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CHANGES

It's so sad when things you love have to come to an end.

Like those stages of babyhood that a child passes out of so suddenly you barely notice they're disappearing until they're gone. Suddenly you find yourself looking at photos and videos and you notice her words are clearer or her smile is different, and you realize that she is indeed, growing up. You become accustomed to the crawling just as she is taking her first steps, and then right before your eyes that haphazard staggering becomes confident running. My daughter is currently amazing me with her own rendition of "Oh Canada", which most of the time sounds surprisingly accurate. However, from time to time she replaces the words with a list of things she currently likes.

Oh Canada... Mom-mee Da-dee Annie
True patriot love... Elmo Pee pee on potty

She's the superstar of our house, every new stage amazes us. But it's tough to say goodbye to the things she's outgrowing... like kisses and hugs. I hope those will come back, but right now she's exploring her world and those legs have grown so strong. She probably feels that Mommy and Daddy are holding her back when they ask for kisses, because she just wants to run free.

It's alright. We're biding our time, we know her affection will come back one day. At least by the time she turns sixteen because we own the car.

And speaking of affection, thanks to all of you who have sent your beautiful sentiments our way. All of us here at Steven and Chris are overwhelmed by the generosity of your spirits. We truly have the world's best viewers

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What Are Your Key Fashion Pieces for Pregnancy?

On Thursday, Aifya Francisco will give us the five key fashion items that will carry you through pregnancy and beyond! Ahead of that great fashion advice, we're wondering what YOUR pregnancy must-haves are.

What clothing and accessories worked during pregnancy as well as after the baby was born? Did you have an inventive idea for accessories? We want to know! Comment below!

SICK DAYS

It's been a tough week at my house. First I came down with something that I'm still not sure wasn't food poisoning, then Sam got the flu, and now Mabel has a deep head and chest cold. The economy, the weather and the still new experience of parenting combined to make our reactions to our sickness fairly childish. Have you ever been so deeply stressed out that you got excited when you got sick because it meant you actually had an excuse to rest or stay home from work or just shirk your responsibilities a bit? That's where I was on Friday last week, excited that throwing up meant that I might actually get to sleep in on Saturday, even just an hour.

But when I came home Friday after spending a day at work feeling terrible, I found that Sam was just starting to have the symptoms I'd had the day before. His flu broke in the middle of the night, so it was him that spent four luxuriously sick hours in bed Saturday morning while I took care of Mabel. And I didn't take it well. Or maturely.

And in the aftermath... after the inevitable silence, the fight, and the making up, we had a conversation that has been long overdue. We realized that for the last twenty months our romance has been on hold. A distance has formed between us. We've been friends, we've been partners, and we've been co-parents, but the little things we used to do for one another that signaled affection and care have disappeared. Now we keep our heads down and work for our new boss... the twenty-month old who has become the new love our lives.

It's a difficult thing to admit that the tenderness has been absent in your relationship. It's an even tougher thing to fix, but we're committed to trying to work on the little details of our partnership. And when you have a baby that's a tall order. We're in a pattern of putting our own needs last on the priority list. And we work so hard during the day that we don't always consider that the other might need a break. And that endless pattern of work can really bleed the humour out of you.

I'm sure there are other parents out there who can relate to this distancing. I'm sure there are many parents who don't know how to address it, and perhaps even believe that there is nothing that can be done. Just this week we heard about friends who are separating. They have two young children, and unfortunately not much else in common anymore. But sometimes you have to look at your partner and remind yourself of the feelings that brought you together in the first place. Way before you had children in common you had loves and interests and communication. And all of that is likely still there, but when we get used to putting the needs of our kids first we sometimes forget that our own needs are also very real.

It only took a few moments in conversation for both of us to realize that we were still there for each other. And this week marks the beginning of a renewed effort to try to put that tenderness back into our relationship. This Sunday, Sam got up to be with the baby and told me to stay in bed. As I drifted back to sleep I felt closer to him than I have in a long time. It's the little things...

— Lisa Brooke, Writer, Steven and Chris

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Guilt Parade

When Mabel was just a couple of weeks old, a friend told Sam and me that there was a substance in most plastic baby bottles called Bisphenol-A that leeched into liquids. We quickly switched all of our training bottles to ones that promised they were BPA-free, and from then on bought only ones that came from companies that could make that claim. We bought organic baby food and milk, and we boiled anything that she put in her mouth at least once every three days. It was a somewhat uneasy existence, but we tried very hard to pay attention to the advice of parenting and health professionals. Then one day about four months ago, Sam said to me, "Wouldn't Mabel's pacifiers have BPA in them?" I felt so incredibly thick. Of course they did, and Mabel used her soother every night. And that's when I started to think about how our every move had become dominated by a nasty little feeling called guilt.

When you think about how much parenting advice that mothers and fathers are subjected to even before the baby is born, it comes as no surprise that parents often describe the first year of their child's life as the hardest one. If it's your first child, you feel compelled to get things right, despite a lack of practice. And the guilt of not keeping up with the Joneses, the Carvers, the Gibbs, the Sperlings, and every parent you see roaming the playground pushing their baby around in the latest, greatest stroller really wears on you in those hours usually reserved for, well...sleep. Guilt is often so pervasive we focus on it completely and forget to enjoy the ride of parenthood.

I wonder if it's possible to give up guilt. It's a completely negative emotion. It has no value. So why do we make so much room for it in our lives? Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just allow ourselves to make mistakes and move on? If we didn't worry that there were twenty different things we could have made for dinner tonight that might have been healthier? Or that we missed two opportunities to get our kids to brush their teeth? Or that we're setting a terrible precedent by turning on the TV so we can get some work done around the house in peace? What would that time we usually spend worrying and feeling guilty get filled up with?

I have a challenge for you parents out there. Let's give up the guilt and see where the day takes us. I guarantee it won't be easy. We're hooked. We'll say anything to get our loved ones to give us back our guilt so we can have our fix. But think what life might be like if we manage to really kick the habit? I say we go for it, there's strength in numbers.

So purge your guilt with me now. Tell me your story. What moment in your child's life do you find it impossible to move past? What do you regret? What keeps you up at night? Tell me now and let me ceremoniously and officially proclaim you 'forgiven'.

And then I really should get back to my twenty dinner options for tonight.
Ugh. This is going to be hard.

— Lisa Brooke, Writer, Steven and Chris

Do You Etsy?

For as long as I can remember, I have been a lover of things handmade. I appreciate the time, thought and effort gone into everything I handle. I suppose this was a trait impressed upon me by my parents who grew up during the 40's - Look for quality and creativity. It makes me the detail-oriented person I am today. That being said, I'd like to introduce you to my guilty pleasure.

It's Etsy. She's my late night adulterous mistress. She's my eyecandy. My retail fix. You get the picture.

By its own definition, Etsy.com is an online marketplace for artisans to sell their handmade items. Its mission is to enable people to make a living making things and to reconnect makers with buyers. For me, it's a place for me to connect with a creative community.

You can find just about anything on Etsy: greeting cards; jewellery; art; clothing; housewares; pottery; more, more, more; even supplies for those of you who love to be crafty. And there are clever ways to search for items, too. You can do it the old-fashioned way and search by category. Or, for those of you who have a sense of your colour palette, you can browse by colour. You can shop locally - a real concern for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint. You can "pounce" on objects by artists yet to be discovered. You can even have things custom made by an artist. Need a quilt in a specific size for your guest room? Put out a request to have it made.

I love the spirit of Etsy. It's not an auction, so you don't have to wait to find out if you "won". There's no animosity towards random users in that regard. It's just shopping for the sake of finding something pretty or useful, or pretty and useful, for that matter. It's so nice to see that crafters have pulled themselves out of the basements of Church Bazaars, and have set their wares up for sale in a modern and creative forum. Oh sure, there's the odd crocheted toilet paper roll cover, but they're certainly in the minority.

Some of the treasures found by our own staff include: a plexiglass bunny silhouette ring; some felt birch tree screened pillows; a cream vinyl wall decal in the shape of a moose; even a wonderful men's leather utility belt. All of these items have brought joy to their buyer and have put some money in the hands of working artists. A win win situation as far as I'm concerned.

Go take a look if you have a chance - and let me know if you find something you love. However, be warned. It's addictive, people. My apologies to your family, because you'll be seeing a lot less of them for the next few days.

www.etsy.com

— Arlene Lott, Stylist

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Slanted Lap Mug

If you're looking for the slanted lap mug Chris tested on today's show, it's available at:
uptoyoutoronto.com

http://www.susanharrisdesign.ca/

In the Field: Recycle your old clothes

Everyone's all about being all Eco-friendly and "green" these days. So much so that even the word green has become a parody of itself. Everywhere you turn everyone is "going green" and manufacturers are stamping their products with a seal of environmental happiness and approval. Buy our product. Think of your children's future. Don't use those chemicals. But it doesn't end there. Then you have to figure out are they really green or are they just claiming to be? It can get frustrating to the average person.

But we've made progress. For example, back in elementary school the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle campaign that we were taught, now seems be second nature. And thinking back sometimes I think our parents did better with watching out for the environment when we were kids. Our moms and dads packed our lunches to school in reusable Tupperware and thermos that we took everyday in the same old beaten up lunch box (mine was tangerine orange with The Muppets thank you very much!). Now that Tupperware has advanced to glass food storage containers, the thermos is BPA free and that lunch box is made from aluminum.

Not that I am complaining. I am the person who now as an adult brings her aluminum water bottles, travel mug, glass containers and thermos to work. I carry reusable bags in my stroller. I recycle so much that I am sure the Toronto Waste Management services wants to send me a list of reminders of things that can't be recycled and to stop putting them in their blue bins. Yet, I think. Recycled, yet. But I'm no angel. I am fully aware that those convenient Ziploc bags are pretty damn hard to give up and I am sure Mother Earth isn't so appreciative of the amount of Pampers we offer her. So you do your part with what you can, when you can.

But as vigilant and as norm as being green has become with our garbage, grocery bags and coffee cups, there's one area that I think we overlook more so than others. And that's with our clothes.

What do you do with all of your old clothing? Do you ever think about where it goes after you donate it? Or if you throw out a sweater because it has a bad stain in the sleeve, do you ever ask yourself how long is that sweater going to be in a landfill before it decomposes? There's been a lot of press about the eco-unfriendly way making of clothes. How much dye is used, the type of dye, where the materials from the fabric are shipped from and who makes them and so on. But after donate your clothing what happens to it?

