Sonia's Real Estate Blog

November is here and we all know what that means: Christmas is just over a month away! Which also means it’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping, so break out the eggnog, grab your kids’ wish lists, and let’s get started!

Some people dread Christmas shopping – the crowds, the chaos, the stress of finding that perfect something for the hard­-to-­buy-­for person on your list, the endless looping Christmas music – but if you plan it right and get started early, Christmas shopping can be a ton of fun. Getting started early means you avoid the crazy crowds at big shopping malls, and – bonus – you aren’t yet tired of Christmas carols so they leave you feeling extra festive!

Additionally, if you start your shopping early, you have plenty of time for research, browsing for stocking­-stuffers, and exploring what great gifts you can find locally, right here in Sherwood Park and surrounding area. In a day and age where we can do our Christmas shopping in our PJs in bed with a laptop, it’s important to also remember that Sherwood Park has a wealth of awesome stores, boutiques, one­-of-­a-­kind shops, and Christmas craft fairs where you can find unique gifts you just won’t see anywhere else.

Local Christmas Craft Fairs and Handmade Markets

More than any other time of year, Christmas is when local entrepreneurs, craftspeople, and extremely talented local artists have a chance to show off their goods and really shine. There is a huge amount of talent in the wider Edmonton area, and at many of these sales you’ll find hundreds of local “makers” who love their community and create awesome products. From unique jewelry and clothing to lovingly hand-­built toys and seriously delicious food items, these are great places to find gifts you’ll never see online. Seriously, you can find the BEST stocking stuffers at these events!

Here are some great upcoming craft shows and sales in the area you won’t want to miss:

• Silver Bells Winter Market
  November 29, 10am – 5pm
  The Agora, Sherwood Park Community Centre, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park
• Festival of Trees
  November 14 – 16
  The Agora, Sherwood Park Community Centre, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park
• Sherwood Park Farmers’ Market
  Every Wednesday, 5pm – 8pm
  Sherwood Park Community Centre, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park
• Butterdome Craft Sale
  December 4 – 7
  Butterdome, University of Alberta, Edmonton
• Make It: Handmade Revolution
  November 20 – 23
  The Enjoy Centre, 101 Riel Drive, St. Albert

Local Shops, Boutiques & Events in Sherwood Park

Sherwood Park has a lot of awesome, unique stores and boutiques you won’t find in any mall, all owned and operated by locals who live right here in Sherwood Park. Shopping local means you contribute to our local economy and keep it thriving, and the success of existing businesses make our city an attractive place for more cool people to create more great things!

And remember: Buying someone a gift doesn’t mean you have to get them a “thing”. You can also get them a great experience, like a gift card or certificate to a cool local restaurant, tickets to an upcoming concert or comedy show at Festival Place, or a pass to their favourite local recreational facility.

Also, think about trying out one of our great local bakeries if you’re tasked with bringing a dessert or dish to an upcoming party rather than hitting up a generic grocery store. You’ll be helping a local business grow, and you’ll be the talk of the party for bring something extra­-special!

Below are some curated lists of unique­-to-­us places to get you started.

• Shops & Boutiques
• Gifts & Collectibles
• Unique Restaurants
• Bakeries & Specialty Foods
• Festival Place Events
• Chamber of Commerce Business Directory

Local One-Stop Shopping

Living as close as we do to “the mall” in Edmonton (you know the one) it can be tempting to do a “one­-stop” there, steel yourself against the crowds, and get it done in one go. But why drive all the way to the west side of Edmonton to get stressed out by crowds?

You don’t need WEM to one-­stop your Christmas shopping, not when we’ve got two great local shopping centres right here in Sherwood Park. There are lots of great stores (pretty much everything you’ll find in WEM between the two), you don’t have to drive as far, and you won’t have to wade through all those people. Even closer to Christmas when the stores get busier, our local malls don’t get anywhere near as crazy.

Also, if you need more convincing, remember how long it took you to find parking at WEM last time you went on the last Saturday before Christmas? Stay in Sherwood Park: there’s lots of parking here!

• Sherwood Park Mall
  Over 60 stores and services
  2020 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park
• Emerald Hills Centre
  Over 40 stores and services
  5000 Emerald Drive, Sherwood Park

Anyone who knows me knows I love animals, so Strathcona County is an ideal place for an animal lover like me.

