Give the Gift of Sleep

When I was a kid, I loathed getting practical items as gifts.  If there were socks under the tree, or underwear in my stocking, I just wasn't enthused.  I wasn't even a super demanding kid - I'd have preferred no gift.  These days I'd love if someone would buy me some quality wool socks or comfy underwear.  I don't even want to admit how many of my Smartwool socks have holes on the bottom that my Mom has kindly darned.  As an adult, I am never moved by holiday commercials with expensive diamond gifts because as much as I love jewelry, for that kind of outlay of cash, I'd prefer a dishwasher that actually washes dishes or a lawn mower that mows...

If you're shopping for anyone who is old enough to vote, and lives on their own, I have the best recommendation: give the gift of sleep!

We've all read the stats: we sleep about 1/3 of our lives - or we should, anyway, if we're doing our best to get an adequate number of zzzzzz's in a night.  That's around 230,000 hours!  Way too many people I know are logging those long hours on 30 year old mattresses and flat, sad pillows.

Even though I'm loving sleep on a new mattress, I've realized that my pancake pillow is ruining the full experience.  Sometimes it's a hassle to pick out something new like that, though - I wish someone would do it for me (and wrap it with festive paper while they're at it).  But Hubby and I decided to do the adult thing and choosing brand new pillows - so we can start 2018 refreshed and rested - is high on our list of things to do.

Wouldn't you want to gift someone with that amazing feeling?

Unless you've recently won the lottery, I doubt you can buy everyone you love a new mattress (although you can score a queen for under $600 at Sleep Country Canada - and they sell their own brand of handy-dandy mattress-in-a-box with free shipping), but you might want to consider starting your year off with a dreamy mattress that will help your mind and body rest.  You can shop online by brand, by size, or construction - or you can try them out in store.

A cozy duvet is one of those expenses so many of us keep pushing off the list of things that we deem important to buy (guilty).  But it's so essential to a good night's rest!  There are some really high end ones that Sleep Country Canada carries, but I love the price and quality of this Australian wool and down one.  Show someone you love them by replacing their itchy, satin-trimmed blanket (you know the kind) with this:

For a smaller budget, I love the idea of giving a throw (like this neutral gingham print).  I have so many blankets in my house and I don't think I've ever complained that I have too many!  It's nice to keep one tucked in the bedroom closet, draped on the bed, a few in the living room, and of course the bunkie has some too.  I even keep one in my office in the winter, so I can bundle up on those blustery winter days when I'd rather stay in bed.

Another affordable gift that everyone can use is a new robe!  The perfect gift for winter time, when dashing from the warmth of the bathroom to anywhere else feels miserable.   

But I really advocate for new pillows!  It's such a practical gift but you can really find one for every budget and even get a really indulgent one for that special someone.  Plus, they wear out!  They get filled with creepy dust mites, flatten from the weight of our massive noggins, start to get all bunchy - it's seriously something most people need but probably haven't replaced.  And picture that massive box under the tree - points for size, right?

This Responsive Down Pillow is the perfect mix between memory foam and down, for people who want the best of both worlds. 

This PolarTropic pillow boasts two sides that help satisfy changing temperatures: a cooling ice silk yarn and memory foam for when you're warm, and on the other side a room temperature material for when you get chilled - it's the pillow designed for people always flipping it over to get that coolness.

Myself, I'm eyeing up the Polar Tropic one - so clever!  I love that Sleep Country Canada organizes pillows by how you sleep so you can quickly find the right fit, but you can also shop by size.  And you can rest easy, knowing you're giving a gift that keeps giving.

Time for a poll: would you choose a new mattress or a sparkling diamond necklace...?

