Save the Date.....

Thanks to Blue Mountain we will be hosting our 3rd Annual Information & Appreciation Night at Blue on

Tuesday July 12th from 7-9pm.

Invitations are being eblasted out shortly.

We look forward to seeing you on the 12th, when we will share the many benefits of your continued support.

Have you squeezed your lemons lately?

My number 1 Reasons....

Photo taken by Isis Photography @ the 2010 Run for the Cure

They have been my #1 reason for helping create a future without breast cancer.

2005 was when I first heard about the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. That was the year that Collingwood became an official run site and having lost my father to cancer 2 years earlier I was wanting to find a way to get involved in the fight against cancer! I wanted to help make it so that no other child had to lose a parent to cancer. Having one daughter at the time, I thought this was the perfect way to start giving back, so I created a team. It was such a great experience that we did it again the following year, and the year after that, and so on...

( 2006 was a little different, as just 4 weeks before the walk/run my husband and I had our second daughter, even more of a reason now to want a future without breast cancer. )

2008 was the first year my husband took the girls for the 5 km walk on his own. That was the year I took over as the Volunteer Run Director for our Collingwood site. The Run for the Cure has become a huge part of our lives and our daughters lives.... Here's a little look back at my girls Run for the Cure experiences! Together these two amazing little girls have raised thousands of dollars for a future without breast cancer!

As the girls said, you can "Click to donate"....

Emma & Hannah

This is a big year for our Collingwood Run Site, come Sunday October 2nd I have no doubt that we will be celebrating ONE MILLION dollars raised in just 7 short years! I am extremely proud to be part of that huge accomplishment and even prouder of my girls!

It's important to know if something doesn't feel right, the only way to do that is to squeeze your lemons !

Rusty's is working to make it 3 for 3!

For the past 2 years our top corporate team has been Rusty's, and it looks like they could be trying to keep that title for a 3rd year!

Rusty's is hosting a Ladies Night this Friday June 17th...

"Beef Cakes for Breast Cancer"

Male Review

Doors will open a 9pm

Tickets are $25. with proceeds going to their team for 'Run for the Cure'

You can also head over to their facebook event page!

Don't forget to take a little time and squeeze your lemons !

25 years later....

You see this logo everywhere, from kleenex boxes and toilet paper to kitchen appliances and now even Visa cards. Maybe you even only buy certain products because this logo is on it, or maybe when your looking at products to buy you grab the one with this logo on it.

The logo is one we are all very familiar with.....

The logo I am referring to is that of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

We know that the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is responsible for raising awareness, education and funding research grants. We know that the mission of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is to create a future without breast cancer. But what most people don't know are the original faces behind the foundation. The core group that 25 years ago created this foundation to bring education and awareness to breast cancer.

It is my honour and pleasure to introduce to those women ( and man ) now...

Congratulations to Nancy Paul, Bette Johnston and their core group on the 25th Anniversary of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It is because of your original vision that we will create a future without breast cancer!

25 years ago people didn't speak about breast cancer, but 25 years later not only do we speak about it, but I am telling you to remember to squeeze your lemons !

Tiny Devotions

Sacred. That's the first word that comes to Diana's mind when she thinks of mala beads.

Diana Charabin is the owner of Tiny Devotions a Canadian based company that hand makes mala beads and a company that I have over the last month fallen head over heels in love with. I could share with you a longer story of how I stumbled upon this incredible company, but I will skip the story and just share with you Diana's own words from when we met 'the universe aligned' and that it did...

I had the pleasure of a personal visit from Diana where we sat in my kitchen and chatted for a couple hours between one of my dogs wanting her attention, and my daughters playing around. Diana is a gorgeous person she has an incredible spirit and outlook on life.

If you don't already know you are probably wondering what Mala beads are....

Let me introduce you to Diana....

I did a little Q & A with Diana about her mala beads.... You can find answers to more questions on the Tiny Devotions website along with more video's on how to take care of your mala's, etc.

Do you have to be into yoga & meditation to wear Mala beads?

Absolutely not. Mala beads are for everyone, although yogis are instantly drawn to mala beads, I have found that a lot of people no yet into yoga are also drawn to their energies. My hope is that owning mala beads may inspire them to create a yoga and or meditation practice in the future!

