How to Organize Your New Home in 5 Easy Steps
Once you arrive at your new home after cross border moving, you’ll be surrounded by boxes, or if your moving company unpacked, things might be in random places. There needs to be some strategy to where each item in your household goes. It simplifies life and makes finding items easy. As you start to rearrange, follow these five easy steps for successful organizing.
1. Make a system in the garage. This is the last space people organize, but the place where everything seems to end up. Make sure there are shelves for items relating to the car and yard, and a place for tools. Hang bicycles from the ceiling with hooks, and organize storage items like holiday decorations in plastic bins with labels. Keep hazardous materials up high out of children’s reach, and sports equipment and outdoor toys where kids can find them.
2. Get your entryway organized. Have waterproof mats for shoes, a hook for everyone’s coat, and a place for kids’ backpacks. If each person can have a bin for the random things they bring in and out, like scarves and hats, it will organize a potential mess.
3. Work on the kitchen. Put everything away except what you use on a daily basis. Put things in logical places, like the cookie sheets near the stove and the glasses near the fridge where people will be finding drinks. Conquer the “junk drawer” with dividers for like items. Make a rule that the top of the fridge remains cleaned off; this is a tempting area to make a mess with underused items.
4. Get ready for important home office work by setting up a clean and organized work space. Find a spot in the house where your desk can remain undisturbed and uncluttered. Have a place for bills, mail, catalogs, and all the items you need at your fingertips such as a stapler, tape, etc. Make it known within the family that office items stay in the office, or things might walk away!
5. Tackle the closets. Make sure each person in the family has what they need to keep a tidy closet. Are there enough shelves and bins? Do they need a shoe rack or an over-the-door hook? Help children to separate seasonal clothing and provide under-the-bed zippered bags or boxes to keep out of season items.
Once you have a plan, you will be much more likely to keep your home organized. After the chaos of cross border moving, you will definitely need a plan! Make one and stick to it.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @LizMarie_AK via the creative common license)
Living in Canada: Top Restaurants to Try This Spring
Cross border moving to Canada may leave you pining for the restaurants of your old neighborhood, but rest assured, there are wonderful restaurants waiting for you up north. Whether in Ontario, Victoria, Edmonton, or Montreal, you will be able to find a lovely place to sit and have highly recommended faire.
The Black Cat Cafe in Ottawa, Ontario
This is a small place with seats for only 30. The owner is the sommelier and can pair your meal with the perfect wine. Expect jazz music, and fresh, surprising ingredients. When was the last time you had lobster pudding served with chorizo sausage? Take a date and enjoy the hip atmosphere.
Sotto Sotto in Toronto, Ontario
Meaning “Hush, Hush” in Italian, you can guess the mood of this restaurant: romance. The Italian cuisine is accompanied by the choice of over 5,000 bottles of wine. This menu is comforting and classic, and comes with a feeling of friendship.
Corso 32 in Edmonton
Corso 32 was the address of the chef and owner’s Campania childhood home. As the restaurant’s name harkens to the past, the food forges ahead to the future of Italian. The chef has been said to be a show-off, but who cares when the food is this good.
Ulla in Victoria
Named after the mother of the chef, Ulla is a young, urban hot-spot located in Chinatown. The menu is mostly organic, and ushers in the new generation of connoisseurs. The atmosphere is bright, with quirky decor, and a place for anyone. Try their version of the chickpea snack; pickled, deep fried and salted.
Van Horne in Montreal
Van Horne isn’t shy with its totem pole (nicknamed Bill) in the dining room and Lichtenstein silkscreened paper plates on the walls. The food tends to come by color, with the sense of style similar to the decor. With only four main courses, your decision will be easy, and your trip will have been worth it.
Cross border moving may bring you in close proximity to one of these gems. If so, take time to stop in and see what all the buzz is about.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @stuart_spivack via the creative common license)
Spring in Edmonton: 5 Ways to Stay Fit
Cross border moving can be stressful, and often exercise is the first thing to go out the window. When you arrive in Edmonton, you will find that there are many options for getting out and getting fit. Here are five great ways to start your fitness goals.
