Black Pearl Life Style

Yoga is a fantastic way to maintain great mental, physical and spiritual health. In order to establish some easy and effective coping strategies for our kids, we started introducing Yoga from a very early age and Ella is really enjoying it. Santa bought her a hot pink, butterfly embezzled yoga mat as well as a deck of Yoga flash cards for Christmas.  With childhood anxiety and depression on the rise and screens robbing hours from days, yoga is a great way to instill some powerful stress relieving life skills in our kids as well as keeping them active. Here's Ella trying out some new poses!   Here are the links on Amazon! https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0811836983/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B002FMH4DC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We love this de-cluttering tip, it's way less intimidating than being faced with a whole house, even a whole room: clean out a 'drawer a day'. By taking 10 or 15 minutes to clean out a fridge compartment, a shelf, a dresser drawer or even a show box, you can start to reclaim your home. There's a lovely note about Feng Shui in the article linked below; clutter traps 'Chi' and the goal to liberate this energy and allow it to flow through the home, is to de-clutter. There's no time to lose ( and would make a great New Years's Resolution!) Talking of drawers, this is one of our favorite pieces in store, an original Henredon Dresser, 31"D x 20" W x 64"L. A perfect piece of furniture to help de-clutter your home! Here's the link for more de-cluttering tips http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/clean-and-organize/declutter-strategies

Collingwood is truly a Winter Wonderland and becoming an iconic holiday destination. Despite the bitterly cold temperatures, the town is hosting an icy celebration,  'Frozen in Time', 28th - 30th December. As well as some stunning ice sculptures lining the streets of downtown Collingwood, Simcoe Street is closed to traffic, housing games, a welcoming open air fireplace and a thrilling 'ice slide' ( pictured below). The kids will love it, bundle up and get Frozen in Time! Here's the link! http://frozenintimefestival.visitsouthgeorgianbay.ca/

We are experiencing significantly colder than average temperatures so we've been googling some great tips to stay healthy and active during the winter months. As well as keeping active and remembering to take vitamin D supplements, heating the home is an important tool in surviving the winter. We love this tip: "Run your ceiling fans clockwise to keep heat circulating downward". Genius! Also be mindful of cracks and holes where heat could escape. The link below suggests even bubble wrap can act as a good insulator. Anything to keep those Hydro bills down! Stay safe and warm folks! Here's the link! https://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to-survive-the-cold-harsh-winter-1498172684

House Hunters International on HGTV, provides a wonderful snap shot of cross-continental lives, cultures (and home decor). We love it at Black Pearl Emporium, none the least, because we are dreamers (who doesn't dream of a tropical beach house), but it provides great inspiration for interior design and home furnishings. It's fascinating how housing varies between countries. A kitchen/ living area found in Germany or Costa Rica is very different from one found in Collingwood, Ontario. A worldly view is always enriching and we find it helps us to give our customers the best possible info on everything in store. Here's the link! http://www.hgtv.ca/shows/house-hunters-international/

This beautiful set of nested tables are Chinese in origin with incredible, three-dimensional detailed artworks beneath the glass table top. This crafted design is certainly Asian, possibly Mother of Pearl.  This intricate style is often seen in Chinese furniture from various eras. Our set is priced at $175, a great deal compared to those listed on Amazon and Ebay. Come check it out in store! Black Pearl Emporium, 60 Pine Street, Collingwood, L9Y 2N7

Merry Christmas! What a treat to have a truly white Christmas this year.  The weather network is a great resource during these (sometimes) brutal winter months on Georgian Bay.  https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/weather/ontario/wasaga-beach Heading out in the snow storm.. (pre-plough). It was quite the work out! The bay was inaccessible from the road with the stroller. Three feet of snow is a fairly formidable foe on three wheels! Merry Christmas from everyone at Black Pearl Emporium 

Christmas Eve is magical. It's pure joy seeing living through the holiday season with young kids. I used this fabulous stencil to bring the magic of Santa's feet to our door way. Here's the link with some more great ideas! Sourced from trusty Pinterest http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=71&sid=18533842 The exacto-knife cuts took twenty mins tops and patience was definitely a virtue with the detail work. Aside from realising I should ave sifted the icing sugar before tipping it over the stencil ( there was significant clumping), I think the final result was pretty good! Santa is in the house!

This is a busy time of year. After a generous gift of cookie dough from a dear friend, Ella and Magnus got stuck in with the rolling pin and the cookie cutters. It was messy, it was crazy, (no one got injured) and everyone had fun. It's a festive tradition that children love. Here are some pics!  

We featured this craft during a Festive Play Date we hosted last week. Looking for an easy, appealing craft that the kids would enjoy, we found plenty of variations on trusty Pinterest  http://mommylittlehelper.blogspot.ca/2011/12/santa-claus.html   With just paper plates (that I pre-cut, and pre-glued using Popsicle stick 'holders')some glue and cotton wool, the kids were able to conjure up their Santa masks. I didn't have red card, so managed to find some decorative card for the hat cut outs. Here's a quick video we made while Ella, Magnus and I were practicing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pNCSc_zZl0&feature=youtu.be

We have had some fabulous art works enter our store recently including this beautiful (original and signed) print by 'Group of Seven' member, Franklin Carmichael. A devoted family man, Carmichael was unable to travel as much as his colleagues, and often painted close to this cabin, located on  Cranberry Lake , Ontario. He was the youngest member of the Group of Seven and was greatly influenced by Tom Thomson, with whom he shared a studio with in Toronto at one stage.  This print is signed and dated by the artist in pencil, detailing the print number (411/495), the title and artist's signature. This traditional standard of signing ones work is thought to decrease the risk of fraud.  Here is a some lovely detail from the piece. See it for yourself in store! Here are some interesting links: https://hypenotic.com/group-of-seven-artist-just-hanging-out-at-cranberry-lake-ontario-lakes-project/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Carmichael http...

