I added Mary Bratko the Wedding Girl to Canada Blog Friends today and I'm celebrating the timely addition of such a worthy upscale Toronto event coordinator to the index of Canada's best bloggers. Mary is having the time of her life because she loves her job as a GTA wedding planner and that's really obvious in her blog, WeddingGirl.ca It was a pleasure to profile her for the index.

Bad Weather Hair when planning for an outdoor wedding in mixed weather conditions, some hair stylists will take precautions against the elements. They could use stiff hair paralyzing sprays or accessories, or they could just let go and let whatever happens happen... Have you ever seen pictures of a bride and groom in a rain storm? Tell me how did the bride's hair hold up?

Lenzr photo contest was inspired by Lady Gaga’s legendary NYC performance in the pouring rain, this contest asks to see people making the best of their bad weather hair. Sponsored by a Vancouver hair school, (where it rains a lot) the match offers $500 worth of AVEDA Pure Plant and Flower Essence Lifestyle products as prize. This is a great reward - you don't know how good these hair and skin care products are until you actually get to try them out yourself.

Hair Styling Trends for 2012 is another match on lenzr and this one asks shutterbugs and fashion devotees to gaze ahead and help predict the future. Submit original photography showing what you believe will be popular hair fashion trends in 2012.

Sponsored by a fashionable and new thinking Winnipeg hair school, this match will make a gallery of visual predictions - it will be thrilling to look back and see who was right. PRIZE Win $500 worth of Pure Plant and Flower Essence Lifestyle products. There's more information on both Aveda Contests on Price Network and I wrote about the Aveda hair rewarding matches on Roberrific on Squarespace blog.

Last but not least, the Aveda Institute scholarship video contest could be the best opportunity for a young stylist ever hosted free online - the match will yield five winners! Enter before March 31st 2011 and one could be one of five applicants to win free tuition at an Aveda Institute hair school across Canada, in Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria

The Toronto Christmas Market is a massive holiday spectacle that will attract over a quarter of a million people into the red brick denizens of the historic Distillery District at 55 Mill St in the city's harbour portlands - the oldest part of what was once called Muddy York. I took a walk around the place on Friday morning, before the crowds showed up, to capture some great shots of the cobblestones streets and wooden vendor shacks all lined up and waiting for their tenants.

Toronto Christmas Market

The old fashioned clock is fitted with a selenium solar cap that makes a small electric current to power an elecromagnet that holds open a reed switch which when closed, in the absense of the sunlight powered magnet, another current opens a circuit to power the bulbs behind the clock's enormous faces. These entire white frontispieces are illuminated , or rather they become the light sources and they generate an immense glow that lights up the entire courtyard. Toronto mortgage broker

The clock has been damaged by delivery trucks reversing three times in the last three years, and now it has metal barriers erected around it's base - but they are quite low to the ground and I wonder if they are not perhaps too short. It seems to me most delivery trucks have rather tall rear bumpers. Beep beeep beep - we could be back where we started.

The Premier Antiques Show and Sale in the Metro Toronto Convention Center boasts, ‘Decorative arts, Canadiana, vintage designs and accessories, fine jewelry, and objects of art.‘  Its absolutely packed with treasure!

I wrote about the extravangaza on Premier Antique Show Oct 28 in Toronto on Dumpdiggers, which is my 'antiques blog' about digging and collecting artifacts and antiques as investment in the future. You really are betting on the future when you buy relics and objects that are only valuable if people know and appreciate the history - a distressed population doesnt buy antiques.

This show and the others in the Premier series showcase the best stuff on the pro tour; The Premier brand shows are like the PGA of Antiques here in Canada. I wrote a piece describing my obsession for order, context, and how Antiques Shows are like Museums on Acid on Treasure Net discussion forum  

In near future, it may come to pass that cloud computing yields an advanced inventory management crowd sourced application for mobile phones that will sort through everything present at antiques shows and tell users where to find all the bits and pieces of a particular time period or genre. So users can query the database and the program will direct these curious shoppers to the exact stalls filled with relevant goods for sale. So its possible to complete sets or make collections more complete or even just find the missing buttons from a vintage jacket. The woman in the photo is Julie, a vintage clothing merchant at Toronto antiques show.

