Durham Central » Fun Stuff

Personal Fitness Training

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:07:19 +0000

In person and online training and nutritional guidance.

I have been active in the health and fitness industry for the majority of my adult life and love the industry because it provides benefits on so many levels (longevity of life, a great attitude and outlook on life, relief of stress and you look and feel fabulous!!) You simply grow in all areas of your life, from the inside out. The gratifying feeling you receive after hitting your goals, knowing that you gave it your all, is like no other. I have now taken this love for fitness to another level so that I can share what I’ve learned over the years by realizing my dream of becoming a certified personal trainer.

What I can do for you is provide you with the tools necessary to transform you into what you perceive as the Best You Ever. You will be given a personalized training program and nutritional guidance. With some dedication, hard work, and clean eating, it is possible to achieve your fitness and physique goals.

IN PERSON & ONLINE TRAINING AND NUTRITIONAL GUIDANCE

I have now taken this love for fitness to another level so that I can share what I’ve learned over the years by realizing my dream of becoming a certified personal trainer.What I can do for you is provide you with the tools necessary to transform you into what you perceive as the Best You Ever. You will be given a personalized training program and nutritional guidance. With some dedication, hard work, and clean eating, it is possible to achieve your fitness and physique goals.

For more information visit my web site at : www.fabphysiques.ca

Make your own wine

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:54:25 +0000

Winexpert Oshawa/Courtice encourages others to get creative while continuing to enjoy the finer things in life.

The current state of our economy has people taking a hard look at ways to keep money in their pocket without having to give up on the things they love most, like their wine. With this in mind, people are quickly discovering all the benefits of making their own top quality wines at a fraction of retail wine prices!

The friendly people at Winexpert Oshawa/Courtice think that this should be a time to celebrate and take stock of the important things in life, like spending time with friends and family. “We recognize that people are concerned about what is happening these days”, says Sarah-Beth, “but there are so many inexpensive ways to continue to enjoy the finer things in life, we just need to get creative when we’re making plans.”

Here are some suggestions on ways to get creative while spending time with friends and family that won’t break the bank. Instead of going out to an expensive Restaurant and spending hundreds of dollars on food and wine, why not have a potluck dinner party and serve your own top quality wine? Everyone brings a dish and pairs it with the appropriate personally made wine from Winexpert Oshawa/Courtice.

It’s a wonderful experience to spend a Saturday afternoon together with friends and make your own wine. With countless varieties available, groups can enjoy creating their own wines, socializing with friends, while keeping some of that hard-earned money in their pocket. It’s a great inexpensive way to add to one’s personal wine collection. But why stop there… once your wines are ready, a wine tasting event at someone’s home is the perfect and inexpensive way to celebrate your personal creations.

It’s great to create memorable experiences with friends and family. With your own collection of top quality wines from Winexpert Oshawa/Courtice, you can “have your wine and drink it too”, at a fraction of retail wine prices. Cheers to that!”

Newsplash – At the 2008 Wine Making International amateur wine competition, Winexpert won 6 of the top 10 wine kits from thousands of entries originating from 8 Canadian provinces and 48 American states!

Seafood Splash Recipe

A delicious seafood dish with scallops, shrimp and tomato pasta sauce, this recipe calls for our “Selection Estate New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc”

Ingredients:

2 tbsp Butter
1 small onion – chopped
1 garlic clove – minced
2 tbsp basil – chopped
1/2 cup Sauvignon Blanc
1 cup heavy cream
2-3 cups fresh diced tomatoes
1 pkg shrimp and scallops

Preparation:

Saute butter, onions, garlic clove and chopped basil until onions are soft. Add the wine, then reduce liquid to 1/3. Add 1 cup heavy cream (whipping) and reduce to 1/3. Add 2-3 cups fresh diced tomatoes and bring to a boil, then add shrimp and scallops. Heat until seafood is cooked. Enjoy!

