February 1 ST GIVE AWAY

My day started again at 3:00 am.  This is three days in a row, no wonder I feel so tired and my eyes are blurry.  Once I had a coffee part way into me, I had to do up a "Crabby Cabbie" invoice so Rob could be out the door before 6:30 am.  He was out the door with me following shortly after with giving each of the "Checkerboard Aussies" their first out and about to start the day.

The remainder of my morning was spend getting a few things prepped and ready for ..... The "Crabby Cabbie" Facebook page, as well as a couple other Facebook media resources.

"The "Crabby Cabbie" Taxi will be servicing Wiarton & Area for the Wiarton Willie Festival from 6 pm Friday Feb 1 until Sunday Feb 3 at 6 pm. Business Number to call for South Bruce Peninsula is 519-477-5950. See you out there in Willie Country!"

Many thanks to Karen Lancaster of Karen's Creations & Scrapbooking for setting up a template for The "Crabby Cabbie" Wiarton Business Cards.  A huge thank you to Holly Morrow of The "Cluttered Cupboard" for making us up a QR Code, linking it it to  The "Crabby Cabbie" Facebook page.  Another big thank you to Koreen Ryan of RAM Trophies and Sportswear for issuing Rob's "Crabby Cabby" logo on his shirts, hats and jacket.  I can't say enough how much I admire the talent these three wonderful ladies possess.

Pssst .... got a minute?  *Click* on the above business names and give them a BIG old "LIKE" on their Facebook Page, and tell them I sent you around (this will be a surprise to them, believe you, me ... *smile*).

Another huge thank you goes out to the Explore the Bruce Team for posting the above SHOUT OUT on their Facebook page, as that was a big help to get the word out at the last minute for us.

Nice to know there is such "awesome" teamwork and support within our Community.

Actions like these are why I LOVE supporting the Communities and the Small Businesses who Support them and Each Other !  HOORAY !!!!

Speaking of talent, some of you will remember not too long ago I won an original drawing from local Bruce Peninsula Artist, Michelle Hogan Equine & Fine Art.

"This is the drawing, "Carefree".  Read all about it over HERE."

When Michelle had been down my way to drop off my "Carefree" to me, she had also dropped around a beautiful package of her Gift Cards, you can read more about that HERE.

"Today is the day I am offering theses same Michelle Hogan Equine & Fine Art Gift Cards in a Give Away."

Rules to Qualify for this February 1st, Give Away:

1)  You must be a FOLLOWER of my Blog, by a) Joining As a Follower, b) Through Subscribing Via Email   Both these options are available at the sidebar of my blog;

2)  You must leave me a comment that you do follow my Blog and how you follow it, either in the Comment section below, or via Email at justnorthofwiarton@live.ca

3)  Go to Michelle Hogan's Facebook Page HERE,  to "LIKE" it, leaving me a comment you have done so.  Should you not have a Facebook Account, go to her website HERE and leave a comment for me here, or via email on which one of the three photos on Michelle's Contact page you liked the most.  (I expect full honesty on the Facebook Acct, please).

A winner will randomly be drawn one week from now on the 8th of February, 2013.

Please note I do not receive any remuneration from any of these businesses I have mentioned in my post.  I believe we support each other, as I LOVE doing so,wishing many more would think this way. or as people in general should as well.

Okay now for the January No/Low Spend and Declutter Challenge update I had entered in over at the lovely Carla's at My 1/2 Dozen Daily.

The following is what I am going to try and attempt to do, when and if I am able:

Declutter Challenge:

1)  Declutter and clean the whole portion of the basement where the dogs reside; DONE

2)  Declutter and clean the downstairs bathroom;

3)  Declutter and clean the bottom stair area; DONE

4)  Declutter and clean the kitchen cupboards.

Trust me there is more to do, but I have to begin somewhere, and this is enough at the moment.

The Declutter Challenge I think I did amazingly well considering I had a lot of other personal things going on in the Month of January.  I had also decluttered the Bathroom Linen Closet, cleaned the Fridge from top to bottom, and decluttered some more from our Bedroom Closet.  

Low/No Spend Challenge:

1)  Spend absolutely no money at the grocery store, making an exception for milk and bread;

2)  Having 6 out of 7 "no spend" days per week; 

3)  No eating out for the month, with the one exception outlined below (good thing we had King's Buffet today, is it not?);  DONE

JANUARY SPENDING:  

Groceries:     $  104..56  (went beyond the milk & bread);

Misc:               $    63.50  

Canada Post:  $   16.78  (this was part of the "giving" to someone else, making me happy too)

Even with the pre-planned trip to Costco, my total spending this month was only $378.16.  

Not sure about what Carla will think, but I am thinking I might not get an A+ this Challenge, but I most certainly should get a big E+ for the Effort !

Now for the 5 week "Check In" on the 52 Week Money Challenge, Toni, Judy, Stacey, Michelle, Diane, Ellen, Debby, Cathy, Jean, Karen, Elsie, Gill, Darlene, Vicki, Abby, Marg, Janet, Farmgirl Files, Christy, Alice, Monica & Kathy.  

Hoping everyone is still "on board"?  realizing, of course, everyone is doing the Challenge what their own budget allows with the end result being the same.   I will do another update with this Challenge in another month's time.

My Rob would LOVE to extend a really big Thank You for all the Birthday Wishes you all sent his way.  It sure put another *smile* on his face, other then the one when he was going to dig into his piece of Carrot Cake of course.

Psst ... check out the amazing recommendation my "Checkerboard Aussies" got yesterday by *clicking* HERE.  I am so proud !!!

That was a really big day !  Would you believe me if I told you I was tired? of course you would, friends always believe each other.  I am signing off and heading into my evening here, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

With A Little Help I Could Do It !

