Trend Watch

Trends for the Holidays

It's a tough time of year to write about trends and fads. Most holiday traditions rely heavily on nostalgia and, well....tradition.

However, there's no reason to start a few new traditions in your family, and our friends at Hallmark have a number of suggestions.

It's not too late as I write this to have your children write a letter to Santa, and Hallmark's Mail Box and Letter to Santa Kit will help you to make sure their letter is delivered and a response returned. The box includes envelopes, stickers and delivery stamps, along with postcards back from the North Pole.

Our family's been enjoying the Dear Santa Chalkboard with Countdown Calendar. It's a two-sided chalkboard; on one side the kids can count down the days until Christmas. On the other side, they can write a letter to Santa.

Santa Key is unique holiday gift ornament, and a perfect new tradition to start for a family who doesn't have a fireplace or who lives in an apartment. Kids are told to hang this key on the door and it will help Santa find his way into their home.

I've started a new Christmas tradition at work. Instead of choosing a small gift for everyone in my office, I gifted each person with a really special card. There are cards that sing, cards that light up, even a special card for the boss that recorded all of his staff singing "We wish you a merry Christmas". Corny, yes, but some of the best traditions are the corniest.

With that, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, celebrating whatever you do, however you like, enjoying old traditions and embracing new trends for the season!

Holiday Toy Lowdown and CONTEST!

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 report back on the trends that I see in toys this year, and provide examples of each trend guaranteed to deliver appreciative smiles from the recipients.

Friday's post will preview Family Board and Electronic Games. Next Tuesday, come bck to read about Toys and Games with a Technology Focus. On Friday December 5, I'll share with you a sneak peak at all the Classics and Classics with a Twist, and finally the following Tuesday tune in for a special Books for Giving column.

As a bonus from now until December 12, every urbanmoms.ca member can enter a contest to win special prize packages including many of the hottest gifts of the season. So come back regularly, comment enthusiastically, and join us as we present the top toy trends of 2009!

Deck the Halls with Ghouls and Pumpkins

While some of us are still putting away the sprinkler and packing up the flower pots, others amongst us are considerably more organized and crafty, and are preparing for Hallowe'en.

Where neighbours used to save their holiday decorating for the Christmas season, in our multicultural society more and more celebrations are being celebrated with home decorations, and the non-secular Hallowe'en has benefitted the most.

A walk through my own multi-faith neighbourhood shows homes with pumpkins, ghosts, skulls and skeletons, and they've been on display since early October. I love this trend because it's so easy to get kids in on the home decor action. Take a look at a few photos from one friend's home, where she and her three boys have been adding to their scary scene for almost a month. Click on each photo to see all the detail.

And here are a couple of my family's new favourite Hallowe'en friends, from Hallmarks These trembling toads sing and dance and provide HOURS of entertainment for the average three- and seven- and nine-year old (trust me). They retail for $30, but they're only $14.95 when you purchase three Hallmark cards.

Take this opportunity to "boo"-tify your home!

Staycation...all I ever wanted!

For most of us, a summer getaway is an essential part of our annual calendar. All year long we look forward to our one or two-week vacation as an opportunity to recharge our batteries, re-establish family bonds and have a little fun. This year, with the high price of gas, crazy airline ticket fares and a struggling economy, more and more people are turning to the "staycation" as a frugal alternative and the newest vacation trend.

A staycation is just like any other summer vacation... except instead of visiting some far-off destination, you stay at home. Everyone's talking about them....a google seach pulls up not only find wikipedia's definition of staycation, but also a whole bunch of blog entries, and just last week, a New York Times article about the rising popularity of this trend.

Mid-way through summer, it's not too late to start planning your own staycation; it may supplement or replace your vacation plans. Here are a few tips for making the most of a staycation.

Have a chore-atorium Don't use a week at home as an opportunity to get to everything on your to-do list. While you might end the week feeling you've accomplished something, you will not feel rested.

