Gifts for Grads

didyouknowcanada@gmail.com — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:00:00 +0100

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!

I've mentioned before how much I love e-read [...]

Make a branch-handled tray

buycanadianfirst@gmail.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:00:00 +0100

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 th [...]

Gardening with children

hello.willowcat@gmail.com — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:00:00 +0100

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.

A 'crate idea' for a coffee station

buycanadianfirst@gmail.com — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 +0100

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 newfangle [...]

The Great Made-in-Canada Mother's Day Giveaway!

isabelleremy@achetonscanadiendabord.ca — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:00:00 +0100

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 & frustratio [...]

Canadian-made Jewellery for Mother's Day

hello.willowcat@gmail.com — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:00:00 +0100

Mother's Day is this coming Sunday, May 13th, Canada! Are you prepared? I hope my kids are. Actually, I expect homemade delights from my two littlest ones and I would hope that my son will not spend much as we are all doing our best to save money for when he leaves for culinary school in June. Yet, in spite of this, I still make my wish lists of the pretty things I covet and this year is no different. I am drawn to organic shapes and materials like wood and semi-precious gems (especially turqu [...]

Nancy Richler

didyouknowcanada@gmail.com — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

I am so proud of my new knowledge about Canada, thanks to this month's book, "The Imposter Bride". Canadian author, Nancy Richler, introduced a part of Canada and Canadian history to me that I did not even know existed. 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!

didyouknowcanada@gmail.com — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the April edition of the Buy Canadian First Book Club! 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, Nancy Richler!

Born in Montreal, Nancy began writing fiction when she moved to Vancouver in 1988. Her first novel, "Throwaway Angels", w [...]

Spring mantel decorating - that never wilts!

buycanadianfirst@gmail.com — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

The arrival of Spring appears to be taking its dear, sweet time on the Canadian "Wet" Coast, so I decided to make it happen sooner rather than later. But... with a twist. I love the look of lush green plants but don’t always like the care
involved. So I selected a couple of my favorite faux plants and created a Sprin [...]

Earth Day for everyone

hello.willowcat@gmail.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

I had a chance to go to one of the coolest places in Winnipeg Manitoba today! I went to Arts Junktion ! Arts Junktion is a community-run, not-for-profit centre, distributing reusable items to artists, educators and the general public, free of charge. Local businesses and the public donate reusable items. Today, for my very first visit, I gathered buttons, seedpods and shells, tile sample boards for drawing tables, a box of figurines, fabric and two and a half meter cardboard [...]

Celebrating Mother Earth with Canada AM!

isabelleremy@achetonscanadiendabord.ca — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

We're off to Toronto for another visit with Canada AM! Although I visit with them every morning through the magic of television (and now Twitter!), it’s always so awesome to be right there on-set!

In honour of Mother Earth, we are [...]

Take a walk!

didyouknowcanada@gmail.com — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

I love to take my boys out for walks, or as we call them, adventures!
I think we are coming up on some fabulous Canadian made
weather, perfect for getting outdoors and exploring.
One of the many benefits of living in Canada is that every Spring, we get to witness the rebirth of plants, wild life and Nature at its finest.

[...]

The All-Canadian eco-friendly giveaway!

isabelleremy@achetonscanadiendabord.ca — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

Each year, in Canada and around the world, April 22nd is dedicated to honouring our planet and focussing on ways we can lessen our environmental impact.

I’ve never considered myself a tree-hugger, in any sense of the word. But we do recycle (at home and at the office) and use our city’s composting program. We also have a small (organic) vegetable patch in the backyard where we grow mainly tomatoes and fresh basil (yum!). But as I was preparing to write this [...]

How to create a wardrobe wall

buycanadianfirst@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

Do you dread rehanging up your clothes in a closet as much as I do? If so, do I ever have a treat for you today! One of my all time passions is working with Canadian-found pallet wood for two reasons. It’s price efficient (aka free!) AND... it’s oh so rustically beautiful. :)  

Being that I’m not ‘fond’ of [...]

Keeping the family car tidy

hello.willowcat@gmail.com — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

I got my driver's licence on October 5, 2011. It took a few tries of being tested on the streets of Winnipeg, Manitoba but I finally got it done. My son, on the other hand, passed his driver's test the year before me and took a few opportunities to point out this fact. I scoffed, but was actually so very proud of him.

We share the car, my son and I, but he drives it about 100% more than I do. He fills the tank, gets the oil changed and even had the brakes checked and [...]

Made By Hand

didyouknowcanada@gmail.com — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

It's that time of year again, when hundreds of shows and events start up across the country, featuring Canadian-made products, made at home.
There are so many awesome Canadians that make beautiful items at home and you would not believe the quality and workmanship on such a huge range of products. From art, babies toys, clothes and jewellery, to paper goods, food and candles, there is something for absolutely everyone.

One show I'm really looking forward to is the Made By [...]

Fashion Week

didyouknowcanada@gmail.com — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +0100

It was World Mastercard Fashion Week last month in Toronto and my friend, Pam, attended the runway shows for two Canadian designers!
There were many Canadian-made designs on display during the week including Joe Fresh, Travis Taddeo, Ashtiani, CAITLIN POWER and the two my friend Pam saw on behalf of Did you know Canada?: RUDSAK and Soia & Kyo.

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