This photo might explain more about the Shes Connected Conference I recently attended:

Staying Connected!!

Ok..I will be serious for a minute. The conference looked like this:

You are probably asking..what’s Shes Connected? It was a conference that connected brands with digitally connected woman. We all had blogs, we were all on Linkedin, we all used facebook, we all loved twitter…basically we all embraced Social Media with open arms.

I did not have to shell out hundreds of dollars, like other conferences. We were all selected i.e we had to apply. I was positively thrilled to get an email that I was selected.

So that day, I got dressed in “business attire” and headed downtown for 8 a.m…armed with my camera, my iPhone, my laptop, a hundred business cards and of course, my beloved chargers. (see above photo).

I felt empowered by 8 a.m.. It felt very different than my usual day of visiting grocery stores. (I’m a food sales rep).

In the morning we listened to a variety of speakers talk about Social Media and in the afternoon we listened to a variety of brands.

Did I connect with the brands? Well I certainly took the opporttunity to talk to John Placko from Maple Leaf Foods coz he was easy to recognize (wearing chef whites and one of the few men there). I also approached a PR rep who works with Kraft Foods. I clearly wanted to connect with other foodies.

Did I connect with other women?  Absolutely. I came home with two dozen business cards, inputed the email addys into my address book …and sent a few people a quick email saying how much I enjoyed connecting with them at the conference.

Did the brands connect with the participants? I’m hoping that at the round tables they learned more about how as bloggers we can help them and how they can help us!!  They all listened, took notes, and asked questions.

The day certainly went by quickly and before I knew it, it was 6 p.m.

I went home feeling even more connected and have already scheduled the dates of ShesConnected 2011 into my calendar.

Happy Connecting!!!

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I’m not sure how I discovered Crawford Lake but it’s a conservation area in Halton that I have been visiting for a few years now.

Kids of all ages love this place!!

It seems that every fall we visit: Chudleigh’s Apple Farm and Crawford Lake.

It seems that every winter we visit: Kortright Centre

It seems that every spring we visit: Mountsberg for the maple syrup Festival.

It seems that every summer I visit: Kelso Conservation area and several beaches.

OK..back to Crawford Lake!! Lost focus there for a minute.

We always begin by visiting the Indian Village. This year, we scored as there was a presentation of Traditonal Indian Dancers.

Then we took a lovely stroll on the boardwalk that surrounds Crawford Lake.

Great for Strollers!!!

Is this not a stunning lake?

To end the day, we  always seem to wind up at The Gathering Place for arts and crafts.

Again..an awesome fall day visiting an awesome conservation park.

Happy Hiking!!

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It’s true. I am a grown women with a massive crush on an actor who is also a drummer in a band called The Honey Brothers.  I didn’t realize I had such a crush on him till I was invited to a SVEDKA vodka event at the Tattoo Rock Parlour the other night.

Naturally I started the evening with two shots of SVEDKA vodka. I had never heard of SVEDKA before, but found out that it’s the 4th largest vodka in the United Sates and it’s now available in Canada.

Enjoying Svedka Vodka!!

However I did not induldge in anymore shots of vodka (I know my limits) as I wanted to have  CLEAR VISION so I could stare at the drummer…who is ADRIAN GRENIER!! (swoon)

Just look at that smile!!

I’m not kidding, I was two feet away from him as he was drumming away.

Adrian Grenier - Drummer

I stood there, two feet away from him, at the edge of the stage..waiting for him to smile. Eventually, there was a break and I said “come on…you have to smile” and he replied “I dont have to..I’m on stage”.

He was right. He was working and he was focused.  Man was he focused.

I got a chance to go downstairs to hang out with the band while they were on break. However I did NOT talk to the band..I just stood from a distance and stared some more. He must have thought I was a stalker. Poor guy!!

I loved what they had available for the band members downstairs.

Always good to be prepared!

My twitter friend, @Shawn_Rusich said to me,  “wow, you are so star struck”.

It wasn’t that I was star struck..it was more like, ADRIAN IS GORGEOUS and how often do I get that close to someone with those looks?

All in all…a great evening with great food, at a great venue, listening to a great band and staring at a great actor (who is also gorgeous).

Enough Said.

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I have been going to Chudleighs for so many years that I have lost track. I love it so much that I have taken many many many friends over the years so I can share my fondness for this well run family operation.

I try to pick a sunny Sunday (easier said than done) and off we go EARLY. This is the trick to a successful trip to Chudleighs.

Here is the game plan.

9:30 a.m. head to Tim Hortons (like any good family outing) and then head to the highway.

10:15 a.m arrive at Chudleighs, park, pay admission etc.

10:30 a.m. head right to the tractors that take you out to the apple orchards

11:15  a.m. head to the cashiers to pay for your apples (if you miss this step, you will wait in line forever at the end of the day)

11:30 a.m. head to the bbq for unbelievable corn on the cob

12:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m…enjoy the petting zoo, the swings, the playground, the corn maze, the cafe, pony rides etc

REPEAT those activities over and over.

I know the schedule is tight but I promise you…it works. Otherwise you will be faced with long line ups and cranky children. (not in that order).

Other farms you might want to visit: Forsythe Farms and Pingles Farm Market.

Happy Apple Picking!!

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