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The folks at LG seem to think that giving Dad black socks for Father’s Day is a no-no, suggesting instead that a new TV will do the trick! Who knew? Socks have been my fallback gift — along with a bottle of Old Spice — for years. But I’ve got to admit that their idea of surprising the sublimely wonderful Father of My Children with a brand new television has definite appeal. There’s no doubt that my husband John deserves one – our one-television family is still crowding around the same set we got when our daughter Emma was born — almost 17 years ago! To further convince me (and the rest of the country) the electronic giant is running a very clever online promotion with seriously funny videos that show what will happen to your family life if you choose socks over a high def television.
There’s also a contest in which your family can win a LG 47-inch HDTV, a Blu-Ray home theatre system or 47 and 42-inch LCD TVs. You and dad each get one chance to enter, but the Big Guy gets another chance if he fills in a “pledge form” promising to give up some of his more annoying guy habits, such as making faces while a chick flick is playing, and blaming the dog for unpleasant smells in the room. LG’s newest televisions were recently on display when style maven Janette Ewen designed his and her rooms that incorporated the new technology. The guy room was inspired by Toronto Maple Leaf rookie Luke Schenn. Absolutely gorgeous (the room didn’t look bad either).
While researching this week’s Hot Home Products column on reel lawnmowers, I came across some good lawn care and mower maintenance tips. Here they are. Don’t cut the lawn to a height of less than two inches. You’ll burn the tips and weaken the grass. Do leave the clippings on the lawn – they provide moisture and excellent nutrition. In fact, Mark Cullen once told me that taking clippings to the curb in a bag (not allowed in many areas anymore, BTW) is like carrying $5 down there. The exception might be in areas of the lawn where you are battling something nasty like Creeping Charlie and don’t want it to spread. That’s when you should use the grass catcher bag attachment so that you can gather up the offender. (Good luck with the that one - not only has Charlie moved into my lawn, but he's invited about five million of his relatives along. Oh well, at least it's green!)
You’ll want to keep your reel mower blade sharp, as its efficiency lies in its ability to make a clean cut. This can be a DIY job – if you get a hand mower sharpening kit from Lee Valley Tools ($26) — super simple to use. And on a final note – keep in mind that small twigs or stones can get caught in a reel mower. When you pick them out, remind yourself that just because you think the reel mower is “cute” and “pretty” doesn’t mean the blade isn’t sharp (see above), so be careful when you extract anything. I speak from personal experience on this one....
I’ve always loved looking at pictures of the beautiful shiny wood surfaces of Canada’s favourite schooner, the Bluenose II. So I was delighted to sit down recently with Ralph Swan, a product specialist with Minwax who’s worked with the crew of the iconic boat, to learn how that glorious finish is maintained, despite constant exposure to salt water and harsh sunlight. Wood elements of the schooner’s deck and mast are finished with Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane, which has UV blockers to protect against fading by sunlight, and which forms a protective barrier against water. Oils in the product allow the finish to expand and contract with the wood as seasons and temperatures change. Ralph pointed out that if Helmsman is tough enough to withstand what the Atlantic Ocean can throw at the Bluenose, it can probably do the job for your outdoor wood furniture, planters, exterior doors, and window frames. To celebrate its collaboration with the Bluenose, Minwax is sponsoring a great contest in which you can win a trip for two to Lunenburg to sail on the famous schooner. Look for ballots at your local home improvement retailer. PSST. Need a quick and affordable staycation from household chores? Click on Ralph's name to find out about the lovely B&B he and his wife Gail run in Ayr. If you go, check out the beautiful wood furniture and nab some tips from Ralph - he's a genius with wood!