She had many fine items on display and was modeling dresses to younger ladies when I came around the corner and spotted her in pretty much the exact center of the busy show. She was busy but took the time to show me a vintage needle point clutch purse that is valuable because of the jade handle and torquiose beads. It has a very high thread count and spotless interior lining - possible a new addition because its in such great shape. This is the vintage stuff that's handmade and you can tell because of the organic ingredients wherein nothing is synthetic , or polyester even the metal is plated and polished - the interior is lined with white silk.

On October 1st 2011 these three ladies spent some time together in Donna Dolphy Yorkville hair salon.  In the picture below, a moment in the sun, you see Marie Jo Thompson beside Donna Dolphy and that's 23yr old Danielle Thompson on the right hand side. She is the winning photographer in the Haircuts and Hair Styles photo contest on Lenzr that ended on Sept 1st 2011.

Haircuts and Hairstyles was a business story told by the people for the people on behalf of Donna's Yorkville salon.

Danielle was rewarded with a flat iron and a hair dryer. Both are expensive salon quality implements.  This is the happy ending. Look at Danielle's hair before and after (top and bottom) it was styled by Donna, that's another part of the story.

The Art of Capturing Details in Nature in Landscape Photography

Business wants to appear green and mother nature needs to be visible all around industry to sanitize its unwholesome  appearance.

Landscaping and Lawn Care photo contest on Lenzr challenges landscape photographers. Partipants could win $250 worth of battery operated power tools courtesy of an eco friendly property maintenance company that uses solar powered trailers to recharge battery operated equipment.

What is Brand Personality?

Later in October, Lenzr was honoured further when Richard Carmichael wrote about the current contests and Business Storytelling in his Just Be Frank blog. He penned a dissertation about brand personality and the high quality business storytelling of Nora Camps of Duo.ca and in particular her decision to use a Lenzr photo contest to crowd source images for Canadian Harvest business story. This is how she engineeers an orchestra of particpation to help businesses prosper online in an age of earned media. Richard writes, "Brand personality is the personification of your organization or product. Virgin Group, which includes Virgin Records, Virgin Airways and Virgin Mobile, is a great example of a brand with personality."

CANADIAN HARVEST photo contest on Lenzr for business storytelling

Nora Camps runs DUO Strategy and Design Inc, a brand personality and business storytelling consulting agency in Toronto. She is sponsoring the challenge to evidence Lenzr's ability to collect and display themed pictures opn a aseparate page of her website. Duo Strategy and Design is also making $400 CAN photo licensing agreementavailable to the perfect image that Nora can use in further marketing endeavours related to the Canadian Harvest photo contest.

Lauren Howe, Miss Teen Canada World came to visit Toronto’s Distillery District and went on tour of Toronto's beautiful tourist hot spot. Lauren was very happy to be at the district, she took photographs with tourists and signed autographs. For a change, it wasn’t hot outside due to the heavy rain. But the rain did not the stop the events of the day, Lauren did an interview with Farid Omar from Digital Journal, discussing her platform and what her titles truly means to her. She also went on a photo shoot around the historic area. She also took part in a segway tour which talked about the history of Distillery District and it's impact on the process manufacturing and lean manufacturing industry. Next she enjoyed a delicious lunch. Lots of photos were taken of her exploring the Distillery District and stopping by all the shops and café’s.

Lauren arrived ready for her photo shoot, her hair looked beautifully blown out and her makeup was perfectly natural. She was photographed doing everyday things and being herself. She talked about her favorite foods and fruits. One of Lauren’s passions is healthy eating. She believes in looking your best and doing what is healthy for your body. She made tiny desserts and fruity drinks featuring a great chill from a stainless steel ice cube tray. Because of her strong passion for science and biology, she is always thinking about how a meal affects your mood and the importance of exercise. In her senior year of high school, Lauren was the captain of the field hockey team. She definitely enjoys being active outdoors, love exploring new places and meeting new people.

