Snacks, smart tech, and sneaks: 3 springtime essentials for the warmer weather
Snacks, smart tech, and sneaks: 3 springtime essentials for the warmer weather With spring officially upon us, you’ll want to prep for the season with these must-haves to get you in gear for the coming months Spring has sprung, and that means venturing outdoors at long last to take in your daily dose of sunshine and the revival of assorted flora and fauna. It also means anticipating more quality time with friends, family, and family pets as we eventually shake off the cold to usher in the group gatherings. To mark the change of season, we’re sharing our top three essentials when it comes to swapping out your winter paraphernalia for something more suited to spring’s milder temperatures. From snacks to smart tech and sneaks, here’s how we’re getting kitted out for springtime. Picnic treats to pack Just in time for spring, Loacker—the Italian heritage brand known for its delicious wafer biscuits—has released a new line of peanut butter snacks. What with 90 percent of Canadians noting that they love PB, this is a welcome treat for families. The Peanut Butter Classic Wafer and Quadratini are the ultimate upgrade to peanut butter on toast, featuring an irresistible combination of crispy wafers and scrumptious peanut butter cream filling. Whenever you need your fix of PB, these are the perfect snack for lunches, on the go and more. Bonus: The Tortina is the ideal sweet treat to make your (or someone else’s) day. Two round wafers are filled with delicious peanut cream and dipped in chocolate to create a taste to savour again and again. Say bye-bye to backyard bugs We may all be looking forward to seeing longer days of sunlight, but one thing nobody looks forward to is mosquito season. It’s coming, whether we like it or not, but with a Thermacell E55 mosquito repeller creating a zone of protection for you and your family, it’s easy to get back to enjoying the great outdoors without constantly stressing over mozzie bites. This is the perfect accessory to keep those insects away while you lounge in your backyard, picnic at the park, or set up camp in the woods. The compact and portable E55 makes repelling mosquitoes as easy as the touch of a button without any messy sprays or scented products. Step into a springtime hike Warmer weather means exploring the great outdoors, aka a great opportunity to get moving outside! Fitness walking is more popular than ever and the benefits to
Fruitz Dating App: Say Goodbye to Boring Swipes
Fruitz Dating App: Say Goodbye to Boring Swipes by Arianne Granada Ready to dip your toes back into the dating pool? Looking to date as a single parent can be tough, but Fruitz offers a fun and playful approach to online dating. With Fruitz, you can let go of the pressure and enjoy the journey of finding your perfect match with a light-hearted and enjoyable experience. Gone are the days of swiping endlessly through dating apps, trying to decode vague bios and cheesy pickup lines. Fruitz has revolutionized the online dating game with its fruit-inspired approach. No, seriously—instead of the typical "looking for something serious" or those overused "just here for a good time" opening lines, you can choose a fruit to represent what you're looking for in a relationship. We had the opportunity to sit down with the creators of Fruitz to provide single parents with insights into today's online dating habits. What is Fruitz? Fruitz is a fun and fruit-inspired dating app with a clear goal: release inhibitions and clichés by giving users the freedom to express what they are looking for and save time. Fruitz CEO Julian Kabab explained, "The idea for Fruitz came from my very first experience with dating apps, which was a disaster. Empowering people to be honest with their intentions was our first mission. To do this, we created fruit metaphors to give people a playful way to communicate what they want, removing the fear of judgment for both men and women. At Fruitz, we believe in healthy relationships - whether they are forever or just one night." What makes Fruitz different from other dating apps is that users select a fruit to represent what they're looking for in a relationship: Cherry: To find your other half #TieTheKnot Grape: To share a glass of wine and maybe dine #NoOneNightStand Watermelon: To find fruits with benefits #NoSeedsAttached Peach: To dance in your sheets tonight #GoBananas It's a fun and playful way to communicate intentions and make dating life more straightforward. How do I find my match? The user experience on Fruitz reflects its concept of being simple and effective. When people register, they pick the fruit that represents what they are looking for. Once two users swipe each other to the right, they form a match (or in Fruitz language–a smoothie!). Before the conversation starts, one of the two must choose an icebreaker: soft or spicy–the choice is up to the user. Once both have completed
