Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash.com

September is Healthy Living Month. It’s probably not a huge surprise to you that lighting plays a monumental role in our mental and emotional health. 

What light does for our body

Light is key to keeping our circadian rhythm at its best. Maybe you’re wondering, what the heck is a circadian rhythm? It’s just a fancy schmancy name for our “internal clock”, aka the sleep-wake cycle.

Not only does proper, more natural lighting allow for better sleep, but it also

• keeps you safe and alert,
• helps you avoid eye strain and headaches, and
• is necessary for the nervous and endocrine systems (hormones, mood, etc.).

In a recent seminar, Mark S. Rea, PhD, from the Mount Sinai Light and Health Research Center, clarified that health benefits aren’t simply due to light’s wavelength but also to its contrast or brightness.

Research has determined that “lighting schemes” (mimicking a normal day) decrease aggression and sundowning in patients with Alzheimer’s. Studies between 1985 and 2024 about prison lighting all conclude that appropriate illumination reduces aggression and improves rehabilitation rates.

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Quick quiz. What’s the number one reason people install security systems?

A) To make sure your daughter’s latest Sephora order isn’t pilfered from your front stoop.

B) To ensure that the Picasso above the fireplace remains there.

C) So that your kids and grandkids are protected.

If you chose C…Congrats. You win the prize of being able to say you aced the Balaklava Security Quiz.

Summer, oh glorious summer, has arrived. The sun is beating down and here in Ontario, the humidity is seeping into our bones. A different mindset seems to come with the heat and many more of us are spending time in the great outdoors hiking, floating, and paddling.

You escape on getaways, and you also stay close to home. Almost 80% of us regularly hang out on our decks and in our yards, so it makes sense to design a comfortable and charming space that’s perfect for both tranquility and hospitality. Technology can be used in landscaping for many reasons. Here are three possibilities that will up the wow factor of your summer sanctuary.

1) Light up your world

You know how important the right lighting is to the safety and ambiance of your home. Similarly, is its significance outside your house, in your landscape. Optimal brightness makes your space safer and illuminates the yard features you’ve worked hard to create.

When considering lights, Coastal Source recommends you consider the following factors:

Image by Praveen Kumar on Unsplash.com

Suddenly tariffs are forefront as we explore and alter our shopping habits.

You prefer Starbucks but now you’re pulling into the Timmy’s drive-thru. At the grocery store, you might reach for French’s rather than Heinz and you let Quaker Oats gather dust as you chuck Goldy’s into your cart instead. As for travel, we seem to be avoiding stepping foot south of the border. AirBnB reported recently that properties rented in Canada by Canadians are up 40%.

Canada may be known as meek and apologetic, but we’ve chosen to take a stand when it comes to costly American levies. Rather than simply cowering as prices shoot up, we’ve responded with a united front.

According to BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic, we can and we are making a difference. The “Buy Canadian” movement adds $10 billion to our economy. Not too shabby.

What does “Elbow’s Up” have to do with buying Canadian ketchup and spending your vacay in Wawa?

Grab a Moosehead Lager, sit back in your Muskoka chair, and get ready for a very brief history lesson.