Mint & Heritage | Calgary Lifestyle + Food

Why you need to go to Camp Hooha

Camp Hooha founder Mel McKay kickoffs an evening of ladies learning.

You haven’t been to the most amazing women’s networking event until you’ve been to Camp Hooha. Think of it as Girl Guides for adults – you get to learn about a topic while drinking wine and earning badges. It’s probably been a while since you’ve been away to camp, so it’s time to find out what you’ve been missing out on at Camp Hooha.

Where my girls at

First off, Camp Hooha is just for the ladies! Think about the name a little and then it should all View this Post

October 14, 2018

Cuddle up to the Calgary Zoo PandaCam

Stay up-to-date with the Calgary Zoo pandas with some live feed action.

If you’re looking to feel all the warm fuzzies, then look no further than the Calgary Zoo’s PandaCam. The extremely popular panda bears have captured the imagination of Calgarians of all ages. This live feed brings you front and center into Panda Passage to see what the cute bears are up to throughout the day!

There are three camera feeds available – one inside for the panda cubs, another inside for the adult pandas and then a third view in the outdoor area. If you need a View this Post

October 13, 2018

Palette Archives brings interior design to the masses

We all dream of having an HGTV-worthy kitchen or a Martha Stewart-inspired office but while our imaginations might be expansive, our wallets may not be. Enter Palette Archives, an online interior design service from Calgary designer Amanda Hamilton. Touting “palettes for the people,” the new ecommerce platform is providing accessible and cost effective design options for those who aren’t able to afford a professional interior designer.

So how does it work? Palette Archives puts together a wide variety of themed palettes to fit the décor style you are seeking. Inside each box, you will find physical samples for the View this Post

September 29, 2018

Get handpicked wine every month with Vine Arts wine club

Share a bottle of wine (or 6) with the Vine Arts wine club.

You can get a subscription for almost anything these days. Monthly cheese, monthly pet treats, monthly socks, and so much more. But I gotta say that my go-to subscription these days is the curated wine from Vine Arts monthly wine club. Who doesn’t love wine?

My friends and I have been part of the Vine Arts wine club for years and have loved discovering new wines through this subscription. Every month, the boutique wine merchant puts together a special selection of handpicked wines for their wine View this Post

September 25, 2018

Tips and ideas to make beautiful folded book art

Repurpose hardcover books into this beautiful folded book art

Isn’t this the coolest book you have ever seen? I saw this style of folded book sculpture at a store one day and thought, “I can make that myself!” After a few months of procrastination, some Googling and a couple misadventures in book folding, I’ve learned some best practices to fold words onto the pages to make the most lovely folded book art. These books make for great gifts for weddings, baby showers, birthdays and a lovely addition to any home or office. Follow my beginner book folding tips below View this Post

September 16, 2018

Cooking classes at Sauce Italian Kitchen & Market

Irene Seto makes pizza dough for the first time

Making pizza at Sauce Italian Kitchen & Market

Pizza is one of my go-to food groups – it basically covers all 4 food groups so it’s essentially a superfood right? 😛 This is why I was super excited to make my very own pizza dough for the first time at Sauce Italian Kitchen & Market! If you’ve never been here before, this kitchen is part restaurant, part bakery, and part grocery store that lets you eat, sip and shop all at the same stop. This Calgary neighborhood hub is the perfect pit stop to pick up premade dishes, fresh View this Post

August 27, 2018

The lemurs have landed at the Calgary Zoo

Welcome to the Land of Lemurs at the Calgary Zoo.

While the pandas are all the rage at The Calgary Zoo, there is another black-and-white critter that you’ll love to visit. The Land of Lemurs exhibit has brought these furry and adorable African animals together for Calgarians to learn and enjoy from. The lemurs were chosen as a way to educate the public and help conserve these very endangered species. The Calgary Zoo will also be working on lemur reforestation and repopulation projects in their native Madagascar.

Lemurs at play. Look for their tails!

The Land of Lemurs exhibit opened View this Post

August 5, 2018

3 crazy Stampede foods to try… if you dare

Every year the Calgary Stampede comes up with crazier, wilder and more outrageous eats on the midway. Do you dare to test your taste buds with these crazy Stampede foods?

Kangaroo pizza

This ain’t no regular pizza pie! Local food truck Avatara Pizza always makes great eats so it’s not a surprise that this kangaroo pizza hits the spot. It’s topped with kangaroo sausage along with banana peppers and basil. The kangaroo meat makes for a moderate alternative from the traditional pepperoni – especially if you like a more ‘game-y” flavour.

Kangaroo pizza from Avatara.

Cricket grilled cheese

View this Post

July 8, 2018

An Ode to the Calgary Stampede Mini Donuts

I love these little deep fried delights known as the mini donut.

Oh mini donuts, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

You are often imitated, but never duplicated. I ravenously covet the 10 days of the Calgary Stampede so I can make my way down to get my hands on your delicious scrumptiousness. As I wind my way through the Stampede grounds, I know not to get fooled by the other stands with their big buckets and other gimmicks. I only have eyes for “Those Little Donuts” as you stand out from all the rest.

Your View this Post

July 4, 2018

5 things to look forward to at Roundup MusicFest

Calgarians out enjoying the annual Roundup Musicfest

Festival season is gearing up for the summer and it all kicks off in a few weeks with the Roundup Musicfest on July 11th! The Roundup always delivers a boot-stomping good time for Calgarians who are ready to soak in the sun and enjoy some western hospitality. For those of you who have never gone, there’s a lot to enjoy. Here are a few things to look forward to at this year’s Roundup Musicfest.

Shaw Millenium Park

This venue is so awesome for an outdoor concert! I loved this change in location to View this Post