Father's Day Idea # 3 - Take a Hike or Go for a Bike

Continuing with our ideas of things to do with Dad on Father's Day, we suggest getting out and exploring nature.

There are many different ways that you can do this but we suggest, getting some exercise while you spend time with Dad.

One of the best things you can do is go for a hike or a bike ride through a trail, along a lake or in your local park. This can lead to a full day's worth of quality time with Dad.

Here is a great day plan:

First, wake up early and have a small breakfast to get yourself ready for the day. Pack your Airstream Backpack with all of the things that you are going to need for the day. You'll need some sunscreen, a camera, lunch, a compass (just in case), your cell phone, a couple of hats and some bottles of water to keep you hydrated.

Next, make sure that wherever you decide to go, you know the area fairly well or you get enough information about the area to know how long the trail should take you to walk or bike. When you get there, start out on your adventure. The whole idea of this activity is that you get to spend time with your Dad and enjoy nature. Remember to take lots of  pictures. Part of the experience is stopping and making sure to take it all in.

When you start to get hungry, stop and find a good place to take a break. Enjoy the food that you packed and make sure to take all of your garbage with you. This is a good time to make sure that you are hydrated properly and check out the pictures that you have taken.

When you're finished lunch, pack up all of your belongings and get back to the trail. Bike until you and your Dad are tired or have had enough and head home to the rest of the family.

What You Said... Olivia Bag in Rustler Leather

We asked for your thoughts and you overwhelmingly did! Our Ratings and Reviews contest has been very successful in learning how our fans feel about our products. The staff at Roots loves the Olivia Bag in Rustler Leather and we are so glad you do too! Here are some of our favourite comments that you gave us.

Alli from Burlington, ON. loves the comfort:

"I loved the style of the Olivia bag as soon as it came out and when shown in pebble rustler leather I knew I had to have it! It has been great ever since, lots of room for makeup, phone and wallet. Looks great with work clothes and weekend casual. The two shoulder straps make it very versatile."

Natcase from Mississauga, ON. just loves it:

"Love the suede and overall roominess of the bag while still being elegant and girly!"

Marmelady from Coquitlam, BC. thinks it's the best bag:

"My favourite bag, size is just right for keeping day's worth of essentials while running around with the kids. I also take it to work and receive lot's of compliments on it! Colour is nice and goes with everything (grey). Wish they make a brown one also, I would definitely buy one more..."

This bag is a hit! We would like to thank everyone who had time to Rate and Review their favourite products. If you still haven't joined in the fun your missing out on the opportunity to enter into a draw to win $500 shopping spree at Roots! So what are you waiting for? Tell us what you think!

What to Wear To... Golf Lessons

Fore! Golf lessons are a fun way to stay active and get some sun this summer, but golf newbies might wonder what outfit to wear out on the green! We've put together a look for both men and women so you will both be putting in style in no time.

Women

We love the City Polo Shirt Fitted in Capri Pink because it adds a nice shot of colour to any outfit. Plus, it's slim fitting with lots of stretch for movement when you're practicing your swing. Another added bonus? The polo is made of organic cotton and comes in 5 other colours. Ali from Eastern Ontario agrees that it's great for golf:

"This is a great shirt for the course. It's light and airy, and a beautiful addition to the golfers wide array of Golf shirts. I have the Pink and it looks great with the Cleo shorts. Comfortable and affordable. Dresses up or down easily."

We would pair the polo with the Summerside Short to really make a statement on the golf course. Made of 100% cotton, these shorts will keep you cool and looking sharp throughout your lesson.

To top off the look, we've included the Athletic Mai Tai Watch in White to keep you on time. Stylish and made for athletic activity, the watch displays the digital time and date, comes with a two year warranty, and is water resistant.

Men

To make sure the ladies don't get all the attention during the golf lesson, we've picked out the Patterson Organic Polo Shirt in Orange. This classic polo shirt is made of organic cotton, and never goes out of style.

We decided to pair it with the Arrowhead Short and the Drake Che Cap for a complete golf lesson look. We picked the shorts because they have a fun print, and are a great casual piece for any man's closet. They also have a buttoned back pocket for storage (like extra golf balls). 

The Drake Che Cap is made of Organic Twill Cotton, and provides great protection from the sun while also making men look stylish. Now you're set for your golf lesson! All you have to worry about now is your form, and your score!

