UsedEverywhere.com

DIY Projects for the Non-Doers

In two weeks, I’m going to be hanging out with the UsedVictoria crew at the Vancouver Island Mini Maker Faire, so I thought I’d get myself psyched up by attempting to tackle some do-it-yourself projects. Unfortunately, I don’t believe I possess single DIY bone in my body…if I do it’s maybe hiding in my small pinky toe! I’ve always been super jealous of those Martha Stewart types (you know who you are!) who can take some random or ugly item and turn it into something beautiful and contemporary.

For example, when Ashley of Creating Love & Joy looks at an old lamp like this from the 70s, she sees it’s potential. When I look at the lamp, I just see an ugly lamp from 1973 that no one should ever own…even in 1973!

Before: Seriously ugly lamp.

After: I never would have thought to do this.

I’m also jealous because by recycling old goods and making them new again, these talented DIYers save themselves a lot of money, something you all know is one of my favorite things to do.

My Mom has always had this ability (guess the DIY gene fairy missed me!) and through the years, she’s taught me a couple of DIY tricks that I actually believe I can accomplish (thank God for my pinky toe).  This particular DIY project is my favorite. It can actually be done by ANYONE and always turns out looking great. That, and it won’t lighten your wallet. Promise!

How many times have you walked into a thrift store or garage sale and seen dozens of ugly brass picture frames stacked on top of eachother for a couple bucks each?  The frames are the right size and shape except for that ugly brass color.  Well, turns out you can actually repaint the brass and totally reinvent the frames. My mom has been doing this for years and now that I’m older and have a home of my own, I decided I would also attempt this handy trick.

All you need is an old brass picture frame found anywhere (you can almost always find some on your local Used Site), a small paint brush like the ones your kids use to paint with and some acrylic paint (you can find small bottles of it in a variety of colors at the dollar store as well as the brushes). Then you simply take the glass out of your frame if it has some (I recommend giving it a good scrub with some vinegar,) place the frame on some newspaper and paint.

Within five minutes, you have a gorgeous new frame that looks brand new! Well, okay not actually five minutes. Turns out it does take quite a while to dry which is why I don’t have a picture of the finished product hung on a wall. You’ll probably have to apply a couple of coats on to really hide the brass. You can also do this to old wooden frames, but be aware that sometimes the paint can’t completely cover the frames if they’ve been stained (unless you sand and/or prime them, and that’s more work!)  In this case, it’s probably best to spray paint them instead.

My husband actually came up with this next DIY idea which nearly caused me to pass out from shock! He’s not exactly the first person I think of when I think of DIYers… His solution is usually to buy something new or hire someone to fix it, a quality I actually do admire when something goes wrong with the house. I’m always thankful I didn’t marry a Tim “The Toolman” Taylor! I was telling him that I needed to go out and buy a watering can for my potted flowers on our back porch as it would be so much easier than having to drag the hose all the way across the lawn to water them every time. ( I know, how lazy am I??)  He replied, “Why don’t you just use one of the kitty litter containers?”  Huh?  was my obvious reply.  But after explaining his idea I realized that it was actually totally brilliant and so simple.

my original plan…
 

All you need is a large container with a handle like this kitty litter container or even something smaller like a milk container.  Then you just take a large nail and hammer holes into the top of the lid… Okay actually scratch that.  I tried this but either the plastic lid was too thick or I was too weak because after fifty wacks with a hammer I only managed to get one hole!  So I changed my course of action and just used a small drill to drill the holes into the lid… Well, actually I had my hubbie do it for me as I have a fear of power tools… Don’t judge me, do you know how many people hurt themselves with power tools each year?

So after making this small adjustment to my plan…Voila!  All done…I told you it was super easy.  Fill with water and take it out to your plant to give them a shower with.  A great way to recycle and reuse while saving money on buying a new watering can.

All this DIY stuff is getting me super pumped for the VI Mini MakersFaire and maybe I’ll feel like less of a fraud when I’m actually there! Lol.  My next goal is to attempt to repaint a solid wooden oak table I bought on UsedVic and turn it into a contemporary kitchen table that will match my new leather chairs.  So stay tuned to hear how that DIY project goes…I’m guessing it’s going to be a bit more complicated than the watering can!  If you have any super easy DIY projects, I’d love to hear them…I’ve gotta keep that bone in my pinky toe alive before it disappears completely!

Beating the heat!

I could have predicted this was going to happen. The summer we decide to renovate and move into an apartment with no air conditioning was going to be one of the driest and hottest summers on record here in Ottawa. I knew it.

We having been doing all kinds of things to stay cool.

• We keep a jug of cold water in the fridge (I bought a really funky one at a secondhand store just for this purpose, see?)

