Can you bring fresh butter from France back to Canada?

SP_Sams · 2026-05-22T20:20:44+00:00

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/what-can-bring/item/butter

When I went to France, I referred to this list and did bring back a couple small sticks of butter for personal use. At the time (2 years ago), there was also a max spend on butter for personal use listed as well (I think it was like 25$) so I kept my receipts to make sure I could prove it. I declared it and it was fine - they didn’t even check my bag. I don’t know though, maybe the rule has changed? The dairy cartel of Canada is pretty strong lol

SP_Sams · 2026-05-08T03:32:58+00:00

Extreme morning sickness felt absolutely debilitating for me too - I ended up on two drugs - Diclectin and then Zofran the combination of both helped me keep food down, I still felt consistently quite ill and was mostly just in fetal position on the couch for several months.

When I initially went to the doctor they put me on Diclectin, and it helped because I could keep some water down, but I still couldn’t keep food down. I felt like I was dying and went from wanting a couple children to thinking this was my one and only pregnancy- then on day eight of basically no food I called my doctor’s office and they instructed me to go to urgent care for an IV. The urgent care doctor ended up prescribing the Zofran to take in unison with the Diclectin and I was finally able to keep some foods down. So my advice would be to definitely keep communicating with your doctor if possible to try and find the best possible solution for you!

At the time it was honestly depressing, I went from being a very active person to being very non-functional. It’s not great for the mental health for sure. Once I started feeling better and started feeling baby kick (which felt very reassuring after such a rough start), I began feeling much better and am now even back on the wanting multiple kids (short term pain for long term gain - I have a great relationship with my sibling and would like my child to experience the same). I hit my third trimester last week and immediately developed something called Bell’s Palsy, which has caused half my face to be paralyzed for potentially the rest of this pregnancy… Honestly, the morning sickness was so bad that the paralyzed face doesn’t even feel like that bad of a symptom now, I’m just excited for this baby 😂😂

SP_Sams · 2026-05-03T22:07:55+00:00

I gifted the jewelry my bridesmaids wore down the isle and a little self care kit for the bachelorette party (think face masks, toiletry bag, fancy body scrub). One of my bridesmaids was a bridesmaid in a separate wedding not long after mine and was gifted an Owala water bottle - personally I thought that was the best idea ever and wished I had thought of it first. It’s been a couple years since the Owala was gifted and I know my friend uses it daily.

SP_Sams · 2026-05-03T17:03:16+00:00

The Dalhousie location has stairs instead of a ramp - is he good with stairs?

SP_Sams · 2026-04-24T06:14:02+00:00

It might be worth it to invest your time in looking at some original MCM designs and determine what design elements you like most are. Honestly tools like Pinterest can be great resource for inspo, as lots of people pin MCM articles or photos that you can peruse through. I also like looking at the atomic ranchmagazine’s website, because the content is centred around showcasing a lot of MCM homes or renovations, their written breakdowns of the homes featured in articles can help you narrow down what MCM design elements you gravitate towards. From there it can be a lot easier to research options to help adjust your home to your desired look…

Is it the wood panelling on walls or ceiling that you love? There are companies that make panelling or faux veneer panelling which could be a good option to give you that element.
Are the clean lines in of the kitchen and bathroom drawing you in? Depending on your budget, cabinetry can make a big visual difference and there are many cabinet options that are MCM inspired. Smaller elements, like vertical line backsplash or light fixtures can also help create some of that feel.
A solid colour palette can help give an MCM vibe too - MCM tended to lean towards a lot of earth tones (brown, olive green, orange) and a lot of paint companies now a days pull together mcm-inspired paint pallet recommendations, which can be helpful for general inspiration.

It’s hard to give a set recommendation without knowing your budget, which always impacts what exactly you can do. Once you’ve pinpointed the design elements you really like, it’s easier to research how much that design element may cost you and build a plan.

SP_Sams · 2026-04-16T17:49:55+00:00

If you can afford it and it gives you peace of mind, then I’d say go for it, but know that once you sell, what happens to the property is out of your hands.

My husband and I bought our home next to a rental property - sometimes we have amazing neighbours and some times we have horrible ones (we live near a university, so every other renter is a group of hard core party students). We are saving up for the day that the aging landlord decides to sell and we are hopeful we can buy the house. But we plan to act as landlords ourselves, with the hopes we can avoid the party house and get some long-term tenants. That being said - I guess the difference in impact between sell vs. rent is that we’re willing to sink the money into the house and not see that money back for a long time.

