flow: Valentines dinner and dance at Naya Bistro - 01/19/09 11:34 PM
Are looking for somewhere to celebrate the holiday?
Well look no further...............February 12, 2009 Thursday, join WCR Western Michigan Chapter at Naya.  What a blast we will have!
Chefs table of 3 courses and paired wine............then Salsa dancing instruction - then the Salsa DJ will play on for a night of dancing!
Now I know we are looking to shed some pounds after the holiday's............so this is a guilt free evening.  Yes you will have a great dinner, but the dancing that will be had after wards will help take off the calories............
So you might say this dinner celebration is good … (0 comments)

flow: A way to donate to F.L.O.W. with everyday shopping - 12/30/08 04:19 AM
A site that has been seen on Oprah has approved us a a charity!  For you on line shoppers check out this site.
They have everything.............flights, hotels, office supplies and at a discount!  so it s a win-win for everyone!
Also may be good for your local charity as well! 
 

 
 
 
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flow: Season end FLOW Garden party! - 10/01/08 12:10 AM
What a great event this was!  I believe all who attended had a good time.  Susan Shaw, our master of ceremonies was great!  Every artist that participated sold something at the art auction, which was a great bonus!  We also were able to raise some money for next year!
Thank you to everyone who attended..................we hope for an even more successful year for F.L.O.W. next year.
Here are a few pics from the party!

 
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flow: Thank you to our volunteers and pictures of the day - 09/21/08 01:13 PM
What a great day Saturday was!  The weather was beautiful and I have never worked with such hard working volunteers!  Remember this is my 2nd year of landscaping Grand Rapids city homes, and these volunteers were outstanding!  They all worked hard and got the job done much earlier then anticipated.
24 Volunteers came from Forest Hills Presbyterian Church mission group, they were eager and ready for work...........I think if I had 10 more yards to do, they would have knocked them out with out hesitation! 
Shelly Abbott with Greenridge Realty is the landscaping coordinator for the FLOW foundation, she did not take … (15 comments)

flow: Landscaping class - and our landscapers - 09/15/08 04:01 AM
Many people have asked this same question about our FLOW foundation..............Once the yard is landscaped how will the home owner know how to take care of it?
Well, if you go to our website and look under homeowners we have addressed this very issue early on. 
The people who are selected from the random drawing have to agree to go to a landscaping class conducted by Landscaper Bill Oomkes at I.C.C.F.  They conduct a 2 part series of caring for your yard.
How to maintain it, how to winterize it and how to start up in the spring.  A very detailed class, which … (0 comments)

flow: A BIG thank you to my senior volunteers from ICCF - 09/09/08 11:36 PM
Collating and book making was the plan for the day yesterday.  ICCF who has partnered with us for the F.L.O.W. foundation, called in their senior volunteers.  We had fun and they worked hard to get it all done.  I got to learn how to use a binding machine!  The books look great.........Mary Mishler made the lay out and Brendan O'Driscoll printed the pages for us.  Which has been wonderful, as everything needed to get this foundation up and running has been donated!  So thus far............every penny donated has been used for the foundation.  Not ONE admin cost as of yet!
This foundation … (2 comments)

flow: My first try at Video Blogging - 08/21/08 10:51 AM
Okay here it goes, I went out several months ago, when everyone here was talking about the Flip camera and purchased one. I have been scared to use it. However I did want a log of the the drawing that took place for the people selected for the landscaping. As you all know we have raised enough money and product to landscape 10 yards in the city of Grand Rapids. So here it is!
For more information about F.L.O.W. (friends landscaping our world) go to earlier blog http://activerain.com/blogsview/639192/F-L-O-W … (2 comments)

flow: **** UPDATED, ART WORK TO BE AUCTIONED**F.L.O.W. Garden Party and Garden Tickets - Ready for your order! - 08/13/08 01:53 AM
We are excited!  September 27, 2008 will be the Garden Tour and Garden Party to celebrate F.L.O.W.'s first years success!
Yes, we have a commitment for 10 yards to be transformed..........and a great party planned!  For those of you that have been to a WCR party, you know we can throw a great party!
Here are the details:
Garden Tour Saturday September 27th, 10am till 4pm
Garden Tour books with maps of the homes cost $10.00
Garden Party - Saturday 27th 5pm - 8pm Tickets Cost 20.00 Ticket price includes:
Entrance to Garden Party Olives Reaturant - Wealth Street - East … (4 comments)

flow: F.L.O.W. Update - Landscaping the Habitat Home “Woman Built” - 06/17/08 01:21 AM
Well, the landscaping of the Woman Built Habitat Home was great fun! We got VERY dirty, and I probably have never worked this hard ever in my life!  I was sore from head to toe and perspired in places that I had no idea there were sweat glands!  It was the hottest day of the year so far!  However we worked hard and got it all done.  What a great sense of accomplishment it was!
WCR members, Mary Mishler (WCR President), Shelly Abbott, Michelle Gordon, and Kathy Thayer were there, along with friends and family members. 
 
