and no need for a bartender! All COCKTAIL BOMBS™ are handmade in Canada with natural ingredients* contain no alcohol, making them great for mocktails as well!

Create lasting holiday memories with this assortment of delicious cocktail bombs. Enjoy flavorful cocktails like Coconut Margarita, Holiday Mule, Santa Secret and many more! Check out www.cocktailbombshop.ca for their 23 flavors!

Coconut Curry Soup Easy Peasy

DIRECTIONS

In

Stir mixture and transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours. Use within 1 week.

Green

CRÈME FRAÎCHE INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

In

Breakfast Favorites

If you’re looking for an easy, delicious way to switch up your holiday breakfast, consider adding Birch flavors to your favorites! While Maple has been a standard flavor for breakfast treats, Birch is making waves and you're going to want to give it a try! It is sweet but not overly so. It is fruity but yet toffee-like. It has overtones of molasses & brown sugar, undertones of citrus and a tangy finish that is not unlike a balsamic reduction. Think of 'sweet & sour' and how compelling that is in terms of leaving your palette wanting more. This is the magic of Birch! Birch has a distinctive flavor all unto its own and is incredibly multi-dimensional, adding additional layers of taste to foods & dishes which in turn bring out either the toffee, fruity or sweet tangy notes of Birch. It is this multidimensional flavor profile that makes Birch incredibly versatile as a culinary syrup.

A uniquely Canadian product, Canadian Birch Syrup is going to very quickly become your new go-to for breakfast and beyond! Try one of these delicious recipes and see for yourself!

RECIPES SHOWN:

Find these recipes and more in the RECIPES section at www.canadianbirchcompany.com

Birch Baked Raspberry Toast, Birch Chai Latte, Pecan Birch Scones

www.pioneermeat.ca

lengthwise then cut into 3 equal pieces. Repeat on the second piece of farmer sausage. Heat a large pan on med-high heat with a little olive oil. Pan fry 3 pieces of farmer sausage for 3-4 minutes on each side. This can be done 1-2 days ahead of time and simply reheated.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Brush olive oil over the surface of the English muffins. Toast for 5-10 minutes in the oven until golden brown. Remove from the oven & set aside.

Add the water and vinegar to a large pot and bring to a gentle simmer. Crack the eggs into 8 individual ramekins. Set aside. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with cold water and ice cubes. Set aside.

Gently swirl the water and slide an egg into the center. Cook 2-3 minutes while very gently stirring occasionally to keep the water moving, until the white is set & the yolk is soft. Use a slotted spoon to carefully transfer the egg to the prepared water bath. You

can gently poach 2-3 eggs at a time. Transfer the cooled poached eggs to an airtight container and submerge in water. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. In order to reheat the eggs, gently cover eggs with hot tap water. Set aside for a couple minutes until warmed through. Serve immediately.

PANTRY STAPLES

One of the last super-foods left in the world! Did you know you can technically eat JUST Bee Pollen and live off of it? ITS TRUE! It has EVERYTHING our body needs including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential sugars, and proteins. It even has potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, calcium, copper, iron, 59 trace minerals and so much more! The benefits are endless. The food possibilities are sky high!

Down it like a supplement on busy days or mix into your favorite shake. Sprinkle onto a salad or grind with a mortar and pestle for a fine powder that tastes great in pasta sauce and as a rub on many meats. With a small amount taken daily it can boost your energy levels, regulate your digestive tract, and boost your immune system. It is truly amazing stuff! - www.kbhoneyfamily.com

JOLLOF SAUCE This is your ultimate pantry must-have item. A delicious flavor bursting and tasty tomato-based sauce for easy and quick meals. It can be served with rice, couscous, potatoes, yam, used as a burger or pizza sauce, sandwich, pasta, quinoa, the possibilities are endless! The sauce is also versatile and you can add your favorite vegetables and proteins for a complete meal. Jollof Sauce is a ready-to-use cooking sauce for an exotic pot of Jollof rice in no time. Jollof is a well loved dish among West Africans, the epicurean soul and lovers of all good food. If you have wanted to enjoy GOOD Ghanaian inspired food, this is the sauce to have! Jollof Sauce is made with natural ingredients and is vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.

DEHLS GOURMET SHITO SAUCE is that delicious condiment you need for just about every meal. This sauce is nutrient-packed, bursting with flavors, aromatics, heat, sweetness and umami richness. Shito-chili sauce is a popular Ghanaian condiment and loved by many who have ventured to experience it. Suggested servings: rice, eggs,

salad, bread, yam & potato chips, noodles. . .endless options. Enjoy this as a dipping sauce, marinade or spread. Available in vegetarian and an original (smoked fish and shrimp) with no artificial colors or flavors and no preservatives.

Proudly Made in Canada in small batches.

DEHLS GOURMET ALL PURPOSE MARINADE CUBES are perfect for all savory cooking. Marinade cubes are made from the perfect blend of organic ingredients and toasted spices for a great tasting and hearty meal. These conveniently portioned cubes can be used for seasoning vegetables and meat proteins in no time! This natural marinade saves time from cleaning, peeling and blending seasoning before using them to cook. Save time this holiday with Dehls Gourmet Marinades.

www.dehlsgourmetfoods.ca

IN THE KITCHEN Kids

ENGAGE WITH SPECIFIC TASKS

Meal prep is a big part of the holiday season and a great time to find new opportunities to cook with your child. Not only will you have some quality time together, but by being involved with preparing the various dishes (including vegetables), your child will be more likely to eat them! Depending on their age, children can help with peeling, grating, mixing, measuring ingredients and even cutting (with supervision).

Of course, Christmas baking is another great way to include little ones. They can help find, measure and mix ingredients for a variety of recipes. They can also help with decorating cookies which is a fantastic way to get them engaged in the kitchen while also exercising their creativity!

FREEDOM (WITHIN LIMITS)

Freedom within limits is an important Montessori concept. It is the idea that our children can do challenging tasks by themselves if given clear expectations and instruction in advance. It also means that rather than stepping in and doing something for a child because we want to help, we as adults show them how to complete a task, give them the tools to do that task safely, and then step back, giving them the space and opportunity to do it for themselves, only stepping in if THEY ask for our help. This can be challenging sometimes for parents, which is why students get so excited to come to our environment where our instructors are trained to give them that freedom within limits. As parents, it can be so hard to watch our children struggle

with a task, but the joy and pride they will feel when they realize that they can do something they never thought they could is so worth it!

A quick caveat on this point is that safety is always the top priority, so if you see your child completing a task unsafely, that is your cue to step in. Finding tools in the kitchen that add an extra layer of safety (like the LKA Child-Safe Knife by PRISE) is a great way to give your child that freedom within limits.

FUN (AND EDUCATIONAL!)

We often hear from parents that their child won’t eat vegetables or refuses to try anything green, but what we’ve found is that in addition to engaging your child in preparing food (where they often will taste what they are prepping just out of curiosity), you can also make the process of eating food fun! One activity I always loved doing with my children was preparing a dish and telling them that I had made it using five ingredients, and they had to guess what each ingredient was. It gave them that extra challenge to try something they may not have considered before, but it also allowed them to discover different flavors and stop and think about what they were eating. Even better, it gave them a space to explore the language of food. If they couldn’t figure out what a specific taste or flavor or ingredient was, they could start to describe it and learn more about it.

WE ASKED LITTLE KITCHEN ACADEMY CO-FOUNDER/CO-CEO FELICITY CURIN FOR THREE KEY TIPS TO HELP PARENTS FIND FUN, ENGAGING WAYS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN IN THE KITCHEN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Sunny & MODERN

For this project, the homeowners wanted to convert their single family home into a duplex with a lower level 2 bedroom executive suite that could be rented out for additional income. In a basement suite like this one, it is important to maximize use of space and available lighting to create an open, airy and highly functional home. Extra large egress windows, a large open concept kitchen and a light, neutral color palette are key to ensuring the suite feels large and inviting.

In the living room, a shiplap feature wall with a fireplace insert creates the perfect place to cozy up and watch a holiday movie. The space is designed to house a wall mounted TV and includes a hidden outlet for a seamless finish. Those little details help to improve the functionality of the unit as well!

To add visual interest and contrast in the neutral space, matte black finishes were used. Black accents such as the interior doors and bedroom feature walls tie the look together for a modern yet homey feel. Despite being located on the lower level, the suite feels sunny and inviting.

by @the_home_enthusiast

Renovation by Black Jack Contracting www.blackjackcontractinginc.com

Staging

PRO TIP: We believe the planning phase is the most important part of any renovation, so we always recommend you get a quality contractor involved early on.

