And now a word from Mark Cullen...

Colour Trends in the Garden

There is a growing trend among homeowners to create an outdoor living space that is an extension of their home's interior. One way to transition from indoors to out is to use the same colour scheme throughout. Playing with colour in your garden can be as much fun as painting a picture or creating a colour palette to decorate a room. Claude Monet, after all, said he was "...a gardener first, and then a painter".

My Top 5 Perennial Pink Picks

The first paint colour that caught my attention was 'Pink Tank' from the Beauti-Tone® Simon Chang Trend Colour Collection. This is a vibrant, energetic hue that I would describe as a stunning pink. There are a number of plant blooms with a similar hue that will take this colour from your home to your garden.

Aquilegia - Columbines are available in a wide range of colours. Swan Rose and White Aquilegia feature large rose/pink blooms with a white corolla. Hardy to zone 3.

Buddleia - Butterfly Bush, Pink Delight, has fragrant clusters of deep-pink flowers. You won't be the only one admiring this plant; hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the tall, arching blooms. Hardy to zone 5.

Hemerocallis - Daylilies are available in an incredible variety of colours and shades. Varieties closest to the Simon Chang colour 'Pink Tank' include: Cherry Cheeks, Hush Little Baby, Little Show Stopper, Pink Damask and Preppy Pink. Hardy to zone 2.

Sedum - Autumn Stonecrop, Abbeydore, is an upright variety of Sedum that produces tall stems with bright magenta flowers. Elsie's Gold and Mr. Goodbud are also good choices of a bright pink colour. Hardy to zone 3.

Delphinium - New Millennium Delphinium, Dusky Maidens, is a tall variety with rich shades. Blooms feature shades of deep pink on three-foot stems. Hardy to zone 3.

Stainless Steel Garden Tools

Ergonomic, forward tilting handle and centralized foot tread reduce back strain and deliver more cutting power with less effort. Manufactured by Spear and Jackson, an English supplier of garden tools for over 150 years.

Stunning and bold

'Scream Green' is another colour from the Beauti-Tone® Simon Chang Trend Colour Collection that attracted my attention. It is a bold, almost electric green colour that reminds me of healthy grass. What better way to highlight a stunning green leaf than pairing it with the deep tones of burgundy and purple.

Ipomoea batatas - Sweet Potato Vine is a trailing annual plant that seems to grow in popularity every year and is a great choice for containers and hanging baskets. Terrace Lime, Margarita, and Sweet Caroline Light Green feature green/yellow foliage in a lighter shade than 'Scream Green'.

Delairea Odorata - German ivy is an annual plant with an abundance of thick, green leaves. It grows quickly and trails over the sides of hanging baskets. The rich, green colour can be paired with flowering annuals for stunning containers.

Sagina Subulata or Sagina - Irish moss is a low-growing annual plant that grows well between flagstone and patio slabs. The bright green colour is also attractive at the edge of a shady perennial border.

Dark and mysterious

If your colour palette is more the dark and mysterious purple, burgundy red, and deep brown tones, then you will appreciate 'Brazilian Walnut' from the Beauti-Tone® Simon Chang Trend Colour Collection. This is a striking colour that can be found on foliage plants.

Ipomoea batatas - As previously mentioned, 'Sweet Potato Vine' is a trailing annual available in many varieties. It is available in many colour varieties. Ace of Spades, Sweet Caroline Purple, Illusion Midnight Lace and Blackie all feature dark foliage in varying shades of purple/brown.

Solenostemon - Coleus is an annual plant that grows almost anywhere - from bright sun to deep shade. The foliage colour is affected by light intensity. Black Dragon features leaves in deep purple maroon and Wizard Mix has a variety of colours from light green to deep purple. In shaded locations, the deep purple of the Wizard is very similar to the Simon Chang colour 'Brazilian Walnut'.

Weigela florida - This medium-size shrub reaches a mature height of 5 feet. Weigela, Wine and Roses, needs full sun to produce the best colour. It is a striking combination of dark purple coloured foliage with 'Pink Tank' coloured blooms. Deep rosy pink flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. Hardy to zone 4.

