Best Local Hockey

Waterdown is such a great town for local sport.     There is great choice when it comes to Dance Studios, Karate, Soccer, Ice Skating and of course Hockey!

This weekend the Flamborough Minor Peewee AE Sabres are set to finish their best season in years!     At the end of the regular season, the Sabres have acheived a record 23 wins, 2 losses and 3 ties which is the best finish the Flamborough Hockey Association has marked in recent memory.

TOMORROW... SATURDAY MARCH 23rd @ 3pm at the brand new North Wentworth Arena, the boys are hoping to bring home the GOLD in the OMHA (Ontario Minor Hockey Association) Championship.      

The team is hoping that the community will come out and support their team by filling the arena with lots of cheering fans wearing Blue and Gold (team colours) and making lots of noise for the boys with horns, bells, whistles and chants of support!

How awesome is it for them to have home ice advantage on one of the best seasons they've had in years.... Come on Flamborough.... come out and support the boys this Saturday!

Best Gluten Free Bakeries

Since having the diagnosis of Food Intolerance (Gluten, Casein & Egg mostly) I have been on a quest to find some of the great desserts, cookies and baked goods that I know I am going to miss and need a great healthy replacement for me.   

The first place I tried out was Kelly's Bake Shoppe on Brant Street in Burlington.     I was most interested to go there since they are the ONLY place I have found that are ALL Gluten Free and Vegan (no animal products like eggs and milk).       I tried a great sample of their products... a few cupcakes (all great), the Mile High Brownie (FANTASTIC) and bought a bag of their Gluten Free Croutons (excellent on my gluten free vegan Ceasar Salad I made at home).    Can't wait to go back and try more!



The second place I tried out was You'd Never Know Bakery in Dundas.    Super friendly staff that was excellent about coaching me through some of my options.   The President and Owner Rhonda Barr was there working away and even came over to chat with me.    She helped me pick out some great options and even helped me with advice on buying Gluten Free and dining out.     At Ya'd Never Know, I ended up not purchasing sweets but went more for freezer meals, All Purpose Gluten Free Flour, Pizza Crusts, Hamburger Buns and the MOST incredible prepared chicken breast I've ever had.     I've been on such a bland diet for months now that this amazing marinade had so much flavour it was a little taste of heaven for me.      I hope they have it when I go back, Rhonda had said it was a seasonal option.    It was truly amazing.    There was so much selection there.    Ready made salads, ready made meals, bulk grains like Quinoa Flakes, baked goods, soups and meals for the freezer.    So far I have really enjoyed everything I bought from there.   Rhonda even informed me of the Canadian Governments tax rebate for those with a diagnosis of Celiac or Gluten Intolerance.     I am going to be a regular there for sure.

 In Waterdown, the new bakery Beyond the Batter does have a daily gluten free feature and sometimes will have a vegan option as a Baker's Choice.     Each day of the week they offer a different flavour for Gluten Free.    My favourite is Midnight Craving and they offer the Gluten Free option on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  To see a list of the cupcake selections please visit their website   http://www.beyondthebatter.com/Daily-Cupcakes.html        While Beyond the Batter does offer Gluten Free and Vegan options,  they do say on their website "If you are allergic to these ingredients we do not recommend that you consume our products. We do our best to ensure that our Gluten Free and Vegan do not come into contact with any of these allergens, however do not guarantee it."

Also offering Gluten Free cupcakes is Cupids Cupcakes located in the Longo's Plaza at Walker's Line & Dundas.     While offering Gluten Free cupcakes, they do not offer Vegan at all.     Their literature states that they bake Gluten Free on special order and you need to order either a dozen mini's or a half dozen full sized.     I went in one day and asked about what they had Gluten Free and they did have two vanilla and 10 chocolate mini cupcakes in the freezer that they could sell me.     I have frequently bought cupcakes there for the last couple of years and could not tell the difference between their Gluten Free and the regular cupcakes.     When placing the order, you can get any of the icing flavours normally being offered on their daily schedule.   They do require 48 hours notice before pick up to have your GFree cupcakes ready.

More places are offering Gluten Free options so thankfully it is getting easier to find substitutes when trying to stick to a Gluten Free or Vegan diet.

