Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 - Nintendo Wii

I am a bit of a gamer at heart, I love Mario and Zelda games the most. My kids and I enjoy sitting together on our days off and gaming out. Don't get me wrong 75% of my kids play time is outdoors, but when the weather is gross, we are sick or it has gotten dark out and we have time to kill there is always a bit of gaming time.

I love our Wii mini. It was cheaper than regular Wii's with internet capabilities but I don't need that feature so the savings made sense. You can get second hand Wii's for next to nothing these days. Check Castanet if you live in the Okanagan.

One of my favorite games of all time is Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2. They are a blast to play for all ages. I love how unique the gameplay is, your in space collecting stars all over the galaxy. Since your storming around in space gravity is totally out of whack so you have fun figuring out the crazy controls while walking upside down and sideways on the walls and ceilings.

There is all kinds of neat transformations for Mario in Super Mario Galaxy 1 and then in Super Mario Galaxy 2 you get to have Yoshi and he gets to do the transforming and power ups. It is one of the funniest games I have played and I certainly hope Wii sticks around for a while longer.

Giving Assistant Gives Back To You & Charity

You know when you find something online and you really want to buy it but would prefer to get a better deal. You go around googling promo codes to save some cash and can't find anything or any codes you do find won't work? This is extremely frustrating and time consuming. Wouldn't it be nice to get great deals and get paid for shopping? Welcome to Giving Assistant! I was shopping today for some online only Walmart deals and actually got money back for purchasing stuff I was already going to buy in the first place. This is the kind of stuff that Canadians need to get through this economic crumble. It feels so nice to know my hard earned money is actually working in my favor for once. The more stuff you buy online the more money you get back, and since you are going to be shopping for stuff already doesn't this just make sense? So shop your favorite retailers like Kohl's, Sears, Forever 21, and much more!

Summary on Giving Assistant: Giving Assistant mission is to save you more money, so you can better care for your loved ones and support charity PROBLEM: Promo codes rarely work! Process is frustrating SOLUTION: When promo codes don’t work, always get a discount with digital loyalty (ie cashback) Giving Assistant is a free digital loyalty program, over 1,100 largest retailers, avg. of 5% cash reward after each online purchase. How Giving Assistant Works Retailers pay us a commission for purchases originated from our website. Typically a percentage of the sale (avg ~5%). For purchases originated by our members we pay the entire commission as cash back directly and digitally to our members.

For non-member purchases they retain the commission, and make a small donation to Feeding America to give one meal. Members are given the option to automatically donate any % of their cash back to any charity of their choice. Giving Assistant’s Cash Back Promise Double Cash Back, Always. 
We give you 100% of the commission, unlike the other guys with just 50% of the commission. We pay in days direct to your secure debit card. Not months
 waiting for a check in the mail like other cash back sites. 

Sometimes using cash back sites can be a pain if you have to reach a higher threshold to cash out, with Giving Assistant you can cash out at just $5 unlike other sites where the threshold can be as high as $25-50. If you ever have a problem getting your cash back there is an excellent team on hand waiting to help,you will always get results. Saving money and giving to charity is a truly Canadian way of life. Now you can do it all at once and get your shopping done at the same time. Its a trifecta of happiness! Sign up today!

The Health Benefits Of Music For Kids

Music is one of the most joyful events in life. It can make you feel better when your down and out and has so many other benefits. Music has so many health benefits it is amazing:

• 10 Benefits of Music
• best walkie talkies to use with your kids
• Music & Child Development
• Benefits of Music Education
• How Music Can Change Your Brain
• Benefits of Music Resource

When I drive with my kids in the vehicle I like to ensure they are listening to music that is suited to their age. They all adore the hot hits on the radio but some of the lyrics can be a bit inappropriate. I love the hot hits on the radio to which is why I am so addicted to Kidz Bop. 

Kidz Bop has all of today's music sung by the most talented kids I have ever heard. The lyrics have been switched up just a tiny bit to suit kids of all ages. My kids bellow the words with smiles and laughter and I can be sure they aren't singing about topics way beyond their years. 

You can get your copy at any music store, Walmart, iTunes, and much more. It is a great collection your kids will love.

Attention Food Bloggers!

Taste Canada Awards

Taste Canada Awards to honour Canada’s best culinary writers in six categories
Call for Submissions: 2016 Food Blog Category - Starting February 24
Deadline for Book Submissions: February 24
 
Taste Canada Awards (tastecanada.org) invites all Canadian bloggers to submit entries to the 2016 Food Blog Category.

