Big Birthday Celebrations & Important Salon Update

December has arrived!

It’s funny how every year can pass, and people will still complain when we get our first snowfall. Well, I’m the opposite, I get very excited. In fact, the first snowfall this year my daughter Madison cried she was so excited. It was pretty sweet to watch. It’s as if we forgot we live in Canada and every year snow will fall in the winter. Lol. I actually think we got snow very late this year, I was wondering if it was going to be a rainy Christmas. The recent snowfall we got was actually so pretty and Harper had a blast frolicking around in it.

 And speaking of Harper, she turned five on Monday, November 29! I’ve developed a new tradition with the girls where I allow them to choose one friend and we play hooky for the day and celebrate. It’s been great so far this year with the two of them because I find birthdays end up giving me major anxiety with all the planning and cleaning up afterwards. I find even with the gifts; the kids are excited at first and then they’ll forget all about them two weeks later…Well for the most part anyways. So, with that in mind, this new tradition has worked great. This year, Harper chose her little besty Julia to celebrate with her. They’ve been friends for four years. She is one of the siblings of Madison‘s friends from her old school and her mother and I have developed quite the friendship. We talk about home décor, good coffee, good wine and many other mommy things… and some girly adult things too lol.

It was such a fun day! We went to Glamour Gal Spa in Vaughan where the girls got to make a Christmas ornament with some slime and they both got a manicure then we all had a dance party! Oh yes, as moms, we got involved too. This place was incredible. From there, we went to Teppanyaki, and the girls had Shirley Temple cocktails while watching the chef at the station light onions on fire. They were very impressed. And I almost forgot to mention the best part, my husband arranged with a friend of ours to borrow his fancy Mercedes Sprinter limo service! It was great for me because I didn’t have to drive but this vehicle was amazing, it pulled up and as we got in we noticed the TVs and music was playing inside. That was pretty fancy. The seats also massaged the girls as we drove around town to all of our stops.

In the end, Madison had a small case of FOMO, so we picked her up from school and me and the two girls went to the mall to do a little shopping. Madison wanted to shop too but I had to tell her it wasn’t her birthday, so I said whatever you purchase here, I’ll send you the bill later once we get home. I didn’t let her off, not even $.25. Kids need to learn; clothing doesn’t come for free. (Although she tried to come home and clean the whole house even mopping her bedroom insisting that I pay her to recoup the money she spent). It was a fantastic day overall and these are the moments that kids will truly cherish forever.

 

On another note, I can’t believe we are in the thick of our holiday rush of bookings. I’m very excited that our doors are open this year and we can enjoy all the festivities of Christmas with you. No matter what you celebrate, there’s something about looking at a pretty tree with decorations and hearing the cheesy Christmas songs play all over the radio. Well, I quite like them.

 

I’ve loved being able to provide a community and a space for women to feel beautiful, develop friendships, laugh together, cry together, and have deep conversations with one another. Although you may not see my face around all the time, I’m constantly in the background thinking of ways to ensure the salon only gets better and better.

With that in mind… this coming January 2022, our prices will increase up to 10%.

We cannot thank our Elevate Family enough for their continued support in what has been the most unpredictable couple of years in our industry. There is nothing we value more than the experience you have with us when you walk through our doors. In order to keep providing our clientele with the utmost level of quality and a cozy feeling, we will be raising our prices slightly in the new year.

Our new prices will align closely with industry standards, the quality of our stylist’s work, inflation, and the rising costs of the product we use. In addition, we’re constantly updating our technical skills through continuous education, so your hair continues to get the best treatment. All of you are unique and require a completely customized approach (that’s what I love most about you), the time and effort it takes to complete these services have increased and more products and resources are needed to give you the quality we all stand by.

Xo

Pammy 

And don’t forget, if there are any stocking stuffers or last-minute gift ideas that you need for under that tree, don’t forget to stop by the shop I have plenty of treats for you or check out our online shop! Can’t wait to see you all soon and don’t forget to be festive!

 

P.S. Guess who has come back for the season…

'Tis The Season!

Does anyone else wonder how the heck the bells are jingling, and the sleigh bells are ringing already?

Although I’m not going to complain, I must confess, my tree has been up at home since Nov 2nd. I’ve always been a Christmas junkie and still get excited to leave Santa milk (dairy-free of course, and cookies.) Gosh, Santa must have had many tummy aches before the evolution of almond milk and other dairy alternatives.

There’s just something that happens in my soul when Halloween is over. I can feel the joy of the season. The red cups at Starbucks, Mariah playing on every radio station and in stores… except my version is "All I want for Christmas is.......... WINE".

Seriously though, I wait for Santa every year! This past weekend we took the kids with some friends to Winterfest at Wonderland and had a blast decorating cookies with Mrs. Clause! Madison also decided to do a photo shoot of Harper around the Christmas tree, I think we may have a future Photographer on our hands.

If you haven’t been by Elevate yet, I can't wait until you see our window display! Not only our window display but inside is very festive as well.

