Buy Canadian First - Your destination for good shopping

Today I had a lovely time cruising around Southern Manitoba with my son. In recent years, we have taken to stealing moments where it is just him and me in the car. We crank up the tunes and act like goofs. Today we met at the thrift store and he found the best thing: a three CD boxed set of disco tunes! I regret not paying for it myself as now I have little chance of trying to keep it when he and his girlfriend leave for school. We drove around town with the disco beat of "Stayin' Alive" pumping from the sub-woofer. We realised that our disco tour was turning into something of a public service, as children started to dance as we drove by and people smiled and laughed. It was a moot point if they were laughing at us or with us. The music made them happy; they were smiling, period. Sadly, these fun rides are numbered as we prepare for my son's trip out West for school and into his first apartment, I will miss him so.

 

We managed to find and rent a charming, one bedroom suite in a Spanish style home owned by a lovely BC family. Considering that my son and his girlfriend will be new to the area, I was thinking that it might be best if they get identification tags from Buy Canadian First member I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) . Yes, I know that they are both adults, but the average time for family to be notified of an emergency situation is five hours!! That is much too long. These tags will give me peace of mind.

 

The cost to move their stuff to British Columbia is expensive.We will be looking at options such as a small car rental that they can jam full of their belongings and use to camp along the way in. These great laptop stands from Buy Canadian First member Chillbeds offer protection during transport and also keep the laptop cool while in use, prolonging its life.

 

It is hard to sort out what to send with him at this moment but the home owners have been such help with gathering furniture that my son may be able to get away with not having to bring much. One thing that I would like to give him as a housewarming gift is a beautiful, wooden cutting board from Buy Canadian First member Arbol, which he will get good use out of as a Culinary student. I also hope that he has a little thought of me and his sisters every time he uses it.   

Do you have any children leaving the nest soon?  

Image credits: Buy Canadian First members: I.C.E tage, Chillbeds, Arbol 

I have had some great discussions inspired by this month's book "Forgotten".  It's interesting to talk about how we think our friends, family, co-workers, etc., would react if we went missing for six months and presumed dead. 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!




Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. She is a graduate of McGill University and McGill Law School and now practices law in Montreal. Her first two novels, "Spin" and "Arranged", are international bestsellers. I am so happy to have had a chance to interview Catherine and to be able share it with you!

Good Shopper Blog: I was so intrigued by this story line from just reading the back of the cover! !hat an awesome premise!  How did you first come up with the idea?
Catherine McKenzie: Thanks! I actually heard a story about someone who had spent some time in Africa, gotten sick and when they returned home, there was someone else living in their apartment. I don’t know anything else about them or what happened, but I thought it was an intriguing premise to explore some themes that had been banging around in my head.

GSB: Did you confer with family and friends on how they would react if this situation happened?
CM: This may sound funny, but: no. I like to let my own imagination govern in situations like that.

GSB: What drew you, as the writer, to Africa as the place that Emma's mother needed her to go?
CM: It seemed like the sort of place that someone might obsess about going to but never be able to. Also, I needed a place where it might be plausible that they could be cut off from the world for six months.

GSB: I love Emma's friend, Stephanie! I think that we need a novel full of her fun ideas, like bookstore match-making!  Is Stephanie based on someone in your life?  I could use a friend like her!
CM: I love her too! But no, she’s not based on anyone I know (though I do have great friends). I really try hard not to base characters in my books on people I know; therein lies trouble! But the bookstore match-making service is a nod to my previous book, "Arranged", for those who have read it.


GSB: As a lawyer, what drew you to writing novels as well? You must never sleep!
CM: I do sleep, I swear! I’ve always written and about six years ago I got an idea for a novel that I just couldn’t shake. I decided to try to see if I could write a book and I’ve kept on going from there.


GSB: What advice can you give to fellow Canadians as a writer and a career woman?
CM: If you want to write, do it! And by that I mean, find the time to do the things you love. If you find a little time everyday you might end up with a book at the end. I also think it’s important to keep a creative side (if you have one) to balance the serious work stuff (if your work is serious work stuff).


