Nintendo Switch is here!

Today is the day! It’s Launch Day for the Nintendo Switch. My son and I had the chance to test out the Switch here in Toronto. And I have to say, we were both smitten. I am not a gamer by any stretch as was evident earlier today when I stood in line to nab a console for our family. It was def a case of one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other. But I’m quite certain this is the next great family console. And here’s why.

melanie

A day where we celebrate love? I do have a soft spot for Vanlentine’s Day. Growing up my dad ALWAYS bought my sister and I at least one red rose and a box of Turtles. It wasn’t big or fancy or anything, but that Valentine’s Day tradition still warms by heart around this time of year.

Do you exchange gifts?

We don’t really give big gifts here for Valentine’s Day. We’re not anti-v-day or anything. But our anniversary is just around the corner, and my b-day just passed. But I still love to check out what I might like, you, know, if we WERE going to get gifts. This year I got my husband a coffee mug and a few other little sweeties. He’ll probably bring me some flowers. But if I was going to make a wish list, here are five things that caught my eye this year.

Five Faves Friday Valentine’s Day Edition

Ok, here’s the list.

1. The first one is the new drool-worthy Fuji X-A3 camera. For starters, it comes in PINK, so there’s that. I haven’t gotten to try one yet, but it lists and impressive number of features including the ability to change lenses – has wi-fi photo transfer and killer display. I can’t wait to get my hands on one to test it out. If you have one, do tell every juicy detail.
2. Popcorn is one of my favourite foods. And now that Natrel makes Lactose-Free butter, I’ve renewed my popcorn passion in a big way. The girls at work have been talking up this Lekue popcorn popper. It folds flat and pops corn in the microwave without needing to add oil or anything. Yum.
3. My friend Lindsay from the Penny Paper Co. makes these adorable enamel pins. She has a lovely Valentine’s Day collection (and they’re on sale right now). We bought pins for the kids’ teachers at Christmas and they were a big hit.
4.  Have you ever owned duck boots? These remind me of when I was a kid and my sister spent all her time at the barn. I never had a pair of my own but I saw these Sperry boots and realized how much I’ve always wanted a pair of my own. In fact, I may or may not have ordered a pair of these as a Valentine’s day gift for myself.
5. Every year, Indigo makes reading socks around Christmas time. The ones I have already are so warm and fuzzy inside. This is the first time I’ve seen PINK ones for V-day and I have to say, I’m pretty smitten.

So that’s my 5 Faves list for Valentine’s Day 2017. What’s on your list this year? Have you picked out a gift for yourself? I’d love to hear about it.

This post is solely my opinion and the topic, items and links have, in no way, been sponsored, endorsed or affiliated.

melanie

Winter has finally landed in Toronto so it’s time to grab your favourite winter garb and enjoy the season.

1. There’s nothing better than a turtleneck sweater for chilly Sunday afternoons. This one, from Eileen Fisher is on my wish list. With the new retail location opening soon, it might be in my closet in no time.
2. These amazing fleecy hats are made just around the corner from my home and are available in baby, toddler and adults sizes. You can find MiniEm on Etsy.
3. This Lululemon jacket has been on my wish list since last year. I’ve been saving up my nickels and I’m hoping maybe this is the winter this jacket comes home. I might have to take up running again to justify the purchase, but it would be worth it.
4. Oh Sorel, my cold Canadian heart (and feet) are pining for these kicks. I love the slip-on style, colour and height. I’m pretty sure I can’t justify ANOTHER pair of Sorel’s, but…
5. These boots are also cute, but focus on the boot cuffs. I know these are old news, but I still love how boot cuffs look, feel, keep the tops of your calves warm and create the optical illusion that I could fit those this socks in my tall boots and therefore must have very skinny calves. These are another Etsy find. I’m digging the oatmeal colour and the cable knit.