Winexpert Oshawa/Courtice also specializes in all inclusive Wedding Wine Packages!
Gift Certificates also available!

About this article: Winexpert Oshawa/Courtice is located at 1414 King St. East. (Hwy#2 and Townline) in Courtice. They can be reached at 905-438-VINO(8466) or by email at winexpertcourtice@yahoo.ca or visit the Winexpert Web Site. Are you interested in an Advertorial on DurhamCentral.com for your Business? Click here for all the details.

Print or mention this coupon!

Custom Cakes for any occasion

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:34:39 +0000

If you’ve ever watched the Food Network program “Ace of Cakes” or have ever wanted to do something extra fun for one of your celebrations or special events then we invite you to discover the amazing Cakes from Distinctive Cakes!

Located in Ajax, Ontario, Distinctive Cakes will take your favourite object, idea or vision within your imagination and turn it into amazing Cake Art! According to Company owner Michelle, “I absolutely love designing cakes! The ability to use my artistic expression through cakes to capture something that is unique & special about an individual that resonates with them is the ultimate gift.”

Michelle also loves the personalization factor, “Cake designing is not just a job, it’s my passion”. Well, if customer reaction is any indication, then Michelle has found her niche and special events all over Durham Region will be more fun thanks to her unique creations.

It’s not just Birthday Parties that bring out Michelle’s passion for creating these amazing works of art. Weddings, Anniversaries, Corporate Events, Baby Showers or just about any other “Special Event” can be made extra memorable with a Distinctive Cake!

It’s a fun Business to be in, when we get a call from somebody who needs a cake, we never know what we’ll be creating until they share their idea with us. “It’s challenging, but in a fun way that keeps our creative juices flowing.” So, how do the cakes taste? “We use the very best ingredients to create our cakes and every bite is absolutely delicious!” says Michelle.

Customer reaction has been extremely positive and it’s been very rewarding to hear all the positive feedback. Having a positive impact on people’s emotions during times of celebration “makes me feel like I am doing exactly what I was destined to do”. Customers have said wonderful things like… “We loved the cake. My sister was very happy with it and our guests had a good laugh. It’s exactly what we wanted and the colour worked out so well. I’m attaching a picture of my sister’s tummy. Without having met her, you captured her profile very well.” Another customer said… “You did a great job and replicated the cake we wanted ever so perfectly. Thanks so much!”

So no matter what your Celebration or Special Event, why not make it more memorable with a with a custom designed cake from Distinctive Cakes, your guests and your taste buds will thank you!

About this article: Distinctive Cakes is located in Ajax Ontario and serves Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area. For more information or to order your custom cake, please visit www.DistinctiveCakes.ca. Find out how to add an article about your Business to our site.

Scone Virgin

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:29:53 +0000

I have a confession to make. I was a scone virgin.

No, really … I was. Up until a week ago, I’ve never made scones before. I’ve never even eaten a scone before. What a world I have been missing!

There are so many different kinds of scones. And different ways to pronounce it as well. Yet again, it’s another battle between the British and the Americans. The Brits pronounce it as “skon” like gone. Whereas, the Americans pronounce it as “s-cone” like own. Either way you say it, they’re still a versatile little biscuit. Click here to read more about the history on scones. Being so versatile, there’s sure to be a least 1 or 2 or more you can add to your recipe repertoire.

You can make them sweet, like the Cranberry Orange Scones. Great with a cup of joe in the morning or when you have company over in the evening. This recipe is not overly sweet and can be changed to suit your family’s tastes. Switch out the orange for lemon or the cranberries for blueberries. For you chocolate lovers out there, skip the cranberries and orange all together. Throw chocolate chips into the mix and drizzle chocolate sauce on top. Or for you fellow Canadians out there…MAPLE! Add some maple syrup and walnuts to the mix & instead of water for the icing – use maple syrup! I bet it wont be long before you have a few favourites.

