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Happy New Year Canada!! All the presents are open, the champagne has been popped, the house is (semi) back to normal, now it's time to hunker down into a Canadian-made winter, isn't it? That means fun in the snow, warm nights at home, and unfortunately, it also mean cold and flu season.

As a mom to active four year old twin boys, that have school, play dates, birthday parties and library visits, I know that snotty hands, sneezing kids and germs are everywhere. To combat the colds, here are a few things that I keep on hand.

Ddrops is a product I use for both my boys and myself. This Parent Tested, Parent Approved winner is liquid vitamin D and is a simple, safe, and fun way for toddlers and children to receive the recommended amount (400IU) of vitamin D. What may surprise you is that 70% of children and adolescents are not getting enough Vitamin D! Easy to administer, the drop can be placed on food or in a drink, with no complaints about taste or texture.

A must is MAJESTA facial tissue, perfect for runny noses and soft enough not to cause a sore nose. Buy Canadian First member, MAJESTA, is also a green solution for cold and flu season, containing no dyes or fragrance and whitened without chlorine, this is a great choice for any family.

To stop those colds before they start, check out this fantastic product from Buy Canadian First member, St. Francis Herb Farm. Their Deep Immune for Children helps improve immune function and decreases the tendency for frequent colds, flu and infection. St. Francis Herb Farm was the first Canadian company in the herbal industry to identify its products as being truly “organic”, with over two hundred quality products, this Canadian company is a leader in their industry.

Another must-have in our house, as you can see, is IronKids. Health Canada approved, IronKids Multi-Vitamin Gummies supports your kid’s energy metabolism, taste great and have a texture my boys love. Keeping us healthy and happy is always a good thing.

What are some of the products you have on hand for the cold and flu season?

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Ddrops, MAJESTA, St. Francis Herb Farm and Stacey Kazmir.

Happy New Year, Canada! It's almost time to celebrate the made in Canada way. Whether it's a house party, a game night, out on the town or at home in your jammies, New Year's Eve calls for snacks!! When I think snacks and hor d'oeuvre I think two names: M&M Meat Shops and President's Choice.

M&M Meat Shops is Canada's largest retail chain of specialty frozen foods with locations coast to coast. Some of the top picks from M&M's is their famous Oriental Party Pak - with potstickers, mini vegetable spring rolls and more. Another favourite that I've seen at many a party is their delicious cream puffs! They also have wings, hot dips, cakes, shrimp rings and my favourite, bacon wrapped scallops. Everything you need to make your get-together a hit!

President's Choice, another Canadian favourite, also knows how to celebrate with products like PC Phyllo Pastry, PC Mozzarella Cheese Sticks and my favourite, the PC Decadent Molten Chocolate Chip Cookie, just to name a few. A fun idea for a New Year's Eve party would be to buy a box each of the winning Recipe to Riches dishes and have your guests do a taste test. Take a vote and see who your guests would have picked as the winner.

For other great New Year's ideas, inspiration and recipes, look no further than Canadian Living magazine. Check out this fun drink, the Pomegranate Royale. For those thinking about some New Year's resolutions, have a look at Canadian Living's 7 ways to make this year your healthiest ever.

Happy New Year's Eve, Canada! Have fun and please, don't drink and drive! 

What snacks will you be having this New Year's Eve?

Images courtesy of President's Choice, M&M Meat Shops and Canadian Living.

I really enjoyed this month's book, "Light Lifting", in our Buy Canadian First Book Club. Finding out how much I enjoyed a collection of short stories has opened up a whole new world for me in the way of reading and authors. You can read my review of this book in last week's Good Shopper Blog. I also have a book winner to announce at the end of this post!

Son of noted Canadian novelist and short story writer, Alistair MacLeod, this month's author, Alexander MacLeod, was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia and raised in Windsor, Ontario (where his father taught at the University of Windsor). As I mentioned last week, he currently lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where he teaches at Saint Mary's University.

This month's book, "Light Lifting", was a shortlisted nominee for the 2010 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and the 2011 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, A Globe & Mail, Quill & Quire, and Amazon.ca Best Book of the Year, as well. It was also Alexander's debut novel. We haven't heard about any new novel in the works from Alexander but we are keeping our fingers crossed that he continues to write.

This month I'd like to share with you what some other people are saying about "Light Lifting". Here's some quotes from reviews all over the web:

"Among the seven longish stories that make up this collection, there is not a single misstep" (Goodreads user)

"Light Lifting is the best short story collection I've read in a while" (Goodreads user)

"Alexander MacLeod demonstrates a strapping writerly prowess" (The National Post)

"Light Lifting is one of those rare debuts: a breathtakingly good collection of short fiction that heralds the arrival of a significant new talent" (Quill & Quire)

"One of the best short story collections I have ever read - and I read a lot" (Amazon.ca user)

Once you've read the novel come back and share your review with us!

