It’s OK to get out your Christmas decorations and get into the holiday spirit, says the entertainment industry’s foremost authority on the subject, Mariah Carey.
As she does every year, the queen of Christmas and holiday songs, Mariah Carey, has shared a video in which she kicks off the festivities!
“It’s…… TIME!!! đđ§đ”, read the margin of a video that marks the end of October and the beginning of November, and features the famous All I Want For Christmas Is You!
Reynolds has undoubtedly been trying to work through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commissionâs (CRTC) stringent requirements for registering as a new carrier in Canada. In particular, the CRTC has a slew of rules that mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) like Mint must follow to operate in Canada. This includes companies having their own spectrum license and plans to build a network in the region they want to piggyback their service off of within seven years.
Hopefully, weâll hear more on Reynoldsâ efforts to bring Mint to Canada next year.
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Do you know someone who loves to cook (or eat)? Weâve found the best gift ideas for the foodies in your life. Whether you want to help upgrade someoneâs kitchen or give a new culinary experience, there are so many ways to experience everything food has to offer.
Kilne Everything Pan
Everyone can always use a non-stick pan, especially when it touts a non-toxic label. This one by Kilne is superiorâit has an 11-inch diameter, a 2.75 quart capacity (big enough for dinner for 2-3 people), is oven and dishwasher-safe. The non-stick coating is the best weâve ever triedâyou donât even have to put down any butter for your egg.
You may know of Our Place for the Always Pan (it replaces nine pieces of kitchen equipment), and now the addition of the Oven Pan to the line-up means you can downsize even more. The pan works as a griddle on the stovetop, replaces your sheet pan, cookie sheet, and roasting pan, and eliminates the need for single-use parchment paper. Think of all the slow Sunday morning pancakes and bacon that can be cooked on this thing!
Thereâs no easier way to make a meal more bougie than with a sprinkle of specialty salt. This gift set contains garlic salt (add to your chicken or fish), black truffle salt (for your popcorn or risotto), Quebec maple smoked salt (think roasted veg), and cold-smoked sea salt (as a finisher for any pasta dish). A little goes a long wayâand thereâs always room for a few more spices at the cottage.
Weâve never seen food more beautiful than these hand-painted bon bons from Chocolat de Kat. Build your own box of white, milk, or dark chocolate shells filled with melt-in-your-mouth ganache, gelĂŠe, caramel, or praline centres. This gift box is best for the person who loves chocolate or adventureâas the flavours are some of the most unique weâve seen. We highly suggest the Cookie Butter Crunch, Mulled Wine, and Yuzu Hot Toddy.
Do you know someone who loves to make pizza at the cottage but doesnât have the best setup? This portable pizza oven is the answer. It runs on hardwood pellets, heats up to 950°F in just 15 minutes, and cooks stone-baked pies in as little as 60 seconds.
We know the extent people go to to reduce food waste at the cottage (weâre looking at you, waking tacos), so why not help someone out with this vacuum-sealing system designed to keep food fresh for up to five times longer than your typical Tupperware. The starter set comes with the mini-vacuum, a storage container, and two medium and two large reuable zip bags.
Celebrate the Canadian culinary scene with this compilation of recipes from some of the countryâs best chefs. This cookbook features 30 recipes from past Top 10 winners of enRoute magazineâs Canadaâs Best New Restaurants list. Each recipe is meant to be easy enough for a beginner cook looking to explore Canada through food.
TruLocal is one of the many locally-sourced meat box subscriptions making waves in Canada. First, you choose the size of box you want to get (or give), and then you get to pack it full of grass-fed beef, non-GMO chicken, and/or wild-caught salmon, and so much more. (You can also purchase individual, pre-selected holiday gift boxes.) The best part? TruLocal makes sure each customer knows exactly where each cut of meat comes from, and the farmers and fishers who made it all possible.
Want to help a host out? Bring them the Ultimate Board from Nibbl. It features five cheeses (both hard and soft), crackers, spreads, and a cheeseboard. All the person who receives it has to do is dig in!
Weâre all trying to do our part to help the environment, and that means limiting food waste. The new movement towards countertop composters means anyone can start reducing and reusing their scraps. The FoodCycler by Vitamix is compact, uses a carbon filter to eliminate odours, and works quietly.
