10 Super Easy Halloween Costumes

Pumpkin, check!

Candy, check!

Costume, ???

If these words feel all to familiar to you, you're in luck.  Although Halloween can be lots of fun, it can also be very costly.  For those last minute frugal shoppers, we have a few ideas for home made costumes.

1) Risky Business:

This costume couldn't be any easier.  Throw on a white dress shirt, socks, black  Ray bands, some tighty-whities and you've got a costume. This costume can be worn by both men and women.

2) Greek Goddess/God:

A classic, the Greek toga is probably the simplest and least inexpensive costume out there.  Find an old sheet and wrap around your body like a mummy, leaving the end to wrap over your shoulder.  Secure the shoulder strap by tucking it into the wrapped fabric.  For added security use safety pins or, for a glammed up look, tie a gold rope (found in any craft store) around your waist and secure the fabric.

3) Guitar Hero:

This popular game can easily become a costume.  If you have the game or know someone that has it, simply pair the guitar-shaped game controller with a rocker outfit.  It can include: old band t-shirt, ripped jeans, leather jacket, etc.  In the market for a leather jacket? Check out Roots Mark Leather Jacket.

4) Babe Magnet:

Items needed to complete this costume: black shirt, black pants, barbie dolls/ken dolls.  Buy, or borrow from your little sister 10-20 dolls.  Sew dolls onto black shirt and pants (sew around the dolls neck and other limbs) and Voila! You are now a Babe Magnet. An excellent black shirt, is the Roots Helena V-neck.  Simple design and low cost make it perfect for this look.

5) The Lumber Jack:

Combine a plaid shirt, denim bottoms, trapper hat and suspenders to create your lumber jack costume. For the full effect, draw (with brown eyeliner) a beard and carry a plastic toy axe.

6) Amy Winehouse:

This unique celeb makes it easy to copy her style.  Simply pair a white tank top and jeans, throw your hair into a bee-hive and there you go!  Add thick black eyeliner winged out at the edges, and add a fake tattoo on your arm for added effect.  For tips on Amy's hair and makeup visit youtube.

7) Zombie

For those Zombieland fans, this is the perfect time to show your love.  This costume is all about the makeup, which is what makes it so easy and inexpensive.  A white face, deep circles under your eyes and some blood around your mouth is all it takes.  Wear some old ripped up clothes to complete the look.

8) Johnny Depp:

Always a crowd pleaser, this hunky celeb will get any guy noticed.  Items needed: fedora, long grey scarf, white t-shirt and jeans.  Add his signature facial hair with dark eyeliner, and suddenly you've transformed into Johnny Depp!  Roots Plaid Fedora is a great item to achieve this look.

9) Vampire:

These days vampires seem to be the myth of choice.  From shows such as True Blood and the Vampire Diaries, and movies like Twilight, they're seemingly everywhere.  However vampires have been granted a new look.  The days of Dracula are no more, and we are left with a modern vampire.  To complete the look, simply wear you're hottest outfit and purchase fake vampire teeth.

10) The Ultimate Roots Fan:

For all you Roots fans, simply dress head-to-toe in Roots!

Happy Halloween!

Touring Prince Edward County: The Taste Trail and Arts Trail

I've always been a big fan of road trips. Whether cross country or just cross province/state, there is something exciting about driving with map in hand and the open road out in front.

My most recent road trip took me out to Prince Edward County. A short two hour drive east of Toronto, Ontario I decided to tackle the Arts Trail and Taste Trail all in one go.

You could easily spend a day or weekend exploring both. 

The drive was scenic with the changing fall leaves and open farm fields with the occasional field of grazing cattle. 

A few of my stops along the way included Wellington and Bloomfield where street parking is free, the shops are quaint and where I had a lovely lunch at the highly recommended Bloomfield Carriage House. (I paid a return visit on the way back to pick up and indulge in a Luxury Hot Chocolate for the drive back home. Sooo good.)

From there I made my way to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Be sure to wear a toque (hat) as the wind is brisk if you're walking along the beach! There were plenty of dog walkers, kite surfers and Canadian geese. The beach itself was beautiful - white sand and rolling water.

There are plenty of farmers markets in the area as well. Since Halloween is around the corner, I figured I could stock up on a few more pumpkins! (Clearly people took advantage of the free pumpkins at this stop!)

My last stop of the day wasn't part of the trails, but I couldn't resist the character exuding from George's Fish & Chips! Within 5 minutes I was settled into a booth on the bus's patio enjoying crispy crinkly hand-cut fries buried underneath gravy and melted cheese (poutine). They've been around for a while and are clearly a favourite in the area based on the articles posted on the wall. 

