Colin Cowie, Celebrity Event Designer

lifestyle tips

Host the perfect foolproof holiday dinner party by following a few, simple rules:

DON’T JUST DECORATE THE TREE. Start at the front door with the wreath and carry your theme from the tree to the fireplace and don’t forget to decorate the dining table.

SET THE MOOD. Put together a playlist for the festivities. Hint: not every song needs to be a holiday tune.

PREP IN ADVANCE. Prepare as much food in advance so you can spend time with your guests, rather than in the kitchen.

SET THE MOOD WITH A SCENT. Spice toasted nuts are always reminiscent of the holidays. Simply roast nuts in a pan with a bit of oil and then dusting with black pepper, cayenne or cumin for a special treat.

Paul Taylor, Brickhouse Gym

The holidays can be one of the most difficult times of the year to stay active. Here are three easy to follow tips for you to stay on track with your fitness goal during the holiday season.

1. Find creative ways to be active. Bundle up and take a walk with your family to look at the lights or try activities like skating or skiing. Build physical activity into your holiday traditions.

2. Eating well is part of staying fit. Watch your portion sizes and drink plenty of water. Eat something small before you head to that holiday party, so you won’t arrive on an empty stomach.

3. Just as you would schedule time for a meeting at work or holiday shopping, when you make time on your calendar for exercise, it’s more likely to happen. Review your week ahead and figure out the most practical times to exercise.

Jeff Wright, The Great Plumbing Co.

plumbing

One of the biggest and most important drawbacks to hiring an unlicensed plumber is that an unlicensed individual will not be able to acquire insurance. Water can be unpredictable and damaging if you don’t know what you’re doing. Imagine hiring an unlicensed individual to save a few dollars, only to end up with a flooded home instead of a completed project.

It’s not just water damage you have to worry about. Your home could even be set on fire while soldering if the individual doesn’t know what they’re doing. Without proper insurance, the cost to fix the flood or fire will be on the homeowner and their insurance. This is why hiring an individual with proper credentials and liability insurance is so important. If something does goes wrong, both parties are covered.

Kevin Breitner, CRESI

I challenge you to find an investment opportunity (other than Real Estate) that will allow you to purchase it with only a 20% down payment and have a third party pay off the remaining 80% for you, while the asset continues to appreciate. I can’t think of one. As we all know, Investing is all about the MATH, and the returns with a rental property heavily outweigh the “bad stories” you hear. Again, to keep it simply about the MATH, The CRESI Team will not only help you find a great rental property, we will also find you a great tenant and manage it all for you, removing all the headache and still leaving the extra income in your pocket.

Jennifer Kaiman, Pretty Puppy Smiles

lifestyle tips

One of the best ways to keep your dog’s mouth healthy is to have regular cleanings just as you do for yourself and your family. Keeping your Furbabies teeth free from plaque and tartar help them to have a longer, healthier and happier life. Pretty Puppy Smiles is anesthesia free. We all know the dangers of anesthesia and would not regularly use it on ourselves or our families. My passion and love for dogs is the difference at Pretty Puppy Smiles. You can rest easy knowing that the only person working with your dog is the owner who is highly trained and certified.

Uptown Windows

Looking for a great way to balance stunning view and privacy? UMOTION Zebra shades offer two layers of alternating, striped, light filtering fabric can be aligned to create an impressive attenuated view, staggered to create privacy, placed at any location in the window or raised out of the way for a fully exposed window

Frank Silletti, Cabinet Refacing To Go

cabinets

Your kitchen has a lot of potential. With the holidays approaching, this is the perfect time to give your space a facelift! You can DIY a kitchen remodel with cabinet refacing or cabinet re-dooring for a fraction of the cost of a professional remodel. With expert know-how and Canadian made cabinets from Cabinet Refacing To Go, your kitchen can look like a brand-new space in time for holiday hosting!

Clyde Bryant, Main Street Mortgages

Did you know that Canadians have the ability to hold a mortgage on a piece of real estate inside a registered account, such as an RRSP or a TFSA? Your money is used to fund a mortgage on a selected piece of real estate (Residential or Commercial) that offers real, physical security for your investment while generating net returns of 7 to 10% per year for your portfolio. As your mortgage broker, we can help you get set up and grow your wealth!

Michal J. Cerny, Ambassador Fine Homes

lifestyle tips

The streamlined process of custom designing your home with the actual builder saves both time and money. The design process simultaneously considers how the build process will take place, eliminating architectural changes due to structural requirements.

The following two tabs change content below.
Canadian Home Trends magazine gives you a personal tour of the most stunning homes and condos across Canada. You'll be inspired by a selection of accessible home décor products, trend reports, simple yet stylish DIY projects, and much more. In each issue, you are given the tools to recreate designer spaces you've always dreamt of having at home, in-depth renovation and design advice, colour palette and furniture pairings, and Canada's best places to shop.