Submissions for the Food Blog Category will open officially on February 24 (visit tastecanada.org for the submissions link which goes live on Feb 24). The deadline for blog submissions is March 24, 2016.
 
Taste Canada will honour two blogs, one in English and one in French, authored by Canadian citizens. Three-person jury panels drawn from Canadian academic, publishing, creative, and institutional fields will review submissions. The shortlist will be announced on September 13^th, 2016, and the winners will be revealed at the Taste Canada Awards Gala in the fall of 2016.
 
The Food Blog Category was modified this year to reflect the best Canadian food blogs. Bloggers will submit five posts that best represent their blog as a whole in regards to style, tone and focus. Posts must have been published online in 2015. Submissions can be made by visiting the website, tastecanada.org. The Food Blog Category is sponsored by Canadian Lentils (lentils.ca).
 
Taste Canada Awards promotes and recognizes world-class, Canadian-authored culinary writing. In addition to the Food Blog Category, this year, Taste Canada Awards will honour ten French and English cookbooks in five categories. Categories include: General Cookbooks, Single-Subject Cookbooks, Regional/Cultural Cookbooks, Culinary Narratives, and new this year, Health and Special Diet. The deadline to submit cookbooks is February 24^th, 2016. 
 
At the Awards Gala, a national cultural event, Taste Canada will also name the Hall of Fame Award recipient, sponsored by The Culinary Historians of Canada; and winners of Taste Canada Cooks the Books presented and sponsored by the Alberta Canola Producers, a cooking competition that invites Canadian culinary students from across the nation to compete for the title of Canada’s Best New Student Chefs.
 
About Taste Canada Awards
Taste Canada Awards, a not-for-profit organization founded 19 years ago, is the only award in Canada that recognizes this nation’s abundance of outstanding culinary writers, both English and French. Our mission is to be the authoritative culinary writing award in Canada by showcasing and recognizing the best. Our vision is to promote Canadian-authored culinary writing so it is recognized as world class. Follow us on Twitter @tastecanada

REDUCE THE RISK OF WILDFIRE IN WEST KELOWNA

West Kelowna Fire Rescue is encouraging the residents of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation to join other communities across Canada and participate in local mitigation projects that will help reduce the risk of wildfire on Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, May 7, 2016.

By committing a couple of hours, or the entire day, residents can join others throughout the nation to raise community wildfire awareness, help protect homes and neighbourhoods, and work towards becoming a FireSmart community.

Activities can be coordinated by anyone – individuals, groups, or an entire neighbourhood. To find out more information on Wildfire Preparedness Day or for project ideas for your community, visit www.firesmartcanada.ca. Share your community projects with West Kelowna Fire Rescue by contacting, 778-797-3200. To help assist with these projects, up to twenty $500 funding awards have been made available. Apply now until March 12, 2016 for your chance to receive funding for your project.

Natures Path Superfood Puffed Wheat Squares

I have a major sweet tooth and enjoy adding healthy tidbits to my delicious sweets. Natures Path makes it super easy to add super foods to your recipes. Like my puffed wheat squares, not only are they chocolatey and delicious but now have an added kick of goodness from chia, buckwheat and hemp found in Natures Path Qia Superfood cereal.

Superfood Puffed Wheat Squares

• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 4 tbsp cocoa
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 8 cups puffed wheat cereal
• 1 cup Natures Path Qia Superfood Cereal

1. Add margarine, corn syrup, cocoa, brown sugar to a large pot and bring to a boil. 

2. Bring pot off the heat and add puffed wheat and Qia and slowly mix until cereal is well combined. 

3. Press mixture firmly into a buttered cake pan and let set for an hour. Cut into squares and enjoy. 

Helping the environment one garden at a time!

Canada Blooms highlights the importance of rain gardens and storm water conservation

From the dawn of agriculture, rain has played an essential role in the lives of farmers and gardeners by aiding in the growth of crops and flowers.

Fresh rainwater provides vital nutrients that will ensure the health and longevity of your garden while protecting the environment and this year, visitors to Canada Blooms will learn how simple it is for homeowners to harvest this vital resource and create their very own rain garden.

"Rain gardens are a brilliant concept," says Terry Caddo, General Manager of Canada Blooms. "By creating some small adjustments in your home garden you can not only create a fuller, lush garden, but you will also help improve water quality in nearby bodies of water and ease the strain on our environment."

