UsedEverywhere.com

New Geo-search Feature: Find it faster.

We’ve recently rolled out a new way to search for things on the Used sites! This new feature is an advanced search option that lets you to find ads that are within a certain distance of the postal code you enter. So, now you can search for ad close to home, close to work, etc & so on.

You can find it by clicking on “Advanced” next to the search bar at the top right of the homepage…

…or as an advanced search option when you’re searching a category.
 

 
Enter your info and watch your search get oh, so much more refined. We hope helps you find what you’re looking for!

Seven Tips for Getting Sold Fast: Make Your Used Item Stand Out in the Crowd

It’s spring, and I have clutter.

You know what that means: time to sort, organize, and list! UsedPEI, I have the motherlode coming your way.

The great thing about sell & swap sites and services – whatever your local and preferred flavour may be – is that they enable you to minimize the clutter in your living space while also making money. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, so the saying goes.

But the truth is, if you’re really trying to sell trash – or if you treat your potential treasures like trash in your listings – you may be selling yourself short.

Listing items on a used site is easy. It really is. However, you can drastically improve your chances of selling by taking just a few minutes to actually show your treasures off properly.

Below, friends, my hard-won wisdom from months trolling the boards. Here’s how to maximize what you sell in the minimum of time: seven tips for making the selling used process as efficient and successful as it possibly can be.

1. Sell quality
Decide what you actually want money for, and what you simply want to get out of your house.

The fact that something may no longer be of use to you doesn’t make it garbage: UsedPEI and the UsedEverywhere family of sites pride ourselves on helping keep things out of the landfill. But, that said, the profit margin on many things is rather tiny, and the lower the value of the item, the more intense the haggling. If you simply want to get rid of something quickly, but aren’t sure whether it actually has monetary value, consider listing it under our Free headings: stuff tends to disappear faster there.

Or if something’s in decent shape and you’re able to afford to simply give it away, consider donating small items to places where they’ll be appreciated.

2. Know your market
Once you’ve sorted out what you want to sell, take a few minutes to consider what it might be worth, and to whom.

Is this a niche item? The older something is, or the more unusual, the more likely you are to have a real treasure on your hands, in the eyes of somebody. If that’s the case, make sure you target your ad with relevant key words.

If you’re selling Aunt Edna’s ancient lamp, take two minutes to do a google search for what era the lamp belonged to. Then title your ad appropriately. Many buyers search the site by keyword, not by simply scrolling through everything available.

3. Know your value 
While you’re checking out what era Aunt Edna’s lamp came from, take an extra minute to see what they currently cost and whether or not there are any already on the site. Consider the shape yours is in, and price accordingly.

Pick a price: don’t take the easy way out of “best offer” or $12345. If you want to sell, looking like you know the value of what you’re offering is a surprisingly big part of making people want to pay it.

That said, be reasonable rather than aspirational if you want to sell fast. If you hold out for absolute top dollar, you may be holding out for a long time. And if you’re firm on your price and not at all open to dickering back and forth, say so in the ad.

4. Be descriptive
While nobody’s going to win a Pulitzer for their used ad, being moderately interesting does help to engage potential buyers. Use clear descriptive terms to market your item, and market it: make it evident what it’s for and why someone would want it.

“It’s spring: need a good, gently-used, rust-free kids’ bike? Orange 20 inch, $50″ targets readers’ attention both to your item and to why your item might be useful to them in a way that “Bike for sale” does not. It often doesn’t take a whole lot of description to distinguish yourself from the competition: a mere modicum of effort can make all the difference.

5. Take DECENT photos
Again, you don’t need to be a professional to stand out from the crowd in this department. But it’s probably the one that makes the biggest difference to overall sales.

The Internet is a visual medium. People scan sites by keyword, but they click on what they can see. Include photos. Even if what you’re selling is as ugly as the day is long, let the world see the ugliness with its own eyes. Don’t surprise buyers at your door.

Top tips: Include a few photos from a few angles. Take the thirty seconds necessary to wipe the dust off the piano, for instance, and remove the thirty-three family pictures cluttering all the attractive woodworking details on the damn thing. Better, especially if you have outdoor items to sell, pick a sunny late afternoon and photograph them all. I squandered all of last week’s sunshine and am now stuck trying to get decent pictures of children’s play items in the pouring rain. Boo.

