Thanks for the advice

An acquaintance of mine was recently kind enough to inform me that he thought it was time for me to hit the Botox. He may be right – I’ve also been told that, at 53, I’m too old for television. But finally, while I thanked him for caring — and sharing — I had to disagree. (And you, television, well, you’ll just have to get along without me).  

I’d just come from lunch with my best girlfriends, and they told me that I looked fabulous. Since we’re all of certain age, we’ve accepted that with the years have come a line or two and that the neckline may be a bit, er, softer, than it used to be. So it’s no Botox or surgery for us, although Dorothy had an intriguing story about a friend who had fat taken from her buttocks and injected into her face. Which is, when you think about it, pretty weird. Not for me.  

What I will commit to, however, is decent skin care. So I was happy to try out product from Weleda, which was sent to me by their most excellent, most generous PR peeps several months ago. I scored Weleda’s Wild Rose body oil, lotion, facial cream and deodorant. First of all, I love that it’s natural, made from plant ingredients from biodynamic farms, and that fair-trade is important to the company. If you’re not yet convinced that you should be concerned about what  is in  your skin care and make-up products, check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

In the dog days of summer, you may have to reapply the deodorant, which comes in a glass spray bottle. But spritzing under your arms after work with a cool, rosey-scented liquid is no great inconvenience. And if you’ve been pounding the pavement all day, and your feet feel like ground beef, it’s likewise pretty pleasant to spray those tired puppies. If you apply the body oil after a shower, the scent seems to be especially well absorbed, and   lingers. The oil is also great as an under make-up serum for, ahem, mature skin.

I think I liked the facial cream, but I’m not sure — as my 19 year old daughter, who’s got very sensitive skin, took off with it and refused to give it back. Maybe that was for the best – my friend’s comments indicate it’s probably time for me to move onto the Pomegranate line, specially made for aging skins like mine.

So I’m off in pursuit - for both me and as Christmas prezzies for my gorgeous bestie friends. The stuff is not all that easy to find — Weleda is also sold at some Rexall locations, The Big Carrot and independent health food stores. It's good stuff. Also -  so much cheaper - and better smelling, I'll wager  — than Botox. I'm ready for my close-up.

A cuppa Christmas cheer

Another festive holiday decor idea from designers Jim Connelly and Peter De Sousa that doesn't cost a bomb or add to the waste stream. With it, each guest will find their dinner place easily, and be treated to a lovely  hostess gift.

Festive Tea Cup Name Holder

Supplies

• Old cup and saucer (mis-matched will do)
• Spray paint
• Glue gun
• Miniature Christmas tree
• Tartan fabric
• Faux red berries
• Faux Raspberries/Blackcurrants
• Paper
• Pen

Instructions

• Wash cup and saucer with warm, soapy water to remove grease, dirt or fingerprints
• Let dry completely
• Cover tabletop with newspaper to create a clean work surface
• Spray the cup and saucer with a very light spray of paint**
• Let dry completely
• Repeat two to three coats, letting each coat dry completely until surface has an even finish
• Use glue gun glue to join cup and saucer
• Let dry completely
• Cut a square of Tartan fabric and wrap around the Christmas tree
• Glue the Christmas tree into the cup let dry completely
• Apply some red berries into the tree branches to fill in the open areas
• Add some Raspberries/Blackberries into the tree branches and onto the saucer
• Cut out a piece of paper to make a name tag and write your dinner guest’s name on the saucer

**Do this in a well ventilated area and wear a face mask

Funk it, don't junk - such a jolly idea

 

This week’s Hot Home column includes ideas from designers Jim Connelly and Peter De Sousa for creating holiday décor from recycled elements - like the festive chair (shown above). So clever, so pretty, and so affordable.Instructions are listed below. These boy geniuses have a ton of other  easy and fun projects, which I’ll post over the next few weeks. So keep watching this spot.

