Photo from White Rock Modern Home Tour by Ema Peter Photography - www.emapeter.com

On Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, the third annual Vancouver Modern Home Tour and first-ever White Rock Modern Home Tour will take place in one weekend. Both are featured events in Western Living Magazine’s Design Week, and will give residents of British Columbia the rare opportunity to visit and walk-through some of the most amazing modern private residences, and meet the local architects behind the designs.

Modern Home Tours LLC is returning to British Columbia for a full weekend of modern home and architecture exploration. During the 3rd Annual Vancouver Modern Home Tour on Saturday, September 19th, attendees will have the opportunity to explore seven modern homes in the Vancouver area that exemplify modern architecture and living. The following day, Sunday, September 20th, five homes in the small coastal towns of White Rock and Surrey will open their doors for the first-ever White Rock Modern Home Tour.

Photo from Vancouver Modern Home Tour  by Jason Wexler & Clint Clarke

Participating homes in the 2015 Modern Home Tour will open their doors for viewing from 11AM – 5PM on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20, in and around Vancouver (19th) and White Rock (20th). Tickets for the tour are $30 in advance online or $45 on the day of the tour - a combo ticket is also available for purchase. Kids under 12 are FREE when accompanying their parents.

Photo from Vancouver Modern Home Tour by Eric Scott Photography

The 3rd Annual Vancouver Modern Home Tour participants include:

1. In the heart of downtown Vancouver’s West End, visit a 1,000 sq. ft. condo, recently gutted and brought back to life by One SEED Architecture + Interiors. Influenced by the character and materials of a converted New York City loft, the floor plan was renovated to create an open concept design, where spaces are defined by colour, lighting, and design accents, in lieu of walls and doors.
2. Lanefab Design/Build is showcasing their “Two Birds” Lane House, located in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood. The laneway house is unique in that the relatively large lot allowed the small home to be designed with two separate wings: a living/dining space with a guest bedroom, and a separate master suite separated by a small pocket garden. The project uses super insulated walls and triple glazed windows, and features reclaimed beams for the structure.
3. LCI Design invite visitors to see a major renovation and update to a 1960′s Lewis Post and Beam house located in West Vancouver. The owners were compelled to maintain as much of the original mid-century charm of the house as possible, but at the same time give it a contemporary update. A major component of the renovation was the transformation of the existing dirt-floor basement into an additional living area for a young family, which can be converted into a rental suite in the future.
4. Located in the “Little Australia” neighbourhood of the UBC endowment lands in Vancouver, this home designed designed by Frits de Vries and built by Natural Balance Home Builders is a response to its build site: the roof alludes to the stunning mountain view, while the plan addresses the view of downtown Vancouver and then fans out to address the street at the front entry porch. The home internalizes the geological forces of the primeval place, revealing the strength underlying the structure of Vancouver.
5. In North Vancouver, visit the “Cliffhanger Residence” designed by Kevin Vallely that is situated on the steep south facing slopes of North Vancouver’s Indian Arm. This boldly modern three-level home with a surprisingly tiny footprint sits atop a tiny site - a mere 25ft wide by 100ft long that drops nearly 60ft over its 100ft length. As a result, the home is laid out on a simple open plan and is designed to be efficient and multi-functional with no space going unused.
6. Located around the corner from the Cliffhanger House is a home built by Wheeler Developments and designed by Schema Designs. This brand new home exemplifies West Coast Modernity while perfectly reflecting its natural environment, by using green building practices and finishing materials sourced from its immediate surroundings. Interior features include vaulted ceilings, an open main floor plan with a floating fir and metal staircase, and a custom fir millwork kitchen. The exterior features include a massive granite chimney and a detached 3-car garage.
7. Finally, visit a renovation project, designed by Wexler Architecture, that added 1,000sf to an existing bungalow-style home in North Vancvouer and replaced the existing roof structure with a heavy timber vaulted glulam roof assembly. The exterior siding, windows and main floor walls were all completely replaced to allow for a spacious, open plan living space, modern master and 2 additional bedrooms. The home now features energy star windows, rain screen construction and large opening nana walls and windows for cross ventilation and indoor outdoor living.