This is my pizza oven. It’s a great, flat toaster oven, about three years old. Unfortunately, since we moved, we no longer have space on top of our fridge for it. We also stopped eating a lot of pizza, hence…time to sell.

I dusted it. Nobody wants to buy a dirty-looking kitchen appliance.

I put it in a place in my kitchen where it would be well lit. I wiped the surface it was sitting on. And I opened the door for one of the shots: it’s important to show potential buyers what a piece can do.

I also removed most of the extraneous kitchen junk from the frame. I am not selling my kitchen: I am selling the pizza oven. You will notice that all sales-oriented photography is minimalist: it focuses attention on the item.

This all took approximately 45 seconds. Hey, I’m asking $30 for the thing. $30 for 45 seconds extra work? Good deal, IMO.

Last photo tip: PLEASE, people. PLEASE. Rotate your photos before uploading them. Don’t make me hurt my neck craning to see if yours is the piano – or the pizza oven – for me.

6. Spellcheck
I saw an ad for a clock the other day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t spelled that way. Some buyer is going to be VERY disappointed.

7. Be honest
Chances are what you’re selling will be useful and desirable to somebody. But don’t oversell, and never NEVER make overt claims that aren’t true. Mutton dressed as lamb doesn’t smell so good when the buyer is holding it in his or her hands, and – especially in small communities – your reputation as an honest seller will go far further in the long run than the extra $10 you might think you’ll get right now by pretending Aunt Edna’s lamp actually works. If you’re selling something for parts, say so.

In the end, selling used can be a great way to both keep your living space under control and make some extra cash. But like any thing that pays, the rewards tend to equal the effort expended. If you put the absolute minimum into your listings, you’ll likely get the absolute minimum out. If you have decent things to sell, take ten whole minutes and list them right: you may see up to hundreds of dollars in speedy return. That’s profit worth working for, I think.

Slow and Low is the Way to Go

BBQ Xanadu

I was in a local fast food restaurant the other day, picking up a coffee before a mini road trip to Saskatoon, and stood behind a man who could best be described as ‘impatient’ (a ‘total jerk’ could also work). He was berating the poor person at the counter because he had to wait five minutes for his food. He must be a pretty important person, with a jam-packed schedule and a team of people depending on him, because this five-minute wait simply was unacceptable, and he was letting the cashier know it.

“I thought this was fast food!” he bellowed at the end of his expletive-filled rant.

Beyond his obvious rudeness and the fact that someone must have urinated in his corn flakes that morning, I was most offended at this comment. Five minutes for a meal isn’t fast? Seriously? Have we become so conditioned to get everything as soon as we want it that waiting beyond ‘right now’ is unacceptable? And do you really want to eat something that is pretty much hot and ready to go the moment you think of it? It got me thinking – sure, fast food is convenient and there’s a place for it (road trips, running late and 3am, post-bar greasy meals to name a few), but what about the flavour that can only be coaxed out of food by taking your time?

It was time to smoke some ribs.

Don’t have a smoker? Don’t worry – with a little online research and some guessing and testing, you can easily convert your gas grill into a smoker.

I was looking forward to a day outside with the grill, but the real work starts the night before, preparing the ribs and the “mop sauce”.

The mop sauce is a magical elixir of flavour  you apply to the ribs throughout the smoking process to keep them tender and tasty. I have tried a few different sauces, but this recipe on Drick’s Rambling Café is the best I’ve found so far:

mop sauce

Drick Perry’s Mop Sauce

2 cups apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup apple juice

1/4 cup brown sugar -firmly packed

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1/2 tablespoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

 I also add a half bottle of dark stout.

 Combine ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Stir and put on a low simmer for 15 minutes. I put it the fridge to cool, then filled a food-safe spray bottle for easy application and sprayed the ribs every 45 minutes. Word of warning – be sure your spray bottle can handle the spices without getting clogged.

insane in the membrane

Next you need to prep the ribs. That means trimming the excess fat and removing the membrane that runs along the back of the ribs – this will ensure the rub and the smoke and smoke flavor get through. Simply slip your knife under the membrane to make a hole, slip in your fingers and peel off.