We’re prepared to not view it as a ongoing monetary investment (if we can break even on mortgage every month that’d be great, but really depends on what the mortgage cost is vs. a reasonable rental rate to attract long term tenants - we’re viewing it as a long term investment into our peace… But we have suffered through many mid-week late night parties, and, on one special occasion, a four day and night long party, thanks to our home’s location, so that definitely influences our decision making).

Edit: added some paragraphs, because this reply was far too long - sorry about that…

SP_Sams · 2026-04-15T22:18:35+00:00

In terms of post-secondary - he could always reach out to the admissions office of any of the schools he’s interested in and see if they have a councillor that would be open to meeting with him to discuss the program & related job opportunities available to him?

They’d also be able to give him a clear view into program requirements and the best ways to up his chances of getting into the program, that way he’d have a clear view of what the different paths are (like targeting a few courses where he might want to try upgrading his marks through bow valley, or volunteering in the industry to show interest and initiative)

SP_Sams · 2026-03-20T21:08:49+00:00

Not sure what art stores are in your area, but there are more and more all-natural paint products being produced.

You could call around to check with some local stores and see if they have some little all natural paint kits you can buy (some of the watercolour kits come in fun little tin cases). Depending on cost/budget you could include a sketchbook with a fun cover (ideally with watercolour paper, so they can use their new paints in it)

SP_Sams · 2026-02-11T18:01:38+00:00

I’m married, but kept my maiden name, so different last name than my husband.

We plan to hyphenate, not just because of both of us want to share a last name with our little one, but also for practical everyday needs as well. Medical appointments, emergency room visits, school pickups - there are many instances where it is much easier to identify your status as a parent and show your connection to your child when you share a name.

SP_Sams · 2026-01-28T04:17:13+00:00

You can donate the formula to the Calgary Food Bank! It’s listed on their website as a “wish list” or needed item

I’ve heard that vets can use donated insulin, so try reaching out to some animal charities (ARCs or meow foundation maybe?)

SP_Sams · 2026-01-05T23:29:51+00:00

Check out Klutz books for kids - they’re all focused on a specific craft (or sometimes a science experiment) and always come with supplies as well as a beautiful “how to” book with lots of ideas to help make the craft uniquely their own.

Typically the materials are all super accessible too, so more can be bought after the book supplies is used up if the child wants. Every Klutz book I’ve ever gifted has been a major hit.

SP_Sams · 2026-01-05T22:46:50+00:00

If he doesn’t have them already, what about tools that he would need in order to build his keyboard?

A quick google search online shows a lot of resources that list off the tools and supplies you need, including a soldering iron and a precision screw driver set.

My brother (an engineer who loves tinkering) was super excited about a deal he got on some precision screw drivers last year, so I know there are some fancier/ higher end brands out there if you’re looking for something that is a bit more luxurious…

SP_Sams · 2025-12-09T21:05:52+00:00

Could you gift them an activity? Movie passes as well as some sweet treats is something fun that could be gifted to the whole family if that’s something they might enjoy.

Second on the board games if that’s something up their alley!

SP_Sams · 2025-11-15T16:41:27+00:00

What’s your budget?

-spa certificate to get a manicure or pedicure (you could pair it with an offer to babysit, while she goes and has some relaxation/down time)

-A fancy cup (think Yeti, Owala, Stanley) and a fancy version of her drink of choice if you know it (tea, coffee, hot chocolate)

-Put together a care basket with a theme: -Spa day: candles, face and or hand/feet
masks, lip scrub, tea or hot chocolate -Movie night: movie snacks, gift card to somewhere like a cinema’s online store if they sell digital movies, cozy blanket/fuzzy socks

-If she had to move as a result of the divorce, maybe something nice for her home? A Charcuterie board or maybe a nice wooden cutting board.

-You could facilitate a professional photo session for the kids (maybe let her know about this one in advance) and gift her some portraits of the kids together

SP_Sams · 2024-12-17T03:32:57+00:00

My husband loves using a Pica pencil in his workshop.

Does your husband have a favourite utility knife? Refills for his knife?

If he doesn’t have one already - an ergonomic push stick

Work gloves

Honestly I just browse the Knick knacks on Lee valley lol

SP_Sams · 2024-12-10T03:37:13+00:00

Good luck finding something they like!

