The Perfect Pimms
Drink like the Royals do with this fruity gin based drink. Pimms is a Britsh liqueur that is best enjoyed mixed as a summer cocktail. Here’s how to make the perfect Pimms.
Directions:
Lemon Shandy
Can’t decide between a beer or lemonade? Well, now you don’t have to! The lemon shandy will solve all of your summer drink problems. Not only are they delicious, they are ridiculously easy to make.
Directions:
Fruity Ice Tea
If you are looking for a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage it can be hard to find a drink that isn’t packed full of sugar and chemicals. This recipe is a healthy alternative to store-bought ice tea.
January was a long time ago and the resolutions that we set for ourselves have mostly likely been forgotten by now. Life gets busy and, although you had the best intentions in January, it can be difficult to follow through with your resolutions. A 6-month check-in will help you get back on track and ensure success for the next 6 months. Follow these tips to make the next 6 months your very best.
Make your goal plan attainable and realistic: Look at what your resolutions were and see what is realistic to achieve in the next 6 months. Think about the goal you set in the first place, and also why you wanted to accomplish it. When you are reviewing your resolutions ask yourself the following questions:
2. Set monthly milestones: For the next 6 months set a milestone goal for each month and have an incentive for achieving that goal. Write down each milestone so you can clearly see it every day. Having your milestones written out and visible will keep you stay accountable and also give you daily motivation to reach and exceed your resolutions!
3. Make it a habit: The best way to ensure success even after you’ve achieved your resolutions is to make them a habit. Successful people form long-term habits; they don’t initiate a burst of activity and then burnout. If your resolution was to lose 20 pounds, keep up your healthy eating and exercise routine after you have achieved the goal so you don’t fall back into old habits. By making those small changes a part of your daily routine you will stay on track to not only achieving your goals but making them a lifelong habit.
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One of the best ways to enjoy the summer season is to get outside, share stories around a campfire and sleep outside under the stars. Camping trips should be fun, but they can be stressful and uncomfortable if they aren’t planned properly. Follow these tips to plan a fun and successful camping trip.
There is nothing more satisfying than planting some seeds, watching them grow, harvesting the veggies and then eating them for dinner. Farm to table life is not only good for your health but also your wallet and the environment. This idyllic lifestyle might seem like an unrealistic dream for those that live in cities, work a 9-5, have a family or simply don’t have the time to “farm” their food. The good news is there are plenty of veggies that are easy to grow and that don’t require much space.
Tomatoes
The great thing about tomatoes is they can be grown on a balcony or in a garden. If this is your first time growing tomatoes we recommend buying starter plants rather than growing them straight from seeds. This will give you a good idea of how much water and sun they need and then the following year you can try growing them from seeds.
Onions
Onions grow very quickly and are easy to take care of. Plant them in a row and you will be able to harvest some green onions in a couple weeks. There is very little care required for onions, simply plant the bulbs, water and enjoy! Once harvested, onions like to be kept in a cool, dry place.
Peas
The best time to grow peas is right now, so here’s how to do it so you can start today! Peas like to be grown upright and on a climber so they can have something to wrap their vines around (a wooden ladder or metal pole would work well). They thrive in cooler weather so it’s best to grow them in the spring rather than the summer, time to get growing!
Lettuce The difference in taste between store bought lettuce and homegrown is staggering. Homegrown lettuce has a rich, fresh taste that store bought can never compete with. To grow lettuce, simply just sprinkle the seeds into your garden ( or garden box if you don’t have a backyard) and pick the lettuce once it comes up to promote new growth.
Basil
Basil can be grown pretty much anywhere. It not only tastes amazing but it will make your whole house smell heavenly (if you are growing it inside). Basil can be either potted or grown in a garden bed depending on the space available to you. Pluck leaves and use immediately, you can also dry the herb and use it in cooking all year round.
“The unconditional love of a pet makes it hard to place a value on a cute little puppy or kitten. But according to a recent RateSupermarket.ca study, the cost of a pet in its first 12 months of is approximately $2,600 for a puppy and $1,900 for a kitten.” https://www.ratesupermarket.ca/blog/the-cost-of-owning-a-pet-in-canada/
Get a dog, they said. It will be easy and not that expensive, they said. Just some food, treats, a leash and some shots right? The cost of pet ownership is a sneaky thing, so it’s important to budget and plan ahead for unforeseen expenses.