CHRISTMAS: IN THE BOX

Do you know that as of the 2016 Census of Canada that nearly 14% of the Canadian population now claims full or partial Scottish descent? Heartbox Scotland is a Scottish subscription box delivered worldwide each & every month. The boxes are lovingly curated in Scotland with a different theme each month showcasing the tales and traditions of our wee country … From the Jacobite Rising of 1745 to Scotland’s beloved bard Rabbie Burns and the magical and mysterious legends of the Scottish Isles, our premium subscription box brings the culture and tales of Scotland’s past to life for you. Enjoy little pieces of Scotland to your door each month, and share in the joy of what makes Scotland special. We are offering a discount of 20% off your first Heartbox to Marc & Mandy viewers with code Saltire20 www.heartboxscotland.com

Eco-luxury Spa offers themed self-care box delivered to your door each month, curated with up to 6 full-sized beauty and spa gifts plus access to digital resources to elevate your self-care routine. New subscribers get a complimentary Limited Edition Bonus Box ($129 value) shipped with their first month's box when they sign up for a 6 or 12- month plan. Each box includes clean, sustainable

candles poured to your unique scent preferences and unique products from brands who share eco-conscious values. 10% of the proceeds from each candle box go towards local charities dedicated to helping women and children in need, so your gift will always keep on giving. www.ecoluxuryspa.com

If you love coffee, you'll love Secret Sip! This monthly coffee club provides subscribers with the highest graded coffee from Canada's elite micro-roasters. Each month, members receive a sampling of rare micro-lots and treasured roasts, providing a tasting experience focused on fair trade and organic roasts. Selections are never repeated, so you have an opportunity to try amazing new flavors every month! Subscriptions make a fantastic gift for the coffee lover in your life. - www.secretsipcoffeeclub.com

Named the Best New Box in 2019 and the Best Wellness Box in 2022 by A Year of Boxes, Hygge in a Box is a small, female owned business based in Winnipeg. With two box sizes available, each box includes a selection of products sourced from Canadian companies. All products are natural, ethically sourced and fair trade with an emphasis on products from local makers who give back to their communities as well. Hygge in a Box also offers corporate options for employers looking to treat their teams and customers to a wellness based gift that keeps on giving. www.hyggeinabox.ca

Unboxed Learning is an out-of-the-box curriculum based education, designed to inspire learning through curated subscription boxes with a mission to educate, engage and inspire creativity. Unboxed Learning aligns with educators and prized publishers to create an educational platform that is designed to motivate, inspire, and teach our children with hands-on activities. Monthly curated boxes will create learning opportunities by providing tactical activities, STEAM based crafts & reading books that complement the Canadian curriculum. Unboxed Learning offers a variety of subscriptions to suit your every need, from monthly Learning Boxes for PreKindergarten to Grade 4, to annual Birthday Boxes for children aged 3 to 13 and quarterly Reading Corner Box Sets. They also offer single Specialty Gift Boxes, like the limited-edition STAR WARS Discover Pack, for those who simply can't get enough! Save 15% with code MARC&MANDY www.unboxed-learning.com

GAME NIGHT

OFF TOPIC Designed to get your creative juices flowing, this fast-paced game can be as rude as your imagination or as innocent as you like, meaning it’s perfect for any setting - a night drinking with friends or a festive family gathering. And with the ability to play from just 2 players up to 8, it’s a game to play as a couple when having a night off from the party rounds, or one to pull out at the end of a dinner party to get everyone talking. Easy to play, simply draw a card to set the topics and roll the die to set the letter your responses must begin with. Flip the sand timer and you’re off! Race against time to write down answers for each topic that begin with the letter rolled. But that’s just the beginning, the fun begins when you debate the answers with the other players.

Available exclusively at Amazon for $29.99 now with Prime Next Day Delivery. - www.offtopicgames.com

In the game Pandemic, the fate of humanity is in your hands! Together, you will treat diseases, share knowledge, and fly all over the world to prevent outbreaks and slow down the epidemic. Simple to learn and teach, and with adjustable levels of difficulty, Pandemic makes a perfect introduction to cooperative games. In the last decade or so of giving players the hope that teamwork can overcome any challenge, Pandemic has grown into an entire universe of expansions, spin-offs, and more! www.asmodee.ca

With over 8 million games sold, the Ticket to Ride series is one of the most popular modern board game series ever launched. The game is simple-to-learn, fun-to-play, and keeps players engaged by requiring continuous strategic thinking and a dose of opportunism. In Ticket to Ride - San Francisco, players race one another to visit the most iconic locations of the golden city and collect souvenirs along the way. www.asmodee.ca

Carcassonne is the perfect introduction to the modern world of board games. With its simple rules, a game of Carcassonne is a bit like competitive puzzle building. It is one of the first tile-laying games and definitely the most successful. Since its launch, publisher Z-Man Games has released dozens of expansions and different ways to play, including My First Carcassonne, adapted for kids as young as four, introducing them to the basics of strategic thinking and tactics. www.asmodee.ca

The Infamous CATAN! For many people, CATAN is synonymous with modern gaming. Featuring elements like resource collection, trading, involvement during other players’ turns, and no player elimination, CATAN has arguably been responsible for showing people the possibilities of what gaming could be. What’s more, CATAN comes in multiple versions, including a junior version, for kids aged six+. With its modified play style CATAN Junior introduces younger players to this now-iconic brand. - www.asmodee.ca

The Goonies: Never Say Die Embark on a perilous adventure full of dangerous booby traps and treacherous treasure-filled caverns! One player is the Goondocks Master,

controlling fearsome foes, from the outlaw family, the Fratellis, to the legendary pirate, One-Eyed Willie. The other players take on the role of the Goonies — Mikey, Mouth, Chunk, Data, and Sloth — overcoming cryptic puzzles and deadly challenges with teamwork, strategy, and Data’s clever contraptions! Will the Goonies discover the legendary riches that will save their homes, or will they follow the fate of Chester Copperpot... and never see the light of day? - www.funkogames.com

Blackbeard's Treasure Chest Avast me hearties! This newest kid’s action game from Vango has all the pirate-loving tropes for young swashbucklers! Follow the treasure map, unlock a treasure chest, and collect the booty of gold doubloons that spill out of the Chest! Takes both luck. . . and strategy. Yo ho ho... this sounds like a lot of fun!!! www.vangotoys.com

Trash Stash Kids LOVE Garbage Day! With this friendly neighborhood trash truck, kids can relive it over and over again! You never know when the truck will chuck it up! - www.goliathgroup.com

One Trick Pony Howdy partner! This cowboy is keepin' a watchful eye over his farm and isn't afraid to hogtie any varmint who tries to mess with his herd. - www.goliathgroup.com

Kingdomania Game Ball Enter the digital game world of Disney Kingdomania! Each level features cherished Disney stories and characters, but troublesome Glitches are causing chaos and mixing up the levels! Patch the problems before they crash the game! Each Game Ball contains everything you need to play,

including two mystery characters and 10 unique level tiles. Combine multiple Game Balls for more players, and expand the fun with dozens of figures to collect! - www.funkogames.com

Journey from the North Pole Game Help Buddy the Elf find his dad by leading him on a loopy route from the North Pole to New York City! Play path cards on the board to move Buddy the Elf, leading him toward your favorite landmarks along the way to score points. The player with the most points when Buddy finds his dad wins! www.funkogames.com

Cake-n-Bake This game literally delivers a full “cake” of colorful foam “slices,” realistic looking bakery topping and candle cards — even a chef’s cap! Really different from other games out there; and while it’s a great family game it’s PERFECT FOR PRESCHOOLERS. Bright and colorful, no reading required, simple game play, and totally tactile playing pieces. It fits right into today’s sweet spot of families’ appetites for cooking fun (thank you culinary competition shows and recipe apps!), time together and game play that engages preschoolers. . . and mom and dad! www.cakenbakechallenge.com

Jungle Fun Puzzles Hang out with an assembly of affable animals as you piece together our trio of “Jungle Fun” puzzles! Looks like it’s a lazy day in the jungle, with our set of three puzzles full of relaxing reptiles, meandering mammals, and beautiful birds! Each scene includes a variety of species to pique children’s interest, from crocodiles to chameleons, pandas to peacocks, and Toucans to tapirs. Whether it’s a hippo cooling off in the water, a panda munching a bamboo snack, or a momma and baby sloth just hanging around, any animal lover is sure to enjoy spending time with them all! www.ravensburger.org

Spirit Island is a complex and thematic cooperative game about defending your island home from colonizing Invaders. Players are different spirits of the land, each with its own unique elemental powers. Every turn, players simultaneously choose which of their power cards to play, paying energy to do so. Using combinations of power cards that match a spirit's elemental affinities can grant free bonus effects. Faster powers take effect immediately, before the Invaders spread and ravage, but other magics are slower, requiring forethought and planning to use effectively. In the Spirit phase, spirits gain energy, and choose how / whether to Grow: to reclaim used power cards, to seek for new power, or to spread presence into new areas of the island. www.boardgamebliss.com

In the co-operative trick-taking game

The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine, the players set out as astronauts on an uncertain space adventure. What are the rumors of the unknown planet about? The eventful journey through space extends over 50 exciting missions. But this game can only be defeated by meeting common individual tasks of each player. In order to meet the varied challenges, communication is essential in the team. But this is more difficult than expected in space. www.boardgamebliss.com

