My family and I are currently living at Taboo Resort and feel that we are having a long term vacation in the great Canadian white north (except for the working everyday and going to school part). It appears that we are the only ones that live here on a permanent basis and our townhouse clearly is not designed for anything but a vacation home.
We have moved most of possessions from our two homes into this one small space. It has been a challenge to be organized with so little storage space. The kitchen has been the hardest to organize since [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Chief Editor
Interior designers have simple tricks in making a house a home. You know, those little techniques to bring not only style but warmth and intimacy into your personal space. Candles are a great way to do this, and using reusable peel and stick accents takes you one step further to suit the mood, season or special occasion. Indigoroot has created a simple, chic, interchangeable and reusable solution to add those nice touches to your home.
With Valentine’s Day coming up, Indigoroot makes it easy to add a romantic touch using their CandleClothes™ and Wrapitz™. If you [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Chief Editor
Recently I traveled with a couple of girlfriends where we shared a hotel room for several nights. Three women having access to only one bathroom is always a challenge. Particularly, three baby boomer women where the concept of “holding” goes out the window after the natural birth of the first child.
I was pleasantly surprised when we all pulled out our travel Poo Pourris!  We obviously shop at the same place. With names like Deja Poo and Daisy Doo or, for men, Heavy Doody and Trap-A-Crap, you may already have guessed that these are before-you go [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
My family and I have just relocated back to Eastern Canada from California for a two year stint. I must admit that I so loved this past fall season up here that I am really looking forward to a very white Christmas. When I last lived here (over 18 years ago!) I loved the look of Christmas lights reflecting off the snow on the outside trees around my home. I loved to attract birds and decorating a holiday tree with seed ornaments. And I am planning to do that again this year.
Mr. Bird has an [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
As the cold weather and frightful storms shutter us indoors, we must make the best of our nesting environment.
We mentioned the beautiful LightAir air purifiers a few months ago. If anyone in your family has allergies, this can especially help in the closed-in months. And then, I mentioned Light Therapy, which worked well for me to help combat Seasonal Affective Disorder.
What else can we do? How about replenishing the air moisture that the heaters strip away. Dry skin, painful sinuses, limp hair that no amount of conditioning will fix… Sure, humidifiers are a staple in many homes [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
I recently created an altar in my home office. It is my private space where I can make the shift from a busy day to one of quietude and reconnect with my inner self.
Some people may think of altars for religious purposes. In fact, the history of a home altar was to bring one’s faith into the home. Think of a Catholic altar with a Crucifix, candles, rosary and prayer book.
To me a home altar is something a bit different.

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
When a company’s motto is “Nothing wasted. Everything gained“, you know that they take a serious stand on green living.
Preserve makes stylish, high performance, eco-friendly products for the home – from personal care to tableware to kitchen products – all at a reasonable price. All their products have innovative designs, bold colors, are eco-chic AND 100% recycled.
Preserve only uses #5 plastics for recycling. Many communities do not recycle #5 plastics so Preserve partnered with Whole Food Markets to create a Gimme 5 bin (#5 plastic containers) at each of their stores making it easier to [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
As you know The Succulent Wife’s team loves a good story. And there’s even more to love with a company that has a motto that goes “Every day we strive to turn discarded items into beautifully designed and functional products”.
Rewined Candles is the brain child of Adam Fetsch. When Adam worked as a sommelier in a popular local restaurant in Charleston, SC, he observed cases and cases of bottles just being discarded. Not recycled in any way, shape or form. Just simply thrown out in the trash. Seeing beauty in the wasted bottles, he came [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Admittedly, I love this time a year. And what is not to love! The outside is looking all anew with trees budding, flowers blooming and the freshness in the air is intoxicating! As I open my doors to bring in the sights, scents and sounds of the outdoors, I look at my home and see that it is tired looking, stuffy and drab.
It is definitely time to refresh, rejuvenate and reorganize the inside of my home. And I want to do it quickly and inexpensively. So, I went looking for versatile and budget-friendly ideas to [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
I must admit, our winter here in Chicago has not been unbearable this year. I might even have been easier to manage than our coming spring season. I’m fearing rain, lots of heavy, cold rain. And soggy dogs. And doggy footprints all over the just-cleaned floor.
I have, you guessed it, a clever find to the rescue. It’s called the Dirty Dog Doormat (I’m sure they mean “dirty” in a nice way).
The DDD (let’s call it that for short) is made of microfiber which, as you know, is the greatest dirt catcher in existence. As the company [...]