Summer Corporate Mixer at Old Timer's Cabin | EVENT RECAP
I am sure you have heard us say it, and we do not mind saying it again, our word for 2019 is COLLABORATION! We jumped on board with the team at Bottomz Up Bartending and Old Timer’s Cabin in Edmonton to collaborate on a beautiful Summer Mixer.
Photos by Nicole Constante
A mixer with a vibe
I am sure you have heard us say it, and we do not mind saying it again, our word for 2019 is COLLABORATION! We jumped on board with the team at Bottomz Up Bartending and Old Timer’s Cabin in Edmonton to collaborate on a beautiful Summer Mixer. Our meetings for this event start back in early spring as we created the theme and vibe that would encapsulate the beginning of Summer in Edmonton! We quickly came to the conclusion that our theme was going to be boho with acoustic music and great company with the joining of our YBB Community and Edmonton’s Corporate scene. From there, Shelley Fransisco helped up take the boho vision up a notch or two with the help of her talented bartending team and our delicious local food collaborators, The Art of Cake & The Art of Charcuterie. Gloria, the owner of Art of Cake in Edmonton, is such a sweet woman and her team is fantastic! They have a variety of treats and eats, and get this, you can go there for High Tea. If you haven't been to their incredibly beautiful location, please do yourself a favour and go! It’s a mini Parisian getaway!
Now what is a party without beautiful balloons? Thanks to the incredible talent of Maggie Gutierrez owner of Bow & Tie Events and fellow YBB Member for creating a balloon arch that any person would admire. Our team was so impressed by this backdrop she created us that they did everything in their power to fit it (or what would fit) into their vehicles by the end of the night. Her hand picked high end supplies area always a conversation piece and no one wanted to say good-bye to this eye catcher that evening!
Carrying with our theme, local artist, Connor Shaw played beautiful acoustic music for our attendees to listen to as the ventured from inside the venue to outside on the beautiful deck overlooking downtown Edmonton and the river valley. Truly a breathtaking secret gem this historical venue holds! A very popular photo booth set up by Inception Photo booth was full of attendees throughout the evening capturing memories! Inception Photo booth is a local company that has high end photo booth equipment (did we mention ring light) that made sharing photos instantly to instagram or email very easy! Thanks to their great team for creating the graphic with us and providing the cutest rose pattern background!
Oh My Charcuterie
I truly feel that Edmonton’s food scene is no longer just a local best kept secret now-a-days, with some of the best dining experiences you can find in Western Canada here in our backyard. Thanks to local talents in this industry, our experience with food in any season can be the talk of an event. The Art of Charcuterie took us through a unique and memorable canapé dining experience like no other with the beautiful display of locally curated meat, vegetable, cheeses and breads chosen by creator and fellow YBB Member, Diana Harrison. This was a piece of art that attendees dawned over together. Bonding over food, always a great conversation to have when networking in our opinion. Diana offers her Charcuterie board (we really mean art) to local events of any size. Private parties, corporate events, you name it, we would highly suggest you take advantage of her expertise in curating delicious local food and bringing it all together in an unforgettable manner leaving your guests in awe. We hope to collaborate with her again not only for a YBB event, but also for personal parties or just event a girls night (when Kayla and I can start drinking wine again preferably because I don’t know a better friend to cheese than wine)…
What is a Mixer without prizes?
Our attendees were greeted by our team at the door where they checked in and entered to win a door prize! Our door prizes were supported by local businesses The Wellness Warrior, Christina Bolstad Realestate & Simply Sasha C Essential Oils. Tiffany Champagne Glasses, Prossecco, Life Coaching Session, a Goal Creation Book, and Curated Face products and Essential oils were given away to attendees that evening. Yea, we like to spoil our guests with the help of our fantastic sponsors. If you are interested in participating, contact us! We would be grateful for your support of our community!
The big winner of the night however was Jessica of Ripple Effect Marketing who took home the grand prize courtesy of Old Timer’s Cabin and Bottomz Up Bartending valued at over $1600! She will be booking an event at the Cabin in coordination with Bottomz Up Bartending soon! An amazing giveaway that was our largest yet!