Well there's quite a few possibilities actually. There are many charities out there each with independent causes that take your used clothes and put them to good use such as donating them to women's shelters or developing countries. Others sell the clothing to recycling plants that use them as factory wiping cloths. Even mainstream clothing manufacturer's have programs now where they accept donations of used clothing and recycle them. Then there are the more known places for donations like Goodwill, who takes the revenue from the used clothing they sell and puts it back into the community by creating jobs for those who face employment barriers. Of course there's also eBay and selling your old clothes but that's a whole other blog.

Then there is Susan Harris.

Susan goes out to Goodwill and other clothing distribution centers and buys bags of old clothes and fabric. She then sorts through the clothing and fabric. Cleans it. Cuts it up. And then sews it into a limitless possibility of new items. From sweaters, to pillows, to arm sleeves, to mittens and even Christmas stockings. All of which are handmade from your donated clothing. We'll be profiling Susan on our show in our Handmade segment on Thursday February 26th but in the meantime please check out her website:

So the next time you have an old sweater or item of clothing that you think should be throw into the garbage because of a stain or a rip, don't. Donate it instead. Just Google clothing donation or textile recycling and find a charity or organization of your choice. That old sweater could become a really nice set of mittens.

— Alex Katschilo, Associate Producer

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Tea: The Brewt

We had a lot of questions about this little guy! The tea brewer we had on Monday's show is called The Brewt, and can be found here:

http://www.brewts.com/thebrewt

Happy Shopping!

Family Day Monday

We here at the Steven and Chris offices are off on Monday, so some of the information from Monday's show won't appear till Tuesday.

Sorry for any inconveniences! We'll be back as soon as we can!

Following 'I Can Make You Thin'

Since Paul McKenna appeared on the show, Chris has been trying out 'I Can Make You Thin', as have a few of the S+C staff. Is it working? It's a little soon to tell so far, but a few of us are certainly eating a lot less.

Have you been listening to Paul's CD every night, following the exercises in his book, or eating less, more slowly? If so, comment below and tell us how it's working for you!

We'll have an update from Chris on his progress soon!

Living with the Furious Fives

After weeks of listening to my son Quinn's constant whining and arguing and having out-and-out temper tantrums-not to mention his knee-jerk response of "no" to absolutely every request, I've come to the conclusion the terrible two's ain't got nothing on what I call the furious five's.

I keep trying to tell myself it's just a phase and that this too shall pass. But after a while, the constant barrage of tears, complaints and screaming has begun to grate on my nerves.

I know I'm not the first mom to struggle with a child whose behaviour pushes you to the brink, nor will I be the last, but I'm hoping those of you reading this can shed some light on my situation and share your parenting tactics. To illustrate the situation let me share some recent examples of Life With Quinn.

Mornings in our house are pretty straightforward: wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush your teeth and get ready for school.

This sequence of events does happen, but for Quinn, getting dressed is an exercise that could last all morning. First, the selection of the clothing-if it isn't EXACTLY what he wants to wear, he won't wear it. However, we have a "statute of limitations" on how long it should take one to get dressed. If Quinn exceeds this limit, we choose the clothes for him. The other morning you would think he had been sentenced to life in prison when he exceeded his clothing selection time limit and we forced him to wear a tee-shirt not of his choosing.

At breakfast I like to give my kids "options" and most mornings Quinn chooses between toast and cereal. Again, if he's indecisive I'll choose for him. If I make the wrong choice it results in sulking, whining and this awful single syllable sound "uhn!"
You would think being called to the dinner table is a simple enough request. Not for Quinn; interrupting his precious playtime to have a meal is tantamount to torture.

The same holds true for other necessary evils like bath time, tooth brushing, putting on boots and jackets and the list goes on...
When met with resistance, things escalate and Quinn gets a "consequence." This usually takes the form of lost TV privileges or time spent in his room behind a closed door.
Well then we get treated to what I like to call 'The Wrath of Quinn.' As you might imagine there is a lot of uncontrollable screaming, jumping up and down, stomping and body thrashing. It is most unpleasant.
Hearing him say "I'm not happy" over and over again has been truly upsetting. I've even responded by asking him, "what would make you happy?" because really, like all moms, all I want is a happy and healthy child.

On many occasions I've lost my cool and on several occasions our conflicts have nearly brought me to tears.
My husband and I have had numerous discussions about what might be triggering Quinn's behaviour. Could it be a cry for attention? Is he jealous of his little brother? Do we spoil him?

I even went so far as to talk to my doctor about him, worried my child was suffering from depression.
After asking me a couple questions about how he's doing at school the doctor said he's a normal 5-year-old just testing the limits. I then asked how to treat this kind of behaviour. The doctor's prescription: tough love.

Be consistent in your discipline, don't capitulate and remember: he's just a kid.

And so the battle goes. Just as quickly as this stage of the furious fives arrived, no doubt it will disappear, only to be replaced by some other unpleasant behaviour meant to torment parents like me.

So if you have any methods on surviving this stage of parenting, or better yet have suggestions on ways to enjoy spending time with your progeny, I'm all ears. Because as much as I don't like the way Quinn has been acting lately, I love him deeply and as cliche as it sounds I want nothing more than for us to be one happy family.

— Dorin Greenwood, Producer

Budding Artists

You may have seen these amazing pictures on the show - and we wanted to put them up on the blog too, so everyone can admire the art!

Thanks to the budding artists who sent these in!

Continue reading "Name that Tune" »

Name that Tune

Hi guys,

I don't know if you remember, but I am the person who wrote the blog about being a gluttonous desert viper earlier this year (2009).... As well as being a champion cookie eater, I am also the production coordinator on the show, and the audience warm-up girl! If you have come to see the show this season, than you know exactly who I am. I stand up in front of the audience before the show, and explain the rules of being on a tv set, and you knock me off my feet with your amazing applause and enthusiasm. Being a part of the audience experience each day is the best part of my job. I love to see everyone having a great time on set; at the end of the show everyone walks away with a wonderful gift, a litany of laughs, and a great song stuck in their heads.

I wanted to let everyone know what music we listen to in the studio, before the show actually starts, and during the commercial breaks. Glenda Fraser, one of our esteemed team members, has hand-picked all of this music. I think she's done an amazing job, as all of the music is so fun, and it just makes you want to dance around and move!!

I have to say that my favorite song right now is "Pocketbook - by Jennifer Hudson" and each and every single time it comes on, I have to dance. I feel confident that if you hear it, you'll have to dance along as well!!

So, I'm asking that you to listen to these songs and let me know your favorites!! I especially want to know the songs that really get you moving!! Another thing I'd like you to do, is to think about great music that we should be listening to as well, and let me know!!!! The more music, the better!!!

Enjoy the playlist, and I hope to see you soon in our studio audience!!!

Cheers!

— Zoe Kazakos, Production Coordinator

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Clothing: Exchanged!

You may remember that on Steven and Chris we told you about an interesting statistic. A British survey discovered that women wear only about one-third of their wardrobe. Fearing I was doing just that, and wanting a new one free of charge I planned a clothing exchange party and invited some friends to participate. This past Friday night it finally happened. We were all a bit nervous, worried that we'd give up more than we'd get in return. Some were even afraid they'd take nothing home at all.

I'm happy to tell you that the event won over even the toughest skeptic in attendance. Now having done one of these, I'm more enthusiastic about them than ever. It was fun, even thrilling at times. And of all the things I'd been looking forward to, my favourite was something I hadn't banked on. There was an incredible sense of camaraderie.

Here's how we did it. Firstly we were all told to bring only clothing that was in great shape. I got a hold of a couple of clothing racks and we hung everything we could on it. Accessories and sweaters were displayed on tables. There were eleven of us in attendance, so we wrote numbers 1-11 on little pieces of paper and put them in a hat. Everyone drew a number and our host told us "Memorize it! Don't forget your number!" We then put our numbers back into the hat, and they were randomly drawn. When your number was called you got to choose one thing. After all numbers were all called, back they would be drawn again in random order. The cycle happened again and again until we felt comfortable that we'd all gotten our favourite picks. The evening was then proclaimed a "free for all", and it was each woman for herself.

Here's what I loved about it. I got stuff, and I'm really happy with it. Better yet, I got rid of stuff I wasn't happy with. In fact, I came with three bags of crap and I went home with one quality bag of wardrobe staples and accessories. I even got two great pairs of shoes! And I got to see clothes that I really loved but couldn't wear anymore go to women who would look good in them. I even found myself from time to time going to someone with a sweater I'd owned and saying "Trust me, this may not look like much folded up, but it's fabulous and it would look perfect on you. Please try it on." And it was great to go shopping and get an honest perspective when trying on outfits I wasn't sure of. And all the while we sipped on red wine and nibbled on appetizers. It felt like shopping with a dozen personal shoppers.

Here are some things to think about if you are considering hosting a clothing exchange party of your own.

- Invite friends who have similar fashion sense. It's not a bad idea to pick a few folks who can change things up a bit too, but generally speaking you don't want to choose this event to do a fashion 180.

- If you have people who are donating clothes but not attending the party limit their donations to ten items or less. It's funny what people will pass off if they don't have to be there to defend their choices. Besides, you will have to dispose of everything that doesn't get chosen.

- Keep it seasonal! It's hard to choose summer clothes in the winter, particularly when most of us take the spring to work on shedding that hereditary "winter padding". Likewise, think about asking people to inventory what kinds of clothes they'll be bringing. This helps when someone asks, "Do you think I'll be able to get work clothes?" Myself I asked people to tell me what sizes they were bringing and what sizes they were looking for. This way I could make sure that everyone had someone to exchange with.

We're already planning the next one. We think it will happen some time in late April so that people can get some lighter clothes for the warmer weather. At very least it will force me to do another necessary overhaul of my closet, and hopefully that fraction of my wardrobe I actually wear will keep getting bigger and bigger.

After all, I don't want to be a statistic.

