March sure is galloping in this year with all its green and golden glory! The cheerful proliferation of green shamrocks printed all over the place are a constant reminder that St. Patrick’s Day is the event of the month, but did you know the real St. Patrick originally had light blue livery? It wasn’t until he started using shamrocks as a teaching tool that green came to be associated with this icon of Ireland.

Although that might be useful knowledge to have on hand for your next trivia night with friends, I’m also sharing that fact with you because I think it is important to remember we have the power to craft our own history.

I love the thought that we craft our own history, regardless of what others try to tell our story should be.

Each of us tells the world what we stand for, if not with a particular shade of blue or green, then with a particular response to the people around us. We can change our own standard and improve what we are best known for.

This month marks only one-quarter of the year already written for the history books, which leaves us with nine months remaining in this year’s journal. Starting now, you can decide what details to include and what is not worth bothering with. You can add in new plot twists, welcome new characters, and decisively edit out anything or anyone that doesn’t belong in your story.

Try this: picture what you want people to say about you in December, then write down nine things that would need to happen for that statement to be true. Just like that, you wrote your own history and now have a goal for each month ahead of you.

Since you already wrote the story as you want it to end, all that is left is for you to enjoy living out the details and enjoying the smaller developments along the way. Here’s hoping it is full of good luck and good times!

March 8, International Women's Day: Celebrates women's achievements globally.

March 14, National Pi Day: Celebrated with pie and math activities.

March 17, St. Patrick's Day: An Irish cultural and religious celebration.

March 20, Spring Equinox: Marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

March 23: National Puppy Day: A day to appreciate and promote puppy adoption.

On Valentine's Day, gestures of love come easily. The ambiance, awash in red and pink, encourages even hesitant hearts to speak up. Streets brim with flowers, chocolates, and myriad gifts, tempting us to demonstrate our feelings in tangible ways. And that's a heartwarming tradition.

But let's not forget: Valentine's Day is not solely about the affection between couples. It's a tribute to every bond we cherish, to the families we're born into, and to the families we choose.

Consistent love, however, isn’t just about the grand gestures on one special day. It’s about the thousand little things we do throughout the year. Anyone can pick out a bouquet or a card, but navigating the stormy seas of disagreement, or understanding when to give space, that's where the depth of a relationship truly shines.

Sometimes, it's wiser to let the dust of conflict settle before attempting a resolution. As opposed to the age-old advice of "never going to bed angry," many have found clarity in taking a moment of pause. A break can often offer perspective, turning mountains back into molehills. But once you have that clarity, approach the issue head-on and seek understanding.

Embrace your loved ones — literally. When words fall short, a heartfelt hug or a tender kiss can bridge gaps like nothing else can. We're beings driven by emotions and chemistry, not just logic. When stress levels peak, our bodies produce stress hormones. But a simple embrace? It floods us with feel-good chemicals, soothing frayed nerves and melting away trivial disagreements.

The essence of growing in a relationship is not to sidestep conflicts, but to understand which battles are worth fighting and which aren't. To differentiate between the fleeting moments of discord and the enduring love that's worth nurturing.

As the years go by, love evolves. The ways you've celebrated it in the past may not resonate now. And that's okay. Keep rediscovering love, and keep celebrating it in ways that are authentic to you.

Wishing you a Valentine’s Day filled with love, today and always!

Gino Pezzani

RE/MAX Heights Realty

www.vanhomesales.com

604-418-9366

• I'm not alive, but I can grow. I don't have lungs, but I need air. I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?

• The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?

• I have keys but no locks. I have space, but no room. You can enter, but you can't go outside. What am I?

Self-checkout has enjoyed years of steady adoption. One study that examined 4.5 billion transactions found that self-checkout accounted for 38 percent of checkout lanes in 2021. But now, many retailers have begun to pause and even roll back self-checkout lanes. Self-checkout was widely viewed as a way to trim labor costs and speed up shopping, but the real-world costs might outweigh the savings.

In the U.K., Nigel Murray, managing director of high-end supermarket chain Booths, noted that customers complained about how slow the self-checkout process was and that the machines were impersonal and unreliable. The British supermarket chain is removing self-checkout from all but two of its more than 50 stores. Target is piloting a program to limit self-checkout to 10 items or less, essentially turning them into express lanes. Walmart and various other chains have announced plans to hire more cashiers.

So why is self-checkout failing to meet expectations? Among other things, checkout clerks are much more skilled than previously acknowledged. Customers buying produce, for example, often ring up the wrong item on the self-checkout machines. To customers, a banana might be just a banana, but one banana might cost 25 cents and another a dollar. Theft is another problem. Some customers might ring up a pricier organic avocado as a regular avocado. Other customers innocently forget to ring up some items in their carts.

On top of that, there are logistical hang-ups. For example, buying alcohol can all but shut down self-checkout lanes as clerks rush around to verify IDs. Turns out, sometimes progress isn't progress. Shoppers can expect to see more human clerks in the not-so-distant future.

The picture was from: Freepik.

Hi Friends,

To help you stay organized and on top of your home maintenance tasks, I created a Home Maintenance Checklist. This comprehensive checklist breaks down your home maintenance responsibilities into different categories, making it easier than ever to keep your property in great shape throughout the year.

Maintaining your home can sometimes be overwhelming, but you're not alone in this journey. As your trusted real estate consultant, I have strong connections within our community, including a network of reliable service providers. If you ever need referrals or recommendations for any of the tasks on the checklist, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I am more than happy to assist you in finding the right professionals for the job.

Remember, a well-maintained home not only enhances your quality of life, but it also contributes to the long-term value of your investment. If you have any questions about the checklist or need further guidance on home maintenance, please reach out to me!

Wishing you a prosperous and well-maintained home in 2024!

Warm regards,

Gino Pezzani

RE/MAX Heights Realty

www.vanhomesales.com

604-418-9366

This Valentine's Day, create a special evening at home with an easy, yet delicious dinner menu designed for two. Whether you're a kitchen novice or a culinary enthusiast, these straightforward recipes will set the mood. Tie on your apron and enjoy a night of culinary bonding with your loved one!

Starter: Caprese Salad

Ingredients: Fresh mozzarella slices, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze, salt, and pepper.

Preparation: Alternate slices of tomato and mozzarella on a plate. Tuck basil leaves between them. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Season with salt and pepper.

Main Course: Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients: Pasta (like linguine or spaghetti), shrimp (peeled and deveined), garlic cloves, butter, olive oil, dried chili flakes (optional), parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Preparation: Cook pasta according to package instructions. In a pan, sauté garlic in olive oil and butter. Add shrimp, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook until shrimp are pink. Toss in cooked pasta, a squeeze of lemon, and chopped parsley.

Dessert: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients: Fresh strawberries, dark or milk chocolate chips, and white chocolate for drizzling (optional).

Preparation: Melt chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler. Dip strawberries into the melted chocolate, place on a parchment-lined tray, and let them set. Optionally, drizzle with melted white chocolate for a decorative effect.

Beverage: Easy Raspberry Mocktail

Ingredients: Fresh raspberries, lemonade, sparkling water, and a lemon.

Preparation: Muddle a few raspberries at the bottom of two glasses. Fill the glasses with ice. Pour over lemonade and top off with sparkling water. Garnish with a lemon slice and a few whole raspberries.

This menu, which offers a mix of freshness and simplicity, and a touch of indulgence, is ideal for a cozy and romantic Valentine's Day dinner.