Never Under Estimate the Power of a BJ at the Mall

Pardon? What is a BJ exactly?
My blog is part of the big, scary www. Would I ever write something about the BJ you are thinking of? Let me surprise you!


I am spending so much time recently at the mall, my fingers finding their own words on the keyboard to write about my temporary, fun BJ (bridge job). 

Having a temp job at the mall is so much more than just a job -
it's a learning experience. Plus, it is a fabulous tool for time management:

Today I get more stuff done in my two hours between homecoming and dinner preparations than my previous five hours at home alone.

Today I know the mall is more than just a place to drop your cash in exchange for goods.
The mall is a safe place for all things creative and active.
 E.g. for the Asian dance group or the New Moms stroller group.

 

Today I could totally hold my own and give you an appropriate answer if you tell me
 "I am friend zoned."
Yesterday I raised an eyebrow, I had no clue what you are talking about. Yesterday I laughed out loud, today I would feel sorry for you.

Oh I love hanging with the young ones. They have so many new fancy words for us!
Today I know you have been dumped or better: you have been down graded from being a potential boyfriend to a friend only.
Today's young women (or men) are cruel, wouldn't you agree?  Why couldn't they at least  tell you face to face to get lost? We did it, twenty years ago!

Today I know wrapping gifts can be as creative as you want it to be and you can become as wrapped up in the activity as you allow yourself!

 

    

 

                                                   

And last not least, I knew it, the mall is temptation written with a capital T. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over; the regular sales are continue to flourish and I need to be as frugal and tight fisted  not to cave in with all these wonderful goodies around!

I can't stress it enough: A BJ at the mall is a string of extraordinary experiences! 

WHAT MAKES A BANK EXTRAORDINARY?

Here is a challenge for you:

 

 

Put yourself into the shoes of the events - and promotions coordinator of one of the oldest, biggest banks in Canada to create an extraordinary Thank You and Promo stunt for the Holiday Season.

Object:   AVION VISA card
Mission:  To come up with a scheme to reward current customers and raise awareness among non card holders! They too can have the card.

What would you do to create the ultimate Feel Good, Thank You, We Appreciate You - offer
 to your current (and hopefully ) future customers?
What would you do to make them feel special and appreciated?

For one, you could run We Love You ads on TV and on the radio (kinda' cheesy- but it has been done before)
Or you could offer free coffee and snacks at all local branches (which is OK-ish, but not Wow).

This would suffice for any other bank- not so for the Royal Bank of Canada.

 The folks at RBC went to extraordinary length to create a chique,
 unique, laid back, well stocked AVION Holiday Boutique in the Coquitlam Mall in Coquitlam,  B.C.
(Actually, Coquitlam is the only location here in BC to host this event)

 

 

 

Finding a safe, cosy heaven with free snacks, fruits,

 flavoured water,

 coffee and tea   

among the upcoming Christmas frenzy is one thing and in itself wonderful; throw in a free parcel - and jacket check-in, free gift wrapping and -wait for it- valet parking(!) for their card holders and RBC is on the way up to reach the pinnacle of extraordinary services!

The clever brain behind this organised pre-Christmas extravaganza is a clever one indeed, he or she hired a bunch of good looking, well dressed, enthusiastic hostesses to make the stay for their card holders even more memorable.

What can I say, I am one of them.

 Let me come back to my question at the beginning:
 Would you have thought of that? Honestly?
Would you agree when I say "This is a fabulous idea".

From the reactions we are getting I can testify, their customers are blown away- and the other ones are surely thinking about switching over....

 

Every so often it's the big stuff that makes a big bank extraordinary!

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Here in Canada it is hard to find a true blue, 'undiluted' Canadian.
Unsurprisingly, many of our new friends are a mixture of something or from a different country altogether.

Dimitri is one of them. If you guessed he is Russian you guessed right!
He is a Russian unlike any Russian you have ever met.
He doesn't like shoes!
The first time he came to our house he showed up barefooted- which is ok-ish considering it was summer and Canada is a free country, you can wear what you want (it is socially acceptable to leave your house in your pyjamas and house slippers to go and visit the mall. However, when Christmas time comes around you are not allowed to call it "Merry Christmas", you need to call it "Happy Holidays").