GSB: I thank Catherine so much again for the opportunity to interview her. She shared great information and it was so fun to learn how an author researches their stories and where their ideas comes from!

Time to get ready for our next book. We are trying a thriller this time,  "The Accident", by Canadian author, Linwood Barclay.


"In this mesmerizing thriller by acclaimed author Linwood Barclay, a typical community descends into darkness, as an ordinary man is swept into one of the most violent mysteries of modern life."


Sounds exciting! For now, congratulations to "Forgotten" winner, Zara Garcia-Alvarez! You will be receiving a copy of the novel "Forgotten". Let us know what you think! I would love to discuss it with you and find out how you think the people in your life would react. 

Thanks again to HarperCollins Canada for providing us with this great read and the giveaway copy. Follow HarperCollins Canada on twitter, on Facebook, and check out their website, The Savvy Reader, for more bookish fun.

To win a copy of our next book, "The Accident", please answer the question at the end of our review, which will be published on Monday, June 18, 2012. The winner will be announced the following week. Good luck and thanks so much to everyone for participating! Don't forget to Like us at the Buy Canadian First Book Club on Facebook! 

:: Images courtesy of HarperCollins Canada and Chapters-Indigo.

I adore collecting good ol' Canadian vintage toolboxes. They're just so versatile, making fabulous centerpieces for tables and providing great storage with flair for most anything. However, collecting the antique varieties can be pricey, or the wrong size for what you desire. So what’s one to do? Easy... make one yourself! Trust me when I say that I’m not a pro-builder, so I came up with a cheat sheet method to create a complete toolbox out of one board. Yup, it was that easy!

Here’s how I did it:

1. Find a unique handle of choice.

It can be anything from a branch, an old tool, to a standard dowel. The handle will help dictate how large your toolbox will be.

2. Cut a board down to accommodate  two sides, one bottom and a front / back.

Use two different boards if you desire a two-toned look or different dimensions.

3. Pre-drill holes for the handle, then insert. Screw the rest of the toolbox together and you’re done!

Don’t be afraid to get really creative with that handle. This drill-handled toolbox was a little more complicated to create as the sides required additional shaping with a jig saw, but it was worth the extra effort. The sky's truly the limit where design is concerned.

   

Are you also a collector of toolboxes? What do you use them for?

Special thanks to fellow Canadian Julie from Follow Your Heart Woodworking for leading a toolbox workshop on my blog HERE!

Photos and design are courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors.

White picket toolbox tutorial is HERE.
Drill handled toolbox tutorial is HERE.

One of our favourite things to drink here in my home  in Manitoba is chocolate soymilk. We discovered it when my youngest child was experiencing sensitivity to dairy milk. She has recently outgrown this and we are back to dairy, but we still indulge in one of our Canadian-made dairy-alternative favourites, from So Nice .

 

Like chickpeas, lentils and beans, soy is a legume and has been grown and harvested for millennia in Asia. Soya sauce made its introduction to Canada in the early 19th century and soy was cultivated in the late 19th century at the Ontario Agricultural College. Soy is jam-packed with protein! One cup of soy is equal in protein to 100g of meat, poultry or fish. It is also cholesterol-free and its fat content is made up of healthy, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Soy also holds calcium, iron and zinc. Of course, you'll need a little vitamin C to absorb that vegetable iron. 

So Good, has a yummy, non-dairy frozen soy dessert. Just add some rhubarb compote for a tasty sauce filled with vitamin C. Try this recipe at the Canadian Living website.

Do you eat soy products?

Image credits: So Nice and So Good

Welcome to the May edition of the Buy Canadian First Book Club and Happy Victoria Day! Don't forget to "Like" the Buy Canadian First Book Club on Facebook, where we discuss the books and authors and choose what we will read next. You can also find out who won today's giveaway, next Monday, when we share our interview with this week's author, Catherine McKenzie!

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec and is a graduate of McGill University and McGill Law School.  Catherine, if you can believe it, practices law in Montreal as well as being the author of three novels!

Her novel "Spin" is about a woman spying on a celebrity in rehab; her novel "Arranged" is about a dating service turned arranged marriage service. Wait until I tell you about this month's book, "Forgotten"! She has come up with the most unique and interesting premise for this novel and I will be adding her other books, "Spin" and "Arranged" to my reading list soon!