10 celebs and their puppies totally giving us the warm and fuzzies
10 celebs and their puppies totally giving us the warm and fuzzies by Angelyn Kwek Whoever domesticated dogs way back when had the right idea. Not only are they loyal companions for life, these fuzzy babies bring smiles and joy to all—in addition to being that all-important learning journey prior to becoming parents to human babies. Plus, there’re not many things that can beat coming home after a long day to the enthusiastic welcome of your precious canine pal and. That said, Hollywood’s luminaries are not immune to puppy power either (it’s those giant, soulful eyes). On the occasion of National Puppy Day, here are 10 celebs sharing precious snaps of themselves with their furry counterparts. Cameron Mathison and Red The Canadian-American actor with his Doberman aka the fifth member of the family. Emilia Clarke and Ted Going everywhere his mama goes, Ted the dachshund just had to smize for the camera as well on the set of Clarke’s Clinique shoot. Zendaya and Noon That’s the smile of a proud dog mum when her baby takes his first step into the pool all on his own. Chris Evans and Jinx “In my house, every day is #internationaldogday.” Aye aye, Captain America! Nicole Kidman and Julian Can you believe this is the Aussie actress’s first ever puppy? She had, quote, “been waiting her whole life for this!”, unquote. Selena Gomez and Winnie and Daisy Just a chill day for Gomez, lounging on the couch and sharing doggy kisses with her gals. Scott Eastwood and Josey We cannot confirm or deny if man and puppy were intentionally posing just so, but Eastwood and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel certainly make a pretty picture together. Lana Condor and Timmy Aww, the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before star cuddling her mini Bernedoodle will make any dog lover’s day. Kaia Gerber and Milo An adorable rescue adopted by Gerber, Milo is inseparable from the model and now lives the doggy dream, complete with a custom Celine dog bag. Chrissy Teigen (and John Legend) and Pearl One from a brood of six— Puey, Penny, Pearl, Pebbles, Petey, and Pepper—this cutie of a basset hound is an adoptee who has a soft spot for husband John Legend.
Karen Khunkhun: Lessons on Motherhood, Communication, and Following Your Dreams
Karen Khunkhun: Lessons on Motherhood, Communication, and Following Your Dreams by Arianne Granada March is Women's History Month, and what better way to celebrate than by shining a light on a trailblazing woman in the media industry? For over 20 years, Karen Khunkhun has been a beloved fixture of Vancouver's morning radio scene. From her humble beginnings in the promotions department at CFOX to her current role as a co-host of one of the city's most popular morning shows, Khunkhun has become a trusted voice for thousands of listeners across the region. Early Career and Finding Her Calling Khunkhun's broadcasting journey began at Vancouver's Co-OP Radio while she was still a university student. From there, she moved to the promotions department at CFOX but it wasn't until she joined the famous Larry & Willy morning show as a traffic reporter that she found her true calling. Despite her initial nerves, Khunkhun quickly adapted to the fast-paced world of morning radio and became a beloved part of the team. She adds, "I used to listen to the CFOX morning show, and they were my favourite morning wake-up show. And I was so nervous because I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t work with Larry or Willy like this. It’s too much!’ Once I got over all the nervousness and just being so scared, I started and that was kind of my way in and I’ve been there ever since." Her infectious energy and quick wit soon landed her other exciting opportunities, including stints at CityTV's Morning Breakfast Show and CTV News as a weekend weathercaster. While she may love both fields, she admits there's something special about each one. Radio provides a comfortable and safe space for her to research and prepare, while TV offers the thrill of being on the spot and performing. Each separate industry has taught me so much and it brought a lot of joy to my life like I sometimes even at this stage, I just kind of feel like “Wow.” Adapting to Change As the pandemic swept across the world, Khunkhun had to leave the familiar studio environment behind and work from home. At first, the prospect of being separated from her colleagues was daunting. But as Khunkhun settled into her new routine, she began to appreciate the silver linings of this unexpected change. I always think I'm such an extroverted person. I love being social, I love going out and about, but honestly, it all
