Welcome to our blog!

We are the Burlington Team - Rob, Greg, Glenn, Brandon, Norene and Caleigh - of Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage and this is a blog for people living in the Barrie area, about real estate, community events, local shops and services, and just about anything else that catches our fancy.

We hope you'll find this blog useful and interesting, and if there is ever a real estate question that you want to ask, please visit our website at www.barriehome.com, or drop us a line to glenn@barriehome.com.

Happy (almost) Canada Day!

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I hope many of you were able to turn the awkward holiday Wednesday into a longer holiday. But even if you only have the one day off, and even if the weather isn't perfect, there's lots of fun stuff to do in the area. Of course there will be Canada Day celebrations all over Simcoe County, but I'll highlight a few of them.

If you're in Barrie, of course the action will be at Kempenfelt Bay. Barrie's 33rd Annual Promenade Days and Canada Day celebrations will begin on the 1st and run through Saturday the 4th. There will be rides, music, food, vendors and, of course, fireworks at 10:15 on Wednesday evening. Click here for more details.

In Orillia, Canada Day celebrations will include a parade, Children's Village, and historial re-enactments! Click for more.

In Wasaga Beach, there will be pony rides, a petting zoo, entertainment and, or course fireworks! Click for details.

And one final mention - in the Village at Blue Mountain you'll find guided family hikes with a free scenic gondola ride down the mountain, splash fountain, scavenger hunts and Movies Under The Stars! Sounds like a good time!

Whether you go out or stay home, have a great Canada Day! - Caleigh

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Weblink Weekends! Get your to-do list in order with 43Things.com

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Last year I discovered a really neat site to help motivate me to finish a variety of long- and short-term projects that I have been procrastinating.

It's called 43Things.com, and with it you decide what you need to accomplish, when you need to do it by, and how you will reward yourself for meeting your goals (or punish yourself if you don't).

A unique aspect of the site is that it's also a social network - you publish your 43 things (or fewer), and others may comment, offer advice, or simply cheer you on. Likewise, you can read other people's goals, and take inspiration from them or provide advice and support if you wish. As you make progress, you can add comments, which can be very useful from a psychological standpoint when it feels like you aren't getting far on a large or long-term goal.

Sometimes checking an item off a generic to-do list can be a little anticlimactic, but with 43Things.com, you have a whole network of people to pat you on the back. It's a remarkable feeling! - Caleigh

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TATW: Lots to do for sun-lovers, art-lovers and animal lovers!

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Summer finally seems to have arrived, just in time for the annual Wasaga Beach Fest! There'll be lots to do, including a kids entertainment area, tons of food, and a variety of music from acts including Canadian Idol stars Ryan Malcolm and Drew Wright.

If you'd like something a little more sedate, why not check out the Coldwater Studio tour? The tour encompasses thirteen stops and focuses on the work of 30 local artists. Click here for maps of the stops, which range from Hillsdale to Waubaushene.

Do you have any fur-kids? The Allandale Veterinary Hospital is hosting its 14th annual Pet Fest! Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm they'll have a bouncy castle, barbeque, cake, prizes, best trick contest, pet-owner look-a-like contest, and more.

The weather sounds like it may be spotty, but hopefully you enjoy it, whatever you do! - Caleigh

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Weblink Weekends! Why scrap when you can blurb?

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Blurb books are all the rage for people who like the idea of scrapbooking, but not the time and cost involved.

It's remarkably simple to do - you download the free software from Blurb.com then plan out your book using photos you have on your own computer.

Choose the layouts, backgrounds and embellishments you like, add your own text, and voila! Upload the book to Blurb, and in a few weeks it will be shipped to you. Prices range from under $10 to almost $200, depending of course on size, number of pages, type of binding chosen and degree of customization.

Of course there are no end of excuses for making a Blurb book -- baby books, wedding albums, anniversary retrospectives, family histories, a record of a big reno project, or even a book of original poetry or other writings.

Personally I like the hands-on scrapbooking approach, but I have to admit I'm intrigued by the notion of having an entire album done in a matter of weeks instead of months. Or years. So if you have family photos hiding in a shoebox, or your wedding proofs have yet to see the light of day, this may be the answer for you! - Caleigh

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TATW: Treat Dad to a pint!

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It's Father's Day this weekend, and when I think about what dads like, inevitably my mind leaps to one subject -- beer!

There are a couple of breweries in Simcoe County, so if you're ever looking for something a little different to do with dad, a road trip can be a lot of fun.

One particularly nice trip is to the picturesque little village of Creemore, just West of Barrie and South of Collingwood. This is home to the Creemore Springs Brewery, where you can tour the facility, do a little tasting, and of course purchase a variety of their beers. While you're there, don't forget to explore the town's main street with its many interesting shops and restaurants.