Speaking of the season, it’s also a time of giving. I think I actually love the giving part more than anything else. Every year, Kevin, myself and the kids choose a cause to pour into. This year, we are partnering up with "Brands For Canada" to help the Afghan refugees this winter season. There are many families who are in need of winter coats and other warm accessories. If you’d like to give to the cause, you can visit the link or feel free to reach out to us for more info. As much as the kids love running down to the tree Christmas morning to see what Santa has stuffed in their stocking, we find it equally if not more important to teach them the importance of giving and pouring into the lives of others. It really helps you to remain humble and also understand gratitude and compassion.

Speaking of giving, if you're looking for that cute stocking stuffer or stuff to wrap in a pretty bow under the tree, don't hesitate to come in and browse in our store. We also have an online store if you're more of an online shopper. Right now, we’re running 30% off on a few of our favourite brands such as Brunette The Label apparel, Pixie Mood handbags and wallets, and Henne Organics cosmetics. Did I forget to mention the yummy candles and room sprays from the brand, Homecoming? YUM!

I feel like the holidays are going to fly by as soon as they arrived. We’ll literally blink and find ourselves sitting around thinking of our new years’ resolution. On Sunday, I had literally sat at my dining table and booked every single winter drive through, walkthrough, festive holiday children's event for every weekend from now until Christmas so that I can book in all of my mom time, girl time, and date night events knowing that I can go out without mom guilt... Yes, people, mom guilt is a real thing. So I figured if I have something intentionally planned every week with the kids, when they cry at the door when I leave I can say, "Well, we’re going to “insert event here” this weekend!” Strategic and amazing. My point is, we as women really need to learn how to tell ourselves we are valuable. We are worth it. We need to give ourselves TIME. Time to give, be kind and nurture ourselves. That's one of the things I love when I see each one of you leave the salon. You really have poured into yourselves. You are giving yourself this time for YOU!

 You matter, you're worth it and you are valuable!

 We love you and speaking of love! Here’s what we’re loving right now in our shop and online store. Shop it direct from our site if you can’t make it in!

 

See you soon

Pammy

We Missed You!

Hey, Elevate fam! Have you missed me?

 I know it has definitely been a LONG time since you’ve seen us in your inbox. I must say, I really missed writing to you guys. Let's just say I was on a little hiatus.

The summer was busy while catching up on our crazy waitlist and big sis got a house with a pool so many days were spent there splashing around. I went on a fantastic wine tour in Niagara with my cousin Dan, and also had the in-laws here from the sunny state of Florida (whom I haven't seen in a while). I renewed my vows after 10 years (I think I may have to start doing it yearly because marriage is hard work LOL), I went back to Prince Edward County, and well, let’s just say, it’s been an eventful summer all while starting up a podcast with my girlfriends (along with many other things like being a mom, operating Elevates' long waitlist, cooking, cleaning, etc...)

If you recall, last December my cousin Dan, Denny (my bestie), and I had started a podcast/IG lifestyle page. It was a way for us to talk about all the stuff most women talk about but the unique thing about it was it came from three different angles. A married woman with two children, a woman in her 40s wanting marriage and kids, and a divorcee. The feedback and the conversations we had were refreshing because it was like healing through sharing. As much as we loved sharing our stories and thoughts, we were also feeling burnt out. So long story short, we’ve parked it for now so we can focus on other things in our lives that take priority. I wouldn't call it quits, but more so an opportunity for us to decide what it really is we want to do.

Speaking of which, I myself thought why not bring a little bit of Shear Therapy back to Elevate. In case you didn't know, Shear Therapy was birthed from Elevate. It all started as a docuseries on the impacts the beauty industry has on our self-esteem as women. Let’s be honest, our physical appearance is one of the first things we think about daily. If we don’t look or dress a certain way, it takes a toll on our confidence and self-worth. We rely heavily on how others view us whether it’s our lifestyle, body size, marital status, and so on. The list is endless and it’s tiring to our mental and physical health.

These are many of the conversations that come up while we sit with each and every one of you in our chairs daily. It has always been way more than hair to me when I became a stylist but even more so when I created the vision for Elevate – to uplift, inspire and talk about the true beauty within. My connection with each of my clients is truly something amazing and the bonus? You get to walk out with great hair and a boost of confidence.

While I want to continue to create a growing business, I also want to create a strong community. There’s a lot I want to share with you and with restrictions lifting and life feeling a bit closer to "normal", we can get back to having some fun.

What can you expect from us going forward? To thank each and every one of our subscribers, we’re switching things up a bit. Here’s what you can expect going forward…

  • You’ll still receive updates from yours truly but with a few new twists!

  • New store products and re-stock updates

  • Our current “product favourites” that you need to get your hands on

  • Exclusive promos for in-house services that are only available to YOU as subscribers

  • Plus! Stay tuned for a little mixer that we’ll be planning in the coming month

I’m so happy to be back in full swing and I can’t wait to get everything rolling. By the way, if you don’t know me well, I’ll apologize now in advance for all of the Mariah Carey Christmas songs you’re about to hear. I’m still bitter about my cute little tree that was unseen due to the lockdown last year! Goodbye Halloween, Hello Christmas!

"All I want for Christmas is YOU"

 Xo 

 Pammy

Welcome Back! Our doors are open!

