Spring is a great time to clean and organize your house. While you are at it, why not get rid of your old crummy furniture and get some new pieces from Leon’s? :-)

They have a large selection of furniture, appliances, and electronics products for your home. It is a great time to buy as right now they are celebrating their 101st Anniversary with amazing sales in all departments.

One great example is the sofa that is pictured on the right. It was $699 and now on sale for a limited time at $549!

Happy shopping!

If you are looking for great eco-friendly, organic, handmade, and made-in-Canada kids products then look no further than our new merchant Kippo Kids. They have a very unique selection of kid’s products for bed, bath and play. Very cute!

They are also offering free shipping for orders over $175. See all the details here.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. These are three crucial actions that are top of mind with society’s heightened awareness for the need to protect our planet.

What most people don’t fully realize about making green upgrades to reduce the carbon footprint of their homes, is that it can ultimately save them a lot of money! Many eco-upgrades can be implemented quickly, easily, and on a fairly low budget; and between government incentives and savings on your energy bill, it really pays to go green right now!

• How does going green save you money?
  • Government rebates and incentives

• Here is what you can do:
  • Water conservation
  • Energy conservation
  • Energy Star appliances
  • Home Decorating

Read the rest of the article here.

Great news for the design enthusiast: The Home Depot is once again leading the design charge with inspiring solutions from the Martha Stewart Living™ brand.

Now style and quality have never been more affordable! The stunning Martha Stewart Living™ collection has been expertly created by one of the world’s most beloved and trusted design experts, and it provides home decorators with inspired solutions to improve their space and get more enjoyment out of their homes.

The collection includes a broad range of indoor and outdoor living essentials that will instantly bring Martha’s touch into your home, whether you are looking for creative storage solutions or building a backyard paradise.

Read the rest of the article here.

Spring has come early this year in many parts of Canada. We are being blessed with warm, sunny weather! Being able to go outside in a t-shirt makes me long for the summer and the simple joys of being outside in the sun. Gardening is a very relaxing pastime that can keep you active and enjoying the outdoors.

Need some help getting started with your garden this year? Check out our Gardening Calendar. It is a comprehensive checklist for spring gardening to help you get your yard ready for summer. I know I need it! Maybe this year I won’t have to harass my mother to come and help me. :-)

Did you know that Canadians have been perfecting the art of ceramic pottery since the 17th century? These days, modern ceramic techniques allow us to create art as well as functional items like cups, plates, and bowls for everyday use.

When shopping for ceramics for food service, it’s important to make sure that they are safe to eat off of. Certain kinds of pottery are only decorative, like plates that we hang on the wall, vases and ornamental bowls but Greendale Pottery offers decorative pottery as well as a wide selection of service platters. The table sets are varnished in saturated colours, as well as neutrals, that can be matched to any décor. Their collection of cups and saucers as well as their tea services are as pretty as they are practical.

Ceramic is resistant, but not completely immune to stains and scratches. A sponge and a little bit of baking soda could remedy a stain situation and in order to prevent scratches on ceramic plates, wash cutlery separately.

Media Hook, a Toronto-based business, recently launched an environmentally friendly hanger called the Smart Hanger.

‘This hanger is entirely biodegradable, and contains no toxic inks or glues’ explained Leigh Meadows, the company’s president, during the launch of the product held in Toronto.

Media Hook hopes to replace traditional hangers in our homes, but also in dry cleaning businesses around the country. Leigh Meadows shared their objective of 12 million hangers distributed to Ontario dry cleaners in the first year.

The Smart Hanger is a solid triangle made entirely of cardboard fibers, with a space for a message inside the hook.

The actual version is made to hang shirts, but other models are being created for pants and jackets.

The hangers should soon be available in local stores. Media Hook is currently negotiating with department stores and hotels across Canada.

Just because our men just love heading to Canadian Tire for a shot of testosterone on the weekends doesn’t mean that it’s not just as good for us ladies. In fact, Canadian Tire covers just about everything from housewares to sports equipment, auto to electronics! The Debbie Travis line of home décor accessories and furniture is not only clean and contemporary in its design, its also very affordable and should allow you please the decorating divas on your list.

If you live in one of the provinces that are now enforcing cell phone ban laws, check out this great Bluetooth Equipment buying guide to learn more about the ways you can use your phone behind the wheel, without risking a hefty fine right before the holidays bills come in!

Canadian Tire has some great gift ideas for the holidays including Kitchen Gadgets, Gifts for the Car Nut, Gifts for the Handyman, and health and fitness gifts.

With all these suggestions under your belt, we are convinced you will be able to find a little something for everyone on your list, man or woman!

This year, Sears went all out to bring you a super wide variety of popular gifts that are sure to please everyone in the family, and we have consulted closely with their buying teams on what’s hot for the most popular of Christmas gifts every year – Perfume & Cologne, and Top Toys for the season.

We have also collaborated to create some helpful buying guides to give you valuable advice on: How to Choose the Perfect Espresso or Coffee Machine, Small Kitchen Appliances, Personalized Gifts & Birthstone Jewellery, Cozy Sweaters and even one that showcases Sears’ new clothing brands (which we must point out we were happily surprised to discover how youthful and fashionable they are).

Finally, an absolute must this Holiday season is our guide on How to Choose the Right Dress for the Occasion during the season. With a ton of holiday parties and functions to attend, the last thing you want to do is figure out what on earth business chic is supposed to mean! We are sure that with this advice, you will always dress appropriately, no matter whether you’re going to an office function or a fancy gala….and you might even find your dream dress from Sears at the same time!

On top of all this great holiday buying advice, we are happy to share some great picks from Jewellery and Fragrances, Fitness Gifts to appeal to the health conscious, and lastly, if your family welcomed a new addition to the family this year, check out Baby’s First Christmas gifts here.

All this information and great gift suggestions should keep you busy for a while! :) Enjoy!

For the Holiday season this year, we teamed up with some of your favourite stores in order to bring you some helpful shopping advice and buying guides, as well as gift lists tailored to every taste and personality.

This week, I thought I’d give you a quick overview of what you can find on shoptoit.ca’s Christmas page for each of these stores, which include The Home Depot, Sears, Canadian Tire, Hickory Farms, The Source, The Shopping Channel, Dell, Soft Moc, Chapters Indigo and Mountain Equipment Coop.

Let’s start with a favourite for dads:  The Home Depot! They offer tons of advice on every kind of project you might want to take on in your home, but we chose to focus on Home Lighting, Power Tools Essentials & Innovations, and Easy & Cheap Home Upgrades to Take On Before the Holidays. Each guide outlines valuable advice from Home Depot’s experts as well as product suggestions to help you get started with your new project or gift shopping.

As far as Gift Lists go, Home Depot chose to focus on gifts suggestions to suit every budget. You can choose from Gifts Under $50, Gifts from $50 – $99, Gifts over $100 and Gifts for the Chef on your list where you will find useful small appliances and fun gadgets to please the cook on your list.

Get your Christmas shopping done early – without the headaches and crazy crowds. Click here and check out our 2009 Christmas page.