A report last week claims the federal Heritage Ministry is considering a bailout for Canada’s newspaper industry. While the struggling middle-class in that industry attempts to keep its jobs, our Liberal government might reward the CEOs for their greed and self-preservation on the backs of employees. I hope it’s not so. …
Sometimes I think the rest of my life is going to mainly consist of asking, “that was how long ago?” The passage of time is on fast-forward. It’s already been five years since our friends Laurie and Jeff moved a house to cottage country. …
Throwback Thursday – A Moving Experience Read More »
It appears that I won’t be writing House Proud for Sun Media anymore. My column has been running across the country for about 9 years now, but the marketplace has changed and the newspapers sections are getting smaller. But my terrific friend Erin had a great idea.  …
Everything Old is New Read More »
Everyone is familiar with the Man Cave, that secluded spot where the male head of the household can go alone to watch sports, or invite his buddies and maybe enjoy a stinky cigar without fear of reprisal. But what about the female head of the home? If Dad can have a cave, then Mom should have one too. …
House Proud: Mom Cave is an Idea Whose Time has Come – Sept 17, 2014Read More »
House Proud: Mom Cave is an Idea Whose Time has Come – Sept 17, 2014 Read More »
Perhaps your furniture taste leans toward Danish modern and you have a thing for bold, graphic area rugs. You can pick out upholstery fabric from 10 metres away and set a table so pretty it would make Martha Stewart weep. But when it comes to choosing a wall colour, you’re stopped cold. You are not alone. …
See Your Way to Better Colour Choices Read More »
As warmer weather settles in, most winter-weary Canadians plan at least a few calm evenings outdoors, hosting a barbecue for friends and perhaps enjoying a glass of wine as the sun sets. …
Striking First in the Battle Against Bugs – Sun MediaRead More »
Striking First in the Battle Against Bugs – Sun Media Read More »
No, not the one I live in. Many months ago, we joined with brother Rob and another partner in a house-flipping adventure. We bought a wreck of a place in Welland, ON and through the magic of money and back-breaking labour, turned it into a home for two families and an income property for someone to buy. …
If you’re lucky, you get to see trends come around a second and possibly even a third time. When platform shoes came back into vogue in the late 1990s, how I wished I’d kept the ones I wore to my Grade 8 grad. …
House Proud: Parlez-Vous Parlour? for Sun Media Read More »
Over many years and several houses, I’ve painted dozens of rooms and a hundred pieces of furniture. It drove my husband crazy when I wouldn’t properly prepare the space for inevitable splatters and spills. And then there’s cleanup, which is even worse than getting ready. There’s no putting lipstick on this pig. Painting stinks and I have plenty of reader input to show I’m not alone. …
House Proud: Simply Put, Painting is Hard Work Read More »
A colleague is taking a night course in beer tasting and he came to work the morning after a recent class with a new understanding of his girlfriend. Having spent the evening trying to distinguish between flavours with the slightest differences, he finally got how she could spend hours poring over paint chips, when to him, they all looked pretty much alike. Beer, like paint, is made with different undertones and finishes. But only one of them looks appropriate on your wall. …
House Proud: Beautiful Blues to Reign as Colour of the YearRead More »
House Proud: Beautiful Blues to Reign as Colour of the Year Read More »
It’s a skin-tight, shimmering gown on the runways of Paris. It’s the ornate, metallic detail on an imposing cabinet. It’s the mirrored finish surrounding a well-stocked bar. Glam is back, baby, and if it’s not kicking minimalist to the curb, it’s entering the room like a showy cousin. …
House Proud – Glam is Back, Baby! Read More »
My work has brought me a lot of cool things from concert tickets, to clothes, to opportunities to meet special people. And last week, my position as columnist for Sun Media brought me a happy box of stuff that could only appeal to someone like me. …
A Box Full of Happiness Read More »