It’s been a few weeks since we opened our doors, and I didn’t think I’d be saying those words for a while. It was quite entertaining actually when it was announced because the majority of our staff were booked away at cottages, including myself!

PEC was great as usual. After two cancelled trips, I finally got to enjoy my weekend stay at Wander The Resort. It was fabulous and magical. The place was so well thought out and designed perfectly for my taste buds. We spent most days by the beach, in the evenings by the fire pit on our patio and in between those times, we would be eating out at some of the County‘s finest foods. I can’t wait to go back in October. The rest will surely be needed by then because now all I do is limp home after each shift while working magic on those nine-month roots… COVID roots that is…I think I need to invest in a jumbo-size tub of Epsom salts and soak in that every single night after work.

I also wanted to bring you up to speed with some new additions to the Elevate family!

Maria - Jr. Stylist (I’m sure most of you have met her at the old location) came back with a vengeance! She finished her school and has been a rockstar on the floor delivering some of the most beautiful hair colours and blowouts I’ve seen. We’re so proud of her and all that she has accomplished – even at seven months pregnant and leaving with swollen ankles at the end of each shift.

Vanessa - Master Stylist is back adding an extra day to her schedule to catch up with our crazy list and we couldn’t be happier to have her here more often.

Karissa - Stylist is back doing her beautiful balayage as usual with her very knowledgeable technical art of hair colouring.

And we have a new member we want to introduce – we are super excited to welcome Hajara (Jr. Stylist) to the Elevate family!

With a background in law living in the UK, she decided to switch things up a bit and pursue her passion for hair. She was also a fellow classmate with Maria. The moment I met her, saw her work and found out she went to my favourite church, Elevation, I knew it was meant to be. She is very sweet, and I love her accent (I have a thing for accents just like Maria). She is such a gem and an eager learner. I must say I thought I was coming back to work having some help on the floor, but these two new junior stylists have been fully booked and I think I need to look for another assistant. I guess this is a good problem to have. We’re also excited to have her because she offers custom wig making and colouring, a variety of extension methods and she can rock a mean balayage.

Our goal is to get through the waitlist by the fall but are always accepting new referrals and new clients, saving them secret little spots because we can’t forget the newcomers. Again, we want to thank you so much for your support and for sticking by us during these crazy times. I’m so excited to have our doors open again. It feels refreshing and fills my soul when I see the happiness radiate from my clients to be back out in a somewhat normal world feeling beautiful as ever.

Now for me, I’m busy making up for some seriously lost opportunities during the pandemic – this past April was my 10th anniversary with my darling husband, Kevin. This Saturday, we’re having a vow renewal ceremony to recommit and dedicate our love to one another for the next decades to come.

I feel it’s so important to do this in all your personal relationships, whether it’s with your friends, spouse, parents and even your children. I can’t wait to share some of the photos with you guys. If you don’t know, we got married on a TV show I didn’t get to do much of the planning, so I feel like I’m a bride all over again. This is exciting and I can’t wait to share this memory with my children. Please pray for sunshine, great weather and good times for us. Also, follow along on @sheartherapy’s IG account for some BTS moments!

I love you all and see you soon! (It feels good to say that again)

 

XO

Pammy

Life Lately, May Edition

Here we are again... It feels like déjà vu of last year when we were in the same situation waiting for that opening day.

I wish I had something better to tell you but we are still here in the waiting pot. I’m hopeful that you will all have gorgeous hair for the summer to swing around.

Well, how have I been keeping myself busy you ask? Lots of gardening, house stuff and my podcast! Have you checked it out yet? If not, you’re in for a treat. I got together with my bestie Denise and my cousin Danielle and we are here to bring you lots of entertainment talking about the things that sometimes you just need to talk about. This podcast is all about honest, open and juicy conversations we have with our closest girlfriends. We aren’t afraid to keep things real as we chat among ourselves and a few special guests. Get ready for a lot of laughs, open conversations, unfiltered advice and wine – because we all need a little truth serum for some of the topics we’re about to cover…Start Listening!

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Good Friday & Happy Easter!

Well... here we are one year later or another Easter weekend with no final answers of what the future holds. But, what we do know is the Easter bunny is coming! As I attempt to plan out an Easter egg hunt here at home and await the bunny bringing me a giant Easter egg full of chocolate, I sit and think of how much I miss you guys.

With fingers crossed that our doors will open on April 12, things still feel a little uncertain. I’m not going to let that kill my spirits. I’m hopeful I'll see you all soon but until then, don’t forget to check out our online shop. In honour of Good Friday, we’re making it a Great Friday with 25% off on all of our Pixie Mood Vegan Line of bags. We also have our Mother’s Day collection from Brunette The Label now available to pre-order (these items go quickly so make sure you grab your set to match with your mini this Mother’s Day).

I can’t wait to see you all soon and hope you have an amazing LONG weekend (fingers crossed we have some decent weather).

XO,

Pammy

March Newsletter: Lockdown Edition

I can’t believe we’re already halfway through March and still in this lockdown!

