Something About Shoes
9203 Glover Road, Fort Langley BC
Ring: 778.298.6743

and

20464 Fraser Highway, Langley BC
Ring: 778.289.7463

Last month our team took part in Ladies Night at The Rock Wall in Maple Ridge.  Wow, was it ever fun!  Giggles galore and an unexpected great workout!

The Rock Wall would love to see YOU at an upcoming ladies night!

Please comment below to be entered to win LADIES NIGHT AT THE ROCK WALL FOR YOU & THREE FRIENDS!  4 ladies + 1 Rock Wall = good times.  Trust us!  And NO, you are not too old/unfit/uncoordinated – we thought all of those things but were pleasantly surprised to see women of all ages and fitness levels.  It’s just a really fun time to get out for some fun exercise with your favourite girls.  Ladies night is every Monday evening from 7PM – 9PM.

Winner will be chosen March 16, 2010.

The Rock Wall
www.therockwall.com
6 – 11455 201A Street, Maple Ridge
Ring: 604.460.0808

Design by Desire Catering is run by Chef Marcel Pheiffer. Marcel is a Red Seal Chef who has trained in great kitchens throughout Victoria and Vancouver.  A few years ago, he was able to realize his dream of opening his own restaurant/lounge.  Some Abbotsford locals may recognize Marcel from bluStone Bistro & Lounge, which has recently changed hands as Marcel moves on to grow Design By Desire Catering.  Marcel tells us that working in catering, as opposed to being a restaurant Chef, speaks to both of his passions – food and people.

Being a Chef in a busy restaurant kitchen is great, but it’s not where Marcel’s true happiness is. Getting back to the personal touch of the food industry, having the opportunity to work closely with clients and be social in a dinner party or wedding setting, is where his talents really shine.  From organizing the menu to putting the final garnishes on a dish, Marcel enjoys every minute of it.

The food at the dinner party we attended was a complete hit.  The Design by Desire Catering team showed up, took over the kitchen as they prepared scrumptious dishes, served the plated food to every guest and when they left the kitchen was even more spotless than when they arrived.  The food was served on time and the staff was very professional.

And the food, oh the food.  We enjoyed Bocconcini Flat Bread served with roma tomatoes, basil and a balsamic red wine reduction; Lobster Fritters & Seared Scallops with a mango & chili caviar; Roasted Butternut Squash Soup served with a crunchy parmesan crisp; Brie-stuffed chicken with Scallops & Lobster served with yukon gold potatoes, green beans and tri-colour carrots; and a decadent Chocolate Mousse with Truffles.  When all the guests had finished, nobody could move since they gobbled up every last delicious morsel.  It was, simply put, really good food. Fresh seafood and veggies, creative plating, tasty food combinations.  The servings were hearty and it was nicely presented.

Design by Desire Catering services the entire Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland.  With kitchens in both Abbotsford and Vancouver, clients from all over can enjoy the talents of this excellent Fraser Valley catering company.

Keep up the good work, Chef!

Do you have a beautiful or fun photo of the Fraser Valley?  Kids eating ice cream at the beach, stunning scenery, local event photos – send them all through to Pulse Pix at photos@fraservalleypulse.com!  Professional photographers, please watermark your submissions. Photos may be sent in any size, though thumbnails will be cropped to 250×250.

I’d like to think I can do a little better than that for my everyday wear, I just need a little help pulling looks together. I’m busy and don’t have time to worry about fashion too often. I want to look polished and put-together all the time while not spending all of my time shopping.  I recently visited Lois and Les at Lolly’s in Chilliwack, who helped me put some looks together for Spring.

A funny thing happened when I started trying clothes on; we soon discovered that dresses suit me much better than pants.  I’m on the short side and fairly curvy, and the lovely ladies at  Lolly’s helped me make the most of my figure to play up my physical attributes and downplay my detractions.  The result?  I now understand how comfortable and stylish I can look wearing different kinds of dresses.  Comfort and style with no t-shirts or jeans, people!  These are dresses you can pop on, add some easy accessories and go about your day in with the knowledge that you look great.

If you need help finding a Spring dress, or any kind of great outfit for yourself, get to Lolly’s right away and ask the girls to help put together your Spring look.  Lois & Les are so helpful – they’re amazing!  If you’ve not visited this awesome Fraser Valley boutique, I highly suggest checking out.

Here are three different looks they put together for me.

