My Urban Suburban

Well, it has certainly been an exciting and eventful year around here.  My Urban Suburban got a new look this year, readership DOUBLED, I was invited to blog LIVE from the CCMA’s and met some fave celebs in the VIP room (hello Brandon Walsh), we expanded our network in the Fraser Valley, meeting many new people and connecting with business owners from White Rock to Hope, and now the news of an Urban Suburban Baby joining the crew in Spring 2010!  It’s been a whirlwind, and so much fun!

I would like to thank each and every one of my dedicated readers who continue to keep in touch by reading the blog, e-mailing recommendations, telling me what they love and don’t love about amenities in the Valley, sending me funny family pictures and stories of their adventures in the FV and, well, being the absolute best readers I could ask for.

As you know, this site is my personal pursuit.  I don’t get paid for what I do or say…nor do I plan to.  I wouldn’t consider continuing the site if it weren’t for all of you who make it worth my while.  So thank you for your support and kindness.  Love you all!  I wish each of you a happy and safe holiday season and look forward to the excitement and fun that 2010 is sure to bring.

I will leave you with a little Christmas Cheese.  Francis in Abbotsford sent me this today to wish me a happy holidays and obviously I HAD to share.  This video just gets better and better with time.  Happy, Happy Holidays Everyone!!

Hi Everyone,

As some of you have noticed, I’ve been a little MIA lately…not posting nearly as often, or exploring as much as I once did.  I’m sincerely sorry for this and am feeling incredibly guilty.  BUT, I do have a good explanation and I figured it was about time I let you all in on our little secret…Bub and I are expecting our first child!  Yep, our very own Urban Suburban Baby will join our lives in early May, 2010!

Needless to say it has been a whirlwind few months and a very hectic and exciting time for us.  Between our busy work-lives and preparing for baby, plus taking care of my health (and stress level), I haven’t had the ability to keep up with the blog the way I once did.

But don’t think you’e seen/heard the last from me!!

I will continue to blog into the New Year!  At some point I’ll be taking a short “leave” (emphasis on short) from the site, in order to take care of myself and baby for a few months, but will keep you posted on when that happens.

In the meantime, I’m doing my best to keep the site as up-to-date as possible!  And of course, making plans to incorporate some Urban Suburban Baby content…so all you parents out there, start sending me your baby tips, shopping and activity ideas!  I definitely plan to include this new adventure of ours into the blog.  But not to worry folks, this will not become a baby blog.  We’re all about life in the Fraser Valley, so whether you’re a family of four or a sexy single, My Urban Suburban will remain committed to bringing you all the fun and fresh info you need to live a fabulous life in the Fraser Valley!

Thanks for your understanding and support everyone!

There are some posts that deserve to be recycled every now and then.  I always re-post this one about Essential Packaging during the holiday season, because it’s the prefect place this time of year!  Essential Packaging will have everything you need to make your holiday gifts look beautiful and professionally wrapped…even if you’re all-thumbs like me.

Enjoy!

Originally written, September 2008

Another fabulous shop I should have written about ages ago!  Stella Bleu should definitely be in your hit-list when out and about holiday shopping…or just perusing the stores for a personal treat!

This adorable boutique in White Rock is filled with all things sparkly, deliciously-smelly, pretty, bejeweled and unique.  This tiny shop is packed with sophisticated and fun home accents, glamorous decor items like chandeliers, venetian mirrors, romantic jewelry and old world baubles.  They also carry a small (but nice) selection of designer clothing items and some super-cute children’s items.

It’s just “one of those places” where you can find the perfect little something for someone special, or a fancy treat for yourself.  It’s totally girly and fabulous…a nice little sanctuary from the real world!

Stella Bleu Home Decor & Design
#131 – 1959 152 Street
White Rock, BC
604-542-9691

UPDATE - DECEMBER 22, 2009.  THESE SESSIONS ARE NOW SOLD OUT!!  WAITING LIST HAS BEEN STARTED, IN CASE THERE ARE CANCELLATIONS.