Try something new I'm going to finally read my camera manual try some new photography techniques.

Go shopping You're saving money by staying home...indulge a little. A staycation wouldn't be a staycation for me if it didn't start out with a leisurely stroll through the bookstore and a trip home with a full bag.

Get a tan No matter which routine you're getting back to, it helps to feel like you've been on vacation if you get a little colour. Might I suggest my best-kept secret...Clinique for men non-streak bronzer? Less sparkles than the women's product, and much less expensive.

Take pictures Just because you're staying close to home, it's no reason not to snap pics...for all you know this could be the most memorable holiday for the family.

Put the kids in charge Ask the kids what they'd like to do during their staycation. Whether it's a trip to the museum, pitching a tent in the backyard or checking out the local playground, they'll love being consulted about the travel plans.

Whatever you choose for your own staycation, common themes are relaxing and bonding with family. What's your favourite staycation activity?

Green Green Grass of Home

So, how's your lawn looking? I don't know about the rest of the country, but for those of us in Southern Ontario enduring the soggiest summer on record, the only silver lining is the state of our lawns. My backyard has never looked better! During a normal summer, around this time, my backyard looks very much like a baseball diamond; complete with pitcher's mound covered in mud, dirty baselines and dusty dugout. My front lawn's greener, but usually overrun by clover at this point in the season.

However, this year, my friends Dan and Sue are truly the envy of the neighbourhood. Back in May, they contracted a company to put down new turf in their back and front yards. Not so unusual, you say? Imagine never having to water, fertilize or mow your lawn again! If you're thinking of a low-maintenance backyard, you might want to explore the newest trend in landscaping...synthetic grass.

Synthetic grass is different from astroturf or indoor grass; it truly resembles the real thing. It looks and feels like natural grass. (I can attest to this...I climbed down in bare feet expecting prickly or plastic feel. This feels soft and grass-like!)

Synthetic grass drains directly from the top, and can withstand snow, ice, rain and intense sun and heat. Companies that install the synthetic grass can often incorporate a putting green into your lawn, and most reputable companies provide an 8-10 year warranty on your lawn. I've even heard about playgrounds and school yards that are exploring this option.

There is a downside to synthetic grass. While the rest of us are struggling with lawnmowers, weed whackers and whipper snippers, Dan's been out with his vacuum cleaner trying to pick up the little leaves and seedlings falling from the trees (the company suggests a leaf blower or push broom). When the gas company came by and spraypainted all of our lawns, the rest of us just have to wait for that grass to grown out. Sue talked about having to get out the turpentine to remove the paint marks.

When all is said and done, synthetic grass is not an inexpensive option, but once it's in you too could be the envy of your neighbourhood...if the rest of us ever dry out!!!

Fresh From the Garden

Today let me share with you one of my favourite seasonal trends...bringing food in fresh from my own garden. I’m not much of a gardener, but at this time of the year all sorts of natural instincts kick in and I find myself wandering through farmers’ markets admiring the tomato plants, checking out carrot seed packets and longing for my old neighbour’s rhubarb harvest.

Living on a rather small plot of downtown Toronto does not allow me to live out all my gardening dreams, but I make concessions and do what I can.Check out my herb pot. There’s oregano for my roast tomatoes, rosemary for my scrambled eggs and parsley for my salads. There’s more and I’m sure I’ll figure out what do with it once I identify it all (help? suggestions?)

No mixed herb pot could contain my love of basil, so that herb gets its own chance to shine. This goes in my paninis, in my Caprese salad, in my pesto and my bruschetta. Yum.

I encourage the kids to get in on the action, and I’m excited that my daughter’s growing carrots at daycare and my parents have planted a pumpkin seed for each grandchild at the cottage (above the septic system...we’re anticipating giant jack-o-lanterns this Halloween!!). One of the most exciting mornings this week was when I found this strawberry on our hanging basket...it may not have been huge, but it was big enough for each of the kids to get a bite!!