Gourmet gift baskets with a natural flair!

Lin Cullen — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:45:00 GMT

So here we are in fall already!!!! Actually it’s one of my favorite times of the year. It’s often a time when most of us return to heavier workloads, kids go back to school and we try to squeeze in as much of the last remaining days of nice weather.

I don’t know about you but I’ve noticed a lot of people are taking some time to rethink their priorities. What they need to do to be healthier and to live a more balanced lifestyle. Here’s a way that I’ve discovered to do both.

Take some time for yourself.
Take some well-deserved down time and jump in the car and drive out to the country, it doesn’t have to be far (at least from where I live in Toronto). I did the same not too long ago and found myself in St. George, Ontario. It’s not that far from Toronto – somewhere between Hamilton and Guelph – but quite a beautiful drive. While on my travels, I happened to see a sign for fresh eggs, so I stopped in, because what could be nicer (and healthier) than some farm fresh eggs.

But eggs, my new super food, were just the beginning.
I was pleasantly surprised to find an assortment of other healthy farm fresh products such as: soy free fresh organic chicken, grass fed beef and so much more. Did you know, grass-fed beef has the recommended ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fats (3:1.). Grass-fed beef is loaded with other natural minerals and vitamins, plus it's a great source of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) a fat that reduces the risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes and a host of other immune disorders.

Hunza folk, what do they know?
With a collection of healthy choices in hand, I proceeded to the checkout where I discovered a whole line of dried fruits along with their famous apricot seeds. I didn’t know this, but it is a well-known fact to gerontologists that the Hunza people of North Pakistan (an apricot mecca with a population eating a lot of everything apricot) are the longest-living and healthiest people in the world. Studies have proven that 100% of its population had perfect vision, while cancer, and other diseases were virtually unknown conditions. Wow... I grabbed two bags of apricot seeds.

If you’d like to know more about all the farm fresh and healthy foods available at Our Fathers Farm, I’d encourage you to visit in person or at least go online – www.ourfathersfarm.com

It’s usually these spontaneous visits that provide me with such great gourmet gift basket products, and my recent visit to St. George, Ontario was no exception. Look for some of the above mentioned healthy products to appear in our gourmet gift baskets soon.

Fall is a great time if you’re a foodie like me!

Lin Cullen — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:39:00 GMT

Yes, I love food and I love to cook. I’m always on the lookout for great, unique food items and recipes that will influence our choice of items for our gourmet gift baskets.

One of my favorite cookbooks is from Canadian Living. I have been using them forever and I always know whatever recipes I follow will be delicious! One of the things I like most is that they aren’t difficult to make and most recipes include a photo as a reference.

I love freshness, so I lean toward buying fresh herbs to add to my recipes as often as the season allows. This time of year every market has fresh basil…huge bundles are a plenty and they’re inexpensive. So this weekend I brought some home and will make a batch of fresh basil pesto. It’s so convenient to have some on hand to add at a moments notice to pastas, pizzas, chicken dishes and so much more.

One of my favorite recipes is, of course, from Canadian Living.

Basil Pesto ingredients and preparation:

2-1/2 cups (625 mL) packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup (125 mL) grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup (75 mL) pine nuts
1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced

In food processor, finely chop together basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, salt and pepper. With motor running, add 1/3 cup (75 mL) of the oil in thin steady stream. Stir in garlic. Divide among four 4-oz (125 mL) airtight jars; top with remaining oil. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 6 months.)

So when you find yourself at a market looking at huge, cheap bunches of basil….don’t shy away, jump in and have some fun!

Country business provides unique gift basket items

Lin Cullen — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:32:00 GMT

Unique gourmet baskets should have unique gourmet food items in them. That’s what I believe. One of the things I love to do, and something I think makes our gift baskets special, is adding little recipe tip cards because not everyone knows the special ways to use a hot jelly (as chicken marinade for example) or an antipasto.

And one of our latest discoveries on our way up to Midland is Country Meat Cuts in Utopia (and finding this shop indeed made it Utopia!) where we found some incredible jellies, relishes and pickled white beats that we think will bring some real pizzazz to our gift baskets. Ond one of the things I totally loved about this shop was Rafee. He has lots of interesting and innovative ideas for use of these products (like mixing some hot jelly with cream cheese and smoked salmon and using it as a canapé spread topped with capers). We will be passing our favourites along to you in our blogs and on the tip cards in our gift baskets.

So if you're ever in the area of Utopia, I encourage you to visit Country Meat Cuts, you won't be disappointed.