Time to get ready for our next book, "The Sisters Brothers" by Canadian born author, Patrick deWitt. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2011 and the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and winner of the Governor General's Literary Award, and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. I have seen this novel absolutely everywhere lately! With The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt pays homage to the classic Western, transforming it into an unforgettable comic tour de force. I can not wait to find out what made this book so popular.

For now, congratulations to our "Light Lifting" winner, Rose Queen! You will be receiving a copy of the novel "Light Lifting" - I can not wait to discuss it with you.

To win a copy of "The Sisters Brothers", please answer the question at the end of our review, which will be published on Monday, January 23, 2012. The winner will be announced the following week. Good luck and thanks so much for participating!

Do you prefer short stories or novels? 

:: images courtesy of Chapters -Indigo 

It's Christmas Day here in Canada and, as I look out the window, just the right amount of snow is falling.

We hope that you have a safe and happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you back here on Boxing Day!

On behalf of the Good Shopper team, and BuyCanadianFirst.ca, I wish all of our readers a very merry, made-in-Canada  Christmas! 

White meat or dark meat? 

It's Day 23 of our Cross Canada Countdown and we have a "head's up" for you!  Canadian-made television station CBC has a full line-up of entertainment this Christmas Eve and Day, Canada!

With the support of Tbooth, CBC will be running Christmas Specials all of Christmas day with limited commercial breaks.

CBC Television's December 25th Schedule:

• 12:00 p.m. The Queen's Christmas Message (a broadcast made by the sovereign of the Commonwealth realms to the Commonwealth Nations each Christmas)
• 12:05 p.m. Disney Parade
• 1:35 p.m. The Forgotten Toys
• 2:00 p.m. Léon in Wintertime
• 2:25 p.m. Mr. Magoo's Christmas
• 3:20 p.m. Booky & The Secret Santa
• 6:30 p.m. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
• 8:00 p.m. The Queen's Christmas Message
• 8:05 p.m. Frosty Returns
• 8:30 p.m. A Heartland Christmas

A great day to get those PVRs going if you won't be home to watch!

You can also watch the entire Elf movie online on CBC's website! If you recall, Elf stars the hilarious Will Ferrell and Bob Newhart, and is about a man who was raised at the North Pole with elves. He is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Head over there tonight to watch with the family!

The morning of the 24th, while everyone is getting ready for a big night and day, be sure to have the kids check out CBC Kids Holiday Morning. All across the country from 6 a.m. to noon (6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. NT) see holiday episodes of some of your favourite Kids' CBC shows including Super WHY! episodes "The Nutcracker" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".

The night of the 24th, while you are preparing treats, presents and stocking, turn on Season of Song: Canadian Tenors & Friends. The Tenors are joined by stars like Canadian Paul Anka, David Foster and Justin Bieber.

What are some of your favourite Christmas Specials?

As my year of Canadian immersion comes to a close, I’ve realized that there’s a ton of research I’ve left undone. I simply haven’t had the time this year to assess the Canadianness of a bunch of non-essential categories or sub-categories. For example, I happily had no need for a rifle or shotgun in 2011, so I never got around to determining if there were any made in Canada.

Over the year, I’ve received offers from a few people who volunteered to help with researching the project. It occurred to me that I might be able to crowdsource some of these research challenges. Hence, I’ve created the research brigade.

If you’re a fan of the project, or are just looking for some way to avoid your relatives for 45 minutes or an hour this holiday season, here’s your chance. I’m looking for volunteer researchers to pick a topic and then use their Google kung-fu to determine whether such a product is sourced or manufactured in Canada. Here’s how it would work:

1. Pick a topic from the list below.
2. Do online research (or make phone calls, if you’re feeling really eager) to determine if the product is sourced or manufactured in Canada.
3. Complete the form below with your results (or just email me at darren@1y1c.ca). You can just include notes and links. If you’re keen to write something fully-formed, I might even feature it as a guest blog post in the new year.

Make sense? If there are a lot of examples of Canadian sources or manufacturers, try to pick the most popular ones. It’s quite possible that you’ll discover that there are, in fact, no Canadian-made products for a given topic. That’s okay, too.

What do you get? My undying thanks, of course. Also, if I end up writing a book about the project, I’ll send five randomly selected brigade members a signed copy. We may end up with less than five volunteers, so your odds of gotten a book are good.

Here are the topics. Again, we’re searching for the answer to the question: “Are there any of these products made in Canada?”

