Co-Signor vs Guarantor: Which One Works for You?

Navigating the Ottawa real estate market can feel tricky, particularly when it comes to the financing. Having a solid strategy can make all the difference. Below are two options that can be useful for many. With average home prices across the National Capital Region hovering around $700,000 and townhomes sitting in the mid-$500,000 range, getting […]

Neighbourhood Highlight: Carleton Place

This town is a lovely 30-minute drive west of downtown Ottawa and captures the perfect blend of historic charm and modern progress. A few highlights include stunning heritage architecture, tree-lined streets, and the serene Mississippi River flowing through its core. Carleton Place, Ontario has quickly evolved from a hidden historic gem into one of the […]

Spring Green Risotto

Risotto may seem like an intimidating dish to make but it’s really quite simple, as long as you have patience. It’s also a great “fridge cleaner” to use up bits and bobs that need to be used before being throw away – vegetables, bits of cheese, stocks – these can all be utilized to create […]

Blueberry Basque Cheesecake

Carole recently shared with me a delicious cheesecake she had at Chocomyth. It was a Basque-style cheesecake which is a crustless cheesecake with a hard, crisp exterior that provides the structure for the creamy, custard-like interior. And it is…delicious! I was excited to share with Carole that I had made a Basque cheesecake quite a […]

Barb’s 3 Favourite Mocktails

If you follow me on social, you’ll know that I love a beautifully crafted cocktail….everything from a classic Manhattan to a zingy Mojito. Really anything but tequila so unfortunately you won’t find any virgin Margaritas here. You will find a list of my three favourite mocktails…mostly discovered when I was pregnant with my second child […]

Rigatoni with Sausage & Fennel

Pasta is my very favourite food. I love it in almost every variation. In the winter I really enjoy a comforting pasta dish on a weeknight, particularly because most are kid-friendly and the whole family will enjoy it. This recipe is exactly that…comforting, cozy, delicious, easy and quick to prepare. Ina Garten’s recipes are always […]