And if you get to Midland, stop in at Ciboulette et Cie and pick up some of the best EVOO & rosemary crisps you’ve every had!

More about that next time.

New for Baby – lovely baby gift baskets

Lin Cullen — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:01:00 GMT

Baby gifts, baby gifts! Here at Lifestyles Plus we are always searching for new, high quality, unique items to bring to our customers.

There is nothing I enjoy more than finding new and exciting things to add to our baby gift selection. Baby gifts that are hand made, or unique in some way. Things you don’t see everywhere.

It is always astonishing to me how many incredibly talented people there are out there! Out of the mainstream and usually a little tricky to find, but very special people nonetheless.

New this season –
quilted blankets, creams and
washes for baby and mom.

This summer on my travels to Nova Scotia, I met the loveliest woman who is in her 60’s and is just a dynamo! Marge not only has a whole line of preserves she makes using berries from her own property, she also sews, knits and crochets (as well as other things, I am quite sure). She and I hit it off instantly and now I am awaiting the final shipment of baby products I ordered from her – knitted baby hats, beautiful baby blankets, and so much more.

As well, I recently was travelling in northern Ontario, and met another lady who makes her own natural soaps, creams and lotions! And she has a whole baby line which will enable us to add natural baby soaps and creams to our baby gift line!

So, when you are thinking of your next baby gift, and you’re looking for something unique, remember we have already done the search and we continue to bring you wonderful new products to our line of baby gifts.

Choosing the right gift selection all the time

Lin Cullen — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

As gift consultants and specialists in the gift basket, gift giving business we constantly push ourselves to ensure each gift is not only unique but that each gift basket is the right fit for each recipient.

We do a lot of gift baskets for corporations where it’s important that we match the right gifts to the individual. After all what’s the point in sending a basket full of gifts that no one will appreciate.

Recently I revisited some gifts for corporate clients that are often received by men, and in the process I came up with a few new ideas that I thought I’d pass on.

Ready to eat meals – Hey ladies, this is a no-brainer. Let’s face it, what person (particularly men) wouldn’t love to receive imported Italian pasta and sauces, Caesar salad dressing, bread sticks, etc., along with easy instructions that show you how to serve it up easily in no time.

Entertaining items – Bloody Mary/Caesar mixes with a jar of spicy green beans to serve as a side dish.

Antipasto and crackers – with handy tip cards that show you how to serve it to your guests and what to serve it on.

Pick up your corporate colors – bows that not only incorporate your colors (after all it is about you!) with a wired rope addition – my new favorite – the metro man bow!

And of course, sweets – chocolate covered granola, chocolate bark

Gift baskets for men! Often a conundrum? Not for us! If you have any ideas on unique gifts for men that you’ve found, we’d like to hear from you.

To order a collection of unique gifts or to customize a personalized gift basket please call Lifestyles Plus.

Stolen Sirius radio leads to personal concierge service

Lin Cullen — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:49:00 GMT

I had lunch recently with a dear friend and while catching up on business he confided: “ Lin, a lot of people don’t know how to use your concierge service. They don’t understand what kinds of things a concierge service like yours would look after”! So I took Bill’s well-respected message and stashed it away for future thought and consideration. That was Thursday.

A good concierge service will
take care of the things that you can’t
find the time to deal with

Behold Friday morning I found myself standing frozen in my driveway facing a vandalized car. My lovely Altima had a brick thrown through the passenger window and low and behold my satellite Serius radio was gone. What a way to start my day. I’ll pause here because that’s when I remembered my conversation with my friend Bill.

On any given day we’re all way too busy –
I’m a busy gal – probably like most of you. I already have too much to do with too little time. Yet here I was, faced with multiple tasks that morning beyond what I had already promised my day. So, I found myself detailing the events of the morning to a number of agents and partners that were going to make it all go away.

Then it came to me –
This is exactly what my friend Bill was alluding to. This is exactly what a good concierge service can offer. They take the ‘waste of time’ and make it theirs. Let’s look at what your concierge partner would do for you in this scenario.

Make the call to your insurance broker (they already have personal details on file including: license and insurance numbers, so no need to provide all that)
Make the call to a tow truck company (they already have your CAA or favorite auto repair company on file as well, so know need to worry about that either)
Through the above calls they arrange to have a rental for you within the hour (major credit card is already with them on file – another ‘need not to worry’)
The details of the accident will also be reported to the necessary authorities as well as the new satellite radio is being purchased and installed at the time of the repairs
All ongoing follow-up calls with any remaining details are being looked after by your super efficient, timesaving personal concierge assistant.

