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Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Archives for 2013

8 Ways to Stay Warm in Your Apartment

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Snowy VonApartments are great for many reasons—like 24-7 maintenance, trash and snow removal, and often cheaper or included utilities. However, when it comes staying warm, you often have little flexibility with heat. For instance, newer buildings can lack in insulation. And if you live in an older building, the quaint architectural features allow the chilly air to seep in. While curling up next to a cozy fireplace may not be an option for you, there are some simple things you can do to stay warm this winter.

Drafty windows

Older apartments especially tend to have single pane and drafty windows. This can result in a 100-300 percent increase in your electric bill. To eliminate drafty windows, tape over the cracks along the edges of your windows or install some simple shrinkwrap insulation.

Layered curtains

Using heavy fabrics or layered curtains over your windows is also a great way to prevent drafts. Not only will your apartment look trendy, but they will also keep the room a couple degrees warmer. Curtains can be expense; check out a discount department store like TJ Maxx first.

Bake something

Get in the kitchen and start cooking up a storm! Not only will the aroma of baked goods fill your apartment, but the heat generated from your oven will feel nice too. For more warmth, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or tea.

Snuggle under blankets

Snuggling on the sofa with a quilt or a fleece blanket makes for a relaxing afternoon. As for the evening, you could add a blanket or mattress topper under your fitted sheet. This will make your bed a far more cozy and warm place to be.

Take a hot shower

Not many things feel better than a hot shower on a cold winter day. For extra warmth, toss your a couple towels in the drier. The warmth will feel great on your damp skin.

Use a space heater

A space heater is a great way to turn the heat up in your apartment while keeping heating costs down. But be very mindful of your space heater. Keep it away from flammable items like curtains and furniture. And never go to sleep with your space heater on.

Wear warm socks

If you’re anything like me, you hate having cold feet! One of the best ways to keep warm during the wintery months is by warming wooly socks. I also tend to layer my socks when I venture outdoors. Fleece socks are great too.

Keep doors closed

While it may seem obvious, keeping bedroom and closet doors closed is a great way to keep heat in. With the exception of cabinets with pipes during a freeze warning, this will helpful in regards to your heating bill.

Attached Images:

Jackie Ryan is a freelance writer living in NYC. Jackie recently installed heated floor mats outside of her apartment, which has helped to reduce the possibility of slips and falls during the wintery months.





Keeping Man’s Best Friend Afloat: Boating Safety Tips For Dogs

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There’s nothing better than taking your four-legged friend out with you on all your nautical adventures. Dogs are perfectly capable of managing on water, but it’s important that you think carefully about their welfare, especially if it’s their first time aboard. Here are a few key safety tips to consider when introducing your faithful companion to your vessel.

 1.    Introductions are important
Dogs (like people) need time to adjust to new experiences. If you want your pet to be comfortable onboard, then it’s important to give them access to the boat before you set off on your first trip together. Set aside a day before your planned voyage and let your dog explore the boat whilse it’s still moored. Think about the unique experiences a boat presents and how sensitive your dog is to sound and movement. Make sure you turn on the engine so that he/she knows what it sounds feels like to be on a working vessel – if your dog is sensitive to loud noises this is especially crucial. You also need to know what you’ve got to look out for!

 2.    Water, water everywhere
Having enough drinking for your pet is always crucial and never more so when you’re aboard your boat. Dogs lose a lot of water when they pant so it’s important that you have ample provision to keep them hydrated. It can be very difficult to keep a bowl of water onboard, especially if your vessel is small, so it’s worth experimenting with different methods. Some dog owners use a tub with high sides but as this is not really practical if your dog is on the smaller end of the scale, it is worth teaching them how to drink out of a water bottle so that they can have refreshment whenever they need it. There are plenty of how-to videos on youtube to help you with this particular task!

 3.    Donning the Life Jacket
When you’re boating with man’s best friend, this is the most important pet accessory of all. However, as anyone who has tried to put a hilarious Halloween costume on their dog will attest, not every dog is receptive to being clothed. So, just as it’s important to get your dog used to the sights and sounds of the boat, you must slowly introduce the concept of the life jacket ahead of time so that you’re not faced with an endless battle on the day of your voyage and you don’t want to be constantly worrying that your dog will shuck off its life preserver at the worst moment. Be patient and kind as you are whenever you teach your dog something new – give them time and reward and eventually they’ll adjust.

 4.    Remember sunscreen
This is easily forgotten but it’s especially crucial for dogs with a light coat. Provide as much shade as you can on your vessel, but also take the precaution of talking with your vet and find out which sunscreen is most effective for use on your dog. Their skin burns just as easily as ours!

 5.    Think about the bathroom situation
This can be tricky as I can rapidly turn into a safety issue for not only our dog but also for everyone else on board – slipping is a real danger and should not be ignored. If your vessel is large enough,  you can train your dog to use a specific portion of the boat to urinate and defecate. However, it’s definitely advisable to take your dog to empty its bladder before you board and to pack as many doggie bags as you can carry.

