Top DIY Books (and the online bookstore where you can find them)

Our friends at Book Outlet sponsored this post, but we would never share anything with our readers that we wouldn’t use ourselves. See full disclosure statement here.

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Parenting can be an overwhelming task, especially since there is simply no easy way to keep track of all the things that need to be done in a day when you’ve got so many things going on at once. From being employed to running errands, and dropping the kids to and from school, things like home maintenance can often be the last thing on a busy parent’s mind. As a result, it’s easy to forget to completely child-proof your home, especially if you make design changes like choosing new window treatments over a long period of time. Unfortunately, such memory lapses can be very dangerous. Dubbed the “silent killer”, window blind cords are one of those seemingly innocuous things that adults don’t realize can pose a threat to children; hundreds of children have passed away from strangulation upon getting caught in these cords.

Because of this potential danger, Health Canada has decreed that all Canadian-made window treatments, as well as those products sold in the country must be child-proofed with cord/chain tension devices. That being said, the rise of e-commerce businesses has resulted in many customers purchasing window treatments that do not necessarily conform to regulations.

As such, it bears to keep in mind that legacy or unregulated products, or even products that are improperly installed can pose a serious risk to children. Here are a few tips for those of you who would like to re-think your window treatment options for your family’s home:

Go Cordless

These days, it seems like just about everything is going wireless. And why not? If it’s within your budget, automated window coverings are a great cordless option for a child-proof home. They come in a range of different prices, and so you don’t need to shell out an arm and a leg for them. Cellular shades make for great alternatives to corded blinds at a relatively affordable price.

Take Your Time

If you’re in need of a more wallet-friendly solution, and cannot commit to changing all your blinds at once, you could also opt for changing your window treatments over an extended period of time as well. Simply start by the rooms most used by the kids – their bedrooms, the family room, etc. In the meantime, you can follow a few other solutions to keep those pesky cords from causing trouble.

Move the Furniture Around

If going cordless isn’t an option for you, one of the first steps to take in childproofing your window treatments is to move some furniture around. Kids are adept climbers, and if the bed, a desk, a chair – anything really – is close enough to a window, they’ll climb it at one point or another. If a child gets his or head caught within the cords of the window blinds, they’ll be at risk of strangling themselves.

Double Check the Installation

We all know how exasperating home renovations can be. It’s easy to make small, unnoticeable mistakes or to do a sloppy job at the end of a long day. Make sure that the window blinds are actually properly installed, cords are not super slack, and that cord-restraining devices are secure. On that note, if you’ve just purchased a new product, read the safety label to find out if it falls under new safety regulations. While all corded window treatments manufactured are supplied with a warning label and are within regulation, not every company will be as scrupulous.

The Tuck Doesn’t Cut It

We’ve all heard of the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind”. Many people seem to think that simply tucking the cords of their blinds out of sight will keep their kids from harm, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Any child with a love of climbing will find that cord faster than they can say “uncle”, and a gust of wind or the slam of a door could easily dislodge a cord that is tucked away on top of the blinds. Instead, you could opt for cutting the cord, in which case you’ll be limited to using the tilt wand to adjust the slats. You could also purchase cord cleats to deal with excess cords. This a very economical solution, but depends on adults to use them properly and consistently after handling the blinds.

Ultimately, going cordless is the only solution guaranteed to keeping your window blinds child-proof. While you can follow our helpful hints to deal with legacy or unregulated products, if you decide to upgrade your window treatments, do your due diligence by purchasing commercial window coverings supplied with a warning label, and that fall under Health Canada’s consumer regulations.

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As a discerning home chef, you want to source the very best of ingredients for your next dish to impress and nourish your friends and family. You want to be proud of the food you put on your table and present to your guests. You can wow them with exotic finds from all the corners of the earth, but it turns out you don’t have to venture far from home to find what you need to make your next dinner party a success. Why use Canadian ingredients for your next recipe? These are a few reasons: 

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint 

Give the planet a break. Food that doesn’t have to travel as far has less of an impact on the atmosphere, climate change and contributes fewer pollutants to the air we breathe. You can reduce your carbon footprint by choosing Canadian ingredients when you prepare your next culinary masterpiece at home. 

