ECS Coffee makes summer delicious

ECS Coffee, a thriving family owned business began in the coffee market but has rapidly evolved into something much more than just coffee. We are now known for high end kitchenware in addition to having an impressive selection of coffee. The brands ECS now features are the best of the best. From Le Crueset and Wusthof to Vitamix and Technivorm there is no shortage of items to add to your wishlist!

Currently our summer stock includes gadgets for the serious griller, a huge array of barware, machines and drinks for hosting the perfect summer get together.

Here are some of our favorite summer drinks:

Strawberry Watermelon Cooler

                                        Recipe:

• Carbonate water using SodaStream

• Pour carbonated water into serving glass

• Add 1oz of Torani Watermelon Syrup

• Add 1oz of Torani Strawberry Syrup, serve with ice and enjoy!

Chocolate Vanilla Chai Chiller

                                        Recipe:

• Brew Prospect Vanilla Chai single serve tea on 6oz setting
• Add 6oz of milk or cream
• Add 1oz of Torani Chocolate Syrup
• Add 3/4oz of Torani Chai Tea Syrup
• Mix and serve over crushed ice, enjoy!

Cranberry Raspberry Lemonade

                                        Recipe:

• Carbonate water using SodaStream
• Add 1.5 pump of Country Time Lemonade Syrup
• Add 1 pump of Ocean Spray Cranberry Raspberry Syrup
• Pour over 8oz of carbonated water, add ice and enjoy!

At ECS we enjoy creating new drinks so come on in and let us show you the many options available in store. Or chose one of our free classes to pick up some new recipes or skills http://www.ecscoffee.com/classes-calendar 

We have 4 conveniently situation locations, Ancaster, Burlington, Kitchener and Milton. We invite you to come by and try one of our drinks of the month and let us show you how to take your next event to the next level with delicious foods and fantastic drinks both hot and cold!

StaminaFibre Pillow - Review

I often listen to my hubby complain about waking with a stiff/sore neck. We were assuming he slept wrong or his pillow was just getting old and needed to be replaced again. I know the same thing happens to me from time to time. Perhaps it's just that we are getting old and it's just a part of aging to have aches and pains that we have never had before.

One evening before bed I told hubby I had a gift for him. Not sure what he was expecting but he seemed genuinely surprised when I tossed a StaminaFibre pillow at him. I encouraged him to try the new pillow to see if it helped his sleep. Perhaps he'd even wake up without this persistent neck pain .He pulled it out of the zippered storage bag and gave it a squeeze. The first thing he said was "wow, that's really firm". I agreed that it was firm but thought it would be a good thing but he was really skeptical. As with every other pillow he was certain that after a month or 2 of use it would be just as flat as all the other pillows he's been through but he slid it into a pillow case and dropped it at his spot in the bed.

The next morning I asked him how his neck was. It was fine but he thought it was just a coincidence. He did mention that it was just too stiff for him. I had another look at the packaging to see if it had any info on washing. I figured if I washed it it might loosen up a bit. According to the package it said it was washable, durable and wouldn't flatten or clump so I threw it in the washer. It washed really well but took two cycles in the dryer to become fully dry to the centre. I was pleasantly surprised that it was just as full and puffy. Hubby used it that night again and agreed that while it was still really full it had a bit of give for his head now. He's actually been using the pillow every night since and has noticed an improvement in his sleep and his stiff neck is gone. When I asked him to share his opinion of the pillow he said "it's like I stole the pillow from a luxury hotel".

I had always heard that the key to a good sleep is your mattress and I do agree, but I also think the pillow plays an important role as well. No more buying the $10 cheapo pillows. The StaminaFibre pillow is definately a bit more money but it has proven to be a worthy investment. With a 3 year Guarantee you can't really go wrong. I have bought new pillows every 6 months or so because they never wash well. so if I add that up over 3 years I would have spend more on cheap pillows that what the StaminaFibre Pillow sells for. If you go to their website you can find this pillow  any many other products.

You can learn more:

I have one of these amazing pillows up for grabs! If you or someone you love is suffering from a poor nights sleep and/or waking with a stiff neck this is the pillow for you! a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to soften towels

You know that feeling when you get out of the shower and your grab your brand new, big, fluffy, bath sheet and wrap it around your body? It's like a soft, warm hug! If you are anything like me you want them to stay that way forever, but they don't. No, it's not as easy as washing them with your favourite detergent and adding a great fabric softener then tossing them in the drying on the "fluff cycle".

In fact those things actually contribute to roughing up your towels. All those great smelling laundry products build up in the fibres over time. So what do you do? Find a new, better product? Sure, and you might even get them a tad softer. Or you could go buy new towels every few months? Um, no. I can't afford that!

After scouring the web for ideas I was surprised to see that the answer might be very simple. I saw people recommending the following things:

• Soaking in hot water with fabric softener for an hour before each wash (who has time for that?!)
• 15 Easy Steps to soft towels! (I'm not buying that. If there are FIFTEEN steps it ISN'T easy)
• Sodium tripolyphosphate. (What now? If I can't say it and I'd have to go to a chemistry supply store it's WAY too much effort for me.
• Adding a cup of salt to the wash cycle. (I salt my fries, not my laundry.)

