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Canadian Voices Rise Up to the Sky

National news can be learned directly from children, which was the case in my household regarding a new song my kids are learning at school. The song I.S.S. Is Somebody Singing was collaborated together by Astronaut Chris Hadfield and Barenaked Ladies frontman Ed Robertson and with how interactive Hadfield has been from space – the kids rate this partnership as something very cool! Officially commissioned by CBC Music, the goal is to bring attention to the importance of music education in Canada. The debut of the song Is Somebody Singing happened in February with the glee choir of Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts and not only is it a great song (and Chris Hadfield can really sing!) but it’s a coalition spreading a great message of unification through music across Canada. Music history was made when the song was recorded both on Earth and Space while Hadfield is in orbit on the International Space Station. Have a listen below!

Astronaut Hadfield helped co-write the song and I love the line “You can’t make out borders from up here.” Ed Robertson from Bare Naked Ladies has a wonderful quote about how we can all feel connected, even the wonder of what Chris Hadfield experiences in Space. Robertson’s quote is here:

“I wanted it to be a celebration not about the remoteness of space, but about the connectedness of a human being on the I.S.S. who looks down and sees the whole planet in a way that, from our perspective, we don’t have the opportunity to.”

I love listening to music that my kids enjoy and the goal for May 6 is to have the entire country united in song across the different time zones and have Hadfield hear the voices while still in space. It is the official song for Music Monday to promote and celebrate music education in schools. Share this message so that children that are home schooled, school music departments, and music makers of all backgrounds learn the song together and lend their voice in May.

Access free downloads and lyrics through the Coalition’s Music Monday website, and join the coalition to fill the skies with music. There are some great Music Monday ideas for getting started:

• Music Monday in a field
• Joint School Event – organized with multiple schools
• Community Wide Event – community partner with a senior music group, local choir, etc.

Play the video, learn the lyrics and help bring awareness for music education in your communities with this special song. Champion children to believe that anything is possible – whether it be travelling to space or hearing a song there.

How to find that perfect new home

House shopping.

It’s like the ultimate do-over, isn’t it?

All your real estate sins of the past are washed away.  Shopping for a new house feels like an opportunity to change or fix what has bothered you in a current home – and it usually comes at a time when you welcome the change.  Finally, you can get exactly the right house, and everything will be perfect.  Right?

Maybe.

But more likely, the answer is “maybe not.”  After all, every house offers a different floor plan, a different division of space and storage and flow.  And as you discover new features you love, you realize you must let go of the house you own in order to accept the one you are buying.  You may gain space, and lose certain rooms you loved.  You may buy a brand new home, and give up your finished basement.  You may choose an older home in an area with tree-lined streets, only to curse the number of bathrooms.  You may wander in and out of new homes and wonder where on earth the kids will play, or how you will fit everything in your new kitchen.

It is never an easy task.

You will realize the things you are trying to fit into your new home are just that – things.  Some may need to find new homes in the house you have chosen, and some may need to find new owners to love them.  If so, it was time to let go of them anyway, and there are easy ways to do so.  You may have a few spots in your home that call for just the right piece of furniture, and start browsing for something to suit.  You may need new storage solutions, or a new shed.  All of these things will come together over time.

You realize each house offers its own unique features, and a happy home will be made in each one, whether by your family or another.

You’ll realize that this could be your home.

Or this.

Or this one.

Or this.

You’ll realize it’s more about you than the house.  And you have the ability to make yourself happy in any number of homes.

And grace will come.  You will figure out the features or qualities that are most important to you.  You will stand in a house where you can breathe and if you pay attention, you will imagine living in it.  You can summon up a picture of your kids playing on the front lawn, or scampering up and down steps.  You can envision drinking coffee in the kitchen, and you like the view out the window.

Suddenly, you will know which house to choose.  It will last through each discussion, each debate and offer more of what matters to you than any other.

You will say farewell to your old home, pack up every last box, load the truck and drive off to your new house.