Tips for growing beets

Beets, with their deep green, red-veined leaves, can be a pretty addition to any garden and are easy to grow. The tops are edible and full of vitamins, and should be picked early in the season for the best flavour. Early or late canning and bunching varieties are now available in red, white and yellow. There are a great number of sizes to choose from, too.

Days to harvest

From planting to harvest: 50 to 60 days. Beets are frost tolerant and can be planted at intervals from early spring until ten weeks before frost is predicted. Do not sow beets in midsummer when the intense heat will damage the seedlings. They must be harvested before the root becomes woody and inedible.

Soil requirements

Beets like a rich, sandy loam with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Amend soil with compost or well-rotted manure to ensure it is fertile and well drained. Spread a slow-release general fertilizer before sowing seeds and provide a consistent source of water. Overwatering can cause excessive leaf growth and small roots.

Spacing

Plant seeds to a depth of 1⁄2" (1.5 cm) in spring, 1" (2.5 cm) in summer, and space them 1 to 2" (3 to 5 cm) apart. Since each seed sprouts several beets, thin to 1" (2.5 cm) apart when the beets are 2" (5 cm) tall. Thin again to 3" (7.5 cm) apart when they reach 4" (10 cm) tall. The large Winter Keeper needs to be thinned even more

Baby bath tubs

Story of Puj

Tired of messy bath times where you end up just as wet as the baby, fighting with giant plastic tubs?

The easiest infant bathtub for mom and baby. Safely cradles baby. Hangs and stores flat. No more pain on your knees and back.

Introducing the Puj Tub: a revolutionary way to bathe your infant. The Puj Tub is perfect for the new mom to have on hand when she brings her baby home from the hospital.

Bathing an infant has never been this easy!

The Puj Tub was designed to make bath time quick and easy. The tubs revolutionary design allows you to bathe your infant in any standard bathroom sink.

• No more leaning over the bathtub stressing your knees, neck, and back.
• No more lining the bathroom sink with sponges and wet towels
• No more wondering where you are going to store that awkward plastic bathtub you used to use.

Patent Pending design allows for easy set up, bathing, clean-up, and storage.

The Puj Tub simplifies your job as a parent allowing you more time with your precious bundle of joy!

Flexi-bath

Everyday bath folds flat for storage and convenient travel.

The Flexi Bath™ is the ultimate solution to fun bathing and space saving! With a simple snap, the Flexi Bath™ opens to a large bath tub or folds flat, perfect for storing or traveling. Excellent for bathing and great for so many other uses.

• Multi-Purpose
• Multi-Award Winner
•Easy to clean
•Lightweight
•Rigorously tested for durability
•Easily folds when not in use or for travel
•Features drain plug to easily dispose of dirty water
•BPA FREE and contains NO heavy metals, phthalates or other harmful materials
•Recommended for ages 0-4 years

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Lunch!

Eatools are the handy way to eat lunch! Reusable and lightweight, they are perfect to keep in your purse, your backpack, your car or your desk drawer.



Taking your lunch to work? Check out our new Elle Lunchbags--these are sooo cute, I love the new styles! They all include a set of Eatools and are insulated to keep your lunch warm or cool. We have a wide variety of styles and sizes, on display near Gingersnaps!

Scratch and Save Paint Sale!

April 11-23

Scratch and Save 10-50%

On All Paint Products!

We are Canada's #1 Canadian owned and Canadian made retail paint brand.

Visit the Beauti-Tone paint page for handy tools like a paint calculator and painting tips!

Visit Home Hardware's Paint Page to see our product selection.

Did you know our paint can be tinted to over 2700 different colors?

Stop by and see Bob or Debbie today!

Anna Olson's Red Velvet Cupcakes

There are two options to achieve the red colour in these cupcakes. Grated beets add a subtle all-natural pink hue or red food colouring makes a vibrant red.