I guess you are starting to see a trend here. I'm looking for a sure fire way to do it with as little effort as possible. After trying all sorts of combinations here's what I can say worked really well for me.

1. Go shopping! Buy a pack of tennis balls from your local dollar store. Three seems like a good number. Then hit your grocery store and get a big box of baking soda and a big bottle of white vinegar. You can get the Big box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda at a big box store for next to nothing. Same with the vinegar.
2. Start your machine on your favourite cycle using warm or hot water.
3. Add your detergent, 1 cup of the baking soda and 1 cup of the vinegar.
4. Toss in your towels, but not too many. They need room to swirl around and get clean.
5. Avoid the temptation to use liquid fabric softeners. They build up, making towels crunchy and therefore less absorbent.
6. When your load is finished, transfer to your dryer along with the tennis balls and a fabric sheet (if you MUST have that extra scent added)
7. Dry them on your heat setting but remove them just before they are fully dry. You don't want to cook them.

You should find they are dramatically improved! It certainly works for me! 

I'd love to hear your tips! Have any tried and true methods, please share them in the comments.

Roo Reviews: Andreas Clips and More

What Roo said:

I loved everything! I especially loved the hair bow because it was like a zebra and that's my favourite animal.

The suspenders were kinda loose, mommy tightened them but she didn't tighten them enough for me probably because she didn't want them to hurt me.

The tie was really cool, It felt soft and silky and looked great on me even though I am not a boy! Girls can wear boy stuff too!

The hairband was pretty, it even had a jewel and I love jewels. When I wear it I think it sparkles so other people can see it! If I wiggle my head a little bit people will see the sparkle and ask me where I got it.
I've been wearing it since forever and my ears aren't hurting. Sometimes my hairbands make me hurt this one doesn't. I think I want to buy more of this stuff for my friends and we can have a fashion party.

What Mom said: 

Everyone knows that having a girl means all things pretty.
Pretty clothes and shoes, Pretty hair-dos etc

But when you see someone with great accessories, you think "wow, she looks really put together!"
That should be no different for little girls! Why should us ladies have all the fun?

We buy cute shiny baubles and too tiny purses for holding their lip gloss but what about hair accessories or even a pair of suspenders? Everyone who's been paying attention knows that my daughter and co-blogger, Roo, is pretty non traditional, though very very into fashion. So when she saw a pair of suspenders in her package from Andrea's Clips & More she actually squealed! They looked fab with the outfit she had chosen to wear. The other items received we loved as much, a beautiful hairband that Roo hasn't stopped wearing and hair clips. We also got an adorable hat with a bear on it. Sadly that one did not fit my big headed girl so on our day trip tomorrow we'll be bringing that along for my niece! She'll love it!

One thing I noticed was that the bows seemed to be really durable, extra reinforced, there's virtually no way the bow will come away from the clip. The clips were super easy to use meaning they'd be great even for the younger wiggly toddlers who don't want to sit long enough to get their hair done.

Great product, good prices and after checking out her website I was really impressed to see that she offer a lot more that just the things we're testing out. For the new mom, she has a bunch of amazing items to save you from losing some of your important gear. Toy clips, sippy cup clips and even a special leash for Sophie the Giraffe!

GREAT NEWS FOR EVERYONE!
Andrea has offered all of my readers a discount!
Save 10% off your order by using this code
CLIP10
when you visit www.andreasclips.com

Best of all Andreas Clips & More have provided us with a couple goodies to giveaway! If you have kids in your life and want to win here's how:

Don't forget to leave your name and email address. You can't win if you're anonymous.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thought Provoking Thursday: Age

I decided to start a new feature here on the blog. With all the fad features going around I wanted something that would cause my readers to think a little bit. 

Here's my equation: Health + Experience - Joy = Second Age

Consider this; I am 36 and out of shape (like so many), have had depression, cancer, a heart implant and blood transfusions. That's a lot. So when I contemplate my physical age, I might say my body has endured strain beyond my 36 years. 

Flip the coin and I'll tell you about my mental age. I have had many difficulties in my life starting at a young age, though through it all I've always prided myself in keeping my spirits up, laughing and learning through it all. Speaking of laughing, did I mention I have been a mother for over 16 years which, lets face it, ages me drastically. My life experiences are much like my health experiences, well beyond my years. 

Those two things should have me at an age so much older that I could comfortably hang out with my Grandma and her friends and no one would suspect otherwise. "Hey pretty lady", the seniors would say, "how do you stay so young looking?" Ok, perhaps they'd know but I could still fit in.

I have a 5 year old and I never knew that would keep me young! I go to the park with her and yes, I do go down the slide and swing on the swing from time to time. We have mommy daughter date nights. We work together in the kitchen creating delicious goodies all while giggling! I look forward to her Kindergarten antics more than almost anything in life. My husband and son love outings so we find ourselves at rock concerts, or amusement parks. We have family game nights, movie nights, sports nights etc. These things keep me more active and full of joy. Therefore taking away from some of the things that age me.

So what do I figure my age would be?
36
I know, I know, that's my TRUE age.

I'm just as surprised as you, but it's where I am physically. When all the writing is on the wall, truth be told, for the first time in my life I am comfortable with myself and I am happy where I am.

How about you? Ignore all the birthdays and tell me, what age do you FEEL?
Feel free to share my picture and get others talking about their age!