Review: Kamik Mount Snow Boots

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but keeping warm is so delightful.

Those of us living in areas plagues with vast amounts of winter snow and plunging temperatures, try to maintain a delicate balance between being fashionable and bundling up like a yeti. We often strive to find utilitarian clothing and accessories that can be presentable when out in town or shuffling our way through mounts of snow.

Recently, I reviewed a pair of Kamik Mount Snow Boots that did just that. In the winter my feet are always cold and it was impressive to have a boot on that finally kept them warm without having to double up  on socks. I tried them out snowmobiling and I must say that they stood up to the test. The boots are waterproof with moisture wicking lining, foam insulation a rubber sole (a must if you want to avoid skating down your driveway) and a stylish faux fur collar and a gusset tongue. They were great to take me from work into play without a necessary shoe change. It is great to have a versatile boot that keeps your toes warm and dry, but looks pretty nice too.I think you'd agree.

Organizing Your Home Business

These days many of us strive to achieve a balance between our work life and our home life. Long days at the office are not as popular as they once were. With the rise of telecommuting, many employees can work from home, and check in with their offices from time to time. Additionally, many people want to work for themselves and start a home business. However, there is much more to working from home, than just being able to stay in you pajamas all day, it is very important to have a good working space, because when you are working from home, a kitchen table won’t just cut it, you will need a home office.

 A home office is a great idea even for those who will just need it to organize their family’s finances and to have a place to store all the valuable documents. Apart from the obvious home office needs which are a desk and a chair, there are a few other items that you may need as you endeavor to set up a place to work.

One of the first things to get is office supplies, storage boxes for important documents, binders so that loose sheets of paper don’t fly on by, paper clips, pens and pencils. You might want to invest in an organizer of some kind to keep yourself in check also. When you are starting out supplying your home office, it is a great time to make sure that all the items match. Working in a nice looking space will be much more pleasant than working in a cluttered and dull office. When looking for nice matching office supplies, checkout collections such as the Martha Stewart Home Office collection with Avery Dennison, everything in it flows so well together it takes the thinking out of office design.

In your home business, never underestimate the power of networking. Networking is cited time and time again as the greatest way to grow your business. As you network, be sure to hand out business cards to all the new people you meet. These should have your name and other valuable contact information. A great idea would be to make these cards stand out from all the other business cards, by making them somewhat unique and therefore more memorable. 

When setting up your home based business ensure that your work space and your work supplies are a reflection of you. It will make all the difference.

Brighten The Holidays With Teleflora

There is something very magical about receiving flowers at Christmas time. Maybe it’s the seasonal festiveness, or maybe it’s the fact that we are receiving something beautiful and alive even as the snow blankets our lawns.

Teleflora offers some fantastic holiday arrangements which would make a wonderful hostess gift as you travel to holiday parties, a splendid last minute gift idea for those hard to shop for or even a kind gift to send to your dear ones who live further away. Teleflora works with over 15,000 local florists that can give your creations those special touches that we would expect from a local neighborhood store. The flowers are delivered in a beautiful vase and can even be delivered on the same day.

Teleflora’s holiday arrangements include a Sparkle of Christmas centerpiece in a stunning glass bowl with red roses and accent white flowers along with red candles.

Another arrangement is the Thomas Kinkade Memorial Winter Wonder with a hand crafted winter wonderland scene sitting on top of a beautiful floral arrangement, this is sure to light up the hearts of the young and the young at heart. 

A cozy gift can be a ceramic mug filled with a vibrant bouquet of flowers and a tiny ceramic mouse sleeping on the saucer in Teleflora’s Send a Hug Night Before Christmas arrangement.  

There is a variety of stunning and nostalgic arrangements which can go far beyond a simple flower delivery. Bouquets like this can truly make it on everyone’s’ Christmas wish list.

How To Turn Your Hobby Into A Business

Everyone wants to be able to get paid for doing what they love, but this is easier said than done. Pursuing a hobby can be time-consuming and expensive enough as is, and turning it into a money-making idea can be complicated if you have no background in business. However, with a little bit of time, planning, and effort, you can take your favorite hobby and turn it into a real business that you can run from home. The rise of ecommerce has made it easier to offer products and services online and reach a widespread niche audience. Entrepreneurs can use this to their advantage to start making real profits off of their interests.

Become a Teacher

If you're a musician, artist, or writer, you could turn your knowledge into money by offering freelance lessons. Although this can be done on a local scale by putting up advertisements for private lessons in your area, you can think bigger when you take the Internet into consideration. Create a series of videos and a website allowing people to download them or subscribe to your series. Write e-books and sell them in your own online bookshop. Providing online tutorials can help you reach a far wider audience than simply focusing on local clients, and can turn your passion into a full-time job.

Sell Products Related to your Hobby

If you love to travel, you could create an ecommerce shop that caters to fellow travel enthusiasts with the top gadgets and comfort items to make traveling easier. If you are really interested in wine, you could start up a wine boutique and organize tasting tours. Those who collect toys can create an online toy shop or marketplace for others who have the same interests. The beauty of ecommerce is that it allows you to choose a niche market and create your own online community of customers. It's always better to choose products you're knowledgeable about, as this puts you miles ahead of the competition. Free POS software makes it easy to enable payments and start making profits.

