Nov
28
This guy I know, Miro Oballa, is raising money for prostate cancer by growing a mustache, so I thought I’d close out my blog for November with one for the boys. Please see his note below. Go Miro, my furry-lipped friend!
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In the past, I’ve grown mustaches to look sleazy or because I’ve been too lazy to shave. This November I’m not just lazy and sleazy but I’m actually giving back to the community. Some of you may know that November is also Movember; a month were men grow mustaches of all shapes and sizes to raise awareness about prostate cancer. What the direct link between a mustache and a prostate is I’m not really sure, but if it helps in the battle against cancer then I’m all for it.
To donate you can either:
- Click/paste this link https://www.movember.com/ca/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink®o=2155321&country=ca and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account, or
- Write a cheque payable to the ‘Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada’, referencing my Registration Number 2155321 and mailing it to:
Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada
Attn: Movember
145 Front Street East
Suite 306
Toronto Ontario M5A 1E3
Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
The money raised by Movember is donated directly to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada who will use the funds to create awareness and fund research across the country into prevention, detection and treatment, with a goal to ending the threat of prostate cancer.
Did you know:
- Every year around 24,700 Canadian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 4,300 die of the disease, making it the number one cancer threat to Canadian men.
- 1 in 7 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.
- All men over the age of 40 are potentially at risk and should talk to their doctor about the disease and early detection. Prostate cancer is 95% curable if detected and treated early.
More information is available at http://www.movember.com/
I thank you, my mustache thanks you and my prostate thanks you,
Miro.
Nov
28
A perfect end to the week: Look at these cheerful gift bows, from the design blog, Creature Comforts:
But here’s the best part: They’re made from plastic grocery bags. You know, the kind that take hundreds of years to biodegrade? This holiday season, when it comes to gift-wrapping, spare your wallet and the environment — and still have pretty-looking gifts to give friends and family. They’re so easy to make:
Find the full, step-by-step instructions here. Happy weekend!
Nov
28
Christmas is fast approaching so I thought I’d tell you about a television segment I just taped on cookie decorating. It’s going to air on CityLine this Monday at 9:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m. if you’d like to check it out; I’ll also post a link to the video after it airs.
I like preparing for shoots, but they’re also a little nerve-wracking because I’m not often on camera. Plus, I have to think about what to wear – solid colours! – which is usually something I don’t worry about.
To prep, I spent an entire day baking and decorating sugar cookies – mixing icing colours, choosing plates and making sure I had a few cookies in each state of the decorating process to make for quicker shooting. It was a trip down memory lane – reminding me of the many cookies I decorated in my pastry apprenticeship. I was feeling a little rusty so I consulted my sister Katrina, a fabulous pastry chef who specializes in decorating. Her guidance really helped. (Thanks, Katrina!) She suggested many things including one a great clean up tip: If you get food colouring on your hands, wash with a little lemon juice and soap. I found this tip very helpful because I didn’t want to have red and green hands for the shoot. Below is a picture of my set up including the tubes of royal icing. (That red was bright and probably would have taken a long time to wash off without the lemon juice.)
Shoot day went by in a blur. Kate Moore, Producer, from CityLine and her camera person, Lisa, both arrived early (below is a picture of them). We talked through each of the segments and I felt more comfortable (it’s pretty easy to get nervous when there’s a huge camera staring you in the eye – Lisa must have great arm muscles!). Then the shoot was over before I could blink.
Here’s a sneak peak of the cookies I decorated, stay tuned for the recipe and a link to the decorating video.
Nov
28
After a grueling day at the One of Kind Show yesterday I headed home with a few small Christmas purchases but craving something new in my space. Keeping with the times and getting real with the difference between a need and a want, I took a look around and decided to shop within my own store. All it took was some rearranging to freshen up a few areas of stale decor. I rotated frames from different rooms: the hallway to the dining room, the living room to the spare room. I grouped a collection of candlesticks from a few different spots into one cute display. I even moved around a few pieces of furniture to new corners and found some gems in my storage room that had been put aside for a “first burial” test. It’s amazing what a little fresh thinking can do to spruce up your decor – and it won’t cost you a cent. See what you can find around your house for a little cost-effective “re-merchandising” moment!
Nov
27
I will be taking a break until Friday December 5 while we’re away for my cousin’s wedding. This is my first time taking the baby, now six months old, on a plane. So pray for us.
See you when I get back.
