Midnight Magic Event!!! - Welcome Back Potter!

 

YES!!! I can't be the only one that is excited to know that Harry Potter is back! - I was recently at CF Market Mall to discuss a Magical Event happening on Saturday, July 30th!

I want you to join me at Coles in CF Market Mall for an evening filled with prizes, laughter, magic and Harry Potter!

 

This is the eight official installment in the Harry Potter book series. In case you didn’t know, the story is set 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (where the final confrontation between the wizards, Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort happen, as well as the revealing of the back stories of several characters) and it follows Harry Potter, now a Ministry of Magic employee, and his younger son, Albus Severus Potter. – This is a Special Edition Script of the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It only seems fitting that, since Saturday, July 30th is only 10 days away, that we do 10 days of giveaways thanks from our friends at Coles in CF Market Mall. I have 10 different Harry Potter memorabilia that I'll be giving away at random selection, every day, thru my blog, up until July 30th. Then, on Saturday, July 10th, I'll be at Coles in CF Market Mall with 4 additional prizes to give away! What are those 4 additional prizes? 4 $25 gift cards to help you get closer to your own Special Edition Script of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!


 

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WINNER'S CIRCLE

 

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Wednesday, July 20th – DAY 1 – Harry Potter Poster Coloring Book – From the heraldry of the four Hogwarts houses to the extravagant wares of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, the world of Harry Potter overflows with radiant color. Featuring artwork from the hugely successful Harry Potter Coloring Book and Harry Potter Creatures Coloring Book, this special poster collection features twenty stunning, one-sided prints. – Congrats Brittany Iverson for winning the 1st of 10 giveaways!

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Thursday, July 21st – DAY 2 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Illustrated Edition – Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay”s dazzling depiction of the wizarding world and much loved characters in this full-colour illustrated hardback edition of the nation”s favourite children”s book — Harry Potter and the Philosopher”s Stone. Brimming with rich detail and humour that perfectly complements J.K. Rowling”s timeless classic, Jim Kay”s glorious illustrations will captivate fans and new readers alike. - Congrats Erica Castillo for winning the 2nd of 10 giveaways!

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Friday, July 22nd – DAY 3 – Celebrate the world of Harry Potter with this Time-Turner Sticker Kit, featuring rotating inner rings and a functional hourglass. Inspired by the Time-Turner used by Hermione Granger in the popular movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Congratulations Logan Krupa on winning the 3rd of 10 giveaways!

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Saturday, July 23rd - DAY 4 - This Harry Potter Coloring Kit is sure to cast a spell over muggles and wizards alike. The kit includes 30 illustrated cards with detailed designs of your favourite characters to complete, 10 coloured pencils, and 3 distinct magnetic frames to display your art. - Congrats Joelene Mills for winning the 4th of 10 giveaways!

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Sunday, July 24th - DAY 5 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - These new editions of the classic and internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning series feature instantly pick-up-able new jackets by Jonny Duddle, with huge child appeal, to bring Harry Potter to the next generation of readers. - Congrats Luella Lee for winning the 5th of 10 giveaways!

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Monday, July 25th – DAY 6 – Harry Potter Wizard’s Wand with sticker book: Lights Up! – includes a mini replica of Harry Potter’s wand with a light feature, and a unique stand, along with a 16-page book containing 8 full-color stickers. – Congrats Adeem Kassam for winning the 6th of 10 giveaways!

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Tuesday, July 26th - DAY 7 - Pop! Movies: Harry Potter - Albus Dumbledore - The wise Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a stylized vinyl figure! Enjoy the magic of Hogwarts and stand up to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named with this Harry Potter Albus Dumbledore Pop! Vinyl Figure! Congrats Angela Austin for winning the 7th of 10 giveaways!

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Wednesday, July 27th – DAY 8 – Trivial Pursuit: World of Harry Potter Edition – Pause your game of Quidditch! Harry Potter fans test their knowledge of the beloved Harry Potter movies with this Trivial Pursuit: World of Harry Potter. This quick-play Trivial Pursuit game can be played on-the-go with its portable wedge holder. Congrats Kelsey Izat for winning the 8th of 10 giveaways!