This post was sponsored by Sleep Country Canada but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Unique Gift Ideas with UncommonGoods

I am so excited to be working with UncommonGoods, sharing some picks from their amazing gift guides (like the Bedside Smartphone Vase, above).  You might remember I collaborated with them a couple of years ago.  I still love and use both of my UncommonGoods finds, especially that turquoise woven basket with a handy lid!  You might have spotted it in my office makeover; it's where I stash paperwork with incriminating details that needs to be destroyed.  I love it so much that I even purchased the same style of basket without a lid for pet toys (you can spot it in this post about how I keep my house clean with two pups).  I feel good about supporting UncommonGoods because of their commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship.  As a company, they support a community of artisans, designers, and creative thinkers.  They share stories behind the products and makers.  Plus they carefully curate a beautiful selection of home accessories, jewelry, and just plain fun pieces - no need to wade through a million listings to find that one piece.  EVERYTHING carried by UncommonGoods will have you clicking "add to cart".  And for my Canadian friends - they ship to Canada with prices in CAD and duties/taxes calculated at checkout, which means no hidden costs.     

Online shopping can be overwhelming, so I appreciate the carefully chosen selection of beautiful, practical, and unique items that UncommonGoods offers.  From casual work buddies to BFFs, from gardening enthusiasts to style mavens, you'll literally find something for everyone - even those impossible to buy for loved ones!  You can even find a personalized or customized gift idea or shop by interest to really find that special gift.   

Here is a sampling of my favorite finds:

This Molten Sculptural Bowl tops my shortlist because of the modern, coastal vibe.

Speaking of beachy, I love the coastal vibe of this Beach Glass Marble Pendant. I love jewelry as a gift because you don't need to worry about sizes, it can easily be mailed - or tucked nicely into a stocking - and, if worse comes to worse, it's easily re-gifted (guilty).

For the reasons above, this Waterfall Stairway Pendant also caught my eye - look at that enticing rough cut of the stones.

If anyone has, ahem, me on their list this year, I'd love this Aquamarine Pendant!  So, so pretty and my favorite color.  I promise I wouldn't re-gift...

You're going to think UncommonGoods only carries jewelry with the way I'm drooling over their necklaces.  That is just the tip of the iceberg for small gifts you can tuck into a stocking.

For the knitter in your life, this Create Yarn Bowl is such a thoughtful gift that shows you care about their favorite hobby.

Whenever I am stuck on a gift idea for someone, I give tea!  I used to work in a local tea shop and now I'm a tea snob, so I like to treat anyone I can to some fancy loose leaf teas.  This Green Herbal Tea Kit is so perfect and has such a nice presentation.

Another gift idea that is beautiful without having to worry about sizes or fit: a dreamy Hand Dyed Scarf!  It has such soft, pretty colors.

This Stoneware Match Striker is so versatile because everyone keeps matches in their homes, whether they're lighting a fire at night or just a few candles, and I'm sure everyone on your list would like to upgrade from the grubby box in which their matches currently reside.

A BRASS Plant Mister for your friend with the greenest thumb on your list - so practical but pretty enough to leave out, it sure beats the $1 plastic water can so many of us hide under the sink... If your friends are plant killers like me, don't worry, there are so many unique ideas for gifts you can give your friends to show how much they mean to you all year long.

I need this waterproof Drifter Action Speaker in my life!  This is perfect for anyone who has a cottage or loves to spend time on the beach.



This White Sailing Ship Kite is so cute, you'll be tempted to keep it and hang it as a mobile in your home.

So clearly I just created a list of things I want, with my not-so-subtle beachy/modern/turquoise theme here...  If you're trying to track down that perfect, unique, meaningful, practical yet beautiful, can't-find-it-in-stores gift, take a peek at UncommonGoods.  Happy shopping!

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10 Awesome Father's Day Gifts for Handy Dads

I think the mistake we make with handy Dads is that we assume, because they're handy, they already have the tools they need for any job around the house.  But if your Dad is anything like my Dad, many of his tools and gadgets are probably old, maybe a little worn out, maybe a little stolen by his daughter but he can't quite remember which ones, but he probably won't treat himself to something new because his tools "do the job just fine".

For Father's Day, I've seen a lot of hipster Dad gift guides that probably won't appeal to Dads of a certain... "vintage".  So I chatted with Hubby and I made a list of great tools we have and love (that my Dad covets) and ones that look really enticing and perfect for a handy Dad.