— Lisa Brooke, Writer, Steven and Chris

www.sparkswillflyforge.ca

In the Field: Handmade

One of my absolutely favourite field pieces to go out and shoot are our Handmade segments. Not that I don't love them all in their each own special way but shooting a Handmade segment is like spending the day in art class back in high school. These are the shoots where I stop and go "I can't believe I get paid to do this".

You know those moments when you see an item be it a t-shirt or piece of jewelry or some really great piece of furniture and think "How do they make that? Can I make that?" Well that's what Handmade is all about. You basically go and spend the day with a phenomenal artist who takes you through the step by step process of making their art and then not only do you learn all about how it's made, you get to truly appreciate all of the work and craft that goes into their given item.

This past week we went to meet Ella from Ella's Botanical's - www.ellasbotanicals.com - who makes eco friendly, handmade soaps, lotions and salves. I got to witness what goes into making an old fashioned bar of soap (never mind that her house smelt like heaven from all the amazing oils) and I asked Ella what some of the misconceptions were about making soap. And while her answer didn't make the cut in the final edit of the piece, she gave us the funniest answer that I have heard in a long time and said that most people want to know if making soap is like it's done in "Fight Club".

You know the Chuck Palahniuk book turned movie starring Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden. Soap maker and salesman extraordinaire... just not out of umm, plant based ingredients. Not that images of a shirtless Brad Pitt making soap are anything to complain about when it comes to soap, but it's definitely not like Fight Club. At least in the ingredient sense.

Another couple of amazing artists that I recently had a chance to work with that I totally think you should check out are:

www.yasminelouis.com

On that note, if you know of a great artist that you think we should profile for Handmade, let us know!

— Alex Katschilo, Associate Producer

McDonald's Pizza

You might have seen something a little strange on the show yesterday.... here's the boys with their McDonald's Pizza:

Tasty!

To see where they got the idea, check out this video on YouTube:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=T7TxjJr2Sos

http://www.mastermindtoys.com/store/product.asp?rd=966639579&product_code=75128&cat=7&brand=0&subcat=34&page_from=search_results.asp&link_name=Search+Results&page=1&age=none&price=0&keyword=money&category=0&search_type=exact&agecat=0&MSCSProfile=495PVSJGBS479NWVFFVS479G79LACKG7

Counting Money Jar

Looking for this neat counting money jar from the show today? It's from Mastermind Toys and sells for about 17.95 CDN!

The Winter Blues.....

It is mid-January and I am truly feeling the winter blues.
Little sunshine and a whole lot of cold weather makes for a pretty nasty combination. I have been irritable, sick and downright grumpy. For the first month I figured it was PMS... now I am sadly realizing it's not. I am guessing I am not alone. Last week I hit my wall, I realized that inaction only brings misery... I finally decided to take steps to stop being an angry couch potato. I bought an ionized lamp, self tanning lotion and now accept every invitation to get togethers/parties and events. I am on a mission to be happy and content during the cold Canadian winter.

How is it all going you may ask? Well, the ionized lamp looks pretty and it tastes like salt (yes, I licked it). It is supposed to clean the air and cleanse your energy field. I am not sure if all that is true... but it defintely radiates a nice light. You can choose the color you want. I am using a yelllow light bulb and it looks like molten rock. The more you use it, the more it is supposed to clean the air. I never realized my air was dirty in the first place, but whatever - it is mine now. I like it and it makes me happy. Mission accomplished.

The self tanning lotion is pretty darn fabulous... except for the orange marks around my hair line and on my elbows... oops. I am using some inexpensive lotions from the drugstore. Everytime I shower, I dry off and then instead of normal lotion I put on the sunless tanning cream. I luckily live alone, so I carelessly walk around my house naked for the first 10 minutes of application. I generally will go into the kitchen and make myself breakfast. The downside, sometimes I forget to close the blinds so the construction workers across the street get a pretty interesting view of strawberries, bannanas and a blender. Enough said. The lotion is working really well... I am on day 4 and I am noticeably tanned. I feel happy and tell people that I just got back from a dream vacation in Mexico. Sometimes fantasy is better than reality. The lotion makes me feel sexy and healthy. Mission accomplished.

Last but not least, saying "Yes" to every invitation is proving to be fun yet a bit of a traffic nightmare. During one of the worst winter storms, I made it out to 4 different parties. I piled my two close friends in my car and slogged through treacherous streets. We bit our nails and breathed heavily as we drove from one location to another in drifting snow. We all looked at each other in disbelief, knowing that we could have curled up on the couch for the night watching Sex and The City. Instead we faced a 3 hour drive with pile high snow and icy streets. Beads of sweat poured down my face and into my eyes... my mascara was running down my cheeks... but I didn't care, I had parties to attend. We made appearances at each party... and then like rock stars quickly vanished to our next big event. By the last party, we could finally relax. We drank, ate cookies and finally enjoyed the company we were around. Saying yes got me out of my pyjamas and into the world again. It requires lots of waterproof mascara and a good outfit, once I was out, I was happy to be alive. Mission accomplished.

Winter will be over before we know it. Like childbirth, I am sure I will forget the pain and agony of it all and will be ready to do it all over again next year. Ultimately, happiness lies within and you are the master of your emotions. My next task... hitting the gym and not making up excuses. Until the next blog. Thanks for reading and sharing in my journey.

— Alana Hurov, Associate Producer

DIY Tray Chic Extra!

Hello all-
I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Arlene and I just might have the best job in the world. I have the great fortune of producing Steven's DIY segments. It's a real treat for me to work alongside such a creative and capable man - and believe me, they're not all as capable as Steven!

It's always a flurry of activity in the Props Room whenever there's a DIY at hand. From the time we arrive at a concept, to the time you see it at home, we've gone through many stages to perfect the projects for the viewers. For starters, there are at least 2 versions of every DIY: the "before" and the "after". And then we break out the steps for each project to make it as easy as possible for you to follow for the amount of time we have in the show to teach you how to get there.

We love to inspire and create over here - it's our favourite way to spend the day. So if you have any of your own DIY's that you'd like to share, please send us a photo and show us what you've been up to!

And now, I have a little project for you - it's about a 2 out of 10 on the difficulty scale, so even those of you who have never thought of yourselves as crafty can give it a shot. Here's an added web bonus for yesterday's "Tray Chic" DIY. A handy little accessory tray for a small table or by the entryway:

A Bedside Accessory Tray

Steps:
Select a tray to line
Select a velvet
Cut piece of cardboard to fit inside tray (account for thickness of fabric)
Wrap fabric around cardboard and secure with tape
Paint tray in high gloss paint to match velvet
Secure velvet panel into bottom of tray

SUPPLIES:
Dollar store trays
Velvet cut to size
Cardboard cut to size
Double-sided tape
Scissors

This is a great little tray for your bedside table - the perfect place to put your rings and watch when you get into bed.
Here we have an unfinished wood tray we got at the dollar store.
I had some fabric scraps that we used from another project - this great orange velvet. You hardly need any material for this, so I was able to squeeze one more project out of it! (Velvet is so great for this because your jewelry won't slide around on it and it looks like a showroom!)
I cut a piece of cardboard just a little smaller than the inside measurement of the tray
Then I wrapped the fabric around the cardboard, trimming off the corners so it lies flat. Then I just taped it onto the back of the card.
To keep with the whole orange theme, I had some high gloss paint mixed to match the velvet - again, you don't need much.
Paint the tray with a couple coats and let it dry really well, then add in the fabric card to the bottom.
You can secure the fabric card with some double-sided tape.
Then you have a perfect little tray for your bedside or even in your closet and it hardly cost you a thing!

And there you have it - you're on your way to becoming Tray Chic! It's just that easy!

— Arlene Lott, Stylist

The Power of Your Purse

When I worked as a financial writer, I would tell people how much they should be investing for retirement, then I'd run off on my lunch hour to spend my last $200 on shoes. Kinda like a nurse smoking. No matter how much I knew or preached about saving and investing it still hadn't clicked for me on a personal level. I felt like I had all the time in the world.

Then one day I heard the click. I was cleaning out my closets to pack for a move and the "giveaway" pile was full of stuff that still had the tags on it - stuff that I had never worn, that I had bought on sale and on impulse, that had always been five pounds away from fitting right, and that would now fill my friends' closets and the racks of local second-hand shops. I had literally wasted my money. If I had asked one of the actuaries at work to project what the sum I spent on junk would be worth in five years if invested at a 6% rate of return, I probably would have cried.

What really hurt was the memory of finer pieces of clothing and jewellery that I hadn't purchased because I thought I couldn't afford it. Good quality items I would have loved and cared for... and at least sold on eBay when I didn't want them anymore. Instead, all I had were these cheap consolation purchases that left my wallet - and my heart - empty. Quality over quantity little girl... at least I know better now.

It took a desire to trade up my Aldo for Gucci to really get me to understand the importance of saving and investing. Luckily, I had the financial background but the principles of financial planning and building personal wealth are basic and easy to understand. Application is the key.

So let's start with the basics -there'll be lots of time with this blog to get into more details about finance and career planning and how to build up the power of your purse.

Part one of building wealth is saving. The more you put away, the more you have. Duh. Goals that might help you save are:
* a desire to purchase a valuable item or service, a trip, education,
* "rainy-day" security, which we all want more and more of given current economic times,
* retirement, because even if we want to we can't work forever,
* making more money by investing.

Part two is investing, the tool of rich people. Saving is much more fun when you realize that you can use the money you have to make more money - without doing anything! Right now you might be hearing about people losing money on their investments, but there are many different types of investments you can make, all with different levels of risk. You can start slow and steady, at your own comfort level. The idea is to start - asap.

The longer you leave your money invested the more you stand to make. Not only because you'll accrue more and more interest, but there'll be enough time to smooth the ups and downs of the market.

Check out what your bank has to offer in terms of personal RRSPs or the new Tax Free Savings Accounts. (I'll be opening a TFSA this week and report back all about it. Thanks Canadian government!) If you work for a company that offers a group RRSP in which your employer also contributes, bonus! Don't miss a chance at free money.

Since the New Year has just begun and the recession rages on, I'm very excited about the Supper Saver recipes featured on the site. Eating at home is a great way to cut calories and costs. I can't wait to lose some holiday fat while saving for a fabulous new DVF dress I've been eyeing.

If any of you have fabulous saving tips that have worked for you in good and bad times - from the simple to the extreme - of course we'd all love to hear about them. Please spread the wealth by sharing them in the comments section.

