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Dogs are awesome companions. They get us up off the couch and enjoying the outdoors, they cheer us up, help us out and improve the quality of our life. In return, all they want is TLC and healthy food & snacks. That's not too muck to ask, is it? 

I was instantly sold when I read about these made in Canada dog treats, "...the benefit of treat giving with the ultimate peace of mind." Perhaps this statement from BioSnax regarding their functional and healthy treats for dogs resonated with me as that is how I feel about feeding myself and my family. Frankly, it shouldn't be anything but the same for our canine family members, should it?

According to Patricia and Nick Grillo, co-founders of Northern Biscuit Bakery, it started with a bag of Canadian flour, fresh beef liver and a real picky dog. They soon discovered that tasty and healthy treats begin with fresh and simple ingredients. They are passionate about finding the freshest ingredients supplied from local mills, growers and suppliers. This company is also committed to their community in another way: they work with their local Community Living Ontario to employ intellectually disabled people to affix the labels onto the bags.

I was the lucky one to receive some samples and even though I have not had a dog in my family for sometime now, I couldn't resist the opportunity to go far and wide to visit with some new and old puppy friends.

Merf is a lab cross who used to be my pup once upon a time. Now she lives happily on a big ol' farm in southern Manitoba with a great family. She chases rabbits, visits neighbors, receives lots of love and hangs out in the shop with the guys. We brought Merf a bag of BioSnax's Shiny Coat, which contains the omega fats from both flax and chia seeds to aid with dry skin and promote a silky smooth coat. I made the mistake of giving the bag of treats to my girls and before I knew it, Merf had eaten the better part of the bag of treats! Probably not a bad thing for a dog who enjoys spending a lot of time out doors in these cold dry winters.

This is Benny and he is a middle-aged city pug. Benny enjoys bones from the butcher, barking at dogs through the window, visiting his beagle cousin and hanging out with his human. I sent Benny the Fresh Breath BioSnax treats a combination that contains parsley, myrtle and Atlantic kelp all of which help with freshing breath, detoxifying and getting rid of bacteria. Benny sniffed and nudged the treat but to no avail, he was simply not interested. I guess we can't win them all, maybe future tries will change Benny's mind.

This is Aksel and he's just an awesome northern elkhound lab cross pup. He is quite affectionate, will jump all over you, adores running and if you open the door he will be gone in a flash! Aksel needed a little Zen in his life so I brought him the Calm treats from Biosnax. Calm is filled with chamomile to soothe as well as the amino acid trypotphan found in turkey. Aksel's human sent me a message stating Aksel loved the treats. He also said that he noticed the calming effect it had on Aksel and will be looking for the product the next time he is at the pet store.

The final bag from BioSnax is the hip and joint treats. This treat features New Zealand green lipped mussels tart cherries and glucosamine all to help build cartilage, reduce inflammation and ease the effects of arthritis. I thought of giving the final bag away to another dog, but l couldn't help but keep it. You see, I keep a few in my bag and when I come across a pup I pull out the treats and the information to share with the owner and pup. I mean, how could I not tell everyone about this great Canadian-made treat from a great Canadian company! 

What kind of treats do you give your dog?

Image credits: Northern Biscuits Bakery, willowcat, Benny's human, Aksel's human

A brand new year is just around the corner, and with a new year comes a new list of goals and resolutions that people make. It's a good time for starting over or trying something new.

But do people still follow resolutions? One of the most common that I see is to 'lose weight' or 'eat better'. Both are difficult to accomplish without some planning and support.

Personally, I decided to make a list of goals for myself this year (one of them includes learning how to cook rack of lamb!) and will try to accomplish those goals. 

One of my biggest goals is to be better at managing my time. Because really, my time is no longer my own - it primarily belongs to my children and their schedules. Finding a balance between them and the things I need to accomplish can be difficult, but I will work on it. I think I already am off to a good start - I now have a More Time Moms Family Organizer for the wall! It includes a monthly calendar with large spaces for writing and stickers to flag really important days (like show and tell which I really can't forget!)

There are a lot of great calendar options out there, including this one from Wyman publishing for your office:

I know that many people have a Blackberry to help them keep track of their time, I don't yet and I know some people are old fashioned and prefer to write notes done. For those of us who need to carry a small planner around in our purse or car, I like the prettiness of this small monthly planner:

Sometimes I not only need to remember dates but websites, thoughts, ideas or milestones with the kids. To do that, I have note pads lying all over the house, but mostly these notes are on scrap pieces of paper or sticky notes.  What I really need are pretty, neat looking notebooks like these ones from Ecojot:

Are you making any resolutions this year?  And better yet, do you think you can follow them?  How are you ensuring you keep yourself on track?

Image sources: BuyCanadianFirst.ca, Wyman Publishing

I love Christmas stockings! For adults or kids, they're so much fun! And I love finding great inexpensize items made in Canada to fill them! Here's a few suggestions:

1) For the meat lover, a selection of high-quality meats snacks made in Alberta (show here $ 1.99):

2) For the proud Canadian, a Strong & Free pewter keychain  made in New Brunswick ($ 9.99):

3) For the handy-dandy, a super resistant mini multi-bit screwdriver  made in B.C. ($ 4.99):

4) Perfect for Christmas morning: the dairy-free and egg-free way to celebrate the holidays! Healthy replacement  for eggnog, made in B.C.: ($ 2.99)

5) Natural beeswax candles made in B.C. A warm and luxurious addition to any table ($ 11.99):

6) To keep those lips nice and kissable with this all natural apres-ski lip balm  made in Ontario ($ 4.69):

7)  For a sweet smelling bath and super smooth skin, nothing beats these orange vanilla cream scented handmade soaps  from Alberta ($ 5.25):

8) Make bath-time fun-time with this all-natural bubble bath made in Ontario ($ 8.99):

9) Professor Noggin's fun and educational card games made in B.C. Choose from a variety of subjects, including Outer Space  ($ 12.99):

10) A beautiful alphabet book  from the Maritimes, It will become a classic in your family! ($ 7.95):

So here you go! Lots of great ideas that are sure to put a smile on that special someone's face on Christmas morning!

