If you have ever wanted to dream in the balloon-lifted “Up” house, party with Kevin Hart or jam with Doja Cat, Airbnb has just the thing. The vacation destination rental company on Wednesday announced a new category of “Icons,” a collection of “extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more.” “Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination – until now,” Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth.” Here are some of the entertainment-focused Icons announced so far: Drift off in the “Up” house “Sleep inside one of Disney and Pixar’s most iconic homes – and yes, it floats. You’ll explore Carl’s world in this detailed re-creation of his home, complete with more than 8,000 balloons, and located in the scenic red rocks of Abiquiu, New Mexico.” Airbnb recreates Disney and Pixar’s iconic home in the scenic red rocks of Abiquiu, New Mexico. (Ryan Lowry via CNN Newsource) Go VIP with Kevin Hart “Kevin Hart is taking you inside his members-only Coramino Live Lounge for an A-list evening. You’ll join Kevin and his friends in this secret speakeasy, where they’ll treat you to a tequila tasting and live stand-up by the best comedians in the game.” Join a living room session with Doja Cat “Fresh off a tour performing on the world’s biggest stages, Doja is hosting you for a much more intimate experience. You’ll enjoy an unforgettable living room performance from the Grammy-winning artist, including her favorite songs and tracks from her latest album.” “Prince purchased the Minneapolis, Minnesota home featured in the legendary film ‘Purple Rain,’ but it’s never been available to the public until now. Explore the home and go crazy for rare and special tracks from Prince’s world in an exclusive studio session.” Prince’s “Purple Rain” house in Minneapolis, Minn., was featured in the legendary film ‘Purple Rain.’ (Eric Ogden / AirBnb via CNN Newsource) Game with Khaby Lame “TikTok sensation Khaby Lame invites you to his hometown of Milan, Italy for an epic, overnight gaming experience. You’ll stay in a one-of-a-kind gaming loft that Khaby designed himself, where you’ll #learnfromkhaby and face off with him in a Fortnite Battle Royale.” Go on tour with Feid “Join the reggaeton superstar on his FERXXOCALIPSIS World Tour for an entire week. You’ll join the crew for rehearsals, ride along on the tour bus, and get backstage access for every show.” “Live like the X-Men as you stay in a 2D animated re-creation of Marvel Animation’s X-Mansion in Westchester, New York. You’ll discover your mutant abilities and even train in the Danger Room.” Airbnb Icons has a 2D animated re-creation of Marvel Animation’s X-Mansion in Westchester, N.Y. (Holly Andres / AirBnb via CNN Newsource)
Make core memories with “Inside Out 2” “In anticipation of the June 14 release of Disney and Pixar’s new movie, you’re invited to an overnight stay at Headquarters, the control center of Riley’s emotions. Your host, Joy, will welcome you into her vibrant world to witness the emotions in action and help keep things in balance.” Other Icons include an overnight stay at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris or visiting the home of Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor. The experiences are featured in their own category on Airbnb’s platform. All are priced under US$100 per guest, but only a limited number of requests will be selected for each experience via lottery. Airbnb also rolled out other new features on its platform this week, including the ability for groups of guests to more easily book trips together.

As profitable as Mother’s Day is for some food and retail businesses, it can also be a painful time of year for a host of reasons ranging from grief over a lost relative to fertility struggles.

In an effort to balance these two facts, some brands are offering customers the choice to opt out of Mother’s Day — and Father’s Day — email advertising.

Companies familiar to many Canadians, such as Momofuku Goods, Kotn, Reformation, Fable Home and Etsy, are among those that have jumped on the trend in recent years.

“With Mother’s Day approaching, we understand that this can be a sensitive time. At Fable, we want to make sure that our emails bring you joy and comfort, nothing less,” reads a recent communication from dinnerware brand Fable Home.

“If you’d like to opt out of Mother’s Day emails from us, please click here … we just want to give you the option to skip the next few because we’re human too.”

Depending on how you look at it, University of Toronto communication and culture lecturer Daniel Tsai says it’s a show of cynical corporate marketing, an example of companies trying to treat consumers with empathy or something in between.

“From a marketing perspective, you want to be mindful of the interests and sensitivities of your audience or your customers, and a lot of people don’t come from stable families or have great relationships with their mothers and fathers,” Tsai told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Tuesday. “So a day like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day might be very triggering for some.”

On the other hand, Tsai said, the trend also points to the way some brands have mastered social sensitivity in the age of cancel culture.

“With social media, we’re much more politically correct and socially sensitive, and some may say this is part of a woke-type cultural phenomenon,” he said.