How do I choose which Mala bead is right for me?

Check out this post: http://www.lovetinydevotions.com/blog/how-to-choose-mala-beads/ I always saw follow your intention and your first instinct.

Do you think that we choose our mala or our mala chooses us?

I think we choose every aspect of our life... but I also believe in destiny... so perhaps a combination of the two ;)

Which Mala beads are the most popular?

All of them are really popular but are most popular at the moment is the turquoise ocean mala and the white jade highest potential mala.

So you have a favourite mala?

My favourites chance depending on the day, but I most often wear Black onxy - Strength.

How did you come up with the design for your Mala beads?

Every mala is a jorney, dreaming up the combination of stones and intentions. It's a magical process - sometimes its instant while others times it requires a lot of thinking, feeling and meditating.

I'm sure you have people tell you about many amazing experiences that they have had since purchasing your Mala's can you share the most amazing thing you have been told?

The coolest story was when a girl in Switzerland received a rose quartz mala from one of her friends. She had been trying to conceive for some time and was having a lot of problems. Rose quartz - although known for love can also be a good stone for infertility. This lovely lady called me from Switzerland crying telling me that she had become pregnant. It was a magical feeling.

I am incredibly excited to tell you that I received a package in the mail from Tiny Devotions today containing the Gorgeous Kiwi Jasper Mala pictured above. The Kiwi Jasper Mala - Cleanse and align Chakras. This mala facilitates shamanic journeys and recalls dreams. It absorbs negative energy and give protection, it will cleanse and align chakras and aura which in turn balance yin and yang.

A HUGE thank you to Diana ( Tiny Devotions ) for so generously donating this giveaway....

Visit the Freshly Squeezed facebook page for details on how you can win this gorgeous Mala bead...

Who knows why we are so drawn to certain things. Over the last month or so, I have become very interested in what we can do ourselves in our own lives to help possibly prevent illnesses and disease. Maybe that is why I am so drawn to these Mala beads, besides their beauty, they bring me a sense of calm and they remind me to take some time each day for me, even if just 5 mins.

I actually also have something very exciting in the works that ties in with my new found interest, I hope to be able to bring to light and share soon.....

I will leave you with this.... Check out Tiny Devotions, I think everyone should have their very own mala.... ( as I said, I have fallen head over heels for this company, so I may own a few now...)

It's important to take time to know yourself and your body, don't forget to Squeeze your lemons .....

Crazy Sexy Giveaway!!!

I can't tell you how excited I am about this Crazy Sexy Giveaway!!

A month ago I did a blog post about two books that I had started to read, There's Lead in Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon & Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr. I think these are two MUST READ books!

Which is why I am so excited about Freshly Squeezed 2nd random facebook page giveaway draw! Our 1st random giveaway draw was done after you helped us reach our 1st 100 'likes' / followers.

Jenn Lavers our first lucky winner won a bath pass to the relaxing Le Scandinave! Congratulations Jenn!

I am now super excited to be able to tell you that our 2nd random giveaway draw will be for an autographed copy of Crazy Sexy Diet ( as seen in the photo above )! Visit the Freshly Squeezed facebook page for details on how you could win this incredible book autographed by the Crazy & Sexy author herself, Kris Carr! Just click on the facebook link on the right side of the blog!

As Kris would say, be Crazy Sexy Wellness Warriors, and as I say, SQUEEZE your lemons !

Dr. Walter Crinnion

As I mentioned a couple blog posts ago, I'm reading two books, There's Lead in Your Lipstick, Toxins in Our Everyday Body Care and How to Avoid Them by Gillian Deacon and Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr. It has made me really take a hard look at things I'm doing in my everyday life, what my family and I are eating and what we are putting on our skin. I know we can't stop ourselves from coming in contact with all toxins, but we can certainly limit the toxins in our life. So when I was asked if I would post this poster on Freshly Squeezed, I said absolutely!

StoneTree Naturopathic Clinic and the Environment Network are proud to present Dr. Walter Crinnion, author and leading expert in environmental medicine.

On Friday May 13th from 7-9pm at the Gayety Theatre in Collingwood.