Photo from White Rock Modern Home Tour by Ema Peter Photography - www.emapeter.com

The premier White Rock Modern Home Tour participants include:

1. Overlooking Semiahmoo Bay in White Rock, “Galadriel” is a refined, modern home with the warmth and strength inherently found in West Coast architecture. Textures of natural stone, Douglas fir, glass and steel unify the interior with its geographical setting – surrounded by evergreens and unrestricted views of the ocean. This home reflects a successful collaboration between Peter Hildebrand and Stefan Walsh of Iredale Group Architecture and KBC Developments.
2. In an idyllic beach community in Surrey, visit a modern family home filled with both playful and functional spaces. “Vidro Do Mar” is a result of a collaborative effort between KBC Developments, Concept to Design Inc., and the client. Natural light reflects throughout and oversized openings allow for movement to the outdoor spaces, while custom millwork completes the kitchen with concealed appliances, and creates a space well suited for entertaining.
3. A second KBC Developments and Concept to Design collaboration, located in White Rock, is well-known to architecture fans and residents in the area as the “Wave House.” Situated on a challenging sloped lot, an elegant and modern home was achieved with expansive and serene views of the ocean, and spaces outdoors that incorporate water and fire elements. Inside, each floor, named Sand, Sea, Surf and Sky, is connected by a floating walnut staircase and an elevator concealed by walnut paneling in the entrance.
4. Visit a mid-century inspired home in a neighbourhood by Kwomais Point in Surrey, designed by Brad Martin of Treeline Construction Limited. Built in 2013, the owners wanted a home that reflected their casual lifestyle. The result: floor to ceiling glass and a retracting wall of doors integrates indoor-outdoor living; post and beam ceilings and oversized doorways create a spacious feel, while concrete floors and sturdy hand built furniture perfectly suit the family’s casual life style.
5. Also in White Rock, visit the “OShaun” house (pronounced ‘ocean’), a name derived from a combination of the owner’s names. Designed by Owen and Shauna Poppy of Surfside Construction, the home features amazing views of the bay and is filled with plenty of natural light. The home is a cumulative combination of ideas and materials born from 5 decades of living on and around Semiahmoo Bay and the joy of living a wonderful life together.

Event Details

2015 Vancouver (B.C) Modern Home Tour

DATE: Saturday, September 19
TIME: 11:00am – 5:00pm
COST: $30 Online in advance, $45 Day of
LOCATIONS:

TRANSPORTATION: Self-driving, Self-paced

2015 White Rock Modern Home Tour

DATE: Sunday, September 20
TIME: 11:00am – 5:00pm
COST: $30 Online in advance, $45 Day of
LOCATIONS:

TRANSPORTATION: Self-driving, Self-paced


For details on participants and to buy tickets, visit:
http://modernhometours.com/event/2015-vancouver-b-c-modern-home-tour 
http://modernhometours.com/event/2015-white-rock-b-c-modern-home-tour

Giveaway!

Modern Home Tours has generously offered my readers a chance to win tickets to the Vancouver Modern Home Tour happening on Sept 19th AND optional upgrade for the White Rock Modern Home Tour on Sept 20th! Just do any or all of the following:

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The giveaway will end on September 17th, 2014 11:59pm and the winner will be notified the following day. Good luck!

Tea is one of the hottest food trends around and has become a sought-after drink for Canadians. At Tea Sparrow’s first annual Iced Tea-Off on Sunday July 19 at Heritage Hall in Vancouver, enthusiasts of all ages can satisfy their cravings by sampling from and scoring 16 different iced loose leaf teas from Germany, Canada, and the U.S.A.

 “This is going to be an incredibly exciting and interactive event. Where else do you get to try every tea on display, score card it, and have your opinions help shape and change the flavour of the industry?”, says Tea Sparrow Co-Founder Michael Menashy. Each tea has passed a rigorous quality and taste control test and established itself as a favourite among Tea Sparrow’s global members.

At this iced tea party, you will be able to try every single tea that has been jury-approved for quality and taste and chosen for this fest because it’s one of our members’ favourites. Taste and vote for your favourites. You will also be able to purchase the various flavours, or become monthly subscribers by building a first box of four teas at a 40% discount. Tea Sparrow is North America’s first monthly tea club and critiquing company, endorsed by some of the world’s leading Tea Sommeliers. Each month, members sample high-quality and chemical-free teas from blenders, and review on taste. Only the top-rated ones make it into the monthly Tea Box sent to subscribers. Over 700 people attended Tea Sparrow’s First Annual Tea-Off on October 26, 2014.

Event details: 

Date: Sunday, July 19, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Venue: Heritage Hall at 3102 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G7

Tickets are 2 for $10 for adults in advance or $10 at the door, and free for children 12 and under.