When the membrane is removed it’s time for the mustard massage. Cheap, prepared yellow mustard helps your rub stick to the ribs, forms a nice bark and all the mustard flavour goes away when smoked. Next apply the rub – you can buy prepared rubs and rub seasonings but you can make your own easily – all you need is some brown sugar and your favourites from the spice rack. I have made my own recipe through guessing and testing below:

Rib Rub

2 cups firmly packed golden brown sugar

1 cup packed best brown sugar (darker)

2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 cup kosher salt

1/4 cup paprika

1 tablespoon onion powder

2 tablespoons dry mustard

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon ground red pepper

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon black pepper

Combine ingredients and rub into the ribs, cover ribs and refrigerate over night.

The next day I set up the BBQ. Smoking on a gas grill is all about low, constant and indirect heat. Only one burner is turned on, under the wood, creating the smoke. Under the meat place a tin lasagna pan filled with apple juice to keep the meat moist. You can pick up wood chips at any hardware store. I prefer sugar maple for pork. Soak the wood chips in apple juice and put them in foil packs with a few holes poked in them. Place them on the grill and get the temperature up to 250 degrees. That is your temperature sweet spot and you should keep it there throughout the smoking process.

before

Once the temperature is steady place your ribs on the grill (not under the lit burner, remember) close the lid and keep an eye on the temperature. If you can, only check your ribs every 45 minutes, when mopping with the sauce you made. Remember, you you’re looking, you ain’t cooking. It usually takes about 4 – 5 hours, but the longer you smoke them, the more the flavours develop.

after

The best thing about smoking ribs is that you can take a relatively inexpensive cut of meat and turn it into something amazing. And it’s a great excuse to stay in the backyard all afternoon, radio on and beer in hand, ‘working on the ribs’. It’s nice work if you can get it.

spring has sprung when the shed radio comes out

Once smoked, let them rest for 10 minutes, cut them up and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Trust me, you’ve never had a sweeter fruit. So take my advice: enjoy the great weather this spring and take a detour of the fast food freeway. Go slow and see what you’ve been missing in the fast lane.

Apartment Living: Creating Outside Space

I have talked a couple of times about creating a communal vegetable plot with my neighbouring friends who have a good size garden. This weekend past, we finally planted our seeds and congratulated each other on how amazing we are for ‘growing’ our own food! Optimism is what grows vegetables.

I myself live in an apartment. If I am honest, I never expected it. I am not sure what I did expect  (as a 12-year-old, I thought by the time I was 16 I’d be Winona Ryder and everything would be taken care of) but it definitely involved owning a house. Then I moved to the West Coast.

Small But Perfectly Formed. From Get Green Living.com

I absolutely love my apartment, it’s a really good size but I would love to improve my outside space. Like most Victoria apartments I have a balcony, but I do absolutely nothing with it. So, I’m about to change that and have set myself a challenge, to clean up my balcony and furnish it with only upcycled, recycled or already used furnishings.

First up, I need to give my balcony floor a good scrub, two years of neglect have practically given me the outside ecosystem I have always longed for, just not in a good way. Referring to my blogging buddy Carly’s post about vinegar and how you can use it for just about everything, I am getting on my hands and knees with a baking soda and vinegar mix and a sturdy new hard bristle scrubbing brush.

Next up, the floor.  On a recent trip to Oregon, I bought a mat made entirely from high grade recycled plastic. It’s called a Mad Mat and made from water bottles, milk bottles and other plastic packaging. As well as being an upcycled product, being made from 98% plastic means that it won’t mould or mildew outdoors, so it is perfect for a balcony space that is still open to the elements.

Mad Mats. Made of 98% Recycled Plastic. From PatioandYard.com

I found some wood on the side of the road last week and my husband Dave turned it into two plant pots. We plan to drill them into the rail to help drainage and to save them against the west coast winds. I still haven’t chosen the plants that will go in them – I was tempted by lettuces – but I think on each side of my balcony, to create a more private space I am going to go for morning glory. It takes a while to grow but I think it will create a really nice alternative to blinds. In the meantime, I am keeping my eye out for more curbside wood.  Another man’s garbage and all that.