 

"Forgotten" is about a lawyer, Emma, who's mother passes away. Emma's mother leaves Emma a gift, a ticket to travel to Africa, a place her mother was obsessed with and always wanted to visit. While in Africa, Emma falls sick, and then an earthquake happens, cutting her off from the rest of the world. Emma is off the grid and unable to find her way back home for six months! Upon her return, she finds that she was presumed dead and that her apartment has been rented, her cases at work given away, all her possessions gone and her boyfriend may have moved on - can you even imagine?

Emma must go through many trials and heartaches to get some of her life back and she wonders if she even wants it back. This is such a thought-provoking and interesting situation, a perfect conversation starter and an awesome book to read with friends. As a matter of fact, since reading it, I've told many friends about the story line and we've chatted about how we would react, how we think our family would react, even yelled at our husbands for no good reason...ha ha... This is one novel to read and share right away so you can all discuss it. A great book club book!

Contest Giveaway:

Here's a chance to win your own copy of Catherine McKenzie's book, "Forgotten" and read along with us! The winner will be announced here when we share my interview with Catherine McKenzie, next week. Just answer the following question in the comment section below to qualify. Be sure to share the contest with your friends and family as well. Comments are moderated, so don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away! Good luck!


Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing the giveaway copy. Follow HarperCollins Canada on twitter, on Facebook, and check out their website, The Savvy Reader, for more bookish fun.

How would you feel if you won a trip and came back to find that you were presumed dead?

 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER!

:: images courtesy of HarperCollins Canada.

Holy whale tails! It's the May 24 Long Weekend and not a moment too soon, Canada ... well, at least not for me!! It's been a full week, with two assignments, an exam, work, housekeeping, my wonderful kids, the rest of the family, the cat, the garden and my darling ... all have been squeezed into one itty bitty week. If I can make it to four o'clock Friday afternoon with success at school and a happy collective of loved ones, I shall deem myself a superhero. It is reassuring to know that backyard party and BBQ season has begun! Good times with friends, play dates outside and just relaxing with my kids in the yard are just what I need!

 

Buying Canadian during the Summer season to enhance your BBQ event has never been easier! What is Summer without a Mr. Freeze ? These wonderful frozen treats from Buy Canadian First member Kisko Products  are a Summertime classic. Keeping things chilled is also the job of Buy Canadian first member Ravi Solutions  and their wine cooler. This great little tool cools your wine as you pour it from the bottle! 

 

An outdoor BBQ with great friends is always a wonderful time! Imagine Buy Canadian first member True North Salmon and their skewers  marinating in fellow member's Mari foods Wafu Japanese carrot ginger vinaigrette , then grilled. Finish the dish with a side of Noasap Harvest wild rice  and everyone will vote your backyard as "The Place to Be"!

 

Summer has almost arrived in Southern Manitoba and I'm celebrating What's on your grill this May 24 weekend, Canada?

 

Image source: Buy Canadian first nenbers: Kisko products, Ravi Solutions and Mari foods 

I love coffee bean sacks! Not only is the burlap perfectly rustic, but the stamped graphics offer an artful quality to anything you make with them. 

This round, I decided that my own kitchen windows were the perfect candidates to get hit with a little rustic charm, so faux coffee bean sack shades were born.

Sacks can be found at places that roast their own coffee beans. I find mine at a lovely Canadian home-run business, The Back Porch, located in Harrison Hot Springs, BC. But keep hunting and ask for referrals! They’re everywhere if you learn where to look.



How to make the shades:

 

1. Pick up a closet dowel and accommodating brackets. Install inside your window frame by cutting the dowel down to size and screwing in the brackets.

2. Cut your sack to the size of the dowel, creating a fray around the edges. Burlap is transparent, so select a fabric to line them with, hot gluing them into place.

3. Run a bead of hot glue on the rod and sack and attach.

4. Install the rod in your window. If your rod ‘unspins,’ drill a hole into the side of one bracket and place in a screw. Works like a charm.