I'm off to try Bella's Broccoli Bake.

Talk soon!
Jamey

— Jamey Ordolis is a freelance writer living in Toronto.

Comments (16) | Permalink

Small 'd' Disaster

Disaster struck on the weekend. It was a small 'd' disaster, but a disaster all the same. My active 18 month old was enjoying her favourite pastime - climbing a chair - when she slipped off and caught her face on the corner of the chair. At first it seemed that her lip had been split open, but after a quick examination I realized that she'd dislodged a tooth...one of the front two. In about a minute the tooth was in my hand, root and all.

I felt like a terrible mother. But after retelling the story many miserable times (almost always while sobbing) I started to accept what people were telling me - it happens. You can't wrap toddlers in bubble wrap to protect them from the elements, they're just going to get hurt and they'll get over it. In fact, Mabel recovered far quicker than I did. I'm still heartbroken over the idea that she'll be missing one of her front teeth until she gets close to the age of six when the adult ones start coming in. Mabel was back to happily playing with her Elmo doll five minutes later, while I just stared at the tiny little tooth in my hand.

So I want to ask other parents out there, what's YOUR 'small d'disaster story? Come on, tell me.

— Lisa Brooke, Writer

Cut Light

The Lamp Chris customized off the top of the show is the Cut Light and was found at Rolo:

http://www.rolostore.com

Also found at:
http://www.gnr8.biz/product_info.php?products_id=643

Kids & Their Play Rooms

This week I produced Deborah Nelson's decor make over of a kids' playroom. She transformed a basement cluttered with cast offs and piles of toys into a space with kid-sized furniture, a wall-to-wall chalkboard and a fabulous teepee for the kids to play in. Whether they want to sit down and draw and do arts and crafts or doodle on the chalkboard or curl up with a book and a flashlight in the teepee, now the basement is the place in the house the kids can truly call their very own.

As the mother of two young boys, I know how important it is to have this kind of a space in my home dedicated to the kids where they are allowed to be free of all the rules they normally have to follow day in, day out. Whether its at daycare, at the dinner table, in the car, in the bathtub... pretty much everywhere they go, they are dogged by rules; "dont touch that!", "sit down in the tub", "eat your vegetables if you want to eat dessert," "wait your turn to talk to me," "no running in the hallways"... and the list goes on.

That's not to suggest that the kids' playroom become a free-for-all—I do try and encourage the boys to tidy up when they are finished playing with their toys (there's even a song that accompanies this activity: "Clean Up! Clean Up! Everybody! Everywhere! Clean Up! Clean Up! Everybody do your share!). I even went out and bought big, lovely baskets for them to dump in their cars, puzzles, action figures, and building blocks. And of course I shower them with praise when they take the initiative and tidy up all on their own.

But I've resigned myself to being the primary "cleaner-upper" in our house until the kids are a little older. Getting an almost five-year-old and a not quite two-year-old to obediently place every play object in its place after play time is a task all its own. Don't even get me started on tidying up the construction paper, stickers, markers, crayons and glitter glue—a colossal mess at the best of times.

Although it's never too early to start teaching my boys the basics of cleanliness and organization, I recognize I'm a bit A-type when it comes to being neat and tidy. And I also realize you only get to be a kid once and that means being allowed to play with reckless abandon for the sake of having fun.

Because the truth is I derive way more pleasure from seeing my children giggle and scream with delight tearing around in their play room, doodling on paper or crashing their cars into a mountain of building blocks than I ever will from seeing a pristine and clean play room.

In my opinion striking a balance between following "the rules" and having fun is hugely important in the life of a kid—whether it's in the playroom, the backyard or even at the dinner table... don't you agree???

— Dorin Greenwood, Producer

Inside Studio 65: Coffee, Tea or LC?

Thanks for the nice comments about our show! Steven and Chris are always thrilled to hear that you lovely people enjoy spending the afternoon watching. If you have any questions about what goes on behind the scenes, leave me a comment and I'll be sure to find you the answers!

Teresa asked a question about how much coffee Chris drinks before the show. The answer is, NONE!

Chris and Steven are actually big fans of green tea. Why? Because it's good for you and delicious! While there are lots of green teas available at your local grocer, the boys drink a green tea better known as Genmaicha, which is a blend of roasted brown rice (genmai) and green tea. This type of tea is a little nuttier tasting and has a very pleasant scent. It provides a nice little boost of energy without the downtime you get from coffee.

So next time you settle in to watch Steven and Chris, why not make yourself a yummy cup of green tea and relax... you'll feel like you're sitting next to the guys in studio!

ttfn,
LC

— Lisa-Marie Chen, Production Assistant

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In the Field

It never fails that I will almost always get writers block when trying to write a first sentence when I know I have a deadline due. I thought I'd start with a witty "Hi my name is Alex" as I've for the past two days I've been finishing up a paper edit on Baby Slings and a Fabulist with actress Erin Karpluk from the new CBC show "Being Erica". That means my brain is still in the mode ensuring my text spelling is correct for "Pouch Sling" on screen and that my time codes are correct so my editor won't be digitizing the completely incorrect footage in the edit bay. I also am terrible at run on sentences and can't summarize if my life depended on it. Be thankful you're reading and not listening to me because that means you can stop at any time. Kidding. Well, kind of.

On that note, once again my name is Alexandra, Alex for short, and I am an Associate Producer. My job is a little bit different as some of the other AP's as I tend to do more of the field segments, rather than the studio ones. That means I spend my days going on location shoots to visit people who own their own amazing stores, talk to homeowners that let me inside their dream homes and meet phenomenal artists that make me feel like I get to spend my day at a really good arts and crafts class. Guests and audience members often ask me, what's it like to work on the show? And I respond by saying "It's like reading your favourite lifestyle magazine everyday, only you actually get to visit the places that you can only see in the pictures and do the things that you read about on paper". It's a lot of work, make no mistake TV is not all glamour and we're a hardworking bunch. But the people we get to meet and stories we do keep us going.

Case in point, this past week I went to a super cool store in Toronto called Baby on the Hip to shoot a Smart Shopper with Minnow Hamilton from www.savvymom.ca who was going to educate us on some of the different options out there for baby carriers. Being the mom of a beautiful (and very tall) almost 17 month daughter I have discovered many eye-opening things upon becoming a first time parent and none of them have to do with crying at 3 a.m. or the endless diaper changes. One of the first is that is absolutely sucks having to use a stroller and you learn pretty quickly how inaccessible a lot of places are for strollers and wheelchairs. Steps are everywhere and elevators are prized possessions usually surrounded by a line up of people waiting to use what seems to be the only one in service at any given establishment. And using a stroller in the winter is like something out of a dark comedy. Ever try pushing lightweight umbrella stroller through a heap of snow that the plows have conveniently compressed at the corner of a four way stop? Where the only way for you to get around it would literally be to go on the road and around it? Yeah, not the brightest idea. At all. But there comes a point where you can literally go stir crazy being cooped up indoors during the winter and even just getting out to a park can be, cliches aside, a breath of fresh air.

From that came the idea for the Baby Carrier Smart Shopper. A lot of staff story ideas by the way, come from our own lives. Things that we would like to know more about or how to make our lives easier and more economical. If you have anything that you want us to cover, send us an email. We're always game to know what our viewers want to learn more about. But back to the shoot, I knew that baby carriers were used quite often for younger babies but I wanted to find out if there was any amicable solution to my current dilemma of having a toddler but not wanting to use a stroller. So we all met up at Baby on the Hip where Cheryl, the co-owner of the store, and Minnow went over the various baby carriers and options for moms and dads out there. The selection these days for carriers on the market is unreal. From styles to fabrics to sizes, there is an option for everyone. And let me tell you, I was so thrilled to learn about the Soft Carrier and witness one first hand on Mable and her mom Lisa, that I fully plan on trying one on with my daughter as soon as humanely possible so that I can leave my stroller at home.

What is a Soft Carrier you ask? Well, watch the show Tuesday January 20th to find out.

— Alex, Associate Producer

Clothing Exchange

Gotta confess guys, I'm loving this blogging thing. Thank you to Margo and Sara for your comments this week. Please keep me updated on your progress, okay? We're in this together.

Alright, two items on the agenda today. Firstly, I've decided to face the wardrobe thing head on and have organized a 'clothing exchange party'. Ever heard of one of these? Here's how it works. I've invited about 15 friends to bring the clothes they've either outgrown or lost interest in, grab a bottle of wine and some snacks, and gather at my place on January 30th. We're going to hang up all of our stuff and let the trading begin. I was talking to another mom who told me this is how she got the fabulous outfit she was wearing at the time, and I thought the idea sounded fun. If things work out we should all go home with some new(ish) clothes without spending a dime. If anyone's interested in learning more about how to throw a clothing exchange party of their own, I recommend this website. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

The second order of business is an SOS to other moms out there. Mabel has reached a point where eating seems to be the last thing on her mind. She gets in her high chair and immediately starts saying, "All done" - even first thing in the morning. I want her to eat well, but she's 18 months and I feel like I should be teaching her to follow her instinct with food and eat when she's hungry. We're trying to eat with her as best we can, but she seems more interested in throwing food on the floor.

Snack time has become 'catch up time'. And that leads to a lunch fiasco because she's not hungry then either. I've tried letting her eat standing up, I've tried ignoring the food throwing, I've even put the food away and told her the kitchen was closed after she'd put most of her food on the wall and in her hair. She's happy and healthy, but sometimes I worry that she's a little thin. I'm wondering if any of you out there have experienced this and have some survival tips, or even just some words of wisdom. Is this a phase? Help ladies!

— Lisa Brooke, Writer, Steven and Chris

Inside Studio 65: Hi!

Hello! My name is Lisa (another one) but everyone around here calls me "LC". I'm one of the PA's (Production Assistants) on the show so if you ever come down to our studio you'll see me running between the set, the green room and the office making sure everything goes smoothly.

We returned from the holidays a little bit tanned and a lot more excited to get back in the studio to continue Season 2. Our production team has been working hard to ensure you have your daily intake of "fabulous" and you can count on me to give you weekly updates about life behind the scenes of the Steven & Chris show.

