Seasonal Holidays RSS Feed

Sweet, sweet winter break is ending for most Calgarians as offices open back up and email auto-responses turn off. Whether you did way too much during the break or nothing at all, it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. For those of you who are already back at work, we imagine this week was rough. It is not an easy transition to make, but here are some tips:

1. Plan for your first day back to work. Pack a lunch, make sure your bags are ready to go, clothes are laid out. Shower the night before, make a checklist of things to do in the morning, ensure your car has gas or your at home workspace is tidy. Do what you can to make the mornings easier!
2. Make sure you get lots of sleep. Sleep is essential in giving your brain the rest it…

After a tremendously difficult year, many people feel as though they're barely managing to crawl into the new year. If there has ever been a year where "new year, new me" seems applicable, it's this one. As 2020 comes to an end, many people find themselves self isolating at home, likely wearing yesterdays sweater and still picking through Christmas leftovers. The glimmer on the horizon? A new year. A fresh start. 

Before you begin goal setting for 2021, we want to encourage you to take a moment to pause. Acknowledge the tremendous effort and strength it took to accomplish what you did this past year, and give yourself grace for the items on your to-do list that you never got to. As the year comes to a close you're likely to begin seeing posts about…

All of us here at Team Ken Richter would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It may be different than in years previously, but we hope the season brings you time to rest and take comfort in small graces.

2021 is just around the corner, and though you may be tempted to rush into the new year, we encourage you to take time to pause. Reflect on this last year, the good and the bad, and take time to be thankful. You made it, and that is something to be proud of. 

This holiday season we would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of our valued clients for your continued support throughout this challenging year. We look forward to serving you again in 2021 and beyond!

We hope that…

Calgary loves to celebrate the holidays. A drive through any neighbourhood will quickly get you in the Christmas spirit. In Bowness, Christmas wreaths are lights adorn the streetlights and shops, giving the community even more of a festive, small-town feel. It is our favourite time of the year to drive through one of our favourite communities. 

Here is an inexpensive holiday activity idea: get a cup of hot chocolate from Tim Hortons and take a drive through the city. Set your radio to 95.9 CHRM for non-stop Christmas music and turn up the heat. Not sure where to start on this beautiful, Christmas adventure? Here are some places to check out:

1). Downtown Core: Many buildings in the downtown core are adorned with Christmas lights inside and out.…

Christmas is only a few days away! You know what that means… the malls are packed because people have not finished shopping for gifts. This may be the most wonderful time of the year for businesses that are profiting from last minute gift-buyers, but it is definitely not the most wonderful time of the year for shoppers that just want to get home. Especially with new COVID-19 restrictions, getting in and out of shops is more difficult and less advisable. 

To make your last minute gift shopping process faster, we have complied a list of Christmas gift ideas that are easy to aquire. Figure out exactly what you need, exactly where you can get things and get ready to wade through the crazies. It is time for your last minute gift guide:

1). Starbucks:…

Have you begun watching Christmas movies? Classics such as Griswold Family Christmas, Santa Clause, and Elf are staples in many homes and the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. Another classic? Home Alone.

If you're not familiar with the plot of Home Alone, it goes as follows: a young boy is accidentally left at home when his family flies to Paris for Christmas vacation. He swiftly learns that one part of being a home owner is protecting your property. It brings up the age old question: how can you keep your home safe during the holidays?

First and foremost, recognize that the holidays always bring with them a rise in home crime. Homes are filled with more valuables than ever thanks to wrapped gifts, and people are typically more absent…

Calgary has a thriving small business sector that we always like to encourage people to check out. It is important to support small local businesses and the Calgarian's that pour their hearts into them, especially this year as many Calgary businesses have faced loses due to COVID-19. As they say, when you shop from a big box store, a CEO doesn't blink twice. When you shop from a small business, the owner does a little happy dance. Support a fellow Calgarian this Christmas by buying your holiday gifts from one of these local shops:

• Outside The Shape: A curated shop with items from local YYC makers. You can find everything from candles to jewelry to workshops here!
• Plant: Your succulent dreams will come true in his gorgeous shop featuring all sorts…

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

This thanksgiving feels like it hits a little different as many of us feel distinctly ungrateful for the chaos of 2020 and look forward to the year finally being over. However, it's impossible to fast-forward through three whole months. 2020, for all of its surprises, pain and beauty, has become a year of reflection as we dismantle the way of living we were used to and build something new. There's always so much to be thankful for, whether it be something big like welcoming a someone new into the family, or small like how crunchy the leaves are this October. So on this thanksgiving, we encourage everyone to reflect on their year with grace and hope.

This thanksgiving we want to share with you one of our favorite new…

Back to school is right around the corner! The commercials are on TV, people are flooding Staples and Walmart for supplies, schools everywhere are dusting off their desks and students are trying desperately to soak in every stray moment of summer. With back to school time comes a new dedication to keeping things organized, especially the house. Here are some creative DIY additions that will make back to school easier on your home.

1). Front Entryway Locker Room: Transform your front entry into a mock-locker room by installing little stalls with space for yourself and each of your kids. Put a shelf up for winter hats and gloves, a coat hanger for jackets and backpacks, and a basket for miscellaneous items. This will prevent everything from getting…

Happy Father's Day to all Fathers and Father-Figures out there. We thank you for the ways in which you serve your families and seek to make the world a better place. Whether you're been a father for 60 years or this is your very first Father's Day as a dad, we this Sunday we raise our glass to you.

For those of you looking to give your father figure a token of your love on this Father's Day, we thought it would be good to give you suggestions based on what stage the person you're buying for is in. So, we have gone through different stages of Fatherhood to give you some suggestions on what your Father may enjoy best!

Brand New Father: Father’s Day is such a special day at any stage, but for brand new Fathers it is a completely new celebration of…