Articles

How to Turn That Fancy Dress Into a Fantastic-Looking Halloween Costume

October 24, 2018 by Kathryn 2 Comments

With Halloween not far away, my thoughts are turning to creating costumes for everyone in the family. I find that the sooner I get started, the easier things are. I’m a big believer in making costumes whenever possible to save money. But sewing and gluing last-minute until the early hours of the morning can easily ruin one of my favourite holidays.

Luckily, I’m often able to find everything I need for an amazing costume in my own closet! Try these tips to help you turn your favourite dresses into fantastic Halloween wear!

Rework Your Little Black Dress

Using something you already own is a great way to make an environmentally friendly Halloween costume. Plus, of course, taking that approach will leave you with more money to spend on treats.

So, why not take that special occasion dress that you have not worn for years and turn it into a Halloween costume? As you can see here, special dresses come in a huge range of cuts and styles, which makes it really easy to create a period-themed costume. [Read more…]

New Parent 101: How to Stay Well-Rested with an Infant

October 20, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It’s been a long time since I had a baby in the house, and I have to admit I had forgotten just how exhausting having a baby was when I gave birth to my new little bundle of joy.

As cliché as it sounds, I actually fell asleep in a bowl of cereal one morning! My husband was just as exhausted, sitting across from me at the table. We laughed and decided then and there that there had to be a way to get more rest.

Parenting is tiring…there’s just no way around it! But if you’ve got a new baby in the house and spend most nights in and out of bed wondering how much DO newborns sleep, these tips will help you get a little more rest when you need it!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

You don’t need to do this alone. You and your partner shouldn’t feel like you can’t ask for an extra hand as you adjust to life as a parent. You know the expression: it takes a village! So, call on your village. You’ll be surprised how happy your friends and family will be to help. [Read more…]

Harvesting and Storing Garden Vegetables

September 20, 2018 by Kathryn 7 Comments

I love so many things about planting a garden. Seeing that first green shoot pushing up through the soil, watching the first flowers and vegetables appear on each plant…even clearing out weeds is fun when I see my little garden thrive!

But my very favourite thing about planting a garden is harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs that I’ve planted when they’re finally ready each fall!

If you’re new to planting a vegetable garden, you may be wondering when the best time is to harvest those vegetables, and how to preserve carrots, potatoes and other produce you have in abundance.

If so, grab your Dig It gardening gloves and follow these tips for harvesting and storing six popular varieties of garden produce!

Picking and Ripening Tomatoes

Tomatoes are such a wonderful taste of summer and with a little planning, it’s a taste you can enjoy right into the holidays and beyond! Harvest tomatoes off the vine when ripe but pick all of them, including green ones, before the first heavy frost. Wash and dry green tomatoes well and then store them indoors to ripen. [Read more…]

Five Fun and Family-Friendly Things To Do in the Fall

September 13, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Summer is drawing to a close and you’ve had a blast. The kids have been entertained all summer long and you’ve made memories that they’ll keep with them forever.

Days at the beach and the lake, holidays to a new part of the country (or even a new continent), BBQs, outdoor adventures and long days filled with sunshine. It’s no wonder that so many of us feel deflated when the leaves begin to fall!

But don’t worry; just because autumn is coming doesn’t mean that the fun has to stop! Check out these five things to do in the fall for a fun-filled family autumn and you can carry on making memories to last a lifetime.

Bring in the Harvest

Autumn is a time for harvesting, and that includes you too – not just the farmers! Why not take a trip to a local orchard or fruit farm, and spend the day picking apples, berries, plums or the perfect pie pumpkin? Or if you have apple or peach trees in your garden, dedicate an afternoon to picking the fruit and turning it into pies, jellies and other deliciously warming treats. The kids will love being able to pick fruit and then help turn it into tasty treats. And eating freshly harvested fruit is always fun too! [Read more…]

Best Flowers to Plant in a Cutting Garden

August 7, 2018 by Kathryn 27 Comments

I love gardening, but until I moved onto our current property, I only ever planted practical plants like berries and vegetables. As much as I love the fresh produce, I decided that this year I wanted some long lasting cut flowers as well.

And since we often buy bouquets for the dining room table, I thought I’d save money and beautify our house and yard by planning a cutting garden! The term is given to a garden that’s planted mainly so the flowers can be cut and arranged into bouquets.

If you want to plant your own cutting garden, these are some of the best long lasting cut flowers for bouquets. Choose flowers in a variety of colours and decide if you’d prefer complimentary hues or a more varied mix of different shades for your garden.

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Top 5 Emergency Telephone Hotlines To Keep on File

August 6, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

We’re lucky to live in a society that has emergency hotlines to help those in sudden need. But it is very important to have those hotlines on file in case a crisis arises. It’s not always an easy step to pick up the phone and ask for help, but it can be necessary when you’re in a situation where you cannot help yourself or the person in need.

A hotline enables you to communicate with trained personnel who know how to handle your current situation, and offer you the assistance that you need. Several organizations offer immediate help. From sexual assault to substance abuse to domestic violence, you can get help 24 hours a day.

Of course, calling a hotline might not mean calling every time a problem arises. Some issues, especially those to do with mental health, will be far more effective if a person seeks further assistance from a medical practitioner after dealing with the immediate crisis. [Read more…]

How To Plant a Tree Using Black Plastic Mulch

June 21, 2018 by Kathryn 28 Comments

When I bought my first house, it was the same one that I’d lived in as a child. And even though the house itself needed quite a bit of work, the yard had the same stately trees and beautiful bushes that I’d known for years.

That meant that when my husband and I moved into our newly built home and realized we had six acres to landscape (and just how big six acres was), I found myself feeling pretty overwhelmed! It’s been a lot of trial and error as we work on our yard, but it’s slowly starting to come together.

[Read more…]

5 Tips to Buying Good Mountain Bike Lighting

June 13, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Mountain bike riding is a fun and involved activity. Whether you plan to do cross-country riding, dirt jumping, freeride, trail riding, classic mountain biking or even downhill riding, you need to have the right gear and equipment. Mountain bike lights are part and parcel of these vital necessities, unless you don’t mind potentially dangerous rides when mountain biking at night.

Mountain bike lights come in a wide range of varieties, depending on the place that you wish to go riding and the spot you want lighting mounted. When buying lights, you also need to keep in mind that you need people behind and ahead to see you. Also, proper mountain bike lighting allows you to efficiently maneuver those high-incline climbs. It’s important to assess your needs before you make your purchase. To make your shopping experience a breeze, here are 5 tips to buying good mountain bike lighting.

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