Helping Those in Need

Posted by Monica Graves

In 2010 glamjulz started the “3 Little Wishes Fund” which is an ongoing project where every Christmas season we donate a percentage of the sales from a specially designed glamjulz piece towards families living with cancer. We had amazing success with this last year and love the fact that our friends out there (that’s you) wanted to help out.

This year we present to you the glamjulz Swarovski Crystal Snowflake Bracelet, and are honoured to introduce you to Christine and her Family.

Christine is a devoted wife, a mother of two children, aged 12 and 14, and has been fighting a battle with breast cancer for more than 6 years.

After Christine’s initial diagnosis, a mastectomy, extensive chemotherapy and radiation then followed. Even after all of that, the cancer returned to the original site and has subsequently spread to her remaining breast.

She has undergone a number of drug-based treatments including specific targeted therapies offered through several drug trials at Sunnybrook and Princess Margaret Hospitals, but the tumour presence is described as advance stage localized cancer, and at this point, considered too deep for further surgery. Christine now relies heavily on pain and nausea medication for relief, while facing an emotionally charged, painful and draining battle.

It’s 2011, and the definition of a “Family” has changed dramatically just over the last decade. Whether it be the classic definition of a family or one Mother, one Father, Heterosexual, Homosexual, young, old, black, white, biological, adopted, dogs, cats, or maybe your family is the group of your closest friends, we all need people around us for love and support.

We at glamjulz like to think that deep within everyone is the ability to share that love to someone outside of their family who may need a little extra support. Last year you proved this to be true, and we hope that you can help this year, keep this family in your thoughts and cherish every single day you have with the people that you love.

Thank you for your support,

Monica and Wayne

In the Spotlight

Posted by Monica Graves

Woo Hoo!!!! The booth is all set up for One of A Kind!!!! Doesn’t it look amazing????? I feel so proud!  Wayne re-designed the whole thing, beautiful hot pink drape, made lovingly by my Mom, tons of space for tons of new julz!!! I’m so excited to show you all!!!

Well I’m afraid I’m gonna make this a short one….gotta get some rest!! I had an amazing “Monica” day!  Nails are done, hair is done…..I did a hot yoga class!  I feel like a ROCKSTAR!  LOL!

I’m all ready for the show!  11 days of FUN!!!!! Can’t wait to see you there! xoxo

 

 

Keeping Organized

Posted by Monica Graves

What is it about being dis-organized that makes us all so frantic?  Some people seem to manage with piles on their desks, garages and basements packed with miscellaneous items but most of us simply can’t handle it.

Sometimes I think it’s my all or nothing personality that makes it challenging for me to compartmentalize different projects that I am working on.  For example, if I have a pile of receipts on my desk that I have not yet organized for my book keeper I find it diffucult to be creative and design a new piece of jewelry for my latest collection.  Being dis-organized can also affect me personally.  I’ll decline invitations to go out and spend time with friends because I have no idea how I can possibly do that AND get all my work done.

Any of your feel the same?  I think this is a classic case of  just being plain old overwhelmed! Paying attention to the details is very important but it is the big leaps and jumps that truly make a difference!  It will take me 1 hour to organize my receipts and 1 hour to design a new necklace that’s just been an image floating around in my head.  Which will get me further ahead in the long run?  The necklace of course!  I am trying to make a conscious effort to be aware of these differences.  Kinda follows the old expression, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”  It really is the truth.

My TO DO folder is my most favourite thing on my desk because it allows me to tuck away what can wait till later.  Also, I have decided that time with friends is a HUGE stress relief and being more adventurous and saying “yes” to invitations has in fact made me a more organized person.

Files, post it notes, folders, shelves, boxes…..whatever it takes, go out there and splurge on these necessities!  Then sigh a huge sigh of relief as you jump ahead leaps and bounds and still have time for FUN in your life!

Julz Julz and more Julz!!!!