Here’s the breakdown of the unexpected costs for your first year of pet ownership:
Adopting/ Purchasing your pet
Training and licencing: $800.00 (average for a dog) $400.00 (for a cat)
Puppy classes can run anywhere from $100.00- $500.00 depending on the class and duration.
If you opt for pet insurance, budget approximately $500.00 per year for a puppy, and $357.11 for a kitten.
Essentials: $1000.00 (dog) $900.00 (cat)
Leashes, bowls, toys, crates, litter boxes, etc. can really add up. To keep costs low, try to find as much as you can from second hand stores before buying everything new.
Vaccines: $650.00 approximately (puppy and kittens)
The preliminary vaccines are very expensive but highly necessary. This cost includes microchips, getting them spayed or neutered and heartworm prevention.
Injuries/ Illnesses : $200.00-$800.00
As much as we all hope it never happens, it’s important to consider possible injuries and illnesses. A broken bone can cost a minimum $200.00 to fix it.
Chewed/ damaged furniture and clothes : $250.00- $500.00
Cheeky little puppies are very cute but can also be highly destructive. Try to puppy-proof as much of your house as possible before brining the pup home to avoid possible destruction. As much as we prepare, there will be messes and chewed up belongings. Hide all expensive bags and shoes so they will escape the innocent but deadly jaws of your pup. Oh the joys of pet ownership!
Source: https://www.ratesupermarket.ca/blog/the-cost-of-owning-a-pet-in-canada/
]]>« Non seulement le surcyclage bénéficie l’environnement, il alimente l’économie en favorisant de nouveaux processus de fabrication novateurs et ouvre de nouveaux marchés ». — Surcyclage : de déchet à trésor
Vous connaissez sans doute le dicton « les vidanges des uns sont les trésors des autres ». Dans ce blogue, il ne s’agit pas de transformer les déchets proprement dits en trésor, mais plutôt de réadapter de vieux meubles négligés. Avez-vous des meubles qui accumulent de la poussière chez vous? Voici trois façons inventives de les transformer :
1. Transformation de table d’appoint en pouf :
Avez-vous une vieille table d’appoint rangée dans un coin oublié de la maison? Vous pouvez la transformer en un beau pouf fonctionnel! Voici comment faire :
Matériaux :
— table d’appoint
— mousse
— couteau tout usage
— scie
— tissu
— pistolet agrafeur
Instructions :
Mesurez et coupez la mousse
Après avoir mesuré la table, trouvez un morceau de mousse pour poser sur le dessus de la table. À l’aide du couteau, coupez la mousse pour correspondre aux dimensions de la table.
Ajustez la hauteur du pouf en coupant les pieds de la table
Comment déterminer la hauteur d’un pouf? Asseyez-vous sur le divan, étirez vos jambes et demandez à quelqu’un de mesurer la distance entre vos jambes et le plancher; ce chiffre représente la hauteur approximative du pouf. À l’aide d’une scie, coupez les pieds de la table pour obtenir la hauteur désirée. Et n’oubliez pas de couper uniformément!
Apposez-y du tissu
Coupez un morceau de tissu un peu plus grand que les dimensions de la mousse. Apposez le tissu sur la mousse, agrafez le tissu à la table et taillez le tissu restant. Voilà, vous avez un super meuble pour reposer vos pieds!
2. Vieillissement des meubles
Bien que cela puisse sembler contre-intuitif, vous pouvez donner un aspect moderne à un meuble en le vieillissant. Pour les meubles qui ne respectent plus le style de décoration de votre habitation, il existe d’innombrables façons de les réadapter. Voici une méthode simple ainsi que les matériaux requis :
Matériaux :
— papier abrasif
— peinture
— pinceau
— diluant pour peinture
— paille de fer
— teinture (facultative)
— toile de peintre/papier journal
Instructions :
Dégagez un espace de travail
Nous vous recommandons de faire ce travail à l’extérieur, dans la mesure du possible. Si vous ne pouvez pas le faire à l’extérieur, préparez un espace de travail à l’intérieur. Posez des toiles de peintre et retirez tout objet ou meuble qui peut être endommagé pendant les travaux.
