our etobicoke spring 2015

EtobicokeHOME & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

SPRING 2015Our

2 OUR ETOBICOKE SPRING 2015

People often ask us, “Why is the real estate marketmore active in the springtime?” As spring is typicallya time of renewal after a long winter, people’sthoughts often turn to a change in their lifestyle orcareer to reinvigorate themselves. That can definitelyinclude a change in where they live and often does.

We hope you enjoy the articles in this spring edition of Our Etobicoke as they are about personalrenewal, along with some spring update and DIYprojects around your home.

Try the brunch recipe - it’s delicious!

On a Personal Note

John, Liz& Andrea

Liz John StevensonAndrea Streich

s a l e s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

[email protected]


WHAT’SINSIDE

SPRING 2015

4 SPRING DECOR DIY Spring Tulip Wreath

5 BRUNCH RECIPE Lemon Blueberry Baked French Toast with Lemon Syrup

6 HOME PROJECTS Spring projects that are sure to spruce up your home

8 HEALTH & WELLNESS Spring is the season for detoxification and cleansing

9 In Your Community

Community Events Calendar

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6

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12

FEATURES


SPRINGTulip

WREATHSo long, winter! Hello spring! Time to open

our windows, let the fresh air fill our homes, and clean like you’ve never cleaned before

(at least since last spring). A great way to bring in the new season is a

beautiful spring wreath using our most iconic spring flower, the tulip. What screams Spring more than tulips? And you won’t believe how simple this is to make!

SUPPLIES• 2 bunches of artificial tulips (available at Michaels

with a multitude of colours to choose from)• grapevine wreath• glue gun/glue sticks• ribbon

DIRECTIONS1. Separate the tulips from the bunches2. Shove the stems in the grapevine and make

sure the flowers all facing the same direction.3. Hot glue gun the stems and flowers into place

as needed. I did this because my wreath will be outside and I wanted it very sturdy.

4. Hang your new wreath with your favourite ribbon (I used a wired, burlap ribbon) and you have a beautiful wreath to enjoy all Spring! ◘

DIY


LEMON BLUEBERRY BAKED FRENCH TOAST with Lemon SyrupBursting with juicy berries and layered with lemon-infused cream cheese, this yummy recipe makes a special, make-ahead breakfast or brunch for celebrating Easter or Spring!

Yield: 8-10 servings; 1 1/4 cup Lemon Syrup

Ingredients• 1 loaf soft French bread, cut into 1-inch

cubes (approximately 1 pound loaf, which will yield 9 to 10 cups)

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

• 1 cup powdered sugar • 3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed

lemon juice • 3 teaspoons lemon zest, DIVIDED • 12 ounces (about 2 cups) fresh

blueberries • 8 eggs • 1 3/4 cup whole milk • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract • 1/8 teaspoon salt

For the Lemon Syrup• 1/2 cup water • 2/3 cup sugar • 1/3 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest • 2 teaspoons corn starch • 2 tablespoons salted butter, at room

temperature • 2 tablespoons heavy cream • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions1. Generously butter (or coat with cook-

ing spray) a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Arrange half of the bread cubes in the bottom of the dish.

2. In a large bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest until smooth. Spoon small dollops of cream cheese mixture all over the bread cubes in the baking dish, gently spreading cream cheese with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle blueberries in a single layer over the cream cheese. Top with remaining bread cubes.

3. In another large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, remain-ing 2 teaspoons lemon zest, and salt until well blended. Evenly pour custard over bread cubes, gently pressing down on any cubes that are sticking up so that all bread gets soaked with egg mixture.

4. Cover baking dish tightly and refriger-ate overnight. In the morning, uncover

baking dish and allow to come to room temperature while preheating the oven to 350°F. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until center is puffed and surface is gold-en brown. If bread is starting to brown too much before casserole is done, you may lay a sheet of foil over the top and continue baking until done.