That’s it for another 5 Faves Friday. See you next week.

melanie

So I know Valentines Day is just a couple of days away, but I thought I’d list off a few things that have been making my heart beat a little faster.

1. This beautiful white quartz pendant from Mason Birks. Even the photo version makes my heart go pitter patter. It’s simple and stylish, and while it is pricy, it’s not astronomical.
2. I love Starbucks. I’m not sure if words can even express how much I love to get a hot tea from Starbucks. And as a tea is less than $3, this one can suit any budget.
3. I often get up at 5:30am to work, blog or just sit quietly before the commotion begins. These slipper socks from Indigo would be perfect for those cool, quiet moments of solitude.
4. Setting up our new home has been a slow, slow process. After living here for 1.5 years, it’s become clear we could really use a work station on the main floor. We could tuck important papers into it and set up a laptop to work while the kids are playing nearby. A quick search found this desk, also at Indigo. I was afraid to look at the price but it wasn’t totally crazy. And it looks really sharp – ideal as the spot it would sit is front and centre in our day-to-day open concept living space.
5. If love had no mortgage, car payments, childcare or other budget concerns, I’d love to find one of these wrapped in red tissue instead of a grocery store bouquet and some gummy candies. The new iPad Pro with keyboard and pencil. Drool. Droolie. Drool.

melanie

I’ve been seeing a post that praises the customer service at US online retailer Zulily on my Facebook page. Their customer service sounds amazing. But I hate for people to think that it’s out of this world. I’ve encountered 5 brands with stand-out customer service over the past 6 months or so, and I’d love to spread some love to all of them.

1. I wrote this past year about how much I love my Zoku pops maker. Shortly after that, I went to take it from the cupboard and something had happened to it. Something bad. It looked like whatever it has inside the casing that amplifies the freezing had expanded and escaped from the cover. I sent them a tweet with a photo showing them what happened and asking how to dispose of it.  They got back to me very quickly and let me know they’d send me a new one. I told them the warranty had likely passed but they said it was no problem. They took my info and a new one arrived shortly after. Sweet!
2. Well.ca has customer service policy that is very similar to the one that has made Zulily famous. I sent a note asking if I could exchange a gift that was purchased for one of the kids and was a double. (I had the gift receipt.) The lovely customer service person wrote back and said it was no problem. She asked that I donate the item to charity and they would credit my account with the amount for the toy. JUST DONATE THE ONE I HAVE TO CHARITY! I hope the kids in the play area at Holland Bloorview Hospital enjoy it. Well done, well.ca.
3. When I was making my Christmas turkey this year, I went to check the temp of the bird and my beloved OXO digital thermometer was no longer up to the task. I actually felt a wave of dread wash over me. I LOVE THAT THING. It’s not easy to find any more and I am a little bit over attached to the thing so I tweeted the OXO company to ask if they had replacement parts, or knew where I could purchase a new one. Again, I was honest that it had been a while since I bought it – no receipt, no warranty. They tweeted me back promptly and told me to call customer service who would take care of me. Indeed, customer service took down the problem, my info and purchase details (which consisted of “I may have bought it at Sears but it was a long time age”) and mailed me a brand spanking new one – no charge. I roasted a chicken to celebrate. Thank you OXO. I really appreciate it.
4. I have a bit of a stroller problem, but one of the many I’ve accumulated, the Bumbleride Indie gets more use than most. This one transports my daughter back and forth to her special needs preschool each day. The trip involves a car ride, subway travel, a walk and a bus trip on the return leg. This stroller works HARD. Some time ago we realized it was missing a nut. It’s the one that holds the strap to lift it once folded. We let it go, then lost another nut, then the strap itself. I tweeted Bumberide to get details on purchasing a new strap and hardware (and that I should have replaced the first nut and tightened the other ages ago…before the whole strap fell off). The let me know they would send one to me and not to worry. Yes! The stroller is still under warranty, but the never asked. Now we love the stroller even more.
5. This hop & squeak pogo jumper from Kidoozie WON Christmas. I would never have known about it if it wasn’t for the incredible owners of our neighbourhood toy shop The Swag Sisters. In this day and age it’s rare to have a store that knows just about every family that shops there. It’s even more rare to have them pull something like this out in the madness of the list checking, lego this, beanie boo that, line around the corner rush 3 days before Christmas to say “Shane would love this and it’s only $20” then proceed to give you a full demo (which includes hopping around the store because it has a 250lb weight limit). Three hops in I knew he was totally right. Add it to the counter, place it under the tree then watch as it is used for countless hours over the Christmas break by everyone who came through the door – little kids, big kids and even Nana. No batteries. No tech time. Just people bouncing all over the house – morning, noon and night. Next time you need to win a birthday or Christmas, they can help. You can shop The Swag Sisters online too.