 When he visited us the other day he was still barefoot - which, in my opinion is not ok-ish  'cause it is 2 degrees outside . But then, who am I?  Only a mother who wants to keep her floor clean...

Like all good Russian men he attended ballet academy and knows how to make even a piano with stuck keys sound like "The piano Man'.  Unlike Russian men, he doesn't drink Vodka;  he doesn't drink at all come to think of it.

When he talks in his native tongue I am torn between classifying him as a  porn star or mobster - (as I have no real-life experience with either one, I chose the porn category!)

Ladies, if he sounds too good to be true I have to disappoint you:
No, I won't give you his number, he is a happily married man to beautiful Estonian Beauty Katja and father of two cheeky boys.
Now, the reason I am telling you all this is, Dimitri is a very well read, smart man, he carries his iPad with him like other man would carry their man-bag, mobile phone or wallet.

Whatever you want to know, whenever there is an argument to settle, Dimitri will clear it up with one quick search on Google!

An afternoon with Dimitri can make you feel like the biggest looser ('cause there is so much shit going on in the world you are oblivious about) or you are stimulated  just listening to him.

Whatever he is telling you he is proving with  data from his iPad.
If you always wanted to know what a Russian, A German, An American and Estonian have in common and talk about?
The answers are nothing and lots.

After our latest  afternoon spent together I got interesting insights:

 The German army killed more than 20 million Russians during WW II
(check this link)

If  I am a witty, sophisticated money trader or investor I should invest in Bitcoin (if you never heard of it, check this out)

If we have any common sense in our body left and care for the future of our children we should pack our bags and get out of Vancouver as fast as possible. The nuclear radioactive waste from Japan is making its way to the West Coast of Canada and the USA.

Here is one scary article for you.
And here is one more.

From next year onwards we can't eat fish anymore (more and more fish are dying or become contaminated from the nuclear waste).

Mushrooms can save the world!
C'mon, you heard me right, mushrooms is the word. If you have some time, this Ted Talk will give you an insight into the unknown, magic components of these little buggers!

Here is the TED TALK by Paul Stamets

Dimitri gives me something to ponder about, every time!
  I will greatly miss him when he is gone.
As a good Russian he lives by his own gospel; the rain and the imminent nuclear threat has gotten to him- he is moving his family back to Russia- where he will spread love and information..
One extraordinary man!

HOW STUBBORN IS YOUR HUSBAND?

Just because you have immigrated to Canada doesn't mean your husband is going to change!

What you are about to discover might be the secret to success- in all aspects of your life:

 

 

 

If you want to know what I am talking about you should click on the following button.

HAPPY WATCHING!

 

 

 

YES! As always, it is the SMALL STUFF that makes our day extraordinary!

 

And the secret to success? Being stubborn (hang in there) and give it time!

 

 

The cowboys and cowgirls ready for their Two Step Country Swing!

 

Is YOUR husband stubborn?

 

What is the one thing YOU really want HIM to DO with YOU? (oh,la,la, keep it child friendly...)

And, have you succeeded? How did you do it?

What is your secret? PLEASE share it with us, I would LOVE to know!

 

 

                                                     

About Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's and the Homeless

Never will I shy away from a good personal challenge:
 I am on straight course to hit my target of  living through 52 New Experiences for 2013!

The biggy I am really nervous about is singing karaoke in a Gay Bar-By all means send me your personal- vocal-, life-, motivation- or drag coach along; every little bit will help to get this done and over with.
 (Just read the announcement at the old folks home for this Thursday's sing-a-long- but that wouldn't be the same, would it?)
Never mind my upcoming launch for The MOTHERPRENEUR website and MotherpreneurTV on youtube...

Let's get back on track';  part of new experiences includes attending networking events I have never been to- like the recent small business expo in downtown Vancouver.  Plenty of IT nerds, accountants, mortgage advisers, coaches, multilevel marketers, toner refill specialists and SEO experts fought for our attention, pitched, explained and pitched some more.
 Let me be polite here,  it wasn't exactly what I had in mind for an inspirational morning. So I made a deal with the best husband of them all;  he stayed and I left!

Where did I go to? My brain didn't think, my feet took over and walked me straight into the Louis Vuitton Boutique adjacent to the hotel?! Why in Heavens name? What would I possibly find on their shelves I couldn't buy in Turkey (that's where the wannabe brand addicts purchase their fake stuff).

