2017: Some Highlights

We walked down memory lane a couple of days ago with a post dedicated to my 2017 sponsors. Today, I’d like to share a some additional highlights from 2017.

1. Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation: I continued my fundraising efforts again offline and online (#WhiteCabanaWearsPink) this year, and I was able to donate $250 to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Fund (October). I ran the 5K here in Kitchener-Waterloo alongside survivors, supporters, friends, and family.

2. BlogPodium: I hadn’t been to BlogPodium – Canadian conference for bloggers – for a couple of years, and I was thrilled to attend this year (September). I met up with bloggers I’ve known for years and met so many new people. It was an enriching and fun day, and I learned a lot.

3. Style at Home: I still can’t believe my house was featured in Canada’s Style at Home magazine (June issue, page 40) and again in Style at Home’s High/Low Special Issue. People still bring it up or find me because of it all these months later. This was really a dream come true!

4. Travel: Traveling is always a highlight for me. In 2017, I took a chance on a new hotel in Buffalo, NY, and I was pleasantly surprised by both the hotel and the city. Who knew Buffalo had much more to offer than outlet malls? I also enjoyed a great trip to Nashville this month, and I’ve been sharing my reviews offline to friends and family. Next week, I’ll share my recap online, too. And, of course, I headed to North Carolina to visit my nephews and niece (and sister and brother-in-law, too) and had a great time playing around with all of them! Finally, I took my yearly summer trip to Florida and enjoyed just over two weeks of serious relaxation on the Gulf Coast.

5. Invited Speaker: I was thrilled to be invited to give a presentation about blogging to upper year design students at Sheridan Oakville (#WhiteCabanaGoestoSheridan). I do love teaching, and this opportunity meant that I got to work with students in a new, creative environment on aspects of blogging and writing.

2017 was a great year, overall, and I’m grateful for the opportunities that came my way, and I am proud of all that I was able to accomplish both on- and offline. I’m certainly eager for 2018, too, as I’ve got a few special projects already in the works, and I’m hopeful for a fabulous next 12 months!

Sponsor Love 2017

As has been my tradition for the last few years, I’m ending this year with a post featuring the brands I’ve been fortunate to work with in 2017. Each year, I am grateful for meeting amazing, intelligent, and interesting brand reps, company owners, and press team members who teach me more about the blogger-brand partnership and who are keen on working on creative projects. I have worked with some of these brands for years now, and I’m certainly happy about our relationships.

Audi KW

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Caribou Cabin

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Fairmont Montebello

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Hotel Henry

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L.L. Bean

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Loews Vanderbilt Hotel

full post to come in January

Minted

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Ritz Carlton

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Rowenta

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Seabags

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Smith Publicity

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Thousand

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I look forward to partnering with old and new brands in 2018 to continue to share with you interesting products and helpful services in the marketplace as well as travel itineraries that encourage you to explore the world. I’m always eager to learn something new, to experience something new, and to return to ol’ favourites.

Thanks, dear sponsors, for supporting my work here at White Cabana, and thanks, dear readers, for making time in your day to visit White Cabana.

Sponsors listed in alphabetical order. All photos are my own (except the LLBean photo). See Sponsor Love 2016, Sponsor Love 2015, and Sponsor Love 2014.

The Friday Five: 5 Things to Do This Month

Here are five festive things to add to your to do list this month.

1. Set a pretty table for you and your guests.

Emily Henderson

2. Make a gingerbread house with little ones in your life.

Keys to Inspiration

3. Wrap presents in a signature style.

Almost Makes Perfect

4. Enjoy an evening by the warm fire.

Wit and Delight

5. Bake up something delicious to share with family and friends.

Your Marketing BFF

Have a great weekend, everyone!