Looking for a gift for a brunch lover? This pancake kit from Mildredâs Temple Kitchen, Torontoâs ultimate place for pancakes, has everything you need for a fluffy stack this holiday season. The kit includes an easy-to-use mix, maple syrup, and blueberry compote.
Itâs a debate as old as time: is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
Now, weâre not here to argue (itâs indisputably a Christmas movie since the entire story, themes, dialogue and music all revolve around the holiday), but instead, we just want to celebrate that itâs a damn good movie to watch at any time, especially during Christmastime.
With that in mind, weâve rounded up where you can stream the 1988 Bruce Willis classic action flick in Canada. Itâs actually pretty straightforward; since Disney owns Fox, Die Hard is streaming in Canada on Disney+ under the Star banner. Itâs even got 4K support, to boot.
Whatâs more, Die Hard 2, Die Hard: with a Vengeance and Live Free or Die Hard are also all streaming on Disney+. Amusingly, A Good Day to Die Hard, the seriesâ most recent entry, is not on the Disney service, which is fitting since itâs widely regarded to be the worst Die Hard.
So if youâre someone who needs to see Alan Rickmanâs Hans Gruber fall from the Nakatomi Plaza to properly celebrate the Christmas spirit, then Disney+ has got you covered.
We have a strand of 25 patio lights strung between two trees. The other day, we noticed that 20 of the bulbs and sockets had been removed. We thought someone had snipped them off with pruning shears. But now weâre not so sure. Could a raccoon or a squirrel hang off the cable, bite through the wire, and carry the socket and bulb away?âJohn Habart, via Facebook
Yes. Our moneyâs on squirrels. Turns out, they have a reputation for snatching up decorative lights, especially around the holidays. Squirrels steal more Christmas bulbs than the Grinch.Â
They like chewing on the wires, says Mike Webb, a wildlife expert and the owner of West Coast Problem Wildlife Management on Vancouver Island. A lot of new wiring has soy-based insulation. Tasty! Compared to petroleum-based insulation, soy-based wire insulation is considered better for the environment, and it sure is a win for critters that like to gnaw. Which is not great news for your cottage, your car, your ATVâŚor anything else with this wiring.
Why take the bulbs? Itâs possible the squirrels mistook them for nuts. Or, says Webb, maybe they were simply attracted to the bulbsâ colours and textures.
Of course, without witnessing this behaviour, youâll never know for sure what happened. âIf it was me and I really wanted an answer, Iâd put up a motion-activated trail camera,â says Webb. Do it! Then let us know what you see.Â
Got a question for Cottage Q&A? Send it to answers@cottagelife.com.
This article was originally published in the June/July 2021 issue of Cottage Life.
Canadians who want to hang decorations from a real Christmas tree this holiday season may want to buy early. A surge in demand over the last few years has made Christmas trees a hot commodity, with retailers selling out well before December 25.
Last year, Helen Yanch, whoâs been operating Skootamatta Christmas Tree Farm in Ontarioâs Frontenac region with her husband Ed for the last 35 years, had to close operations mid-season.
âWe just didnât have any more trees, and weâve got to think of the next year,â she says.
Yanch attributes the surge in Christmas tree demand to the pandemic. Last year, she saw an increase in families planning trips to their farm as an excuse to get together outdoors amid Covid. As a result, Skootamatta sold twice as many trees as usual in 2021, and Yanch expects that trend to continue this year.
âWe were overwhelmed, and we were really kind of sad because we have our regular people that come every year to get a tree and some of them just werenât able to,â she says.
Skootamatta has 25,000 trees on its property, but Yanch points out that it takes between 10 to 12 years for a Christmas tree to mature, so of those 25,000, only several hundred are ready to harvest each year. The number becomes even smaller if youâre looking for a particular type of tree, such as the ever-popular balsam fir.
Another reason for the increased demand at Skootamatta is that a neighbouring Christmas tree farm permanently closed in August. Yanch says sheâs already had a handful of calls from retailers and individuals who frequented the farm to see if Skootamatta has trees available.
The increased demand for Christmas trees isnât isolated to the Frontenac region, but is being seen across the country.
