It has often been brought to my attention that aside from the things I’m expected to know, there is one more thing I know for sure and that is the art and passion of shopping! I attribute it to my younger years and the cherished times when I could spend one on one time with my Mom. There is no question; it is my favorite pastime today, especially during the winter months when the weather has cooled and the gardens have prepared for its long rest. Throw a special occasion, celebration or Christmas into the equation and you’ll see just how quickly I can map out a shopping route throughout Langley. Shopping has always somehow enabled me to find a new focus and uplift my mood. They say what we can’t solve in real life, we solve it through retail therapy.

I can’t believe it’s already November! Where did October go? The start of November means two things, Christmas is around the corner and the rainy season is upon us. If you are like me, I love warm drinks and colder/rainier weather calls for that! Nothing is better, than sitting in a cozy café watching the rain come down, with some of your girlfriends or on a date. We are lucky in Langley to have some great cozy café’s for just that. I have put together a list of cafes from all around Langley that will make you want to explore for yourself!

When Cathy Finley and her family moved to a five-acre farm in Langley, the plan was a change of pace—not a total change of career. But two years later she’s left her job in social work and is just trying to keep up with the growth of her new family business, Laurica Farm.

September 23^rd is the fall equinox. I await this day with anticipation every year. It’s the day that I can begin enjoying all things autumn-related, without being judged by my friends. “The PSL comes out way too early”, “It’s not pumpkin season yet”, “Boot weather isn’t for another month”, “Why don’t you wait until Thanksgiving to make pie” are some of the comments they make. For a reason that I cannot fathom, they just don’t understand fall like I do.

Fall is a kaleidoscope of color. From the warm reds and oranges of the changing leaves to the soft pale pinks and purples of fall mums and ornamental cabbages. The garden is very much alive as we move into the autumn season and decorating is so fun to do this time of year.

Now that the garden is planted, we start to focus on getting those projects done. Painting the fence, staining the patio or installing a fire pit is just a few of the activities most folks will tackle getting ready for summer’s arrival of out of town guests.

Once you get the not-so-fun chores out of the way, it’s time to decorate! Outdoor Decor can be made on a dime with items you probably already have on hand. If you’re cleaning out that garage, take a minute to evaluate that junk by looking at from a different perspective.

Its official, berry season is upon us! Which means that summer isn’t too far away. Actually only 3 weeks until the longest day of the year. Berries seem to be early this year because of the mild winter we had and the last couple of months being warm. We aren’t complaining that the berries arrival is much earlier this year than most, it gives us a chance to enjoy local berries right on our door step! Here in Langley, we are home to two U-Pick berry farms, Driediger Farms and Krause Berry Farms.

At the start of May, our staff member Sarah and her mom went on a Retail Therapy Boutique & Wine Tour, put on through Vanilla Clothing. Vanilla Clothing is a high quality Women’s boutique, which sells apparel, jewellery and accessories. That is where the tour begins.

These gift ideas are perfect for the Mom with two green thumbs. Instead of just buying her flowers or taking her out to brunch, why not give her something she’ll enjoy for months to come.