July 2019

Fantastic Shopping in Downtown Toronto

July 19, 2019

When you make the trip to Toronto – make sure you have extra room in your suitcase.

You’re going to want to take advantage of the amazing shopping in downtown Toronto, and you’ll likely end up with plenty of new goodies to bring home with you. Here are some of the best places to indulge in retail therapy, only steps away from your stay at the Livmore.

Dundas Square

7 minute walk from the Livmore

Dundas Square is the “Times Square” of Toronto – a bustling intersection with 100,000 people crossing per day (the busiest in Canada). Lining this popular square are several great shops, as well as restaurants, bars and cafes.

Plus – Dundas Square is known for being an outdoor hub for live entertainment – so you just might just get to enjoy a show with your shopping.

Eaton Centre

6 minute walk from the Livmore

This long-standing, glass-ceilinged, multi-level mall is a landmark in Toronto – and it is visited by more tourists than any other attraction in Toronto. It’s actually the busiest shopping mall in North America – beating out many other huge shopping complexes in the USA.

The mall has 330 stores and restaurants and you could spend hours and hours perusing them. Don’t forget to look up and admire the beautiful fibreglass sculpture “Flight Stop” by artist Michael Snow – depicting Canada geese in flight.

First Canadian Place

16 minute walk from the Livmore

This landmark skyscraper features over 100 shops, as well as restaurants, event spaces and doctor’s offices – towering 72 stories above the Financial District of downtown Toronto (It’s also home to the Toronto Stock Exchange). There are plenty of great shops to check out, including several upscale brands.

There’s also an international food court with a great patio where you can enjoy a meal outside in the summer. The options include Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Greek and mor. You can fuel up after working up an appetite from all that shopping.

Atrium

5 minute walk from the Livmore

Located right in the heart of downtown Toronto, Atrium is a shopping centre packed with some great brands. It doesn’t have the best selection, but it is less crowded than the Eaton Centre and certainly worth a look. One of the stand-out shops is “Long Tall Sally” – a retail clothing shop catering to all women.

This mall has a lot of little perks that make life easier for shoppers. For example, there are even free mobile device charging stations located in the concourse.

Kensington Market

23 minute walk from the Livmore

In this funky, walkable bohemian neighbourhood you’ll find all sorts of fascinating shops. If you are looking for vintage clothing, indie records, artisanal vegan snacks, local artwork or anything funky and homemade – this would be the place to look.

Plus, this area is also packed with trendy bars, quirky coffee shops and excellent international eateries – it’s a hangout for the creative and hip crowd.

Where do you love to shop in Toronto? Let us know in the comments below! For more tips on what to do during your stay, check out our guide to 10 Things to Do in Downtown Toronto.

Relocation

Common Relocation Mistakes

July 12, 2019

Relocating to somewhere new is a complex process. Avoid these common relocation mistakes so you can make sure it goes smoothly.

Not Researching Your New Destination

Before relocating somewhere new, it’s important to do some research so that you know what to expect. Visit the city several times and explore the neighbourhood where you plan to live. This will give you a much clearer picture of what you can expect when you move.

You can even do a test run, driving from your potential new home to your new office and getting to know your way around the neighborhood. It makes a huge difference.

Not Getting Insurance

Your move can suddenly become much more costly if something expensive is dropped or damaged and you don’t have insurance.

Make sure that you ask about this when you choose to hire a moving company, so that you can get the coverage you need for your belongings. (Read the fine print to make sure you understand what you are covered for.) Most good moving companies will offer insurance that will cover your belongings when you are relocating.

Not Planning for Temporary Housing

When you move, you may need to arrange for some temporary housing, so that you will have somewhere to stay in between arriving in the city and when you can take possession of your new home. After all, it’s hardly ever a seamless transition from one home to the next. This sometimes only takes a few days, but it can take up to a month or more depending on the situation.

Furnished apartments are a much better option than staying in a hotel or a motel, as they offer you more space, better amenities, a prime location and a kitchen.

Not Getting Rid of Stuff

One of the biggest relocation mistakes that many people make when they move is that they pack everything they own, rather than going through it first and getting rid of what they don’t need.

There are probably many boxes in your closet that you haven’t opened in years and many items of clothing in the back of your closet that you hardly ever wear. Why take the time and effort to move them somewhere else if you aren’t going to use them when you are there either? Instead, pare down your possessions to the minimum, so that you will have less hassle when moving.

Not Labeling Your Boxes Well

If you forget to label your boxes, you will end up arriving at your destination with a bunch of stuff, but no memory of what is in each box. This means that you will spend hours searching through boxes just to find what you are looking for and the unpacking process will be so much more chaotic and frustrating.

Avoid These Common Relocation Mistakes

These are just a few of the most important mistakes to avoid when you are relocating, so that you can make sure that your move will go as smoothly as possible!

Energy Conservation, Lifestyle talk, Uncategorized

Small Things You Can Do To Be More Green Everyday

July 5, 2019

Little things really do add up to make a big difference.

There are many small changes you could be making to your daily routine that won’t cause you too much extra trouble, but will have a positive impact on the environment.

Here are a few little ways you can save the world and be more green everyday:

– If it’s warm enough, hang your clothes outside to dry naturally on a clothesline rather than using the dryer. (They will smell fresher too!)
– Always recycle your glass bottles, aluminum cans, paper and other recyclable materials.
– Have at least one day per week when you eat vegetarian or vegan. (Meat and dairy production uses a lot of resources.) Use it as a chance to check out one of Toronto’s great vegetarian restaurants!
– If there’s an option to switch to a paperless version, do so. For example, switch to using a notebook app on your phone rather than making notes on paper.
– Use a refillable water bottle and fill it from the tap, rather than buying bottled water all the time.
– Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. Believe it or not, it can save five gallons of water per day.
– Whenever possible, buy second hand. It will help you save money and give the item a second life. (There are a TON of great second hand shops in Toronto.)
– Try to drive as little as possible and use alternatives such as biking, walking and public transport instead. (Plus, if you choose to bike or walk you’ll be getting exercise during your commute!)
– Plan your meals for the week in advance, so you end up using all the food you purchased and wasting less.
– If you do find yourself throwing away wasted food often, make a note of it and adjust your buying habits accordingly.
– Get your own coffee thermos to bring to your favourite coffee shop, instead of using a disposable cup every time. (Many cafes – will even give you a discount if you do this!)
– Stash a few re-useable canvas bags in your backpack or car, so that when you go to the supermarket you won’t have to use plastic bags.
– When you are shopping, look for items that have as little packaging as possible. For example, look for fruits and vegetables that are sold loose rather than wrapped in plastic.
– If you order takeaway and are eating it at home – there’s no need for all the napkins and plastic forks. Make sure to ask the restaurant to not include them with your order.
– Make your own non-toxic cleaning products when cleaning your home rather than using bleach.

How can you be more green in your day to day life?

These are just a few of the many little shifts you can make to your daily habits in order to be more green. It’s not as difficult as you might think. Each little change and healthy habit is small and once you get used to it, you might barely think about it.

However, every little bit counts and each change leads to more awareness. No effort is too small, so implement just one of these new habits today to be more green!