Tag: Holidays

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Ryan Reynolds retweets ‘holiday wishlist’ asking for Mint Mobile in Canada

Ryan Reynolds is once again expressing interest in bringing his virtual Mint Mobile carrier to Canada.

On Friday, the Vancouver-born actor retweeted a tweet from motorsport journalist Jeff Pappone saying his “holiday wishlist” included “Mint Mobile [being] available in Canada” and that “Ryan Reynolds makes it happen.” Mint is well-known in the U.S. for offering low-cost $30 USD/month (about $41 CAD) unlimited talk, text and data plans. It was also recently named the carrier for “Best For Overall Value” by TechRadar.

Reynolds didn’t actually make any tweet of his own about Mint Mobile in Canada, though.

For the past few years, the Canadian funnyman has been trying to bring his carrier to his home country. In 2020, he said he was actively “working” on expanding Mint to Canada. And last year, Reynolds launched a campaign calling for Mint in Canada that included a video and billboard in Toronto’s Yonge & Dundas Square. “Canadians pay some of the highest wireless costs anywhere,” said Reynolds in the video, asking Canadians to — nicely — reach out to their local representatives.

Reynolds has undoubtedly been trying to work through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (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, we’ll hear more on Reynolds’ efforts to bring Mint to Canada next year.

Categories
Cottage Life

Cheers to the holidays with these cocktails, mocktails, and more

Photo by Sea Wave/Shutterstock

Cheers to the holidays! The end of the year means celebrations and get-togethers with family and loved ones—plus a cocktail or glass of wine (or two). If you’re looking for a festive upgrade to your usual drink of choice—alcoholic or not—we’ve got plenty of cocktail and mocktail recipes for you. Check out our picks for your next holiday drink:

The best martini ever

Hot buttered rum

Kentucky Joe coffee

White hot Russian

Warm caribou

Espresso slushie (non-alcoholic)

Minted mule (non-alcoholic)

Pineapple Palmer (non-alcoholic)

Slow cooker mulled wine

10 picks for the cider connoisseur 

The beer lover’s cocktail

Icewine

The Wheatley mule

3 Champagne cocktails

Sparkline white tea (non-alcoholic)

Mocktail margarita (non-alcoholic)

Gin and tonic (non-alcoholic)

Categories
Cottage Life

Everything you need for your dream Thanksgiving table

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.

With fall in full swing, Thanksgiving marks the start of this year’s holiday season. There’s no better way to get in the festive spirit than to shop the latest table-top must-haves, so your friends and family can celebrate in style. We’re rounding up the top essentials you need to create the ultimate Thanksgiving table, just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

Set of 10 coloured glass coupes

Cheers the holiday season with this beautiful 10-piece glass coupe set from OUI, which features a modern design that’s perfect for wining and dining guests. It’s also the ideal glass to accent your festive Thanksgiving toast, and there are an array of thoughtful colour options for guests to choose from.

Buy from Indigo
$65

Our Table Locklin napkins in teal (set of 4)

Dress up your tablescape with this set of napkins featuring a delicate chambray weave and hemstitch detailing. This is a must-have essential for gravy-covered fingers. Choose the colour that best suits your fall theme.

Buy from Bed, Bath & Beyond
$30

Our Place dinner plates (set of 8)

No Thanksgiving tablescape is complete without a set of beautiful dishes, and these ones from Our Place are the perfect addition to any festive feast. They’re porcelain, hand-painted, and super easy to stack, making set up and clean up a breeze.

Buy from Our Place
$130
$100

Gold flatware set (24 pieces)

A dream tablescape for this Thanksgiving season must include a stunning cutlery set to help guests enjoy their meals. In this particular set, the gold-colour detailing is super on-trend and will be sure to add a chic touch to your festive holiday dinner table.

Buy from Amazon
$39.99

Buffalo check cotton blend tablecloth

Nothing says “cozy cottage” more than plaid. Whether you’re at home or at the cottage for Thanksgiving, this plaid tablecloth from Home Depot will make you excited for cool fall days.

Buy from The Home Depot
$47.13
$37.70

Holiday Living 16-in pumpkin decor centrepiece with harvest florals

Don’t forget to decorate your Thanksgiving table with some fall decor! This beautiful centrepiece features a festive floral design that looks like you went outside and collected the most beautiful fallen branches, leaves, and berries.

Buy from Lowe’s
$39.99

Acacia wood serving board

Bring the outside in and serve your guests in style with this acacia wood server exclusive to Indigo. It’s a dream entertainer’s piece, measuring 12″ in diameter,—you can use it to plate and serve everything from appetizers to snacks to desserts.

Buy from Indigo
$29.50

Amazon Basics 5-piece stainless steel serving set

With the holiday season upon us, you’ll need to ensure you have the perfect serving utensils to share and serve your delicious Thanksgiving meal with all of your hungry guests. This set from Amazon is functional and stylish without breaking the bank.

