Forty 4 Change

Campaign Update

2012-06-08T19:50:00.001-04:30

I am not sure how it is June already....it has been a busy first half of the year! When I wrote in February that I planned to continue the Forty 4 Change blog, party style, work with charitable organizations and manage the mayoral campaign for Fred Connors, I really had no idea what that would mean.

Slowly but surely I will update you on the events of the last few months. In the meantime, you can visit the campaign progress on our new website. We officially launched the site on Monday, June 4th, with a one minute seven second campaign video that addresses voter apathy in the Halifax Regional Municipality and encourages citizens to get engaged.

Lots of exciting things still to come!

www.fredconnorsforhrm.ca

p.s.

While we're on the topic of community involvement....Canada Day and the 4th of July are less than a month away! What will you do to celebrate?

{Event} A Night to Honor Mothers

2012-05-13T21:21:00.002-04:30

The 3rd Annual SHYM Mom's Day Cabaret was a beautiful night and a special way to celebrate being a Mom.

The full posting on the event will come later but I wanted to wish all mothers everywhere a special Happy Mother's Day {especially all the mothers in my life}.

p.s.

Watch for the full posting on the SHYM event, Nana's 95th birthday and the upcoming Armbrae Grandparents' Day

{Upcoming Event} Another Chance to Support SHYM

2012-05-10T06:47:00.002-04:30

Since the beginning of Forty 4 Change, almost 18 months ago, I have shared the details of my experiences with so many amazing organizations. One that still remains near and dear to my heart is Supportive Housing for Young Mothers {SHYM}.

Earlier in April, SHYM made an exciting announcement...that they would be forging a partnership with the YWCA Halifax in an effort to further increase the resources available to the SHYM programs.

I am thrilled that the Director of SHYM, Wendy Fraser, asked me to participate in their upcoming Mom's Day Cabaret again this year!

This year's dessert table will be styled in sweet yellow, grey and white...and a bit of chevron! So excited to create this fun table for a wonderful event.

Tickets can be purchased at 902.465.2213

or simply purchase them at the door.

p.s.

I just returned from an amazing trip to North Carolina where we celebrated my Nana's 95th birthday! Watch for details on her fabulous birthday brunch.

xoxo

Remembering the Titanic

2012-04-15T21:25:00.000-04:30

There is no question that the world has a fascination with the Titanic disaster of 1912. Living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, we are even more aware of the significance of today's 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the ship, officially April 15th, 1912.

I thought it might be a good idea to draw a little attention to Halifax's role in the tragedy, so decided to solicit the help of my local baker, Nadine Boutilier. On Friday, I delivered a Titanic replica to the kids' school!

Nadine created this edible masterpiece, weighing 30 pounds and measuring 3 ft long. All 14 classrooms in the school received a slab to share, but only after the Headmaster had wheeled the cake to each class for viewing.

It was a great way to mark an important date in our history.

Thanks Nadine {once again!} for your willingness to take on the challenge!

p.s.

Lots of Forty 4 Change projects on the go....Laing House dessert table, SHYM Mom's Day Cabaret, and most importantly my Nana's 95th Birthday Brunch! Stay tuned....

All Green for St. Patty!

2012-03-20T22:12:00.000-04:30

How lucky did YOU feel on St. Patrick's Day?

Although we live in Canada....with a last name like O'Connor and a husband's ancestry straight from Ireland, we do not escape the celebrating of St. Patty's Day! This very fun day of everything green is just simply an excuse for us to celebrate with things out of the ordinary. Every year I make sure we all wear something green, eat green food, and make my husband feel like its a special day for him. Last year we happened to be away on our annual ski holiday in Sugarloaf, Maine and I made sure to bring some silly accessories for the kids to wear...including crazy glasses, necklaces, bow ties and green wigs. Its pretty easy to make it crazy for us and the kids...even without the beer drinking!

This year I realized that I might just have a little bit of time to do something extra fun. So when I came across the TomKat Studio free printables for St. Patrick's Day I knew exactly what I would do. A mini dessert table! My husband, Wayne, decided to cook a traditional Irish meal, and I worked putting together a simple table of cute little desserts.

When I decided the week before that I wanted to celebrate with sweets, I sent an email to my friend and baker, Nadine, and she promised an all green layered cake......which was fabulously moist and delicious!

And even though the cake is all gone, we have kept our little wee leprechaun sitting in his pot of gold.

Kim's free printable collection was adorable.....the "Happy St. Patrick's Day" art print, cupcake toppers and "lucky" banner were the perfect accents. I also made a pom pom garland after seeing the idea on pinterest.

I promised the kids green cupcakes, so I quickly made two batches of different shades of green for mini stackable cupcakes and some traditional ones to hold the cupcake toppers. The striped liners were a favourite I ordered from Shop Sweet Lulu a while ago, and I was just waiting for the chance to use them.

When I came across the free printables by TomKat {in a post she had done for HGTV}, I also noticed a tutorial for sweet shamrock iron-on decals. There wasn't time to order the cute green polka dot iron-ons so we made a trip to the fabric store and bought fabric, double-sided iron-on paper, and white t-shirts. With the many craft ideas and tutorials posted on HGTV, Kim had included a perfect shamrock template. It made resizing and printing the lucky clovers so easy. My oldest daughter's close friend, Nadia, joined in on all the fun....even helping me trace the shamrocks.

The kids loved their green t-shirts! No pinching in our house!

Since it is still considered winter here in Halifax, Nova Scotia {you will notice the snow in the pictures!}, we were lucky to get a reprieve with some sun and warmer temps on Saturday. It wasn't quite warm enough for tank tops, so the kids were very accomodating when I mentioned setting up and photographing outside!

Once the dessert table was photographed, it was time for all that silliness to take over!

p.s.

Click here to visit my "All Green for St. Patty's Day" Pinterest Board!

{Party} Glam Adventure!

2012-03-15T23:01:00.001-04:30

Several months ago a friend and neighbour, Lisa, asked me if I would style a party for her twin girls, Ava and Emma. {I also styled her son's 6th birthday party, a sports theme, read about it here}. I have known the girls since they were only three and I really adore them, so I was very excited to help them create a party customized just for them.

When trying to come up with something unique and perfect for their personalities, I remembered reading about the Glam Camping photo shoot that Kim, of Tomkat Studio, had styled. I knew the party would need to be a mix of girl and adventure, to match their love of sports. The girls came over one Sunday and we chatted about their favorite colors, snacks, treats, cake designs....and what I thought would make a perfect party activity. The adventure portion would be a combination of a scavenger hunt, the amazing race, a treasure hunt, a food challenge, and a team challenge too! They loved the idea and so the party planning began!

I showed them pictures of the Glam Camping photo shoot so they could get an idea of fun food that would be warming after an outdoor activity in the cold. S'mores became the ultimate theme....and at first they wanted everything s'mores.....s'mores cupcakes, a s'mores buffet, and a s'mores cake! We calmed them down with suggestions of other fun foods and got to work helping them make some final decisions on their cakes. Lisa agreed to let them have their own cakes and Nadine {Femme Fondants} took all the instructions and delivered two beautifully unique cakes, made with each girls' specifications. I made a custom flower for Emma's cake and added the extra ribbon to tie it all together the way she wanted.

Lisa trusted me with the planning of every detail, and I had so much fun orchestrating the dessert table, the decor, the adventure activity, and the sweet thank you bags and take home boxes. I kept teasing Lisa that I would likely be moving half my house up the street for the party....but the day before the party she knew I wasn't really joking! There were so many amazing colors the girls had chosen and I knew that it would be an eclectic mix, so everything had to come with me, just in case I needed it!

While Lisa was out of the house for a few hours with the girls, we began to transform the downstairs into a special party space just for the girls. Pillows, rugs, fuzzy throws, tissue flowers, paper medallions, flowers, hanging paper lanterns....you name it we hung it, arranged it, and turned it into a glam party dreamland. Lisa's friend, Shelley, was on hand to help with all the details {thank goodness} and we used every decoration and every space.

The paper medallions were a fun project and incredibly easy. {Visit here for the perfect tutorial}

Lisa's dining room table was perfect for the dessert table and when pushed up against the wood room divider it provided a double sided table. We hung tissue fans and used a gorgeous deep purple throw as the table cover. Wrapping twistable twine around the legs of the table gave a little bit of that outdoor feel.