1. Eyeglasses (including sunglasses)
2. Rifles and shotguns
3. Common manual tools like screwdrivers and hammers
4. Tents (for camping)
5. Motorcycles and scooters
6. Razors (manual or electric)
7. Hockey pucks
8. Common sports equipment like soccer balls, footballs or baseballs
9. Skates
10. Pens and pencils
11. Common school supplies like rules, erasers and felt tip markers
12. Condoms
13. Cutlery
14. Musical instruments
15. Anything else?

As #15 suggests, if there’s a topic that I haven’t covered that you’re curious about, feel free to dive in. Or you can leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

Once you’ve done your research, just fill out the form below. My sincere thanks to anybody who participates!

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

It's Day 21 of our Cross Canada Countdown! Are you ready for the Big Day? Here at the Good Shopper blog, we have been enjoying your Christmas memories of family, friends and Ganong Chocolate! We would like to thank everyone for participating! 

 Here is the winning comment:

"My favourite holiday memory with Ganong was having the peppermint chocolates right after our dinner feast. Too full for a big dessert, but just the right size. So refreshing!". 

And the Winner is .... JennaM!

Thank you for tweeting, liking and commenting, Jenna! We will be in touch regarding where to mail your delicious Ganong Chicken Bones!

How close are you to being ready for the Holidays?

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member, Ganong.  

Welcome to month five of the Buy Canadian First Book Club and Day 19 of our Cross Canada Countdown! We have had a great time learning about all of our fantastic Canadian authors! Don't forget to "Like" the Buy Canadian First Book Club on Facebook, where we discuss the books, authors and choose what we will read next. You can also find out who won today's giveaway, next Monday, when we learn more about author Alexander MacLeod!

Alexander MacLeod was born in Inverness, Cape Breton and raised in Windsor, Ontario, and now resides in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and teaches at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

His debut novel, "Light Lifting", was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and the Commonwealth Prize and was the winner of an Atlantic Book Award. "Light Lifting" is different from the other books we've read in the Buy Canadian First Book Club as it's a collection of short fiction.

Many of the stories are family-based and really filled with a sense of yearning. I'm one for book series; because I read so fast I like to keep up with the characters. I could not believe how quickly Alexander brought his characters to life in such a few pages. I would love to read more about each and every one of them. In fact, I would love it if he would produce seven novels based on his seven short stories.

Nothing amazing or outstanding happened in any of the stories. One was about a family that had contracted terrible head-lice, of all things. Another was a story about a family of young boys that loved to play hockey on the street and their rocky relationship with a boy that lived in the rental house across the street. Then there was Allan's story, a teenager who rode his bike all over town delivering medication and supplies for a pharmacy. The folks he delivers to you can probably relate to some folks you've met along the way, and you can feel for Allan trying to ride his bike through the snow. Another about some brick layers and their summer student - brick layers!!

But the stories were amazing! The descriptions brought the stories to life and I wanted to know everything about these characters, even the brick layers. I can see why this award-winning collection of stories is so popular. It leaves you wanting more at every turn; with fantastic writing, settings in everyday life that we, as Canadians, can completely relate to, I highly recommend this book.

 Contest Giveaway:

Here's a chance to win your own copy of Alexander MacLeod's book, "Light Lifting", and read along with us! The winner will be announced in article when we learn more about Alexander MacLeod, here on the Good Shopper blog, next Monday. Just answer the following question to qualify in the comment section below. Good luck!

Are you giving or asking for any books for Christmas?

:: images courtesy of Chapters-Indigo. 

Back from Toronto and the launch of our biggest promo event so far, and a Canadian first!

As you know, our mission is to promote all things Canadian. We are well established online with our website, blog, Facebook page and Twitter account. We have also made much headway with our TV presence in 2011, having appeared twice on national television with Canada AM, and 7 times in Ottawa with CTV Morning Live! What's next? How can we make an even bigger splash?

Well, we found a way, with the help of our friends at ColossoVision. We positioned one of their large LED screens in downtown Toronto during the peak of Holiday shopping and are running a unique campaign to sensitize consumers to the benefits of buying Canadian, while streaming ads for Canadian-made products, services and talent!

The event is taking place on Bay Street at the corner of Edward, one of the busiest intersections in Toronto. The screen is "alive" from 8 AM to 9 PM from December 17th to January 1st (with a break on Christmas Day).

