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We know that November 11th is Remembrance day, a day to reflect on our soldiers' sacrifices and the peace that it has given us, but perhaps we do not all know the story of the origins of this important day. World War I came to an end at 11 o'clock on November 11th 1918 when a temporary peace document was signed. This document was called an armistice which is derived from a latin word meaning "arms or weapons stand still". A larger and permanent peace treaty was signed at a later date but November 11th was known as Armistice Day for a little over a decade. Special events have been held on this day ever since. The very first one in 1918 and in fact in much the same way as today: With church services, wreaths laid at memorials of those who gave their lives and a moment of silence at 11am.

The iconic symbol of Remembrance Day, the poppy, also comes from World War I. Thousands of soldiers were buried in graveyards in Europe including Belgium's Flanders Field which is now covered by wild poppies. In 1931 the Canadian Parliament changed the name to Remembrance Day and after World War II it became a memorial day for those who died and served in both wars.

 

Our Armed Forces are made up of courageous ordinary people: Our husbands, fathers, mothers, wives, sons and daughters, all of whom protect our freedom and strive to make the world a better and safer place to live. Let us show our service men and women that we recognize their commitment and valour by simply taking the time.

Here are some suggestions:

• Wear a poppy above your heart
• Attend a Remembrance Day event
• Visit a friend or relative who has served in the armed forces
• Listen to veterans talk about their experiences either in person or on the Veterans Affairs YouTube page
• Become a Fan and write your comments on the Wall of their Facebook Page
• Change your profile pictures and avatars to a poppy
• Blog about it
• Send a postcard to our troops who are still on active duty overseas
• Engage your kids with crafts and discussion in the kid zone of the Veterans Affairs website and

Veteran's Affairs Canada (VAC) also has a unique challenge they are asking "How will you remember?" and presenting a challenge. Using any and or all of the photos and videos available on site they want you to mash it up and create a photo montage, video, digital scrapbook and whatever else you can create. Post it online via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, or any other website. Tag it with words (like the one in the word poppy) and then link it back to VAC: "Share It. Tag It. Link It".

How ever you choose to remember and observe this day, share it with a friend, family member or colleague and inspire them to take the challenge too. In fact, post your links here or tell us how you plant to commemorate this day.

 

Veteran's week runs from November 5th through to the 11th but it needn't stop there. Should you choose to support our troops there are lots of ideas here.

Lest we Forget.

Image sources: Vetrans Affairs Canada and willowcatstudio

It's been going on for awhile, now,  but I still have to laugh when I see the stores putting out their Hallowe'en candy and costumes...in August. Why? Because they don't stop at candies and costumes anymore!  Now you can also find pet dog and cat costumes, personal fog machines,  inflatable, life-size cemetaries, complete with amusing headstones,  motion-sensitive haunted house sound effects, Hallowe'en lights to drape on the eavestroughs and in the trees, 8 foot tall headless horsemen and their ghostly steeds...Hallowe'en just seems to get more and more popular and elaborate every year!

                            Original Caramels

In Peterborough, Ontario, folks start decking their porches and trees with 'spider webs' and 'crime scene tape' in the last week of September! They have leaf bags that look like pumpkins on their lawns and paper lunch bag ghosts hanging from branches, the moment they rip the page from their calendars for the new month!

People seem to like Hallowe'en for the same reason that they enjoy movies such as the Twilight series and TV shows like True Blood and Ghost Whisperer. They are all about supernatural creatures like Vampires and Werewolves, being terribly scared and, oddly enough, everlasting love. It's both romantic and Freudian!

 

                          Hallowe'en Cookie Kit

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy Hallowe'en anymore! I've decided to have fun with it ... why pass up an opportunity to celebrate something AND to make things? Besides, how can I resist a haunted gingerbread house that I can decorate myself!? I LOVE this! It is such a clever idea and would be so much fun to make with some kids or artsy pals! You could make an awesome haunted village! The cookie kit is also irresistable and I want to make a bunch of them and give them to some special friends! Fun!