Special thank you to our our Team Sponsor, Sal from Accounting by Sal. Sal Rezai is passionate about empowering small business owners to achieve their dreams. She found Accounting By Sal in 2008, an accounting training firm dedicated to helping businesses succeed through cloud based technology. Accounting By Sal uses modern technology to give clarity to small businesses for their accounting/bookkeeping practices and she adds value through training, business coaching and additional services based on your specific business needs, If you are looking for some accounting support connect with Sal to see how she can help you out!
A little more about our Mixer Partner’s The Old Timer’s Cabin & Bottomz Up Bartending & Events
The Old Timers Cabin opened in 1959 and is a not for profit organization that holds heritage status! This location is fantastic for so many reasons including the fact that we are so close to downtown and have a completely free parking lot! It can host corporate and private events of up to 250 guests and it is wheelchair accessible. The Old Timers Cabin is a very versatile space that can be used for conferences, meetings, trainings, casual events, parties, or more formal events. If you are interested in learning more about this space, including membership, you can connect with Shelley here. Membership at the cabin is $20 / year and is a great way for you to support the cabin as well as access a lot of the historical information available.
Speaking of Shelley, her team from Bottomz Up Bartending and Events served our attendees and created delicious drinks (both alcoholic and non alcoholic) at the mixer. Bottomz Up offers bartending and events services with customizable packages.hey are fully insured for liability and have Proserv, they offer complimentary budget and event consulting, and can help you out with everything from bartending to dj’s, bands, florals, and more. They are a mobile service, meaning that they can travel to clients offices and different venues. They will help you coordinate your event from start to finish.
Special thank you to our collaborators, our team, and sponsors who made this event one to remember!
YBB Team Sponsor: Accounting by Sal, an Accounting Training Firm here in YEG and fellow YBB Member
Emcee & Event Partner: Jocelyn Davison, Ambassador with YEG BOSS BABES & Owner of The Virtual Effect
Bartending Services & Event Sponsor: Bottomz Up Bartending & Events
Venue & Event Sponsor: The Old Timers Cabin located off of Scona Road in downtown Edmonton.
Balloon Arch Sponsor: Bow & Tie Events, party supplies and fellow YBB Member
Food Collaborators: Art of Charcuterie & The Art of Cake
Music Entertainment: CS KID Conner Shaw
Photo booth Inception Photo booth
Photographers on site: Nicole Constante and Jamie Dimitry
See ADDITIONAL event recaps below!
Soulful Sunday: Navigating Mindfulness and Meditation in a Boss Babe Work Life | EVENT RECAP
On Sunday, May 5 we held our second Soulful Sunday speaker series focusing on meditation and mindfulness in a boss babe work life. We’ve teamed up with the Wellness Warrior and Momentum Walk-in Counselling to launch this series in early 2019, with the goal of empowering women through wellness discussions with leading experts in an interactive panel style event.
Written by: Elisa Valade, Community Outreach Ambassador at YEG BOSS BABES
On Sunday, May 5 we held our second Soulful Sunday speaker series focusing on meditation and mindfulness in a boss babe work life. We’ve teamed up with the Wellness Warrior and Momentum Walk-in Counselling to launch this series in early 2019, with the goal of empowering women through wellness discussions with leading experts in an interactive panel style event.
Whether we are talking about meditation and mindfulness, coping with stress in the workplace, clean eating on the run, or tips for motivation and time management, the purpose is to create a supportive and non-judgmental space for women to come together and have intimate, soulful conversations. Our hope is that you leave with knowledge and inspiration that fuels your soul and helps you chase after your goals.
Our Panel
Jamie Bay, Owner of The Wellness Warrior and Head of Wellness at YEG Boss Babes, facilitated our amazing panel of women on Sunday, which included:
Mandy Trapp, Founder and Lead Educator at Lifestyle Meditation
Kim Knull, Registered Psychologist and Founder of Momentum Walk-In Counselling
Laurie Kellough, Director of Marketing at ATB; and
Shannon Droeske, Meditation and Mindfulness Coach and the Founder of the In-Purpose Brand
Our soulful discussion included a series of questions answered by our panel members through their expertise, personal stories and experiences.