The North Saskatchewan River is a recreation spot for all the locals. In the spring, you can canoe and kayak, and while you are there get in a little fishing. Make a day of it with the family. Pack a picnic. Don’t forget to keep belongings in waterproof containers!
The river valley in Edmonton is lovely, and perfect for biking, walking, and jogging. Edmonton has over 100 miles of maintained multi-use trails. The parks department keeps them clean and debris-free, so that you can get along with ease.
If you are more of an indoor person, try the Kinsmen Sports Centre. Located in the river valley, minutes away from downtown, it’s Edmonton’s best multi-purpose sports facility. There are indoor and outdoor pools, two indoor tracks, two fitness centers, courts for squash, racquetball and walleyball, and a field house for badminton, tennis, volleyball, and more.
If you are more of the graceful type, sign up for dance classes at Foot Notes Dance Studio. They teach courses in American style ballroom, Latin dance for beginners, country and swing, and the argentine tango. If you want more cardio, they have a fitness dance program that includes belly dancing!
The best way to keep fit is to join a group. Try the Edmonton Hikers Meetup Group. They are dedicated to keeping active by hiking together. Go with them into the Rockies for a big adventure, or stay in Edmonton and experience the recreational areas around the city. Just sign up to participate.
After cross border moving, you will have plenty of options for keeping fit, and they will help you get out into your new city and meet your fellow Edmonton residents.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @C.G.P. Grey via the creative common license)
Four Lifestyle Resources That Can Help Your Family Adjust After Moving to Canada
If you’re planning on relocating your family to Canada, there are several things you’ll need to do before starting the process of Cross Border Moving. Here are four resources that can help your family members adjust during this transition phase.
Weather Office
For one thing, the weather will likely be different in Canada since every province shares a border with the Arctic. You can refer to weatheroffice.gc.ca to find valuable information such as air quality, average temperatures and rainfall totals, as well as current conditions. The homepage provides a map of the entire country, allowing you to get more specific by region.
CBC News
One way to formulate a decent understanding of a country’s culture is by keeping up with its news, and CBC News is one of the most prominent names north of the U.S. border. The CBC website offers a wide variety of categories, including community news, which can help you learn about your specific locale. You’ll even have the chance to choose your specific region.
Canada Only
Although Canadian cuisine is different in virtually every town, you can check out CanadaOnly.ca to get a feel for which food items are most available. This resource, which is a major online retailer that provides categorized links to various food products, can be particularly useful if you don’t know what to expect at local grocery stores.
Recreation Canada
It’s safe to say that outdoor recreation is one of Canada’s most renowned pastimes, as locals take their natural treasures very seriously. RecreationCanada.ca is an easy-to-use tool that allows you to select primary cities to obtain information about local clubs, organizations, parks and additional recreation resources. You can even scroll to the bottom of the homepage to choose from a list of specific activities and watch videos from particular regions.
Four Online Resources That Can Help You When Moving to Canada
Cross Border Moving usually calls for additional preparations, such as the completion of necessary paperwork and enough general research to prevent your family from experiencing culture shock. Here are four online resources that might make your move to Canada a smoother transition.
Passport Canada
PassportCanada.gc.ca is a government-funded website that can teach you the ropes of applying for a temporary visa or Canadian passport. If you’re new to this entire process, this resource might be incredibly helpful, as it provides general news for travelers, information from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and step-by-step guidelines of how to fill out a passport application.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
You probably have dozens of questions regarding your official status when you first move to Canada, and the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website can show you how to establish permanent residency. Aside from learning which documents to obtain first, you can also research the CIC department and find temporary work.
Kelly Services Canada
If you’re looking for steady work after your big move, you can refer to KellyServices.ca, which provides job placement opportunities, networking directories and a categorized list of industries in Canada. Through this source, you can even sign up for a career advice newsletter that will give you an idea of the differences between the workforce in the United States and Canada.
Cyborlink.com
Since there are many cultural differences depending on which Canadian province you’re moving to, you should check out Cyborlink.com/besite/Canada to learn about business etiquette and culture. This crafty website gives you all the detailed information you’ll need on one page without directing and redirecting you to secondary sources. However, if you need access to other Canadian informational sites, there are numerous links to organizations such as the International CareerCenter.