I tried my hand at the photography again, trying to capture every detail, it was a bit of extra pressure but I am always eager to try and get it just right. {one day I will take those classes!}

I might say this....or just think it each time....but this dessert table is one of my all time favorites! I loved that even though we started with a palette of deep pink, purple and lime green, that I could incorporate the twins' other favorite colors and tie it all together. I didn't really have a full plan, just a sketch of the table and the ideas swimming in my head, so when I started to place things on the table it all just began to sparkle. I love it when that happens. I loved incorporating my glam blingy cupcake stand with the wooden tiered rustic stand and the hot turquoise cake plate.

The dessert table was filled with all the girls' requests.....

the s'mores buffet, chocolate covered apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate,

signature monogram cookies {thank you Tracey!},

gorgeous cupcakes {Nadine outdid herself with the s'more creations, chocolate and snickerdoodle too!},

amazing cake pops by Joanne {Cake Poppin Fun},

giant chocolate chip cookies from Two If By Sea Cafe Bakeshop,

salt water taffy, orange soda pop and hot chocolate in little mason jars.

I added a few extras I thought the girls might enjoy....oreo pudding cups and home made snickers bars!

{I am so grateful that Tracey was willing to give these a try...they turned out incredible}

Once all the girls had arrived and eaten a little snack, it was time to tell them the plan for the afternoon!

They were broken up into three teams, and they quickly gave themselves team names. Each team had a chaperone and I gave everyone their instructions and rules for the game. I passed out colored fabric to mark each team flag and then we all got bundled up and headed to the bottom of the cul-de-sac to start the game!

Each team's spot was marked by a matching fabric for their pit stop. They began the challenge with a team relay and funny little antics. Once the team completed the relay they were handed a wooden cylinder box to open for their next clue. Then the real challenge began and each cylinder clue box sent them on a chase.....a poem to lead to the next clue, a scavenger hunt of very specific items {including 9 Cheetos, a hair tie in the color of their team, an address label, and a decorative band-aide!}.

They had to return to the pit stop after each challenge, and at one point everyone had to participate in a gum chewing, bubble blowing competition!

They had to locate a treasure box by decoding a poem and then head back to the house to find a food challenge set up in the garage. Everyone on the team was blindfolded and fed a mixture of 6 food items. The team had to name all six ingredients before they could get their last clue. The food challenge was tricky....each team's concoction was different, so listening to another team shout out ingredients proved futile. After that it was a race to the pit stops to crown the winning team.

What a truly fabulous glam ADVENTURE!

After all that excitement it was time for treats!!

The girls had a chance to indulge in all the yumminess on the table. I had made special memory boards for Ava and Emma and cute mini cards for their friends to write a special message. We used matching colored push pins to attach all the notes.

Each guest was given adorable ivivva athletica hair scrunchies in sweet polka dot bags from Shop Sweet Lulu and a box to fill with treats from the dessert table. All the precious printables {including the cupcake toppers, thank you tags, flags and invitations and inserts} were designed by Jennifer Somers-Pepler.

I absolutely loved styling this party for these two sweet, fun, energetic girls. Ava and Emma have a special place in my heart, and when they decided to ask their friends to make donations to a charity in lieu of gifts....well, I was so warmed by their willingness to give back.

They chose KidSport Nova Scotia, a program that supports children who are limited financially and are not able to participate in the sport of their choice. KidSport provides these children with up to to $300 per year for sport registration and/or sporting equipment. I was happy to make a donation to KidSport in their honor.

"So ALL Kids Can Play"

Love you girls! Thanks for letting me go crazy and a bit over the top with your party!

p.s.

St Patty's Day is just around the corner....how will you celebrate?

A Valentine's Day Magazine Project

2012-03-13T22:21:00.000-04:30

A few months ago my oldest daughter, Blythe, came home with a grade 5 magazine project. She had to choose a topic and create a magazine from scratch, complete with feature articles, an interview, original advertisements, an entertainment review and feature editorial. She had chosen her topic....Party Styling {I was of course excited!}. Since she would be working on her magazine over a 7 week period and Valentine's Day would fall right in the middle, we decided to style a Valentine's "party" and dessert table for her magazine. She planned out the baking and the dessert table accessories and I promised to teach her a bit so she could photograph some of the table details herself.

Once I showed her the adorable Simply Sweet Valentine's Day dessert table styled by the TomKat Studio she wanted to style her own dessert table using Kim's new printable collection {and a few of her awesome ideas!} She wanted a fabric backdrop so we made a trip to the fabric store and she chose a bright red polka dot {it wasn't easy on the eyes but still pretty cute!}. We stapled it to a large piece of thick foam core, made the "love" banner from Kim's printable collection and added the tissue flower I already had hanging in the craft room from a previous event. I really encouraged her to use and reuse items she found around the house.

When buying all the baking ingredients at the store Blythe spotted the "cake in a mug" idea on a package and wanted to try that too. The list was growing of baking treats for the table....cupcakes, cake in a mug, little candy cups, heart shaped brownies, chocolate dipped chocolate chip cookies.....yummy! We started early and froze some of the items so that the Sunday before Valentine's day we could put all the final touches together and she could create her special table.

She baked the chocolate cupcakes in sweet polka dot baking cups from Shop Sweet Lulu and topped them with the cupcake toppers we printed. She baked the chocolate brownies and turned them into Valentine's treats using a heart shaped cookie cutter. I found cute mini milk creamers to bake the "cakes in a mug" in and Blythe chose from my drawer of cupcake liners for the heart shaped silicone cups for the candy mix. It wouldn't have all been complete without a special treat from Nadine, who showed up as a surprise to Blythe, with a sweet round cake {complete with the grey and red themed hearts}.

Toni, from the TomKat Studio, was so sweet to personalize the labels for Blythe's table {Blythe came up with all the fun names}. The invitation was even customized to be part of the project. Even though we styled the dessert table at home and photographed it with all the goodies, Blythe planned all along to transport it to school on Valentine's Day and display it again for everyone to enjoy. Her teacher agreed to the plan and suggested she write her entertainment review on the display. But before any of that could happen we had to finish all the details of the table!

Blythe helped make the cupcake toppers, the little straw flags, the labels and the assembly of the Martha Stewart white cake stand. We even asked some sweet little friends to stop by and be part of Blythe's photo shoot. It was a real work in progress...and certainly felt like a magazine shoot! {Complete with a little stress from Mom :)}

Blythe tested out her photography skills....

We had a hard time get the lighting just right so I promised Blythe I would move the set up to the fireplace the next day, and try photographing it again.

It gave the table a totally different feel and was really fun to experiment a bit.

After Blythe saw the 2nd set up we packed it all up and we were ready to transport to school for the 14th!

The night before, Blythe addressed all the invitations she planned to hand out to the junior school teachers, inviting them to view the project...and take a treat! The dessert table was open to everyone and there were even red striped thank you bags filled with cookies {thanks to Toni at TomKat again, who mailed them in the nick of time from the new TomKat Studio Shop!}

I helped Blythe set up while her class was in French and she photographed the final shots. Turns out....they were the best pics of all!

What a fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day! Congrats Blythe, so proud of all your hard work sweetie.

It was so wonderful to create this together.

xoxoxoxoxo

p.s.

Glam Adventure Party coming soon! And watch for a London Tea Party, a bit of green for St. Patty's Day, and lots more fun!

{Party} Sports fun for Everyone!

2012-03-02T00:49:00.000-04:30

I recently styled an adorable sports themed dessert table for Ben, a friend's six year old son. He chose his favorite colors for the table decor and wanted all his favorite sports incorporated into the fun theme. Since they were renting out the Armbrae school gym we knew there wouldn't be a perfect backdrop....so we just let the room speak for itself!

I have had the pleasure of designing so many adult or girly dessert tables for events, so this was a fun deviation from the norm. Jenny from Blue Moon Studios {she has a wonderful little etsy shop} did a beautiful job designing a sports banner to match the table, complete with referee style black and white checks.

Tracey Lowe made adorable sports balls cookies complete with the Pittsburgh Penquin's logo on the front of the hockey puck {Ben's favorite team}. She even made cake balls to look like soccer and basketballs...they were decadent.

My wonderfully creative baker Nadine, {Femme Fondants}, created a triple decker cake using the sports balls the kids would be playing with at the party. The weight of the balls stacked up on top of each other gave us quite the challenge! We had to use a bit of creativity to keep it from leaning....and had quite a laugh about it after the fact!

Nadine also made sweet cupcakes with fondant toppers!

No party is complete without some sweet cupcake toppers and Jennifer Somers-Pepler designed the perfect printables to compliment the theme. She always seems to get it just right!

Ben and his friends had a great time playing floor hockey, soccer and basketball...but they really enjoyed raiding the delicious desserts and snacks!

