How Does Your Garden Grow?

As we enter the summer months many of us are nurturing or just discovering the joy of gardening. Whether you have started your garden from seed in the cold winter months or bought ready grown seedlings after the first frost, there is something special about caring for plants and making them thrive. Vegetable gardens are a great thrifty choice as you can not only relax by gardening but also get rewarded with some great, healthy veggies in the end. Best of yet, veggie gardens do not require a lot of space. Many herb gardens and tomatoes can be grown in pots on balconies like a mini oasis.

Please visit our gardening friends to see what great gardening ideas they have for you:

Miracle-Gro encourages parents and their kids to get out and garden this summer because everyone can grow with Miracle-Gro. Whether you have a large backyard or a small windowsill to work with, gardening can be done! Try planting with Miracle-Gro Expand ‘n Gro Concentrated Planting Mix, a lightweight formula that expands up to three times its size with the addition of water and grows up to three times the flowers and vegetables versus native soil alone. Don’t forget to feed your plants too! Try Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed Continuous Release Plant Food, ready-to-use granules that shake directly onto soil using the extended spout, no measuring needed. You could also try making your own garden soil with a compost tumbler!

V-Tech Phones-For busy gardeners who need an extra hand while in the yard, VTech’s LS6475-3 comes with a cordless headset built into the base, enabling users to be on a call while working outside. The convenient headset gives gardeners the same interference-free, superior-quality voice, sound and range expected from a traditional DECT 6.0 cordless handset. With great range and free hands, it’s an excellent tool to keep in touch with loved ones while watching your garden grow.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Small-Space Gardening- 

No matter where a person lives, a thriving, bountiful garden is possible even with issues such as very little earth to plant, buildings or structures that block the sun and plants that swallow up everything once mature. 

The secret is knowing where to plant and what to plant for the space.

In her new book The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Small Space Gardening, author and Master Gardener Chris McLaughlin takes readers through nearly every imaginable space so green oases are possible, no matter how small; even if it’s a forgotten fire escape or the narrowest garden path.

Have Canadian Coupons To Give Away

I have excess Canadian coupons I get from time to time. I give some to my daughters but would like to give the rest away if anyone wants them, as the girls don't use all of them either.


I will pay postage.


So, if your looking for a random selection of Canadian coupons I may have from time to time, please just send me your name and address to:
oneincomedollar@yahoo.ca


I will pop them in the mail as I get excess.

New Release (July 10th) iCarly: The Complete 4th Season

iCarly The Complete Fourth Season came out on DVD, today.

Making it through the challenges of high school life while hosting a web show, can be more than a little bit difficult. This hilarious show follows the lives of four friends Carly, Sam, Freddy and Gibby as they live their everyday antics and have a blast doing it.

 But its not all fun and games, iCarly touches on some serious topics including relationships with family and friends, addiction, child labour and the trapping of fame, however all of these are presented in an entertaining and funny way. 

 In the fourth season Carly starts dating a super smart guy and the gang gets a visit from a VIP. As new relationships form, others are tested. The season is filled with special episodes that will please a long time iCarly fan or a newbie who just discovered the show all tweens are talking about.

July is National Picnic Month

When making your summer do to list many things come to mind; a visit to the beach, a stroll through the park, and maybe even a backyard BBQ.


The one thing that all these events have in common is that they are the perfect opportunities for a picnic.


 July is National Picnic Month.


With the beautiful summer weather, finally here there is no better time to celebrate any occasion with a picnic. So grab a basket, a blanket, some plates and utensils, prepare your favourite treats and head on out to the great outdoors, even if its just your back yard.


Some great take alongs for your summer picnic include:

Hidden Valley for Everything has the same great tasting Original Ranch® flavor, but is thicker and creamier. It is perfect for dipping fries, topping wings or spreading on anything! 

Glad’s To Go containers make it easy to pack combo’s that you want to keep separated, like salad and dressing! Perfect for holding condiments or toppings, this reusable container is a must for any foods needed to be separated and transported easily when packing a picnic.