A great big THANK YOU goes out to our advertisers & supporters:

Bonnie St.Croix
Brookside Foods
Canadian Automotive Association (CAA)
Canadian Tire
Creations Jez - Bristol Leather
Deliciously Canadian
Direct Plus Food Group (McSweeney's)
Dylan Ribkoff
Eleventh Floor Apparel/Lundstrom
Fern Resort
Ganong

Gilldercroft
Glen Eden Resort

Go Clean
Hall Chem Manufacturing
Home Hardware - Beauti-Tone
Krispy Kernels
Life Science Nutritionals

Macleod's Shortbread

Mari's Foods (Wafu)

Mellow Walk
Michique
Monte-Carlo Inns

Nuvocare Health Sciences
Outdoor Survival Canada

Pook Toque
Royal Canin Canada
Royale
Show Me Your Canada

Canada Strong & Free 
The Rubinet Faucet Company
Universal Music - Justin Bieber
Universal Music - Paul Anka
Universal Music Canada - Jann Arden

If you're in the area, please stop by and prepare to be amazed by the awesome display of Canadian greatness!

Images courtesy of Isabelle Remy

And so, my year of Canadianness reaches its crescendo this month with all-Canuck Internet use.

I’m writing this while listening to the sounds of the waves on Cox Bay intermix with Broken Social Scene playing on iTunes. I’m wearing a t-shirt from Bearhug, and have local venison sausage digesting in my stomach. I’m drinking a glass of the local water, and have a DVD of “Gunless” nearby to watch later on. Oh how Canadian I’ve become.

Considerable calculus went into the order of the categories I added each month. I didn’t want things to be too easy in the early going, but I also had some practical requirements for how the year would play out. One such requirement is that, because I work on the web, I’d need to put the category of ‘Internet’ last.

What do we mean when we say “the Canadian Internet”? It’s a good question. Do we mean websites that are hosted in Canada? Probably not, because many Canadian companies, media organizations and blogs host their so-called ‘Canadian content’ on computers that are physically in the United States or elsewhere. Rather stupidly, when I set up this site, I added it to my existing set of sites hosted by the good Americans at Laughing Squid.

Others have pointed out that I shouldn’t use Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or dozens of other sites because they’re American. This seems overly reductive. The computers that host these sites, and the sites and services themselves are the infrastructure of the web. I don’t require that Canadian music be recorded through Canadian soundboards and played on Canadian speakers (if I did, it would have been a quiet year), so I don’t think I should ban myself from these services.

Instead, I’m restricting myself to only electronically communicating with Canadians. On social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Google+, I’ve created lists of Canadian friends and followers. I pay attention to those, instead of the default view of everybody.

 

Whenever possible, I avoid exchanging emails with non-Canadians. An American friend emailed me the other day, and I sent him this:

Dear non-Canadian Sir/Ms:

Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, due to restrictions imposed by my One Year, One Canadian project, I’m unable to exchange
electronic communications with non-Canadians until January 1, 2012.

This has been an automated message from Canuck Bot.

It’s in jest, but I’m doing my best to ignore American email. And I’m only reading Canadian news sites, blogs and other reference sites. I’m a big fan of Reddit, but these days I’m only in the Canada, Vancouver and hockey sub-sections of the site.

I’ve faced a challenge in a bunch of web-based tools we use for work. We use online tools for time tracking, invoicing, project management and so forth. I’m simply avoiding these, and regretting the decision to not use Canadian equivalents like FreshBooks and FunctionFox.

Thus far, the biggest challenge is getting a decent, detailed view of stories that don’t have a Canadian component or angle. I was interested in Louis CK’s recent experiment in self-publishing a recent comedy video, but I had to hunt around for Canadian coverage. Likewise, I’m sometimes interested in how Canada is discussed internationally. The Guardian would have been my go-to site for an external view on Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Agreement.

I am missing vast chunks of the web. I certainly wouldn’t want to keep up this online diet indefinitely. What would you miss if you could only consume Canadian content online?

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

MONTREAL-BASED COMPANY WANTS EVERYONE TO "BUY CANADIAN FIRST" THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Buy Canadian First is proud to announce a Canadian first: an entire campaign dedicated to raising awareness amongst consumers about the benefits of buying Canadian-made products and supporting Canadian businesses.

Welcome to Day 16 of our Cross Canada Countdown! Have you entered to win your Ganong Chicken Bones yet? Many people are looking for their Canadian-made gifts online this year. BMO reports that 43% of women are shopping for gifts online this year, up from 34% last year. VISA Canada reports that people are spending 3.9 hours online and 8.1 hours in the stores this year.

To keep shoppers in the malls retail businesses are going to greater lengths this year.

Many Canadian stores offered Black Friday deals this year in an effort to keep Canadians shopping more locally. Shops like Future Shop, Toys R Us and Walmart had folks waiting in line outside at 5am to grab the deals. Stores like Old Navy kept busy both online and in store with their Black Friday deals. I, myself, spent over an hour placing an Old Navy order as the site kep going down and timing out, but the sales prices were worth it!

The Chinook Centre in Calgary has attracted more consumers by bringing in different stores like Tiffany's and Victoria's Secret.