 

Shelly on … (0 comments)

flow: We are landscaping the Habitat home Saturday June 7th - 06/03/08 06:47 AM
Anyone want to join us? 
Hello Grand Rapids Realtors............all are welcome.  We are landscaping the Habitat - Woman Built home on Saturday 8am - 4pm.........
This is the home that W.C.R/F.L.O.W. is sponsoring for landscaping.  This should be a very fun day.  You do not need to be a woman to come help............Children are welcome too.  Ages 14 or older are welcome.  This could a great family project.  Bring water and work gloves, the new owners will be making us lunch.
Location:
The Lizardo Family
136 Walter SE
You can check out the pictures of the home on the web site:
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flow: F.L.O.W. Fundraiser at Making Thyme Kitchen - Results - 05/08/08 11:02 AM
We had a wonderful time at the "Making Thyme Kitchen" on Tues May 6th. We tasted some awesome foods served up by our gracious host's Karen and Ken the owners. While the tasting event is over, they're still offering through end of May to give 20% back to FLOW!!!
Mary Kent Realtor with Five Star and Sponsorship sub-chair has this to say:
We sampled the Jamaican Chicken Burgers with Mango Sauce YUMEEE!!! The Sweet Potato and Black Bean Cakes and my personal favorite, Baked Macaroni and Cheese. My usually picky 8 year son loved it too!!
Please help support FLOW and forget about … (0 comments)

flow: A new fund raiser is on its way!!!! - 04/08/08 03:47 AM
Friendly reminder to all, donate your unwanted items or come shop!
Corner Stone University is getting all of our left over yard sale items for their Habitat for Humanity Division, so if we do not sell it, they will! 
 
Yes, it is spring cleaning time.  Do you want something to do with that old junk you have laying around?  Please consider donating to our Yard Sale. 
 
When:  April 26th - Saturday
Time: drop off time 7am - 9am - Sale 9am - 4pm
Where:  Naya Bistro and Wine Bar - 1144 East Paris, SE - Naya will be having a new special - $5.00 off diners … (1 comments)

flow: F.L.O.W. website up and running - 04/03/08 04:23 AM
Hello everyone,
 Just wanted to let everyone know that the "Friends Lanscaping our World" website is now up and running.  We have been working really hard on this.
www.flowgr.com
Many more updates have to take place, so book mark and check back often, but at least we are live now.
 
Hey, I was reading about the video contest ............if someone wants to enter featuring F.L.O.W. I wouldn't mind!  I do not own a video camera, never have, but I was just thinking about buying one, now I know I have to!
Happy spring everyone! 
 
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flow: Our first Fundraiser 03/08/2008!!!!!! - 03/09/08 01:20 AM
I want to thank everyone who participated! This first fundraiser was a HUGE success. We raised $1,000.00! It was so much fun. The hostess for the products were wonderful, and I had the most fun ringing the bell every time some one cashed in at the gold swap. Jennifer Tabor gets a special thank you, as she cashed is 2,500.00 in gold!However our money from this event has not stopped here..........everyone who booked a party from this event, the home shopping reps are donating another 1 percent of all sales from future parties! So money will continue to roll in.Mary Kent … (9 comments)

flow: Curb appeal with Jason Haywood – Signature Outdoor Concepts - 02/14/08 10:48 PM
Yesterday at WCR (Woman's Council of Realtor's) we had Jason Haywood as our guest speaker.  He spoke on contributing to our F.L.O.W. project and curb appeal.
Jason and his crew helped me last summer with the pilot program with F.L.O.W. and landscaped 3 yards at no cost to lower income families.
Curb appeal in my opinion is one of the most important things you can do to your home before listing it.
If you are just starting to think about listing your home, and think maybe in the next year or 2 you will list, this is something I would work on now. 
You … (5 comments)