I remember reading about Smart Homes years ago—prototypes of things that haven't yet (and perhaps never will) come to pass. One of the coolest things I read about was the ability to control your electronics from a handheld device, as well as have motion-sensor activation and notification just as easily. This may sound cheesy, but . . .the future is now! Have you checked out the capabilities of the WeMo Home Automation products? There are so many cool things you can do with the WeMo system, ...
housewarming gift ideas
How to Make Your Own Lavender Linen Spray
I've been using the scent of lavender to help me get to sleep at night for years. Usually, I put a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil on my pillow, but with certain linens, the oil can stain. Plus, the scent is really concentrated in one location. I've seen linen sprays in stores before, but the bottles tend to be quite expensive—considering it is mostly water-based. I've seen bottles of lavender linen spray, in particular for $20 or more! Kind of crazy, right? Well, I got to thinking—how hard ...
Blurb Custom Personalized Photo Book for My Most Precious Memories
My mom has managed to put a few pictures in albums over the years, but the vast majority of her pictures never make it to her computer or get printed. The ones she has had printed (years ago, before she had a digital camera) just sit in their envelopes and within a big box in the basement. What is the point of taking all those photos and not actually looking at them and enjoying re-visiting the memories? I have thousands of photos in my iPhoto library that I regularly look through for ...
Seasonal Decor Changes are Made Easy with FLOR Rug Tiles
Though people here like to say that it rains non-stop from October to May, really—Vancouver does have 4 distinct seasons. It's nice to celebrate these changes by changing up the décor just a bit. Nothing too drastic, and nothing too permanent, a quick seasonal change can be done by using a rug. Most rugs take up a lot of room when stored, but not FLOR rug tiles, which stack neatly and come in thousands of combinations of patterns and colours. I used to live in Houston, Texas for a large part ...
Handmade Block-Printed Tablecloth from India from MyMela
MyMela's Silver Speckle Red Tablecloth makes me want to throw an impromptu dinner party. . .or a romantic meal for 2. ...
Danze Chrome Shower Head Review
When you start with a shower head that dangles from an extended wand, your reaction to a new shower head may be a bit exaggerated. I guess I didn't realise how much such a small product would change the look of a bathroom. I like the black and white tiles in the shower stall in my mom's house, but the room needs some serious work — the new Danze 4 ½'' 200E Shower Head in Chrome was a huge improvement, not only aesthetically but in terms of the shower flow quality. ...
Mad Men Inspired Retro Cordless Phone from VTech
As handsome as a rotary phone, but modernly styled and teched-out for today's uses. Do you have a landline phone? My mom and family still do, but their cordless phones are anything but retro chic and stylish. The LS6195 by VTech is energy star certified—it doesn't use a lot of power, neither does it take up a lot of room. ...
Dyson DC37 Animal Canister Vacuum with Ball Technology
Gorgeous, a well-designed work of art, and mighty powerful—these are just a few ways I'd describe the latest—as yet to be released—product line from Dyson. The DC37 Animal is designed to be used on surfaces ranging from delicate hardwood to high-pile wall to wall carpet and is especially great at picking up animal hair. The new Ball technology in this range of vacuums is a first being introduced here—that's right, for once, something has come to Canada first! ...
Essentia Organic Bedsheets Review
We roll up to Essentia Calgary on a clear early spring day. The store is fresh and minimal, and in addition to the lack of excess packaging, signs, and junkage—one of the first things I notice is the lack of smell. I breathe in deeply, and smell only air moist with melting snow—and a faint whiff of cotton. It's a moment I've been waiting for for a while. I've been curious about Essentia since I read a story in the Globe and Mail last year—as Tazim mentioned in yesterday's post—they make all ...
Kodak Pulse Wi-Fi Digital Frame 7″ Review
Digital photo frames have been around for a few years, but their capabilities have been limited until now. The Kodak Pulse Digital Frame allows you to connect your digital photo collection socially. Some of my relatives have a digital photo frame, which sits collecting dust because it is such a hassle to turn on and get started with it. The beauty of this Pulse Digital Frame is that it detects motion, and turns on instantly. Energy minded Built-in activity sensor turns the frame on ...