Baby it’s cold outside! Lucky are Monctonians to live in an area with no shortage of outdoor fun options- for kids and grown-ups alike.

This year, the City Of Moncton has increased the number of outdoor rink locations for your skating pleasure & I have to admit, it puts a smile on my face to see kids outside on the ice.  I learned to skate on a pond in Moncton and there is truly nothing like an afternoon spent on an outdoor rink. So, get your kids off the couch and on the ice… they’ll thank you for it & you’ll probably enjoy it as much as they do.

From the City of Moncton website:

Outdoor Rinks

Grove Hamlet (39 Ripplewood Road)

Mapleton Place (90 Candlewood Drive)

Prince Edward Park (25 Burlington Avenue)

Boys & Girls Club Moncton/Renton Park (280 Noël Street)

Sunny Brae Park (45 Centre Street)

Lewisville Park (Edgehill & Willowbend Drive)

Beechwood Community (Joyce Avenue)

Other Outdoor Rinks:

• Centennial Park Pond
• Centennial Park Kaboom Rink
• Mapleton Park
• City Hall
• Victoria Park (Weldon at John Street)

Indoor Rinks:

• Redball Internet Centre
• Crossman Community Centre-Kay Arena

 

 

Happy New Year!  Behind resolutions, goals and diets, some of us still have our big beautiful green buddies standing in our living rooms. OK… so maybe they’re not quite as big or green as they once were.  The great news is that, in this case, procrastination has paid off!  Next week, there will be Christmas tree pickup at your door!  According to the City Of Moncton website

“There is free drop-off at the Westmorland-Albert Solid Waste Corporation beginning December 27.   Info: 877-1040″ OR “Residents… may set them out at the curb on their regular garbage pick-up night during the week of January 9 to 13, 2012 only. Info: 859-2643.”

Perfect! I have to admit, my tree is still standing. Is yours?

-Natalie

When I started Martell Home Builders, nearly 5 years ago, I got some solid advice from my old brother Dan. “Go out and find people who’ve already accomplished what you’re trying to do, and ask them for advice”, he said “Not only will you learn faster, you can usually avoid making the same mistakes they have”.

That specific advice lead me on a journey of self learning and many trips across north america. In the first year alone, I travelled to PEI, Halifax, Toronto, even Calgary so I could meet and get advice from some of the top home builders and real estate marketing experts in the industry.

It’s because I know the power of great advice, that I’m so excited for the launch of Dan’s new company: Clarity. If you’re a business person living in, or around Moncton, you won’t want to miss this event. He’s got over 400+ of the world best entrepreneurs available for calls through Clarity. He certainly can explain things better than me .. but you’ll need to be at the event to get access.  (ex: Here’s my profile )

Clarity.fm Launch, Thursday, January 5th @ 5pm, Capitol Theatre, 811 Main St, Moncton, NB

Register Today

I hope you make it. Sometimes a simple 10 minute phone call with the right person can change your life forever.

Last week, we posted some Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit. This week we’re turning our attention to movies. Hear are 10 great films to keep your Christmas merry. Several are great films to share with your family, while a few are nice diversions for the onslaught of red white and green.

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) While not technically a movie, this made for TV special earns a spot on this list for the why it has captured the hearts of multiple generations in the almost 50 years since it was first aired. The soundtrack is also a fantastic addition to your music library.
2. A Christmas Carol (1951) Some traditions deserve to live on for ever. One of these is watching the 1951 black and white adaptation of Charles Dickens classic novel staring Alastair Sim. die hard traditionalists may prefer the original 1938 film starring Reginald Owen.
3. Elf (2003) One of the best Christmas movies of the past decade, and one of Will Ferrell’s best as well. You’ll be getting coal in your stocking if you don’t think Buddy the Elf is adorable!
4. Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) A decidedly un-kitchy—but nonetheless heartwarming—Christmas film that reminds us of why Christmas matters.
5. Home Alone (1990) A Wonderful Life for the modern generation. In between the slapstick comedy is a story of the importance of love and family over the holidays. 1992’s Home Alone 2 was a worthy sequel.
6. Die Hard (1998) A great break from he Christmas schmaltz. This one makes the list because it’s set during a corporate Christmas party.  1990′s Die Hard 2 is also set during the holidays.
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 and 2000) A double entry. While the original animated version will always have a special place in our hearts, the amazing sets and make-up of the 2000 version make it a worthy co-addition to our list.
8. Polar Express  (2004) This one is a love it or hate it type film. While some viewers make be turned off by the quasi-realistic animation, others will be delighted by the magically beautiful journey that the movies takes you on.
9. Gremlins (1984) A merry monster movie. While it may appeal more to the parents out there, kids will be delighted by the fun twist on Christmas traditions.
10. Miracle on 34th Street (1947 and 1994)  Another double entry. The 1947 is still among the best of the traditional holiday movies. The 1994 version updates it for a new generation while staying true to the original. Both version provide an light-hearted  story without a sentimentality overload.