Some stores, like Zellers, are holding midnight madness sales to entice shoppers into the store. The Bay is keeping shoppers on their toes by holding exciting one day sales; we recently hit on one where they were selling 600 thread count sheets at an amazing price. They also had a 50% shoe sale a few weeks back. It was a mad house!!

Many retailers are hoping that the weather this year will help get everyone out of the house and off the computer. Many locations in Canada are starting to look towards a green Christmas. If you can remember, this time last year, some of Canada was struggling with "Snowmageddon" when over 140cm of snow fell in just a few days.

It's not easy to keep up with the great offers online retailers are coming up with this year. Cyber Monday was a big hit. Canadian shoppers bought 37% more items on eBay, for example, on the Monday following the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend this year compared with last year. 161 merchants participated in our first annual Free Shipping Day in Canada this year.

 Have you been spending more time shopping online or in the stores this year??

Images courtesy of The Bay, Future Shop and Free Shipping Day

It is Day 15 of our Cross Canada Countdown and we are visiting designer Dylan Ribkoff, of  Montreal, Quebec. But first, are you wondering if it is going to be a green Christmas this year? It's grey and rainy here in Central Ontario, but I'm warmed by all the 'sweet comments' that you are leaving on yesterday's post about your Canadian  Christmas memories of Ganong Candy. If you haven't tried Ganong Chocolates and Candies yet, leave a comment  about why you would like to, just like SaraD did! You could win some Chicken Bones! Good luck! We'll pick a winner next Wednesday.

On a gloomy day like today, the bright colours of Dylan Ribkoff's creations are very hot cheerful, aren't they? Darling Husband gets underwear in his stocking every year, but nothing like these .. . yet! These undies are made of a higher quality cotton yarn that results in a softer, more durable fabric than open-end yarn. They are ring-spun, which takes about five times longer and requires extra steps but results in unparalled softness and super comfiness! It looks good, too! Very good.

He's worth it , though. Every little last bit of him! 

Did you catch Dylan on CBC's Dragons' Den? It was a great segment ! This guy really gets what made-in-Canada is all about and the Dragons loved him! 

"Keeping our production local means that we can do our part in helping the environment. Cotton is a renewable resource; it's so beautiful in raw form. Why ruin something so clean and environmentally friendly by putting it on any more trucks and boats than it needs to be on?" - Dylan Ribkoff 

So tell me, Canada, boxers or briefs? 

: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First Member Dylan Ribkoff

 

 

You can also find them in your mailbox by doing the following: 

1. Share a holiday memory below in the Comments section about Ganong candy.

2. Like Ganong on Facebook.

3. Tweet "@buycndianfirst <3 @ganongbros #win". 

The giveaway starts today and the winner will be announced here next Wednesday! Good luck and Good Shopping!

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member, Ganong. 

Day 13 of our Cross Canadian Countdown finds us at the studios of a Canadian treasure.  

"On November 2, 1936, the Canadian Broadcasting Act replaced the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission with a Crown corporation known as CBC/Radio-Canada."

That was seventy-five years ago, Canada, and "Yours to Celebrate" is the slogan CBC came up with to set the tone for their 75th anniversary celebrations. When you visit their site , you will find all sorts of made-in-Canada  archives. You will be walking down Memory Lane in no time!

 CBC/RADIO Canada 

 If you are like me, you grew up listening to the CBC on the radio and watching on TV. Many of us, I am sure, remember loving Mr.Dressup, Casey and Finnigan. Who hasn't looked up, waaaaaaaaaay up, to see the Friendly Giant, Jerome and Rusty or pulled up a chair to sit awhile in front of the fire? 

You'll find all your CBC favourites  in their site and you can watch or listen to them. Check out the interactive timeline ! What a great opportunity to share your memories with your children or grandchildren! 

What was your favourite CBC programme when you were growing up?

:: images courtesy of CBC. 

It is Day 12 of our Cross Canadian Countdown and I am so pleased to have the opportunity to introduce Canadians across the country to some awesome Holiday gifts ideas made in Canada , on Monday December 12th, thanks to Canada AM!

Featured this morning (watch the segment):

1) MegaBloks building blocks from MegaBrands, available at Toys R Us and Walmart:

2) Convertible wooden sleigh from Millside Industries, available at Canadian Tire :

3) Backyard ice rink kits from RinkMaster, available online at RinkMaster :

4) Casual safety footwear from Mellow Walk, available at Mark’s, Mister Safety & Work Authority :

5) Jez-Elite leather apparel from Creations Jez, available in specialty retailers across the country:

6) Muttluks dog booties available at Pet Valu stores across Canada as well as specialty pet retailers:

This year, why not put Canadian-made under the tree? It’s the gift that truly keeps on giving....to your community, your environment, your country....