Like I said in the previous newsletter, we should start placing bets on when we can open because at this point, I’ve given up and no longer watch the news! If you follow my other social account @sheartherapy you’ll see the hilarious Reel that was made recently. Not calling out any clients in particular but there was a short snippet making light of all the messages I get asking if we’re opening. With that being said, I still love you all and your eagerness to book appointments with us!

Even though spring is just a few short days away, I still think we’re in for at least three to four major snowfalls before we hear the birds sing and smell the flowers breaking through the ground. I’m loving the extra long days but it’s been hard on us the last few days to wake up on time! Have any of you felt the same?

Let’s talk about the Grammys. Two females have made quite an impression this year! Beyoncé made history as she now holds the title for most awarded female in Grammy history with her 28th win! I must admit, I’m a huge Beyoncé fan. A lot of her songs are full of female empowerment, but I’m not quite sure I was a fan of her wardrobe that night although her curves were looking amazing! What did you guys think? 

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The second woman to make history was Taylor Swift (Madison’s Fav), by becoming the first female artist to ever win album of the year three times. Cheers to women making history!

Outside of those awards, I must say it’s a little sad at what some music is becoming. I feel like it doesn’t take much to make a hot song anymore. Like you can literally repeat seven words in a row on beat and you’ve got a hit! “Flipping burgers, I am flipping burgers with fries” Grammy worthy!

In other news, Easter is around the corner and the next thing we celebrate after that is…Mother’s Day!  Last year we had the cutest matching mommy and me Brunette The Label swag. This year, they’ve come back in some of their latest colours and we’re taking pre-orders now as they will be delivered in the next two weeks and will sell out by mid-April. Make sure you contact the salon to book or get your orders in because supplies will NOT last! (Not to mention we just got stocked in the cute animal print tees and bike shorts).

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a mother’s work is never done! Even if you’re not a mom, I know you know a kick-ass mom out there who you can celebrate with! Let them know they’re doing amazing! Call on them, love on them, honour them!

I’ll definitely be cheering my Mama on because she made me (obviously) and I really couldn’t do life without her and all that she has done for me I’m grateful for!

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Also, a big shout out to my mother-in-law, she’s given Kevin so many amazing qualities and she’s always there to help.  Cheers to all the amazing women who contribute to my life! (I’ll shout you out again on Mother’s day) 

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We’re all counting down the days until we can welcome you back at Elevate!

Love you all!

Pammy 

Ps. We’ll be announcing a new member to the Elevate family soon -  stayed tuned! 

Pps. We are also so happy to announce that Ashley, Shaun and baby Christian are settling into parenthood beautifully... and he is ADORABLE!!!!!!!

The Future is Brighter

Wow, yesterday was surely surreal and a moment that made history. Kamala Harris was sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States.

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You may not know but I have quite a few family members who live in the U.S., and this is a huge deal for them (as much of the world). I remember getting calls four years ago asking if I could sponsor them to come to Canada after the previous President was sworn in LOL.

I’m usually not one to follow politics but this is beyond politics and presidents for me personally. Kamala Harris is not only the first female VP, she is the first VP who is of Black and South-Asian descent. This not only means a lot for women but also women of colour. This is going to bring on so much change it’s unbelievable. 

As an entrepreneur who is raising two little girls, this moment meant so much to me and them as well. I get to show them anything is attainable if you persist and the more we break barriers, the more power and potential our little girls have. I’m hoping moments like this continue. I want my girls to reach their full potential without people judging them first on their skin colour or making them feel less privileged than any of those around them. I don't want them to feel that they are not equal or not as significant as I felt when I was their age. Yesterday, progress was made. We are stepping into a new world and we’re breaking barriers, paving the way for women to achieve the success they deserve.

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There is something about women that have the strength to endure the darkest of days and carry the heaviest of burdens. It’s truly a gift in my eyes from God. We do so much and set the temperature in every room we step into. 

My personal reflection…

The prettiest shade shall be painted upon her lips, to smile, although her heart is so full of worry and pain. She worries about tomorrow, she worries about how she will fill the bellies of those she loves and is raising, she worries ten years into the future of how she will be perceived and looked upon by the world while ignoring her truest desires to please those around her.

She is a woman, all loving, all compassionate.

She is change, she is hope, she is power.

She is the strength that is created in her to get by and to see brighter days.

She is a warrior, to take on the battles that keep trying to knock her down,

She is strong.

She is true.

She is love.

She is woman.

Shout out to all the women out there and especially mamas raising our future of change... you're amazing and doing great! As my good friend Denise always reminds me, you cannot pour out what you do not have to give... always fill your cup 1st so that you have the fuel to give without neglecting yourself.

 

Xo

Pammy


Motherhood and Mayhem

As I sit here gathering my thoughts to type into a beautiful newsletter for your entertainment purposes, I sit in silence celebrating a rare occasion. My kids went to f&*%ing sleep WITHOUT ME!! My weeks are typically filled somewhere beyond full and overflowing. You see, on a typical work day (Tuesdays and Thursdays), it’s not normally like this. 

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Here comes my side rant...

