Get Greener

Want to switch to natural cleaning products? Looking for items that are easier on the environment? Look no further!

We are proud to offer a large selection of items that are good for you and good for the earth. A variety of them are listed in the Green section of our website. From reusable water bottles, to natural laundry detergent, to composters, we've got you covered. We post new items up on the blog all the time, so check back often for new products, or search under the labels GO GREEN or What would Nature Do.

And now a word from Mark Cullen

Below is an excerpt from the "Gardening With Mark" June Newsletter. You can sign up for the newsletter at Mark's website, www.markcullen.com

June is the month of mulch.

You will get most of your plants – annuals, perennials, roses and others – into the ground sooner or later this month and when you are done, you can sit back in the hammock and enjoy.

Well, almost.

The Gardeners Secret Weapon.

The last remaining thing for you to do before you settle in for a comfortable summer in your garden is to mulch. This is the gardeners’ secret weapon – and the main reason why you CAN sit back and relax all summer. Here is why:

1. A 5 cm (2 inch) layer of finely ground up cedar or pine bark mulch insulates the soil from the drying effects of the sun and wind. You will reduce your watering by up to 70% as a result.

2. The same mulch provides a barrier to the germination of weed seeds and many weed roots – the result – an 80 to 90% reduction in weeding in the first year. See how easy that was?

Bark mulch is inexpensive (wasn’t that long ago that it was considered a waste product…), easy to apply, smells good, looks good and lasts for up to 3 years (with an annual freshen up layer added). Need I say more?

Celebrate mulch and shake your booty all the way to Home Hardware for a few bags.

On a personal note, I am looking forward to the month of June for a whole bunch of reasons.

I Travel west and east in June to award winners with Home Hardware!

I am traveling to Lloydminster, Alberta for the grand opening of one of the first ‘Mark Cullen Approved’ garden centres at Home Hardware. The Rurka family is one of the great, outstanding retailing families in Canada (note all the awards that they have won!) and I am delighted to welcome them into the first year of the Mark Cullen Approved garden centre program.

Be sure to join me and the Rurka family on Tuesday, June 16 th. Details at www.hhlloyd.com.

Candle of the Month

The Candle of the Month for May and June is Pink Peony. Save 25% off regular retail prices! Available in 3 sizes of jars, plus votives and tealights.

This tranquil aroma of fruity top notes combines with rose and peony blossoms, infused with a spicy touch. The 22 oz oval jar candle burns for up to 95 hours.

You've got the cutest little Baby Legs...

We are excited to introduce BabyLegs to the store! What the heck are they? Basically they are like legwarmers or individual tights for babies and toddlers to wear on their arms and legs. BabyLegs are for boys and girls. Wear them with dresses as an alternative to tights, wear them as "long sleeves" with a short sleeve top, under pants for an extra layer of warmth, with a onesie when it is cool in the morning (take them off as it warms up), for protection when crawling, to keep legs warm when potty training or when having "diaper free time" to heal rashes... the list goes on and on!

NEW this spring are BabyLegs Cool--featuring a UPF protection of 50+ to protect little legs from the sun, but keep baby cool. Now let's show off those baby legs!

Have you tried a Neti Pot?

I'm looking to Peter for some good puns to rename this post. Peter? Peter can you hear me?
So, all this wind has stirred up a lot of dirt and dust and is making breathing difficult. I decided to pull out the old neti pot for a quick rinse this morning.

I used to be afraid of neti pots (as Jeff is, currently) and thought they would make me feel like I was drowning. After trying it the first time I was delightfully impressed! I felt refreshed and like it was easier to breathe.

Basically you fill the pot with warm salt water (be sure to use the special salts, as iodized salt can burn) and plug the spout into your nostril. Keeping your head upright, tilt to the side opposite of the pot (if the spout is in your right nostril, tip left). Gently tilt the pot to allow the water to slowly enter your nose. It should flow over one side and out the other nostril. Halfway through the pot, switch sides.

Neti pots have been around the block for a long time, and have been given recent fame by Dr. Oz on Oprah. If you haven't tried one, give it a whirl, and let us know what you think. I am going to convert Jeff.

Click here for more information.

New in Baby--Hatley!

We are super excited to introduce this new infant line from Hatley--soo cute. You may remember Hatley from back in the day, we used to carry the adult items--pj's, stationary, aprons etc--and you may see the return of some of these items this fall.

We will have the infant clothes in 2 sizes, 6-12 month and 12-18 month, in 8 adorable designs and 4 different outfit options--onesies, coveralls with hat (shown), footed pj's and a party dress. I am sure you will love them as much as we do!

