Packing Seminars
|
|
|
| Our informative packing seminars are free of charge. Learn how to keep your suitcase as highly organized as a filing cabinet! Click here for details. |
Locations
South
#480 WillowPark Village
10816 Macleod Trail South
Calgary, AB T2J 5N8
(403) 777-1767
North
#165 Dalhousie Station
5005 Dalhousie Drive N.W.
Calgary, AB T3A 5R8
(403) 239-7084
|
Summer's here, so why not some fun facts involving our favourite season?
The first day of summer, or "summer solstice" usually falls on June 20 or June 21.
The word solstice is Latin for "sun stand still".
~~~~~~
In the summer heat, the iron in France's Eiffel Tower expands, making the tower grow more than 6 inches.
~~~~~~
Watermelon is a vegetable; part of the cucumber, squash and pumpkin family.
As the summer heats up, so does the consumption of watermelon.
~~~~~~
The "dog days of summer" refer to the dates from July 3rd to August 11th.
They are named so after the Sirius the Dog Star, which is the brightest star in the sky.
This star is located in the constellation of Canis Major.
~~~~~~
Mosquitos are most prevalent during summer months.
Mosquitos have been on earth for more than 30 million years.
~~~~~~
Scientists argue that summer babies are significantly more likely to suffer from mood swings than babies born in other seasons.
~~~~~~
Popsicles, a popular summer treat, was accidentally invented by an 11-year-old boy in San Francisco in 1905.
He left a glass of soda sitting outside and by the next morning the soda had frozen.
He began selling them at an amusement park in New Jersey.
In the U.S., cherry is the number 1 flavor.
~~~~~~
Contrary to popular belief, crime rates do not increase during the summer.
However, the types of crimes change as the seasons change.
For example, during the summer, bike thefts and items stolen from cars increase.
During the winter, criminals are more likely to steal cars and Christmas presents left in cars.
~~~~~~
The longest summer bikini parade on record happened on August 19, 2012, in China with 1,085 participants.
~~~~~~
Before the Civil War, schools did not have summer vacation.
In rural communities, kids had school off during the spring planting and fall harvest while urban schools were essentially year-round.
The long summer holiday didn't come about until the early 20th century.
~~~~~~
The record for the most people applying sunscreen was on January 8, 2012, in Australia with 1,006 participants applying sunscreen for 2 minutes.
~~~~~~
In southern England, more than 35,000 people gather at
Stonehenge to see the
summer solstice.
Druids and pagans are among those who celebrate the longest day of the year at this notable place.
~~~~~~
Next time you hear the sound of crickets chirping on a balmy summer evening, why not try this simple trick to find out the temperature.
The frequency of a cricket's chirps is consistent with air temperature so you simply need to count how many chirps there are over 25 seconds then divide by 3 and add 4 to tell you the temperature in Celsius.
~~~~~~
Every year on the summer solstice, a unique baseball game, known as the "Midnight Sun Game", is played at the Growden Memorial Park in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The sun is out for almost 24 hours on the solstice, so the game begins at 10:30 pm and ends around 1:30 am without any artificial lighting.
The tradition originated in 1906 and has been played every year since 1960 by the Alaska Goldpanners.
~~~~~~
80% of the vanilla beans used to make vanilla ice cream come from Madagascar.
|
Travel Tips
Use tic-tac containers to carry spices.
If you can't live without your special spices on your food, you can easily store some in empty tic-tac containers.
Just make sure you clean that minty aroma out first, you don't want it interfering with the flavour.
~~~~~~
Keep your clothes from getting musty in your suitcase by throwing a dryer sheet in there.
If you're going for the long haul, take a little pack with you and replace whenever the sheet seems to be losing its potency.
~~~~~~
Use everyday Band-Aids to childproof hotel room electrical outlets.
~~~~~~
If you are having a hard time finding bottled water in Paris, France, find a hardware store.
For some reason, they almost always carry bottled water there.
~~~~~~
Shop for groceries when you arrive.
You don't have to shop for a feast, but getting basics like water and a few snacks in local stores instead of at the hotel can save you a ton of money.
~~~~~~
On the last day of your trip to a foreign country, collect all of your loose change and give it to the homeless.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watch Out
For These Scams
How it works:
You see a good looking woman arguing with a street vendor.
The vendor accuses her of shoplifting, which she vehemently denies.
To prove her innocence, she starts taking off her clothes - very slowly.
Once she's down to her underwear, the vendor apologizes and she leaves.
Suddenly all the men in the crowd find out that their wallets have "left," too, thanks to a team of pickpockets working during the show.
What you can do:
Always keep your valuables safe and secure, and away from prying hands.
And remember, if, while out and about on your travels, you see something that seems too good to be true - it probably is!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Currency Exchange Scam
Australia
How it works:
This currency scam is happening at currency exchage booths and even in some of the reputable banks, which is quite scary.