Morning Glory Shades. From Gardencams.blogspot.ca

Because I am relying on garage sales, my local UsedSite and curbside finds to furnish my balcony, I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. This week, I intend to raid my craft boxes and make some windchimes and candles which I will share with you in my next post. In the meantime, here’s some inspiration for anyone else thinking of a balcony refurb!

Maybe In My Preteen Winona Dreams. Created by architect, James Law

Did I mention I'd like some greenery. The words 'whole new level' come to mind! From Urbangardensweb.com

Have already found my kid's easel on UsedVictoria! From Shelterness.com

Love this space saving table. From mydesiredhome.com

Dreams of a Short Girl Come True: My First Modelling Gig

-photo coutesy of Derek Ford Photographer

I’m sure many of you gals out there who are 5’4″ and under can relate when I tell you that I never imagined I’d ever get the opportunity to model. Growing up as the second shortest girl in class in elementary and high school, (at least, I could always feel tall standing next to ONE other person)  I was always picked last (well, second to last) playing basketball or volleyball and when the school put on spring fashion shows for grad, I automatically counted myself out as a candidate.

Us short girls have all secretly dreamed at one point of walking down a runway (in 6 inch heels to make up the height requirements) strutting our stuff and wearing fabulous clothing but for most, this has just remained a dream. Now I’m not saying I ever wanted to be a model professionally (nor do I have the looks, body or bone structure to actually be one!) but the opportunity to pretend to be on Canada’s Next Top Model for even a day was always something secretly hidden away on my bucket list.

(Insert Carly's photo here) Hahahahahaha...just kidding!

Well, two weeks ago this short girl’s dream finally came true! While attending a pre-launch party for the Breathe Now Conference in Victoria, it was announced that they were looking for people to model in their fashion show during  the conference’s after-party.  At first, the short girl from elementary school inside me said “don’t even bother asking. No one wants a 5 foot 3 (and three quarters!) girl as a model.” But suddenly the thirty two-year-old mom I am now, replied, “Why not just ask?  You’re not getting any younger, lady!”  Luckily thirty-something Mom won out and I timidly raised my hand asking if they’d want someone short like me to model.  And to my amazement, the answer was yes!!!

Over the next week, I made appointments (or go-sees as they call them on ANTM!) with all sorts of different designers to be fitted for my modelling debut!  Now I should note that I’m the type of person who usually buys most of my clothing at thrift shops and Costco so putting on dresses and jeans worth over $200 a piece was really exciting and a bit intimidating. I was told that I should bring along a couple pairs of flats and a couple pairs of heels to the go-sees! Uh oh!  Problem here….I don’t know how to walk in heels!

Looking at these is like watching a horror movie!

I’m not joking!  I literally own two pairs of heels that I purchased on a whim in hopes of one day learning how to walk in them. Even my husband will attest to this unattractive inability. I’ll get all dolled up in a fancy dress and heels for a hot date night but as soon as I start walking, the illusion is gone and I suddenly turn into drunk looking horse! It’s like being Cinderella only in reverse where after trying on the glass slipper, I turn into a pumpkin instead of a princess…Oh wait, she doesn’t turn into a pumpkin, the carriage does… anyways, you get the point!

And OF COURSE when given the option, four out of the five designers decided that the outfits I was modelling looked much better in heels…my worst nightmare now coming true!  For a week, I practiced and practiced wearing my heels in hopes of not falling on my face at the show.  Luckily, on the night of the event, my practice paid off and neither I nor any audience members were hurt.  As for how I looked strutting down the runway in heels, I was told that I actually looked human instead of equine which was a pleasant surprise!  Whew!

-photo courtesy of Derek Ford Photographer

It was just like a real runway show. After we walked down the aisle, we would dash backstage, whip off our outfit and have just enough time to put on clothes before we were sent back out. We even had people helping us dress!  Not to mention, we had our makeup and hair done which is a rare and wonderful treat for any mom out there.

Getting ready backstage before the show- photo courtesy of Derek Ford Photographer

After the show, when I got home, I pulled out my bucket list and triumphantly crossed off “model in a fashion show!”  A triumph not only for me but for all those short ladies out there with the same dream. Hopefully this inspires you to also ignore the elementary school short girl inside you and raise your hand next time!

***A special thank you to designers/boutiques Mangos Boutique and Smoking Lily for their beautiful and generous thank you gifts.  So sweet of you!

