Imagine my delight when I open my favorite magazine, New York, and recognize a full page photo of a nail file from our very own homegrown company Diamancel. The Best Bet section suggests that you shouldn’t use a pumice stone on your feet as it collects bacteria. It quotes Dr. Krista Archer, a podiatric surgeon who likes Diamancel surgical grade steel foot files and so do I.

I’ve been singing their praises and using a Diamancel nail file for as long as I can remember. It works amazingly well and you never have to buy another one.

The diamond is  the hardest, most abrasive stone known to man.  So Diamancel has created a unique line of genuine diamond files using this property. I stock up on them for gifts.

Each flexible diamond nail file in the Diamancel family has been designed for specific nail types to beautifully shape and enhance both natural and sculptured nails. The Diamancel Diamond Hand and Foot Callus Files are ideal for removing and softening rough, dry skin.

Discover Diamancel’s  Sacha™ Diamond Nail File for pets. A great alternative,  Sacha™ Diamond File replaces the often-unpleasant cutting process with an easy and effective filing method. No cutting required.

Diamancel files provide effective fast, easy and effortless filing. They are durable and will outlast all your files, which make them a money saver.

• The files are washable/sanitizable as they all can be washed with soap and water
• They are hygienic too as they can be soaked and disinfected in medical grade solution.
• The fiberglass base is both resistant and flexible making filing easier

These are  effortless to use as you can use a light hand and the diamonds will do the work for you. All files have been salon tested for maximum performance.

You can order your files now on their website or you can see them and feel them in person in the new showroom is now open every Monday 9-3.

If you head there, you will also discover the Arbonne wellness health and nutrition botanical products for the whole family.

Location: 2477 Rue Guenette, V.S.L. H4R 2E9
Hours: Mon 9-3
Tel: 514-856-9711
http://www.diamancel.com/
www.christelecaron.arbonne.com

Now, while you are stuck inside, you start to dream about how you might reno your home. Should you change the floor? the fabric? the blinds? If you really want to go ahead with this and it’s too overwhelming a thought, help is at hand. You can even put your feet up and call for their free shop-at-home service.

Tapis Decor Chantilly has been open since 1983, offering one-stop decor shopping for both home and office, in one location, at competitive prices. You can sit back and let their in-house designers walk you through every step, or feel free to go in with your own ideas or your own designer.

For flooring, they sell the gamut from carpets to laminate floors, solid hardwood to engineered wood, linoleum and marmoleum, as well as PVC strip wood and tiles. They also carry a huge array of window coverings from well-know manufacturers, custom-made drapes and bedding, wall coverings, ceramics and more. They supply and install all of their products; their installers are certified and experienced, and they are RBQ licensed.

– Flooring: Laminate floors from names like Alloc and Kronotex. Marmoleum sheet goods are anti-bacterial and perfect for health care or just for healthy environments. Expect a huge array of vinyl tiles such as Armstrong and Amtico, LSI and Centiva, Mondo tiles and Plynyl woven flooring. There are all kinds of special rubber, which is perfect for your home gym or recreation center. From materials for computer rooms (anti-static), lobbies, corridors, elevators, bars, airplanes or any other application, it’s all here.

– Carpets: Wall to wall, area rugs and runners, in all shapes and custom sizes for residential or commercial, in wool or synthetic, from Shaw, Mohawk, Beaulieu, Couristan, Momeni, Louis de Poortere and others.

– Blinds and Window Coverings: High end custom window coverings from such well-known brands as Hunter Douglas, Maxxmar, Altex, Faber, Shade-O-Matic and more. If you need them, they sell motorized blinds and black-out coverings.

– Fabric: They carry Robert Allen, Kravet, Joanne, Rosedale, Avant-garde and more, in silks, satins, velvets, chenilles, leathers or other types of fabric. They employ their own seamstresses and upholsterers to create decorative valences, headboards, draperies or other ideas you may have.

It makes life very easy when you can choose all your products in one place.

Location: 707 Lucerne Rd., T.M.R.
Tel: 514-388-6060
www.decorchantilly.com

Chocolates and Valentine’s Day go together like TV and Netflix. How about I tell you where to find wholesale priced chocolates so you can buy more?  Galerie Au Chocolat recently moved to a new larger facility  so there’s extra space for you to see all that they offer. Since 1985, they’ve been producing yummies with fine quality Belgian chocolate and confections for the North American market. They’ve  been a best kept secret spot for years, since they were a wholesale but now they sell retail with wonderful prices.