A while back I read a very intriguing article about Louis in TIMES magazine- about real craftsmanship, hand stitched shoes, 5 year long waiting lists for one of their hand bags and loyal followers around the world.
Here I found myself, in the midst of hand stitched everything, outnumbered 5:1 by sales assistants.

One of the pretty ladies and I started quite an interesting dialogue where I asked all the questions I always wanted to know about the brand, and pretty lady, all knowledgeable, explaining everything to me! Forty five minutes later we were still on it and I started to feel very comfortable among exquisite, hand made purses, bags, shoes and dresses!
I felt so comfortable with myself that I waived my pretty sales assistant goodbye and swaggered straight across the street to ...Tiffany & Co.. Might as well make a luxury morning out of it.
Big disappointment, Tiffany's was nothing I expected- the assistant was nice, attentive and helpful though.
She let me try on a few platinum rings and I really hoped I would feel like Audrey Hepburn felt; but I didn't get all fuzzy and wobbly in my knees.  The rings were nice, not WOW!

Back on rural home turf we stopped at the bank; there she was again, the neat, polite female beggar asking for some money. After listening to Louis's story, trying on rings at Tiffany's I wanted to hear about her; there I was, sitting on the street corner with the beggar, asking questions, listening to her story; a story of sheer hardship, higher circumstance, goodwill, hope and determination to see better days one day!

  Experiences are stories. Our personal world is full of them!  And best of all, we all have a story to tell.  If we only have the courage or take the time to ask and listen to them more often, these stories will stay with us forever, regardless of price tag or not!

CLEAVAGE OR LINES?

Determination and a strong will is needed if you visit BC's annual Women's Show in Abbotsford.

 

 

Everything  a (woman's) heart desires is on display and to purchase.
You can start with a vacuum cleaner and finish with a timeshare in Kamloops.

It is not easy to walk the halls of TRADEX and return (nearly) empty handed. But that's what I came here for:  to find out what's going on in LadyLand without buying anything!!!!!(Am I sad or crazy?)
You see, when you share a roof with five guys it is easy to loose your female touch...

Thanks to my iron strong will I still have money left in my bank account and room on my various credit cards today!
Thanks to my personal mantra: " I am a perfect human being! No temptation is strong enough for me!" my bathroom drawers are still as empty today as they were yesterday!

Right from the start I successfully resisted temptation to spent $100.00 on eye serum ("these fine lines need more moisture, otherwise your face is flawless" - her words, not mine- though it's true).

 And right at the next stall I nearly fall for a similar ploy: this time it was the magical cream to get rid of my dark circles under my eyes. For another $ 100.00 I could have looked even more flawless.

In the last minute I remembered to tell the sales lady I normally sleep more than three hours at night. But it was my son's birthday sleep-over party and none of the boys wanted to fall asleep. So I didn't sleep either. .
I saved another $40.00 for not buying the 100% oxygen induced rejuvenating oil for my (flawless) skin.

I even said no to the Russian hairdresser who straightened my hair to perfection (and did a little boogie move at the same time)- and I must admit, I looked kinda' groovy with my new hairdo.

No, no, no to glitzy jewellery made in China (just watched a documentary about the Chinese taking over the world). Nope, I don't want to be part in their world domination....oops,  need to check where all my household appliances are coming from first before I open my big mouth!

It all went according to plan, until - , until....I saw the best invention for women who love cut off sleeves or low cut tops revealing their back: The strapless, hold - itself bra!!!! HURRAH, I found you!
Please don't tell me you knew about this one!
This is just perfecto and a dream come true for all my unused tops still hidden in my immigration suitcase.

So much for having an iron strong will! My knees went soft and I opened my purse!
 I might have violated my own credo; however, this tight butt German is no dummy:  In order to qualify for her multiple purchase discount ( 3 for 100.00) she waited patiently for two more ladies to discover their own sense of freedom (strapless bra that is)!

And so it goes, having a cleavage beats having a few fine lines any day!

 

 

And why do I leave you with photos of apples and pumpkins? Oh well, I talk and write about 'my boobs and cleavage I don't show them! It's that simple. Plus, what do apples and pumpkins remind you of? I am sure you see the connection!