Hansa Teutonica is a highly interactive strategy game as players block and push each other at every turn, but it also gives cunning players the chance to put being blocked into an advantage. The game's many possible strategies can also be tested and perfected on the variant game boards of the beloved Britannia and East expansions. www.boardgamebliss.com

Wingspan is a competitive, medium -weight, card-driven, engine-building board game from Stonemaier Games. You are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your aviary. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats (actions). - www.boardgamebliss.com

MAKE IT MOVIE NIGHT

Paramount+'s Hit Series 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season One, starring Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner, now available on Blu-Ray & DVD with over two hours of bonus content including the making of ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ and behind the story segments. - www.paramount.com

The Lost City Bring home the most hilarious adventure of the year, starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, now available on Ultra 4K HD and Blu-Ray. - www.paramount.com

Maverick The #1 film of 2022 and the highest grossing film of the Tom Cruise’s (producer/actor) acclaimed career makes a great gift idea for Top Gun and Tom Cruise fans. The digital release shows the making of the film with over 110 minutes of action-packed bonus contents. www.paramount.com

The Godfather Trilogy Godfather fans will love this 50th anniversary trilogy in Ultra 4K HD. - www.paramount.com

Purdy's Activity Cube It’s a box of treats. No, it’s a game. Oh, it’s both! The fun doesn’t stop this Christmas as this interactive box of delicious chocolates, transforms into an easy-to-play board game for 4 players when emptied. Adults or kids, they’ll both love it! www.purdys.com

Holiday Classics Gift Box A holly jolly collection of bestselling chocolates. Order a few extra for any gifting emergencies around the holidays... or grab a few for yourself! - www.purdys.com

The idea for Comeback Snacks was forged while the founder was still in prison where they became keenly aware of the tough challenges they, and fellow residents, faced in getting back on their feet. Since then, it has been the Comeback team’s mission to raise awareness for second chances, hire those in need of one when they can, and to support reintegration programs, with a share of profits allocated to like-minded causes as they grow the business. Comeback Snacks are made with conviction, blending decadently delicious ingredients to make compelling recipes that offer a fresh take in the world of gourmet popcorn. Everyone deserves a Comeback! www.comebacksnacks.com

Sesame Snaps Seeds & Grains are an alternative to snacks often packed with ingredients you can’t pronounce, bringing you a step closer to healthier options between meals. Gluten free, they’re made with natural ingredients and contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. This vegetarian delicious and nutritious snack is a treat you can feel great about enjoying! - www.sesamesnaps.ca

Add more fun and life into your gatherings with the Grand Videoke karaoke system! It has a unique Perfect Pitch™ scoring system that gives you real-time feedback when singing. It’s like having your own singing coach!

The Grand Videoke karaoke system has over 8,000 built-in karaoke songs. Sing all you want from a wide repertoire of pop to classic songs and all-time favorites! Song update is a breeze and you can have full control of your Grand Videoke system with the GV Smart App for your iPhone/iPad or Android device.

The Grand Videoke karaoke system is very portable so you can bring it anywhere you want and set it up in no time. It has two GrandVoice™ professional wireless microphones for high-definition and effortless singing.

With the Grand Videoke karaoke system, you can turn your home into a party-ready venue to stage your celebrations, anytime.

www.grandvideoke.ca

HOLIDAY STAYCATION!

Take family night to a whole new level with a holiday staycation! Pack up the kids and head to a local hotel for a night or two. Andrew of Blue Crescent Hotels Carman suggests selecting a hotel that offers plenty to do while you are there. "Family rooms with bunk beds, 1 and 2 bedroom suites, accessible rooms, adjoining rooms and the Blue Crescent Hotels split room design make it the perfect place to gather with family while having your own space to relax in. Enjoy the pool, waterslide and hot tub with the kids, or exchange gifts in our meeting room. A continental breakfast awaits you in the morning after a comfortable sleep, or after an early morning work out in our fitness room." says Andrew "Other suggestions could be to surprise the kids by asking the hotel staff to play Santa while they’re at the pool by placing presents in their room."

While a night or two at a hotel close by may not seem like much of a get away, just putting the family in a new setting, away from the daily hustle and bustle, with activities they can't do at home, can be a great way to relieve some of the stress of the holidays. Plus, you will have time to bond as a family and create new memories without having to spend a lot of time in the car! Whether you stay for one night or the whole weekend, a holiday staycation is sure to be your new favorite holiday tradition!

TAKE THEIR BED WITH THEM. This provides a familiar spot and gives them a sense of security in a new place. If you are taking your pet with you, a crate bed in a travelling crate provides comfort for their trip. Upon arrival, a donut bed is a great cozy nest for them to hang out in and get used to their new surroundings. If space is an issue you can simply pack a puppy blanket. Remember to introduce new beds and blankets a couple of weeks before you plan to travel, so your pet gets used to them and so they start to smell like home.

PREPARE FOR ACCIDENTS. It is a good idea to have an odor & stain remover like ez-clean concentrated bioenzyme with you. It is strong enough to clean up any organic mess that may occur and leaves no smell or stain behind.

Traveling With Pets

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A BUSY TIME AND WITH PETS YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE TO THINK ABOUT. IF YOU PLAN ON TRAVELLING YOU MANY NEED TO KENNEL YOUR PETS OR TRAVEL WITH THEM. HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.

Tip from the experts at www.vagabondpetsupply.com and www.EZ-Clean.com

STOP MARKING BEFORE IT STARTS. With male dogs new places have unfamiliar smells and they may feel the need to mark the area. A pee band it a great way to help prevent male dogs from marking new places. The pee band wraps around the males abdomen like a cummerbund and applies a slight pressure on their body parts. This bit of applied pressure helps prevent them from being able pee inside and mark an area. Just remember to take it off when you send them outside to pee.

GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO. It is a good idea to take toys and brain stimulators like snuffle mats with you to give your pet an activity to do while indoors. By keeping your dog focused on things you want them to play with, you help prevent them from becoming focused on things you don’t want them to play with.

Snuffle mat is a foraging toy that is used to hide dry treats. When loaded with your dog’s favorite dry treat, they take their time to snuffle the hidden treasures out from amongst the fleece shag.

MAKE IT FUN. Travelling with your pet can be stressful. The best way to overcome this feeling is to make it fun. Enjoy their unique personality and dress them up. Bandanas are a great way to add some bling to your pet for any season!

A CHILD’Schristmas

The Cat Roarin’ Rex-Cavator is an all-new take on a traditional construction vehicle. Combining the mighty king of the Dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the tough rugged Cat excavator creates the ultimate dino constructor around. With two ergonomic joysticks your child’s movements control the dino’s neck and head accompanied with lights and roarin’ dino sounds to elevate the experience. Included with the Roarin’ Rex-Cavator are nesting building blocks your child can stack using the dino’s precision control. Only half the fun is stacking them up, now, destroy them and knock them down! Real Cat machines are known for their high quality, these toys are no different, built to withstand the elements and perfect for indoor or outdoor play. - www.funrise.com

HOLIDAY FUN

As Santa’s most-trusted helpers, The Elf on the Shelf Scout Elves serve as his eyes and ears around the world. Once adopted by families, they listen to kids’ wishes and fly nightly to the North Pole to report on their families' adventures to Santa. However, they always return the next morning and usually hide in a new spot. Each kit Includes: Adoptable Scout Elf who plays hideand-seek, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition illustrated storybook, Keepsake box, Official adoption certificate. Available at Canadian Tire, Toys R Us or Indigo/ Chapters. - www.elfontheshelf.ca

BRIO Christmas Steaming Train Set

This is a 26-piece train set perfect for creating lasting holiday memories and traditions. The set includes the Battery-operated steaming train, cargo crane with presents, and a Santa figurine. Tracks can be positioned around the base of your tree for decorative use year after year. Compatible with all BRIO World railway products! www.ravensburger.org

Nutcracker & Gingerbread Man

HOLIDAY POPPERS Two new festive Holiday Poppers make the holidays merry! And they make a great stocking stuffer! A traditional Nutcracker Popper and whimsical Gingerbread Man Popper join the classic Poppers line, helping deliver hours of free-form, festive fun! Just press their bellies and P-O-P out a soft red or green foam ball up to 20 feet! - www.hogwildtoys.com

PLAYMOBIL Wiltopia - Research Tower with Compass includes two PLAYMOBIL figures, Sofia and Rick Palmer, a research tower with detachable compass, an animal knowledge card, a drone, two howler monkeys, hummingbirds, a caiman and many more exciting Amazon animals and exciting extras. The best view over the jungle is offered by the Research Tower with a rotating platform and removable, functional compass for the next hike. The tower also serves as a shelter for howler monkeys. - www.playmobil.ca

