Relaxing at Planet Beach Contempo Spa- Calgary, Alberta

If you ever find yourself in Calgary, Alberta, and are looking for a place to relax and rejuvenate, make your way to Planet Beach Contempo Spa. We'll be visiting there this upcoming week: Gerry, Erika and I. A mother, daughter AND father Spa afternoon!

Planet Beach prides itself on providing its customers a quick, convenient alternative to traditional day spas. What has intrigued us, the most are their unusual massages, such as the Hydro Massage. The Hydro Massage allows you to have the benefits of a traditional massage in about a fraction of the time. You can remain fully clothed in your own room while heated water pressure massages the different areas of your body that need it. This helps restore the overall feeling of well-being and relives minor aches and pains as well as distress and relaxes you. Another massage type offered a Planet Beach is their Cyber-Relax Massage. The customized chair uses a 3-D Point Navi Sensor to scan your body and customizes a massage for you based on 700 different massage combinations. This can have a number of benefits such as decreasing tension, improve blood circulation and help fatigue.

Aside from massage Planet Beach offers other services such as spray tanning, teeth whitening, UV therapy, red light therapy full body hydration and facial rejuvenation.

There are so many rejuvenation options under one roof.

It is a great place to pop into for a bit and come out feeling new! 

Consumers Beware

I like getting a good deal as much as the next guy, but here's where you really need to know your prices.

Gerry and I have been observing something that seems to be happening alot lately, and that is sneaky packaging/pricing.

We noticed it on bacon last week in one store's flyer where you saw the cost of a pack of bacon being let's say $2.99 and thinking- that's a great deal! But further to looking again, you see the pack of bacon is not for the standard size of 500g but instead 375g. So here is where you need to re-look at things like unit costs/gram comparisons.

Another incident happened today when I saw a 6 pack box of  tissues was $3.99 and I had a $1.00 coupon so thought great deal- $2.99
When I got to the store though, we noticed the boxes of tissues were quite a bit smaller than the boxes we had gotten for the same deal before, and at the same store, a few months back.

( 132 tissues per box on left compared to 100 tissues per box on right.
And 792 sheets compared to 600 sheets)

I still took them, but wanted to show you- and let you know- "consumer beware!"

Has anyone else noticed this happening?

Keeping Our Pets Cozy!

According to the calendar winter may almost be over, but that is not what we see when looking outside at least I'm not, here in Northern Saskatchewan! Your pets know it too and look for warm and comfortable places to snooze away the last few remaining weeks of winter. Why not get them a nice doggie bed to sleep away the time in style? Or even a cozy bed for lazy kitties?


The Wander Bed  from Kurgo- 

The Wander Bed  from Kurgo is perfect for doghouses, offices, crates, and anywhere else Fido might want to rest his eyes. Boasting a plush fleece top and non-slip bottom, the Wander Bed easily rolls up and has a handle for easy transporting. This comfortable, convenient bed is machine washable and has a pocket for storing some of Fido's favorite things.




DIY pet bed-(By: Directions Not Included)-

DIY midcentury pet bed. It was initially intended to be for the dogs but Lemur has claimed it as hers!
See the complete instructions in the link above!

LazyBonezz- The Luxury Throw

The LazyBonezz Luxury throw is a great option this winter for both pets and pet owners. The snuggly plush faux fur and silky satin make this a haven for pets. Pets can cuddle up during the snowy months on the soft throw anywhere in the house from the sofa to the floor. Keep your pet warm and cozy with a LazyBonezz Luxury Throw! 

** Watch this spot for more pet products to keep our pets cozy!

Leave a Message To The World- Video Contest

Writing a will to family members can be a long and tedious process, but YourLastWill.net has discovered an easy, fun way to send these messages to loved ones using videos.

Now it's time to vote. The voting system powered by Facebook, Woobox and Twitter allows users to vote for their favorite last will video and share it via social media.  Sharing it to Facebook and Twitter increases the chances for more votes and spices up the competition by giving friends a chance to also create videos. Most videos are targeted towards loved ones and what users would share in their actual last wills. 

Others are historically funny, aimed towards the enemies of the candidates.

 

One of the top contender's videos touches on all aspects of her life from friends, family, enemies, food, school life and even the future.  Check out this innovative way to share you last words!