Black Box wines-
 America' s first premium and best-selling boxed wine known for its quality, has made three of its award winning varietals - Cabernet Sauvingnon, Merlot and Chardonnay - avaliable in 500-Millileter Tetra Pak cartons. Wines in these lightweight, non-glass cartons have an easily re-closeable twist-off cap and are shatterproof, making Black Box in a Tetra Pak carton extremely versatile and easy to transport. This new design makes it easy to enjoy quality wine in the park or on the top of a mountain! Tetra Pak cartons are the perfect way to celebrate being outside, enjoying the company of good friends and family and of course, a delicious picnic!

Review and Giveaway: Petmate

Pets can be friends, family and even sometimes soulmates. Many pet owners can talk for hours about their pet, pulling out pictures and signing their praises. Often we want what is the best for our pet, whether it’s a teething toy, a warm fluffy bed, sturdy harnesses, and collars and crates when we are away, to  pet carriers that we can take our pets along with us in. While quality is important the price is too. 

 Petmate is a family of brands that will suit the needs of any pet, large or small energetic or lethargic. After all when your pet is part of your family it requires supplies for any occasion, such as a casual walk to the park, pulling kids on a toboggan, life jackets for boat travel, and a snuggly bed for when you read by the fireside. 

Every family has its characters; sometimes the biggest one can be your pet.

Jake loves his new toys from Petmate, and boy have we been going through toys.This guy love to chew, but so far the toys from Petmate have been holding up quite well. Petmate has so much to offer your pet.

Petmate would love to give away a toy for your pet from their site.A random draw will be made by Random.org on July 20, 2012 from all entries received from Canada and the USA.

To Enter:

Leave your email and tell me what types of pets you have

Extra Entries:

Add me in your Google + circle
Join me on Google Friends
Sign up as an email subscriber
Tweet this Giveaway
Add me to your Blog Roll
Add my button to your site

Best of luck!

This Is How We're Beating the Heat

I should actually say, "this is how the heat is beating us!".

Although I am happy to say we aren't getting some of the record breaking temps in other parts of the country is getting, us northern folks are still getting drained by summer's sun.I don't feel like doing anything most days.I'm drained before the day even starts.My afternoon walk has turned into a morning walk because it's just too darn hot after lunch to go walking.

With the new dog, we are finding we are running the air conditioner a bit more than we usually do, just to keep him comfy.We run one for the guinea pigs too in Erika's old room. Not steady, but off and on, just to perk them up.Without it, they are lifeless.

How is summer treating everyone though. Do you get out in the heat as much as you can, or stay indoors with the air conditioner on?

Tommorow is National Chocolate Day

There are some great holidays in July, and probably one of the more intriguing is July 7^th aka National Chocolate Day. It is the perfect day to enjoy this perfect treat in the most favourite or unusual of ways-not that anyone needs an excuse to indulge in chocolate.

Whether it is a glass of chocolate milk with your evening meal, a chocolate dipped cone ice cream on a warm summer’s day or even a classic chocolate bar-there are hundreds of delicious ways to celebrate. 

Since chocolate comes from the cacao tree in the rainforests, it must be considered a fruit-right?

Please visit our friends who are also going to be celebrating National Chocolate Day:

Every day at The Madelaine Chocolate Company is Chocolate Day so what better way to celebrate National Chocolate Day than with our delicious chocolates!

As an American chocolate company they pride themselves on the quality and taste of their chocolates that so many have enjoyed over the years.

Happy Chocolate Day from The Madelaine Chocolate company! 

Design Must Haves for your Fabulous Feline (Canadian Contest Too!)

My mom has 5 cats and they keep her quite busy! They don't all get along so she has to break up fights alot of times and keep some of them separate from the others. She has taken in strays and SPCA cats over the years, and once had 6 cats! They all have their own personalities and value their own space when they need to get away from it all.

When designing a space in your home it is important to consider the needs of your cat companion.  From a cozy, quiet resting area to indoor entertainment there are many elements to consider.  Knowing how passionate cat owners are, Purina is offering Canadians the chance to win a 2-night trip to Toronto, and $10K feline-friendly room makeover designed by well-known designers and animal lovers, Steven & Chris.  Visit www.IndoorCat.ca, and enter daily for the best chance to WIN!

Whether or not you win a room makeover, Steven & Chris share their style tips on designing your home with your cute and cuddly cat in mind!

A Place For Your Cat to Hang Her Hat

Creating a safe and secure environment for your indoor cat will promote good physical and mental health. Provide your prince or princess with a bed in a private area or corner. Remember cats love soft textures, so look for cushions or throws that enhance the colour of your room.