5. While French toast is baking, make the Lemon Syrup. In a small pot, whisk to-gether water, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and corn starch until well blend-ed. Set pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil while stirring. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until syrup has thickened. Remove pot from the heat and stir in butter, heavy cream, and vanilla, until all ingredients are smooth and well blended. Set aside and allow to cool.

6. When French toast is done, remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving warm with Lemon Syrup drizzled on top.

Tips, Tricks, & Variations• You may substitute the bread for French

bread, challah, croissants, etc.• Instead of refrigerating overnight, French

toast casserole may be baked immediately in a preheated oven.

• Baking time can be dependent on the type of bread you use, how dry it was, how long it soaks overnight. ◘

•


SPRING PROJECTS that are sure to SPRUCE UP YOUR HOME


Warmer weather and sunnier days are on their way and many homeowners are itching to begin home improvement projects. If you are one of them, consider

these areas of your home when prepping for spring.

WINDOWS AND DOORS From a full window replacement to a simple coat of paint, updating your windows and doors can have a big impact on your home.

If your windows felt drafty this winter, it may be time for replace-ments. Replace your old single-pane windows with energy-efficient double-pane windows. Double-pane windows can help you save on heating and cooling bills; they help keep the temperature in your home consistent year-round and help protect your furniture, carpet and window treatments from the sun’s fading rays.

Need to bring some fresh colour into your home but don’t want to paint? Try updating your blinds or shades. From different styles to colourful fabrics, blinds and shades can add a pop of colour to your room. Motorized blinds and shades with Pella Insynctive technology come in more than 300 style and colour options so you can find the right fit for your home’s decor.

Your front door is a major focal point of your home, enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Make a bold statement and improve your home’s energy efficiency with a new ENERGY STAR-certified front door. Consider options with decorative glass accents, and sidelights to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy.

Looking for something even easier? A new coat of paint to your existing door is a quick and easy way to give yo»ur home a fresh, new look. Give Pantone’s Colour of the Year marsala a try, or get inspired by your favorite Pinterest collection of favorite front doors.

GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS Excess water near your foun-dation can cause thousands of dollars in damages. Luckily gutter cleaning and downspout repair is fairly low-cost.

After all the snow melts, you’ll want to make sure to clean your gutters and clean out any debris that may keep spring rains from flowing freely through your downspouts.

Along with replacing damaged gutter or downspout sections, you’ll also want to make sure you have added downspout extenders to ensure water is draining far away from your home’s foundation. Extenders should reach at least five feet into your yard.

Gutter covers can also be added to minimize debris from gath-ering in gutters throughout the year.

AIR CONDITIONING It may be a few more months before you’re turning on the A/C, but spring is a great time to start getting your cooling system ready.

Often you have to call in the pros for air conditioning work but things like spraying off any overgrowth or debris, cleaning coils and changing filters are fixes you can easily do on your own. Also, trim back any shrubs that are near by. Keeping the outdoor unit clean from debris will boost your A/C system’s efficiency.

You can keep part of your indoor duct work clean by removing register covers and wiping clean any of the visible parts. You’ll need to contact a professional for a full duct cleaning. ◘ Courtesy BPT

Window blinds and shades come in many style and

colour options so you can find the right fit for your

home’s decor.


Simple Tips for Daily Detox

1. Avoid toxins such as household and industrial chemicals, pesti-cides, plastics, alcohol, recre-ational and prescription drugs.

2. Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day and use fresh lemon in your water for liver cleansing.

3. Fresh, organic cold-pressed olive oil is the best for your liver. Olive oil is best used raw/unheated, and is ideal in salad dressings.

4. Exercise and sweat regularly to help with liver detoxification.

5. Practice deep breathing exercis-es for 5 - 10 minutes a day.

Dr. Jackie maintains a family practice in Etobicoke. To book an appointment for an individualized consultation or a free introductory 15 minute consult, please visit www.doctorjackie.ca for contact information.