Any good concierge service will partner with you. They take the worry out of how to deal with things that you can’t find the time to deal with. They become your trusted and best friend. If you find yourself running on empty with more mileage still to cover, it may be time to investigate the advantages of having your very own time managing, convenient, super-duper concierge professional on your side.

After all, time is the best investment you can make for yourself.

It's Better in Nova Scotia - Part 2

Lin Cullen — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT

As I mentioned in my last blog, meeting Donna at the Sobey’s in Liverpool, NS was such a treat! She chose beautiful live lobsters for our first meal there, all the while pointing out how to choose a great lobster. That is, ensuring the shells are hard and also how to tell the difference between a female (to get the roe) and a male lobster. And Donna’s best way to cook a lobster dinner for two, well here you go:

Buy the lobsters from Donna
Take a large boiling pot down to the beach and fill it with about 5/6 inches of ocean water bring pot to a boil
Insert the lobsters head first and on their backs
Cover and steam until cooked (ours took about 15 minutes)

And how do you know they’re done?

Lobsters will turn their characteristic bright red colour well before the meat is thoroughly cooked inside
Tug on an antennae or pull off one of the small walking legs. They both will come off easily when the lobster is done. (I love that one!)
The meat inside will be firm, white and opaque
The tomalley, which fills much of the body cavity, will be green
The roe in female lobsters will be bright red and firm. If it is a dark greenish black, with an oily tar-like consistency, the lobster is undercooked
The internal temperature will be 180F (80C)
If the lobsters will not be eaten right away, they must be cooled quickly in ice water. Drain the chilled lobsters, cover and keep refrigerated. You can keep cooked lobsters in your refrigerator for 1 or 2 days

Who knew!!

Donna also introduced me to summer savory, something I have always had in my spice cupboard and never really knew when to use it, unless specifically called for in a recipe. And that was how I discovered the best summer savory ever! In fact I am planning to bring it in this fall for inclusion into our gift packs. So here’s Donna’s recipe for fish cakes (or at least my interpretation of Donna’s instructions):

Fish fillets (any kind) – I used haddock because it was fresh that day (about four)
Sauté them in a frying pan in a little butter
Mush them up in a bowl and add summer savory to taste
Add just enough mashed potatoes to bind (I found a ratio of approximately 1 part potatoes to 3 parts fish worked well)
Add one egg
Form this into small balls and coat in panko or cornflake crumbs and sauté in a little butter until browned. At this point they can be cooled and frozen and reheated on another occasion. To freeze them, lay them on a cookie sheet in the freezer just until frozen and bag them.

A little tip (I learned this the hard way), don’t add milk and butter to your mashed potatoes, save that for the turkey dinner!!

It's Better in Nova Scotia

Lin Cullen — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:31:00 GMT

One of my life travel goals was to travel to the East Coast and eat my way though it as best possible getting recipes and searching for new and interesting product. And what a trip it was! If you have any inclination to go to that area, here is a great spot for you.

What I found funny was, on arrival, I asked everyone where the fish market was and was constantly referred to the local Sobey’s which I found very odd, but upon meeting Donna at the Sobey’s fish counter, I knew we were in good hands! But I digress…more about Donna and her wonderful cooking tips later….

I must say that we have always been very lucky when travelling and this trip was no exception. We decided on the south western shore of Nova Scotia where we were extremely lucky to find a terrific cottage to rent – very reasonably priced and right on the ocean and just two minutes walk from Carter’s Beach.

It was the loveliest, cleanest best equipped rental you could possibly want. And very thoughtfully equipped, right down to the bathroom with fresh soaps, razors, fresh linens all through the house and lots of information booklets on the area including the best restaurants. What an absolute find!

The owners, Mary and Rob, live right across the street (which I must admit, unnerved me a bit at first!) and they are the loveliest couple we could have hoped to meet; always helpful, and there if you needed something and not the least bit intrusive. Truth is we ended up have a great time with them on several occasions and we look forward to returning to Carter’s Beach very soon.

By the way, an exceptional delight was finding out that Rob was a certified Sea Kayaking guide and with their guidance and Rob’s expertise, the four of us had the most beautiful day kayaking around the area. Its so easy and gives a wonderfully different perspective in terms of views and beauty…and we finally found a lighthouse!

The other discovery I made was how ‘crafty’ the east coast people are and we were able to bring lots of fabulous new things home and I am currently waiting for an additional shipment of handmade baby blankets, baby hats, and other items that will be included in our fall selection for our gift baskets.