Social media:
Facebook: Facebook.com/TeaSparrow
Twitter: @TeaSparrow
Hashtag: #IcedTeaOff
YouTube: YouTube.com/TeaSparrow

Video about Tea Sparrow: https://youtu.be/q-5zqpjeR7Y

More information and tickets can be found at www.teasparrow.com/festival.

Contest:

Enter for a chance to win two tickets to Tea Sparrow’s first annual Iced Tea-Off!

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Italian Day, Vancouver’s largest cultural street festival, is returning to Commercial Drive on Sunday, June 14, 2015. Now into its sixth year, Italian Day celebrates more than 50 years of Italian heritage in Vancouver, bringing together the best that Italy has to offer in our own backyard. This year’s festival puts a special focus on Italian ART, with pre-event showcases of Italian film and painting, and breathtaking examples of Italian design, music, theatre, food, crafts and activities throughout the event!

Event:
Italian Day on The Drive

When:
Sunday, Jun 14, 2015
12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Where:
Commercial Drive (all festivities positioned along The Drive from Venables to Grandview Cut)

Kicking off the cultural celebration this year is an all-new Italian Day Film Festival, which will present eight classic Italian films at the Rio Theatre, along with a free outdoor screening June 5 at the Italian Cultural Centre (Beaconsfield Park).

ALL-NEW this year is a special Vancouver Art Gallery exhibit leading up to the event! Of Heaven and Earth: 500 Years of Italian Painting from Glasgow Museums is an exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery, organized by the American Federation of Arts and Glasgow Museums, in collaboration with Italian Day cultural partner the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver, giving viewers an immersive Italian ART experience from the Middle Ages to modern times starting June 12.

For more information on the events leading up to Italian Day, visit italianday.ca.

New and exciting activities for Italian Day 2015 include:

• All-new third stage at Grandview Park, boasting Italian martial arts demonstrations by Blood and Iron, improv by Theatre Temp from Templeton Secondary School, Marionette Puppet Shows, music performances and Italian-inspired contests that will be fun for the whole family! 
• Special appearances by actor Antonio Cupo on 2nd Ave (main stage), famous for his roles in both Italian and American films, and exciting music programming by Il Centro on Grant Stage, featuring the Cory Weeds quartet, opera, theatre, jazz, and much more! 
• Fashion show starring Italian fashion designer Rocco Adriano Galluccio, who has appeared in magazines like Vogue and Elle, and RozeMerie Cuevas, one of Vancouver’s most tenured designers, paired with ‘Made in Italy’ shoes provided by long time Drive merchant, Kalena’s Shoes & Accessories 
• Family-friendly fun with the Little Italy Kids Zone in Grandview Park, the Whitecaps/BMO Fun Zone, and the Car2Go sponsored Bocce Court 
• A special interactive photo-art project presented by the Britannia Community Centre in celebration of Italian ART
• Out-of-this-world raffle prizes including a trip for two to Italy, courtesy of Da Vinci Travel, and a Motorino electric scooter, with partial proceeds going to Theatre Temp, supporting youth mentorship through film and theatre

Back by popular demand are performances by City Opera Vancouver and Vancouver Opera, Italian folkloric choirs, traditional Famee Furlane dancers from the Friuli region of Italy, and performances by showman Federico Fuoco & Fire as well as international singer/songwriter Carmelina Cupo.

As always, there will be food, displays and shopping to satisfy your craving for everything Italian including over 100 merchants and guest vendors, a line up of food trucks and carts, more than 20 restaurant patios and an array of things to see from Italian honey bees to classic cars and motorcycles. New this year is the Flavours of Little Italy on The Drive Passport (found in Il Giornale, the Italian Day event magazine to hit the streets the week of May 19), which offers a discount on unlimited purchases throughout the whole month of June at some of the Drive’s best Italian-owned treasures (not valid Italian Day).

For more information on what’s new at Italian Day, visit www.italianday.ca

On Twitter: @ItalianDay #ItalianDay #ART

TICKET GIVEAWAY

Want to win a pair of tickets to see the Of Heaven and Earth exhibit once it opens on June 12 ($45 value)? I'll select a winner on Wednesday, June 10th and notify the winner by email. Good luck!

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Traveling usually means turning off mobile data on my phone so I won't be charged an arm and a leg for roaming fees by my phone company. That need not happen anymore - I have found a solution to keeping me connected while in the US: Roam Mobility, a prepaid wireless service for Canadians traveling to the states.