Takeaways from our Meditation + Mindfulness Experts
Find your Point of Focus:
For many of us, the goal of meditating for 5, 10, 20 minutes can feel overwhelming. Even if we’ve created a calm space with no distractions, often it’s only a matter of minutes before our mind is racing with thoughts about our to-do list, what happened at work last week, and everything in between. Our experts’ advice: find your point of focus. Whether that is a mantra to repeat to yourself (it can be as simple as: I breathe in calm, I release anxiety) or staying focused on your breath as you inhale for 3 counts, and exhale for 5 counts.
Having a point of focus is what keeps those pesky thoughts at bay and helps to settle your mind into a state of calm.
Consistency is the Key:
Your mind is like a muscle; you have to exercise it in order for it to become stronger. Similar to a new exercise routine or the start of a new meal plan, for the practice of meditation to be effective, you have to show up. You must put in the work. Recognize that this work might look different for everyone, and there is no right or wrong way to incorporate meditation into your lifestyle. A few tips to set you up for success:
Attend guided meditation classes (we highly recommend Lifestyle Meditation)
Wake up half an hour early to integrate it into your morning routine
Create a space that inspires you. Incorporate the things that help you settle into a state of calm, whether that includes candle or essential oils, comfy pillows, natural sunlight – create that space that you can come back to consistently.
Get Creative with your Time:
As we said, consistency is the key! But our experts know, all too well, that in a busy boss babe world, sometimes that consistency does not look like a set daily routine. Life is busy on a day-to-day basis, but whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, building an empire, or a mom boss taking care of little ones, there is always a moment to disconnect with your surroundings and reconnect with yourself – sometimes, we just need to get a little creative! Our experts recommend that you look for those golden moments where you can drop what you’re doing (for example, when you notice the kids are sleeping in the car seat) to just turn inward for a few minutes. Start watching for these golden moments regularly, and, over time, you’ll notice they pop up more often than you thought. Remember, the ultimate goal is to slow down and connect with yourself. Prioritize that quality time with YOU, even if it’s just for a few minutes. A little can go a long way!
You are not Alone
As we wrap up Mental Health Week, The YEG Boss Babes want to lovingly remind you that if you are struggling, you are not alone and you don’t have to go through your struggles alone. There are resources available to support you; there are friends, family, and experts that want to connect with you, hear your story and help you find ease in your struggle. We encourage you to reach out! For more information on resources visit https://www.momentumcounselling.org/
Special Thank you’s
To our panelists
Soulful Sunday | Speaker, Kyla Kazeil Tells All
I always love getting the chance to sit down (and indulge in wine) with Kyla Kazeil. She is a true rockstar and always chooses to courageously speak her truth. Kyla co-owns 5 local Edmonton businesses, yes, 5, The Bamboo Ballroom, The Common, Foosh, 99ten, and Grandin Fish & Chips. Oh, and did I mention she also has a 3 month old baby named Stevie? Girl, you're killin' it.
Kyla Kazeil tells all: from entrepreneur life as a new mom to the steps she takes to upkeep her mental health.
Written by: Jamie Bay, The Wellness Warrior, @JMEBAY
I always love getting the chance to sit down (and indulge in wine) with Kyla Kazeil. She is a true rockstar and always chooses to courageously speak her truth. Kyla co-owns 4 local Edmonton businesses, yes, 5, The Bamboo Ballroom, The Common, 99ten, and Grandin Fish & Chips. Oh, and did I mention she also has a 3 month old baby named Stevie? Girl, you're killin' it.
I hope you enjoy Kyla’s genuine answers about her hustle and mental health as much as I did! I'm so excited to have her speak at our upcoming #SoulfulSundayYEG event in just a couple weeks.
Tell us about your hustle.
The hustle has definitely changed for me. It's now more focused on working to empower the people and employees who surround me. So I’d say it’s shifted from focusing on my products and services to community building and creating a better work environment for our employees.
Have you always been an entrepreneur?