PLAYMOBIL Wiltopia - Boat Trip to Manatees playset includes two PLAYMOBIL figures Dr. Da Silva and Jamie Palmer, a boat, a manatee with two cubs, an underwater camera, measuring equipment, veterinary accessories and many more extras for exciting Amazon adventures. Travel the Amazon by boat to discover the animal world and nature and take photos underwater with their waterproof camera! - www.playmobil.ca

FNAF Snap: Playset- Storage Rm w/Chica

Close in on Snaps! Chica in her Storage Room Playset before she moves! Comes with 11 customizable pieces, including 2 face pieces, 1 torso, 1 accessory, 1 head, 2 tables, 1 robot head, 1 box with hat, and 1 playset base. You can attach the face pieces to any robot head on the wall for storage. The tables, robot head, and box with hat can be moved to customize each playset. Parts can be snapped to tables too! In fact, you can collect and connect playsets to create even more killer adventures. Vinyl Snaps! Warning: Choking Hazard. Collectible comes with small parts. Not for children under 8 years. - www.funko.com

Introducing the

by WowWee with over 80 new virtual fairy pets to find, 40+ in each different jar! Search for fairy pets in your bedroom, in the kitchen, outside in the garden, and even by your own pets – there’s always a fairy pet around. Increase your chances of collecting rare fairy pets by bringing your jar to new locations and grow your collection by trading fairy pets with friends! Bond with your fairies by giving them hugs, saying hello, and feeding them. Fun for ages 5+ www.got2glowfairies.com

Become a master of real magic with the newest addition to the world of Magic Mixies, the Magic Mixies Magical Crystal Ball, featuring more than 80 lights, sounds and reactions. Your Crystal Ball comes with a new interactive, light-up wand – discover real magic exists within as you cast spells and the Crystal Ball reacts to your movements. The magic and the fun continue with the interactive Magic Mixie’s four modes of play: Fortune Telling Mode, Spell Mode, Game Mode and Tickling. You can make real magic happen again and again by repeating the creation process! Once you are done playing for the day, the Crystal Ball can be switched to “Night-Light Mode.” Available at all major toy retailers across Canada in blue and pink. Suitable for ages 5+. - www.moosetoys.com

Got2Glow Fairy Pet Finder

The Got2Glow Fairy Finder you know and love is back in an adorable new size, with over 20 virtual baby fairies to find! Your Got2Glow Baby Fairy Finder lights up as it detects virtual baby fairies around you; follow the lights, sounds, and directions on screen to find all the baby fairies! This all-new portable size makes it easy to find virtual fairies everywhere! Choose from 3 all-new games to play with your baby fairies: Follow the Fairy, Catching Fairies, and Fairy Frenzy! The Got2Glow Baby Fairy Finder is compatible with other Got2Glow toys. Fun for ages 5+ www.got2glowfairies.com

L.O.L. Surprise Loves Mini Sweets Dolls come in an earth-friendly PAPER BALL! Your favorite treats are now your favorite dolls! Find characters from Jolly Rancher, Hot Tamales, Hershey's Kisses, Mike and Ikes, Chupa Chups, Dum Dums, Pez, and Peeps. Unbox 8 surprises to reveal all the ways to play.

L.O.L. Surprise Loves Mini Sweets Surprise-O-Matic Dolls in brand new Surprise-O-Matic vending machine packaging! With the Surprise-O-Matic, unboxing these 9 cute surprises just got even more interactive and fun! Just the press of a button delivers each sweet surprise the same way you get your favorite candies from a vending machine.

Introducing L.O.L. Surprise Loves Mini Sweets Dolls in a brand-new Hershey's Kisses Deluxe Pack! Unbox OVER 20 extra tasty surprises to reveal even more ways to play! Three sweet B.B.s match three yummy Hershey's Kiss flavors: Hot Cocoa, Lava Cake, and Special Dark, each with a bag to fit a real Hershey's Kiss candy!

Introducing the Woodland Series 4 BFF Bright Fairy Friends! Each fairy comes housed in its very own fairy home with bright, motion activated twinkle lights. You can also use your fairy home as a night light! Press your fairy’s necklace to make her wings glow with radiating multi-colored lights! Collect all the fairy dolls from Series 1, 2, 3 and 4, and enjoy swapping out their fashions and accessories! Shine Together! www.funrise.com

With Cat Power Haulers, you take control! These vehicles feature Motion Drive Technology allowing for fun and intuitive play that brings the action to life! With Motion Drive Technology, push the vehicle forward to make the engine rev and activate the lights; push the vehicle backward to hear back-up sounds; move the bucket or dump bed to hear hydraulic sounds and flash the lights. The features activated by the child’s interaction with the vehicle create an engaging and realistic Cat experience every time they play. Batteries included. Collect them all! www.funrise.com

Introducing the Rocket League® Micro RC. A full-function remote control replica vehicle, modeled with realistic game-inspired features such as lights and

quick acceleration. This 2.75”/ 69mm ride is a 2.4Ghz vehicle that features working headlights and taillights, and includes a goal, game ball and controller that also charges and stores the vehicle. With these awesome accessories, you can compete in vehicular mayhem over and over. Take your favorite Rocket League vehicle out of the screen and into your hands! Appropriate for ages 5 and up. - www.funrise.com

Imaginext™ DC Super Friends™ Bat-Tech Batbot

Young crime fighters can create their own epic BatmanTM adventures with the turn of a Power Pad, the large robot transforms into flight mode with awesome lights, sounds and BatmanTM character phrases. Then kids can push the Batbot along to 'soar' to the rescue! 2-in-1 BatmanTM robot that transforms

into an action-packed playset with cool lights, sounds, and BatmanTM character phrases. Turn the Power Pad to transform into “flight” mode, then squeeze the trigger to bring the arms forward and roll along to “blast off” for action - shop.mattel.com/en-ca

The GraviTrax PRO: Giant Set features 409 elements that include unique components and everything you need to begin building your own vertical action-packed track systems. Build with walls, pillars and balconies that can be attached together to form threedimensional structures. The pillars have special notches to connect them with the transparent walls and create more intricate paths for the marbles. Suspend your tracks in the air with the balconies. www.ravensburger.org

Globe Electric’s Glow Light Board Encourage your kids to get creative with Globe’s fun, colourful neon light board. Perfect for learning ABC's, doodling, and drawing, it comes with 20 stencils and 6 dry erase markers, a perfect gift to help inspire creativity this holiday season!. Available at Canadian Tire stores across Canada. - www.globe-electric.com

FNAF Snap: Playset- Stage w/Freddy (GD) Close in on Snaps! Golden Freddy in his Stage Playset before he moves! Set comes with 12 customizable pieces, including 2 face pieces, torso, legs, 1 accessory, 1 head, 2 tables, 3 chairs, and 1 playset base. Tables and chairs can be moved and customized. In fact, you can collect and connect playsets to create even more killer adventures. Warning: Choking Hazard. Collectible comes with small parts. Not for children under 8 years. www.funko.com

The National Geographic Dino Fossil Dig Kit allows kids to become a paleontologist in search of dinosaur fossils! This unforgettable, hands-on STEM toy has all the tools needed to excavate the astounding T. rex tooth replica inside the large dig brick. Find National Geographic Kits at Walmart!

DJ Bouncin' Beats When little ones press the buttons, this interactive dance partner bounces to life with colorful lights, motorized spring action, and 75+ songs, sounds, and phrases that teach the alphabet, counting, colors, and more. With 3 Smart Stages® levels and lots of exciting bouncing action, the DJ Bouncin’ BeatsTM toy helps keep little dancers wiggling, giggling and learning as they grow.shop.mattel.com/en-ca

My First Kidi™ Smartwatch Help little ones care for themselves and learn about time-telling with a friendly woof-woof in a wrist pet they’ll love to care for. Get extra help with potty training by setting 30-, 60- or 90-minute reminders. Keep little smiles healthy with the Brush Your

Teeth reminder or get them to sleep on time with a chime that tells them when to get ready for bed. Kids will love taking this digital doggie on all their adventures while learning a little responsibility along the way. Give the pup a name and care for them right on screen. This super-talented pup can even be taught to do 20 tricks and will celebrate with barks and confetti. Explore the Time Master app and choose from 20 digital and analog clock faces. Connect watch-to-watch with a friend who also has a My First Kidi™ Smartwatch (sold separately) for more games and activities. Available in blue and purple. - www.vtechkids.ca

Globe Electric’s Terry the Triceratops and Wally the Whale Squish Night Lights No need to be afraid of the dark this season with these adorable holiday gifts or stocking stuffers! Globe’s Terry the Triceratops and his friend Wally the Whale are perfect companions to have by your child's bed to help them drift off into dreamland. Simply tap them on the head to light them up and continue to tap to cycle through a variety of colours. Available at GlobeElectric.com and homedepot.ca. Sold separately. - www.globe-electric.com

Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers are designed for gentle skin protection, with softness and breathability to help keep baby dry & comfortable. Safe for baby’s delicate skin, Huggies Natural Care Wipes are plant-based wipes & made with 99% water. Huggies Little Snugglers Diapers and Natural Care wipes are both hypoallergenic, free of fragrance and parabens to provide a gentle clean and outstanding protection for your baby. - www.huggies.ca

Pull-Ups has both day and nighttime training underwear that work together as the potty training system! Pull-Ups daytime training underwear make potty training fun, fast, and easy with refastenable sides and a Disney graphic that fades when wet, teaching your Big Kid to stay dry. Consistency is key when training. Putting your Big Kid back in a diaper at night can be confusing, instead use Pull-Ups Nighttime Training Underwear for overnight protection.www.pullups.ca.

