{ Posts Tagged ‘book’ }

my favorite mother’s day gift this year

This mini book from Paper Source is my favorite Mother’s Day gift this year! A small journal filled with questions for mom to answer about her life. It’s a perfect way to get to know your mom better and a great keepsake for your own children or family members. I actually bought one for my mother-in-law for her birthday last year. I sent it to her and about two weeks later I received it back, completely filled with memories. It was so fun to look through and read more about her life and all of her stories… I really did learn more about her! It truly is a wonderful gift. Oh, and they have one for dad too!

MomBook my favorite mothers day gift this year

Paper Source, Mom Journal, $9.00

opportunity rings

opportunityrings opportunity ringssheryl opportunity ringsAs much as I love discovering new gadgets and jumping on technological trends, I also love to read and feel the pages of a book flip through my fingers (I don’t think I will every jump on the digital reader trend… sorry, Kindle). Technology makes the jump from the computer screen to the printing press with Style at Home writer/new author Sheryl Steinberg’s new book, Opportunity Rings.

The book is funny, sweet and smart, combining girly-wit with techy-twit — the main character, Erica Swift, works in the marketing department of a wireless company but would be thinking hors d’oeuvres rather than iPhone if you started talking about the hottest new app. Lucky for her, she’s got a tech-savvy assistant and husband to help her out. But what happens when everything goes awry?

Without giving too much away, Erica finds herself with no husband and back living with her mum. She then has to force herself into getting acquainted with the tech world while fighting off some very eligible ideal suitors and her friend’s hopes for her to become a trophy wife. If you liked the Shopaholic books, then this is a perfect read for you — I enjoyed flipping through the hilarious situations Erica got herself into as she strove to become a modern woman living in a tech-crazy world.

I give this book two text messaging thumbs up.

Price: $16

Available at: Chapters.indigo.ca

Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/Tech_Style

a green christmas book

greenerchristmas a green christmas book
This book from the whimsically named Sheherazade Goldsmith is a wonderful read, covering off all aspects of holiday celebrations. She says, “The book is about having a simpler, more home-spun Christmas….I hope [it] will inspire you to take a different approach to Christmas and spare you the stress of excess consumerism.” From welcoming your guests with beautiful decorations for the outside of your home to setting up and embellishing your tree, making gifts, cooking for the holidays, and setting your table, Goldsmith has it covered.

The crafts are simple, yet beautiful (templates are included), the recipes yummy-sounding (the Nougat Sweets are ones I absolutely have to try out!), and the eco tips on recycling and composting are sound. Where else can you get such an interesting mix of ideas! Plus, at the back, there’s a directory listing places to find info on green items and services not just in the U.S., which is often the case, but some in Canada, too! Hurrah!

Available at: bookstores across Canada

Price: $28

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

all about colour

picture 2 all about colourIf you made it to the STYLE AT HOME Show on Saturday, you may have caught my interview with renowned colour designer Janice Lindsay at our gorgeous High/Low Stage. Janice has a new book coming out, All About Colour, in which she explores the fascinating history of colour and our complicated relationship with colour in decor and in every aspect of life. Some of the things that came out of our chat really wowed our audience, and I thought I’d share some of the highlights that Janice had to share:

* Don’t feel obliged to paint your baseboards and trim white. Janice says if your walls are in a rich colour that’s saturated, the contrast is often too great to go white in this application.

* Consider a colour on the ceiling in the same situation. All too often, coloured walls are paired with a bright white ceiling, and the contrast is eye-popping in all the wrong ways.

* Colour is instinctive. You can only get it wrong by thinking too hard about it.

Following our chat, Janice treated the crowd to a book signing with some advance copies of All About Colour courtesy of the Indigo booth at the show. Pick up your copy when the book hits stores nationwide on November 4!

All About Colour by Janice Lindsay, 2008, McClelland & Stewart

Price: $35

read your way to healthier living

housekeepingguide read your way to healthier livingThis entertaining book by Christina Strutt is chock full of interesting information about keeping your home in an earth-friendly way.

Strutt covers everything from saving energy (chop vegetables smaller so they cook more quickly) and stocking a pantry (apples keep for up to 4 months if wrapped individually in newspaper) to keeping a kitchen garden (Epsom salts promote plant growth) and doing laundry (“sun will bleach robust white fabrics beautifully”).

Here are 5 of the ways Strutt lists to put white vinegar to good use.

1 Baby clothes To freshen baby clothes, add one cup of vinegar to the detergent dispenser of the washing machine for the final rinse cycle. This will break down the uric acid and soapy residue on the clothes, leaving them soft and fresh.

2 Brass, copper and pewter To make an effective polish, mix 1 tsp of salt and 1 cup of vinegar, stirring in enough flour to make a paste. Cover the item with the paste and leave for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water and polish with a soft dry cloth.

3 Cigarette odours To remove the odour of cigar or cigarette smoke, leave a saucer of vinegar in the room overnight.

4 Deodorant stains To remove deodorant stains on coloured clothes, rub with a soft cloth dipped in vinegar and wash as usual.

5 Insects If you have trouble with insects (silverfish, ants, etc.), wipe down kitchen surfaces with neat vinegar to deter visits. This will also disinfect the surfaces.

Available at: book stores across Canada

Price: $23

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email Laurie at naturalchic@styleathome.com!