Celebrate Mom With Gifts From The Heart & For The Home!

It's time to celebrate

From Tina Holmes, Toronto Show Manager:

Don't forget it's Mother's Day on May 11th. I recon your mom will be chuffed to bits with any of these gifts from our Home Show Friends.  Treat your mum to something special this Mother's Day with some of my picks - gifts from the heart and for the home.

Pretty Organized

The Boho Dress Scarf Holder by Umbra features 16 rings on which to hang your scarf collection. Hang in the closet or on a wall or door hook for easy scarf access! 

Picture This!

 

Prisma Frames.  A beautiful photograph or a sentimental photograph is always a good choice and what better way than to show them off with theses glorious gold Prisma Frames.  I have a crush on these new stylish photo frames from Umbra.  In Matte Brass wire, a photo floats between two panes of glass.  The Frames can alternately sit on a table, desk or can be hung on the wall. Three sizes available, 4 x 4, 4x6 and 5 x 7. 

A Bit of Bling!

Colourful Triangle Necklace  A statement piece from Muizee that would make a very special gift for the stylish mom.  The colourful bunting adds pops of colour on the gold box chain. The perfect combination of colours will bring out the best in any outfit.  17.5" length with a 2.5" adjustable extension and lobster claw closure.  High quality gold alloy, handmade and nickel free metal.

Turquoise LOVE

Show the love! A beautiful Turquoise bracelet from Dainty by LouLou Beads.  You can dress it up but it's still casual enough to wear every day.  Metal: Sterling Silver  Beaded With Turquoise.  Available Lengths: 6", 7", 8"

Breakfast in Bed

Breakfast Tray.  Start Mother's day off right with a stylish breakfast tray piled high with goodness.  Moms deserve breakfast in bed, plan the perfect breakfast in bed with this stylish Breakfast Tray from casalife .  This white lacquer with black trim has a handle on style.  Casalife with it's now three locations in Toronto make it easy to shop for the perfect piece of furniture or home accessory to make your house a home.

I Heart Mum
 to larger f

Heart Shaped Candle Holders.  These charming, heart-shaped tea light candleholders are a perfect way to say I love you.  Perfect for any room, each  hand crafted stone candleholder has a distinct blend of stunning colors and unique pattern. Group all six heart-shaped candleholders together to create to a more pronounced look.  Artemano  now has a location in Toronto and a makes a great shopping trip with Mom!

The Healthy Option 

Vitamix S30

Surprise her this Mother's Day with a gift from Vitamix. Because every mom wants to shower the world with more delicious fruits and vegetables.  Meet the S30.  For the first time, high performance gets personal.  This blender creates healthy options for every meal, every day.  Designed for life,  no matter where life takes you or who's along for the ride, a Vitamix personal blender makes healthy options quick, easy, and portable.

Decor to Adore... a perfect pretty Tablesetting 

GTA Home Show Tablescape by We Create Hoopla Featuring Etsy

Pillow, StudioLiscious, Etsy

We featured Tablescapes at our GTA Home Show, which featured this pretty Tablescape designed by We Create Hoopla featuring Etsy.  With Mother's day in May, Spring is in the Air and what better way than to celebrate with a perfect pretty table setting. Bright florals and succulents mixed with the simple white ceramic dishes, to the pastel pink ombre napkins makes a lovely table.  The simple details like the gold cutlery to the Rose Pillow would be mother approved.  All of the products were sourced local so everything on the table was from Canadian Etsy sellers.

For more information on this pretty Tablescape check out the We Create Hoopla blog.  Also for convenience, visit the their product resource guide on their Etsy Page 

Framing Magic

Mother's day is an opportunity to give a gift from the heart.  If you  are a DIY enthusiast then you will love our new found love with Wordle.  Worlde is a toy for generating 'word clouds'.  You can customize your clouds with different fonts, layouts and colour schemes.  Best of all, you can create your own mother inspired works of art.  Easy as 1,2,3.... Create, frame, add a bow and you're good to go. For more information and a simple tutorial click here.

