[bc_video video_id="6252039753001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] If you want to try your hand at gardening this season, but aren’t sure if you have the skills, don’t fear! We've compiled a guide to gardening that even complete novices can use, from what you need to common mistakes! Before the season starts, it's important to snag your garden goodies. Supply and demand has been a big problem throughout the pandemic, so it's important to know exactly what you need, and get it early. Bagged Soil Of course, you'll need soil for your garden, but that's a pretty broad statement. To get the most out of your greens, look for soils that include peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. Peat moss will help open up space for air and water in the soil, and also balances pH, which is very important for long-term plant health. Perlite will help with aeration and drainage in the soil, and vermiculite helps increase the nutrient retention in your soil. If you can find soil with compost in it as well, that will help give your dirt a bit of a boost! Insecticidal Soap This non-toxic substance kills soft-bodied pests like those pesky aphids. To apply, you simply spray the substance on the leaves of the plant (though it's best if you can just hit the bugs directly). I works on pretty much all plants, but there are a few examples like sweet pea and azaleas that can be harmed by this substance. If you want to test the safety for your plant, spray a couple of leaves and check again the next day. If the leaves have wilted, definitely refrain from using this spray on the rest of your plant. BTK "Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki", better known as BTK, is a strain of bacteria that is harmful to larvae, but harmless against plant, humans and other animals. It's often used to kill caterpillars of invasive species. This is going to be especially important this year, since it's going to be a bad summer for gypsy moths. Japanese Beetle Traps Speaking of invasive species, the Japanese Beetle (sometimes called the Scarab Beetle) are all over North America now, and love to chow down on any greenery that they can find. Traps for these little monsters us a container of some sort, a flower bloom and a beetle sex pheromone to attract these pests. This is an entirely pesticide-free way of trapping unwanted guests in your garden. Large Flower Pots Its a great idea to get your pots early in order to ensure you get the items you need. Buy a few different sizes so that you can size up without making an emergency run to the garden centre. Plus, having a few different sized plants adds a nice amount of visual interest to any garden! Patio Furniture Gardens are more than just the plants in them, and you want to make sure your furniture looks just as good as your foliage. If you're in the market for patio furniture right now, you should know that aluminum is in very short supply this year, so buying right now is a priority. In general though, it's better to get your furniture sooner rather than later. [bc_video video_id="6252038454001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Now that you've got all you need to start your green oasis, here's a list of common mistakes to avoid. The Lawn

• The order of caring for a lawn in spring is to weed it first, then seed it, then feed it.
• Weeding the garden involves taking out the big problems manually, and following it up with bio-herbicides or vinegar spray, which you can make yourself!
• Seed your lawn by using Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (AKA "RTF"). This is a grass seed blend that prevents weed growth and covers up any bare patches of dirt.
• Feed you lawn by using organic fertilizers, making sure that you use the right fertilizer for your soil type.

Patios

• Bringing houseplants outside for some more sun is a great way to brighten up the patio and make your plant happy, but make sure you don't subject the greenery to sun damage. Lots of houseplants don't like direct sunlight, so keeping the plant somewhere that is partially shaded during the day is a good idea.
• Being out in the heat also means plants will need to be watered more frequently so that they don't dry out.
• Fertilizing is super important for houseplants that go outside.

Balconies

• Growing vegetables on the balcony is a great idea, but once again, be careful to water them more than usual, due to their tendency to dry our quicker.
• When you're lounging outside, don't bring your indoor pillows - black mold forms inside of pillows without natural fungicides!

Good luck, new gardeners, we hope you succeed in your green endeavors.

