Cold weather can take a real toll on your skin. Dry skin can lead to discomfort and, if neglected, can affect your skin’s elasticity and trigger outbreaks of irritated skin. Help keep your skin feeling healthy and hydrated this winter with these tips: DRINK WATER. Hydrating your body from the inside out plays an important role in keeping skin supple...
5 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health
If you worry that you or someone you love will get heart disease or even have a heart attack, it’s understandable. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Research shows you can lower your risk, particularly if you team up with...
Here’s an old trick for cleaning wood
Dear Reena, I hope you can help me with this problem. I inherited a dining room set that is white painted wood. The finish of the chairs and legs of the table are a “distressed look.” The backs and tops of the chairs have a lot of spindles and places where dirt and grease accumulate. I have tried different things...
Lighting geometry is all the rage
Stepping into a new decade is exciting. There is a positive vibe of hope and adventure as we prepare to conquer new challenges on the world stage. This can also be intimidating. However, no matter where you live or what is the focus of your work world, home is your respite, the personal space to shape however you please. I...
Let’s get serious about prevention
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Great concept. One to live by. And we can thank Benjamin Franklin, who in 1736 had that pithy thought — about fire prevention. Yup, he followed that famous sentence with: “I would advise ‘em to take care how they suffer living Coals in a full Shovel … unless in a...
Why Go To Montreal Instead of Paris?
Montreal has all the same attributes as Paris – a romantic city, fantastic food, and magnificent architecture. In many ways Montreal offers as much as Paris and more, without the cost of flying to Europe and the more expensive hotels during your stay. What I love about being in Europe is the old-world charm. There is nothing better than walking...
Samalayuca home to a rare ecosystem
One of my favourite trips during the Society of American Travel Writers convention in El Paso was a visit to the Samalayuca Dune Fields in the northern part of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The desert exists because the prevailing winds drop sand particles on the protected side of the Sierra Samalayuca. Composed of almost pure quartz, the sands are...
El Paso: Boot Hill among the must-see sites
El Paso is a U.S.–Mexico border city with a rich heritage that dates back 400 years. For the last four years it has been named the safest city in the U.S. It is also the only city that has a majestic mountain range running through it. My first visit was to Boot Hill, now known as Concordia Cemetery. This Texas...
Iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel the Perfect Location to Enjoy Victoria
The Fairmont Empress Hotel overlooks the inner harbor of Victoria so you can walk to many amazing restaurants, enjoy the culture that the city offers, and rest in the gorgeous parks and gardens. I was astonished by the quality of the hotel and the hotel’s philosophy — to turn every moment into memories — rang true with my stay at...
Alcatraz a nice place to visit… but I wouldn’t want to stay
“If you’re going to San Francisco be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.” And be sure to visit Alcatraz, with or without flowers in your hair. During a recent visit to San Francisco, three travelling companions and I took a tour of Alcatraz, arguably the most famous prison in North America. The tour begins at Pier 33, just...