When choosing holiday gifts, I consider board games a bit of a no-brainer. They work terrifically as hostess gifts, fit the bill for the family who has everything, and the variety of games available means they can work for any aged child. I wrote earlier this summer about my family's love of Apples to Apples, but I'm going to mention it again, and remind all readers that there's a copy of that game (and a lot more) in one of the prize packs of the Amazing Holiday Toy, Book and Game Scavenger Hunt. It's a great game with two decks ... More »

With less than a month to go until Christmas, the countdown's on around my house. Lists for Santa have been drafted, revised, and refined more times than a senior thesis, so I'm feeling fairly confident about the hot toy trends for kids. But how about you? Are you feeling smug and certain about what gifts will bring joy to your kids this holiday season? Worry not, dear readers. Trend Watch has spent the last month scouring the stores, devouring catalogues, reviewing toys, interviewing toy experts and soliciting feedback from the real experts...kids! Over the next couple of weeks, I'll... More »

Food cravings are interesting. According to Marcia Pelchat, a sensory psychologist at Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia who studies food cravings, 90 to 100 percent of women aged 18-35 report having them. For the most part our cravings fall into two categories; sweet or salty. Why choose between sweet and salty when you can have both? Ironic that I wrote a few weeks ago about the fact that most studies find that most Canadians consume far more salt in their daily diet than recommended, but everything in moderation, I say. One hot trend I'm seeing this holiday season is... More »

These days, we're all a little concerned when it's time to fill up the gas tank. Our concerns may be about having to refinance our home to pay for a tank of gas, or may be more altruistic concerns regarding the effect of our gas-guzzler on the environment. Whatever the concerns, many of us have become interested in hybrid vehicles. What exactly is a hybrid car? Any vehicle that uses two or more sources of power to make it go is a hybrid. Most hybrid cars on the road right now are gasoline-electric hybrids. The hybrid vehicle has two main... More »

Congratulations to Jennifer Bradley of North Gower, Ontario. She's the winner of the Logitech Desktop Makeover contest. We look forward to seeing pictures of your desk, Jennifer....before and after. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more wonderful contests.... More »

As we head into longer nights and shorter days, we are all forced to spend more and more time indoors. I always find the term "spring cleaning" ironic, as it's more likely the fall when I find myself wanting to de-clutter my home as I prepare (like my caveperson ancestors) to hibernate the winter away. As the weather cools down, I find myself tackling projects like clearing out my magazine racks (I never did get around to hosting the perfect summer picnic!) and giving up on some of those novels I bought for summer vacation, to find some room on... More »

For the ultimate in pink accessories, as we close Breast Cancer Awareness month... Toshiba and Best Buy are joining forces to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with the launch of Toshiba’s stylish pink Portégé M800 laptop. For the next two months, $40 from the sale of each unit, available exclusively at Best Buy for $799, will be contributed to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to help support relevant and innovative breast cancer research, and education and awareness programs. The Portégé M800 laptop in sakura pink looks great and packs the features and performance that customers have come to expect... More »