You will gaze up and down your new street and know you have found your way home, again.

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!

The fantasies and realities of dining al fresco

It is dinnertime, and I am getting ready to serve dinner al fresco.  A breeze cools me as I arrange gorgeous platters of food on my rustic outdoor table.  Wine is already breathing, awaiting the sparkling stemware I have waiting nearby.  The evening sky is clear, and we can hear birds and the whirring of insects in the distance.

Everything is perfect.

In my imagination, that is.  In my mind, I could be enjoying a scene from the movie Under a Tuscan Sun, bringing platters of rustic Italian fare to my adoring guests.  The sun won’t stop shining, and we talk and laugh and drink over cloth napkins and fine china.  There is magic in the air.

Anyone else already laughing?  Time for a dose of reality, and I assure you, this time, there is no Diane Lane, no Tuscany, no endless platters of Italian delicacies.  The menu leans more toward hamburgers or steak, the wine has been left indoors to prevent flies from sharing, and everything is sort of running at half-mast.  We’ve already broken a glass, and the cloth napkins blew into the garden before we began eating.

Does that sound more like what happens in your backyard when you try to dine outdoors?  Me too.  What is that all about?  I have such gracious daydreams, but the reality never seems to match them.  Or, I imagine it all being so much effort to pull off properly that I never get around to trying.

What a shame.

So I have decided to try to enjoy a little more al fresco in my life, while keeping the anxiety and aggravation to a minimum.  I want to take advantage of our outdoor space and stop letting the nice weather go by.  Let’s have a look at a few ways we can make this easier, shall we?

First, be sure you have an outdoor space to enjoy.  You’ll never get out there if you haven’t taken a bit of time to set something up, so sweep off the deck or patio, clear off the table, make sure the grill is working, and rustle up enough chairs to actually get a few people over.  Don’t fuss too much – a fancy patio set is lovely, but a simple table and chairs are fine.  A potting bench can become a bar, a side table can hold condiments while you grill, and a large pot or container can hold ice and drinks.

If you’re worried your yard or garden will look untidy and perhaps sully the whole image, remember that simple is best.  Mow the lawn and water everything the night before, add some flowers around the deck or patio (including some in the centre of your table) and suddenly things look fresh and pretty.

My next tip, that I know I need to take to heart myself, is to find small ways to enjoy my deck without committing to a party, or a full dinner with both kids.  Why not take our morning coffee outside?  Or perhaps you have one or two kids not yet in school – why are they eating snacks inside?  Cut up their veggies or fruit, throw some crackers on a plate, grab their water bottle and away you go.  And best of all, once the kids are tucked in, grab a bottle of wine, two glasses and your partner and get outside!  Take a baby monitor if you must, but an hour sipping wine outside is much better for your mental health than an hour in front of the television.

Last, let’s talk food.  Again, start simple until eating outside becomes easy and natural for you.  Now is not the time for multiple courses, or even a collection of dishes that all need to be grilled and cooked.  The more you fuss and run around, the more fun you miss.  If you feel too busy, forget about anything fancy and just take whatever you are eating outside.  Pour a glass of wine, take your plate with you and just get out there.  Look around your kitchen for items that might work outside or make the whole experience better – trays, pitchers, platters, food covers, stemless glasses and more.

None of these ideas take much planning, time or effort.  Start small, then work your way up to more.  Remember, you are the one who looked out at that deck or patio when you moved in and imagined yourself enjoying it.  Most of us work hard to keep our homes and yards looking nice – so why are we hesitating to let ourselves enjoy it at every opportunity?

Just go.  And bon appetit!

How to keep kids busy over a long weekend

The long weekend is calling you…can you hear it?

It begs you to make plans out of doors; the fact that many spend the May long weekend shivering in tents or sticking brave toes into chilly lakes often going overlooked. Who cares about cool weather when three days off beckon you?