• … and we make sure the ice cube trays are full at all times.
• We make icy treats for ourselves, like this virgin Pina Colada Slush.
• We give the dog cool baths.
• We take cool showers, especially at bedtime.
• We got our hair cut. It’s amazing what a difference this made.
• We eat our dinners picnic-style at a nearby park and hang out in the shade.
• We set up a couple of fans, close windows and blinds before it gets too hot and open them again when the worst part of the heat has passed.
• We discovered that it feels pretty good if you wipe your skin with a cool facecloth and stand in front of the fan. We have not yet succumbed to filling bowls of ice and setting them in front of the fan, but apparently it works!
• We baked cookies! Not in the oven, are you crazy? We used our car.
• We have been eating a lot of cold dinners that don’t require turning on any elements, like salads, sandwiches, and cold cereal.
• We blast the AC in the car at every possible opportunity.
• We have been spending a lot of time at shopping malls, movie theatres, Ikea, and at the public library just chatting and reading.

At first the heat was tolerable and we congratulated ourselves on our hardiness. “We’re TOUGH,” we said loudly, high fiving each other, weakly, with sweat running down our faces. After all, the lack of A/C is a first-world problem. Surely we aren’t so spoiled that we can’t deal with a little heat? Ha. All this to say, if you are in a similar situation, some cheap relief can be found on your local Used site! In Ottawa for example:

• Take this 20” desk fan, which I recommend if you’re trying to get any work done as computers release an awful lot of heat and brains tend to melt.
• Although I do love a fan that has a retro design.
• Maybe this is the summer you finally install that ceiling fan you’ve always wanted?
• We borrowed one of these kinds of fans for the girls’ bedroom. It made a huge difference. (Hint: if you want a fan for the bedroom, look for one that has a timer on it.)
• For awhile I seriously considered getting something with more cooling power. If you’re in an apartment or just need a bedroom cooled while you sleep, a portable air conditioner might be the solution you are looking for. Here’s one for only $200. (Caveat Emptor! Always try before you buy, ok?)

We have learned a few things during this process, namely, fans are amazing, and that we are made of tough stuff. To a point. How do you beat the heat where you are?

Get your grill on with a used BBQ

When the temperature spikes, outdoor cooking is a great way to keep from heating up your home. And who doesn’t enjoy a dinner grilled to delicious finish on a barbecue on the deck or patio?

The list of food ideas for the BBQ is endless, limited only by your imagination. Most cuts of beef can be grilled, and fish or seafood is almost better cooked out of doors to control food odours inside. Ground meats can be turned into juicy beef or turkey burgers. You can grill chicken breasts or whole chickens – who hasn’t heard of beer can chicken? Vegetables can be grilled whole or on skewers. Even some fruits can be cut in half and grilled to sweet caramelized perfection and served with ice cream or other toppings.

BBQ accessories are available anywhere, which can make your grilling easier but also a lot more fun. Tongs, brushes for adding sauces, grilling spices, cedar boards, wood chips, oven mitts, aprons, food skewers – you name it and someone has made one especially for the grill.

But what if a new BBQ just isn’t in the budget this year? A wander through the stores will quickly prove to you how seriously some people take their grilling. The prices start at semi-affordable and go up into the stratosphere. What to do?

Luckily, there are used BBQ listings everywhere you look, and the prices are more than reasonable. Why would anyone sell a BBQ before it needs retiring? Plenty of reasons! Perhaps they are moving cross-country and just aren’t able to move some of their outdoor items. Some people move into new homes, only to find a natural gas hookup out by the deck. Many of them are tempted into a new grill, leaving their previously owned propane BBQ in need of a new ready-to-grill owner like you! Other people are deeply immersed in grilling food and want bigger, better, larger grills. Some people need or love to feed a crowd.

Whatever the reason, it’s your opportunity to pick up a grill at a great price and enjoy your own outdoor cooking! Have a look at some of the features available in the grills you see, and consider your own needs before buying. How big a grill do you need? What kind of performance? Do you want side burners to cook extra dishes while you grill, or do you simply just want to be able to grill burgers and steaks for dinner? These are great questions to ask yourself before shopping. Keep in mind that having a second grill around can be perfect for large gatherings or parties, so even if you already have a BBQ it can be handy to pick up an extra so it’s easier to get everyone eating at the same time when you have people over.

We found a great assortment of brands and prices when we went looking:

$250 for a 2 year old Cuisinart BBQ (see photo below.)

$140 for a Kenmore BBQ.
$60 for a 3 year old BBQ with full tank of propane.
$45 for a Thermos BBQ.
$60 for a BBQ that was only used for one summer (see photo below.)

If your budget is really tiny, grab one for free.

