Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate love than with a homemade treat that's sure to melt hearts? Skip the store-bought chocolates this year and surprise your sweetheart (or yourself!) with a batch of irresistibly rich and fudgy brownies. This simple recipe is perfect for cozying up with your loved ones and enjoying a sweet moment together.

Whipping up a batch of brownies is a breeze! With just one bowl and a few simple ingredients, you can create a fudgy delight that's perfect for Valentine's Day.

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 cup cocoa powder

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup chocolate chips

• Sprinkles optional

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.

• In a large bowl, whisk together the oil and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Beat the eggs and vanilla until well combined.

• Add the cocoa powder, flour and salt and stir until thoroughly combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs. It’s better to under bake the brownies than to overbake them.

• Allow to cool completely for at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.

• Use a heart shaped stencil to cut the brownies into heart shapes. Add sprinkles if desired. Store the rest of the cut pieces as a snack for the chef!

Whether you're celebrating with your partner, friends, or just need an excuse to bake some brownies, these are sure to spread love and joy this Valentine's Day. So grab your apron, preheat the oven, and let's bake up some sweet memories together!

This year, Vancouver is set to light up with the vibrant and captivating LunarFest 2024, celebrating the auspicious Year of the Dragon. As the city prepares to welcome both locals and visitors alike, LunarFest promises an unforgettable journey through the timeless traditions of the Lunar New Year.

LunarFest 2024 is your gateway to experiencing the heart and soul of Lunar New Year celebrations, offering an array of activities that cater to all ages. From mesmerizing lantern installations that illuminate the night to interactive art exhibits that tell stories of heritage and hope, there's something magical for everyone. Engage in hands-on craft workshops where you can create your own piece of the festival to take home, or be captivated by the spellbinding performances that showcase the best of arts and culture.

But that's not all—this year's festival is packed with even more events, each designed to immerse you in the celebration of new beginnings and communal joy. The full schedule details every opportunity for you to partake in the festivities. Whether you're drawn to the culinary delights that tantalize your taste buds with traditional flavors, or the educational workshops that offer a deeper understanding of the Lunar New Year, LunarFest 2024 has it all.

So mark your calendars and join us in welcoming the Year of the Dragon, a symbol of power, luck, and prosperity. Let's come together to create memories that will last a lifetime and to start the new year with hope, happiness, and togetherness. See you at LunarFest!

As we settle into the new year, it's the perfect time to look back at the joyful moments that made the past year so memorable. A big highlight for us was our Mix and Mingle Holiday Event, that brought together our wonderful clients, partners, and friends. It was a night filled with warmth, laughter, and the spirit of togetherness, and we are excited to share some snapshots from this delightful evening.

The real stars of the show? You guys, our amazing clients! It was such a treat to finally get everyone together, sharing laughs over great food and drinks. It's not about celebrating our work; it's about celebrating each other. And every one of you brought something special to the table. Your energy, your stories, it just lit up the room! You're the reason we're so passionate about what we do. Seeing your smiling faces and feeling that buzz in the air – it's moments like these that remind us why we love our job so much.

The evening also saw some lucky winners! A playful competition of style with our 'Best Kicks' contest saw Amy and Matt taking away prizes for their outstanding shoe game! We also had a raffle for a beautiful Tomahawk Steak. To see the winning shoes and one very happy carnivore, check out all our photos from the event below. What a bunch of photogenic clients! 

Until next season, keep spreading joy and celebrating life!

Get ready, Vancouver! The future of housing is here, and it's all about multiplexes. We're not just talking about your usual single-detached homes anymore. A leading Vancouver developer has a clear message: if we want to cater to a broader range of homebuyers, multiplexes are the way to go.

In 2024, Vancouver is set to reshape its low-density residential streets. These areas, traditionally filled with detached houses, have seen skyrocketing housing prices and dwindling populations. It's a trend that's caught the attention of governments and city planners alike.

Last fall, Vancouver made a game-changing move by approving new zoning for "missing middle" housing. This allows for more diverse housing options like multiplexes – buildings with up to six homes on a single lot. The response? Builders are all in! In just the first month, the city received 19 development applications for these multiplexes, translating to a potential 84 new strata homes.

Replacing single-family houses with these multiplexes means more homes in the same space – think triplexes or even a second building at the back of a lot. This isn't just a Vancouver thing, either. Other B.C. cities like Victoria, Kelowna, and Kimberley are on board, and with new policies from the B.C. government, we could see this change in every city with a population over 5,000.