So if you are planning a trip and the East Coast is a considered destination, hop on Porter Airlines (the absolute best way to travel – so stress free and easy), book your car rental at the other end, and head to Halifax and down to Carter’s Beach Cottage in Port Mouton.

For more information, go to: www.cartersbeachcottage.com and have the trip of a lifetime!

Happy Shopping!

Lin Cullen — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:04:00 GMT

Much of my world is about gifts – corporate gifts, Canadian made gifts, personal gifts, earth day gifts… so today I thought I would share five of my latest finds with you.

Imagine running around your yard or house (omg!) trying to shoot down a flying toy duck, not only that, but you have to hit the duck three times to down it! I love this gift and will be getting one shortly. Best of all it’s Canadian! You have to take a moment to visit Interactive Toy and have a peek. It’s too funny… get your camo hat on! It also comes in Duck Hunter Extreme, of course it does!!

I thought this was pretty amazing, mostly because I had an Etch A Sketch a very long time ago and I know this isn’t easy. This fellow, George, has transformed the Etch A Sketch from a toy into a rare collection of pop art. His artwork has been featured in museums and galleries, and now sells for thousands of dollars. People around the world have commissioned him to do his original one-of-a-kind Etches. Check out GV Art and Design, the work is totally amazing!

Next, I loved this Brookstone iConvert digital frame with built-in scanner – it lets you convert print pics into digital images by just sliding your photos into the built in scanner. Your images are then stored directly in the 8” frame. How cool is that!?!

Love, love, love this gift idea! In fact, I found out about Riverstone Designs jewelry from a friend and have referred several people because I think it’s just so fabulous. I am lucky to have the Swarovski crystal and silver cube bracelet and matching necklace… absolutely delicious… all thanks to my lovely new husband (and my bff, P). Visit Riverstone Designs’ website and click on Lovelinx and be sure to tell Christie you read about it here.

Lastly, there is a line of Mexican pewter pieces that I will be carrying on my site very soon. These are beautiful tableware pieces and the perfect gift for any occasion. Come back soon and have a look!

In the meantime, happy shopping!

Keep the Saran in the fridge!

Lin Cullen — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:50:00 GMT

Family day in Ontario… it was an extra day off. Yahoo! Well, if you have your own business, holidays and long weekends come and go and you are no more the wiser.

This year, I was aware of the long weekend coming after several reminders and I thought, “Good, I’ll try to take advantage and do something special.” Usually that thought comes and goes, the weekend comes and goes and I never do anything special.

This year, on Family Day weekend, Lawrence and I had agreed to help my Auntie Jo-Anne move from her big rambling house. It was time for her to get something more practical, without stairs, easier to clean, no snow to shovel, no raking to do… yet accommodating to her lifestyle, which is crazy busy to say the least.

My darling aunt is in her 80s and has raised six beautiful children in that house, tragically lost her husband several years ago in that house, and has a lifetime of memories in that big, old house. Along with those memories comes a lot of stuff – all those dishes, the Doultons, the knick knacks…

So I was in charge of sandwiches, etc. for the lunch break. It’s not easy feeding the Larman crowd – trust me we are eaters – but off we went. A day of the boys moving the heavy stuff and the girls unpacking at the cute new apartment. My dear, totally organized cousin, Laurie, had been in charge of the move for the most part with all my other cousins helping as best possible. She is just a take-charge kinda gal so we happily went with it and deferred to her.

“So what’s in this box, Laurie?” someone asked. And she replied, “Well it is clearly written on the outside… in detail.” Okey-dokey. Well, not quite, but we trundled along and, oh my goodness, the memories abound! At one point Patti came to me with about 10 turkey wish bones, and Auntie Jo-Anne, with her brilliant sense of humour said, “Yes. Okay, chuck ’em.” You just knew she had been saving them for years and could probably tell which year each one was from. Of course there were giggles all around and at the end of the day everyone had taken a suitable amount of kidding and we all got set for the departure.

There I was with my Auntie Jo-Anne, tidying up the kitchen and packing up a few of the left over sandwiches for our trip back to Toronto (did I mention we are eaters in our family?). Darling Auntie Jo-Anne was leaning over the small (ha, ha) tray of sandwiches wrapping them with Saran wrap and said to me, “You know, I always keep this in the fridge.” Uh huh, I thought – she must be very tired. At which point my sense of humour jumped back in and I said, “What, the Saran wrap?” To which she replied, “Yes, it keeps it from bunching up like this. I’ve done it for years.” Well, how about that! By the way, I now keep my Saran wrap in the fridge and it truly works!