HEALING WITHOUT HARM

GET THROUGH WINTER IN GOOD HEALTH!

Winter will soon be knocking at our doors bringing with its cold temperatures and snowstorms, its well-known annoying little ailments. But this year, be prepared to face the evils of winter with Boiron’s homeopathic medicines* must-haves in your family’s pharmacy:

For your little ones, try Coryzalia Children for Cold and Cold Symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing. For children of one month to 11 years old, and offered in sterile and drinkable unit doses, Coryzalia is easy to take and does not contain sugar, dye nor preservatives.

To relieve cold symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, minor sore throat, dry or wet cough and chest congestion, think of Stodal Multi-Symptom. Non-drowsy and with no dye, it can be used day & night by adults and children from 1 year old.

Have on hand Oscillococcinum*, an ally for the whole family for the relief of flu-like symptoms such as body aches, headache, fever and chills. Pre-measured, easy to administer and easy-to-swallow doses, non-drowsy with no dye and no preservative, this effective solution can be used day and night. And its practical single-dose format makes it easy to keep it handy, either in your purse, backpack or diaper bag, so you can take it at the first sign of flu-like symptoms. - www.boiron.ca

BOIRON: 90 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Inviting consumers and health care practitioners to discover homeopathy and use it in their daily lives, world leader in homeopathic medicines, Boiron Laboratories, has embodied its high standard for excellence and impeccable high quality in the manufacturing of its homeopathic medicines, ensured by numerous controls, carried out throughout the manufacturing process by qualified professionals.1

Celebrating its 90 years of excellence, Boiron is continuing to follow its philosophy with pride, the one to commit to work towards a more humane, respectful and sustainable form of medicine, thus ensuring that patients and health professionals are offered effective health solutions that heal without harming.2

* Note: These claims are based on traditional homeopathic references and not modern scientific evidence. These homeopathic medicines may not be right for everyone. Always read and follow the label.

Sources: 1 Boiron’s corporate video - 2019 – Manufacturing of homeopathic medicines https://bit.ly/2ZBgV4K 2 Boiron’s corporate brochure – 2022 – Heal without harm

Handling Handling Arthritis Pain Arthritis

Handling Holiday Stress

During the During the During the During

the

Holidays Holidays

Unfortunately, holidays can bring extra stress which increases arthritis and chronic pain. For instance, the long line up (long standing) during shopping, traffic (long sitting), long standing, extra cooking and extra cleaning will increase the physical stressors. Often people let go of their guard of what they eat. Excess sugary food, processed food and alcohol will increase the chemical stresses. The financial burden and disrupted sleep patten will increase the cortisol level leading to the emotional stress.

Here are the 9 things you can do to help your arthritis and chronic pain during the holiday session:

Shopping: Shop on week days. Aim for mid-day. This the least busy time for line ups and traffic. Use online shopping platforms like Amazon and Instacart.

Cooking and cleaning: Do them over couple of days. Planning and preparing in advance will help break the tasks into a smaller one where you can rest in between.

Water: Drink enough water. Make sure your pee color is clear. This means that you are drinking enough water. Spoiler alert: coffee, tea, pop don’t count as a water.

Eat reasonably: Eat your proteins and vegetables first. Allow yourself to some sugary food and treats in moderation. Use the 80/20 role. Eat healthy 80% of the time while still enjoying the holidays with the stuff you like.

Use intermittent fasting: It is simpler than you think. Don’t eat past 8 pm. Skip breakfast and aim to eat between 10 am – noon. Except if you are

diabetic.

Walking: Walk at least 30 min per day. You can break it into two 15 min walk.

Sunshine: Get exposed to the sun first thing in the morning for 15 min. You can do that during your walk, if weather permits. Sun exposure will regulate your sleep and boost your energy.

Sleep: Sleep and wake up at the same time. To get the best recovery sleep, go to bed around 10-11 pm and get up around 6-7 am. No food or screen time one hour before going to bed. Nap no more than 20 min if needed. No caffeine past 2 pm.

Mediation: When you get stressed or overwhelmed, use the box bearing method. Breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breath out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. Do that for 2 minutes. This will help reduce your stress and anxiety. PS. You can use this method to help you fall asleep.

I do understand that arthritis and chronic pain may limit you working or making an extra income. Holidays are all about the family and not how expensive the gifts are. Be creative with gift that bring good memories.

Don’t stress out if you fall of the wagon. Just go back to those 9 steps and will see an improvement in as little as 1-2 weeks.

Enjoy your Holidays.

Dr. Mark Hawass, Arthritis VIP, www.arthritisvip.com

Here are a few tips and tricks from a team of licensed and registered therapist that can help minimize the overwhelming feelings of stress and anxiety that follows us through the holidays. With a little help from licensed professionals we hope you will find these tips useful!

1. Acknowledge your emotions.

2. Pause with breath work (i.e. Box breathing 4x4x4x4.)

3. Reframe and regain your focus.

4. Focus on the things you can do and have control over.

5. Be Patient with yourself.

6. Ask for help and accept help.

7. Talk to a friend.

8. Take a break.

9. Make time for yourself, even if it’s 5 minutes.

10. Say no if you can’t do more and set healthy boundaries respectfully.

11. Go to sleep on time.

If you find yourself still feeling overwhelmed then it might be time to talk to a licensed therapist. At Heartsbloom, we can help you understand and process your emotions that showed up during the holidays in a safe and welcoming environment. Get in touch with us today!

www.heartsbloom.com

Holiday Sparkle

GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH GORGEOUS GEMS IN SHADES OF RED

can range from pinkish red to blood red though most will think of a ruby as the latter. The ruby is the birthstone for July and is said to symbolize love, passion, energy and

GARNET The traditional birthstone for January, a garnet is a more intense, deep red color. This gemstone is believed to induce passion, fire, energy and stability. It symbolizes protection and is said to bring good luck in love and

This deep yellowish-green gemstone is the birthstone for August and is believed to induce happiness, trust and truth. Peridots are said to increase strength and vitality, reduce anxiety and improve decision making

GREEN AMETHYST

This pale green color stone is believed to help the wearer gain spiritual serenity, improve communication skills, increase self-esteem and improve overall health!

This bold green gem is the birthstone for May. It is said to symbolize prosperity, vitality and growth. Wearers may benefit from improved intellectual ability, confidence and understanding. The emerald is also thought to boost creativity and

WINTER WEAR

Made from super soft, premium fabric, UNI onsies are the perfect choice for curling up by the fireplace on Christmas Eve! Designed in Canada, these cozy onesies are made for mountain lifestyles, perfect for out on the ski hill, at the cabin, on the ice or by the fire!

Fubuki Niseko 2.0 boots are an amazing lightweight, but cold resistant boot rated at -30C. This waterproof and windproof boot has many different color options and comes with a shock absorbing heel, cleated rubber sole, and reinforced ankle. www.scouttech.com

The limited edition teal of the Darn Tough Womens Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock is made in Vermont using double stitched layers. The sock has Fast action wicking, all weather performance, and best of all come with a lifetime warranty, proving their faith in the long lasting sock. www.scouttech.com

The OSC Tatik toque is great for keeping warm through those cold winters , while staying fresh and stylish. Being 100% acrylic knit with a no-itch liner, this hat is a must have. www.scouttech.com

Lightweight, simple, durable and comfortable, the Daylite® is well-loved for a reason. Reach for it when running everyday errands, going for a quick hike or heading out of town. Constructed from high-quality bluesign® approved recycled fabrics, GRS-certified recycled polyester and a PFC-free DWR coating. Versatile with the ability to attach to a variety of other Osprey bags, the Daylite can handle years of everyday wear and tear. - www.scouttech.com

- www.tenthandproper.shop

SPOTLIGHT: The Sugarmoon Difference

Sugarmoon's eco-friendly sugar paste is so natural, you can eat it! Wax can often contain harmful chemicals, harbour bacteria, adhere to live skin cells, cause hyperpigmentation and even damage the elasticity of your skin.The hand technique we use ensures a gentler approach to hair removal. The paste used to remove the hair itself contains the purest ingredients, sugar + lemon + water and the results last as long as 4-6 weeks. Our products consist of potent combinations of dozens of ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients and herbal extracts packed with vitamins and minerals that will hydrate, re-balance and revitalize your skin.

The Sugarmoon team recognizes that for the services offered, it can be challenging to find a place where you feel safe, comfortable and accepted. We want you to know that all bodies and presentations are celebrated here.