On a day when I’m at Elevate, because don't get it twisted, my days "off" aren’t days off. Standing beyond the chair is actually easier because I get to talk to adults and create art. It’s when the clock inches closer to 6pm and the anxiety sets in knowing I’m about to finish my last client, clean up and head home to my second unpaid job...(yes,  the rewards of being a mom are obviously priceless but you know what I mean). As I’m half way through my last client of the day, my mind is already at home where I’m planning dinner and how to strategically finish folding the loads of laundry that have been sitting on my bed the last two nights. In fact, I haven't even slept in my bed the last two nights because the laundry has taken my spot ... (and because my husband pushed it there to get into bed LOL... ladies I know I’m not alone on this one).

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Needless to say, If you’re balancing motherhood, working/running a business, raising a puppy and being a wife, unless you have three nannies and a maid, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I FEEL SWAMPED! So yes, I’m celebrating a victory tonight! At one point I heard Madison upstairs say "dad, why is mom still down there?", and I yelled to her, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FATHER", she was quite shocked that I heard her LOL.

Some of you have been asking how our online learning has been going… 

When I first had Madison, I flew to Philadelphia to be trained at the The Institute for The Achievement of Human Potential" so I could homeschool her. The program was incredible and inspiring. I was there amongst so many different families. Some who were homeschooled and their parents were homeschooled too. I left feeling inspired and motivated to teach her at home. In fact, she didn’t even go to JK, I kept teaching her right up until Harper was born. It felt great to be her teacher and watch her learn... but now, flash forward to November 2020 and I HATE IT!!!

You see, when you get to teach your child based on their interests, it's great. If she wanted to learn about ballet, we would study the history of ballet. If she wanted to know about dinosaurs, we would study that too. We also had playdates for the socialization component. It was all so amazing! But with this online curriculum, I don't know if it’s because I’m older and less patient or just have way too much on my plate, it’s just not the same. Having two kids home all day staring at laptops stuck inside while other children are chatting over zoom is incredibly noisy and distracting. I also feel for some of these teachers because it has to be challenging trying to control a situation virtually. How do you settle a class to keep their volume down through a screen? I ended up having a reassuring talk with the principal a few weeks ago and he asked me something no one’s asked me yet. He asked how I was doing and where my sanity level was at. I replied asking him blankly, "what sanity level?" He spoke to me parent to parent and removed the guilt and fear by letting me know I haven’t failed my kids or myself by admitting that I’m getting close to my breaking point. He made it ok to be overwhelmed and frustrated. He put us on a list to try the in-person education. As nervous as I am, he reassured me that the option of changing them back to online learning was always an option. I felt such a huge load off of my shoulders. I honestly love my kids and cherish the time we have spent together since this pandemic started, but this mama needs some time to love herself too. I just want to read a book with no screaming for a snack request. I just want to watch some Netflix and not be required to screen it because there are little people in the room. Perhaps I just want to take a nap!?!? My kids have also been begging me to send them back to school. They miss the interaction with other kids and they too feel it’s difficult to learn and concentrate through online learning. 

Whatever it is that we need as moms to keep ourselves together for the day, we deserve it. We wear soooo many hats and since the start of this pandemic, the load has been even harder to carry. 

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So remember to love yourself, tell yourself you're worth it, don't be so hard on yourself and remember that we’re only human. I tried my best to do it all and I’m in need of a break. A break to remove one of those hats and get some time back for myself.


Take care of yourself!

XO

Pammy


Welcoming A New Member To The Family

I don’t know about you but time is surely flying by these days. Also, is it just me or is daylight saving a little late this year too? I guess none of it matters because everything is different this year. I must say again, this pandemic has been a good time for change, for inward reflection, and valuing what is important in your life... With this year’s change, our lifestyles have done a complete 180 compared to last and with us all being homebodies now, the dynamic of our family has changed a lot too - and by a lot I mean we’ve welcomed a new addition to the family.  2 weeks ago, we welcomed an adorable baby girl, well, she is a furry lil’ girl!  WE GOT A DOG!

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Allow me to introduce Sandy! Sandy is a toy poodle and is about 10 weeks old now. She is such a sweet puppy. She got her name because of my favourite childhood movie Annie. I would watch it at least 3-4 times a week and could probably recite the whole movie in my sleep. 

Once I had my girls, I played Annie for them and they equally enjoyed it, and can probably recite it now too. Funny enough, the new version came out shortly after and it was pretty good, but nothing can replace the original and of course Mrs. Hannigan. Anyhow, that’s how she got her name!

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So, why did we get a dog? Well, it goes back a long way but when I was about 20, I moved out and bought my first house.  Never having lived on my own, it was a little scary coming home alone at night, so I decided to get myself a friend and bought a Yorkie! Her name was Mylo. She was great and quickly became my bestie in the house. Fast forward a few years, she fell in love with my friend's dog, Bacci, and had kids of her own but shortly after died from a pool accident. From that day on, I knew I needed another pup in my life but when I was ready. 