You can make them savory, like Bacon Cheddar Scones. Fabulous along side say maybe … a bowl of Creamy Clam Chowder. Make them bite-sized and serve them along with the Garlic & Parmesan version (coming soon) to make great hors d’oeurvres! Again, feel free to switch out different herbs & spices and customize them for your occasion.

Now, don’t get me wrong, scones do come with a reputation. Don’t Be Alarmed! Scones, like biscuits, have been known from time to time in a land far far away, to turn out like hockey pucks. Okay, triangle-shaped hockey pucks. The key to avoiding this is to simply not overmix your ingredients. Be gentle. Be tender. If you follow this one golden rule, you will guarantee yourself a fine and dandy scone.

So the next time you see an attractive, enticing scone in your local coffeeshop – go all the way!
Home, that is, and bake yourself a batch of these great versatile biscuits that your family will love.

Access lots of great free recipes at our site: www.RecipesFromSuburbia.com

Teddys Diner

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:26:50 +0000

Teddy’s Diner in Oshawa is one great deal! Not only will you get great food and plenty of it, the wait staff is also impressive! We’re talking big portions, great flavour and fast service here! For those reasons we’ve decided that Teddy’s Deli Diner is definately a Durham Region hot spot! So if you want to dine out and feel like you got your money’s worth then give Teddy’s a try, and don’t let the lineup put you off, it moves fast!

Teddy’s Diner is located at the corner of Park Rd and King St. in Oshawa. Enjoy!

Better Crockpot Cooking

admin — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:40:04 +0000

Tips To Making Your Crockpot Cooking Better
by: Jeff Jones

The crockpot may be the perfect cooking appliance for a new cook. It’s no wonder it’s become so popular in so many American Kitchens. You add the ingredients and turn it on. Let the slow cooker do the rest! Plus, it’s really hard to mess up a crockpot recipe.

Here are some tips to make your slow-cooking better.

The best crockpots have a removable liner. The crockpots that have built-in liners are very difficult to clean. You will enjoy cooking in an appliance that is easy to care for. There are many inexpensive models of crockpots available now.

Try to buy a crockpot that’s big enough to hold more than the normal amount of food you will need. That way, you’ll have extra capacity available when you need it unexpectedly.

Make sure not to over-fill the pot when you are adding ingredients. The experts recommend filling it between one-half to two-thirds full maximum. This will facilitate even cooking and avoid the mess when it bubbles over.

Many crockpot recipes call for some sort of meat. Some of the best pot roasts and chicken dishes I’ve had have come from a crockpot! Remember when slow cooking meat to trim off excess fat. Due to the prolonged cooking in a slow cooker, that excess fat can really get cooked in giving your dish an odd taste.

No matter how good the meal starts to smell resist the temptation to open the lid. Each time you do, heat escapes, and the cooker will take longer to finish your meal. The ingredients at the bottom will cook faster than those on top, but it is not necessary to stir as often as you would a stove-top recipe. Keep that lid on except when it is absolutely necessary to stir your recipe.

As for cooking time as directed by recipes – keep in mind that one hour on high in a crockpot is equal to about 2 hours on low. If your slow cooker recipe calls for a four-hour cook time on high, but you want to eat in eight hours, cook your dish on low.

Crockpot cooking can be easy, fun and really tasty. Check out our assortment of crockpot cookers at http://www.searchkitchenappliances.com/Small-Kitchen-Appliances/Cookers-Steamers

About The Author : Jeff Jones is passionate about food and does’t mind stepping out of my comfort zone to make a meal an event to be savored. Stop by my Reading Room and pick up some tips and tricks you can use today! www.SearchKitchenAppliances.com

The Scugog Shores Museum

admin — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:54:07 +0000

The Scugog Shores Museum is located on Scugog Island, overlooking the town of Port Perry. The mission of the museum is to preserve, research, interpret and exhibit artifacts that illustrate the cultural and natural history of the area. With twelve restored buildings in the historic village, the Ojibway Heritage Interpretive Lands, special events, rotating exhibits and archives open for genealogy research, the museum is an exciting place to visit throughout the year.