If a simple, used barbecue isn’t enough for you, check out some of these items currently for sale:

Maybe you want new, but still want a deal. Here’s a new gas bbq for sale for $1500 (see photo below.)

What if you aren’t the outdoorsy type? Pick up a $25 used George Foreman grill.

And don’t forget you might find some accessories listed for sale too.

We found firestarters for use with barbecues, campfires or fireplaces (see photo below.)

We think you’ll agree it’s time to get outside and get grilling. We’d love to know what your favourite foods are to throw on the BBQ!  Share in the comments and maybe you’ll inspire others into new ideas!

Happy grilling!

Village Pottery: the Potter's Daughter brings PEI to the world

For young women in this day and age, the words “follow in your mother’s footsteps!” aren’t often framed as the path to success.

For Suzanne Scott of Village Pottery in New London, PEI, however, her mother’s footsteps have proven to hold plenty of scope.

Suzanne’s mother, Daphne Large, opened Village Pottery in 1973. Aptly named, the shop is set against the pastoral backdrop of L.M. Montgomery’s birthplace, and in its almost-forty years in operation has become something of a PEI artisanal haven. Daphne has trained a host of other PEI potters, and showcases many of their products in the shop. Her daughter grew up working in the shop, and after returning to PEI to live three years ago, Suzanne took up pottery professionally and became a partner in the family business. And, tweeting as Potter Daughter, Suzanne has brought that family business to a whole new global market via web sales and social media.

Walking into Village Pottery feels like walking into a charming antique general store, except the quaint corners and tall shelves are singularly stacked with the warm shocks of colour and elegant lines that mark their pottery. Cranberry and midnight glazes, delicate signature lupins, and the red mud of PEI capped by the steel-sky-blue of their Celtic Shore collection all greet the eye.

It’s the little details that make the shop such a welcoming space: the tea wagon at the front door, the vintage spools of wrapping paper, the spinning wheel upstairs in the gallery.

And at the back, her hands in the clay, making mugs spin up out of nothing, is Suzanne.

1. Suzanne, what drew you into the family business? 

After living abroad for a few years, I returned to PEI and saw an opportunity to grow the family business by marketing online. I started by creating a new website, online shop as well as starting a Facebook page and Twitter account. We have had great success and as a result, we’ve shipped our pottery worldwide and have been able to connect with our customers on a whole new level.

2. How has Village Pottery changed and evolved over the years? 

Over the last 40 years, Village Pottery has evolved in every aspect. My Mother started the business in 1973, since then the building has been picked up and moved down the road and a full studio was built on the lower level. There has been all kinds of items sold in the shop over the years by many local artists. From leather wallets made by my Dad to wood carvings by Sandy Stratton, the shop has seen it all. At one point, we even had an ice cream booth set up in the shop!Our main focus now has become pottery. We feature work from over 10 island potters and the majority of our work is done in the studio. Visitors are welcome to watch us in action. The second level of the shop is a gallery featuring fabric art by Margaret England, paintings by Geraldine Ysselstein and Katharine Dagg as well as handwoven scarves by Rilla Marshall.

Next year we celebrate our 40th season which will be a great occasion. I’m certain that Village Pottery will continue to evolve over the next 40 years!

3. Do you pot? In what ways does the PEI environment (human or natural) shape and inspire (or limit!) your work?

I have been making pottery for just over a year now and loving every minute. I started out over 10 years creating the pottery jewellery line “The Potter’s Daughter” and still enjoy that aspect but felt the need for “more”, so started throwing on the wheel and haven’t stopped since. I am constantly inspired by the beautiful landscape of PEI, from the rolling farm hills behind Village Pottery to the red sandy beaches. It is definitely evident in our shop as you will find, there are PEI inspired pieces all over the place! We have even created a glaze combination based on the beach titled “Celtic Shore”.

4. What’s the most interesting sale or connection you’ve made by bringing Village Pottery online? 

There have been so many it’s hard to choose but I have to say our most interesting connection came from Barbara on Twitter. We received an online order from her for some pottery and when asked where she had heard about us, she said it all started with Great Big Sea. She had heard one of their songs, googled it and learned that the lead singer Allan Doyle was starring on the show “Republic of Doyle” filmed in St. John’s. That led her to Sea and be Scene, an online site promoting all things in Atlantic Canada. Stephanie from Sea and be Scene has been a great promoter of our pottery shop and voila! Barbara discovered our shop all the way from Ohio. She remains one of our most loyal online customers.