Open houses are key to selling your home. There are some fantastic websites with tips and tricks to maximize the potential of this crucial opportunity. http://blog.comfree.com/2015/02/16/10-tips-host-best-open-house-ever/ We love this tip from the ComFree website: Make sure your house smells good during the Open House! They recommend a 'baked cookie smell' (a favorite in our home) and rather than any 'strong' perfumes, they suggested a couple of well positioned, neutralizing, scented candles. Smells are evocative and are critical in establishing a strong first impression that stays with the potential buyer. For more great tips, check out the ComFree website! Or come and chat to Darren in store!

Several years ago, when Ella was very young, I set up a hiking group for Mums and Babes in the Georgian Triangle ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/657629861008026/ ). We still hike, at least once a week, in all weathers, through all terrains, babies on backs and laughter in our hearts. This week, upon hiking up the steep and snowy 6th Street Extension (see map), we noticed a series of alarmingly large tracks along the road, with a gate that way exceeded that of a domestic dog (or cat) Coyote sighting are extremely common in the area, however the size of this print suggests something larger. Probably a wolf. Or even a cougar. Luckily, both animals would likely have been deterred by the raucous laughter coming from our group and resting in time for their nocturnal jaunts in search of food.  It was a reminder of the wonder of nature and to always be respectful of the local environment.  Here's an interesting link about some recent coyote sighting! http://www.discove...

We have a fantastic selection of artworks in Black Pearl Emporium. From oils to water-colours, prints and sculpture, we enjoy art and love it passing through our store. This summer,  we happened upon these two stunning works from the local art hero, Murray Clerkson. Clerkson was a prolific artist as well as life long advocate for artists and the art community. He ran a furniture store and was an active supporter of the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts in Collingwood. As part of his legacy, an annual award is offered to an outstanding, up and coming local artist from the area. His works are  expressive, rich in colour and evocative of the local environment we live in. A lucky find for someone familiar with the artist or who merely enjoys this fabulous work. One sold in our recent online auction but one remains in store. Here's a link to the Murray Clerkson award http://www.bmfa.on.ca/clerksonaward.php

Carly Patterson trail is an approximately 11 km loop that meanders throughout the west end of Wasaga Beach. Never straying too far into the wilderness, this trail is perfect for almost all walking/ hiking abilities. There are countless entry points along the trail and it's very well maintained after storm damage. The deep snow we are currently experiencing makes it harder with the double stroller, but with snow shoes, you could enjoy a delightful hike through the woods.  Here's a video of our running convoy ( pup and stroller included) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz_DX0SUEjo And some further links about the trail! http://staging.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMKJ6C_Carly_Patterson_Memorial_Trail_Wildwood_Drive_Access_Point http://wasagabeachtourism.com/wasagabeach/media/Documents/Maps/WB-Trails-eMap.pdf

This is a great recipe if you have left over yogurt and/ or mushy bananas ( we had some  'lime' Greek yogurt I'd erroneously purchased). The peanut butter adds richness and it's a relatively health choice, lower in sugar and high in protein. A classic for kids, with ample 'mashing' potential. Here's the link! https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/09/18/skinny-peanut-butter-banana-muffins/

A snowy morning is perfect for experimenting with some festive crafts. Ella loves painting so we chose this cool, fork painted snowflake, see Pinterest for inspiration! https://happytoddlerplaytime.com/fork-painted-snowflakes/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes  This craft is easy and satisfying. All you need is paint and paper. Ideally, white on a darker colour paper but white on white also works (rarely do toddler paints maintain their hue). We used a regular fork but plastic is probably a smart choice and as with a toddler-painting activity, keep wipes, apron and a change of clothes close by. Here's a video of our exploits!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2_fngc4-2A&feature=youtu.be

American Made, starring  Tom Cruise is an enjoyable, lighthearted movie, following Barry Seal (Cruise), a pilot, turned covert CIA operative during the 80's. An interesting snapshot of the era including a burgeoning drug cartel and the communist uprising in South/ Central America. Seal, inevitably gets caught up in the whirlwind of adventure and free flowing cash. The film skips on violence and focuses on character. Aeronautical fans will love the action shots and homage to vintage aircraft. American Made is entertaining and an easy watch 7/10

I love this tip because I enjoy how mirrors add such depth and light. A great rule of thumb is to place a mirror in every room. It's an easy way to extend and enhance a smaller space or ground and accent something bigger. The variety available is vast. From ornate to chalk paint, mirrors have been around for centuries for a reason,  We've has some fabulous mirrors in store over the last couple of years. My all time favorite is this stunning art deco/ mid century piece. I  LOVE IT. Bling meets Art and kind of looks like the Sun.  And a few other ideas; mirrors we have welcomed through our doors.  Here's a great link with some other great tips! https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/11-foolproof-decorating-tips

 This amazing piece is quite a rare find. A 50 gallon crock, original made in Alberta, no cracks and literally huge. Crocks were used before the rise of refrigerators. The watertight, stoneware structure, usually kept in the basement, was used to store foods and other perishable items. Nowadays, crocks are used widely as rustic and attractive accent pieces.    See this crock in our store, Black Pearl Emporium, 60 Pine Street, Collingwood, L9Y 2N7.  Currently priced at $1500 CAD Links:  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-04-21/news/0204200370_1_stoneware-crock-art-pottery https://www.pinterest.ca/explore/antique-crocks/?lp=true