“Cinderella”, A Family Musical for the Christmas Season in Oakville
December 6th, 2011 Categories: Lighten Up, Oakville Events, Things to Do in Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
Looking for something special to do with kids, grand-kids, the whole family over the holidays?
“Cinderella”, a pantomime, is being performed right here in Oakville.
A pantomime, according to British tradition, is a fun musical performed over the holiday season. I remember going to pantomimes as a child in Scotland.
Rikki Wright, Oakville resident has written and directed this musical. The Meeting House, in Oakville, has a large auditorium that is the venue for this theatrical performance. Showtime runs December 16-18 and 27-31, 2011.
You can order tickets here and find out more about the show here.
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Bright’s Gallery of Burlington Moves to Collingwood and Hilary Hooks Up with Real Estate Blogger Marg Scheben-Edey
March 23rd, 2008 Categories: Blogs, Blogging and the Blogosphere, Burlington Beat, Fifty-five plus, Food for Soul and Spirit, Lighten Up, Oakville Real Estate News
Our family spent a ski weekend up at Blue Mountain in Collingwood over March Break. (If you were noticing I didn’t post for a few days, that’s why.)
Having just received a note from Oakville resident and neighbour of mine, Peter Bright, that Bright’s Gallery of Burlington is relocating to Collingwood this spring, I decided to check out the new gallery site, right in the Village at Blue where we were staying.
Best of luck in your new venture Peter. I am sure visitors and locals will appreciate the fine collection of Canadian artists that you profile in your gallery.
This weekend was also an opportunity for me to meet Marg Scheben-Edey of ReMax in Collingwood who has been an inspiration to me as a Canadian blogger and REALTOR.
By the time we met in person on Monday in Collingwood, we were like old friends! That’s the kind of connection that real estate bloggers have with each other.
Marg has a zest for life, a razor-sharp mind and a warm and easy-going personality.
Marg and her husband John grew up in West Oakville. Marg recalls when the land behind their Pinegrove Road house (now Speers Road) was a strawberry field and they would ride horses across the QEW to their friend’s farm on Burnhamthorpe Road. The Edey’s have been living in the Collingwood area for the last 22 years where they raised their two kids.
Our family of four were treated to a tour of Collingwood in Marg’s van.
Development in the area since I was up here last, quite a few years back, is mind boggling! It is certainly the vacation and retirement destination for many in the Golden Horseshoe and GTA.
(I chatted with a lady in one of the Village stores who had just moved up here with her husband, having traded their fast paced life in Southern Ontario for the slower recreational lifestyle of the area. She sold me a very delicious piece of home-made praline fudge.)
“No bird soars too far on its own wings” is one of my mottoes. Staying connected to people like Marg helps me to keep growing and innovating in my business.
By the way, Marg and I are hoping to help get a “Canadian Real Estate Bloggers Conference” going so that real estate professionals on the vanguard of using the internet can exchange ideas and learn from each other.
Any Canadian REALTORS interested in this? Let us know.
Check out Marg’s blog. If you’re looking to buy property in the South Georgian Bay area, she’ll take good care of you.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE SPRING MARKET! TO LIST YOUR HOME IN OAKVILLE OR BURLINGTON, PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL HILARY (905) 599–3311 TODAY!
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How to Beat the Boring Dinner Blues
March 21st, 2008 Categories: Food for Soul and Spirit, Lighten Up, Oakville Real Estate News, Places to Eat
Do you get tired of making the same meals over and over? I do.
Here are some things I’ve done lately to spice up our mealtimes.
1) I discovered a wonderful free site www.allrecipes.com. I signed up for their daily recipe and it comes to my inbox. Sometimes it is just the right bit of inspiration that I need!
2) I try to plan out the meals for the week, before doing the grocery shopping. This way we have the ingredients required on hand and don’t have to keep popping into the store for this or that.
3) Every now and then I visit the www.allrecipes.com website. Most of the recipes are posted by ordinary folk like you and I. Usually there is a photo, but the best part is the reviews that people who have tried the recipe write. Readers suggest ways to modify or improve on the recipe, rave about the results or say “it’s just so-so, nothing to write home about”.
