Shelly Wutke

September: a time of the year when one chapter closes and a new one begins. That’s why there is no better time to take a look and see what’s on the shelves of Best Buy for September!

For the next few weeks I’ll be talking home renovations, and if you’re about to start renovating an older home or move into a house you plan on changing and you’re wondering how the process works, read on. From the planning stages to tips on turning your home into a smart home, I’ve either been there or am in the process of being there, and what I’ve found is that renovations aren’t as scary when you’ve got someone else’s experiences to compare to.

Although it’s not time to pack up the sunscreen just yet, back to school has officially kicked off and it’s time to start prepping backpacks, lunch kits, and packing up your school supplies. Here’s a checklist of everything you’ll need if you’re headed to the dorm or your first apartment.

Like it or not, there’s no denying that back to school has arrived once again. Wasn’t it just yesterday we were all celebrating not having to come up with another lunch for kids who were sick of the ‘same old, same old?’ I know by the end of June I was ready to pull my hair out because my kids were sick of everything, but now that I’ve had some time away from the daily lunch grind, I’ve got some great ideas for back to school lunches. 

Sound or silence? You don’t usually have much control over how loud your world is going to be. Until I tried a pair of Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling in-ear headphones, I had no idea the value of blocking out background noise. Whether you’re on a train, plane, bus, studying in a library, or in my case, constantly in rooms full of small people, noise cancelling headphones will block everything but whatever you’re really trying to hear.

There’s a little known fact no one told me about being a parent: when you finally have some dedicated free time, your creativity goes into overdrive. When all my kids go back to school I pull out my favourite appliances and create all of those great dishes I stopped making when it warmed up outside. Read on for my favourite appliances for back to school.

Over the past few weeks we’ve been compiling a list of the best appliances to take along to your dorm room and a few recipes you can whip up with each of them. We’ve looked at rice cookers, slow cookers, and microwaves, and this week we’re going to head into toaster territory and explore why you should bring a toaster oven with you when you go back to school.

Every year during back to school time, my kids pick out a new backpack. It’s a fun tradition we’ve had since my first child started school, and I love seeing what cool new backpack they’ll pick each year. Here’s a look at all of the trendy and practical backpacks available on Bestbuy.ca right now.

Does your fridge talk to your smartphone and let you know that you’re out of milk or butter? Can your stove turn on wirelessly based on a recipe you’ve created and plugged in? Maybe your washing machine can send you a text if you forgot the fabric softener or your laundry is on the verge of becoming smelly from being left behind? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I’m jealous, but thanks to the Internet of Things, having my very own WiFi enabled appliances isn’t that far off.

There are some amazing new products hitting the shelves of Best Buy this month. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the cool products you can pick up right now.