There are 3 daily plans for USA roaming starting at only $1.95 per day:

• Text+Data CA$1.95 per day
• Talk+Text CA$2.95 per day
• Talk+Text+Data CA$3.95 per day

I flew to Los Angeles in the first week of April and signed up for the Talk+Text+Data plan for 8 days, which included unlimited calls to Canada and the US. The great thing about Roam Mobility is that you get all your data up front. You get 400MB of data for each day purchased, so 3.2 GB was plenty for an 8 day trip!

To use Roam Mobility, you will need:

1. Unlocked mobile phone, and
2. Roam Mobility SIM card, which can be bought online or at many local retailers such as London Drugs, Superstore, 7 Eleven and Staples. It costs $9.95 and looks like this: 

I like how the SIM comes with an "adaptor", which allows you to use it in all type of phones!
It is very easy to set up the SIM to work with your current phone.  You just need to activate your SIM card online, which then generates a US phone number for your use. What was weird was a stranger’s name showed up in caller ID. The number must have been in use previously. This certainly confused my relatives when I called them! But this was a minor hiccup.

Prior to traveling, select the plan you want and the number of days you need service for, including the start date. When you are in the US, pop in the SIM and you will automatically be connected directly to Roam Mobility's US network thereby eliminating any roaming fees! Hurray!

When I was in Los Angeles, I was relying solely on mobile data as the Wi-Fi on my mobile device was not working at all. Roam Mobility made it easy to check email, make updates on my social media accounts and access apps like Uber and Google maps. If it weren't for Roam Mobility, I wouldn't have been able to call for an Uber and would have been stranded at Disneyland...not that being stranded at Disneyland would be so bad! I’m very dependent on data day to day, especially when traveling out of the country. How else was I supposed to find how to walk from the hotel to the nearest attraction? Roam Mobility's coverage was excellent. I was even able to get a signal when I went to Paso Robles for a wedding, farther out in California.

Roam Mobility was very easy to use and such a convenience since you can do everything yourself, without having to add upgrades to your existing phone plan. Phones are also available to buy for $49.95 if you don’t have an unlocked phone.

Are you traveling to the US soon? Want a chance to win a Roam Mobility Breeze USA Travel Phone with a SIM card and 7 days of unlimited USA talk and text? Roam Mobility is giving a prize bundle to one lucky winner each week until May 15, 2015 - so there are four Breeze Phone prize packs up for grabs. Enter for your chance to WIN now!

Roam Mobility Breeze Phone & 7 Days of Unlimited USA Roaming Giveaway


Disclosure: Roam Mobility covered the cost of the talk+text+data plan for the 8 days I was in the US. I bought SIM card myself. No other compensation was received. The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any other way.

Jelani Remy as “Simba” and the ensemble in “He Lives in You” from THE LION KING National Tour. ©Disney. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

More than 75 million people around the world have experienced the phenomenon of Disney’s THE LION KING, and now you can, too, when Vancouver’s best-loved musical returns to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for an exclusive 4 -week run beginning Thursday, June 18, 2015 and playing through Sunday, July 12, 2015.

In its 18th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 22 global productions have been seen by more than 75 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 112 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years.

THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

Meet the Lions of THE LION KING:

©Disney. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Simba
Meaning: lion (Swahili)
Species: Lion
Only son of Mufasa, the King of the Pride Lands and ruler of Pride Rock, he is adventurous and mischievous and can't wait to be king!

©Disney.  Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Nala
Meaning: gift (Swahili—dubious)
Species: Lion
Best friend of Simba and partner in crime, Nala is just as bit of adventurous and mischievous as Simba.

©Disney.  Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Mufasa
Meaning: none
Species: Lion
The regal king of the Pride Lands and ruler of Pride Rock. He tries to teach his son Simba how to be a wise and responsible future king.

©Disney.  Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Scar
Meaning: none
Species: Lion
Mufasa's younger brother, who resents being second. Scar secretly plots to take over the throne.

Discover your inner Lion King and win tickets to Disney's THE LION KING in Vancouver!

Broadway Across Canada is generously giving away a pair of tickets to one of my readers for the THE LION KING performance on Thursday, June 18th at 7:30pm held at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver! Here's how you can enter:


Giveaway closes on Monday, April 27th at 5:00pm. A winner will be drawn and notified via email and have 48 hours to respond, otherwise another winner will be drawn. Good luck!

If you don't win, tickets to the THE LION KING are on sale online or by calling 1-855-985-5000. Tickets start at $35.00 (plus applicable service charges).