On the day of treatment, get excited; you're about to start a very sweet hair-free part of your life! www.sugarmoonsalon.com

Update your winter wardrobe with these favorites that are sure to become classic pieces you'll love for years to come! Our picks includes the Jacquard Sweater by Yerse of Barcelona, Wool Button Gloves by Vincent Pradier or France and the Jute Tote Bag by Marigold Collective of Vancouver. The just tote is fair trade from Bangladesh, made in Vancouver by a women's collective, letting you do good and support local at the same time!

IT’S SWEATER WEATHER! The only thing better then a warm, cozy sweater on a cold winter day - is a STYLISH warm, cozy sweater! Keep warm in style with fashionable options for any occasion! - www.sunlaced.com

CANADA IS HOME ®( C.I.H)® - because you belong here and every Canadian has their own unique story! Celebrating Home for the Holidays with unisex hoodies that are incredibly soft and comfortable!

saltspringislandapparel.company.site

Audubon Bird Spotting Opoly Game

Grad your binoculars and get ready to spot the colorfully painted birds of John Audubon, the famous observer and painter of wild birds. This game, based on traditional Monopoly, comes with 6 pewter bird pieces, Audubon Property cards, Birders Journal, gear cards and a range of field guide cards, including interesting birding trivia. -

RompiDogz Tug N' Toss Rope

Toys are perfect for all ages of dogs. These fun, interactive toys are durable enough for even the toughest pullers. Great for exercise and to use as a bonding tool with your dog, the easy to hold design means less stress on your shoulders as you play with your pet. - www.rompicatz.ca

Squirrel Buster Plus – the Ultimate Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder The Squirrel Bust Plus bird feeder is a large capacity squirrelproof feeder that holds over 5 lbs of seed and requires less frequent refilling. An adjustable weight-based closing mechanism ensures the feeder that is guaranteed to keep squirrels and large bully birds away. The Squirrel Buster Plus comes with a Lifetime Warranty and is top selling squirrel-proof birdfeeder and recently was voted “Best” by Popular Science. - www.urbannaturestore.ca

Neko Flies Handcrafted to ensure superior quality, these premium quality, oneof-a-kind critter designs are sure to be a hit! Multiple built -in safety features help keep cats safe during play and offer peace of mind for owners. - www.rompicatz.ca

pampering

GIFTS UNDER $20

Birthday Cake Lip Balm Sphere

Keep your lips moisturized and smelling sweet with the birthday cake lip balm, infused with shea butter and coconut and jojoba oils, you are guaranteed no dry lips! www.evolutionofsmooth.com

Amaretti Gold Tin Candle

Scent Notes: Toasted Almond + Cream

The scent of sweet, traditional family recipes drifting throughout the house in preparation for the arrival of family and friends – that's Amaretti. This freshlybaked scent of toasted almonds, whisked with a warm cream, combines memories of tradition with modern day nostalgia. www.canvascandleco.com

Try our dermatologist-recommended lip balm formulated for sensitive skin and made with soothing shea butter, weightless coconut oil, and protective antioxidants for all-day moisture available in sweet mint, strawberry sorbet, and vanilla bean! www.evolutionofsmooth.com

eos

Treat your loved one to luxury pampering with Secret Santa and Snow Dragon gift sets! www.lush.ca

Claw clips made using eco-friendly products work well for every hair type, making them a fantastic gift idea! www.pixiewooshop.com

Body Sprays are more affordable than expensive perfumes, allowing you to purchase numerous scents to continually change and express yourself. Body Fantasies features good quality fragrances using high quality oils, subtle enough to wear on your body. www.bodyfantasies.com

GIFTS THAT PAMPER

A thick, slow absorbing heel cream made with hemp, castor, cocoa butter and coconut oil works to break down hard callouses and reduce the effects of cracking. Use after a shower and before bed on heels, elbows knees or even knuckles to treat the driest areas. www.craftedbath.ca

This Holiday Season, Lush is encouraging a culture of kindness, giving and community. We want to spark moments of joy, with beautiful beneficial products for every need that have had a positive impact at every stage, and encourage not only gracious giving but opportune moments of self-care. Lush’s 2022 Holiday Collection is designed with kindness in mind – being kind to yourself, others and the planet. This Holiday, they have a full collection of joyous bubbles, festive fizzers, dazzling shower gels and more! - www.lush.ca

Keep your skin Deeply hydrated for 48 hours and visibly reduce lines & wrinkles in 1 week with this fast-absorbing moisturizer made with pure RoC® Retinol + Hyaluronic Acid. - www.rocskincare.com

VERB

Volume Dry Texture

Spray from Chatters Hair Salon gives hair natural, lived-in texture with light hold and volume for maximum twisting, scrunching and body. Formulated to add grit and separation, this spray enhances flexible waves and volume, leaving hair touchable. www.chatters.ca

The renowned, signature product, Moroccanoil Treatment created the global buzz on argan oil, leading to the brand’s unparalleled line of argan oil-infused hair care products. A conditioning, styling and finishing tool, Moroccanoil Treatment increases shine up to 118%* and instantly absorbs into hair to help create luxurious, silky perfection for truly transformational results. - www.moroccanoil.com

Tom’s of Maine selects only naturallyderived, responsible ingredients guided by their Stewardship Model to help empower users to live more naturally. For nearly 50 years, Tom’s of Maine has worked to help others live a more natural life by creating mindfully and giving generously. You can find Tom’s of Maine products, including deodorants and toothpaste, at retailers including Shopper’s Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws and most natural specialty stores. Established in 1905, Lypsyl has been providing consumers with superior lip care for over 100 years. Lypsyl uses only the

very best quality ingredients. Petrolatum forms a moisture barrier, preventing moisture loss while accelerating the healing process. Coconut oil, rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids nourish, condition and soften lips. Finally, beeswax seals in moisture. Safe and effective for the delicate lip area, glides easily, delivering smooth and consistent coverage, providing long lasting protection against the drying effects of the environment.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is designed for dry to normal, sensitive skin. This creamy cleansing formula is clinically tested to be gentle at removing dirt, makeup, and impurities while preserving skin’s natural moisture barrier. The #1 selling facial cleanser in Canada offers a soap-free, non-foaming formula can be used with or without water. Dermatologist tested and clinically proven to be gentle on sensitive skin. - www.cetaphil.ca

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is designed for For dry to normal, sensitive skin. This lightweight lotion is clinically tested to fully restore the skin’s moisture barrier in just 1 week and proven to start protecting the skin barrier in 3 days and completely replenish the skin's moisture barrier within 1 week. It instantly soothes and protects skin from dryness for 48 hours and is dermatologist tested and clinically proven to be gentle on sensitive skin. www.cetaphil.ca

Made with aloe, cocoa butter, shea and vitamins A & E, this luxurious body butter is designed to enrich and moisturize without any greasy or sticky after-feel. www.craftedbath.ca

Pampering for little ones! These themed bath bombs have a toy hidden inside! Detergent free and made with high grade cosmetic natural ingredients that will soothe and soften the skin. www.craftedbath.ca

The Philips OneBlade Face+Body is a revolutionary hybrid styler that can trim, shave and create clean lines and edges, on any length of hair. Perfect for the busy body in your life this holiday season, they can forget about using multiple steps and tools, because OneBlade does it all. Enjoy a quicker, streamlined grooming routine. The OneBlade Face and Body includes two blades, one for your face and one for your body – making it easy to do it all with one simple tool. Shave wet or dry or wet with foam, even in the shower! The OneBlade is water resistant, so its also easy to clean: just rinse under the tap. - www.philips.ca

Give the gift of a healthy smile this holiday season with the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100, an easy upgrade that gives you the confidence you’re maintaining good oral care routines and protecting your teeth and gums. A professional clean feeling right from home, the ProtectiveClean has three cleaning modes, three intensities and uses Sonicare’s unique Sonic technology. Upgrading to the affordable Sonicare ProtectiveClean rechargeable toothbrush helps improve your oral health and whitens teeth in just one week compared to a manual toothbrush. www.philips.ca

Extreme Yawp Beard, Hair & Body Wash for the bold. Introducing the ultimate total-body, all-in-1 energizing cleanser and shampoo that revitalizes hair, beard and body. May attract mates. Smell and feel as exceptionally fresh, incredible and alive as a roaring beast. Groom Boldly™ Features heightened levels of eucalyptus, menthol, caffeine, moringa, green tea, apple, guarana, grapefruit, orange, lemon, pomegranate, rosemary, shea butter, sugarcane, vitamins A, C & E and more! - www.getbeast.com

Tea Tree Shampoo Travel Size Pouch is a Scalp-Tingling, Raw Glacial Rush in a 3oz Travel Ready Pouch. Traveling can be exhausting. This shampoo, with anti-DHT elements ginseng, caffeine and rosemary paired with heightened amounts of tea tree oil, eucalyptus, peppermint, menthol and more, plus B vitamins for hair, skin and scalp, is guaranteed to help bring a little pep back into your step while on the road. - www.getbeast.com

