Beth Cougler Blom @bethcouglerblom

 Consultants, Speakers  No Responses »
Mar 212012
 

 

What’s the best part for you of being part of yoUnlimited?  Meeting a room full of amazing women!

What qualities do you admire in others:  I value authenticity most of all, as well as kindheartedness, curiosity, love of learning, positive nature, humour…the list goes on!

What’s on your bucket list?  A few things are to go to Macchu Picchu in Peru, teach at a creative retreat somewhere else in the world, walk the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon with my mom, and write a book.

What is your favourite activity?  Oh I really hate picking favourite anythings but let’s say writing. Love it.

If you could only do one thing, what would that be?  Work whenever it suited me, at any hour. I love having a flexible schedule.

What or who inspires or moves you?  I’m inspired by anyone living their dreams and doing what they want to do. People unafraid to take risks, especially creatively.

What is your personal philosophy?  “Things always work out for me.”

Advice you would pass on to yourself at 19?  I would tell myself to stop thinking that I had to be older to be taken seriously doing what I want to do. Now I know that you’re never too young to be a leader.

Who is your favourite community organization for charity?  Oh I’m biased since I also work there! Volunteer Victoria, because we support almost 300 other nonprofit agencies doing amazing things all over Greater Victoria.

What moves you to tears?  Injustice, when other people are hurt or upset, how beautiful life can be, how much I love my daughter.

Where do you find your joy?  Being with my family members, laughing over good wine and food with friends, travelling to different places in the world, continuous learning about exciting things.

What is your most proud moment?  Finishing my master’s degree in 2005. It took me moving across the country, studying at four schools, and five years, but in the end I set life challenges aside and just finished it. I was only the second person in my extended family (of over 100 aunts, uncles and cousins, parents and brother) to do a graduate degree.

How to reach Beth…

250.686.0036 | beth@bethcouglerblom.com

Website:  www.bethcouglerblom.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bcouglerblom
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bethcouglerblom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bethcouglerblom

 

Delaney Tosh – Surge Strategies Group

 Consultants, Volunteers  No Responses »
Jan 172012
 

The Surge Group supports leaders and teams to work to their authentic advantage, enhance leadership, make better business decisions, develop and follow through on innovative strategies. Our clients break the rules — their own, self-limiting rules.  We facilitate energizing discussions and exercises in order to DISRUPT the status quo, creating a shift to more creative thinking towards improving innovation performance; focusing attention on the key elements and actions that drive business performance.

What’s the best part for you of being part of yoUnlimited?  Connections with incredible people who inspire.

Favourite Books:  “Co-active Coaching” by Whitworth, Kimsey-House & Sandahl.  “A Billion Bootstraps” by Phil Smith & Eric Thurman.  “Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Your Everyday Life” by Caroline Myss.

What qualities do you admire in others:  Honesty, courage, being of service, willingness to bring awareness to own thoughts and beliefs, joyfulness in the mundane.

What’s on your bucket list?  More travel, learn to play the cello, set up a women’s collective in a slum in Mumbai.

What is the best advice you have ever received?  When I was 14 years old, my grandmother’s  wish for me was that I listen to my own heart and have that courage to follow through on my own dreams and not let others distract me from achieving those dreams.

What or who inspires or moves you?  Children who laugh with joy even when their lives are less than joyful.

Advice you would pass on to yourself at 19?  Let go of self-imposed limitations and be bold!  …and I would tell myself to travel more.

Who is your favourite community organization for charity?  Dirty Wall Project. http://dirtywallproject.com.  I love what Kane Ryan has started. He embodies all the qualities I value most in others.

What brings you to your knees?  That we have a world in which children are made to suffer – child prostitution, child soldiers, poverty….

What is the lesson you learn over and over again?  To listen to the quiet voice inside me; it is always right.

Who or what motivates you?  My family, friends, clients,  business partners, people at their most courageous and giving and compassionate and myself; my inner voice that guides me to keep growing and trying.