Fluent in French and English, Lauren was proud to represent Canada in the Teen World competition in Houston, TX. The big show consisted of three events, swimsuit, evening gown and costume. Lauren was very excited about the Costume portion of the show. The costume is a representation of your country in dress form. Lauren wore a strapless white dress with red maple leafs on it. She also wore a snow like sash to represent to the snowy months of winter we get in Canada. The beautiful 18 year old is very excited that she had the chance to represent Canada in an international setting. She competed against 24 other young women for lavish gifts from sponsors, a scholarship for secondary schooling and the international title. Lauren Howe was the fourth runner up and won Miss Teen Congeniality.

After touring the district on a segway, Lauren went for lunch at the Pure Spirits Oyster House and Grill. The meal was a delight, but the company was even more exciting. Lauren spoke about her role models and what she wants to do in school. She hopes to get a degree in business and sciences; and in the future, run a pharmaceutical company. Lauren will be attending Mc Gill University in the fall of 2011 to begin her secondary education and road to success. While enjoying her freshly made Thai salad at Pure Spirits, she spoke about her admiration for Oprah Winfrey and the fact that she has over come so many obstacles; on her way to becoming one of the most powerful women in the world. Lauren relates to Oprah because they were both bullied at a young age and seeing Oprah’s success has been a great inspiration for Lauren. She has a lot of love for the Canadian music scene and is a huge fan of the band Down with Webster. She loves to play the piano and sing along to their song, ‘Your Man’.

Stay up to date with Lauren’s journey on the Miss Teen Canada World Blog.

Lenzr photo contests always aim to challenge contestants. The themes for each contest are different, and in some cases, unusual. Many would not consider fireplaces or haircuts as the breeding ground for creativity, but that completely depends on the way you see things through your camera’s lens. The 4 new Lenzr contests play with your perception, and ours; it's about what's beautiful to you. Do you find beauty in unique angles or is it lighting? Give these contests a try in order to win some awesome prizes.

The first photo contest is Fireplaces and Furnaces. The inspiration behind this contest came from the fact that the summer weather feels hotter than a furnace! An added trick to this challenge is that your picture must be taken indoors in order to qualify. Being the middle of summer it might be difficult to capture the cozy setting (told you we aim to challenge photographers). Your shot can be of you and others gathered by a fireplace or demonstrating how you use a furnace in your everyday activities. You will have to gather votes for your image to make it part of the top 10. The winner of this contest will receive a Sony laptop courtesy of an Ontario furnace installer. After all, the summertime is the best time, cost-wise, to consider furnace replacement.

The second photo contest on the go is Toronto Tourist Attractions. Residents of Toronto may not realize the allure of Ontario's capital. But Toronto is not only just a great starting point for gorgeous destinations such as Niagara Falls and the Muskokas, it's a world-class city that truly has something for everyone. So channel your inner travel photographer; think about what you would like to see in a travel publication. The winner of this contest will receive an inflatable SeaEagle kayak. Exciting and definitely fun for the season, the kayak weighs only 26 lbs and can be folded into a backpack. The prize is courtesy of a Toronto bed and breakfast that’s as downtown as you’ll find in Canada’s largest city.

The third photo contest is Haircuts and Hairstyles. Think of all the photographs you have taken over the years with your favorite hairstyles. Did they feature braids, twists, curls or mullets? If you have a favourite hairstyle or a friend with a must-see 'do, send your photo into Lenzr's playing field! Submit a photo of a beautiful or unusual hairstyle. The best submission will win a high-end blow dryer and flat iron courtesy of a newly-opened Yorkville salon. The fun part about these prizes is that you can use the flat iron to curl the hair as well (it may take some practice, though).

The Objects in Motion photo contest is the toughest contest of the bunch. You will need a decent camera to perfect the winning shot. This contest asks contestants to take a picture of an object as it’s moving. Make the image unique and an incredible capture; think a person spinning in the middle of a dance, or your child running up towards you for a hug. Let your shot illustrate the trajectory route of what's moving--make that the focal point of your photograph. The winner of this contest will receive a Sony laptop courtesy of an international air freight company that’s constantly keeping objects in motion over land, sea and sky.