                            La Caterina + Vampire

Last year, my husband and I dressed up as La Caterina and a Vampire! We joined friends in their backyard, toasted marshmallows over the bonfire and enjoyed the Full Moon.Then we walked home in the lovely Autumn night, to eat more candy! Perhaps this year, I can persuade him to put up a Hallowe'en tree and hang our Hallowe'en stockings by the cauldron!

 

                          Hallowe'en Kisses 

How do you celebrate Hallowe'en?

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members.

I missed the Remembrance Day ceremony at the school the other day but I am thrilled that my middle child did attend with her peers in their kindergarten class. I am grateful to know that she too will learn how precious her freedom and liberties are and why. There is also another reason that this day is important to me; my grandfather passed away on this day in 2004. Despite the years that have passed, for some reason, this year's post has been difficult to write.

I will remember by attending a nearby ceremony today in St. Pierre Jolys, Manitoba and I will honour veterans by wearing a poppy on my coat. I will answer the questions that my little ones have and teach them of the sacrifices that have been made. I will remember my grandfather and how he stood in respect anytime he saw a solider in uniform. This was important to him, to honour those who fought for freedom and right.

 

How will you remember?  The Veterans Affairs Canada  website has this tag-line and it is such a valid question. Over two million Canadians  have served for justice and freedom and  117,000 Canadian men and women have given their lives. You can participate onlineby joining the Remembrance Day social media sites (Facebook , Twitter and YouTube )  and attend a service today. Take your friends and children and remember why we are so fortunate to live in Canada.

How will you remember?

Just ten more days until Hallowe'en, Canada ! I found three awesome Canadian sites, crammed with all sorts of fantastic, dare I say, "spooktacular" ideas! Let's take a look at what Canadian Living, Chatelaine and Yummy Mummy have to offer in the way of spooky inspiration for the quickly approaching fest!

 

Pumpkin Hermits

Canadian Living came up with Your Complete Guide to Halloween Fun !  From Hallowe'en menus and party ideas, to costume inspiration and crafts to decorate your spooky, spooky home to what to do with all that pumpkin - they have it covered! Since I haven't eaten yet, I was distracted by the seventeen, "Tested Till Perfect" pumpkin and pumpkin seed recipes. Yum! I know from how my mouth is watering that I will be trying a couple of them at least! I love pumpkin pie and roasted seeds but I'm also intrigued by the Pumpkin Carrot Soup and the Pumpkin Lace Cookies ! There is definitely more to see here than just recipes! It really is a complete Hallowe'en guide! 

 

Bloody Good Martini 

Chatelaine  has some very sophisticated Hallowe'en treats to tempt you with, including a Bloody Good Martini ! Not intended for the kiddies, mind you, but perfect for a Hallowe'en Howl of your own! It has ginger beer and vodka in it, among other absolutely delish ingredients! Since we won't want to drink on an empty stomach, let's consider serving  some Black Magic Toast with Orange Pepper Salsa  and following that up with some Scarecrow Chicken Sticks ! There does not seem to be any actual crow in the recipe, for those of you who wondered. I bet it would taste like chicken, though! You will find costume and decorating ideas too, and some great articles, including one on how expensive Hallowe'en is becoming!

 

Don't forget kids with allergies !

Yummy Mummy Club says "Horrors! It's Hallowe'en!". I think they like it though! They have a great article on how to have Hallowe'en with kids who have food allergies to contend with. You'll find some really helpful and fun suggestions!  I really like their article on how to have a green Hallowe'en,  too. Reusable trick or treat bags that the kids can decorate are a brilliant idea as is the Costume Swap! It all just takes a bit of thinking ahead, but the results are well worth it! 

These sites should keep your imagination fueled and your hands busy!

Are you trying anything new this Hallowe'en? 