Buy from Amazon
$23.18

Foliage vines artificial garland greenery

When we think of Thanksgiving, we usually picture reds, oranges, and browns—but why not bring a little greenery to the table? Put this garland down the middle of your table and place acorns and pumpkins around it to evoke an upscale woodsy theme.

Buy from Amazon
$34.55
$23.59

Kuraidori Select 4-piece mason jar set

If you’re looking for a rustic feel at your Thanksgiving table, try serving drinks in mason jars. From mulled mine to your favourite pop, these cute glasses can hold it all. Plus, the little chalkboard plaque gives everyone a place to write their name.

Buy from Home Hardware
$29.99
$8.97

White and black marble hexagon coasters

Coasters are a must-have for housing hot cups or plates, so you don’t have to yell to Uncle John about the rings he left on our favourite table. Plus, these coasters are ultra-chic so they’ll amp up your Thanksgiving vibe.

Buy from Rona
$28.99

OUI rectangular serving platter

Dinner is served! This stoneware platter is perfect for sharing your go-to dishes this Thanksgiving. It’s handcrafted in Portugal, features a warm glaze, and is microwave- and dishwasher-safe. It’s a functional and fashion-forward must-have for your tablescape.

Buy from Indigo
$29.99

OUI smooth taper candles (set of 8)

Maintain a cozy ambiance this Thanksgiving with this set of candles from OUI. The tapered look creates a modern vibe for your table. Just be sure to pop them into a secure holder so they stand strong throughout the hours of eating and drinking.

Buy from Indigo
$32.50

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Gifting a Switch for Christmas? Nintendo suggests setting it up early

Buying someone a Nintendo Switch for Christmas? You may want to set up an account for them before they open the console on Christmas morning.

The Japan-based gaming company warned there could be delays or other issues over the holiday weekend with its servers, especially with account creation. IGN spotted the warning in a tweet from Nintendo’s Japanese customer service account, which reads as follows (thanks to Google Translate):

“This weekend, access will be concentrated on the server of #Nintendo Account, and it is expected that Nintendo Account will not be created immediately. If you are planning to use the Nintendo Switch family for the first time, we recommend that you create it in advance.”

Part of the issue is that the Switch requires a Nintendo account and the first time you set up the console, you need to create an account or sign in with an existing one. Since there will likely be an influx of new consoles on Christmas, there’s also a good chance a bunch of people will try to create new accounts at the same time, which could cause problems.

For example, IGN noted that the Nintendo eShop went down on Christmas Day in 2020. It’s possible all the new Switch owners trying to create new accounts overloaded the system.

Along with creating an account ahead of time, if you’re relying on the eShop to get digital games rather than physical copies, it may be worth taking the time to download those games to the Switch too. Like with accounts, having tons of people trying to download games all at once on Christmas morning could also overload the system. It might even be worth checking physical copies of games — many physical games require patches before you can launch them for the first time. Downloading those patches now so the game’s ready to go could be a great idea.

It may be some extra work, but if there are any issues with Nintendo’s servers on Christmas morning, it should make everything go much smoother.

Source: IGN

Categories
Cottage Life

Gifts for the cottager who has everything

Arotes decorus, parasitoid wasp macro on blue background

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.

Stumped as to what to buy that special cottager on your holiday list this year? Check our favourite picks.

Pine needle pool float
pool floatie

Pine Needle Pool Float

Move over Pink Flamingo and Unicorn. You are simply not Canadian enough.

 

Buy from Amazon
$34.99

Sibley Backyard Birding Bingo
boardgames

Sibley Backyard Birding Bingo

Since most of the planet took up birding during the pandemic, this is the right gift for, well, everyone on your list.

Buy from Amazon
$29.99

Huckleberry Leaf Cards 

An excellent addition to any cottage games cupboard. $12, buy from Kikkerland. 

Kikkerland leaf cards

Bonfire cushion
bedding

Bonfire Cushion

Falling face-first into a campfire? Bad idea. Falling face-first into this pillow? Good idea!

Buy from Indigo
$19.99

Mini waffle maker
kitchen tools

Mini Waffle Maker, Snowflake

Small waffles means that you can eat more of them without feeling guilty. This one has a 4″ cooking surface.

Buy from Indigo
$24.50

S, M, L Muskoka Chairs Project Plan

For the cottage putterers: give the gift that keeps on giving—in the form of work. But fun work! $10, buy through our Project Plans website.

White Muskoka chairs

Marshmallow puzzles
puzzle

500-Piece Marshmallows Puzzle

It depicts the cottage treat in all stages of toasted-ness, from “mostly raw” to “burned beyond recognition.”

Buy from Bed Bath & Beyond
$24.99
$9.99

Canada flag baby romper
baby

Canada flag baby romper

A patriotic outfit for any Canadian cottage youth.

