calgary furniture sale

10 tips to make this year extra special. 

~ Showhome Furniture ~ 7 Comments
Merry Christmas to all you lovely people!

How many of you are so busy shuttling the kids, finishing projects and working the daily grind to decorate for Christmas?

Here at Showhome, we understand that struggle.

In the world we live in there is so much pressure to present the “perfect” image.

Chestnuts roasting by an open fire and all that bit.

So when you actually have time to spend on celebrating the season, instead of binge-watching the Crown in your bedroom, why don’t you try some of our tips?

Below we have a list of some of our favorite Christmas-time traditions of our families that we want to share with you!

And don’t forget to read until the end for a fun DIY!

10 Top Tips!

1. Get together with a group of your friends and do a cookie exchange.

Not only is it a ton of fun, but you will also have delicious cookies to share throughout the season!

2. Secret Santa a few neighbors (kids especially love this)

And it doesn’t need to be anything crazy, just visit the local Dollar Store for something to gift!

Identify a few homes you want to go to, bring your gift, ring the doorbell and RUN!

3.  Find the elderly or lonely in your community to go caroling to.

(Nursing homes are always welcoming)

While it seems nerve-wracking, the joy you bring to other’s lives is worth the fear.

Bring along a speaker with your favorite Christmas music, to help you sound fantastic. 😉

4. Make a hot cocoa bar in your kitchen and have some device-free time sipping cocoa with the family and reading Christmas books.

5.  Go ice-skating! Bowness Park is always fun if you are in Calgary, or hit up some skating wherever you live, plus it counts as exercise!

Bowness Park

6. Do a photo shoot with your friends.
When this winter weather makes you want to stay bundled and warm, cuddled up in your bedroom furniture, you have to put forth effort to actually get out of the house.
Text your friends and make a plan to do a winter photoshoot together!
It seems like everyone I know is an aspiring photographer.
If you have those “soon to be actual photographers” in your life why don’t you hire them for cheap to do a quick photoshoot for you?
It helps them build their repertoire and you get good quality photos out of it!
7. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
There is no better way to keep the spirit of the season than by serving others.
8. Come visit us at Sunridge Mall.
 Browse our store, share some hot cocoa and cookies and remember we offer interest-free/no payment for one year plans.
PLUS all our accessories are currently 30% off!
9. Play board games!
While some games (like Uno) have the ability to tear a family apart, overall playing board or card games with your family or friends is a great bonding experience.
Sometimes we get so busy getting gifts for those we love we don’t actually spend time with them.
Change that by picking up a classic game and playing with your family.
10. Bake cookies.
I don’t know if you are aware of the Six Sisters, but their recipes are always spot-on!
My favorite is their Soft & Chewy Ginger Cookies that I’ll be sharing with you today.
When you have a minute check out their site: Six Sisters

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • Sugar, for rolling
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Sift flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and one cup sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Beat in egg, then stir in water and molasses.
  5. Fold in flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt and mix until well combined. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, roll in sugar and place 2″ apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  7. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack.

CHRISTMAS WREATH DIY

How to make an adorable Christmas wreath in just a few easy steps!

1. Go to the dollar store and buy a plain wreath for cheap

2. Pick trimmings from your tree and add them to the wreath

3. Add snowflakes and a bow

4. Spray with fake snow or sparkles

Now that you have such a beautiful wreath, post a picture of it onto Showhome Furniture’s Facebook page before you give it away or hang it up to make your home more festive!

BONUS TIP:

Take your kids to a live nativity and remember the reason for the season.

Google “live nativities near me” and you will find some great ones!

Calgary Nativity Pageant

This time of year can be hectic and crazy, but we want you to know that Showhome loves you!

Have a very merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading and be sure to share with us your Christmas tips!

Small Bathroom, Big Statement!

~ Naomi Pederson ~ 14 Comments

 

 

Do you have a small bathroom that needs an overhaul?  Or are you in the middle of building and need some idea’s for a small bathroom?  Either way, Showhome Furniture has some great idea’s and tips for you to make the most of your small bathroom.

When I was 7 month pregnant with my twins, I was renting a very tiny house and sharing it with my pregnant sister who was 7 months pregnant as well.  I had two kids already, and my sister had three and our husbands were gone all day trying to find work and trying to start a business.  Those were crazy days, and the fact we only had two small bathrooms for all 9 of us (two being pregnant remember. . .you know how a pregnant lady needs that loo!) was interesting to say the least!