When the teller gives the person their change, they are often keeping a hundred dollars for themselves.
Often, when people are getting a lot of money changed, it is confusing enough and they don't notice that they didn't get all of their money.
What you can do:
Always count your money and look at the written amount to make sure they match up - and do this before you leave the counter.
Also, for a better exchange rate, ATM machines are usually the safest way to ensure you get the money that you're supposed to.
|
|
|
The Pipestone Patter
July 2018
|
|
Welcome Back Loyal Readers!
Welcome back everyone.
If you can even believe it, we're now into the middle of July!
The flowers are in bloom, the children are out of school, we've had some beautiful summer weather . . . and the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth has come and gone.
I hope ya'll had a good Stampede, but now it's time for this city to get back to normal!
(Although, I'll admit, I will miss wearing jeans to work!)
Maybe your normal is getting ready to take the kids on that long awaited, much anticipated, summer vacation.
Maybe your normal is planning your
much deserved winter vacation.
Or maybe your normal is taking advantage of this gorgeous weather, soaking up the rays (while protecting your skin, of course!) and enjoying our, too often short-lived, summer to the fullest.
OUR normal is to help you do all these things!
Come on in and visit us. From warm weather clothing for your winter vacation, to Packing Seminars to help you get ready for any vacation, to lots of items to help you beat the summer heat - we've got you covered! Get it? Covered? Hahaha!
And, we always love it when you stop by to say hello and check out our wares.
Hope to see you soon!
|
|
Darn Tough Socks
What if I told you we have a pair of socks for you that are guaranteed for life? That's right - guaranteed for life!
You'd be pretty impressed, wouldn't you?
And what if I told you these Men's and Women's socks come in many different styles and colours?
You'd be pretty interested, wouldn't you?
Furthermore, what if I told you some of these socks are constructed using Merino Wool, and that the company uses only sustainably sourced Merino Wool from sheep that are not exposed to the practice of mulesing?
You'd be pretty intrigued, wouldn't you?
Finally, what if I told you these socks are now a whopping
You'd be pretty amazed, wouldn't you?
You'd be on your way to one of our stores to scoop up this great bargain, wouldn't you?
And, you'd be on your way RIGHT NOW, so you could take advantage of the best selection, wouldn't you?
Come in and check these socks out - and be prepared to be amazed!
And don't forget - socks make great Christmas gifts, so why not stock up now?
Sale ends July 31, and all sales are final.
Regular Prices: $20.00 - $32.00
Sale Prices: $13.00 - $20.80!
Please note: Colours and patterns shown are not necessarily available in the stores - but there are plenty of colours and patterns that are available!
~~~~~~~~~
As many of you regular Newsletter readers will know, we often get suggestions from our customers regarding certain products they would like us to carry.
This is one of those products.
We had several customers tell us about this incredible fabric, so we decided to get some pieces in and see for ourselves.
Let's just say, our customers are always
right!
Introducing IBKUL (pronounced I-B-Kool).
All IBKUL garments are made out of a signature patented material called Icefil fabric.
This fabric converts sweat into cool energy - actually cooling your body by up to five degrees!
- Fast drying, moisture wicking fabric with two-way circulation helps keep you cool and dry
- Flat weave, anti-microbial, stretch fabric with textured interior is ultra-soft and comfortable
- Mesh underside of
 the sleeves facilitates additional airflow to keep you cool
- UPF 50+ offers superior sun protection
The IBKUL line includes dresses, crew neck tops and mock neck 1/4 zip tops - so there's something for every taste.
I wore mine while in 100+ degree heat in Texas, and I can tell you, it really did work!
Travellers, Golfers, Tennis players, Yoga people, Equestrians, and woman going to the supermarket all love to wear IBKUL!
Oh yeah - just a little warning. We never get the same pattern twice, so if you see a piece you love, get it right away, 'cause once it's gone - it's gone.
Of course, you could just wait for the next shipment to come in and check out all the new patterns!
Sizes: Small to 2XL
Colours: Assorted colours and patterns
Care:
Machine wash in cold water with similar colors.
Do not bleach.
Do not use fabric softener.
HANG TO DRY - DO NOT PUT IN DRYER!
Cool iron if needed. Do not dry clean.
|
Tales from the Road
G'Day Mate!
(a summertime rerun)
Greetings everyone!
Seeing as how it's summertime, and as all of you out there know, that is prime time for reruns . . .
And seeing as how I am already late in getting this Newsletter out there for all of you to read . . .
And seeing as how this is one of the stories I love recounting the best . . .
I bring to you my own personal summertime rerun!
This story ran for the first time in our May 2013 Newsletter, so I figure there's a good chance there's a whole lot of you who haven't seen it yet!
If you have - my apologies - and I hope you like it the second time around.
Have a good summer everyone!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we decide it is time to travel again, we have to pick a destination. Like most people, we tend to want to go somewhere we haven't yet been.