Coupon Tip of the Week:  When teaching others to coupon, I’ve found the best way to get started is to ask them to write down a list of everything they purchase on a weekly and monthly basis.  Ask them to be specific if they will only use one type of brand of an item I.e. Tide Detergent or just detergent if they aren’t picky.  After they’ve completed the list, have them pass it back to you and then tick off every item you are aware there are coupons out there for.  Trust me, they will be amazed at how many items you can use coupons for and this will definitely get them excited to learn how to coupon!

Volunteering: How to Find the Best Fit

Last week was National Volunteer Week across Canada and I figured we should keep the momentum going! According to the organization Volunteer Canada, over 12.5 million Canadians volunteer 2.1 billion hours yearly! That’s a lot of not-for-profit love.

I’ve volunteered for various organizations over the years as I think it’s an important part of contributing to society. But, it has at times been challenging for me to find the right kind of volunteer work. There are so many organizations that need help; it can be hard to decide where one should put their energy.

And let’s face it… it can be frustrating to volunteer if your time isn’t being utilized properly. So here are a few things to consider before taking on a volunteer activity:

Why Do You Want to Volunteer?

Everyone has a different reason for volunteering. Some people are looking to make friends or business contacts; others are looking to help people in need. It’s important to consider your motivation, as it will help you select an activity that is a good fit for you. Volunteering should be fulfilling, but only you can decide that for yourself.

A day at an orphanage in South Africa

What Are Your Skills and Interests?

There are limitless volunteer opportunities and you should consider your skill set and interests in order to find the best fit. If you are an animal person, a shelter might be a good fit for you. If you love organizing and paper work, many places look for help with reception or administrative duties. You don’t want to end up performing a task that you hate, so make sure to consider what you like to do.

Volunteering at the Atlantic Film Festival

How Much Time Can You Commit?

Everyone has a different amount of spare time to offer. And many organizations require a minimum time commitment from their volunteers. Before you start looking for a volunteer activity, you should consider (and be realistic) about how much time you have free in any given day/week/month. Some roles will require training or weekly/monthly prep. Make sure to consider all of the time you’ll need to commit to avoid overcommitting and under delivering.

Tree Planting Photo Credit: flickr.com/photos/vastateparksstaff/

Where is the Volunteer Activity Located?

You can volunteer anywhere you want: abroad, in another community or right in your backyard. When you are considering the type of volunteer activity you’d like to participate in, consider how you will get there. If it’s an opportunity abroad, it may take a lot of saving and coordination to make it happen. If it’s outside your community you should consider your transportation options.

There is no shortage of great organizations in need of volunteer help and with a little bit of research, you can find an opportunity that is a great fit for you. There are several online resources that will help place you with an organization such as: EnergizeInc or Volunteer.ca. One can also search for charities/non-profits at the CRA website.  Many sites are community, city or province specific, so it may take a little extra effort during the search process. You can also post or find volunteer opportunities on our Used.com family of sites under “jobs- volunteer”.

Most organizations looking for volunteers will clearly state how to get in touch with them on their websites. And don’t be surprised if it takes a little while before you can get started. Many of these organizations are understaffed and if you’re looking to volunteer with kids for example, there might be a long clearance process before you can actually get started (but don’t get discouraged, it’s worth the wait!)

Brownie Leader "Snowy Owl" aka Me, learning to snow shoe

Volunteering is a great way to engage in your community and give back to organizations who are helping give a voice to those in need. Finding the right volunteer activity takes a little planning, but it will ensure that you are using your precious free time in the best way possible. Join the 12.5 million Canadians already volunteering their time and make 2012 your year to volunteer!

Who owned it? Who loved it? The romance of buying used

Why would anyone buy something that had been previously owned and loved by someone else when they could buy it brand new in a store?

It’s a valid question. And in a way, for those of us who get it, I’ve already answered it.

It seems only fitting that I offer a glimpse of why I was so drawn to contribute to the stories I’ve found here. It’s time for a confession:  I have a secret fondness for the unexpected items, and the lure of a purchase with a story.

Why is it so easy to be tempted by something that has lived a life already?