Gingersnaps Weekly Menu

Container Gardening

Container Gardening is one of the easiest and most accessible ways for anyone to garden. You don't even need a yard! Containers are great for apartments and condos, for your front porch or driveway, for your deck, at the entrance to your business, up at the cabin or as accent pieces throughout your yard.

Containers can be small
Or tall,
Simple
or Elegant,
Or completely unique!
When planting containers, be sure to use a good quality Container soil. These soils contain materials that increase water absorption and retention (very important if you don't want to be watering all day!) Also, if you don't want an extremely heavy pot, we suggest filling the bottom third to half of the pot with something light, and putting your dirt on top. (Mom uses pop bottles, other people have used large bark nuggets, styrofoam peanuts, etc.)

Picking plants for your containers is easy if you find plants from these categories:

Thriller: The eye-catcher of the container, usually something big and bold in the middles. The CLASSIC, quintessential centerpiece for containers is Dracaena (also known as "that big spiky thing.") And while Dracaena is lovely, don't be afraid to try other things, such as grasses or tall annuals or perennials, or even a staked vine.

Filler: These are plants used to fill the majority of the container. You can use anything you like, provided it does not grow taller than your centerpiece. Petunias, geraniums, verbena, short snapdragons, begonias, impatiens... you get the idea. You don't even have to use flowers, you can use foilage and mixes of greens and grasses.

Spiller: These are plants that trail over the edge of the container. Looking at the example pictures above, you can see they all have spillers. These soften the edge of the pot or basket and provide a more natural look. When picking spillers, look for words like "trailing." Many plants, such as petunias, verbena and lobelia have compact (good for filler) and trailing (good for spiller) varieties.

Like the look of containers but don't want to put one together yourself? One of the easiest things you can do is using a hanging basket. With many pots, you can cut off the hangers from the basket and just plunk it right in the pot. Or, you can take it out of the basket and replant it in a pot (adding a centre spike if desired). Note: This is also one of our top tips for the garden--if you want a big full garden fast, plant hanging baskets. It could be one of the easiest and most rewarding things you do all summer!

Up for the fun and challege of designing a basket? Get some inspiration at the Proven Winners website. They have a "container recipe" section (click for a direct link) that has almost 600 (!!!) suggestions for summer containers alone! Browse through for color ideas or to see how different plants are used.

Happy Planting!

Cash in those points!

From May 6 to 30, get a $100 Home Gift Card for the special rate of just 12,000 Aeroplan Miles.

ONE DAY ONLY!

Since the weather has been so unkind to us lately, and it is supposed to FINALLY be nice this weekend, we will be in the greenhouses watering plants on what will hopefully be a hot day: Sunday.

Since we will be there anyway, we are going to open the gates.

Yes, that's right. For ONE DAY ONLY, the Garden Centre will be OPEN ON SUNDAY, 10-4. This Sunday, May 24th. Only the Garden Centre will be open (there will be no access to the store).

So if you have been dying to get your hands in your garden, do it this weekend. If you don't get a chance to come in Saturday, stop by Sunday.

See you then!

SALE SALE SALE

BABY--All Bunnies by the Bay clothing now on sale, as well as selected books, blankets, diaper bags and toys. Prices as marked.

DRUIDE-- Selected Druide products on special, prices as marked. (Some of the travel kits are on sale--pick them up at a great price now and then refill as needed.)

PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS--Selected Jewelry, Purses, Clothing, Hats and Footwear on sale.

GOURMET--Selected Tableware on sale.

Come in and check it out!

No Fee Event

Homecard No Fee Event

On Homecard Purchases over $200. O.A.C. See store for details. Event runs from May 20 to June 6, 2009.*

Gignersnaps Weekly Menu

Weekend Update

Well, after some pretty miserable weather we ended up with a nice day afterall--it's currently 19*, and the garden centre is packed. You must must must come see the *3* new baby goats, they are so small and adorable.

Water plants are in, as are annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs and vines. Visit the Barn for your grass seeds, if you are planning on doing some reseeding this weekend. Sweetpea's is open for business and the ice cream is excellent, especially in a new waffle cone. Check out the Perennial Greenhouse's new Western look. Thoughts?



We have some out-of-town friends visiting this weekend (shout out to the Ross Family, Amanda and Karen) and we always love to share your store with them.

New Moms-- get out in the fresh air and bring baby to Sweetpea's to relax. The store is always full of new moms, maybe you will meet a new friend! Gingersnaps is also featuring some new Italian Soda drinks--get them with milk and whipped cream for an extra indulgence.

