4 Tips to Clear the Clutter after the Holidays

The most wonderful time of the year is officially over, and if you’re like most of us, you probably have more than a few things that need to be tidied up, de-cluttered, and put away. But getting your life back to normal doesn’t have to be anywhere near as stressful as last-minute gift shopping.

Our clutter clearing hints below will help you make the transition from holiday season to clean-up without losing the joyful glow cultivated over the last few weeks.

Box it up for Charity

Some say Boxing Day originated in the UK, as the day when the collection boxes for the poor were opened, and distributed. Other origin stories have it that Boxing Day was the day working people collected gratuities or acknowledgements of service for the past year in the form of ‘Christmas Boxes.’ Either way, you can use the spirit of Boxing Day to take a look around your home and see what can be boxed up and sent to charity. And while you’re in the dark corners of closets you haven’t seen in years, a little organization can’t hurt either. This will make room for all the shiny new goodies from Christmas and give you a fresh start to the New Year while helping out someone in need. A true win-win situation.

Send Your Christmas Tree into the Wild

If you have a backyard, why not consider digging a spot for a temporary home for your much appreciated Christmas tree? After the lights are taken down, simply plant your tree outside. The tree will give small wildlife a nice warm place to nest up among the needles during the winter. Once spring or summer hits, the tree will likely have dried out enough to have a bonfire with it for a fun Christmas in July celebration (festive outfits and eggnog milkshakes encouraged).

An Egg-cellent Idea for Your Egg Cartons

Make sure to save all the egg cartons from your Christmas baking. If they have long been recycled, throw a post-holiday brunch to get some new cartons to save. The small pockets meant for the eggs make great protective storage for delicate ornaments and can be labelled accordingly for decorating next year.

Start a Relationship with Clips

Get ready to meet your new best friend – binder clips. Yes, you heard that right. These humble little office supplies come in very handy for keeping your entire home tidy, but there are some great tips that you can use right away for post-holiday organization.

  • Freezer overflowing with turkey leftovers? Free up space and bring hard-to-see items to the front by clipping bags underneath the wire shelf.
  • Clip the ends of wrapping paper rolls together to keep them from unrolling and getting wrinkled in the cupboard.
  • Create a fun and casual photo display of all of your holiday memories by clipping them together lengthwise in an easy-to-hang chain, string them onto a ribbon for a horizontal display, or use thumbtacks to pin them up in whatever configuration you like.

We hope these hacks save you some stress as you wind down the holiday season. We wish you joy in the New Year from our London Drugs family to yours.

Top 5 Things You Need to Do Before Summer Ends

What do we love so much about the summertime? Is it the sunshine, the warm breezes, the lazy days spent at the beach or the lake? Whatever it is that you love about the warmer months, when the end of August starts to roll around, you know that the end of summer is fast approaching. You can feel it in that little nip in the air and the darkness rolling in earlier and earlier.

End of Summer Activities London Drugs Blog

Let’s try and capture some of that summer magic before the kids go back to school and we all get back to our routines—and before the rain and snow come back with a vengeance! Here are a few tips on how to make the most of the dog days of summer before the leaves inevitably start to fall.

Invite your friends and neighbours over for a BBQ

Friends BBQ End of Summer Outdoors London Drugs

Nothing defines summer quite like that unmistakable barbecue scent in the air. Before you have to pack up the grill for another year, have one last backyard cookout. Invite your friends and neighbours over, whip up a batch of fruity drinks, and throw some protein on the barbecue. For all your grilling needs, visit any of our locations for a full range of BBQ products.

Enjoy a beautiful sunset (or sunrise!)

Lake Moraine Canada Sunrise Sunset London Drugs

Head to your favourite hilltop, mountain, or body of water to catch an epic sunset. There’s something romantic and whimsical about watching a sunset, whether it’s at the peak of a mountain or with your toes digging in the sand at your favourite beach. If you’re feeling really ambitious, take in a sunrise at dawn. Currently on the west coast, the sun is rising just after 6 a.m. and setting just after 8 p.m., making this the ideal time to catch nature at its most glorious.

Go on a mini vacation

Jumping into Water End of Summer London Drugs Blog

In just a couple of weeks, the summer of 2018 will be but a mere memory. Don’t pack away the sunscreen and picnic blankets just yet! A last-minute mini getaway is a great way to experience a few more adventures. Whether it’s camping or luxury hotels, there are so many fabulous spots to escape to right here in BC. Just make sure to be cautious of wildfires in the province if you’re planning a roadtrip.

Take in a festival or outdoor theatre

Festival PNE Vancouver London Drugs Blog

Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival runs right through to September 22. The spectacular waterfront setting is the perfect way to bid farewell to summer, while you take in Macbeth, Timon of Athens, As You Like It, or Lysistrata. If Shakespeare isn’t really your speed, visit the ever-popular end of summer festival, the PNE, and dance along to the I Love the 90s Tour featuring Salt-N-Pepa, Color Me Badd, and Young MC.

Do one thing you wouldn’t do in the winter

Sailing End of Summer Sailboat London Drugs

As the seasons change, there are certain activities we ruefully wave goodbye to. Whatever it is for you, fit it in as much as you can. Sailing, hiking, taking a dip in an outdoor pool, enjoying a live baseball game, or roasting marshmallows for s’mores on the barbecue, this is it! Summer is almost over and it’ll be a long time before we see live fireworks or swim in a lake again, so let’s make the most of it.


London Drugs is your one stop shop for all things summer. Pop in to pick up everything you’ll need for your last summer barbecue or road trip.

Your Guide to Creating a Cozy Plaid Life

The changing weather and cooler temperatures are bringing out our cozy side. What better way is there to prepare for the winter ahead then by wrapping yourself in layers and layers of comfort.  From a sturdy plaid flannel, to accessories that make a statement, this is your guide to creating a totally cozy plaid life this fall.

Invest in a Great Plaid Shirt

The red plaid shirt is a classic for a reason. Aside from being the unofficial Canadian uniform, a good plaid shirt is durable, warm, and relatively weather-proof (particularly if you go for a flannel). Whether you are sitting around a campfire on a chilly fall evening, or running holiday errands in the slush, the plaid shirt just makes sense.

Cozy Plaid

Photo by Javier Canales

Throw Down for Cozy Plaid

Expert cozy-ists know that a plaid throw is a must-have for fall. The thicker, the better. Curl up on the couch under your plaid throw with a good book or your favourite old movie. Bonus points if you casually sip hot chocolate.

Cozy Plaid

Photo by Cory Bouthillette

 

Take Plaid With You

Bring the spirit of coziness along with you everywhere you go with a Roots 73 Plaid Folio Phone Case. It’s a stylish and durable case that subtly showcases your commitment to the cozy plaid life wherever you are.

Cozy Plaid iPhone Case

Paint the Town Plaid

Really go for the gusto by turning an old tabletop into an eye-catching statement furniture piece. The Rain on a Tin Roof blog has a no-measure method for painting a plaid pattern using painter’s tape.

cozy plaid

Photo by Jenna LaFevor

There you have it. That’s everything you need to create a plaid-tastic fall. Wrap yourself in layers of flannel and warmth, and indulge in that lumberjack-chic life. And please, snap some photos of your #PlaidLife and share them with us on Instagram (@LondonDrugs) or Facebook.