Courtesy of Ty Jaster

VOLUME 33 ISSUE 1 HOUSE YOUR

2020 COLOUR TRENDS Move over minimalist white and industrial charcoal grey, pastels are back for 2020. Paint company Benjamin Moore has named a pale pink its 2020 colour of the year. “First Light,” meant to evoke the barely there pink that accompanies the sunrise, is said to be “blooming with potential.” On its own, or paired with soft greens and blues like “Crystalline” and “Windmill Wings,” the colour of the year is both feminine and modern. Another sunrise-inspired colour on the list is the pale yellow “Golden Straw.” If pastels aren’t for you – never fear! – Benjamin Moore also included darker hues such as “Cushing Green” and the sapphire-like “Blue Danube.” Plus, there are several whites and greys on the list – because there’s nothing like a classic neutral wall! Check out colours “White Heron,” “Thunder” and “Oxford Grey” for a more timeless look.

Compliments of

TY JASTER real estate plain and simple

RE/MAX REAL ESTATE LETHBRIDGE Each office is independently owned and operated

403-892-5736

110-376 1 Ave. S. Lethbridge, AB T1J 0A5

tyjaster@gmail.com • www.findlethbridgehomes.com

5 MUST-HAVE PIECES OF FURNITURE FOR CONDO LIVING Condo-dwellers vary widely in personality, occupation and stage of life, but there’s one thing everyone who lives in a smaller space needs – and that’s functional furniture! It isn’t enough to have just a couch or just a bed, large and small furniture items need to serve more than one purpose. Here are five hardworking pieces of furniture that will make the most of your condo’s space. A sofa bed. First up in the category of multi-purpose furniture – a couch that converts into a bed. And before you start thinking of a creaky, dusty hide-a- bed, know that today’s convertible couches are très chic. Built-in storage shelves. Built-ins are both beautiful and serve an important purpose – storing and displaying your cherished items. Install classic white bookcases or bamboo floating shelves, depending on your decor style. You can also go industrial with brackets made of old pipe. A storage bed. For the items you don’t want to display on a shelf, tuck them away under your bed. While the old way to utilize your under-the-bed space was the crawl around on your hands and knees, newer storage beds allow you to lift the mattress right up and slide in blankets, off-season clothes, wrapping paper – anything! Coffee table ottoman. The coffee table ottoman combo pairs sturdy construction with a cushioned top, meaning it can serve as a place to put your coffee – and put up your feet. Simply set a tray on top and use it for drinks, snacks and more. Fold-up laundry rack. Not exactly a piece of furniture, but a laundry rack you can pull down when you need and tuck away when you don’t is a space saving must. Even if you have shared laundry in your building, a fold-up rack in your condo is a great place to dry your delicates.

Courtesy of www.funkidsjokes.com

JANUARY JOKES

Q: What do you call ten rabbits hopping backwards through the snow together? A: A receding hare line. Q: Why did the boy keep his trumpet out in the snow? A: Because he liked cool music. Q: How does a penguin build a house? A: Igloos it together.

Q: What’s a good winter tip? A: Never catch snowflakes on your tongue until all the birds have flown south for the winter. Q: What can you catch in the winter with your eyes closed? A: A cold. Q: How do you know that a snowman crawled into your bed with you? A: You wake up wet and there’s a carrot on your pillow.

ONE-POT CREAMY TORTELLINI SOUP RECIPE

Courtesy of www.ehow.com

INGREDIENTS: 3 tablespoons butter 1 small yellow onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 cups broth 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large pot over medium heat, warm the butter. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and flour and whisk until thick, about 1 minute. 2. Slowly add the broth and mix well. Add the tomatoes and spices. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, mixing continuously. 3. Add the tortellini and heavy cream. Stir until heated through, about 10 minutes or according to the tortellini’s directions. Stir in spinach and mix until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes. 4. Top with fresh Parmesan and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Salt and pepper, to taste 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried parsley

3 to 4 cups refrigerated tortellini 1/2 cup heavy cream or half & half 6 cups spinach (optional)

SNOWBIRD TRAVEL TIPS With some estimates listing the number of Canadians that head south for the winter at 500,000, if you consider yourself a snowbird – you’re in good company. Still, there are a few things you need to ensure before embarking on your long stay. First off, to keep your home safe while you’re away, don’t announce your travel dates on social media. Publicizing such information makes your house vulnerable to break-ins. Better yet, have someone stay at your home or stop by for regular visits so it isn’t sitting empty. You could also install timers on indoor and outdoor lights to help your house appear occupied. Make sure to have someone remove fliers from your porch and shovel your sidewalks and driveway if necessary. Next up, make sure all your travel documents are in order. Double check your passport won’t expire while you’re away and make photocopies of all your documents. Leave a copy of everything with a friend or family member back home. And make sure to notify your bank and credit card companies that you’ll be accessing your accounts from another country so your transactions aren’t flagged. Last of all, make sure your friends and family know where you’ll be staying and how to reach you – in case of emergency on either end.