Right in downtown Barrie, you'll find the Robert Simpson Brewing Company, named for Barrie's first mayor (himself a master brewer). Beer is made and sold on premises, and tasting and tours are also offered. I haven't visited this one myself (yet, I'm sure), but I'm told it's a very interesting stop. They are open this Sunday from 11 to 5, with tours at 1:00 and 4:00.

If you're looking for somewhere to raise a pint with dad, Barrie's Down the Road Irish Pub on Big Bay Point Road is known for its friendly atmosphere, selection of beers and authentic pub food (which may or may not be a good thing depending on your taste). They also frequently feature live music.

Closer to downtown, Doc Malone's pub and its "almost waterfront" patio are a popular summer spot for a pint, a game of pool and (allegedly) great chicken wings. I think I may have to check this one out for myself!

Wishing everyone a great Father's Day! - Caleigh

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Ride the Serendipity Princess!

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We must have driven past the big red and white cruise boat at Kempenfelt Bay a hundred times, always saying "We should do that someday." Finally last summer we took an afternoon sightseeing tour, and it was a really nice way to see the Bay and to show off Barrie to visiting relatives.

The Serendipity Princess has begun operating again for the season with cruises on the weekends. Then from June 25th to September 24th there will be at least one cruise per day with sightseeing tours and tours including brunch, lunch or dinner.

It's not a cheap excursion, and I think next time we will try a brunch cruise - it's the best value for your money because you get a full 2 hours and 15 minutes of cruise plus the meal, and the price is considerably less than for a dinner cruise. Click for schedules and prices. - Caleigh

"Explore Ontario" contest underway!

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Attractions Ontario is a great website for information about events and entertainment across the province. Before visiting any Ontario attractions - such as Wonderland, Ontario Place, Santa's Village and more - I always check the site for discounts and coupons.

Their annual summer contest is now underway. There's a new chance to win each week from June 5 to July 31 by correctly answering questions about the attractions covered on their website. Prizes range from event/attraction passes to full family vacations. Click here to check it out! - Caleigh

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Weblink Weekends! Online literature

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If you've always wanted to read the classics but never made time for it, you're out of excuses!

Read Print is a wonderful resource for students, teachers, and anyone who likes the idea of free books (and doesn't mind reading them online).

The site contains thousands of public domain stories, poems and novels, primarily the classics by authors like Charles Dickens, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen and Lucy Maud Montgomery. There is no cost or sign-up required to read the works, and the large print is surprisingly easy to read onscreen. Resources are catalogued by author to be easily searchable. Give it a try! - Caleigh

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Lots for the whole family at the Simcoe County Museum

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Our family loves visiting the Simcoe County Museum. I wasn't sure there'd be enough to amuse our 5 year old, but we've been several times and he always find something to peak his curiosity and hold his interest, especially outdoors where you'll find period buildings (including a church, railway station and schoolhouse) and - his favourite - a wide variety of vehicles and machines.

This weekend is the perfect time to visit the museum - it's an event called Wheels and Tracks in Motion, and it takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here for a pdf poster.

"Browse through the vintage construction equipment, tractors, classic trucks and other historic pieces set up around the Museum grounds. Take a wagon ride out to the gravel pits to see live demonstrations of steam powered rollers and shovels, vintage road building equipment, rock crushing, grading, hoisting and much more. Kids of all ages will love the hands-on, up-close experience of watching these machines in action!" - Caleigh

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TATW: Art, music and a circus!

photo © Copyright - Heather Kertzer

Another weekend, another Barrie festival! This time it's the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, running from the 11th to the 22nd at venues throughout the city. The website design is pretty awful and impossible to navigate, but this page has the lineup for the outdoor stage at Heritage Park, and this one lists many of the other venues and their performances.

Greg and I are totally excited to be taking our son to his first circus! There are still great tickets left for Circus Garden at the Barrie Molson Centre. There are two matinees a day, Saturday and Sunday. Visit Ticketmaster.ca for tickets.

Barrie's annual Free Goods Exchange Day is back, and has expanded to be two days this year. For two Saturday - June 13th and 27th - Barrie residents can place unwanted reusable goods at the end of their driveways for others to take. Click the link for details.

Two tours are taking place this weekend - the Barrie Spring Art Tour featuring 40 local artists, and the How Does Your Garden Grow tour of beautiful private gardens across the city.

Hope it's a great weekend! - Caleigh

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When they say "situated on the water", they aren't kidding!

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If you ever wanted to live on water, then this is the house for you! I'm being a tease because it's not actually for sale, but it's definitely cool to see!

Situated on the Loddon river near Wargrave, England, this pinwheel-shaped home really put you at one with nature.

It's called Hind House, and it's the creation of British architect and visionary John Pardey. It recently won an award for its "response to a difficult site subjected to seasonal flooding resulting in its uniques design elevating the building on stilts."

Pardey's homes are all very interesting and unique in their approach to encorporating the outdoors into the design. Click here to view more of his one-off designs. - Caleigh

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Support your local 'Mompreneur'!

