With the new year comes New Year’s resolutions. If one of your resolutions was to be more organized, we are here with some tips so you can focus on the important things this year. Continue reading for our 4 quick steps to organizing your space.
1 – Make a Plan
The starting point is always a plan. Break your organizing down into manageable steps you can work through. Start with areas or rooms, and go through them one at a time. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed, and build up the excitement as you complete each section. Set yourself a goal. Remember, it can be as simple as cleaning and organizing the closet, to a complete makeover with a whole new storage system.
2 – Declutter
We all have items around the house that we don’t use. Some hide in the backs of drawers, others collect dust on shelves. With your plan in hand, go through each section you laid out to find items you no longer use or need. Compile these items into a donate pile. Protip- if you are unsure, box the item up, and store it. If you haven’t gone to retrieve the item in 6 months, it’s time to donate.
3 – Find a Home for Everything
The key to an organized space, is allocating a home for everything. Once you have decluttered, the real fun begins and you can get creative. This is where your goal comes in handy. If you’re planning a full make over, it’s time to account for what type of storage you will need. Remember it’s always better to buy storage bins, baskets, bags or totes, knowing how you will use them. Design your new space with purpose, and it will feel much more Zen. There are a wide assortment of storage solutions available. With options like shelving, drawer liners, closet organization solutions, totes & bins, there is a storage solution for your aesthetic. This can seem daunting, but once all items have a home keeping organized becomes that much easier.
4 – Clean up your Digital Space
Don’t forget your computer. Most of us focus on our living space, but our digital space can become cluttered and chaotic too. Set aside some time and organize your files. Find a filing system that works for you, and be sure to back up your important files on a separate drive in the unfortunate event of a drive failure. Be sure to clean out your phone too. Go through and unload any unused apps, and be sure to back your photos up. For more on cleaning your phone, check out this blog.
Bonus – If you have a lot of old photos and mementos, consider making them into scrapbook or album, or having them scanned. This will ensure your precious memories last forever. See this blog about how our Photolab can help you digitize your old prints.
There are so many reasons why drinking water is important to your health. The body is made up of approximately 60% water, so it comes as no surprise that water assists with many bodily functions. These include:
helping to absorb and transport nutrients throughout the body
flushing out bodily wastes
lubricating tissues, joints, mouth and eyes
helping to regulate body temperature
boosting skin health
Drinking enough water each day can be challenging, especially for those of us who don’t normally make it a priority. That’s why we’ve collected a few tips below to help you reach your goal of staying hydrated!
1. Divide and Conquer
If your goal is to drink 8 cups of water a day, divide it up into smaller portions throughout your day to make it easier and less daunting. Set a timer and drink a cup every hour or hour and a half. If you have a big refillable water bottle, use a sharpie to create marks about 2 inches apart from each other. Make it a goal to drink to each mark every half hour or so until you have finished off 2 full bottles. Another way you can slowly drink water throughout the day is to take 2-3 big gulps every time you send a work email, check your phone or go to the bathroom. Tie it to anything you do frequently, to ensure you reach your water-drinking goals.
2. Make it FUN!
There are so many ways to make drinking water more fun, you won’t even realize you’re trying to increase your water intake! If you don’t like the flavour of water, add your own flavour. This can be done a number of different ways, like adding mint leaves, cucumber and lemon slices to your water, or purchasing water enhancing flavour drops. If you’re a soda lover, invest in a Soda Stream to add some sparkle to it!
If you like the refreshingly clean taste of H2O but need to make it a little more exciting, think outside the box. Add in fun-shaped ice cubes to your water (and flavour them while you’re at it), buy a water bottle that changes colour with temperature, drink out of a crazy straw, fill your fanciest wine glass with water, whatever you need to do to feel bougie as you make every sip of water count!
3. Use an App
If you’re still really struggling despite breaking down your water-drinking to smaller chunks, or making it more exciting, it may be time to reach for an app for a bit of assistance. Here are just some hydration apps that can help:
Daily Water Tracker Reminder is one to download, as it allows you to set your daily water intake goal and then log every ounce (or milliliter) with just a tap. You can also see your progress after every glass to see how close you are to reaching to your daily goal.