You are never too young to celebrate with a shooter candle! Happy Birthday Ben, thanks for letting me be a part of your celebration.

p.s.
Still have a Valentine's day shoot to share and the very fun Glam Adventure party!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T01:46:00.000-04:30

It's that day again...xoxo!

Wishing everyone a special day.

I spent the weekend helping my oldest daughter, Blythe, style a Valentine's Day "party" for her grade five magazine project. She did most of the baking herself and we put our creative minds together to create an adorable dessert table. More on the project later!

p.s.

Had a great time styling a boy's sport themed party last weekend, stay tuned for that and this coming weekend's Glam Adventure party for twin girls!

The Next Challenge

2012-02-08T14:14:00.000-04:30

It was an incredible year last year....to say the least.

I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take things once Forty 4 Change was officially over....should I keep the blog going?....should I continue to party style and use that passion for charitable events?.....should I continue to volunteer?.....should I consider the opportunities coming at me from various organizations?

I think I have come up with some answers.....YES!...to all of them it seems.

So I am going to continue to write and blog about the fun events, the party styling, the charitable organizations I support and even about the campaign I am now managing....as Campaign Manager for mayoral candidate Fred Connors {local success story and entrepeneur with passion}. If there is one thing I learned about myself last year, its that I am unwaveringly dedicated to making Halifax the community we deserve it to be. And I know for sure that Fred is the person to get us there. So, I embark on this challenge with very few answers, tons of questions, and lots of willingness to figure it all out!

You don't have to be interested in politics to take an interest in the city you live in.
Feel free to follow our campaign progress.

Fred Connors for Hrm
twitter
facebook

p.s.
Its not all about campaigning....
Stay tuned for some Valentine's Day inspiration. We have been busy cooking up some fun treats and ideas for that special day of love. xoxo

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T18:26:00.000-04:30

It has been an incredible year.....a journey to remember forever.....

There is still so much to process and to reflect on! Celebrating my 41st birthday today, I have so much to be happy about, to be thankful for, to be inspired by.....and I look forward to the next amazing chapter.

There will no doubt be a follow up post to this one.....

Happy New Year....thank you so much for travelling this journey with me!

p.s.

goodbye 2011

A Final Act.............

2011-12-29T21:51:00.000-04:30

Since completing the tree and then writing about it a few days ago, the emails have been coming in and everyone wants to know....what were the acts inside the boxes??

You could say that the acts were thoroughly "researched" before they made the final list of 24. I solicited help from my father, always the far reaching idea guy. He sent me references to websites listing "random acts of kindness" and gave me his own inspiring ideas for paying it forward. Ray, my amazing partner in The Tree of Change, kept me laughing with unbelievable ideas and inspiring acts. When I was close to finishing my list but still needed a bit more inspiration, my friend Becky threw another 25 acts to choose from. And my husband, Wayne, helped me come up with five of my favorite acts! {read some of them below!}

In every box there was something for the purchaser of the tree, an act for them to do, and all the necessary tools to complete the act. The acts were broken into three categories...something for the purchaser {an act of kindness that would benefit them}.....acts to benefit their family and friends {their own close community}....and acts for their broader community {reaching out to the people around them that needed to be touched in a special way}.

Ray educated me further in understanding the true meaning of advent and I set up each box with a scroll, explaining the act very clearly. Each act had a title, an explanation of why it might be important, then the challenge and act itself written clearly for the purchaser to execute.

Putting together the 24 write ups, purchasing and packaging all the contents, rolling up each scroll with a sweet little ribbon.....it felt so good. The creative process of designing the boxes was amazing, using my passion in a way I absolutely love. But putting together the insides, the heart of the boxes, was a rewarding experience beyond words. I had everything laid out in my craft room {more like a factory at times} and with the completion of each special write up I could just imagine the purchaser doing the act...I loved just wondering what they would do, how they might feel, etc.....

A glimpse at some of my top favorites....

"Reach Out" - The item in the box was a silver mini photo frame key chain with a quarter inside. On the back was the engraving "reach out". There is always someone in our lives that we keep meaning to get in touch with, or connect with, and somehow we don't make the time. Even though we don't use pay phones anymore, the quarter is meant as a reminder to reach out to someone. The act - Contact that person in your life you haven't made the time for....you never know how you will touch them.

"Hershey's Hug Chain" - Inside the box was a cellophane bag of Hershey's hugs. The act - start a Hershey's hug chain today! Give someone you care about a hug, give them a chocolate from the bag, then give them the bag and tell them to pass it on. The challenge - keep the hug chain going until no more chocolates were left in the bag.

"Let It Go" - Inside the box was a bag of 18 multi-colored polka dot balloons and a gift certificate to Party's R Us so they could be filled with helium. Balloons always seem to represent the fun, the joy, the carefree part of life. And yet, we never seem to see them in the middle of winter. The act - Have the balloons filled and take them to Halifax's Public Gardens Park....pass them out to random passers by....young and old.....and watch the smiles grow.

......other favorites....

*supporting Feed Nova Scotia by filling a reusable grocery bag*

*putting together care kits for the homeless*

*remembering the child in all of us - taking 3 friends to McDonald's and everyone ordering a happy meal!*

When all the items were ready and organized in their own little baggies Ray and I numbered each box and placed the 24 acts in the boxes.

The tree was transported from Statement Design {thank you again to Roger for taking such good care of the tree} to the Compass Group Canada Festival of Trees a few days before the big event and thank goodness for the very patient and very tolerant guys from Premier Van Lines....I was ever so slightly neurotic about the touching, much less moving of the tree!

Ray was once again on hand to help me set the tree up for the big Festival. We had a few challenges securing the tree in the stand, and we had some fixes with the hot glue gun but after that the tree was standing tall...and beautiful....and ready for auction.

Thank you so much, Ray, for being an incredible support.

All that was left to do was get dressed up and attend a beautiful evening to support mental health. I was excited to be able to take a breath and just enjoy the night. It was extra special getting to wear the dress of a friend and London designer, SUZANNAH.

We shared a wonderful evening with friends and we were surrounded by gorgeous trees, all designed and auctioned in support of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. This was the 20th anniversary of the Festival of Trees, since 1991 the event has raised money to support education and patient care for the one in five Nova Scotians living with mental illness.

"Through the power of participation, our guests help us make a difference in the life of someone living with mental illness."

It was an incredibly successful night, raising over $350,000 specifically from the Festival and over $7000,000 in donations to the new Pathways to Hope Legacy Fund. And even though the Tree of Change was only a tiny portion of that I was proud that it went for $3000 in the auction.

Recently I learned from one of the co-chairs of the Festival, Karen, that the tree had been purchased by her brother and sister-in-law {Brian and Audrey}. And I was ecstatic to hear that they were enthusiastically carrying out the acts in each and every box. In the preparations for writing this posting I got in touch with Audrey in the hopes of getting a picture to include....not only did I get some wonderful photos, I received a heartfelt message.....of her own experience of change {she was kind enough to let me share it here}.....

"I must tell you Jennifer, there were a few boxes that I opened that actually made me cry...stopped me in my tracks during a very hectic, busy, crazy, time and sat and thought about what they were saying to me. We have 4 grown children and the girls were calling me most days to say 'did you open today's box and what does it say, if you can't do it mum, we will!' There was more excitement over the tree than anything else this Xmas and what a great feeling to stop what I was doing and go to the toy drive or the food bank, or drop off some cookies unexpectedly, or give the toonies to a guy on spring garden and see him smile or take my girls to the movies for a break in the middle of the chaos. There are a couple that we haven't yet done, but they will get done, I promise.....the helium balloons (we'll take them over to the park when it's not so cold...helium doesn't last long in the cold) and we didn't get to shovel our neighbor's drive but we did snow blow it! All the hugs and hearts and flowers were distributed as we are a cuddly bunch anyway and so those were easy! Never for a minute did we think of it as a chore, but as fun and meaningful and it just made me think what a truly special person must have put this together. The festival of trees is very lucky to know you. This was our first time at the gala and I do believe there was a reason for us to be

there this year." -Audrey

{Audrey with the Tree of Change}

{Brian and Audrey's daughter and granddaughter}

For once....I am speechless. All of my hopes for this project....my dream of inspiring others to give back and see opportunity in the smallest acts....I think it may have come true.

Audrey and Brian, thank you for opening your hearts and embracing this in a way I could only have imagined in my dreams.

Another full circle moment complete.....

p.s.

I thought this would be my last official post for Forty 4 Change....but I just can't do it.....not yet.

Stay tuned for my birthday post!