Happy Holidays!

It's Day 5 of our Cross Canadian Countdown and I'd like to tell you about a Canadian made tradition in our house. We build an ice rink every year. Does anyone else do this or is planning to make one this year? Here are some tips, tricks and instructions on what we do.

First off, location, location, location! It sounds cliche but after one year where we had a four inch difference from one end of the rink to the other, we have learned that it is very important. Pick a spot as flat as possible and mark it out with wooden stakes before it snows.

Once you have a serious amount of snow and you know it won't be melting, it's time to prepare. Every year this happens to be the week between Christmas and New Year's for us. Don't start too early or you will be sorry.

Start by compacting the snow within your marked off area and making an edge at the side of it with the snow. Spray the sides with water so that they freeze in place and get the bottom as flat and as even as possible.

At this point, you either buy plastic sheeting to put down or, in our case, use a kit such as the RinkMaster . A RinkMaster is designed to hold 2-3 inches of water in place until the water freezes solid. 

If you are making your rink without something like a RinkMaster, you will need to flood the area, wait for it to freeze and repeat, as necessary, to build up a base.  If your snow sides are not well made, you may need to buy boards along with the plastic sheeting, to keep the water in while it's freezing.

We run a hose out the window from a basement water tap. This is your best bet, if possible, as you are of course dealing with very cold temperatures and you do not want to freeze your tap, as you could end up with a flood in the basement.

Once you have the rink completely frozen, you are ready for a hockey game! But do not forget about maintenance or you will be sorry in a few, short weeks.

To keep a smooth surface you must brush off any new snow and flood the rink often, not only to continue to build the rink up but to keep it smooth and safe to skate on.

Images courtesy of Stacey Kazmir and RinkMaster

It's Day 11 of our Cross Canada Countdown and we have some more gift suggestions for you. I am a HUGE coffee fan, and was in the market for a new pot for this Christmas. While I, of course, would like a Canadian-made one, the options just aren't there. My Mom found a Keurig for me at a great price at Sears Canada  and that is what will be wrapped up under the tree for me this year! Keurig coffee makers can also be found at local stores like Staples and Canadian Tire.

I'm excited about the single serve Keurig because I'm the biggest coffee drinker in the house and often, would love one in the morning of a busy day or at the 3 p.m. slump we all hit, but I'm not interested in making a full pot or in cleaning the whole thing after. I also love that, with the Keurig, you do not have to use the pre-filled K-Cups. You can buy a small basket called "My K-Cup", to use with your own coffee instead. While we don't have a lot of options on single serve coffee makers made in Canada, there are a few great Canadian companies offering coffee and accessories that would be perfect for a coffee lover in your life this Holiday Season.

Kicking Horse Coffee was one of the first ten companies in Canada to sign on with TransFair Canada in 1998 and in 2003 Kicking Horse Coffee went 100% organic, only purchasing and roasting 100% Certified Organic coffee beans. Then, in 2007, they became dedicated to 100% Organic Fair Trade. Kicking Horse Coffee continues to be Canada's #1 selling Organic Fair Trade. Their whole bean cans provide the best freshness in coffee, smell heavenly and come in a range of roasts, I like the Three Sisters myself.

Second Cup is Canada's largest Canadian-based specialty coffee retailer. Not only can you go in for a great cup of coffee or speciality drink, but they also have a wide range of products for sale. Pick up some whole beans or treat someone special to one of their Glass Mug Sets. They also have cans of a hot product this year - White Hot Chocolate, one of my personal favourites.

Always a favourite, Tim Hortons sells cans of their ground coffee and other hot drinks. They also have a new treat available this year, chocolate truffles! I miss the fudge they were selling the past couple of years; according to their website the fudge is only available in Quebec now, but I sure wouldn't mind a can of their famous coffee under the tree to use in my new Keurig.

What's all this coffee without a mug to put it in?! Browse Etsy for beautiful mugs made in Canada. I found this gorgeous canoe mug made in BC. I can't wait to be brewing in a few weeks.

What are you wrapping up for the coffee lover in your life?

Images courtesy of Dragon Pottery, Tim Hortons and Second Cup

Day 10 of the Cross Canada Countdown is here and we are zipping over to Ontario, to visit our blogger, "Super" Stacey Kazmer! Stacey is a developer/computer programmer, the mom of twin four year old boys and the wife of Dan. She also runs the show at her made-in-Canada  blog, "Did You Know Canada?" and is a weekly blogger here at the Good Shopper blog! She's one multi-tasking mama!