Contribute to the Canadian Economy

When you buy food grown in Canada, you are doing your part in supporting the Canadian economy. You are putting money in the pockets of Canadian farmers, Canadian truckers, Canadian feed stores and Canadian families. Buying Canadian is a great way to give back to your community and support the people in your own neighbourhood. 

Add Local Flavour

Behind every one of Agropur’s Canadian products is a cooperative of passionate and committed dairy producers. These products taste like home. You can wander the entire earth and find beautiful places, but like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz says, “There’s no place like home.” There’s no taste like home, either. Taste for yourself. 

Reduce your carbon footprint, contribute to the Canadian economy and add local flavour by choosing Canadian ingredients for your next recipe. It’s as simple as that. Now, go make something to be proud of that tastes like home! 

Our friends at Agropur sponsored this post but we agree with supporting Canada by enjoying delicious dairy products that taste like home. You can find them on Facebook and Twitter. 

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How to maximize space in a small apartment

If you happen to live in a booming urban environment, you may notice that the cost of living space is at somewhat of a premium. The solution to this is often to live in smaller spaces. Many of us have lived in small spaces at some time in our lives, and many of us still do – especially when you’ve found that perfect apartment close to work and right next to the grocery store. But how can you escape that feeling of living in a tiny box? There are a few small space solutions that can help you to really open up your space and make the most of it.

Think Vertically

It’s important to remember that every room has eight corners! One way to maximize your space is by thinking vertically rather than horizontally. Floor to ceiling bookshelves are a great way to make use of wall space. Cabinets too! You can also think about exploiting the spaces between the tops of furniture and the ceiling. Think of hanging or high-mounted elements, which will draw the eye upwards.

Storage Solutions

In the same way, consider storage nooks, bespoke built-ins and tailored furniture to make use of every available portion of space. For example, try retractable pantry drawers for small appliances. To reduce clutter, make sure that items can easily be shut away or grouped by category. Open storage can also draw the eye upward; balance this against the amount of clutter you have on your shelves.

Opening Up

Doors and walls are so last century! Consider using room dividers in place of walls to let your space breathe. If you want to go further, consider glass walls, which can separate spaces without visually dividing a room. Curtains are also useful where privacy is required, and can make one wide open room into two very easily. And try increasing your window to wall ratio; larger windows let in more light, which can really make your space seem more open and free.

Less is More

It’s a lot easier to minimize clutter if you don’t have any clutter. Embracing a minimalist lifestyle can not only make your space go further but also cuts down on the need for consistent consumption of consumer goods, saving money as well. A win-win. In terms of furnishings, maximize your square footage by using small, easily moveable pieces of furniture. As an alternative, use fewer, larger pieces of quality furniture – this may seem counter-intuitive, but this can make a room feel grander. But choose which technique you want to use – don’t mix and match!

Mirror, Mirror

The cunning placement of mirrors can do wonders for opening up a space. Using them can easily double the size of a room, for example by mimicking doorways and windows. An alternative is to use reflective metallic subway tiles; reflecting more light will also help the space feel larger. Other visual tricks include see-through furniture made of glass, Lucite or Plexiglas – either that or mounting the mirrors or tiles on the furniture themselves.

Zone Warfare

Think about all the things you do in your house or apartment –work, sleep, eat, relax – and consider separate zones for each activity. You can place different types of furniture and demarcate the zones by using multiple seating areas, a table and chair, or a tented bed. If you don’t want to go this route, go the other way: find elements that have multiple functions, like a table that can function as both dining table and desk, or deep sofa beds. Try ensuring that each furniture piece is dual-use at least. That way you will waste as little space as possible.

Conclusion

Maximizing your space doesn’t have to be a chore – it can be a fun interior design project. Reduce clutter by thinking like a minimalist, and making use of storage space in an optimal fashion. Use visual tricks like mirrors, windows and glass walls to open up the interior, and make use of as much of your vertical space as possible. And consider the type and size of furniture you are using, where it’s placed and what it’s used for. Taken together, these tips should help you to feel like you’re living in a much larger space!

