I’M A SMARTGIRL....... Finally, it’s official.  ;-)

I’m thrilled to be a winner of the ‘smartgirls challenge,’ a contest launched by glacéau smartwater and Plan Canada’s Because I am a Girl initiative.  As one of three winners, I will be travelling to Rwanda with Olympian Jennifer Heil to celebrate the opening of a new school for girls!  

To enter I submitted an essay through a contest on Facebook that explained how I’ve made a difference in the lives of girls and women by raising awareness and funds for the Victoria Women’s Sexual Assault Centre (WSAC).  

While in Rwanda we will be celebrating the opening of a school for girls and have the chance to meet the girls who will be attending the school.  I have no doubt that this experience will inspire me to continue working to improve the lives of girls and women in my community and abroad.  


I cannot express how grateful I am to my friends, family, clients, colleagues and especially my forever-guy Chris, for helping me reach my goals.  I am absolutely over the moon with excitement and gratitude for the Because I am a Girl trip to Rwanda.... THANK YOU SMARTWATER! 

I leave tomorrow, flying to Toronto for the night, then we will attend two live appearances on television before travelling to the airport to begin our trip to Rwanda!  I hear we’re travelling by Limo to the airport - SNAP! :)


I have a feeling the next 12 days are going to change my life forever... I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it.  As a winner in the smartgirls challenge, I hope that I can inspire others to make a difference in their communities.  All of this... the marathon, raising $20,000 for WSAC, designing tshirts, holding a fashion show, receiving  provincial and national awards, and now a trip to Africa.... has happened in less than 365 days.  Inspired yet?

“BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.”

To follow our travel updates on Smartwater’s Facebook page, or via the Because I am a Girl Blog visit:

www.smartwater.ca
www.becauseiamagirl.ca

I will also be tweeting (@spicecreative), Facebooking (www.facebook.com/spicecreative), and blogging about my adventures at www.canadachristy.com

On May 4, 2011 Spice Creative is holding a Spa night and Fashion Fundraiser at the Fairmont Willow Stream Spa to raise awareness and resources for the Victoria Women’s Sexual Assault Centre (WSAC).  At the event, t-shirts designed by Spice Creative and custom styled by Victoria designer Marcie Leblanc of LeBlanc Boutique will be unveiled by local celebrities; including the Victoria Highlanders FC Women’s team and Radio personalities Brian Bailey and Danny the Intern from 107.3 Kool FM. 

The event will promote self-care, offering guests mini spa treatments, courtesy of Fairmont Willow Stream Spa, light refreshments, a silent auction – and even a fortuneteller who will be taking donations for the Women’s sexual assault centre in exchange for her services! Reserving tickets in advance is recommended as the event is expected to sell out. Tickets are $30 and available to reserve in person or by calling the Willow Stream Spa, 250-995-4650.  

The event comes after Christy Smith, founder of Spice Creative, raised over $20,000 to benefit the WSAC by running the Royal Victoria ½ Marathon on October 10, 2010. “The fundraising success and positive support I have received, combined with the number of women who privately thanked me for coming forward as a survivor, fueled my motivation to keep going.” says Smith.

Smith calls the t-shirt campaign “Shhh!” and hopes it will create a sustainable revenue stream for the Victoria Women’s Sexual Assault Centre while sending a powerful message: 1 in 3 women are sexually assaulted.  1 in 4 survivors never tell anyone about it.  Help us break the silence. 


The t-shirt design uses birds to symbolize freedom while Shhh! represents the silence many female victims endure when keeping their pain a secret. 1 in 3 women survive sexual assault, and 1 in 3 birds on the shirt are coloured to symbolize this. The white birds represent the 1 in 4 survivors who will never tell anyone or reach out for help. Statistics prove that survivors of sexual violence are not alone; however often victims feel isolated or scared to get help to change their future. The flock of birds inside the t-shirt symbolizes women in a ‘flock’ who are affected to help show survivors they are not alone.  The inside of the tshirts will be unveiled the evening of May 4th at the official launch.

“Shhh! This is not just a t-shirt, it’s a movement.” Says Smith.  The shirts have been designed to be trendy and wearable, while drawing attention to an important issue and encouraging positive change. The design includes a link to the Shhh! Facebook site (www.facebook.com/1in3women) used as a platform to continue raising awareness and resources for issues surrounding sexual assault.