Peignez le meuble et vieillissez-le à l’aide du papier abrasif et de la paille de fer
Vous pouvez ajouter une deuxième couche de peinture si vous voulez un style bicolore (la première couche se fera découvrir à mesure que vous vieillissez les meubles). Peignez le meuble et laissez-le sécher pendant la nuit. Maintenant, passons à la partie la plus amusante! Prenez la paille de fer et le papier abrasif, et frottez à cœur joie! Frottez autant que vous voulez selon le niveau de vieillissement désiré.
Touches finales
Ajoutez de la teinture si vous voulez un style classique. Lorsque vous êtes satisfait de votre travail, appliquez un revêtement au polyuréthane pour sceller le meuble et protéger la couleur. Laissez-le sécher et attendez les éloges de vos amis!
3. Transformation de miroir en tableau noir
Les tableaux noirs sont très utiles. Vous pouvez faire votre propre tableau noir à l’aide d’un vieux miroir et de la peinture de tableau noir. Voici comment faire :
Matériaux :
— miroir
— nettoyeur de verre
— chiffon en microfibre
— ruban de peintre
— apprêt en aérosol
— peinture en bombe pour tableau noir
— papier journal
Nettoyez et apprêtez le miroir
Utilisez un chiffon en microfibre pour nettoyer la surface et séchez bien. Couvrez les parties du cadre apparentes avec du papier journal ou de serviettes en papier et fixez le cadre. Apportez le miroir à l’extérieur, posez-le sur du papier journal et couvrez les parties du miroir que vous ne voulez pas peindre. Ensuite, appliquez l’apprêt au miroir.
Peignez le miroir
Laissez sécher l’apprêt; ensuite peignez-le avec la peinture en bombe pour tableau noir. Utilisez deux couches et laissez-les sécher.
Amusez-vous!
Laissez sécher la peinture pendant 24 heures avant d’utiliser le tableau noir! Il ne reste plus que d’écrire votre liste de choses à faire!
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“In Canada, the peak times for colds are at the start of school in the fall, in mid-winter, and again in early spring. Adults catch approximately 2 to 4 colds a year, and children catch even more.”
Coughing, sneezing and fevers- oh my! ‘Tis the season to get sick, no matter how hard you try to prevent it, the winter cold takes no mercy. Between chugging cough syrup to eating nothing but lozenges it can feel like nothing will work. Ready to try something a little different? Take a world tour of some weird and wacky cold remedies from around the globe.
Snail Syrup, Germany 🇩🇪
A little different to maple syrup, snail syrup is used in Germany to soothe sore throats. The syrup is made of snail extract (not the whole snail), just the slime from the trail. You’ll never know if it works if you don’t try!
Raw Garlic, Russia 🇷🇺
If you are about to go on a date, then maybe don’t try this one! Eating raw garlic or having plates of chopped garlic around the house is a common cold remedy in Russia. Parents will put garlic cloves in their children’s pockets to fend off colds (and vampires, of course).
Salty Liquorice, Netherlands 🇳🇱
The Dutch have a special salty treat called “salmiak liquorice” which has surprising healing powers. The salt and the liquorice root mix together to make a soothing throat lozenge. Plus, if you like liquorice then you’re basically just eating candy while curing your cold!
Dried lizard soup, Hong Kong 🇭🇰
What do you get when you mix dried lizards, yams and dates? You get a popular cure for the common cold in Hong Kong. The catch is you have to both genders of lizard in one soup for it to work. Would you give this a try?
Turmeric Milk, India 🇮🇳
This is like hot cocoa but different in almost every way. Add turmeric, ginger, honey and peppercorns to some warm milk and say bye-bye to your cold. Turmeric is a super food so if you like the taste sprinkle it on pretty much everything (maybe not ice cream but you get the idea).
]]>“According to a recent Ipsos poll only three in 10 Canadians will set a New Year’s resolution, and of those, 73 per cent eventually break them.”*
Every year it’s always the same struggle of setting goals, losing motivation and then inevitably your goals slip by the wayside. If you set goals, the best way to achieve them is to make small changes over time to ease into your new healthier lifestyle. Stay on track by planning, prepping and cooking meals for the week.