Fun Activities Around Canada the Last Weekend in May: May 29th - 31st

It's the last weekend in May! Can you believe it is already June on Monday? If you don't have plans for this weekend check out some fun things going on around Canada this weekend.

Ontario

Are you heading up north this weekend and looking for something fun but affordable to do?

Then check out the Barrie Waterfront Festival running Saturday and Sunday at Heritage Park.

The admission is FREE! Don't miss this weekend to eat and drink on the waterfront. Enjoy live music with some of Canadians hottest talent including, Suzie McNeil and Low Level Flight.

For more information check out BarrieWaterfront.ca

British Columbia 

 

Hanging out in British Columbia this weekend and want to make a trip to Vancouver?

Try something different this weekend at the Vancouver Aquarium: the Birds of Prey in Flight show! This special show is new this Spring and features birds such as: the bald eagle, barn owl, red-tailed hawk & turkey vulture. Witness flying demonstrations such as an eagle soaring overhead.

This spectacular event is running until June 28th at the Vancouver Aquarium. 

New Brunswick

Any Scots hanging out East this weekend? Even if your not a Scot come out and enjoy the fun at the Gathering of the Scots festival in New Brunswick.

Events throughout the weekend include a Kilted golf tournament, a Highlanders breakfast, and all topped off with a classic Scottish Ceilidh. Join the party Saturday night at the Royal Canadian Legion in Perth Andover with lots of live music and dancing!

Interested in the party visit the Gathering of the Scots.

Try something different this weekend. You never know what you might discover!

New Arrival! Autumn Leaves Top for Women

Are you one of those people that think finding amazing Organic pieces hard?

Check out this beautiful Autumn Leaves Top made of 100% organic cotton. This season staple is very flattering on any body type.

Choose from three different colours that are easy on the eye such as Coast Blue, Vintage White, and Pearl Grey. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it's also easy on the wallet at $38!

A Quick and Easy Way to Boost Your Energy

Most of us find ourselves living a busy lifestyle. Juggling between school, work and our social life can certainly take its toll on our bodies. Therefore, we want to give a tip to enhance your energy level, so you can complete all your tasks. Our health tip to boost your energy naturally is: Breathe properly.

WHAT: Yes, a simple thing such as breathing properly can help you increase your stamina. The catch is breathing slowly and deeply and trying diaphragmatic breathing  (also known as belly breathing).

WHY: Health experts affirm that breathing properly will help you relieve tension, give you more energy, and reduce physical and mental fatigue, among other benefits.

Need more ways to boost your energy? Click on this article that explains more ways to enhance your energy level.

Sources:

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/optimumhealthessentials/a/5_Tips_Energy.htm

http://breathing.com/articles/benefits.htm

 

Roots Canadian Sports Update: Week of May 19th - 25th

Soccer

This week in the wild world of sports the TFC were the Canadian stars!

The Toronto FC played on Saturday May 21st at the BMO field in front of 20,478 screaming fans dressed in red. The TFC came out on top beating the New England Revolution 3-1 in their highest scoring game since October 18th 2008. New England started the scoring match in the 13th minute by a header from Shalrie Frei. The TFC fought back just a minute later to tie the game. The winning goal for the FC came in the 68th minute which was later followed two minutes later by a goal to double the lead! 

Jay Skull, self-declared #1 TFC Fan and one of our co-op students joined the action at the field saying, "The game was amazing. The crowd went absolutely nuts in the last 10 minutes when Toronto scored twice."

Baseball

Unfortunately there isn't much to celebrate this week for the Jays. Since May 19th the Jays have not been able to get their groove back. Having lost 7 straight they are finding it harder to rebound and pull out a win. After loosing the series 3-0 to the Boston Red Sox they followed that heart brake by loosing another series 3-0 to their old rivals the Atlanta Braves. They are trying to regain their composure in a new series in Baltimore, but after loosing the first of 3 games they need a serious mental make-over! I still have faith! 

Go Jays Go!

Softball

On a fresh note! Our very own talented softball player Danielle Lawrie was named USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year. Lawrie who calls Langley B.C. home, was a member of the Canadian national team that played at the 2008 Olympics. Lawrie is a junior at the University of Washington and is the first Canadian to win this exciting award. Lawrie has pulled out record breaking numbers this season finishing with 472 strikeouts, 37 wins, 19 shutouts, and not to mention 6 home runs and 25 RBI's. You can follow Lawrie this weekend at the 2009 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Sources: 

http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/639439

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=tor

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/article/639673

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2009/05/27/sp-lawrie-softball.html

3 Up-And-Coming Canadian Bands Worth Checking Out

DJ Cam ML put together a list of his favourite up-and-coming Canadian bands. Let's see his top 3 and what he had to say about these new Canadian bands (no specific order):

Who: The Wooden Sky

Why should we listen to their sound:

 "Amazing live and so talented."