Animals are great companions, guardians and friends. We want the best for them, and we want to spoil them a little over the Holidays. Here's a few gift ideas made in Canada for the furry friends in your life!

1) Holistic dog biscuits slow baked in Ontario with fresh, food-grade meats and vegetables sourced from Canadian growers. Comes in a variety of great flavours including Turkey-Cranberry! ($ 7.99):

2) Essentia Natural Memory Foam Luxury Dog Bed made in Quebec ($ 189.00):

3) How about some bling for that sophisticated feline in your life? Mouse and cheese sterling silver charm made in B.C.             ($ 99.90):

4) Most dogs LOVE water, but it's sometimes hard to keep them safe and within reach. Get peace of mind with this doggy safety vest made in Ontario ($ 79.95):

5) Making natural eco-friendly pet products has never been this easy! A great DIY project to do with the kids, made in Quebec    ($ 12.95):

So go ahead and spoil your pets this Christmas. After all, they're family!

Who says guys are hard to buy for? Nowadays, there are so many choices to spoil that special man in your life. And many of these items are made in Canada!

Here are just a few:

1) Keep his skin soft and kissable with this great shaving set made in Ontario ($ 35.00):

2) He will surely appreciate the workmanship that went into making this wine rack. Will last a lifetime. Made in B.C. ($ 145.00):

3) And since he enjoys wine, surprise him with this awesome wine refresher made in Quebec. Instantly cools your wine to the ideal temperature ($ 39.95):

4)  For the handy guy that likes to spend time in the workshop. This Lee Valley apron will look great on him! ($ 36.50:

5) Keep his footsies warm with these great soft and comfy alpaca socks made in Quebec ($ 42.00):

6) For the movie buff, nothing beats a home theatre to enjoy the magic of the cinema. Now your guy can enjoy his action flicks with these reclining theatre seats made in Manitoba:

7) Store all his CDs and DVDs in this great early-Canadian style cabinet made in Ontario:

Spoil the man in your life this Holiday Season. I'm sure he deserves it!

Whether it's for your Mom, your wife, your sister or any other special woman in your life, it's easy to pick great gifts made in Canada.

 Here's a few suggestions:

1) These designer handbags & wallets handmade in Cape Breton are so unbelievably special with their inlaid Swarovski crystal. Stunning! ($ 129.00):

2) This beautiful jewelry is made in Alberta and looks like a million bucks! ($ 48.98):

3) A great fragrance company working on making the world a better place. Inspirational & delightful! ($ 70.00):

4) This luxurious all-natural facial cream protects and promotes a youthfull complexion. Made with love in B.C. ($ 34.99):

 5) A stylish and eco-friendly version of the traditional briefcase. Made in Ontario from wool felt. ($ 129.00):

 6) Give the gift of a good night's sleep with these natural Kapok fiber pillows made in B.C. ($ 34.00):

7) For the gardener, nothing beats this flower press which allows the summer's flowers to get a second life! ($ 29.50):

8) The perfect gift for every woman who hates to scrape the ice off her car windshield: wiper covers that slip over your wiper blades to keep them from freezing to your windshield! A new product, made in Ontario. ($ 18.99):

I hope this will demonstrate the variety of great products still made in Canada today. Amazing isn't it? And they really are gifts that keep on giving...back to the local communities in which they are made!

Christmas is for kids of all ages! There's nothing quite as magical as seeing the excitement and anticipation in their eyes on Christmas morning! and you'll be even happier knowing some of the gifts under the tree are made in Canada!

If you're looking for that special something, may we suggest:

1) Give the gift of pain relief to a precious little one, with this maple wood and organic cotton teether handmade in Ontario ($ 15.99):

2) Keep their little tootsies warm on Christmas morning with these cute infant slippers made in Ontario ($ 17.99):

3) Hours of fun & creativity with this playhouse made in Quebec from recycled cardboard. Kids can draw or paint it inside and out!   ($ 48.00):

4) Great to develop dexterity and creativity in kids, these soft building kits come in a variety and models and are made in Quebec ($ 25.00):  

5) Board games are great for kids of all ages. This one is fun and encourages cooperation instead of competition. The Harvest Time game is made in Ontario ($ 15.99):

6) Keep your little princess safe (and looking great!) on the slopes this winter with this Princess helmet cover made in Ontario ($ 40.00):

7) This will become a family heirloom, without a doubt. Good old-fashioned Canadian wooden sleigh, made to last in Ontario. It even converts to a wheeled wagon in the summer! ($ 129.99):

8) For the teenager under your roof, what better way to keep them busy and moving than a handcrafted wooden longboard. Made in Alberta, it's a piece of art! ($ 185.00):

Quality gifts made in Canada for the kids in your life. And you can be sure they will not break before the day is over!

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.