There are more than a few hidden gems on the one-way in Langley City, and I recently discovered that two of them are the creations of one one woman. 

Sonya Perkins is the proud proprietor of both Forever Yours Lingerie (who I briefly wrote about last year) and L.U.C.Y, (”love, uniquely, curvy, you”), which carries stylish, plus-size women’s clothing and accessories.

Read til the end to enter your name to WIN gift cards to either Forever Yours or L.U.C.Y.

Sonya has been running the fun, girly boutique, Forever Yours for more than 13 years, starting off in a tiny 600 sq/ft shop and then in November 2008 moving into their current 6000 sq/ft location.  Forever Yours is the self-proclaimed “bra fit specialists” and they carry a huge selection of unique bras, underwear and everything in between. 

80% of their stock are European brands (stuff you won’t find at our local department stores) and it’s this focus and dedication to being different and unique that has helped Forever Yours become such a popular shop in Langley. 

Forever Yours carries lingerie in sizes Small - XXX (and sometimes XXXX) Large.

Just down the street at L.U.C.Y., you’ll find the same commitment to quality, stylish and unique brands. 

L.U.C.Y. (which also happens to be the same of her daughter), was born from Sonya’s desire to bring fun, flirty and fashion-forward plus-size clothing to women in Langley and the Fraser Valley. 

Because she herself was not satisfied with the selection, she was doing most of her personal shopping in the U.S., in places like L.A., New York and Vegas, where she could find clothes that were stylish and comfortable.  Given her history in the retail business, Sonya decided to bring these fashions to other women too, opening up L.U.C.Y. just 18 months ago. 

L.U.C.Y. currently carries a large selection of evening wear and dresses, as well as casual ‘everyday’ clothes, accessories and bags.  Brands like Igigi, Adiranna Pappell, Kiyonna, Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, and Hip-T’s are popular brands in the store and Sonya will be bringing in the super-stylish fashions of Betsey Johnson this summer!  (they might already be there!)

Sonya’s commitment and passion for both her shops is infectious.  She can often be found out-of-town on buying trips, picking up new, modish and different brands for both Forever Yours and L.U.C.Y, bringing her customers the latest and greatest from L.A., Las Vegas and New York.

Email me with either Forever Yours OR L.U.C.Y. as the subject to be entered to win a 
$50 gift card to the shop that you’ve chosen.

Forever Yours Lingerie
20460 Fraser Highway 
Langley, BC
V3A 4G2
(604) 532-1933

L.U.C.Y clothing & accessories
101 - 20565 Fraser Highway
Langley, BC
V3A 4B4
(604) 532-5898

Do you have a little budding chef at home?  An 8-13 year old who likes to throw it down in the kitchen and cook up a storm?  Well Seasoned Gourmet Food Store has the perfect class for your up-and-coming cook. 

What: Kids Cook • with Chef Dez
When: Thursday July 9th and Friday July 10th, 11:00am – 2:00pm             
Cost: $69 for both days; $40 for one

About the Class:
Send your kids to cooking class with Chef Dez!  These classes are designed for kids from 8-13 who have an interest in cooking and food…maybe they watch the food network and are dying to roll up their sleeves and learn.

In this semi-hands on class the kids will learn a variety of fun and (mostly) healthy recipes while they spend time with Chef Dez learning how to chop properly and how to find their way around the kitchen using the proper tools for the job while creating delicious food. These are great interactive classes not meant for kids who have food allergies – we use nuts and shellfish in our kitchen regularly.

Menu - A bit of breakfast, lunch and dinner:
·         Baked Chicken Fingers with 3 “no cook” sauces – BBQ, Sweet & Sour, Honey Mustard
·         Whole Wheat Pizza Dough from Scratch with some assorted toppings
·         Apple Cinnamon Topped Pancakes with
·         Fresh Homemade Butter and Homemade Syrup
 
For more info: http://www.wellseasoned.ca/july09_col_cal.html

Yes, you read that right.  So keep reading to find out how you can win FREE cupcakes for a YEAR!  (and um, if you win, and feel like sharing, I totally know someone who loves cupcakes and would be more than happy to take some off your hands

What could be better than a day at the beach while enjoying some delicious Tracycakes cupcakes? That’s the inspiration for a new summer contest at Tracycakes called the Tracycakes Cake Walk Photo Contest.

To celebrate the recent opening of the new cafe at White Rock Beach, Tracycakes is asking people to submit fun, creative pictures of their favourite cupcake moments at the beach. Tracycakes is encouraging amateur photographers to submit pictures of themselves with their friends, family and pets enjoying their Tracycakes cupcake(s) while lying on the beach, building sandcastles, picnicking, crabbing, jet skiing, collecting seashells or any activity at the beach. 

The winner of this fun contest will win one dozen babycake cupcakes for every month of an entire year! 

Submissions must be received by Monday, August 31.  The winner will be announced by Thursday, September 4 
 
Digital pictures can be emailed to info@tracycakesonline.com or dropped off at Tracycakes in White Rock or Abbotsford.
 
Pictures can also be mailed to:
Tracycakes Bakery Cafe 
15015 Marine Drive. White Rock, BC V4B 1C3
 
For more info, visit www.tracycakesonline.com

I visited Full Bloom Farm when I joined Tourism Langley’s Circle Farm Tour and LOVED it.  It’s gorgeous!  I can’t wait to go back. 

