We want everyone to know about Shopping & Sweets because it benefits all of the wonderful vendors who take part, our sponsors and most of all, our charities. We try our best through social media and word of mouth, but we can obviously only do so much on our own, which is why were were so grateful to the following medial outlets who gave us the time to tell a wider audience about our event.

A huge thank you goes out to the following:

• CTV Morning Live Ottawa (view our clip here)
• The Orleans Star
• Orleans EMC
• Yummy Mummy Club

And big thanks to all of our retailers and sponsors who also promoted the event within their own networks!

Returning as our lead sponsor this year is the wonderful Laurin Team.  Gemma Laurin has once again come on board to show her support for the local community and owners of small businesses.

We greatly appreciate The Laurin Team’s involvement again – their support means more can be donated directly to food programs in the Ottawa area.

Last year we interviewed Gemma about her involvement. Here’s an exerpt:

“When we first started planning Shopping & Sweets, we knew there would be some expenses.  But when Gemma Riley-Laurin and The Laurin Team came on board as a sponsor, their support meant more money would go directly to the charity.

Gemma has been so wonderful to work with – her giving nature and generosity for this event has been second to none and that confidence helped us ensure a special event.

Gemma works as a mortgage specialist.  After working for years in the banking industry, she wanted to look out for her client’s best interests and continues to strive to ensure that her clients receive the best possible deal for their mortgage.”

We asked Gemma about her work:

“My role as a mortgage broker is to ensure that I evaluate my client’s needs to ensure that they have the best mortgage option for their financial situation.  I offer free advice on how to repair credit that may be bruised and also budgeting advise for families.

I have been constantly top 10 for volume and number of mortgages funded for Dominion Lending in Canada for the last 2 years.  This is important for my clients as the more volume I can fund, the better deals that I can offer overall.  This is what sets me apart from other brokers.  I also work for my clients after the mortgage closes. We can help with servicing needs as well as refinances and renewals.  We try to be there also to constantly provide current market updates with newsletter s to ensure our clients are aware of rates and the happenings within the mortgage world.

Twice per year I also provide courses for continuing education through the Ottawa Catholic School Board to educate First time buyers and individuals looking to get into investing in real estate as a rental property.  I do feel strongly about educating my clients and want to ensure that they wallk away completely understanding the process.

That is very impressive!!  What’s more impressive is that this mom of two works hard to give back to the community, and we thank Gemma and The Laurin Team for all of their support.

Find out more about The Laurin Team by visiting them online.

The delicious cupcakes you will be tasting at the event on Saturday will once again be baked by the talented Julie Cole, baker and owner of Sugar & Spice Custom Cakes.

Julie’s treats are not only sensational to eat, but to look at as well.  She is hugely talented and designs for birthdays, weddings, special occasions, baby showers and more.

Julie also makes cakes, cookies and cake pops…her talent is something special and best demonstrated when tasted for yourself!

Julie donates her time and products to help raise money Shopping & Sweets, so a big thanks goes out to Julie for all her support and for the tasty treats!

Check out Sugar & Spice Bakery online, on Facebook and on Twitter.

Nayla Natural Care will be a return vendor at our 2011 event!

Nayla Natural Care is an Ottawa based online store. Throughout the website, you will find a nice selection of natural, organic and eco-friendly products for both you and your family. The following are just a few of the great items you can find at Nayla Natural Care:

• organic skin care
• organic pregnancy/postpartum/breastfeeding products
• natural hand sanitizers
• BPA/Phthalate/PVC free eating and drinking products
• organic fleece and bamboo blankets
• organic lip balms
• organic and reusable produce bags
• eco-friendly/reusable lunch containers and snack bags
• organic hand washes
• and MUCH more!

Website: www.naylanaturalcare.com
Facebook: Nayla Natural Care on Facebook
Twitter: @naylanatural

The first 50 families to arrive at the event will receive a shopping bag filled with discounts, information and goodies from our participating vendors and bag sponsors.

The handled bags are from Ten Thousand Villages and are perfect for filling with your shopping finds.