For the Love of Cooking

Does your mum love cooking?  Celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford recently made a guest appearance at our GTA Home Show and also showcased her cook book  'At Home with Lynn Crawford, 200 of My Favourite Easy Recipes'.  The cookbook  is packed with fabulous recipes and plenty of inspiring photos with each recipe looking oh-so delicious makes it a great gift for Mom.  The only thing better than getting a copy for Mother’s Day would be making something from the book ahead of time and giving your mom a delicious surprise.

At Home with Lynn Crawford: 200 of my Favourite Easy Recipes Book Cover

The best present you can give is a big hug and smile and spend Mother's day with your Mom and family. 

Mother's Day is a perfect day to celebrate your Mom.

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Special thanks to Toronto Show Manager Tina Holmes a.k.a. @TinaLovesPinot, for  sharing her favourite Mother's Day finds with us!

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The ABC's of the National Home Show: Real Advice, Real Inspiration & Real Experts!

The 2014 National Home Show is on right now! Offering you inspiration for your home and landscaping projects.  With over 750 exhibitors showcasing their best and newest products and services - you won't want to miss all the great opportunities our show has to offer you and your home.
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To get you excited about the show, Show Manager Tina Holmes has done an alphabetical rundown of what to see. Check out the excitement below...

• Appliances.  See the latest in Home Appliances.  From new technology in the kitchen to luxury laundry. 

• Bathrooms. Whether you're renovating or just need some inspiration for your bathroom, there's lots of bathroom experts and new products all under this roof.

• Canada Builds.  The 2014 Dream Home at the National Home Show designed and built by the Canada Builds Company. This year's home embodies the warmth and charm of small town Ontario with the creative touches to support today's active lifestyles. 

• Design!  Green Design.   Humber College presents this one-of-a-kind exhibit that will take visitors on an inspiring journey through the challenges of building green and will be presented in a market like setting featuring interactive multimedia environment aimed at a younger demographic and social relevance

• Exhibition Place, The Direct Energy Centre.  Come on down, free parking after 4 pm and easy access to the TTC and GO!

• Favourite Finds.  You’ll find plenty of innovative products and great home solutions to inspire a wide array of projects for your home. Find the latest ideas and hot new products like the Umbra Whiz Wisk (pictured left) in my Favourite Finds. 

• Gardens Galore!  National Home Show is co-located with Canada Blooms. 1 Ticket, 2 great events.  Canada Blooms, the flower and garden festival.  This year  the festival  theme is  Wild!  The sights, sounds and scents of the gardens, installations and fl oral displays will waken your senses from winter. 

• HGTV celebrity, Bryan Baeumler.  Join Bryan at the show as he discusses how to save your home from yourself!  Live at the show, March 23rd at 2pm. 

• Ireland.  Don’t miss your chance to win an amazing trip to for four people to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way at this year’s Canada Blooms.  Visit the Wild Atlantic Way Garden for details. 

• Jackie Morra brings to life Urban Living.  You'll find big ideas and contemporary design ideas  for small spaces in this 900 square foot modern space.   Good things come in small packages.

• Kevin Durkee, The Big Cheese of Cheesewerks.  see his popular recipe for Cheddar + Ale Soup come to life.  Delicious and so easy to make and easy to impress your guests.

• Live with what you love!  I have a chair crush on the luxe chair and half by Casalife.  Craving this in Shimmer Chocolate leather. Luscious and luxe!  

• Meet & Eat with culinary masters.  Join Cheesweks' Big Cheese Kevin Durkee as he welcomes View the Vibe.  Kevin and  Nicki will dish on all the secrets behind the best foodie and drink spots in Toronto. Listen, learn and taste.  Plus Meet + Eat with Chef Scott behind The Culinary Adventure Company. 

• North America's largest home and garden show, featuring 2 events, over 750 Exhibitors, over 45 celebrity and industry experts and gardens galore.

• Outdoor Living goes inside out, thanks to the ultra-modern CasaBubble, the newest design trend taking European gardens and outdoor spaces.  In a flash, the GrandLodge turns into a mini apartment in the wilds!

• Parking.  FREE parking after 4 pm Monday to Friday!