Want to get involved?  HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
1.  Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/1in3women
2.  Come to the Shhh! Launch party May 4th 7pm-9pm at Fairmont 
     Empress Willow Stream Spa.  Call 250-995-4650 to reserve tickets 
3.  Buy a Shhh! Tshirt:  Available at LeBlanc Boutique (2 locations in 
 Victoria on Johnson st. and in Market Square)
4.  Participate in the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in Bastion Square on
     May 14th  www.walkamilevictoria.com
5.  Contact the WSAC to donate or volunteer!

Things are going AWESOME - as per usual at the Spice Creative office- and I’m on Cloud Nine.  Crazy how quickly June flew by... I suppose having two weeks off for a holiday helped kill some time!


Things are really ramping up for the summer, and I’m working on some exciting new projects that will make for some great updates in the near future- stay tuned!!  


I have been spending some time over the past month going to DownDAWG Yoga at Base Lounge Studio on Broad st.  IT IS SOOO AWESOME!  Best workout ever- and sooo much fun doing Yoga to hip hop music, which also features special guest DJ Rowan spinning LIVE at some classes.  AWESOME!  Mondays at 5:30pm for anyone who wants to go- check out their Facebook Group!

Better yet, DownDAWG is the newest client of Spice Creative!  Recently the genius behind Hip Hop Yoga, Amy Chayko-Allen, and I combined forces to take over the world.... well, maybe just take over the world of yoga marketing in Victoria.... to start.  In exchange, Spice Creative will have some assistance in reaching a healthier balance.  I am working with Amy to develop a custom exercise routine I can easily fit into my daily-hectic-life and still obtain the results I want.  It will incorporate going to DownDAWG Yoga, as well as improve my running abilities for another goal I have set for myself... details coming soon!  

Even more exciting news, is that I have added a BUNCH of new clients in addition to DownDAWG the past month!  :-)  I am thrilled to be working with Uplands Golf Club on some upcoming 1/4 pg ads in the TC to promote a GREAT deal they have on couples membership, and I have also recently worked with Chateau Victoria Hotel to update some brochures for Vista 18 and Clive’s Classic Lounge.  Have a look at the Spice Creative Portfolio for examples of these pieces - coming soon!


The season is wrapping up with the Victoria Highlanders and its almost time for playoffs already!  Only 2 teams will make the final cut, and it comes down to the game they are playing Saturday July 3rd at 7pm against Portland.  If you’re free, head to Bear Mountain Stadium located next to City Centre Park in Langford, and CHEER THEM ON!! 

Things at Westhills are still crazy as ever, and houses are selling FAST!  Even though I am on the site often to look at the progress, I am always blown away with the speed they can move at!! WOW.  They are selling houses now that will complete before Christmas... do they ever sleep!? 

Well I guess I should get back to work... it’s Canada Day today, so

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Looking forward to enjoying some ME time on this “holiday” after my work is done, and hoping to catch the fireworks tonight!  Thanks for reading my blog, and until next time... Keep it real.

Spring has Sprung at Spice Creative– ever since March 21, things have been super busy, so I haven’t had a chance to attend my blog until now!  Spice Creative has officially added event planning to its repertoire after coordinating a Westhills Parkdale Creek Spring BBQ for over 100+ Adults and children over the Easter weekend.  The event was held at the old Glen Lake School grounds in the West Shore area, and included face painting, a bouncy castle, LOTS of bubbles– thanks to a bubble machine (donated by a very special 4 year old boy raising money for youth in need) and a treasure hunt with Captain Green Beard the Environmental Pirate who serenaded the crowd with his accordion alongside his sidekick fiddle-playing crow! Needless to say, fun was had by all in attendance!!

In addition to this, I have nearly completed the marketing packages for over 60 new homes at Westhills Lakeview Ridge, and produced two unique weekly ads in two local publications, an advertorial, and a full page ad for Douglas Magazine!  Oh, I also built and launched a new website for two condo units in Maui that are rented by my family.  Need a vay-cay? Check out the availability at the Hale Kai O’ Kihei (Home by the Sea).  

So I guess its easy to see why I’ve got balance on my mind once again.  At the moment, my life is very focused on work, without enough play!  The good news is that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I’ve got a trip planned for the end of May, with lots of exciting things happening in my life before then as well.... That being said, its time I practice my goal of balance a bit better than I have been recently.  

I am making a goal for myself of attending a yoga class before the end of next week so I can “get my zen on” and going on at least one run with my dog!  I know its not much, but its a start... One small step for Christy, one GIANT LEAP for her workaholic alter-ego. 

Speaking of which... I gotta get back to work!

Well- it’s official... Spice Creative inc. officially launched March 17, 2010– St. Patrick’s Day!  It was one of my goals to complete that prior to my upcoming birthday, and I’m happy to have achieved it!  