Follow these 3 step recipes for healthy and quick dinners that everyone has time to make.
Veggie Tacos
No one can say no to tacos! These healthy tacos are packed with all the good stuff to keep you looking and feeling good!
Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking time: 40 mins
Ingredients (4 servings):
Garnish: avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, shredded cheese (anything else your heart desires)
Directions:
1. Cook sweet potatoes in the oven at 425°until they are soft and cooked.
2. Fry onions and mix in beans and sweet potato
3. Serve in taco shells and garnish as you wish
Turmeric Chicken Salad
Turmeric is a superfood that will keep your immune system up this winter. So shake a load of it on your chicken and fight those colds!
Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 4):
Salad Dressing:
Directions
Portobello Mushroom Burger
Show off to your family and friends with this healthy twist on a classic!
Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 4):
Garnishes: lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheese (anything else your heart desires)
Directions:
*Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/2429731/less-than-a-third-of-canadians-make-new-years-resolutions
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Get creative this Christmas and try making your own holiday decor/gifts. These three DIYs are easy and quick to make, plus they will make you look a Pinterest master! Are you ready to impress your friends and family? Let’s get started!
1. Homemade wrapping paper
With wrapping paper this cute, you could wrap up a lump of coal and people will still love it!
Materials:
Directions:
(Image: https://blog.etsy.com/en/make-your-own-potato-stamp-gift-wrap/)
2. Mitten Advent Calendar
How is it that, by the end of winter, you somehow end up with at least 5 mismatched mittens? This idea let you take all these sad, single mittens and put them to good use.
Directions:
(Image: https://www.rhbabyandchild.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=rhbc_prod482007)
3. Wine Bottle Holiday Lights
This cute wine bottle light makes for a beautiful decoration-- plus it is a great excuse to drink wine!
Directions:
(Image: Image by Tim & Mary Vidra)
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Week Three
It's only crunch time if you haven’t been following our Holiday Chore Countdown. This week all you need to do is set the table, right? Gifts are wrapped, cookies are baked, and halls are decked! Enjoy this wonderful time of year.
Set the table: Check to make sure you have enough place settings for everyone at the table. Get the little ones to help with making a centrepiece for the table. Many hands make light work!
Post-Holiday
Clean, nap, repeat! After all the gifts have been opened and before falling into a chocolate infused coma, get everyone to spend 10 minutes cleaning up. Wash all dishes after each meal so they don’t pile up and leave you feeling overwhelmed. When the time comes to pack up decorations, go through any that broke during the season. Take the time to put away the decorations properly and label boxes to make decorating next year a piece of cake!
]]>Week Two
There’s two weeks left until the holidays, it’s time to get your house ready for guests and all the holiday madness.
Cleaning: Although this might not sound like the most glamourous part of the holidays it is integral and your future self will thank you. Prioritize the big projects like the oven and the fridge, these will both get a lot of use over the holidays so give them a deep clean before you start your cooking and cleaning.
Guests: Get all your guest bedrooms organized with extra towels and bedding so you don’t have to rush around finding everything when the extended family arrives. You and your guests will feel much more relaxed!
The arrival of kids: Be prepared this Christmas by buying extra batteries for kids toys so there won’t be any disappointed kids who can’t play with their new toys.
]]>Week One:
The countdown is on and this week is all about prep! The more you can do to prep for the holidays the more you can sit back, relax and enjoy time with your family.
Send out Cards/gifts: Before everything gets too crazy, send your holidays cards out to tick one thing off your to-do list. Prioritize which gifts to send off based on how far away they are, send out all international gifts this week to make sure they arrive on time.
Food Prep: Save yourself a lot of stress and plan your meals for the next few weeks. Plan meals that can be made ahead of time and can be frozen for a few weeks. Then all you have to do is thaw, reheat and enjoy, giving you more time to binge on Christmas movies!
Festive Finishing Touches: The time has come to deck those halls and get your house looking holiday ready. Dig out those dusty decorations from last year and get everything set up just how you want it before the guests pour in!