Did you see Friday's Booster? We GUARANTEE the absolute BEST PRICE on fence boards in town. In fact, we have a Price Match Promise for any identical, locally advertised item (I'll be posting more about this in the upcoming weeks). Also good to know--the advertised flyer prices on lumber are often higher than in-store prices. Always call or come in for current prices, you'll probably be surprised. And did you know we are the only store in town to offer SAME DAY DELIVERY?



Yoga clothes are flying off the shelves--if you don't own a shirt or a pair of these pants, now is the time to try them. SO comfortable and adaptable to any body type. Perfect for getting out for a walk on a beautiful spring day.

Check out our facebook page for more new photos of the store.
YES, we are Open Monday (the only holiday we are) so that you can plant up your gardens or get started on your fences or decks. Stop by and see us, and have a great weekend!

Finally!

The new shipment of Robeez has arrived, including new Mini Shoes! They feature soft, flexible soles and more of a "real shoe" look. Other features:

• Elasticized back and adjustable fasteners to keep them on
• High quality leather upper with water-repellent, non-slip soles perfect for light outdoor wear
• Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association
• Cushioned insoles and soft, quality materials

And more designs of the original soft soles have arrived as well. Robeez are ideal for proper foot development. For more information, please visit the Robeez website.

Wedding Registry

Did you know that we have a Wedding Registry? And it is one of the best places to register because of our vast product selection--from tools to kitchen appliances, that perfect piece of art or a lawn mower for your new yard, we've got you covered.

Your friends and family want to get you something you need and something you will love for your wedding. Registering at Home Hardware is a great way to allow them to go in on bigger ticket items (such as a BBQ or patio set) and also smaller pieces for your bridal shower. And Home Gift Cards are a perfect way to get all those "necessities" that you you need, but no one wants to give as a wedding present (garbage cans, garden tools etc).

We treat you right when you register, and make sure it is a special, relaxing and enjoyable experience for you.

Come in and see the girls to get your registry started today! Find out more details here.

Gingersnaps Weekly Menu

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Clothing Sale! Save up to 50%!

Home Hardware has a great selection of comfy, casual clothes now on sale! Great styles from eXhale, Dedicated and lilikoi that you can wear to the gym, the farmers market or out for coffee. You may notice that a lot of our girls wear these styles at work--they are very well made and versatile. A lot of our styles are also suitable for maternity wear. From the eXhale website:

eXhale clothing is designed for modern women of any age and is available in sizes XS to PLUS 2. Elegant designs allow for a fit that slims and sculpts your body. Yoga inspired clothing you can wear anywhere.

All of our garments are manufactured in Canada with the highest standards from materials to manufacturing. Quality and luxury that will spoil you the moment you try on our clothing.

eXhale brings stylish and elegant designs that work whatever you are doing. Wear eXhale for yoga, relaxing, travel, shopping, at work, or for an evening out.

3 Cheers for Moms!

We love you, Moms, and everything you do for your families and communities. You're always there when we need you and we appreciate all the hard work you put in every day of the week. From little babies to full grown adults, we all look to our Moms for love, support, guidance and encouragement. You are our biggest cheerleader, our fiercest protector and our greatest teacher.

We salute you, Moms!

Time to get your BBQ on

One of the things I love about Lloyd is how it always smells like BBQ--mmm. And with the warmer weather, I am sure it on everyone's minds. Jeff and I have a few BBQ goals this year--BBQ'd corn on the cob with flavored oils (we've done the corn, just not the oils) to BBQ pizza (homemade crust, right on the grill, like this one from Jamie Oliver, but maybe minus the egg) and to finally try one of these BBQ chicken roasters--you can use beer or ginger ale to help baste the bird, and the roaster is safer and keeps the bird upright.



Don't limit yourself on the BBQ this year--there are dozens of accessories you can try to expand your repertoire. Fajitas? Quesadillas? Pancakes?

This is a delicious-sounding recipe from the Sterling BBQ website. I am hoping Peter will see it and be inspired to make it next weekend!

Muskoka Salad
The sweet flavour of this colorful salad is the perfect compliment to simply grilled chicken breasts.

1/3 cup slivered almonds
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon tarragon vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
5 green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup orange sections
2 avocados, peeled and chopped
5 cups mixed salad greens, washed and torn

• In a small skillet over MEDIUM-LOW, combine the almonds and sugar and stir constantly until the sugar carmelizes on the almonds, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat immediately, and spread on a plate or cookie sheet to cool. Break them apart if necessary, and store in an airtight container.
• To prepare the salad dressing, combine the lemon juice, honey, vinegar and mustard in a large salad bowl. Whisking constantly, drizzle in the olive oil in a thin stream. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Prepare the onions, oranges and avocados, and toss them with the dressing. At the last minute, add the chilled lettuce leaves, sprinkle the almonds overtop, and toss gently.

