I have kind of an interesting request. Our very good friends in Toronto have just suffered their third miscarriage. My husband and I are far away and want to do something, anything really, to just lift their spirits a little bit and let them know we are thinking of them. I would prefer to stay away from something like flowers...maybe something edible? Thank you so much. In my eyes, delivering something edible is definitely the right way to go. When my dog was sick recently, a friend sent me some cupcakes in the mail. They got delivered right to my... More »

ALI! HELP ME! I have been avoiding the gladiator look for what's now going to be two spring/summers. My sources...you know, the magazines I read while i am getting my hair coloured...tell me that they are going to be back for Spring 2010. I guess I am resigned to wearing them. But, can you please help me pick some for a newbie. I really don't want to go too extreme!!! Thanks, Rhonda. I am not a huge fan of the gladiator look either, but I will be honest...the look is growing on me, and at the end of last season, I... More »

I am a huge fan of grilled cheese. Really. It's my go-to comfort food. But, you know, sometimes I need to feel like a grown-up...and, really, the grown-up version of the grilled cheese sandwich is a panini, it's got the bread and the cheese, but it's got so much more...veggies and meats and cheeses OH MY! Needless to say, I was kind of excited when I got an email asking me to find the perfect panini press.Now THIS is research I can get behind. There are a few I would recommend. Now, I will say this. Like the sandwich maker before it,... More »

A friend of mine recently got a brand, spanking new iphone and she is obsessed with it. I mean, more obsessed than I am, if that is possible. But, she is in the market for a few good apps. So, I thought I'd use this space to recommend some of my favorites to her...and to recommend some that I know other people love...and to open the floor for commenters to chime in with their faves!1. Tweetdeck and Facebook. For the social media lover. I prefer tweetdeck to tweetie (but I have friends who swear by tweetie 2. which is far superior... More »

Jill wrote in:Just happened upon your blog and SO glad you exist! I am often online searching for things that I can never find. Right now...I want matching T-shirts for my DH and DS for Valentine's Day - catch: they have to be within Canada. I've had an enormous amount of stress ordering things online from the U.S. and them never showing.Oh! Jill, this email came at the best time! One thing you should know...I ONLY talk about and recommend products that can be shipped to Canada. As a Canadian site, we want to make sure everyone can buy all... More »

Last week I urged you all to take the plunge, and now I'm back to give you some more getting-off-the-ground tips for your new blog!Now, there's a tremendous amount of bloggy jargon out there (heck, there are still words and phrases that people toss around that I still don't know, and I have been blogging for 6 years). So, I thought today I would begin with a little explanation of those buzzwords, but then I decided that all of that stuff can wait until later. First things first...make you space your own so that when others stop by...they want to stay.... More »

I get emails and comments all the time that are similar. They are all along the lines of....I wish I had a blog, but I just don't know where to start. Starting a blog just seems like so much work.If I wrote a blog, no one would read it!How will I ever find the time to actually sit down and write consistently? What does SEO mean? And what's an RSS? HELP!So, what it seems like is that this whole blogging thing? IS DAUNTING TO MANY OF YOU.Now, I am in no way a blogging expert...no where near it. BUT, I have been... More »

A reader, who chooses to remain anonymous, asksI have a huge SLR camera and I love it. But, as a mom on the go, I don't always want to carry my entire camera bag and all the lenses and such. I really want an inexpensive, small-ish point-and-shoot that I can throw in my purse. But, I'd really like it to take great pictures. Am I asking too much?  It's definitely NOT asking too much. Yes, DSLRs are fantastic. I love mine. LOVE it. And, to be honest, I totally carry a larger bag, just so I can throw it in... More »

Ali! HELP! I love that you are doing this new column, because I really need your help. I got an Indigo gift card for Christmas from my boss and I am really excited to buy books that aren't from the children's section. But, I need some recommendations please! I'd really like to read something that isn't a picture book. Can you help me? When Jane emailed me looking for book recommendations, I was really excited because, you see, I'm a reader and getting an Indigo gift card as a gift makes me smile for days! I hope I can make... More »

I recently purchased some vintage 1950s glasses (well, I got them as a gift, but I did the research and asked for them, as I always do, obviously, I'm the research girl after all!) They are actual frames from the 1950s..never been worn. I won't lie. I love Mad Men. I love every single itty bitty detail on this show, right down to the costumes...the dresses, the suits, the shoes, the glasses. So, it was while watching season 1 of the show that I made the decision to find some retro glasses. And clearly I am not the only one.... More »