5. Add a little junky relic for your ‘pretend’ pull and enjoy the new rustic look!

Another great no-sew burlap idea: check your local hardware store during flood season. The $1.50 sandbags make awesome pre-sewn pillows. Really!

What creative projects have you made with burlap sacks?

Photos and design are courtesy of Donna Williams of Funky Junk Interiors. You can find the entire tutorial on the blog HERE .

It's that time of year again - graduation clothes need to be bought, parties need to be planned, lots of plans and discussions for the future!  I have a few great Canadian-made gift ideas for the graduates in your life. See what I came up with and save your self some shopping time!

 

Diane Balit, a Buy Canadian First member, paints miniatures on enamelled copper using delicate feathers and very fine brushes, which is then fired in high temperature ovens to create absolutely gorgeous watches.  What a perfect grad gift and something to cherish for years to come.  

 

 

Buy Canadian First member SIMS Jewelry Co. makes a gorgeous jewellery set - this 30mm ravishing ring incorporated with black glass ovals and semi-precious large ovals of spider agate. They've also created a matching bracelet and earrings.  What a beautiful set for a new grad, something to wear to a new job or college next fall and something to enjoy for years.

 

A Deerskin Journal from Buy Canadian First member Deliciously Canadian would make a treasured gift.  It won't break the bank and would be a gift your grad would be proud to take to their new job or use for a new year of school.

Do you have a graduate in your life this Spring?

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Chapters-Indigo, Diane Balit, SIMS Jewelry Co. and Deliciously Canadian.

If you gave me a choice as to whether I’d prefer to cook dinner or mow the lawn, I’d personally be mowing the lawn before your question was even completed. This girl just LOVES the Canadian outdoors!

Because of that, I love to bring the outdoors in with my decorating. This super easy to make, branch-handled tray, was loads of fun to create. You can make it any size that could easily be used indoors and out. It makes a super cute table centerpiece as well.



   

 Here’s how!

1. Cut a long board in half then brace them together by screwing smaller boards across the underside.

2. Measure out and cut your branch handles and handle supports.

3. Pre-drill holes in the handles and supports, then screw them together from the top.

4. Screw on handles through the bottom of the tray.

5. If you wish for matching coasters, simply cut chunks of wood to the desired size.

My own tray is more decorative than productive, so just be sure to test the handles for strength before carrying anything around with real weight to it.

Other creative tray ideas: chalkboards, old cabinet doors, vintage signs.

Have you created a unique tray out of unusual, reclaimed items? I’d love to hear about it!

Design and photos are courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors. The full tutorial can be seen here.

I am told that this weekend is the time to get my seeds in the ground in Southern Manitoba . So, the girls and I are heading outside and we'll officially start our garden this Mother's Day weekend! Once we get the beds ready, we will be planting them with some red onions, pumpkin, zucchini and radishes and in our container's we will be growing red and blue potatoes, carrots, beans and peas.

 

We are very excited as this week, I received two yards of dirt from Brunet, a local construction company. We were also given nearly a dozen, five gallon pails from the school my middle child attends, as the pails would just have been thrown away otherwise. Last night I visited Hillbilly's Garden Centre . I couldn't resist it when I saw the "shamrocks" and ivy and knew that planting them would be a great activity for us this evening.

 

As we move through Spring, the girls will be a great source of help in the garden and will, I hope, feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when the vegetables start coming. I would like to give them something that they can plant on their own and nurture. So, when the risk of frost has waned, the girls and I will go back to Hillbilly's Garden Centre and they will each have a chance to make their own container gardens. I saw the Tubby Containers  by Buy Canadian First member Garant in several awesome colours there and the girls will have the opportunity to choose their own plants and colours for their Tubby.

 

I love the idea of a child's garden and envision it as a space they can call their own, to dig in, plant and tend to plants. While space is limited, I would like to cordon off a corner of the yard and fill it with their Tubby containers and large natural elements like logs, stumps, large rocks and maybe even a pile of dirt to dig in and explore. I would adore watching them within this mini, natural playscape. One final detail I keep forgetting about is getting some catnip and cat grass seeds to plant. My handsome Mitty Kleeburger loves to play outside with us and his latest joy is to dig, burrow and play in my two yards of soil. I'm sure that cat grass would be preferable to just soil!