So there you have it. If you’ve never sailed before and you spot a used boat for sale then this could be your (and your pets’) greatest journey yet. Remember, with just a little preparation, you and your dog can have all the nautical fun without any of the worry. Happy high-seas adventuring!

Attached Images:

Sam Wright has two strapping canines and is himself a salty sea dog who works with www.ybw-boatsforsale.com/

The Ideal Pair Of Shoes For Holiday Festivities

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My daily existence often feels like an 18-hour sprint, so I opt for shoes that comfortable and functional. I hope for stylish, but comfort always wins out when I am confronted with the chaos of my days. Therefore, a special pair of sexy shoes is a necessity when the holiday party season arrives. Although I may bargain hunt or reuse wardrobe elements to create fashionable outfits for the wide range of holiday get-togethers, I do splurge a bit on festive, fashionable footwear that can accessorize any of my holiday looks. This holiday season’s elegant shoe choice is Zara’s black pumps with metallic platform.

Crafted from 100 percent goat leather, these black pumps are sleek and elegant, but the 5 ½ inch heels also make them sexy and graceful. The gold metallic platform shines and shimmers, and the gold chain detail between the leather and the metallic platform is stunning and distinctive. The ideal marriage of basic black and beautiful bling makes these pumps fashionable and easy to pair with a number of holiday looks.

Formal Attire

My new Zara pumps are the perfect pairing with this winter’s luxurious fabric trends, such as leather, fur, and velvet. For the most formal affair of the holiday season, Victorian-inspired velvet is elegant and warm: a black or emerald green velvet floor-length maxi skirt topped with a white silk pleated top and a pashmina wrap or a lacy camisole and a tuxedo jacket. Trimmed with gold jewelry and the pumps’ gold platforms peeking out from under the skirt, this ensemble is sophisticated and chic, and the pieces are versatile in any wardrobe.

Upscale Evening Wear

For a gathering where a black tie is a bit too more formality, choose the perfect little black dress as the foundation. Jackets are ideal layering pieces, and this season’s runways are filled with jacket options. Choose military-inspired, quilted, velvet, sequined bolero, studded leather, denim, or faux fur in any color of the rainbow. If you are not in the market for a new jacket, scour the closet for something that can be upcycled. For example, my favorite layering jacket this season was pulled out of the back of my husband’s closet. After a trip to the tailor’s for a few alterations and a visit to the dry cleaner’s for a bit of freshening up, this velvet plum 3-button is a soft and luxurious addition to my holiday wear.

By rolling the sleeves once or twice, the white and purple paisley print becomes an accent and my look is a little less formal. After I slip on my black Zara pumps and don black and purple jewelry with gold embellishments, all the elements of this ensemble come together stylishly.

Informal Gatherings

Most of the holiday celebrations this season will be less formal, but I am not going to give up my chic shoes. These pumps pair well with denim, dressing up a pair of dark-wash jeggings or skinny jeans. With a bright cranberry or crimson sweater or silk tunic and some vintage pearl jewelry, the Zara pumps add a touch of sophistication to my look. Likewise, these pumps provide a shapely lift when I slip on a pair of flared denim trousers and a button-down blouse, a look that can take me from my day at work to an evening holiday celebration with friends.

Whatever your social calendar holds this holiday season and beyond, a great pair of pumps can elevate your fashion choices. Treat yourself — Happy holidays!!

Abigail Hess is a fashion consultant, a mother of four, and a writer for Uncomfortable Foot.  She loves following the latest fashion trends and shopping for great deals at local retailers.

How to Distinguish Fine Quality Pearls

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Pearls are precious gifts of nature; it’s no wonder why they are given as beautiful and fitting gifts to loved ones. Pearls are lovely to behold, with an elegance and grace no other gem can exude. They make wonderful heirlooms as they can retain their luminescent beauty for years and years. But their beauty and popularity has resulted in the production of numerous imitations- fake pearls made of glass, plastic and other materials. Some are made so flawlessly it can be difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

To avoid purchasing imitations for the price of the genuine article, it is important to familiarise yourself with the characteristics of genuine pearls and how to differentiate them from the fakes.

Distinguishing Real from Fake

Fake pearls can sometimes be made and sold to appear real, but there are a few telltale steps in order to definitively identify a fake pearl. Following are some simple tests you can do to spot the fakes. It is advisable to conduct more than one of these tests to accurately determine the authenticity of your pearl.

  1. The Teeth Test. Run a pearl lightly along the edge of your front teeth. Real pearls ought to feel sandy or gritty. If it feels too smooth, chances are the pearl is an imitation.
  2. The Friction Test. Rub two pearls together lightly. Similar to the teeth test, real pearls should feel somewhat gritty, and produce a powdery substance from the layers of nacre, the substance that makes up real pearls.
  3. The Magnification Test. Look at the pearl under a jeweller’s loupe. The magnified surface of real pearls ought to have a scaly, maze-like appearance, whereas fake pearls just look grainy.
  4. The Variation Test. Take a close look at each of the pearls, if they all look identical in shape, lustre, size and colour and appear to be completely flawless, then they may be fake as real pearls often have slight variations.