YUM, sounds good. And maybe he will make these for dessert:

Grand Marnier Kabobs

3 apricots, firm & fresh
3 figs, firm & fresh
2 slices pineapple, 1 inch thick
2 tangerines
2 bananas, firm & fresh
2 red delicious apples
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 tablespoon Grand Marnier™

• Cut apricots in half, remove pits. Remove stalks and cut figs lengthwise in quarters. Cut pineapple slices in chunks. Peel tangerines and cut in quarters, leaving membranes on. Peel bananas and cut into 1” slices. Peel apples and cut in quarters. Remove core and cut each quarter crosswise. Sprinkle apples and bananas with lemon juice to keep from discolouring.
• Thread a mixture of fruit onto 6 skewers starting and finishing with apple and pineapple. To prepare sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan. Stir in powdered sugar, then Grand Marnier™ and orange juice and peel. Brush kabobs with sauce. Cook over medium heat, 5-6 minutes, basting frequently with the sauce, and turning to brown evenly. Serve hot with remaining sauce.

Do you have any favorite BBQ recipes? Tips? Tricks? Leave us a comment with your best ones!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is THIS SUNDAY. Don't forget! If you need some ideas, come in and talk to us.

Gingersnaps Weekly Menu

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In the News--Composting!

How timely! The Edmonton Journal recently ran this article called "Taking the 'Yuck' out of Composting", which features this beautiful composter available at Home Hardware.

• - Locking lid
• - Tea collection reservoir
• - Drain for tea
• - Compost mixing tool
• - Holes for aeration
• - Rear door for access to compost

BENEFITS:

• - This decorative solution to composting is very
  unique and functional
• - Several features to make composting easy and
  effective
• - Made of durable rotationally moulded plastic that
  will resist cracking, chipping and fading

5010-510 $139.99

Tea of the Month--Acai White Tea

If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you. ~Gladstone, 1865


New! Acai White Tea
Organic Whole Leaf White Tea with Acai Berries

From the Two Leaves and a Bud website:

Special harvest long whole-leaf tea leaves and buds create this super light but full tasting white tea. Acai berries are berries grown on special Amazonian palm trees, harvested in the rain forests of Brazil. The rich taste is a distinct combination of berry flavor and subtle chocolate. The berries are high in anti-oxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids which aid in fighting off cancer and other diseases as well as sharpen mental focus.

Oh Baby!

These new sunglasses are perfect for protecting baby's eyes from the harshness of the sun. Designed in Australia, Baby Banz offer 100% UVA/B protection. They feature a neoprene elastic strap that allows the glasses to fit comfortably on baby's face, and are adjustable as baby grows. The strap also keeps the Banz on baby's face (so they won't fall off while swimming or chasing the dog around the yard).

Also new in store is the Raz Baby teether. This little puppy looks like a soother but features a bumpy texture. Comes in 4 colors (shown). They look hard but they are actually quite soft and flexible. They are also designed for the baby to chew on all parts of it (including the handle, nice and bumpy!) They are selling out FAST but we will be getting more in soon. Hannah is going to be a guinea pig on this one, we'll let you know what she thinks!

• Gently massages and cools tender gums
• Stimulating, bumpy texture aids in the teething process
• Hands-free teether -- soothes baby's gums while they play
• Can be chilled for extra-soothing comfort
• Non-toxic 100% food-grade silicone. Safe and durable.
• No bisphenol-A, phtalates, or PVC

New Clothing Line!

Things are pretty crazy at the store, as we're getting ready for the Woman's Trade Show *(BIG THANK YOU, to our girls who have done such an amazing job organizing our booth!) and simultaneously preparing the garden centre for its ‘grand opening’ (we get plants next Monday!)

So, as you can imagine, we’re all very busy…though- I was dealing with a peer this morning who kept telling me how busy she was, and barely let me –or herself- get through a sentence before she was reminding me again about how she was soooo busy. So I’ve made a private mental vow not to be that ‘busy’ person. I guess that vow is pretty public now soo… I guess you all can hold me to it!

Which is why I’m taking a few moments to post an awesome article from The Vancouver Sun.

Lately everyone has been talking about the ‘recession’ and how it might have a negative impact on the green movement since eco-friendly product is typically perceived as being more expensive.

This article talks about how consumers can make environmentally sound choices without giving up on style and quality and without spending a fortune, and it’s about Echo Rain, a new line of clothing we’re carrying.

This collection of clothing fits perfectly with our store’s values- earth-friendly, fashionable, and affordable!

We’re expecting shipments sometime in the next few weeks!

Check it out-

http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1533435&sponsor==