melanie

We’re heading into holiday season! Which means a LOT of time in the kitchen. I truly love all the baking and cooking, but it’s so much more enjoyable with the right tools.

Four of five of these are my go-to fav’s at home  – so much so that a few are starting to show some wear.

If you’re looking for the right gadgets to get set for the holidays, these might be just what the head chef ordered.

1. If you make meat, go into your gadget drawer. Throw out your meat thermometer. Get one of these. It’s the OXO Good Grips Chef’s Digital Leave-In Meat Thermometer. Love the OXO tools but this one is my fav. It really is awesome.
2. It’s embarrassing to admit that I have a bit of a measuring cup/spoon problem. I have a number of sets. These ones are my go-to. They are the Chef’n® SleekStor™ 8-Piece Collapsible Measuring Cups and Spoons Set. The spoons are particularly awesome. And I love how the cups collapse to take up less space in my messy, messy kitchen drawer. You can order them in Canada from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
3. This one is an icon. The KitchenAid Stand Mixer. If you bake and don’t have one, you should put it on your wish list. I know, it’s pricey. But it really is the gold standard. I can’t imagine making it through holiday baking, birthday parties, fundraiser cupcakes, waffle mornings and life in general without mine.
4. I love these tools that sit up on their own and keep the goopy end off the counter. They are from JosephJoseph but I get mine at IQliving. I have a few and would love the rest of the set. I love the grips, I love how easy they are to care for and I love that they have one for every task. Excellent stocking stuffer.
5. This last one is the product I haven’t tried but is def on my Wishlist. These Dreamfarm Clongs look awesome. This brand out of Australia has all kinds of neat stuff. I picked these because I use tongs A LOT and these look comfy to hold, seem to be the right length for tons of different kinds of dishes and they are also make to keep the goop off the counter. I hope to find them somewhere soon. Can’t wait to try them.

melanie

Fresh off the Blissdom craft beer tour bus, I give you 5 faves friday with the golden nectar of the gods. Three of these are local to Collingwood and delicious. The other two are close to home and are regulars both when we head out for a taste and in our fridge.

1. Rooster Tail Pale Ale from Northwinds Brewhouse, Collingwood. Not only is the beer delicious, the french fries at the brew pub are also top notch.
2. Downhill Pale Ale from Collingwood Brewery is one tasty brew. The cans are also super cute and the staff at the brewery are delightful.
3. Wheat from Sidelaunch Brewing Company is a staple at our house. The brewery is clean and very modern. Worth a stop if you’re rolling up to Blue Mountain.
4. Maris American Pale Ale from Left Field Brewery. This is our local brewery and the staff and beer on tap are both amazing. Our family stops by for a taste and a visit every few weekends and we keep this one in our fridge too. Stop by and say hello!
5. KLB Raspberry Wheat Beer from from Amsterdam Brewery Co. This is one of my all time favourite beer. Mmm. It’s what summer was meant to taste like.

melanie

Fall is here! Finally. Fall is definitely my season. Sweaters. Boots. Comfort food. The best!

Here are a few of my favourite fall things – some I have, some I’m lusting over.