Now it's your turn! If you know of a great Canadian drive or have been on one, please share! We'd love to feature it here or if we're in the neighbourhood, you never know, we may just take your recommendation and try it our ourselves!

Map courtesy of www.tastetrail.ca
Photos copyright 2009, Tanja Zelko

Burnt Orange: Out of the Sunshine and Into the Limelight

Every year it seems the autumn months are lacking in creativity.  Brown, Red, Taupe, Mauve, Forest Green: REPEAT.  These are the colours that mainly define fall. 

This season however, Roots is changing it up with its Burnt Orange Collection.  Although this bold shade is no stranger to the autumn theme, its refreshing to see it used comfortably.  Pairing classic Roots hand bags with this fiery Orange hue, make it a daring must-have.  It seems this round dame has finally stepped out of the sunshine and into the limelight.  Congratulations Orange, you've made it to the big leagues!

The Burnt Orange Collection is available in a wide array of Roots classics: the Michelle Bag, Olivia Bag, Little Olivia, Side Saddle, Village Bag, and New Small in Venetian Prince.

 

Roots Secret Intel

This just in: Roots is making boots again!  

Recently we have been made aware of an article promoting our newest style boots for fall.  It's a nostalgic time for Roots, as it has been four years since we last sold footwear in our stores.  Check out this article for more information on what to expect.

Roots making boots again, this time with same soles as Canadian military

by Brenda Bouw (Canadian Press, Oct. 15, 2009)

Iconic Canadian retailer Roots is returning to the footwear business on which it was founded nearly 40 years ago by launching a boot with the same rubbe sole as that worn by troops in Afghanistan.

"We feel it's the finest sole we've ever had" Roots co-founder Micheal Budman said in a recent interview.  "This is something we have big plans for."

Roots has an exclusive contract with Montreal-area company Soucy Baron Inc. to use the same rubber material it produces for Canadian military boots.  Roots will make the new boots at its leather factory in Toronto.

"We think we have something nobody else has on the commercial market"  Budman said of the new boots that will be available in stores across Canada later this month.

Budman said the sole is durable, won't crack in extreme temperatures and will keep people from slipping on ice.

The special soles can be found in two of the various footwear styles that Roots will unveil this fall: its new "Tuffer" brand for both men and women; and it's sheepskin boots, which are for women only.  The price of the Tuffer boot is $218, while the sheepskin boots will sell for $288.

A Canadian military spokesman said its soliders use two types of boots: the Desert Combat Boot, or DCB 09, with a rubber sole made by Soucy Baron, a company that specializes in the custom rubber moulding.

The military also has a DCB 07 with a sole by Quabaug Corp., the North American manufacturer of Vibram soles out of the U.S.

This fall will be the first time in four years that Roots will sell its own footwear in stores, Budman said.

He said the company's decision is a result of customer demand and changes in technology that has made it "more viable" to compete in the footwear business once again.

"We are very proud to be making shoes in Canada," said Budman, who founded Roots along with Don Green.

Roots started as a shoe company in 1973 after opening its first store on Toronto's Yonge Street.  Its first product was the so-called "Negative Heel," a shoe with an incline that cause the body's weight to shift more towards the heel.

"Those were a huge hit.  They did very well, but they were a fad," Budman said.

Budman said Roots stopped making footwear a few years ago, due in part to rising manufacturing costs, and focused instead on its line of clothing and leather bags.

According to its corporate website, Roots has more than 120 retail locations in Canada and the U.S., and more than 60 in Asia.

Its products also have celebrity status, having been worn by several movie stars and professional athletes over the years.

This summer, one of the company's bags received an unexpected endorsement in the movie "The Hangover" where it was dubbed by a male character as his "man-purse" along the lines of the satchel worn by another fictional film character, Indiana Jones.

Terrazzo Leather: A little European Flare In Every Bag

Roots latest arrivals: four new leather bags in Terrazzo leather

Like the cobblestone streets of Paris, this leather's pebble-like texture has a European flare.  Made from 100% Italian leather, it is smooth to the touch yet durable - easily camouflaging daily mishaps.  This leather is featured in the Village Bag, Olivia Bag, Luisa Bag, Lauren Tote, and Michelle Bag.

      

 

 

Carebags: The Perfect Companion for Grocery Shopping

It's rare to find a product that truly works for you, but when you finally do find one, you never want to let go.  Carebags is just such a product. 