Then about 10 years later, I began to get that puppy itch. I was so anxious to get another one but my husband sensibly suggested we hold off on the dog until we were finished raising our own babies. Once our babies grew up, the puppy itch returned. Again, my husband suggested holding off until we had a larger home and it made sense so I continued to put on my patience cap! Well fast forward to this year when we sold our home and moved into a larger one (with a real driveway YAY), and I thought OK... here we are, it’s time!!! Also, adding to that, we have two little girls who are equally obsessed with dogs and it felt like it was the right time. So I said, “ok babe, it's time!”... Well, that didn't exactly go as smooth as either of us would’ve imagined. He wasn't ready and I was! I must say, it was not an easy time in this thing we call "marriage". They really don’t teach you how to prepare for these difficult situations. There should be a course, "What to do when you and your life partner don't agree", so we could have some knowledge in dealing with these problems. That would hold more value than a geography class (in my opinion LOL).

Needless to say, he was very apprehensive in the beginning but here we are! Sandy is home and we are adapting. There have been some testing moments in her sleep training where I said to myself, “hmm... should I have waited?”... but then Sandy gave me a good cuddle session and I forgot about the whole thing. I might be a little sleep deprived but she is the sweetest thing and has been so easy to train. 

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Her trainer, Matthew, is outstanding (IG: @pettopaldogtraining) and has taught me so much already. I’m excited for the days when she can come into work with me and meet the Elevate family. I’m certain you’ll fall in love with her just like I did. (P.S. she already has the cutest Halloween dress).

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Speaking of Halloween, I wanted to find a way to keep the festivities alive while still respecting the rules of social distancing and being responsible. That being said, this Saturday, October 31st, HALLOWEEN DAY, we are adding a little fun to the street. Between 12 pm - 1 pm, we will have a table set up for the kids (and adults) to grab treats from! We’ll also have music and entertainment so come on by!

Put on your costume, grab a treat, listen to some music, and enjoy! Plus, we’ll also have a raffle for a giveaway of some amazing goodies from the salon, and who doesn't like to win free goodies?!?

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Can’t wait to see you all there!

 XO

Pammy


Online Learning - Our Challenges & Benefits

Is it 2021 yet? Once again another night has flown by and I get NOTHING done for myself. Opting into the online learning module for my girls has been interesting, to say the least. It was a tough decision we had to make this year as it came with many factors. Moving to a new city meant Madison would either have to start at a new school or remain in her previous school under “optional attendance”.

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I remember fighting so hard for her to get accepted into this school. I wrote application letters when she was starting SK and we were thrilled when she was accepted so it was a big panic for us to think she had to change schools all over again after we moved. I had to weigh out all the options. In our new house, there’s a school that is literally a few houses away which is convenient and it’s a large school which I thought would be great for diversity. I didn't want her to be the only "fuzzy-headed" kid in her school, I wanted to see students and teachers of all backgrounds and cultures. I experienced trauma growing up myself being called "FernGully" by everyone at school (a mythical character from a 90s movie called The Last Rainforest). I would often be asked if I was electrocuted by kids at school because of my hair. Needless to say, I would leave school crying on the way home because of the bullying I faced every day. So again, the decision to move schools was hard but we knew what we had to do to best suit our family. So I ripped off the bandaid and applied for the school closest to our new home. 

In addition to a new school, we also had challenges with starting online learning for the girls. I had no idea what I was in for. I assumed it would be easy but there’s been a few hiccups along the way (and from what I gather, lots of other parents have had similar issues). 

Before the girls started, I was prepared and had it all planned out in my head. Even though schooling would take place here in our home, I still wanted to normalize this year as much as possible by continuing with our back-to-school traditions. We went shopping for new backpacks, lunch bags, and accessories. Even their Nana took them to get binders, pencils, and erasers. We were all set to start this new school year off ready and prepared. I was even that mom who put together cute little baskets for them to use at their workstations. I wanted them to stay organized and to take care of their own school supplies. I even provided dry erase boards for them to draw and take notes on (I’m trying to save trees here). 

We thought every day we would get up early, pack our bags with snacks, and get to it! And well... not quite. The first bump in the road was that school actually started almost two weeks later than anticipated. Then, in the first week of school, there was an increase of families who decided last minute to change from in-person learning to online. The school board had to rearrange classrooms and order more Chromebooks last minute. With that being said, we didn't end up starting school until the end of September.

Those slow, perfect mornings with my latte in hand and quiet time with my girls before school started was also not happening. Those mornings actually turned into pure chaos. While I’m screaming over the Nespresso machine, our Google Reminders would chime in to let us know school was about to start and the girls would come running down the stairs telling me they can’t find their laptop or that it died. And those cute baskets with school supplies I made for them? Well, they’re currently scattered everywhere. 

Harper would be crying "Mom I want you to feed me", and I would be screaming " Mom is going crazy guys' '..... Serious talk, I walked by my den the other day to overhear Harper telling Madison "I think mom is losing her mind"... She is only three!

So for a three-year-old starting JK for the first time on a laptop, it isn't really something that’s normal, to say the least. What’s worse? Harper is staring at a screen with 20+ boxes of new faces she’s never seen before, hearing them all speak at the same time. We then stand to sing ‘Oh Canada’ which she has never heard of in her life and she turns to me and says "Mom, are we done yet? School is boring". Feel bad for me now? LOL ok fine… But Madison on the other hand thrives in structure and goes through the whole day gracefully! She knew how to navigate through the computer and do her assignments, she also logs into her meetings and submits her work on time. I am EXTREMELY proud of her.

