Why MeFest Means So Much To Me

This October we are hosting our 7th MeFest. 
Seven different times we will have created something special for the community we love so much.

We've had many challenges along the way.

Questioning of our marketing, copy cat versions of our shows, and the use of our pics to promote a totally separate event that we are not affiliated with at all. Yes all of these have happened.

But guess what?

It won't stop us.  The accomplishments out weigh the challenges every time.

We choose how we run our event.  We don't listen to the critics and we steer clear of those who can't see why we would want to invest so much of our time into a KW project.

Instead we focus on the fun that the day brings.  We create an event we are proud of each time.  We fill our hearts with the positive vibes inside our venue. That's what sets us apart.

We create something we love.

ShesConnected #SCCTO 2011 & Why I'm Excited

This week I was happy to hear that @Those2Girls have been selected as part of a group of the Most Digitally Connected Women in Canada to take part in ShesConnected Conference #SCCTO for the 2nd time!!!

Some people are happy and some are not.  Some are calling it a popularity contest and others are saying its only for those that are willing to push products.

I don't believe any of that. 

If anything, I'm dorkiest gal in the room, & I'm okay with that.  As for pushing things, if I like something about it I tell people about it because I want my friends to know about good stuff too!  No one pays me to do that (even though I've been asked if I'm on @Trevor_Cherewka 's payroll with all my Tweetstock tweets!).

Popularity & Appreciative are two different things.  Once I saw that they were preparing for the next conference I was happy to interact with them & tell people about it.  I know when I arrange events I really APPRECIATE those who help me get the word out and try to help them with their endevoures as well.

As for the Speakers, last year and my favorite speaker was @SidneyEve.  She was well prepared, entertaining and knew the audience she was speaking to.  I don't think many of the Brands at the 1st one knew what to expect, and I expressed my concern about it for this Conference.

 I had a very public conversation on twitter asking if the Brands this time really want to hear what we have to say?  I told them it was frustrating that some Brands asked for my opinion and said they would love to find out more and never implemented or followed up with me (even though they gave me business cards & I did email them). 
I get upset when someone picks my brain for ideas & then does nothing with those ideas.  When I give someone my time I expect them to appreciate it.
I was assured that the Brands taking part in this year's #SCCTO are Brands that are wanting to connect with the attendees, and that great people are involved in organizing it.

Now THE REAL REASON I'm excited.....

I get to meet women from across Canada!!!!

Last year I met so many wonderful people that I get to chat with online. I remember meeting Deb Lowther .  She was still fairly new to twitter and I loved her tweets!  She was there as attendee as well.  Since that meeting we became fast friends and I have told so many how AWESOME her company is!  Why, because she's wonderful and I want to support her.   I have so many stories of 1st FACE TO FACE meetings that day.  That's what's important to me THE FRIENDSHIP

#140confONT Tweetups

Everyone knows I'm very excited to be on the team bringing Jeff Pulver's 140 Characters Conference to CANADA!

Sept 15th can't come quick enough for me, so we're celebrating all the way up to the Conference!

Our 1st #140confONT included our ticket launch & our SPOKESMODEL Julia letting everyone know about our BIG plan to have the VERY FIRST CANADIAN 140 Characters Conference in Waterloo Region. 



Next we headed to Brantford to announce our FIRST FIVE confirmed speakers

Well we're not finished yet!

Come find us

• Cambridge http://guestlistapp.com/events/63687 Aug 4th
• London http://guestlistapp.com/events/64623 Aug 18th
• Burlington http://guestlistapp.com/events/64632 Aug 25th
• Ottawa http://guestlistapp.com/events/64641 Sept 2nd
• Kitchener http://guestlistapp.com/events/64371 Sept 9th

Then we're on to the BIG DAY http://guestlistapp.com/events/59826 Sept 15 at the Tannery in Kitchener Ontario

There's Better Ways To Build Buzz

I just arrived home from work when I saw a tweet that mentioned this article http://bit.ly/nrsePL

What sense does it make to write something like that?

Let's just say there's A LOT of baloney in there.

1st off 9-5 at RIM & the City of Waterloo is untrue.
Where did he get the info that no one works past 5pm at RIM (or anywhere else in KW for that matter?)

Move to Toronto? Really? I like Toronto (so I won't write a bash Toronto rebuttle like he's hoping), but how would that make such a difference? We're 45 mins from Toronto.  Not even kidding!

Let's talk headquarters.  Bet he doesn't know that Home Hardware has it's headquarters in St. Jacob's (10 mins outside of Waterloo).  They seem to be doing just fine being based out of town even smaller than Kitchener Waterloo. Wonder if he'll pick on them next.  Oh wait he's a web writer not a business profiler.