The Tree of Change

2011-12-27T21:57:00.001-04:30

Over a month ago I first wrote about "The Tree of Change" {read it here}. And as this week counts down to December 31st, my birthday, I want to share the details about the design, the meaning behind the tree, and the emotional journey of a year long project wrapping itself in the form of a snow covered spruce.
{a warning....this is a long one!}

The idea to design a tree for Halifax's Mental Health Foundation's Festival of Trees actually started over a year ago. Last year, my friend and owner of FRED. Beauty, Fred Connors, was creating a tree for the Festival and asked me why I had never designed a tree before. He adamantly insisted that I should use some of my creative talents to create a tree. And when I began to put together my Forty 4 Change list of acts I cautiously wrote down "do a tree for the Festival of Trees" on the idea list. Having celebrated Hannukah my entire life, designing and decorating a Christmas tree has never been on my holiday agenda! So although I really wanted to try it I was slightly apprehensive.

In early October I was mapping out the last quarter of Forty 4 Change and again I came across that idea list. So before I could change my mind I called the Mental Health Foundation and expressed my interest in donating a tree. It turns out that Fred had already called and recommended me for the task so there was no turning back!

I began with drawing out the visual design I had in my head and even though I was loving that aspect of it I felt it lacked meaning....just designing a pretty tree didn't seem to be enough if it was going to be a part of Forty 4 Change. Once I had agreed to take on this act I contacted my good friend, Ray Frizzell, asking if he would like to get involved in a special project. I told him it would only require his design expertise....and possibly a shoulder to lean on as the true meaning of the tree took shape. He agreed wholeheartedly and hence began the many conversations about the then named..."Tree of Change."

I knew I wanted the tree to represent a pay it forward idea....but how? It was Ray's idea to design the tree in the notion of advent, to create 24 custom boxes, all carrying an act for the tree purchaser to do. First things first.....begin collecting decoratives for the tree! I had alot of help and education in this area. My good friend Veronica took me shopping and explained about the number of ornaments needed, something called "filler", and how many items I would realistically need for a 7 ft tree! Needless to say, I was OVERWHELMED! I had created dessert tables, invites, events, parties....all from scratch...BUT, I had NEVER created a tree!

So I called in reinforcements....and I walked into my favorite floral shop, Props Floral Design, and asked for their advice. Susan, the owner, and a huge advocate of Forty 4 Change, immediately sprang into action and committed to helping me in any way possible. She even offered the storage space next to the shop as our tree decorating location, the assistance of Ashley {creative beyond words}, and the purchase of any items in the shop at cost. I was so relieved and incredibly grateful for the support.

I began to lay awake in bed at night, virtually designing each custom box, trying to see the tree, the vision, and come up with 24 pay it forward acts to include in each box.

I think its important to outline a brief picture of what else was going on during that time. It seemed that November was the month for all the last of the projects to be executed! So there were a million details flying around in my head at all times....driving me slightly crazy! There were quick trips to London and Boston in the middle of all the chaos....and just the usual workings of everyday life to throw into the mix. SO, I took the advise of 2 extremely organized friends {thank you Megan and Becky!} and got myself some colored file folders...pretty ones of course....and set to work arranging those million details onto paper, into the folders, and out of my head!

I never worried about the design of the 24 boxes...that was my creative forte, and coming up with the 24 acts proved to be a lengthy process but a very rewarding one {more about the 24 acts to come in the last posting}. It was the designing of the tree that frightened me beyond words.

So on Thursday, November 10th, after 17 hours of work creating the 24 custom boxes, I made my way to Props for the final tree decorating. And very quickly my nerves began to settle, and I forced everyone to listen to the Glee Christmas album on repeat to keep us all in the holiday spirit!

While the tree base was being covered in birch bark and the branches of the spruce shaped into just the right form, I was busy covering the manzanita branches in spray glue and epsom salts. It was all coming together. Ray and Ashley were a huge support when it came to actually putting things on the tree....the apprehension stayed with me, I was so afraid to put something in the "wrong" place! The last step...adding the boxes. And after much debate we decided they would have to be glued onto the tree to stand the weight of their eventual contents. I made Ashley do the first box....I just couldn't bring myself to spread hot glue all over these treasures I had spent so many hours designing.

I had to fight back tears many times throughout the entire process.....all the emotions of an entire year seemed to be getting to me.

At last it was done....and except for the adhering of the topper, and the filling of the boxes, it was ready to be transported and displayed at Statement Design. Roger, owner of Statement, had willingly agreed to put the tree in their store window for the two weeks before the Festival.

In the aftermath of the tree decorating, over a coffee at The Smiling Goat, Ray and I had a chance to process all the emotions that had gone into the The Tree of Change. I mentioned in my earlier post about the tree, that this year long journey seemed to have culminated itself into the design, the acts, and the process of creating the tree. I have said many times throughout the year that this project......this crazy, fulfilling, gratifying, emotionally charging project has given back to me in a million ways I did not expect.
Ray said something to me that day that will stay with me for a long time.....

......"over the next several months and possibly years you will constantly be shown how you have changed people's lives...how the things you have done have changed the world and the impact will show itself to you in ways you will never expect."

Ray enjoys making me cry.....apparently.

The list of thank yous just keeps growing and growing, I am overwhelmed by all the amazing support for Forty 4 Change, but specifically for the making of my Tree of Change. I would most definitely NOT have been able to pull this off without Ray and Ashley! Jennifer Partridge took the most beautiful shots of the tree and its creative process, thank you for the 100th time! The encouraging text messages from friends everywhere were a huge support and the friendly drop in to check on the tree decorating process gave me the boost of confidence to finish it all! Thank you.

p.s.
The countdown is almost complete....I don't know yet what form this blog will take, but I imagine there will be more stories to tell.

{Event} Party at the Barn!

2011-12-27T00:51:00.002-04:30

Each year our children's school holds a ceilidh style "kitchen party" fundraiser. Beginning in January 2012, Armbrae Academy will be celebrating its 125th Anniversary, and when I signed on as the volunteer event coordinator for all the 125th anniversary festivities, I figured we could start a little early with the planning of the kitchen party event! Its no secret now how much I LOVE to design a dessert table for any event, but with this event I was getting to do the full meal deal....design, decor, food, etc! It was very exciting to be trusted with the task.

When I first set foot in the century old barn owned by Catherine and Alex {parents and staff at Armbrae}, it only took a few minutes for me to close my eyes and visualize the entire night unfolding...the lights...twinkling and glowing, the sounds of music, the food, and of course...the dessert table! It is a tradition to hold the kitchen party, now deemed, The Party at the Barn, in the home of parents of the school. Alex also happens to be a teacher at Armbrae and when they offered the barn as the location for this year we were incredibly thrilled!

Barb, the Director of Development for the school, was the go-to person for all things operational, thank goodness! With any event it takes a team to execute the details and certainly this was no exception. Volunteer parents came forward to offer their expertise in marketing, online registration, and helped get things off the ground with a fabulous face lift to a favorite school event. We were on our way!

Now it was time to bring all those details swirling around in my head to fruition. The number one item on my agenda was making sure we had the right food....so I turned to the person I knew would fit the bill, Dennis Johnston of FID Resto. He is a magician with food...to put it simply. And he also happens to be an alumni of Armbrae. Dennis not only agreed to do the food for the event but offered to come the night of the party and work the kitchen. He was so much fun to work with and everyone loved visiting him in the kitchen throughout the night.

Once I new that all the food was under control I focused on the dessert table and the decor.
All of my trusted contributors came through for me again {see a full list of them below} and this time I even had a new dessert guru willing to donate her amazing goodies to our event. I felt so lucky! Joanne MacLennan {Cake Poppin Fun} is a mother of five and a cake pop artist. We were introduced by a mutual friend and after speaking on the phone I knew that Joanne was a very special person. She agreed to make some extra special cake pops for the dessert table to match the theme. They not only looked amazing they were exceptionally delicious!

I wanted the barn to take on the feel of a wedding in a barn....just without the wedding. I pictured white lights everywhere! After speaking with my friend Fred and hearing about his use of white lights in a recent photo shoot I knew I could pull off the perfect tone for the evening.....all with several hundred white lights! A huge thank you to my friend Sonja for her help stringing the lights all over the barn!

Catherine and Alex have set up this amazing space to be an art studio, musical gathering place, and a place to gather friends and family. So little needed to be done to transform it into the Party at the Barn.

Catherine is a well-known Cape Breton fiddler and Nova-Scotian artist. She got to work organizing several notable fixtures on the local music scene, all drawing upon a variety of musical traditions unique to their own heritage.....including Irish, Scottish, English, Celtic and Native roots!