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Thursday, July 28th – DAY 9 – This is the first officially licensed Harry Potter Collectible Quidditch Set that includes: 1 Quaffle, 2 Bludgers, 1 non-removable Snitch, and 1 16×24″ collectible poster all showcased in a decorative Quidditch trunk. Includes lock and key for trunk. Congrats Stephanie Marie for winning the 9th of 10 giveaways! 

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Friday, July 29th – DAY 10 – The man of the hour. The best was saved for last… Pop! Movies: Harry Potter – The Boy Wizard as a stylized vinyl figure! Enjoy the magic of Hogwarts and stand up to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named with this Harry Potter Pop! This vinyl figure measures approximately 3 3/4-inches tall. Congrats Jeff Jacobs for winning the 10th of 10 giveaways!

The Great Pie Chuck-N- Chomp!

On June 24th my wife (who doesn't know yet) will get a chance to throw a Pie to My Face!!! and I'll be more than happy about it!

Pie Cloud and Calgary Meals on Wheels present the 1st annual Great Pie Chuck and Chomp Event!

• The Chuck!  Those being pied will be dubbed “Pie Chuckees” and will wear goggles and a clothing cover to receive a cream pie gently tossed from a distance of five feet from our designated “Pie Chucker”. Pie Chuckees will choose a fundraising goal and use a public pledge page to collect support for their charitable efforts. Those getting pied must reach their fundraising goal in order to get a face full of whipped goodness! We need YOUR SUPPORT to ensure the Chuckees taste the good stuff!

• The Chomp!  Our “Pie Chompers” will have their hands tied behind their backs and will be timed in eating a full berry pie to completion.  The champion wins bragging rights, alumni distinction, and a congratulatory trophy. Chompers will have fundraising pages for public support of their charitable efforts.  The Chomper with the most funds raised will win a catered lunch for their team to chomp on courtesy of Calgary Meals on Wheels and Pie Cloud!* *Maximum 20 people*

A pledge of over $100.00 grants you access to view the pie spectacle and to cheer the participant you chose to support.

Like I said before, I'm participating in the Pie Chuck part of the event and I want my wife to be the one to throw that pie straight to my face.

Why do I want to participate? The Calgary Meals On Wheels began as a small operation back in 1965, delivering meals to eight clients from a church basement and now has grown into a thriving, innovative production facility that prepares, packages and delivers 1,700 meals each day; more than 420,000 meals a year! Although their principal clients are seniors, they offer five different programs that are open to all Calgarians who are in need of a meal service to maintain independence in their own homes, regardless of age or circumstance. They focus on serving all individuals in need of nutritious meals including the homeless, and vulnerable school children.

 

So please, donate! http://bit.ly/20C0vO8

Café of the Future in Calgary!

On Thursday, May 12th, Second Cup Coffee Co.™ officially unveiled its first-ever café of the future in Calgary at 1919 Southland Drive SW. The new Second Cup Coffee Co.™ design reflects a new independent spirit, a commitment to the world's finest coffee, and the company’s vision to be the coffee brand most passionately committed to quality and innovation. The welcoming café revolves around the company's brand pillars of superior quality, optimism, collaboration, creativity and community, and focuses on the individual customer experience. The new café is the 12th new concept Second Cup Coffee Co.™ to be opened in Canada and represents an important milestone in the company's three-year strategic plan, showcasing the Second Cup obsession with bringing the ultimate coffee experience to Canadians.

 
They're bringing the true meaning of a Coffee Bar to us with their new features that include:

Slow Bar: where Second Cup Coffee Co.™ blends art and science for the ultimate cup of coffee. This is where handcrafted beverages shine with an interactive seating area that allows customers to connect with baristas, hone their coffee tasting skills, and learn about coffee and the process of making a perfect cup. The Slow Bar features an expanded portfolio of the world’s most exceptional, specialty coffees exclusive to Second Cup Coffee Co.™ including estate blends as well as light-roast, limited-edition microlot beans. These coffees will be rotated throughout the year to ensure the peak of freshness and quality. Customers can enjoy these exceptional blends made from one of two revolutionary brewing technologies: - Pour-Over produces a noticeably more delicate and complex brew than conventional drip machines. This handcrafted, customized technique is popular with coffee connoisseurs.
- Steampunk, a ground-breaking coffee and tea brewing system, is true theatre in motion. Artful craftsmanship meets innovative engineering and delivers unprecedented extraction, temperature control and thermal stability for a great coffee that can be precisely tailored to specific tastes.