Healthy Family Expo 2015 showcases best of healthy, active, eco-friendly family life


I'm giving away two adult tickets to the Healthy Family Expo! You have until Friday to enter and I'll notify the winner on the same day.
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Discover sausages, beer, Top Chefs and gluten free living at the 7th annual Fraser Valley Food Show on Friday, October 3th to Sunday, October 5th, 2014!  The Fraser Valley Food Show is showcasing the magic of food and cooking at the Tradex Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford, BC. Experience food both local and international, celebrity chef demonstrations, cooking competitions, sausage making competitions, cheese and wine seminars, Bite of the Valley participating restaurants and the Grapes and Hops wine/beer/spirits tasting pavilion.

New feature at this year's show:  

• Butcher’s Showcase Stage, presented by BC Pork and Passion for Pork. Butchers from all over B.C. will demonstrate the art of meat cutting, sausage making, knife skills, and more. Presentations will take place throughout the weekend.

Notable things at the show: 

• Great Canadian Sausage Making Competition - The 3rd Great Canadian Sausage Making Competition takes centre stage at the Fraser Valley Food Show again on October 4th. Dozens of professional sausage makers from all over the province will have over a hundred sausage entries in a dozen categories ranging from chorizo to bratwurst.

• Gluten Free Living Show - The 2nd Gluten Free Living Show within the 7th annual Fraser Valley Food Show is presented by Nature's Path Foods. Candice Macalino of Nature's Path and Adam Hart, author of The Power of Food, will present their winning gluten-free recipes on the Gusto TV Celebrity Cooking Stage. Show will highlight gluten-free products from manufacturers and a wide range of food producers. Guests can discover, taste, learn from, and buy these hard-to-find items.

•  Gusto TV Celebrity Cooking Stage - Meet Lower Mainland’s favourite food personalities including Chef Ned Bell Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, including YEW seafood + bar!

•  The Bite of the Valley - Taste menu selections from some of the Lower Mainland’s favourite restaurants for $1 to $6.00 per portion. 2014 participants include: An Indian Affair Restaurant, Old Country Pierogi (Food Truck), Poomba's Smokehouse (Food Truck) and Over The Top turkey (Food Truck).

Attendees will also enjoy offerings from over 100 food and beverage exhibitors, and participate in the other featured areas:

• Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting Pavilion
• Grapes & Hops Presentation Stage
• Dairy Farmers of Canada Cheese Seminars

Event details 

When:
Friday October 3, 2-9pm;
Saturday October 4, 10-8pm;
Sunday October 5, 10-5pm

Where: TRADEX Trade & Exhibition Centre,
1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6H5

Tickets:
$9 adults ($7 online),
$7 seniors,
$5 youth aged 13-16,
Free for kids 12 & under

Information and tickets: www.fraservalleyfoodshow.com

Giveaway!

Fraser Valley Food Show has generously offered my readers a chance to win 2 tickets to the show! Giveway ends on Sunday, Sept 28 at 11:59pm. The tickets will be held for the winner to pick up at the Tradex Centre. Good luck!

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Photo from Vancouver Modern Home Tour

Back for its second year, the Vancouver Modern Home Tour aims to inspire and delight the architect in you on Saturday, September 20th, 2014, as part of Western Living Magazine’s Design Week. Ever wonder how 'that unique, cool house you always drive by' looks on the inside? This tour will give you that rare opportunity to visit and walk-through some of the Vancouver’s, most amazing modern private residences, and meet the local architects behind the designs.

Photo from Vancouver Modern Home Tour

Six of the area’s most amazing modern homes have been confirmed for the 2014 Vancouver Modern Home Tour.  Participating architects and featured locations include:

• A home designed by architect Oliver Lang (of Lang Wilson Practical in Architecture) and built by the Vanglo Sustainable Construction Ltd., located in the Mt. Pleasant area of town, that features a three-bedroom house above a one bedroom self-contained garden suite (below), and a mid-sized flex room equipped to be a either a media room, office, storage, yoga studio, suite extension (second bedroom), or car garage.

• The Shaughnessy home of architect David Thom (of IBI Group Inc.) and interior designer Juli Hodgson (of Hodgson Design Associates), which sits on a steep lot that offers unique perspectives of the outdoor elements from inside the house through large windows and sliding glass doors on the first floor and breathtaking vistas of the mountains and  the ocean from the second floor.

• A home by Frits de Vries Architect Ltd. near Valdez Park in Dunbar that features both downtown and mountain views from the front of the house, with a private garden and entertaining patio in the rear, and a rooftop deck that offers the inhabiting family an outdoor living experience with a large seating area and hot tub.

• A home right across from Kitsilano Beach Park originally built in 1910 and recently lifted and completely overhauled   by Kelly Deck Deign into a contemporary beach house with two suites - one executive rental and one owner- occupied loft style unit on the upper floors.

