2014 Harvest Festival

October is here and Fall is in full swing with Thanksgiving around the corner this weekend!  The Annual Harvest Festival here in Ladner celebrated its second year running a few weeks ago after 2013's successful first year.  The Delta Firefighter's Charitable Society held its fundraiser at Greystone Stables, inviting the community to celebrate the harvest season while raising money for local charities and organizations in need

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I had only heard about last year's Festival and was so excited when I was hired on to capture the evening's festivities.  Guests signed in at the front and were greeted by handsome firefighter's serving appetizers.  There were many ways of helping to raise money including a 50/50 draw, a Silent Auction, a mini Casino and mechanical bull!  

Gigglebooth's hilarious photo booth provided additional entertainment 

It's confirmed.  Next year when i am no longer pregnant, I will be giving this bull a ride!

The Joe Fernandes band played country tunes all night while guests danced

Can't wait for next year's fundraiser!

CLICK HERE
to view the Full Gallery of photos from the evening!

For more information including sponsors and beneficiaries visit
deltafirefighters.com

 

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Annual Women's Tea with SCI BC

It was a nasty and windy downpour of a Sunday in Vancouver, but inside Main Street's Heritage Hall, a special group of women were gathered around tables, dry, cozy, warm and enjoying hot tea and mini sandwiches.  Spinal Cord Injury BC held their Annual Women's Tea where women of all ages and wakes of life that live with spinal cord injuries or complications were pampered and served for an entire afternoon.  This year's theme was Hollywood/Oscars and the women of SCI BC did a fantastic job with their props, decor and their slideshow of old school Oscar Winning movies!

Lovely teas provided by local Bayswater Tea Co.

Relaxing Massages by Marisa + Ren

Make-Up and Hairstyling courtesy of Students and Graduates of Blanche MacDonald

Two musicians graced us with their talent.  Kristina Shelden performed for the first time since her spinal cord injury which affected her ability to play.

Sylvi MacCormac, has been performing and composing soundscapes since diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 20's.  Many of her compositions have been published in the Canadaian Music Centre and Canadian Electroacoustic Community  and she is the creator of WHEELS Soundscapes: Voice of People with Dis Abilities at the Vancouver Adapted Music Society.  

The amazing ladies of SCI BC

A few goodies from the photo booth!

As you can see, a great time was had by all!  I love being part of this event.  It is so uplifting to be surrounded by women who struggle on a day to day basis with the fluid mobility that many of us take for granted, to be in awe of their strength, humbled by their vulnerability and melted by their joyful smiles.  It was lovely to see so many familiar faces and know that this tight knit community has great support both from and thanks to SCI BC.

 

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3rd Annual Facepainting BBQ

3 years ago, I was hired to do some facepainting at an end of the summer backyard BBQ for a local Tsawwassen family.  Their guests all had children and the host felt it would be advantageous to have some "entertainment" and "distraction" to allow the adults to enjoy one another's company with as little whining and pestering as possible.  It went great and I was overjoyed to be invited back for a second year.  I brought along my button maker for my second gig as an extra activity for the kids, ages 3-8.  Another fantastic evening.

This evening's gig was BY FAR the best!  It's crazy seeing all these kids only ONCE a year.  They are still so young that a year really does a number on them.  I know when I get the call for next summer, the oldest girl will definitely be my height!

This year I offered a photobooth along with the facepainting.  OH YEAH BABY.

I can not put into words how much fun I had.  One of the parental units came over and were thanking me for taking care of their kids and I just shrugged it off telling them that I was doing two of my favourite things with the sweetest and most well-behaved group of kids, it was MY PLEASURE.  seriously.  i could have stayed another 4 hours.

I don't know if it is just the girls growing up or if they feel more comfortable after 3 years of this facepainting, but they were just a full on blast.  They yelled my name throughout the evening to watch them do their gymnastics, their "routines", handstands, and crazy poses.  Even our token boy, 10 years old, was impressed with my ability to paint the Diamond Sword from his favourite videogame, Minecraft.   

They were blown away at my level of talent and imagination, that they could witness hand painted illustrations of their favourite characters or ideas come to life.  YOU ARE THE BEST PAINTER IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!    No, I'm not.  I went to Emily Carr and I witnessed dudes painting 10 foot high-realism oil paintings of celebrities and I can safely say that stuff is outta my league.  This lighthearted and playful illustration gig is where it's at for me!

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Fan Brush for INSTA-lashes and freckles

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By the end of the night we had 3 little puppies!!!

I really love this gig and hope after putting this out there that more people hire me for this Combo Service because it is truly the funnest thing in the world!!!!!   OH!  And the frosting and cherry on top was that they all gave me the biggest group hug at the end of the night!!!  BEST GIG EVER.

GET AT ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED!!!!   

XOXO