Best TARGET Store Waterdown!

See ya Buffalo.... the main reason for me shopping across the border is just about to open a store in my community of Waterdown.... I am a Target lover!!   (or should I say Tar-jeigh, in a french accent)       I am a local girl at heart and love to shop at the wonderful small businesses here in town... but I must admit that I have been anxiously awaiting this new Target store opening for about 2 years since they announced that Target was buying our local Zellers.

My sister lives in Guelph, so seeing that Guelph, Fergus and Milton Target stores had their soft launch opening last week (to work out any bugs in their systems before opening in larger markets), my sister and I headed to Target last Saturday.      Shopping on a Saturday is usually busy, but the first Saturday that a Target store is open in Canada was crazy busy!      

Kudos to the staff in Guelph.     They were great at rounding up buggies and making sure that they were available for anyone walking through the doors.      I saw several staff in each department and the huge lineup that went from the cash registers to almost the other end of the store in the food department moved very quickly.     It was a massive line and we considered putting everything back and heading home but I was determined to make it home with my finds.

One thing I was concerned about was that the quality, selection & price of merchandise was going to be different in Canada as compared to the US.     I am so disappointed each time I go into a Walmart store in the states and every time leaving say to myself..."The stuff here is so much nicer than at home!"

After my 1st experience shopping at Target last weekend... I am THRILLED!      From what I saw, they had alot of the same merchandise you'd find in the US!     I bought my daughter some bedding from Target in the US last year and found the same bedding at the Guelph store!     The clothes.... OMG the clothes were fantastic!     Such selection, colour and style.      Loved the kids clothes and home decor too!    I was also so happy to the prices of the clothing.     If they cost more in Canada, it is not much of a difference.    Bought some beautiful and comfy high heels for $34.     I had bought similar shoes at our local Walmart for $19 before Christmas and they destroyed my feet!






    
The one thing I would say, is that there was obviously massive amounts of people buying in a short period of time, so even though the store is brand new and the merchandise is all new.... there was certainly the look of "Black Friday Sale" in the store.     Popular items were completely gone or had little selection of size.     So if you go in knowing that, you won't be too disappointed.     Soon, shopping at Target will be a normal everyday thing and this frenzy of shopping will level out.

**************************************UPDATE**************************************************************
Just announced TODAY that the Waterdown location as well as others will open on TUESDAY MARCH 19TH, 2013.   See the annoucement here:  https://twitter.com/target_ca/status/313641031738486784/photo/1

To stay updated on what's happening with Target Canada, check out their website www.target.ca and Target's facebook page (become a fan for regular updates) https://www.facebook.com/#!/TargetCanada

Best Gluten Free/Vegan Shopping

I have been struggling with not feeling well for years, but since last summer/fall I have been having intense itching, skin eczema and digestive issues.    After much investigation and change of diet, have come to find out it was all due to Food Sensitivity/Intolerence.       Thanks to the amazing skills of my Naturopath, Dr. Carly Wendler (Waterdown Village Chiropractic Group), I now have answers.    I was tested for Celiac Disease and found that while I tested negative (my score was 7.3... 15 is considered to be having Celiac), I do have Gluten Sensitivity which was confirmed by separate food sensitivity tests.    It was found that I have High or Extemely High Intolerence to Wheat, Spelt, Rye, Dairy, Eggs, Garlic & Almonds, with Moderate Intolerence to Corn, Peanuts, Turkey and Barley.   Dr. Carly can be found on-line at www.drcarlywendler.com and she can also be found on Facebook.    I highly recommend her.   
  
Food has become so genetically modified that more and more, people are developing problems with the food they eat which can go on for years undiagnosed.     So much so, that going Gluten Free and Vegan is much easier than it was 5 or 10 years ago.     The government has also seen the significance of people going Gluten Free and have a tax credit for those diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerence.     More information can be found at
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns300-350/330/clc-eng.html
but I would consult with your accountant or a tax professional about the requirements for receiving this benefit.     From what little I understand about this (I am not a tax expert), it seems like you may qualify to receive money back on the difference of the cost of food that has Gluten and food that is G Free.

