If it's true that one person's "trash" is another one's treasure, a Calgary-based organization has made an art of turning the former into the latter. In the process, Enterprise4Good is changing lives – one household item at a time.

Well, a fella has a right to celebrate something as unique and remarkable as his first 50-goal season with a little extravagance, doesn't he?

Calgary-based designer Alykhan Velji is partial to mid-century modern design. So when he and his now-husband, Jason Krell, were scouring the MLS® System listings for their first home, it was a given that the couple would jump on a four-level, mid-century modern gem in Chinook Park.

Gardening guru, author and HGTV Canada's Home to Win host Carson Arthur has fond memories of his first home, a two-storey, 1960s fixer-upper with a lovely front porch in Toronto's eclectic community of Leslieville.

If you have millions of dollars to invest, amassing multiple real estate properties is not a problem. If you aren't named Buffett or Gates, however, it's not usually an option.

Fortunately, the average investor has another option. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are companies that own income-generating properties in a pool, allowing interested investors to add real estate to their portfolio without breaking the bank.

The main features of xeriscaping are simple: use less water by decreasing lawn space and replacing it with native and well-adapted plants that require less water, including perennial flowers, trees and shrubs.

Creating a strong and connected sense of community with a village vibe was the overarching goal behind Q Condos, a new housing development in Calgary's northwest community of Sage Hill Quarter.

As more and more people take the plunge into simplified living – moving into spaces that are smaller and offer a lock-and-leave lifestyle – downsizing is becoming a well-heeled buzzword.

"We like to call it right-sizing," said Ismahan Omer, sales manager at Partners Development Group, known for its popular Arrive townhome.

Too much clutter in your home can make you feel the same way you do after too much turkey dinner: stuffed and uninspired. Though it may have taken years to accumulate all those useful, somewhat useful and utterly useless items, you can get unstuffed in a fraction of the time by following a few simple guidelines.

Gardening expert and HGTV Canada's Home to Win host Carson Arthur has had a busy few months. He's launched a new book; is in the process of opening a destination-style gardening centre in Prince Edward County, Ont., with a focus on food diversity and fun; and through it all, he has been working long hours filming the latest season of Home to Win.