Stacey has been participating as a blogger/tester in a Canadian prime-time show called Recipe to Riches . It plays Wednesday nights on the Food Network and Saturday, on Global TV. The idea is that, each week three everyday Canadians are given the opportunity to submit their recipes in one of seven food categories, The winner gets $25,000.00 and has their dish sold by President's Choice in stores across Canada!  

It's a really fun concept and the food has been amazing! I've tried three of the products and loved them! The best part is that Galen Weston, the Executive Chairman of Loblaws, joins the celebrity judging panel for the final selection!

The show is drawing to a close, but you can still watch it tonight and catch-up with Stacey's hands-on experiences  making some of the recipes and reviewing them for the show.

Have you seen Recipe to Riches yet?

:: images courtesy of Stacey Kazmer 

Sheds are mighty handy outdoors. But, rather than just stop at necessity, why not create an amazingly fun focal point for your Canadian-made backyard at the same time?

This is my little wood shed out back. It’s very funky and junky and is a fair representation of everything I love. It currently provides a new function these days: holding firewood. It used to be a greenhouse. Starting with the beat-up greenhouse framework, the plastic was removed and reclaimed fence boards and old barn windows were simply screwed in place, adding tons of unique character

. 

A found firetruck parts crate was painted out and annuals were added for an easy-to-keep-up flower box.

Old signs and tools were hung for both decoration and to stake up plants and flowers. Pallets were added for mini walkways and a front step. They simply flip upwards to mow the lawn. This little shed truly brings new meaning to a place meant just for storage. Decide on the look that you desire, then start collecting and hanging your favorite things to create your own desired look! 

Do you have a creative storage shed in your yard?

Photos and design are courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors. The full four part series of this build can be seen HERE. 

A Red Canoe Ontario Tartan Scarf available from Buy Canadian First member Chapters Indigo is a thoughful, useful gift that is woven and manufactured in Canada. Keeping him warm, comfortable and looking good through the winter season.

A hot item this year is Twittens! These are gloves with a hooded thumb and finger so that you can open them and still use your touch-screen electronics, such as your smart phone, iPod and tablet. Created by Lincoln McCardle, of London, Ontario just last year, they are developed by Impacto Protective Products, a Canadian manufacturer.

A favourite tool in my husband's tool box and something that would make a great gift or stocking stuffer, is a screw driver from Buy Canadian First member, Picquic. With their system, you're storing a bit and ejecting the newly selected bit simultaneously and with the same motion; there is no easier way and it's perfect for keeping everything together.

What do you have under the tree for the men in your life?

Images courtesy of BKH Jerky, Twittens, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Buy Canadian First members Chapters Indigo and Picquic.

It's Day 8 of our Cross Canadian Giveaway and it is time to announce our Chillbed Laptop Cooling Stand Winners! YAAAAAY! But first, is it snowing where you are? It's snowing and sunny here, a perfectly, wintery, made-in-Canada  day! I know that Stacey is probably jumping up and down for joy! She's building an ice rink  in her back yard, if you remember!

And now for the big news! As you know, Adam Berson of Chillbed Industries Ltd. had two laptop cooling stands to give to two of our readers. And the lucky Chillbed Industries Ltd. Laptop Cooling Stands  Giveaway Winners are ......

Jacquelyn Pereuza

and

Mark Valentino

Congratulations, Jacquelyn and Mark! What a great prize! Please email Adam  to let him know your details!

Many thanks to everyone who participated! We will be having more Giveaways, so keep in touch! As a matter of fact, you can subscibe to our blog feed, so that you never have to worry about missing a great Canadian giveaway! 

You still have time to win our luxury Winter Survival Basket from Buy Canadian First member,  Natural Plantation!  Just share a Winter photo on our Facebook page! 

Have you shared any photos on our Facebook  page yet?

:: images courtesy of Chillbed Industries Ltd. and Natural Plantatation. 

Back in August, I gave up all food that wasn’t sourced in Canada. On a day-to-day basis, what has that meant?

• I drink water almost exclusively. With the exception of a few samples, I can drink no soda (I’ve been a lifelong Coke user–I seriously miss it). Most juices are out as well, and I don’t drink coffee, tea or alcohol.
• I don’t eat many deserts. Chocolate is out. I’ve occasionally had some homemade pie with Canadian fruit, and my wife made an excellent galette with blackberries and peaches from the freezer, but they’re the exception to the rule.
• Junk food and fast food are non-starters.
• I rarely ‘grab something on the go’ when I’m out of the house. That means I’ve been eaten far fewer muffins, bagels and other baked goods you’d usually find at your local coffee shop.
• I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, fish, chicken and pasta (made from Canadian wheat durum).

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m downright apathetic about food, so this process has just been a time-consuming bother more than a trial. I have missed the stimulating effect of Coke and the occasional sugary snack. I didn’t realize how much I depended on those to get me through some wintery afternoons.