:: images courtesy of Canadian Living, Chatelaine and Yummy Mummy. 

 "I am a Haunter ...  a person who decorates their yard, house or sometimes even creates amateur 'haunted houses' at their estates."   - Victoria L. Wolf,  Ontario, Canada.

A couple of weeks ago, maybe even in September, my husband and I were driving when I noticed a graveyard that hadn't been there before. It was complete with tombstones, gargoyles, cobwebby stuff and various bats and other creatures of the night.  It spanned the front and side lawns of an otherwise unthreatening bungalow. A woman was raking leaves around a tombstone. "Huh" I thought.

 

Two blocks down, what do I see but yet another spooky cemetary! They seem to be popping up everywhere! Sure, haunted houses at Hallowe'en are nothing new. But every year, more and more Canadians  are turning their yards into scenes from a nightmare or horror movie.

Of course, Dollarama and the other dollar stores make it incredibly easy and really inexpensive to put together the tomb of your life, but who knew just how many people would jump on the band wagon? Or should I say 'hearse'? It's all about supply and demand though. The people must have demanded more Hallowe'en stuff.

 

When was the last time that you saw Santa and his sleigh and reindeer on the front lawn of someone's house at Christmas? Maybe one lawn or two per neighbourhood? Remember how people used to go all out at Christmas and your folks would drive the family out to see all the displays? Does that still happen? It seems that, around here, anyway, Hallowe'en decorating is far more popular! I'm not saying that I don't like it! I just think that the shift in interest is interesting!

The Ontario Haunter's Association  site is dedicated to providing links to the locations of haunted houses and yards in Ontario.  It also has some great pumpkin carving tips and templates. Check it out, too, for decorating how-to's and ideas  for creating your own haunted house or yard. They also link to Canadian suppliers of scary decorations.

You may also enjoy The Hallowe'en Project,  which lists even more links to haunts across Canada! I think that it would be fun to have a look and see if I can put together a little tour of our local haunted yards and houses to go on!

So, tell me, are you a haunter ... yet? 

 

:: images courtesy of W. T. Gibson and the Ontario Haunters Association

Cut!... as they say in the movies! The 2011 edition of TIFF  is over now, and it was a resounding success yet again. What a great way to showcase Toronto, and Canada as a whole. This year, much focus was put on the Made in Canada brand, to our absolute delight! Check-out our previous posts about our involvement in the event, as well as the great contest we ran during the festival.

 

Canadian-extraordinaire Georges Stroumboulopoulos (a.k.a. Strombo) went all out and created an awesome gifting lounge highlighting some of the best Canada has to offer. From Montreal Canadiens' jerseys to Motts Clamato juice, there was plenty to be proud of!

And of course, there was Myriad Pictures' party and their swag bags filled with Canadian-made products donated by great Canadian companies with the help of Buy Canadian First! And guess what? The studio's Edwin Boyd was awarded Best Canadian Feature Film! Congrats Myriad Pictures!

And while we're celebrating, congratulations to the 5 lucky winners of our swag bag giveaway! Here's what is inside each bag, valued at well over $400 each!

                     Customized socks by Reliable Hosiery

                   Shampoo & conditioner from Natureclean

              Fashion accessories from Funky Fleece

                    Welch's juice bars from Kisko

                  Chocolate-covered fruit from Brookside Foods

           Gardener's dream cream from Aroma Crystal

                 Nite-Eze & Relax-Exe from Enzed Nutricorp

                   Decal & keychain from Strong & Free

          I.C.E. tags from In Case of Emergency

             Kids wall decor from Felt Fantasia

           Snack-size Vanilla chai soy beverage from So Nice

             Special Edition scarf from Lundstrom

Voucher for free natural memory foam pillow from Essentia

               Travel-size tissues from Royale Ultra

          Special Edition mini-notebook from Ecojot

            Mini multi-bit screwdriver from Picquic

        Our Canada magazine from Readers Digest Canada

           All-natural detergent from Live for Tomorrow

       Adult Essential vitamins from Life Science Nutritionals

         Promotional info from Show Me Your Canada

The 5 lucky winners have been contacted and their prizes are on their way. Congrats to: Gary from Calgary (AB), Theresa from Amherstburg (ON), Kelly from Hornby (ON), Debbie from Hamilton (ON) and Michelle from Toronto (ON). Here's what Michelle had to say about her prize:

" So, I got my fantastic package last week, so I have tried and tested it all : )

I must say I'm really impressed with everything! the Brookeside Chocolate was oh so yummy (Acai berry was my fav) . The Adult Essentials are awesome! The *Ice tags are very handy! and the roll up the rim key chair, I never knew existed, I laughed when I seen it, now I cant wait for Roll up the rim time. the scarf was beautiful! and the aroma hand lotion smells amazing and works really well!!!! Love Funky fleece, will def. order from them, so many cute things, especially for my step daughter. Love the nature clean shampoo and conditioner!!! Must say all and all my fav. thing was the "strong and free" I love being canadian and I'm proud to represent!

I can honestly say I would by more Canadian made products, but I find them hard to find, I guess that's because not a lot of Canadian made products are advertised etc. I will def. be doing research to find more products.

 

Thanks again to all the awesome Canadian companies above who donated their products for this event!

See you again next year, for more fun at TIFF!

Images courtesy of Isabelle Remy.

In case you missed it, Buy Canadian First was asked to provide products Made in Canada to fill swag bags for a TIFF event taking place last Friday. Read more about it here.

 

We’ve been working on the TIFF event for over 2 months now, and I cannot believe it’s over already! What a crazy 48 hours that was! I arrived in Toronto on Thursday night, and headed out for drinks with Denise and Patricia of Strong & Free. Really amazing ladies; fun, passionate and proud Canadians.  Such great company! 

 

By the time I got to my hotel, I was exhausted and starving. I was staying at the Canadian-owned Delta Chelsea, which I found out is the largest hotel in Canada. My room was on the 20th floor with great city views. One of my favourite parts of travelling is room service, so I ordered a turkey sandwich and a glass of wine. Imagine my surprise when the tray came and included was a welcome platter of Canadian-made treats: Canada True Icewine Tea and Maple Almonds, along with a bottle of ice cold Eska natural spring water. Now that is hospitality with a capital H! Thanks so much, Delta Chelsea!

  

And now for the best part: the party! The event was taking place at the brand new TIFF Bell Lightbox. What a beautiful, airy, modern yet warm & welcoming building. Entire walls are constructed of glass, and the use of funky colours such as red and purple play off beautifully against the white backdrop. Breathtaking. I arrived a few minutes before the start of the event, and was happy to see our beautiful gift bags on display.

   

A few Toronto-area manufacturers were present, as well as the awesome girls from Show Me Your Canada. It was so special to meet & mingle with an amazing group of women dedicated to encouraging and supporting each other’s projects and businesses. I loved it!

 

The room quickly filled up and we had the opportunity to meet some awesome industry insiders .  The film industry is completely new to me, so it was nice to learn more about it and to hear how proud everyone was about this new and truly Canadian endeavour: Cross Country Entertainment. We made some GREAT connections and I can't wait to let you know what comes out of it in the next few months...stay tuned!

   

At the end of the event, I was so proud to see guests leave with one of the fabulous swag bags, knowing that is was filled with great, Canadian-made products graciously donated by awesome Canadian companies.  Thanks everyone for participating, and let’s do it again next year! 

Meanwhile, don’t forget that we are giving away 5 of those swag bags! For details and to enter, click here. But hurry, closing date is September 18th at 5:00 PM (ET)!