Festive Silver Chair 

 Supplies

• Old chair from thrift shop, basement or curb-side
• White bonder primer sealer paint
• Size/glue (for applying silver leaf)
  
• Silver-leaf squares/foil
• Water-based silver paint
• Silver glitter
• High-gloss exterior varnish

 

Directions

•  Wash the chair with warm, soapy water to remove any grease, dirt or fingerprints
• Let dry completely
• Cover tabletop with newspaper to create clean work surface
• Remove the seat from the chair frame
• Paint the chair frame with white bonder primer sealer
• Let dry completely
• Paint the chair with a water-based size/glue
• Let dry completely (the size when dry will remain sticky to the touch)
• Apply the silver-leaf squares or transfer foil to entire chair
• Seal chair with exterior high-gloss varnish
• Let dry completely
• Using a small paint roller and tray, paint the old fabric seat with water-based silver paint (apply heavily if necessary to cover any pattern on the old fabric)
• Sprinkle silver glitter over the chair seat
• Let dry completely

 

I really must get out more - just not to the mall

Got a pedometer this week, and was told that I should be walking about 10,000 steps a day. To my utter shame, I am averaging closer to 1,500. But it’s not my fault, I swear. It just seems to get easier and easier to conduct life from a chair in front of a computer. For instance, one hardly needs to go out to shop anymore. There is an upside, of course; I can say with confidence that if I never visited another “power centre” again, it would be too soon. So maybe it’s a good thing that the world of online shopping is exploding. This seems to be especially true of sites devoted to design and décor.  News of two more crossed my desk over the past week. Both are well worth a look.

Dering Hall  is an online design marketplace where interior designers, architects, artisans, and design dealers can show their wares in almost 100 permanent virtual storefronts. The lucky ducks have an “a strategic partnership” with Hearst Magazines, which includes financial support, and print and online media collaboration with Hearst titles ELLE DECOR, House Beautiful, and Veranda. Designer products from the magazines and the accompanying websites will be available during “featured sales”.

There are a few cool features: Dering Hall users can:

follow favorite designers (all look to be U.S.-based at this point, but I did see the magnificent Martha Sturdy on there) through storefronts and automatic weekly email updates. Shoppers must check with individual vendors for information on shipping to Canada.

engage directly with individual designers to ask questions, and order product

find talent in a Designer Directory

browse editorial pages with shopping links

post and share news of Dering Hall merchandise and designers on Facebook

I could easily window shop here for a few hours — if I didn’t have to get up and walk around the block ten times! Of course, unless your daddy’s rich, you may want to be sitting down when you look at the prices, which include $425 for a pillow and $12,000 for a lighting fixture. Granted, both are exquisite — but they may be outside the reach of les pauvre schmoes comme moi. (that's French for "poor schmoes like me".)

 A new flash sales website called The Foundary brings to market a curated selection home and lifestyle products — both from brand names and emerging designers — at up to 70 per cent off retail. It’s the latest venture from the folks at Hayneedle, an online retailer that opened in 2002 as NetShops, offering consumers product from niche webstores. It quickly became one of the biggest online retailers of home and lifestyle products. In August 2009, NetShops became Hayneedle Inc., an umbrella for over 250 stores. At this point it seems more focused on selling — there are no inspirational blogs or lists of tips and tricks. But there is an extensive product selection — encompassing everything from tabletop to furniture to toys.

Alas, the Foundary only ships a few items to Canada. For an extensive online selection that ships to both Canada and the U.S., check out HomeSav, which offers great deals on a wide range of home decor items.  And, ahem, you might want to make a special note to visit their virtual store on Nov. 8, which is when a sale of tabletop and entertaining items picked by me, moi and myself will go on sale. It will be a great opportunity to stock up on lovely additions to your dining/entertaining arsenal, without busting your budget before the gift-buying even begins! 

 

 

 

Keep outdoor entertaining simple

Tom Filippou, the executive chef for President’s Choice, and the friendly face you’ve seen on CBC’s Live Right Now nutritional spots, thinks that keeping it simple, and planning ahead for outdoor entertaining, pays dividends for you and your guests.

 “Some folks get over-motivated and try to do too much, which means they are too busy to mingle,” he says. “But if you choose the right menu for your barbeque, you can be become part of the party.”