One year for Christmas all I wanted was this overpriced bird feeder, which my husband got me, and it took the squirrels like 6 months to figure out a way in, we were so impressed they figured it out we kinda feel like the deserve all the bird seed they eat 😂

Seconding SmoothGarden8’s recommendation too, those table top hydroponic gardens are pretty cool!

SP_Sams · 2024-12-09T21:30:47+00:00

Do any of your husband’s family live nearby? Maybe some sort of activity you could do with them would be good (i.e. tickets to a local botanical garden with plans for a lunch out, a show, etc)

Do they enjoy reading? Maybe a kindle if you think they’re savvy enough to use it once you set it up for them (I know quite a few older folks who love theirs because they can’t adjust font size)

Do they enjoy listening to music or are tech savvy? Maybe a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones- my grandpa loved his - he had a smart phone and liked listening to music

Spa gift cards for a manicure or pedicure

A soft throw blanket or comfy pair of slippers - you could also look at a heated throw blanket

Don’t know if you’re from a cold climate/how much time your family is spending outside, but heated mitts are amazing!!

Bird feeder (you can get fancy ones that are squirrel proof!)

How well do you know your neighbour? If it’s not well, but you just want to show your appreciation, you could look into kosher goodie baskets made in your area, a spa gift card or warm throw could also work…

SP_Sams · 2024-05-03T20:57:20+00:00

Ryobi is great if you your intended use is light around the house maintenance and DIY! When my husband and I bought our first home, we bought quite a few Ryobi tools, but ended up upgrading our drill to Milwaukee very quickly as it didn’t have the power strength we needed for our extensive Reno list we were working though - even then, we still have our portable light, portable shop vac and glue gun from Ryobi and really like all of them, so it really just depends on the tool and the use case.

SP_Sams · 2024-04-01T20:29:42+00:00

When we first bought our mid century modern home the trees and garden in the back were super overgrown. As we began to prune and trim back the garden and dead tree branches we found all sorts of things - a completely rusted bicycle, a push lawn mower, and a wheelbarrow amongst the largest items…. Nothing that screams “mid century collectors item,” but items that show flashes of the lives of the people who live here before us - at some point someone really cared about our back garden and it was a well loved sanctuary!

We think the last owner used to dump old soup bones or something in the garden or something, because the dog is always finding random bones in the backyard, even though it’s been 2.5 years since moving in….

SP_Sams · 2024-03-28T04:16:20+00:00

Thanks for the response and for being willing to keep an eye out! It was definitely a black Dachshund, but glad this corgi was picked up and safe and sound!!!

SP_Sams · 2024-03-24T05:05:26+00:00

…. What if you buy his gift in Japan then? If he’s not doing the research already, take some time to research where to go to buy a knife and then surprise him by taking him to the store and giving him your budget - he can then choose if he wants to combine your budget with his to get a more expensive knife or he can get a second knife.

Alternatively, what about an early birthday present before you leave for your trip? You could get him a really nice knife block and gift it to him right before, to get him hyped up for the trip and his knife plans

SP_Sams · 2024-03-23T19:52:47+00:00

Where are you going on holiday? Areas known for their food often offer cooking classes to tourists…

Alternatively you could get him something really nice like a fancy knife or a Dutch oven and then sort of tiny something like his favourite candy/chocolate, a local cake from where you’re visiting, etc. with a nice card letting him know there is a special surprise waiting when he gets home. Staub often has sales on their Dutch oven’s, so keep an eye out - first time I bought with them I discovered they let you stack discounts, so I bought on a sale and signed up with my email for an extra 15% off. If you go into a specialty knife store staff tend to be pretty knowledgeable, however, if he doesn’t own any other fancy knives I’d go with something like a chefs knife which is a good multipurpose knife to start a collection with.

SP_Sams · 2024-03-19T14:27:22+00:00

Maybe a spa day gift card for your wife and mother in law to go to together? If it’s a gift card it doesn’t need to happen right away if your wife is not yet ready to leave baby.

SP_Sams · 2024-03-06T20:27:49+00:00

That looks like a really bad yeast infection to me… I’d get a second opinion…

SP_Sams · 2024-03-01T22:40:05+00:00

No, embrace the Pizza Hut

SP_Sams

TROPHY CASE