Look one: Work

I felt very sophisticated and business-like in this dress, which was stretchy and comfortable.  The ruching at the tummy is really flattering and adding a little cardigan is great for air-conditioned offices.  Add a pair of fun heels, some delicate jewelry and you’re out the door!

Look Two: Evening

I love this dress!  It’s shorter than I would normally choose for myself, but the neckline is higher so I didn’t feel exposed at all.  It makes my legs look longer!!!  The colours are fresh and Springy, the dress is pretty and kicky, and I loved the necklace that went with it.  This dress has drinks and dancing written all over it!

Look Three: Weekends

I would never have picked this dress out for myself in a million years, but I love it!  Perfect for Sunday brunch and antiquing in the Spring, it has a great shape while being incredibly comfortable and easy to wear.  The colours are incredible and very indicative of what’s hot this Spring.  Tribal chic, pretty pastels, ruffles, feminine florals, feathers and shine – you’ll see a lot of it this coming season. Add some gladiator sandals to this dress, a long necklace, a big soft bag and you’re ready for whatever the weekend has to offer!

Lolly’s
45891 Wellington Avenue, Chilliwack
Ring: 604.392.9327

There will be great live entertainment from a number of talented locals including the Joe Fernandes Band, West Coast Contortion, Danielle Foulds, Tiller’s Folly and others. Participate in kids crafts, Paralympic sport demonstrations and much more!

For those of you who are early risers, I’ll be running with the torch at Robson Square in Vancouver.  My time is somewhere between 5AM – 6:30AM on Friday, March 12th!  A little early, but who cares?!  What an honour, I am SO excited!

2010 Paralympic Torch Relay
www.vancouver2010.com

The forum, which is free to the public, will run from 9:30AM to approximately 1:30PM and will include seven speakers giving practical tips on how people can lead their everyday lives in a more sustainable manner.  The public are invited to attend the whole session or drop in for specific topics. There will be displays and exhibits, some of which will be interactive. To view the complete program click here. There will be separate sessions on water conservation, waste management, sustainable eating, energy conservation, alternative energy sources, sustainable gardening, sustainable furnishings and sustainable transportation.  Speakers will include the City’s Sustainability Manager, the City’s Waste Management Manager, Dr Arthur Fallick and Dr Kent Mullinix from Kwantlen College’s Institute of Sustainable Horticulture.

Cassandra Rush of Sassy Cassys is now hosting boot parties!  What a fabulous idea!  Get the girls together, open a couple bottles o’ vino and try on a number of ‘devastatingly chic, calf-hugging boots’.  The gorgeous designs are available in three calf sizes, which is great because – let’s be honest – we don’t all have the same size calves!  Hostesses receive 10% commission toward their own Sassy Cassys purchase.

We have been sporting Suzie Q’s this past winter and they are SO comfy and stylish.  And we’re not the only ones who think so! Celebs are snapping them up too – Victoria Banks even wore her pair on stage at the Canadian Country Music Awards show in September 2009!

www.sassycassys.com

A fun night out learning about what’s hot for Spring - woo!

Gracie G Clothing Co
www.gracieg.ca
Ring: 604.539.9234

I sat down with Dan Bue, Executive Director of Childcare Worldwide based in Surrey, to ask what differentiates his organization from other child relief agencies.  “We focus on children, but we also help them as they become adults to get trained for careers to support themselves.  We don’t just drop them when they turn 18, like some other organizations will.”  He went on to talk about the trade school they’ve built for former orphans, and how CW has managed to employ many kids formerly supported by donors to work making clothes for current orphans.  One man who was sponsored through Childcare Worldwide as a child went on to get his Bachelor of Commerce  in Uganda, then was hired as a field worker for the organization, doing the work for other children that supported him throughout his childhood.

Childcare Worldwide has dug wells, has special AIDS orphanages, and is currently building a Pregnancy Center for young mothers.  The organization is growing, and there’s no telling how many more orphans they can house and feed with your help.  With orphanages in Mexico, Haiti, Peru, Belarus, Uganda, Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines, their reach is far to address the world’s orphan population.

Who: Childcare Worldwide

What: Caring for children whose parents have died or abandoned them through orphanages staffed by the country’s indigenous people, as well as career support for young adult orphans.

Where: #204 – 5460 – 152nd Street, Surrey, BC

Why: To make a difference in children’s lives on a global scale.

How you can get involved: Adopt an orphan in your chosen country or volunteer for mail-outs or to screen kid’s letters to sponsors.

Website: www.childcareworldwide.ca