This Valentine's Day....

Love yourself This Valentine's give yourself the Gift of_____________. View this email in your browser

Camellia's favourite "Gifts to Self" this Valentine's Day

How many of us beat up on ourselves? if only we could lose that 30 lbs., exercise more often,have a cleaner house, and so on. And Valentine's Day comes along, and if we haven't found our special someone, our self-worth is well, let's not go there. Treat yourself this Valentine's Day to a bouquet of Flowers that will last all Spring ( you can purchase this Vase design at Thunder Oak Cheese Farm). Take some time for youself, and soak in the tub. Luxuriate in a bar of Beekman's SPRING Goat Milk soap! Beekman's 1802 is in stock at The Camellia.  Smells like the green grass sprouting in the dirt, fresh and Springy. Take a drive and walk along Lake Superior,we just saw these neat ice formations last weekend along the shore. So go ahead, fill in the blank above, this Valentine's Day I will give myself the Gift of _______. ( More sleep, a night out, I will not work past 9pm, I will spend time with my kids, etc.)  This week,  we are open Thurs. 12-5, Fri. 11-5, Sat. 11-5. and Sunday 12-5p. Please note that we will be closed from Feb. 10-25th. 2015. If you need any supplies, please call or text 807-472-8193, or leave a message at 475-3551.  for fresh flower delivery, call Bloomers at 807-624-9005.   Visit our website for information athttp://www.thecamellia.com   Twitter Website Email Come Visit The Camellia. How do I get there?   We are 10 mins. from the Thunder Bay Airport, heading south on Hwy. 61. Turn left onto Hacquoil Rd. We are 1.6km. on the left.    Phone 807) 475-3551 OPEN:  Call and listen to the message. Shop online at http://www.thecamellia.com Visit our blog at http://www.fromnaturetohome.blogspot.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Camellia-From-Nature-to-Home/145600168837975 http://pinterest.com/thecamellia/boards/

Share Tweet Forward to Friend Copyright ©2015|* *|THE CAMELLIA|*, All rights reserved. *Why did I get this email? You have either signed up at our store, The Camellia, or at one of our Trade show booths. If you would like to be removed from our list, no worries! Simply click on the Unsubscribe button. Our mailing address is: *30 Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay, On . Slate River, Oliver Paipoonge, On. P7JOE2 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

So you going on a Holiday, a vacay.

The idea of a Winter Holiday sounds wonderful, especially when it's snowing and very, very cold, like minus whatever is at the very bottom of the thermometer. You don't even want to look at the guage.  

So you pore over catalogues, wondering why there are no more last-minute deals. Well, now you get rewarded for booking early, and there is some deal where if the price drops after you book, then you can get a refund. 

You finally decide on THE PLACE - the Caribbean.

You are determined to not be packing the night before you go on holiday. After all, you don't want to get there half dead, you want to be full of energy, yeah!

But before you go, you start to engage in insane behaviour. ( and I am not talking about you, I know you don't do any of these things)

• cleaning out the inside of your cupboards so your house sitter doesn't think that slobs, and dirty people live here
• you have been meaning to change your will so you drive yourself crazy with that , you never know your plane might fall out of the sky and you may perish in the ocean. Just so you know,  stats show you have  a greater chance of  being killed in your car. 
• you set yourself impossible goals - I want to get this done by the time we go on holiday
• you have to clear the desk at work and finish all undone projects
• you have to cancell the newspaper, arrange for someone to pick up the mail, get your hair cut, arrange for a dogsitter, omg, this list is getting longer by the minute
• you may even think, why did I think I could even take a holiday?

Onward to clothes - what to pack. you want to look glamourous, after all you'll be next to those perfect 10's, twenty-something year old bodies that never had any kids and are perfect. No time to shop? Just run to the fabric store, grab 1.5 m of some stretchy fabric, and make a sarong.

Click on the link to find out how to make a sarong. Buy some brightly coloured fabric, none of that black or brown nonsense. 

http://www.diy-enthusiasts.com/diy-fashion/ways-tie-sarong-dress-pareo-beach/

 You press on, visions of the beach dancing in your head.

BY SOME MIRACLE, you mange to get out the door, and so  you are finally  on holiday and it takes you 3 days to unwind because you drove yourself at 150% to get everything done, does any of this sound familiar?

STOP...relax..prioritize

It's ok if your house is not clean when you come back.

No-one is going to look in your cupboards. 

The house sitter just cares about where is the food, how to lock the doors, the security system, how to work the TV, and the all important WI-FI PASSWORD!!