• A second home from Frits de Vries Architect Ltd., located right in the heart of West Vancouver, that is organized around a feature interior double-height division, bisecting social and family areas, keeping the home’s private and public spaces separate.

• A West Vancouver home designed by Peter Hildebrand (of Iredale Group Architecture) that features stunning views over Vancouver and Mount Baker beyond, and makes excellent use of natural light penetrations, thanks in part to an oversized skylight located above the two-story main entrance.

• A home in West Vancouver’s Eagle Harbor, originally built in 1978, but recently re-designed, decorated and   inhabited by Anja Henche of ah-design, which features very open and bright interiors that male the very square, tall   home’s owner feel like living in a large treehouse.

Photo from Vancouver Modern Home Tour

Participating homes in the 2014 Vancouver Modern Home Tour will open their doors for viewing from 11AM – 5PM on  Saturday, September 20th, in the Vancouver area. Tickets for the tour are $30 in advance online or $40 on the day of the tour. Kids under 12 are FREE when accompanying their parents. Tickets will be available for pickup at three homes on the day of the event:
135 East 17th Avenue, V5V 1A5 (Vanglo Sustainable Construction Group Ltd.) 
3140 West 23rd Avenue, V6L 1P6 (Frits de Vries Architect Ltd.) 
2049 Gordon Avenue, V7V 1V8 (Frits de Vries Architect Ltd.)

For more details, to see a current roster of homes with details and photos, and to buy tickets for the CITY Modern Home Tour, visit: http://modernhometours.com/event/vancouver-modern-home-tour.

Event Details

DATE: Saturday, September 20, 2014
TIME: 11:00am – 5:00pm
COST: $30 Online in advance, $40 Day of
LOCATION:
135 East 17th Avenue,
1114 Hillside Road,
1316 Arbutus Street,
5768 Primrose Place,
3140 West 23rd,
5012 Marguerite Street,
2049 Gordon Ave.
TRANSPORTATION: Self-driving, Self-paced

Giveaway!

Modern Home Tours has generously offered my readers a chance to win tickets! We're giving away TWO pairs of tickets!

The giveaway will end on September 18th, 2014 11:59pm and the two winners will be notified the following day. Good luck!

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Christmas is right around the corner and it's never too early to go shopping! Happening on November 22 to 24 at the Abbostford Tradex Centre, the West Coast Christmas Show & Marketplace is Western Canada’s leading holiday season show that brings together holiday gifts, fancy foods, personal services, decor ideas, festive seminars and culinary presentations under one roof.

Conscious Public Relations Inc.

Listen to holiday-themed music performed live on the sounds of Holidays stage while you peruse the 200+ exhibitors in the marketplace.

Food exhibitors and presenters include Brian Misko, House of Q, Cabin Fever Sweet Sensations, Checkers Premium Fudge, The Chef Nose Spices, Clearbrook Coffee Co., Coconama, Chocolate Cooking Essence, Damiani Fine Foods, Edible Gardens, Epicure Selections, Flavors of the Med, Jump Up and GoGo, Kidd Brothers Honey Processors & Western Sage Honey, Make Cheese Inc., Mr. Mom's World Omega Crunch, Serengeti Tea Canada, Simply Delish Soup & Salad Co., Spiceworks Food Creations, Sundance Seafood, Sunset Gourmet Food Co., Sweet Thea Cakes & Honeybread Cookies by Renata, Tea Sparrow, Trugs Gourmet Foods, Wineland Dressings, Auntie Kim's Better Bickies, Dan D Foods, European Foods (Candy Meister), Federation of Pugliese Social Clubs of BC, Kitchening & Co., L.B. Emporium and Living Lotus Food & Nutrition Inc. (plant-based desserts).

Designers and other speakers will also be present on how to create dramatic wreaths and festive table or hearth-decorating ideas on the Home of the Holidays Stage. Also on stage are numerous talented local chefs who will offer great ideas for your holiday cooking including celebrity chef Anna Olson from the Food Network Canada. Canadian Dairy Farmers will hosting their very popular cheese tasting seminars at the show!


Looking for the big man himself? Get photos with Santa Claus and one with your pet as well! Bring your pets for professional pictures with Santa (Pets may only come in for pictures at posted times and then must be removed from the show building due to health regulations, and sorry, no snakes or reptiles)

Conscious Public Relations Inc.