I didn’t plan for this to happen, but I’ve lost seven pounds. Or, if you prefer, 3.2 kilograms. I think the big difference is that I’m pretty much drinking only water. If you add up the calories from a can of Coke a day, plus the occasional juice and hot chocolate, you get to a couple thousand calories a week pretty quickly. Over a few months, that makes a difference.

I’ve been using an app to track my weight all year. This is what the last few months looks like:

Maybe I’ll start a new Canadian dieting craze? “Act now, and get your Canada Diet Program for three monthly installments of $29.99! The pounds will melt away like a spring thaw in Winnipeg!”

Read comments here.

Blog post re-printed with kind permission from Darren Barefoot - 1Y1C.

Day 7 in our Cross Canada Countdown and today we are everywhere that there is an Chapters-Indigo store. First though, we remind you that there is one more day left for our made-in-Canada  Chillbed Industries Ltd. laptop cooling giveaway! It's super easy to enter:  just follow them on Facebook and Twitter ! We will announce the winner here tomorrow. Don't forget that you can also win a lovely gift basket from Natural Plantation for submitting your Winter photos to our Facebook page.

Chapters-Indigo has a a really well organized Canadian gift guide and strives to highlight Canadians on their website, which really impressed me. I went there looking for some Canadian Crooners to listen to as Christmas approaches and maybe even to stuff in a few stockings. (The CDs, not the crooners!). I found a section called Canada First, in the Music department!

Here are some suggestions for your list of Canadian Christmas Crooners:

Michael Buble, Christmas

Justin Beiber, Under the Mistletoe

Diana Krall, Christmas Songs 

  David Foster, The Christmas Album

Rankin Sisters, Do You Hear? 

Anne Murray, Christmas Album 

What's your favourite Christmas album?

 :: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member, Chapter-Indigo.. 

It's Day 6, (already) and I have a special treat for our Cross Canada Countdown! It's a video by Manitoba sixteen year old, Sean Quigley. Sean plays all the instruments and sings too! Plus, he directed his sister on how to shoot the video! This is definitely made-in-Canada and it is currently travelling around the world at the speed of light! (That's still fast, isn't it?) 

The Canadian Drummer Boy!   

I hope you enjoy this great Canadian video! See you tomorrow when we'll visit yet another talented Canadian.

If you would like us to visit you for tips on enjoying December, please leave a comment below. We are having a lot of fun getting to know you all!

:: video courtesy of Sean Quigley YouTube + image courtesy of Google Maps.

It's Day 2 of our Cross Canada Countdown! Yay! We are "travelling" all across the country to find out more about what you are doing to get into the holiday spirit! We'll be posting a quick blurb every day until December 25, to help you with your made-in-Canada  Christmas. We hope that you will contribute by sharing your Canadian Christmas activities, tips and tricks, in the comment section.

We're still in B.C. after visiting ChillBed Industries Ltd . in Vancouver yesterday. (You have a week to enter to win a laptop cooling stand!). I found out about the B.C. entrepreneur that I want to introduce you to through a Canadian blog that I subscribe to called Funky Junk Interiors. It's a great blog about decorating, staging, massive impact on a thrifty scale and other things like blogging tips. Do have a look at Donna's blog  ... it's fascinating and inspiring and it really has heart!

Anywho, Donna is decorating (as usual) and nothing says Christmas to her like a poinsettia. Through her post, I found out about Tamara Jansen, of Darvonda Nurseries. What really struck me about the post was what Tamara had to say about the poinsettia industry, from the perspective of a family-owned business. I thought you good shoppers would be interested too!

"I had been noticing a decline in the use of the traditional poinsettia plant for decorating at Christmas both in prin and television. I have been concerned that our industry hasn't been actively encouraging designers/bloggers/magazine editors to include our FABULOUS products as part of their decorating palette. I would like to see the flowers that we market become a larger part of every home's entertainment budget, bringing colour and life into homes across North America." says Tamara .

"Huh", I thought when I read that. Now, I have never bought poinsettias before, because I always thought that they were poisonous and harmful to my lovey pets. It turns out that this is simply not true! (I double-checked !). Then I went to No Frills and bought a gorgeous poinsettia for $2.99, grown in Canada, maybe even at Tamara's place! Yay!

So, visit Tamara and Donna  for a fascinating tour of Darvonda Nurseries, then go out and get a poinsettia! You'll be supporting Canadian business and your house will look very festive indeed! Feel free to share your poinsettia displays on our Facebook page!

See you tomorrow and good shopping, Canada!

Are you a fan of poinsettias? 

 :: images courtesy of my iphone, Colin.