Buy from Roots
$30

Ice cream maker
kitchen tools

Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker

Makes 1.5 quarts of cold creamy goodness in less than 30 minutes. Thirty? But we want ice cream now.

Buy from Amazon
Starting at: $30.14

Water basketball game
water toys

Poolmaster All-Pro Basketball Game

It’s a multi-person water toy that isn’t huge and obnoxious! Portable floating net; includes game ball.

Buy from Bed Bath & Beyond
$36.99

Travel map poster
travel guide

Canada Outdoors Scratch Travel Map

Where to next? The map will tell you! Includes guitar pick for scratching, hanging hardware, and packing tube for easy gifting.

Buy from Amazon
$27.99

Forest Animal Monopoly game
boardgames

Forest Animal-Opoly

Each woodland creature’s “deed” contains fun facts about the animal; the tokens include a pair of binoculars and a wriggly worm.

Buy from Amazon
$34.99

 Bean Boot Key Chain

Expensive winter boots are…expensive. A key chain is not. And it still shows that you care about their feet. And their keys. $14, buy from LL Bean.

Boot key chain

 New York Times Crossword Puzzles

Nerd alert! This collection covers puzzles dating back to 1942. $28, buy from Drake General Store.

Crossword puzzles

Burger press
barbecue essentials

GrillPro Stuffed Burger Press

Take burgers to the next level by stuffing them using this simple gadget. The press also makes unstuffed burgers. But…bo-ring.

Buy from Amazon
$19.50

Categories
Nouvelles quotidiennes

Olympic Games inspire travelers to take active holidays

The Olympic fever has focused attention on sports that aren’t normally shown on national TV, such as windsurfing, sailing and cycling, and seems to have had a positive effect, as travelers are opting for an activity holiday this summer.

Tour company Mark Warner this week reported an increase in the number of people taking tennis, sailing and windsurfing courses at the company’s summer resorts in Europe. Bookings for tennis courses have been up by 17 percent year-on-year, and demand for sailing and windsurfing has shown an increase of 20 percent year-on-year.

Other operators have noted the same trends. Wildwinds is a small sailing school located in Greece welcoming clients from the UK, France, Denmark and Germany, among others. Simon Morgan, owner of the company, told Relaxnews that bookings this year for the summer were up by 5 percent compared to summer 2011. "We are expecting the Olympic Games to have a much bigger impact on bookings next year," he added.

Tim Locke, head of marketing at Mark Warner, said in a company statement, "we are noticing a growing trend for people wanting to combine fitness and wellbeing on holiday so we are putting this down to the Olympic effect!"

Categories
Pets Files

Happy New Year Max and Fluffy!

Step away from the couch

Regular exercise has obvious health benefits, but spending more time with your pet provides invaluable bonding moments too. Take your dog with you on daily runs or walks, and not only will you improve your fitness, but your dog will also develop socialization skills.

And don’t forget your Fluffy feline! Improve your hand and eye co-ordination by playing with your cat and rolling a small cat ball back and forth for him to catch.

Check-up time

You go to the doctor regularly — and so should your pet. A regular visit to your veterinarian is the best way to stay ahead of potential problems. Establishing a good baseline for your pet gives your veterinarian something to compare against to be able to determine exactly what is wrong when something isn’t quite right with your pet. Annual examinations of teeth, heart. lungs, and overall body condition will be less costly than waiting for a problem to develop.

Battle of the bulge

Include your pet in your weight loss regime. Pet obesity is on the rise and most cats and dogs could benefit from losing a few pounds. Watching their weight will help you watch your own as well.

Proper nutrition

Provide your pet, and yourself, proper nutrition. Poor skin, hair coat, muscle tone, and obesity problems can be a result of a poor diet. This year, lay off those table scraps for Max and Fluffy; consider switching to a well-balanced, high-quality pet food.

Protect their pearly whites

Does your pet have morning breath — all day? Resolve to check your pet’s teeth and gums at least once a week, and ask your vet to show you how you can prevent dental disease by brushing regularly.

Good grooming

No one wants to be around a stinky pet. Regular grooming — bathing, nail clipping, brushing out coat, parasite control — not only makes the pet more attractive, it’s much healthier for Max and Fluffy!

Safety

Keeping pets safe is something you take for granted. However, take a moment to assess the toxic chemicals used in your house and yard. Are they necessary? Where are household chemicals stored? Can your pet access them?

Create a routine

Pets crave a dependable routine. Try to create the best possible routine for both you and your pet this year. Having a routine will help reduce any accidents that your dog might have in the house.

Sharpen your mind

Have you been dreaming about going back to school to brush up on your skills? Enroll your dog in obedience school or agility training classes. Take your dog to doggy daycare, or a local dog park, so that he can learn to make new friends.