Her art work hung the walls of the barn and all the little details started to come together. After a trip into the downstairs storage I was given full access to anything in the barn to be used for decor....well this was a treasure waiting to be discovered! Catherine has a keen eye for old finds, turning them into useful treasures. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I brought up old wooden spools to support tubes filled with lights and hung old lanterns everywhere, giving things an illuminating glow. A few days before the event I enticed our babysitter Claire to help me with some final details. She worked tirelessly and even helped me carry up large wooden planks from the backyard to build a table!

Once again Jennifer Partridge {Partridge Photography} made her appearance to capture the true essence of the evening. It is one of her busiest times of year....so I was particularly grateful!! She even took a little extra time to give me a photography lesson in lighting.

It was an incredible night! The music was amazing, the food was delicious, and the crowd was the largest in attendance at a kitchen party yet! As part of the kitchen party tradition, every guest brings their favorite wine, beer or spirit to the party to be auctioned off later in the night in a fun and entertaining live auction {my husband kept us all entertained this year with his auctioneer antics!}.
The Party at the Barn raised thousands of dollars, all to support the amazing educational, social, and cultural aspects that make Armbrae the school that it is.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen...and for trusting me to organize it!
A huge thank you to all the contributors for the delicious dessert table!

Jenna Durling {Little Red Kitsch'n} :: oatmeal cranberry cookies

Tracey Lowe :: leaf cookies, s'mores cups

Nadine Boutilier {Femme Fondants} :: cupcakes

Joanne MacLennan {Cake Poppin Fun} :: cake pops!

Jennifer O'Connor {Forty 4 Change} :: s'mores buffet, oreo packages, chocolate chip double dipped cookies, candy jars

p.s.
With two more postings to go and a full account of The Tree of Change, its all drawing to a close.....

A Little Texas Treasure Brings Big Inspiration

2011-12-25T20:24:00.000-04:30

Early in the year we received an envelope in the mail from a small friend in Texas. Eliza is the sweet daughter of a close friend, and she had enclosed her version of Flat Stanley in the hope that we would show him around Halifax and treat him to an adventure in our winter. We were then asked to mail him back with a letter explaining all that he had experienced in our part of the world. If you haven't heard about Flat Stanley, check him out here!

We gave Flat Stanley quite a fun time! He got to visit the cranes in the harbor and he loved playing in the snow....but his favorite adventure was tobogganing!!!

We mailed Flat Stanley home to Houston warm and toasty in a Canada t-shirt!

When I was sitting down to write the letter to Eliza about all that Flat Stanley had experienced, an idea started to brew inside me. From the time that I have known Eliza I have always marveled at her gentle spirit and her kind heart. Distance keeps me from getting to know her as she grows up but whenever we see each other I am reminded again of that sweet, compassionate little girl. When Flat Stanley arrived I was in the very early stages of this Forty 4 Change project and my mind was on overdrive with creative ways to touch people in give back ventures. So I decided to solicit Eliza's help....and I enclosed a separate letter with a cheque for $100. I explained the project to her, in terms she could understand, and I asked her to help me by thinking of an organization or a group of people that could use her help. I also asked her to think about growing the money to make an even bigger difference.

Asking Eliza to help me in this project wasn't going to be a stretch for her, she comes from very charitable minded parents, has four siblings {2 of whom are adopted} and I have witnessed her caring heart. Nonetheless, I was very excited to see what she would do....

When I visited Houston in late April of this year, Eliza didn't wait long to start talking to me about her thoughts for donating to a charity. At the time she shared her desires to support something to do with adoption, or maybe help an organization their church was already supporting....what really moved me about our chat was that she was really torn about what to do and who to help. To her, this was a crucial decision. I knew after that conversation that I had chosen the perfect child to help me spread the giving a little further.

I encouraged Eliza to take her time deciding who to support {after all, she had until the end of the year}, and that quite often the opportunity will just present itself. And I think that is exactly what happened.

On a hot summer day in Halifax I received a text message from Eliza's mom, Amber, with a photo attached....in the photo sat Eliza and her brothers under a tree with their Forty 4 Change Lemonade Stand! I couldn't stop grinning that entire day...I knew that Eliza had found a way to grow that money.

In May of this year an F5 tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri, destroying nearly everything in its path and killing 160 people. Through a friend on Eliza's soccer team {originally from Joplin} she was able to donate her money to relief efforts in Missouri.

Thank you Eliza....I am so proud of you sweetie, and I am grateful for your help in giving back to people who really needed it.

p.s.

More updates to come in the last days of this project.....

Keep a Roof Over Their Heads....

2011-12-24T22:16:00.000-04:30

I first learned about the Keep a Roof Over Their Heads event through a fellow swim team parent and Chair of the YWCA, Sheri Price. She put me in contact with the YWCA Executive Director, Tanis Crosby, and a bond was formed. Tanis donated blood at my Forty 4 Change Blood Drive {read about it here} and my daughter, Fleur, gave art supplies collected at her birthday party to the HERizon program of the YWCA.

The Keep a Roof Over Their Heads event was established to raise funds and awareness for the Wish and HERizon programs run by the YWCA. I wasn't aware of these much needed programs...and I imagine many aren't aware of programs like these in their own communities.

What is WISH?
YWCA Halifax’s Women in Supported Housing Program (WISH) is a scattered supported housing program serving a maximum of 24 single women ages 19 and older who have experienced chronic homelessness. Each WISH program participant is provided a fully furnished apartment and the support they need to stay housed. The WISH program provides a variety of supports and services to the participants, such as financial management, home visitation, eviction prevention, case planning, advocacy, service navigation and 24-hour emergency on-call support.

What is HERizons?
YWCA HERizons is a supportive, affordable housing program for single mothers attending post-secondary education and serves a maximum of five women-led families. HERizons participants work cooperatively to maintain the building property, which allows them access to below-market rent and the use of free on site laundry facilities. With a continuum of support, single mothers at HERizons have a supportive culture of peers, access to 24-hour on call emergency support, advocacy and referrals, service navigation and links to parenting resource and support programs.

Participants will reach economic independence and long-term housing security. The HERizons housing program provides an immediate relief to homelessness, while increasing the capacity for the mid-to long-term prevention of homelessness among single mothers and their children.

When I learned that the YWCA was creating a special fundraiser, in the form of a breakfast, I wanted to find a way to be involved. I purchased a table for the breakfast and decided to invite individuals that I had met through the year, worked with in a give back initiative, or whom I felt had supported me in the Forty 4 Change project in a unique way.

When we entered the room to the event we were lead through re-enactments of the experiences of homelessness....it quickly set the tone for why we were there.

At every place setting there was a card meant to represent a shingle....one of the first things Tanis did was let us know what she wanted from us. The YWCA was asking that each of us commit to donating a shingle to their roof, in the form of a monthly donation, in the hopes that with enough shingles we would help to support a woman in the program escape homelessness for one more month.

When Sheri Price stood to speak, she talked about courage....and the idea that homelessness affects people from every walk of life, not just those we stereotype. It was a powerful message and brought home the realization that circumstances can lead anyone to the troubled place of homelessness.

I was all too aware of the affect the breakfast had on the guests at my table....nothing like a good cry first thing in the morning!

By the end of the breakfast, the makeshift home on the stage had a full shingled roof....

Thank you to all my special guests for attending the event, supporting Forty 4 Change, and for giving of yourselves without expecting anything in return.

p.s.

Stay tuned for the full story on the The Tree of Change and a Party at the Barn event like no other!

{Event} Handsmade for Helping - A Truly Magical Night

2011-12-24T20:31:00.000-04:30

When I met Lisa Scott 7 months ago at the SHYM Mom's Day Cabaret {read about it here}....I had no idea the light she would bring into my life and the beautiful event I would get to be a part of through Handsmade for Helping.

Lisa had purchased a custom designed dessert table as part of the silent auction for the Mom's Day Cabaret. She wanted the table for an event she was planning, all to raise money for education in Ethiopia. It is a cause very dear to her heart since she and her husband, Toby, adopted their daughter from Ethiopia in 2008.

So on November 3rd Lisa hosted Handsmade for Helping, a unique fundraiser to support children in Ethiopia through the work of the Canadian Humanitarian Organization for International Relief (CHOIR).

The event was a special holiday shopping evening where one of a kind handmade items could be purchased. Artists, potters, rug hookers, jewelers, visual artists, fibre artists and more all donated items to sell.

It was incredible to see the details fall into place as Lisa's vision began to come to life throughout the day of the event. When Lisa and I first met to plan out her special table I asked her for a color scheme I could work with and all I really wanted to know was what she hoped the feeling of the event would be....and in that brief meeting the ideas for her styled table of sweets began to keep me up at night. Lisa had such passion for this event and I was so inspired to create something to match her vision. It all began with a very special backdrop....