Favourite quote…  “I want God to play in my bloodstream the way sunlight amuses itself on water.” Elizabeth Gilbert

Delaney was a model at the November 2010 yoUnlimited event and is the creator of “Girls Can Be” Women’s Collective, an initiative of the Dirty Wall Project – join Delaney at the July 8th Fundraiser

Contact Delaney

PO Box 55028 Stn. Cadboro Bay, Victoria, BC, V8N
P:  250-412-7819
E:  delaney@surgestrategies.com
W:  http://www.surgestrategies.com
T:  http://www.twitter.com/delaneytosh
LI: www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Delaney/Tosh

Fiona Prince, Prince Heron Communications

 Consultants, Speakers  No Responses »
Jan 172012
 

An approved facilitator for the BC Provincial Government, Fiona is an instructor in the Continuing Studies Program, and Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University School of Communication and Culture.   She assists others through workshops and coaching, to discover and appreciate their communication and working styles, while  focusing on strengths and talents.   Fiona believes that  “Most problems in the workplace occur because of misunderstandings caused by different communication styles.  When people understand  how and why they occur, they can participate in developing strategies, goals and tactics to overcome them, moving forward with less stress and more fun.”

What’s the best part for you of being part of yoUnlimited? Seeing the personal and professional growth that happens for people between events.

Favourite Books: Please Understand Me II by Dr. David West Keirsey and People Patterns by Stephen Montgomery provide me with a framework for understanding myself and others.

What qualities do you admire in others: I value people who balance service to others with taking care of themselves and those who work to their strengths and ask for help when and where they need it.

What is your favourite activity? Learning and sharing

What is the best advice you have ever received? It’s not what you do but how you do it that makes all the difference.

What or who inspires or moves you? Rabbi and Chani Kaplan, who came to Victoria to raise their family and strengthen the Jewish community; they lead by example.

What is your personal philosophy? Miscommunication is inevitable. Sometimes I don’t even understand myself

What brings you to your knees? People who do not see their own potential

What is your most proud moment? When something I say or do helps another person move closer to their own goals.

When do you feel your healthiest? After a long walk

Favourite quote… “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it” – Chinese Proverb

Fiona participated in the Networking Panel in November 2010 and also provided Laser Coaching Sessions as an exhibitor at that event.

Connect with Fiona

M:  4407 Wilkinson Road
P:  250.418.5982
E:  fiona@princeheron.com
W:  www.princeheron.com
F: www.facebook.com/princefiona
T:  www.twitter.com/princeheron
LI:  www.linkedin.com/in/fionaprince

Michele Powell – Tell Mia

 Consultants, Speakers  No Responses »
Jan 172012
 

Offering up an array of services and products,  TellMia’s guiding principles include providing great customer service, high quality, well priced products and current information towards finding or reclaiming your sexual happiness. Encouraging and supporting exciting sex lives, TellMia provides fun, educational Adult Home Parties, Individual Coaching,  and Workshops wherer you are invited to learn/shop in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment.

What’s the best part for you of being part of yoUnlimited?  Being inspired by bright, motivated talented women.

What is your favourite place in the world?  New York City, the perfect combo of history, culture, diversity & cool people.

Favourite Books:  Reallivenudegirl by Carol Queen

What qualities do you admire in others:  Self awareness, good communication skills, and an open mind.

What or who inspires or moves you?  Anyone following their dreams.

What is your personal philosophy?  I try to live my life with integrity, honestly and passion.

What moves you to tears?  Goodbyes.

Where do you find your joy?  My kids, my friends, lover, and my business.

What brings you to your knees?  A kiss with his hands in my hair.

What is the lesson you learn over and over again?  It works out in the end and if it is not worked out, it is not the end.

Who or what motivates you?  A desire to be acknowledged, financially successful, and respected.

When do you feel your healthiest?  When walking in the fresh air.

Connect with Michele:

Linda Hunter, Author and Event Planner

 Consultants, Speakers  No Responses »
Jan 172012
 


Linda is an event planner and professional writer who is dedicated to service and open to possibility.  The author of “An Unforgettable After-Grad”, she has over 20 years of conference and event planning experience and has successfully produced five unforgettable After-Grad events for Parkland Secondary School.  Linda lives in Sidney, British Columbia where she shares her heart and her home with her husband, her mother, and three grown children.  She divides her time between conference & event planning and writing her second book.