Even though this is not the half of it, I must say I’m actually quite proud of how adaptable these little people are. I sometimes wonder if we need to learn a little more from them as adults. I can find a million reasons to complain about doing all of this but the truth is when I disconnect from the world around me, I actually get into it with them and enjoy the process of being home and watching them learn. 

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What I enjoy is our “recess” breaks, eating lunch together, and going for walks mid-day.  Madison reads to Harper and we work on art projects together -  we just find ways to make it fun! I’m also very grateful for the teachers they’ve been placed with. My interactions with them made me feel very confident that we made the right choice of changing schools. We actually bumped into one of them on our recess break and it totally made Madison's day to see her teacher in REAL LIFE. 

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At the end of the day, it’s a beautiful thing that we have the choice and I can be here supporting them through it. I’m also grateful that I have my mother to be here to help us on the days I’m in the salon because I know it is NOT easy for her either, but together we’re getting it done!. In 10 years, we’ll all look back at this and be stronger on the other end, but until then, just smile (have an extra cup of coffee or two) and know it will all be ok.

 

XO Pammy

P.S. Don’t forget to follow my personal page @pamelafacey for more adventures of ME! (and also a fun new giveaway is around the corner)!

Our Getaway to PEC

Do you remember that first time you fell in love? The first time your heart skipped a couple of beats because you were mesmerized by something, someone, somewhere, so beautiful?

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Last October, not knowing what this year would bring, I booked a couple nights away (child-free) to reconnect with my husband. Every now and then you have to break away from the routine to recharge. I remember hearing from so many people how serene and romantic Prince Edward County was, so I hopped onto Airbnb and searched up places for us to stay. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of a decor snob so I specifically looked for places to stay that were  "up to par" with my decor standards, lol, and there it was... A cute little one-bedroom studio apartment in PEC, specifically just outside of Wellington.

When we first arrived, I immediately fell head over heels with this place and the town. When I try to explain PEC to people, I tell them it’s like watching a Hallmark movie. Everything is so picturesque, the people are friendly and incredibly welcoming. 

About 10 years ago, an old client of mine (who is now a great friend), packed up, sold her Mount Pleasant home, and moved the family out to the County. As a freelance writer, she was scooped up by the local magazine and was able to write for some incredible local businesses and now manages a few social media accounts (give her a follow @lifeaulait). With that hat being said, who better to provide tips on where to eat, stay and visit than someone who writes about it every day?  So our itinerary was packed full of hiking tours, wineries, coffee shops, and delicious restaurants to visit during our first initial stay.

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Well this year, enduring the pandemic while moving into a new home and a new salon space, the mental and physical stress of it all took a toll and I knew my body and mental state needed to get the *&&% outta dodge. We decided to book another few nights in my fave spot in the County. It was perfect timing because my daughter Madison was turning eight so we invited a few close friends and family to celebrate with us for the weekend. We were all able to just break away, laugh, eat, and breathe in that good old country air. I prepared for online learning to begin during our stay but it had turned out, the girls’ school had been delayed yet again so we took full advantage of our stay and kept the kids busy with a lot of exploring.  

Now that I have a few calm minutes up here staring at the lake reflecting on the gratitude I hold in my heart, I wanted to share some of my favourite things to do in PEC. If you’re planning a weekend stay here, check out some of my favourite places below… 

 

Piccolina 

Enid Grace is an amazingly talented pastry chef who opened a charming café called Piccolina. They specialize in delicious Italian-baked treats including my favourite, Bombolinis.  I also picked up some fresh bagels and warm blueberry scones which were heaven. The lattes were also good, so good in fact, we returned a second time for more. I also appreciated the thoughtful treats they included with our lattes, almond biscotti balls - they were delicious and perfect for dipping in your latte.   

The Drake Devonshire Hotel

This is a very popular place to visit and it’s easy to see why. Once we had our temperatures taken at the entrance, we immediately were taken to the back of the hotel where we took in the gorgeous views of Lake Ontario. Fire pits were set up all around with cozy blankets. It felt as though you were on a cruise ship or in the Caribbean somewhere, you could hear the water as though you were by the ocean. The cocktails were OUT OF THIS WORLD, so I had to get two! I had the County Lavender Lemonade with Bourbon. WOW! It was garnished with a dried lemon, taking on an orange colour. EPIC! I would definitely stay here next time we visit.  

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Karlo Estates

Every year, the town comes together to volunteer their time to harvest grapes so of course, we wanted to be a part of this event. We let the children run free through the vineyard filling their buckets with loads of grapes. Of course, we made sure they understood the importance of how these grapes eventually turn into wine which is what us moms need to keep our sanity. Overall, it felt good to be a part of the community.

We even saw a snake slithering its way through the vines. Apparently, their purpose is to keep the bugs away from the grapes. We ended up celebrating with a friend who happens to work at the vineyard, it was her birthday! The owner, Sherry, brought out a charcuterie board for all of us and poured some very yummy rosé to celebrate the birthday girl.