Since the event was being held at Alderney Landing Theatre I knew I needed something to block out the wall color! With the help of my very creative mother I settled on a backdrop with the beautifully simple painting of the event's logo, complete with an actual balloon attached to her hand. I approached our school's amazing art teacher, Cynthia Lewis, and without hesitation she agreed to adorn a canvas with a sweet version of the little girl holding the balloon. Thank you Cynthia for bringing her to life.

Saying "thank you" just doesn't seem to be enough when it comes to the incredible women who have continuously supported me with their delicious sweets and treats. Tracey Lowe, cookie artist extraordinaire, made lollipop cookies and teddy graham smores! She even came to help me put the table together the day of the event. Nadine Boutilier {Femme Fondants} offered her scrumptious snicker doodle cupcakes {a favorite of mine!} and added sweet little pink hearts to the tops. She also made an adorable cake with the logo for the event....too precious!

Jenna Durling {Little Red Kitsch'n} made tasty chocolate cupcakes in original and mini sizes, they were so delicious we all kept sampling them during the event setup! She also packaged up pink meringue kisses for guests to take home as a memento of the evening. They were so yummy!

I added my own little touch to the table with a new personal favorite.....chocolate dipped chocolate chip cookies wrapped up like little presents.

To bring all the details together I couldn't resist a request for a custom cupcake topper! Jennifer Somers-Pepler {Halcraft} has repeatedly come to my rescue with last minute designs that bring everything together. She is magical! Her sweet cupcake toppers were the perfect finishing act for the table. It takes many hands to bring a single dessert table together...including the transport of all the many props! Thank you to my friend Sonja, who made sure the very large canvas arrived in one piece, then made it back home at the end of the night.

I am grateful once again for the devotion of Jennifer Partridge...she was able to capture every detail before the event unfolded.

The pink and brown details were so perfect for the child-like feel of the event, but the real magic was in all the handmade items that artists donated to support Lisa's efforts.

With the addition of each handmade item the room began to come alive......and so did all the emotions of a fundraising effort put together from a deep passion for giving back. When I listened to Lisa speak at her event later that night, I was inspired so deeply by her dedication and obvious commitment to making a difference in the world.

She made a difference in my life....I can only imagine what she will continue to do for the children of Ethiopia. Lisa will soon be making the trip back to Ethiopia with CHOIR, to support young Ethiopians in countless ways. Her event raised over $5000, a goal she was afraid to hope for!

Thank you Lisa for letting me be a tiny part of this event.

p.s.
Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas to all! In less than a week I will be turning 41....which will officially end the Forty 4 Change project. The last 6 postings will come fast and furious as the timer ticks on....it has been quite the journey.

Giving Back Times Two!

2011-12-18T08:35:00.001-04:30

So much of this year has been about finding the organization or people in need...finding a way to make things better....reaching out to the community....and ultimately getting as many people involved in giving back as possible.

There have been many times during the year I have been told that I inspired someone to reach out or make a change in a way that they wouldn't have thought to do otherwise. Its been one of the greatest rewards of this journey. But there have been numerous individuals that I know that have made a difference too....and when they asked for my support I made sure to keep the circle going.

Have you heard of the Give to Live Foundation?

GIVE TO LIVE is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to ending unnecessary disease and illness by inspiring people to lead healthy and happy lives through exercise, altruism, and achieving the extraordinary.

“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life – happiness, freedom, and peace of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone else.” - Peyton C. March

{chad in the back row, 2nd from the left}

I first heard about Give to Live when my neighbor and avid cyclist, Chad Robertson, raised funds in 2010 by biking from Vancouver, BC to Austin, Texas (with a finish and meet up with Lance Armstrong). The 5,000 km journey helped raise $268,000 for various Cancer Research organizations in North America. After supporting Chad in his 2010 quest to raise the highest funds for the cause, it was a an absolute "yes" when he committed to doing the 2011 Give to Live cycle journey. My favorite part of Chad's fundraising efforts involved his entire family! His wife, Lisa, baked batches upon batches of chocolate chip cookies which his three children then sold to treat seekers. They only asked for a donation to their dad's cause....and no one could resist the charms of his sweet supportive children!

Thank you Chad for dedicating yourself to an incredibly worthy cause and for giving me the chance to support your "give back" initiative!

I could go on and on about all the amazing organizations I have been able to support by just clicking a button and donating online, or writing a cheque to a friend's efforts, or saying "yes" to yet another phone solicitor...here are a few from the year that stood out.

****

Show Kids You Care is a project of Trinity Global Support Foundation. Show Kids You Care, through breakfast clubs and through lunch and snack programs, helps children in serious need across Canada, regardless of race, religion, language or culture.

I first heard about Show Kids You Care when a solicitor called my house in early January. It was one of those rare moments where I struck up a conversation with the person on the other end of the phone and was surprised to hear the passion and obvious dedication she felt for the organization. It was a refreshing change from the usual script reading phone solicitor!

****

Kids Help Phone went live in May of 1989 and it has been there for kids ever since. The phone lines are available to kids, teens and young adults, from any community in Canada, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"Even though everyone needs help sometimes, stigma around mental and emotional health struggle remains strong. The threat of being judged or labeled can leave both adults and kids reluctant to seek help."

When Deanna Bailey, a member of my Bust a Move team, asked me to support her efforts to raise money and awareness through the Walk For Kids Help Phone, I had to say yes. Visit Kids Help Phone for more information about this much needed resource.

****

I have been exposed to so many organizations this year...organizations that do amazing things to help make the world a better place...one step at a time. What a privilege it has been!

p.s.
Watch for the updates on the Handsmade for Helping event and the story of a very special helping hand from a small friend in Texas.

A Day at the Spa for the SHYM Moms!

2011-12-04T23:50:00.001-04:30

It was almost a year ago that I first learned about SHYM, Supportive Housing for Young Mothers. Through our holiday give back program at our children's school, I caught my first glimpse of this unbelievable organization....a much needed resource for young mothers...and a place I knew I would want to get more involved with.

After working with Wendy Fraser, Executive Director, on the Mom's Day Cabaret {read about it here} back in May, I knew there was more I wanted to do. It was really the generous spirit of Jen Partridge, my faithful photographer, that brought the idea of a spa and photo day to light. She suggested I organize a special day for these moms, complete with some of the little luxuries in life, and she would capture the moments in black and white.

Planning proved to be a bit of a challenge...and after a few reschedules we settled on a date, only to find out the wonderful estheticians and hair stylists I had recruited had a conflict. I kept telling myself that it would all work out....it always does!

It was on a field trip to pick apples with my son's class that our special plan took the shape I had envisioned. Sitting on the bus, talking about charitable opportunities to work together, Linda Brigley {a fellow parent} and I came up with a beautiful solution. Linda is the owner of Spirit Spa, a fabulous place to experience those little luxuries. When I mentioned the trouble I was having securing the right people to make the day happen she sprung into action. I cannot thank her enough for everything the staff at Spirit Spa did to make this day incredibly special.

The moms arrived on a Sunday morning, in the pouring rain, with babies and gear in tow. Linda had secured us a large suite at the Courtyard Marriott {another special thank you} for the moms and babies to hang out, have lunch, and keep entertained while they waited their turn to be pampered with hair styling and makeup. I brought some reinforcements to help with the babies while the moms enjoyed their special treatments. My oldest daughter, Blythe, and our own babysitter, Claire, helped with feeding and holding the precious little ones.

One by one the moms got the royal treatment....I loved just standing in the salon and watching all the curling irons work their magic. I could tell that for some of these young ladies, this was an uncomfortable experience, but one they appreciated at the same time.

Once Jen Partridge arrived the photo sessions got under way....and the chaos ensued! Imagine 10 moms, 10 babies, 1 photographer, 4 helpers.....in one suite! Need I say more? Walking into that room....even with the flurry of activity.....it still put a quiet smile on my face.

What struck me on that day was the intense love I could feel between these moms and their children. I was specifically moved by one of the young moms, Hayley. Watching her eyes light up when her daughter, Kamiah, smiled at her....seeing her laugh and play on the floor with her....showing a genuine concern for her....it warmed my heart.

Jen Partridge captured the true essence of these little people....

...and their sweet smiles had me fighting back tears for most of the day!

A picture is worth 1000 words.....

Thank you to all the moms and children of SHYM for letting us be a little part of your world. We hope you will treasure the memories of this day as much as we will.

A very special THANK YOU to Jen Partridge, for capturing the beauty in these sweet families.