Makes 15 cupcakes

Cupcakes:

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature (90 mL)
• 6 tbsp packed dark brown sugar (90 mL)
• 6 tbsp white sugar (90 mL)
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (2 mL)
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (310 mL)
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (30 mL)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder (2 mL)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda (2 mL)
• 1/4 tsp salt (1 mL)
• 3/4 cup buttermilk (175 mL)
• 3 tbsp finely grated raw beets** (45 mL)
• 2 tsp white vinegar (10 mL)

• For the frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese for 3 minutes or until fluffy. Add the icing sugar and vanilla and beat gently until the sugar is incorporated, then beat more vigorously until the icing is fluffy. Pipe or spread the frosting on each cupcake.

The cupcakes can be stored chilled for up to three days, but are best enjoyed at room temperature.

** For a vibrant red colour, replace the grated beets with 2 tsp (10 mL) of red food colouring, and then add another 1/4 cup (60 mL) of buttermilk to the recipe.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (125 mL)
• 3/4 cup cream cheese, room temperature (175 mL)
• 2 cups icing sugar, sifted (500 mL)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 mL)

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C) and line the muffin pan with large paper baking cups.

• Beat the butter, brown sugar and white sugar together on high speed for 1 minute. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, stir the buttermilk, grated beets and vinegar together and add this to the butter mixture alternating with the flour mixture, starting and ending with the flour and blending well after each addition. Spoon the batter into the paper baking cups and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when gently pressed. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove them to cool completely on a cooling rack.

Current Garden Trends by Mark Cullen

Gardeners today have different priorities than a generation ago. The focus has shifted to these three trends: growing your own food, container gardening and growing a great, environmentally responsible garden.

Growing plants from seed is rewarding and economical

With the increased demand for locally grown food, urban gardeners are growing more of their own vegetablesand fruits. March is the month to startsowing many vegetables from seed if you want to harvest homegrown produce this summer. Seed racks in the stores are filled with a great selection this time of year. I recommend that you look them over early in the season while the seed selection is at its best.

Sowing seeds can be as simple or as sophisticated as you choose. A sunny window can provide sufficient light or you may opt for supplemental grow lights.

Mini greenhouses have a humidity dome to help seal in moisture and encouragegermination. This year, try the new Natura®/Mark's Choice® Biodegradable CornstarchPots. They can be planted in the ground to decompose or can be added to your compost pile.

Home Gardener Seed & Cutting starter soil promotes optimum seedling growth. Seed-starting soil mixes areformulated to maximize water retention and provide proper drainage. Growing your own vegetables is one of the fastest growing gardening trends. Icall this the '100 metre diet'. A short listof your favourite vegetables that will grow best from seed sown directly into garden soil in the spring include: peas, beans, corn, squash, pumpkins and carrots.

Growing demand for containers

I have been watching Canadian gardeners for a long time and have observed that we love to plant upcontainers for decks, patios, pathways and everywhere we want colour and plants above the ground. I urge you not to use the same soil you used last year when you plant your containers this year. There is nothing wrong with digging the old soil into your existing garden soil. That's a good idea! The point is, the nutrition was pulled out of the soil last year from the plants you had growing in the container. A container soil mix is specifically formulated for the demands of containergrown plants.Check out my new Mark's Choice® Container Mix. Itcontains some interesting surprises: calcinated clay, which is a natural water absorber, compost and sharp sand, for porosity.

After your containers are planted, add a teaspoon or so of Smartcote® Feed & Forget® fertilizer. I like this stuff because it eliminates the need to mix or reapply fertilizer for the entire season. The granules of Feed & Forget provide a diluted form of fertilizer every time you water, or it rains. It's well named and a terrific concept for the busy or forgetful gardener - which pretty much covers the whole group.

Reduce watering up to 50%

All natural Water Wicks are a Mark's Choice® product that I am very excited about. Each Water Wick tea bag absorbs up to 400 times its weight in water. Prepare a hole for planting, drop a pre-moistened Water Wick tea bag into the bottom of the hole and place the plant directly on top of it. Firm the soil around the plant. Now, as the soil dries out, the plant will draw moisture from the Water Wick. When you water your plants, the Water Wick is automatically recharged with water.

The results: you reduce watering up to 50% and your plants will become deeply rooted from searching for water at the bottom of the planting hole. Each Water Wick lasts up to six months before it composts into the soil. It's important to me that they are made of 100% natural ingredients - even the tea bag, which is hemp! Give them a try! I have used them in the veggie garden, under newly planted perennials and in containers, with great success.