The Fraser Valley Model Club will be on hand with interesting displays of many of their model creations.  They will also be holding a 'make and take' of airplane and car models for children aged 8 and older for FREE! And don't forget to ride on the new Christmas Train, looking at Fraser Valley G Scale‘s steam-operated train!

Conscious Public Relations Inc.

And be prepared to be wowed by the display of fully decorated Christmas trees in the Festival of Trees competition!

Conscious Public Relations Inc.

Event Info

Hours: 
Friday, November 22, 11am-9pm
Saturday, November 23, 10am – 6pm
Sunday, November 24, 10am – 5pm

Location:
Abbotsford TRADEX Centre, 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6H5


Interested? Learn how you can win a pair of tickets to the show!

GIVEAWAY

To enter, one or all of the following:

1. Like Mashed Thoughts on Facebook. If you are already following on Facebook, just leave a comment saying so below. (1 entry)
2. Like or share the contest post on Facebook for another entry (1 entry)
3. Like the West Coast Christmas Show on Facebook  (1 entry)
   
   
4. Follow @Mashedthoughts and @WestCoastXMas on Twitter
   Follow @mashedthoughts and Follow @WestCoastXMas
   
   AND tweet the following (1 entry per tweet, you can do this once per day):
   

   RT to win tickets to @WestCoastXMas on Nov 22 - 24, 2013 from @MashedThoughts http://bit.ly/17Gc9S7 #giveaway

5. Leave a comment on this post - visit http://westcoastchristmasshow.com and tell me what are you most looking forward to seeing at the show (1 entry)  

This giveaway will end on Friday, November 15th, 2013 12:00pm. Good luck!

EDIT: Congratulations Shirley @ssmc99 on Twitter!

Battery life sucks. This is a common complaint I always hear about people's mobile phone. I'm in that camp. Using my phone to check email, update social media sites, and uploading photos on Instagram really drains my phone battery quickly; especially now that my phone is a couple of years old, the battery seems to run out faster and I can't even last until the end of the day on one battery charge! Powerocks is the solution when I don't have access to an outlet; it is a portable charger that provides the extra battery power when I desperately need it.


Portable batteries are not a new concept but Powerocks now has a new line of stylish, light, and easy to carry portable chargers called Super Magicstick. It is pretty small and light so is very convenient to carry around everywhere in my purse.

This is what comes in the box. You get an instruction guide, a USB cable, a pouch and the Powerocks Magicstick. I love how it comes with a soft pouch to carry your Magicstick in. It makes sure that it doesn't get scratched or it doesn't scratch anything!

To use your Powerocks Magicstick, you first need to charge it.

 A red light at the end tells you that it is still charging up. 

Once it is done charging, it turned a blue colour. Ready to use! It took about 2 hours for it to completely charge.


Super Magicstick provides 2800mAh of power - enough for two full charges for your smartphone or other mobile devices! It's especially great to use when you are traveling! We all know we need to take those pictures for Instagram!

I love my Super Magicstick and now carry it around with me everywhere I go so that I'm never caught with a dead phone ever again. If you are interested in getting one yourself, you can buy them online from Bestbuy or Futureshop or www.powerocksusa.com, www.powerocks.com, www.amazon.com and hundreds of Canadian retailers, mobile carriers, and online stores, including Wireless Wave, Telephone Booth, Costco’s Wireless Etc., Canadian Tire, Bell, Rogers and Telus stores. They also have bigger Powerocks if you need even more power!

Giveaway!

One lucky reader of mine will win their very own Powerocks Super Magicstick! Here's how to enter; do one or all of the following:

1. Visit www.powerocks.com look around and leave a comment below telling me what caught your eye. (1 entry)
   
   
2. Like Mashed Thoughts on Facebook. If you are already following on Facebook, just leave a comment saying so below. (1 entry)
   
3. Like or share the contest post on Facebook for another entry (1 entry)
   
   
4. Follow @mashedthoughts on Twitter
   AND tweet the following (1 entry per tweet, you can do this once per day):
   

   RT to win a Powerocks Super Magicstick portable charger from @MashedThoughts http://bit.ly/183XHNV #giveaway

Giveaway ends on November 15th, 2013 and open to Canadians. Good luck!

EDIT: Congratulations, Marisa!

Disclosure: I was sent a Powerocks Super Magicstick to review. The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any other way.

 

Celebrate Oktoberfest with Sausage, Beer and Top Chefs at the 6th annual Fraser Valley Food Show at the Abbotsford Tradex Trade and Exhibition Centre on Friday, October 4th to Sunday, October 6th, 2013!