I have been exploring many many different new aisles at my local grocery store and finding new specialty shops in order to serve my new dietary concerns.

In Waterdown, I have found that Sobey's and Fortino's have excellent Organic/Gluten Free and other Allergen Free products.     I have been pleasantly surprised at the wonderful selection.    Fortino's even has their dry goods, ready made freezer products, refrigerated food and homeopathic supplements all in the same area to make your shopping easier.     Bulk Barn has a great selection on the south wall of the store of gluten free flours, mixes and other product.    There are even little areas of the grocery sections of Walmart that offer some Gluten Free products.     Anyone with dietary restrictions knows that you need to read your labels.... my new way of shopping now.

Of course, whatever you are looking for that needs to be Gluten Free can be found at Goodness Me (locations in Waterdown, Burlington and Hamilton).      The staff are so helpful there.    Prices are a little more there, but if you are good for comparison shopping, you get to know what store carries what products.     My recommendation would be when you get your list of things to buy from your dietican/naturopth/homeopath or from your own independent study of the internet, I would try Fortino's first, Sobey's second to find out what product they have (look in every aisle, because some things are spread out (like at Sobey's) and then head to Goodness Me to finish off your list.    

I have spent hours researching recipes online, pinterest, and just basically googling Gluten Free etc... and have learned so much.     Tonight, I have just come across another great new outlet store to try out...   El Peto  in Cambridge....   http://www.elpeto.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=40&layout=blog&Itemid=61     I have seen their products carried in the local stores (Fortino's/Bulk Barn) and am curious to check out their outlet store to see if prices are any cheaper.    Maybe it'll be worth the short 25 minute drive to Cambridge.

I do love how accessible Waterdown is.    You can make it to so many major centres within 1/2 an hour to an hours drive.

This is a journey I have just begun... next week I will talk about the local bakeries and restaurants to find gluten free options.

Best Local Market

I love buying local and local markets are really my favourite.      There are fresh produce markets that operate year round like the Hamilton Farmers Market located downtown on York Blvd behind Jackson Square  (closed Mondays, Wednesday and Sundays).    It has been around for years and in 2011, the building underwent a renovation which has helped to put downtown Hamilton shopping back on the map for people in the area.     To learn more about the Hamilton market visit....
http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonFarmersMarket/
There are now 70 vendors selling there, and a list of them can be found at http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Arts_Culture_And_Museums/HamiltonFarmersMarket/HamiltonFarmerMarketVendors.htm

If it is a seasonal market you are looking for you might be interested in checking out the Dundas Farmers Market  http://www.downtowndundas.ca/dundas-farmers-market.php or the Burlington Farmers Market http://www.burlingtonmallfarmersmarket.com/

Recently, Terra Nurseries has found a new way to bring customers into their operations during their slow season (Winter) and have been holding a Winter Market at their Burlington location on Highway 5 between Guelph Line and Brant Street every weekend since just into January.    It has been so successful that the Milton location will also be holding a market starting this Sunday.   For more information check out Terra's website  http://terragreenhouses.com/ or go to their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TERRAatHomeMarket?ref=ts&fref=ts which is regularly updated with what vendors will be there.    They also have some of the popular food trucks come which also draws alot of crowds.    Businesses & Food Trucks working the Burlington location tomorrow will be:

Itty Bitty Pie
Pies and Such
Terra Teas
Purple Daze Lavender Farm
Lovin Oven Bakery
Kettle Corn Boss
Epicure
Snowden Farms
Pampered Chef
Pinecreek Honey
Ann Brown Produce
Cheesy Guys
Sweet N Sassi Treats
Wandering Locavore
Ginger Rose Photography
Rick's Nut Hut

Food Trucks:
Manual Labour Coffee
Fritterson Mobile Kitchen
Food Man and Culture Boy
Dobro Jesti
Gorilla Cheese

Best Ladies Wear Store

Waterdown is going through a population growth and so is local business.     Can you believe we now have 4 great ladies wear shops.     This is in addition to the great bridal/evening wear shopping we already have.

If you are are looking for nice little shops with trendy clothes and accessories, we now have a great selection.