Location:

Scugog Shores Museum Village & Archives
16210 Island Road, Port Perry
Ontario, Canada L9L 1B4
Tel: 905-985-3589
Fax: 905-985-3492

Website: www.scugogshoresmuseum.com
Email: skelly@scugog.ca

March Break Activities in Durham

admin — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:49:31 +0000

March break is upon us, so here are some links to local resources that have activities and programs to keep kids and families busy.

Whitby public Library – View a full calendar of events happening at the Whitby Library.

Oshawa Public Library – Here is a full list of activities for each branch of the Oshawa Library.

Pickering Public Library – The Pickering Library sorts their upcoming events by age group. For a list of events for school age children click here, for a list of event for preschoolers click here, for a list of events for toddlers click here and for a list of events for teenagers, click here.

We have many indoor playgrounds listed in the Durham Fun Directory, so feel free to access our list of indoor playgrounds too.

You can also access our sister site, www.searchontario.com and find other activities outside of the Durham Region area. This includes many of the Toronto attractions such as Allen Gardens, indoor water parks and indoor theme parks. Remember, we also have an excellent indoor entertainment facility here in Oshawa at NEBS Funworld! There you can bowl, ride go carts, rock climb, play arcade games for prizes, ride carnival rides, play on inflatables and have an all around great time!

Tumbles and Toys

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:33:34 +0000

Tumbles and Toys! We are the perfect place to come during the week to let your kids burn off some energy! Admission lets you play as long as you wish and also allows for re-entry throughout the day. You are welcome to bring in outside food, providing that it is nut-free.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:30am- 2:00pm
Wednesday: 9:30am- 2:00pm
Thursday: 9:30am- 2:00pm
Friday: 9:30am- 12:30pm ($5 FRIDAYS)

Daily Play Pricing:

0-6 mths – Free
6- 24mths- $6.61 plus GST=$7.00
24 mths and up: $7.75 plus GST=$8.00

Additional Children in Same Family: $5.19 plus GST=$5.50

*****GROUPS OF 5 OR MORE CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR A GROUP RATE. PLEASE CALL AHEAD AND ARRANGE FOR YOUR SPECIAL RATE!*******

Monthly Pass: $40.00 plus GST – 2 Children in same family: $50.00 plus GST – 3+ Children in same family: $60.00 plus GST (**Same family in defined as sibblings/stepchildren living in the same household.)

Location:

1755 Plummer Street
Pickering
L1W 3S1

Email: info@tumblesntoys.com
Telephone: 905-420-2886

Website: http://www.tumblesntoys.com

Durham Golf and Leisure Saving Book

admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:47:28 +0000

2010 is a great year to save money! This year we are proud to offer the best value in and around Durham Region. The 2010 Golf and Leisure Savings Book contains hundreds of coupon offers that will save you over $9,500 in Durham Region, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes and surrounding areas.

Our high value coupons include:

157 FREE ROUNDS OF GOLF

168 coupons at 53 golf courses. Average value of these offers is $42 each.

Plus 74 coupons for driving ranges, golf instruction, miniature golf and golf retail shops

You can redeem 118 additional coupons for discounts at popular restaurants, pubs, spas ski resorts and entertainment

Preview the Golf and Leisure book by clicking here! or order your copy today!

Octaviens Banquet Hall

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:47:27 +0000

Click the image to Visit

After months of renovations, the Octaviens Banquet & Conference Centre is now available for your next event or meeting. Conveniently located within the Best Western Durham Hotel, off Hwy 401 at Stevenson Rd in Oshawa. Accompanied with the attachment of hotel rooms offering overnight stay for out of town guests, Octaviens offers all the amenities as an ideal location for meetings, trade shows, training seminars, conferences, banquets, wedding receptions and gala events.

