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Christmas in Calgary is a magical and memorable experience. In addition to being the best time of year to catch up with friends and relations, it is also the perfect tine to give back to our community. There are countless ways to give of your time and money to make someone else’s Christmas just a little brighter. Start with your own church, club or civic organization to determine where the need is greatest and take it from there. Otherwise, here are a few volunteer ideas to get you started:

Women’s Centre of Calgary – Toy Room Volunteer

The Women’s Centre of Calgary needs volunteer workers to set-up and staff its annual December Toy Room for local women and their children in need of Christmas cheer. Shifts run about three hours and are flexible. Gift wrapping skills are appreciated, but not needed.

Calgary Seniors’ Adopt a Grandparent Program

No one deserves to be alone during the holidays – particularly our treasured senior citizens. Unfortunately, too many are. From November 1^st thru January 15^th, the Adopt a Grandparent Program organizes volunteer visits, complete with stuffed stockings, to homebound elders. Spend an hour with an adopted grandparent and you will have an experience to treasure forever.

Heritage Park Historical Village

If you are a local history buff and can never get enough of the History Channel, consider volunteering at Calgary’s amazing Heritage Park during the holiday season. Help is needed in retail sales, cookie decorating and hospitality hosting. It’s a great way to pick up some new skills for your resume and enjoy the Park’s Christmas festivities at the same time.

The Magic of Christmas

Founded in 1983, this charitable program has grown exponentially to the point where a volunteer family of 500 Santas and elves delivers presents and Christmas spirit to nearly 5,000 families and patients in hospitals and other institutions throughout the city.   Stay alert – gangs of rowdy elves are known to sometimes overtake cars to bombard the occupants with carols!

The mission of all of these wonderful Calgary organizations is to spread the message of love, sharing and caring throughout the season and remind us all of the real meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas from Team Howard!

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.

It seems the older I get, the more I think in quarters. Let me explain…after every three to four months I reflect on how I did in my last quarter. Did I hit my business targets? Did I get sufficient exercise? Did I have enough exercise and fun? Is my life progressing in the direction I want it to go? Am I moving towards a designed life or am I just living day to day reacting to the circumstances around me? On a quarterly basis, these are the many thoughts that run through my head.

Recently, I ran into a friend and colleague at work, Tim Banfield, who is constantly setting out on new challenges and adventures. On many occasions he has invited me to join him on those adventures including mountain climbing, ski tours, biking and many more. After months of saying no, I finally said yes and we picked Tuesday 22 September to do head out and do something fun.

We ultimately decided to do a multi pitch climb at the Ghost area (Don Getty Wildland). While I have ridden my road bike a little bit in this area, I really had no idea where we were going. Getting there in Tim’s Grand Cherokee was almost enough of an adventure with all the twists and bumps in the road. After arriving and a short hike from the drainage area, we were at the base of our chosen route called Heidies with Hilties – a 5.10b route established in 2000 by two women by the name of Heidi. The last time I did a 5.10b was at Smith Rock in Oregon in 1991 with my brother Tommy… and it was a single pitch, so this would definitely prove to be a challenge.

Tim led the four pitches and I followed. At one point I thanked Tim for keeping the rope tight and he replied that he was giving me a ‘girlfriend belay’. With a taunt rope, I was able to successfully do the entire climb without falling. During the entire clime Tim reassured me that at no time were we ever in danger, and I acknowledged that. However, at the same time – my body was completely exhausted as we reached the top at the final pitch. We repelled down and at the base of the climb, we had a picnic snack before going on a short hike.

Completely at peace, I lied on the ground … so thankful to be in this amazing location. In retrospect, the highlight of the day was not the adrenalin pumping climb up the steep wall, but the relaxation of hanging out at the base in complete peace. At the same time, I needed the climb to enjoy the peace of just hanging out. I guess it is the ying and yang or pendulum of life – you cannot have happiness without sadness, you cannot have success without failure, exhilaration comes from peace. Thanks to Tim, I’m already making a plan for some adventures next quarter!

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.

Hurray the holidays are finally here! The snow has fallen, and melted… and fallen and everywhere you look, there are signs of the festive season. The bright lights and beautiful music make the cold weather not so bad after all. In fact, Calgary is a great place to be during Christmas time. There are plenty of events happening around the city to help you get in the spirit of the festivities.

Our family looks forward to the holidays as a time to relax, unwind, and spend time together. We also make it a point to enjoy the great outdoors. Heading to the mountains for a few days of skiing has become an annual tradition. Even though everyone is way faster then me now, I still love it! When you have some of the best slopes in the country just an hour or two away, staying indoors all winter is not an option! Walks in the city that give us mountain views can be breathtaking. The pinkish glow of the early morning sun on mountain peaks always stops me in my tracks.

The holidays are all about family and traditions, and of course, the food. Every family has their own special recipes. I love to make French Breakfast Puffs fresh on Christmas morning. They are an easy and simple treat that we now refer to as “Christmas Puffs”. I put the ingredients together the night before, so it’s an easy task on Christmas morning. I’ve included the recipe below. Thanks to my Mom for sharing it with me many years ago.