As we become more conscious of our Earth and how we want to treat it, we have changed many parts of our lives.  Parts, that many of us, never thought twice about changing before.  A big part of this movement, and one of the easiest adjustments to make, is using reusable bags.  I can remember a time, not so long ago, when check-out clerks at grocery stores would encourage you to double bag your items.  Millions of plastic bags later, we seem to have evolved an innate conciseness about it.  No more are the days of being wasteful, we are now encouraged to bring our own bags to shop.  Although this is a noble act, we are still faced with the dilemma of actually storing the items once home.  Our old plastic bags used to serve not only the purpose of transporting the product, but also storing it neatly and cleanly away.  What's an environmentally-friendly-being to do?

The answer: Carebags.  Developed by two moms in the early 90's in Vancouver B.C. this bag allows you to carry, wash and store your produce all in the same bag.  It can hold up to 10 lbs, it's machine washable, is fast drying, and resistant to mold.  Its hard to believe that there is anything this bag cannot do. Transparent, strong, stretchy, Carebags are the top shelf of reusable bags.

Thanks to an email we received from ecocentricguide.ca we were able learn about this amazing product.  Other suggested ways to use Carebags: Grow sprouts, dry herbs, a strainer, in the laundry to wash delicates. 

Mad For Plaid

Leaves changing colour, freshly sharpened pencils, and of course plaid; these are the things that most remind me of the autumn months.  A classic for fall wardrobes, plaid has had a serious makeover.  Once a preppy accessory, these bold tartans are making their mark all over fall collections.  

From sophisticated romance, to grunge rocker, to lumberjack chic, this trend is one that has no boundaries. Plaid: shirts, scarves, sweaters, headbands, shoes, bags (the list goes on) this trend is fun, easy and affordable to add to your wardrobe.

Pair Roots Diane Motorcycle Jacket with Roots Ronson plaid flannel shirt (in any of the three available colours) and create a retro grunge look.  Or, sport Roots Rivington Melton Jacket on your next hike through the woods. This quilted coat, complete with fur trim, is the perfect way to let out your inner lumberjack.  

 

Want to support this trend without breaking the bank? Try adding a few accessories like Roots Mcgill plaid scarf Scarves are an easy way to add punch of colour and texture to any outfit.  With the added bonus of keeping you warm, why not try out this affordable look?

Fall Foliage

Fall has arrived.  To many people, this can only mean one thing; the next step is winter!  To most of us, winter is a word that strikes fear into our hearts.  However, with all this dreaded doom hanging over our heads, we rarely take in the benefits of fall itself.  This is the time when nature seems to show off the most.  Acting as the finale to an amazing summer show, the leaves light up like bursts of colourful fireworks.  Luckily for us, Canada has a wide variety of scenic routes that are perfect to take it all in.

A scenic drive out of the city and back to nature, is a perfect way to spend a weekend.  After driving through beautiful country landscapes, stop at one of the many trails and take a hike.  Make sure to be prepared, and bring along a picnic and a warm blanket.  Sipping warm hot chocolate from a thermos, while over looking all that nature has to offer.  Afterwards, maybe stop by a little town and check into a little B&B.  Roots Small Banff Bag is the perfect weekender  bag.  This is a trip with a small cost and big reward. Get back to your ‘Roots’. 

Need some inspiration to plan this adventure?  Quebec has some beautiful routes to enjoy.  For routes and trails in Ontario go here, the site is completely equiped to plan your fall adventure.  Want to see it all? Here are the Top 10 Canadian foliage picks. 

 

Nominate Us for Mashable's 2009 Open Web Awards

Mashable is proud to present their 3rd annual Open Web Awards online competition. The Open Web Awards is an international online voting competition that covers major innovations in web technology and achievements in Social Media. Learn more here.

We'd be honoured and flattered if you decided to vote for us!

There are 3 categories in which you can vote for us:

Best Corporate Blog

Best Brand Use of Facebook

Best Brand Use of Twitter

Thanks for your consideration and for being a fan!

Winter? We'd Rather Talk About Summer

Everyday the weather is has been getting a bit colder. (Of course this depends on where you live!)

And a few times this week we've seen our fans post pictures of their backyards already covered in snow. SNOW. And it's not even November yet.

But before we welcome our friend Winter, how about we reminisce about summer? We want the thoughts of sunshine to last just a little bit longer!

So share your summer story with the Roots community. Tell us what you did, where you went, who you saw. Oh and we love pictures and videos, so feel free to upload those too.

Click here to start writing!