]]>“An estimated 2% to 3% of the general population suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that seems to be related to the amount of sunlight that you are exposed to. An extreme form of the "winter blues," SAD is worst for most people in the fall and winter.” - Body and Health Canada
1. Host a backyard bonfire
Just because summer is over doesn’t mean that bonfire season is done! Put on your big sweaters, bring out the blankets and have a cozy fall bonfire. Hot apple cider anyone?
2. Have a movie night
Let’s be real, this is the time to cruise through all the must-see movies and catch up on the summer blockbusters. Plus, it’s November so we wouldn’t judge you if threw in the occasional holiday movie in there.
3. Learn a new skill
Have you always wanted to play guitar but could never find the time? Schedule a few nights a week to practice—even if it’s just for an hour. By next summer, your skills will be much better and you’ll be campfire sing-along ready.
4. Go hiking
With the cooler weather, you can hit the trails that were too hard to hike on those hot summer days. Look at the hikes in your area and get out there before the snow comes!
5. Make your own candles
Warm your house and feel like a craft pro by making homemade candles. These also double as great holiday gifts because although it might seem crazy, winter holidays are just around the corner.
]]>Greenwood, BC (October 10, 2018) – CENTURY 21Premier Properties Ltd. has another location in the Okanagan. Their second office is in Greenwood, British Columbia follows an office in Osoyoos earlier this year. Owners, Ken Davreux, Wendy Brisebois and Payam Sanai have already recruited a new team of agents.
Davreux and his team have more than 20 years experience in the real estate industry. “We have been able to grow quickly thanks to our phenomenal staff and the support that CENTURY 21 provides. The company constantly implements new tools and training resources for sales representatives and brokers that make our jobs easier,” he says.
This CENTURY 21 office was previously a RE/MAX location and was acquired earlier this year by the Premier Properties team. As fall begins, the company has already surpassed their goal for 2018. They had initially targeted to have five more sales representatives working out of one office. Since January 1st, they have added five new sales reps but also a brand-new office which also has several agents. Their new goal for the end of the year is that they will have 12 realtors and possibly open another branch office in Grand Forks.
In addition to an established name in the Osoyoos, this management team is committed to their community and they are deeply involved with many local charities. This summer they held a Blues concert to raise funds for Easter Seals and hope to make it an annual event.
“We are very proud to see Premier Properties Ltd. expanding so quickly,” says Brian Rushton, Executive Vice President of CENTURY 21 Canada. “They are a force to be reckoned with and are passionate about their agents. This energy and enthusiasm is infectious, and we can’t wait to watch them continue to grow!”
Drop by the new CENTURY 21 Premier Properties Ltd. office at 101 S. Government Avenue in Greenwood or here to discover the CENTURY 21 difference.
# # #
Media contact
Leigh Kjekstad
Director of Brand Engagement
CENTURY 21 Canada
Leigh.kjekstad@century21.ca
604-606-2139
About CENTURY 21 Canada™
Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership (century21.ca) is a real estate master franchisor with complete rights to the CENTURY 21® brand in Canada.
The CENTURY 21 System is one of the world’s largest residential real estate brokerage franchisors, CENTURY 21 has approximately 8,300 franchise offices and more than 119,000 independent sales associates located in 80 countries and territories.
Independently Owned and Operated. ®/™ trademarks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC used under license or authorized sub-license. ©2018 Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership.
The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS® and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.
]]>Somehow, day in and day out we feel like we are racing against the clock to get everything accomplished. We get home feeling tired and ready to just collapse in front of Netflix and then do it all over again the next day. Finding the perfect work/life balance is doable but it takes a small amount of planning, organizing and prioritizing ahead of time. The reward of extra hours at home to hang out with friends and family will make the effort worth it! Here are some time management tricks to get the clock working for you!
Track time wasters/ distractions
Phones: Phones are one of the biggest time wasters and distractors. Time spent scrolling on Instagram and Facebook can quickly turn from minutes to hours in a day if you aren’t careful. Although it might sound counterintuitive, you can use your phone to help decrease phone usage. There are apps such as “Break Free” which will track how much you are on your phone and will lock your phone for you when you are trying to be productive.