Living in Edmonton: How to Enjoy a Staycation
After all the work of cross border moving, you may need a vacation, but on a budget. Consider a staycation in your new town of Edmonton. There is much to keep you entertained.
Test out your family dynamics by experiencing a high ropes course together. Ropes Quest at the West Edmonton Mall takes you to three levels of beams and ropes in a challenging obstacle course. You will be securely harnessed in, but will enjoy the sensation of being high above the crowd! Admission is $9.95 per person.
Head to the Art Gallery of Alberta in downtown Edmonton to see the “Icons of Modernism” show during February and March. You will see the work of artists who left behind the Paris Salon, and entering into Surrealism, Futurism, Suprematism, Constructivism and Dadaism. Enjoy artists such as Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, Francis Picabia, Ferdinand Léger and Marcel Duchamp.
Cheer on your new favorite hockey teams– the Edmonton Oilers (Wednesday March 28th against the Dallas Stars) or the Edmonton Oil Kings (Saturday, March 10 against the Red Deer Rebels).
Spend the day at the Royal Alberta Museum, one of Canada’s most popular museums. Take an outdoor self-guided grounds tour. See a natural history frieze, petrified wood (the national stone of Canada), and a totem pole in the Native Northwest Coast art style.
Get to know Edmonton as the festival capitol of Canada, with 30 festivals in Edmonton year-round. Upcoming festivals are the Global Visions Film Festival, and the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival.
As a new resident of Edmonton, you’ll want to stick close to home and experience all there is to do in the area. Once your cross border moving is over, check out these tips for a fun family staycation.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @oddsock via the creative common license.)
Living in Canada: Top Spring Break Destinations
You won’t have any trouble finding an interesting destination for Spring Break now that you live in Canada. It’s a big country with many options for fun. Once your cross border moving tasks are complete, you can focus on planning for a Spring Break getaway.
Visit Montreal. The French influence and old-world feeling is charming. You can easily get around the city in a car, allowing you more freedom of travel. Or, you can take an Amtrak into the city. You can visit La Ronde with the kids, an amusement park on an island in the St. Lawrence River, or shop the main strip on Sainte Catherine Street. End the day with a meal in the old quarter.
Try out Quebec City. You’ll want to visit the Chateau Frontenac, a hotel dating back to 1893 which is standing on a cliff. Eat at L’Auberge du Tresor across the street. Check out The Battlefields Park, an urban green space similar to New York’s Central Park.
Head off to Banff National Park, known as Canada’s protected playground. The mountain views are out of this world, and many cozy and romantic accommodations can be found. Try the Buffalo Mountain Lodge or the Deer Lodge in Lake Louise. Ski at Mt. Norquay, the Lake Louise Ski Area, or Sunshine Village. All are top notch, and cover almost 8,000 acres of skiable terrain.
See the Cherry Blossom Festival in Vancouver. March and April are months in which they honor the 37,000 ornamental cherry trees that were a gift from Japan in the 1930’s. You can attend the Cherry Jam Downtown, the Haiku Invitational, Bike the Blossoms, the Japan Fair, and more. This is a special time in the city that you won’t want to miss.
Cross border moving can take a lot of time and attention, and you just might need to get away from it all and spend spring break somewhere wonderful. Research these destinations, and choose one to visit.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @Moyan_Brenn (I’m Back) via the creative common license.)
Living in Calgary: 5 Spring Break Ideas
Now that you live in Calgary, you have new and exciting options for spending your spring break. After working hard at cross border moving, you’ll be ready to kick back and enjoy the attractions.
Let the adults have their fun at Calgary’s Wild Rose Brewery. This craft brewery creates several unique handcrafted brews, including a raspberry-infused beer. Call ahead and pre-book your spot on the brewery tour, and hit up the tap-room starting at 11am daily. They have a kitchen which serves market-fresh food.
Get some outdoor time and visit the Bow Habitat Station in Calgary’s Pearce Estate Park, beside the lovely Bow River. Discover Alberta’s natural environment through hands-on exhibits focusing on Alberta’s fish, wildlife, water, and its management. You can also visit the adjacent Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery, one of the largest in North America.