4) I use the online Recipe Box to store the recipes I like (it comes up under “My Stuff”).
Here are some new recipes I tried lately that turned out pretty well.
Marie’s Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast (We put this in the crockpot before church and it was all ready when we got home with our lunch guests)
Sugar Free Blueberry Coffee Cake (I made this for a coffee morning I had recently)
Creamy Mushroom Soup (My first time making mushroom soup from scratch, easy and tasty)
Dark Chocolate Cake II (easiest one bowl scratch cake I’ve made, moist and dark!) Goes well with Chocolate Cheese Frosting. (I had some frosting left over and froze it. Tasted just as good when defrosted.)
Why don’t you try a few recipes from www.allrecipes.com and let us know which ones you recommend by adding comments to this post?
CALL HILARY FOR ALL THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS when selling your home. Let me take good care of you and your investment!
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It’s official, I heard it on the radio! 2008 Most Snowy Ontario Winter on Record
March 7th, 2008 Categories: Lighten Up, Oakville Real Estate News, Why Move to Oakville?
They announced it today. Snowflall so far this year has set an all-time record.
And winter is not over yet!
In honor of such a snowy winter, I am sharing some winter scenes as seen through the lens of my friend Ashley:
LONE TREE IN WINTER
ONTARIO SNOWY FENCELINE
FARMHOUSE AND FIELD IN WINTER
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Want to try your hand at blogging? Here’s how to get started
March 4th, 2008 Categories: Food for Soul and Spirit, Lighten Up, Oakville Real Estate News
What’s it like to blog?
It’s like being pulled by your pen to new places every day.
Writing is one of those things that the more you do it, the more you want to do it, and the easier it is to do.
Something comes to the top of your mind and you just want to record it so it won’t get lost. Perhaps someone else can relate or follow what you are thinking?
You have a desire to express something. A desire to connect with a reader.
I think we all have this desire inside us but we have been so indoctrinated into thinking that there is only one right way to write. We have had teachers that put red marks all over our feeble efforts at creative expression.
We have become writing-repressed and self-conscious.
The beauty of blogging is that you don’t have to get published. You just put it out there in the hope that someone will read it. Who knows? It might inspire someone else to write something. It might help spawn other writers out there. (I use the term writer loosely.)
You don’t have to be an English major or a prolific reader.
What’s the worst that could happen? What you write makes no sense at all? Still it would be your thoughts, a legitimate expression of what’s on your mind and in your subconscious.
It’s just a freeing thing to start typing on a blank page. Try it some time. Don’t think. Just put your fingers on the keyboard and let your pen take you where it wants to go. You might be surprised at the outcome.
I would be thrilled to read a comment from bloggers and would-be-bloggers out there who connect to others through your pen! On-line interaction is another fun thing about blogging but that’s for another post.
Like this Post? Read also:
What’s the Buzz in Oakville? Hilary Launches New Blogsite
Hilary Shantz, Oakville Ontario Real Estate Agent, Has Been Meme’d
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Can’t Afford A Fancy Condo in Florida or Muskoka Cottage? How’s This for a New Trend?
March 4th, 2008 Categories: First Time Buyers, Halton Real Estate, Investing in Real Estate, Lighten Up, Oakville Real Estate News, Real Estate News
Lisa Valade, my mortgage broker, sent me this photo this morning. If you have champagne taste but a beer budget, might be something to think about!
Call Hilary to talk about your dreams for real estate, 905–599–3311.
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Confessions of a messy real estate blogger… OK I said I would declutter my office but….
February 28th, 2008 Categories: Blogs, Blogging and the Blogosphere, Lighten Up
A couple of weeks ago, a post I wrote inspired a few people to get rid of the clutter monkey. But I confess I got caught up showing houses, going to seminars, making phone calls, blogging and looking for sheets of paper that were in piles on my desk.
Tomorrow I have set half a day aside for this self-imposed task.
(Hope you like the PROCRASTINATION cartoon.)