âIn 2015, we were a $53 million industry, and in 2020, we were a $100 million industry,â says Shirley Brennan, the executive director of the Canadian Christmas Trees Association. âWeâve almost doubled. And because it takes 10 years to grow a Christmas tree, and most growers work on a 10-year plan, we did not forecast our industry growing that big.â
The number of Christmas tree farms across Canada is also shrinking. Brennan says that most Christmas tree farmers in Canada are between 65 to 85 years old. Once those farms become too hard to manage, they close down, and the gap isnât being filled.
âIn 2011, Stats Canada showed us that there was just over 70,000 acres across Canada of Christmas tree farms. It worked out to be about 2,800 Christmas tree farms across Canada. In 2021, we had just over 1,300 Christmas tree farms, which is equivalent to 50,000 acres. So, weâve lost 20,000 acres, which is equivalent to 30 million trees,â Brennan says.
One positive that came out of the pandemic is that the Canadian Christmas Trees Association is seeing some interest from a younger generation. âBecause people were working remotely, they could also have a side job as a Christmas tree farmer,â she says. âSo, weâre getting younger people interested, and by younger, Iâm talking 48.â
But Brennan notes that the average Christmas tree farm is between 10 to 40 acres. Most of these hobby growers are starting farms on lots smaller than 10 acres, meaning fewer trees.
Unprecedented levels of inflation are also impacting the Christmas tree industry. Brennan says prices will vary by area, but thereâs been an average price bump across Canada of 10 per cent.
âAlthough itâs not regulated and farms set their own prices, we know that the cost of fertilizer went up 25 per cent, we know that employment costs have gone up, we also know that some of the strategies that we had to bring in because of the pandemic added costs, and the other thing that we are seeing a lot of is insurance rates for farms have gone up,â she says. âSo, all those daily things to run our farms on top of diesel and transportation have gone up, in some cases, by huge amounts.â
At Skootamatta, itâll cost you $35 to visit the farm and cut down your own tree. But if you want to guarantee you get one, Yanch says you better come soon. Theyâre selling fast.
When you start making your gift-giving list for all of the adults in your life, it can add up quickly. Save money on holiday gifts for every adult on your list during Amazonâs Prime Early Access Sale.
Our editorial team independently selects these products. If you choose to buy any, we may earn a commission that helps fund our content. Learn more.
We know youâre probably only just decorating for Halloween, but weâd be amiss not to share these awesome deals on Christmas decor while they are on. Check out our picks from the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale and get ready to deck the halls!
When the holiday season is over, itâs time to call it quits for that conifer. Real trees require careful consideration when disposing of them; they canât be unassembled and stored in the basement. Here are a few ways to get rid of your Christmas tree.
Municipal pickup
There are environmental benefits to repurposing your tree instead of kicking it to the curb for municipal pickup. Forests Ontario says that more than 100,000 Christmas trees are collected in Toronto annually and chipped into 3,700 tonnes of mulch used as compost in city parks.
Arts and crafts
If youâre feeling crafty, foliage from your evergreenânamely fir tree branchesâis excellent for aromatic crafts. Snip the greenery into small pieces and stuff it into a pillow for a refreshing scent in your living room or bedroomâor place them in a dresser drawer and closet. Like woodworking? You can use the trunk to make coasters or candleholders.
Put it in the backyard
Whether you choose a Fraser fir or a Scots pine, real trees are a gift that keeps on giving. According to Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario (CFTO), you donât have to go much farther than your backyard to get rid of your Christmas tree.
Put your tree in the garden near or up against the fence to provide winter shelter for small animals and birds. It will draw a variety of wildlife: toads, insets, and pollinators will seek refuge under the log. You can âdecorateâ the tree to feed wildlife throughout the winter. Remember to remove all decorations, especially tinsel, before doing so.
Use your tree as firewood
You can also use your tree as firewood. Because conifers are sappy by nature, burn them outdoors. The sap is flammable, and creosote can build up in an indoor fireplace, so it is best to leave it for the bonfire. Mother-Nature.ca suggests you chop the tree and stack it to dry, though youâll have to wait until next year to burn it. The site also suggests turning the process into a tradition: burn last yearâs tree right before you buy/decorate the new one.
Waterway
Consider habitat for the aquatic population near your home when getting rid of your Christmas tree. CFTO suggests sinking your spruce in the water to provide habitat and cover for fish. Check with your local municipality for whether or not this is allowed.