‘It is a trigger’

In one of the earlier examples of the trend, British online flower company Bloom & Wild earned a nod in the U.K. Parliament when it made the option available in 2019.

“It has given customers the opportunity to opt out of Mother’s Day emails as it recognizes that it can be a very sensitive time for some,” MP Matt Warman said. “If other companies were to follow suit, the dread — and I do mean dread — around this day might be mitigated for many people.”

He added that Father’s Day marketing should be handled with the same care.

Warman, who lost both of his parents when he was 27, was addressing Parliament about the government’s role in supporting bereaved Britons. It happened that his speech fell on the week of Mother’s Day.

“This week … mothers up and down the country will be appreciated through cards, breakfast in bed, and often questionable artwork from their children. For some, though — myself included — that day is a reminder of what we have lost. To use the modern jargon, it is a trigger.”

Culinary brand Momofuku Goods provided the option for the first time this year and has already seen 10,000 email subscribers opt out of Mother’s Day messaging, according to the company’s retention and lifecycle marketing manager Emma Hughes.

Although it’s a first for Momofuku, it’s a concept Hughes had previously introduced while working with other brands.

“I, like many people, have friends and family members who have lost parents (or) children, struggled with fertility issues, or have complicated relationships with parents that make Mother’s Day (and) Father’s Day a difficult time,” Hughes told CTVNews.ca in an email on Tuesday. “I think it’s important to remember that your email list is filled with many people who could be experiencing similar pain and sadness during these holidays.”

Fable Home introduced the option in 2021 and has had approximately 650 people in Canada and the U.S. opt out of Mother’s Day emails, and another 450 opt out of related texts. The company offers the same option for Father’s Day.

Fable senior marketing specialist Johanna Kuffner said the company — of which 70 per cent of the staff are women — received “overwhelmingly positive” feedback from its customers when it introduced the option.

“Many reached out to let us know that they appreciated the gesture, and we’ve continued to do it ever since,” Kuffner stated in an email to CTVNews.ca on Tuesday. 

Some people love to wash their car, and for others, it’s their most hated chore. It’s a necessity for car owners, so no matter where you fall on the love-hate spectrum, you want a car wash that’s going to give your car a deep clean that lasts. Automatic car washes are at almost any gas…

  When you take your car to the car wash, there are multiple add-ons available, and one common choice is spray-on wax. It may seem like it doesn’t make a difference, but there are some important benefits. And these benefits go beyond how shiny your will car looks. What Are the Benefits of Waxing Your…

Even when you are lucky enough to start with an empty room, it can be overwhelming to design an interior that you can enjoy for years to come. Following some basic interior design principles, you can transform your space into a relaxing room you will be comfortable and happy with. Decide what your focal point will be and build out from there.  For best results, keep proportion and scale in mind as you decorate as well as these tips!

 Deciding on Your Focal Point
Do you have a magnificent bay window with an incredible view?  Is there an ornate mantle that is the reason you fell in love with your home? Or is there something you absolutely MUST HAVE in the room? Situate your furniture around your chosen focal point to create balance and equilibrium. If your room does not already have an existing focal point, create one with oversized art or add an accent point like a free-standing fireplace, they come in a variety of sizes and styles. Symmetrically balance the room evenly so that both sides mirror one another.  This will help your chosen focal point stand out all the more! Use matching accent tables to flank your sofa or use different pieces of furniture to create a copacetic visual impact, like two similar armchairs to balance a sofa.
Repetition for Rhythm
Rhythm creates a flow and helps direct the eye to the differing visual elements in your room. Just as the notes of a favorite song repeat to create the rhythm, repetition in decor will create a rhythm throughout a home. Establish visual interests with a rhythm throughout your space by placing similar colours or patterns at intervals and repeat in artwork, cushions or area rugs.

Perfect Proportion and Suitable Scaling
Who doesn’t love a large, overstuffed chair? But if your room is on the smaller size it may look out of place and make your room seem even smaller than it is. Keep proportion in perspective. Proportion is the ratio between a piece of furniture and the size of a room. Scale is the size of a piece of furniture in relation to the other pieces of furniture in the room. A super large chair will overpower an apartment of loft size sofa or loveseat and create a sense of unbalance in the room.

Have your room humming harmoniously
Creating harmony will enhance how much you will continue to love your finished. Pull the room with a subdued colour palette for a pleasing, harmonious vibe.   together for a pleasing, harmonious look with a subdued color palette. You can also use a single colour for elements that vary in size and shape. Check out our blog on Doing White on White Right! for more tips!

What is the focal point in your room?  What is your best tip to find harmony and balance through your home?