When I was 15, my friend and I stole her dad’s truck. My mom punished me by making me count plastic spoons. So my whole summer was spent counting spoons…. for 5 cents a bag. Yes, 5 cents. At first I was like ok, this really sucks, but by the end I was trying to find ways to count these spoons in the most efficient way possible. If I’m going to do it, I want to do it well and find ways to enjoy the pleasure of lining them up perfectly when I slip them into the bag. I learned how to streamline the process to make the most amount of money doing a job that I hated. I feel that was the beginning of my entrepreneurial spirit: finding creative ways to do things, making it fun, and challenging yourself, even when it sucks.
As a new mom and entrepreneur, how do you make it all work?
Right now, I’m relying heavily on my team and putting a lot of trust into them. I’ve spent 14 years building up the people around me, and now I’m able to reap the benefits of that. I’ve really taken a step back so I can enjoy the small things and time with my baby that I’m never going to get back. I don’t want to live with any regrets. Being able to let go of that control has really helped me and is so good for my mental health. I do still help with wedding planning and things I really enjoy with the businesses. I'm so happy that I've established this trust with the people around me so I can just spend time doing the things I love.
Have you ever struggled with your own mental health?
Anxiety for sure. I had full blown panic disorders in my early 20’s: 6 to 8 a day, which were triggered essentially by the fear of having another attack. I didn’t want to take medication, so I started trying to change my patterns and habits to avoid triggering them. I learned more about myself and how to change situations that I knew would set me off. I would also make sure I was keeping busy at night (nights were the hardest), and had lots of people around me. All those things really helped.
I feel my anxiety started to decrease the more busy I became and the less I could hyper focus on certain things. Maybe I wouldn’t even have four businesses if I didn’t have anxiety. It was definitely a coping mechanism at one point. I would keep busy until I was so tired I'd have to go to sleep, and not focus on my mind. I’m still always on the go (in different ways). But it’s just who I am so I embrace it.
Then as I got older it sort of just started resolving itself. I found as I started to tailor my life to suit the needs of my mental health that my anxiety decreased because there’s less unknowns and I have more control. With anxiety, dealing with uncertainties in life was something I struggled with for a long time. I still struggle now, but I’m much better at controlling the situation.
What do you keep your mental wellness in check?
I just started going back to the gym, post baby. We go 5 days a week. We bring our daughter and she just hangs out and we get to spend that time together, doing something that’s good for our bodies, and good for our relationship. When your body is more strong, your mind is more strong, and you sleep better.
AND time with friends. Constant, solid connections with the real people who love you.
We're so excited to have you at our very first #SoulfulSundayYEG event. What's favorite thing to do on Sundays?
Sleeping in, going for brunch and having fun with friends. It hasn’t changed since having a baby. I think I had that fear about motherhood. That it was going to tie me down and I wouldn’t like it. For me, I want to be able to go where we want to go! So we do. If we want to go for brunch, we take Stevie, and if I want to go for girls night, Stevie comes along; I want her to be around the people that are important to me and be well socialized. That's all that really matters and what's truly important in life: the relationships we have with each other. I want her to make real connections with real people, despite living in a social media focused world.
What does being a wellness warrior mean to you?
Now that I have my mental health pretty well under control, I think it means helping other people to not have to live in a situation that would cause anxiety. That means helping my employees by doing things like creating a stable work environment, and having a place where they know they’re respected.
Being a wellness warrior also means advocating for others and changing the retail industry so that those people don’t have to have an exit. Not being able to talk to your manager, feeling like you aren’t being treated fairly, not being able to schedule time off, or not being rewarded for the same job someone else would do - all those things are anxiety inducing. So I think making those changes to establish a place where people can be themselves and have a fun work environment is so important. Life isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard. A lot of the time’s it’s hard because of the situations we’re in, and a lot of times that unfortunately has to do with our employment. So I believe being a warrior means making a difference for my staff where I can.
Our next Soulful Sunday event will be announced soon! Become a YBB Member and receive 24 hour notice before the public on all events, mixers and workshops!
On September 30th, our fellow ambassador & photographer, Nicole Constante held her first Sip & Support. It was all about how to show up for your audience on Instagram stories.