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Christina & Jamie 1973

I know it’s not August 6th yet, but this just couldn’t wait.  If you’ve been following my blog for the past 5 years, you’d know that August 6th is an extreemly important date for me.  I call it a Celebration of Life Day, in honor of my big brother, James’, birthday.  5 years ago my brother passed away.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.  But I made the promise that from here on out I would celebrate is birthday and not the day he passed.  And on his birthday, I also made a promise to myself, that I will do everything I can to get the word out and support Mental Illness Awarenesses.  Even if Mental Illness doesn’t directly affect you, it affects everyone around you.  The one thing I ask you to do is not to judge anyone, as you don’t know their story, and you’ve never walked in their shoes.  And at the end of the day, tell the ones you love the most how important they are to you.

With this years celebration, I wanted to share an amazing campaign that everyone can get involved in! 

Calgary Entrepreneurs Put a Colorful Spin on Mental Illness Awareness ~ $25,000 fundraising campaign to raise awareness for mental illness gearing up

Calgary small business entrepreneurs are showing up with generosity, compassion and willingness to advocate and open up the conversation around mental illness. 

On Tuesday July 31^st, three Calgary entrepreneurs are creating a sea of blue.  A mental health advocate, blogger behind the popular website SimpLeeSerene.com, and the founder of Going Blue 4 U, Lee Horbachewski is on a mission to put a colorful spin on the blues.  To build a bigger and better 2^nd annual campaign, a fundraising campaign created on Calgary’s own Katipult.com is gaining momentum.

Catherine Tkach of Cat’s Eye Vintage & More and Karri Egan of The Hot Yoga Lounge are working with Horbachewski, to create a sea of blue.

Cat’s Eye Vintage & More will be hosting a BLUE Sale event from 2:00pm – 6:00 p.m., with 20% off everything in the store and 20% being donated to GB4U.  Snacks, entertainment, and a table featuring BLUESock Dolls, created by Horbachewski’s 12 year old daughter and her friend will be available.

The Hot Yoga Lounge will be hosting a BLUE Glow Yoga in the Dark event at 7:30 p.m., yogis will be getting bendy in the dark.  Well not completely in the dark, they will be glowing.  Glowing BLUE.  A minimum $5 donation will be donated to Going Blue 4 U.  

Other entrepreneurs have been making blue waves with campaigns, and initiatives to raise funds and create conversation for mental illness. 

Kim Page Gluckie of MPowered Marketing shared this masterful insight: Going Blue 4 U: A Philanthropic Study in Success.  Susanne Alexander-Heaton, author of ABC Field Guide to Faeries is donating 40% of all online book sales.  Linda Kiernan, created a SOLD out private screening of I AM at Self Connection Books on Sunday July 22, 2012 in 3 days, raising $590.00.  Robin Havlicek of RAD Printing created TRUST banners, creating a visual display of support and trusting in GB4U.  Robin has also committed to dyeing her hair blue if the $25,000 is raised by August 15^th.  Jaclyn Olsen of Diffusion Solutions has created a Dream Big – Believe in Better Series event with her donations as a speaker benefiting GB4U.  If Jaclyn’s friends donate $1000 by August 15^th she will dye a strip of her hair blue.

“I’m thrilled to say that $3,838 has bee raised to date and we have met our first milestone of producing a video by Calgary based storystudio.tv which will be key in spreading this life-saving message” says Horbachewski.  “We are off to a great start, but additional funds are required to ensure the success of the 2012 campaign.”

 Mental Illness impacts 1 in 5 Canadians (20% of the population)

• According to the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 43.3% of Albertans believe depression is a weakness.
• Age with the highest rate of depression symptoms: Under 20 years of age
• Every 4 minutes, a call for help is received, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at Distress Centre

About Going Blue 4 U

Launched each year in conjunction with Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), this year September 30^th – October 6, 2012, we will create a sea of blue, for everyday people affected by mental illness and suicide.  By providing resources and avenues for inspiration and empowerment, GB4U is armed with the vision of encouraging people to reach out and ask for help, thereby realizing they are not alone. 

 About Lee Horbachewski

Lee Horbachewski is an author, speaker and certified coach with a deep passion for serving and empowering others to shine bright and steady.  Lee has been featured on Global TV, CTV, ET Canada, The Calgary Herald, and MetroNews.  She was featured as one of Mompreneur Magazine’s (2009) top 5 Mompreneurs in Canada and is a spokesperson for the Distress Centre in Calgary and the founder of Going Blue 4 U. To see her full story click here for the video.