WORX SWITCH DRILL AND DRIVER

Poll any handy person around and I bet you, dollars to donuts, that they have an old drill - I know we did!  It's probably a corded model, a little bulky, but it works fine so why spend the money on a new one?  If you're shopping for a Father's Day gift, spend the money for him and get a drill that's cordless and light, perfect for any jobs around the house.  This WORX 2-in-1 switch drill and driver is compact, plus it switches easily between driving and drilling modes.  We have added this to our "stuff for the boat" tool arsenal and I love how lightweight it is!

WORK LIGHTS

Work lights like these are awesome enough to cause major fights in my family, as whoever borrows them (me) tends to resist returning them to their rightful owner (my Dad).  They have been used so many times - they make late night DIY projects so easy and are perfect when you've cut power to an area of the house but need some light.  An extension cord and one of these makes midnight wiring possible - perfect for busy Dads!   

MAGNETIC BRACELET

Magnelex, this clever magnetic bracelet, helps keep track of nails and screws - such a genius idea, and way better than trying to hold a bunch of screws in one's mouth (we're all guilty of that).  I classify this as the type of thing Dad would never buy himself, only to use it all the time once he has it. 

MASTERCRAFT ARTICULATING LADDER

When we were shopping for a sailboat, every boat was on land and had to be accessed by a ladder.  Every older dude who showed us boats rolled up with a sketchy, rickety ladder.  I'm convinced that ladder sales must be slow.  Now that I think about it, I've never actually seen someone purchase a ladder.  And no one I know has a shiny new one, they're all the dicey kind that make my palms sweat.

This articulating ladder is worth every penny - we splurged and bought ourselves the exact model because Hubby and I are both afraid of heights (although one of us has been sky diving and so that someone has to clean the gutters because you can't pretend to be scared of ladders and then jump from a plane).  It's been handy for accessing the roof, reaching the smoke detector on our 13 foot ceiling, and so many others tasks that make my heart skip a beat.  It's so sturdy and really versatile, transforming into eight different positions, like a stairway scaffold - genius!

FIBER FIX

Looking for something funny to gift with a larger present?  Coax Dad to trade in the duct tape for Fiber Fix, a handy little product that can mend anything from shovels to hockey sticks and eek out a little more life out of whatever 100 year old shovel or fishing rod he won't let go of.

I was sent a sample of this stuff and it's so handy to keep around for making emergency repairs - with a more permanent hold than duct tape.  It's a one time use product, so go ahead and toss a few packages in your cart.  

DIGITAL MULTIMETER

Is Dad doing some electrical work?  My Dad is super thrilled that he was able to successfully repair my parents' washing machine after watching a ton of YouTube videos.  This digital multimeter is one we own and it's something we use a lot so I highly recommend it if your handy Dad doesn't have one!

BOSSE TOOLS ERGONOMIC SHOVELS

I actually have the Bosse Tools round point shovel.  We've been doing some "landscaping" - I use the word generously - around the property and Hubs and I sprint to the garage to get our hands on this first.  It was awesome for shoveling 1400 pounds of dolomite out of the back of the truck.  Oy.

It's really easy on the back when you're digging a lot - it improves your posture and the center handle rotates and locks in place for comfort.  Dads with aching old joints and backs will surely appreciate this!

RATCHET STRAPS

This is more a public service announcement than gift idea.  Because I log a lot of hours at Home Improvement stores, I have seen some seriously sketchy practices for getting lumber, plywood and other building supplies home.  The other day we saw a pick up truck with some kind of rolled up rug hanging four feet out the back of a truck, tail gate down, with no straps or anything, and it was bouncing around, threatening to impale the cars behind.  The driver was a left lane bandit, doing 30km/hr in a 60 zone, trying not to lose the carpet.  It was so irresponsible! 

People laugh at us because it normally takes us about 20 minutes (sometimes half an hour) and eight ratchet straps before we're ready to drive off with our precious cargo, but properly securing larger items is SO important - things flying out of a pick up truck or an SUV with the tail gate open can seriously injure or even kill other drivers.  But if your Dad is like my Dad, he might rely on a handful of aging bungee cords and hope for securing larger purchases because ratchet straps are too expensive.  Buy these ratchet straps for him.  Please.  