Stay tuned!

ttfn,
LC

— Lisa-Marie Chen, Production Assistant

HOLIDAY TREATS

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you enjoyed your holidays and were able to celebrate
with good friends and family, but more importantly, I hope you ate lots of COOKIES!

Over the course of the holidays, while I was home visiting my family in Johnville, New Brunswick,
I went on an eating spree. I do understand that there is a bit of a tradition associated with the holidays;
"CELEBRATE WITH FOOD" but I think I took it to a new level. I was eating myself into a food coma each day from the selection of chocolates, cookies, candies, baked goodies and etc that were finding their
way into the house each day. I began to really look forward to the next arrival of visitors,
not because of the good company or conversation that would ensue, but because I knew they were going
to bring with them a new edible Christmas treat..... I was becoming a dessert viper!!!!

In addition to the excessive consumption of baked goods (of which I was partaking with gusto),
I was also becoming an expert in baked goods recognition. I knew from the moment
someone walked in the door if they had a tin of shortbread, or if it was Christmas cake.
I could tell if the chocolates in the box were cream chocolates, or caramel clusters.
I should have been on a game show called "NAME THAT TREAT" - I would have been
the lucky contestant to talk away with a million dollars. Well, I guess if it was
a show about naming treats & goodies, I probably wouldn't win any money. I would
probably win a years worth of cookies, or chocolates or something, which considering
my affinity for treats, would probably be a good second to winning the million dollars.

Anyways, while I have been just rambling about desserts,I do have a specific example.....

One day, my parents neighbour, Alma came over and brought us a lovely tin of
cookies. As I've already mentioned, I have a keen eye at dessert recognition,
but this one was even more exciting because I knew the recipe was from
Steven & Chris. Alma was impressed that I was able to so quickly identify
"Dorin's Fudgy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars" (which by the way are the most delicious
cookies on the planet!) Now, these cookies are no different from any other ones
and I ate them with the same level of gusto as any others, but just a tip
if you want a delicious recipe for cookies, this is a good one.

Now although I have painted myself as a gluttonous dessert viper, I did in fact
have a great holiday and I was glad to be able to spend the holidays with my friends and family
celebrating with food (as the tradition suggests). It's a new year again, and I won't
fall back into my dessert obsessed ways until next holiday season, which makes it a
pattern of behaviour I can live with, but that being said I am headed to the gym
today after work in hopes of fitting back into my pants eventually.....

So, I hope all your holidays were lovely, and your New Years happy!!
And if you have any cookie recipes you think I should try, send them
on over, and I'll save them for next year, and then I'll make
all of them!!!

For Dorin's Chocolate Chip Bar recipe, click here!

— Zoe Kazakos, Production Coordinator

Baby Weight

Greetings friends of Steven and Chris. Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Lisa and I write for the show. I've been a writer for quite a few years, but for the last year and a half I've also juggled the job of being a mother.

This is a great place to work, especially if you love to eat. And I do so love to eat. One of hardest things about my pregnancy was that the weight I gained during it would not come off afterwards. Oh I know it comes with the territory. But honestly, if one more mother, advice column, or one of my friends without children, had said "oh breast feeding really helps get the weight off", I might have lost my nut.

I felt I'd been in pretty good shape before the pregnancy. I'd been a runner and managed to hit the gym three or four times a week. I could fit into about a size 6, sometimes even a 4 and I was relatively happy with my body. I was pretty sure that the weight would come right off. I remember telling a friend a few weeks after I gave birth that I'd have the weight off by Christmas. I'd given birth on Canada Day and thought that sounded reasonable. Ha! Forgive the expression, but fat chance.

By Christmas I was still about twenty pounds heavier than I'd been before, and my hormones were raging. Oh and the breast-feeding? Yeah, I was still doing that. Let's just say that didn't exactly help with the emotional balance I was trying to achieve. Getting to the gym is tough when you're a new mom, but I did what I could. The saddest part of it all was that when I was alone - and ONLY when I was alone - I would look at the landscape of my new body and silently hate myself . My partner was supportive, but he was exhausted too and he didn't have the energy to get 'the party started' (a truly common symptom of new parenting). Am I painting a clear enough picture? I was overweight, sleepless, self-loathing and 'not getting any'.

I didn't lose the weight by Christmas, but something else did happen around that time. My raging hormones started to even out. I could tell this because when my daughter cried it didn't erase my memory. Prior to that, when I would put her in her car seat and get ready to go out the door she would cry and I would forget why and where I was going. I hadn't stopped breast-feeding yet however, and I hadn't lost the weight either. I started to feel even worse about this situation because most 'experts' believed that the weight should be off by about 8 months postpartum. I didn't feel I had a chance at hitting this target date.

Fast forward a few months. As the spring returned I'd finally made peace with my new body. Who am I kidding? I hated it more than ever because now I had experienced all four seasons without fitting into my old clothes. And let me tell you, it's expensive to replace almost your entire year-round wardrobe. I couldn't really afford to do it, so I mostly made do in too-close fitting clothes that didn't flatter all of my jiggly parts. Am I turning you on? If so, let me clarify... what's doing it for you? Is it the anger or the low self esteem? Rrrrrooowww!

Here I am in January, and I stopped breast feeding six months ago. When I did I dispelled another myth I'd heard: that stopping the breast feeding took the weight off. I've since stopped listening to the experts altogether. I now realize that my body's going to do what it's going to do, and I have to find a way for the two of us to get along. We've got a history, and we're going to be together a long time. I have things to work on though, and one is that I have to start hearing compliments like "you look great!' as invitations to start talking about my own perceived lack of success in the weight loss department. This is a lesson I've learned before but obviously forgotten. When someone gives you a compliment, be gracious and accept it. They don't need to hear why they're wrong, it's makes you both feel bad.

My daughter is a beautiful, happy, friendly 18 month-old named Mabel. She is the light of my life. And I can't imagine living my life without her. And of course it goes without saying that she was worth it - although the moms, advice columns, and friends without children in my life rush to point it out at every opportunity. But still I find myself standing in front of the mirror in the morning trying to remember what that other me looked like and if I will ever see her again.

— Lisa Brooke, Writer, Steven and Chris

Your Comments

We love to get your comments at Steven and Chris - however, over the holiday, it might take some time to approve your comments on our site. We will definitely see them, and will approve them when we can!

If you have time off, enjoy it! And have a great holiday!

Comments (55) | Permalink

Steven and Chris Holiday Schedule

Since there's so much happening over the holidays - and there's so many great specials to watch - we're taking a break and giving everyone a chance to catch up on any Steven and Chris you may have missed! Here's our holiday schedule:

Monday Dec 22 - Episode 18
Just in time for the holidays, Rodney's here to make Turkey and Gravy! Hina Khan is in to talk about Boundaries, and how to safeguard yours. We learn all about choosing the proper Eyeglasses for Your Face, and we go out to the prairies for our newest House Proud in Saskatoon!

Tuesday Dec 23 - Episode 42
Steven and Chris talk Tiles and which are the right ones for you! Sandra Pierce is back to teach us How to Reduce Debt, then Robin Antin, creator of the Pussycat Dolls, teaches us (and Chris!) How to Dance in High Heels. If you're thinking pets, we have our Smart Shopper: Dogs, just before Ask Steven and Chris helps you with your decor questions.

Wednesday Dec 24 - Episode 29
Moe has hot Winter Coats and Boots for cold winter nights! Then, Lori Dennis is back to talk about Building Your Self-Confidence, and Corinne from Have Baby, Will Travel has great ideas for travelling with kids. Our House Proud looks at a beach house just out of the city, and Ask Steven and Chris solves your design dilemmas.

Thursday Dec 25 - Episode 27
We look into decorating with Architectural Salvage, then talk with author Jeffrey Zaslow about The Last Lecture. Oscar the Grouch comes by to show us how to make Litterless Lunches, our newest To Dine For visits Delux, and Ask Steven and Chris solve your design issues!

Friday Dec 26 - Episode 45
Jamie Oliver stops by to talk about his new show and to make an amazing roasted vegetable salad! Kim Kucher helps us work our arms and chest in a new Gym Class, then Jackie Chiesa from William Ashley China teaches us to Store and Care for Silver. Our What's in Store visits Commesse, a fashionable store for plus-size women, before Steven and Chris solve your design dilemmas!

Monday Dec 29 - Episode 49
Moe has Hot Winter Styles! Chris chats with Barbara Coloroso about Teaching Kids Ethics, then we visit Barami in Montreal for our newest What's In Store. Lee-Anne Lyon is back and this time, she's looking at doing a Pantry Purge, then Steven and Chris offer advice for your home!

Tuesday Dec 30 - Episode 50
Margot Austin returns to talk about the Farmhouse Look, then Dr. Guy Grenier discusses Dealing with Money Woes in a Relationship. Deborah Cox has a Fabulist for us, then Genny Iannucci teaches us about Trousers, just before Ask Steven and Chris tackles another design challenge.

Wednesday Dec 31 - Episode 53
Joshna Maharaj gives us 3 Easy Pasta Combos for your next meal! Woodson Merrill chats about his new book, 'The Source', then our Smart Shopper talks Tires. Fabio's All About Bangs today, then Ask Steven and Chris answers your burning design questions.

Thursday Jan 1 - Episode 32
Deb's tackling the den for another Decor on a Dime, while Vee Mistry has the lowdown on Hair Removal from Head-to-Toe! Anabel Karmel comes in to help us Deal with Fussy Eaters, our Smart Shopper examines Fireplaces, and Ask Steven and Chris takes on more viewer design questions!

Friday Jan 2 - Episode 48
Sandy Gold helps us in Finding the Right Red Lipstick just in time for the holiday party season! Hellen Buttigieg talks about Finding Focus, and Lauren Fix has everything you need for an Emergency Kit for your Car! In House Proud, we visit a fabulously renovated bachelor pad and in Ask Steven and Chris, the boys takes on your design problems!

Monday Jan 5 - Episode 11
Moe Kelso shows us how to be fashionable from Head-to-Toe for Under $100! David Servan-Schreiber chats with Chris about his book, 'Anticancer' and Steven gives us tips and tricks straight from the Florist. What's in Store checks out Liv, a store with a little bit of everything for your home, and in Ask Steven and Chris, the boys talk painting wood.