 

As far as celebrity sightings are concerned, I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Canadian-cutie Scott Speedman . I have loved him ever since the days of "Felicity"  in the 1990s, and I'm happy to report that he is aging VERY gracefully! ;-) Next year, I'll make sure I spend more time in the city to truly enjoy all the Festival has to offer! But what a great first experience! Thanks to everyone who made it possible...you know who you are!

THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.

Images courtesy of Myriad Pictures and Isabelle Remy.

September is here at last, bringing with it the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Did you know this festival is now the second largest in the world, after Cannes? Growing every year, this Made in Canada event attracts a myriad of Hollywood celebrities and industry giants. For 10 days each September, all eyes are on Canada! We LOVE that!

 

This year, Buy Canadian First is very proud to be a part of this great festival, through our supply of swag bags filled with products Made-in-Canada for one of the parties taking place at the beautiful Bell Lightbox. The event is organized by Myriad Pictures to celebrate the launch of their new Canadian distribution company:  Cross Country Entertainment. The party will be attended by American and Canadian media and industry executives, as well as international screen stars. The invite list includes, amongst others, Katie Holmes, Canadian cutie Jay Baruchel,  Stanley Tucci (loved him in Julie & Julia!), Malin Ackerman, etc.

 

Our gift bags, filled with great Canadian-made products, will be given out to the attendees. How exciting! But even more exciting: you could win your very own swag bag! We are giving away 5 of those beauties to 5 lucky winners! To enter, read on!

So what's in there, you ask? Here's a sneak peak at the companies who's great Canadian-made products will be in the bags...

      

       

       

       

      

    

                             

We'll be attending the party and we'll be joined by the girls of Show Me Your Canada. It will be a blast! Stay tuned for updates & photos!

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 who your favourite Canadian actor or actress is;
• Follow us on Twitter and mention the following: @BuyCndianFirst loves@TIFF_NET  #madeincanada;
• Like us on Facebook and write on our Wall who your favourite Canadian actor or actress is.

The giveaway ends on Sunday, September 18th at 5:00 PM ET. We will pick 5 names at random from all entries and the winners will be announced on Monday, September 19th.

Good luck!

THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.

An bhfuil ocras ort?
Well, are you? Hungry, that is.

The Irish cuisine can be divided up into two categories: pre potato and post potato (much to the critics' delight or dismay). The pre-potato cuisine usually started with a large three legged cauldron that hung and simmered over the fire all the day. Ingredients varied depending on location; inland vs. costal. Shellfish, seaweed, vegetables, herbs and game were all chosen ingredients for the endless variety of soups and stews such as sheep's head broth or clam and cockle soup.

Feathered fowls were covered in a few inches of clay or mud and baked, and once the clay was hard, it was broken open and all the feathers and skin would peel away. Meats such as beef, pork, wild deer and mutton, were all commonly eaten and used for milk and wool. Bread seems to have not been eaten in vast quantities but eight cereals were used in Ireland, especially oats and barley. Corn was earmarked for the making of ale and mead, a honey alcohol, was a delicacy served before and after a feast. Dairy, fish, eggs, vegetables such as wild leeks, onions, and wild cherries and apples, all of which were foraged or cultivated.

 

The Spanish brought the potato to Europe in 1570; by 1590 it reached the British Isles. 1663 proved that the potato was an important crop to the Irish people and by 1770 it was known as the "Irish Potato". The potato is a quick and efficient crop, ready to harvest in 60 days. They contain vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium to name a few. The beginning of the 18th century was the beginning of traditional Irish cooking where soups were thickened with potatoes and potatoes were the vegetable accompaniment to all meals.

Cattle were prized, not for the meat, but for the milk. It was uncommon to slaughter a cow unless it was unable to provide milk, unable to breed or was injured. To eat a perfectly healthy cow in its prime was usually reserved for those who ccould afford it, like a king or a chieftain. A 12th century poem called the Vision of MacConglinne, gives us a peek at Irish food as it was eaten at the time. In the Vision, corned beef is described as a delicacy given to a king, in an attempt to conjure "the demon of gluttony" out of his belly.