Lauren Howe, Canada's newly crowned Miss Teen Canada-World, made a last appearance in Toronto's Distillery District yesterday before heading off to Houston, TX, for the international Teen Competition which begins on August 1, 2011. Lauren's visit to the Distillery on a rainy summer afternoon included an interview with DigitalJournal's Farid Omar, a Segway tour, lunch at Pure Spirits Oyster Bar and more. Lauren is about to embark on the most exciting (and high-pressure) experience of her young life! Stay tuned for more posts on Lauren and her journey to the finals in Texas. Best wishes, Lauren--Canada is with you in spirit!

To read the DigitalJournal article about Lauren's humanitarian work, click here.

Lauren Howe is 2011 Miss Teen Canada World - July 16th 2011. Here she is standing with... moments before winning the crown in front of a very large live audience at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Exhibition Place, Toronto Ontario. Previous to this evening's spectacle and her spectacular achievements, this contestant was listed on the program as Miss Teen Ontario and she was also known for her great blogging in that capacity. The

Arob12 wrote about Lauren Howe as Miss Teen Canada World - he's already chronicled her victory on his blog.

There were over seventy competitorsarrive in Toronto on July 9th united in a common quest to put on a good show as they compete for the crown .

Well there was some attention from fashion and modeling moguls and film and television producers and commercial directors and so many opportunities for young girls are still happening online because of their blogs and the massive impact our Miss Teen Canada Blog Network makes on the internet. Here's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some young person to get discovered - nobdoy can ignore all the fashion and beauty media we make online today because of our 75 blogs and very loud voices on Facebook and Twitter. Here's where our real talent gets discovered and more than one person really can live the rest of their lives as celebrities because of our network - thats my fantasy. You all have your dreams and that's my dream - to build a network that gets particpants discovered and helps them build careers or get accepted to better programs etc because of their involvement.

Lauren Howe becomes the 2011 Miss Teen Canada - World

She was selected as the brightest, boldest and most outwardly and inwardly beautiful girl of this year's competition. Read how she felt the moment they called her name, http://www.missteenontario.ca/miss-teen-canada-world/

Here are the Saskatchewan finalists gathered in a squad at the hotel - the picture was taken as they took a break from rehearsing the components of the big show. There were more finalists from Saskatchewn than ever before - they were second behind Ontario for the province with most girls entered into the 2011 Search.  All week they really got to know one another, as there was a lot of dancing and rehearsals and coordinated moves to practice. OBSERVATION Its my belief that the girls in the front row of the big show are the ones that shine the brightest... My own observations would also include the fact that the winner is usually among the girls in the front row of the opening dance number.

All week they paractised the opening and closing dance numbers of the show. And yes of course they went out and explored the city too - they went out to many diverse shops, cafeterias and eateries and places near and far away from the hotel home base. They even visited Queen Street W legendary vintage shops, fashion, art, cafes, and even sidewalk vendors and buskars - lots of great photos of hippie characters appear in the girls blogs after this day.

They met Queen West Girl and then went bowling and ate strange dinners between strolling, boating and of course shopping in the city - they went to some major Toronto tourist attractions including the CN Tower and Style Exchange on Queen W where they bought Marc Jacob at 50% discount. Chaperones and administration, hotel security and nervous parents watched as media people hovered and snapped shots of the particpants from all across our great nation coming together.

They all bunked down at night at the Royal York hotel, two to a room, on their own floor of this historic and venerated 1930's era hotel under the watchful eye of security, and of course many of the parents stayed in the hotel too (except one couple who were nicely accomodated in a downtown Toronto bed and breakfast that's right on Toronto's waterfront - cute) The girls were down there too, and on the hippobus which went all along the lakeshore and took in the sights and sounds of Toronto in the summer. The weather was perfect that day, and it was a magical expedition.

Lauren Howe (center) was outstanding right from the start. She shined bright in the interviews , as seen on the video during the show, and by all accounts she was cordial courteous and confident. This year I wasnt able to get the time off work or to play a very big part in the actual Search, but I did get a chance to visit the participants and speak to a gathering of good bloggers when I visited Miss Teen Canada World on Registration Day this year - on the 9th of July. I spoke to the bloggers about their valued particpation in the Miss Teen Canada - World  blog network and how that could grow into a great tool for their own personal exposure and collective media focusing tool. The benfits of being in this event dont end just because the pageant week is over and Lauren has a crown - the blog network could bring much needed media attention all their singing, dancing, magic acts and media hooks - it would work especially well if they aspired to become filmmakers or photographers.