By Dr. Jacqueline Streich, ND

CLEANINGTHE SEASON OF DETOXIFICATION

CLEANSING&

Spring is a time of creation and of life being restored. This is a good time to take a look at your life and make a new

plan for your health. What do you want to clear out as the past in your environment and within yourself? Spring is a time of planting seeds and watching them grow. We and nature both flourish in this season.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season is paired with an organ. The organs of the spring season are the liver and gallblad-der. They carry out essential body functions, particularly the digestion and processing of many substances we take into our bodies. With more than 100 known functions, we can’t “live” without our livers. In addition to assisting with digestion and metabolism, the liver is also responsible for filtering the blood of toxins and breaking them down into waste products for elimination.

From a natural viewpoint, when the liver is overloaded, it is less able to detoxify the blood, and poisons remain, potentially leading to many acute and chronic problems which manifest themselves in each individual’s weak-er areas. Too much of any food, but especially alcohol, chemicals, smoke, drugs, fried oils and meats can be toxic to the liver and gallbladder. Stress can also take a toll on our body’s natural

ability to detoxify and cause further burden on the function of the liver.

There are many natural substances that support healthy function of the gallbladder and liver, and which help to protect us from chemicals and the unhealthy foods or toxins we may be consuming. Apples, apple juice and apple cider vinegar are helpful for gall bladder function. Olive oil is a great nutritive and healthy fat. Fresh lemon and lemon water is also a favourite for daily liver support, as in TCM the liver is stimulated by “sour” flavours.

In addition to proper nutrition, there are many ways to assist your body in being able to detoxify more efficiently and effectively. There are hundreds of various “cleanses” and “detoxes” available on the market making it somewhat confusing for the average person to make sense of what’s out there. In certain cases these programs may not be suited to everyone. A Naturopathic Doctor is educated on the use of natural detoxification therapies and can rec-ommend the appropriate diet and supplements ideally suited to your individual needs.

This spring, as you assess all the tasks need-ing to be done as part of your household spring cleaning, take some time to check in with your body and consider doing some personal spring cleaning as well! ◘


YOUR COMMUNITYTHE STEVENSON TEAM in

ROTARY CLUB OF TORONTO WESTThe Rotary motto “Service above Self” and the Royal LePage message of “Helping You is What We Do” are two motivating themes that come naturally to John Stevenson. Since his youth, he has always been ready to lend a helping hand, especially in ways where he could apply his technical and engineering skills. So it wasn’t long before John found his niche in The Rotary Club of Toronto West. Whether it was preparing graphics and promotional materials, website building, or simply taking event pho-tographs, John continues to be there to help.

The worldwide Rotary organization was founded on, and continues to strive with members combining their business and personal skills to achieve results substantially better results than individuals working alone could ever do. To this end, the Rotary Club of Toronto West has supported numerous local and international projects. Presently they are part-

nering with Rotary Etobicoke to provide a $300,000 grant to finance new job training facilities for MicroSkills in Etobicoke. Their annual gala, held at the Old Mill each January, recognizes those in the community who have made a significant impact in helping youth reach their full potential. “Although we are just a small club, it’s amazing what we are able to accomplish” says John.

Every Thursday morning, the Rotary Club of Toronto West has a friendly breakfast at the historic Montgomery Inn where guest speakers give informative presentations. To learn more about this remarkable club please visit www.RotaryTorontoWest.ca ◘

ETOBICOKE CAMERA CLUBEstablished in 1957, The Etobicoke Camera Club, has been serving our photographic community continuously for over 58 years. With a 140 members, the club is a forum for people who enjoy a common interest in photography, sharing their ideas and improving their photographic and presentation skills in a friendly atmosphere.

As an avid photographer, John has been an active member for the past five years, enjoying the comradery, and the challenges of competition. This has helped him tremendously in improving his skills at seeing and capturing images. In 2013 he was presented with the best “Image of the Year” Award.