At the time, I had no idea how to arrange our bathrooms to fit us all, and house all our stuff.  Seriously our bathroom was a disaster even before one of the kids got a toothbrush stuck down the toilet!!  Now, after decades of being in the furniture business, we are experts at turning that tiny toilet room into a functioning family bathroom.

At Showhome Furniture we have found 7 things that will make your time in the loo, especially a small loo, more enjoyable.

Storage:  Storage in a small bathroom is the number one issue.  Before filling your bathroom with accessories and decor, look carefully at what space you have available to add some storage.  Sometimes you can find space above the toilet, or along one wall where a pretty storage unit can be installed.  Hooks are a great way to get more storage and make the bathroom more functional.

Mirrors!!  Mirrors are beautiful and have the lovely trait of making a room seem larger.  Since your bathroom is going to be a bit cramped anything you can do to give the illusion of size is something you should consider.

Think Big!!!  With such a small space, decorating a tiny bathroom can be very affordable.  You can’t fit much in it so think big.  Splurge a little on the mirror, the wall paper, maybe buy a luxurious light, or awesome picture.  Pick a few things that really “Wow!” you and go for it.

Embrace Color!!  In small spaces, bright colors work great.  They catch the eye are fabulous at making your small bathroom seem bigger!  Contrast the color with white for a brighter effect.  This is especially wise when there is no window in your bathroom.

Use a Glass!!  If you can replace your shower curtain with glass doors you will open up the bathroom a ton.  Glass doors are super easy to clean if you keep a squeegie in the shower for occupants to wipe down quickly after each shower.

These are some of our most important tips when trying to make your small bathroom function and look beautiful.

 

Nursery Rooms That Grow With Your Child

~ Naomi Pederson ~ 1 Comment

https://projectnursery.com/2014/12/pink-and-gray-nurseries/

At Showhome Furniture we love unpacking a new crate of furniture from around the world.  We work hard to find treasures in Canada and abroad.  You just never know exactly what is going to be coming in each crate, how it will measure up and whether or not our customers will love it.  It is kinda like having a baby-not really, but just like we love a new crate of furniture, we also love the idea of getting ready for a new baby!!!  Having had 6 babies of my own, I know what I am talking about.

https://www.care.com/c/stories/4980/12-beautiful-calming-nurseries-to-inspire-sle/

When planning for a new baby it is important to think long-term.  Your sweet baby is not going to be a baby forever, so it is wise to spend time and thought on how to make your hard work of decorating their room last for as long as you need it to.

Of corse every nursery needs a crib!  There are cribs in furniture stores all over the city that fit everyone budget.  Personally, we would suggest you not spend too much money on the crib as it will not be need after a year or two.  It would be more economical to buy a basic crib and spend money on other furniture like a nest chair.

https://www.care.com/c/stories/4980/12-beautiful-calming-nurseries-to-inspire-sle/

A nest chair is perfect for so many rooms but especially a nursery, then toddler room, where mom and dad can cuddle up with baby to read a book or sing a song.

Some people are concerned about getting new furniture for childrens rooms.  We, at Showhome Furniture realize this, and that is why we offer an affordable no hassle furniture plan.  With a good furniture plan you are able to buy knowing that your investment is secure. In addition to our protection plan you are sure to find some great deals at Showhome Furniture as we are constantly having furniture sales.

https://www.care.com/c/stories/4980/12-beautiful-calming-nurseries-to-inspire-sle/

Getting a classy dressers for baby clothing is important.  When my sister had her first baby she spent hours painting Peter Rabbit all over it.  It was adorable, and took a long time.  Unfortunately only a few years later the dresser was outdated and broken.  Had she bought a basic but well-built dresser like my other sister did (I have 5 sisters) then even five or six later the dresser would have been in great shape and versatile enough to have been used in the kitchen, the living room, the baby’s room, and lastly the teen-agers room.

https://www.care.com/c/stories/4980/12-beautiful-calming-nurseries-to-inspire-sle/

Beyond a dresser, most nurseries would benefit from some additional storage units. Bookcases are great as well as little caddy’s.  Some fear that bookcases are and caddy’s are boring, but with the great selection at Showhome Furniture, you are bound to find something that suits you perfectly and are far from boring.

https://projectnursery.com/2014/12/viewed-nurseries-2014/

These are some of our essentials for an amazing nursery.  If there are somethings that we missed (after all it has been a few years since I have had a baby), please let us know.