[bc_video video_id="6252038242001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] The more we are at home, the more small annoyances become big annoyances! Whether you're slipping off couch cushions or dealing with droopy duvets, we've got some hacks for your home's most annoying problems. The Case of the Slippery Cushions If your sofa cushions slide over the edge of the couch, there's an easy fix for that! Take a rug pad, cut it to size and place it under the cushion. The traction will hold it in place! You'll never slip off the couch again!   The Case of the Ugly TV If you want a break from staring at a blank screen on your wall, you can turn your smart tv into a piece of art. YouTube has a ton of art slideshows that you can play. Open up the YouTube app on your TV and search ‘tv art slideshow’ and scroll until you find art that suits your style. You can even pause it on a favourite piece, but not for too long. Keeping a single image on screen for too long may damage your TV. You could just pull up a pic of the beach and pretend you're on vacation! The Case of the Crooked Candles Have you ever set up a group of candlesticks on your mantle or dining room table only to have them refuse to stand up straight? Here’s an easy trick: light the candle. Let it burn for several seconds and then dip the melted wax into the candle holder. Put the candle back in place and hold it straight. When the wax dries, it will act like glue, holding the candle in position.  The Case of the Droopy Duvet There are few things worse when you get into bed and the top of your blanket is all cover and no duvet. Some duvet covers come with straps, which is great, but not all of them do. Your duvet may also not have tabs for straps to attach to. However, you can get clips to hold your duvet components in place.

[bc_video video_id="6251100879001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] If you’re looking to experiment with your hair this season, a silk scarf just might be what you need to take your hairstyle from simple to stunning. For fashion and function, scarves are everywhere this season. We’re seeing a beautiful soft prettiness with them incorporated in to braids and ponies, as well as more retro 70's vibes. We've curated some easy silk scarf styles that you can try on yourself at home! Look 1: The Coachella Braid This pretty boho look screams "Coachella". To pull off this look, take a section of your hair on the crown and back comb it a little. Tie your scarf in a knot around it to secure it, leaving one tail longer. Split your hair into two sections around the scarf. Now you have the traditional 3 strands needed to create a braid. Braid normally until you almost reach the bottom, then tie off with another hair elastic. Now spread the braid out with your fingers. This look works really well as a side braid. Bonus Tip: Use a scarf when sleeping to keep your doo longer by wrapping your hair “up” in a scarf. It’ll be cradled in a “hammock” all night.  Look 2: Summer in St. Tropez To accomplish this one, take a long skinny scarf or fold a large scarf into long narrow band. Place it on your hair line or just behind it and add a couple of bobby pins behind each ear. Cross the pins for added hold. Now wrap the “tails” under the base of your ponytail and then bring them up and over and tie it off. Let the tails hang, or take your pony and turn it into a messy bun. You can wrap the tails around it or even cover it up completely.  Bonus Tip: Think about doing this look with a top knot as well. Just reverse the process. Start at the nape of you neck and wrap the scarf up to the top of your head and tie it off around your top knot.  Look 3: Easy Peasy Braid  For this last look, take your hair and pull it over to whichever side you prefer, then put it in a low ponytail. Aim for behind your ears and off your neck. Using a coil hair tie or a hair elastic secure it at the base. Now take your scarf and put it through the tie so it won’t fall out and leave a long and a short tail. Use the short tail to cover the elastic. You want the long tail about the length of or a little longer than your ponytail. Separate your pony into two sections and now you have the 3 sections, the scarf being the third needed for a classic braid. Don’t braid it too tight. Once you get to the ends tie it off with a hair elastic. Now stretch it out, pull it apart a little to get that really pretty boho look.  Which of these are your favourite look? Let us know in the comments!

