Each year, as the leaves turn colour and a fall chill sets in, Direct Energy rolls out their ‘Light Up’ campaign, a program designed to educate home owners on easy ways to get their homes winter-ready.  Their helpful energy efficiency and DIY tips for home improvement have always been popular with Canadian home owners.

This year, the Direct Energy team worked with High Road to take things to a new level, teaming up with Carrie Anne Badov from Everything Mom as she invited her blogger friends over for an afternoon of energy efficiency with Dave Walton, Director of Home Ideas.  The event taught guests ways to ensure their homes are in tip top shape for winter and how to take control of their winter energy bills.

Prior to the event, Carrie Anne had an energy assessment completed, showing her the areas of her home most susceptible to energy loss. The audit also provided her personalized suggestions for improvement, highlighting those that would yield the largest cost savings.

The result? Invaluable insights and tons of buzz with guests both online and offline.

Carrie Anne and her fellow guests learned plenty of helpful tips to help them become their own home energy expert.  The afternoon was a huge success and Dave Walton was a great spokesperson, leaving guests with information and tips that will have them seeing their winter heating bills decrease.

For example, did you know that spiders like a cool breeze and cob webs are a sure sign of an air leak?

This blog is brought to you by High Road’s Maria De Romana and Becky Brescacin:

Here’s some delightful food for thought: A little indulgence in some great-tasting food doesn’t have to be bad for you.

On June 6, Chobani touched down in Toronto for their first-ever Canadian blogger evening — a tasty soiree at the ultra chic The Fifth Terrace that featured a full menu of food choices inspired by – and of course including – the creamy Greek yogurt.

The day may have been grey and rainy, but nothing could keep the Chobaniacs away. Nineteen bloggers joined in on the fun to mix and mingle, meet new friends, and learn a little more about Chobani, which launched in Canada just six months ago.

Everyone was blown away with the delicious menu, complete with 13 canapes that offered something for eveyone: From traditional Greek spanakopita  to Thai style crab cakes and mushroom bruschetta, every bite was eaten with half the guilt as creams, butters and oils were replaced with Chobani’s 0% Greek Yogurt.

The night ended on a sweet note with the ULTIMATE parfait bar: Chocolate chips, candied pecans, berries, dulce de leche and other delicious delights were on hand for bloggers to make their own Chobani creation that showed off their topping style. As mason jars filled the room and created lots of excitement, we made this treat even sweeter (and mobile) by providing lids so bloggers could take a Cho-to-go!

High Road has long been loving Chobani’s great taste, which comes from only natural ingredients of the highest quality. But we especially love seeing others fall in love with it, too!

It’s no secret that American Express Canada is known for creating one-of-a-kind  experiences for its Cardmembers – ranging from Amex Delights, to Front Of The Line access, to other amazing concierge concert and dining opportunities.

This year, however, Amex has decided to shake things up a bit by working with four of Toronto’s top bloggers (Hip Urban Girl, Coco and Cowe, 1 Love T.O., She Does the City), who will act as Ambassadors for the brand in 2012. High Road is really excited to be there every step of the way as the Amex Ambassadors get to experience all the perks and sweet offerings available to Amex Cardmembers, before reporting back about their whirlwind adventures.

First assignment? A weekend away in Canada’s snowy capital, Ottawa, for Winterlude. (After all, the annual winter festival is sponsored by American Express!)

We kicked off Winterlude celebrations with a four-course dinner prepared by Chef Lynn Crawford (of Ruby Eats and Pitchin’ in), before being escorted to a VIP viewing area for a spectacular fireworks display.  Amex and Ottawa sure know how to put on a show: a few people even told us the fireworks that night rivalled those set up for Canada Day!

 

Day two of the Winterlude experience included a visit to the Amex Lounge on the famed Rideau Canal, where bloggers (and Cardmembers) were treated to complimentary gourmet jam, hot chocolate, and a culinary demonstration from Chef Wayne Murphy, of Cite Collegiale’s culinary program. The tasty food and warm beverages set us on our way for a leisurely skate down the canal.

Since Winterlude and Amex are both known for unique dining experiences, it was only fitting that the Amex Ambassadors next attended a Fire and Ice Dinner at the Courtyard Restaurant. We were treated to a five-course dinner, complete with wine pairings, that only featured a true Fire and Ice theme, with dishes like cold-smoked beef short ribs, bourbon BBQ sauce, and ‘charcoal’ liquid nitrogen bread. The “ice breaker” dessert involved peppermint ice cream and eucalyptus inside a chocolate pecan domed torte.

After a fun-filled weekend of winter activities, superb food and great company, the Ambassadors headed home to Toronto to rest up for their next adventure.

High Road continues to be amazed by Amex’s commitment to bringing the best in entertainment and event experiences to its Cardmembers, and the Ambassador program really offers an exciting new partnership that is sure to be a ton of fun to watch!

To follow along, check out the #AmexAmbassador hashtag.