Tuesday Jan 6 - Episode 35
Steven and Chris help you figure out which Flooring is perfect for your home, then Sherry Torkos returns to talk about Immunity Boosters, just in time for cold and flu season! Chris' Angels are back to test products As Seen on TV, and our Red Carpet Rundown hits Virgin's Mad Hatter's Ball just before Ask Steven and Chris answers your decor questions.

Wednesday Jan 7 - Episode 31
The Hour's George Stromboulopoulos cooks up Steak and Eggs with Steven, then Chris and Hina Khan discuss How to End a Friendship. Liliana's back this season with a lesson on Undergarments just before we visit Bailey Chairs for another Handmade - and as always, Ask Steven and Chris wraps things up!

Thursday Jan 8 - Episode 52
Lorraine Gauthier shows us her green Now House and talks how to save energy! Mike Virro's here with Five Ways to Get Pregnant, then Phillip Bloch gives us his Fabulist of style don'ts. Rodney shows us How to Carve a Turkey before Ask Steven and Chris solves your design dilemmas.

Friday Jan 9 - Episode 23
Steven's Mom stops in to make Peach Crisp! Then, the Smart Cookies teach us How to Start a Money Club, and we get a fashion lesson on Wearing Cardigans Three Ways. What's in Store visits Mulberry Farms, and as always, there's Ask Steven and Chris!

Holiday Visits

We had a few visitors for our holiday shows! First, we had these lovely ladies with their Anne-like disco balls:

And this group from Princess Margaret Hospital:

Thank you for coming to the show!

Gluten-Free Baking!

Thanks to Tricia Valcourt for sending in the tasty gluten-free cakes you see above! They were well enjoyed by Steven and Chris and the whole team!

If you'd like to know more about Tricia's cakes, check out her site:
http://nutriciagourmet.com/
nutriciagourmet@gmail.com

http://www.iddko.com/en/house/gift-ideas/umbrella-black-white.html

Wine Bottle Umbrella

Boozy or not? I'm not sure, but the wine bottle umbrella is still pretty cool! If you need to have one, visit:

If you loved Chris' PJs...

Here's where to get them!

Snug as a Bug
www.snugasabug.com
$59.95

Friends and Best of Bridge

First, we'd like to show you some lovely ladies who treated themselves to a limo ride from Belleville for the show!

Thanks for coming! It's amazing to see friends and family come together to spend time with each other and us. Speaking of friendship, the Best of Bridge ladies turned theirs into a business with their successful cookbooks. The cookbooks have a ton of great sayings; here's some of our favourites!

All I ask is the chance to prove money can't make me happy.

Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before they smell the bacon frying.

There is no justification for spitting in a man's face, unless his mustache is on fire.

The best time to make friends is before you need them.

Maybe hard work won't kill a man, but on the other hand, who ever heard of anyone resting to death?

There are two theories about arguing with women, Neither one works.

If your children want to learn to drive, don't stand in their way.

They say hard work never killed anyone, but why take a chance on being the first casualty?

The best way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.

A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

I always do my best thinking over a glass of beer. Two heads are better than one.

As every intelligent husband knows, the best time to wash the dishes is right after his wife tells him to.

Most kids only eat spinach so they'll grow up and be big and strong enough to tell mom what she can so with her spinach.

May your life be like a roll of toilet paper - long and useful.

Love is like a mushroom. You never know if it's the real thing until it's too late.

What's really appalling is that in twenty years, these will be the good old days.

After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.

The best way to get a good cup of coffee in the morning is to wake up your spouse first.

The man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone else he can blame it on.

If the shoe fits, buy the other one too.

The doctors are saying that drinking is bad for us. I don't know. You see a lot more old drunks than old doctors.

The cost of living is high, but consider the alternative.

A lot of people don't care who wears the pants in the family as long as there is money in the pockets.

Middle age is when the phone rings on a Saturday night and you hope it's the wrong number.

Home repair is like casino gambling - the house always wins.

Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.

Middle age is that time of life when you can feel bad in the morning without having had fun the night before.

The only thing worse than being old and bent is being young and broke.

http://www.gagirl.com/quiz/lipstick.html

What does your favourite lipstick say about you?

Take your lipstick personality quiz at:

And post your results here after!

http://www.habitat.ca/
http://www.habitat.org/

Bid on a Steven and Chris Gingerbread House!

Look at this lovely and tasty gingerbread house! It was created by Steven and Chris for Habitat for Humanity Toronto's 6th Annual Gingerbread Build! If you live in the Toronto area, kick off the holiday season by helping to build a 'home sweet home' for a family in need by decorating your own gingerbread house - or better yet, head over to eBay to bid on Steven and Chris' house!

It's for a great cause - helping families get closer to having their very own home for the holidays. For Habitat for Humanity in other cities in Canada and internationally, visit:

http://upsidedowndogs.com/

Upside Down Dogs

For those of you looking for the link with amusing dog pictures from yesterday's show, here it is!

Cadbury Chocolate Couture

On Monday's show (the 17th), we featured this stunning outfit from the 2008 Cadbury Chocolate Couture Collection!

Can you believe this was entirely made of chocolate? I bet there's a few of us that would eat most of it before stepping out the door...

Thanks to Cadbury for sending the outfit! Visit http://cadburycouture.ca/ for more about these amazing creations!

http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/community/index.shtml#20081115_warm_sole

Bata Shoe Museum "Warm the Sole" Sock Drive

The Bata Shoe Museum's Annual "Warm the Sole" Sock Drive is kicking off soon to provide those who need a little help with clean, dry, new socks for the winter season. This year, they're also having an online auction with handmade socks from many celebrities - including our own Steven and Chris! Here's a shot of their finished product:

For more about the Bata Shoe Museum "Warm the Sole" Sock Drive and the online auction, visit:

And no matter where you live, consider donating some new socks to those who are less fortunate. A small comfort can go a long way!

Debbie's Entertaining Tips

A few exclusive entertaining tips for you from Debbie Travis!

Debbie's Entertaining Tips

1. Put together a good group. I always look for the vivacious talkers - the shy quiet types are only if your desperate or need a filler.

2. Never have 13 at the table.

3. Always do a bit of match making - singles are a must.

4. It's imperative to serve drinks as soon as people arrive so they are a little sloshed and happy before they sit down to dinner - good to have a special drink for the evening on arrival - they always feel they should at least try it. Make it strong.

5. Play lively music at the beginning - stay away from the classics unless you want a boring intellectual night.

6. Make sure the food limits you to the least amount of time in the kitchen - I like roasts and stews

7. Great game between courses is the Proust report that is at the back of Vanity Fair - where would you like to die, most important person in your life - guaranteed to cause a huge row.

http://www.wikihow.com/Fake-Sick-to-Stay-Home-from-School

How to Fake Sick

If you're interested in the site that Steven and Chris talked about how to fake sick from, check out:

http://flickr.com/groups/930040@N21/

What did you do for Hallowe'en?

Well, you know what we did for Hallowe'en - but we're wondering what happened with YOUR evening of ghosts and goblins.

Check out our flickr group for Hallowe'en 2008 here:

And add your own photos! Thanks to MississippiMom and selinadrake for our first viewer shots!

Hello Sarnia!

We got a picture in our e-mail that was really too excellent not to share!

Aw, well thanks. We love Sarnia right back!

Guest Blogger: Corrine from Have Baby, Will Travel!

Corrine McDermott was kind enough to write for us after she appeared on the show! Here's her entry:

I was so excited to be asked to appear as a guest on Steven & Chris! I've been such a fan of theirs for so long, and I know that they truly care about the topics they cover - which is great since I care so much about mine! It was my hope to get the message across that not only is travel with a baby possible, it can add so much to your lives as a family.

I was sooooo nervous, but having your makeup professionally done certainly helps ease the trepidation, as does the fact that every single person I met who works on the show was so friendly and obviously loves their job. That kind of enthusiasm is infectious! The 6 minutes went by in a flash, but I was fairly aware that I was getting my points across while having a fun conversation with the guys.

My "5Ts" are tips to prepare you for the journey, but the one thing I 'm not sure I emphasized enough is that the stress is totally worth it. The actual 'travel' is just a blip in what becomes a fantastic memory of the few precious days (or weeks if you're lucky!) where your whole family spent quality time together without the usual distractions of home and work. I was so afraid to go away with our daughter at first, but it was so worth it. My goal with Have Baby Will Travel is to motivate and inspire other new parents to keep traveling!

Thanks to Corinne for being our first guest blogger! To read more from her, head over to:

http://www.havebabywilltravel.com

Hallowe'en and Thank Yous!

As you might have noticed, we've got quite a bit of Hallowe'en going on around the site - and on Friday's show, there'll be a lot of Hallowe'en all over!

We'd like to thank Vicky at The Hollywood Tickle Trunk for loaning us a lot of decor and dressing for the Halloween Special on Friday. If you still have last-minute Hallowe'en needs, trust us - she will definitely hook you up with what you need.

Contact Vicky at:

Hollywood Tickle Trunk
Costume and Prop Rentals
1590 Dundas St. E., Unit 1, Mississauga
905-212-7772
www.hollywoodtickletrunk.ca

Lock-down Lunch!

In case anyone out there (like me!) is all over the cool lock-down lunchbox Steven and Chris showed off in today's show, it's called the Thermapod, and it's available from Grassroots Environmental Products.

Thermopods (BPA free and approved by the FDA)
The Thermopods are your all in one-lunch containers. Complete with separate compartments, these sleek Thermopods come in a variety of colours (green, pink and blue) and are perfect for organizing your lunches. Thermopods are BPA free, Canadian made and approved by the FDA. More at http://www.thermapod.ca/.

The website is:
www.grassrootsstore.com

Or call toll-free at:
1-888-633-5833

http://panaluu.blogspot.com/2008/10/many-cupcakes.html

Gluten-Free Cupcakes - Yum!

Want to try out the gluten free cupcake recipe that Steven and Chris sampled on the show? Here it is!

'Flour' Mix:
1 cup of corn starch
1/2 cup of brown rice flour
1/2 cup of white rice flour
1 cup of potato starch
1/2 cup of corn flour
1/2 cup of tapioca starch
4 tsp xantham gum

Recipe:
2 cups of the above flour
4 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup of butter
1 3/4 cups of sugar
2 tsp of vanilla
1 1/3 cups of milk

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda salt, set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add vanilla and eggs one at a time. Add flour and milk. Mix until smooth. For cupcakes, bake for 25 min.