Did you know that Strathcona County is the Horse Capital of Canada? This is supported by a horse survey count that was done in 2011. There are more than 300,000 horses in Alberta and the largest concentration is right here in the County.

The linkages to the horse goes back quite a ways in the history of the County. The name “Strathcona” originated with Lord Strathcona’s Horse, a Royal Canadian regiment. Even today, the regiment performs in period uniform and mounted on horseback.

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There are so many things I love about living in Sherwood Park! One of those is that whether you are a weekend warrior, part of an active family or a serious athlete, Strathcona County has just the recreational opportunity you are looking for!

Trails

The County has an extensive trail system throughout Sherwood Park and parts of the rural areas. These trails often link up and it is possible to go from one side of Sherwood Park to another, enjoying the park like setting.

The trail system continues to grow and Strathcona County is a member of the River Valley Alliance, an organization with a vision to create a continuous integrated river valley park system that will run through Devon, Parkland County, Leduc, Edmonton, Sturgeon and Strathcona County.

When complete, the 88 km river valley trail will be the longest metropolitan park in North America, encompassing 18,000 acres. Imagine what a beautiful bike ride or walk the trail will be!

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Is Your Home Ready For The Cold?

Well it appears that we had our first snowfalls this week. Although it wasn’t as bad as I feared, it was certainly a good reminder to get your home ready for the cold months ahead. Follow my Winter Preparation Tips and your winter experience can be stress-free! (more…)

Fun For The Whole Family!

As a mother of 3 I’m always looking for fun family events in and around Sherwood Park. Personally, I think kids should engage in a wide range of activities with balance between outdoor games, indoor games, virtual games, and artistic games. There are multiple activities for children to participate in at Millennium Place, so you can imagine how much I enjoy going there! It offers services for Sherwood Park residents of all ages and stages in life. Some of the things I love most out of Millennium Place include: (more…)

Explore the great outdoors in Sherwood Park!

Well I don’t like to say this to you…but Summer is over and Fall is upon us.

Photo by: joiseyshowaa

As much as I would love hot Summer weather year-round, there are some wonderful benefits about living in Sherwood Park during the Fall months:

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In addition to my strong passion for the Real Estate industry, I absolutely love to shop, whether it’s hunting for my next leopard-printed addition to my wardrobe, or buying my clients house warming gifts nothing can keep me away from a good sale. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard the announcement about the landmark retail development, Emerald Hills Centre.

Since news of the shopping centre hit the stands, multiple businesses have opened in the pedestrian-friendly shopping district. Emerald Hills is currently home to clothing outlets, boutiques, Ladies Wear, Electronics & Sporting Goods, Housewares, Salons and Spas, Men’s Wear, and have many more on the way! Located on 5000 Emerald Drive in Sherwood Park, Alberta; you should “head for the hills” and check it out. (more…)

Sherwood Park is a bustling area filled with truly beautiful neighbourhoods. One of the many communities I enjoy visiting is Clarkdale Meadows. Located on the Northeast quadrant of Sherwood Park, Clarkdale Meadows is filled with natural green spaces and beautiful character homes placed on winding tree-lined streets.

Its surrounding communities are Summerwood to the North, Davidson Creek to the Northeast, and Heritage Point to the South. Baseline Road makes up its southern boundary, while Highway 21 marks its eastern border. Its other boundaries are composed of Clover Bar Road to the West and Lakeland Drive to the North.

Photo by: Rocco Macri

The community is conveniently located near walking trails, parks, and the Millennium Place Recreational Centre. The rec centre offers residents an extensive workout facility, wave pool, soccer arenas, as well as ice arenas. Big-name amenities can be found in Metropolitan Edmonton, which is a short 15 minute drive. Residents of Clarkdale Meadows are also in close proximity to public transportation through the Sherwood Park Transit System.

For homeowners seeking an outdoor adventure, Clarkdale Meadows is only 20 minutes away from Elk Island National Park! Embrace the outdoors and seize the day with boating, hiking, and biking activities at Elk Island. (more…)

I must say, I love the new Strathcona County Library (SCL)! Not only does it promote education and literacy, but our library is bigger and better than ever before!

In 2010, Sherwood Park residents saw the SCL open its doors for the first time after relocating to 401 Festival Lane. Spread out over an area of 64,000 square feet, our library features group study rooms, staff areas, and program rooms. (more…)