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...

A lump of coal for newspaper copy writer

A tweet from Michael Landsberg tells you all you need to know about Mike Babcock: “He represents the intersection of two of my worlds; sports and mental health. Mike called me six years ago and said, ‘I want to help’ and he has. He’s become a huge voice in destigmatizing mental illness. He’s a really good man.” • How much...

In shape for everyday life

Why should you work out regularly? For big muscles? To lose weight? To beat your brother-in-law at golf? Sure, all of those are good reasons for some people. But what about working out so you are better prepared for the activities of everyday life, like carrying in groceries and putting them up? Like having the stamina for a busy day...