Warehouse Sales in Toronto

Just watching the Toronto Santa Claus Parade from home and realizing that it’s probably time to start thinking about buying Christmas gifts for my family. If you’re like me, you’re on a budget this year so scoping out a good deal is high on your list! There are a number of warehouse sales going on at this time of year that you may want to check out. The Umbra sale occurs on December 11, and 12, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Direct Energy Centre and offers great reductions on their very cool home decor products. Get there early, yes I’m talking 7 a.m., because the sale attracts big line-ups. Read about other current and upcoming warehouse sales in Toronto.

Umbra Sale 2010

Build Social Capital with SMOJoe Event – January 20, 2010

I’ve just heard about an event that will interest those who want to increase their blog’s traffic on the web. Rob Campbell of SMOJoe will be moderating an interactive event, Build Social Capital, on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 120, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Rob will teach participants about Google Page Rank, blog widgets on Twitter, Flickr, and StumbleUpon, how to optimize YouTube videos on their blog, the value of keywords to increasing “findability”, and how to monitor readership. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops and blog with SMOJoe. Tickets are $40 plus taxes and service charge. To purchase tickets to Build Social Capital with SMOJoe, read here.

Notice Me Jeans Fashion Show

Many of us have New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and/or get in shape, and Notice Me Jeans will give us some help in looking our best. Notice Me Jeans offers butt-lifting jeans that have darts that lift the derriere naturally, without padding, straps, or lacing. The result is a rounder and smoother-looking butt, and who doesn’t want that?! Shirley Restrepo, President of Notice Me Jeans, will be hosting a free fashion show at  The Harlem Underground Restaurant and Bar (formerly the Irie Food Joint), 745 Queen Street West, 416-366-4743, on Thursday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. and yours truly has been asked to appear as one of the jeans models. I sure hope I can get in shape by then! Read here to see the styles and prices of the butt-lifting jeans of  Notice Me Jeans.

Skating Rinks in Toronto

Skating at Harbourfront Rink

Now that the holidays and New Year’s are over and you have reawoken from your seratonin-induced coma, why not consider burning some of the excess calories you inhaled by getting outside and enjoying this nasty onslaught of winter weather? Okay, so the weather in Toronto has been a bit extreme lately, but when the winds die down, there are plenty of great ways to enjoy the Toronto outdoors and one of them is to go down into your basement or garage and dig up those rusty pair of skates! Skating is a sport that is very kind to the budget, something we all need at this time of year, while great for the physique. Read here for my favourite Toronto skating rinks.

My 2010 New Year’s Resolutions

Yes, I know this blog is supposed to be about interesting Toronto people, places and events, but it is New Year’s Eve and anyway, if I post my resolutions online, I might be accountable for keeping some of them! Here they are:

1. Stop judging people. We all have our individual experiences for reasons that we may never understand ourselves, let alone others. It’s kind of like the adage: “Until you’ve walked in another’s shoes…”
2. Travel to England. Good Heavens, how can I have an English degree without ever having done London?
3. Cook and entertain at home more often. Enough said about that one!
4. Make the most of every networking opportunity!
5. Get over my fear of biking in the City!
6. Keep in touch with friends more often (this includes texting).
7. Improve my skating technique..haha…hahahaha…hahahahahahaha!!
8. Start writing my book.
9. Write a short story.
10. Signal BEFORE I get to the intersection.

Have a happy and safe New Year’s everyone!!!