Rain gardens are natural or man-made rainwater runoffs that allow storm water to be soaked into the ground and plants rather than flowing into storm drains. By diverting the water that would eventually drain out to local rivers, lakes or to the sea, rain gardens help prevent erosion, water pollution and flooding.

Parklane Nurseries, a leader in the rain garden movement, will be on-hand at Canada Blooms, running from March 11th to 20th at Exhibition Place in Toronto, to educated visitors about rain gardens and to help them conceptualize their own rain garden at home.

"Canada Blooms is thrilled to be at the forefront of this important initiative," says Caddo. "We believe in this cause and want to drive awareness to the importance of storm water conservation and highlight how simple it is for people to create their own rain garden space that is both functional and attractive."

For more information or for tickets, please visitcanadablooms.com. Follow Canada Blooms on Twitter@CanadaBlooms and Like it on Facebook.

About Canada Blooms

Canada Blooms is an annual world-class festival that connects people to the joys and benefits of nature through experiences with gardens and flowers by promoting, educating, inspiring and celebrating all aspects of horticulture. Co-locating with the National Home show to create North America's Largest Home and Garden event, Canada Blooms is a not-for-profit organization that gives back to the community throughout the year by funding community garden projects around Ontario, Canada Blooms is also dedicated to providing the community with horticulture expertise, education and resources on an ongoing basis.

Now in its 20^th year, Canada Blooms was founded by Landscape Ontario and The Garden Club of Toronto. Each year it is supported by a committed group of partners, sponsors and volunteers.

In Her Own Sweet Time

In the six years that have passed since the first edition of In Her Own Sweet Time was released by Basic Books, a lot has changed.

In 2009, as one of the pioneers of egg freezing, Lehmann-Haupt went on Good Morning America and declared companies need to pay attention to the changes in women’s lives and better support them by covering this technology on their health plans. Today, delaying marriage and childbirth to invest in one’s career has become the norm, as women edge out men as the new majority in the workplace. To attract and retain top talent, major employers like Facebook, Apple and Google have incorporated egg-freezing coverage into their health benefits packages – and the procedure is no longer considered “experimental” by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

There’s no denying strides have been made. Now, it’s time to reconsider how this generation is faring in the midst of these rapidly shifting social conventions – and what information is readily available to them about their options.

With the mass-market paperback launch of In Her Own Sweet Time’s second edition [Nothing But The Truth Publishing, February 2016], Lehmann-Haupt shares a timely, hopeful, and profoundly honest account of her own efforts to reconcile modern love with modern life.

The new edition of In Her Own Sweet Time has been updated to include the latest in medical, technological, and social science research, and contains new chapters that reveal what happened after Lehmann-Haupt decided to freeze her eggs at thirty-seven. Her daring journey concludes with the birth of her son as a “DIY Mom” – a term the author coined to describe women who choose to have babies on their own.

Told through the lens of Lehmann-Haupt’s personal journey as a thirty-something, In Her Own Sweet Time brings together the voices of multiple women facing the challenge of perfectly orchestrating the timing of their careers, love lives, and that brief, beautiful window wherein their bodies are ready for babies.

With warmth, humor, and a journalist’s eye for the facts, Lehmann-Haupt shines a light on an increasingly common predicament that women in their twenties, thirties, and forties face – and offers a number of solutions to help women free themselves from baby panic, relax, and enjoy their lives.
 “The fact that we don’t have control over the duration of our fertility is frightening, but no matter how scary some information is at first, it’s ultimately liberating to understand our body’s reproductive possibilities, as well as impossibilities,” writes Lehmann-Haupt in In Her Own Sweet Time’s new introduction.

“We have more options than ever,” she continues. “Understanding them can empower us – and, perhaps most importantly, turn panic into peace.”
A refreshing, important and game-changing read that will help women everywhere better understand their options – and make the choices that are right for them, In Her Own Sweet Time explores:

• The media circus that surrounds “hook-up culture,” the “marriage crunch” and the new “baby panic”
• What the data says about shifting family structures and how they really affect the children born into them
• The pros – and yes, cons – of post-35 pregnancy and motherhood
• Important facts about fertility, egg freezing, and other modern reproductive technologies like the ones used by Fertility Plus
• The moral and ethical implications of alternatives to making babies “the old-fashioned way”
• The rising number of DIY moms, and a new kind of fairytale ending that heralds a profound shift in the way we think about forming our families

Rachel has truly opened the door for any woman who wishes to freeze her eggs. Her book shares the true meaning of taking your time. Not only has she encouraged woman to become their own destiny decider she has encouraged businesses to include life changing benefits in their company policies. What an amazing way to make a difference. 