Suzanne & Laura at the desk

5. Tell me about the differences between your work and your mom’s.

My Mom has been making pottery for almost 40 years so obviously, she is the master potter in this team! I think the main difference between our work is that I like to try new trendy things like the “Mustache Mugs” and “Struck by an Arrow” Stir-fry bowls. I also like experimenting with new textures, this led me to create a line of lace imprinted plates, trays and vases. These are made using my grandmother’s lace which is a nice touch. In the end, my Mom is the one who has taught me everything so I’m certain there are more similarities than differences between us, which isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Now, taking a three-year-old along on a profile of a shop in which everything is breakable may not generally be best practice, but Josephine was mesmerized by Suzanne throwing pots, and even more entertained by the designated kid zone under the stairs. Suzanne and Laura – the potters on site the day we visited – also gave her some clay to try. She’s ruined for PlayDoh forever.

So if you’re anywhere near PEI, and you fancy a pretty drive along our scenic North shore, stop in at Village Pottery and say hello to Suzanne and Daphne and Laura and everyone else and enjoy one of the Island’s artisanal treasures! And hey, you have to go in just for the pleasure of smiling at the inside of this old-school front door. You may leave richer in mugs, as I did, or in pottery lessons, or simply in charm. But you’ll leave glad you came.

Upcycling Nature: Pine Cone Decor

When I first became interested in upcycling nature there was no such term as “upcycle.” At least not in my vocabulary. I have always loved finding shells or rocks or sticks and repurposing them, but taking a closer look into the different options of upcying I came to a realization: there is no way I can properly cover this topic in one post. Or in 100. The options are endless.

As this was more than a little overwhelming I decided to start with something I look at every day over my balcony: pine cones. Easy.

However, a quick peruse through an old Martha Stewart craft book made me see even pine cones have endless options for upcycling and crafting.

So where to begin? Did I want to make picture frames? Or little decorative animals? Or fire starters? Or how about hanging ornaments? Or birdfeeders? Oh my!

In the end I decided to start small, and build from there. Pine cone decor.

Going out to the tree I look at every day I collected a few pine cones and decided to spray paint a few gold and a few grey. Then I placed the pine cones in different bowls and vases I had on hand until I found a combination I liked.

With the leftover pine cones I decided to work a bit on a centrepiece.

Taking an old gold-flecked scarf I wrapped it around three small pine cones and affixed them with ribbon. Then I spread some spray painted pine cones and mixed in some wine corks and twig balls (although I’ll admit the twig balls were from the dollar store—not nature. I’m working up to it!).

Already my living room feels more decorative and I can be proud of not spending any extra money on this starter project as I had all the materials already on hand.

Perhaps I’m ready now for pine cone picture frames. They looked amazing!

Plenty of Shroom: An Interview With Untamed Feast, Wild Mushroom Foragers

So, Eric Whitehead of Untamed Feast, tell us about your passion for mushrooms and when you decided to turn that passion into a business.My earliest childhood memory is of my father waking my sister and I up in the middle of the night to show us a mushroom that had ‘magically grown overnight’ in the garden. He had brought it home to our cabin by horseback and planted it, along with a bit of my future, I guess. My parents built that cabin from scratch, and since it was in deep in the rural middle of nowhere BC, we lived off the land and spent a lot of time in the woods. I began a career in forestry, always with mushroom buckets in the back of my vehicle.

In 1999 there was a pine mushroom (matsutaki) gold rush in our area. Dad and I were picking so many mushrooms that we hired helicopters. It was a real thrill. A few years later, my wife and I left our city life and jobs to go to Bella Coola to pick those same mushrooms which were by then one hundreth of the price. It spurred me get more involved in what happens to those mushrooms after they’ve been picked. I built a portable mushroom drier, started a line of mushroom products, and built a company dedicated to educating people on the delights of Canadian wild foods and inspiring them to use these as ingredients in their own kitchens.

I know you travel extensively to find these funghi, but how often are you out on foraging expeditions and where in the world do you go!?

By the end of May, we’re hunting morels, which grow most abundantly where there’s been a forest fire the previous year. We’ve been as far south as Oregon, as far north as the Northwest Territories, and as far east as Flin Flon, Manitoba. A great season, depending on elevation and weather would go until September. The fall harvest has way more diversity. It has taken us years of scouting to find reliable spots for porcini, lobster mushrooms, hedge hogs, chanterelles and others that are in our forest blend and there’s still always a chance that they won’t be there. A lot of our fall mushrooms are from the coast, and if I get any more specific I’ll have to kill you. Just joking. Fall mushrooms can start appearing as early as August and run through November on Southern Vancouver Island – oh, did I just tell you where?

How many different types of mushrooms do you source and sell?