A DAY WITH TEDx

In my perfect world I get fed, entertained, have a glass or two, have a good laugh and share some of my random ramblings.

You never know when or where you can live in your perfect world. To me it was on Saturday in Renfrew-Collingwood in East Vancouver. That was the day TED came to town.
No, not THE TED. He sent his smaller, independent sister, TEDx.

My friend Maya and I...off we go!

  'Ideas worth spreading' are always ideas worth listening to, either on Netflix, YouTube or as listener during a real live event!

I kissed husband and kids goodbye and with a heavy heart (don't believe every word I am writing) I swapped the soccer field with Windermere College in Renfrew-Collingwood.

The topic for this local event was
FROM FAR TO HERE!

Until  Saturday TED to me was all about talking, listening, sharing, being wowed, moved, knocked off my socks, entertained, laughing and never about...food!!

Even before the first speaker spoke I sent this SMS to my husband:
You should see the breakfast buffet!

After the first round of speakers I sent him this picture:

Yes, I am one sad person, talking about the food and not about the speakers. So, let's start all over again:
The day began with a breakfast buffet (cakes, muffins, coffee, juices), continued with mid morning snacks (bagels, cream cheese, muffins), was split in half with lunch (soup, salad and bread)

 afternoon snacks,

 and ended with... an open bar!

Courtesy of OKANAGAN CRUSH PAD

Can you read why I am so excited?
One look at the well laid out table, one bite into anything really and I rose into "foodsie" heaven!

Why am I so impressed by this whole food-buffet- scenario? Because I never expected it! During our breaks I spoke to as many attendees as possible. We didn't agree on 'who the best speaker was', we all agreed on one thing though: The food was fabulicious, amazing, varied and nutritious!!!

Furthermore, the whole organisation was mind blowing (signs everywhere to lead the way to the washrooms.  Happy, friendly faces everywhere to show you the way in case you missed the signs!).
.
 Now that you know TEDx was supremely well organised with lots of free food and a free bar, it is time to  tell you about the real essence of this day:

How would you interpret FROM FAR TO HERE?
Here are 16 different interpretations of the 14 speakers (plus two non-verbal acts) :

If you are of First Nations origin you may choose to dance your way into our hearts in colourful costumes.

You can dance, talk, mime and have a ball telling your personal story about living your own dream and not your parents dream. I haven't seen anybody who does it as elegant and effortless as
  Dianna David does!

 Have the balls to follow your Dreams! Do you?

Elastica girl (aka Tuedon Ariri, a contortion performer)  gave us an eyeful into our human capacity to bend, twist, stretch and contort...our body beyond the possible! Tuedon didn't talk, she pretzeled herself up!

The Slam Poet, the attendee &  pretzel girl!

Music is always a perfect medium to get your message across and to interact with the audience.  One of Rup Sidhu's (www.rupsidhu.com) program's is dedicated to bring hip hop workshops into schools, prisons and rural communities.

You may use poetry to get your emotional message across:
 From self abusive "Stinking Thinking" to self love and self help as Bully Doctor
Dr. Valerie Mason-John did;  her link is here.

Poet Bertha Clark also used poetry to save herself, and her son. She used "Battle of the Poets"  to keep herself and her son sane during his 22 year long prison sentence ( this is a poet writing competition between her and her son).

A different form of poetry is Slam Poetry. It sounds like speed rapping a poem - do you know what I mean?  Miss Siling Zhang blew me away, I have never heard anything like it!

Young Miss Ann Makosinski, a high school student who won the Google Science Fair this year in her category. One smart cookie this lady is: She explained to us why and how she invented her winning flashlight that runs on the heat of the human  hand. And, she was the only one who used her cue cards- excellent!

If you are a professional, you may use your profession as the springboard to deliver your message:

Lawyer Andrew Pilliar wants to bring access to justice for everybody who needs it- 'cause not everybody can afford a high priced lawyer.