How To Save Money On: Your Mortgage

For many their home mortgage will be the biggest debt that they take on, and may take decades to fully pay off. However, there are some smart and clever ways you can take that time down, and save yourself some of that hard earned money, when obtaining a loan for your home.

-Try to keep your credit score high* - Credit reports go back 7 years and

there is not much you can do if it reflects late payments however, a major
component of your scoring is based on the percentage of credit in use. This
number may be quite easy to manipulate simply by reducing credit card usage
leading up to the time you need a mortgage. Forget about trying to earn
frequent flyer miles - keep the usage low. Even if you pay the balance in
full each month the credit bureaus score based on the balance on your
monthly statement.

Peter Grabel-

https://www.luxurymortgage.com/t3.php?empId=16435



-Refi refi refi... especially if your rate is north of 5.5% and if you are
paying pmi.... sometimes a shorter term, if the rate is significantly lower
can be another option... working on your credit scores if the initial home
loan you took out was when scores were lower....sometimes putting a few
extra dollars down on your principle to lower the loan to value will get you
a lower rate on a refi and obviously will lower your payment.. 

Denise Panza  - Prysma Lending Group 




-A great tip to saving on a home loan is to switch to bi-weekly payments,
rather than monthly payments, whenever possible. The reason for this is
because there are only 12 months in a year, but there are 26 two-week
periods. Since the bi-weekly payment is half of what the monthly payment
would be, the borrower is essentially creating an extra opportunity to
reduce the amount owed, both in principal and in interest. Over the course
of a 25 or 30 year loan, this could have huge savings potential!

Chad Dannecker
Welcome To San Diego

-  Buy in areas where the real estate properties and taxes are lower. Not all cities and towns are created equal therefore you can save in home purchase prices and taxes right out of the gate.

-Talk to your lender about bimonthly payments which can significantly reduce the life of your loan, but your lender may also charge fees for you to do so.

Katie Ross, education and development manager for national financial education nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling

Legrand's Desktop Power and USB Charging Solution

Providing power and USB charging right at the desk top or work table has never been easier. Instead of a hard-to-reach power strip on the floor, the Legrand Desktop Power Center brings easy access to power outlets and USB charging ports where they’re needed the most and ends the frustration of trying to find an extra power outlet or a way to charge USB devices.

The Desktop Power Center kit includes all the hardware needed for do-it-yourself installation either through a desktop grommet opening or by attaching the unit to the edge of the work surface.  Hole mounting hardware accommodates round openings from 1 ½" to 3" for installation flexibility. An easy-to-install bracket allows the unit to be mounted on desk edge.

This convenient device features three 15 Amp power outlets and two USB charging ports.  Surge protection is built in, so there is no need to install an additional power management component. The 6’ power cord provides increased flexibility by extending access to a wall outlet.

The Desktop Power Center’s suggested retail price is $49.99. It’s available at The Home Depot, and other retail locations.

You can visit the Legrand DIY Project Corner for more information on this and other do-it-yourself projects.

Creating The Right Shade of Green For Your St Paddy's Day Treats PLUS Bonus Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day is soon upon us. As such you can try your hand at baking some St. Patty’s inspired treats. It does not have to be difficult even something as simple as a clover shaped cookie, can be just right for this festive holiday. But when baking, you do want to get just that right shade of green for your creations.

McCormick has a handy food color guide for turning boxed cake mix and canned white frosting into every shade of green, from light mint to deep emerald.

For more Irish inspiration, try these festive recipes:

• Shamrock Sugar Cookies: These dazzling clover-shaped sugar cookies coated in green-tinted icing are an easy way to add a little Irish fun.
• Luck of the Irish Crispy Treats: Scatter golden foil-wrapped chocolate candy coins around these emerald green crispy treats to create your own Irish pot of gold!
• Lemon-Lime Bars: These bars have an irresistible citrus flavor that comes from fresh lime juice and pure lemon extract.
• Green with Envy Cheesecake Bars: Contrasting layers of green, white and chocolate brown get a hint of sophistication with refreshing pure peppermint extract.
• Green Ombre Cake & Cupcakes: Varying the drops of food color in layers of cake batter made from a cake mix makes this colorful delight achievable for all bakers.
  • Mimic the ombre effect on the outside of the cake by tinting frosting various shades of green and layering onto the outside of the cake.
• Irish Cream Swirl Brownies: This decadent brownie, infused with vanilla extract and Irish cream liqueur, will have everyone tapping their feet to a Celtic tune.
• Emerald Mint Milkshake: This classic milkshake recipe is transformed into a cool concoction with a hint of green and touch of pure peppermint extract.

