There are certain smells that instantly take you back to a place.

For me, it's fresh basil, vine-ripened tomatoes, and lemons.

Ever since our trip to Italy last year, that combination has reminded me of wandering through little markets, stopping at cafés, and realizing that some of the best meals we had were also the simplest. Fresh ingredients, good olive oil, and food meant to be shared.

Now that my own basil and tomato plants are finally producing, I find myself thinking about that trip every time I step onto the deck to pick a handful of herbs or a few ripe tomatoes from my planter box.

This recipe is inspired by exactly that. It's simple, fresh, and one of my favourite appetizers to put out when friends stop by on a warm summer evening.

Whipped Feta Dip with Garden Tomatoes & Basil

Ingredients

For the whipped feta

• 200 g block feta cheese

• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Juice of ½ lemon

• Fresh cracked pepper

For the topping

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Handful of fresh basil, torn

• Hot honey, for drizzling

• Flaky sea salt

• Fresh cracked pepper

For serving

• Crostini

• Warm pita

• Crackers

• Fresh vegetables

Directions

1. Toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil and roast at 400°F for 20 minutes, until soft and lightly blistered.

2. While the tomatoes cook, blend the feta, Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper until smooth and creamy.

3. Spread the whipped feta onto a shallow serving plate.

4. Spoon the warm roasted tomatoes over top.

5. Finish with torn basil, a drizzle of hot honey, flaky sea salt, and fresh cracked pepper.

6. Serve immediately with crostini, pita, crackers, or fresh vegetables.

HOME | Around the Kitchen Island

There’s something about summer in Calgary that makes us want to spend as much time outside as possible. The long evenings, warm sunshine, and (mostly) beautiful weather mean our backyards become an extension of our homes.

When people imagine the perfect backyard, they often think it needs a complete renovation. But the truth is, the best outdoor spaces aren't always the biggest or the most expensive. They're the ones that actually get used.

Here are a few of my favourite outdoor spaces that Calgary families seem to enjoy most every summer.

A Patio Made for Morning Coffee

Whether it's a front porch with a couple of Adirondack chairs or a small patio tucked into the backyard, having a quiet place to enjoy your morning coffee can become part of your daily routine. Sometimes it's the simplest spaces that get used the most.

A Deck That Brings Everyone Together

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the deck becomes its summer version.

It's where dinners stretch a little longer, neighbours stop by unexpectedly, and kids wander in and out between backyard games. You don't need an elaborate outdoor kitchen—a comfortable seating area and a place to gather is often all it takes.

Fire Tables That Keep the Night Going

One of my favourite additions to any backyard is a fire table.

They're clean, easy to use, and instantly make people want to stay outside just a little longer. Whether you're catching up with friends or roasting marshmallows with the kids, they create one of those spaces everyone naturally gravitates toward.

Pergolas That Add Comfort (and Character)

A pergola does more than make a backyard look beautiful.

It creates shade during the hottest part of the day, defines an outdoor room, and gives you the perfect place to hang string lights or climbing plants. It turns a patio into a destination.

A Reading Corner That's Just for You

Not every outdoor space needs to entertain a crowd.

A comfortable chair, a side table, a good book, and a few flowers can become your favourite place to escape for twenty minutes after work. Sometimes that's all you need.

Outdoor Dining That Feels Like Summer

There's something special about eating outside.

It doesn't matter whether it's burgers on a Tuesday night or a family barbecue on the weekend. Sharing a meal outdoors somehow slows life down and makes ordinary evenings feel like little celebrations.

It's Less About the Backyard… and More About the Memories

The outdoor spaces we remember most aren't usually the ones with the biggest budgets. They're the ones where birthdays were celebrated, late-night conversations happened, kids played until the streetlights came on, and summer simply felt a little slower.

That's what makes a house feel like home.

Around the Kitchen Island: Whether you're dreaming about creating your own backyard retreat or you're already enjoying one this summer, remember that the best spaces are the ones that fit the way you live—not the latest trend.

LIFESTYLE | Around the Kitchen Island

Summer always seems to fly by, so before it does, here's your reminder to squeeze in a few of Calgary's best warm-weather traditions.

☀️ Grab a Patio

Meet a friend, try somewhere new, or linger over brunch a little longer.

🏔 Take a Day Trip

Head to Banff, Canmore, Bragg Creek, Elbow Falls, Drumheller, or Okotoks for a quick escape.

🥕 Visit a Farmers' Market

Pick up fresh produce, local treats, flowers, or something you didn't know you needed.

🍦 Find Your Favourite Ice Cream

Whether it's Village Ice Cream, Made by Marcus, or a hidden neighbourhood gem, summer isn't complete without at least one cone.

🎶 Check Out a Festival

From live music to food festivals and community events, there's always something happening around Calgary.