Today I decided to walk to the Art Gallery to see an exhibit presented by six Japanese artists whose work is united by a common theme: Exploring issues of personal and cultural identity in today’s evolving global world.  

Each artist used different methods and materials to showcase their piece.  One had a video animation with erie music, and captivating, though simplistic animation.  This was presented in a private area with a semi-circle white wall acting as a projection screen, and the projector rotated from left to right as the images moved across the wall.  It was really cool.


Another artist ordered a number of items from eBay and then made them “pixelated” again by surrounding them with glass marbles to blur the image cased inside as though it were pixelated. 


One of the most striking images, featured in the banner of this post, is one called Geisha 2002 by Miwa Yanagi.  Beside the image, was a list of instruction, reflecting a Geisha code of conduct.  I found some of them rather appropriate! 

• One must devote oneself to accomplishments in art
• One must respect the tastefully refined
• One must never discriminate between chance customers,
  and regular customers
• To entertain a customer one must treasure every meeting,
  for it will never recur.
• One must decide ones age on a daily basis (my personal fav)

Didn’t know Geisha’s were marketing gurus did ya?! To excel in marketing, you must continually push yourself artistically, and expose yourself to other’s creativity.  The Geishas knew the value of customer service, and experience. Plus, as it seems, being young at heart!

Speaking of which, I’m turning 25 again tomorrow!!  In fact, I’ve got to wrap this up now, as I’m heading to celebrate with some friends.  Thanks to those of you that are following my blog! Keep it real– CJ

This weekend my Grandmother celebrated her ninetieth birthday.  I spent some time reflecting this weekend, about what it would be like to live over the course of ninety years.  
She was around for the “dirty thirties” to witness a depression even valium couldn’t help.  She made it through raising a son, and a daughter during the introduction of the “Devil’s music” Rock N’ Roll- Not to mention that hip thrusting Elvis character, or those cheeky, surfing Beach Boys... She even lived through the era of spandex and leg warmers when the fashion-disasters of the 80’s were popular the first time.    
Fast-forward to the year 2010, and she continues to adapt to her ever-changing environment.  I am proud to say that my ninety-year old Grandma has a computer in her bedroom– and uses e-mail!  Granted, I’ve received more than one frantic email over the years with the subject “hOW dO I tURN oFF cAPS lOCK?!” and various other emergencies, but all in all, I’d say she gets a gold medal for adaptability. 
As important as it is to stay current with the changing times, I believe another contributing factor to her fantastic health at age ninety is her ability to stay balanced.  Even when her body feels tired, or she just doesn’t feel like it, Grandma forces herself to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle.  She goes to Church every Sunday, volunteers at her Church Thrift shop every Tuesday, she meets with a “walking group” every other Wednesday, she has her hair done on Thursdays, and has a cleaner assist her with some household chores on Fridays.  I’d say that’s a pretty balanced schedule for a woman pushing 100.  
Reflecting on my grandma’s ability to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle for ninety years has prompted me to re-evaluate my own choices towards finding balance in my life.  Since returning from Asia, I’ve noticed I’ve been having some troubles finding balance in Victoria.  I’ve always been one to go-big, or go-home, which means I tend to throw 110% of myself into anything I do– especially my work.  Given there are only 24 hours in the day, I’ve been finding that 12-15 of them CANNOT be dedicated to work, if I’m going to have time for any fun in my life–  Particularly on weekends!  

For me, a balance lifestyle includes:
  1.     Eating balanced meals
  2.     Exercising regularly
  3.     Producing work I am proud of
  4.     Enjoying time with my friends and family

Even writing that list down, I’ve realized that there are at least 2 items I’ve been neglecting recently... NOT. COOL. 
But, over the years, I’ve learned the important thing is to be aware of such shortfalls so that I can make changes going forward.  Obviously, I can’t change the fact I haven’t been to the gym for the past two weeks... but I can make changes moving forward, like promising myself I will hit the gym at least once over the weekend, and 3 times during the week next week.  Or, planning ahead to have healthy meals I can prepare quickly and easily after a long day at work.  
So... to wrap things up... I already know I’ve got strong, healthy genes that will likely carry my body to 100 if I play my cards right.  That being said, being healthy of body, and healthy of mind do not always go hand in hand.  I’ve learned from my Grandma that adaptability and balance are two key ingredients to maintaining a healthy, happy mindset.  Although I’m sure balance is something I will continue to struggle to achieve throughout my life, I will never give up.