  

Review: Earth Rated Bags

Review by : Erika

When you have a dog, like we have "Be", you know it will bring a lot of joy and love into your life…and a lot of poop. Sometimes it can be scary to think what happens with all those plastic poop bags that you deposit into your garbage several times a day. Plastic can take close to forever to disintegrate in the environment.

This is why an incredible amount of pet owners use Earth Rated poop bags. These bags are biodegradable, very sturdy, and lavender scented, and are big enough for any sized dog needs. The lavender smell is a definite plus, as it can help mask any odors. The extra-large sized also ensure that your fingers never make any unwanted contact.

It is wonderful to know that these bags will biodegrade quickly, and will not cause any harm to the environment, and they cost just pennies a bag-a dog gone good deal.

I was very  impressed with package presentation and contents

Bag dispenser/holder is convenient and easily attaches to leash, and bags have a nice scent and are earth friendly!
Would love to see different colors (girl/boy dog maybe..) and different scents 

Pictures:

-Dispenser/bags on leash
-Be with all her goodies

Review: Micro Pedi

Sometimes, when reviewing products there comes that special one that knocks your socks off-in this case literally. Gerry and I have recently reviewed Micro Pedi, which is a special micro mineral roller that spins around itself removing layers of dirt and hard skin. There are a few versions available, and we tried the MICRO Pedi Manicure/Pedicure Kit, requiring two AA batteries. It has been one of the best products we have tried in a while.

The rollers are not rough on your skin and work very easily. Once you put on the lotion your feet feel super smooth. The rollers would have to be replaced depending on usage. For example athletes or people who spend a lot of their time on their feet may have to replace the rollers a little more often than the general public. We were very excited to try the product and we highly recommend it to all.

** See demo video here.


***03/2014-
 Update: Although I loved this  product, I quickly found out the rollers didn't last long, and dulled out. As well, refills were two for $19.95 plus shipping that was quite expensive.
So although the product is a good product, keep in mind refills are expensive- even on Ebay!

Sunday March 2

Hard to believe we're almost through winter again and it's March.  I've remembered in the past years when I would have had my Spring cleaning started already. Days I was able to open the windows and let some fresh air in. However, this polar vortex most of us are in, is really keeping that from happening. It has been so, so cold. The wind chills unreal! Feel like cabin fever is coming on and even the dog gets restless, and I'm sure we're more tired, lazy and eating more!  We think of spending winters away all the time.
Hopefully it will let up this month, as we are also heading to Calgary next week. We had our water freeze up at the other end of the trailer again. Luckily no pipes broke but Gerry said we will have to wait till it warms up before using the second bathroom again.Come Spring or Summer he has to go under there again and fix the problem, so we don't have the same issue next winter. But too cold to do too much now- as he froze his fingers this last time under there, even with 2 pairs of gloves on.

Gerry was taking pictures of our kitchen and taking measurements today, as we are going to be looking at cupboards when we are in the city. It will be a big expense. I'm hoping no more than $4,000 but Gerry feels it will be more. We've had money saved plus Gerry is taking some from his Canada Savings Bonds. We will be lucky again this year to get tax money back and he has another yearly company bonus coming his way a few months after that.

Wanted to show you the before pictures of our kitchen and cupboards. And no, we can't paint over them. They are made from compressed wood- like  particle board.I would have went with that option if possible. But we will be shopping around and getting a few quotes before we buy.  Also want to replace the white stand up cupboard and microwave stand .

We've put them off the cupboards the  longest for home renos as they really are one of the bigger expenses. Of course there was our roof we did and the siding, within the last couple of years, on the outside. Can't do everything all at once but happy what we've been able to do and not have any debt doing it.

Also picture below of one of the many birds that stops here to eat Jake's scraps he doesn't eat, and we throw out. Always looks around for a while to make sure the coast is clear before he swoops off the fence and picks up the tidbits thrown in the snow.