• Questions?  Get your Renovation Questions answered.  Free renovation advice by appointment, bring your plans and questions and  visit  Destination Renovation Booth #1916.    

• Re/max presents Get Curbalicious.  Stop by and enter the Get Curbalicious Contest for your chance to win a landscape makeover valued at over $15,000 courtesy of Landscape Ontario & RE/MAX. 

• Sip and Savor.  Enjoy free sampling from our friends at The Wine & Spirits Experience.  Visit them around the Dream Home featuring Molson Cider and Mill Street Brewery. 

• Toyota Ride & Drive.  Buckle your seat belts and put the pedal to the metal!  Plus stop by the Toyota booth for a chance to win a brand new 2014 Corolla S - now that’s a set of keys we wouldn't mind having in our pocket!  

• Unilock Celebrity Stage presented by HGTV, featuring celebrity and industry home and garden experts.  Get great advice, tips and tricks from the pros like Gardening Guru Frank Ferragine, Income Property behind the Scenes with Melissa Davis & Tim Sellars, 1 Boring Room 3 Looks with Designers Glen Peloso and  Jamie Alexander and more...  For the schedule click here.

• Vitamix Idea Stage presented by Reno & Decor.  Featuring local experts from culinary masters, Designer Advice, Quick & Easy Gardening and a guest appearance by Jim Caruk.  For schedule click here.

• What's your Design Dilemma?  This is your chance for a free one-on one,  15-minute consultation with designers and experts who will offer advice on how to tackle your next project.  Don't forget to bring your plans and your colour swatches.

• X marks the spot!  The Style Spots.  Celebrated designers Glen Peloso & Jamie Alexander of Peloso Alexander Interiors bring Style Spots to life at his year's National Home Show.  So much inspiration and great ideas featuring Designer Inspired Interiors. 

• Yamaha Canada Music.  Check out the amazing Silent + Hybrid Pianos. Plus win a year of free lessons!

• Zen Rock.  So many great new products.  The Zen Rock by Scentsy.  The new  Zen Rock, element warmer, Inspired by tranquil spa rocks  Element warmers use a heating element to safely warm fragrant wax without illumination.

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From A to Z there's plenty to see at our 2014 National Home Show, it's not too late to plan your visit and be inspired for spring.  Special thanks to Show Manager Tina Homes, a.k.a. @TinaLovesPinot for alphabetically listing her home show must-sees! 

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Get Refreshed in 2014! Tina Holmes' Insider Exclusives

Baby it's cold outside! 

Get away from the winter blues... Freshen up your home for the new year with some easy decorating tips.

Alta Moda Furniture 

Keep your home organized, clean and make sure things are in order. Light a candle, play some music and put fresh flowers around the house. Add a pop of color with a bright throw pillow or perhaps some vibrant plants.

Fresh Flowers:

Vase via casalife

Brighten your days with fresh floral arrangements.  There's nothing like fresh flowers to brighten up you your space or day.  Super simple whether a single bloom on your table, a colourful arrangement on the dining table or adding cheer to the kitchen they give off an energy of colour and happiness.

Check out the local farmers market or grocery store for some seasonal favorites – tulips will be coming up soon and those are a personal favourite. These “fresh”  reminders will keep you going through the winter months. 

 

Don't forget to add greenery to your space, this will lighten up the room, plus plants create healthier air.  After a winter of coughing, sneezing, and just feeling “blah”, bringing in plants can completely change your mood.

Pillows & Linens

Chair by West Elm

For instant colour and makeover, add a throw pillow (or three) to your home decor.  A simple and inexpensive way to transition into the warmer months is to replace or add new pillows into your decor.  This simple switch-out can change the overall aesthetic and feel of a room in minutes.  Not only will your pillows last longer because they’re not being used 12 months of the year, but you also probably won’t get tired of them as fast.

Andrea Hylton Home

Give your decor a boost with a warm welcome, a new year with fresh linens. Beyond clean bedding, think about adding wonderful bed linens and comfort items to your bedroom.

Tea Towel

Ring in the new year with a lovely Tea Towel.  A fresh new tea towel will make a lovely new year addition to your kitchen.  Dish towels tend to be an afterthought when it comes to kitchen accessories which add a splash of character, charm and color to any kitchen's decor.

