Rae Chen

 The best part about spring and summer is the fact that no matter what time of day it is or where you are in the world, everyone suddenly becomes very okay with you carrying a backpack 24/7. I mean, they’re not necessarily work-friendly, but if you’re out for dinner, running errands, or hiking up a mountain for fifteen hours, backpacks totally get the go-ahead.  

 I usually feel ready for summer at the end of spring. This year, however, summer hit Western Canada like a cargo train: suddenly and vigorously, with no end in sight. After a quick breath of spring, a 29˚C summer was suddenly just here, and I realized that I was completely and totally unprepared for it. Thankfully, Best Buy had my back.  

 With summer vacation season coming up, there’s one thing that you might not have remembered to put on your list of things to pack: a great camera. Sure, you probably have a camera somewhere in the house, but while your smartphone might be perfect for posting pictures to Snapchat and Instagram, it can’t give you the same quality of photos that even a budget point and shoot will be able to deliver.  

 There is nothing better than sitting next to a fireplace on a chilly summer night. (Except maybe sitting next to a fireplace on a chilly summer night with a slice of cake, but po-tay-toh, po-tah-to.) Outdoor fireplaces are a great way to add atmosphere and warmth to any outdoor gathering, and they couldn’t be easier to install than they are today.   

Moms, as a category, are super tough to buy for. And it’s not even that they’re hard to buy for as people! No, the problem is that when they’re your mom, nothing is quite good enough.

It took me ten seconds to open my Misfit Shine 2, ten minutes to set it up and fully customize it, and ten hours to fall completely, utterly in love with it.  

The thing about Canadian summers is that, for most us, the heat doesn’t really hold. Our summers last from June through August, and at the end of each day, Canada takes a minute to remind us that we’re really just a chilly iceberg pretending to be cozy and warm for the day! That’s why patio heaters are so important, and here are a few different kinds you can use to cozy up this spring and summer.    

If a patio is created and no one posts about it on Instagram, does it even exist at all? That’s one question that I’d love to be able to answer for you, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to test any theories. If I’m on a patio, my compulsive need to Instagram it is going to win over every single time.    

Party planners will tell you that the legendary perfect party involves everything from the right guest list to the perfect décor. But as an actual, living human being, please let me confirm for you what we’re all secretly thinking: the key to an awesome party (as in everything else in life) starts with the food.    

I’ve been thinking about starting a petition to get Best Buy to change its company line. What do you guys think of Best Buy: Come for the computers, stay for the sparkly, sparkly stones? Like with Best Buy’s handbag selection, I find that a lot of people aren’t aware the Best Buy carries diamonds. It’s a shame, because Best Buy has a large selection of them—and not just diamonds, either!