Perhaps it is the love of discovery, or maybe it has something to do with the story itself. Often it’s curiosity, a fascination with how things used to be. Other times it’s pragmatism, finding a solution to a problem…or perhaps a creative way around the problem. Is it just me, or does finding what we want through non-traditional means make us more thoughtful?

I can remember a second-hand store in a town near our family cabin, and how I loved to wander the aisles when I was a kid. I have memories of deals found at flea markets, garage sales, and things passed on from relatives or family friends. I’ve wandered antique stores to amuse myself, or while on the hunt for something special.

Then the arrival of the internet changed the game. Just in time too, as my life is busier and trips to an antique store or second-hand store are downright unwieldy with two young kids. If I can barely manage a weekly grocery shop with the two of them in tow, how on earth could I take them to a crowded store filled with one-of-a-kind items?

We’ve dragged home old trunks, a kitchen hutch, a coffee table, the aforementioned wooden crates, a small wooden picnic table and stools, old tins, coasters adorned with the logos of beer we may never sample. We bought an old fridge for our garage the year we got married. And someday I’ll tell you about the old school bus we once bought – that one probably tops any other used purchase we’ve made.

I still look. I peek in the free listings, I look for plant sales, for gardening supplies like mulch and pots, for wooden furniture, vintage posters, and even the odd piano. I even have had my heartstrings tugged by the odd puppy for sale. What? You try scrolling past those cute furry faces.  Someday I will find the perfect, giant dining room table fit for a crowd, I can feel it.

I hope you’ll join me as I indulge my curiosity, and love of a good story, in this place. I will explore possibilities, share a few stories of my own and probably take you along on a few journeys as I come up with ideas for this space we live in. I’m always on the hunt for ways to make it work better for how we live, and as we welcome spring, I’ll be doing the same outside. I may also turn the tables as I gaze upon all I currently own, and imagine fitting it into a different home someday – there may be a few items that I decide to part with.

You’ll hold my hand through that, right?

I’ll try to be brave.

For now, I’ll leave you with a few of my favourite “finds” over the years – all items found through non-traditional, though totally legitimate means, I swear.

 Tins…I can never resist them. Bright colours, and handy for storage.

 These two extinguishers flank our basement fireplace. Copper and red?  Swoon.

 We couldn’t resist these coasters, especially because my husband is Welsh. Ha.

These have held much nostalgia. Also Bailey’s Irish Cream. Ahem.

Remember, I would love to hear the stories behind your favourite “finds” as much as my own, so don’t hesitate to share them!  I’m always on the hunt for inspiration…

Record Store Day: Get Crafty With Vinyl

My favourite vinyl record art by Jean Shin. Soundwave.

This weekend (April 21st) is Record Store Day, a day to celebrate those musty smelling, awesome sounding, little gems that help preserve the sanctity of good music and real actual offline interaction with real actual music lovers!

So in honour if this special day, I’m destroying records! Isn’t it ironic? But don’t worry, no non scratched records were harmed in the making of this blog, though saying that, do you think the world would miss another Nana Mouskouri record…. there’s a reason why there’ s at least 20 in every thrift store in town.

There are lots of things you can do with vinyl records. I’ve chosen to make a bowl today, but at Christmas time, I plan to make some clocks as gifts with personalised record labels made by my little one, something like:

Grandparents Rock! Side One:
1. Your hair smells of tea
2. Please feed me more sugar
3. Lavender Soap

Making clocks out of vinyl records is really easy, just buy the clock pieces and fit to the record. Labelling just requires some hand drawing or printing and cutting a circle – easy like Sunday morning.

Making bowls from vinyl records is just as easy and takes about 15 minutes.

I used the Flasdhdance Soundtrack. It wasn't scratched. Hipsters don't hate on me

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 235 degrees F
2. Grab a baking tray and set an oven proof bowl on in it
3. Centre the vinyl record on top of the bowl
4. Put a heavy tin of vegetables/chickpeas/etc on the label of the record, this will force the record to bend into the bowl as it melts. (Without this the record may flop over the bowl. It’s still malleable enough to mould like this, so have a play, you may find something your prefer)
5. Put the record into the oven and open the windows and put the fan on, in case of fumes ( I never experience any noxious fumes)
6. Wait about 4 minutes and keep a close eye on the project, dependent on the quality of the vinyl it may start to flop pretty quickly and you want to be able to adjust it if needs be
7. When you see it flop, take it out of the oven and adjust and mould as necessary. I always have to adjust the tin of vegetables to push the record into the bowl and then I use a knife and fingers to mould the edges.
8. Done!