TV: We are all guilty of falling into the habit of crashing in front of the tv as soon as we get home. Instead, decide a certain amount of television to watch per day and stick to it. This will help you from falling into the “I’ll just watch one more episode” trap and end up watching an entire season of The Office (let's be real, we are all guilty of this).
Sharpen your focus: Close other tabs and browsers on your computer and put your phone on silent so that you won’t be distracted and can focus on the task at hand.
Be productive during travel time: If you take transit, see what work you can do-- answer emails, listen to voicemails or just schedule your week. If you need more privacy for those tasks, commit to a brief meditation practice or make sure you’re carrying a book with you for even five minutes of downtime.
Delegate: Delegate other tasks around the house either with your partner or your kids. Even a five-minute task like unloading the dishwasher can save you much more over the course of a week.
Identify top priorities
Work smart, not hard: Look at where you are investing your energy and make sure you are not wasting time on things that don’t deliver results.
Lists: Making a to-do list will be your best friend when it comes to prioritizing your time. Seeing your to-do’s makes them more real-- plus it is so satisfying crossing them off!
Schedule: Manage your time first by the week then by the day. Look at your most pressing deadlines and then schedule your time accordingly. Follow the adage of “eat a frog for breakfast” -- do the most important/ hardest tasks early in the day to get them completed.
Measure and Calculate:
No one has the same schedule or the same habits, so find out what works best for you. If you are a morning person try waking up 15 minutes earlier and use this time to get two tasks done. Calculate how much time you have saved each week and decide where you can make cutbacks the next week.
Reward yourself for all your scheduling and list making by planning fun events in the evening: plan a board games night or host a dinner party. Plus having these events will help you prioritize your schedule to ensure that you have the free time to do the things you want to be doing!
]]>Having pets can make a house become a home, but they can also turn a home into a zoo if they start to rule the roost. After time, the damage pets cause can reduce the value of your home. There are many ways to “pet proof” your home to create a space where you and your pets can live cohesively. Here are some of the biggest issues (and how to solve them) that homeowners run into when having pets.
1. Shedding
Whether you have a cat or a dog, shedding will likely be the bane of your existence. It can sometimes feel like you will forever be following your pet around with a vacuum cleaner. There are some preventative measures you can take when it comes to your pet's shedding. Natural pet shampoos help to release your pet’s undercoat which is where most of the shedding comes from. Brushing your pet helps shedding as the fur is collected on the brush instead of all over your floors!
2. Chewing
The best way to protect your home and your pet is to baby proof your home. Here are the biggest problems and solutions for chewing:
- Chewing on electrical cords- This can be dangerous for animals (especially cats) so it’s a good idea to have a containment system for all your electrical cords.
- Getting into cupboards- Put safety locks on your kitchen and bathroom cabinets so cheeky little pets can’t get their paws in there.
- Destroying property (shoes, furniture, etc.)- The “KONG” toy is the most durable toy on the market-- your sneakers will thank you!
3. Scratching
Nothing worse than having your beautiful hardwood floors scratched to shreds by not so angelic fur babies. Try to keep claws as short as possible to avoid deep scratches. But, if your pet bolts across your hardwood at the first sight of a squirrel and leaves pesky scratches behind, try this:
1. Vacuum the floor to remove all dirt and debris.
2. Then spray the area with a cleaner and use a microfiber cleaning pad to scrub the scratches.
3. Apply an oil refresher (depending on the type of floor that you have). If the scratches are still visible, sand the area with very fine sandpaper and then apply oil.
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1. Use paint to make a big splash
Paint can be used in many ways and can drastically change the design of a room depending on how it is used. Instead of repainting an entire room think of using paint to create an accent wall. This will cut down on the cost of buying paint and primer to cover all four walls. Choose the smallest wall in the room and use that wall as your focal point.
Thinking of wallpapering? Consider making your own wallpaper using a stencil and paint. This method is much cheaper and you get more creative freedom than you do with using wallpaper.
2. Re-purpose
Little did you know; your house is full of hidden treasures that just need a little bit of TLC. Before you replace your old couch or dining room chairs, give them a good look over and see if you can freshen them up. To bring a couch back to life consider upholstering it to give it a fresher look.