THERMAL CAMERA

Some of my gift ideas for handy Dads veer toward the practical - and affordable! - but if you're looking to splash out on an expensive and deliciously FUN tool, this FLIR TG165 Spot Thermal Camera (with image storage) could definitely fit the bill!  Just over $300, yes, but it could save Dad tons of money because you can use this handy gadget to find heat loss in a home, track roof conditions, spot electrical issues, etc - home inspectors love these.

Hubby is positively drooling for one of these.

LINCOLN ELECTRIC ARC WELDER

I'm kind of proud of the fact that the welder we own is actually mine.  We joke that my "Hope Chest" came fully stocked with dishware, a car, a welder.  All I'm missing is a goat and some chickens.  We were recently doing some welding - building an awesome new fire pit - and we chatting about some bigger welding projects we'd love to do.  Hubby has his eye on this Lincoln Electric Arc Welder for some heavy duty projects my welder can't handle.
 
These are just come suggestions based on tools/handy gadgets we have - and love - or things we think a Handy Dad would appreciate.  My best advice?  Poke around Dad's garage and check out his tool situation.  Treat him to a better, fancier version of what he's been using for years - or the thing you borrowed and never returned.  He might fight you on it ("oh I don't need it"), but he'll thank you for it later.

Feel free to chime in with your own suggestions in the comments!  Please note that for some, not all, of the products I recommended I was able to use affiliate links so I might make a small commission.  I never allow affiliate linking to drive the products I promote in any way.

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GlobeIn Artisan "Refresh" Box Review

I'm not in the habit of reviewing products that aren't related to DIY, home improvement, or life on the lake, but when I was offered a chance to peek inside one of the GlobeIn Artisan Subscription Boxes, I was intrigued because it's an interesting concept.

The "boxes" are actually handwoven baskets, filled with beautiful, curated goods from around the globe, as well as an introduction to the communities and people whose wares you will get to enjoy.  Although they can be purchased individually - and their contents can be bought à la carte - a monthly subscription seems to be most popular.  You have to love a surprise to sign up for this, though! 




Because I am finally indulging in some indoor baths (yay!), I chose the Refresh Box, which boasts spa goodies from all over the world:  dead sea soap (Israel), hemp wash cloth (Bangladesh), shea shampoo (West Africa), hand-painted candle (South Africa) and some tea (South American Atlantic Forest).  All of the products are fairly traded and help support remote artisans.

What really appealed to me about this subscription service is that so many of the items are consumable and usable.  If you subscribe, you will end up with some decorative and useful items (like the ceramic mug from Tunisia in the Cozy Box), but you won't get inundated with clutter and knick knacks.  Instead, you'll be treated to indulgences like cocoa powder from Ghana and vanilla from Madagascar - things you can enjoy and use up.  The quality of the items in the Refresh Box was lovely, but just note that the quantities of some items are sample sizes, with full size versions available for purchase.  

Although I can think of many people who would love this idea - and welcome a parcel on their doorstep filled with goodies - I keep thinking that this would be a great gift idea for a student living away from home for the first time, or as a get well gift for someone on the mend.

Disclosure: I was provided a GlobeIn box but was not asked to provide a positive review.  As a feminist, I'm committed to empowering women and GlobeIn supports many initiatives led by women around the world.  Many men and women - especially in remote regions - have a difficult time supporting themselves and earning a living wage.  Hopefully GlobeIn can play a role by providing global reach to many talented artisans. 

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DIY Earl Grey Tea Soy Candle - Cute Gift for Tea Lovers!

I have been wanting to try my hand at candle making for years, which totally cracks my Mom up.  Have you seen Our Idiot Brother?

 
There's no such thing as an ugly homemade candle.

I recently contributed a whole bushel of fun, holiday-themed crafts for a fabulous holiday gift guide that I can't wait to spill the beans about.  For one project, I used some lovely vintage vessels to make some really festive poured soy candles and they turned out so beautifully.