So, as I came away from that Family Day weekend, I have to say that for me it truly was a Family Day weekend – totally by accident, but a wonderful accident. A chance to be with all the people who are my family.

I have tapped in to Auntie Jo-Anne since then to send me a list of those tips she has secreted away and I will keep prodding her for them. But you know the committees, the scrap booking, the lunches with friends, the speaking engagements, keep my favourite Auntie pretty busy so don’t hold your breath!

In the meantime, did you know Coca Cola is good for cleaning tires? Seriously, check out the sites below:

Keeping it Simple this Valentine’s Day

Lin Cullen — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:17:00 GMT

So what are you doing for Valentine’s Day, now that it is a couple of weeks away?

Since this is our first “married” Valentine’s day I was thinking about something special, but being the foodies we are and having just had a great trip to Niagara (and my excuse for going was Valentine’s Day coming up), I’m thinking we will do our usual. We have a lovely bottle of champagne left from our wedding this summer, so that with some lobster or crab legs and a nice fire and we’re done.

I find holidays get so crazy, so it’s nice to keep it simple. They are often the best occasions.

This is also the time of year I start looking (and buying, of course) the daffodils, tulips and hyacinths that are popping up in the shops. I often buy a few and put them all together in a nice container to have in the house or as gifts. I remember always doing them for my mother when she was in the long term care facility. It would always brighten her day and they last a good amount of time. And if you mix it up, you can just pop out the bulbs once they’ve bloomed and replace it with a small plant or another flower.

And so I have an idea for you! While we always have available our spa gift packs, our dinner in a gift packs, and our gourmet gifts, I thought let’s add some of these flower/plant arrangements to the mix.

Of course we are always here to help with all of your gift giving ideas, so if you need assistance, just give us a call and we’ll make it easy for you… right down to the delivery. After all, keeping it simple is the trick!

Enjoy everyone and if you have any special ideas for your Valentine’s Day, do share!

Niagara Falls… Not Short on Service!

Lin Cullen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:10:00 GMT

Need an escape? Well, so did we and of course, I was in charge.

There I was, two Family Stone tickets for Fallsview Casino and a Keg Restaurant gift certificate in hand and not a clue as to where to stay. So I put on my event planning hat and off I went to Google, of course. And when in doubt, I always figure choose a name you can trust. Aha, Hilton – next door to the Fallsview Casino, and connected by a walkway, the Keg a three minute walk up the street.

Well, doesn’t the lovely gal in reservations tell me they have a package – 2 bedroom suite, with fireplace, double Jacuzzi tub and a view of the falls, complimentary breakfast and coupons for restaurant dinners…sounds good… done!

So I wanted to pass on this experience to you because it was fantastic. Arrived after lunch with family, and Tom at the desk was amazing. Upgraded us to a higher floor (remember this is the tallest hotel tower in Canada) and checked us in lickety split armed with all our coupons for breakfast and dinner and some super advice and away we went.

As we walked into our room our breath was taken away… a view of both falls through a wall of floor to almost ceiling windows, a Napoleon gas fireplace, a beautiful Jacuzzi tub with a window wall (an auto curtain for privacy of course) that enabled the same view, beds that looked so comfy we could have jumped right in and clean as a whistle!

The Keg was terrific and hopping… and when they realized we had a show to get to, we were immediately seated at a fallsview window and our server, Linda, was charming, accommodating, polite, and everything you could ask for from a service provider.

In a world where service is so rare, what a treat it was to be so taken care of by everyone! My thanks to you all and kudos to you… I hope your management knows how special you all are.

And so all of this, a spectacular show, and a night followed by a drive through Niagara on the Lake after our complimentary breakfast (and I do recommend you upgrade your coupon to the Watermark restaurant), added up to one of the nicest mini vacations I believe I have ever had!

So, if you are in need of a little escape, put your vertigo in your pocket and go to the Hilton Tower in Niargara Falls. Here are a couple of sites to get you started and by the way, the bartender in the lobby bar makes a fabulous after show cocktail! I’m only sorry we didn’t have the opportunity to visit Brasa Restaurant… next time!

http://www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com/entertainment/listings.aspx
http://www.niagarafallshilton.com
www.niagarafallstourism.com/thingstodo.html

New Year’s Eve Party

Lin Cullen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:33:00 GMT

Hosting a luxurious New Year’s Eve party without breaking the bank sounds like an oxymoron. But there is a doable solution. Planning ahead is the key, so you’re not forced to make hasty and costly ’last minute’ decisions. So planning is the key to make your budget-minded bash an entertaining and memorable event for you and your party guests…

If you’re planning a New Year’s Eve party for family and friends this year, I’ve come up with some ideas that may help you. Download our New Year’s Eve – Hosting a Bargain Party kit and put on your own exquisite event this New Year’s Eve!