Mini sliders and sausages are a good choice because they’re easy to handle, and allow for lots of variation. "I always serve them,” says Filippou. “You can have a bunch on one side of the grill while something else is going on the other, and if you have lots of garnishes, guests can experiment and have fun.” Caramelized onions, sauteed peppers and grilled mushrooms make terrific toppings, although I've been known to just plop on some PC tomato-basil bruschetta sauce when I'm feeling lazy.

Indeed, President’s Choice mini portions have been a big hit with shoppers this summer, including me. We went through a lot of the Angus Sliders and the Smokin’ Stampede Brisket Sliders. Also loved the Sweet Italian mini pork sausages. (Make sure to grill extras of these and use leftovers in pastas salads, sandwiches or frittatas.)

All have great flavour, and I love that they’re a manageable size, making it easy for kids and adults to juggle one in one hand, and a glass in the other. Pair them with the mini Ciabatta buns (which you’ll of course toast lightly).

Reading, relaxing and rosé-ing

Here’s what’s NOT on my to-do list this weekend. Cut the lawn, trim the shrubs, clean out the garage, or alphabetize the spice rack. Other than that, plans vaguely include a chaise, a bottle of rosé and a pile of books. Who knows – a gossip mag may actually find its way in there — given that Marlene Arpe had the nerve to take some time off her blog, which is one of my secret guilty pleasures. The other one is Coronation Street — guess they’re not secrets anymore.

Some of the titles I plow through may actually be instructive, although I’m handing off one of those that I read this week to my daughter. It’s called Must Have Been Something I Ate, and it’s written by Peggy Kotsopoulos, the pretty, perky resident nutritionist on CBC's Steven and Chris show.

The just-launched book  draws the connection between the food you eat and how you look and feel. Kotsopoulos promises that whether you’re feeling blue or bloated, bitchy or blemished, her tips can boost your health, while keeping muffin tops and man boobs at bay.   

The tone is light and funny (as opposed to preachy) and there’s a ton of good information. Occasionally, it veers toward the simplistic; proclaiming that excess sugar consumption can lead to alcoholism, for example, could do with more explanation. On the other hand, there’s a clear explanation of the role of insulin, good information on why we need and how our bodies use vitamins and minerals, along with explanations on why certain foods either aggravate or alleviate certain conditions.

Kotsopoulos plays the role of healthy food cheerleader well, encouraging folk to start by making small changes. Apparently, it works. Since picking up the book, I’ve chosen tofu over beef for dinner one evening, made a healthy quinoa salad, cooked with coconut milk and stuck (more or less) to my pledge to run every day (call me crazy, but I’m not going to run in the rain). So if  Kotsopoulos’ aim to is to get people thinking about shifting to healthier lifestyles one step at a time, she’s already made at least one convert. For this weekend I am, however, sticking to the books, the chaise and the rosé. Don't try and stop me.

Shady Deals

Funny how that we which so crave in early June can become enervating by the August long weekend. It’s hard to imagine right now, but we’ll soon begin to shield ourselves from the punishing rays of the sun. (No, really, it's true!) So investing now in a spot of shelter for entertaining and relaxing will pay off. There are options at every price point.

The Elora Sunshelter (above) is a nine- by nine-foot powder-coated grey steel frame with a beige water-resistant canopy, pole cover and mosquito netting. Available at Canadian Tire for about $100 (At press time, it was on sale for $70). Slightly more elegant is the eight- by eight-foot Crawford, with bronze-finished decorative steel posts and a brown weather-resistant canopy ($150, now on sale for $100).

 

Move up to the mid-range with Rona’s Victoria Gazebo (above), a 12- by 12-foot aluminum structure that includes a screen door and curtains. ($489).

 

If you love the English country look, or if you’re planning to host a jousting event, you can watch it in comfort and style from underneath a blue and white heavyweight cotton canopy with scalloped edges from HomeSense (about $1,000). Be warned that while it can take some rain, this model should not be left out in all weather.

Status brand Kettal offers the Landscape collection; gorgeous daybed structures and aluminum pergolas that can be configured with blinds, net curtains, panels and ceilings. If you have to ask how much, you probably can’t afford it, as prices start at about $8,000. From www.bonavistapools.com If those prices don’t scare you, check out the line of Dedon outdoor furniture from Studio B which includes the Orbit shaded lounger below (about $9,000).