Beast Gold Roll-On Scent Oil offers fragrance notes of lemon zest and herbal blended with matcha tea and peppercorn and base notes of woody, oakmoss, musk and a hint of just-burnt tobacco leaves. Apply to pulse points (neck, chest, and

wrist). Roll lightly over skin to release fragrance. Allow to dry. www.getbeast.com

Mrs. Meyer’s produces hard-working products that are thoughtfully formulated with plant-derived and other thoughtfully chose ingredients and essential oils to make products that are powerful against dirt and grime while being a pleasure to use. Where possible, Mrs. Meyer’s products are made with renewable plant resources like coconut or olive oil, and do not contain chlorine, bleach, petroleum, phthalates or parabens. Try the Oat Blossom Hand Lotion, a nongreasy lotion that softens dry skin on hardworking hands! Or, opt for a Moisturizing Body Wash in Rain Water that leaves skin feeling smooth, soft and refreshed. If you're looking for a holiday favorite, try the Snow Drop Hand Soap, a hardworking, non-drying soap for busy hands! www.mrsmeyers.ca

Flossing is a necessary, though often neglected part of our daily routines. Give the gift of a healthy smile this holiday season with the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser, the perfect upgrade to any oral care routine. Equipped with Quad Stream technology, the Power Flosser’s 4 X-shaped streams cover more areas of the tooth for a gentle, thorough clean without the mess or discomfort of manual floss. More effective than manual flossing, the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser removes up to 99.9%* of plaque and is up to 180%** more effective for healthier gums vs. floss. www.philips.ca

Finesse Moisturizing Shampoo leaves hair softer, shinier, and healthier-looking. Penetrates hair quickly without weighing it down, delivering a high level of moisturization. Prevents hair breakage, split ends and frizz while strengthening hair. Provides protective barrier against damage from UV rays and environmental pollutants. THE END RESULT? Hair is left softer, shinier, and healthier-looking! www.finessehaircare.com

PHA Renewal Pads are pre-soaked tonic pads infused with 4% Polyhydroxy Acid (PHA), which is suitable for sensitive skin. They gently exfoliate dull skin to reveal a more radiant, even appearance. Designed to balance, rest and prime skin for other regimen products that follow, while also helping to remove remaining traces of dirt or impurities after cleansing. www.neostrata.com

TANITABS were created to provide at least the same effective oral care as the industry standard while doing away with single-use plastic waste. TANITABS are light & compact, cutting down on carbon emissions produced during production and transportation. Made with scientificallyproven nHAp and xylitol sourced from birch bark to help tackle tooth sensitivity and tooth decay. Also contain Aloe vera, coconut, tea tree, green tea & grapefruit seed extracts for better breath and healthy gums. 100% natural mint flavor and spearmint extract pack an extra punch for outstanding taste and freshness. - www.tanit.co

TANITABS mouthwash tablets are packed with safe, natural, ingredients that are also scientifically-proven to perform like vegan nHAp and organic xylitol. Odor-neutralizing zinc citrate, Aloe vera and grapefruit seed extract work together to help keep bad breath and gingivitis at bay. Natural spearmint & peppermint extracts pack an extra punch for amazing taste and icy-cool freshness. - www.tanit.co

Designed to whiten like a professional level treatment, Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects are enamel safe, uses the same whitening ingredient as dentists. Get 100% noticeably whiter teeth, guaranteed.

Forsyth Melanie

Melanie, a former lab assistant, started Crafted Bath after watching online videos and falling in love with the art of soap making. Inspired by her customers and their experiences with her products, Melanie continuously improves her products and creates new offerings as well. Previously the secretary on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Guild of Soap Makers and Candlers, she is now enrolled in a professional organic skin care formulation diploma program. "Your skin is your largest organ." says Melanie "Take care of it and use good products that are safe and nourishing!"

Melanie launched Crafted Bath in December 2015, selling through local handmade groups online. Over the past 8 years, the company has grown by using only the highest quality cosmetic grade ingredients. Crafted Bath offers something for everyone, including fun, irritant free products for children. Crafted Bath is also certified cruelty free by Leap Bunny. Having recently moved into a commercial space, Melanie is now able to expand her product line to include new skin care and giftable collections as well!

CANADIAN HOME TRENDS: If you could have lunch with any one person in the world, who would you pick and why?

MELANIE FORSYTH Steve Irwin. He lived and died a fearless life dedicated to what he was most passionate about. I really admired that about him, he had a get up and go attitude and ambition that never quit. I would have loved to just experience his energy and drive over a lunch.

CHT Do you have a favorite holiday memory?

MF Christmas dinner at my grandmas house. My most favorite memory was of all the family together and the food and happiness everyone shared. I think the tradition of just getting together with everyone left heartwarming memories that have stuck with me.

We Love...

Kitchens are the center of many holiday memories. Cooking holiday dinner. Decorating cookies. Building gingerbread houses. Gathering with loved ones. For some of us, the holidays are a reminder that we really need to give some time and attention to updating our kitchens. This year, you can welcome guests into a fresh, updated space without spending a ton of time or money with Wrap My Kitchens. These easy-to-install adhesive wraps are heat/steam, grease and scratch resistant. A wide variety of colors means you can give your kitchen a beautiful look you'll love at a fraction of the cost (and time) of replacing them!

www.wrapmykitchen.com

Jordan Wiebe

Jordan had no intention of persuing a career in construction. Prior to joining Tall Pines Drywall, he was working towards a degree in Theology and Philosophy. What was meant to be a temporary position with a friend's drywall crew changed the direction of Jordan's career ambitions. Jordan found he enjoyed building relationships with the clients while at the same time being able to start his own business and spend more time with family. Tall Pines Drywall was incorporated in 2022 and together with his partners, they have 15-25 years of experience in the industry. Jordan sees his company as standing shoulder to shoulder with the customers as partners trying to figure out the best way to get them what they want. Tall Pines Drywall focuses on small private homeowners who are building, renovating, or adding onto their homes where the goal is to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind." says Jordan "It’s your project and your life. Find someone who listens more than they speak. If you are choosing a contractor, make sure it is a person or company that you feel comfortable dealing with. Whoever you hire will be coming into your personal space and that should feel as comfortable as possible.”

CANADIAN HOME TRENDS: If you could go back 20 years, what advice would you give your younger self?

JORDAN WIEBE: To invest in myself earlier. It’s never too late to learn and grow. I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my younger years, but if I had started earlier with some things I would get more years of compounding returns (and I’m not just talking about money!).

CHT: Name one thing on your bucket list.

JW: I’d love to record an album with the songs I have written throughout my life.

CHT: What is your favorite room in your house?

JW: The Living Room/Dining Room. Big windows and a place where my family can come together and enjoy each other’s company. Every Friday night we play a board game together at the dining room table and it’s one of the highlights of the week. www.tallpinesdrywall.com

EXPERT ADVICE: Attics & Insulation

Temperatures are rising, winds are picking up, and rain is beating down to the tune of mother nature’s drum. Soon the snow will be here. The climate is changing, and so should your approach to investing in winterizing your roof for the cold season. “As roofers we have been trying to prevent damage to homes and buildings by promoting the best products to our customers” says President Bruno Leveque of Let It Rain. "Nature’s assaults are strong, but at the frontline, we have our roofs to defend us and keep us safe. That is why we have to invest in higher grade products and service techniques. As technology advances, products become more resilient to hotter, wetter, and windier weather. You can’t put a price on shelter” Bruno enforces, “it is our corporate responsibility to upsell our environmentally sustainable products and services simply because they are worth the investment.”

Attic or ceiling insulation and roof ventilation are often ignored but have a large impact on the comfort of your home and the life of your roof. Without proper attic insulation and a balanced ventilation system, your attic will allow heat to escape, creating damaging moisture and ice build up. Let it rain promotes attic insulation as an important part of the roof system and ensures that your roof will last a lifetime with proper insulation. No matter the quality of your roof, if you do not insulate and allow it to do its job, which is creating a healthy environment for you, not even the newest and toughest roof will survive the Canadian winter. - www.letitrain.ca

Lexie Trudel

Lexie is a furniture flipper + DIY enthusiast, creating custom pieces of wooden furniture for her clients. After being laid off twice due to Covid-19, Lexie decided to use her free time to flip an old dresser that had been passed down from her grandmother. Despite having no experience, the dresser turned out amazing! Having fallen in love with the process, Lexie decided to turn furniture flipping into a business and launched Furniture Flips by Lexi in 2020 with an Instagram page to show off her projects. Since that time, she has been able to buy a house with her own workshop space. Now she is able to wake up and do what she loves everyday! "Don't throw out that piece of furniture!!" says Lexie "9/10 times your dated piece of furniture can be saved with a little TLC." For those who love a DIY as much as Lexie, she now offers an eCourse to help take the guess work out of flipping your own furniture pieces as well!