Etsy, Artthatmoves 

Get organized

Declutter your home and get organized. Refresh a room using boxes and other household storage items.

Enough storage space is, of course, the Holy Grail of any household. But solutions to the problem are probably littering your closets and cupboards right now. Use monochromatic boxes, wooden crates, berry baskets, and jars to stash anything from mementos to old files, paper clips to dried spices.

Box via casalife

Save the Memories

Extend those fabulous holiday memories beyond the end of your holiday by making the most of your images.  Turn your holiday memories into works of art using various frames and photo printing options.

Save and preserve your holiday photos and make memories last a lifetime! Enjoy and display the memories you've created together.

Frames via Umbra

 A Personalized Note

Start of the new year with a positive note. Express your thanks or thoughts to friends and family.  Personalize your message with a card.  Sending a personalized note card to someone, especially in today's online  environment, is more appreciated than ever.

Etsy, The Kautzi Shop 

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Special thanks to Show Manager Tina Holmes a.k.a. @TinaLovesPinot, for sharing some of her Home Show favourties with us!

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Colin & Justin’s Guide To Healthy Christmas Decor

Drawing inspiration from a recent survey by Claritin which reports that allergies are heavily prevalent during the holiday period (and not just during the warmer months, as many folk might perhaps presume) Colin and Justin offer their tips to reduce the associated problems.  Their guide will help you enjoy an allergy-friendly holiday season… where the only tears in your eyes will be from the lovely family times ahead.  Frustrating as it sounds, allergies can potentially spoil all the festive fun.  If, that is, you don’t think about eradication.  So take heed...

  

Real Christmas Trees

Genuine trees can be a haven for dust and pollen – add in allergies to tree sap, and real problems can lie in store. 

The Duo's Tree Top Tips 

• Bag an allergy-friendly tree - dodge pine as the pollen can be a major allergy trigger.  Fir and spruce are better, with the Leyland Cypress - a sterile hybrid -  a good choice as it doesn't produce pollen.
• Shake it up!  Some tree farms have mechanical shakers to remove dead needles as well as some of the dust and mold.
• Bathing beauty -  before bringing the tree indoors, spray with water and dry overnight in the garage.  Use Nature Clean veggie soak to remove pesticides that have been sprayed on the tree – another major irritant.

Faking It

• Keep it clean – if your tree has been stashed in the garage then it’s probably it’s full of dust and even mold.  Give it a good wash (just like a real tree) and dry before bringing indoors.
• Gassy? Choose a polyethylene tree with less PVC content and you’ll cut down on gasses and be kinder to your home and the environment.  Home Depot stocks this type of product.
• Eco friendly – seek out tree ‘alternatives’.  Choose from metal framed shapes, card board trees like the one below from Cascades.  Also, you could opt for driftwood stacks (Homesense have some great options) to make a style statement.

Cardboard Tree from Cascades

Tips for Christmas Decorations

• Dust off your baubles – these, if they've been lying around, may be coated in grime or mold.  If possible, unwrap outside to avoid spreading dust inside. Wipe off with a soft cloth before hanging.  At the end of the season, wrap in fresh paper, rather than re-using old paper.
• Clean your wreaths - Vacuum or dust with a soft cloth.  Use a vacuum with a Hepa filter, like the Dyson Animal, and keep dust in the cleaner, rather than in the air.

• Dodge scented candles - these can cause stuffy noses and irritated lungs. If you crave a little atmosphere, try unscented beeswax candles.
• Buy local - visit Christmas fairs and invest in small independent makers who can tell you all about manufacturing and provenance. 
• Green card – showcase Christmas cards in a holder like this one below from Umbra and use it for the rest of the year to show family photos!  Keeping cards off surfaces allows you to reach and remove dust...

Crowd Card/Photo display by Umbra

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For more information you can visit the guys online at www.colinandjustin.tv or check out Colin and Justin on twitter by clicking the button below!

 Follow @ColinJustin 

Stay tuned to our Home and Garden Events Facebook page for news on home show appearences and helpful hints from our friends Colin and Justin!

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