Let it be
No surprise: real trees are biodegradable! According to a news release from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), the branches and needles make great mulch for your garden (run it through a wood chipper). CFTO says rhododendrons, in particular, will appreciate your effort. Plus, leaving the tree in the garden over winter improves your soil as it decomposes.
Every week, MobileSyrup outlines some of the most notable movies and TV shows that recently hit Canadian streaming platforms.
Our âStreaming in Canadaâ column typically focuses on new content from Amazon Prime Video, Crave and Netflix, but other services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ will be mentioned when relevant.
Weâll also highlight shows or movies that are made by Canadian companies, involve notable Canadian cast or crew and/or are filmed in Canada.
Amazon Prime Video
Being the Ricardos [Amazon Original]
The latest film from writer-director Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago Seven) examines the relationship between I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Being the Ricardos stars Nicole Kidman (The Hours), Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Nina Arianda (Goliath) and Tony Hale (Veep).
Amazon Prime Video Canada premiere date: December 21st, 2021 Genre: Biographical drama Runtime: 2 hours, 11 minutes
The full list of movies and shows that hit Amazon Prime Video Canada this month can be found here.
Crave
Letterkenny (Season 10) [Crave Original]
All of the Letterkenny men get head-to-toe physicals, the hockey players and the Skids face off in a video game battle and more.
Letterkenny was created by Listowell, Ontarioâs Jared Keeso (19-2) and stars Keeso, Calgaryâs Nathan Dales (Supernatural), Vancouverâs Michelle Mylett (The Drownsmen) and Torontoâs Trevor K. Wilson (Goosebumps).
Beyond the all-Canadian cast, the series is also filmed in Sudbury, Ontario.
In exchange for a reduced sentence, a group of convicts is sent on a deadly search-and-destroy mission to the island nation of Corto Maltese.
The Suicide Squad was written and directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and features Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Joel Kinnamon (Rick Flag), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller) and Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang) reprising their respective roles from 2016âs Suicide Squad film, while Idris Elba (Luther), John Cena (F9), David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man), Daniela Melchior (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and Edmontonâs own Nathan Fillion (Firefly) co-star.
Itâs also worth noting that Torontoâs own Jessie Reyez and grandson wrote the single âRainâ (featured in the above trailer) for the filmâs soundtrack.
Original theatrical release date: August 6th, 2021 Crave premiere date: December 24th, 2021 Genre: Superhero Runtime: 2 hours, 12 minutes
A standard Crave subscription is priced at $19.99/month, with Starz costing an additional $5.99/month. A mobile-only subscription is also available for $9.99/month.
The full list of movies and shows that hit Crave this month can be found here.
Disney+
Encanto
The only ordinary member in a special family realizes she may be the only hope of saving the magic surrounding her home.
Encanto was directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard (Zootopia) and features the voices of Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), MarĂa Cecilia Botero (La Bruja), John Leguizamo (Ice Age series) and Mauro Castillo (El Joe: The Legend).
Itâs also worth noting that Lin-Manuel Miranda (Moana) wrote new music for Encanto.
Original theatrical release date: November 24th, 2021
Disney+ Canada premiere date: December 24th, 2021 Genre: Animated musical fantasy Runtime: 1 hour, 49 minutes
The full list of movies and shows that hit Disney+ in December can be found here.
Netflix
Donât Look Up [Netflix Original]
Two low-level astronomers go on a media tour in an attempt to warn the world about an incoming asteroid that will destroy Earth.
Donât Look Up was written and directed by Adam McKay (The Big Short) and features an ensemble cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), Jonah Hill (Moneyball), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies) and TimothĂŠe Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name).
Netflix Canada premiere date: December 24th, 2021 Genre: Sci-fi, black comedy Runtime: 2 hours, 18 minutes
Emily finds her footing in Paris until the fallout from a night of passion threatens to upend everything.
Emily in Paris was created by Darren Star (Sex and the City) and stars Lily Collins (Rules Donât Apply), Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Call My Agent!) and Ashley Park (Mean Girls on Broadway).
Netflix Canada premiere date: December 22nd, 2021 Genre: Comedy-drama Runtime: 10 episodes (27 to 39 minutes each)