Lenzr.com has launched another set of photo contests that really speak to the summer weather. Each contest asks participants to either spend time outdoors or have some major fun in order to be creative with their shots. Thinking outside the box is a must in order to impress the Lenzr Judges and these contests ask for nothing less than exceptional. So get your sunblock and that party outfit ready to take on these challenges and win yourself some incredible prizes.

Construction Sights:

The first contest for this cycle is called Construction Sights. Contestants are asked to bring out the beauty behind a construction site. Don't just think of this as a dusty and dirty environment, instead, consider the fact that something is being built, transformed or updated to higher standards. At the end of the ruckus we all get to benefit from new roads or buildings. Since this season has a lot of that going on right now, it shouldn’t be too hard to find the opportunity to get snapping.

Go out for a walk and bring your camera along with you--with this weather, you are sure to find a construction sight along your path. Capture the beauty behind workers successfully completing their jobs and the improvement of your city. The winner will receive a Sony laptop courtesy of an Ottawa windows company. They are known for their expertise and quality work. Another thing this sponsor is known for is their exceptional customer service. The family owned business has been successful for more than 35 years because they deliver a smile along with their windows and roofing services. Offering 4 different types of roofing and service for windows and doors, they are the number one choice for home owners in Canada's capitol.

Best Staff Office Party:

Finding a great job nowadays can be very hard. It's important to find a place with a perfect balance of professionalism and fun. With the economy finally making steps towards a recovery, more and more opportunities are opening up for young professionals. Celebrate your career and take part in The Best Staff Office Party photo contest. Participants are asked to capture images of some of the best times they have had with their co workers. It can be a co worker’s birthday celebration or Christmas party. The idea is to showcase the most fun you or your co workers have shared and the everlasting bond created through it. Was the highlight of the night your boss serving drinks, or dressed up as Santa? Relive those moments and win yourself the prize of this contest. The winner will receive a Sony Laptop courtesy of an IT staff firm. This firm specializes in linking employers with young professionals on the job hunt. If you are looking for help finding a new employee or searching for your future career, they are there to help.

A Counting Exercise:

The A Counting Exercise is very unique because it means something different to each and every one of us. Participants are asked to take pictures of repeating patterns that can be counted in a photograph. This contest is great for those constantly on the count; try to count the number of colors there are in a pattern on a shirt, or the number of red cars you see parked on the street. If you love counting then this is the contest for you. Go out and capture images of your mathematical distraction and have some fun with it. The Winner of this photo contest will receive a Sony laptop courtesy of web savvy North York accountants. The firm specializes in counting your numbers so you don't have to. Finding a great accountant can be very hard. The trick is to find a firm that treats your business as if it is theirs and understand the impact each step has on the future of a company. Your company's success should be your accountant's number one interest. The sponsor of this contest stands behind their services and offer the upmost quality and efficiency when it comes a business's needs.

Shafts of Sunlight:

There is nothing more comforting than waking up to a beam of light coming through your window. It's very comforting knowing that the sun is out and that it's time for summer. This contest is very calming to the soul. Participants in the Shafts Of Sunlight photo contest are asked to make a shaft of light seem tangible. It needs to look like something the judges can hold. Any photographer understands the challenge behind this contest so make sure you get a good night sleep in order to win.

Photos can be taken indoors as they brighten and uplift the mood of the room. The winner for this contest will receive a Sony DSCH70 Camera, sponsored by sunrooms in Ontario Canada. The state of the art sunrooms allow you to enjoy the view outside your home while maintaining your home's security. The contests all have a ten day Voting Period that begins July 15th and ends July 25th. During that time, other members and visitors to the site will be prompted to rate the pictures. You can promote your photo to all your friends and get as many votes as possible. Only the ten photos with the most votes get to advance to the Lenzr Judges on July 25th. The Judges will deliberate and the winner will be announced on the Lenzr Blog on August 1st. You must be 13 yrs+ to enter. Open to all Canadian provinces, excluding Quebec. For more information on the blogs, check out the Lenzr Blog.