Our May long weekend often sneaks up on us.  Somehow a cool spring and busy calendar can thrust June upon us before we are ready – and then we regret not getting outside more often in May.  I’m the one saying I love to sip my coffee outside when it’s cool – so why haven’t my mornings been spent on the deck?  It’s hard to say, but routines die hard and our kids definitely keep our pace on the marathon spectrum.  It was so much easier to just pop outside and back in when I wanted before kids!

An embarrassingly large assortment of bubble blowers

Now if I try, I must announce to two children that I plan to go outside, then await the onslaught of chatter – they want to come, they want to blow bubbles, they want to get the toys out, is there sand in the sandbox, what shoes should they wear, they want their other hat – you get the idea. A peek at the weather says we are due for some rain, but that clearer days should arrive by Sunday and Monday.  So what to do with these children of mine?

They want time on their bikes, and both are set up with new ones that will fit for the year already.  Be sure to ask around or check your local used site for used bikes if you are in need – there are good deals to be had as kids do a lot of growing over the winter.  Do some research online first to get an idea of sizing suggestions for kids’ bikes, and how to choose a bike that will work for your child.

A new bike just waiting to ride

Their love of dirt and fascination with nature make them natural gardening companions, so perhaps they will tag along as we buy flowers and herbs to plant this weekend.  A cool, rainy start to the weekend is perfect for planting, then we could set up the rest of their toys and other backyard items as the weather improves.  Kids getting fresh air, the garden getting some tender loving care, and being set up for a summer’s worth of fun under the sun would definitely be a worthwhile way to spend a weekend.

Supplies ready to get kids gardening

We’ve also recently purchased annual memberships to a few local attractions.  If you have kids, I strongly encourage you to look into doing the same.  It’s a good feeling to not only support a local feature that makes your city a great place to live, but to have unlimited access all year ‘round to come and go as you please.  Let’s face it, some outings with kids go off without a hitch, others seem bound for disaster from the first preparations.  An unlimited pass allows you take advantage of nice weather and cooperative kids but also makes it bearable to head home early on the days that just don’t seem to be working out.  Oh, and if you do the math, most annual passes pay for themselves by the time you have visited a site two or three times, and some are even transferable to other locations or attractions, so pay attention to the details.

Simple plans sometimes work best for families with young kids, but I’ll share a secret – I look forward to them being older and able to manage busier days.  When they can cart their own stuff, make it through days without naps or getting overtired, and sleep wherever is convenient, our options will explode.  My mind sees weekends spent out of town or camping.  There are a ton of used campers and RVs available for sale in the spring – could one of them be ours in the future?  Could we be that family? Remember, long weekends are busy at popular campgrounds and tourist attractions.  If you can think of something unique to do, or find something off the beaten path that might still interest your family, you have a better chance not sharing your weekend with half the population of your hometown.

I’d love to hear your long weekend plans – do you wait for hot weather to hit before planning weekend trips, or do you head out in May and cross your fingers?  Do you entertain your family at home, or start packing the car two or three days in advance to just get out of town, in any direction?

Embracing tradition in our gardens

It’s May, and there’s no getting around it.  My garden is beckoning.

Let me start by saying I am often relieved to live in a place where the snow buries my garden for nearly half the year.  As much as I like my routines in spring of visiting garden centres and finding ways to add green to our yard, often by September I’ve quite had enough of it all.

Admit it, you have too.  Spring is heavily romantic, all full of promise and green buds but oh, the heartbreak of a bedraggled, dry garden at the end of fall.  Somehow the watering gets away from us, or the weeds overtake that one far off bed, or the tomatoes get spots…the end of every growing season finds me secretly pleased to clean out beds, toss what didn’t grow and get ready to ignore things for a few months.

The snow is nature’s way of ensuring I never grow tired of the garden.

But the warmer weather lures me outside. The first green buds, the brave bursts of perennials – how could I resist?  And then begins the shopping.  It only takes one or two trips to the garden centre to realize how deep you can fall into garden spending, and how quickly.