I had scooped a solid blue tea cup from the Good Neighbour Shed awhile back, but didn't want to use it for the holiday guide because tea cup candles have been done to death.  But darn it - tea cup candles are so cute and I wanted one for myself.  My Mom had some bergamot essential oil and it dawned on me that I could make a candle that smells like Earl Grey - my absolute favorite tea!  At the last minute I sprinkled in some real, loose leaf Earl Grey, just for show (it doesn't contribute to the scent), and it turned out so adorably.

Candle making is quite the science and everything - from the temperature of the wax to the temperature of the room - can impact the success of a poured candle.  I'd love to keep practicing to perfect my technique, but even my first few tries resulted in successful candles.  Although they lack the smooth as glass surface of commercial candles, they burn really nicely!

Supplies:

• Soy wax flakes (I bought a 10 lb bag)
• Wicks (I bought these ones, which were easy to affix with a dab of glue)
• Hot glue gun (or wick stickers)
• Double boiler or candle making pitcher (I used an old Pyrex measuring cup in a pot of boiling water)
• Candy or candle thermometer (I used a meat thermometer)
• Stir stick (an old wooden spoon or paint stir stick will do the trick)
• Bergamot essential oil
• Tea cup!
• Pinch of loose leaf tea (optional) 
• Oven mitts 
• Newspapers or drop cloth

Steps:

The first step is to measure out the wax.  According to Candle Science, you can divide the volume of your container in ounces by 16 to figure out how many ounces of wax flakes you need to use for one container.  For this candle I used about 200g of wax flakes.  It shrinks quite a bit once melted down and while I was making a whole bunch of them, I would just melt as much as I could in my Pyrex cup.  Then, once it melts a bit and there's more room, I would add more flakes and keep melting.

With the wax measured, I started heating it up in my "double boiler".  I filled the pot with a few inches of water, which I brought to a boil and kept simmering the whole time.  The wax needs to reach 185F and that took about 30 minutes in my experience.  I stirred it occasionally and although some lingering chunks took awhile to melt, eventually it all melted and resembled olive oil. 



While I waited, I used a hot glue gun to affix the wick.  You can also buy "wick stickers" but I wanted to keep costs low and I had a glue gun on hand already!

Once the wax heated to 185F I let it cool to about 135F before adding the essential oil.  Add it too early and it will just evaporate!  You can also purchase specialty candle fragrances.  Generally folks tend to use approximately half an ounce of oil per pound of wax.  If you're buying a fragrance designed for candle making, there will be a usage guide on the label.  I've read a little bit online about essential oils and candles and there is a lot of disagreement about the amount required for a good scent throw.  Some essential oils are stronger than others, so you might need to experiment a little (and let me know how it goes!). 

Once it cooled to about 125F, I poured the wax into my cup, added a pinch of tea to the top (it sunk in a little bit) and then let the candle sit overnight.  I poured mine somewhere where it could be left, undisturbed, until it hardened.  The wax starts to harden really quickly, turning from a yellow oil to a solid white substance, before your eyes (if you're patient).  To keep the wick upright I created a grid with tape across the top, which trapped the wick upright but didn't keep it as taught as I would have liked.  A better solution is to use a clothespin to clamp the wick end, and then place that across the top - but I didn't have long enough clothespins (mine aren't the wood kind).  Some candle making guides say to warm up the vessel beforehand, but I skipped that step.  Once the soy hardened completely, I trimmed the wick to 1/4".  

I didn't add any dyes so it looks like a really milky cup of tea, but you could easily tint it tea-coloured with dyes made for candles.  Add any dyes while the wax is at 185F so it can melt and mix completely.

Adorable, right?



I can now check "candle making" off the bucket list, although I was telling Hubby that it would be fun to really get into candle making: take some time to perfect the craft and make them for sale.  He seemed horrified, because I occupied the kitchen for two whole afternoons, swearing over my steaming makeshift double boiler, and we ate sad leftovers both nights because the kitchen was covered in wax and there was no way I was cooking!  So, yeah, "candle maker" probably won't be added to my resume, but I respect the people who make these for a living!  It's pretty straightforward to make a basic poured soy, but to make a perfect one (mine are lovably imperfect) and to customize with scents and colours definitely takes skill!

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