This & That, Random

End of May.  Already?

It just went by in a blur of events, stress, major changes and a winding down.

The only sense of calm was found in my backyard jungle.
Which in about a month's time went from an all natural swimming pool.

To barren land.

To roaming land.

To fresh hills.

And now it's over growing with plants... Pictures to be loaded.

There is a plan to this landscaping madness.  But right now it's the boring work of fixing some dumb decisions by the previous owners which resulted in the fence becoming warped and massive pools of water accumulating in the middle of the yard with heavy rain.  

Enough ramblings because I want to quickly share two events with anyone who is still reading.

Image from: www.ripthefablane.com 

This past weekend, Marilou of Twenty York Street asked me to come to the "I Am Fashion: Rip the Fab Lane" show with her to help out with the coverage.  I was so pleased and honoured that she asked me to go.  Ever since I saw the post by Marcia B Creative promoting this fashion show, I wanted to go so badly.   To be there as a part of press was just awesome.    

So be sure to check out Twenty York Street throughout the week as our article on Rip the Fab Lane will be posted soon.  If you want a sneak peak of the event, take a look at Jose's pictures at his blog, YouGotSquared.  Jose really has talent with taking photographs.

An upcoming event that I'm volunteering for is the Orleans Festival on June 3 - 4th, in and around the Shenkman Arts Centre and Centrum Boulevard.  It looks like a wonderful and fun event for anyone who loves all forms of art.  There will be exhibitions of art, music, the performing arts and an iron chef competition, just to name a few.  The full schedule can be found on the website at www.orleansfestival.ca or here.  The best part?  All activities and performances are FREE!

ALSO, this non-profit organization gives back to charities, including as the Ottawa Food Bank, Children's Wish Foundation and Orleans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre.

Now the random.

Has anyone seriously heard of a Liger?! I though this beast was that of fiction, only to belong in the movie of Napoleon Dynamite. But my friend insisted today after lunch that it does exist.  Now... I googled to find that there are pictures and even a definition on Wikipedia.  Through my skimming of the information it seems like they are serious.  Thoughts?

Support of Oxfam Canada

For all the fierce & fabulous people who will be in the Ottawa area on May 14, 2011, I wanted to share with you a special event happening at Buddha Bar located on 104 Clarence Street.  The Fierce Fabulous Females Event in Support of Oxfam Canada event will donate all the net proceeds to Oxfam Canada.  Before the dancing begins, ladies can pamper themselves to make-up and nail treatment between 5-10 p.m.  After 10 p.m. the doors will open for dancing with DJ talent BIGSTUFF, national slam poet champion and Ritalin performing.   

Oxfam Canada is a wonderful non-profit organization that supports long-term development, advocacy and emergency programs in 28 countries around the world.  Some of the programs offered in the different countries focus on gender-based violence, empowering women, rehabilitations of communities after natural disasters and strengthening health, education & essential services.  Reading through the website it seems like the organization tailors each support program specific to the countries needs.  I think this is really proactive in that every country and culture is very different.  The individualized approach of Oxfam Canada is probably difficult and resource consuming to implement but the pay off in the end would be much more beneficial.  

If you would like to learn  more about Oxfam Canada, you can visit the website at www.oxfam.ca or click on the many different links above.

Good Morning,

hopefully everyone has had a great long weekend.  Mine was crazy busy and I'm thankful to only have dinner plans tonight.  The day will be full of laying around in my sweats and catching up with my computer.  Before I dive into the wonderful world of photoshop and blogging, I wanted to let everyone know about a great charity event coming up next weekend.

On the Shopper's Drug Mart "Weekend to End Women's Cancers",  there will be many generous people participating in a 60 KM walk (for my American friends that's about 37 miles).  This weekend charity was established in 2004 and has raised over $16 million by participants.  I truly believe that it's important to give whatever you can to those in need, by donating either time or funds to charities.   

