Fun and Easy Winter Picnic Ideas

Picnics are synonymous with glorious sunny days, chilled drinks, yummy food and fun activities in a park or by the lake but don’t let the cold stop you from enjoying outdoor activities and the all-important warming snacks. Although at first glance winter might not seem like the most ideal time of year to have a picnic, it truly is a wonderful season to get outdoors, burn off some energy and shake the cobwebs from your mind. Sledding, skating, snowshoeing, snowball fights and snowman making contests can be enjoyed by all ages and are great activities to not only burn calories but to bring family and friends together for an afternoon of old-fashioned fun.

Remember to dress in layers, bring along a washable thick blanket or sleeping bag to sit on and keep your refreshments simple to carry and enjoy. Use insulated vacuum bottles to hold hot drinks or soup, crockpots with locked lids, biodegradable dishware and an insulated and waterproof backpack for carrying your items. Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese is the perfect meal to snack on for winter days and my picnic friendly versions will have you planning your own outdoor event this coming weekend.

Beat Winter Blues at the 2012 Curling Bonspiel

he Burlington Chamber of Commerce 2012 Curling Bonspiel is a great way to beat the winter blues and network at the same time! The Chamber Bonspiel welcomes both curlers and non- curlers. February 25th 2012 will be an exciting day of fun, curling, trivia games, networking, eating great food, winning prizes and enjoying the elegant surroundings of the Burlington Golf and Country Club, located at 422 North Shore Blvd.

Launched in 2006, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce Bonspiel was created to provide a networking event in the “dead of winter” - and you do not have to be a curler to enjoy it! The curling club pro provides lessons before the event begins! This is also an opportunity to become a sponsor and to promote your business while supporting your local Burlington Chamber of Commerce.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Movie Review

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows continues director Guy Ritchie's efforts to turn the famous consulting detective into an action hero. But the more Holmes is moved in that direction, the more he moves away from the things that make the character who he is. Thus, while the sequel is fairly entertaining, it's not as good as the first, and nowhere near many of the other stories in the Holmes canon.

Warm and Comforting Stew Recipes

The cold temperatures of January have me craving the delicious dishes of my childhood. After a day on the slopes or an afternoon of tobogganing with my sister there was nothing more comforting than coming home to the aroma of a slow and low simmering pot of stew or casserole that my mother had painstakingly put together that day. Most stews and casseroles use braising – part roasting and part stewing – as the main cooking method.

The great thing about braising is you can use a cheaper cut of meat such as lamb shanks, pork shoulder or beef chuck roast and turn these tougher cuts into a melt in your mouth delicacy. Stews and casseroles have a number of steps involved and you might be tempted to skip a few but I would encourage you to take your time browning the meat and sautéing the vegetables as this is what will impart the most flavour into your dish.

Have You Got What It Takes To Be A Fashion Model?

The 15th Annual Burlington Women’s Show is looking for volunteer fashion models of all ages, shapes and sizes to walk in their signature fashion show on Sunday, February 26 at the Tansley Woods Community Centre.

This year’s fashion show will be hosted by CityTV’s Lynn Spence, a fashion expert on Around the House and Fashion Friday segments on the popular show CityLine.

Burlington Bowl Knocks Down Cancer

Join Burlington Bowl to help “KNOCKDOWN CANCER”! During the month of January 2012, Burlington Bowl is donating 25 cents from all shoe rentals to the Canadian Cancer Society. Burlington Bowl is also selling pink t-shirts, toques, bowling balls, bowling pins, mini shoes, tote bags and other items, with the proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society.

This January, plan a day or evening of fun with friends. Host your birthday party celebration. This month hold your company, team, school and group fundraising events at Burlington Bowl. Take this opportunity and support the Canadian Cancer Society at Burlington Bowl. Reserve your lanes now! Join in the fun! Let’s do our part to “KNOCKDOWN CANCER”!

War Horse Movie Review

The great power of film is its ability to draw the viewer into a lifelike world, which is one of the best arguments for seeing movies on a big screen - when the picture fills your vision, it has that much more effect. While War Horse does pull you in with impressive visuals and a moving story, problems in the adaptation undercut the experience by continually reminding how artificial this world is.

Prevent Your Pocket From Dialling 911

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police are reminding mobile phone users to be conscious of the risk of “pocket dialing” 911, as police services across Ontario see an increase of these accidental phone calls.

Pocket dialing happens when the keypad on a mobile device accidentally pressed either the 9, 1 and 1 buttons or the emergency call buttons, while carried in a pocket or bag. This generates an unintended emergency call, tying up the phone lines and operators, which negatively impacts each region’s abilities to respond to real emergencies.

Together with the Ontario 911 Advisory Board, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police are partnering to raise public awareness of these unintentional, “pocket” dialed calls.

GO Transit Fares to Increase

Next month, commuters will see their GO Transit ticket prices increase as Metrolinx approved a GO Transit fare increase. Set to take effect on February 18, 2012, this fare increase, the first in two years, will enable GO to continue meeting the needs of their ridership.

In addition to these fare increases, there will be changes made to the discount structure. Purchasing an adult monthly pass will now result in a savings of 15% the cost of 40 single-ride tickets and PRESTO users will continue to save 17.5% the cost of 40 single-ride tickets. For students, a monthly pass will bring a savings of now 30% off the cost of 40 single-ride tickets and PRESTO student users will continue to save 35% the cost of 40 single-ride tickets.