Tips for Creating a Professional Website

There are shopping cart software programs which can make short work of designing a professional website that's easy to manage at home. This is the storefront you will need to sell either products or services, with a safe and secure connection. Shopify payment gateways allow customers to purchase products easily, putting the money directly into your seller account. These programs also offer you an array of templates to choose from and customer assistance to get your new business off the ground.

Use the Power of Online Marketing

If you've created a new business based around your favorite hobby, you will have no lack of enthusiasm when it comes to spreading the word about it. Post about your new business on forums, let your fellow collector friends or hobbyists know about it, and create social media profiles. Online marketing allows you to interact with other individuals interested in your hobby, and can turn them into customers.

There's nothing more rewarding than getting paid for pursuing your passions. With the relatively low start-up costs and risk of an online business, this can be a great way to get started. 

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Review: Dyson's DC45 Animal Cordless Vacuum

Studies show that having a pet can add years to your life, and sometimes I wonder whether we do need those extra years to clean up all the pet hair our four legged family member leave around. Pet owners know that pet hair doesn’t just stay on the floor, and it has the tendency to attach itself everywhere, couch cushions, in vents, plastered to walls. However, I think I found a solution in the new Dyson DC45 Animal cordless vacuum, which is amazing. Typically these vacuums are considered crème de la crème of vacuums and with good reason.

The suction is excellent, and because it is cordless you are never searching for a plug or tripping over wires. Best yet, it has a long reaching adjustable wand that allows you literally to clean from floor to cleaning without awkward balancing. Removing the dust from the Dyson in very easy and since the filter is washable you will never be searching for parts. When you are done using it you simply hang it back up in a docking station on the wall, so it’s never in your way. In truth, I love this vacuum because (can’t help the pun) it sucks.

All about Dyson DC45 :

Dyson digital motor

Dyson digital motors are engineered to be small and powerful. Using digital pulse technology, they spin at up to 104,000 rpm – making the Digital Slim the most powerful cordless vacuum.

New battery technology

A 22.2V nickel manganese cobalt battery pack releases its charge evenly so there is no drop in performance.

Root Cyclone™ technology

Dyson’s patented Root Cyclone™ technology – condensed to fit into the machine – spins dust and dirt out of the air using centrifugal force, so there’s no loss of suction.

Motorized head

The motorized floor tool has an independent 30 W motor driving stiff nylon bristles into carpet pile to remove stubborn dirt. A carbon fibre brush bar has anti-static carbon filaments to remove fine dust from hard floors.

The Dyson Digital Slim™ is available on dysoncanada.ca – and at Canadian Retailers: Future Shop, Best Buy, The Bay, Home Outfitters, Sears, The Brick, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Independent Dyson Retailers. Suggested retail - $449.99

Free Online Games At YTV

It’s a well-known fact that kids love games. There are the school yard favorites such as a game of tag, hide and go seek and capture the flag. These are a fantastic source of activity and part of a healthy lifestyle.

Many kids also love indoor games which can be great at incorporating the whole family for a fun board game night. In the past few years there has also been a rise in the very popular video games for children. These however can sometimes require a higher level of skill and with the cost of the console as well as the various games can be quite expensive.A great game alternative that is both free and fun is YTV games. 

YTV is known as a television program provider for the youth market; however the online component offers a huge variety of free online games at YTV that can keep the kids entertained for hours. After all with the approaching winter the weather is not always nice to have kids go outside and play without being bundled up, it gets dark much faster these days and sometimes there may not be other kids around for your children to play with. For all of these scenarios YTV games is an excellent and free alternative to having your kids follow you around saying that they are bored. 

The website offers flash games which are browser based great as they can be accessed from many locations, so you don’t have to drag a gaming console over to the grandparents’ house when you visit. With over one hundred different flash games and video games available you and your child can find something that suits their interest and skill level. These can be accessed at any time, which also makes them very convenient. Most of the games are based on the popular television show characters that kids know and love. These include Pokémon, iCarly, a vast Sponge Bob square pants game collection, Fairly Odd Parents and Penguins of Madagascar among many, many more. The players also have a chance to rate the games so that you can choose some that have become very popular or provide feedback on the others that have not peaked your interest. These types of games are good for kids that may have short attention spans, unlike traditional console video games which can have elaborate and long story lines, these games are designed to be a fun and fast distraction. Kids can be easily amused as they switch from one game to another, and there are no difficult maneuver systems that you have to learn. 

Truthfully the games also provide a fun distraction for adults and are perfect for a little quick mini break. The level of game play and the graphic are great and I did even find myself drawn into a riveting game of duck racing. 

So if you are looking for a fun distraction (that does not cost any money) for your kids during the upcoming cold winter months consider YTV games.

Beamz Is An Extraordinary Music Gift

Don't just listen to music…Experience it by playing light!