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If you haven't heard the term before, 'mompreneur' refers to the growing sector of stay-at-home moms who start small businesses, allowing them to spend more time with their families while generating a bit of income as well.

Mompreneurs and their businesses come in all shapes and sizes, offering a wide range of products and services. Frequently they sell handcrafted or homemade products - from clothing to toys to food - or resell a boutique selection of desirable products, such as baby gear or footwear.

I recently read about Bradford mompreneurs Vicky Gerke and Laura Jennekens, who started a small business making handbags our of reclaimed fabric, and now have a very successful business called Echoes in the Attic, selling bags and pillows via chic stores across the country.

Another talented group of mompreneurs are the local graphic artists who operate A Little Birdie Told Me, making absolutely gorgeous customized invitations, announcements and thank-you notes.

As a former mompreneur myself (before I decided to join the family business) I try my best to support this fast-growing sector. What better way to keep money in your own community, support local talent and justify your shopping habit? Oops, did I say that out loud? - Caleigh

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Weblink Weekends! Help Wanted: Cake Deccarater

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I am convinced that blogs are one of the greatest sources of entertainment going these days.

A few weeks ago I shared one of my favourites, LovelyListings, and this month I bring you ... Cake Wrecks! As the tag line says, it's "when professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong". A few pages of these will bring laughter to your dullest day. Enjoy! - Caleigh

P.S. If you haven't visited LovelyListings recently, you really must go back to check out the further adventures of Chair. They never fail to have me in hysterics.

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TATW: Car shows, craft shows, and movies under the stars!

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I was NOT impressed with the weather last weekend, though it didn't stop us from taking in the Farmer's Market and the Waterfront Festival (despite the fact that my child was practically blown into the Bay). I'm hoping for better this weekend because there are so many amazing events to check out!

If you'll be in the Cookstown area, this weekend is the annual "Wing-Ding", including hundreds of yard sales throughout the village, a huge antique and craft sale, pancake breakfast, live music and more. Click the link to get the details!

Heading the other direction, Burl's Creek in Oro is holding its 27th Annual Automotive Flea Market today through Sunday. You can partake of the huge flea market, car sales and auctions, live music and, of course, the ale tent! Click the link for more info.

If you'd like to find a bargain and help a good cause at the same time, Gilda's Club of Barrie (which serves all of Simcoe County) is holding its annual garage sale and BBQ from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Westside Lutheran Church in Barrie. Gilda's Clubs around the world offer support to people living with cancer, and to their families.

And if you sat out last weekend's festival due to the weather, never fear, there's another one this Saturday! It's the 10th Annual Celebrate Barrie community festival, with local entertainment, rides, a petting zoo, historical re-enactments and more! Don't forget to come back at dusk for an outdoor showing of the film "The Iron Giant". Click here for the details, and have a great weekend! - Caleigh

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Boundary issues return to Innisfil

You can't drive a block in Innisfil right now without passing a sign directing you to visit fairgrowth.ca -- a website presenting Innisfil's side of the argument on whether the City of Barrie should be allowed to annex land in Innisfil. In fairness, I did look for a website presenting the Barrie version of the story, but didn't find one.

Either way, if you live in Barrie or Innisfil, it's an issue you should inform yourself about.

BTW, since I'm using one of her photographs of Innisfil to illustrate this story, I'm going to go off topic for a moment to mention Muskoka artist Michelle Basic Hendry. Her paintings and photographs of Central Ontario are just incredible, and her blog on her travels, illustrated with her own beautiful landscape photography, is a very interesting read. - Caleigh

Incredible photographs of unseen places in Barrie and area

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I am so happy to see that one of my favourite blogs is back up and running!

UrbEx Barrie is the blog of Barrie photographers and explorers who visit derelict sites - in Central Ontario and beyond - not normally seen by the public. Their goal is largely to document history and architecture before it disappears. Many of the abandoned places included in these photographs no longer exist, at least not in this state.

It's not a hobby I endorse, being dangerous and frequently illegal, but I do enjoy the photos it produces. Definitely worth a browse! - Caleigh

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Welcome to our blog!

Happy (almost) Canada Day!

Weblink Weekends! Get your to-do list in order with 43Things.com

TATW: Lots to do for sun-lovers, art-lovers and animal lovers!

Weblink Weekends! Why scrap when you can blurb?

TATW: Treat Dad to a pint!

Ride the Serendipity Princess!

"Explore Ontario" contest underway!

Weblink Weekends! Online literature

Lots for the whole family at the Simcoe County Museum

TATW: Art, music and a circus!

When they say "situated on the water", they aren't kidding!

Support your local 'Mompreneur'!

Weblink Weekends! Help Wanted: Cake Deccarater

TATW: Car shows, craft shows, and movies under the stars!

Boundary issues return to Innisfil

Incredible photographs of unseen places in Barrie and area

Barrie Home & Life

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