 

Some DO's : 

• There have been some cases of Chikungunya virus  reported in the Caribbean, it is a mosquito borne illness, that attacks your joints. If you are out in the evening, do use a bug spray, wear long pants and long sleeved shirts . Most resorts fog on a regular basis, 
• if you are staying at an all-inclusive resort, and eating from a buffet, you will be serving yourself with the same spoons other people have used. A yoga teacher I met at one of the resorts said : don't use your hands to eat your food, e.g. use your fork to eat a bread roll. Use hand sanitizer before eating your meal.
• drink bottled water, most Caribbean islands have a desalination plant, and the water is probably safe. However, as one pharmacist said, your intestines get used to the bacteria in the water where you live, when your travel you are exposed to different bacteria, so you may end up an upset stomach. Who needs that on a holiday? Take some probiotics with you. 

         

 If you see an ant in the hotel, it doesn't mean the hotel is dirty. Expect to see an ant and small               lizards. 

 Beach in Cuba.

No work, no timetables, no meals to prepare, warm weather , sand and sun.

• Enjoy your Holiday! For help in decorating The Island Way, stop in at The Camellia or arrange for an in-home consultation. 

The  Camellia, 30 Hacquoil Rd. p-(807)475-3551

Laundry Rooms & Cotton Bedding

Most of us have Laundry Rooms that look like a tornado erupted in the room. Clothes thrown in piles in a mad mess, things waiting for someone to find a home for them. And electronic gadgets and cords are in the mess as well. Check our link below, houzz.com is a great resource. 

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/35075911/list/room-of-the-day-the-laundry-room-no-one-wants-to-leave

For Cotton Bedding that is washable, and oh-so-soft, come visit The Camellia. 

We have samples of the various patterns in our store, the Camellia, at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Click on the bedroom photo on the sidebar. If you need a custom order, it usually arrives in 10 days or so. 

p-807)475-3551 to check current hours. 

What's Inspiring for January 2015

It's January and the minus 30 temps. have arrived. It's when you ask your self WHY...why did you move from a tropical country to a cold country? 

And you moan and feel sorry for yourself, until...wait a minute, you remind yourself that Spring is just around the corner, and flowers and green grass will soon appear.

 And you start leafing through Tropical Vacay magazines, dreaming about the beach.Will it be Mexico, Punta Cana, Jamaica or maybe Costa Rica?

And then the thought hits you, beach, swimsuits, all those chocolates you got as presents at Christmas...time to start planning a workout space in your home. After all, you don't want to be wandering the beach with a giant cover-up from head to ankle, like a Hawaiian mumu thingamajig.

For those of you who are renovating in order to create a work-out space, here are some tips from Houzz.com. 

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/34351266/list/10-elements-of-an-inspiring-workout-zone

If you are like me, and you started trying to create a work out space months ago, don't despair. Baby steps. You will get there eventually. 

 It is especially difficult to get motivated to exercise when it's 30 below outside, and 6pm feels like 10 pm. This is Lake Superior in all her icy glory.

 So much easier to go for a walk in the Summertime after supper.

 Yumm. homemade Blueberry Muffins. Promise yourself a healthy snack after working out.

What is inspiring you this January...and what room are you working on in your Home?

We have a Beginners' Cottage Paint class coming up this Saturday, Jan. 10th. 2015, 1-4pm. You MUST Call to register, phone (807)475-3551. Size of this class is limited. ( wear some clothes you can paint in)

You will get a cupboard door to practice on,  Cottage Paint, and other supplies like waxes, varnishes, crackle medium, & antiquing pastes will be shared.  We will cover one-colour Wet distressing, Two -colour wet distressing, Crackle medium, applying Varnish, applying waxes, antiquing pastes, applying glazes, and dry brushing techniques.

               Saturday, Jan. 10th. 2015, 1-4p

Happy January! Our hours for January 2015 are Fridays, 11-5p. Sat. 11-5. Sunday 12-5p. If you would like to come at other times, please call and arrange a time.
                .

Happy New Year from The Camellia!

 Wow! This past year has whizzed by, and now it's going to be 2015. We found a great video for you to watch, especially for all of you who are making New Year's resolutions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqbAsr6wN_I

It's the hardest thing to change one's habits - to eat meals on time, to eat healthy meals, to take the time to prepare healthy snacks,  to cook meals instead of grabbing take-out.

What are you resolving to do this year?

For some of us , we are vowing to take more time for ourselves, to slow down, to stop constantly DOING.... To sit and take a half-an-our for ourselves, to read a book. And to not feel guilty for doing this. 

 

 

Some of us want to travel more. What can you do to make that happen?

Some of us want to declutter and throw out stuff we no longer need. Organize, organize, organize.

We wish you the very best in 2015, and Thank you for letting us be part of your Lives!!

We have upcoming classes in Beginners' Cottage Paint, check out our classes at http://www.thecamellia.com/classes-at-the-camelia.html

For our hours, phone us at 475-3551

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from The Camellia, Thunder Bay

 The big Day is almost here, and we are wishing you a Merry Christmas, and  many Blessings in the New Year! If you bought a Magnolia wreath from us, they keep for a long time after Christmas.