The Club’s main focus is on digital photography, but includes print presentations. Notable guest speakers and theme presentations cover a wide variety of topics. Field trips and the occasional workshop help to hone technical skills. The club covers a wide range of genres including Nature, Landscape, People, Architecture and Creative, the latter focusing on image manip-ulation to create “altered reality” images. While emphasis is on achieving “the best image” there is a nice mix of technical learning and enjoyable social interaction.

The club meets Monday evenings from September through April at Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Boulevard, in Etobicoke. Guests are always welcome. Annual fees for this non-profit club are very modest. Details at www.EtobicokeCameraClub.org ◘


Helping you is what we do!

Liz John StevensonAndrea Streich

s a l e s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s

[email protected]

ShowcaseHOMESof

Classic Elegance in Princess Anne ManorUpdated 3 Bedroom 3 Bath Split Level Home with Pool16Tettenhall.com | $1,198,000

Ranch Bungalow in Princess Anne Manor2+1 Bedroom 3 Bath Floorplan with Great Room Addition31Totteridge.com | $1,268,000

Simplified Luxury in Burnhamthorpe GardensStunning Custom Designed Home with 4 Bedrooms 6 Baths95Botfield.com | $1,928,000

Coming Soon near Bloor and IslingtonGorgeous 3+2 Bedroom 4 Bath Custom Contemporary Home26Clissold.com | $1,099,000


TOP 3% IN CANADAFOR ROYAL LEPAGE in 2014

based on commissions

MEETTHE TEAM

LIZ STEVENSONSALES REPRESENTATIVE

Liz has over 17 years of real estate experience preparing and listing homes, and negotiating successful offers for buyers and sellers in a very competitive marketplace. Her success can be measured not only by her numerous sales awards but by her many happy clients that consistently refer her to their family and friends.

“ Market intelligence and thorough research forms the core of the expert advice I provide to our clients to help them make informed decisions when buying or selling their homes.”

AWARD WINNING PROFESSIONALSLiving and Working in Your Neighbourhood

ANDREA STREICHSALES REPRESENTATIVE

Andrea is a valuable member of the Stevenson Team, providing a high level of service to buyers looking for their dream home at any budget. She brings youthful enthusiasm and determination, along with over 5 years of practical experience, to each client home search.

“ I am passionate about helping our clients at every stage in their life find the right home, not just a house.”

JOHN STEVENSONSALES REPRESENTATIVE

As a Professional Engineer with an MBA, John has had the opportunity to work in many careers, from the aircraft industry to real estate consulting to interior design project management. Combining 35 years of business expertise with internet marketing savvy, John has developed a dynamic marketing plan to sell homes with effectiveness and flair.

“ I believe that today’s internet technology is one of the most important and successful tools that we have at our disposal to successfully market properties for our clients.”

COMMUNITYEVENTSSpring 2015

April 10 Kingsway Women’s Club Spring Luncheon Markland Wood Golf Club

April 11 Islington Village Health & Wellness Fair Islington Golf Club, 45 Riverbank Drive, 11am-3pm

April 12 Romantic Travel Show The Vue, 195 Galaxy Blvd., 11am-5pm

April 25 Kingsway-Lambton Flea Market Kingsway-Lambton United Church, 85 The Kingsway, 8am-1pm

May 8 First day of Sherway Gardens Farmer’s MarketMay 16 Elton John Tribute at The Old Mill Inn May 20 Condo Buyers SeminarEatonville Library, 430 Bunrhamthorpe Rd., 6:30-8pm

May 23 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Bird FestivalMay 23-24 Doors Open TorontoMay 26 Mimico Tulip Festival

June 12-14 Mississauga Waterfront FestivalJune 18-27TD Toronto Jazz FestivalJune 19-28 LUMINATO Various locationsJune 19-21 Redpath Waterfront Festival TorontoJune 21-July 1 Etobicoke Rib FestCentennial Park

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our etobicoke spring 2015

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