What’s the best part for you of being part of yoUnlimited? The energy from the other women and the new things I learn each time.

What is your favourite place in the world? Any place that family is gathered, and if it’s by the ocean, even better!

Favourite Books: The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck , Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

What qualities do you look for in others: Honesty, integrity and authenticity.

What’s on your bucket list? A trip to India, attend a meditation retreat and to learn Spanish.

What is the best advice you have ever received? To accept rather than resist those things I cannot control or change, from my father-in-law when at 59 he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

What or who inspires or moves you? Small children learning to walk, blind people who ski, fearless adventure seekers, those who overcome adversity or tragedy.

What is your personal philosophy? Take only what you need, and share what you have.

Advice you would pass on to yourself at 19? Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, just do it!

Who is your favourite community organization for contribution? Food Bank – food is life.

What moves you to tears? The song “Amazing Grace”.

Where do you find your joy? In my gratitude walks, cooking, and watching my children interact.

What brings you to your knees? Suffering, images of war.

What is the lesson you learn over and over again? Be myself, I AM ENOUGH!

When do you feel your healthiest? On vacation, when I am swimming in the ocean.

Favourite quote… Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.  Leonard Cohen


Linda will be speaking at the summer 2011 yoUnlimited event on “Celebration, Traditions, and the “Open” Dinner Table”, part of the Living with Grace Series,

Contact Linda:

Body Releases Yoga and Stretch Massage

 Massage, Acupuncture & Other Treatments  No Responses »
Jan 172012
 

I first met Theresa Gulliver at via a telephone conversation when she generously offered to make a donation for the eWomenNetwork Holiday Extravaganza – and then I met her in person.  You know sometimes you just make a connection with someone right away, well that’s how it was with Theresa.

Theresa offers Thai Massage, as she refers to it, ‘the lazy person’s yoga’ – I learned a bit of this technique when I was doing my own yoga teacher training in Mexcio in the winter of 2011 and so I was interested to have a session with Theresa.

I was able to connect with Theresa right after I returned from Christmas holidays (busy and full of people) and she had returned from a silent meditation for 10 days – what a contrast!  We set up an appointment for 90 minute session.  I love doing yoga myself but this was heavenly – if you are a yoga person yourself you will know the wonderful feeling of having the teacher come behind you and push you just a little bit further to reach your edge – thai or stretch massage is just like that.

Theresa has been in Victoria since April of 2011 and is already building a great community.   She spent the previous two winters in India and Thailand studying both Thai Massage and Ashtanga Yoga.    Previous to that she was in the Yukon for seven years.

I highly recommend a stretch massage session with Theresa – you will feel wonderful! Visit her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bodyreleases

Carolyne
January 10, 2011

 

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Baja Fresh Salsa & Guacamole Recipe

 Yummy Eats  No Responses »
Jul 032011
 

It is early July and the local markets are in full swing – at the Goldstream Station market (Saturday’s in the heart of Langford, BC), I purchased a jar of Baja Fresh Salsa – delicious alone and then she also includes a terrific Guacamole recipe with your purchase.

The sun is shining so I think a Corona, a little bit of this and some lovely corn chips and it will be like being back in Mexico!

I couldn’t find them on the internet or Facebook locally (she’s not the big chain – this is local market goodness!)   Will have to go back another day for another batch or call her (details below) – available in mild and medium/hot.

Here’s the Guacamole recipe:

  • 4 ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
  • 4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 5 to 6 tablespoons Baja Fresh Salsa
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Cut avocado into large chunks and mash coarsely in a bowl with a fork.  Add the remaining ingredients and blend gently – does not have to be absolutely smooth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To order Baja Fresh Salsa
Martine
250.386.0939
martineandpaul@shaw.ca

Veronique da Silva

 Photographers, Sponsors  No Responses »
Jul 032011
 

“Style” is the first word that came to me when I met Veronique da Silva.  She attended a women’s networking event that I was hosting and when she arrived you could feel her presence – you knew that this was a woman who not only makes things happen but would attract a lot of amazing women to her at the same time.  As I have come to know her better, she has proven this to be true as she has shown me her sense of generosity, compassion, relationship building and commitment to community.

