Most people have already heard, a couple weeks ago Angelina Jolie came out and shared a very private matter with the world....

Angelina chose to have a double mastectomy after finding out she had a high risk of developing breast cancer. Her decision I can imagine was not taken lightly, especially after watching her mother lose her battle to breast cancer after fighting it for over a decade. 

By choosing this route she lowered her risk from 87% down to 5%. But more importantly she was able to take control of her own medical situation without letting it take control of her. 

Angelina Jolie hasn't done any interviews but did write an article for the New York Times in an effort to empower other women to get tested. As a celebrity she brought light to a very sensitive topic, to read her piece visit the following link:

Angelina Jolie - My Medical Choice 

Many of you may have read and know my strong feelings for making sure all the women I know get tested. For our family it hit home because we have had a couple friends develop breast cancer and thankfully are presently cancer free. But both chose to have a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy for their own reasons. 

It takes a lot of strength and courage to go through fighting against any disease or serious illness, but Angelina deserves a lot of credit for putting a face to women considering this surgery. It is a very difficult decision for a woman to decide to remove a very important part of their body - their breasts. Much like shaving off our hair, how we look is part of our identity, part of how we identify as women. Angelina is a very beautiful woman and her surgery hasn't changed that.

Only a couple days ago it was released that her aunt also lost her battle to breast cancer. She had the same defective gene that prompted Angelina to have her surgery. As hard on the family as this might be, this likely only re-assured them that she made the right decision.

If you are over 40 please go for your mammogram if you haven't already and make it a regular practice to do self examinations.

We had Dine Out Vancouver and the Bite of White Rock earlier on in the year and now we have the 1st annual Surrey Restaurant Week.

Surrey Restaurant Week began last Friday May 24th and runs until June 2 with over 35 restaurants offering set menu prices of $20, $30 and $40.

For more details on participating restaurants visit the Surrey Restaurant Week website in the following link:

Surrey Restaurant Week

Starting tomorrow until Saturday check out the Surrey Children's Festival for some great performances, arts and crafts for kids of all ages.

Check out the Surrey Children's Festival website in the following link for event times and admission prices:

Surrey Children's Festival

The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair would not be complete without the Cloverdale Rodeo Parade. 

HomeLife wouldn't miss being a part of the parade and once again we will be handing out candy to the crowd as we march in tomorrow's parade.

The parade starts at 10:00am tomorrow Saturday May 18th. Be sure to get there early to get a good seat for the kids as the streets fill up fast. 

For details on the route visit the following link:

Cloverdale Rodeo Parade  

Cloverdale is the place to be starting Friday May 17-20 for the annual Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair ...guaranteed fun for the whole family! The Country Fair is the largest in the Fraser Valley with lots of games and rides for everyone.

From a lumberjack show, to the world freestyle skateboarding round up and even the 2nd annual Cowboy Cookoff Rib Fest and BBQ competition. There is lots to see and do this year.

For more details on all the events and times visit the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair website in the following:

 Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair

Looks like the Liberals have won a Majority government this evening in the BC provincial election. Definitely an interesting election here in BC and will be interesting to see what the next 4 years will bring us.

What did you think of today's BC election? 

Easy Ways to "Go Green" These days, most people want to do their bit to help the environment. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing, or able, to install solar panels on their roof or implement an in-ground heat recovery system. Luckily, there are many smaller things you can do that can make a big difference. Here are some ideas that can help you "go green" easily and inexpensively. Get a recycling bin and learn how to use it. Most jurisdictions have a recycling program. You may be able to get a rebate on your recycling bin or even get it for free. Keep a list of items that can be recycled on your fridge door, so that everyone in the family can participate. Get a kitchen compost bin. Find out if your jurisdiction has a compost pick-up program. If they do, get a kitchen compost bin. Composting can reduce landfill waste by as much as 32%. Use energy-saving light bulbs. Low energy light bulbs have come a long way in recent years. Their consistent glow and brightness now rival their incandescent counterparts. By replacing regular 40-watt bulbs with energy saving 8-watt bulbs, you could save nearly 50% of the electricity you used for lighting. Results may vary by brand. Shop for local produce. Many grocery stores and supermarkets offer produce – fruits, vegetables, – that are grown within a 100 mile radius. The short transportation distance, means significantly less fossil fuel is required to get the produce delivered to your local store. Keep in mind that some non-local produce, such as apples in the off-season, often need to be transported thousands of miles. Let nature do the work. As an alternative to air conditioning, open windows and block out the passive heat gain from the sun with curtains. Do the opposite in winter. Strategically using curtains and windows can lower your energy bill by as much as 20%. As you can see, you don't have to do much to have a "greener" home. Just a few little changes can make a big difference. Easy Ways to "Go Green"

These days, most people want to do their bit to help the environment. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing, or able, to install solar panels on their roof or implement an in-ground heat recovery system.

Luckily, there are many smaller things you can do that can make a big difference. Here are some ideas that can help you "go green" easily and inexpensively.

Get a recycling bin and learn how to use it. Most jurisdictions have a recycling program. You may be able to get a rebate on your recycling bin or even get it for free. Keep a list of items that can be recycled on your fridge door, so that everyone in the family can participate.

Get a kitchen compost bin. Find out if your jurisdiction has a compost pick-up program. If they do, get a kitchen compost bin. Composting can reduce landfill waste by as much as 32%.

For Surrey residents their new program is a good program offering both recycling and composting solutions.

Use energy-saving light bulbs. Low energy light bulbs have come a long way in recent years. Their consistent glow and brightness now rival their incandescent counterparts. By replacing regular 40-watt bulbs with energy saving 8-watt bulbs, you could save nearly 50% of the electricity you used for lighting. Results may vary by brand.

Shop for local produce. Many grocery stores and supermarkets offer produce – fruits, vegetables, – that are grown within a 100 mile radius. The short transportation distance, means significantly less fossil fuel is required to get the produce delivered to your local store. Keep in mind that some non-local produce, such as apples in the off-season, often need to be transported thousands of miles.

Let nature do the work. As an alternative to air conditioning, open windows and block out the passive heat gain from the sun with curtains. Do the opposite in winter. Strategically using curtains and windows can lower your energy bill by as much as 20%.

As you can see, you don't have to do much to have a "greener" home. Just a few little changes can make a big difference.

Hiring The Right Moving Company...

How do you select the best moving company for your needs?

• Ask for recommendations from friends or other professionals in the local real estate industry.

• Beware of fly-by-night operations. They may seem like a bargain, but you get what you pay for.

• Does the company provide you with a written estimate and contract?(Beware of movers that just give you a price over the phone.)

• Ask if they are covered by insurance, and what their policy is regarding lost or broken items. Make sure you receive a copy of their insurance certificate.

Finally, always ask what circumstances would result in extra charges being applied. The number one complaint received about movers by the Better Business Bureau is unexpected extra charges. 

Questions about moving? Gice us a call today!

Really hope the weather holds out for Clayton Community Festival tomorrow. If it is anything like last year it is bound to be a lot of fun for everyone! 

Clayton Community Festival is very much Cloverdale's rodeo week kick off. With entertainment on both sides of Fraser Highway and all the merchants from Hillcrest Village and Clayton Crossing . A free family event with lots of music, face painting, games, free samples and so much more.

If you're looking for something to do with the family tomorrow stop by Clayton Community Festival from 11am-3pm at 188th & Fraser Hwy.