Beamz is an innovative gift that enables anyone to experience the fun of making music by touching laser beams and playing light. Interactive songs from all music styles and genres are setup and ready to play, regardless of experience with traditional instruments.

Beamz lets you join the band, be the band, be a conductor, and even have DJ-like experiences by interacting with hundreds of different instruments, sound effects and songs.

EnvironmentalLights.com Offers Free Shipping Promotion on LED Multi-Function Christmas Light Orders

Free ground shipping for orders placed between November 28 and December 5, 2012

EnvironmentalLights.com, a leading source for high-quality, energy-efficient LED lighting, recently announced that they will be offering free ground shipping on LED multi-function Christmas light orders placed between November 28 and December 5, 2012. Based on the popularity of their multi-function lights, the company decided to offer free shipping for any orders including these items.


Versaline Plug-and-Play Chasing Light System

One of the multi-function light systems included in the offer is the Versaline Plug-and-Play light system. The 3-channel Christmas light system runs on 24 volts—a non-lethal voltage which enables a safe, low voltage installation. The six different lighting options can be used in conjunction with each other, and when paired with a controller the entire light display is capable of phasing, flashing, chasing and more.

Their Versaline 3-Channel Chasing LED Christmas Light system allows you to connect a variety of light strings, icicle strings, meteor shower strings, 3D motif decorations, crab lights and net lights into a stunning display of flashing lights.

Watch a video about the Versaline Light System: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zy6lr0Sdns&feature=youtu.be

Solar LED String Lights

Also included in the free shipping offer are Solar LED string lights. Each string set comes with its own high quality solar panel and high capacity storage batteries for high brightness and long run time. A variety of colors are available, and each set also includes six functions to choose from for lighting effects.

“Solar LED lights require no external power and automatically come on at sunset and turn off at sunrise,” explained Alicia Cheng, Director of Product Development. “They are low maintenance and a great product to use year-round.”

EnvironmentalLights.com recently reduced their prices on Solar LED lights for the holiday season and are now offering them at 50% off their retail price (originally $45 per set and now $23). New prices are listed on their website.

Free Ground Shipping Promotion

The free ground shipping promotion from EnvironmetnalLights.com ends on Wednesday, December 5, and they will honor any orders placed between now and midnight on December 5, 2012. For more information on the promotion details and all multi-function lights included in the offer, please visit http://www.environmentallights.com/sparkle.

About EnvironmentalLights.com 

EnvironmentalLights.com is a leading resource for sustainable, energy-efficient LED lighting products to meet the needs of business, commercial and residential clients. Their in-house sales engineers provide expert advice in the selection and design of lighting systems, as well as technical support throughout the installation process.

EnvironmentalLights.com offers a broad spectrum of LED light bulbs, strip and rope light, under cabinet light systems, Christmas lights, dimmers, controls and necessary hardware for any lighting project. For more information about Environmental Lights, visit http://www.environmentallights.com/.

Gift Giving For The Men on Your Christmas List

Holiday shopping can be difficult at the best of times. We all have those people that are notoriously difficult to buy for. For many of us this happens to be the men in our lives. However, holiday gift giving is an excellent opportunity to show them how much they mean to us and how much we care all year round. True, there is the old standby of a new tie or pair of socks, but during this holiday gift giving season, try to think of something that they are unlikely to get for themselves and what will make them truly happy.Happy Holidays!

Please visit our friends who have some great gift giving ideas for the men on your holiday gift giving list:

-Stanley Fat Max Magnetic Tape Measure - $29.99

A new magnetic tape measure that is accurate and provides both long reach and a power magnet, making it the perfect choice for pros in a host of different trades. 

www.stanleyhandtools.ca / Home Depot, Rona, Lowe's, Canadian Tire

-Black & Decker Gyro Screwdriver - $39.99

The world’s first motion-activated screwdriver that controls speed and direction. The variable speed feature and direction change that occurs with a twist of the wrist provide improved control while screw driving compared to rechargeable screwdrivers on the market. 

www.blackanddecker.com / Home Depot, Lowe's & Home Hardware ,Amazon.ca

- ObusForme 

• Shiatsu Massage Cushion -$119.99

A great suggestion for the man on your list that may have back problems and/or have an office job, like my husband does. ObusForme offer the Shiatsu Massage Cushion, which provides heat and shiatsu for that perfect massage, even while at work.

• 4 Shiatsu Massage nodes travel up and down the back for a relaxing massage
• Soothing heat provides a more relating massage
• 3 massage programs. Lower, Upper, Full Back
• Corded hand control lets you customize your massage

-Stonehouse Golf Collection-

Please your favorite golfer this holiday season with our mahogany-finish wooden desk caddie, complete with a Stonehouse Collection mini-print image of his choice. The collection boasts nearly 600 signature panoramic images from the world's most famous golf courses, distinguished holes and celebrated personalities. Make this gift even more special by adding a personal message on the print. The caddie's velvet-lined interior is large enough to hold TV remotes, keepsakes, even a couple sleeves of golf balls.