If you're in the Ottawa area, April 30th come by the Lusitania Community Centre 

to participate in the "Quest for the Breast"

The "Quest for the Breast" is an event put on by a wonderful group of women walking who will be walking the 60 KM, all of proceeds raised will go to the Shopper's Drug Mart "Weekend to End Women's Cancers".  

Event Details
When: April 30th from 7:00 p.m. to May 1st 2:00 a.m. 


Where: Lusitania, Portugese Community Centre
63 Grenfell Crescent, Ottawa ON


Cost: $5 at the door or in advance


There will be tons of fun things going, like: raffles, silent auctions, food, cash bar, broadcast of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (aka the boyfriend babysitter), DJ and dancing.  

To attend, tickets can be bought at the door or contact me for organizers' information.

If you can't attend but would like to donate, click here 

Mama Would be Proud

The lovely and beautiful Marilou invited me to go with her to ROUGE: Ottawa's Ultimate Bacherlorette Party, on Saturday night.  This was a fun "non-wedding" event for a good cause.  The proceeds went to support the AIDS Committee of Ottawa. 

The only thing that was missing from this event was my good friend, Krista.  Her wedding is fast approaching and even though most of the details have been sorted out, there was tons of fun and ideas for her bachelorette.  Unfortunately my camera is a very basic "point & shoot"... and the lighting in clubs is never ideal... so please excuse the fuzziness of the pictures.  The bridal fashion show was very pretty.  Even though the dresses were all very beautiful, I kept my eyes on the hair pieces... they were all so funky.

Two hotties: ML from 20YS & Isobel of frAsh femme. & bel.

Isobel is the creative and talented designer of frAsh femme. & bel. 

Above is just one of many beautiful pieces created by Isobel.  The generous Marilou gave this necklace to me and I can't wait to show it off.  I first discovered Isobel's work when I attended The Posh Wedding Show, in February.   Her jewellery really stood out from all the other booths.  I enjoy the unique looks to the pieces.   Her spring/summer 2011 line is amazing and it's so cool that each piece is one of a kind.  

Yummy cupcakes were generously provided by Auntie Loo's Treats.  The most shocking discovery of the night was that the delicious treats were vegan.  Vegan! It really blows my mind that cupcakes can be diary and egg free.... and still taste amazing good.  It's dangerous for my waist line that she sells these amazing cupcakes at a cafe close to my work called Raw Sugar.   These cakes are also Auntie Loo's creations and look amazing.  My favourite is the orange one because it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.

Now on to my awkward moment of the night... 

It involved a pole, a scandalously dressed hottie as an instructor and ML recording the moment.  

I was so confused on how to turn around and slide down the pole.  With the first attempt, I lost my shoe.  And didn't do much better with round two.  Pole dancing is not a hidden talent of mine... no upper body strength and lack of grace are not pros for this activity

 ML was awesome, with confidence and humour she nailed the turn and slide.

Isobel is too cute.  I wasn't able to capture the moment too well with the crap-tastic camera of mine (it had a seizure during her turn and slide).  But she did great and the bow at the end was adorable.    

The pole dancing demonstrations and lessons were provided by 3Sixty.  The girls who were doing the demonstrations were amazing.  If I try to explain what they were able to do it doesn't seem to do it justice, so you're interested just check out the site's photo gallery.   What's really fun is that they will do Pole Parties... something that could be tons of fun for a bachelorette?! Non?! 

ROUGE

The first of May is fast approaching. Random month for most but for six babes and myself it's the start of a very special month. One of my bestest friends, Krista, will be getting married on the 21st of May. As a bridesmaid, I try to be informed on the hot trends and DIY tips for all things wedding. But sometimes time slips away so quickly, the wedding date just creeps up and Krista is way too nice to kick me in my bubble butt so that I can stay on task. When I heard about the event Rouge, happening this Saturday, my immediate thoughts went to Krista and how a good bridesmaid would go to take notes. Yes, most of the wedding is already planned but there is still the bachelorette party to figure out.

To enter for a chance to win 2 tickets for Rouge, check out 20 York Streets Blog (click here).