Perches: In High Places

Cats are curious by nature, and love to climb and hide in high places.  Feed their curiosity by building or buying a perch to climb. Perches can be fashionable as well as functional by adding colour with patterned fabric and coloured cushions.

Be sure to keep the perch away from furniture holding breakables.  It is a cat’s nature to jump and explore so it’s important to keep them away from anything that can potentially harm them.  

If you have an older cat, consider purchasing a stylish stool or bench to help with those first couple of steps.

To Scratch or Not to Scratch

A scratching area is a must for cats as scratching leaves scent marks and helps them mark their territory. Keep your cat content by offering multiple scratching areas. Place scratch posts by couches and chairs, or anything else that may temp them. To make the scratch pads irresistible sprinkle with cat nip on a weekly basis.  Scratching is also great for stretching muscles, so at least one scratching post must be tall enough to give kitty a good stretch!   Keep scratch posts neutral colour so they blend in with your décor. A simple vertical scratch pad can be made out of left over carpeting. That way it gives your kitty a stretch and matches the room’s décor.

Indoor Entertainment

Keeping an indoor cat entertained is easy when armed with the right tools:

o    Place a couch, chair, perch or shelf in front of a window so they can watch the world around them.

§  Make outdoor scenery more exciting by hanging a bird feeder or plant flowers outside windows to attract bees and butterflies. All the action will keep your kitty amused for hours.

o    To keep them active indoors use toys to encourage your cat to stalk and pounce, or chase. 

o    Toys don’t have to be expensive! Designer gift bags or pretty wrapping can also give your cat hours of fun. They love the sound of rustling paper under their feet – so be sure to put the gift wrap from your last birthday party.

o    Hide treats or food in unusual places to encourage hunting and foraging and keep kitty on alert.

Where’s the ladies room?

Cats are fastidious about having a clean litter box, so be sure to scoop it daily and wash it out once a week, with soap and water. Place the litter box in a safe, private place. It’s important your cat not be disturbed when using her potty to ensure a positive litter box experience. If the litter box is in an area where it is readily seen, you can make it look nice by putting a flat, non-lumpy, carpet underneath it. Uncovered litter boxes with high sides are recommended and can be decorated to blend in with the surrounding! Have at least one large litter box per cat, and even an extra one, if possible.  And remember: a good scooper is important too.

Dinner is Served!

Indoor cats eat smaller, more frequent meals, and drink water over the course of the day, so make sure both food and water bowls are maintained. You should follow the feeding guidelines on pack for the amount of food to feed daily, to keep precious friend from getting too heavy. Wide open bowls allow more room for your cat’s whiskers.  Also – if you feed your cat wet cat food, like Friskies, don’t leave it out all day, as it will dry out.

For cat snacks provide your cat with cat grass or cat nip to nibble on. Make it aesthetically pleasing but placing in a pretty planter.

You can also spruce up the look of your cat’s eating area. There are great place mats (plastic and fabric) on the market that can be used under your cat’s food and water bowls. And you don’t have to stick to pet food store dishes either.. Many human bowls and small plates that are decorative can be used. Look in the areas where outdoor dishes are sold. There are many in colour schemes to choose from that are affordable!

For more great tips and to enter for a chance to win a room makeover visit www.Indoorcat.ca

Book Review: Yorkshire Terriers for Dummies

As you all know, the dog we got 2 weeks ago is a Yorkshire Terrier mix. 

I did want to learn a bit more about caring for this type of dog, training it, and anything else I might learn that would be new info to me.

Whether you are thinking about getting a Yorkie or just want to learn more about the one you already have, Yorkshire Terriers for Dummies is a valuable resource filled with helpful suggestions on living with this 6^th most popular dog breed in the United States.

In this book you will learn about Yorkie’s specific nutritional needs, breed characteristics, grooming, health care, behavioural problems and so much more. Best of all, the book is easy to read and interesting which will make learning about your little energetic, lovable companion, all that more fun.

As you better understand Yorkies, your life long bond will strengthen and grow.

If you own a Yorkie or know of someone  who does,this a perfect book to pick up.

Today's Quick Tip

My hubby bought a pack of iron on patches ($3) to patch the holes in his work pants he uses around the yard.

Instead of throwing away ripped pants that are used for work pants, the iron on patches will prolong their use.