Get creative and thoughtful in the kitchen this year! Provide your loved ones with the gift of home-made yumminess. Make any of these three delicious holiday treats, and they’ll be sure to be a big hit!

Click here for the recipes.

The holidays can be a stressful and busy time. Finding ways to make this time of year easier and get you into a more festive spirit is key to surviving the holidays!

10 Tips for managing the Holidays, Leigh B. Morris December 12th, 2018

1. Practice self-compassion.

You give to others, don’t forget to take care of yourself. This might include such things as reading a book, relaxing, or spending time with significant people in your life.

2. Donate something to those less fortunate.

You can donate food, toys, articles of clothing, or give your time to a cause of your choice.

3. Send a note of thanks and appreciation.

Consider sending to a friend, a family member, or a colleague. It might just make their day.

4. Find time for laughter.

Do the things that make you happy.

5. Try to get enough sleep.

At least 6 to 9 hours of sleep a night goes a long way to help manage stressful times better.

6. Spend time in nature.

Breathe in some crisp fresh air, enjoy a winter walk, or just find some peace in watching the falling snow.

7. Try to do something physically active each day.

This can help with both your physical and mental well-being.

8. Be mindful of the small joys in each day.

Take a moment to notice the beauty in the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

9. Eat healthy and nourishing food.

But don’t beat yourself up over a cookie or two.

10. Express yourself.

The holidays can bring up positive and challenging emotions. Honour these emotions by expressing them in a healthy way. Suggestions include journaling, engaging in a spiritual practice, creating new rituals or getting together with significant others.

The weekend is here! Ottawa has a host of winter events and family-friendly activities taking place with something fun for everyone. Enjoy an Ottawa 67’s game, the King’s Singers’ Silver and Gold, Butterflies in Flight exhibition, and the Magical Winter Lightscapes Show at Parliament Hill.

For the full event list, click here.

Are you thinking of selling your home this holiday season? Before you decorate your home, think about what type of decorations will help sell your home. Your social calendar tends to be packed with lots of family, friend and party goodness, which means you may not think you have time to stage your home to sell. Set aside a couple of hours to tackle the actual decorating and planning.

Though this time of year may seem dismal when trying to sell, remember that those who are out hunting for their next home now are traditionally seriously looking. When you’re trying to get potential buyers into the buying spirit, your home’s holiday decor can have a major impact.

See your 8 helpful holiday staging tips here!

Focus on smaller, easy-to-fix projects this season and get your home prepped for holiday safety. By taking on huge projects this time of year, you open yourself up to facing big delays, half completed renos, and potential disasters. Put your energy into projects like making your fireplace safe and preventing slips and falls!

Click here for tips on home safety for the holidays.

Looking out on your neighbourhood, with fresh snow falling and seeing snow-covered roof-tops is pretty standard in Ottawa. But, did you know that snow-covered roof-tops are a good thing? If you notice that there are bare spots on your roof after a big snowfall, it may be indicating there’s a larger issue with your roof or the insulation in your attic.

See how to care for your roof in the winter and prevent costly problems here.

This weekend it’s officially December! Show your holiday spirit by attending some of the amazing events and family-friendly activities happening this weekend. Try Get Your Glow On at Nature Nocturne tonight, Cirque Musica Holiday Presents Wonderland at TD Place on Saturday, or the Magic of Lights at Wesley Clover Parks.

Click here for weekend inspiration!

First impressions matter, especially when trying to sell your home. Winter can seem like a difficult time to try and create your home’s curb appeal. But, there’s hope to be had! There are several ways you can foster a great first impression for your home with potential buyers in the winter season. For example, you can get creative and give your mailbox (or even walkway lights) a makeover, decorating your front and backyard with beautiful ice luminaries, or fashion your own gorgeous topiaries.

Click here for your Winter Curb Appeal tips!

With our winter season upon us, many Ottawa residents may be thinking how nice a warm, finished basement to escape our freezing temperatures would be. If you’re planning on or thinking of renovating/finishing your basement, there are three common mistakes that many homeowners make when finishing their basement. With that said, there are easy remedies and better approaches you can take on to ensure your basement is properly finished.

Click here for more details.