The holidays are coming!! 

The West Coast express is doing the Christmas train again this year, with 2 dates,  Saturday December 09th & December 16th! Sorry if you missed it.

This is the photo my husband &  got this year, with Santa & Mrs. Claus. 

Here's a lovely Christmas light thing happening in White Rock: https://www.peacearchnews.com/community/twinkle-time-bright-walk-in-white-rock-returns-to-waterfront-dec-2-7113367?utm_source=second-street&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PAN+-+Morning+Alert&emailmd5=03B4A4F30691431728BA08A20160120F&emailsha1=225501491747620777181178127215441121728177231430147&emailsha256=d16b4c2c0390d0a755bbbe3a9b7556008b1c6def3423289008d5195437548ec9

Here's a list of transit-friendly holiday events in Metro Vancouver:

https://buzzer.translink.ca/2023/11/12-transit-friendly-holiday-events-metro-vancouver/

Here's a link to a list of holidays doings in Surrey: https://www.surreynowleader.com/entertainment/surrey-events-santa-parade-of-lights-and-other-christmas-y-gatherings-7113513?utm_source=second-street&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SUL+-+Morning+Alert&emailmd5=03B4A4F30691431728BA08A20160120F&emailsha1=225501491747620777181178127215441121728177231430147&emailsha256=d16b4c2c0390d0a755bbbe3a9b7556008b1c6def3423289008d5195437548ec9

Cabela's in Abbotsford is doing free photos with Santa, until December 24th. The website also mentions a video, but I don't think that is free, I'm not really sure.  Reservations are recommended and can be made up to 7 days in advance online at cabelas.ca/santa 

Here's a really lovely free holiday light event, in Coal Harbour: https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/vancouver-holiday-winter-event-coal-harbour-liven-up-2023-7869497?utm_source=Vancouver+Is+Awesome&utm_campaign=ab06f33b44-VIA+Daily+112323&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-ab06f33b44-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=ab06f33b44&mc_eid=d446ceab6a

PNE Winter Fair, a journey filled with glowing lights, fantastical displays, and endless fun, as you pass through mesmerizing light tunnels that mimic the dazzling Northern Lights. The PNE Express Train is free with admission. For more information, click here: https://www.ticketleader.ca/events/detail/2023-pne-winter-fair

Giving Tree campaign at Aldergrove Save-On-Foods store will provide gifts to Jackman Manor residents https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/community/video-photos-with-santa-assist-seniors-7117825?utm_source=second-street&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=LAT+-+Morning+Alert&emailmd5=03B4A4F30691431728BA08A20160120F&emailsha1=225501491747620777181178127215441121728177231430147&emailsha256=d16b4c2c0390d0a755bbbe3a9b7556008b1c6def3423289008d5195437548ec9

You can get a picture of your fur baby with Santa at PetSmart on December 16 & 17: https://www.petsmart.ca/santa-photo-days.html?fbclid=IwAR0YT8-Y3yGQ8Bjb6iuX7bF60ElYyeEfcinD_KAahG0XD_cvyhKpF9KBQUU

Here's a recent article in the Fraser Valley Current, with a list of holiday festivities: https://fvcurrent.com/p/december-events-what-to-do-fraser-valley-christmas-2023?utm_source=fvcurrent.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=monday-dec-4-2023-what-s-up-in-december

I will update this with more information, when it becomes available.

Monday, November 06, 2023

Sorry for the delay, I meant to post this as soon as we got back on the 3rd, but I was having some technical issues with my video editing program. I did some research & finally did the old standby, I deleted the program & re-installed it. 

Took a few photos of Mt. Baker on our way into Bellingham on the bus. 

So, we're back home at my husband's place in Sumas, I'll be back home in Mission on the 12th. 

As soon as Thanksgiving is over here in the US, I'll be starting my Christmas posts.

 

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

UPDATE - 

On Monday, my husband & I went to St. Joseph's hospital in Bellingham, to start my radiation treatment. Because there is such a huge backlog at Abbotsford's hospital, BC Medical is sending a lot of cancer patients there. 

As I mentioned in my last update, I am currently cancer-free, but apparently the rate of recurrence is approximately 30%. However, radiation can cut that rate by 2/3. We just found out yesterday that I am only going to need 5 treatments, rather than the 10 we'd been told initially. Here's a picture of a beautiful mural, at the cancer center.

I have been looking for a new winter coat, so we stopped by the Burlington coat factory near Cordata station. And I found a new coat, for a pretty reasonable price!

And on our way to the Cordata bus loop, we saw a rainbow! 

Anyway, that's all for now, I'll be doing a pre-Christmas post soon.

Monday, September 18, 2023

 So, how was your weekend? I went to the Mission Farmer's market & picked up 17 pounds of tomatoes from a farmer in the Okanagan. I also got some wonderful cucumbers from Emma's Acres, including one of the biggest long English cucumbers that I have EVER seen!! Check it out!

I also went to the Fruiticana in Abbotsford (the one on Bourquin) & picked up a 25 pound box of tomatoes @ 99cents a pound! Not what I would normally consider a good price for summer, but it's the best price that I've seen this year. I couldn't get all of them canned yesterday, so I was going to do the rest today. However, I forgot that some of my boxes of canning jars got moved downstairs to the locker room  after my apartment's renovation. So I put the rest in the fridge & will get them done tomorrow. But if you're curious, here's what 15 liters of canned tomatoes look like.