Remember to use the necessary heat proof protection for your hands as the tray, bowl, tin and vinyl will obviously get very hot. I’ll be honest, I use my fingers to mould the vinyl when it has cooled a little, I find it much easier to manipulate this way, but don’t be stupid, PLEASE wait until it has cooled so that you don’t lose your fingerprints. You can keep putting the bowl back in the oven if you need to soften the vinyl so you can keep moulding.

I use my bowls for all sorts, they make great dishes for candy or practical stuff like paper clips etc and they also make great gifts for music lovers on record store day!

Breathe Now and Forever Hold Your Peace

Me and fellow UsedVic blogger Amber at the Breathe Now Conference

This weekend I was reminded of a very important thing that I haven’t done in a really long time…I was reminded to breathe!  This may seem like such a simple concept but it’s not as easy as it sounds and we rarely stop in our busy and hectic lives to just sit and take in how great it feels to breathe. Especially as women, we feel we have to take on so many different roles in life: wife, mother, co-worker, business entrepreneur, chauffeur, chef, entertainer etc. etc. and somewhere in the middle of all of this, the act of the breathing gets lost or forgotten…and it’s the most important thing we NEED to do!!

The UsedVic Lounge Area at Breathe Now

I was fortunate enough (thanks to UsedVictoria who were also there providing a relaxing lounge for people to breathe in) to attend an amazing conference held in my hometown Victoria and the event, fittingly enough, was titled “Breathe Now.”  Over the two day event, women from all walks of life came together to focus on themselves and learn ways of breathing more in every aspect of their lives. Not only did I learn some valuable information to help balance my life and live in the moment but I also got a free day pass away from dirty diapers, cleaning up messes and chasing my very mobile son around for hours on end (I’m not saying I don’t love all these things…I do!  But as most of you moms out there will agree, sometimes you just need a day or two to recharge and take time for yourself as an adult!)

So what did I learn this weekend at Breathe Now?  Well, the first workshop I attended was titled “It’s Okay…to Dress for Success” where fashion consultant Bonnie Pollard taught me how to finally reorganize my wardrobe and purge my closet of everything that no longer fits or that I simply don’t wear. I’ve been wanting to do this forever!

Now I’m sure we can all take a look in our closets and find several pieces of clothing that we never wear but swear we someday will.  Like the pair of neon orange hammer pants from 1991 that we’re so sure will come back in style again soon or the lumberjack shirt from our grunge years that is just soooo comfy and brings back wonderful memories of listening to Nirvana and judging society every time we wear it.  I’m sorry, but you need to let these items go! Turns out that when it comes to clothing and putting together outfits, less is more!  (I know you fashionistas and shopaholics out there are gasping and shouting, “that is sacrilege” but it’s true)  Bonnie taught us our lives will become much less complicated and getting dressed will be less stressful if we narrow down our wardrobe to a few pieces that can be worn in many different ways. Her philosophy is the less clothing we have in our closet, the better chance we will wear clothing that actually fits us and makes us feel good about ourselves.

Here’s the challenge she gave us:  Take EVERYTHING out of your closet and divide the items into piles such as tops, pants, cardigans etc.  Then go through each pile and throw out anything that you haven’t worn in a year or maybe have too many of. Nobody needs six black cardigans which is what I found in my closet this weekend! Next, organize the piles in your closet by these categories so you actually know what you have to wear.  I’m telling you, I did this a couple of days ago and I could feel oxygen filling my lungs with each hanger I freed up!  Plus, it’s so much easier to get dressed now that I can actually see what I have and know that it actually fits me well.

Rita gave these out for us to wear...so cute!

Another inspiring workshop I attended was called “It’s Okay…to Create Your Own Destiny” in which Rita Chand told us about her inspiring journey of she hugging a different person each day for 365 days!  This challenge forced her to get out of her comfort zone and actually live in each moment because no matter how she was feeling, she had to make sure to complete her goal each day and approach someone for a hug. This really got me thinking about how much time we spend either thinking of the past or planning for the future (particularly making lists in our heads of things we need to do…I am notorious for doing this all the time!) and never really taking time to actually live in the present and take in what is actually going on around you right now.