Thanks to Cate for the recipe! That, the icing, and the cute picture of her daughter are at:

http://greennexxus.cbc.ca/group.aspx?id=161

One Million Acts of Green

Our friends over at The Hour have embarked on a mission to make the world a bit greener - and they need your help!

"We've all heard the warnings. The planet is sitting at the brink of a change so fundamental that immediate action is needed. But when the problem is so big and so complicated where do you start? Well, we think you start simple. One act at a time.

One Million Acts of Green is a collaborative environmental campaign. It's an opportunity to harness your creativity and good initiative. And we're not going to let your contribution go unnoticed. We'll add up each and every Act of Green to calculate the total environmental impact across the country.

So what is an Act of Green? It can be something small like installing a lowflow showerhead. Or something big like covering your roof in solar panels. Together, they'll add up to a huge impact. If you're short on ideas we'll provide you with some. Ones we think you can do. Ones we want you to do. And others people have come up with on their own. They all count."

Head over to www.onemillionactsofgreen.com to sign up - then join the Steven and Chris Show group at:

And start racking up Acts of Green with other Steven and Chris fans!

Tools as a gift?

As a tip, Marissa from Moxie Trades said that it's a good idea to give kids their own toolbox and tools so they can begin to learn to use tools from a young age. And in my experience, it works!

My dad got my brother and I toolboxes for Christmas when I was about twelve and my brother was ten - and every year after that, he got us tools to add to the toolbox. At the time we were both like, 'What a lame present'... But years later, when we moved into our own places, we realized what a great gift that had been. Where friends of ours might have to use a shoe for a hammer or a butter knife for a screwdriver, we had everything we needed to take care of around-the-house work and repairs.

About 20 years later, I still have the tools and I use them more than ever! Tools are indeed for everyone.

- Nicole.

Steven and Chris on GO!

If you miss the boys during the weekend, here's your chance to get a Saturday hit of fabulous! Tune in to CBC Radio One this Saturday at 10 AM (10:30 NT) to catch Steven and Chris on GO!

You spend hours gazing into your lover's eyes. Over the years, you've memorized every laugh line and freckle on their face. Or have you?

This week on GO!, we're gonna find out just how well three couples really know each other. Steven and Chris and a team of stylists from Salon Delineation in Toronto to give one person from each couple a makeover. But will their partner be able to spot the changes? Find out on GO's Mystery Makeover.

Listen to GO! on CBC Radio One, or on the web at: http://www.cbc.ca/go/

Edmonton!

We recently visited Edmonton and had such a great time! Thank you to each and every one of you that attended the shows - we loved meeting you. Although it wasa short visit we really enjoyed ourselves... not to mention the crazy warm weather... we really loved that!

We thought we'd share a couple of our photos from the trip:

Chris is always making friends...

Hello blog readers!

And we wanted to remind anyone that has a design question - from Edmonton or anywhere else - to please send it to stevenandchris@cbc.ca with pictures and we will do our best to answer them!

Thanks again, Edmonton!

- Steven and Chris

Printable Recipes!

You asked, and we provided! All pages on the Steven and Chris site are now printable. Just click the 'Print This Article' link at the top of the page.

We hope this will make working with the recipes a lot easier. Hope you like it!

Comments (13) | Permalink

Chris' Mom's Gravy

First off, thanks for all your tips on getting rid of fruit flies! We've had lots come in over the past few days, along with a lookalike suggestion that entertained the whole team (Thanks, Indy!). We love your e-mails and comments, so keep them coming - and feel free to chat in the message boards as well!

Chris couldn't remember his mom's gravy recipe, but we've got it here. It's also a vegetarian/vegan option too!

Chris' Mom's Gravy

Take 1 tin of Campbell's Onion Soup and blend in 1 cube of Knorr thickener in a medium pot. Add some of the juices from cooked vegetables, and a splash of red wine. Throw in a few sauteed mushrooms. Heat until warm, then puree.

Who does Steven look like?

Well, we all know who Chris looks like after today's show... but who does Steven look like? If you have an idea, post it here or e-mail us at: stevenandchris@cbc.ca

Maybe you have a picture of a friend or family member? Another animated option? Whatever it is, pass it along! You just might see it on our next show!

A Message from Pink

When Pink came by to do our Fabulist, she was pretty impressed with the room we had set up for her - score another one for our amazing stylists! When she left, she just had to leave her mark... and we thought you might like to see it.

I don't know that we're sleeping horribly, but we do miss you! <3!

Marriage Savers!

We've been asking you to send in your 'marriage savers' - little tips and tricks that help a marriage or relationship go a bit more smoothly. And we've been loving your answers, from the serious to the silly... so keep sending them in!

If you have a great relationship-saving tip, post it here, or e-mail stevenandchris@cbc.ca - then tune in over the next few weeks to see if we read yours on the air.

My marriage saver? SEPARATE COMPUTERS. If my husband and I had shared a computer for longer than a few months, we wouldn't have gotten to a wedding - it would have ended at Thunderdome. Two users enter, one user leaves!

- Nicole.

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Arlene and the Back Buddie

Arlene Dickinson is such an inspiration for anyone who's trying to make it in the business world, or just trying to change themselves and their lives. She truly shows that, with the right determination and skill, there's no end to what you can achieve - no matter when you start!

If you liked the 'Back Buddie' Chris demonstrated at the top of the show - or any other of the products on Dragons' Den - here's where to find them: www.shopdragonsden.com!

Products are available from the first, second and third seasons of Dragons' Den - even some that the Dragons didn't pick.

Casting Calls!

Our casting call page is being updated with more and more opportunities to be on the show! If you have adult kids that won't leave home, fashion questions, or thoughts about letter writing, we're looking for you. Check out our Casting Calls!

Show Video

We just wanted to drop a note that we are indeed working on getting video up from the new season's shows - but there have been a few roadblocks and difficulties in the process. We expect it to be sorted out some time this week. In the meantime, please bear with us, and know that when video goes up, you'll hear it here first!

Anxiety and Relaxation

As we talked about on the show today, I like to listen to meditation CDs as a way to relax and centre before the show. If you find it difficult to meditate on your own, a meditation CD can make a big difference. Having guidance makes it easier to keep your mind focused on the meditation, rather than the bills you haven't paid or the chores you haven't done. A good CD to start with is 'Meditation for Beginners' from Jack Kornfield.

Personally, I like to listen to a CD with a bit of music, but I don't have my favourites with me right now. I'll post a few more in the next couple of days for everyone else that might need some relaxation in their life!

- Chris.

Which Ice Cream Are You?

Want to see if you're more like Steven or Chris? Or if you have your own fabulous flavour?

Head over to: http://quiz.ivillage.com/food/tests/icecream.htm

And let us know what you wind up with!

Do you have a fall gardening question?

Are you wondering how best to prepare your garden for the ravages of the winter to come? What to prune, what to leave alone and what to wrap in burlap? Marjorie Harris is ready to answer your fall gardening questions so if you live in Southern Ontario, send us an e-mail describing your gardening dilemma to stevenandchris@cbc.ca!

If you live elsewhere, send us a video that clearly shows both you and your gardening problem to stevenandchris@cbc.ca. And remember - spring is only six months away!

Check out this and other opportunities to be part of the show on our Casting Call page!

Breakthrough with Suzanne Somers!

Suzanne Somers is coming to Steven and Chris! The actress, author and wellness advocate will be chatting with the boys about her new book Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness - and we want you to be there for this special pre-taped interview.

If you're available on Tuesday, September 9th at 12:45 PM, just e-mail stevenandchristix@cbc.ca or fill out our ticket form. See you there!

Summer and the new season - September 15th!

Now that we're coming to the end of a busy, wonderful (and wet) summer, we've begun work on the new season of Steven and Chris!

Going into our second season is very exciting - and from the response you've been sending our way, it sounds like you're excited too. Thank you for the many warm comments and e-mails. It means a lot to us that you take time out of your busy lives to write! Keep sending in your questions and thoughts to stevenandchris@cbc.ca.

Our all-new shows will start on September 15th, and we have lots of surprises in store this year. If you're planning to be in the Toronto area, we'd love for you to come down and see us - just e-mail stevenandchristix@cbc.ca or fill out our ticket form.

Enjoy the rest of the summer - we hope it was a great one!

Comments (17) | Permalink

Wonderful Winnipeg (and its Caesar Salad)

We just got back from Winnipeg and the Home Expressions Show, which was absolutely stunning. The people are wonderful everywhere we go, but they were especially warm in Winnipeg. We could feel the energy of the crowd as soon as we came out at the Home Expressions Show -- it was so electric -- and it made me cry! There were just so many positive people. We talked about all the ups and downs we'd had in our career and how it was because of them that we have this new chance, which is when I got clamped up. So thank you to everyone in Winnipeg!

Albert And I have to tell you about the waiter we had at the Winnipeg's Fairmont restaurant, The Velvet Glove. His name was Albert, he'd been working there for more than 25 years and he was the best waiter I've ever had! The food was amazing, the hotel was gorgeous and Albert was such a treat to watch because he was so good at what he did and so nice -- you could tell he really loved his job. He also made the best caesar salad I've ever had and I'm a bit of a caesar salad connoisseur! He made it right at the table and it was the highlight for me. I asked him for the recipe, so I can share with all of you! You really must try this. And thank you to Albert for making our night.

Caesar Salad

Makes 2 serving entree size or 4 app size salads

Ingredients
1 egg yolk
1-2 clove fresh garlic/roasted garlic to taste
1 tbsp Dijon
pinch of anchovies paste
6 turns of coarse black pepper
4 shakes of Worcestershire sauce
4 drops Tabasco
1/4 cup olive oil
juice of half a lemon
full head of romaine lettuce
two tbsp of grated parmesan
croutons to taste
parmesan shards to finish

Method
Shred head of romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Combine egg, garlic, Dijon, anchovies, pepper, Worcestershire and Tabasco. Slowly pour in olive oil while whisking briskly (if the sauce is too thick, you can add a bit of water). Add lemon. Pour dressing over lettuce and sprinkle with grated parmesan. Add croutons and parmesan shards to finish. Enjoy!

-- Chris.