Architect Michael Lu from Lineform Architecture, who's behind four of these new projects, is all for it. He's designed detached houses and duplexes before, but this shift to multiplexes offers a more certain and streamlined process. Plus, it's about bringing life back to these neighbourhoods. Lu notes that his own low-density area in Burnaby is "pretty quiet," with few kids or Halloween trick-or-treaters. More density could mean more vibrancy and community spirit.

So, Vancouverites, keep your eyes peeled. Multiplexes might just be the new norm on your side street!

Ingredients:

– 2 cups salted butter

– 1 cup fruit sugar

– 3¼ cups all-purpose flour

– ½ cup rice flour

Instructions:

1. Place butter in a mixer and beat until very light and fluffy. Add sugar gradually and continue to beat until creamy.

2. Sift or mix all-purpose flour with rice flour and combine. Add to butter mixture and stir in by hand or on low speed, just until flour is incorporated. DO not overmix.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls (If your dough is too soft you can refrigerate it for an hour before baking). Place on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Press down with cookie press. Bake in a preheated convection oven at 275F oven for 25 to 35 minutes or until ever so lightly browned around the edges. Cool on racks. Yum.

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup cinnamon sugar (for coating)

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¾ cup shortening or butter

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 large egg

• ¼ cup dark molasses

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Place cinnamon & sugar in a bowl for later.

3. Sift dry ingredients: flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a mixing bowl. Mix until blended.

4. Cream shortening or butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually beat in white sugar. Add egg and molasses and beat until light and fluffy.

5. Sift 1/3 of the flour mixture into the mixture; stir to thoroughly blend. Sift in the remaining flour mixture and mix together until a soft dough forms.

6. Pinch off small amounts of dough and roll them with your hands into 1-inch-diameter balls. Place balls in cinnamon sugar and roll to coat, then place 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

7. Bake in the preheated oven until tops are rounded and slightly cracked, about 10 minutes, switching racks halfway through.

🎁✨ Pro tip: Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes on a wire rack before indulging!

When most people think about home security, they tend to focus on locks, alarms, and cameras. While these safeguards are essential, there are many other things you can do to prevent break-ins — without having to invest a lot of money.

Landscape Your Way to Safety
Well maintained landscaping can be a powerful deterrent to burglars. Overgrown trees and bushes provide perfect hiding spots for potential intruders. So, keep shrubs trimmed and ensure tree branches don’t offer easy access to upper-level windows.

Let There Be Light
A well-lit exterior can make your home an unattractive target for burglars. That doesn’t mean you need to illuminate your home like a Christmas tree 24/7! Instead, consider motion-activated lighting. It not only conserves energy but can startle and deter anyone trying to sneak around your property.

Silence the "No One's Home" Alarm
Heading on vacation? Hold your mail and newspaper deliveries, ask a neighbor to pick up flyers, and resist the urge to post your holiday pictures on social media. Don't let your absence become an open invitation for burglars!

The Bottom Line
Don’t rely entirely on gadgets and systems. Take a more comprehensive approach to home security and you’ll have more peace of mind when you’re away.

What do you do for your home security? Share your tips with us in the comments below!

Interest rates skyrocketed in 2023, and even as rates soften they may continue to be unpredictable. So, how do you manage your finances during such periods? Here are some helpful money-saving tips to consider.

Review and Reduce

Regularly review your monthly expenses. Are there any subscriptions or services you’re no longer using? Is there an unused gym membership or magazine subscription that can be cancelled? By trimming the fat from your budget, you’ll have more to put towards savings.

Build an Emergency Fund

When you have money set aside, you won’t have to dip into your line of credit or carry a credit card balance when something urgent comes up. Putting just a few dollars a week into a fund can add up over the year — and give you peace of mind.

Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Investing in energy-efficient appliances, windows, and even home insulation can lead to significant savings on utility bills over time. Additionally, some energy-efficient upgrades come with tax credits and other incentives.

Buy in Bulk

Watch out for sales on goods you purchase regularly, like breakfast cereal. If the discount is substantial, stock up. Over the year, this strategy can save hundreds on your grocery bill. Just be sure to pay attention to expiration dates!

Avoid Interest Charges

As much as possible, reduce or eliminate anything that charges interest. For example, pay credit cards by the due dates. (Note: credit card interest on cash advances often begins immediately.)

As you can see, making smart money decisions can help you ride out the current wave of interest rate uncertainty. What are your money saving strategies?