Needing water to thrive, Calgary has been the perfect place for mosquitos to live as of late — much to the annoyance of any resident that isn't heavily armed with long sleeves and several cans of mosquito spray. While those buzzing little pests are a total nuisance and potential carriers of the West Nile Virus, there are a few things Calgarians can do in their yards and gardens to keep those nasty little bloodsuckers at bay.

Change is good. Whether you're looking to sell your home or just want to add a little pizazz, why not paint your front door? While spring has officially sprung in Calgary, the weather isn't quite ideal for exterior painting so wait until temperatures are 10 degrees above Celsius throughout the night. Not sure what colour to go with? Go to any local paint store and there's literally thousands of colours to choose from. Be your own designer or employ the services of a colour expert to find a colour that works with your homes overall palette. Bust out some sandpaper, a brush and your favourite painting duds and you're good to go.

While recent numbers coming out of Calgary's housing market may stress the need for buyers to act quickly when buying a house, presenting your home in the best possible light is still sound advice for sellers. In addition to seeking advice from your REALTOR®, here are a few easy and affordable tips to make your house an eye-catching piece of real estate for potential buyers when it comes to selling.

Spring has sprung and maybe you're finally ready to build that new deck, paint those golden oak cabinets in the kitchen or install that new bathroom tile. Renovations are a natural part of home ownership — here's a few things to consider before you swing that sledgehammer or make a trip to your local home improvement store.

With spring now in full swing, many Calgarians will be taking advantage of the warm weather by cycling along the city's extensive path network. With many Calgarians storing their two-wheeled transport along with many of their other summer toys in their garage, residents should take care to ensure all their belongings stay secure. In 2011, there were 1,191 bikes reported stolen in the city, although many bike thefts go unreported. With many break and enters, offenders gained access through unlocked doors or have stolen garage door openers from vehicles to gain access. In some cases, criminals have then gained entry to the home via the connecting door within the garage. Calgarians can help ensure their bikes and other are secure by taking the following steps:

Calgary isn't exactly a hotbed of possible emergency scenarios. Short of the unlikely yet surprisingly popular zombie invasion, our city is well insulated against disaster. That doesn't mean however that we shouldn't be diligent in our preparation. In conjunction with Emergency Preparedness Week, CREB® Now offers the following suggestions to help make it through that earthquake, tornado, explosion, outbreak or downpour.

Whoever coined the phrase "spring has sprung" should have added an amendment discussing the helping hand it needs to get there. As anyone who's ventured out to their backyard on that first warm spring day knows, the onset of spring also signals the onset of spring cleaning. CREB®Now has some handy tips to help alleviate some of the aches and pains of making your backyard ready for the beginning of another spring season.

Now that spring has arrived in Calgary — for the most part — greenthumbs' thoughts are turning to getting their hands dirty growing tasty tidbits and beautiful blooms in their yard and garden. Why not give Mother Nature a shout out by planting organic this season with just a few simple steps.

Calgary has approximately 700 kilometres of pathways connecting along the Bow & Elbow Rivers, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Nose Creek, West Nose Creek, the Irrigation Canal and the perimeter of Glenmore Reservoir. The Calgary Greenway is a 138 kilometres pathway that will eventually loop around the city and we already have another 290 kilometres of on-street bikeways in place. Bikeculture is growing and more and more people are taking advantage of the great cycling in and around Calgary. As an interior designer, the question I often hear is "Where do I keep my bike?" Don't worry; I have some smart, well-designed solutions for you.