On July 4-5th, they’re inviting everyone to “explore and enjoy all things Lavender”as they celebrate their 3rd annual Lavender Festival!  Learn all about lavender, take a walk through their blooming fields, pick your own lavender bundle, check out their aromatherapy garden and shop for lavender products in their boutique, all while enjoying live music, entertainment, food and refreshments and lots activities for the entire family.

Where: 2926 - 248th St
Langley, BC
When: July 4-5th, 10am - 4pm
Cost: $5 per CAR

Another upcoming event! 

When:  Thursday, July 9th
Where:  Babycheeks, luxury baby and children’s boutique
101 - 14012 32nd Ave, S. Surrey
Time:  6:30pm onwards
Please RSVP by July 4th to 778.292.0495 or babycheeks@shaw.ca

Hosted by Babycheeks in South Surrey, Martinis & Manicures is featuring yummy cocktails, mini-manis, a DJ, swag, featured jewely and of couse lots of shopping and swag! 

I can’t believe it’s Canada Day this week!  July??!!  It scares me how quickly time passes sometimes…

But before I get too nostalgic on you, here’s a listing of some local celebrations happening this Wednesday (sorry no details below, am in a bit of a rush today, but all have websites for you to get the specifics):

Langley Canada Day Celebration: 
Visit website

Fort Langley Canada Day Celebration (hosted by JRFM):
Visit website

Surrey Canada Day (54-40 and Bif Naked will be here!!):
Visit website

Canada Day in White Rock - ROCK 10k Race:
Visit website

Abbotsford Canada Day Parade and Family Festival:
Visit website

Canada Day Celebrations at Chilliwack Heritage Park
Visit website

Canada Day in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows:
Visit website

Apologies if I’ve missed any.  Please post below in a comment if you have another event we should know about!

Things are heating up in Abbotsford, as The Heat launch their new website!

Today marks the launch of The Abbotsford Heat’s new website, featuring all the news and info you’ll need to be kept informed about what’s hot with The Heat.

On April 28th, 2009 it became official that Abbotsford, BC would be the new home for the Calgary Flames American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. 

“We’re extremely excited to be calling Abbotsford our new home,” said Calgary Flames President Ken King.

The Calgary Flames will send their top young talent to the Fraser Valley to play and continue training on their AHL team. The AHL is the best development league in the world, grooming players for the National Hockey League. Eighty-four percent of the 2008-09 NHL players were graduates of the AHL.

“The Fraser Valley is hockey country and we are overdue to have this caliber of hockey in our region,” stated Abbotsford Mayor, George W. Peary. “Our new Entertainment and Sports Centre is a state of the art facility and will be one of the premier buildings in the league.”

Fans were invited to help name the team, which was revealed on May 14th as:  The Abbotsford Heat.

Yesterday, The Heat’s official logo was unveiled at an exclusive corporate breakfast event for local business owners.  

The logo, developed by Abbotsford’s Domain7, has been much anticipated by local fans. A custom-made font was created, made up of modern, angular shapes, to convey the sense of motion, speed and power which reflects the excitement of the game of hockey.

“We wanted to capture the essence of the sport and position Abbotsford as a destination for world-class hockey in the logo and branding, and I think we were able to do that”, explains Abbotsford resident and Lead Designer, Stephen Bau, MGDC.

The Heat is on!

Congrats to Jennifer Cowden of Surrey, you’ve won the Girlygifties Giveaway!  An email has been sent to you.

This was an awesome giveaway.  We received hundreds of entries, from fabulous women as far away as Quebec, Toronto, Manitoba and Saskatchewan…and even one from France!  Plus tons and tons of you from the Lower Mainland!  Thank you all for reading the site, for entering the contest and for so many kind comments.  I can’t respond to everyone, but I’ve read each of your e-mails and am incredibly grateful.  Love you gals!

One of my fave Langley shops for cool, casual clothes is about to turn five!  And what are they doing to celebrate?  Hosting a party of course! 

The gals of Hunni’s Urban Boutique are inviting you to join them on Wednesday July 1st in their new location to shop, mingle, enjoy a LIVE broadcast from the cats at 100.5 The Peak, enjoy free BBQ & bevies and enter to win some fab prizes!  The entire store will be 25% OFF and any customer who spends more that $100 will receive a giveaway from Billabong or Hurley for up to $100 value!

If you haven’t visited Hunni’s new locale, this is a great time to do it.  Their new boutique is just five units down from their previous shop, but it’s bigger, better and way cooler.  In addition to the great clothes, they have an old-school Nintendo with Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros and other retro games to play and if that’s not an incentive, they give away free lollipops too!  Plus the staff is friendly, helpful, relaxed and fun.  What more do you need?

It’s a great time to pick up some fab new summer gear from brands like Burton, Billabong, O’Neill, Rip Curl, Pink Martinis and many more, so check them out on July 1st.  

Hunni’s Urban Boutique
5 - 8590 200th St
Langley, BC
604.888.7990
www.hunnis.com
Blog: http://hunnisupdates.blogspot.com/
Find them on FACEBOOK

The second exciting Grand Opening of the week! 

Frostings Cupcakery opens its doors in Langley on Saturday, June 27th, 9:00am - 8:00pm.

Offering 25 varieties of mouth-watering cupcakes, including Mississippi Mud, Key West, Every Last Crumb, Chocoholic, Pretty In Pink and Bubble Gum, Frostings will be a welcome addition to the growing food and restaurant options in Langley City. 

CLICK HERE for some sweet deals on opening day!

#122 - 20226 Fraser Highway
Langley, BC
778-278-8832
cupcakes@frostingcupcakery.ca