Arriving in Victoria in 2005, Veronique came from Montreal where she held a position managing the photo archive for the National Film Board, a job which she describes as amazing and really got her creative juices flowing.  She had her own business there, as she does here with da Silva Photo, shooting commercial and retail photography.

Setting  up roots in Victoria came  naturally for Veronique, “Vero” to her close friends.  She became involved in the Fernwood Community Association, volunteering as the photographer for the publication “Vibe”.  She also volunteered and did fundraising with Bridges for Women and Woodwyn Farms.   The main focus of her early days in Victoria, however, was her beautiful little girl, Sofia.  After three and half years, and with Sofia ready to start kindergarten, Veronique relaunched her commercial photography business in Victoria.  Sofia is frequently by her side – in fact, the first time I visited Veronique at her studio, Sofia was there in the role of Business Manager, handing out business cards and promoting her mom (I’m told that Sofia wants to start her own business one day soon).

“To Haiti with Love” was a day long event that Veronique created immediately after the devastating news of the earthquakes in Haiti.   This event came together in six days and raised over $12,000.  Veronique and her studio partner Michael shot black and white photos throughout the day for donations, and another friend, Miss Rosie Bitts coordinated an evening show with vocals and burlesque, complete with Gordie Tupper as the MC!   This event captured the attention of local and national media.

Veronique loves to build connections for people and was constantly being asked “do you know someone who…” and so she decided to get a bunch of women together for a potluck event in her living room – 30 women showed up and the event went until 2 am in the morning!  The next morning, while she was cleaning up bottles from her living room she was receiving emails from women who wanted to know when the next one was going to be…and the Girls Night Mixer was born and immediately outgrew the living room…events have been held at the Fernwood Inn, Union Pacific Coffee House and The Oswego.  The distribution list has grown from 30 to 550 and events are sold out within 24 hours of the invitation being sent out.  The group is an intimate number of under 100, where tremendous friendships are born with spectacular women.   The benefactor of funds raised at these events has been Bridges for Women.

And what does the future hold for Veronique and Sofia?   Lots of personal and professional growth – Veronique loves her studio space, has rebranded her business look and feel, her creative juices are flowing and her business growth enables her philanthropic  energy to shine through.  Sofia is in school and sets up her business, her “store” in the studio while Veronique works.   It is my honour and pleasure to know these two ladies and I’ll be watching them as they soar to unlimited heights!

Da Silva Photo

Breathe Athletic

 Clothing  No Responses »
Jul 032011
 

I first met Stephanie Hinton, the owner of Breathe Athletic at a Chamber of Commerce event and was drawn to her right away.  Our paths continued to cross and most recently I found myself in the neighbourhood of her beautiful store, located at 1031 Fort Street, Victoria, BC.

I love Stephanie’s open personality and sense of humour and you can tell right away that she genuinely loves people and her community.   She believes in shopping local and making as little impact on our environment as possible.   One thing that I saw in her store that I haven’t seen elsewhere was cardboard hangers for clothing.  Stephanie is active on social media and a recent post on the summer solstice showed her at the top of Mount Finlayson, declaring “90 mins of hot yoga followed by a hike to the top of Mt Finlayson to watch the sunset on summer solstice. Perfect evening peeps. Xx”

Breathe Athletic features yoga inspired athletic wear for real women.  She carries a range of sizes in beautiful styles.  The store atmosphere is relaxed and women can take the time they need to pick out something (or a few things like I did), that inspires them to “Get up, Get out, and Breathe”.

 

Stephanie Hinton
Breathe Athletic
1031 Fort Street
Victoria, BC
250.995.2244

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yoUnlimited – a poem

 Photographers, Sponsors  No Responses »
May 232011
 

This beautiful poem was written by our photographer, Leona Fowler, and given to me as a gift when she gave me the photos.  I love it!

Leona – you have such a beautiful spirit!

yoUnlimited

yoUnlimited with all your might

yoUnlimited without a doubt

when we create unity

we are powerful and strong

we can lead in peace and sing the same song

song of love that we carry in our heart

you and I connected and not apart

you are unlimited!

~ Leona Fowler – April 2011 ~

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