One of the places we hadn't seen yet was Australia and New Zealand (In our mind, Australia and New Zealand were one. There was no sense going that far and not seeing both places - right?)
We had heard great things about them, and were eager to see everything the countries had to offer - so the decision was made.
That would be our next trip!
Yeah! I had always wanted to see a Kangaroo.
And a Koala Bear. And the Opera House in Sydney. And to cook shrimp on the barbie! There was so much to see and do, I could hardly wait to get there!
We decided that we would rent a camper van in Australia, and drive across the country. That way we could go where ever we wanted and see whatever we wanted.
Oh yeah, we would also save all that money on hotels.
As an aside, I do have to say that the campgrounds in Australia and New Zealand (yes, we loved it so much we rented a camper van in New Zealand too!) were absolutely fabulous. All the comforts of home - and so many nice, interesting people to talk to.
One of the places we wanted to drive through in Australia was the Blue Mountains. It was beautiful there, and well worth the trip.
While in the Blue Mountains, we decided to go on a sight-seeing tour. I had not seen a kangaroo yet, and I was certainly not going home until I saw one!
So we packed up the van and got ready for our trip.
We drove through the Blue Mountains, stopping at towns along the way. By the by, I found the best gloves in one of the tourist shops there. They are made of merino wool, and kept me toasty warm on the cool nights in the Mountains.
More importantly, they are incredibly warm back home during our freezing cold winters. If you are going to be anywhere close to where they sell merino wool gloves, BUY THEM!
P.S. The Merino wool socks are awfully nice during our Canadian winters too!
We did a lot of driving, and a lot of looking, and a lot of seeing. It really is beautiful there.
But, darn, darn, darn, I still hadn't seen a kangaroo in it's natural habitat.
Now, I know they were out there. I had done some research, and I kind of expected to see herds of them - you know, like the herds of Elk you might see while driving through the Rockies.
But, so far, nothing!
|
|
Handy Gadget
Mini Mate Personal Air Purifier
You're at the airport, waiting to board your flight.
Somewhere in front of you - someone is coughing incessantly.
Somewhere behind you - someone has a bad case of the sniffles.
Somewhere beside you - someone is just recovering from, or just coming down with, the flu.
And you're about get into a sealed
airpl
ane with all these people - and their
germs!
Into a sealed airplane with (in most airplanes) a mixture of fresh and recirculated air, and (in all airplanes) windows that don't open!
For some travellers, it's their worst nightmare - being exposed to other people's germs while you're travelling.
If you are nodding your head in agreement right now, have I got a product for you!
It's the
Mini Mate Personal Air Purifier,the top of the line in personal air purification.
At only 2.5" x 1.5" x .85", and weighing in at a sleek
1.5 ounces, the Mini Mate will help to purify your breathing space with the most powerful output the Wein Products company currently has available.
Worn around the neck, the unit comes with a breakaway strap for user safety, has a Solid Platinum Emitter Electroplated Gold Grid and
includes 1 disposable battery.
This wearable Ionic Protective Device has been proven to substantially reduce the airborne concentrations of airborne bacteria, viruses and toxic particles ranging from 0.04 to 3.0 microns in size.
This range encompasses 
most known allergens and irritants such as: dust, pollen, animal dander, molds, and cigarette smoke, as well as infectious viruses and bacteria such as Influenza, the "common cold" and SARS.
- Propels cleaner, fresher air into your breathing zone
- Validation tested at leading Universities and research institutes.
- Lightest, smallest, highest ion wind output.
- Silent, fanless, filterless maintenance free technology
- Thousands of commendations and testimonials worldwide.
- This ultra light miniature wearable air purifier is a "must have" for air travel, movie theatres, waiting rooms, or any confined areas where people congregate.
$139.95
By the way, we also carry the
recharging kit for the Mini Mate Air Purifier - so you never have to worry about running out of clean air!
The kit comes with two rechargeable batteries and it's only
$59.95!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Almost every Traveller's Checklist you read has this item on it.
Almost every one of you out there could probably think of a time when this item would have come in handy.
And, almost all of us forget to take this item with us on our trips.
(If you are one of the people who always remember - good for you! You are a well prepared traveller!)
So, what am I talking about?
Why, a flashlight, of course! 
Now, at Pipestone Travel Store, we have lots of different kinds of flashlights to choose from - but I took this one on my most recent trip, and it's my new favourite!
It's the Poplight!
You just attach the Poplight to your purse, daybag or belt loop (or anywhere you want, really), and it's always right there for whenever you need it.
When you do need it, just pull on one end!
Bada boom - bada bing!
You have a flashlight!
When you're done with the light, just bring it back to the base and a powerful magnet with reattach the two pieces together.
No more leaving your flashlight laying around.
No more being unable to find your flashlight when you need it.
No more stumbling around in the dark.
Instead, let there be a Poplight!
Assorted colours to choose from.
(Not all colours shown are available)
Only $9.95!
|
|
|
|
|
