How You Can Be A Better Gift Giver

 Do you often feel like you could do better at giving people presents? If so, you can be certain that you are not the only one. Most people dread special occasions as it often calls for you to have to go on the hunt for that perfect gift. Unfortunately, you

Turkish Canadian Community Raises Money for CHEO

 On Saturday April 23, distinguished guests gathered to celebrate Turkish National Sovereignty and International Children’s Day at a fundraising gala organized by the Turkish Cultural Canadian Association (TCCA), the proceeds of which will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). This yearly event, organized by the Turkish

5 Great places to have Christmas Dinner in Ottawa

 In households across Ottawa, the holiday season will be marked with tree decorating, present wrapping, and of course, plenty of good eating. For those of you who love a good Christmas dinner, but aren’t in the mood to cook, we’ve compiled a list of some great restaurants serving up festive

Sweet Slumber at the Auberge Saint-Antoine

 All photos courtesy of Auberge Saint-Antoine. There is something particularly magical about visiting Quebec City during the winter.  The city has a certain coziness, with the smell of wood-burning fireplaces filling the air, trees and shops everywhere adorned and lit up.  There’s also a romantic connection with the past that

Staying Active Over the Holidays

 As the holiday season arrives, schedules can fill up with parties, dinners, shopping, and vacations. Although this is an exciting time of year, it can be stressful. When our calendars get overwhelming, in order to meet holiday demands, one of the first things people often reduce is exercise. Also, as

Yuk It Up This Holiday Season

 Image courtesy of Howard Wagman If you like to laugh (and we know that you do), Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa is serving up a healthy dose of comedy this holiday season! Club-owners are excited to host comedy musical duo Bowser and Blue for two nights only this December. The legendary Montreal-based

Three Things We Can Do to End Poverty in Canada

 Poverty degrades our economy, changes the nature of our cities and the cohesion of our society “Time to end poverty in Canada” has been the message from the Salvation Army coming across our TV screens this holiday season. A great idea from an organization that fights poverty every day in

How to Give Yourself a Much Greener Christmas

 Even though we love to shower our friends and family with gifts and special treats at this time of year, many of those holiday traditions aren’t very loving to our planet. Canadians exchange more than two billion holiday cards each year.  It’s estimated that we spend about $4 billion on

5 Holiday Gifts for Long-Distance Loved Ones

 Sending just the right gift can be difficult when family or friends live far away. Often the distance has left us out-of-touch with their tastes and interests – and the last thing we want is to send something they don’t like, or can’t use, so that your gift is nothing

How to Manage Time and Reduce Holiday Stress

 You hear a lot about peace and joy at this time of year, but seasonal pressures can make it difficult. Parties and get-togethers are usually fun, but many require baking, wine-buying, or a special outfit. Then there are the presents to buy for everyone – all while navigating crazy traffic

’Tis the Season for Handel

 More than 250 years after its completion, George Frideric Handel’s joyous Messiah continues to be appreciated by audiences around the world. Coming to the capital region this holiday season, Finest Moments from Messiah will be presented by the combined effort of the Ottawa Classical Choir and the New World Philharmonic

Holiday Giveaway

 Sparkle this holiday season with OLM and Originals by Andrea! Share with us your favourite holiday tradition for a chance to win this stunning, one-of-a-kind necklace from Ottawa’s own Originals by Andrea. To enter, head over to our Facebook page and leave a comment on this post telling us about your favourite

Aruba: One Happy Island

 Bon Bini, which is Papiamento for welcome, is how you will be greeted when you arrive in one of the most remarkable Caribbean destinations. The island boasts many beautiful postcard perfect beaches, diverse accommodations, and the famous Arikok National Park - just the beginning of a plethora of reasons why

Holiday Handmade Gifts for Beginners: Part I

 Venturing into the world of handmade gifts can be daunting to those of us who don’t think of ourselves as especially “crafty”.  But all you really need are some very basic materials and skills to get you started.  In the next 3 days, and just in time for the holidays,

Recipe: Holiday Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

 Everyone loves holiday sweets, how can you not - it's one of the few times of the year that we can indulge in sweets and treats without feeling guilty about our diets, waistlines etc. The holidays are also a great time bake some goodies for friends and family or share some

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas…

 Many people dream of a white Christmas – but what about a “green” Christmas? While the holidays are notorious for being an environmentalist’s worst nightmare (think tonnes of extra waste, overconsumption, and chopped down trees, just to name a few)! This holiday season Ottawa Life magazine offers ten suggestions to

DIY: Christmas in a Jar

 December is finally here and with it the Holiday festivities are about to begin! It's time to dig out your holiday decorations, festive lights and other yule-tide goodies. One of my favourite Christmas decorations are Christmas Villages. These are fun and adorable but it takes years to collect a perfect

Some Day at the Beach! Destination Weddings: Cuba

 When my brother-in-law announced his intention to wed in Cuba, my wife Trine literally jumped for joy. She had seriously considered holding our wedding party on a beach in the Caribbean, so she could get hitched while barefoot in the sand. I was happy too – I like a beach vacation