For dining room furniture that needs a facelift a good paint job should do the trick. Whether it is wood, plastic or metal, paint will give a second life to anything that needs a lift!
3.Recycle/ Up-cycling
Why buy new when there are second-hand stores that are full of great finds in need of a new home. Buying second-hand furniture is more environmentally friendly and cheaper!
For furniture that no longer fits the style of your house there are countless ways you can repurpose it to get the style you desire. Some simple ways are to distress furniture to make it look vintage. Another good method is to repurpose furniture. For example, old, wooden ladders work perfectly as a hanging unit for blankets/ scarves.
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The days of having to run to the grocery mid-cake mixing to pick up an ingredient you inevitably forgot are now behind you! We’ve got the tricks of the trade to make sure your cakes are fluffy, your cookies are chewy and you never have to panic about a missing ingredient ever again!
1.Make your own powdered sugar
Powdered sugar is one of those ingredients that we always seem to need but never have in the house. To make your own, add a cup of white sugar plus 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to your blender and pulse a few times until the sugar has same consistency as powdered sugar. Look at you go, you baking genius!
2. Soften up your sugar
Ok, we admit it’s not as cool as turning water into wine but it sure is useful! For every 1 cup of milk, stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar. Leave for 5 minutes, and you’ll have buttermilk!
4. Zest for zest!
Get the most out of your lemons by microwaving them for 5-10 seconds before zesting them. This will help release more juice and will make your lemon treats that much more delicious!
5. Ripen Bananas
If you are waiting for your bananas to hit the perfect ripeness for baking, but they’re still a bit too yellow, you’ll need to speed up the process. Simply place your bananas in the oven at 300° until they are dark brown (time will vary depending on how ripe they are).
]]>1. Faites votre propre sucre à glacer
Le sucre à glacer est l’un de ces ingrédients dont nous avons souvent besoin, mais qui manque toujours du garde-manger. Pour en faire, versez une tasse de sucre blanc et une cuillerée à soupe de fécule de maïs dans un malaxeur. Battez le mélange quelques fois jusqu’à ce que le sucre ait la même consistance que le sucre à glacer. Pas mal, non?
2. Ramollissez le sucre
3. Transformez le lait en babeurre
D’accord, c’est moins cool que de transformer l’eau en vin, mais c’est bien pratique! Pour chaque tasse de lait, incorporez une cuillerée à soupe du jus de citron ou du vinaigre. Laissez le mélange pendant 5 minutes, et voilà, vous aurez du babeurre!
4. Une zeste de saveur!
Mettez vos citrons dans le four à micro-ondes pendant de 5 à 10 secondes avant de retirer le zeste. Cela fera sortir plus du jus et rendra vos gâteux à citron d’autant plus délicieux!
5. Faites mûrir les bananes
Si vos bananes mettent du temps à mûrir, vous pouvez accélérer le processus. Il suffit de les mettre au four à 300° jusqu’à ce que la pelure devienne brune enfoncée (le temps au four dépendra de l’état de maturité des bananes).
]]>The dark, dingy laundry room days are over! If you’re like us then your laundry room has likely been neglected and has become one of your least favourite rooms in the house. Time to revamp your laundry room so you might even be excited to do your laundry- ok we know that’s a bit of a stretch, but bear with us!
Lighting: That old fluorescent lighting must be the first thing to go. Find something bright and cheery that makes you want to enter your laundry room! Often laundry rooms have lower ceilings and are a smaller space so you will need adequate lighting to brighten the room.
Change Container: Keep a change container beside the laundry machine to catch any loose change, jewelry, or anything that might get lost in the wash.
Jazz up your hamper: This is a very inexpensive upgrade. Simply replacing your old plastic bin with a stylish hamper will make you happier while doing your laundry.
Change up your detergent: Treat yourself to some nice smelling detergent because life is short so try to enjoy every single minute (we are suckers for lavender detergent)!
Make a washing line outside: Save the world and your wallet by drying your clothes outside on a clothesline. You may be surprised at how good they smell!
Make it loud: Bring a speaker into your laundry room and play music/ listen to the radio as you fold and sort laundry! The time will fly by in no time!
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