A web writer with 500 followers on twitter.
Does that tell you something?

I won't comment on his blog & I won't follow him.  That's what he's looking for.  He could have found something positive to say, or found a picture that didn't show snow in a July column -who does that? Yeah a WHOLE lot of effort went into that article.  There's other ways to create a buzz.  Try helping out somewhere.  I could make a BIG list of all the great things that happen here, but I don't have to.  You just have to follow any person from KW on twitter to see all the great things going on.

Cocktail Party With A Cause

What will happen at SIP FOR HOPE ?

We know you always want to go to new events in town, so a new fundraiser was created this summer! 

It's a DOUBLE FUND/FOODRAISER! It will support both the Grand River Cancer Centre as well as The Food Bank Of Waterloo Region. 

Where else can $25 help TWO local centres?  Sip For Hope is creating a STIR!

It's featuring

• Cocktail Deeva who is featured regularly on the Steven & Chris
• Delicious nibblies from Little Mushroom Catering
• Decor provided by Flourish

and more silent auction items than you can shake a stick at! We're talking Restaurants, Gourment Foods, & so much more!

But as of today there is a new item being added!

Win a Dinner Date with Trish at The Bauer Kitchen
- that will not be so much of silent auction as it will be a LIVE AUCTION!

So how do you get in on all this awesomeness?

Pack up your FOOD BANK DONATIONS & BUY YOUR TICKET

http://sipforhope.eventbrite.com/

Sip For Hope

Who new this fluke one year ago would lead to my involvment with Marcel's Journey?

Close to a year ago (Aug 28/10) I noticed something strange in my neighbourhood.  I saw some temporary fencing going up at the Roundabout.  Later when I was home, I read on twitter that Lance Armstrong was in town so I put 2&2 together and figured the RIDE WITH LANCE would be coming through.  I grabbed my trusty FlipCam & was able to catch a glimpse



Flash forward almost one year later.  I receive a tweet from someone asking if I would like to be involved in a fundraising effort in Kitchener-Waterloo for the Grand River Cancer Centre.  Of course this peaked my interest & suggested we should meet for coffee.

One day later I'm having coffee with Trish, Meghan & JoAnne.
They tell me all about Marcel's Journey .  Trish explained that she is Meghan best friend & she was the one that contacted me on twitter.  Marcel is Meghan's Father & JoAnne's husband.  Marcel is a cancer survivor wanting to give back to the Grand River Cancer Center through the RIDE WITH LANCE  . His goal is to be the TOP FUNDRAISER & earn the chance to wear the covented Yellow Jersey during the ride.

In order to make this happen they have hosted several Fundraising events all over Waterloo Region, and wanted to create an orginal event in the area to make Marcel's dream a reality.

Wheels Are Always Turning

If you know anything about me, you know I love Brainstorming & Events!  I think if you would have looked hard enough that day you would have saw smoke from the little hamster wheel in my head going into overdrive.  It didn't take long to lightening to strike and Sip For Hope was created.

This fun event is starring Cocktail Deeva , who does so much to #beatcancer and it's being held at the Victoria Park Pavillion on July 21st 2011.   Dee will be showing us all how to make FAB Cocktails that can you can re-create for your summer entertaining.  Along with that there will be fun raffles, door prizes & silent auction items galore!

Where else intown could a $25 ticket promise so much Fabulousness?

So please visit the NEW Sip For Hope registration page on Eventbrite http://sipforhope.eventbrite.com/ & grab your ticket! (if you prefer to pay cash for your ticket please contact Trish through twitter or leave a comment with your email address on this post).
There are a limited number of tickets, so make sure you GET YOUR SEAT!

To keep up with the fun make sure to follow the hashtag #Sip4Hope
Also make sure to visit all the links on this page to appreciate why everyone is working so hard to see Marcel RIDE WITH LANCE !

Cambridge Towel Canadian Made

Made In Canada 

Last week we learned there is more to a towel than meets the eye.  Cambridge Towel is the last TRUE manufacturer in North America.

We spoke to Jason of Cambridge Towel last week and learned a lot about what makes a Cambridge Towel so great!

• All of their dyes are safe
• They create the whole towel from start to the packaging finish
• They use only high quality materials to create their towels

But don't take my word for it.  We went to visit Jason at the Cambridge Towel Tent Sale and he told us all about it!



Look out Vanna White!  Diane's stepping in!

For more info on the great things happening with Cambridge Towel make sure to Like them on Facebook
and follow them on Twitter
With Canada Day quickly approaching, what better way to celebrate than buying CANADIAN?