It’s no secret that I love to shop.  I do.  I really, really do.  But that doesn’t mean spend a fortune.  Quite the contrary actually.  Believe it or not, I’m an excellent the bargain shopper.  Nothing I love more than finding a great deal!  I keep my eyes out for good sales, often opt for inexpensive JOE brand clothing from Superstore, and am not above perusing the racks at Value Village or consignment shops for clothes, kitchen items, books, bags, etc…, in order to save a few bucks.  The more I save, the more I can splurge on something special (which I do every now and then.)  So, imagine my glee when I stopped by MTF in Langley this weekend and got a wicked deal on some designer boots I’d had my eye on for months!

I’ve been to MTF before.  Bub and I have popped in there to check out furniture, housewares, etc..  But I’ve never bothered to look at the clothes or shoes.  Until yesterday.

Yesterday, I was alone (on my way home from the Christmas show at Tradex in Abbotsford), when I decided to stop at MTF on a whim.  I thought maybe I could get a good deal on some Christmas wrapping paper (which I did.)  For no reason, I took a walk through the clothing area and spotted a pair of red, Hunter rainboots! If you don’t know what Hunter boots are, it’s ok.  Suffice to say, they’re trendy and they’re expensive.  And I’ve had my eyes on a pair for about 3 months.  But I haven’t been able to pull the trigger on a $90 pair of rainboots.  I’m too practical.  I can’t help but think of all the other things I could get with that money.

BUT, the single pair of size 7 Hunter boots at MTF were selling for $39.99!!!  WTF!?  OMG!  Had to have them.  Right?  Right.  As I perused the rest of the clothing area, clutching my new boots to my chest, I noticed a ton of designer jeans – Joe’s, Seven for all Mankind, Hudson’s, Rockin’ Republic…I couldn’t believe my eyes.  And all for around $80!  Those things retail for up to $250 in boutiques and chain stores.  I know because I’ve bought them…and it hurt my bank account.

I’d just spent alot of money on a steam cleaner for our floors at the Christmas Show, so I sadly turned my back on the jeans, quickly paid for my boots and got outta there.  But I’ll be back.  And if you haven’t been to MTF, so should you!  I’m sure it’s hit or miss – some days might be crap and others might be a goldmine.  It’s still worth looking in order to save yourself some precious bucks.

Happy shopping fellow bargain-hunters!

MTF locations in the FV:  Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge, Langley (North), Langley (South), Surrey.

I love wine.  I love art.  And I love giving back to the community.  So this story is right up my alley!  Hopefully it’s of interest to you too!

Local Township 7 Winery has partnered with Cloverdale -resident and well-known quadriplegic artist Robb Dunfield on an inspirational wine project.  Their new Dunfield Collection, a premium Meritage, will be released tomorrow, November 27, only at the winery and online at www.township7.com, following a private pre-release party tonight.

The Dunfield Collection is a premium Bordeaux style blend comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc crafted from grapes grown on the renowned Black Sage Road in Oliver, BC. Under 200 cases were produced and the wine will retail for $34.99, which is a “cellar door” exclusive

Partial proceeds from the wine will be donated to the Rick Hansen Foundation, in support of spinal cord research in BC.

“After meeting Robb I was inspired by his positive attitude and incredible ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve so much. I wanted to find a way to help and giving back to the community is just what I do, it is part of my business DNA,” said Mike Raffan, Proprietor Township 7 Vineyards & Winery. “His artwork is reflective of the passion we put into making the best wines we can, and this project is for a great local cause that we are truly proud to support.”

“My artwork has opened the doors for many exciting and wonderful projects, but creating the Dunfield Collection label with Township 7 will always be a crowning achievement.” said Robb.  ”I knew the first time I spoke with Mike Raffan, that our vision of creating a unique, high quality vintage series was a passion we both conspired to.  I believe that fine art and fine wine have a special relationship in that both are created through a common thread of inspiration.”

The label for the Dunfield Collection features artwork from Robb Dunfield’s painting, “Visions of Possibilities”, which in its original form, is an impressive 6 x 8 foot painting.