 
DIY CORNED BEEF
Ingredients:
• A "deckle" or the fatter cut of beef brisket 4-5lb
• Coarse kosher salt as needed
• 1 egg in its shell to test brine
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• Water as needed
• 8 bay leaves crushed
• 5 large garlic cloves coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds, bruised
• 2 tablespoon black peppercorn
• 1 teaspoon crushed dried red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon ground coriander

 Read more:

After you make your corned beef be sure to make this  with it.

So when you go to the grocery store to try all your awesome new Irish recipes  be sure to look for made or grown in Canada. Here in Manitoba, even at this time of year, potatoes and carrots are still available from local summer crops. Read the produce lables and ask if you don't know. There is lots to buy locally: beef, eggs, milk and cheese are usually from local producers.  

What are you doing for St. Patrick's day? 

 image credits Flickr: Celtic Irish Carvings.com, FotoosVanRobin, flaurella

Friday April 29, 2011. 

This is the day that Prince William will marry Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London.  I am sure it is the most anticipated wedding of all of 2011.  I will be watching the events that day from my living room as I am sure many will be, here in Canada, and around the world.  Until then, I have been watching "The Royal Wedding" website on CTV.ca.  It is packed with lots of juicy tidbits about the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, from the Royal invitations to the bachelor party guest list.  There is even a Facebook  and Twitter page so you don't miss any of the details!

 

I have been happily married to my husband for almost 12 years. It seems like so long ago that I was planning our day.  Trends have certainly changed since then.  I thought it would be fun to write a blog post about weddings and trends for those of you who, like Kate and William, are planning a wedding in 2011.  I love a great party and always find weddings so much fun and excitement!

Canadian Bride has a listing of the popular wedding theme colours for 2011, which are gold, purple, pink, blue, green and black, white and red.

What about invitations?  The Royal invitations are stunning, simple and beautiful.  There are many options available for invitations such as making your own or having them printed professionally.  Why not check your local free classified ads on Kijiji and use someone in your own city to make them for you? 

I remember that, when I was about to be married, choosing my dress was a very special time.  I found these fabulous dresses made by Canadian designer, Adele Wechsler.  Her designs have been featured in places like Flare magazine and even Martha!  She has a stunning ecocouture collection that is made of sustainable products from right here in Canada.

Another Canadian designer that I found is Nina Duong, of Nina Duong Haute Couture.  These designs are also stunning and have been featured in Wedding Bells magazine.

Buy Canadian First member, Chapeaux De Madeleine, has this gorgeous ivory flower veil, that would sure make a statement on your wedding day.  I am certain that Kate will have a fantastic veil when she walks down the aisle in April.

I always enjoy checking out the wedding cake when I attend a wedding.  They are always so beautiful and I admire the hard work it takes to make such cakes.  It seems that rolled fondant cakes are becoming the norm, but I also think a traditional frosted cake can be so beautiful.  I can imagine a cake covered in white fondant with lovely scrolled details in black and black ribbon wrapped around the bottoms of the layers.............classy!  Check with your local bakeries, I am sure you can work out the details with them to create the cake of your dreams!

Wedding music?  There are many great Canadian musicians, with fantastic music that could be played at your wedding. Chapters-Indigo has a vast selection of music...why don't you check it out?  Of course, one of my first choices would be Michael Buble. 

 

Now that the mood has been set with music, you and your guests can have a magical evening.   I hope that my picks help give you some ideas.

Are you excited about the Royal Wedding?  Will you be watching?  What do you think about this elaborate event?  Please feel free to share your comments with us!

 

:: Image sources: Ctv.ca, Adele Wechsler, BuyCanadianFirst Member Chapeaux De Madeleine and Chapters Indigo, Flickr Creative Commons member sweetcakesbyrebecca