Silver works!

Retro style can really complement the environment of a Winnipeg character apartment, but purchasing retro accessories can be quite expensive if you buy them from a specialty store. If you like the look but not the price, try creating your own retro accessory collection.

First, pick your retro colour/colours

Lacquer spray paint works best for painting items like picture frames, vases, decorative bowls and candleholders. Pick up a can of a colour or two you enjoy and then it’s time to look for accessories to paint.

Second, select your accessories

When looking for accessories, ignore the colour of them; remember you’re going to be painting them, so they’ll all look the same except for their different shapes, textures and sizes. Places like Value Village or the Habitat for Humanity ReStore are great places to find deals. And don’t forget to check out yard sales as well. What may not have value for one person might be a treasure for another.

When painting your items make sure to do so outdoors or in a well ventilated area, so that the fumes don’t go to your head. A mask is always a good idea.

Have fun creating your own retro style for your Winnipeg apartment.

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Save money. Get fit. Have fun!

It’s convenient, it’s fun, and you never have to pay for parking. Any way you look at it, biking is a great way to get around this city during the summer months and, for Winnipeg apartment dwellers, it’s easy on the budget.

I know what you’re thinking. Buying a bicycle is expensive, which can be true, but think of all the money you’ll save. Maintaining a car, gas, oil changes, even public transportation costs $2.45 each way, so investing in a bike is just that, an investment.

Where to Begin

There are quite a few specialty bike shops in Winnipeg that can help you find the perfect bike:

• Bikes & Beyond on Henderson Highway
• Gord’s Ski and Bike on Donald Street
• Woodcock Cycleworks on St. Mary’s Road
• Gooch’s on Portage Ave.

Alternatively you can also watch sites like Kijiji Winnipeg for a second hand bicycle.

Also make sure to invest in a sturdy bike lock. The last thing you need is a stolen bike after you’ve fallen in love with it.

You have a bike. Now what?

Besides simple A to B travel, there are plenty of things to do in Winnipeg with your new bike. Check out the Winnipeg Trails Association website for bike trails and amenities around Winnipeg. And if you’re new to biking in the city, check out Bike to the Future for classes and tips.

Oh, and we forgot to mention the other advantages of riding a bike. You’ll get fit. And you’ll have fun!

Thank you for visiting Globe General Agencies. We appreciate your interest!

Thank you for visiting Globe General Agencies. We appreciate your interest!

Thank you for visiting Globe General Agencies. We appreciate your interest!

Strawberries and...

Fresh fruit is back in season! Sounds like a good reason to have a party to us. Okay, maybe just a quiet get-together in your Winnipeg apartment. But a tasty one!

One of the most exciting things about spring and summer is the emergence of affordable, ripe, yummy fruit. Nutritious and delicious! It can also be served in a variety of ways. Here are a few ideas for serving fruit to your apartment guests.

Dips

They’re not just for chips! There are a myriad of healthy, easy dips out there that you can make to complement fruit platters of all varieties. Here are a few sites with amazing fruit dip recipes:

• Kraft Canada Fruit Dip Recipes
• All Recipes Fruit Dip Recipes
• Taste of Home Fruit Dip Recipes

Fondues

They’re not just for meat! Are you seeing a pattern yet? Fruit is delightfully paired with caramel, chocolate, cheese and more. Fruit fondue sets are becoming easier to find and they also make great gifts. Places like Home Sense, Superstore and Canadian Tire all carry fruit fondue sets for under $30.

Fruit and Wine Pairing

Remember the first time you watched Pretty Woman? Richard Gere places a room service order for champagne and strawberries. (There’s also a cool Jello recipe for that here.) Turns out these types of orders aren’t all hot air — fruit, cheese and wine tasting can make for a delightful evening! Invite your friends over and ask them each to bring a bottle of wine with a cheese or fruit that should complement it.

Mix and match as the evening proceeds. You’re guaranteed to provide at least one new taste experience for everyone and you’ll likely discover some new and flavourful combos you might not otherwise have thought of.

For best results, blend with friendly conversation!

Thank you for visiting Globe General Agencies. We appreciate your interest!

Thank you for visiting Globe General Agencies. We appreciate your interest!

This is going to look beautiful!

Painting, hanging large mirrors, shelves, or pictures in your Winnipeg apartment can sometime be more trouble than it’s worth. In order to keep your damage deposit safe, you’ll want to make sure you leave your apartment in the same pristine condition it was in when you arrived.

Blank walls rarely leave you with a feeling of warmth however, and you’re probably going to want to add a personal touch to your apartment just to make it feel like home. Why not consider magnetic wall decorations? They’re easy and painless to install, and they leave very little in the way of traces.

The process is simple – select the wall you want to adorn, find a set of magnetic wall decorations to suit your desired character and off you go. A few local Winnipeg shops you can find magnetic wall decorations at include:

• Desart or Dream on Futons in Osborne Village
• Urban Barn
• Bed Bath and Beyond
• Home Sense
• Home Outfitters

Lights. Camera. Action!

You may be inclined to plan out where each of the pieces will be placed, but you might have more luck using random placement. Who knows, you might surprise yourself!

Each set of magnetic wall decorations comes with a series of tacks that can be pushed into the wall or tapped in with a hammer. Once all the tacks have been pushed into the wall, you simply place the magnetic adornments on the tacks and voila! You’ve got a brand new wall in less than 15 minutes, without even breaking a sweat. And if your design doesn’t please you when you’re done, you can change it just by moving a few tacks around.

Good luck! It’s going to be beautiful!