First we need to emphasize that the mushrooms we work with cannot be cultivated or farmed. We choose only, well-known, gourmet edible species. We have four products in our pure dried mushroom line: morels, porcini, alder-smoke wine-cask aged chanterelles, and a forest blend. The forest blend is the best of what’s available each year and can have 5-10 species in it depending on that year’s availability. Our ready-to-go line includes a wild mushroom gravy mix, a wild mushroom soup, porcini risotto, Thai morel coconut rice, and a smoked chanterelle spanish-style rice. All of our products are gluten free and can be made vegan.

What’s the process from soil to retail product?

Planning the harvest is a big part of the process, and then the driving, scouting, and hiking can begin. Everything is hand harvested, hand processed (some species are sliced) and then dried the same day in a mobile, commercial food drier. Drying is an art which requires a precise combination of heat, air, and time. We use wood heat which makes a big difference in quality. We then bring the dried mushrooms back to Vancouver Island where we either package, smoke and age, or combine them with other ingredients for the finished products that go to restaurants and stores.

Advice for the average Joe out looking for edible mushrooms?

Go with someone who knows. Mushroom hunting is an experiential thing. If your mom teaches you about gardening zucchinis, about the soil it likes, how to pick it, and how to cook with it …you will never in your life mistake a zucchini for a cucumber. Same thing with mushrooms. The  soil, the conditions, the smell, the color, the taste…they’re all sensory experiences that have a lot more value than the best mushroom book in the world. There are some good mushrooms books, but always cross reference, and if you are not 100% sure, don’t eat it. There’s a saying; “There are old mushroom and bold mushroom pickers, but there are no old, bold mushroom pickers.” We’ve got lots of harvest videos on our website that show you how we do it.

What’s your favourite mushroom recipe ?

Morel cream sauce over pasta or chicken breast.

And the one Untamed Feast product, you couldn’t live without?

I love all my babies equally, but if I was welcoming you to the world of wild mushrooms I’d say morels. They are the most desired wild mushroom next to truffles. So many North Americans have never had them, which is a shame because they are here and they are fabulous. They are so unlike a button mushroom; honey-comb in appearance, meaty in texture, earthy in flavour, and incredibly good for you.

When people start calling me asking where they can find your products, what shall I tell them?

Go to our website and either look under vendors, see if we’ll being doing a food show near you, or order online. And if you have a favourite store that specializes in artisan food tell them to get in touch with us.

And because we love used – do you buy anything used for businesses purposes?

Yes, I use my local Used Site often for camping gear, restaurant equipment, and just personal items I may find for the house.

What was your best used find?

An aggressive set of off road tires for the mushroom truck, some years I can burn through a set of tires in the mushroom hunt, and that gets expensive, so finding a good used set really saves me some money.

Why "Free" is Such a Magical Word!

When I was younger, I learned from fairy tales that there are magic words you can say like “Abracadabra” and “Bippity Boppity Boo” that make things vanish and appear.  As I got older, I found a new word that works much better than these…”Free.”  It amazes me how quickly you can get rid or or accumulate something by simply advertising that it’s free!  It’s actually my favorite word. I know you’re supposed to say that “love” or “family”, but I’m just being honest! And sometimes it doesn’t even matter what is it….as long as it’s free. As the old saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure” and treasure is always best served up free!

I know there are droves of you out there who sit in front of your computer every night, logged into the “Free” section of your local UsedSite just waiting for something amazing to come up that you can get for nothing. (I learned a trick that if you hit the refresh button every 30 seconds, you might be the first to respond and win the glorious prize!)  I’m guilty of this myself and have had to talk myself out of many items that I almost responded to just because they were free.  For instance, there was the “Free Yard of Dirt” that someone posted and I needed new dirt for my garden.  I was about to respond when sanity clicked in and I realized I have a 13-month-old son so I didn’t have the time or ability to actually pick up the dirt…but it would have been so awesome to get for free.

Or there are the dozens of chickens and roosters I constantly see being given away (Way more roosters for some reason…hmmmm…just think about for a few seconds and you’ll know why) and I think, “Boy wouldn’t that be nice to have fresh eggs every morning from my pet chickens”…and then I think about all the chicken poop I’ll have to clean up and decide against it.  I even saw someone giving away two beautiful blue macaws for free the other day and thought, “I can finally fulfill my life-long dream of becoming a pirate and teach my pet parrot to say”Avast ye matey” but decided to pass as I first need to procure a pirate ship, pirate hat, pirate sword and some gold teeth…let me know if any of you are planning to put any of these items up for free soon and I’m in! As they say, I was  “counting my parrots before they hatched.”  Hahahahah…sorry I couldn’t resist!

