Holiday gatherings have returned after two years of restrictions and, for many people, it’s time to celebrate! If you wish to host a fabulous cocktail party or traditional dinner, these ideas can help you create festive magic with minimal fuss. Included are a few inflation-fighters to stretch your budget. Décor Pinecones, evergreen boughs, ribbon, ornaments, and treats from your kitchen are reminiscent of holidays past. Add to the nostalgia with personal, homemade touches.   Pinecones: Unadorne... read more

Steaks grilled to perfection: juicy and tender with hint of smoky flavour. For many barbeque aficionados, summer just wouldn’t be summer without firing up the ‘barbe’. Unfortunately, the quest for hot-off-the-grill flavour can sometimes result in damage and injuries. Boys under nine-years-old are surprisingly the most likely to be injured in barbeque accidents. Their odds are one in 33,509 followed by men in their twenties at one in 1 in 46,276*. In addition to injuries, many homes suffer heat and... read more

In 2023, a tornado with winds up to 275 km/h carved a swath of destruction through Carstairs, Alberta. Twelve homes were in its path: three were destroyed, four were left uninhabitable and the remaining five were damaged. Tornadoes and storms are expected to become more common in Canada and occur in areas previously unaffected (Western University 2023). Understandably, these extreme weather events are generating new interest in earth-sheltered homes.  Are you imagining a hobbit house from Lord of the Rings, ... read more

Imagine walking into a room that contains a rectangular couch, rectangular end tables, rectangular artwork, and square-backed chairs. Now, imagine a different room that includes a curved couch, a round coffee table, and a wavy, pendant light fixture. You likely feel more comfortable in the second space, and science would back up that perception.  Researchers have found there is higher activity in the brain when people are in a room containing curvy items versus a room with sharp-edged or pointy objects (Inver... read more