You can get tickets for $12. at either

StoneTree Naturopathic Clinic or at the Environment Network

Online here!

Have you squeezed lemons your lately?

Needing to know your lemons is not an Illusion.....

International Grand Illusionist Ryan Joyce has sent a personal message to remind everyone just how important it is to squeeze your lemons! Knowing if something feels different could just save your life!

Huge thanks to the truly incredible Ryan Joyce, who has raised over $2,000,000 for charities with his shows and last year alone raised $13,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

I had the pleasure to see Ryan first hand at the 4th Annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Volunteer Awards a couple of weeks ago, it was incredible.

When was the last time you squeezed your lemons ?

Incredibly Honoured

On stage accepting the Outstanding Volunteer Award with Canada AM's Beverly Thomson & Vice Chair of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Ontario Region Board of Directors Christy Teasdale.

This past Sunday April 17th was the 4th Annual Volunteer Awards for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, a 'Mad Hatter' themed tea party held at the beautiful Royal York in Toronto. I am incredibly honoured to share with you that I was nominated for two awards this year. Erin McBride Leadership-Retutning Run Director Award and Outstanding Volunteer Award. I was truly humbled and honoured to receive these nominations, two year ago I received the award for New Run Director at the 2nd Annual Volunteer Awards, so to be recognized again is truly such an honour.

I came home with the Outstanding Volunteer Award. I truly thank those who nominated me, as well as each and every person who helps to make our run site so successful from my fabulous committee, to all the remarkable local sponsors, volunteers, participants and donors. Each of you are making such a huge difference in creating a future without breast cancer.

Congratulations to all of the winners and nominee's. I am honoured and proud to be among you and to be part of this enormous team known as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, that is helping to create a future without breast cancer.

For details on all of the awards please click here.

Have you made time to squeeze your lemons lately?

I'm excited....

I'm so excited about two books that I have started reading. I was going to wait and blog about them after I finished reading them, but the more I get into them, the more I really want to and feel the need to share them. If you haven't heard of these books or haven't read them, you should!

The first is.....

There's Lead in Your Lipstick: Toxins in Our Everyday Body Care and How to Aviod Them, by a Canadian Author, Gillian Deacon.

Gillian is an award-winning broadcaster, she wrote another book called Green for Life, which was a national bestseller and she is also one of Canada's best-known environmental advocates.

I think it's also important to note that as Gillian was writing this book she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Trust me this is a book you need to read, it's going to make you think twice about buying some products, it's going to make you check labels to see what is in the products you already love, and when you see that pretty packaging sitting on store shelves, before you purchase it, this book it going to make you check to see what's in it.

The second book is....

Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr

I actually heard about this book through a tweet from Gillian Deacon, so I started looking into it. Kris has a few sites I think you really need to check out, Crazy Sexy Life, Crazy Sexy Diet and Crazy Sexy Cancer. Kris was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that isn't treatable and does not have a cure. Her first doctor suggested a triple organ transplant, her second gave her 10 years to live, she keep looking for the best doctor she could find and as Kris puts it, decided to become the CEO of Save My Ass Technology's Inc.

Kris calls the tumour spots in her liver and lungs her "beauty spots", and while she still has her "beauty spots" Kris has been living a very healthy and happy life with cancer for 8 years.

Crazy Sexy Diet is Kris's gift to all of us, 8 years of what she has been learning and practicing in her own life, she is sharing with us in her book.

There's Lead in Your Lipstick is going to make you think about you put on your body, what you lather on, spritz on and soak in, and Crazy Sexy Diet is going to make you think about what you put into your body, grabbing a fast food meal, or actually taking the time to make a healthy meal.

My grandfather died from cancer in 1974, ( I never knew him ) he was just 54 years old, 29 years later my father died from cancer, he was just 4 days shy of his 56th birthday. I truly believe that a cure will come and I hope it's very soon. In the mean time these two books have made me realize that maybe while we help to raise the much needed money for the cure, we should also start looking more and more into how and what we can do ourselves in our own lives to prevent it in the first place. Let me know what you think of the books! Post in the comment section below.

It's important to know your lemons. The best way to get to know them is to squeeze them!