Thank you Blythe....I feel fortunate to have had you by my side for this special act.

p.s.
Watch for the final acts to be posted this month. Officially I am finished....but stay tuned in for the remaining updates of Forty 4 Change!

{Update} Closing in on the Goal....

2011-11-13T22:31:00.001-04:30

With 36 acts/events complete...I am nearing the end of Forty 4 Change. It is just recently that I have been struck by the impact this project has had on my life. So much is going on this month but I wanted to share a glimpse of things as this begins to wrap up....

Last week I completed part one of what will be #40....a tree for the Mental Health Foundation's Annual Festival of Trees. The "Tree of Change" is really a culmination of this year long journey of philanthropic acts. For those who have followed this project from the beginning, you know that this project was born out of a desire to give back, committing to 40 charitable events during this past year. This challenge blossomed into a journey of such personal growth, inspiration, and meaning and ultimately has given back to me in ways I never could have imagined.

For several years I have wanted to get involved with the Festival of Trees, mostly from the desire to simply design a custom tree and use my creativity. No matter our religious affiliation, the Christmas tree can be seen as an iconic symbol of giving and hope....and for me this act has become something more than just decorating a tree. It has turned into a true final act in my Forty 4 Change project. Through the 'giving back' ideas of family and friends I used the notion of Advent (thank goodness for the education from friends) and created 24 handcrafted boxes - each filled with little treats and treasures, and inspirations for 'pay it forward' acts towards the continuation of giving back in the true sense of the word.

With the incredible support of Props Floral Design and from my good friend Ray Frizzell of Statement Design, my vision for this tree has come to life. From now until November 24th The Tree of Change can be seen in the window at Statement Design in Halifax. It will then be transported to the Festival of Trees headquarters where it will be auctioned off in support of the Mental Health Foundation of Halifax.

No peeking!

Visit Statement Design to view The Tree of Change until November 24th
2534 Agricola Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Stay tuned for follow up on The Tree of Change (the creative process and all the details) and the Festival of Trees Gala.

p.s.
The SHYM spa day was a wonderful success and the Handsmade for Helping event was not only a beautiful fundraiser but it raised over $5000. More to come on both of those events and much more.

Run for The Cure With PUSH Fitness Halifax!

2011-10-28T07:04:00.000-04:30

We hoped and wished and prayed for the sun to be shining when we woke up on Sunday, October 2nd...but no such luck! It was raining....and then it was pouring...and we were all gathered at the start for the Run for The Cure! The PUSH Fitness Halifax Team rocked the run, even in the crazy rain!

For a few years now I have been working out at PUSH Fitness Halifax. Kris Andrews is simply....well, amazing at what he does! Just try to imagine an environment where no matter how hard you have to work, you still love it....pain and all. Kris has a way of getting us to get the best from ourselves. And when he throws in his incredible sense of humor, well, we have a blast....killing ourselves!

This was the second year that Kris put together a PUSH team for Run for The Cure. Last year we participated as a family and while I ran it with my two daughters (coaxing them along), my husband and my son did the shorter 1km route. This year however, everyone was determined to run the 5km run!

We huddled under umbrellas and then under cover until race start, and the next generation of PUSH clients was eager to get going! Our team had six children participate...and all six finished the 5 km run!

Ready...set....GO!!!!!!

At the start line the rain really started to come down, we laughed, we smiled, and danced to the warm up music! The less than ideal conditions were actually a good reminder for me of why we were all out for the run. The CIBC Run for the Cure takes place in over 60 communities around the country on the same day each year. Started by a group in 1992 as a way to build awareness around breast cancer research, the event has grown to raising over 33 million dollars. Running in a "little" rain felt like a small sacrifice....I am so happy my kids felt the same way!

Finish line!!!
In all my acts or events of philanthropy, I am most grateful to be able to share the experiences with my family. I was so proud of my 3 children for running this 5 km run and for remembering a special person in our lives who has survived breast cancer.
{Lynne....this one was for you}

Thank you Kris for taking the initiative to put together another PUSH Fitness Team!

p.s.
The next month is scheduled for the completion of my 40 acts. I feel a little overwhelmed but I am excited about every event! If you don't hear from me with a new posting in the next little while, its because things are a little crazy!
This Sunday, October 30th, is our special spa and photo day for the moms and babies of SHYM!
{read about our participation with SHYM here}

{Upcoming Event} Handsmade for Helping

2011-10-18T21:18:00.000-04:30

A few months ago I designed a sweet purple, black and white dessert table for the Supportive Housing for Young Mothers Cabaret night {read about it here}. Since they had a small silent auction at the event I thought it would be fun to donate a mini dessert table, hoping it might lead me to another "giving back" opportunity.

Lisa approached me that night with amazing enthusiasm for the dessert table and shared her vision for her own fundraiser to support children in Ethiopia. I was so happy when I learned she was the high bidder!

On November 3rd Lisa will be hosting Handsmade for Helping, a unique fundraiser to support children in Ethiopia through the work of the Canadian Humanitarian Organization for International Relief (CHOIR).

The event is a specail holiday shopping evening where one of a kind handmade items can be purchased. Artists, potters, rug hookers, jewlers, visual artists, fibre artists and more will be donating items to sell.

This proves to be a wonderful fundraiser.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for a donation of $25.

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
6.30 - 9.30 p.m.
Alderney Landing Theatre

I am thrilled to be designing a special dessert table for Lisa's event.
Hope to see you there!

For more information about the event, visit the website for handsmade for helping.
www.handsmadeforhelping.wordpress.com

{Giving Back} Bras Across the Bridge

2011-09-27T22:13:00.000-04:30

Imagine over 10,000 bras blowing in the breeze at 337 feet in the air....all to benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation!

Bras Across the Bridge is an initiative of C100 FM, Samuel & Co., and the Halifax Bridge Commission. For every bra donated Samuel & Co. donated $1 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. I first heard about the event when I met Moya Farrell {C100 Breakfast Club} at the Bust a Move event in March of this year. Earlier this month I asked several friends to go through their bra drawer and get rid of the old ones. Together we donated over 50 bras to Bras Across the Bridge! Thanks gals!

On Saturday, September 17th, I ventured onto the MacDonald Bridge to hang bras! I convinced my husband and three children to come and help me out. I have to confess, until that day I had never run, walked, or stood anywhere on the bridge. I drive across it often but that's a bit different in my mind. It was a beautiful crisp, sunny day but it was also very windy! I wondered about how the height and I might get along. The kids were quite the troopers, helping to attach the bras to each other and spread them out along the ropes. {They were a great distraction from my own height fears, focusing on their safety made me forget about my own.}

The bras were hung a bit high for the kids to reach but they found other ways to help too....

When we arrived at the one end of the bridge we were given the Bras Across the Bridge t-shirts to wear. The kids proudly dawned their uniforms.

Initially the kids were not super keen on walking along the bridge to hang bras. Something about the idea just did not appeal to them....there were even a few tears. But the minute we were up there they embraced the project, I was pretty impressed.

Blythe was really moved when she came across this bra with a special message written on it. Even after we had walked further along the bridge she wanted to come back and find it again. Spending the hour hanging bras had alot more impact that I initially expected it would....

We were happy to be a part of this awesome initiative.

The total raised for Breast Cancer?
$11,088!!!

p.s.
We aren't stopping at hanging bras...our family will run this weekend in the Run for the Cure!

Forty 4 Change Blood Drive - It Was in Us to Give!

2011-09-26T22:46:00.000-04:30

A few months ago I donated blood for the first time in over ten years {read about it here}. I had been contacted by Holly Sinclair, the Community Development Coordinator for Canadian Blood Services, asking if I would be willing to include blood services in my forty acts. After making my first donation, I got to work organizing the Forty 4 Change Blood Drive. My goal? Get 40 people to commit to donating blood!

Last week, people arrived throughout the day at the Blood Services Clinic to go through the process of donating their blood....or as my husband says, "giving up a pint." Some were friends, or friends of friends....

....some were people I have met through this project...

...some were senior students from the school our children attend....

but no matter who they were, they were there to give blood!

When I started organizing this blood drive I realized pretty quickly how personal the topic of giving blood can be.
I came across so many people who would have loved to donate but just couldn't....they lived in Europe for an extended period of time, they had low iron, they faint easily! Even some of the forty who committed and came to donate weren't allowed to for various reasons. I was just so grateful that so many were willing to come and try!