French Breakfast Puffs

Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; set aside.

In a bowl stir together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

In another bowl, combine 1 beaten egg, 1/2 cup milk, and 1/3 cup melted margarine or butter; add to flour mixture, stirring just till moistened.

Lightly grease muffin cups or line with paper bake cups; fill 2/3 full.

Bake in a 350 oven for 20 to 25 minutes or till golden.

Immediately dip tops into 3 tablespoons melted margarine, then into sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Server warm. Makes 12.

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Find some time to unwind and make special memories with the people that matter most. Travel safe if you plan on escaping to somewhere a little warmer or plan on traveling across the country to visit loved ones. At the end of the day, our family and friends are what makes it all worthwhile.

We wish you all the best and we look forward to connecting with you again in the New Year.

Are you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-287-3880 or at  www.GreetingsCalgary.com. 

 
About Shirley Wright

Like everyone, I have been involved in real estate my entire life! Like you, I grew up in a home! My husband and I purchased our first home in 1998, and since 2001 I have been assisting my husband, Bryon Howard, in our real estate investments and his work as a Top Producing Sales Professional.
I assist sellers and buyers meet their goals, efficiently and have fun doing it.
To serve you better, I network daily with top producing REALTORS in various markets across North America, keeping abreast of the many and varied trends and cycles of real estate.
I look forward to serving you to help you find what you want in our exciting city. Please take some time searching my website www.GreetingsCalgary.com. Many of my clients have advised that the search engine incorporated here is very user friendly.

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce one of the newest members of the Howard Team.  For some of you, she might be a familiar face.  I’m pleased to announce that my wife, Shirley, has made the move into real estate.  Shirley acquired her real estate license at the beginning of this year, and some of our buyers and sellers have already had the chance to work with her.

Coming from a background in music and education, Shirley is passionate about teaching our clients everything they need to know about their real estate transaction.  After graduating from McGill University with a Music Degree and then doing an Education Degree at the University of Prince Edward Island, music has been at the heart of Shirley’s teaching career.  She has been teaching music for 22 years and over the last 10 years, she has been employed by the Calgary Board of Education.  Shirley is an accomplished cellist and performs with the Calgary Civic Orchestra.  She has shared her love of music with countless students and also provides cello lessons at a private music school.  To add to her list of accomplishments, Shirley is also bilingual.

For many people, buying or selling a home is a learning experience.  Even though our clients hire us to represent their best interest in the transaction, they still want to have a strong sense of awareness each step of the way.  After all, buying a home is one of the most important decisions that you make in your life.  Shirley prides herself in providing exceptional customer service, and will take the time to answer all of your real estate questions.

As always, we appreciate your business and your referrals.  Shirley and I look forward to assisting you with your real estate needs.  Have questions about selling your home?  Thinking about making a move in the near future?  Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.

Yes is the answer… now what is the question?

At some point in the past 8 months I was at a Real Estate workshop where the speaker asked us about our ability to be versatile. He asked us to frequently get out of our comfort zone. He told us when being asked to do something, to “Say Yes… then explore the question.”

I wrote notes during the seminar, and upon getting back to my office, I created a list of “Actionable Items” that I wanted to implement in my business. I entered in my Google Calendar “Yes is the answer… now what is the question?” This statement now pops up on my Calendar weekly.

When friends Helen and Greg invited Shirley and I to join them on a 12-day walk from Coast to Coast across the United Kingdom, I immediately said “Yes”.

After saying “Yes”… Shirley and I reasoned if we could. Our youngest child is in the final year of high school. He would be okay. I have a good team in place at RE/MAX. They don’t need me everyday. I have hit my sales goals in the past couple of years. Financially, we can do this.

I don’t like walking. I walk my dog reluctantly. I basically hate it – unless I’m walking with one of my kids and/or Shirley. I never imagined I would ever walk across England.

I like to run, bike, paddle, etc. Walking is slow. I’m not peaceful enough. I don’t spend this amount time with anyone. Will my wife tolerate me after spending ALL day with me for 12 consecutive days… and I value this friendship. Will we still be friends?

So, after saying “Yes”… I booked the tour. A few weeks later, I booked the flight. I few weeks later, I booked the train… then the taxi that would take us to the departure point. I needed to do each step to fully prepare myself.

10 days prior to departure… I considered cancelling. There are always many reasons to cancel. I didn’t.

We began Day 1 by collecting a stone from the Beach on England’s West Coast, at St. Bees. It was a Dramatic walk south, along the coast, prior to heading up towards the mountains inland to the Lakes District.

We travelled through the Lake District – up mountains – and down. We ended each day in a small village with a pint or two and a nice meal.

We walked, picnicked, drank, ate and slept for 12 days. Upon arrival in Robin Hood’s Bay, 307 km later, we launched our stones that were collected in the Irish Sea – into the North Sea.

It was awesome. What did I learn?   Say YES more!

Are  you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 1% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.