We have enjoyed the shops of Lareina's in the Sobey's Plaza and Second Time Around on Dundas Street (northeast corner of Dundas at Main Street) for years.     They are a staple in Waterdown and have always attracted shoppers for years.     Lareina's does not have a website or facebook page, but you can find Second Time Around's website at www.secondtimearoundwaterdown.com/  
Second Time Around is an upscale consignment shop, which sells pristine condition designer clothing and accessories.     Regular shoppers their are hooked on the great bargains and quality of designer labels.

In the last year, we have 2 new stores for more selection.  Jupe and Pippa & Prue both located on Dundas Street between Mill and Main Streets.  I have shopped at both of these shops recently over Christmas & post Boxing Day.      There are really some great trendy clothing and accessories which would cover a large range of ages.    They have made such a great addition to the "core" Waterdown area and enhanced Waterdown's image as a great stop for shopping.   

It's not hard to see why with these great ladies wear shops, the bridal shops and popularity of our cafes & tea house that Saturday and Sunday are busy days in Waterdown for ladies looking for some girl time shopping and eating.

The new Waterdown location of Pippa and Prue is a 2nd location, the other location is in the Westdale area of Hamilton located at 944 King Street West.      To learn more about Pippa and Prue, visit their website at www.pippaandprue.com   or like their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/PippaAndPrue?fref=ts




Our newest store Jupe, is also opening a 2nd location in the near future... in Oakville.     This weekend, there is a 60% off sale at Jupe.   They are looking to get rid of all their winter merchandise to make way for the new spring merchandise which should arrive in store in the next couple of weeks.     For more information about Jupe Wardrobe Artisans, please visit their website at http://www.jupewaterdown.com/ or like them on facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/JupeWaterdown?fref=ts

Best US shipping address

3 shopping days left.... Have you got your Christmas Shopping done???

I hate being near a mall probably by the time it is mid - November so I always try to get my shopping done early.     In the past few years, I have loved doing shopping on-line.    No line ups, you see what is in stock and you can do it all from the comfort of your home.

One place I love to shop on-line is Amazon.com     The US site is great and has alot of great variety and selection.    There is a Canadian site (Amazon.ca) but I find there is much less selection.     The one bad thing about buying from Amazon.com is that many of the sellers who make their products available for sale on Amazon, may not ship to Canada.     I was faced with that dilema this Christmas as there was something my daughter really wanted and I found it there, but I couldn't get delivery to my home.

I had heard many of my friends mention a place in Niagara Falls, NY called CBI USA, that is a postal outlet that you can send your parcels to and for a nominal fee they hold it for you to pick up.     Well, wanting my daughter to get the exact things she wanted, I thought I would try it out and have the parcel sent there.     I now have it set up on my Amazon profile as an alternate shipping address.   I placed the order... tracked the packages (the items came from 3 separate suppliers) and when all of them had made it to CBI, I waited the required 24 hrs so that they can log it into their system and I planned my trip across the border.   

From Waterdown it is only about 45-60 minutes to the Rainbow Bridge crossing.   Traffic was fairly light and moving at the border and I was through in about a half hour.     From the border, the CBI location is only about 10 minutes away.   It is a residential neighbourhood but the building is a warehouse and there is a parking lot across the street and up a little bit.     I did have a bit of trouble finding the street as the street sign had been stolen.    

Once inside there was a very long line, but at least it was still in the building.    I understand that Saturday and especially before Christmas the lineup can be out the building and can be upwards of an hour.    In all, I think I was in line about 20 minutes.    Once up to the counter, you give them your name and 2 pieces of picture ID and they check the system for your parcel.     All three of mine were successfully retrieved in under 5 minutes.   

I do suggest that when you place an order on-line to pick up there, print out your invoice which hopefully breaks down the cost of the merchandise, tax and shipping charges and bring with you for the border.   Depending on the value of the item, you may get away with not having to pay duty at the border.

CBI USA runs like a well oiled machine and the staff there were fantastic.    I highly recommend that if you want to save yourself the crazy custom charges that some on-line sites charge you to ship from the US, next time consider CBI USA postal outlet.     For more info on CBI, their hours and address please visit their website...  http://www.cbiusa.com/