The Genuine Article

Genuine pearls have many fine qualities that fake pearls will never truly possess or replicate. These pearls are graded in quality with A representing the lowest and AAA representing the highest, based on the fine qualities they possess. Those with a trained eye for appraising pearls know if a pearl possesses these qualities with just a glance, but anyone can spot these qualities with some careful observation and knowledge of what to look out for.

In order to distinguish a truly exquisite, genuine pearl, look closely for the following features:

  • Lustre. Lustre basically represents the quality and quantity of light reflected from the pearl. Lustre is not just represented by how “shiny” a pearl is, but how intensely it illuminates from within. This seeming illumination is caused by the pearl’s many layers of light-reflecting nacre. Pearls come in a range of lustre levels, from low to very high. More nacre in a pearl means higher lustre levels and a longer period of retaining its iridescent beauty.

To determine the lustre level of a genuine pearl, try examining it under a fluorescent lamp over a light-coloured material. Roll it back and forth to check for uniform lustre. The more distinct the reflected images are on the surface of a pearl, the more lustrous it is and consequently, more valuable. If the surface appears chalky with washed-out reflections of light and other objects, the pearl most likely has low lustre.

  • Colour and Overtone. Pearls come in a wide variety of colours and overtones, and some are rarer and consequently more expensive than others. The most common colours are white and cream, but these can be slightly more expensive when they have rose or silver overtones, which are colours that complement the body colour of the pearl. Darker toned pearls are also more desirable and expensive than lighter ones.
  • Shape. Pearls come in three basic shapes: symmetrical, spherical and baroque. The more spherical or rounder the pearl, the more desirable and expensive it is. Symmetrical pearls, such as teardrop-shaped ones, are also desirable but not as expensive. The least expensive of all pearls would be the baroque ones, which are irregularly-shaped.
  • Size. The bigger the pearl, the more nacre and time are required to form it, thus making it more expensive and valuable.

If you are still in doubt after examining your own pearls, it is best to get the expert opinion of a certified gemologist.

Where to Find Quality Pearl Jewellery Online

If you are on the lookout for fine, quality pearl jewellery online, look no further than www.watchesandjewellery.com.au. Watches & Jewellery sells numerous brands of jewellery and watches in Australia, including some fine pearl necklaces, earrings, pendants and bracelets made from genuine freshwater pearls. They also have lovely silver and gold jewellery that can serve as perfect gifts for special occasions.

Debra Wright blogs about a plethora of topics including watches and other fields. Wright considers Watches and Jewellery as one of the leaders in selling online jewelleries and watches.

Designer Prints Go Edible

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If you’ve been in Michael’s Craft Store, you’ve seen the wide variety of gorgeous print papers available for scrapbooking. There are so many different paper crafts you can create with these beautiful designer prints and now you can even take them to your kitchen. Designer prints can be printed in food coloring on edible paper or icing sheets. These thin sheets of icing are backed by plastic and can go through a printer to print out any design you like.

The printing process is only different in the type of cartridges that are used. Food coloring filled edible ink cartridges can be used in a regular printer as long as the printer has not been used with ink. Ink contains toxins that are not food-safe, so you’ll want to have a printer exclusively for printing edible images.

IIDesigns is a line of designer prints that is downloaded to your computer and printed on the icing sheets. Once the sheets are printed, you can cut them, apply them to fondant, gum paste, icing, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, etc. You can even scan a design and print it out on the icing sheets. The icing sheets come in 8-1/2” x 11” sheets, legal size, and a variety of pre-cut circles and rectangles all on the same sheet.

How to Apply Them

One side of the icing sheet is the side where you will print the image. The other side will remain attached to a plastic backing to protect it. When you are done printing, you can then cut out shapes with scissors or stampers available from any craft store. Peel off the backing and apply a light coat of piping gel. Then apply the design where desired on a cake, cookie, cupcake, etc.

Design Idea

Let’s say you want to create a cake with an animal print all around the sides. After printing the animal print design, you will cut the icing sheet to the height of the cake. Peel the plastic, apply the piping gel and apply by carefully lining up the bottom of the icing sheet strip with the bottom of the cake. Smooth the icing sheet in an upward direction. If any part of the icing sheet comes above the top of the cake, trim it with scissors. Then line up the next strip of animal print where the last strip ended. When the design is all around the cake sides, finish the top and bottom borders with a black fondant trim. You can use a clay gun to quickly push out a rope of fondant, twist it and apply it to the edge of the cake. Another idea is to roll fondant balls. This is done by rolling out a thin sausage of fondant and cutting it into evenly sized pieces. Roll each piece in the palm of your hand to create a ball. Apply to cake with a touch of water or piping gel.

You can go as simple or as elegant as you like. Just think about creating a Monet cake by printing out Monet’s “Water Lilies” painting on an icing sheet.  There’s no limit to what you can create and something so simple can look like a work of art that took many hours to create.

Theresa Happe works with Icing Images, a company that supplies edible ink and paper to create edible images for decorating cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more.

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