In my post of Yesterday there had been a couple people curious on how much the Hand Painted Antique Ironing Board I had purchased at "Sweet Things at Dejong Acres Farm's" Open House this past Saturday had cost me, but there hadn't been anyone take a "guess" at the price.  If anyone has every been at the Dejong Acres Farm, or gone onto their website, they would know among other things they are "sheep farmers", so I really might have to admit I had fallen into a pile of "Sheep S**t, as the price I had paid....

".... for what I think is a pretty cool piece of decor was a grand total of $10.00 !  Can you believe it?  and I honestly think I "stole" it !  Regardless if I hadn't nabbed it I think Anita Dejong or Abby Miners' would have done so, that was for certain, but they been too polite not to grab it from my already firm grasp.  Ha !"

Last week I had blogged about Karen's Creations Scrapbooking, located downtown Wiarton, as having a couple sessions set up for people to make Christmas Cards and Tags for the cost of $15.00 per person, including all materials.  Last night my friend, BJ and I took advantage of this (what I thought to be one heck of a deal) since neither of us had ever made anything like these in our life before.

"Just before 6:00 pm last evening brought us down to Karen's Creations Scrapbooking on Main Street in Downtown Wiarton.  You may find out more about Karen's Creations at her website by *clicking* HERE, or joining her Facenbook Group by *clicking" HERE.  I hope I will be welcoming Karen to the Bruce County Small Businesses Reaching Out group on Facebook very shortly too."

"I am very pleased to introduce Karen Lancaster showing us the very first Card we were going to be making with the selection to the right being the full package along with tags."

"At our stations Karen did not leave BJ and I treading water by ourselves, being there to assist the whole time we needed her.  Hmmm, I am thinking it could have been possible BJ needed more assistance then I ? or was it just because I had the camera in my possession?  Ha !"

"Karen took a bit of time to show us how the stamps worked on making a "glitter" effect.  Once Karen had stamped the paper, she poured glitter onto the stamped pattern, shaking the excess glitter back into a tray, then taking a heat gun to "dry" it.  Pretty cool to find out some of the "behind the scenes" stuff.  Thanks Karen."

We had been getting near the end when the door had opened to see my "Crabby Cabbie" entering.  He thought he would stop in to be nosy say "hello" on his way home.

"It was kind of nice Rob had stopped in as he took a couple photos of the two of us hard at work on our Handmade Creations (of course with Karen close by)."

"Some of us needed to concentrate obviously a little harder then others."

 

I am pretty sure we had spent a good three hours with Karen, but then again that included inquiring and talking about a couple of other things too.  Personally I couldn't do anything ever like this on a regular basis as my neck could not take the bending over such a long time.  I am really *sad* about this as I can honestly say I really had fun and enjoyed myself.  It wasn't too difficult not to enjoy myself either since I had been in such good company with BJ and Karen.  Thanks girls.

"With a little help I could do it !  Check our everything I made ... are they not lovely?"

Can you believe within two days I made my own outdoor Christmas Wreath, five Handmade Christmas Cards and four Tags ????  I surely hope I have made an impression on all of my already "crafty" friends ... *Smile*.

Today was not a productive day whatsoever as I woke with my whole body aching from "head to toe" and my neck feeling like it was ready to come away from my shoulders.  That is "okay" because we all know anything needing done is always going to be there waiting for us.  It took me awhile, but I finally convinced myself of this.

However I did have to go out this morning to do some banking and pick up a couple items from our local Foodland store.  After lunch my "Crabby Cabbie" had called to say he had someone in Saugeen Shores was inquiring about purchasing some Gift Certificates for Cab Fares.  I had not too long ago been thinking about Gift Certificates, but of course it had stayed a "thought".  

I called the lady back on the behalf of my "Crabby Cabbie", introducing myself as his "Not So Crabby Wife".  I thanked her for calling us, as she had found our phone number in the Bruce Municipal Phone Book in Saugeen Shores after being turned away by some others.  She expressed her pleasure at me being immediately receptive to her needs.  I told her I would get back to her by the end of the week with some Gift Certificates.

I made a couple of phone calls to friends (thanks Pam), to get some ideas, then found a template online and whipped up our own "Crabby Cabbie" Gift Certificates.  I then drove back downtown to Karen's Creations to purchase some stock paper from her and within an hour or so .....

"I placed the call back to the lady to tell her the Gift Certificates she requested would be delivered to her tomorrow.  I am pretty proud of myself.  I am pretty sure I am creative, but in more of the "computer" sense then other things.  What do you think of the "Crabby Cabbie's" Winter themed Gift Certificates?"

Unfortunately, but at times a reality we need to worry about such items being "photocopied", as there is some who wouldn't even think about committing fraud if such Gift Certificates might fall in to the wrong hands.  On the suggestion of another friend (thanks Toni), I had purchased a unique ink pen for Rob to sign the Gift Certificates as well as numbering each one.  This will make them more authentic and easy to "stand out" to us.

Should anyone care to gift a "Crabby Cabbie" Gift Certificate for Christmas or any time of Year, please contact the Original "Crabby Cabbie" Rob at 519-373-7000 or 519-379-7700 to place your order.  Please keep in mind, "only the Name is Crabby"  (and Yes, I am zipping my lip on that one).

Are you on Facebook?  The "Crabby Cabbie" would love if you went there to "LIKE" his Facebook page by *clicking* HERE, .  I would like to extend a "Special Thank You" to Russ Ewing of Stinky Dog, as the "Crabby Cabbie" is now ....

"Getting into the "Christmas Spirit" over there on his Facebook Page."

It had been that kind of day for me, with not much really accomplished but something significant accomplished.  It is "all good".

I am pretty excited about tomorrow as there is something on my Calendar I have been looking forward to, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".