Upcoming Soft-Launch - November 16 and 23rd

INTRODUCING: Eco-TAV:
my new, environmentally friendly/aware product line of Take-out Textiles Products and Tech-oriented Textile Products.

As you may know, I have been sewing for most of my life, and still enjoy the creative aspect of custom work with in the bridal and dance-wear realm. I continue to welcome new and exciting projects in my custom work, and wanted to give myself an outlet where I could simply do what came to mind of my own volition.

Over the summer, I began seeing possibilities and potentials for creating a small line of goods that would help reduce the garbage I myself was producing with my own visits to my local coffee shop, as well as when I was "brown-bagging" it. I have been intrigued by sustainable textiles for a while as well, and sought ways to encourage their use. I have also been unable to toss out textile scraps left over from my custom sewing and found that I could create some lovely pieces with these reclaimed textiles!

After some test marketing and textile research, I am ready to go! I have, with the help of friends, colleagues and family, my first run of Eco-TAV goods ready to introduce to the marketplace online and in person this Sunday, November 16th.

I have booked myself in the Ottawa RA Centre Christmas Craft Sale for the next two Sundays:
November 16 and 23rd. If you happen to be in Ottawa, either this week or next, I invite you to come check things out in person!
Details: www.tav-creations.com/events/...ails.cfm

We will have an online launch as well on Sunday, November 16th at www.Eco-TAV.com . The site is in early development and I will be taking online orders via email and Paypal payments until my shopping cart system is set up - soon!

We have placed some teaser info online as well at the following sites, which you are welcome to check out today - in anticipation of tomorrow's launch!

halyma.wordpress.com/2008/11...weekend/

www.flickr.com/photos/wtl/3030221906/

Thanks for your time, and even if this only gets you thinking about your environmental choices, then a good thing has been done!

Tracey

Moved my blog a while ago...

But I just realized that I did not really say anything about it here...

I wanted to get into the swing of things at the new location first. I changed the style a couple of times, and may again, and then got really busy with a lot of dance events.
Which are pretty much all posted there...

It has links to my Flickr pages, links to other blogs that I find interesting, and, in general, a bit more professional feel to it - I hope - or sort of with the exceptions of the personal reflections that come up every once in a while.

So, I think I have settled in there, please feel free to check it out if you have a moment of boredom :-)
And you can susbcribe to the RSS feed as well if you use readers like Google Reader at all..

I'll still be wandering around tribe too, but the blog is there now.
www.halyma.com

August is booked!

Tom was able to book site 116 this morning at Pog lake for our camping trip - now we can relax for the next few months...

Or is it, work really hard for the next few months to ensure a relaxing August?

I dunno - so much has been happening for the past few weekends! I finally took an afternoon off yesterday to do nothing but watch dvds and snooze/relax on the couch/futon. It was nice.

And today is not too heavy in the schedule as I had a client postpone her appointment to later this week so I get to go out for the green celebrations today.

No beer - not my drink - but sunshine and a walk and some lunch at our fav haunt "Patty" Boland's and then home to meet another client I am ready for and head off to teach class tonight.

Should be a good day now that the trip is booked :-)

Boing is a star!!!!

Check her out:

www.cutewithchris.com/drama-queen.html

Discount Coupon for National Women Show

The National Women's Show - DISCOUNT COUPON AVAILABLE
Saturday, March 8 0:00 AM to March 9, 2008 0:00 AM
Where:
55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario.

Website:
www.nationalwomenshow.com/

Ottawa Congress Centre

Hours:
Saturday, March 8, 2008 ~ 10am - 6pm
Sunday, March 9, 2008 ~ 10am - 5pm
Admission: $12
Tickets are available at the door.

TAV Creations and Belly Dancing For Fun is pleased to once again be participating in Ottawa's National Women Show. Begun in 2003, TAV Creations has been a part of this weekend of information, demos, fashion, fitness and much more since the beginning.

Featuring information on custom sewing, examples of some of my recent designs, and products available for sale, our booth will be along the wall just past the fitness area!

On SUNDAY, March 9, at 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.:
Halyma and the Belly Dancing For Fun Dancers will be presenting a Belly Dance Demo segment on the CENTRE STAGE - come on out and join the fun!