Water Wicks are made in Canada and are a 100% Canadian concept! Environmental awareness is no longer a trend, but a widely accepted part of gardening life. Those of us who enjoy gardening share a love of nature and want techniques that save water, minimize insect and diseaseproblems, enhance the environment and improve our soil.

Anna Olson's Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

The addition of cream cheese and butter to the whipped cream frosting make the cupcakes easy to pick up and eat.

Makes 12 cupcakes

Cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (125 mL)
• 2/3 cup sugar (150 mL)
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (7 mL)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (375 mL)
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (15 mL)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder (7 mL)
• 1/4 tsp salt ( 1 mL)
• 1/3 cup sour cream (75 mL)

Cream Frosting:

• 1 cup whipping cream (250 mL)
• 1/2 pkg (4 oz) cream cheese, room temperature (120 g)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (60 mL)
• 2/3 cup icing sugar, sifted (150 mL)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 mL)
• 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries (500 mL)

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C) and line the muffin pan with large paper baking cups.

• Using electric beaters or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed for 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping the bowl after each addition, then beat in the vanilla.

• In a separate bowl, sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Add this alternating with the sour cream in three additions, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Spoon the batter into the paper baking cups and bake the cupcakes for about 18 minutes, until a tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove them to cool completely on a cooling rack.

• To prepare the frosting, whip the cream until it holds a soft peak then set aside. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy. Beat in the icing sugar and vanilla and then fold in the whipped cream in two additions. Pipe the frosting onto each cupcake using a piping bag with a large star tip. Arrange the strawberry slices to look like flower petals. When the frosting chills, it holds the strawberries securely.

The cupcakes can be stored chilled for up to two days.

Find this recipe and more in the Spring edition of Home at Home magazine, available FREE in store!

New Home Expressions

Visit this link to see what's up for Spring!

Anna Olson's Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

The meringue is a version of seven-minute frosting, perfectly suited to contrast the tangy lemon cake. Makes 16 cupcakes

Cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (125 mL)
• 1 1/4 cups sugar (310 mL)
• 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest (10 mL)
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (5 mL)
• 2 cups cake and pastry flour (500 mL)
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder (12 mL)
• 1/2 tsp salt (2 mL)
• 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature (175 mL)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice (30 mL)
• 5 to 6 tbsp lemon marmalade or lemon curd (75 to 90 mL

Meringue:

• 4 large egg whites, room temperature
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar (2 mL)
• 2/3 cup sugar (150 mL)

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C) and line the muffin pan with large paper baking cups.

• Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, stir the buttermilk and lemon juice together. Alternate between adding the flour and the buttermilk mixtures to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour, and blending well after each addition. Spoon the batter into the paper baking cups and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when gently pressed. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove them to cool completely on a cooling rack.

• Preheat the oven to 375˚F (190˚C) and place the cooled cupcakes on a baking sheet. Spoon a teaspoonful of lemon marmalade or curd in the centre of each cupcake top. Whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar until foamy and then continue whipping, slowing adding the sugar until the whites hold a stiff peak (the whites stand upright when the beaters are lifted). Spoon the meringue into a piping bag and pipe swirls to completely cover the marmalade or curd on top of each cupcake. Bake the cupcakes for 6 minutes until the meringue browns slightly, and then cool to room temperature.

The cupcakes can be stored chilled for up to two days, but are best enjoyed at room temperature.

Find this recipe and more in the Spring edition of Home at Home magazine, available FREE in store!

Dreaming of Garden Season...

Found this lovely article at Chatelaine.com:

It’s that time of year for me: the time of year when Tim Horton’s Roll Up the Rim is well underway and I start dreaming about what my yard is going to look like.

Now let me clarify—in no way am I a green thumb. In fact, I make a point of, er, annually turning to one of my closest friends to arrange and plant my garden. I’m no prima donna—I’m right in there with her digging up holes, transplanting beautiful flowers, covering them right up. But for the overall look, I leave it up to her to determine the mix of what’s right for my front yard and then we head over the garden centre where I give her my budget and she’s got yard blanche to plan my plot.