[bc_video video_id="6251099478001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] 1.2 billion pairs of denim jeans are bought each and every year, and there’s a reason for this:  denim acts as the foundational piece for the rest of our wardrobe.  It also screams versatility in terms of how we pair it and for which occasion we wear it. Now, when it comes to our favourite wardrobe staple, we might think we have it all figured out.  But today, we’re asking you to forget everything you thought you knew. Too many of us are getting it wrong, so it's time to relearn the denim essentials. There are 4 main things you should be considering when looking for your ideal denim: shape, size, fabrication, and care. A lot of us are only considering 1 or 2 of these elements when purchasing.  In order to ensure we have the perfect pair of denim, a quest we’ve all been on at one time or another, we have to hit each and every one of these pressing points. Shape The first stop on our journey to denim superstardom is shape. You have to decide which is best for your particular body type, however there are a few universal truths:

• Always choose a mid to high rise, the 90s low-riser is never appropriate. 
  • A mid, or even better, a high, ensures we’re elongating the legs and torso.
  • It also helps suck in and cinch the waist.
  • This accentuates your natural curves, or adds in curves for the skinnier among us.
• As we increase in height, consider widening the leg, simultaneously.
  • The taller we are, the more styles we have our our disposal, but that doesn't mean shorter people are out of the picture.
  • While straight leg jeans are the most overall flattering style, short, curvier people might do well with black or indigo skinny jeans.
  • Another great tip is to elevate the silhouette with a heel of some sort.
• Be aware of your inseam.
  • The inseam is the distance from the base of your zipper to the bottom of your leg opening. 
  • It’s imperative that we’re aware of our individual height and are then customizing our inseam length to complement. This can mean a trip to the tailor's.
  • If you’re on the shorter side (5'4" or under), avoid very baggy and boxy jeans, as well as inseams greater than 21 inches in length.
  • If you’re on the average to taller side, the rule of thumb is to go with the longest possible inseam.  A shorter inseam will break up the vertical denim flow.

Size Finding the right size is everything! Too often, both men and women opt for the incorrect size! We want our denim to last, which means knowing our individual size, just like bras!  It’s a science, and there are a few rules to follow:

• Once your denims are on, ensure the fabric lays evenly and flatly over the under-butt.  If you can grab - or see - any excess material in this region, go down a size.  Keep going until you can’t grab any denim excess!
• The two-finger test. Once your denims are on, at the highest part of the rise - top of the waistband - ensure you can get only two fingers, side by side, in the crevice of the crack.  Any more than 2, and you know the size is incorrect. Keep going until you’re at 2 or less.
• If you don’t have time to try a pair of jeans on, take the waistband and wrap it around your neck. It sounds crazy, but if the waistband touches comfortably, it will fit you in the waist. If it doesn’t reach, it will be too tight, and if it overlaps it will be too loose.
• Back pockets are the secret weapon in your denim arsenal. They're a sure fire way of accentuating the butt, and ensuring your booty is pert and standing at full attention. If you want to create a rounder, more fully-formed silhouette opt for smaller back pockets that sit higher on the seat. This pulls attention upward.  You never want the back pockets to sit lower than the bottom curve of your butt.
• For anyone trying to create an illusion of a smaller, more compact booty, you want opt for wider pockets that are more closely positioned together, creating the visual illusion of a narrower behind.

Fabrication It’s important to take note of clothing composition in order to assess both longevity and levels of comfort. Here's a rundown on what you can expect from your fabrics:

• Elastane: You might better know this as Spandex or Lycra. The inclusion of elastane in your jeans means the ultimate in comfort, but be aware of its ratio to cotton or other synthetics.  No more than 3 percent of the jean should be elastane, otherwise the abundance of stretch will ultimately cause a droop effect, particularly in the waistband. If you’re trying on denim that do contain a high percentage of stretch, ensure that once the jeans are off, the fabric has popped back, easily and quickly, into its original shape. If you notice the a lag, do not purchase! 
• Polyester: Our old friend! While cotton in our denim also means instant comfort against the skin, this doesn’t always translate to longevity of use.  Cotton, once washed, has a tendency to shrink, which means opting for a synthetic blend is always a smart option. Polyester is extremely durable and abrasion-resistant - it lasts! The fibre is heat related, cooled then stretched, meaning it can withstand more impact than other fabrics.  If you see even 10 percent polyester included with cottons and elastane, this is a keeper! 
• Raw or Rigid: Who doesn't love the effect of a raw denim? That rich indigo instantly adds an element of quiet sophistication that we flock too. However, the rawer the denim, the more cognizant of size we need to be! The rule of thumb is to go down at least, half a size from what you typically buy. Raw denim means the jean has not been washed or treated prior, meaning the fabric is super susceptible to change! You want your denim to fit uncomfortably tight at first, considering these jeans will give up to a full size! As long as you can get the top button up, even if you’re turning purple, it’s a keeper!
• Pre-treated denim : This is anything with fading, overt dye work, or super stretchy tendencies. You can be harder on these sorts of denim, they’re much more resilient. 