I finally made it down to the new Sub-Zero/Wolf showroom at 280 King St. E., which opened in March. Oh-la-la! I walked in and was blown away by the open-concept space, which features oversized Carrera marble tiles, lots of sleek red and blue glass (see pic at left) and hand-blown glass light sculptures. Designed by the award-winning Elaine Cecconi of Cecconi Simone Inc., this LEED-certified building is must-visit for anyone who loves good design and great appliances. The 4,000 square-foot space features the brand’s gorgeous high-end fridges, stoves and dishwashers in both traditional and modern settings. I love the new Sub-Zero built-in refrigerators, which fit perfectly flush against the wall – and the Wolf drawer microwaves. So sleek, and too many brill features to mention here. A visitor lounge features uber-chic Minotti furniture, a Lolli e Memmoli chandelier and Sub-Zero wine refrigerators. The glassed-in boardroom is available for private meetings, as is a catering kitchen. In addition to Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, the space will also feature products from retail partners, ranging from Designer Glass, Kohler, Paul Wolf Lighting and Sound Designs. Even if SubZero/Wolf is just a teeny weeny bit beyond your budget, visit this space, just to be inspired.
Since the sun is refusing to come out and play, I’m really ready for another way to cheer myself up and add some sparkle to my life. That might mean a trip down to Gay Isber's Sugar Factory in the Sky for some summery bling. I love this woman’s wonderful, whimsical jewelry designs, like the necklace seen at left.
I also love Gay’s chandeliers, like the one shown below. Crazy, no? But in a good way! And since I am getting ready to renovate my bedroom, a sugary chandelier might just be the thing - at least until the sunlight starts flooding the room.
BTW, if you’re planning to attend Edgefest, look for Gay. Apparently, she’s setting up a shop behind the two stages, where you’re sure to see all the stars looking for something sweet to wear. if you go, get something for yourself — in a lovely, sunny colour, of course.
We're All in This Together, the bestselling biography of Steve Smith (AKA Red Green) based on a series of conversations Steve had with Mag Ruffman (aka Toolgirl) over three years, is a true Canadian publishing success story. In one month, it sold close to 100,000 copies - in hardware stores, from which it was exclusively distributed! Take that, Heather Reisman! Now in its second printing, the book is on sale at Canadian Tire, just in time for Father's Day. Cost is $25. With lots of positive buzz from fans, it's been dubbed as an unconventional bio. Well, hello? Did anyone expect that a joint project between Smith and Ruffman would be anything but out of the ordinary? I'm not saying neither of them are at all oddball, of course, even though there was that time when I sat next to Ruffman at a fancy dinner and she offered to arm-wrestle me for the last breadstick..JUST KIDDING - although I'm pretty sure I could take her!
Here’s a birthday party I definitely want to attend. LIV, the lifestyle, furnishing (such as the sweet chandelier at left) and fashion store owned by Joanna Goodman (who also owns Au Lit Fine Linens), just turned one year old. They’ll be having a bash this Saturday (June 6) with all new clothing collections, and sales on furniture and linens starting at 20 per cent off. There’s also a jewelry trunk show with Toronto jewelry designer Biko, and more fun stuff, including tunes from Dj Robbie, cupcakes and free lattes at a newly opened coffee bar. You could also win a luxury swag bag (which usually includes denim, clothing, jewelry, linens, and bath products.) This is a beautiful store with beautiful stuff – don’t miss the party. Maybe I’ll see you down there! Liv is located at 418 Eglinton Avenue West, 416 481 2300.
You can already check the weather, get directions, order a pizza, or connect with your sweetie on your iPhone. Now you can even use it to level a wobbly shelf or make sure a picture is hung straight. Stanley has just launched an iPhone and iPod touch application that features a Stanley Level. Available for free online at the Apple App Store with four interchangeable skins, it’s perfect for renovators, decorators and perfectionist décor divas. For you science geeks, it works like this: a digital gyroscope technology called an accelerometer that's located in iPhone and iPod touch, generates an understanding of where the device is in space. When the app is downloaded, the user calibrates it with a gravity-controlled bubble level. Then it’s all ready to handle a host of basic leveling jobs. Maybe more Mike Holmes than James Bond, but still, pretty cool, don’t you think?
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