Robb, a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic with no movement below the neck, mouth-painted Visions in 60-centimetre-square sections, painting the upper half of each section first and then flipping it to paint the remainder sideways and even upside down—a labour-intensive,three-year process!

Robb created the painting for the opening of the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre (BSCC) in Vancouver, home to the largest and most comprehensive interdisciplinary spinal cord injury research and care program in the world.  BSCC was the result of decades of work by Rick Hansen and partners to bring to life the dream of a world-leading spinal cord injury centre-of-excellence in Canada.

A highly acclaimed British Columbia winery, Township 7 produces handcrafted wines in small lots from the finest vineyards in the Okanagan and Fraser Valley.

A little more about Robb Inspirational Story:

At age 19 a tragic accident left Robb a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. His home became an eight-by-eight foot stall in a hospital room. It was in the hospital confines however that he discovered what true strength and true ability are. The lessons he learned in that bleak space have changed the lives of thousands; providing a pioneering vision for the creation of independent living facilities for people with high level disabilities. In his new environment, Robb learned to mouth paint, producing beautiful outdoor scenes influenced by the works of Emily Carr and Tom Thompson. Today Robb continues his career as an artist, a motivational speaker, and a Senior Coordinator for the Rick Hansen Foundation.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

I’m always impressed by the array of ethnic food available in the Valley.  Bub and I are big Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese food fans and there never seems to be a shortage of options close by.  So when we were craving Indian cuisine recently, we didn’t hesitate to check out a new place that we’d recently noticed in Langley City: Sohi’s Incredible Indian Cuisine.

To be honest, I’m not sure how “new” Sohi’s actually is.  I know the Surrey location has been around for a while, but I can’t say when the Langley one opened.  Regardless, it was new to us…but it won’t be for long, as we were very impressed with our meal!

We chose to order out and eat in the comfort of our home (because I wanted to catch up on some episodes of “The Office” and didn’t feel like changing out of my gross grey, but oh-so-comfy sweatpants.)  Bub was kind enough to head out in the dark, rainy night to grab the grub while I awaited his return.

He came home with a piping hot bag of delicious Creamy Chicken, Shrimp Curry, Garlic Naan and Basmathi Rice.  When we order again, I think I’d get a third dish…not because we didn’t have enough, but I would have liked a vegetable dish as well (and they have LOTS to choose from.)  As is typical with Indian fair, the dishes weren’t huge, but the flavours were rich and spicy, with lots of sauce ready to be mopped up with the moist, hot Naan bread.    Mmmmmmmmmm.

They also have a lunch buffet that I’m quite sure would be worth checking out.  If I worked in the area, I’d be there.

So next time you’re in the mood for some hot & spicy Indian cuisine, check them out!  And let me know what you think.

Sohi’s Incredible Indian Cuisine
20345 Fraser Highway
Langley, BC V3A 4E8
(778) 278-7777
*PLEASE NOTE, WEBSITE DOES NOT CURRENTLY LIST LANGLEY LOCATION

It’s that time of year…Holiday Party and Holiday Event time!  As usual, I can barely keep up.  How does Xmas creep up on me every. single. year?

But anyway, at the very least, all these holiday sales and shows make it easy to get alot of shopping done, in a short amount of time.  The 2nd Annual Christmas Show at the Tradex in Abbotsford will be one of my first stops.

November 27 – 29th, hit up this exciting show to that brings together Holiday décor, gifts, food, personal services, festive seminars and celebrity stage presentations, for all your holiday celebration and gift ideas!

Entering through the maze of fully decorated Christmas trees in the Festival of Trees Hall to the sounds of Christmas music performed by local high school bands, visitors will discover amongst the many exhibits new ideas and products for holiday gift shopping, entertaining and home decorating. You’ll find holiday decor items, gifts from around the world, jewelry & accessories, toys, specialty foods, condiments, seasonings, chocolates along with unique and hard to find gift items both from artisans as well as unique manufacturers.

I’m quite sure you’ll find something for everyone on your holiday list…and ummmm, perhaps a gift or two for yourself too!  Why not?  You deserve it!