 

We are taking a much-needed break , if you would like to come visit us at the store, phone 475-3551 to check for hours. 

Thank you for your support this past year!

Christmas 2014 hours, The Camellia, Thunder Bay, On

Question: are you ready for Christmas? Answer: NO View this email in your browser

We all have great intentions of getting it ALL Done... But Life gets in the way, so you might be like me, running around trying to find a tree, mailing presents that will get there too late, and cards that have yet to be sent overseas. (Thank goodness for the e-card sites like Jacquie Lawson). SO DO WHAT YOU CAN GET DONE AND LEAVE THE REST. As for presents, well, let's not get started. FLOWERS & WREATHS make the perfect Gift ....Call today to order, we have a few left - small cedar wreaths, large Magnolia, evergreen and birch wreaths, and a vase of cut flowers with evergreens is a great choice. Call us at 475-3551  to order for delivery, or you can order & pick -up at our store. Out-of-towners can use our toll-free, 1-877-523-7444. I often wish I had time to sit and light a candle. Come into out store for Canadian Soy candles.  Earlier this Spring, I visited the Yankee Candle store in Williamsburg, VA.  Candles make your decor sparkle, but do not leave unattended. It is very important to trim your wicks, so here is some how-tos from Yankee Candle. Keep wick trimmed to 1/8 inch at all times. The wick should be trimmed every 4 hours of burn time. Simply extinguish the flame, let the candle come to room temperature, and trim the wick to 1/8 of inch before relighting. Our Wick Trimmers make this task easy and creates a nice clean cut that properly maintains the wick. Place the bottom of the trimmer flush with the surface of the candle. Rock the trimmer back so that the “elbow” now rests on the surface of the candle. Ensure that your trimmer is at a 45-degree angle to ensure the proper wick length. This will prevent the wick from being cut too short or causing the candle to burn improperly. Bring the two handles together to trim the wick. Discard the remnant wick before lighting. To keep wick at 1/8” at all times, it is suggested to trim the wick every four hours of burn time. Keeping the wick trimmed to 1/8 of an inch at all times helps control the amount of “fuel” or wax that is present. By keeping the amount of fuel limited, the flame will create ideal complete combustion where carbon particles are absorbed by the flame. This means less soot is formed while the candle is burning. The formation of soot has nothing to do with the type of wax (soy, paraffin, vegetable, or other) as all burning items create soot as a product of incomplete combustion. It all has to do with the quality of the wick and the proper care of the candle! Candles should not be burned for more than four hours at a time. It is recommended that they burned for four hours, then extinguished and let cool for two hours before relighting. So, let's talk about Christmas dinner. Are you having the whole gang over, and wondering what to use for a tablecloth? Please do not tell me you are using a plastic tablecloth....we have great water-repellent, stain resistant cloths that look fabulous and are easy to take care of. They are a great price , starting at $25.00 to 28.00. Take a quick measure of your table, snap a photo of your table with your phone, and come visit The Camellia. Check out our tablecloths and the linen-look runner in the photo above. Our classes are up on our website...click on this link  http://www.thecamellia.com/classes-at-the-camelia.html..the dates of the Workshops are flexible, we will do our best to accomodate everyone. Learn how to make fresh evergreen garlands, centrepieces, and windowboxes, classes run Thursday 18th. Dec. and Friday 19th. of December, 6.30-9.30 . Phone 475-3551 to register Beginner Cottage Paint classes coming up : DATES: Thursday, Jan. 8th, 2015, 6.30 to 9.30ish                Saturday, Jan. 10th. 2015, 1-4p                 Sunday, Jan. 11th. 2015, 1-4 p. We have lots of ribbons, don't forget to come in and get tree topper bows made up, we also make bows for wreaths. Many Christmas decorations on sale , 40-50% off, garlands, and other goodies as well.   Have an awesome Weekend...and come Visit us at The Camellia.. Thurs. 12-6. Fri. 11-5, Sat. 11-5. Sun. 12-5. Next week, we are open Tuesday, Dec. 23. 2014,  1-4,  Wed. Dec. 24. 2014, 1-4.

30 Hacquoil Rd.    p-(807) 475-3551. If you are coming at night, no worries, our entrance is clearly lit. Visit our website for information at http://www.thecamellia.com Read our blog at http://www.fromnaturetohome.blogspot.com   Twitter Website Email Come Visit The Camellia.   How do I get there?   We are 10 mins. from the Thunder Bay Airport, heading south on Hwy. 61. Turn left onto Hacquoil Rd. We are 1.6km. on the left.    Phone 807) 475-3551 Shop online at http://www.thecamellia.com Visit our blog at http://www.fromnaturetohome.blogspot.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Camellia-From-Nature-to-Home/145600168837975 http://pinterest.com/thecamellia/boards/

Share Tweet Forward to Friend