Posted by Monica Graves

With 14 days to go until the One of A Kind show and about 44 days till Christmas we are working away like little elves at the studio!

This is such a great time of year.  I LOVE the build up to the shows and the positive response I receive from all of you truly is addictive!  All of your visits, emails, facebook comments and tweets!  How could I ever have a day that  I didn’t feel like a rockstar?

I am so pumped to see you all over Christmas and show you our latest and greatest beads and we will have some NEW designs at the One of A Kind show that I know you will LOVE!

Thank you for all of it….thank you for everything….thank you for always coming back for more…..none of this would be possible without you….as I always say, we have the BEST customers…supporting Canadian designers and small business is something that very special people like you make an effort to do….thanks for allowing us to thrive!

Stay glamtastic! xoxo

 

Rollerskating Rocks!

Posted by Monica Graves

A couple of weekends ago Wayne and I, along with a group of old friends and their kids enjoyed a wonderful Saturday afternoon at Scooters Roller Palace!  We had such a blast!  Great exercise and fantastic music.  Old school for us and Top 40 for the kids!

I was so inspired from the afternoon that I pulled out my Rollergirl costume for Halloween this year!

I just love Rollerskating, I always have, I was actually quite addicted as a young girl, like temper tantrums when I couldn’t go!  LOL!  If you are a huge fan like me you must check out the following:

Movies- Xanadu and Whip It

Local Rollerskating goddesses – Hammer City Rollergirls, Toronto Roller Derby, and many more across Canada……..

Music – Old School Tunes to enjoy!!!

Smooth Moves – Shoot the Duck, Backwards Skate, Crazy Legs,  Jumps, Cross-Overs

Where to Shop? Rollerskatin.ca

“Get down on it” my friends and get out there for a skate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping the Body Strong

Posted by Monica Graves

So how are you all feeling now that the days are shorter and it keeps raining???? Exhausted perhaps?

Morning walks are in darkness and the thought of a walk after dinner is out of the question?  I know how you feel.

How did we go from flip flops and barbeques, tons of exercise and who cares about lack of sleep to THIS????

It’s called an adjustment period I guess.  Last week for the first time in years I came home at 3:00 one afternoon and slept the rest of the day away.  I also cut back a couple of days of walking and slept in.  Went to bed early a couple of nights and even embraced snoozing on the couch by 7:30pm.  A wonderful thing happened this week, I FEEL GREAT!!!

I know that we sometimes get fixated on exercise and eating healthy to give us energy and keep the body strong but I do believe that sleep may very well be the hottest commodity this time of year.  Ever wonder why the flu runs rampant in the fall?  We’re all adjusting, exhausted and trying to keep up with it all.  Well I say, nap, sleep, snooze and repeat.  The gym will always be there the next day, week or month.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

 

 

Mother’s and Daughters

Posted by Monica Graves

A couple of weeks ago was the Third Annual Mothers and Daughter’s weekend at our family cottage!

What a great time!  We mixed things up a little this year and had an early Christmas Market for all of the neighbours.

I had my julz of course, Audrey was there with Norwex, Brenda with her beautiful clothing line and my Mom was selling my brothers awesome T’s!

It was such a great afternoon! Friends and Neighbours shopped till they dropped and little daughters ages 3- 13 were eager and willing to help make sure the event was a success!

What a great way for these young girls to learn! They felt so empowered.  It’s pretty amazing to see how beneficial it is for children to be around Mom’s and Dad’s that live their passion!  I think it makes such a difference for them as they grow and mature.  From my observations these kids seem to have fantastic common sense and the confidence to take initiative when simple things need to get done.

School isn’t always able to teach kids these skills and I am in complete adoration of my friends that do take the time to be patient with their children and let them try new things!

Sure it’s probably easier to make your kid a snack because he or she might make a mess but after a few tries they’ll get it right and maybe be the next Jamie Oliver later on in life!