The delish ultra premium items which are made with fine Belgian chocolate (Kosher) come in many interesting varieties: almond or cranberry clusters, chocolate covered orange peel or apricots, Rice Krispie or candy cane bark, Amaretto creams, mint chocolate truffles, espresso wafers, or their famous almond bark.

They have a variety of packaging options. You can easily see the treats inside their cellophane bags tied with pretty ribbon, or you can buy them in a gift (or just for you) tin or in a beautifully wrapped gift box. You can fax, email or call in your orders any time. Delivery on the island of Montreal is $10.

Whether your taste buds are craving chocolates or you need gifts for everyone you love, head to Galerie au Chocolat.

New Location: 6665 Chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse, Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1Z5
corner: Migneron
Tel: 514-331-8460
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5
www.galerieauchocolat.ca

Who doesn’t like chocolate, everybody’s favorite indulgence. Since 1985 Galerie Au Chocolat has been producing yummies with fine quality Belgian chocolate and confections for the North American market. They’ve  been a best kept secret spot for years, since they were a wholesale but now they sell retail with wonderful prices.

This sweet emporium  has moved to a new, larger facility to bring you more of the great chocolate you love. It’s time to check out their new factory showroom and browse their assortment of ultra premium chocolates (they are also Kosher).

The delish high-quality items which are made with fine Belgian chocolate come in many interesting varieties: almond or cranberry clusters, chocolate covered orange peel or apricots, Rice Krispie or candy cane bark, Amaretto creams, mint chocolate truffles, espresso wafers, or their famous almond bark. Discover more when you come in to the shop.

They have a variety of packaging options. You can easily see the yummies inside their cellophane bags tied with pretty ribbon, or you can buy them in a gift (or just for you) tin or in a beautifully wrapped gift box. You can fax, email or call in your orders any time. Delivery on the island of Montreal is $10.

Whether your taste buds are craving chocolates or you need a go-to gift to impress, head to Galerie au Chocolat.

New Location: 6665 Chemin de la Côte-de-Liesse, Saint-Laurent, QC H4T 1Z5
corner: Migneron
Tel: 514-331-8460
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5
www.galerieauchocolat.ca

If you’re having company for Labor Day, bakery Les Delices La Frenaie has  locations – east, west, south and Laval, so they’re easy to get to wherever you live. Montreal West is one you may not know about. They have been a fixture in St-Leonard for years and you can find just about any kind of cake you could want.

Come here for: Bacio, Key Lime Cheesecake (15 others), Frutti di bosco, Dulce de Leche, Orange or Walnut pound cake (16 others), Limoncello, Heavenly Berry and Milky Way in 8″ or 10″ sizes (this can serve about 20). Some can be ordered 36 hours in advance for more than 20 people.

Sandra’s newest favorite is the understatedly named, Fruitcake. Imagine a Strawberry Shortcake made with an assortment of fresh fruit. It is light, whipped creamy, and not overly sweet.

The best deal is the apple, lemon, chocolate chip, or cinnamon marble cakes. I really like the amaretti biscotti. Trays of pizza (tomato, white, all dressed and vegetarian) can be ordered.

Locations:  8405  Lafrenaie at Jarry (514-324-8039); Rosemere, 199F Cure-Labelle (450-430-4222); 58A boul. Brunswick (514-542-4242) at boul. des Sources; 51 Westminster Ave N, Montreal-West (514-312-2253); 1276 Dollard, LaSalle (514- 363-8776); 8245 boul Taschereau, suite B12 Brossard (450-462-4000).
Regular Hours: Mon-Fri 6-5, Sat 6-2
www.lesdeliceslafrenaie.com

For designer floor products, this airy, huge (4,000 sq feet, 30 ft ceiling) new carpet showroom has always been known by word of mouth – and that’s a good sign. For the past 49 years, this family-run business has been selling quality carpeting from major American and European mills.  It’s their hands-on personalized service which keeps everyone coming back.

Popular now, wood-like vinyl planking, wall-to- wall carpeting for movie rooms, and a large collection of carpet tiles are all here.  They also carry area rugs (contemporary, transitional, traditional, natural, custom), runners and exclusive designer carpet lines. For both carpeting and area rugs, they can do custom borders, add fringes, do finishings and also handle repairs and carpet cleaning. If you’re looking for entrance mats or even logo mats, just come here.

Since they buy in volume for their commercial sales, they can meet and beat the prices of their competitors. Commercial clients know to come here for carpet, tiles, and vinyl flooring.