One replacement tool, some soil and peat moss, baby plants, pots – just a few – and suddenly your cart is full and the cashier would like your two hundred dollars, please.  And that’s before you get sucked into buying the half dozen hanging baskets you buy every spring.  Once you get home, you look at all the space you have yet to plant and realize, once again, your garden will be an expensive hobby.

But does it have to be?  When did we decide that we had to buy everything new, every year?  Is this how our grandmothers gardened?  I’m willing to bet that it’s not.  I think of the giant columbines that grew in my grandmother’s garden every year and remember how the constancy of some things is a comfort.

So now I look for ways to garden more simply.  I look for perennials that I can divide and move to new homes around the garden.  I try to distinguish volunteer plants from the weeds so I don’t pull them prematurely.  And I think before I dig or plant.

What do I want to grow?  I want trees, shrubs, hardy flowers, herbs, and edibles.  When I can, I buy a perennial, knowing it will return year after year, saving me time, energy, and money.

If we consider gardening like the generations before did, everything becomes simpler.  We plant hardy plants in places where they are likely to flourish.  We collect seeds, share plants and accept plants from others gratefully.  We fix our tools that need repairing, or we borrow a rarely used one from a neighbour.

We accept the work done by trees and vines, and other vertical plantings and stop trying to grow delicate, wilting specimens.  We grow ferns in the shade, and nod at tiny bells on nearby lily of the valley and save our petunias for the sun.

There are always ways to enjoy a garden, no matter your budget.  If you want to keep costs down or simplify your projects, watch for people getting rid of things you can use in your own garden.  It is common to find people selling or giving away gardening supplies like landscaping bricks, decorative rock, flower pots, mulch, and even plants.  Watch for garden sales in your neighbourhood, and ask anyone you know who has been gardening a couple of decades to keep you in mind as they divide and clear their yard each spring and fall.  With a little luck and some neighbourly help, you can be well on your way to a green retreat that won’t have you reaching for your wallet over and over.

What came up all on its own in your garden this spring?  What have you added to your yard that cost you nothing or very little?  Do you have any ideas of ways you can bring a little tradition back into your garden?

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…

UsedBlog Watches: "I Paint"

Amazing sto-mo animation via University of Saskatchewans’s The Shlog

Top 10 Things to Make the Most of Family Day!

Today is Family Day in Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan! So in honour of this recently-invented and province-biased holiday, I have come up with a list of new and exciting ways you can improve your Family Day and include UsedEverywhere.com in some of your family’s adventures! (Oh, and Happy Islander Day, PEI!)

1. Puppies. Nothing will improve your Family Day like adding a new, adorable member to it. Or better yet head over to your local SPCA and give some of the puppies there some much needed affection, and maybe a new forever home!

2. Punta Cana. Why spend Family Day in freezing Canada when you can extend it into Family Week and go to the Caribbean? Why, indeed. Nothing cries “vacation” like Ontario in February.

3. WWF Hardy Boys Boxset. If puppies and the Dominican Republic are just not in the cards today, nothing quite brings the family together like forced participation in a mock wrestling championship hosted in your living room. I speak from experience.

4. Reading. Always an excellent and educational way to bring the family together – storytime!

5. XBOX! You know the kids want to sit and play it all day anyway, so why not embrace it?

6. These Sweet Rides. Fun for the whole family.

7. Karaoke Machine. Since I live in BC now, I’ll never have the opportunity to hear my Mom do her best Agnetha while my brothers fill in for Bjorn, Frida and Benny. Take advantage of the opportunity presented to you today Ontarians, Saskatchewanians, Albertans!

8. Ski poles! Cross Country Skiing! I’m not entirely sure! Is cross-country skiing fun? Entirely possible! Family Day: Day of Opportunity and Discovery.

9. Tarot Cards. Why not get the kids involved in a new hobby? Have them learn the ways of the tarot and then tell you your future while you put #10 to good use.

10. Wine glasses. Reuse any day!