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5 Ways to Save Money in Your Home

The cost of living keeps increasing, and we’re here to help you find new ways to lower your bills and save money in your home!

Switch Your Lightbulbs to LEDs - LEDs use less electricity over incandescent bulbs and will last 15 to 20 times longer on average! 

Close Your Closet Doors - even though your closet has limited square footage, you are still heating or cooling it. By keeping the doors closed, you’re reducing the work your furnace has to do! 

Caulk or Weatherstrip - sealing air leaks on your windows can save you 10% to 20% on your energy bills! 

Change Your Furnace Filter - a clogged filter can make your furnace motor work harder and use more power, costing you more money! 

Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water - switching from hot or warm water to cold will cut the energy your washer uses in half!

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Our Favourite Soups for Cold Weather

BRRR! With the cold winter weather in full swing this week, we’re looking to our favorite soups to keep us warm! We thought you might like to try them to stave off that winter chill, so we’ve listed them below! 

Loaded Potato Soup

Ingredients

6 slices bacon, chopped
2 lb. russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 celery stalks, sliced
1 large leek, cleaned and chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
4 c. chicken stock
1 tsp. kosher salt
6 sprigs of fresh thyme
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
3/4 c. sour cream, plus more for garnish
Shredded cheddar cheese, chopped chives, sour cream, and reserved bacon, for serving

Directions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon strips and cook until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 2 pieces for garnish.  Crumble the remaining 4 pieces. 

  2.  Place the crumbled bacon, potatoes, celery, leek, garlic, stock, salt, thyme sprigs, and pepper in the base of a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Put the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 6 to 8 hours) until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.  Remove the thyme sprigs and discard.

  3.  Use an immersion blender to blend the soup to a semi-smooth consistency, leaving small chunks of potato and vegetables for texture. Stir in the sour cream. (Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water, to thin the soup out to your desired consistency). Serve in bowls, garnished with cheese, chives, additional sour cream, and the reserved bacon slices crumbled over top. 

 

Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Ingredients
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 large yellow onion
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped (about 1 1/2 cup)
2 celery stalks, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 c. all-purpose flour 
6 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tsp. chopped thyme
1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 tsp. black pepper, plus more to taste
1 lb. dried gnocchi
1 c. 5-oz. container baby spinach, roughly chopped
1 c. half and half

Directions

  1. In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 10 to 12 minutes, adding the garlic during the last minute.

  2. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until evenly combined and vegetables are well coated, about 1 minute. Gradually stir in the chicken broth. Add the chicken, thyme, salt, and pepper, and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. 

  3. Stir in the gnocchi and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, under tender and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and half and half. Cook, stirring occasionally, until well combined and spinach is tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

 

Italian Wedding Soup 

Ingredients

FOR THE MEATBALLS:
1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 lb. mild Italian sausage
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
1/4 c. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
1 large egg
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2 c. panko breadcrumbs
1/2 tsp. kosher salt 
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray

FOR THE SOUP:
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 c. chopped carrots 
1 c. chopped yellow onion
1 c. chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper, plus more for serving
6 c. chicken broth
14 oz. can beef broth
1 c. pearl couscous or small pasta
5 oz. baby spinach
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Directions

  1. For the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 450º with the oven rack in the upper third of oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.

  2.  Mix together the beef, sausage, parmesan, parsley, egg, garlic, panko, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined. Form the mixture into about 40 (1/2-inch wide) meatballs. Lightly spray the baking sheet with nonstick spray and arrange the meatballs in a single layer.

  3.  Bake the meatballs for 6 to 8 minutes or until they are firm to the touch. Increase the heat to broil. Broil the meatballs for 2 to 4 minutes or until browned. Set aside.

  4.  For the soup: Heat the oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onion, and celery, and cook for 4 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 

  5.  Gradually stir in the salt, pepper, chicken broth, and beef broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, and add the couscous. Cover and cook 8 minutes or until the couscous is just tender.

  6. Add the spinach and cook for 1 minute, until just wilted. Stir in the meatballs and cook 2 minutes or until the meatballs are warmed throughout. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. 

  7. Serve the soup in bowls, and garnish with additional parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and black pepper.

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5 New Restaurants in Calgary

Borough Bar & Grill 

Check out this new restaurant with walk-in patisserie specializing in sandwiches and coffee! Located in the University District, Borough is both indoor and outdoor! Be sure to try the fried artichokes and roasted mushroom dip! 

