If you’re in the northern hemisphere, in October we’re entering the “dark half”. Have you noticed the light slipping away? According to www.timeanddate.com, we receive about 3 minutes less sunlight each day. If you’re like me, this translates directly into less energy and this can hamper productivity. I want to hold onto my spark in the dark, so, it’s especially helpful to find products and services that help me do what I need to do while respecting my STEM Resources™ of Space, Time, Energy and Money.
1. The printer that truly respects your resources
The HP Tango printer saves space, time, energy and can even save you money, all with a much-appreciated sense of style.
Spending more time inside means we notice our surroundings that much more and if cluttered, they can cause stress. I’ve seen many home workspaces with printers that have made the room feel somewhat institutional. Not every home has the luxury of a dedicated office so it can be a huge win to find a printer that combines style and function.

The HP Tango printer with its clean, compact, simple, and elegant design is a space saver. It fits neatly on 16” shelves and with WiFi and remote access via the HP Smart app, you can place it almost anywhere. With a choice of complementary covers, it can be integrated even further into your space.

Check out how this cork cover complements the medium wood tones I have in my office. There is a grey linen cover available too, if that’s more your colourway.
That’s great for space, but what about time, energy and money? The HP Tango Instant Ink program has got you covered. You can subscribe to automatic ink delivery based on the number of pages you print per month. No more worrying about choosing between colour or black and white. No more running out of ink at the wrong moment. For peace of mind, flexibility is built-in as unused pages are rolled over and applied to pages in addition to your monthly allowance.
As a bonus, photos under 5×7” don’t count towards your page limit. Sweet!
In addition to your resources, HP is also respecting those of the environment. Cartridge recycling and shipping is included. You can wait to send a few cartridges back at once to minimize the number of times you ship.
Using plastic from recycled printers and other electronics, the HP Tango is made with more than 30% closed-loop recycled plastic by weight. HP Original ink cartridges are made with 48 – 73% recycled plastic, and HP-branded paper with 100% certified fiber or recycled content.
For more information about the HP Tango, visit this page.
For more information about the Instant Ink program, visit HP Instant Ink.
And for information on recycling cartridges, check out the HP Planet Partners program.
2. Add some design savvy to your desk
Finding stylish office accessories has never been easier thanks to the latest collaboration between Canadian design icon, Joe Mimran, and Staples Canada. Mixing function and fashion, here are a few treasures from the line to keep you happy at work this winter.
In this photo:
- Large Pad Folio in Gray – Make the best use of both technology and good old paper with this refined Pad Folio complete with integrated device stand.
- Keep your pens and loose change from cluttering your desk in this sturdy terrazzo organizer
- Focus Tip: Add a calming scent to the sophisticated ceramic diffuser to promote attention in a more comfy, less dry atmosphere.
- Listen to some energizing music via this cloth-covered wireless speaker
5. Keeping track of time never looked so good. This sleek, silver desk clock will wow your clients for less than you think.
6. Worthy of gift-giving is this pen in a compelling combination of metal and wood in its very own metal case.
For more, search the Gry Mattr line at www. staples.ca
3. Making smart food choices just got easier
Eating nutritiously is important all year round, but as the temperature drops, I prefer more cooked food and shop a little differently. no name® brand foods have been in my shopping cart for years (the brand was launched in the late 70’s!) for these reasons:
- The products I’ve tried have consistently been of good quality.
- The packaging has been easy to understand and comes in handy when labelling storage containers at home.
- I’ve consistently saved money when compared to other brands.


But what really got me interested in working together was the launch of no name® Simple Check™ products. I first noticed the no name® Simple Check™ symbol on my favourite sour cream and onion potato chips in the spring of 2019. I thought it was just a package redesign. I’ve learned there is more to it than that.

New packaging is on the left with the Simple Check symbol. Colour has been added to the product names for easier recognition in the pantry, as well.
The no name® Simple Check™ symbol indicates the absence of 10 specific ingredients which I prefer not to ingest including synthetic colours, artificial flavours and monosodium glutamate (msg) I invite you to visit the Simple Check™ website to find out more.
The no name Simple Check symbol quickly reassures me that I’m buying quality food, eliminating the need to pull out my reading glasses, find the ingredients on a package and read through it slowly! This saves me time and aggravation and helps me make better food choices.
This post is sponsored by Loblaw Companies Limited, Staples Canada, and HP. As always, opinions are my own.
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