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It’s finally here! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 26!

The Healthy Family Expo is back for its 4th year and our family is in countdown mode. It is a fun-filled day that introduces Metro Vancouver parents to small steps and simple solutions for healthy, active, eco-friendly living. 

It’s as if all the great parent-tested advice you wish you knew is in one gigantic venue and you can see, taste, try out all of it while the kids are happy and active. Yes, I said happy.active.kids. 

Here is why we love it:

1. Healthy Food samples! So many delicious samples. Our family suffers from Hanger. Snacks are our secret to happy family outings. Last year we got hooked on the Coco Roons by Sejoyia. This year Fuel Your Fire will be making their Healthy Family Expo debut. 
2. The kids will meet CBC Kids characters Super WHY!, Daniel Tiger and Bookaboo & Scout. I am already preparing myself for the tantrum that will come when it is time for us to leave. 
3. HUGE Active Kid Zone with rock wall, giant hamster ball race track, Tumblebus & TumbleTown, Sportball & Pedalheads play areas and more. Springfree Trampoline is a new addition to this year’s Active Kid Zone at the Expo. You can test-drive it all for yourself at the event on March 26th. 
4. Jessie Farrell. My daughter loves her “Take Me Outside” CD.  I know the lyrics to “Feeling Free” backwards and forwards and catch myself humming it often. It’s also been a good reminder for me to stop and take a silly break and just play. Thank you Jessie.
5. Eco-friendly products and services. Since last year’s Expo our house switched over to AspenClean’s EcoCert certified cleaning products – made locally right here in BC.

And guess what? One lucky family will be taking home a Springfree Trampoline through the Expo’s early bird ticket draw, and another one as part of the Expo’s Grand Prize Showcase (visit the Healthy Family Expo website for terms & conditions for those giveaways). That’s a prize valued at over $3000!

Other Highlights of the 4th annual Healthy Family Expo coming up on Sunday, March 26, include:

• 200+ exhibitors with healthy food sampling & eco-friendly products & services;
• Science World fire show and ninja & tumbling demonstrations on stage;
• Bobs & LoLo and Jessie Farrell concerts featuring songs celebrating the natural world;
• Whole Foods Market Zone, London Drugs Health Zone, and brand new Toyota Canada Outdoor Living Zone, West Coast Kids Healthy Baby Zone, and Green Living Zone;
• Vancouver Aquarium AquaVan interactive zone for kids;
• $15,000 Grand Prize Showcase including a 1-year lease on a Toyota Prius c;
• Baby feeding & changing lounge with complimentary diapers, wipes & comfy seating;
• Family Rest Stop courtesy of Love Child Organics and lots of stroller parking;
• First 500 adults through the door receive a gift bag full of healthy product samples;
• First 200 adults through the door receive an adult pass to Science World; and
• Partial proceeds of ticket sales support Canucks Autism Network sports programs.

Adult Expo tickets are $15 each online, cash at the door, or at London Drugs from March 1-26.

Kids under 16 get in FREE and ALL ATTRACTIONS are included with admission!

To get involved in the fun:

1. Join the Expo 2017 Facebook Event to RSVP to win thousands in prizes at their March 23rd pre-Expo Facebook Party from 8 to 10 pm!

2. Buy tickets early to qualify to win a Springfree Trampoline!

3. Grab 2-for-1 adult tickets online using limited time promo code CS241.

Remember to use promo code CS241 to get 2-for-1 adult tickets online! 

And to kick off our pre-Expo celebrations, we’re giving away a $200 Healthy Family Expo 2017 shopping spree that one lucky winner will get to spend on their choice of exhibitors at the event on March 26th!

This online giveaway runs from March 6 – 22, 2017, and the winner must be a British Columbia resident aged 19+ able to attend the Healthy Family Expo at the Vancouver Convention Centre between 9 am & 5 pm on March 26 to pick up and use the prize that day.