Time of Change with Lenzr Photo Challenges

If you are an Artist you understand that you need to challenge yourself from time to time.  Spring is a good time to set new goals and here is some help from Lenzr with some photography objectives.  Exciting photo contests with new deadlines for May 25 when the online voting is finished.   Make a plan and implement it with your creativity eye with the camera.  The contests are different from the last nine and Lenzr has made new connections.  They have supportive photography sponsors with valuable prizes for the best photos.  Incredible considering the contests are free to enter.  With as many photos as you have the desire to take you are on your way to some self promotion, which we all could use a bit more of.  

A photo contest with a flare for relaxing and fun is the Best Cottage Moments.  This challenge can transfer you into the summer time pleasure escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Everyone likes to feel comfortable and there are different types of comfort.  Many find thier rustic living in the cottage for a while a source of great comfort.  Some fortunate people who have the luxery of owning a cottage or a cabins  may love this contest even just to look and compare the lifestyles away from home.  Take your camera and capture magical moments of spiritual connection by the campfire in the woods.  Lenzr wants us to treasure our canoeing trips and jumps in the lake with the dog.    The prize of a Sony Cyber-shot H70 camera is given to the winner with the best photo thanks to a support from an amazing Muskoka Cottage that is for sale by the owner.   It's not about quantity with these photos it's about quality.  City life is fun and exciting but lets celebrate the cottage lifestyle. 

What's In Your Fridge is a great chance to get creative in the kitchen without cooking.   That's right, if you don't feel like cooking take the camera when your honey is busy fixing something up and open that fridge.  It's a good excuse to use your imagination while in the fridge while hopefully not getting into trouble. Doesn't everyone love to play and enjoy themselves in the kitchen?    Nutritionists might love this photo contest for the exploration they can do.  Lenzr wants to see some  creativity with these photos.  Play with lighting techniques and perspectives.  Try some unique combinations that will keep us guessing.  Look for objects in your fridge that will make amazing compositions.   It's a good chance to explore this potential of your condiments, stain and spills.  The decided winner  will win 500 dollars worth of groceries thanks to the sponsors who specializes in printable coupons and sharing deals.  They like people to share and make it easy online or with your phone to do so.  Social networking sites are a great place to take advantage and share the wealth.

Shiny Metal Surfaces a photo contest for people who love the bling.  Just kidding but it could be an excellent chance to share those photos that you already have taken.  Or the opportunity to look at metal objects in an artistic innovative way. There are already some extradinary photos posted on the Lenzr site.  But don't be defeated there is room for many photos.   Look around while you approach your day and do visual research of metal surfaces.  What makes them so interesting. They are everwhere, in our kitchen, the sides of buildings exteriors, in the bathroom and in the bedroom.    Get the camera lens up close and try some unique  techniques that will captivate us.  Try to capture images of hub caps,  toilet handles, table legs, pop cans and frying pans.   A Sony Cyber-shot digital camera with a 10 x optical zoom lens and HD movie mode will make winning a great experience.   The people who like working with metal panels helped to make this prize possible.   Don't pass up this chance with your camera.  There's nothing to lose.

A photo contest called the Weather the Storm might give you the shivers.  Hopefully not, or at least they will be stunning weather moments.  You don't have to become a tornadoe chaser but it might help.  Always have your camera handy when the storm clouds start rolling in.  Heavy rain falls could leave you wet but if your camera is protected from the elements you could have a great photo experience. Snow storms, floods and incredibly gusty winds that blow your hat off could be great opportunities for this challenge.   The talented photo winner will be the winner of a Sony digital camera with a 16.1 megapixel, and sweep panorama mode.  It also has many other features like an optical steady shot great for shaky moments. This digital prize is thanks to people involved in commercial roofing and providing comfort indoors. May 15th is when the online voting begins and will be finished  May 25th 2011.  There will be top ten photos of each contest that will go to the judging process where a winner will announced. Set some objectives, make some plans, and then grab your camera and implement them with action.   Upload your photos for free and dont' forget to write a brief background about the pics.  Check out the competition and the judges to find out what Lenzr is looking for in a contest winner.  Let yourself be moved and inspired.