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Lin Cullen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:32:00 GMT

Time’s running out – but not to worry. Here are a few last minute gift ideas for you that may help to calm the nerves this Christmas.

Bluetooth headset – Most of Canada has recently made it a law to go hands-free while driving, which makes this a great ‘last minute’ gift idea. A good head set for a mobile phone will probably cost about $60. You can pick them up at most consumer electronics stores or Rogers and Telus retail stores.
Rechargeable batteries – At some point during the holidays, you’ll be looking for these. SANYO’s Eneloop nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries hold up to 1,000 charges before you have to replace them. They are future friendly.
Tote bag – It’s sounds simple and it is. Take your gift(s) and wrap them in a tote bag. Unlike wrapping paper that’s quickly tossed into the garbage and our landfills, tote bags are reuseable.
Homemade family calendar – Elderly friends and family members love gifts with meaning which makes family photos very popular. But have you ever thought about taking those photos and producing a calendar? Now you can and it’s not expensive. See Black’s stores or other photo centres for all details.
Speaking of photos – The best gifts are the ones you make! Turn you photos into keepsakes – perfect for holiday gift-giving. Go to any of the Apple stores and create a beautiful photo book. They’re very reasonably priced starting at about $30.
Home made coupons – With today’s software they’re easy to make and people always appreciate them. Something like, “This voucher is good for an evening of FREE babysitting”. It’s cost conscious and has a lot of meaning, you just have to make sure you follow through on your voucher.
Digital picture frames – Make the most of your holiday photos in this digital world. Proudly display your digital photos on a digital frame. An 8″ LCD screen will run you about $150.
PS – you can add music to your production as well.
Car wash – I think this is a great gift idea, not just because I’m a bit of a clean freak… I simply love a clean car. Most ‘hand wash’ car washes today have a package deal… buy so many car washes for a fixed price and keep your car clean inside and out all winter long.

Board game(s) – Here’s something that you probably didn’t know… you can customize Monopoly – choose a theme and personalize your board. It may be too late this year, but you can purchase a Monopoly Gift Voucher right now.
Pre-paid phone card – E.T. phone home! Now there’s no excuse for not calling back home. Great for students living away from home… and, it slips easily into a card or a letter.
LED flashlight – Handy for that handy person. Heck, a flashlight is something that you will always use. An LED flashlight can last for 6 hours of continuous time before recharging. Find them for as little as $20.
Cocktail party set – Dress it up with a few limes and mixes and your recipient will surely share the festive spirits – hopefully with you.
Travel mug – Everyone loves coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Why not pair one of them up with a good looking travel mug. I take mine everywhere and I don’t know what I would do without it. Check out Starbucks, they have a great selection of everything you need. Maybe throw in a gift card as well.
An extraordinary book – This is the kind of coffee-table book that you will reference forever. Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things lists 2,317 ways to save money and time. The how-to hints use everyday household ingredients and items to make life just that much better. Around $15 at Chapters.
Gift cards – OK, I left this as the last resort. Gift cards are great but they’re not that personal. However, in a pinch you can always fill an envelope with one and there are no shortage of stores that carry them. From consumer electronics to lingerie to restaurants – take your pick. Just make sure there is meaning behind the gift.

Holiday Gift Basket Give-Away Winner

Lin Cullen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:34:00 GMT

We’d like to congratulate Marcia Lewis of Bentall – Marcia was the recipient of our Holiday Gift Basket Give-Away for the month of November. As the winner, Marcia will receive a FREE Holiday Gift Basket – valued at approx. $100 – filled with new and unique products, just in time for Christmas!

We’ll be doing another Gift Basket Give-Away for the month of December! Every purchase between December 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 automatically enters your name into our Gift Basket Give-Away. Every invoice from now until the end of December will be collected and we’ll draw the winning invoice on New Year’s Day – January 1, 2010. The winning entry will be announced on our blog and will receive a FREE Gift Basket – valued at approx. $100 – filled with new and unique products.

Happy holiday shopping with Lifestyles Plus!

Thoughtful Christmas Gifts

Lin Cullen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Often, particularly at this time of year, we get requests for smaller thoughtful gifts. This always pleases me greatly because I love it when people want to show thoughtfulness in the gifts they give rather than spending money on run of the mill generic type gifts. My belief being that if you are going to put the effort into giving a gift, no matter how large or small, is should speak of quality to the recipient.