Bonus Code is Jamie.



Photo by Corrina Walker Photography

It’s been said before, being a mother is the toughest job in the world.  And yet, women become mothers everyday.  It doesn’t pay much (infact sometimes nothing at all), but most will tell you it’s the unconditional love that is payment enough.  Most mothers are willing to take a hug from their children for a days worth of work.  Something just changes when you become a mother.  There’s a deep sense of committment to wanting what’s best for your children.  And along the way, there comes another sense that she wants to give back to her community, to show her gratitude for all the blessings in her life.  That is a Role Mother.

To nominate someone, (or even yourself… and yes, it’s okay to do that), simply visit http://www.rolemothers.ca/ and fill out the nomination form by Monday, August 13th, 2012.  A panel of community leaders will narrow the submissions down to ten finalists and then Calgarians will vote for the top four Role Mothers whose stories inpire and encourage them to get more actively involved in the community. 

The top four Role Mothers will become the faces of the 2013 Role Mothers campaign, receive a $1,000 Cadillac Fairview shop!card® from Market Mall for themselves AND a $1,000 donation will be made to their charity of choice.   What a GREAT way to tell these AMAZING mothers you appreciate everything they do for not only their own familes, but for making this world a better place to live!

Bonus Code MOTHER

While the rest of the city was busy wrapping up the 100th Celebration of the Calgary Stampede, I was putting the finishing touches on my son’s 5th birthday.  Like all parents say, time sure flies once you have kids.  Hard to believe that my oldest starts kindergarten this year! 

The party was a hit!  I put up party decorations, filled the goodie bags with Dollar Store gifts and ordered our Sonic The Hedgehog ice cream cake from DQ.  But what would make this 5th birthday party be a hit?  A magician of course.

I’ve blogged about this young man before, but he did such a good job, I thought he was worthy of another mention.  TriXtan from Our Next Show does home parties too.  And not just for kids, he could spice up a 40th birthday party too!  He was so great with the kids though.  He’s even inspired my son to try his own magic tricks.  (Mind you his tricks are putting his toys in his socks and pretending that they’ve disappeared… lol).  TriXtanwas interactive not only with the kids, but with the parents and grandparents too!  Plus he showed off his amazing talent of balloon art too.  He showed up with a 3 foot Sonic The Hedgehog for my son.  (Only took him an hour before coming to make it!!)  Plus the kids got what they asked for.  One child wanted Spiderman, another wanted a Lobster.  Yes, a Lobster balloon.  (That was from my youngest).  Sorry didn’t get a picture of it.  I’ll see if it’s still around.

And his tricks had you asking, “how’d he do that”.  And rolling on the floor laughing!!

So if you’re looking for something different for your party, this guy delivers.  A young man making a living entertaining others with a craft that he’s worked on for the past 10 years… and he’s in his early 20′s! 

You can also visit TriXtan with his production Our Next Show,  July 18th and 19th at Cardel Theatre in Quarry Park.  The shows you’ll see are full of magic, illusions, variety arts and inspiration!  Go to www.ournextshow.ca for more information.

Bonus code is magic.

When you were a kid it was up to your parents to make sure you followed the right path in life.   Teaching you manners, presenting you  accountability with chores, introducing you to sports and team work.  But as soon as you move away from your nest, it’s up to you to find your way. 

It sounds simple.  But in reality it’s one of the most difficult choices you’ll make.  And if you make a wrong turn along the way, it’s okay.  That’s the tough one, being okay with a choice that didn’t quite work out for you.  Every life experience makes you up to who you are today.  And who you’ll become tomorrow.  In the moment, however, it may bring you down.  But finding that strength and courage to pick yourself up again will only make you stronger for what’s to come.  Life isn’t easy.  And would you expect it to be?  If it was, we’d live a pretty boring existence. 

At some point, you’ll come to the realization that in order to find the right path, you need to follow your passion.  A passion is something that makes you breathe easy.  A passion is something that you wake up to everyday and are thankful for this wonderful opportunity.  A passion makes you smile.  A passion will give you butterflies at first, but as soon as your realize the potential you’ll be calm.  A passion is a choice you make to fulfil your hearts desire.  But in order to follow that path, you must discover what your passion is.  Everyone has it in them.  And you’ll find it by listening to your heart.  And once you do, your heart will smile. 

I took this picture in Kananaskis, Alberta Canada.  Enjoy it’s beauty. 

Bonus Code PATH