Special thanks to our bag drop sponsors who have helped us raise even more money for our 2011 charities:

• A Little Bit of Momsense
• Boston Pizza Orleans
• Beauchamp Chiropractic
• Gymboree Play and Music Orleans
• Investors Group – Janet Gray
• Precious Moments Photography
• Scentsy
• Silpada
• Smart Space Organizing
• Spoiled Sugar

We have an amazing grand door prize that all shoppers who attend will have a chance to win.  Each shopper will receive a ballot and a chance to win the following grand prize package:

-A Karito Doll (contributed by Tag Along Toys)

-Guinness Book of World Records board game (contributed by Tag Along Toys)

-$25 Boston Pizza Orleans gift certificate (contributed by Boston Pizza Orleans)

-A one month membership to Gymboree Orleans (contributed by Gymboree Play and Music Orleans)

A HUGE thank you to our prize contributors:

Tag Along Toys

Gymboree Play and Music Orleans

Boston Pizza Orleans

10. Charity – Last year’s Shopping & Sweets event was a big success, so we decided that this year, we’d split our proceeds between 2 charities this year. For 2011, our charities are The Caring and Sharing Exchange: Christmas Exchange Program, and the Orleans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre. These organizations helps families in need during the holidays and as we all know, this is the time of year that they need us the most. 100% of the proceeds from our cupcake sales will go directly to our charities and in addition, all proceeds from table sales and bag drops (after expenses) will also be donated. Win win for everyone involved!

9. Support Local businesses – We are happy to say that all of the participating businesses, sponsors and contributors are small local businesses. Small businesses need our support in order to keep doing the wonderful things they do.

8. Holiday Shopping – We have a large variety of vendors participating in our event, so there’s a very good chance you will be able to get many on your shopping list checked off! (and maybe even pick up a few things for yourself!)

7. Learn something new – We bet that by coming out to the Shopping & Sweets event that you will discover a new local business (or two…or more!) that you didn’t even know existed! They may even offer something that you had been looking for. Who knows? So come on out and see who will be there!

6. Goodie bags! – The first 50 shopper to arrive to Shopping & Sweets will receive a bag filled with coupons, promotions, samplers and great info on about all of our participating retailers, service providers and bag drop sponsors!

5. Prizes! – We have had some very generous businesses donate pretty amazing prizes in order to make things a little “sweeter” for you, the shopper. All items will make up our grand door prize worth over $250! All you need to do is show up and fill out a ballot at our welcome table for your chance to win!

4. Baz’Art- This year, we will be running our show at the same time as the annual Baz’Art show, an event designed to showcase local artists and artisans. Baz’Art will be taking place on the lower level of The Shenkman Arts Centre. Read more about Baz’Art.

3. Change of scenery– We all know what the malls and their parking lots are like at this time of year. Yikes. Shopping & Sweets will be taking place at the gorgeous Shenkman Arts Centre. Parking is plentiful and the building is beautiful, spacious and decorated for the holiday season. There will also be a Christmas Choir performing throughout the day. You’ll love the festive atmosphere.

2. Free Coffee – Generously donated by Ten Thousand Villages, all shoppers will get delicious free fair trade coffee…just for showing up!

1. Cupcakes…Julie from Sugar & Spice Bakery is our amazing, talented and generous cupcake sponsor. She will be baking hundreds of cupcakes that will be available for purchase. It’s hard to choose, but some may say that her cupcakes are the “sweetest” part of Shopping & Sweets

Hope to see you on Saturday December 3rd!

Peek-a-boo Kids Art will be a vendor at our 2011 event!

Peek-a-boo Kids Art offers unique, original art for children’s rooms! From personalized tow trucks to tiaras and princess themes, you will be sure to find something to suit your child’s fun personality and make their walls come alive with bright colours and creative pieces!!

website: http://peekabookidsart.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @peekabookidsart

We are really fortunate to be sharing the Shenkman Arts Centre space with the Baz’Art Holiday Arts Event, taking place the weekend of Shopping & Sweets.  So when you come to visit us, be sure to stop by and visit their vendors, artisans and workshops!

Shenkman Arts Centre’s unique holiday arts event, returns for its second year on the weekend of December 3 and 4. Baz’Art offers a refreshing alternative to the typical Christmas arts sale. While the event’s focal point is indeed a sale featuring a selection of juried, local artists and artisans, the weekend is designed to get you and your family in the spirit of the season. As your children are busy creating holiday gifts and crafts, you can shop to your heart’s content while taking in the glorious sounds of the season as performed by live musicians and choirs.

Free admission includes sale, workshops and Baz’Art entertainment.

My Stow-n-Tow will be a vendor at our 2011 event!

Handmade with affection by a couple of Ottawa Moms, My Stow-n-Tow totes are reasonably priced and practical sized. The “totally tidy totes” specifically designed to be easily carried, open and closed, and packed and unpacked by small friends – That said, they are so fabulous and useful you will probably want to own one too. Available in three sizes and a wide range of fantastic patterns, MSNT totes are a must have for the tidy & the organized.

website: http://www.mystow-n-tow.com/
twitter: @MyStowNTow
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MyStowNTow