 

Cheers to Mother Dear

 
 
What does Mom really want? Chez moi, it would be a chance to put my feet up for just an hour or two with a killer cocktail and the Sunday New York Times. Or a copy of The Enquirer - preferably the Cellulite Edition. Okay - maybe I'd need two cocktails to get all the way through the NYT. Here’s a  delish suggestion from Cocktail Deeva  Dee Brun, who also happens to be a very yummy mummy.

Mother’s Little Helper

 1 ounce Vodka

1 ounce pomegranate liqueur

1 ounce pink grapefruit juice

1 ounce pineapple juice

1/4 of a fresh orange 

Coarse sugar for rim

Rim the edge of a glass with the coarse sugar and fill with ice. Squeeze orange into a shaker full of ice. Add all other ingredients and shake well. Strain into glass. Garnish with a piece of fresh fruit.

Cocktail shakers in pic are from Pottery Barn

We didn't even HAVE March Break when I was in school, which I could only get to by hiking 12 miles through bear-infested brush

 
When your kids starts whining that EVERYBODY is going to Florida/Cuba/Bermuda for March Break, you can cooly shoot back with this little info-bite. Just 13 per cent of Canadian families will take off for March Break, according to a survey Angus Reid did for Samsung Home Appliances. The kids may still whine, but it will probably work better than that old chestnut, “and if all your friends were jumping of a bridge, would you want to do that too?”

The survey also shows that cooking or baking is one of the top three at-home activities for kids and parents, along with renting movies and visiting family or friends (although I think we used to call that playing) Naturally enough, Samsung thinks that  induction technology has lots of benefits when cooking with kids. I would have to agree, as induction ranges keep the kitchen cooler, only transfer heat to the pan that’s touching its surface and are easy to clean. For a fuller explanation, visit the Samsung site.

Here are some other tips for keeping your budding chefs safe:

Wash hands:  Make it a rule. Use soap and warm water and wash for 15 seconds (or as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday to You through twice – see post below).  Remind the little rascals to clean between their dirty ittle fingers!

Teach kids early about cross-contamination: Keep raw foods and their juices away from ready-to-eat items and fresh produce. Always use a clean cutting board or plate when chopping up different foods and never sample meat before it’s cooked through. I'd add that you get - and teach kids to use - a meat thermometer.

Be careful with sharp utensils:  Okay – no duh!

I’d also suggest that cooking is also a great way to teach kids about creativity, and a good place to learn that perfection ain't always what it's cracked up to be. The cake that droops in the middle could still taste great. So celebrate it, and the fact that your child made something with his/her hands.

Burn, baby, burn

This week’s Hot Home Products column focused on fireplaces that use gas, electricity and ethanol as alternatives to wood. There wasn’t room for pellet stoves, which are, according to the Pellet Institute, more efficient than wood stoves, and more environmentally safe. According to information from Rona, pellet stoves transform a highly-efficient 80 per cent of the combustibles into heat, and emit fewer pollutant particles.

Technically, I guess, they are a cousin to wood stoves, since pellets are made from compressed sawdust, a by-product of lumber. But they offer a modern-day method for the age-old practice of burning up scrap lumber for fuel. More recently, though, pellets made from switchgrass, grain, corn, seeds, or other bio-materials are being introduced.

How does it work? Wood pellets are placed in a hopper (reservoir) located at the back of the stove, and which directs pellets into a screw auger in the combustion chamber. Most stoves are equipped with two motors: one that brings in outside air and redistributes heat and the other that expels combustion gasses to the outside. Ignition is automatic, so no matches or a lighter. Some models even come with a thermostat that regulates air temperature. Typically, the screw auger and the motors are powered by electricity, but a battery can be used on certain models. The pellets come in 20 to 40 pounds bags available in the larger hardware stores.

 

The fireplace shown here is NOT a pellet stove. It’s a wall-mounted model that uses ethanol, and is available at Home Depot for about $200. It comes with ceramic stones, and flame snuffing tool, and holds two cans of fuel. I wanted to fit it into the column, but ran out of room. But since I thought it was pretty, I’ve included it here.