White Spot Giving the Gift of Time with a Charity Lunch on Christmas Day

Like many of us that spent parts of our childhood in British Columbia, White Spot conjures up images of nostalgia and comfort to me.  And if you are also like me, Christmas brings with it a certain amount of stress, even if it’s just suppose to be a happy time spent with loved ones.  For these reasons alone, it is nice to hear that White Spot at Richmond Centre and on Kingsway and Knight in Burnaby are opening their doors on Christmas Day from 11 am – 3 pm for lunch.  A great escape from the stress of Christmas entertaining and a chance to relax with a bit of comfort food at a time when a lot of us need just that. They’ll be offering a menu of many White Spot favourites to choose from.  Wondering if that means that at 36 I’m still allowed to order a Pirate Pack?

A Little Disappointed I Missed White Spot's Car Hopper Days

So pretty cool that White Spot is offering an affordable option for a comforting meal on Christmas Day, right?  But that is not the exciting part or why I’m writing about this.  The really cool part is that White Spot at Richmond Centre and on Kingsway and Knight in Burnaby are doing this all for charity.  The staff actually donate all their time and tips and come into work on Christmas Days in order to raise money for charity, and they’ve been doing this for over a decade now.  And the two franchises donate all net proceeds from the sale of food to charity.  Last year, together, the two franchises raised over $10, 000 in the one afternoon.  This year the funds are going to generate much needed funds for the Richmond General Hospital Foundation and Variety: The Children’s Charity.

Santa's Helpers at Richmond Centre

A huge thank you to the staff and owners of these two White Spots!  This is incredibly giving of your time and resources!

The Elves at Kingsway and Knight Street, Burnaby

Wishing you loads of lovely smooches under the mistletoe!

Emme xoxo

Relishing the Good Life Without Touching (Let Alone Breaking) the Bank

In case you haven’t already guessed it, I am rather fond of the finer things in life.  The running joke in our family is that I need to find a rich husband (amongst my friends thats been further narrowed to a rich husband with waterfront property). Now we all know thats rather unrealistic for me. Not because I couldn’t woo a rich husband if I so chose, but because I am true to my heart and because men that try to woo me with money, I find icky, artificial and a turn off.

So whats a gal to do? Work hard to afford the odd little luxury, enjoy the window shopping, and avoid danger zones, such as shops filled with beautiful and luxurious fabrics, bookstores (real ones – you know the ones I’m talking about, where the owner knows their books), and artisans.  I’m not materialistic in the least, but I do admit to having a total weakness for the finer things in life.

This is why I am beside myself with excitement for this Thurday’s Timeraiser Art Auction in Vancouver. Normally I’d hear the words ‘art auction’ and my head would scream ‘avoid avoid avoid’, ‘if you’re going to afford your life as a writer, nice artwork is just not in the cards at the moment.’  And then, that would be that.  I’d come up with a polite excuse and I’d stay as far away as possible.  Well…. this Thursday’s art auction is a little different ….so I might not need to avoid after all.

You see its a TIMEraiser not a FUNDraiser.  What does that mean?  It means that you go and you bid volunteer hours rather than cash.  And the highest TIME bidder (up to a maximum of 125 hours to be delivered within a year of the auction) wins the piece of artwork. Now that is something I can afford and I do love to volunteer.  Plus they have a great list of agencies to volunteer for.  And I got a sneak peek at some of the artwork this past Tuesday and there are more than a few pieces that I’d love to see hanging on my walls or on those of my parents (I’ve always wanted to buy them some nice artwork).

The Auction is this Thursday, September 24th, so I’ll see you there!  Just don’t you dare bid on anything I’m bidding on, because I’m not afraid to bite (and no, not in the nice kind of way) and haven’t had my shots (hmmm – maybe I shouldn’t actually say that as it might not bode so well on my dating life).

Tempted to caption this with dont bid on the same things as me or else, but a voice in my head keeps saying Emme that may be taking it a little far. Impressive piece of artwork though.

Tempted to caption this with 'don't bid on the same things as me or else', but a voice in my head keeps saying "Emme that may be taking it a little far". Impressive piece of artwork though.

Oh and a big thank you to Jessica and Raul for introducing me to this delightful concept!

FFR’s Wiley Weekly Word: Blogathon

They’re still at it those crazy two-leggers and will be for another 4 hours.  A few whiskers short if you ask me, but you do have to admire their perseverance.  Just could someone tell me why no one is blogging for a feline charity????

Cross-posted from hummingbird604

This week’s word:  Blogathon

Blogathon: A day that confirms the fact that two-leggers are far below the feline on the evolutionary ladder and really not all that bright.For some reason, these two-leggers spend an entire sunny summer Saturday blogging. One new post every half hour.

‘My two-legger often makes me meow in aspiration, but at least she was not as silly as Raul to join a blogathon and spend a sunny writing a new post every half hour. There is hope for her yet. Now a sleepathon with a cat nap in a new sunny spot every half hour I can totally understand. Also totally get a birdathon, where every half hour we swat a new bird out of the air, especially the little ones that humm incessantly.’

Enjoying myself today on a sleepathon, whilst the insane two-leggers run frazzled on their blogathon.

Enjoying myself today on a sleepathon, whilst the insane two-leggers run frazzled on their blogathon.

~FFR