Brix and Barrel 

This new cocktail bar in downtown Calgary features delicious dishes like truffle risotto, and salmon carpaccio! Check out their cocktail menu for fun drinks and even mocktails, cleverly named not a mojito and not a whiskey sour. 

Burnin Bird 

If you like Nashville hot chicken, you’ll love this new restaurant! Located in the Beltline, Burning Bird offers chicken tenders and sandwiches, with a heat scale ranging from “naked” to “burning” if you like your food extra spicy! 


Fine Print 

This unique restaurant off Steven Ave focuses on making customers feel like a VIP, and strives to create an atmosphere of sophistication and simplicity. Check out their book theme menu, where the Preface sections your appetizers and the Main Story holds the entrees! 


Freestyle Social Club 

This restaurant offers a unique experience where not only do you book a table, but also a round of golf! Perfect for small company events or going out with friends! 

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Valentine's Events in Calgary

Love is in the air! Valentine's Day is a few weeks away and if you're looking for something new and fun to do with friends or your partner, we've got you covered! Here are some fun and interactive events happening in Calgary this Valentine's Day!

Love is in the air! Valentine's Day is a few weeks away and if you're looking for something new and fun to do with friends or your partner, we've got you covered! Here are some fun and interactive events happening in Calgary this Valentine's Day!


Feb 9th & 14th - Candlelight Jazz: Valentine’s Special 

Enjoy a Candlelight Concert with a multi-sensory musical experience this Valentine’s Day! The program includes music from Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker!

For tickets and more information, click here.


Feb 9th - Paint Nite: Valentine’s Day Wine Glasses

Get your creativity on with a 2 hour guided wine glass painting night. You’ll get to bring home your very own hand painted glasses, and tickets include all supplies so you only need to bring yourself and your partner! 

For tickets and more information, click here.


Feb 10th - Valentine Comedy Extravaganza

Enjoy dinner and a show this Valentine’s Day with FunnyFest Comedy! The event features headliners Joe King and Stu Hughes, a dinner buffet, chocolates and great prizes! 

For tickets and more information, click here.


Feb 14th - Date Night at Workshop

Bring your partner for 3 hours of throwing and hand building clay while enjoying amazing refreshments and music! The evening includes wine, clay, instruction, glazing, firing, music, tools, etc. as well as charcuterie from Peasant Cheese! 

For tickets and more information, click here.

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Volunteer Opportunities in Calgary

With the new year we look to all the things we are grateful for, and all the things we want to accomplish. It’s important to also look at the things we can do for others, and how we can give back to our communities! We’ve outlined some organizations in Calgary we believe are doing amazing work that you can get involved with in 2023! 

 With the new year we look to all the things we are grateful for, and all the things we want to accomplish. It’s important to also look at the things we can do for others, and how we can give back to our communities! We’ve outlined some organizations in Calgary we believe are doing amazing work that you can get involved with in 2023!

 

The Calgary Food Bank

Food insecurity is something no one should have to feel. The Calgary Food Bank works to realize their vision of hunger-free communities and is the first line of emergency support for families and individuals facing crisis. 

Volunteer Here: https://www.calgaryfoodbank.com/volunteer/

 

Calgary Drop-In Centre 

The Drop-In Centre welcome adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Working collaboratively, they provide access to a spectrum of care that supports each person’s transition to the most independent living possible—including emergency shelter, programs and services, and affordable and supported housing.

Volunteer Here: https://calgarydropin.ca/volunteer/

 

Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids

BB4CK believes no child should ever go hungry. They believe kids who have consistent access to nutritious food grow stronger brains and stronger bodies. They’re able to make friends, attend school consistently and to focus on learning instead of on a grumbling stomach. Their mission is to Connect and inspire people to take meaningful action to feed and care for kids

Volunteer Here: https://bb4ck.org/as-a-volunteer/

 

Calgary Women’s Shelter

The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter is focused on ending family violence and abuse in the lives of women, children, youth and men. Taking a Stand Against Family Violence in the community since 1974, the agency has helped over 260,000 Calgarians build safe lives and healthy relationships.

Volunteer Here: https://www.calgarywomensshelter.com/give/volunteer-opportunities

 

Calgary Meals on Wheels


Calgary Meals on Wheels promotes health and independence by providing quality, nutritious and affordable meals. They believe everyone deserves to be well fed regardless of age, ability, or life-circumstances. By delivering meals to Calgarians, they work to end food insecurity in Calgary. 

Volunteer Here: https://www.mealsonwheels.com/volunteer

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