Wendy Helfenbaum

You found your dream century home and your conditional offer has been accepted. But after receiving your home inspector's report, it turns out your charming Victorian cottage needs more than a fresh coat of paint.
Here's a guide to some of the repairs you might be in for—and what they could cost you—when buying an older property.

Do you live in an urban area? Chances are you don't have a sprawling backyard but rather a spatially-challenged balcony in need of some TLC. If a major renovation isn't in your budget, try brightening up your outdoor space with the right combination of colour, seating and lush greenery. Here are some easy ways to perk up a pint-sized patio or terrace.

Revamping your outdoor space doesn't have to be a long and difficult undertaking. There are plenty of easy ways to transform your backyard oasis from drab to delightful in just a day or two. All you need are some basic supplies and a creative vision. Whether your yard needs a pinch of flare or a few upgrades, here are six DIY garden projects you can tackle this weekend.

Summer holidays often involve lots of swimming, biking, and hiking. However, ski bunnies will be happy to know that some of the best European ski resorts remain open during the warmer months, as snow still falls at many of these high-altitude destinations.
If you’re touring Europe and want to escape the heat, check out one of our top five picks to hit the slopes.

Sun, sand and surf—the three must-have ingredients for an awesome vacation. Whether you’re ready to download or pack up some books for your next family trip, or you’re just in the planning phase for your next family adventure, we’ve gathered a list of great beach- and ocean-themed reads.

Want to spoil mom with a memorable Mother’s Day weekend that doesn’t involve a spa (because, let’s face it, she’s likely been there and done that)? Try one of these experiential trips instead, where you and she can enjoy hands-on fun while learning new skills, tapping into your creative side or paying it forward. Forget tanning on the beach or an eight-course brunch. You’ll both come away refreshed, recharged and reeducated with these trip ideas.

My 13-year-old son operates at one speed—breakneck. He races across hockey rinks, careens down ski slopes, and whooped with delight when he tried indoor skydiving. Me? I’m a big chicken. Think about it: How many times have we begged our teens to do something new, whether it’s tasting sushi or participating in a new sport? We ask a lot of our kids, imploring them to venture outside their comfort zones and risk failure. What if we parents did it, too?

Want to boost productivity, spark collaboration and get enthusiastic buy-in from even the most jaded attendees? Book a meeting in the mountains.

Nothing beats a heart-pumping hike through a gorgeous national park, alongside a busy boardwalk or around a lake. If you want to prevent hours of whining, be sure to equip your gang with the right gear, especially a pair of sturdy, yet comfortable hiking shoes. We’ve gathered several hiking shoe options for kiddos of all ages so that everyone can enjoy nature to its fullest.

Whether you’re on a babymoon for one last kid-free jaunt before you become a mom, or you’re waddling after little ones at an all-inclusive resort, you want to look fabulous while at the beach or the pool. The right maternity cover up is easy and breezy, lightweight and flowy, and one that ideally can be worn all the way through your pregnancy! Here are our picks for the 10 best maternity beach cover ups.

They don’t just offer an appealing interest rate. A high-interest savings account is a surprisingly handy financial tool.

As the name suggests, a high-interest savings account (HISA) gives you higher interest on your money than a typical savings or chequing account. However, an HISA is a lot more versatile than it may seem. Use it correctly, and it can be a more flexible, and also lucrative, place to stash some of your hard-earned savings.

During a girlfriend getaway to Paris in 2011, Victoria, BC-based Costco member Nicole Smith discovered that unflattering selfies and blurry photos taken by strangers was not the best way to capture travel memories. After a Parisian friend snapped candid shots of the BFFs traipsing around the city, Smith became inspired to provide this service for other travellers.

A ball game may seem like the perfect family activity; however, it may be difficult to get your kids to sit still for nine innings. If you plan on attending a baseball game with young children in tow this summer, consider visiting a ballpark that features free onsite activities and distractions (trust us, when your little ones need a break from the bats and/or are overheated, you'll want to have these amenities). To help you plan your next family ballpark outing, we rounded up our fave parks.

When you’re on the run—touring museums, hurtling down waterslides, or sailing on a catamaran—it's all too easy to ignore your teeth and gums. Chances are you’ll also be enjoying sugary sweets (and cocktails) and tempted to climb into a plush hotel bed without cleaning your mouth after a long day. We get it—it’s easy to skip regular oral hygiene routines while traveling. But that's a bad idea.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to sail on a ship like the Titanic? An Australian billionaire is betting that many people fascinated with the ill-fated ship would want to do just that -- minus the tragic sinking. He's launched a grandiose plan to build Titanic II, an exact replica of the original ship. Here's what we know about the supposed return of this legendary vessel.