These smaller thoughtful gifts are particularly good for occasions such as:

handouts at corporate parties where they can also serve as table decorations
corporate staff/admin gifts
hostess gifts (you can go in with friends to reach the minimum)
multiple client gifts when you want to be thoughtful and cost efficient
tenant appreciation gifts (‘desk drops’)
stocking stuffers

For me these gifts take a little more creativity and that’s what Lifestyles Plus is here to do for you.

I invite you to visit our Mini Gift Section on our website where will be offering some of our ideas for smaller, yet quality tasteful gifts… things that while less expensive, still say “I thought about this” (please note minimums will apply).

As well, Lifestyles Plus will be doing our favourite gift show again this year where we offer individual item shopping (no minimums) to you. You will also have the opportunity to see first hand many of our offerings… both large and small items featured on our website.

So happy shopping to all, and I hope you are able to take some time out of your busy schedule to visit us and many other terrific suppliers (jewelry, housewares, holiday accent pieces) at:

The Upper Canada College Festive Marketplace
Friday, December 4th – 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Upper Canada College
Lett Gym, Upper School (head for the clock and follow the crowd)
Cash or credit cards generally accepted.

Getting married? Don’t shave your legs!

Lin Cullen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:32:00 GMT

As I write this today I am in the throws of planning another big party at my home for friends. My second in a few months as Lawrence and I got married this past summer in our back yard and I decided to go that one alone… I am after all an event planner so you wouldn’t think that would be a big deal.

Gotta have a timeline
The ribbing I received was hilarious, particularly the jokes at the wedding in the speeches about my timeline. You see I am all about plans and timelines… I like the orderliness of it. And when you are planning any sort of party you must have a timeline to ensure everything goes smoothly – even the most impromptu party needs a timeline otherwise it will just look like an unorganized mess.

So, if you are planning any sort of party or, particularly a wedding, once you’ve decided on your location and the theme, be sure to start with a draft timeline of the events. It will also help you to ensure you have everything covered off. Everything will be much easier.

A few more tips if you are planning a wedding or party…

Know your attire
Choose your dress first. Reason: Your attire and that of the wedding party will set the tone. And no matter what you think you want, you will change your mind when you and your Beste get out there looking.

Remember it’s all about YOU
Go to a wedding show. Reason: A rather tedious exercise, but you will get one of those nice planning packages that will guide you and drive you nuts at the same time. And ideas are in abundance – you will have the opportunity to pick and choose what is important to YOU. Let’s face it, its all about YOU… go with it, enjoy it, savour it – it won’t last long!

Make a list
Make a list, the first of many I promise, and list YOUR priorities – photographer, music, and food are my first three recommendations. Reason: this is what you will spend your big money on and rightly so. You want it perfect. And music and food are important to your guests (see it slowly slips from being about you).

It’s gonna rain – plan on it
Another big money vacuum… If you are planning an outdoor event, ensure you have proper facilities – good solid (read expensive) tent, washroom facilities, etc. As well, ensure traffic flow works in an efficient and convenient manner. Reason: It will rain… a story for another time!

Check, check and double check
Do your timeline… and update it regularly! Reason: They’ll make fun of you but they will appreciate knowing exactly what is expected of them. And if you falter, someone with a timeline will pick you up.

Don’t forget about him
Include your fiancé… this is a time when he knows better than to intrude (YOU, YOU, YOU) but he will really appreciate it. For me it was the menu. After my Beste and I chose the menu, I was shocked to realize Lawrence thought pink soup was absurd. It became an opportunity to put him in charge and knowing the caterer as I did, I had no problem, whatever he picked would be fabulous. Reason: If you are spending your life together, you had better start learning how he thinks and respecting that. The theory of a happy wife, happy life works tenfold the other way!

Don’t shave your legs
Lastly… ladies, on the big day don’t shave your legs! And if you must, be sure to have some of those tiny round clear band-aids, and don’t use a new razor. Reason: you WILL cut yourself, like you’ve never done before, and it will bleed and bleed and that stick thing men use will be useless. But the cute little tiny band-aids will save your day!

The Maintenance Account – do you have one?

Lin Cullen — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:14:00 GMT

My circle of friends and I all agree that putting a little something away each week/month for your maintenance account is critical once you reach, say 45. And at 50 (and 50 plus) you will realize the profound wisdom of this practice. I know I have.

In the near future I am planning to interview one of my favourite people… my physician. She is not just a great physician; she is also an expert in the field of anti-aging and I am hoping she will share some of her tips with us.