Located at: The New Best Western Durham
559 Bloor St W
Oshawa ON L1J 5Y6
Email: info@octaviens.ca

Telephone 905.434.1444 Fax: 905.436.2327

Website: www.octaviens.ca

The Courtyard Pub

admin — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:26:05 +0000

Originally opened in August of 2000 as a ”Waltzing Weasel” pub, the renamed Courtyard prides itself on service, atmosphere and quality of food. “Our goal is to ensure that you, our valued customer have the best experience that we can provide. “

Whether your bringing in the family, the team or a group of friends, our menu offers something to please everyone. Our fast, friendly service has been a large part of building a regular clientele and we pride ourselves on being the neighbourhood “local.”

In the warm months, the large patio is the place to be to relax and enjoy a meal outdoors. On Saturday eventings you can also enjoy live entertainment on the patio. Indoors we boast a warm atmosphere complete with fireplaces and a comfortable bar area.

Location:

1437 King St., E
Courtice, ON
L1E 2J6

Telephone: (905) 404-0251

Website: www.thecourtyardrestaurant.ca

Newcastle Outdoor Paintball

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:05:47 +0000

Newcastle Outback Paintball has been providing the best paintballing experience throughout the Durham region for the past 10 years. Never played before? Not to worry, with our knowledgable and experienced staff, we guarantee a fun time for beginners and experienced players.

Location:3673 Moffat Rd.
Newcastle, ON
L1B 1M0

Phone: 905-987-5391
Website: www.newcastleoutbackpaintball.com

Full Package includes:

Mask
Paintball Marker ( Mokal Focus 2K3 )
Includes Unlimited Air and Tank
100 FREE Paintballs
Total: $25

Upgrades:
Thermal Lense Goggles: $5
Air tank / Unlimited Air: $5
Unlimited Air: $3

Equipment Owners
$10 walkon fee

Extra Paintballs:
Only the best paint is sold, best price for the highest quality!
$8.00 per 100 balls
$75 per 1000 balls
$120 per 2000 balls

Isabellas Chocolate Cafe

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:48:34 +0000

Isabella’s Chocolate Café is a hand crafted premium chocolatier located in the Heart of Downtown Oshawa. Our selection of chocolates include truffles and bars, chocolate gifts and choices of hand dipped chocolate delights. Additionally, we offer lunch menu items, all natural Dufflet Pastries and desserts, handmade Gelato and specialty coffee and chocolate drinks.

Isabella’s opened her doors in August of 2006 and has since become a comfortable and relaxing destination for the enjoyment of chocolate, specialty coffees and, on Friday nights, live music. We take pride in giving back to the global community by serving Fair Trade/Certified Organic coffee and tea and to the local community by hosting events like ‘Night at Isabella’s’ for The Eastview Boys and Girls Club and supporting several local charitable organizations.

In the Heart of Downtown Oshawa, between King Street and Athol Street

19 Simcoe St. S.
Oshawa, ON
L1H 4G1

Phone: 905 723 8448
Email: gbruno@isabellas.ca
Website: www.isabellas.ca

Hours

Monday 8am – 5pm
Tuesday 8am – 5pm
Wednesday 8am – 5pm
Thursday 8am – 5pm
Friday 8am – 11pm
Saturday 10am – 4pm
Sunday Closed

Rock Oasis Indoor Climbing

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:58:21 +0000

The Rock Oasis Ajax is an indoor climbing facility that offers a safe climbing environment for new to intermediate climbers. It is a great place to climb and train for east end climbers in the Greater Toronto Area.
Our centre features:

25 foot climbs
36 routes of varying difficulty
bouldering cave
bouldering traverses
3,000 square feet of textured wall with lots of fun angles
technical outdoor style route settin

We are located in the Ajax Community Centre.
75 Centennial Road, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 4S4
(905) 231-3434

Website: www.rockoasis.com/ajaxlocation.htm