How to Get Your Home Winter Ready

If you're a homeowner you probably want to make sure that your home is in the best shape for winter. With the winter season approaching you don't have much time and you need to take action right away if you want to prepare your home and make sure that it is in the best shape possible.

Winter-Ready Home Tips to Save on Heating Bills

Winter is nearly here, and alongside the dream of seeing enchanting snowfall comes the inevitable chill that leaves us wanting nothing more than to huddle closer to the radiators. While it's very tempting, there are a number of ways to keep your home cozy and warm without breaking the bank. Did you know that if you prepare your home now ready for the winter months that you could actually save money on your heating bill? Check out these cost-effective tips to keep your home warm and save on energy bills.

Essential Steps to Take After a Hailstorm

The weather can bring many pleasant surprises, from colourful leaves falling to the warm sunshine, making it irresistible to spend time outdoors. However, it can also bring unexpected situations, such as a storm that could happen during winter camping, which can be frightening and disrupt our schedules if we are not prepared. Storms could come in various forms, including a hailstorm involving balls of ice falling like rain. In such situations, you must take specific measures to guarantee safety and lessen the damage done to your property. Here are some practical steps to take if you experience a hailstorm.

Ways To Keep Your Home Warm This Winter

There are a few key ways to make sure your home is warm this winter. Some are simple and easy, while others may require a bit more effort. But all of them will help keep you and your family comfortable during the colder months.

Winter Garden Maintenance

Most of the time, during the cold season we neglect our gardens, only to face a huge amount of effort preparing the garden once the sun begins to shine. We all look forward to garden parties, barbecuing, playdates, catch-ups, and to relax and enjoy ourselves in the summer. So why not make it easy to jump right into the fun by preparing a few items ahead of time?

Ways to Enjoy Winter While Staying Healthy

There may be a chill in the air, but winter does not necessarily need to be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family. Here are five ways to ensure that no matter how much your body tells you to hibernate, you can remain healthy and fit, no matter what the weather or season is.

How To Keep Healthy and Warm During Winter

The winter season is a tough time for families to be healthy and warm. The cold temperatures make it hard to get out of bed in the morning or stay active during the day. It is also easy to catch a cold that can lead to a week's bed rest.

However, there are several ways you can keep your family healthy and happy through these long winter months. 

Shopping for Winter Gear and Holiday Gifts at Sport Chek

Sport Chek is our go-to place to purchase best quality sports gear, clothing for all our indoor and outdoor adventures, and everything related to fitness and training. Here are our picks from Sport Chek for this winter - these items would also make functional gifts for loved ones! 

Winter Driving in the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature

The 2018 Mazda CX-5 had an exceptional design which made it one of the most successful models in its lineup. With the introduction of the 2019 CX-5 series, Mazda has taken this model to the next level by adding a Signature top-tier trim level and giving it a power-up by introducing a turbocharged SKYACTIV-G 2.5T engine similar to its big brother the CX-9.

Beauty of Canadian Wildlife in Winter at Parc Omega

Once you discover the fun at Parc Omega, you will want to visit every season and multiple times too, as it is very exciting for the entire family. Since the first time we stayed over and explored Parc Omega, we visited it again in the summer, and promised ourselves to check its beauty in winter.

Thrilling Time Tubing at Chicopee Tube Park

We had a thrilling time tubing for a couple of hours at the Chicopee Tube Park. This fun winter activity will be enjoyed by riders of all ages. 

Cable Stitch Knit Scarf

I love knitting cable stitch! It is easier than it looks. All you do is simply catch the knit stitches according to the pattern onto the cable needle and hold it either in the back or front then knit the stitches on the knitting needle, then knit the stitches you put on the cable needle. I find the knitted projects using cable stitch add elegance and a beautiful texture. 

One Stop Holiday Shopping for Men and Women at Mark's

My husband and I love shopping at Mark's because it is a one-stop-shop for us to buy clothes and footwear that we enjoy wearing. If you are looking to get outfits for yourself or planning on purchasing clothes and footwear to give as gifts to your loved ones, I would recommend shopping at Mark's online or at their store locations. We can always find quality, comfortable clothing that are sure to be loved.  

Comfy Cozy Skechers Boots for Women and Girls

Wearing comfortable and cozy boots to keep our feet warm in winter is a must, to avoid getting sick! My daughter and I like Skechers boots that have Warm Tech Memory Foam, which makes them the best to keep our feet warm. The thermal fleece lined insole retains our natural body heat and prevents it from escaping. 

Gataga Helly Hansen Winter Boots for Men

My husband has been enjoying the warm Helly Hansen Gataga winter boots for men, as they are comfortable and provide the perfect protection during all types of winter weather. 

Explore National Parks Snowshoeing With Children

Exploring winter scenery is lots of fun when it is done in snowshoes. Since snowshoes provide flotation, we can walk on top of snow easily and not sink. I think having proper snowshoes for children makes it a fun experience for them, so everyone in the family can go on fun excursions. My children have been using the MSR Tyker and Shift Youth snowshoes, which are especially designed for children because of its lightweight, durable, and safety features. 

Prepare Yourself with Winter Boots

Having the proper winter boots is very important! When I buy winter boots for my family and myself I look at three things: how warm the boots will keep our feet, the grip on the boots so we can avoid mishaps, and the style. I love the quality of Columbia brand winter boots because of my prior experiences with them. They not only last long, but also keep me warm, and it is footwear I can rely on. 

Helly Hansen Men's Juniper Sports Winter Jacket

My husband has been wearing his regular fit Helly Hansen Juniper Sports Winter Jacket, and loves it for many reasons. He says it doesn’t feel bulky yet keeps him really warm and cozy. We love the stylish sporty design of the jacket. It has every feature you can think of! Wearing this jacket is comfortable because it is extremely light and airy.

Helly Hansen Women's Jackets for Cooler Weather

As the weather gets cooler, I like to wear layers. Depending on where I go the temperature is different, since some places have heaters turned on high, and the other places are much cooler. Due to this reason, I love wearing this lightweight, compact Helly Hansen Verglas Down Insulator. I love that it is compact because it can be folded and fits easily into a bag, which makes it perfect for winter travels.

Win Your Own Copy of What Plant Where Encyclopedia

This time of the year, my family and I spend lots of time gardening, shopping for the garden, tending the plants, and weeding to keep our garden a clean and well maintained space. For us gardening is exciting, tiring, and relaxing. We love reading books about gardening, trying a variety of different plants and flowers every year, growing to love some plants more than others, talking about plants, recommending our favourites and our tips to family, friends, and neighbours. Recently, I got a wonderful book from DK that tells all about what plants go where in our garden.