Hydro Coach is a great hydration app, as it will remind you when it’s time to drink up, and it can even be customized if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Plant Nanny2 is one of the cuter hydration apps, as it not only reminds you to drink water throughout the day and tracks you water intake, but each glass also waters your virtual plants in the app! The more you drink, the more your plant garden thrives!
Regardless of what you do to help you reach your water intake goals, the important thing is to stick with whatever works for you. Good luck and stay hydrated!
Whether your New Year’s resolution is to focus on fitness and nutrition, prioritizing your mental health, or even taking up a new hobby, tell us in the comments below and you could win one 1 of 2 $50 London Drugs gift cards!
Participating and entering in this promotion is considered a complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant. It is also an acknowledgement that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook.
Contest Dates: Jan 1 – 15, 2021
No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per social network per contest. Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Jan 15, 2021, 11:59pm PST. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected.
Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since Jan 15, 2020; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as at Jan 1, 2021 (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.
The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.
There will be 2 (two) prize(s) awarded to 2 (two) winners: each receiving a London Drugs Gift Card valued at $50. Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to the winner.
Contests dates: Jan 1 – 15, 2021
Draw Date: 12:00 PM Pacific Time: Jan 18, 2021
Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.
The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.
London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).
This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.
The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.
Statement of Declaration and Release
All selected entrants will be required to sign the Statement of Declaration and Release attached before they can be declared a winner and receive a contest prize.
Lifestyle writer and mom, Raj from Pink Chai Living, shares the secret to quick & easy gifts that will help you keep that feeling of connection with loved ones alive this holiday season.
This year, I’ve been a little slow in finding my holiday groove. Two of my favourite parts of Christmas (after the food) are shopping for Christmas gifts and watching the people I love open those gifts. I really pride myself in picking the perfect gift for everyone on my list. In fact, gifts are my love language. Of course, this year, we can’t just go window shopping and wander until we find the perfect present, and we are not going to be able to see our friends and family open their presents live. When I first made my list, I was really struggling. How would I keep my favourite gifting traditions alive in this very different time?
Then I had a sort of lightbulb moment. What is it that we are missing the most this holiday season? Connections and rituals. We always go out to see the Christmas lights and do some gift shopping with our friends Johnny & Lisa and their girls every year. We can’t do that, but we can relive memories from the last few years through photos! What could be more thoughtful and personal than the gift of photographs past.
I started with the idea of creating a photo book around just our Christmas traditions with our friends. As I started going through my phone though, there were so many great photos and other annual traditions I remembered, so I decided to create matching Express Books for them and us. Using the London Drugs Photolab website, it took me under an hour to create a personalized memory book that even had space to write text notes. The writer in me loved being able to include notes about our holidays, traditions, and history. I’ve never made a photo book before because it felt like it would be too time consuming. The Express Books are so easy to set-up, and are ready in just a few days, making this the perfect gift idea for friends and family. They are a pretty compact size and would be easy to ship as well.
The Express Books start with 20 pages that have a variety of layouts, and you can add more pages if you need. On the other hand, if you are looking for something smaller, or just a little fun gift for someone, try an Instagram Book. You can upload whatever square photos you like – they don’t actually have to be from Insta, and create a mini memory book. I did a couple from my 40th birthday party, and plan to share them with some girlfriends. Other fun ideas would be a year in review for the grandparents, recapping a special trip with someone, or maybe even a book of random funny photos on your phone.
Once I started playing around with personalized gift options, I realized how convenient it is to do all the ordering through the London Drugs Photolab website, and how many types of options they have for gifts that you can get done pretty quickly. I actually ended up ordering a customized calendar for a photographer friend. We are all so ready for 2020 to be over, why not celebrate the New Year with a personalized calendar?!
When I was wrapping up my order, I happened to notice the personalized mugs in the gift giving options. Obviously, the pink caught my eye, but there are lots of other colour selections also. Can you believe this mug was only $15.99, and it can be ready for pick-up in just 24 hours? So if there is someone on your list that you’ve missed, this is the personalized gift for them. Personally, I decided to treat myself to a little gift and got this favourite family photo added to the mug.
As someone who was a novice at designing photo gifts, I have to say, the whole process of using the London Drugs Photolab’s site, creating the photo books, and even the pick-up was seamless (you can choose between in-store pick-up or even curbside pick-up at some locations). There are so many options for layouts, themes and colours for all the gift options, and I found it easy to create gifts that were personalized for different people on my list. It’s also nice to have a quick turnaround time on so many items. I’ll definitely be turning to photo-based gifts a lot more in the future.
If you haven’t already done all your holiday shopping, get on it! There are 3 ways you can order your holiday gifts from the Photolab: online, in-store using the kiosks, or through the London Drugs Photolab App (available for iOS and Android). To get your gifts in-hand the quickest, make sure to select in-store or curbside pick-up at checkout!
This guest post has been sponsored by London Drugs.
Stress is all around us. From annoyances such as sitting in a traffic jam or missing a bus to serious stress-inducers like losing a job or the grave illness of a loved one, we face stressful situations throughout our lives.
When we experience stress, our bodies respond by making hormones that speed up our heart rate, make us breathe more rapidly, and release a burst of energy. This is called the stress response or the fight-or-flight response. It prepared our ancient ancestors to protect themselves when their lives were in danger—for example, from an attack by a wild animal they were trying to kill for food. Today we rarely find ourselves in those types of life-and-death situations on a daily basis, but our bodies still react to stress in the same way. A little stress can help us excel in a sporting event or finish an important project on schedule, but too much stress too often or for too long can have negative effects on our health, causing headaches, back pain, upset stomach, or difficulty sleeping. It can also weaken our immune system, making it harder for us to fight off disease.
Managing stress
The first step in controlling stress is to determine what is causing the stress in our lives and looking for ways to reduce it. We’ll never get rid of all of our stresses; some stress is a fact of life, so the next step is to learn healthy ways of managing the stress to reduce its harmful effects. Some of the things that can help fight the effects of stress include:
• Eating a healthy diet
• Getting regular physical activity
• Doing something you enjoy, such as spending time on a hobby, watching a movie, or listening to calming music
• Keeping a journal and recording what makes you feel stressed and what relaxes you
• Expressing your feelings to someone you trust—a family member, friend, or professional counsellor
• Learning relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques
There is no single relaxation technique that is right for everyone. You may have to try several until you find what works best for you. Here are some common ones:
• Concentrate on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths and turn your mind away from what is causing your stress. Feel the air entering and exiting your body in a controlled manner. This can be particularly helpful for some people, but it may not be appropriate for those with respiratory problems or heart failure.
• Try silently repeating a short phrase or prayer while focusing on your breathing. This may be particularly helpful for people who feel connected to a religion or spiritual path.
• After a few minutes of focusing on your deep breathing, direct your attention to one part of your body and mentally release any tension you feel there. Once you have released the tension from that spot, focus on another part of your body. Continue the exercise until you have released the tension from your whole body.
• Imagine a soothing scene, place, or experience that has personal meaning for you. Relax and enjoy the serenity this vision brings.
• Focus on the moment. Sit comfortably and turn your attention to that very moment in time. Don’t let your thoughts drift to the past or the present. Live in the now, even if only for a little while.
• Try yoga, tai chi, or another of the ancient arts that combine rhythmic breathing with a series of physical positions or flowing movements.
• To get the most benefit from relaxation techniques, combine them with other positive coping methods such as positive thinking, finding things to laugh about, getting enough sleep, and reaching out for support from family and friends.
The days are getting colder, the nights are getting longer, so it’s time to start planning for the holidays! Struggling to find gifts for your loved ones? We’re here to help with ideas for the home cook in your life. Whether you know an adventurous chef or a young person learning the basics, you can’t go wrong with cuisine elevating gifts. After all, everyone needs to cook!
If you haven’t tried air frying, there is no better time to discover its delicious and convenient benifits. Enjoy your favourite fried foods with out the added oil! Best of all, no preheating is required to make quick, tasty meals. This Hamilton Beach model offers a non stick basket design, so food doesn’t get stuck, and clean up is that little bit easier.
A stand mixer is a staple in every well-equipped kitchen. It boasts the multi-functional ability to make breads, cakes, cookies, sausages, meatloaf and so much more. This Cuisinart model has a 500 watt motor with 12 speeds for precision mixing of all kinds. With accessories such as a chef’s whisk, dough hook, flat paddle included, you will have the perfect mix no matter the recipe. It also features a splash guard to ensure splatter free use, and even a recipe book to get your creativity flowing.
Shop all blenders, mixers and food processors here.
If you haven’t tried sous-vide cooking at home, you will wish you didn’t wait so long. The premise is simple, heat water to bring the ingredients to the optimal temperature, ensuring your meals are never overcooked. Amazing for meat, fish and crispy vegetables, this simple tool will elevate your cooking to restaurant quality in no time. Add in a FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer to prep your sous-vide items, and this is a one-two combination that can impress even the most sophisticated of dinner guests.
Preserving freezer meals has never been so simple. The FoodSaver Vacuum sealer, features a built-in roll holder and cutter, which allows you to save counter space while saving your delicious meals from freezer burn! This model makes food preservation so easy, you’ll wonder how you managed without it!
This crepe maker is the perfect breakfast accessory. Its non-stick aluminum construction ensures the perfect sweet or savoury delight every time. In addition, this Chefman is also the ideal tool for making eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Who needs to go for brunch when you can have delicious results in the convenience of your own home?!
Everyone loves tasty waffles, but making them can be a chore without a dedicated waffle maker. This is the perfect gift set for the breakfast lover in your life – complete with a cookbook including over 80 different recipes for mouth watering waffles. The adorable gingerbread men design is simply a bonus. Dash make many other unique kitchen appliances, be sure to check them out here.
Sodastream Fizzi is the ideal drink machine for all spaces. Pour up some fresh sparkling water, custom soft drinks, and a variety of other sparkling beverages. The reusable nature of this device is also a fantastic, green alternative to single use plastics. Save the planet while creating delicious beverages. Win Win.
No matter the skill level of the food fan you’re shopping for, we are sure to have something they will love. Taking the moment to find that truly unique gift can be the difference between kitchen clutter and kitchen delight!
Christmas is right around the corner! With all the toy options out there, you may be wondering what in the world to get the kids on your list. We’ve compiled some of the hottest toys and games to help make your life easier! From STEM toys that sneak in a bit of educational learning, game room essentials like tabletop air hockey for the competitive kids, and wacky multi-player games that bring on a lot of laughs, these toy options are sure to entertain for hours of fun!
The Upside Down Challenge Game (for ages 8+)
In the Upside Down Challenge Game, players compete to do challenges like giving high-fives, writing their name, and catching a crumpled up ball of paper, all while their vision is flipped upside down, while wearing the upside down goggles. Even the simplest tasks become difficult when the world is flipped upside down! The game contains 1 pair of upside down goggles, 25 challenge cards, 5 create your own challenge cards, instruction sheet, and 1 pad of paper to draw on. You can even play friends on Zoom, provided that each person has their own Upside Down Challenge Game!
Chow Crown (for ages 8+)
Get the family laughing together with the Hasbro Chow Crown Game. The musical electronic crown in this game is fitted with six forks, and once it’s on the player’s head, the participant has to grab as many bits of food as possible without using their hands. Once the music stops and the crown stops spinning, it’s the next person’s turn. This Hasbro Chow Crown game is also an ideal way to introduce unfamiliar healthy foods to kids who are reluctant eaters.
Throw Throw Burrito (for ages 7+)
Throw Throw Burrito is what you get when you cross a card game with dodgeball. Try to collect matching sets of cards faster than your opponents while simultaneously ducking, dodging, and throwing squishy airborne burritos at one another! The cards you collect earn points, but getting hit by flying burritos loses them. Make sure you clear some space at home to play (and put away any breakable ornaments and antiques!)
National Geographic STEM (for ages 4+)
Your kids can become a shark scientist with the National Geographic Shark Tooth Dig Kit STEM Toy! Using the kit, they can identify teeth from the Sand tiger, Otodus, and Crow sharks and learn awesome shark facts with the included learning guide. Plus, they can dig and discover 3 real shark tooth fossils, each from a different shark species. This kit also makes a great homeschool lesson!
If your child is not into sharks, there is also the Break Open 2 Geodes STEM Kit. Geodes are naturally forming volcanic rocks that contain amazing crystal formations inside. The kit includes geodes that can be cracked open to discover beautiful minerals.Kids love these treasure-filled rocks, as it encourages an appreciation of nature and geology in your child with this extraordinary science kit. Plus, they can learn all about geodes and minerals with the full-color educational learning guide included.
Race against the shot clock with Ambassador Electronic Arcade Basketball. Two baskets let you challenge friends to one-on-one competitions, and the electronic scoreboard keeps track of your points. The spring-powered basketball launcher makes it easy to take multiple shots in seconds. A loud buzzer lets you know when each round is over so you can bask in each victory. This Ambassador Electronic Basketball Arcade Game boasts a compact size for convenient tabletop placement. The game also features a large LED scoreboard display with countdown timer and buzzer, spring-loaded shooters, automatic point counter and cool sound effects!
Ambassador Tabletop Air Hockey and Football (for ages 6+)
Bring the fun of the arcade home with Ambassador Tabletop Air Hockey. The compact size fits neatly on a dining room table or coffee table, and the simple setup snaps into place for effortless assembly. Scoreboards on both sides let you keep track of goals throughout each match. This Ambassador wood tabletop air hockey game uses AA batteries to power the airflow, so there’s no need for power cords or a nearby wall outlet.
There is also Ambassador Tabletop Football. Traditional hand grips let you control the action for perfect goals, and the manual scoreboard makes it easy to declare a victor. A snap-together design makes assembly a quick, simple task. Colourful players and a bright green field add extra fun to each match. Both of these games make excellent addition to your family room, game room or basement!
Hauck Speedster Go Cart (for ages 4-8)
The Speedster Pedal Go Cart is the ultimate gift for the energetic kid on your list, as it encourages physical activity, builds strength, endurance and co-ordination. Along with the durable features and sporty design, the Hauck Speedster Pedal Go Cart gives an authentic driving experience and lets the driver control the pedal speed. The Speedster’s quick response and sharp handling will excite young racers. Features include sporty graphics on the front fairing, an adjustable bucket seat, four spoke rims with 10″ EVA wheels, a 3-point steering wheel, double touch Handbrake and a steel tube powder coated frame.
Craftsman Deluxe Game House (for ages 6+)
Have a board game lover in the family? They will love the Merchant Ambassador Craftsman Deluxe Game House! The convertible design lets you test your skills at chess, checkers, backgammon, mancala and six other iconic board games. Dice, ball markers and other playing pieces provide everything you need to set up each game, and the mahogany wood finish gives this set traditional beauty. Packaged with instructions, this Merchant Ambassador Craftsman Deluxe Game House makes it easy to master each board.
MD Sports Table Tennis & Air Hockey Table
For the older kids and teens on your Christmas list, the MD Sports Table Tennis is an awesome choice. It is an official tournament size table, measuring at 9 x 5ft, has durable 15mm thick playfield for consistent ball bounce, a sturdy 35mm diameter arch style legs with stability panel and lockable casters, and 35mm oversized apron with protective corner caps for additional support. Plus, it conveniently folds for single play mode and compact storage.
You also can’t go wrong with the MD Sports Air Hockey Table. This table contains a sleek overhead scoreboard with arcade sound effects, a reinforced frame construction for improved durability and stability, 120V AC Motor for strong and consistent air flow and has adjustable leg levelers for perfectly balanced play surface. It also includes two pushers and two pucks.
Squishmallows (great for all ages!)
Squishmallows are the softest, cutest, cuddliest plush around! They have a super soft, marshmallow-like texture and make great couch companions, and bedtime buddies. With a variety of characters, youngsters (and even adults!) can collect them, as each Squishmallow has its own unique name and storyline to add to the fun.
We hope this guide of toys and games was helpful in in giving you ideas for a holiday gift for the kids (or kids-at-heart-) on your list! Be sure to also check out our Christmas Toy Event, on until Dec 24, 2020.