Rachel Lehmann-Haupt is one of America’s premier experts on the future of family life, career timing, and the influence of science and technology on fertility and pregnancy, and is widely credited with coining the phrase ‘DIY Mom.’ An in-demand speaker and journalist, her writing appears regularly in theNew York Times Magazine, Vogue, O, Glamour, Wired, Self, and more. She graduated with distinction in English literature from Kenyon College, and has a Masters in Journalism from the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley (where she apprenticed under Clay Felker, the founder of New York magazine).
In Her Own Sweet Time: Egg Freezing and The New Frontiers of Family will be available via all major online and brick-and-mortar book retailers in paperback and e-book formats as of February 2016.
Find Rachel Lehmann-Haupt on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Shelfari, Pinterest, and athttp://www.lehmannhaupt.com/  and http://inherownsweetime.com/

TURFMUTT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM CONTEST

TURFMUTT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

EXPANDS WITH NEW MATERIALS AND $5,000 GRANT CONTEST DEVELOPED WITH SCHOLASTIC

Contest for Students at Schools with Grades K-5 Announced, Entry Deadline April 6, 2016

 Learning how to take care of the planet and studying science just got more fun with TurfMutt, an environmental stewardship and education program for kids, teachers and families. TurfMutt announces today its annual “Be a Backyard Superhero” contest, which awards a $5,000 grant to improve two winning schools’ green spaces, and the addition of new in-classroom materials for grades K to 5, including a new digital storybook titled “The West Coast Mission,” an online climate change game, and lesson plans for teachers at scholastic.com/TurfMutt

Created in conjunction with Scholastic, the  global children’s publishing, education and media company, the TurfMutt program helps students in grades K to 5 learn about science and the environment from the perspective of the backyard, community and personal green spaces they enjoy every day. The program also provides students with an understanding of how these green spaces benefit the environment when cared for in a sustainable way.

“With drought ransacking the West and many other parts of the country, understanding how to care for green spaces is more important than ever,” said Kris Kiser, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. “The new digital storybook and climate change game help children understand the importance of taking care of these living landscapes and what they contribute to our communities.”

To inspire kids to apply what they are learning to real life, the “Be a Backyard Superhero” essay contest offers students in grades K through 5 the opportunity to compete for a chance to win a $5,000 grant for a “green space makeover” at their school. Visit www.TurfMutt.com for rules and to obtain entry information.

TurfMutt program materials are free and aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) standards. Lesson plans for teachers, take home sheets and learning activities are available. The program also offers a website and blog, interactive games and two digital storybooks.

A real-life rescue dog named Lucky is the superhero, TurfMutt. A cartoonized version of Lucky is “pawing it forward” by fighting environmental villains with the help of “The Outdoor Powers,” a band of cartoon superheroes. In the classroom materials, TurfMutt and The Outdoor Powers are on a mission to “Save the Planet One Yard at a Time” and they invite children to join them on their adventures and chip in.

“This unique cartoon-based story-telling format makes science accessible, entertaining and motivating for students and their families,” said Ann Amstutz Hayes, Senior Vice President, Scholastic. "We have created teachable moments that are fun and appealing for kids and encourage them to engage in real-life reading and writing exercises related directly to the green spaces in their community.”

The TurfMutt environmental education program, funded and managed by OPEI’s Research and Education Foundation, has reached 62 million students, teachers and families since 2009.

TurfMutt’s focus on environmental stewardship and best practices for water use and landscape maintenance have been widely accepted among educators, youth and families as well as listed as a resource by the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

About OPEI

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing more than 100 power equipment, engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, and a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in the development of safety and performance standards. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show.  OPEI’s Education & Research Foundation is the creative force behind the environmental education program, TurfMutt.com. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org

When Should You Get a New Roof or Repair a Leak?

Determining a roof covering leak (failure) is fairly easy. You may see staining on your ceiling near drywall joints. As water travels it seeks the easiest way out. The weakest point in a drywall panelled ceiling is where sheets of drywall meet. To join the sheets, drywall mud is applied and sanded off to a smooth finish. When water penetrates through a drywall joint the stain starts as a circle shape and then progresses to a linear shape. Longer stains are an indicator of severity. 

