Archive for November, 2011

Thank you to everyone that has come out, so far, to help raise funds for Rescue North.  It was a lot of fun photographing all the kids and pets, today.  We still have openings between 1pm and 4pm on Saturday Nov 26th.  You don’t need an appointment, just come over to the Super 8 in Kenora and get your portrait with Santa!

A friend just posted this on FaceBook and I thought it was a great thing to pass along to you.  I also do gift certificates for photography sessions, weddings, new baby, etc.  Enjoy the read.

Let’s all shop local this year:

Christmas 2011 — Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labor. This year will be different. This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands. Yes there is!

It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Canadian hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine. THIS is the new Canadian Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list — post it to discussion groups — throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city — send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?

BUY CANADIAN – BE CANADIAN – The job you save might be your own

Woweeeee! The Wedding Expo is over for another year and what a great Expo it was. Thank you to everyone that came and to all the businesses that participated. Congratulations to all the Brides to be. I had a lot of fun and hope you did too. The photo booth, from Summer Bounce Entertainment, was awesome. It was free to try out at the Expo today and everyone got to take home a picture. Just in case you didn’t catch it before, I LOVE working with Summer Bounce Entertainment, these guys ROCK!!
Congratulations to the brides that got to try out the Cash Machine, it was a lot of fun watching you catch all that money!
Check back soon for some images from today!

For those of you that know me personally, you know I’m not a early morning person.  I’m talking about anything before 8am.  Well, this morning I was up at 515am and was all ready to go out the door at 630am, very unusual for me.  This morning I was to be on “Good Morning Kenora” talking about the Wedding Expo.  On my way over to Keewatin, a six point buck came tearing out of someone’s driveway and I almost hit him.  Fortunately my reflexes were good and I slammed on the breaks just in time!  PHEW!!

When I got to the station at 7am I found out the show was canceled. 🙁

Yikes, what a morning and it’s only 7am!  Did you know that Safeway is open at 7am?  So I went grocery shopping.  It’s now about 810 am and since there is a bit of time on my hands I figured I’d update you on the Wedding Expo.

It’s going to be a great show this year.  Jeness, from All Tressed Up, will be doing bridal party hair styles; Cherun Murray, from BeautiControl, will be doing their makeup and Robin, from BestWay Rentals will have some of their formal wear being displayed on the models that Cherun and Jeness are beautifying!  I can’t wait to see them all done up!

We’ve got Summer Bounce coming again this year and they are providing us with a Photo Booth which you can check out here

We are also doing the Cash Machine again this year so make sure you come in and enter your name so you can have your chance to win a gift certificate from your favorite retailer. The cash cube will be starting up about 2pm, you have to be there to win!

See you Sunday.