 

Are you going to plant a child's or a pet garden in your yard this Spring?

 

Image source: Andrea Williowcat, Melissa Lacelle and Buy Canadian First member Garant. 

May is truly the month of Spring.  I think of new flowers, fresh faces, kids on bikes, walks in the park and Mother's Day!  Those fresh faces need some Canadian-made products for some Spring skin care and I have a few favourites to share with you! (Any of these would be great for Mother's Day gifts, too!)

 

Caledonia Soapworks is a Buy Canadian First member that makes beautiful products like this Soothing Lavender Bar. They handmake their products in small batches for the best quality. Lavendar is perfect for relaxing and it's soothing scent is rejuvenating. I thought this feature was really cool - this bar contain actual lavender buds!



I have a tin of Fit Lips in my purse right now! This Buy Canadian First member makes high quality lip balm with no petroleum or parabens. It's smooth and easy to put on without making a mess, I love the vanilla scent, it's perfect year round, but especially in Spring!



Buy Canadian First member Soulful Sister Aromatherapy has a really cool Aromatherapy Mister, I think this is awesome! What an easy way to access the benefits of aromatherapy. Perfect for the home, car and travelling, you can take your favourite scents anywhere.



enVy the anti-aging/wellness pillow is designed to keep the side and back sleeper in perfect spine and airway alignment and off their face. This Buy Canadian First member is hypoallergenic and promotes a deep restorative sleep, perfect for keeping those dark circles away.



For the kiddos, Buy Canadian First member Nature Clean makes fun products like lotion, body wash and shampoos. Made without parabens, sulphates, petroleum, gluten, wheat or nut - these products are perfect for children's sensitive skin.

Where are some of your favourite skin care products made? 

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members Caledonia Soapworks, Fit Lips, Soulful Sister Aromatherapy, Envy Pillow, and Nature Clean.

I love my coffee! There’s nothing like that first jolt, first thing on a fine Canadian a.m. In fact, it’s so important to me, I have a ritual that’s never broken... no food passes my lips without my first cup. (Have you ever noticed that the coffee magic spell breaks after your first bite?).

Today’s coffee drinking comes with its challenges though. With the newfangled, one cup coffee makers that are all the rage these days, all those little, itty bitty coffee pods need a home.

The true blue  junker in me grouped up a  crate and a deep fryer basket (yup!) for a unique little coffee station that is totally productive, takes up little space and looks cool to boot.

  

Did you notice the creamer? It’s the best kept secret for storing sugar... the lid stays intact. Brilliant, I know. :)

How are you storing all those coffee pods, K Cups and discs?

Photos and ideas courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors.

May is always a nice month in Canada. Trees and bulbs are blooming, while we shed extra layers of clothing and dream of the summer ahead. And of course, May is the time to celebrate Mom in a special way with Mother’s Day!

We all know Moms are special. Personally, I never realized just how special my Mom was until I became a Mom myself. Being a Mom is an all-encompassing experience, one filled with both joy & pain, pride & disappointment, happiness & frustration. And of course, many sleepless nights. On this subject, I never forgot something funny my friend Tina’s Mom told me when I was pregnant: “I have not had a good night’s sleep since my children were born!”... and they were all adults! I laughed at the time, but I can sort of understand what she meant. The worry and concern are constant. Sorry, Mom...;-)

So if anyone deserves to be spoiled at least once a year, it is surely Mom! With the help of some awesome Canadian companies, we have put together a prize-pack filled with very special Canadian-made gifts fit for a Mother. What’s in it, you ask? A whole lot of awesomeness!