Your roof is expected to fulfill various functions for extended periods under extremely harsh and uncontrollable conditions. Changes in the performance of this roof is directly related to the initial design, the degradation mechanism(s) taking place, as well as the intensity, frequency, and fluctuations of applied loads. Remaining service life isn’t always a function of age.

Estimating the general reliable service life of all types of roof coverings is pretty straightforward. Predicting exactly when a roof failure may take place is virtually impossible, and usually roof failure is noticed after it is well underway. The probability of failure of an aging roof system increases as the covering progressively ages.

Here are some tips to help you determine when a new roof covering may be in your future:

Roof age
Determining the age of your roof covering may be as easy as determining the age of your home. Another way is to look back at old receipts. The age of a roof covering is a commonly used tool to determine reliable service life prediction. It stands to reason that the probability of failure increases with age of the roof covering. Most asphalt shingle roof coverings in our area have reliable life expectancies of 25 to 30 years (or the published warrantied life). 

Curling and buckling shingles
Curling and buckling shingles is another sign that the roof covering is aging. 

Roof valleys
If you are experiencing accelerated deterioration in your roof valleys, it’s likely because of moisture retention. Valleys are one of the most important areas of your roof. Snow and rain flow through valleys and into gutters, so if the valley is compromised, you could be susceptible to roof leaks.

Missing shingles
This is another sign that your roof could be failing. When portions of your roof covering are missing, the chance of leaking increases dramatically.

Shingle granules in the gutters
Asphalt shingles have a protective coating of granules. Check in your gutters for granule buildup, as roof coverings tend to shed more granules toward the end of their reliable service life. You can also look at the covering from a distance for inconsistent or darker colour patterning. 

Don’t let cosmetic deterioration to be the sole determining factor. Just because something is old, it doesn’t mean that it’s not good. Just ask anyone over 50 years of age.

Original story from www.castanet.net 

Show Valentines Day Love For Free or Close To It

I was thinking all week about more unique ideas I could use this Valentine's day for my family and friends. I came up with some great gifts of time and togetherness as well as a few awesome and inexpensive treats any family would enjoy.

For Kids:

• Take a walk to the park
• Invite some friends over for a play date
• Make handmade Valentine's and deliver them to friends and family
• Buy a cookie for the kids at McDonald's and then let them run in the play place
• Play video games together
• Make pink pancakes for breakfast
• Have a pajama day and watch movies
• Check out the matinées at your local theatre

For Adults:

• Make a bacon bouquet for your man
• Serve breakfast in bed 
• Watch The Walking Dead on Netflix for a few hours, Z Nation is a good one to
• Go for a drive and check out the local sites
• Make dinner in a double batch and surprise a friend or family member with a nice meal
• Clean out a special persons car, garage, or the whole house

What free or cheap ideas can you come up with for showing some love this Valentine's? 

Affordable College Admissions Advice for Teens

Now more families can afford tailored coaching, admissions, and scholarship advice for every high school student in the family at a fraction of the cost.   

Parents of high school students have a new, more affordable way to help their children successfully navigate the increasingly competitive and expensive college admissions process.  LifeLaunchr, the life and college admissions coaching platform, and TeenLife, an online resource for academic and enrichment opportunities for teens, have launched TeenLife Coach, powered by LifeLaunchr.

Instead of spending thousands of dollars for a private consultant, TeenLife Coach allows families to work with a virtual counselor at a much more affordable cost.  Packages start at just $49 for a session. Service offerings include a free personalized assessment, summer planning, college selection advice, admissions planning, essay coaching, financial aid coaching, and assistance finding merit scholarships.

“Counseling resources in schools are scarce and sometimes completely unavailable,” says Venkates Swaminathan, co-founder and CEO of LifeLaunchr. "College is a major investment for students and families.  TeenLife Coach, using LifeLaunchr’s tools and services and TeenLife’s extensive database of summer, gap and college listings, fills an important need for families all across the country.”

Marie Schwartz, founder and CEO of TeenLife and mother of two, understands how stressful and overwhelming it is to prepare children for college and life beyond school. “Most schools don’t discuss college and post-secondary planning until spring of junior year” she says. “Being able to speak to someone as early as 9th grade and get affordable advice about career exploration and skill building activities in time to take advantage of them is a wonderful complement to our platform.”