Once you’ve entered, expect the friendly staff to give you an education on flooring. Their mission is to provide you with exceptional service and quality products, at the most affordable prices – and they meet these goals consistantly.

NEW Location: 2001 Rte Transcanadienne
corner: boul. des Sources
Tel: 514-421-1616
Hours (summer): Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5
www.normandycarpets.ca

C&M keeps expanding its repertoire for the home decor market. Now you can buy trendy wallpaper to zuzz up your walls right here. It’s easy then to co-ordinate your look with their blinds and fabrics.

This is the go-to place for the popular motorized blinds. You can peruse the wall display of options. Did you know that you can now even control those blinds from your cellphone or iPad? Sales at 50% off custom blinds and 30% off home decor and fashion fabrics are popular here.

Browse through the section on ready-to hang curtain panels or if you want to order some special fabric, get comfy at the tables, and peruse the many fabric books: Robert Allen, Maxwell, Joanne, Avante Garde, J. Ennis and more. Look for the creative sample table set up like a bed of pillows.

– Whether you are searching for fabric for fashion or home decor, C&M offers it all here and in vast inventories.- This is a one-stop-shop where you can buy/make/install with the help of their expert staff and design consultants.

From the traditional to the contemporary, Verti Store carries a vast array of blinds and draperies that suit every taste, every window size and every budget. Stop by one of their 5 locations, plus an additional location in Florida or call in to take advantage of their completely free and no obligation shop-at-home service. For the same pricing as in store, you can shop in the comfort of your own home with the help of their decorating consultants.

Right now they are having a mega sale which is 50% off all made-to-measure blinds

This window-covering mecca will amaze you with 10,000 sq. ft. of  displays of custom made PVC, aluminum, wood and faux wood vertical and horizontal blinds; beautiful shutters; panel tracks; roman, pleated, cellular or roller shades and affordable draperies and drapery hardware.  Expect to find major brands here: Altex, Shade-o-matic, Levolor, Elite, Vantage.

They also offer many in-stock versions of the above products as well as over 1,000 rolls of fabric to choose from.

Verti Store has been serving their customers for over 30 years, providing them with the most competitive pricing possible. Whether you’re working with a restricted budget or sky-is-the-limit funds, Verti Store’s wealth of choice and experienced staff can turn any house into a beautiful home.

 

You have two options now for shopping at Sim Centre de Liquidation, a clearance center for a huge un-nameable low Cost warehouse store (with a further 30% or more off on the price). You have the original location in Vaudreuil/Dorion or now those of you further North, can shop closer to home in St-Jerome.

Returned items (phones, toys, clothing, furniture, auto, bedding, etc.) and stuff in broken boxes from their huge aisles (except fresh food) are sent to this location every week.

All items are checked to make sure they work. The friendly proprietors even keep a reservation book and will call you if an item you are looking for shows up.

Locations: 341 ave. Ranger, Vaudreuil – Dorion J7V 2X3 (450-424-0998) and
850 Boul. des Laurentides St. Jerome QC J7Z 4N1 (450-438-8631)
corner (Vaudreuil-Dorion): rue Chicoine
Times: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5

http://simcentredeliquidation.ca/

Jaf is a friendly family neighbourhood corner shop selling men’s clothing. Right now, they are discounting all their sportswear at their regular stores by 30% for 3 days only.  You can order made-to-measure suits and shirts, and suits for athletically built men. Expect free on the spot alterations (not in the liquidation center). Ask about tuxedos and rentals.

You will come across well-known names – Michael Kors, Robert Graham, Jack Victor, Baumler, Fred Perry, S. Cohen, Jacques Britt, Tombolini, Tommy Bahamas, Victorinox, m.e.n.s., & Alberto. Helpful salesmen will find you pants (to 50) and shirts(to 2XL).

Only at their warehouse store in Laval, you will get great deals as follows: Suits are only $95 and up,Tuxedos from $149, slim fit shirts starting at $25, silk ties are $12 and leather shoes are $75.

Locations: Laval Centre de liquidation (closed Tues): 1880 St-Martin o. (450-688-3636)
Stores: Ville St-Laurent, 900 boul. Decarie (744-0985); 619 boul. Rene-Levesque (514-877-9888); Laval, 258, Curé-Labelle, Sainte-Rose, Laval (450-937-6663)
Dates: Till Father’s Day, June 19
Hours: Regular plus Sun 12-4-Please note downtown store is closed on Sundays

www.jaf.ca
info@jaf.ca