Just last week I dropped her an email wondering: what about a vegetable garden this year? I ran it by the family and the kids in particular loved the idea and started dreaming of growing cucumbers, peppers, cherry tomatoes, lettuces, pineapples, apples…. I had to put a stop to it right there and green lit the first three, noting that it’s probably best to focus our ambitions on foods that grow well in our urban Toronto yard. Sorry kids, no pineapples or apples this year. (Can you even grow pineapples outdoors in Canada? Again my agricultural knowledge fails me, but I’m guessing not.)

So with this in mind, I was quite happy to stumble across Michele Owen’s book Grow The Good Life Why a Vegetable Garden Will Make You Happy, Healthy and Wise. I called up this former New Yorker to ask…what is it exactly about gardening that will make us grin?

Q: What’s the connection between gardening and happiness?

A: It’s a 10-ply kind of happiness. It involves all these physical things that have proven to make people happy such as sunshine, exercise, contact with greenery. There are studies showing all these things make people happy. And then there’s the spiritual aspect of gardening too. When I’m out there, I feel this sense of being able to forget myself in the garden, time passes, I’m completely at peace and absorbed in the task. You forget about yourself and your cares and concentrate on the task at hand.

The other thing is you’ll get this sense of connectedness if you start gardening. There’s an incredible sense of community among gardeners. So if you take up gardening, you may well find yourself chatting with your 80-year-old neighbour who you would never have a conversation with her except that she’s been growing vegetables for 50 years and she has things to tell you.

Q: How did you start gardening?

A: I’d lived in New York City for eight years and was dying to get out of the city but I couldn’t really put my finger on why. Then my husband and I moved to a country village and the groceries were so execrable that I realized I had to do something and I started gardening. I think the first time I stuck a shovel into the soil, I thought—oh, this is why I left New York. This is it for me.

Q: If we’ve never gardened before any tips on getting started?

A: Most how-to gardening books are thick with information and off-putting and they don’t give beginners the essential information which is that it’s really easy and really enjoyable. In terms of advice, mulch is key because if you mulch you won’t need to weed much, or water much and you won’t need fertilizer. My other advice is relax and enjoy it. If something doesn’t work, shrug and try something else.

Long time no see...

This poor blog has taken a back seat recently to a new little attention-hogger, who joined our family two weeks ago. I had been pretty much house-bound for the 6 weeks leading up to his arrival, so I wasn't in tune with all the goings-on at the store and couldn't provide many updates. But now that babe is here and well and ready to go for regular coffee dates, we should be able to get this puppy back up and running.

You may have noticed our sign in shambles in the snow (in fact, many people said they drove by to see Leo's birth announcement on the sign only to see the sign was not there!) We are updating and upgrading ourselves to a new and improved sign, coming soon!

Also our entire housewares department has been flipped perpendicularly! You can now see right down all of the aisles and we have some beautiful new feature ends. Fruits and Passions has moved across the aisle to its new home in Gourmet.

Baby also got a renovation with changed fixtures and additional space (again!) to make room for all the new things we have on the way.

Gingersnaps got a bit of a change-up as well, and so did our website!

You can now view current flyers and the catalogs directly from our website. (Check out the Bath and Kitchen planner, awesome!)

Well, that's all for now. We're hatching some plans for March so watch for more details soon!

We'll Be Home for Christmas...

Home Hardware will be
CLOSED
Dec 24, 25, 26
&
Dec 31, Jan 1, 2
To spend time with our families

We would like to thank all of our amazing customers for
your loyalty and patronage, and for supporting
local, family businesses in Lloydminster.

Our goal is to offer you a relaxing, stress-free shopping environment
and to provide products, atmosphere, and service you can't find
anywhere else. It has been our pleasure to serve and support
our community for the past eleven years.

We wish all of you a very safe and happy holiday season
and look forward to serving you in 2011.

Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year
From Your Friends at
Home Hardware Lloydminster!

Christmas Sales!

This is the last weekend to get all your holiday shopping in before the big day and we have a surprise from Santa for you!