Milk Bar where dairy options are “on tap” in a fun custom design.

 Multiple seating options to address needs of customers, whether they’re looking for a private area to work, a table for visiting with friends, or a communal experience at the Slow Bar.

At this event I was given a media gift bag that included a $50 gift card that I'm going to pass on to a lucky reader of my blog so they can go out to the Second Cup Braeside and have a fantastic experience like I had the chance to enjoy.

I'm going to be giving away this $50 Gift Card from Second Cup. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 25th at 10:00pm - Comment in this post to be entered to win!

Only for a limited time.?!?!?

Excuse me as I droll all over my desk. I'm having a moment right now...

Just got this email from Tim Hortons "...these Tims Signature Donuts are a decadent treat any time you want something sweet. Try the NEW Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Whoopie Pie, and Raspberry Truffle donut today! Only for a limited time."

The only part I'm not OK with is the part that says "Only for a limited time." - Right?!?!

Cirque Du Soleil - Luzia

Today I got news of a Cirque show that sits close to home. Cirque - Luzia!

Not much has actually been given to media outside of Toronto, Montreal and San Francisco, the 3 cities that the tour is already set to Tour, but I've managed to compile info from their website, Facebook and other online sources.

Their Facebook page describes it as "Discover LUZIA, where a waking dram transports you to an imaginary Mexico. Experience a wondrous world that inspires you to explore your senses, enveloped in light and nutured by rain." This leads me to believe that there's some "O" inspired acts coming to this show as they've proved an amazing success and delivery with this show for many years now.

A media release on their website gives this description: "LUZIA takes you to an imaginary Mexico, like in a waking dream, where light quenches the spirit and rain soothes the soul.

Freely inspired by Mexico, LUZIA is a poetic and acrobatic ode to the rich, vibrant culture of a country whose wealth stems from an extraordinary mix of influences and creative collisions – a land that inspires awe with its breathtaking landscapes and architectural wonders, buoyed by the indomitable spirit of its people. The tableaux of LUZIA weave an intricate, contemporary mosaic that awakens your senses and transports you to a place suspended between dreams and reality."

I'm unsure if the fact that I'm Mexican makes me more excited about the review given by The Montreal Gazete: "Cirque Du Soleil's Luzia unveils a Mexican Dreamscape" you have to check out the article, it makes me want to go even more! "Directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, Luzia provides us with a glimpse into a dream-like Mexico that is simultaneously traditional and modern".

Calgary is not in their map yet to bring this show... But I really hope they do, the history and traditions that Luzia goes into, seemed perfect!

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#KeepARoof for the YWCA of Calgary

 

Women become homeless for many reasons. Some have lost their jobs, others are fleeing violent, unhealthy relationships or have health breakdowns. Many women also struggle with substance abuse or mental health issues. All have one thing in common; they are vulnerable and need a safe, warm and compassionate place to land.

This is my second year volunteering to become a “Homeless Hero” for 1 night tonight (May 5^th) I`ll be taking part in this adventure, “Keep a Roof Over Their Heads” for the YWCA. I`ll be experiencing what it is like for a woman that has nowhere else to go. This may include a women fleeing domestic abuse in the middle of the night or a young person that simply can’t afford rent and has been evicted and can’t go home. Hopefully this is nobody in our circles of family and friends…..but it happens all the time. Doesn’t matter if’s its -35 on a Monday night…..there are women in need. Most of these women get up and go to jobs the next day and depend on donations to keep the shelter open.

Every dollar counts and I’m trying to raise as little or as much as possible. If, and only if, you have $5 or $10 to spare for this cause, please donate.  If you could pass this around your office, friends or family that could help support the cause, I would really appreciate that too.

Here is the link to donate:

http://bit.ly/2482GMe 

#TrueBLue - Mount Royal University

A Few Weeks ago I was asked if I would like to be featured in True Blue, an Alumni Section for Mount Royal University. I'm a proud MRC/MRU Alum and I'm always available to do anything for them. Here's the small little article published on their website.