Care  This final point might seem, on the surface, not as pressing as the preceding ones, but we promise you that it is! Times are tough, and we want ensure our denim lasts, especially after we’ve put in all the work in getting our denim selection right! Here are the rules:

• Don't over-wash! Only wash your jeans if you stain them! If your denim is raw, don't wash at all. The colour will instantly bleed out, and the shape will disappear.
• If you do wash, never go above 30 degrees, always turn them inside out, and never tumble dry. 
• If you have a particularly expensive pair of denim, or love a raw denim, consider dry cleaning! It might seem like an unnecessary cost, but dry cleaning ensures longevity, which means you might spend more now, but you’ll end up minimizing your spending over time. 
• Washing any denim ultimately works to break down the fibres and decrease shelf life. If your jeans start to smell - as they naturally will with wear - but there are no stains, consider placing your denim in the freezer over night. The extreme cold will kill off any odour-producing bacteria. Smell is gone, and jeans are safe!

Nick's Denim Recommendations:

• PAIGE Amber Ankle Straight Leg Jeans
• PAIGE Sarah Darted High Waist Ankle Straight Leg Jeans
• Nudie Jeans Breezy Britt Rinsed Original
• ZARA Marine Straight Patch Pocket Jeans
• ZARA Hi-Rise Super Elastic Jeggings
• ZARA Vintage Hi-Rise Skinny Jeans
• ZARA Mom Fit Jeans
• Levi 501 Original Fit Women's Jeans

[bc_video video_id="6250937231001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] After a year at home, is your workspace in desperate need of a refresh? You can use basic items you have lying around to really elevate your home office into a sophisticated space and that in turn is likely to improve your work ethic. We've got you covered with some easy and budget friendly DIYs that can rejuvenate your home office. DIY 1 : Basket Planters Greenery can really liven up your space. Maybe you have a leftover Easter basket, or just any old basket. Let’s pimp out some of the ugliest baskets with paint and transform them into leafy hanging baskets that will last forever. First you’re going to spray paint your basket with whatever colour you like. Once it’s dried, you can add in a fake plant. The best part is: your co-workers on zoom will never know it’s not real. Then you just hang it up. If you can keep your plant near a window and have some plastic to line your basket, you can use a real plant, just don't forget to water it. This is a super simple DIY that is cost effective and allows you to bring greenery to your space. DIY 2: Plastic Letter Signs Do you have leftover letter magnets from your fridge lying around? Don’t throw them away! You can grab some canvas from the dollar store and mount them on to create really unique signs. Spray paint your letters with a matte spray paint in your preferred colour and then mount them to your canvas with a glue gun. Voila! Fun DIY signage.    DIY 3: Animal Bookends If you have a lot of books scattered across your space, book ends can be very helpful. They don’t even have to be expensive. Use off-cuts of timber or MDF and hot glue them into an L formation. Then spray them with a white matte. Next, take your dollar store animal figurines and hot glue them to the base. You can spray paint the animals beforehand if you want to control the colours on the bookend. DIY 4: Tack Art If you have spare pins laying around your office, why not purchase some low-budget canvas and create your very own thumb tack wall art! This one is pretty self explanatory, and you can look online for pattern inspiration!