TIPS ON SAVING FOR A DOWN PAYMENT

If saving for a down payment feels impossible, you aren’t alone. It can be hard to find extra money to put into savings when bills, groceries and the cost of living are so high. Financial experts say it’s all about being smart and making small changes – ones that translate into big savings over longer periods of time. Here are three things you can do today that will help you save for a down payment. Pay off your credit card and other debts. Putting money toward something that isn’t your savings account may seem counter intuitive, but if you have a large amount of debt, your minimum payments are simply going toward interest – interest that you’ll eventually have to pay off anyway. Start with your smallest high-interest debt. Once that’s out of the way, move onto the next. Each time you pay off a debt, you’ll be able to put the extra money toward the next. Do things cheaper. Do you buy a lot of new clothes? Switch to secondhand. Go out for dinner? Watch for two-for-one coupons or try cooking new meals at home for added fun. Saving up for an expensive vacation? Move that money over to your down payment savings and visit local attractions instead. For family fun, reading, or technology needs – the library is a money-saver’s best friend. Most libraries host community events on a regular basis – often for free. Plus, you can check out books and rent movies all for the low cost of a yearly membership. Check if your city has a program for first time homebuyers. In the past, some cities across Canada have offered to help new homebuyers with a down payment. Usually initiatives such as this are meant to help first time buyers get into the market in an expensive city, as well as to draw buyers to parts of a city that are being redeveloped. Previous cities to offer such a program include Winnipeg and Surrey. The money has to be repaid over a set number of years, but without interest.

MICRORAPTOR FACTS

Ready to meet the smallest carnivorous dinosaur? Weighing in at less than a pound, the Microraptor couldn’t fly – although it’s arm structure allowed it to launch from trees and glide through the air. Scientists discovered remnants of the Microraptor in northeastern China, an area of the world known for its fantastically preserved fossils. The fine-grained rocks containing the Microraptor fossils show the impression of feathers, adding more evidence that dinosaurs are closely related to birds.

MOVING CHECKLIST

Planning a move? If so, keep yourself feeling organized – and calm – with this step-by-step checklist. Two Months Before Moving: • Go through every room and begin purging items you won’t be taking with you. • If you plan on hiring a professional moving company, start researching reputable ones in your area. • Organize important documents and create a folder or binder for moving-related receipts and paperwork. Six Weeks Before Moving: • Start gathering supplies. Get boxes from local stores, borrow storage containers from friends and family members. Buy whatever else you need – such as packing tape – so it’s on hand. • Begin using up food products you don’t want to take with you – such as frozen items. • If possible, take measurements at your new home to ensure your existing furniture will fit through doors – and in the rooms. One Month Before Moving: • If you’ve decided to hire a mover, confirm your moving date. • Begin packing items you use infrequently, such as off-season clothes or special-occasion decor and dishes. • Go to post office and set up mail forwarding so it begins after you’ve moved.

• Notify banks, insurance companies and other important parties of your change of address. Two Weeks Before Moving: • Inform your place of employment that you’ll need time off on or around moving day. • Take your car in for a checkup. It’ll be nice to start your life in a new home with a freshly tuned car. Plus, if you’ll be using it to transport items across a distance you’ll want to make sure it’s in top shape. One Week Before Moving: • Start emptying and cleaning the fridge and freezer. • Take care of any last minute details before the big day. Moving Day: • If you’ve hired a mover, ensure that the truck that shows up indeed belongs to the moving company. Once your items are delivered, verify they’ve all arrived in good condition before signing off. • If you and your loved ones are handling the move yourself – try to have some fun! Take breaks, eat some tasty takeout and take challenges with a grain of salt .

BRAIN TEASERS - Alpha Cross

The first letter of each answer is written next to its clue in alphabetical order. One letter has already been entered. Can you find the words then fit them correctly into the grid?

A. Sharp (5) A. Remedied (7) A. Protective garment (5) C. Hoard (5) C. Tapers (7) C. Group of bovines (6) C. Fake (11) E. Epoch (3) E. No longer in existence (7) G. Chivalrous (7) I. Lit up (11) L. Terse (7) L. Lackadaisical (7)

L. Prevarication (3) M. Award (5) N. Pleasant (4) N. Observed (5) O. Sumptuous (7) R. Send payment (5) S. Short tail (4) S. Begin (5)

S. Powerful (6) S. Purposed (9) T. Rising current of warm air (7) W. Bet (5) W. Capricious (9)

SOLUTION:

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