Comments (18) | Permalink

Making Better Choices

So, on today's show we had nutritionist Zannat Reza come in to talk about picking breakfast foods and I wasn't really surprised by what foods were better for me than others. But I thought her tip about ordering sauces on the side was so brilliant! Eggs benedict is my favourite and I never have it because I know it's so bad for you, but if you order it with the sauce on the side, you can save so many calories. That's a great tip you can use all the time -- be it on salads, eggs benedict, French toast or fries with gravy.

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Today's DIY

I really hope everyone enjoyed my DIY lampshade projects. When we were in Winnipeg, we met a lady who just wanted to perk up her room and I think making a great lampshade like the ones we did today can really add personality to your space in an instant. It's a nice way to change your space easily. And remember you don't have to use what we used -- you can decorate your shades with anything you like. Use your imagination!

--Steven

Makeover Magic

The makeover we did with Michelle on today's show was just amazing because the connection between her and her mother was so lovely. Her mother couldn't watch the set up piece we filmed with her without tearing up, and it was so good to see that emotion between them. Michelle seemed a little nervous at the beginning when we surprised her but when she started to see how much this meant to her mom, she opened up more and more. It was beautiful! And after the makeover, Michelle just worked it! She came out, didn't care about the cameras and was just bubbly and fabulous. It was so lovely. We do what we do because of people like Michelle!

I also thought the wine ladies on our show today were so much fun! I think what I learned is not only why we have all these different wine glasses but also that there is one glass you can use for most of your wines so you don't have to splash out on a huge assortment of them. I think wine can be very elitist and I'm so much more down to earth than that. I put my wine glasses in the dishwasher and sometimes the stems break, so I'm not going to go out and buy 10 different types of glasses. And at the same time now I know what the special glasses are, what's out there and what to get if I like a particular type of wine and want to splurge on something especially for it! I hope you all enjoyed the show as much as I did.

-- Steven

Kindness

I was just reading some of our fabulous viewer e-mail and came across this great one that Connie Dean sent in a little while ago when we were talking about kindness on the show. I just thought it was so moving and wanted you all to have a chance to read it! Here's what Connie had to say:

Steven & Chris,
I enjoy your show very much and take a late lunch hour just to be able to watch it. Keep up the great job.

In this day and age when all you ever hear is how the young people have no respect for anything and just want to party. I am proud to say I know 5 young men that made me cry through their act of kindness. My son graduated in December '07 from the RCMP academy in Regina, Saskatchewan. Being a single parent my whole world has revolved around my 4 children when I haven't been working 2 jobs. Like all young men my son and his friends like to party as well. When the time came for me to go to his graduation the cost didn't matter, I was going to be there. One of his friends came to the house the week before my trip and told me how him and the guys would love to be there as well but it was too close to Christmas and they just couldn't afford to go. They were going to miss him as he was going to be stationed on the other side of the country. I agreed and told him that my son would understand. They had decided that if they couldn't go, I should at least not have to worry about any expenses. We live in Saint John, N.B. and he handed me an envelope with all their names on it, giving me enough money between them to cover most of my expenses, including plane, hotel and car rental. It made me cry to see how special my sons friends were and to know how much he must do for them in return . They are a great group of young men and on my return I gave each of them a gift from the RCMP gift shop as well as a framed photo of my son in uniform. They were touched that I would even think to bring them something back. Yes, the good feelings continue each and every time I think of their kindness and I thank God my son is blessed with such good friends.

Sincerely. Connie Dean

Thank you so much for sharing, Connie! What a touching story.

-- Chris.

Thank You Winnipeg!

We had what was probably one of the best weekends we've ever had in Winnipeg. We were at the Home Expressions Show, which was beautifully put together. We were in a gorgeous theatre, where we did a PowerPoint presentation and the crowd's energy was just so touching. The people were so supportive and kind to us, which made it so positive. We would like to thank everyone who attended and to those who weren't able to get in, we're devastated we didn't get to see you. We were also so upset when we got home because we wanted to talk about being in Winnipeg on the show, but we realized we didn't take any pictures! So, if you have any photos from the Home Expressions Show, please send them to us at stevenandchris@cbc.ca. We'd love to see them and share them!

-- Steven

Finding Balance

I gotta tell you, I've brought yoga into my life and it is so great. One of our producers on the show, Alana, is a yoga fitness trainer at Goodlife in downtown Toronto and she's been helping me work out (Alana also does private lessons). The great thing is we can do it after work! When we're done for the day, she'll just go down to the dressing room, warm it up and then she just work me mental. It's made a huge difference.

Where yoga can take your mind is so amazing. The levels you achieve are incredible. At the end, she does a relaxing exercise and I literally pass out, which is not something I do -- I don't nap. But with yoga, Alana has brought me to such a heightened state and such a relaxed one.

You've got to have that balance in your life. I could work 18 hours a day and still go home and work for three more hours, which isn't good. So, this is helping me a lot. I think it's important everyone finds a way to stay balanced. I hope all of you have found yours!
-- Steven

What a Fabulous Show!

Meeting Kathleen Turner today was so amazing! I've loved Kathleen all through her career and we were so nervous because she's such a huge star. I've never interviewed someone like that, so it was very intimidating, but she came out and nearly bowled me over with a huge hug. We spent some time just prior to the interview with her in her dressing room and we really felt a connection with her. This woman that everyone thinks is aloof and kind of standoffish is so not. She's a strong woman and I wouldn't mess around with her, but she's one of the sweetest, most generous people I've met.

Her book, Send Yourself Roses, really is worth reading, too. You think it's going to be about the male stars she's been involved with, but it's really not. All the inspiring things about her life are so much more powerful. She could have really sat down and been a real downer, but she wasn't at all. Kathleen was just interviewed by Martha Stewart, Larry King -- she's been everywhere. But when she was leaving our show, she told me she had the most fun with us. She didn't want to be drilled or be hounded about all the negative things that have happened, so we just had fun together! It was a really great experience. Hope you enjoyed watching her, too!
-- Chris

Comments (20) | Permalink

Back on Track and Feeling Great!

I'm really enjoying this whole working out thing and I'm very proud of myself because I'm starting to do it myself. But I have to tell everyone out there who is supporting me and telling me to keep going that getting fit has been the hardest thing. It's easier not to care and let yourself go than it is to fight it. I spend so much time not wanting to work out, but when I do it, I feel so good about myself! It's not just the way I look -- it's the way I feel. It's that positive feeling that you've done something positive for yourself. It's really made a difference for me.

So, I want everyone to know I'm sticking to. I do cheat. When we were in New York, I gained three pounds, so I was pretty devastated. But I'm back at it now! And what I've been learning from my trainer, I'm now starting to do myself. She was away for four days and I went to the gym three of those days.

Thanks again to everyone for sending in their lovely support. Having all you cheer me on really helps!
-- Chris

Shopping in New York, New York!

Chris and I just got back from a short trip to New York. We went for inspiration for our product line and we hit pretty much every home decor store in New York. We went all up and down 5th Avenue, all through SoHo and basically to every major department store. One thing we really noticed that we don't see here so much is a lot of neon. The department store windows at Saks 5th Avenue were filled with neon bicycles with neon bicycle wear on top of it! Even in home decor stores, there were so many bright colours, some of which were a little much for me.

When we design, we get inspiration from everywhere. We go to stationary stores, wallpaper stores, clothing stores -- everywhere -- because it can all be inspiring. We went to Bloomingdale's to look in the high-end fashion section because you can look at, say, a great jacket and it could inspire an amazing cushion. Anyway, it was an amazing trip and we had a lot of fun! And you'll be able to see all the great ideas we came up with -- but not for a while. We're currently working on our home decor line for Spring 2009. We'll also have a new bedding line out in March, so be sure to look for that!
-- Steven

The Big Apple, The Big Diet Cheat

So, Steven and I just got back from New York, where we were doing some shopping and, I have to confess, I broke my diet in such a big way! On the first day, we were taken out by the people who manufacture our bedding line for Home Outfitters. We went to this amazing, amazing restaurant. It wasn't even the chicest restaurant that we'd ever been to, but when the food started to come out -- oh my God! It seemed like all the appetizers were landing in front of me and it was all so unbelievable. I had foie gras, tuna tartar, shrimp, salad and then I ordered a 34-ounce steak. It was the size of a dinner plate and probably could have fed a family of four, but it was the best thing I have ever tasted. And our brand manager also gave me half of her meal. I ate it all -- and then I felt so sick! The food was just so good and I'd been on a diet for such a long time that I just went so over the top.

The next day, we went to the Mercer Hotel and the restaurant underneath is probably one of the nicest restaurants you'll ever see. It's always full of chic people. They have the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had in my life, so I had that. And then I had the best pork chop I've ever had in my life and a beautiful bottle of chardonnay. After that, we went to Target to do some shopping and they have the most amazing popcorn there, so I bought three monster bags of it and I was eating it the entire trip.

We also had lunch at Fred's, which is one of our favourite places. There was a huge line and we waited for about an hour to get in, but it was so worth it. This place was filled with the most chic women you can possibly imagine -- blown-out hair, cosmetic surgery and more money than God! You can smell the money. It's my favourite place to money watch. I had three cones of French fries there.

I have to admit, it was a big cheat, but I assure you I'm back on the program now that we're home!

--Chris

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There is Such a Thing as Being too Relaxed...

So, this weekend, we decided to do some yoga after being inspired by Trish Stratus coming on the show last week to teach us some basics. One of our producers, Alana, who is a trainer, came over to help us work out. The yoga was absolutely wonderful, but I'm really, really sore now. You realize how flexible you aren't and how out of shape you are!

Later on Saturday, we were invited down to Oasis spa, which we featured on the show last week, for some treatments. I had a wonderful steam facial and Christopher had a rain massage and some kind of body wrap treatment. After that, it was hilarious, Alana, Christopher and I locked ourselves in a glass room where they had these big blankets put out for us. We were relaxing and drinking tea, then Alana started talking us through some yoga exercises, telling us to listen to our own breath and feel ourselves getting heavier and heavier. Well, while we were doing this, all three of us completely passed out. People were walking by this room seeing us wrapped up in these blankets in the middle of the afternoon completely asleep, which was mortifying. Still, it was a definite highlight of the weekend!

I hope all of your weekends were equally as wonderful.
-- Steven