8 Tricks, Tips & Ideas We Loved This Month: December 2024

Haute Holiday

Dress to impress this season with a killer collaboration from Canadian plus- size fashion destination Penningtons and media personality and style expert (and former Canadian Living #WeTheCurvy columnist!) Meredith Shaw. Fashion lovers will fawn over this stunning collection featuring mesh, velvet and sequins for a hearty dose of holiday glam. With the entire collection available up to 5X, and some pieces even going up to 6X, this collection is all about making fashion inclusive and accessible so that everyone can sparkle this holiday season.

Check out our exclusive interview with Meredith Shaw.

Shop her collection here.

Ohme Oh My

In search of ways to jazz up their breakfasts, the founders of Vancouver-based snack brand OHME! discovered the delicious world of freeze- dried fruit, and the rest is history. Offering freeze-dried dragon fruit, figs, mangoes, strawberries and more, the company aims to make healthy eating accessible and, of course, delicious. So, what’s freeze-drying exactly? The process involves removing moisture from the fruits with very low temperatures in order to preserve 95 percent of the nutrients while offering a super long shelf life (we’re talking two to three years!). Pack them in your kiddo’s lunchbox, sprinkle them on oatmeal, bake them into muffins...getting creative with these sweet little morsels is half the fun.

Ohme! FREEZE-DRIED STRAWBERRIES, $12

Packed & Pretty

PC's vast selection of holiday offerings ensures you'll never be at a loss for host gifts. We especially love the Artist Series that combines the PC quality we know and love with talented Canadian artists’ works from coast to coast. The unique designs, inspired by the artists’ cultural heritage and experiences, is proudly displayed on the packaging of a variety of festive bites, including chocolate seashells, mixed nuts and wine gums. Easy to share and ultra-giftable, these nibbles will be a go-to all season long.

See the collection here.

Life is Sweet

Need a finishing touch to your baked goods? A sprinkle of goodness to top off your latte? Something sweet to rim your cocktail glasses? The possibilities are endless, and delicious every time with these limited edition finishing sugars from Club House. Available in Gingerbread Spice and Salted Caramel flavours, we’ll be sprinkling these babies on everything this holiday season!

Club House FINISHING SUGAR in Gingerbread Spice and Salted Caramel, $5 each

Build A Board

A crowd favourite, food boards combine a pinch of this and a little of that to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. With holiday celebrations right around the corner, make assembling the perfect board a breeze with this step-by-step guide:

MEAT: Choose at least three varieties cured meat (like prosciutto, salami, or mortadella), spreadable meat (like pâté or mousse).

SPREADS: Add a few condiments of to the board in small bowls (pepper
jelly, hot honey, mustard and tapenade are always guaranteed to
please party-goers).

CHEESE: Combine different flavours
and textures for a well-stocked board (pick a soft cheese like Brie, burrata or Camembert, a semi-soft variety like fontina or Harvati, a firm type like Cheddar or Gouda and finish up with a hard cheese like Asiago or Parmigiano-Reggiano).

BRINE: Pickled or brined nibbles add texture and a tangy punch to your offerings (try olives, pickles, capers, hot peppers, artichokes or asparagus).

SWEETNESS: Fill in the gaps with sweet eats to balance the saltiness (choose dried fruits like apricots or mangoes, fresh fruit like figs, berries or grapes and even candied and chocolate- covered nuts).

Dust Buster

Dust is no match for Vileda’s new Flex & Catch Duster. With a flexible swivel head and extendable handle, this clever tool curves around objects and tackles hard-to-reach areas effortlessly. Compared to traditional feather dusters, the Flex & Catch Duster traps up to three times more dust and debris quickly and easily, so you can cut down on cleaning time and get back to the fun stuff.

Vileda Flex & Catch DUSTING KIT, $13

Save/Splurge: Lip Plumper

Plump your pout, whatever your budget.

SPLURGE: This extra-strength plumper offers instant results while hydrating and nourishing your lips.

TOO FACED Lip Injection Maximum Plump Lip Plumper, $45

SAVE: Formulated with chili peppers, this gloss provides lasting plump and a wash of colour.

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK Lifter Plump Gloss, $14

Screen Time

Upgrade your work-from-home setup with a computer monitor created with eye health in mind. This smart-looking screen keeps eye strain in check with innovative tech that filters out strong blue light and adjusts screen brightness for more comfortable scrolling. Made to switch seamlessly between work and play, this sleek monitor is the companion you need for working from home, online shopping, gaming, coding, streaming and more.

BenQ GW2490 24" Eye Care COMPUTER MONITOR, $140

Screen Time

Upgrade your work-from-home setup with a computer monitor created with eye health in mind. This smart-looking screen keeps eye strain in check with innovative tech that filters out strong blue light and adjusts screen brightness for more comfortable scrolling. Made to switch seamlessly between work and play, this sleek monitor is the companion you need for working from home, online shopping, gaming, coding, streaming and more.

BenQ GW2490 24" Eye Care COMPUTER MONITOR, $140