Feeling Thankful

Posted by Monica Graves

I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful Thanksgiving that we just had. Sunshine, trees glowing in full colour and an extra day to spend time with loved ones.

Every year at Thanksgiving I think we are all reminded to think of what we are most thankful for.  This year it really hit me that my health and the health of my loved ones is what I truly treasure.

Health is something that most of us consider a number one priority. Eating well, exercising, surrounding ourselves with positive people.  All great ways to stay healthy.  Sometimes those things are not enough, many people are dealt cards in life that some of us will never have to face.  I have close friends that have had to deal with so much turmoil, grief and fear in their lives and they truly are the strong ones!

I want to introduce you to one of those people.  A dear friend Janet Cockburn who is a two time breast cancer survivor.   Through all of Janet’s suffering she had the strength to make her pain her passion.  She translated her experiences into helping women just like her, to empower them, help them feel comfortable in their own skin and she has become a new friend to many.

I invite you to check out Janet’s website and read her story, I know it will move you.

http://www.janacsportswear.ca/mystory.htm

Janet is a powerful woman that teaches us all to believe in ourselves and that sunny days are always ahead.

Change is good

Posted by Monica Graves

So this beautiful trip I took across Canada in September was truly inspiring in many ways.

As many of you know I picked up a dear friend who has been living in Kelowna for the past 12 years.  She made a decision to move back to Ontario for many GREAT reasons.  Still, she left behind family, mountains, and beautiful lakes to make a major change in her life.  I was so proud to stand by my friend and bring her back to Ontario.  The way she embraces change is so motivating.  She’s always been a friend that has loved change and craved it and as a result has lead a pretty exciting life.

What a healthy outlook.  The trip across the country and our conversations in the car with the music blaring and the windows open made me realize how much of an adventure life is!  Sure things can become, mundane, routine and ordinary and often we crave changes but are too afraid to make them because we fear how we will cope with them.

For me the traveling has really become an addiction and way I LOVE to spend my time and generate new business.  I do however remember a time that I did not feel that way.  I had traveled with friends in my 20’s to Europe and other places and then again with Wayne but the thought of making that extra leap and actually visiting places alone was something that felt a bit scary.  I started by making little changes.  Visiting small towns in Ontario and staying the night in a hotel on my own.  Those one night trips turned into 2 or 3 days and before I knew it I was off to Florida for 2 weeks, British Columbia for a week and Ottawa and Montreal for a week at a time.

As a result of making those little changes I eased into something that is painless and FUN and the way that I prefer to do business!

The BEST part is when I get home and Wayne is at the door so proud of me and eager to hear about all of my adventures!

 

 

 

Oh Canada!

Posted by Monica Graves

Ever wanted to be in two places at once?  I figured out how to do it!  Ha Ha!

This is such a cool picture, a friend in Calgary took this Panoramic shot of me on a beautiful morning walk last week!

Did I say Calgary?  Yes I did!  I should also say, Vancouver, Kelowna, the Okanagan Valley, Canmore, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Brandon, Winnipeg, Dryden and Thunder Bay!

That’s right!  I drove across Canada with glamjulz!  What an amazing experience.  My dear friend Jen had decided last year that she wanted to move back to Ontario from Kelowna.  What a huge decision for her and Wayne and I really didn’t want her to take on that drive on her own.  We talked about it and decided what a GREAT opportunity!  I could go over and help Jen and then we could take our time seeing this AMAZING country together while I visit tons of beautiful stores along the way.  So Jen and I made a plan!  And we DID IT!!! Once in a lifetime opportunity.

I loved it all and honestly feel even more proud than ever to be Canadian.  I do have to say that the drive into Ontario was so breathtaking.  The Canadian Shield is so powerful, I had goosebumps!  I am so priveleged that my work can take me through all of these wonderful adventures.

Hmmmmmm…..now I need to make a plan for the next road trip….Nunavut perhaps?