Notable events happening at the show:

• 2nd annual Great Canadian Sausage Making Competition - Dozens of professional sausage makers from all over B.C. will offer a total of over 100 sausage entries in 12 different categories,  ranging from chorizo to bratwurst. Sausage competition sampling for the first 500 visitors on Saturday, October 5 at 11:30am, which includes a glass of Erdinger Gluten-Free Beer for adults aged 19 and older (4 tasting tickets or $2 each).
• 11th annual Master Chef Competition - Watch 17 chefs as they compete for the title of Master Chef in a head-to-head heated competition. Each chef has only 35 minutes to prepare a main course from only the mystery foods a box contains.
  
  
• 1st ever Gluten Free Living Show - Show will highlight gluten-free products from manufacturers and a wide range of food producers. Guests can discover, taste, learn from, and buy these hard-to-find items.
• Celebrity Cooking Stage - Meet Lower Mainland’s favourite food personalities including Executive Chef Rob Feenie from Cactus Club Cafe Restaurants, Chef Matthew Stowe, Product Development Chef for Cactus Restaurants, and winner of Food Network Canada’s, Top Chef Canada Season 3, Canadian Chef Corbin Tomaszeski, from TV shows Dinner Party Wars, Restaurant Makeover, Crash My Kitchen, and Restaurant Takeover, Chef William Tse from Sandbar Seafood Restaurant
  
  
• The Bite of the Valley - Taste menu selections from some of the Lower Mainland’s favourite restaurants for no more than $4.00 per appetizer-size portion. 2013 participants include: An Indian Affair Restaurant, Dunn’s Famous BC, Frankie’s Italian Kitchen & Bar, Jamaican Pizza Jerk and Roasted Grape Café.

Attendees will also enjoy offerings from over 100 food and beverage exhibitors, and participate in the other featured areas:

• Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting Pavilion
• Grapes & Hops Presentation Stage
• Dairy Farmers of Canada Cheese Seminars

Show Details

Dates and times
Friday, October 4 – 2-9pm
Saturday, October 5 – 10am-8pm
Sunday, October 6 – 10am-5pm

Venue
Tradex Trade & Exhibition Centre
1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6H5

Admission
General Admission - $7 online, $9 at gate (cash only)

Giveaway!

Fraser Valley Food Show has generously offered my readers a chance to win tickets to the show! We're giving away 1 pair of tickets!

To enter, one or all of the following:

1. Like us on Facebook. If you are already following on Facebook, just leave a comment saying so below. (1 entry)
   
2. Like or share the contest post on Facebook for another entry (1 entry)
   
   
3. Follow @Mashedthoughts and @FVFoodShow on Twitter
   Follow @mashedthoughts and Follow @FVFoodShow
   
   AND tweet the following (1 entry per tweet, you can do this once per day):
   

   RT to win tickets to Fraser Valley Food Show @FVFoodShow on Oct 4 - 6, 2013 via @MashedThoughts http://bit.ly/17TdOP4

4. Leave a comment on this post - visit www.fraservalleyfoodshow.com and tell me what are you most looking forward to seeing at the show (1 entry)  

The giveaway will end on Wednesday, September 25th, 2013 5:00pm and the two winners will be notified the following day. Good luck!

UPDATE: Congrats to @geekymath ‏@tlee351 on Twitter!

Vancouver's largest sustainable lifestyle event, the annual EP!C Sustainable Living Festival will be on July 6th & 7th! Entering its 7th year, this is the event to learn about organic, sustainable and local products. This year it is going to be bigger and better with EP!C moving to a different venue: the beautiful VanDusen Botanical Gardens! Yes, the festival is going to be an all out outdoor summer festival celebrating sustainability, culture and community!


Festival Details:
Dates and Times:
Saturday, July 6 from 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday, July 7 from 10:00am – 9:00pm

Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC

Experience all these and more at the festival:

• Live musical performances
• Food Truck Alley
• Gardening Workshops
• Sip & Savour Garden
• Sustainable Living Marketplace
• Kid Zone

New this year includes live musical performances all day with plenty of room for dancing, a Food Truck Alley for satisfying your munchies and Gardening Workshops to learn from the pros on how to get started growing your own food! Plus you get wander the VanDusen Botanical Gardens with the price of your ticket!

Purchase tickets on the EP!C website or why not WIN a pair?

EP!C is generous to offer two pairs of tickets to my readers to this year's festival! Enter below for a chance to win! The giveaway ends on Wednesday, July 3rd, 11:59pm. I'll randomly select the winner and notify the winner by email the next day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway