1st Annual World Media Awards

I am excited to share that I have won the award for Best Travel Blog from the 1st Annual World Media Awards!! I want to thank the World Media Awards and congratulate all the other winners of this years awards. 

Best Travel Blog Virtual Trophy

The World Media Awards recognizes successful bloggers and publishers from across the globe. To see all of the 2012 winners, visit the World Media Awards website at http://themediaawards.com/winners.

A quote  from the Founder, Murray Newlands "I am thrilled to help shine a spotlight on some of the best blogs from around the world. I think it's important to hold up examples of bloggers and publishers doing great things." 

It is my goal to provide plenty more great information, pictures and videos of the Okanagan, Shuswap and surrounding regions this year. Let me know what you loved, what could be improved and what you want more of in the comments below.

Upcoming Christmas Events in the North Okanagan

It is that time of year again when we start to think about Christmas and begin our yearly preparations. As part of your preparations this year, you may wish to add some of the awesome Christmas events found in the North Okanagan.

2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event  (November 27th)

Make sure you come out to support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs at this wonderful, family friendly event. See the amazing gingerbread creations, bring in your own gingerbread house or make one while you are there. The event is located at the Parkinson Recreation Centre on November 27th from 10am to 3pm.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerbreadEvent 
Twitter: @gingerKelowna  use #GingerbreadEvent

 

Enderby Community Christmas Celebration (Dec 2)

This family tradition includes a Santa Parade, River Candle Walk, sleigh rides, bonfire, carols, nativity and free soup and hot chocolate. An excellent way to get into the Christmas spirit, this family event starts with the Parade, located in Downtown Enderby on Cliff Ave at 6 pm.

Some Pics of Santa from the Community Christmas Celebration in years past.

Enderby's Santa getting ready to start the parade.

Santa waving at the crowds during the parade.

Santa in between visits with the children at the festivities after the parade.

Downtown Vernon's Festival of Christmas Traditions (November 25th)

Located  on 30th Avenue (from 29th Street to 35th Street) in Downtown Vernon, this Christmas Light-up includes entertainment, a bonfire, pony rides, carriage rides,  face painting, storytelling, a nativity, and a visit from Santa! The Festival of Christmas Traditions runs from 5:00pm - 9:00pm on Friday November 25th 2011.

If I have missed a local event, please let me know so I can include it. Planning on attending, please leave a comment below. 

Fall 2011 in Enderby, British Columbia

I must confess it has been a month since my last post (gasp!). I know, I know. It is not so much that I haven't been able to find a couple of minutes to write, more that I have not been able to find the time to get out and enjoy this incredible area. Renos combined with work and now Christmas has left us with little free time and we haven't had a chance to get out and do the things we love.

But while I am writing, every now and again, I take a look out at the magnificent view out our patio doors and sometimes even remember to snap a pic. We have a great view of not only Enderby, but the Enderby Cliffs and Mabel Lake Valley as well.

Pics taken early in the morning as mist was rising off the Shuswap River.

Mist coming off of Shuswap River.

View down Mabel Lake Valley in the morning.

While it hadn't rained anywhere in town that day, there was this amazing rainbow visible at sunset. A few days later we had this fabulous sunny day, something that does not happen all that often in Enderby in fall. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Enderby Cliffs were a striking pink. I caught a shot of it near the end of sunset.

A rainbow at sunset down Mabel Lake Valley.

A sunny fall day in Enerby.

Sunset on Enderby Cliffs.

I am also including a pic of our family of pumpkins from this Halloween.

Our pumpkins this Halloween.

Have you stopped to appreciate the spectacular fall colours this fall or a scenic sunrise or sunset? I would love to hear what you love best about the fall? Leave a comment below!

2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event

 An awesome guest post about this year's Annual Gingerbread House Event!!! 

Whether you are new to gingerbread house making, an old pro or just want to view all the delicious creations, please support this excellent event.

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2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event

In the summer evenings along Kelowna's lake shore you may have noticed some long boats with 20 paddlers slicing their paddles into the water. Like pistons in an engine the paddles lift vertically up and down in unison, powering the boat ahead. This is the sport of dragon boating which originated in China over 2000 years ago and has become a popular paddling sport in North America and the world in the last 25 years.

Dragon Boaters

Dragon boaters are generally outgoing; you'd have to be to join such a strange and wondrous sport! Dragon boaters are fun, enthusiastic, passionate people who come together from all walks of life with one common goal: To Have Fun!

In 2010 the Red Hot Chili Paddlers, a local co-ed recreational dragon boat team with the Kelowna Dragon Boat Club, decided to take their enthusiasm into the community to create a premier event, a Kelowna family tradition, and an annual fundraiser to support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, and the local community.

Red Hot Chili Paddlers

So it is with great excitement that we are now announcing the 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event which will take place on Sunday, November 27th at Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna, BC. This event aspires to bring our community together to experience the enjoyment, creativity, and beauty of gingerbread houses in support of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs.

Partial proceeds from this event will directly support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs’ Cool Moves Program which promotes increased physical activity and healthy eating among school aged kids.

The packaged kit category commences at 10am and at the same time people can start dropping off their open category creations. From 10am-3pm families can come to Parkinson Rec Centre together and build a gingerbread house right at the event. 

Family with Gingerbread House Kit

An Open Category Gingerbread House

With the support from local chefs, we aim to display some of the amazing talent found in the Okanagan Valley. The public viewing will take place from 3-6pm. Viewing entry is $2/adult and $1/under18, or a non-perishable food donation which will go towards the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs' Christmas hampers.

If you’d like to participate in this event, please visit the registration page of gingerbreadevent.com. Sponsorship and donation opportunities are also available. 

Gingerbread House Image

All of the information you need to become a sponsor, a participant or a spectator can be found on our website at: gingerbreadevent.com.

Let us know if you have any questions by emailing the event chairman Clinton Dixson at chairman atgingerbreadcompetition dot ca.

Gingerbread House Event Poster

  

We would be pleased to hear any feedback you have including where you first heard of this event. If you live in the Okanagan you may have heard ads on the radio from our media sponsors at EZRock101.5, SunFM and AM1150 ! Have you seen our website, our twitter page, posters, facebook page, flyers, or posters? Or is this the first place you are reading about it?

For more information, visit our press release: http://www.prlog.org/11691789



 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerbreadEvent
 
Twitter: @gingerKelowna

Canada Day in Enderby

This post is only a month late. I suppose better late than never!

A lovely morning for a parade, neither too hot nor too cool, the crowds gathered along Belvedere Street and Cliff Ave to watch. Enderby delivered up an excellent Canada Day parade this year with a combination of old favourites such as the marching band with bagpipes, the Red Hatters and classic cars and tractors as well as some new editions including the talented River Town Roller Girls, a mobile wrestling ring and the appearance of Ozzy Osbourne on a scooter (compliments of LOL House). Ozzy's second time in Enderby, he helped boost the Canadian spirit of parade watchers as he zipped back and forth with his scooter shouting "Happy Canada Day Enderby" and taking time for "high fives".

The beginning of the Canada Day Parade in Enderby!

 

A marching band.

The Red Hats

Classic Car

The Lion's Float

Players from Runaway Moon

Ozzy Osbourne riding a scooter in the Parade...

...on behalf of LOL House in Enderby.

Ozzy gets the crowd hyped up!

After the parade, viewer walk a couple of blocks down to Barnes Park where there was free entertainment and children activities like a bouncy castle, sumo wrestling and inflatable globes as well as games, food and a classic car show. Entertainment included a roller derby and wrestling demonstration as well as a live rock band Still Munro. Ozzy and the LOL House  performed a skit of poetry reading and music during the bands break.

Ozzy getting into the Canada Day Spirit!

Ozzy getting a little crazy!

Plenty of people at Barnes Park.

Still Munro plays for the people at the park.

Still Munro plays plenty of favourites.

LOL House getting ready to do their skit.

 

Amazing cars at the Classic Car show.

What did you do for Canada this year? Leave a comment below. Enjoy reading my blog? Sign up for updates in the box to the right!

Go Directly To Free Parking

I don't know if you heard, but parking in the BC Provincial Parks is now free! That's right, Premier Christy Clark has cancelled parking fees in provincial parks to make them accessible to everyone. She also promised that the money for the parks would not be cut because of it.

While my family never minded buying a yearly pass, I do know that it kept some people from using the parks. It was rather a hassle for those who don't carry change in their vehicles. Well, no more. I expect to see more people enjoying our amazing parks regularly, and with a little more change in their pockets.

Preparing for Earth Day

Whether you choose to attend a public activity on Earth Day or celebrate in your own way, Earth Day is a great time to look at your current green practices and re-evaluate if there is anything else you could be doing to help the environment. 

Even something as seemly small as turning off lights when you leave a room, turning down your heat at night or recycling, adds up to significant difference. There are plenty of websites that offer advice to help you make some of these changes (WWF and Power Smart by BC Hydro). Some of these changes will even save you money. If we all work together, we can make a significant impact for the better for our home, the Earth.

What are your plans for Earth Day (Friday, April 22)?

Sustainable Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm proves once again that it and its people value sustainability.They value their green spaces and are willing to fight for them.

A recent post on The David Suzuki Foundation blog talks about the four year battle over the development of a ecologically sensitive flood plain by a large shopping centre planned in Salmon Arm. Thanks to the passion of its citizens and the aid of the The David Suzuki Foundation, if there is to be a large shopping centre, it will likely no longer endanger the flood plain and its inhabitants.

Getting Ready for Earth Hour 2011

While I haven't made a final decision on what I am doing for Earth Hour 2011 (Saturday, March 26, at 8:30pm for one hour), I have a number of choices I am considering.

There will be a candlelight and acoustic music party in Downtown Vernon as well as party being held at the Bean Scene Coffee House ( 2923-30th Avenue Vernon, 250 558-1817).

There will also be plenty of private parties being held, which is my preference at the moment. I hear that there may be a Karaoke styled  potluck party happening in town which would be great fun for the whole family. Either way, I will be sure to get pics to post.

If you haven't already, be sure to make your Earth Hour Pledge with Fortis BC for a chance to win. You can also pledge on the WWF website.

So, what are you doing this Saturday, March 26, at 8:30pm?

Earth Hour Is A Coming

As everyone I am sure is aware, Earth Hour once again approaches (Saturday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m)!!!!

In this single hour, if we all commit to turning off our lights, we can make an undeniable statement of our commitment to our planet and expectation that we expect the same from our government  as well as businesses big and small.

While I have kept a private vigil at home the last bunch of years, I am looking for some exciting ways to celebrate this year. My plan is to find all the nearby shindigs and pick one to attend. I will of course share all that I find out with my faithful blog readers.

Please feel free to share any events you know of and what it is you are planning to do for this Earth Hour!

Endings, Beginnings & The Now

Not the most original or catchiest of titles, but fitting none the less as the title of my first post as Okanagan Jen.

Now, let’s see, where do I begin....

     ...at the beginning I suppose. It all started with an idea, or rather maybe a desire. What desire you may ask? Well that would be my desire to write. Also from a need to share this wonderful place that I call home. Can you guess where that might be? If you guessed the Okanagan (located in south central British Columbia, Canada), then you would be correct. We have it all here. Four incredible seasons with so much to do...but I am getting a head of myself.

Back to my desires to write and to share, which then lead to the idea. It came to me as I lay in bed at about 1 am. Now plenty of ideas and thoughts come and go when I am in bed but this one brought me from dozing to wide awake. It would not let me get back to sleep! My idea was simple. I too could join this world of social media and start my own blog.

Now doubts of course creep in. Who in the world would find and read my blog. But as I have begun this process to create my blog, I find that it has become less and less about who will read it, but rather that I am writing. Writing in fact about something I love, something that interests me, something I want to share with whoever might happen along. And I am doing it, right now.

You ask, where do the endings come in?  That would be the end of my spare time...as I hope to be using it to blog and to experiencing more things to blog about.

So if you are happening along, whoever you might be, don't be shy. Leave a comment, sign up by email or share it on Facebook. While you’re at it, how many of you are also bloggers?