1) Gorgeous SIMS jewelry set made in Alberta. Includes Crystal Cluster Attachable Pendant, Plus Matching Earrings and 18" Sterling Silver Filled Necklace. (value: over $65)

(Warning: Attachable Pendants SIMS Style are addicting as they clip to any necklace, and come in every colour to modernize any necklace in a flick)

2) Treat Mom to a well-deserved youth-restoring lift with AgeOff Face & Body Nutrition and Ageoff Wrinkle-Reduction Serum, made in Ontario by Nuvocare. Mom will look radiant AND feel great! (value: $100)

3)  Whispy Raspberry classic handbag, made in Nova Scotia by the lovely ladies of Michique. Mom will no longer be able to go anywhere without someone commenting on how gorgeous your handbag is! Trust me, I know from experience! (value: $ 284)

4) A really sweet treat from New Brunswick' famous Ganong chocolate confectioners. An assortment of chocolates and candy, not necessarily what you see below, but guaranteed to please Mom! (value: $ 50)

5) "Give your Mom something she hasn't had since you came along... A good night's sleep!" These words are from the ladies at Ontario's enVy Pillow, the anti-aging/wellness pillow. A patented ergonomic pillow designed to keep the side and back sleeper in perfect spine and airway alignment off their face.(value: $200)

Check out this hilarious "Sorry Mom" video to find out why every Mom deserves a Good Night's Sleep!

6) Pamper Mom with all-natural skincare products made with love (and fresh goat's milk!) in PEI by The Great Canadian Soap Company. An assortment of sweet-smelling luxurious scrubs, balms, creams and soaps. Yummy! (value: over $ 60)

 7) Nothing beats a new fragrance for Spring! A Canadian classic made by Fragrance Dutal in Quebec: Kimono by Simon Chang. A beautiful gift set containg an Eau de Toilette, body lotion and shower/bath gel. Pampering at it's very best! (value: $ 104)

 8) An last but definitely not least: natural health products made in B.C. by Enzed Nutricorp. How awesome does this sound: Relax-Eze (soothing & calming formula), NITE-Eze (sleep inducing formula) and Anthocin, an immune-boosting formula to keep Mom healthy. (value: $ 100)

Total value: over $ 950.00 !!!

To enter the giveaway, do as many of the 3 following things as possible, as they each count for one entry. The more the merrier (and luckier)!

• Leave us a comment below telling us what you love the most about your Mom (Comments are moderated, so don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away!);

• Follow us on Twitter and mention the following: @BuyCndianFirst loves Moms #madeincanada;

• Like us on Facebook.

The giveaway ends on Saturday, May 12th at 5:00 PM ET. We will pick one name at random from all entries and the winner will be announced on Mother's Day, Sunday May 13th.

Good luck!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER: BRAD, FROM GUELPH, ON.

Images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members, as listed.

Canada is one of the top producers of ethical diamonds that are conflict-free. Rough diamonds, from countries like Sierra Leone and Angola, have been used to fund armed conflict and other illegal activities ; once these diamonds are cut it is impossible to trace their origins. Canadian diamonds come from the Northwest Territories  and are traced from mine to retailer; Canadian made and conflict free. This diamond solitaire ring, from Buy Canadian First member The Shopping Channel, is absolutely gorgeous! I would be satisfied to just dream of owning one.

 

I also adore this multi-bangle from Buy Canadian First member Prep n Pretty Boutique . It's chunky and yet looks light and easy to wear, plus, its affordability will even make me feel comfortable wearing it to work.  

 

Mmmm wood! I love wood pieces! My son bought me a handmade necklace when he went on vacation to Banff with his Nana and Pa Dan many moons ago and it has been one of my main pieces ever since! These beautiful, large hoop wood earrings from Canadian Etsy artisan, Jillian Driedger of In Bloom Designs , would be a perfect pairing with my necklace or perfect on their own.

 

My last pick is just as important as the rest and also happens to be the creation of one of my favourite people on the planet! We don't talk nearly as often as we should but she is always in my thoughts. Introducing my talented and lovely friend, Peg,g of Five Forty on Etsy. I have a couple of pieces from both her jewelry line and woven rug line and love them all! I find myself visiting these amazing orange enamel earrings  in her shop often. Perhaps I should splurge a little.  After all, it's Mother's Day!

 

This is the short version of my Mother's Day jewellery wish list and if all I end up with is some burnt toast and a whole truck load of hugs and smooches, I'll be a very happy mommy!

What are you wishing for on Mother's Day?

 

Image credits: The Shopping Channel,  Prep n Pretty Boutique, In Bloom Designs and Five Forty.