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Ten Things I Learned from Barack Obama and the Democratic Debate
February 25th, 2008 Categories: Food for Soul and Spirit, Lighten Up, Real Estate News
Last night I kept flipping back and forth between the Oscar Extravaganza, in its 80th year, and the Democratic debate between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
It occurred to me that as real estate professionals we are running for election every day. The forces of competition result in us having to compete against other professionals every time we offer to help someone sell or buy a home.
According to the polls, those who watched the debate were more likely to vote for Senator Obama.
What are some of the keys to his growing appeal? I noticed a few things that I’ll tuck away as “good learning”.
- Confident but not cocky
- Comfortable and relaxed
- Didn’t try too hard
- Spoke slowly and clearly
- Assertive but didn’t put down his opponent
- What you see is what you get
- Unruffled by competition and criticism
- Passionate but not emotional
- Doesn’t take himself too seriously
- Gracious and sincere
When facing a competitor in any arena, these are winning qualities to emulate. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
For help in navigating the real estate maze, call Hilary today.
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THINKING OF DOWNSIZING? TAKE A LOOK AT TORONTO’S SMALLEST HOUSE!
February 19th, 2008 Categories: Fifty-five plus, Lighten Up, Real Estate News
My friend Ron Clarke, of RP Clarke Financial Services, sent me some photos of Toronto’s smallest house, reportedly for sale for $179,900.
In Canada we are not used to living in small spaces but in some parts of the world, like Europe or Japan, learning to live in very tiny spaces is commonplace.
Thought I’d share the photos, just for fun.
Here’s the front of the house.
The house is located near Dufferin and Rogers, in Toronto.
It was built in a laneway between two houses. House is just under 300 square feet.
Small covered patio in front.
This is the living room. Definitely cosy!
Here’s the kitchen and adjoining laundry room. How much counter space does one really need?
No mention of fridge. New washer/dryer and stove.
Bedroom comes with built-ins
and Murphy’s bed.
The back patio. Lemonade for two?
Looking to downsize? Give Hilary a call to chat about it.
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“Fabulous February in Downtown Oakville”, and “Brontelicious” – Fine Dining at Affordable Prices in Oakville this Month
February 15th, 2008 Categories: Fifty-five plus, Historical Oakville, Lighten Up, Oakville Events, Oakville Real Estate News, Things to Do in Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
With our town buried in piles of snow, I think we’ll go out and sample some new restuaurants or return to some old favorites.
Our son Nathan was born on Valentine’s Day so we will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday. Which restaurant should we pick?
This is the time of year when many of our fine local restaurants offer prix fixe menus for both lunch and dinner. We have two festivals for foodies going on in town this month.
DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE
“Fabulous February Fall in Love in Downtown Oakville” is the theme of Downtown Oakville’s third annual Fabulous February dining and shopping extravaganza.
From February 15–29, 2008, over 15 first-rate restaurants will be offering prix-fixe signature lunch and dinner options. It’s a good opportunity to sample some of Oakville’s renowned gourmet cuisine. Many retailers will also be offering sales throughout the month.
Participating restaurants include Berlio Cafe, Big Papa’s | Cafe del Libros | Colossus of Oakville| Coriander Green | Jam Asian Kitchen and Wine Bar | The Griffin House | Oliver’s of Oakville | O’Finn’s Irish Temper | Paradiso | Ristorante Julia | The Painted Elephant, Thyme Restaurant and Wine Bar
Details of fixed price menus being offered and prices, which vary by restaurant, are available at www.oakvilledowntown.com
BRONTE VILLAGE
Historic Bronte Village is also hosting the first annual winter dining promotion “BRONTELICIOUS”.
This also marks the official opening of Thai Senses Restaurant in Bronte.
The promotion features Special Prix-Fixe menus for lunch and dinner (appetizer, entree, dessert), available January 28 – February 29 at
The Coach and Four, Cucci, The Firehall, Mixed Grill, Oregano Cafe, O Sushi, Thai Senses and the Twisted Fork.
You can visit www.brontevillage.net for more details.
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