5 Products to Help You Beat the Winter Blues
5 Products to Help You Beat the Winter Blues By Rachel Naud This time of year can give you a serious case of the blahs. The fun holidays are over and the warm days of spring are still a ways away. But don’t worry, there are plenty of things you can do to beat those winter blues! Stay Fresh and Odour-Free For starters, why not switch up your personal care routine this winter and check out these natural deodorants from Hello? They smell amazing, coming in scents like Sparkling Peach and Lavender + Vanilla, but more importantly, they offer 24-hour odour protection without using aluminum, baking soda or parabens. You can easily pick them up at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, or Amazon. Start Your Day Right And if you're trying to reduce your sugar intake and want to shake up your breakfast routine, you should definitely check out the Darbo brand of fruit spreads. They've just launched a spread with 80% fruit, which is one of the highest fruit contents you’ll find in the supermarket, meaning up to 50% less sugar than other jams. You can really taste the fruit, and it’s a great way to beat the winter blues because fruits are synonymous with sunshine and summer. You can easily pick it up at most independent grocers. Get Your Game On For families beating the winter blues by going away this March Break, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model is the perfect game system to take on the go. It has a 7-inch screen and is designed to go wherever you do, transforming from home console to portable system in a snap. Once you arrive at your destination, you can easily connect your Nintendo Switch to a TV and enjoy a wide variety of amazing games to play together with family and friends. And with March 10th known as “MAR10 Day,” a whole day dedicated to celebrating everyone’s favourite mustachioed hero, Mario, Nintendo is offering some great promotions starting this week, including a Nintendo Switch bundle that includes a system and your choice of a free Mario game download for $399 (a $79 saving!) and so many more great promotions on select games featuring Mario! You can learn more about all the promotions on Nintendo.ca. Relax and Recharge Of course, there’s nothing better than a little self-care to beat those winter blues. For all things pampering, you can always trust Dr. Teals. Their Lavender Epsom Salt and Foaming Bath set
6 Ways to Welcome Spring in the Florida Keys
6 Ways to Welcome Spring in the Florida Keys By Rosalind Stefanac When the temperatures dip across Canada, and you’re craving some reprieve from frostbite, put the Florida Keys on your sunshine list. In the U.S.A’s southernmost tip, the Keys are a string of tropical islands spanning across the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The best part? On the scenic 182 km-long Overseas Highway, connected by 42 bridges, you can travel from Key Largo to Key West, stopping to explore all the unique regions along the way. Here are some key things to do in the Keys for you and your teen. Bike the Old ‘7 As spring blooms across Canada, there's no better time to head south and explore the Florida Keys. With comfortable temperatures averaging around 23-25 C, the Keys are ideal for outdoor exertion. Rent a bike (or walk) the Old Seven Mile Bridge, which was built more than a century ago as the centerpiece of the Key’s Over-Sea Railroad before being converted into a route for cars. Currently, the bridge is only for pedestrians and bikers and will take you to Pigeon Key, which used to house 400 railroad workers in the 1900s. It’s a fascinating story, given the harsh conditions of the day. Take a guided tour, or explore the area yourself, which includes a museum filled with fascinating artifacts. With no restaurants there, be sure to pack a picnic to enjoy by the waterfront before you head back. Explore the backcountry Head to Big Pine Key for some exercise — and adventure — on the water. As a long-time Lower Keys resident, naturalist guide, book author and professional photographer, Captain Bill Keogh of Big Pine Kayak Adventures and his team will lead you as you paddle your way through the Florida Key’s backcountry by kayak or via catamaran, pointing out all the interesting birds, fish and other wildlife along the way. Stay at Hawks Cay Resort Located in Marathon (in the Keys’ midpoint) Hawks Cay is a 60-acre family resort with 250 two- and three-bedroom villas, in addition to guest rooms. Kids can snorkel, kayak and paddleboard in the salt-water lagoon on-site or feed the fish at Hawks Cay Marina. There’s also an extensive game room, putting course, basketball and volleyball courts, and daily activities geared specifically to teens and tweens. Canadians who book a stay before the end of 2023 get 20% off their room rate too. Visit