The IT professional who wants us to ask the more meaningful question of WHY instead of the dumbing question of HOW when we are purchasing a new electronic device. The question we should be asking is WHY is this better and why does this device lasts longer?  Bruce McKinlay spoke about Slow Technology: Be a Better User

The mother of two who wants us to focus more on telling our children to have super sex instead of having safe sex, Mrs. Marnie Goldenberg.
Marnie, as a mother of three I have no problem with your idea. Of course I want my children to have super sex! To educate my teenager about having safe sex is one thing, to wish him super sex is another! It;s the in - between I am worried about: I need to encourage him to have lots of sex... before he can have super sex! As you know, only practice makes perfect!
Do you see my dilemma?

The CEO with his dreadlocks (how cool!!!!) 
Michael Fergusson who finally opened my eyes about why my sons prefer  building villages with minecraft than mowing the lawn in our backyard. Sorry Michael, I know your message was so much more important - to me, this was important.

Caroline MacGillivray  the creator of Beautynight, offers makeovers to the underprivileged, poor women in Vancouver.  (What an awesome idea!!!).

We listened to Carmen Rosen a  local artist who narrated through her struggle and fight to bring the local ravine back to life.

We walked to the ravine in the afternoon

And these last two I am not sure about! To this day I am not sure about what their message was and what they wanted me to discover:
Sorry Stephanie Lim, what is it exactly you wanted me to eat, not to eat or know about locally grown food? Please check her link- I am sure you can figure it out! 

And last but not least we had Jerry Ewen whose message I am also not quite sure about either. It was something about being playful.... sorry Jerry, my mind must have been on the open bar!

All this was well presented in a playful manner by our hosts Brian Adler and Lindsay Smith.


What did I make of all this?
This TEDx event nourished my senses and filled my tummy.
For nine hours I was able to live in my perfect, well organized, politically correct, well presented world.
CHEERS to you all at TEDx.

Life is easy if you know where to find your perfect world!

EAST MEETS WEST on CHOPSTICKS ON PHO

This modern fairy tale can be found on

• Unit 101 15325 56 Avenue (Highway 10)
• Surrey, British Columbia v3s 0x9

 

	(778) 574-1884

Dear Chopsticks On Pho

Happy First Birthday to you!

If you were a real person I would come on over and give you a big bear hug plus lots of sweet kisses! Unfortunately, you are a restaurant, so no real lovey stuff from me!

This is my virtual hug and thank you from me to you!
You gave this hard core curry wurst loving writer a taste of the tasty, crunchy, fresh, delicious Vietnamese life:

You are an  example to all of us:

You are here to show us that dreams and visions can come true
 (your owner Lynn imagined and wanted you for the longest time. For the longest time should read:  since she was a little girl watching her mom cooking in the kitchen).

You are proof  that it doesn't matter where we are coming from, what upbringing we had or what hardship we endured!

 (How many of us grew up in Communist North Vietnam, tried to flee the country several times only to be thrown back into prison? How many of us endured a refugee camp (Malaysia)? How many of us were at the mercy of a foreign country to offer us refugee status; to offer us a new chance in life (The Netherlands)? How many of us were send to yet another country (Canada) to live with a relative and to attend high school?)

You are testimony that husband and wife can work together:

(Lynn's amazing husband Steven gave up his job, his career (aka steady income) to join his wife in creating her dream).

Chopsticks on Pho,
you are showing parents with small children it is possible to start a business from the ground up with your two toddlers in tow (and no immediate family to fall back on to help with the occasional babysitting job). 

Your vegetable rolls are so fresh and so crispy it is actually embarrassing to bite into them 'cause they make so much noise when you chew ém (even if you chew with your mouth closed).

I love your well designed space, your long tables with the fresh flowers.

Your washrooms are so refreshingly clean, it is a joy to spend time in them
(my father taught me to always check out the toilets in a restaurant. His simple logic is, if the bathrooms are clean so is the kitchen).

Your kitchen is spic 'n span,  (I knew it)

your hostess is caring and your host with his cool spiky hair welcomes everybody with a handshake!

I need to rub in in again, we all have the same chances and opportunities in life!

 The only difference is: Some of us are willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary to keep our dream alive, to make it our reality!

Thank you Lynn and Steven for your creation, Chopsticks on Pho!
Your restaurant is a tasty, healthy, clean, fresh, warm addition to anything Surrey has to offer!

 May the star of prosperity shine bright and high above you for many, many happy returns!

Chopsticks on Pho:
For more information, Please click on this link.

In case you don't know what PHO means, please go to Wiki.








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