Enter for your chance to win through Rafflecopter below. The winner will be announced at the pre-Expo Facebook Party on March 23rd, 2017!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Are the VIP tickets are worth it? Yes, they really are. The VIP tent is massive, the food and drinks seem endless and the dessert… the VIP tickets are worth getting just for the dessert. Oh and you get to meet the horses too.

Not sure who you should bring? Significant other, friend, family, kids of all ages, or just bring yourself! Go…

You’ve booked your tickets? Yes? Okay let’s continue.

I love circus. It’s almost an addiction. West Coast Flying Trapeze in Pitt Meadows, BC is my happy place where I get to fly and forget about the worries of the world. I have seen a majority of the Cirque du Soleil shows across North America, and our family vacations often centre around which resort has circus related activities. When I heard there was a new big top in town and it combined horses into the act, I had to check it out. 

The show opens with the horses entering and roaming about the stage freely. This theme of the horses roaming free continues throughout the show. The artists and trainers, while amazing themselves, seamlessly blend into the background, confident in their relationship with the team, and happily let the horses shine like proud parents. I can only imaging the countless hours of training and care to make it look so effortless.

First Act – The Herd

I was surprised of how calm the show felt; coming from someone who is quite nervous around horses this is a big deal. It is a strange paradox to be sitting on the edge of my seat yet overcome with the calmness and emotion between the performers and the horses.

In one act the horses are in full gallop as the performers hang upside down off the side of the horse. My first time on a horse was when I was 11 years old; a birthday party trail ride turned into me clinging on the back of a spooked horse for a few miles. Horsepower is impressive and scary. These riders are extremely skilled and possibly a tad bit crazy… but that’s usually what we think of those who choose, and obviously love, to do the things that scare us the most.

The stage: A 17,500 square foot stage in the middle of which rises a three-story tall hill. Some 10,000 tons of Vancouver and lower-mainland rock, earth and sand has been trucked in and sculpted to create the vast space of freedom. I was taken aback by how seamlessly the sand and dirt are transformed into various terrains from all over the world. An outstanding job by the lighting designer, technical director and team.

Standing at the top of the three story high stage.

Standing at the midway point down stage.

Living with a lighting designer for many years opened my eyes to the technical and visual effects of every show I watch. While everyone else looks at the stage during the performance, my eyes are usually skyward looking at the technical grid. Above the Odysseo stage hangs an impressive technical grid capable of supporting 80 tons of equipment including, a merry-go-round, yes, thats right… a full-sized.merry-go-round!

The merry-go-round is as beautiful as the acts performed on it.  My daughter asked a few times if the performers had glue on their feet and costumes to help keep them attached on the pole. She uttered her disbelief in a way thats not very polite to write here but know that she was extremely impressed.

Cavalia will be taking a special part of our city with them as they continue their tour.  Vancouver’s own Michelle Sargent was recently chosen to begin touring with Cavalia in China over the next two years. Michelle recently performed a beautiful lyra routine at West Coast Flying Trapeze’s Heps for Hearts: A Night at the Circus in support of the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  Wishing you all the best Michelle!

Bottom line: Go see it!

PS: My daughter wants me to mention the stuffed toy horses in the gift shop need to be adopted. Apparently the toys get quite lonely not sleeping with the rest of the horses in the stables. The sky runner shoes are also “awesome!”

Horses for adoption and super cool SkyRunner shoes.

@Cavalia: #OdysseoYVR

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Ingredients

1 handful parsley
1 handful mint
3 – 4 kale leaves
1 lime, zest removed but leave as much pith (the white stuff in between the skin and the fruit) as possible
1/2 pineapple, peeled
1 green apple, cored

Directions

Feed fruits and vegetables through your juicer. I have an Omega J8006 which is a masticating juicer so I do my herbs first, followed by leafy greens and citrus, and I leave my hardest fruits and veg for the end to sort of “clean” as much out of the machine as possible.

Serve over ice. Makes two juices (quantity varies because of natural products).