I was at boot camp yesterday morning (at 6am!!! Ouch!) and as we were lying on our yoga mats doing stretches, I consciously decided to just look up at the sky and take in the beautiful morning as the sun peeked through the clouds. Normally I would use this time to figure out my day and the million things I NEEDED to get done that day but instead I just looked and breathed and I’m telling you, it was soooooo wonderful.  I felt refreshed and it gave me the recharging I needed to actually tackle the daily chores.

Me, my friend Liz and Bif just before her speech!

The highlight of my weekend was hearing (and meeting) Canadian singer Bif Naked give a keynote address. Like the other workshops I attended, she spoke about really taking time for ourselves in life and connecting with others in a positive way. My favorite point she made is that everyone is born into the world optimistic and that somehow we lose this pure optimism as we get older. It made me think of my 11-month-old son and how I find him in his crib every morning grinning from ear to ear and ready to start the day, filled with excitement over the possibilities of the day. I want to try to be that way every morning too! (Well, at least after I’ve had my cup of coffee…I’m sorry but that’s just never going to change. Those who have seen me pre-coffee can attest to this.)

I think it’s important to be reminded of the little things in life that really make us feel happy and at peace with ourselves and this conference was exactly the kick in the pants (don’t worry, no one actually kicked me at the conference…I go to boot camp for that! lol) I needed to regroup, reorganize and take time to breathe and take life in as it happens. I hope passing along what I learned this weekend will also help remind you to breathe…How about giving it a try right now?

Coupon Tip of the Week:  I want to remind everyone to try to wait on using coupons until the item goes on sale so you can get the best deal or even get the item for free. I almost made this mistake this week.  I had two coupons I could stack which totalled $8 but the item wasn’t on sale and cost $12 so I would still be paying $4.  Since my coupons don’t expire until July and I really didn’t need this item right away, I suddenly realized it would be best to keep these coupons and wait until the item went on sale, saving me more money.

Window shopping: what's on UsedOttawa for outdoor play?

One of my family's favourite outdoor toys!

We’ve had a rather kooky start to Spring here in Ottawa. We’ve had both sides of the weather coin – both hot and cold – and it has taken its toll on our front hall closet which is currently buckling under the pressure of multiple seasons of hats, gloves, umbrellas, boots, sandals, and coats of all kinds. But I’m not here to talk about our closet (a post for another day perhaps?), I wanted to shop UsedOttawa and talk about getting outside with the kiddies. Because now, my friends, is the time to do it… shop that is!

First thing’s first. Did you know that there is a Playground Equipment category on UsedOttawa? Yessir there is, and it’s not restricted to equipment per se. The content of this category is much broader than the title implies.

Here are a few of my current picks from this category, all things that will (hopefully!) encourage kids to get outside for some fresh air.

Please note, some of these items may be sold by the time you click!

• Playhouses like this one - I think a playhouse is one of the best toys to encourage free-form dramatic play. And they are not just for girls either! Boys enjoy them just as much.
• Sand and water tables like this one – I wish these had been around when my kids were younger, I know they would have loved it. Throw in some small shovels, cups, dinky cars, plastic dinosaurs and you have hours of play. This water wheel table from Step 2 looks pretty good too.
• There are all kinds of play structures on UsedOttawa right now too – big and small. Look at this one. (!) My kids would die if we had something like that. Here’s a smaller one from Step 2 too. Regardless of what kind of play structure you are looking for, keep in mind that this is a big “buyer beware” category. Please make sure you inspect play structures carefully before you purchase anything.
• Ride-on toys are a must-have this time of year. Check out this cute Red Flyer Trike. (I love the little compartment in the back!) We have one of these Plasma cars, and the kids still use it. Talk about play value!
• I adore this sand box. We had this exact same one and it was very sturdy, not to mention the perfect size for toddlers. Having a sandbox with a lid is a must. It prevents the sand from getting soaked in the rain and thwarts the neighbourhood cats who are determined to use it as a litter box. (Ew.)

What are you guys playing with nowadays? I’d love to hear about your favourite outdoor toys!