Parsons Brewery

This gorgeous property was a win-win for us adults and kids. They had a play structure for the kids and cute little picnic tables and Muskoka chairs set up for adults. They also served delicious food so we sat around the fire pit eating empanadas, drinking our cider, and enjoying the little time we had left on our stay. It was amazing to watch Madison go around and make friends. I’m definitely not concerned with that child’s socialization LOL.

There were actually a few places we didn’t get to visit this time around but on our last visit, we loved Flame and Smith, La Condesa, and Bloomfield Beauty.  

After a long day of wandering around, we went back to our hotel where I napped, grabbed a bite to eat on our last dinner together, and roasted marshmallows by the fire. 

During our final hours at the County, I took one last gaze at the waters (almost in complete silence) until I saw my girls run towards me. We had uninterrupted conversations about God and our gratitude before leaving on the dock. This moment had me thinking, I have a ton of things I can complain about, but right now all I have is this moment. This exact moment to be present with my children and appreciate it before the chaos of our daily lives and stresses creep back in. 

Whatever you have going on in your world or even just your mind, know how important it is to find that space every so often to drown out the noise and take a break. Whether it be in Prince Edward County or in your bathroom, dedicate time to yourself to be present and appreciate YOU! Appreciate YOUR journey and value yourself for all that you do. No one else can do that for you. 

If you’re up for a mini getaway, check out the County, I promise you’ll fall in love with it just like I did! 

 XO

Pammy

(p.s. if you’re not already, follow me on my personal IG account @pamelafacey! I’m sharing my most perfectly imperfect moments, from motherhood to running a business and everything in between.

Elevate Just Got A Lot More Colourful!

Well, cheers to September!

The air is getting crisp and it’s time to get cozy. Fall is on its way and if you don’t know yet, fall is my FAVOURITE time of year. I like lattes even more and I love putting on cozy cardigans and curling up on the couch with a good book in hand. I also love that the sun goes down a little earlier because it sets my body into relaxation mode. There is just something about it! It also means it’s time to redecorate the home and the shop (another thing I’m sure you all know is my love for decor). With that being said…..

If you haven’t seen our space in the last week, we’ve added a few new colourful additions to our walls! Thanks to Curated Walls’ beautiful decals, we were able to add two statement walls for you guys to show off your new hairstyles in front of (and tag us of course:) ).

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Let’s talk about this first statement wall (and probably my favourite), we chose the Tropical Blooms Decal to bring in some serious tropical boho vibes throughout our salon. The pops of pink and green with different types of palms transport you to your own little oasis. When you walk in, it’s definitely one of the first things you see (in addition to our beautiful faces haha) and it represents who we are as a brand - warm, fun, colourful, and always welcoming!

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The second area in the salon we placed the decals in was the powder room. For those who are a little shy or need to take a few extra selfies to get that right one - we added a decal for you to do your thing! These Pretty In Pink Peonies Decal are a dream in this space with the fluffy pink bouquets of peonies placed throughout the one wall and it really brightens up the powder room (and they are also one of my favourite flowers!).

This was definitely one project in the salon that didn’t feel like work and it was so easy to do. We love how durable they are, able to withstand high traffic areas and most importantly, the install was a cinch. The entire process from start to finish was incredibly therapeutic, almost like we were creating art. It was an opportunity to put my stresses on hold and focus on transforming this second home of mine into something even more beautiful. 

In just 5 quick steps, we were able to turn our white walls into something so beautiful.  Here were a few of the steps we took to create our statement walls…

  1. Choose the space for your decals. At first, we had an idea in our minds of where the decals would go but after discussing, we felt placing the decals around the gold ‘E’ would create the statement we were going for. 

  2. Give the area a good clean! We cleaned the wall of any dust or dirt that may have collected over time. A damp cloth does the job perfectly.

  3. Map out where the decals go. We knew building around the ‘E’ would be a great starting point but instead of winging it and sticking the decals on right away, we peeled off the backing first to place the decals around it, shifting them around to our liking.

  4. Take a photo of your placements before sticking them! This is so important as decals shift in the process of actually sticking them to the walls. 

  5. Start sticking!! This part was so much fun and loved seeing our work come to life as we stuck each decal on the wall. 

A photo of our initial layout before applying the decals

A photo of our initial layout before applying the decals

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This was truly a fun process - especially when you have a friend to help. We had a lot of laughs and were able to enjoy the afternoon transforming the salon into a space I love even more now (while listening to a good trap music playlist!).

The overall feel of these decals and the purpose of this project was to create a space for everyone to enjoy. I know I’m always saying this, but we strive to be more than just a salon. Since the beginning, I always wanted to create a space that everyone can enjoy, feel at home in, creative in, inspired in and just totally relaxed in. This is a space I want everyone to love, not just me and with these colourful additions - I hope everyone can have fun taking photos of themselves and feel empowered and confident within these walls because it’s more than just hair, it’s about you. 

Check out our IG for more photos of the reveal or shop Curated Walls’ selection of gorgeous decals, wallpaper, and murals for your own space. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the salon and seeing all of your photos of our newly decorated walls! P.S. Don’t forget to tag @curated.walls #curatedwalls and @elevatebeautylofts!

Pammy,

xoxo