Scratch and Save up to 25% off your purchases this Saturday, including sale prices!
We have 2 flyers running right now, with big savings on wrap, bows and tape as well as gifts for the whole family.

We also have some big in-store specials on, including:

In-store Markdowns on:
Mirrors and Prints
Toys
Personal Accessories (purses, jewelry etc)
Gourmet Foods
Kitchen Accessories
"Last One" Tools (include FREE Giftcards valued from $50-$100)
Mukluks
Anna Olson Cookbooks

20-50% off Everything Christmas (anything with a christmas theme is included! Books, music, housewares, decor, you name it!)

20% Off:
Warm Buddy
neXXt picture frames
Mate Tea
Torani Syrups
Wild Prairie Soaps, Lotions & Lipbalms
PacaPops Kids Sweaters

Sales in Baby
Robeez Shoes, Boots and Mini Shoes
Little Soles Squeaky Shoes
Bumbos
Sophie the Giraffe
Babylegs and Babylegs Socks
Momzelle Nursing Tops
Scwibbles and Crayoleez Crayons
Stonz
Webkinz

Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Soup

Found this little beauty on a great food blog called Framed Cooks.
Lots of great little holiday gems in here, including Peppermint Brownies (mmm, I love anything mint chocolate!)

Thought I would share this recipe, although I haven't tried it yet. It looks yum.
My Mom often makes up some kind of soup when we are all out at my parents' place for the weekend, and if you are looking for something hearty and different (and not containing turkey) this might be just the soup to warm you up after tobogganing (and it has vodka! Additional points!)



Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Soup, adapted from SILVER PALATE GOOD TIMES COOKBOOK

• 3/4 stick butter
• 1 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh dill
• 2 ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 8 ounces smoked salmon, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 8 cups water
• fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 2 cups fresh spinach, washed and chopped
• 2 packages cream cheese, sliced into 8 pieces each
• 1/3 cup vodka
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Snipped fresh chives, for garnish

1. Melt butter in medium size saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft, about 10 minutes.

2. Stir in dill, tomatoes and salmon and cook 3 minutes. Add flour and cook 1 minute more. Gradually stir in water and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Season with pepper, stir in spinach and simmer 5 more minutes. Now stir in cream cheese, one piece at a time, allowing each piece to melt into the soup. When all the cheese is added and the soup is smooth, stir in the vodka and lemon juice. Taste for seasonings, and ladle into bowls. Garnish with chives and serve.

Triple Aeroplan Miles!

Holiday Candles

Natura Soylights is based in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada.

When you buy these candles you are buying a CANADIAN MADE, ALBERTA MADE product!

All of their candles are individually hand-crafted using an exclusive blends of the highest quality soy wax, color and premium fragrance or essential oils. The recipes have been tested to find the right blends for the best scent and burn. We offer both Synthetic and Essential Oil fragrances to appeal to everyone.

The Natura Lights are essential oil blends, creating unique and natural fragrances for the Holiday season. Scents include Sugarplum, Candy Cane, Holiday Tree and Winter Mint.

The Soy jars and votives have a wider range of scents, including the holiday scents listed below.

Made from 100% Soy Bean Wax

Burns cooler & longer than paraffin

Water soluble for easy cleanup

Benefits the agriculture industry

Environmentally safe; biodegradable

Made with 100% cotton core wicks

Individually handcrafted

Non Toxic

Soot Free

Home Comforts
Apple Crisp	Juicy apple combined with buttercream, cinnamon and baked oatmeal cookie.
Apple Jack	Apple, cinnamon & Spice.
Chai Tea	Cinnamon bark, nutmeg; fresh green tea and creamy soy milk.
Cinnabun	A spicy cinnamon accord with warm nutty undertones along with the aroma of fresh baked bread.
Cocoa Cappucino	Fresh brewed espresso, cocoa, cream and sugar.
Hazelnut Latte	Buttery cream and caramel mixed with hazelnut liquor, and a hint of fresh arabica coffee.
Pumpkin Crunch	Creamy pumpkin pie; surrounded with freshly baked yellow cake, melted butter, pecans, and hints of spice.
Spice Berry	Cranberry relish and orange zests with hints of ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