Lexie is very hands-on when it comes to her business. She is the designer, marketer, schedule coordinator, content creator, creative director, customer service and complaint center. Lexie loves having complete control over each stage of the process, ensuring each client gets personalized attention from the start to finish of their project. She loves to share her story to inspire others and has appeared in magazines and on news radio stations across Canada.

CANADIAN HOME TRENDS: If you could have lunch with any one person in the world, who would you pick and why?

LEXIE TRUDEL: For my own selfish reasons, Justin Bieber. I've been a die hard fan for almost 15 years now.

CHT: What is your favorite room in your house?

LT: My living room! I spend the most time there. My favorite part is my black feature wall!

www.furnitureflipsbylex.com

We Love…

Treat your guests to the ultimate comfort with the Cloud modular collection! You can customize the pieces to create the perfect sofa or sectional for your home and invite guests to gather and celebrate the holidays in style! Choose from premium Italian top and fine grain leathers or premium quality fabrics to suit your design esthetic. Cloud is also covered by Rawhide Leather and Fabric Furniture's lifetime warranty on the construction and springs on your piece. www.rawhideinternational.com

Tammy TRENDSETTER

Tammy was an avid designer bag collector with a passion for luxury design and she knew she had to turn it into a business. She is most inspired by her immigrant parents' story of leaving during the Vietnam war and overcoming the challenges of not knowing English or having any money to start over. She started Luxe De Jour in 2016 and has since won the Small Business of the Year Award in 2021. Luxe De Jour is a one-stop destination where you can shop, sell, rent, and restore designer bags and accessories all in one.

Designer handbags are not a depreciating asset. Some can be great investments. She started a bag rental service where luxury designer bag owners can upload and rent their bags out to other people for a few days. This is great for those who can not purchase but want to have one for an event. It is also great for bag collectors to stop their bags from collecting dust on the shelf. Tammy will be launching an app as well as opening a US office in early 2023!

CANADIAN HOME TRENDS: If you could go back 20 years, what advice would you give your younger self?

TAMMY LEE: My advice to my younger self would be to be careful who you surround yourself with because the people you surround yourself with can impact you negatively. Also, the length of a friendship does not dictate the strength of a friendship. I've known some friends for a decade that have screwed me over and some friends that I've known for less than a year that were there for me more than others.

CHT: What is your favorite room in your house?

TL: My bedroom as it's a place I feel the most safe and relaxed.

www.luxedujour.ca

Le

EXPERT ADVICE

A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary between the borrower and the lender. Traditionally, banks sell their own products. They are working for themselves rather than for the consumer.

Mortgage brokers, on the other hand, are working for the best interest of the consumer. With access to banks and an unlimited number of various mortgage lenders, a mortgage broker can offer an option tailored specifically to the homebuyers needs.

As mortgage lending guidelines become more complicated, mortgage brokers are the key factor in helping consumers get proper approval with a mortgage option that works for their needs.

Jevad Danesh & Lina Addeo Easy Mortgage Pro

TRENDSETTER Assu Lesley

Lesley Assu, of the Haidi nation, is a local Haidi witch, herbalist and mother of trusts in old world medicine, the plants and spirits of the trees. Lesley was traditionally raised in both Haidi Gwaii and in her father's community of the We Wai Kai where she developed deep roots to the land and sea. Lesley's passion for traditional medicine goes beyond her business at Standing Spruce Farm & Apothecary. She is also raising her two children and two nephews with the traditional knowledge and the practice of harvesting medicine, passing her knowledge down to future generations. The future is always top of mind with products developed with sustainability in mind. The farm operates on a zero waste policy, using all aspects of the farm and botanicals in their products including honey which is harvested, and beeswax used by the apothecary in lip balms, remedies, and skin care.

Lesley is one of the only indigenous Farmers in the territory. She believes that there is a better, more meaningful way to provide food security than large scale/commercial farming. The dream of Standing Spruce began with 4 chickens on a small piece of land. With hard work and determination the growth of Standing Spruce now includes retail on an e-commerce platform, and a small retail store situated on the farm, where you can find farmed goods, Daala's farm stand, and stocked shelves with all of her creations. The goal is to provide clean ethical food, honey and crops not only for her family but also for friends and for the community. - www.standingspruce.com

Aldo Mormile

CAN I STILL GET A MORTGAGE WITH BAD OR NO CREDIT? HOW?

Securing a mortgage with bad credit or no credit can seem daunting but the good news is that there are options available to you!

If you have absolutely no credit but have the qualifying down payment, you may use the help of a co-signer to add strength.

If you have credit but it is not good, Alternative B financing is a viable option. To make this work, the down payment needs to be a minimum of 20% of the purchase price. Alternative B lenders are allowed to lend up to 80% of the purchase price and tend to focus on higher risk clients that other lenders will not accept.

An Ayurveda Temple of Healing in the Heart of Rice Lake Destination Profile

customized Ayurveda healing therapies for the body, mind and soul, held on breathtaking sacred land in Ontario then this healing sanctuary is for you!

Andrea Olivera, a pioneering figure in the field of Ayurveda beauty and a trainer to the Canadian Spa and Yoga Industry, incorporates Ayurveda, Yoga, Vedic Astrology and Eastern wellness practices into her spa treatments and services. In 2020, she closed her Ayurveda Rituals studio spa boutique, a well known hub for celebrities, yoga enthusiasts and individuals seeking the wisdom of Ayurveda. Together with her husband Ali, she opened up a very special sacred Ayurveda Healing Sanctuary located in Northumberland County, Ontario.

The ambience is elegant, every detail creates a sense of magic and luxurious indulgence to support a journey of healing, inner introspection and commune with nature to comfort one's soul. Andrea works one on one with each of her guests to create a unique healing retreat.

The land is a mix of beautiful landscapes of native forest, woodlands and an enchanting creek. A sacred pilgrimage for those seekers of inner peace. An Ayurveda temple of healing in the heart of Rice Lake offers guests Ayurveda services, or simply a luxurious escape onto the lap of Mother Nature. "Our guests are individuals looking for a "healing sanctuary", a quiet , safe, comfortable place that inspires personal growth, inspires insights and a return to one's true self." says Andrea. "We all need restful nurturing treatments and time communing, walking, cleansing and refreshing our minds, hearts and energy fields with trees, land, water, sky and fire, for our souls to truly rejuvenate."

While guests are welcome to book services as day guests, accommodations (with or without services) are also available. Guests are welcome to book the Moon Room which has two Queen sized beds and a private washroom with a shower. Coming soon, guests will also have the option of a two bedroom "Forest Room" with private entrance, two bedrooms and a full luxurious bathroom with shower and bathtub. www.ayurvedarituals.ca

THE BEAUTY 411!

BOTOX: The main purpose of neuromodulator injections is to prevent and treat wrinkles or fine lines that are a result of muscle movement. It is one of the most effective ways to rejuvenate the skin and is a great non-surgical treatment option for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. At ML Aesthetics Clinic, we use Xeomin Cosmetic, which is a purified botulinum toxin that allows for more natural results.

FILLERS: Hyaluronic acid fillers, otherwise known as dermal fillers, are used to restore or add volume to specific facial regions. Aside from the plumping effect, hyaluronic acid fillers can also be used for contouring certain areas of the face. It’s a quick and easy way of enhancing your already beautiful features. We analyze the anatomy of your face before anything else and advise you on how and what we can do to achieve subtle and natural results.

MICRONEEDLING DP4: Microneedling is a procedure that injures the areas treated and allows the body to work its magic and repair itself. It’s a controlled stimulation that creates tiny, microscopic injuries on the skin and your skin’s selfrepairing process promotes collagen and allows products to penetrate deeper into the skin for effective results. At ML Aesthetics Clinic, we use the Dp4 from DermapenWorld which is an industry-leading device for this procedure, and it’s 104% faster than the other micro needling pens on the market.

CHEMICAL PEELS: Chemical peels cause intentional damage to a certain layer of the skin with the goal of stimulating new tissue to enhance the skin’s texture and tone. These peels have different grade levels depending on the severity of your concerns and facial intentions. Chemical peels can help those with acne-prone skin and are also fantastic for reducing the appearance of larger pores. - Marina Locio, www.mlaestheticsclinic.com

Missing teeth can impact the way we chew, show off our teeth, and even the structure of our face. Because of the lack of support of where a tooth should be, bone loss in the jaw can happen. Those who choose to have missing teeth can experience early signs of aging like sunken cheeks.

DID YOU KNOW: If you don’t put a dental implant in the first year of losing a tooth, that bone area of that tooth loses 25% of its volume, and bone loss continues over the years.

Benefits of Dental Implants:

Preserve your smile and function. Implants will provide better chewing ability, speaking ability and self-esteem when smiling!

Dental implants provide a natural look and feel.

Because of the durability of dental implants, they are a better investment over time!

www.nosehilldental.com

BEAUTY EXPERT MARINA LOCIO SHARES THE DETAILS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE FOUR POPULAR BEAUTY TREATMENTS!