ABOUT LIFELAUNCHR

LifeLaunchr offers affordable, expert college admissions coaching for high school students and families, enhanced by online tools that help students explore their passions and connect with credentialed admissions coaches. Services are delivered virtually by experienced counselors with a variety of backgrounds. For more information visit Lifelaunchr.com

ABOUT TEENLIFE

TeenLife is a multi-media information platform that connects teenagers and their parents with academic and experiential learning opportunities around the corner or throughout the world. Founded in 2008, TeenLife attracts 2 million online visitors annually searching for STEM, college prep, summer, therapeutic, performing arts, community service, and gap year programs. Go to TeenLife.com to search for opportunities, access guides and blog posts and join the member community.

Which Colour Flowers Should You Buy?

Let your flowers speak for themselves
Put a colour to your relationship this Valentine’s Day
 Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to show your lover, family or friend just how special they are. Flowers have a long history of being the ideal gift whether you are celebrating 30 years of marriage, have just started to date someone or want to show your friend you appreciate them.
“The beauty of flowers as a Valentine’s Day gift is that they can easily be personalized depending on how you want to make someone feel” said Dejan Kristan, Marketing Director at Flowers Canada (Ontario). “You want to send out the right message to your Valentine, whether it is ‘I love you’, ‘I care for you’, or simply—‘you are a great friend’”.
Dejan offers insight into the meaning of flower colours:

Red: Undoubtedly the colour of passion. Giving out a red flower arrangement will communicate your strong and powerful love. With a colour the same as the heart, red means seduction, desire and passion. Try red roses, red gerbera daisies, or red tulips.

Pink: A colour of innocence and sensitivity, but also very romantic. Although red flowers mean love and passion, pink flowers can show your gentle, yet deep love for someone. Pink flowers can also indicate appreciation, joy and happiness. Try pink ranunculus, calla lilies, or potted azaleas.

Yellow: The colour of harmony, trust and kindness— a great middle ground between friendship and love. Yellow flowers have grown increasingly popular in the work place and at social and family gatherings. These convey meanings of sympathy, thoughtfulness and friend-like love. Try daffodils, yellow tulips, chrysanthemums, or potted begonias.

Orange: Symbolic for growth, enthusiasm and warmth—orange is the colour of friendship and community. Orange flowers send feelings of happiness and joy, with a hint of adventure and spontaneity.  Just like a beautiful sunset, these flowers can also convey a message of fiery passion and intense desire. Try orange parrot tulips, gerberas, or Asiatic lilies.

Green: This colour will send wishes of good fortune and harmony. Green is the colour of health, youth and prosperity. By giving this flower, you are telling your friend or loved one that you’d like your relationship to grow and continue to do well. Try an arrangement with lots of green ball chrysanthemums, or give a lucky houseplant such as jade or pachira.

Purple: A royal colour which often means fascination and respect. Purple flowers show a very romantic gesture as they carry with them feelings of elegance and charm. These can express feelings of love at first sight and say ‘I admire and adore you’. Try purple iris, campanula, or an elegant potted orchid.

Blue: Blue means serenity, intimacy and deep trust. Blue flowers are often used by long-term couples to communicate their never-ending love, trust and loyalty in a relationship. Try soft blue hydrangeas, or a bouquet of delphinium and muscari.

White: The colour of purity, innocence, sympathy and humility. This flower will show your friend or loved one that you are thinking about them. While it does convey messages of purity and innocence, this colour also means new beginnings. If given to a long-term partner, they show you want to move forward and think about marriage. Try white daisies, roses or gardenias.
“Flowers are known for having their own language” added Dejan. “It is important to keep these meanings in mind so that your flowers communicate exactly what you intend. One bouquet will tell a passionate love story, while the other will be the tale of a never-ending friendship.”
For more information, please visitwww.pickontario.ca. Follow @pickOntario on Twitterand Instagram, and like them on Facebook.
About PickOntario
Pick Ontario is a comprehensive marketing communications campaign developed by Flowers Canada (Ontario) Ltd. to raise awareness, interest and demand for Ontario-grown cut flowers and potted plants. Launched at the Grocery Innovations Tradeshow in October 2007, the fully integrated strategy includes PR, media relations and outdoor advertising initiatives intended to promote the reasons why consumers and retailers should Pick Ontario. When you Pick Ontario, you are supporting the more than 200 greenhouse farmers who employ over 7,000 people in our province. The growers in Ontario work hard to produce quality flowers and are always looking for latest trends in technology and growing techniques. This is all done to produce the best flowers possible!