Tropical Green Juice

2016-03-17 18:07:20

Serves 2

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Ingredients

1. 1 handful parsley
2. 1 handful mint
3. 3 - 4 kale leaves
4. 1 lime, zest removed but leave as much pith (the white stuff in between the skin and the fruit) as possible
5. 1/2 pineapple, peeled
6. 1 green apple, cored

Instructions

1. Feed fruits and vegetables through your juicer, herbs first, followed by leafy greens and citrus. Leave hardest fruits and veg for the end to sort of "clean" as much out of the machine as possible.
2. Serve over ice.

By Hillary with 2 L's

Creative Sides https://creativesides.ca/

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These are some ideas of some magical drinks for your holiday party: 

Raspberry Sangria:

The nice thing about the sangria is you can make it a couple days ahead. The liqueur we love most for this drink is made with 100% BC raspberries and there are no colourings, chemicals or preservatives used in its production. Pure flavour from pure ingredients make pure fun.

Spiced Cherry Cider:

Spice up your holiday season with a spicy seasonal beverage. This warm, luxurious drink pairs nicely with the most blustery of winter days. The cherry and apple flavourings go together like mistletoe and kisses and unite to bring out the very best of the season.

Raspberry Mango Mimosas: 

The raspberry liqueur tastes just like fresh picked raspberries (but with a punch) because it’s made from 100% locally grown fruits from British Columbia. You might not be home for the holidays, but your drink will taste like you are right where you belong.

Rosemary Cranberry Simple Syrup Recipe:

Keep it simple this holiday season with this simple syrup for your cocktails that adds remarkable dimension. Suitable for use in alcoholic or non-alcoholic creations, this syrup is easy to make but tastes great.

Drink in the best of the season with these delicious drink recipes. Hosting a memorable event is easy with these fruity treats that are sure to impress your guests. Pop into your local Metro to get everything you need to be ready for your event yet. Tis the season to stock up for entertaining, and Metro has you set in that department so you can sit back, relax and enjoy. Cheers to a happy holiday party! 

Disclaimer: Although this post has been sponsored, the opinions and language are my own. If I would not serve it for my family, I would never suggest you serve it to yours.

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As someone who deals with chronic pain, cares for two small kids, and is growing a business where I work from home, my brain is taxed to the limit. It takes laser focus to get through all that stuff with a smile on my face and the kids by my side. So many days I have just wished that things would come easy, just this once. I am thankful to be so busy, but I need a little kick in the morning to get through everything on my to-do list. Or even to make a teeny-tiny dent.

Bulletproof Coffee in my cup gives many, many kicks to get me moving. I’m moving on my business goals, I’m moving on my mommy goals and I’m even moving on my blogging goals. I even got my husband to switch over from the “dark side” (coffee with a gallon of milk and sugar.)

At the best of times I need an extra boost. This past few weeks have been even more full than usual, between planning my daughter’s winter birthday party  and the Christmas tree needing a makeover. Beyond that, there’s the shopping and all of the events that come along with being a blogger at Christmas time. Events are like tinsel, bright and shiny but so tightly scheduled they get stuck together. This is prime time, baby.

How ever was I going to get it all done? I’m tired, I’m sore, I’m cranky and to be honest it all felt a bit much. Enter Bulletproof Coffee to save the day. Santa’s sleigh is pulled by 8 tiny reindeer, and my holiday season is pulled by the contents of my coffee mug. What the heck is this stuff, you ask?

Bulletproof Coffee is Upgraded Coffee blended with grass-fed unsalted butter & Brain Octane Oil. It’s also low toxin, high performance & full of healthy fats to fuel me. It’s a way better energy source than sugar because you don’t crash. But what about the low-toxin part? Well, low-quality beans can actually contain mould. Gross. Upgraded Coffee beans are certified clean so you don’t have to worry about that. Thank goodness. I’ve got enough to worry about!

All that energy did me well. I decorated the Christmas tree with my family and I blogged all the blogs and wrote all the plans and wrangled all the kids and planned the most exciting birthday party ever. I had my best week yet! I was proud of everything I had accomplished and I didn’t feel like I was treading water at a polar bear swim anymore. I really needed this confidence boost Bulletproof Coffee delivers.