1. This one I have and absolutely love. It’s the Safari Jacket from Joe Fresh. I get TONS of compliments…so many that I’m considered buying the other colour.
2. This one is a two product combo. Fall is pulled pork season out our house. Our Cuisinart Slow Cooker gets a great workout in the fall – often with this amazing Pulled Pork Starter from Williams Sonoma. I will admit, it’s a bit pricey, but def cheaper than takeout and easy-peasy when you have company coming.
3. Anything with foxes. I don’t have either of these things, but if you’re reading this and want to buy me a gift or get all crafty for me, this foxy J.Crew sweater and this What Does the Fox Say coffee sleeve are filling my heart with joy.
4. I love me some El Naturalista and these boots have me drooling big-time. I haven’t seen them in a store yet, but if I do, I can’t say I’ll be able to resist them.
5. I’m a good Canadian and Roots bags get me every time. This Roots Venetian Village Tribe bag in Blackberry is my favourite one this season.

That’s it for my fav’s this week. Next week I’ll be posting from Blissdom! Eeek, I’m so excited.

melanie

When I started writing this it was a balmy 31˚C so I was ready to rock summer a little longer. Then it got stuck in draft mode. I’m still gonna throw it out there despite the fact that it is already down 15˚C, I am wearing a turtleneck and went to get a tea to help drive off the damp chill I can’t seem to shake.

There’s something about the sweet summer days after Labour Day that make you want to hold onto that summer feeling just a little bit longer. Here are some of my favourites to help make best use of the final fleeting summer sun.

1. Sip a little more summer with a Hendricks Gin and tonic with cucumber.
2. Show a little skin a little longer in these amazing C’est Moi tanks. I get mine at Girl Friday.
3. These Dish Jogger jeans make a little rolled up cuff and flats a no-brainer. Another Girl Friday score.
4. I can’t eat regular ice cream but I do love a frozen pop. These Zoku Space Pops featuring rockets and astronauts look *out of this world* (yes, I know, terrible pun). My Zoku pop maker (which didn’t have fun shapes) just met an unfortunate end, so I’m in the market for a new one.
5. Lastly, while I can’t eat regular ice cream, I can make my own. I use a Cuisinart ice cream maker and as many organic ingredients as I can (haven’t found organic lactose free milk and cream in Canada yet) to churn and freeze my own mint chocolate chip ice cream adapted from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz. It looks like Cusinart now has a newer, fancier model but I have the white one which works just fine. Hopefully will get one more batch in before the warm days are gone for good.

melanie

There’s something about this time of year that makes me want to take a long look at where I want to go, and how I might get there. It’s still my ‘resolution time’.

Here are my 5 picks for what I wish I had to get me ready for next Tuesday – the first day of my New Year.

1. Check out these Frecklebox Personalized lunch boxes. I’d love to write some little notes to remind myself to be awesome every day.

2. Who doesn’t need a new pencil case? As a writer, I tote a lot of pens around. I’d like to grab one of these from Etsy. Chevrons? Contrasting zippers? These just make me happy.

3. I’m a snacker. I believe these glasses would make me look like a smart snacker. Plus this reusable snack bag perfectly satisfies my appetite to make green choices for myself and my family. Colibri is a Canadian brand (A+). You can order different sizes and patterns from Well.ca.

4. Inside shoes. Outside shoes. These amazing Steve Madden boots strike me as a pair I wouldn’t want to take off. I have a pair of Madden boots already and I love them. These might be my fall go-to’s. Can’t wait to try them on.

5. Ok, most people would pick a new backpack for back-to-school, but this new Ali Edwards Bag from Epiphanie makes me want to go back to class. (I took a lot of photography electives). Big enough for a camera body, long and short lens, and some personal items, it has removable panels to easily convert to an everyday bag. Their whole new leather collection is definitely wishlist material.

What’s on your grownup “Back to School” wishlist?

melanie