Our extra special sales event for the show will be Halmya's Belly Dance DVD's - both will be on sale that weekend - so be sure to plan to get your copies! Cash and credit card sales accepted!

Come out and enjoy a day of adventure in exploring all of those great things women love so much - and be sure to stop by to say hi!

See their website for the Ottawa Spring National Women's Show for full details of the weekend!

EMAIL ME FOR YOUR DISCOUNT COUPON!

What a weekend...

I was going to write a really in depth, long winded blog post about how busy/wonderful/tiring/productive/eventful etc. this past weekend was.

And I got tired all over again just thinking about it!

So, instead:
- a quick thanks to everyone who joined us Friday for our 10 year anniversary party: friends, family and Christoph and all of the staff at our second home, Patty Boland's on Clarence Street, in Ottawa.

- to the hosts of people out there who hire me to teach/perform/entertain them in my chosen fun field of belly dance, I had three "gigs" over the weekend and have more coming up that will bring fun and challenge to my life!

- and to everyone who was involved with the Dancers' Bazaar yesterday. Over 300 people all deserve good energy!


I was able to book today off, until i head out to teach tonight, and I am grateful for that option in my life too.

And Mainly, thanks to Tom.

Celebration of 10 years....

I am here, curled up little dog on my lap, doing the online stuff while my hubby, of 10 years as of 11:15 a.m. this morning, sleeps.

He works at night, I work during the day , and we overlap for our regular lunch dates, and supper. For those who don't know we are also both self-employed, running our respective businesses from our cozy 1 bedroom apartment.

It was a wonderfully warm -5 degrees celsius on February 21st 1998. It was the final Saturday of Winterlude and there were only a few of the solid ice sculptures left standing when we said our vows outside with about 45 family and friends in attendance. We planned on having our very short ceremony all wrapped up before the Chilean band started their show on the stage at the the other end of the park, but waiting for some of our guests delayed things just enough to have the band and the ceremony start at the same time!

Tom's sister and my sister graciously read two passages that we each contributed to express how we felt about our relationship and planned lives together. We still have the entire ceremony in the binder that was used that day. I took the cards we received, and created a collage/book cover that is decorating the binder now. The plastic adhesive did cause some of the ink to run, but the essence of the blessings we received from our friends and family is still there.

After a brief, but meaningful - for us at least- ceremony, we had pictures taken outside then sent everyone off to Dubarry's for chinese buffet. The final pictures taken show the hunger in my eyes as we are in the restaurant and dying of hunger! We will always be grateful to Penny, for taking such fabulous pictures for us that day!

Lunch was wonderful, and Tom's Dad kindly gave one unexpected toast, welcoming me into the family. Cinnamon hearts, and a raspberry chocolate cake that I made the day before were the only fare that we brought, and Sherrie, my maid of honour, and I created the bouquets and boutonnieres with flowers from Loblaws the night before.

After lunch, we headed over to the pool hall along the strip mall - very classy!
We got comfy and played pool for a few hours before everyone headed off in their respective directions! It was very relaxing and a fun way to spend the afternoon.

A few of our friends were able to join us at our apartment at the time, number 1 of this building, about half the size of what we are in now, and we decided to go ahead and do the gift opening - even though we had asked for no gifts! But we kept them anyway <grin> and funnily enough there was also a pile of Christmas gifts that came from the Leroux gathering that we had missed that previous December!

My brother Joe was staying at a nearby hotel, so we called to see what he was doing for supper, and our gaggle of friends joined us and him at what was then "Biggs" at the base of the Journeys End on King Edward. A memorable meal was had by all :-)

After that, we went to see the fireworks as it was the final night of Winterlude and they did that back then!

Twas nice.

10 years later, we are still happy, grateful, and thankful of each other, our friends, our families, and our choices that have brought us here.
<sigh>
I love ya Tom...

Back to our regularly scheduled programming....

Tuesday morning, after two days of Birthday fun.

Thanks to everyone who was part of the celebratory insanity - much fun was had by most!

The adventures:
Sunday brought the sun, coldness and a gentle brunch with friends - some not seen for weeks! General chatting and the usual calm of Sunday brunch prevailed and gave a relaxing start to the day.

Tom, armed with his laptop, stayed to enjoy some peace and quiet while i headed off to mall walk and meet up with Michele and take in Smash! a play that was being put on by the Tara Players at the Arts Court. I enjoyed the visit with Michele and the play. It was great to get out and see live theatre again as it had been too long!