I thought I was a bit old to still believe in magic, but this season Bulletproof Coffee helped me believe in the magic of the season and in myself. That gift, my friend, is priceless. It turns out I really needed to give myself a break – a coffee break.

I’m so glad the rain (and brain fog) is gone and I can see clearly now. I’ve got Bulletproof Coffee in my mug and I can take on the world (even tinsel.)

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Until the day when I can have the older home of my dreams and embark on that adventure, I will happily settle on being about halfway there with our current home that is approaching the 50 year mark. This place has garnered us with plenty of experience in fixing and repairing, but without the charm of a front porch. Any part of our place that looks nice to date is because we have made it that way. We bought this place because we could see the potential and liked the space it afforded us (not because we were won over by things like pink sinks and yellow bathtubs or a lack of doors on most of the rooms…including the bathrooms…). Of course it has meant replacing some plumbing and electrical along the way, as well as many ascetics (orange melamine countertops anyone?), and due to the age of the building, there is asbestos. We didn’t know it initially, but we learned that it was present in the drywall tape. This is hardly unusual. In fact, older homes are not the only ones with the problem (unless you are young enough to think that 1990 is old – in which case get out your smartphone and look up asbestos and shoulder pads – both are bad…. but in different ways…). Asbestos was used in construction up until 1990, believe it or not. Often times it seems to slip people’s minds, but asbestos is something that should be at front of mind when considering renos. 

By living in a place that has been on this planet longer than I have, I have been afforded unique insights along the way, thanks to my DIY-happy husband. I’ve learned to say things aloud like, “When I come home today, please let there still be stairs.” After all, in his defense, he can’t read my mind. I learned this when I returned home from work one day, shortly after purchasing our current home, and was shocked to hear myself say, “Where are the stairs that were here this morning?!”

It has also taught me phrases like, “What is your asbestos abatement plan?”. No seriously, my husband’s career is related to safety and the words ‘abatement plan’ are in fact part of our regular vocabulary and riveting dinner conversation.

Asbestos is not uncommon, as most houses built between 1950 and 1990 in BC contain some form of asbestos. In our case, it’s in the drywall tape on the walls. Drywall, insulation and vinyl flooring are very common places to find asbestos. You can find a list of other common places asbestos is located here. 

Turns out that buying a place built in the 70’s didn’t just leave us the building legacy of no overhead lighting, sunken living rooms and strangely hued decorative glass panels! The use of asbestos in residential finishes (between 1950-1990) became commonplace because of its incredibly hardy nature and resistance to heat. Now the presence of asbestos in itself is not harmful, but the act of removing it is. If you have ever lived through any type of renovation or demolition, you will know about the dust. The never ending, insidious, possibly make you lose your mind trying to clean it up, dust. There is no way around it. Unfortunately, this is where asbestos becomes incredibly dangerous. As soon as something containing asbestos is disturbed, it can become air born and harmful. You do not want breathe in asbestos particles and there is no renovation without dust (though how I wish there was) and so asbestos protection/removal plans need to be in place.  

Before fixing up our homes, we all need to make sure our renovation plans include looking for and safely removing asbestos before any workers come into do the work. 

WorkSafeBC is educating homeowners in BC about the danger of asbestos exposure and how we can work together to keep everyone healthy and safe on our projects. Because asbestos was so widely used in BC construction, it’s important that any asbestos is identified and properly removed to ensure the health and safety of everyone contributing to the project or living in the home. Take asbestos seriously. It can only be removed (or remediated) by qualified professionals.

Consider these sobering facts. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious health problems, lung diseases and cancer. Asbestos-related disease is the leading cause of work place death in BC. In fact 584 workers died from asbestos-related diseases between 2006 and 2015, 30% of which were in the construction industry alone.

Clearly, we need a greater awareness of asbestos and how prevalent it can be in structures built before 1990. Educate yourself before taking on a home renovation. Click here to learn more about asbestos.

It’s important to take the necessary steps to ensure your home is asbestos-free before starting any demolition or renovation project.

Disclaimer: this post has been generously sponsored by WorkSafeBC, the opinions and language are my own.

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