Is your favourite holiday movie on this list?  If not, please let us know in the comments.

Friday, I was thrilled to open my mailbox and feel the excitement of the first few Christmas cards of the year.  What perfect timing to share the Martell Home Builders Christmas card with you.  We got all ELFed up and had a blast!

Our first task was to locate the perfect Christmas outfits.  We searched high and low… thank you to Dollarama, Value Village and some special friends & family for making us look our best.  Next, we had to enlist the help of the Big Guy himself.  Apparently, Santa is too busy this year to drop by our open house at 131 Coriander so we had to hunt him down.  A safe bet this time of year, is to seek him out at Champlain Place. So, off we went….

We had so much fun sitting on Santa’s lap and telling him what we want for Christmas.  I know Santa loved every minute of it!

This year, we opted against traditional paper cards & sent our Christmas Cards via Paperless Post.  We strive to reduce as much as possible and, let’s face it, we’re technology nerds.  Paperless Post was awesome & we highly recommend it for those trying to save time, money and reduce their impact on the environment.

There’s something so magical about this time of year and it’s so important to reflect with gratitude on the year behind you.  This year, we grew our team and our client family.  We didn’t just build houses, we built homes!  It’s so amazing to imagine all of our awesome clients enjoying Christmas in their Martell Homes. That’s what we’re grateful for.

We wish you and yours lots of laughter, joy & smiles this Holiday Season. And if it suits you, go get all ELFed up

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MARTELL HOME BUILDERS!

As the song goes, “Merry Christmas” has already “been said many times, many ways.”  So why not sing it in a Canadian way this year?  Here are 10 Canadian interpretations of Christmas classics old and new (in no particular order).

• Justin Bieber, Under the Mistletoe: A brand new album from Canada’s boy wonder. The album offers seasonal mix of traditional Christmas standards and new holiday music co-written by Justin. If Biebs isn’t enough for you, he is joined by Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and Usher.

• Diana Krall, Christmas Songs:  Diana elegantly delivers some of our favourite carols with a festive, yet grown-up vibe. Pay special attention to her rendition of Winter Wonderland for a special Canadian ad lib.

• John McDermott, Christmas Memories: This album will appeal to fans of Celtic carols. Scottish-Canadian balladeer John McDermott  delivers a wonderful mix of traditional and some lesser known Christmas fare.

• Anne Murray, What a Wonderful Christmas:  Canada’s snowbird, Anne Murray has recorded several Christmas albums during here career. This two disc collection features a sample of her favourite past songs  intermixed with some new recordings of Christmas standards.

• Michael Bublé, Christmas: This is a brand new album for Canada’s reigning crooner. It features a mix of guest appearances by the likes of Shania Twain and Thalia Jones; and a original carol that Bublé penned for this album.

• Kim Stockwood,  I Love Santa: A collection of holiday standards performed live by this unique Canadian artist. The album features a sample of seasonal favourites and fun new tracks that highlight both Kim’s rich, warm vocals and her comedic style.

• Bruce Cockburn, Christmas:  The Canadian activist and singer deftly brings folk, rock, country, gospel, and international influences to a broad collection of seasonal standards in a powerful and poignant way.

• Holly Cole, Baby It’s Cold Outside:  With here smoky voice, Holly Cole offers the perfect antidote to the hustle of seasonal shopping, decorating and parties. This is the perfect music to listen to with a cup of hot cocoa when you need a break from the bustle.

• Frank Mills and Rita MacNeil, The Spirit of Christmas: Two Canadian musical legends join forces in this memorable holiday release. Singer/songwriter Rita MacNeil pulled legendary composer and pianist Frank Mills out of retirement to record 4 new songs to add to 8 of their Christmas classics.

• Matt Dusk, Another Christmas: An EP from a Canadian crooner featuring a mix of classics and new jazzy tunes sure to delight anybody looking for a smooth Christmas track for a holiday dinner party.

Kindle Winner Kevin & Customer Experience Representative Natalie Davison

We love to give away prizes- after all, what’s more fun that calling someone to tell them that they’ve won… especially when they aren’t expecting it!

Regularly throughout the year, Martell Home Builders draws a name from open house sign-ins for a thank you prize- to show our appreciation for visiting us and hearing about our homes.  Our most recent Open House Draw was for a Kindle e-Reader.  I have to admit, I was a little jealous to hand this one over… it’s on my wish list this year:)

Congratulations to Kevin for being selected! Happy Reading.