The word “free” is so magical it can actually help you save time, save money, help the environment and make things disappear all at the same time! Here’s an amazing example:

Last week, my husband and I were just hanging out in our backyard enjoying the sunshine with our friend Jason, when he told us he had to leave early to go home and tear down his full size deck with pagoda and take everything to the dump. He was complaining that this was going to take him hours to do as well as cost him a ton of money to dump at the landfill. My husband and I looked at eachother and almost simaltenously said “why don’t you just post it for free on UsedVic?”  Jason thought we were crazy and couldn’t believe anyone would want to take his deck, let alone come over and actually dismantle it as well…just because it was free. We explained we’ve seen this done all the time…like a few months ago we saw someone advertise free ikea cupboards (worth a bundle!) as long as you came and dismantled them yourselves. They were gone in 30 minutes!

So we convinced him to stay a bit longer and then later, go home and post an ad saying “Free deck” explaining that whomever took it had to dismantle it as well. Still not convinced, he left and did as we said…about an hour later I got a text from him saying over 20 people had emailed him within the first 15 minutes of posting the ad and another 10 people within the hour. He was flabbergasted!  And sure enough, the next day someone came over, dismantled the entire deck, took it away and it didn’t cost our friend a penny to get rid of. Here’s the proof:

This amazing feat actually got me thinking that I may try an experiment in the next few weeks and post some random and weird items in my house on UsedVic  and see how quickly someone will take them for free!  Just think, if you can make a whole deck magically disappear with the word “free,” imagine what other crazy things you can make vanish.  I’d love hear some of the crazy and amazing things you have managed to either score  or get rid of thanks to the magical powers of the word “Free.”

Coupon tip of the week: Remember to check out the clearance section in your local grocery store everytime you go there. You’ll be amazed at the deals you can find and they’ll be even better if you can combine them with a coupon.  I just went to Safeway and picked up 4 boxes of cereal that is expiring soon (we eat cereal like it’s going out of style in this house) and they cost me $2 each! Plus there was a promotion on the box that said I will get 1 free breakfast item like yogurt or tea when I submit a code online.  So for $2 I got a box of cereal AND a tub of yogurt.  Not bad at all!

Gifting Local

What do you buy for the person/couple who has it all? It’s wedding season, so this question haunts me. I usually just default to money, but sometimes it just doesn’t work. I know, it’s a pretty impersonal gift, but weddings are expensive and now that I’m in my 30′s most of my friends that are getting married have already established their households.

My husband’s best friend was just married this past weekend in Alberta and we were racking our brains trying to think of a creative gift that would be appropriate for the couple that appears to have it all.

And then it struck me. Back in May, Halifax held a brilliant event called “Open City”  where many Nova Scotian local producers and businesses held an open house weekend and offered discounts to locals. It was a great weekend and it really cemented for me concept of choosing local given the opportunity.

So, we decided that we would assemble the perfect Nova Scotia local products care package. David & Stephanie (our friends) are foodies so we wanted to focus the package around local foods specifically but you could think of a variety of themes: bath products, clothing, art.

We included the following:

Iron Works Distillery- Vodka
Ironworks is a micro-distillery located in the old port of Lunenburg on Nova Scotia’s historic South Shore. Their vodka is made from Nova Scotian apples picked in the Annapolis Valley

Acadian Maple Syrup- Wild Nova Scotian Blueberry Juice
Picked in the Northern blueberry-growing region of Nova Scotia, these berries produce a beautiful tasting juice with no water, sugar or preservatives added.

That Dutchman’s Cheese Farm- Spreadable Gouda Cheese
That Dutchman’s Farm is owned and operated by the van den Hoek family who live in Upper Economy, NS.

Seafoam Lavender Farm- Culinary Lavender & Lavender Jelly
Seaform Lavender Farms is a beautiful farm located in Seafoam, NS. We purchase jelly and dried lavender buds that are a herb used for baking or roasting meats.

Nova Scotian Dulse
Dulse is a red seaweed that grows attached to rocks by a holdfast in the North Atlantic and Northwest Pacific.

Honey Meadows Farm- Nova Scotian Honey
Honey created by Nova Scotian bees.

Cape Breton- Maple Syrup
Maple syrup collected from trees in Cape Breton

The Naked Pickle- Locally produced Salsa
The Naked Pickle produces many condiments that are used in many local restaurants.

This is an example of some local products available in Nova Scotia, but this idea is possible in any area. In Alberta, you could include bison jerky or in BC, you could include a locally brewed beer or wine. The possibilites are endless!

Do you make a point of purchasing or gifting local products to your friends and family? We’d love to hear about your favorite local products.

Cheese & Wine on a Dime

Cheap cheese: Ick.  Cheap cured meats: No thank you. Cheap decorations – ok, well, maybe, or maybe you have your own…regardless they all add up.  And so where is your best chance to save when you’re planning a wine and cheese event?  Well, the wine of course!