Because of the bus strike my summer got a bit messed up, I didn't get much opportunity to get to the Dollar Trees in Abbotsford. I seem to have worn out many of my tank tops in recent years & t-shirts are more difficult to get into, since my surgery. I went to Abbotsford last week & they had no tank tops left & not many t-shirts, mostly smalls & in ugly colours. But I lucked out on Sunday, one of the local Mission Dollaramas had a couple of blue v-neck t-shirts on for only $3.

I've been having some computer issues with Facebook recently, so I am going to be spending more time on my YouTube vlogs & my blog.

Update

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update, after the post I made on June 04, 2023.

Sunday, June 04, 2023

 This post is the 3rd in my "What's Next" post-pandemic series & also a bit of a personal update for my friends & followers. I found this video a bit difficult to make, for technical reasons. I usually make my vlog videos at home, with my desk as my background. I didn't want to do that here, so I decided to do an outdoor video, at Sumas park. It took me 4 tries to get it right, due to volume issues. (Have I mentioned how much I hate this freaking camera?) I am researching possible replacements.

This one got slightly interrupted by a couple of crows nearby. 

I also took a few test photos of me & Robert.

June 17, 2023 UPDATE:

I had my lumpectomy surgery yesterday & I am at home recuperating. Robert is here & is taking very good care of me. 

Friday, April 07, 2023

I came up with a new idea recently, trying to share more of my frugal money-saving ideas with more people. I am going to combine several videos that I posted previously on my YouTube, along with some pictures & a scattering of ideas, which I will add to from time to time & will re-share on my Facebook weekly.

I have designed 4 logos for my new enterprise, which I am calling Canadian Frugal Chick. I'll rotate them & see if there are any favourites.

This video is on fast fashion, taking care of things & several other useful money-saving tips.

This video is on making a re-usable shopping bag out of a tank top.

 

And here's some pictures of the variety of t-shirts that I have seen available in the local Abbotsford dollar trees. Most were $1.25 each, recently some have gone up to $1.50, I always ask to keep the hangers, after all they came with the shirt & they often just toss them instead of recycling them, which makes me sad. And who can't use some free hangers? 

Speaking of saving money, have you ever considered giving up cable? I did & it ain't that bad. If you are in Canada, CBC, CTV & Global all have shows online that you can watch for free the day after they come out on TV. Links are here:

 https://www.globaltv.com/shows/

https://www.ctv.ca/shows/all-shows#/

CTV also has a list of older shows available free online, as well as movies: 

https://www.ctv.ca/throwback

https://www.ctv.ca/Movies

For CBC, go here: https://gem.cbc.ca/  & create a login account. They will of course, try to sell you a premium membership, you can just ignore it. You'll need to do some digging after that, but they have some interesting shows, including Coroner & Endlings. 

In the US, CBS, & NBC also do this (have shows online that you can watch for free the day after they come out on TV). ABC has something similar, but you have to wait a week after the broadcast date. Fox gives you a free hour, I think. Netflix is still under $10 a month I think, & in the US, Hulu is $7.99 a month & it also has a free trial & optional add-ons for HBO, Showtime & Cinemax (at an extra cost, of course). 

Slice TV is available online for free:  https://www.slice.ca/video/

Crackle is available for free: https://www.crackle.com/ (Not available in Canada)

 Another interesting free site, lots of nature shows & documentaries: www.waterbear.com

I just found another one:  https://pluto.tv/

Another new online free streaming site, is TubiTV:  https://tubitv.com/home

Both PlutoTV & Tubi are wonderful. But alas, the selection of shows is much more limited on Tubi in Canada, just like Netflix's is.

Plus there's a lot of interesting content available on YouTube.  I even have a channel there: https://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelannDahlman/videos 

I am planning on doing a lot more videos there, including book reviews & other vlogs.

And here's a helpful article, lots of streaming services are offering steep discounts &/or free trials: https://www.tvguide.com/news/streaming-services-for-free-discounts-coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR0fEld_iePx8_6gJwleVySUWWHZDhgHio8wGnaswM0bngSBb0GbJrEecqA

(This article is over 1 year old, some links may no longer work& some offers may be expired).

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This post is about the environment, as well as saving money. We have to remember that the terms "disposable" or "single-use" aren't necessarily accurate. Take plastic cutlery for instance. I noticed recently that Washington state has instituted a ban on automatically giving take out customers plastic straws or cutlery. You have to ask for it, specifically. Canada is doing something similar. I save my plastic cutlery, have been doing this for decades. I wash it & keep it in a drawer. They came in handy years ago when my kids were young. Now that I am an empty nester, I don't need it nearly as much. when a piece breaks, I throw it in the recycling bag. I have never had to buy a package, ever.

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I know in one of my previous money saving videos, I mentioned that Dollarama had the cheapest re-usable shopping bags, but that is no longer true. The green dollarama logo bags have gone up from 3/$1, to $2 each. However, Freshco now has their light green bags on for $0.35  

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I remember posting about saving money at Christmas, but it just occurred to me that these ideas would also be useful for Mother's day, Father's day, birthdays, anniversaries or even house warming gifts. So I will re-share them here.

Select a good photo of the family, 8 x 10s are generally around $1 & many places have free offers from time to time. Select a pretty frame from the dollar tree & voila, a lovely gift for someone on your list.

For anyone who has access to a printer. Home-made calendars, with family photos. You can get an excellent free calendar program, here: https://photo-print-calendar-from-yokohama.software.informer.com/

Here's an excellent idea for someone who loves cooking &/or baking. Holiday-themed oven mitts, with matching hot pads &/or dish towels.

Or coffee mugs, in a small gift basket or bag, along with a small bag of coffee, or packets of hot chocolate, or the recipient's favorite candy.