🌿 Discover a Hidden Gem

Visit a new park, walking path, coffee shop, bookstore, or neighbourhood you've never explored before.

How many can you check off before summer ends?

If you have a favourite patio, ice cream shop, or hidden gem, send me a message—I’m always looking for new Calgary recommendations!

SELLERS | Around the Kitchen Island 

One of my favourite things about summer showings is that buyers aren't just looking at a house—they're imagining their life there.

They're picturing coffee on the deck, kids playing in the backyard, evening barbecues, and quiet nights under the patio lights. Summer has a way of turning buyers into daydreamers, which also means they're noticing things they probably wouldn't in the middle of winter.

Outdoor Space Matters

In July, your outdoor spaces become an extension of your home.

A tidy lawn, healthy gardens, clean patio furniture, and a welcoming deck all help buyers picture themselves enjoying the space. You don't need a magazine-worthy backyard—you simply want it to feel cared for and inviting.

If you have an evening showing, turning on your outdoor lights can make the space feel even more welcoming.

Comfort Counts

Nothing distracts buyers faster than walking into a hot house.

If you have air conditioning, make sure it's running before the showing. If you don't, close the blinds during the hottest part of the day and use fans to keep the home comfortable.

While they're inside, buyers are also paying attention to natural light, where the sun hits throughout the day, and whether there are shady spots to enjoy outside. These little details help them imagine what everyday life could look like.

Let Summer Tell the Story

Every season highlights something different about a home, and summer is all about lifestyle.

If your flowers are blooming, let them shine. If your herb garden is thriving, leave it looking its best. Set out a few cushions on the patio furniture and let buyers see how the space is meant to be enjoyed.

You're not just selling a house—you're helping buyers picture the memories they'll make there.

Around the Kitchen Island

We spend so much of our summer outdoors. Morning coffee on the deck, dinners with friends, backyard games, gardening, and those evenings that seem to last forever.

When buyers walk through your home this time of year, they're looking for a place where those moments can happen. Helping them picture that lifestyle is one of the simplest—and most effective—things you can do before a summer showing.

HOME | Around the Kitchen Island (4)

After another long Calgary winter, there’s something special about that first evening spent outside.

The BBQ is finally uncovered. The patio furniture comes out of storage. The evenings stretch a little longer. Suddenly, the backyard becomes the place everyone wants to be.

Tomorrow is Canada Day, and in true Calgary fashion, the forecast is looking… hopeful with a side of “maybe keep an eye on the sky.” Mostly cloudy, around 20 degrees, and a possible afternoon thunderstorm.

So basically, summer.

It’s still the perfect excuse to spend a little time getting your outdoor space ready. Not because it has to be perfect, but because it’s about to become your favourite “room” of the house for the next few months.

For me, the best outdoor spaces aren’t the fanciest ones. They’re the ones that make you lose track of time.

The Ultimate Summer Backyard Checklist

☐ Comfortable seating that invites people to stay awhile
Pretty is nice. Comfortable is better. If people can settle in, they will.

☐ Twinkle lights overhead
Nothing makes a backyard feel more magical than twinkle lights once the sun goes down.

☐ An amazing deck with incredible plants
A great deck becomes even better with lush planters, colourful flowers, herbs by the BBQ, and greenery that makes the whole space feel alive.

☐ A BBQ that’s ready to go
Because summer dinners should be easy, casual, and ideally eaten outside.

☐ Backyard games for everyone
Cornhole, ladder golf, bocce, giant Jenga, or whatever gets people laughing and off their phones.

☐ A cozy backup plan for Calgary weather
Blankets, a covered spot, an umbrella, or somewhere to run if the clouds decide to be dramatic.

☐ A backyard movie setup
A projector, a screen, lawn chairs, blankets, popcorn, and friends gathered under the stars. One of the best summer traditions.

☐ Lighting, warmth, and somewhere to linger after dark
Lanterns, candles, a fire table, or extra blankets can stretch the evening a little longer.

☐ Good people and nowhere else to be
The most important part. The furniture, flowers, and lights are just the backdrop.

It’s Not About Perfection

You don’t need brand-new furniture or a magazine-worthy backyard.

A few fresh cushions. Healthy plants. Twinkle lights overhead. A clean BBQ. A good outdoor rug. Maybe a basket of blankets by the door for those cooler Calgary evenings.

The goal isn’t to impress people.

It’s to create a space where your family lingers after dinner, neighbours stop by unexpectedly, kids make memories, and summer somehow feels just a little longer.

Tomorrow, people all over Calgary will be celebrating Canada Day in parks, at festivals, around campfires, and in backyards just like yours. And whether the sun shines all day or the clouds roll in for a classic Calgary surprise, summer is officially here.

We wait all year for these few precious months.

We might as well make every evening outside count.

See you around the kitchen island (… or maybe the backyard fire table…)

Erika