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m a BIT of a wine snob.  And by that, I mean that I know a bit about wine, I love my wine, and yup, you guessed it; I have a cellar and will sometimes spend a decent amount on certain bottles and age it to the ‘perfect year’.  HOWEVER; I will NOT generally spend more than $50 on a bottle of wine (unless, you know, it’s an incredible Barolo or something) and I take GREAT PRIDE in finding those exceptional ‘value’ wines that cost $10 but taste like they cost at least double.

In the not-too-distant past, I helped coordinate a little UsedOttawa focus group event when the head honchos (What up, Jenn? What up, Erin?) were in town from UsedEverywhere that was masquerading as an insight-gathering event, but c’mon – was really an excuse to eat and drink good stuff.  The budget to put on the wine and cheese? $100 bucks.

Yup, my eyebrows DID go up, I admit, but then, like the perfectionistic masochist I am, I was titillated at the idea of trying to make this happen for so little.  The result?  Done and done, for $102!

The cheese

I said it before: don’t scrimp on the cheese.  My strategy was to get some delish big bold cheeses from around the world to pair with the reds, and some creamy goodness for the white.  Kept it nice and simple – I had no budget for rosés, sparkling wines, ports…nope – red and white.  With a cool selection of nice cheeses, no one would miss ‘em.

For the white, I picked up a triple-cream brie.  But as luck would have it, the grocery store had some on for half-price.  Guess it was getting a bit old, but I was serving it up the next night, and so no worries, right? And to make the brie a little special, (and spice things up), I decided I would use two jellies I just happened to already have in my pantry – a sparkling wine and basil jelly and a meyer lemon habanero jelly  - that my contact, and old next-door neighbour Derryl at West End Chilies  had given me. (P.S. His BBQ rub is incredible too.)

To complement and enjoy the red, I had some fun.  Here’s the breakdown:

• Manchego  - A Spanish cheese, and you know…anything from Spain is okay in my books.
• An aged Gouda – A dutch staple…I got the oldest possible and boy, was it yummy!
• Grana Padano – very similar to a parmigiano reggiano with a grainy texture.  Italian.
• An applewood aged smoked cheddar – this was my fave. The smoke was just so delicious infused throughout the cheddar. Yum.
• A regular aged cheddar – Once again, chose the oldest they had (think it might have been a 15 year) and asked the deli to cut the chunk for sale about half the size and repackage. Saved a bundle, and really didn’t need ALL that much so…

The extras

Ya gotta have more than just cheese and wine, if you are going to be the person everyone looks at and goes – “Holy COW – YOU did this?!”. So here’s what else I picked up:

• Lindt 70% dark chocolate (I’m a woman. Enough said.)
• Three types of bread
  • Art-Is-In Garlic Rosemary loaf (OMG good, and if you are an Ottawaan and haven’t headed there for their sandwiches; go. GO NOW.)
  • A ½ price cranberry and walnut ciabatta loaf
  • A standard French baguette
• Cured meats (salty goodness)
  • prosciutto
  • hot and regular Genoa salami
  • A Hungarian cured pork of some kind (another salami). Was yum.
• And I picked up a roasted red pepper & artichoke antipasto that was also ½ price – turns out it was great.

The setup

It was so easy, and looked (I think) so good AND it was so cheap.  Here are a few shots:

What do you think?  I was in inspired by a post I saw online, and harkening back to my days as an editor of a magazine, I happened to have an old roll of paper hanging around (had an ‘in’ with a printer dude who hooked me up).  The fun part is being able to customize the layout of the table, connect the foods to the wines they would go best with, and make notes to let people know what they are eating. And in this case? Also to list the cool, low price tags on the wines!  So without further ado, the WINES….!

The wines

Those of you reading from Ontario will be super-stoked, as these wines are CHEAP and available at your local LCBO.  They were hand-picked by a personal and dear friend of mine, Stacey, who is a sommelier and works, alongside her hubby on their fantastic business, Groovy Grapes  (Nothing but the best for the UsedOttawa focus groupers. Betcha wish you had made it now, eh?)

• The full-bodied red: TRAPICHE RESERVE SYRAH | $10.95 | Argentina
• The medium-bodied red (this is now a total fave of mine): PASSION OF PORTUGAL RED | $7.85 | Alentejo, Portugal
• White: KWV CHENIN BLANC | $7.95 | South Africa and
• White: CASAL THAULERO PINOT GRIGIO IGT LCBO 73163 | $7.95 | Abruzzo, Italy

Three of these delicious wines were under 8 dollars.  EIGHT DOLLARS.  And that included a red that is now on the top of my “must have on hand for parties” list.

And I’ll say this again… All the above only cost me $102.  So, what do you think?  What are your favourite inexpensive wine finds in your neck of the woods?  Please share.  Pretty please with wine (and a little cheese) on top?