Holiday
Bayberry	A holiday tradition.
Chestnut Brown Sugar	Roasted chestnuts and sweet brown sugar.
Cranberry Chutney	Balsam fir needles, tart cranberry and hints of citrus.
Christmas Tree	Fresh cut Christmas tree.
Frankencense & Mryhh	Fresh and so Sophisticated for the Holidays!. This scent even appeals to those who do not typically like cleaner scents.
Ginger Spice	Spiced cookie with hints of vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.
Noel	Apples, oak, balsam, fir, and pine, with a background of cinnamon and clove.
Orange Brandy	Spiced Orange with hints of Brandy. Unique and very appealing!.
Snowflake	Fresh peppermint and sweet vanilla.
Yuletide	Mandarin, tangerine and grapefruit entwined with balsam, cedarwood, berries and mulled apple.
Pomegranate & Cassis	A mysterious blend of exotic, spicy pomegranate, wild bergamot, cassis, iris, jasmine; followed by spicy notes of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, with base notes of precious woods and cedar.

Manitobah Mukluks

What makes them different: they are Aboriginally owned and Made in Canada.
They blend traditional styles and designs with new materials and production techniques.

We carry a variety of mukluks and lined moccasins (find them in Home Expressions). The lined moccasins make the best slippers, hands down. Feet stay warm and toasty without overheating.

The mukluks are awesome, particularly the ones with the Vibram sole--a high performance rubber sole designed to withstand the harsh Canadian winters.



I personally own these brown puppies and I love them. They are warm and comfortable, and the rubber sole keeps my feet dry and protected from hard surfaces and melting ice. Last year, everywhere I went, people were asking me where I got them.

We have them in an assortment of colors, including black, brown, grey and purple.

Pick some up today to enjoy for the season, or ask Santa on your Christmas list ;)

Whoa, Baby!

I had a bunch of new baby stuff on the way so I thought I would post it all at once and get it out of the way, so the baby audience gets it all in one go, and the non-baby audience can move on and not have a million baby posts spread out all month.

Some other updates-- Sleep Sheep and Friends are on order, and should be in shortly, as will all colors of Bumbos (currently sold out of a few colors). More Woombies are on the way and also some additional color selections in both sizes. New Alex and Melissa & Doug toys are on the way too, woot. Swaddle Me blankets and Tiny Diner Placemats (the cool ones with the little scoop to catch falling food) are coming too!

New bug a lug bows and soother clips are coming as are more Snuggle Bug Baby Bows and Bink Links, and new Cookie Safes in Green, Blue and Purple!

Also, in Bumbo news, Bumbos are $15 off right now--which means you can get a Bumbo AND a Bumbo Play Tray for the regular price of the Bumbo, so it's like the tray is free, sweet!

All Momzelle Nursing Tops are 30% Off.
Little Soles Squeaky Shoes are also 30% Off.
Ingrid and Isabel Maternity Camis, Tanks, Pants and Leggings are 20 % Off.

Robeez Booties are on for 31.97 (reg 38.97)--find them in the Power Aisle
Stonz Booties, Mittz and Hats are 20% off.
Babylegs are on for 12.97
Sophie the Giraffe is on for 19.97
All Webkinz are 20% off the last ticketed price (so sale items are even further reduced!)

Ok, hopefully we are all caught up in all things baby for awhile! :)

Belly Belt

You’ve got a wardrobe full of great clothes, why limit yourself? bellybelt gives you the option to create the maternity outfit of your choice. Simply button it into your regular trousers, jeans, skirts and shorts and add a fabulous top. Double your options with bellybelt slide, specially designed for slide-fastening trousers and skirts. each kit contains

• 3 bellybelt extension panels
• 3 colored panels to mix & match
• storage bag to keep it all together

BellyBelt Combo is the easy and inexpensive way to transform your favourite jeans, trousers, skirts and shorts into maternity wear.

Each kit contains two different size button up belts, two different size slide belts and three fabric panels (white, denim, black) that cover the gap. It's truly the maternity wear solution!