The breeze carried me back to Patty Boland's to pick up Tom and head home to change clothes and let the Boing out.

Off again to connect with Gailene en route and walk over to Mono Mahal's, for a lovely Indian feast. Many friends were able to join us and I was very happy to chat and visit.

After eating more than I should - especially following the detox week so closely, 4 of us walked over to Barrymore's to dance. What a blast! Near empty dance floor, lots of great music and wonderful buddies to dance with made it a great way to party! The walk home afterwards was brisk, but the perfect way to sober up - I am a cheap drunk these days!

Thus ended the pre-Birthday celebrations with my wonderful group of friends - thanks to everyone who came out for the various parts
A lovely collection of gifties - though unexpected and not asked for - were most appreciated!

The actual day brought a quiet day with lunch out, some more mall walking and then an afternoon on the couch watching Angel epsiodes. And up and moving for class last night got my energy flowing back into the regular routine!

So now I am getting ready to head out to do some sewing on site in Beacon Hill, and that should take it all into a lovely memory of turning 39.

Detox and a sick little dog

Yesterday was day 5 of a short detox that hubby and I are doing - just getting the systems back online afetr a holiday break[ish] of insane eating.
For those who will ask:
Wild rose herbal cleanse - 12 day detox which we have split into 6 days each - better to do some than none at all.
wildrose.com/
Bought ours at the Natural Food Pantry in the Byward Market

I was starting to get into the rhythm of it, and we will continue with it, but yesterday gave us a brief test of wills and brain cells to figure out eating out while detoxing. Lunch was fine, I was able to order a green salad with a grilled piece of chicken and no dressing, just some lemon. I was happy to crunch away getting my greens and protein, with some mint tea on the side.

Then we went out with our Vegan friends last night and it just became oddly difficult to stick with it. At least and actually eat something substantial. We make the choice to respect their comfort level when we go out with them - it only happens once or twice a year and is easier that way. We are happy to go vegetarian for a meal, although sometimes cheese does sneak into our meal in subtle ways and they ignore it, and we don't say anything.

Now here's the limitations for me:
no baked goods, dairy, sugar, yeast, fungus, and a few other things.

This leaves plenty of food, including fish and meat, but not when with the vegans.

So, we broke down and had the veggie burger - a bean and veggies patty crusted with oatmeal flakes and fried. It was very good, but not perfectly acceptable detox food. Yes, I ate the lovely bun. Yes, I ate the cheese that came on it. And yes, I had french fries along with my salad on the side!

And yes, I came home and felt like crap. Amazing. And the lovely Boing, being the empathic familiar that she is, promptly vomited twice, or was it three times, last night to commiserate with me.

The plan is to get back to proper eating today and most of tomorrow, with an exception tomorrow evening at suppertime - Indian - yum...
So, we'll see what next week holds - definitely planning to continue eating the detox way, but not likely to spend another $35 on the herbals.

Ah, trying to be healthy!

Oh, and for those who know of my coffee ups and downs - presently it tastes horrible, so I think I am off that wagon again!

First week back at it!

Monday brought my first class of 2008 - in regards to teaching that is!

I had attended a wonderful workshop in Montreal on Saturday and Sunday with Amrita, Hadia and Jalila Zamora { she and I laughed at how I have to travel to Montreal to take a class with her!] I was very impressed with the information shared by all three teachers, and the techniques we learned and practiced. Amazing experience, even though it set me up to be stiff and sore for my own first night of teaching <grin>

Lots of new faces and lots of return faces - always a great mix, and I always look forward to the energy that comes from connecting with such powerful ladies! I am a bit of a go with the flow teacher in that I like to see who is in the class and what level of dance they are at and where I can push and where we can relax and have fun. It always develops into a different adventure every session so it really adds to my own journey as a dancer!

It promises to be an interesting year with a focus on technique and some choreography - but challenging myself to remain creative and get a good workout myself during class will be the best thing of all. And it will trickle down into those shiny happy faces - or "grimacing in concentration" faces :-)

Now to curl up on my couch for a little while while my own muscles heal after last night's final classes of the week!

Photo was found somewhere online by my hubby - just thought it was great!