When I was researching an organization for my daughter to donate art supplies to for her birthday {read about it here}, I was connected with Tanis Crosby, Executive Director of the YWCA. When Tanis and I were corresponding I casually asked her if she would donate blood at my upcoming blood drive. She didn't hesitate to commit....but not without telling me that she has a difficult time with the sight of blood! I made sure I was still at the clinic when Tanis came in for her scheduled time. I was really impressed that she was willing to do it! And after her little recovery and a delicious cookie, she proudly wore her "1st Time Donor" sticker. Thank you Tanis!

Jenna Durling {Little Red Kitsch'n}, Tracey Lowe, and Nadine Boutilier {Femme Fondants} sponsored the sweet cookie table. Everyone knows that after you give blood you have to have a cookie...so I made sure we had the very best! Tracey crafted a "blood drop" cookie and Jenna made her signature hearty oatmeal cranberry treat. Nadine made the beautiful center piece for the table, and the staff was very disappointed to find out the cake wasn't real!

This was yet another wonderful project to be involved in, and hearing so many people tell me that they wouldn't stop giving blood made it all so worthwhile! As always, my family was on hand for support. My three children were keen to walk around offering cookies to the evening group and providing moral support to anyone who might need it.....including Daddy!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Blood Drive!

A special thank you to Jen Partridge for capturing all the special moments of the day. My amazing graphic designer, Jennifer Somers-Pepler, comes to my rescue over and over again...thank you.

p.s.
33 acts complete....watch for news on upcoming events!

{Party} A Vintage Shabby Chic Garden Party to Help HERizons

2011-09-25T22:01:00.002-04:30

I feel like I need to start this by saying how fortunate I feel to have been able to create this very special birthday party for my daughter, using my passion for styling, and supporting an organization that gives so much to women and children {HERizons}. Every detail of this event was a labor of love, and I could not be happier with how it all turned out! Even though I love photographing and I was able to capture some wonderful shots, I am so grateful that Jen of Partridge Photography was willing to come at the last minute and capture all the details!

Just a warning though.....you might want to get a snack and get comfortable, it's a long one!

I told my daughter, Fleur, that this year I would do a special themed birthday party for her. When we travelled together to Montreal this summer we talked a lot about ideas, colors, details, and entertainment for the party. Fleur has her own ideas about things, so it was tricky at times to get her to buy into MY vision! Last year I had come across a guest feature submission on the fabulous Amy Atlas blog and I instantly fell in love! The Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice styled photo shoot had me so inspired, and I knew that I wanted to create something beautiful with all that inspiration.

A Shabby Chic theme can leave a lot to the imagination, but I had a vision of a vintage bird cage, lots of fabric and ribbons, antique cake stands and a garden oasis! More important than all the details was the menu and food entertainment we created for the party.

I remember as a child my mom doing a party themed around American history. It may not sound very interesting but it still ranks as one of my all time favorite parties she ever threw for us! The fun was all in the menu! When I told Fleur about the idea she loved it and I got to work creating a similar "game" for her Vintage Shabby Chic Garden party {my mom and dad were a huge help with this one!}

The girls arrived and sat at their special places at the patio table. After a toast with some bubbly.....juice, they were each given a handmade chalkboard. On the menu in front of them was a list of 13 food items, each given a special cryptic name themed around the party. They could order 3 courses at once: appetizer, entree and dessert. In each course they could choose three items from the menu. We encouraged them to try and figure out what the menu items might be but told them that they may end up getting a portion of a dessert item with an appetizer! It was so fun to hear them laugh about the names of the food. "Bird Poop" had them all intrigued and although they were hesitant, some of the girls ordered it for their first course.....much to their delight! It was a glorious treat of whipped cream! {it was meant to compliment the stack of mini waffles and fresh berries, but of course some of the girls just ate it by it self}

Once again Jenna of the Little Red Kitsch'n helped me out with delicious little sandwiches, spinach filo bundles, veggies and dip, and amazing pie pops! They were such a wonderful compliment to the other menu items.

For 10 little eight year olds to sit patiently for an hour and a half, we knew they were being well entertained. From the kitchen we could hear them chatting about school, teachers, friends and everything in between.

When I first started planning the details of this party I asked Fleur for her input...on colors, design, desserts, etc. She was very clear about what she wanted and was always careful not to "hurt my feelings." It was no different when she informed me that she did not want to receive gifts, instead she wanted her guests to bring art supplies so that she could donate them to children who didn't have any. I got to work researching and was lead to Tanis Crosby, the Executive Director of the YWCA. She let us know about HERizons, a supportive housing group to support single mothers pursuing post secondary education. She was thrilled that Fleur wanted to share her birthday with the children living in this program!

Its no secret that I love styling parties, but with the added bonus of supporting an organization that has grown by leaps and bounds in the past five years, it makes every tiny detail even sweeter.

At first I thought I needed a custom design for all the paper details for the party but quickly realized that the sweet pastels in the Tomkat Studio Flower Garden Party Collection were perfect.

The birthday banner, cupcake toppers, and party welcome sign {Tomkat Studio} were the perfect compliment to the rest of the shabby chic party colors.

As I have mentioned many times in previous posts, I can get pretty carried away when planning any special event. Every time I step into a store I see something that would compliment the party and everything becomes a "must have!" So much of what I loved about this shabby chic theme was the use of things I already had at home. The vintage chalkboard came from Fleur's bedroom, and it didn't even occur to me until I found myself searching online for an antique chalkboard! I loved using my grandmother's antique cake stands and dessert plates, it gave a real touch to that vintage feeling. The side table and mini bicycle were also fixtures from Fleur's room and bathroom and even the beachcomber bike resting in the garden was borrowed from a friend.

I love Props Floral Design {my favorite local flower shop!}. Ashley put together simple garden stakes and connected the round twig balls and ribbons and flowers to set such a beautiful mood around the garden.....

.....the rose petals along the walkway were one of my favorite little touches!

I knew I wanted the party to encompass the entire backyard and that meant several little staging areas. Our outdoor sectional was pushed together on the patio, covered with white quilts and fabulous pillows and served as a fun place for the girls to hang out and giggle! Pink paper lanterns hung everywhere and flowers and ribbon adorned every surface.

My older daughter and her friend wanted a little place they could do hair wraps for the party guests, and when I found the rod iron table and chairs I knew they would be perfect!

When I imagined the backyard it wouldn't have been complete without the styled lunch table! I had imagined burlap, ribbons.....lots and lots of ribbon, and fabric. The centre burlap table runner and ribbons was a favorite inspiration from the Sugar and Spice photo shoot. I searched high and low for an antique bird cage....I couldn't stop picturing shabby chic as a white washed bird cage with a swinging cupcake inside! I never found the bird cage but when I spotted the vintage dress form I KNEW it was a close second, and I was still able to make a mini swing inside for a tasty cupcake to swing back and forth!

After seeing the amazing fabric bunting in the Sugar and Spice shoot I was dying to try it out. Surprisingly, I was able to to use all the fabric pieces from my collection in my craft room. Keeping all those chunks of leftover fabric suddenly proved to be a great idea! I absolutely love how it turned out and it served as a beautiful backdrop for the dessert table set up on the deck.

The many sepia pictures I strung across the patio were a sweet display of Fleur's life. The girls had fun trying to figure out how old she was in each of the photographs.

When it came time to plan the dessert table Fleur knew exactly what she wanted! She chose the Martha Stewart inspired ruffle cake {Femme Fondants}, an assortment of flower iced cupcakes, and macaroons. Since popcorn is a favorite treat I made sure her table had some of the sweet and salty stuff! Making the popcorn cones from scratch initially proved to be a challenge but with the help of a friend we turned wrapping paper and kraft paper into adorable cones! Thank you Heather!

I found adorable colored glass preserves mason jars for the favors and each girl went home with a monogrammed ceramic ball, a beautiful cookie by Tracey Lowe, and whatever else Fleur could fill their jar with from the treats on the dessert table.

This party was such an intense labor of love, and not just for the details I love creating....but for knowing that Fleur cared so much about sharing her birthday with children she didn't even know. When everyone had gone home and the backyard was cleaned up, Blythe and Fleur sat and unwrapped each gift of art supplies. Their excitement grew with every glue stick, sketch pad, paint brush, craft kit, glitter paint, colored pencil....but what amazed me most was how happy they were that a child would get to use the supplies. They imagined out loud what the little boy or little girl would make with these "amazing art supplies."

Thank you darling Fleur, for showing me the true meaning of giving.

A special thank you to all of Fleur's friends for their generosity in supporting HERizons.

p.s.
Much to my amazement, Fleur's party will soon be featured on The TomKat Studio website!
Stay tuned for postings on the Forty 4 Change Blood Drive {a huge success!}, Bras Across the Bridge, and much more.