Please write in with your questions – you can email me or comment on this article – so they can be added to my list. In the meantime, while my quest continues to be for a peaceful rewarding life, my desire for physical perfection (ha, ha!) has led me to a few things I thought I’d share with you… recent finds if you will:

Try apple cider vinegar! I heard about this recently on a beauty show on Martha Stewart radio. One gal called in to say she had lost 2 pant sizes. Well, of course, I tried it. I found it made me feel more energetic and helped with my weight (didn’t lose 2 pant sizes, though). I take one or two tablespoons mixed with a little water once or twice a day. It should be organic and unfiltered and I found it at a local health food store. You can Google ACV or check out this website for more info on its many uses: http://www.applecidervinegarweightloss.com
Try to sleep on your back to eliminate pillow wrinkles on your face (I found this impossible)
One for the car – to smooth the skin on your cheeks and improve muscle tone, fill your mouth with air and move it from side to side for a count of 5 on each side. Repeat until someone in the next car laughs at you
Take 10 deep breaths every day extending your stomach when you breathe in and flattening it when you breath out – great just before bed
Try a yogurt mask – they are super easy and can be made in your kitchen to suit you specific skin type. Here are a few websites that might be of interest:
http://video.about.com/beauty/3-Natural-Skin-Cleaners.htm
http://www.ehow.com/about_5077089_benefits-yogurt-face-masks.html
http://www.orientelle.ca/node/403
And most importantly, kiss your significant other for a minimum of 10 seconds every day

I look forward to hearing from you!

Fall Harvest – Fun Squash Recipes

Lin Cullen — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:50:00 GMT

Fall being the wonderful harvest season with so many wonderful vegetables in abundance, I found myself listening to a program about squash. So many kinds of squash! And a rather funny word – reminds me of Squaaabb!

I know we all have some great recipes – baked, soups, casseroles, and of course spaghetti squash – so I thought I would share a couple I thought were new and interesting and that I had never heard before.

The first one is for kids and is a ‘treat’ or ‘dessert’. All you do is halve the squash, clean out the seeds, poke it and fill it with marshmallows and nuts or trail mix, etc. Then wrap it in tinfoil and bake it. The gal who called it in said her kids loved it and she often did it on camping trips and cooked the foil pouches right on the coals… what a great way to get nutrition into the kids! So if you try it, let me know how it goes.

The second was from a truck driver who called in… obviously a foodie! He made what he called twice baked squash. Just halve, clean and poke the squash then bake it. When it is done, or almost done, he takes out half the squash and mixes it with rice, cooked turkey, and some spices. He refills the halves and sprinkles with cheese (any hard Italian cheese), then rebakes it until it is heated through and browned on top. Doesn’t that sound terrific – a meal in a dish!

Happy squashing and do share your favourites!

PS – One lady who had difficulty cutting her squash in half because of arthritis in her hands, put it in a plastic bag and dropped in on the garage floor – I love sharp chicks!

A Unique Find in Tuscany

Lin Cullen — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:18:00 GMT

Our trip to Tuscany was very inspirational to our gourmet department here at Lifestyles Plus. Not only did we ship some product home, we also began searching for all the great things we had tried during our visit. One of our favourites is La Bomba antipasto made by Allessia and imported by Aurora Foods.

This antipasto is spicy and is wonderful served as a side with crackers and goat or cheddar cheese. And while it is included in our gourmet gift packs you can find it in food shops such as Viva Tasting, Sun Valley Fine Food, Gourmand Inc., and The Epicure Shop.

It also makes a wonder accompaniment for sandwiches and chicken or fish. You may want to try it with my favourite chicken dish… a little something I call Summer chicken (which is really for anytime and particularly now that the days are getting cooler and the bbq is a little more challenging… but your beer does stay colder!). Check out the recipe here and enjoy!

Welcome to the Lifestyles Plus Blog!

Lin Cullen — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:40:00 GMT

Lifestyles Plus has a blog… woohoo! And our goal is to keep it as interesting as possible for you.

Each week we will tell you a little bit about new products we’ve found, tips for party planning, travel tips (don’t take high heels to Tuscany because it’s a waste of packing space!) and generally fun and informative tidbits we think you’ll find interesting. We hope you will write in to tell us about your favourite products and tips or with any questions you might have for us.

In the meantime, please have a peek at our website and take a moment to tell us what you think!

By the way, if you are thinking of visiting Tuscany, be sure to visit Modova in Florence for the best in leather gloves. Here is a link to their website (www.madova.com) where you can also shop from home!