More info: myspace.com/thewoodensky

Who: Opopo

Why did they make the list:

"Something different but awesome, kind of a punk, meets electro sound, creative and inspired a great deal by the Toronto scene."

myspace.com/opopotunes

Who: Lioness

 Why are they one of your favourites:

"The lead singer has an incredible voice and its soooo powerful. The lyrics are amazing, the music is fun and immense. I think this band is gonna be huge."

myspace.com/lionesslionesslioness

So there you have it! 3 new Canadians bands with 3 distinctive sounds.

Check them out and let us know if you agree with this DJ's picks! Have another band to suggest? Let us know.

Father's Day Idea # 2 - Brunch

If your Dad is one of those "tough-to-shop-for" Dads then we have got the perfect suggestion for you! Why not do brunch with the whole family? This guarantees that you get to spend time with your Dad, that he'll be doing something he enjoys (who doesn't love eating?) and that he'll even get to sleep-in on his big day! 

There are a couple of different ways that you can go about this.

The first is to actually make brunch. You could make pancakes, french toast with fresh fruit and syrup, or the traditional bacon (or ham) and eggs!

Whatever you decide to make, your Dad is sure to appreciate the effort and the great taste!

If you need some help getting started, click here for a number of different recipes for pancakes for all kinds of dietary needs and taste options.

If you're not too confident in your culinary skills you may want to take the family out for brunch. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants that have great brunch specials on Father's Day.

There are some advantages to taking Dad out:

• He can eat whatever he likes
• You don't have to sacrifice time with him to make the meal
• Best of all, you don't have to do the dishes!

If this is your plan, however, make sure to make reservations well in advance so that you get to eat at the place you think your Dad would like most!

Summer Festivals: Toronto in June

There are tons of great festivals happening across Canada this summer, so we've put together a guide for you to check out! We'll be featuring festivals happening in cities across Canada for each month of summer: June, July, and August so you'll have your pick of the crop to choose from!

Luminato: Festival of the Arts
June 5-14, 2009

In case you haven't heard, Luminato is an annual 10 day celebration of  Arts and Culture that takes place in downtown Toronto. Click here to find out how Roots is involved.

Toronto Tango Festival
June 11-14, 2009

Get your dancing shoes out! The 5th Annual Toronto Tango Festival is back with a four day long celebration of Argentine Tango with workshops, great tango music, performances and more.

Never tango'd before? Not to worry: there is something for everyone. Workshops are available for all levels from beginners to advance. There is an Intensive Workshop being offered on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15.

Most of the Festival events will take place at the Lithuanian Hall in Toronto, 1573 Bloor St. (Just West of Dundas St. W.) Ticket prices range from $21 to attend a dance, up to $155 for a deluxe weekend package.

Toronto Tango Festival Information  or call: 416 240-0808

NXNE- North by Northeast: Music & Film Festival and Conference
June 17-21, 2009

Calling all musicians, and music lovers! NXNE is showcasing the best new music and film by predominantly independent creators and producers. NXNE has been recognized world-wide as a working festival for musicians, as well as an essential gathering in the music industry. The NXNE Music Festival takes place at more than 30 live music venues in Toronto.

The NXNE Conference also features more than 2,000 delegates over a panel discussion, round table, demo listening and more. It is designed to appeal to anyone looking to learn more about the music business. Keynote speakers will also be on hand to deliver presentations concerning various topics within the realm of the music industry. Prices range from $25 for a wristband to $250 for a VIP pass.

More Information about NXNE

                                                                                  Toronto Jazz Festival 

June 26 - July 5, 2009

The 23rd Annual Jazz Festival kicks off at the Four Seasons Hotel on June 26th. Tons of Canadian and international acts are slated to perform at a multitude of venues around the city. Whether you're a casual Jazz fan, or more of a jazz afficiendo, you will find a show that rocks your socks!

Visit Toronto Jazz Festival for concert details, times, and locations

Stay tuned for Summer Festivals in other cities across Canada this June!