Take the kids to an unlikely place, the airport, to see Spaceport. Kids will learn about space and aeronautics through computers, simulations, and communications technology. Have fun testing the wind tunnel, climbing in the cockpit of a Beaver plane, and guiding a Mars micro-rover. See a one-quarter size exact prototype of the Space Shuttle Orbiter on loan from NASA, and a moon rock brought back by the Apollo mission.
Visit the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site in nearby Drumheller. Take an underground tunnel tour, a “tipple” tour, and a train tour. Experience the last of the Drumheller coal mines.
Go back in time at another National Historic Site, Fort Calgary. There you will find and interpretive center and a museum that tells the story of the Northwest Mounted Police, the building of Fort Calgary, and the development of Calgary as a community. Also there is the Deane House Restaurant, where Canadian cuisine awaits you.
With all there is to do in Calgary, you won’t be wanting for fun experiences. Cross border moving may have worn you out, but these attractions will energize you!
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @jglazer75 via the creative common license.)
March in Vancouver: Events You Can’t Miss
Cross border moving requires lots of thought and can cause lots of stress. Once you are moved to Vancouver, you may want to get out of the house and look around the city. Here are some activities you might not want to miss.
Head to Mt. Seymour for the “Tubbs Romp to Stomp.” You can choose from a 3K or 5K benefit snowshoe walk, or a 3K fun run to “Stomp Out Breast Cancer.” Even if you have never snow shoed before, you and your kids can take a snowshoe lesson, and head out on the well-marked trails. Takes place March 3 from 8am-12pm.
The National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre will have Jan Ken Pon!, a family games day full of traditional Japanese heritage games and toys. Play with colorful tops, make your own sumo wrestlers and beanbags, and more. The highlight of the day is a rock-paper-scissors tournament with prizes. Takes place March 17 from 1-4pm.
The photography section of Nature Vancouver and its Young Naturalist Club holds a photo competition every year. Results of the competition will be presented on March 22. The categories are: Birds; Botany; Entomology; Mammals; and other Natural History.
VRS will present Andreas Brantelid on cello, and Shai Wosner on piano at the Kay Meek Centre Sunday, March 25 at 3pm. The Danish cellist is only 23, but the Sunday Times refers to his “astonishing maturity, youthful freshness, and vigor.” Wosner is called by The New York Times “a superb pianist.” Program details include Debussy and Brahms.
Once you arrive in Vancouver, you will find there is much to experience. Leave the process of cross border moving behind you, and get out to hear some music, see some photography, play Japanese games, or snowshoe for a good cause.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @Mega Hammond via the creative common license.)
March in Edmonton: Events You Can’t Miss
If cross border moving will land you in Edmonton, you should know what there is to do in the city during March. Below are some events you won’t want to miss:
See The 30th Annual Global Visions Film Festival. Takes place March 1-4 in downtown Edmonton. This festival celebrates the work of passionate and accomplished documentarians from Canada and the world. Be sure to attend panel discussions and workshops along with the films.
Attend the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “Robbins Lighter Classics: Behind the Silver Screen. Takes places Thursday, March 1, 8-11pm. This program shows that the great composers wrote movie scores, and much more. Conductor Bill Eddins will be joined by young American saxophone player Ashu.
If you are a hockey fan, be sure to get out for an Edmonton Oilers game. March 8 they will play the Montreal Canadians at Rexall Place in Edmonton. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Take in a play at L’Uni Theatre. On March 22-25 they present La Liste, a story about a woman who inadvertently causes the death of her neighbor by neglecting a favor on her lengthy to-do list. Actress Sylvie Drapeau plays the lead role.
Visit the Maclab Center for the Performing Arts to see “Church and Albert,” Thursday, March 29. This is a fun show by two comedians and musicians that will entertain you all night long.
Edmonton won’t fail to surprise you with all the events and opportunities there are for entertainment. The task of cross border moving will soon be finished, and you can get out and experience all Edmonton has to offer.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @bulliver via the creative common license.)