With the beginning of December comes the beginning of Christmas Shopping season. In addition to shopping for the special people in your life this year, why not also shop for that special place as well—your house! We don’t mean the seasonal decorations that spend 11 months in a box. Rather, we are thinking of thoughtful upgrades that will make your house look better and year long.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Ho-Ho-Hardware: Replacing your cabinet pulls or even your door knobs can made a big difference. A quick visit to your local hardware store will open your eyes to the multitude of choices out there. Find something the reflects the houses’ style or, better yet-your personality and you’ll smile each time you open a door or drawer!

• Deck the Windows: Most of us fret over finding a perfect outfit for the Christmas office party or neighbours New Years Party.  But what about you house?  Adding simple window treatments or replacing dated blinds will help ensure your house looks its best long after the holidays are over.

• De-clutter and Deep Clean: You may be thinking of using a spa date for that somebody special on your list. Why not give your house the equivalent? Hire a home organizer to come in and help you streamline your possessions, get your carpets steam cleaned, or hire a housekeeping service to spend a day cleaning out the various nooks and crannies of you house that you’ve never had the chance to get around to doing yourself.

• Pass the Paint:  Paint is often the simplest, yet most effective way to update your home. A few coats of paint can refresh any home. If you’re not up to repainting an entire room, start with an accent wall. A bold colour on a single wall can give the entire room a new look and help you appreciate your existing furnishings in a new light.

• Season of Light (Fixtures):  Some of us spend a lot of time thinking of the perfect holiday lighting scheme to wow our neighbours for the next few weeks. With illumination on your mind, think about how to update the light fixtures you will be living with for the rest of the year. Consider a new bedside lamp, a new bathroom vanity light or even a dining room chandelier  to show off on Christmas dinner. After all, we all love getting a gift that  we can show off on Christmas day, even your house!

Moncton has been the home of a number of notable people. Here is a small sample:

Russ Howard

Russ Howard (born 1956) is a two time world champion and Olympic gold medallist men’s curler. Howard has been to the Brier 14 times and won twice. He is also a 2-time world champion, winning in 1987 and 1993. In 2006, Howard was a member of the Canadian team that won a gold medal tat the Turin Winter Olympic, the first time that a Canadian team had won the gold medal for men’s curling. Howard, who turned 50 during the Olympics, is the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal.

In 2006, Howard was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. Hecurrently lives in Moncton and curls at Curling Beausejour. In 2007 he published his autobiography Hurry Hard: the Russ Howard Story.

Antonine Maillet

Antonine Maillet (born 1929) is an Acadian novelist, playwright, and scholar. She was born in Bouctouche, New Brunswick. Early in her career she was a a scriptwriter and broadcaster for Radio-Canada in Moncton. Antonine Maillet is one of the best-known Canadian writers on both the national and the international scene. Most of her writing focuses on Acadian people and culture.

She is a recipient of the Order of Canada and the first non-French winner of the “Prix Goncourt“, the highest honour in francophone literature. Maillet was Chancellor of the Université de Moncton from 1989-2001.

Northrop Frye

Herman (“Norrie”) Northrop Frye (1912-1991) was considered one of the most influential literary critics and theorists of the 20th century. Frye’s contributions to cultural and social criticism spanned a long career during which he earned widespread recognition and received many honours. He gained international fame with his first book, Fearful Symmetry (1947). His lasting reputation rests principally on the theory of literary criticism that he developed in Anatomy of Criticism (1957).

Frye was raised in Moncton ands retained close ties to the city throughout his life. Hr continues to be a prominent figure in Moncton culture, with The Frye Festival, an annual literary festival bearing his name. Northrop Frye School in Moncton was also named in his honour.

Robb Wells

Robb Wells (born 1971) is a Canadian actor and screenwriter who portrayed Ricky on the Trailer Park Boys television series. Wells was born in Moncton where his dad worked as a civilian officer in charge of the RCMP Forensic Crime Lab, but moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia when he was eight years old. In 2006, The Globe and Mail revealed that Wells is a distant cousin of  Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Romeo LeBlanc 

Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc (1927 – 2009) was a Canadian journalist, politician, and statesman. He was born and raised in nearby Memramcook. Leblanc was elected to the House of Commons in 1972, and served as a minister of the Crown until 1984, when he was appointed to Canada’s Senate and named Speaker.

In 1994 he was named the 25th Governor General of Canada, where he was praised for opening up Rideau Hall to ordinary Canadians and tourists alike. Throughout his life, LeBlanc was viewed as a role model for Acadians, and was complimented for having drawn the attention of the country to Acadian history and culture. LeBlanc died of Alzheimer’s disease on June 24, 2009.