Save your money AND Spoil Yourself!

Since starting my second year off on maternity leave (don’t worry, I don’t get paid!), we’ve been working really hard to save money and cut back on certain things.  Now I’ve always been a frugal person and so we really don’t spend a lot of money on consumer items—but being human, of course we like to spoil ourselves with small comforts that make us happy. Unfortunately, I’ve come to realize very recently that these small comforts add up to a lot of money leaving your wallet. I challenge you all to look back at the your last month’s bank statement and add up all the small debits at the convenient store, coffee shop, book store, fast food joint, local diner etc. and I promise you will be shocked at how much it actually adds up to. I looked at our statement from last month this week and almost keeled over!! I pride myself on being a smart spender yet I still managed to blow a couple of hundred dollars on small things, here and there.

Now I’m not saying you’re not allowed to go for coffee or breakfast…I’m just suggesting there are ways you can be creative and still enjoy these comforts without breaking the bank.

Let’s have breakfast in!: One of the favorite things my husband and I like to do on weekends is go for breakfast. We have this favorite diner that serves delicious home cooked breakfasts like waffles and eggs benedict, things we don’t make at home. Having a small child, it’s always a treat to go out and have a nice meal, but I’ve realized this ritual adds up to over $100 a month if we go every weekend.

Last Saturday, my husband woke up and said he felt like waffles. Our first instinct was to think of where to go out for breakfast. Luckily my willpower kicked me and reminded me we are trying to save money.  So, I decided instead to search UsedVic for a waffle iron as we didn’t have one and make a yummy waffle breakfast at home.  Unfortunately, to my surprise, no one was selling one (they must be a hot commodity these days!) so I hopped in the car and headed to the nearest Sally Ann and voila…it was my lucky day and I scored a large waffle maker for only $6!!!

My mom sent me this amazing recipe for the best waffles so I whipped up a batch, poured the batter onto our newish waffle maker and after a few trials, we had delicious, fluffy waffles for breakfast that cost us a fraction of what it would in a restaurant.  Plus, we can now make waffles whenever we want!  For added fun, you could also have one person pretend to be a server.

Become a Barista!: Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting a change in your career path. What I am suggesting is that you make your own coffee at home rather than buying it each day at your favorite coffee spot. This is a bad habit I know very well…when I was working I would hit the drive-thru at Timmie’s every morning and buy my large double-double for $1.87.  This would add up to almost $60 a month or $720 a year spent just on coffee that I could easily make at home as I do own a coffee maker like most of you.

Now I know what some of you are going to say next, “I don’t drink regular coffee, I like to have a latte every morning.” If this is true and your favorite spot is somewhere like Starbucks, then you are easily spending $4 each day which adds up to $120 a month or $1440 a Year!!! (That’s a trip to Vegas!!!)….But you don’t have to.  My dad actually gave me this next idea…invest in an espresso machine!  He has a favorite local coffee shop he likes to visit every day. Recently he decided to cut back on spending and so he bought an espresso machine. He absolutely loves it and is elated that he now knows how to make lattes, mochas and americanos!  Every time I come over, he offers to make me a coffee creation from Mr. Sprinkles Coffee Shop (Sorry, inside joke but If enough people ask, I may tell the story behind the name!) and his coffees taste just as good as my favorite coffee shop! And to stay loyal to his favorite local coffee shop, he still buys the beans from them.  It’s a win-win situation!

Yes it will cost you a bit of money at the beginning but you will easily save hundreds of dollars in a year plus you get to pick up a new hobby and feel proud when you create the perfect latte each morning. You can save even more money by buying one used like this espresso machine I found on UsedVic for only $20!!! Seriously only $20! Sorry but I may be buying this one today for myself as my hubbie likes fancy coffee…’cause he’s fancy.

Saving money can actually be fun if you’re creative about it.  And just think, by cutting back on going out for coffee and meals, you’re also forcing yourself to learn new things. I had no idea how to make waffles which you would think are easy right?  Wrong!  My first batch stuck to the waffle maker, my second batch was raw in the middle but my third batch were perfection and I was so proud I made them.  I’d love to hear your ideas on other creative ways to save money while still spoiling yourself with the little things in life.

Coupon Tip of the Week: Coupons…don’t leave home without them!  I’ve mentioned before that it’s important to stay organized with your coupons and purchase a binder to keep them all in.  Whenever you are planning to go to the grocery store or pharmacy, make sure to bring this binder with you.  You never know what deals you might find in the clearance sections and you’ll be kicking yourself if you see a product on sale that you could get free IF ONLY you had brought your coupons with you!  And if you feel a bit weird carrying around a large binder in the stores, just put it in a recycleable grocery bag to hide it.