Hockey Night In Finland

by Lisa Ovens

Been receiving a few updates from my pal Michelle. She's in Finland on a hockey trip of a life time. A few things I have learned....

-Friday Night is Hockey Night in Finland
-Ball Hockey is televised there.
-On Finnish Hockey schedules, the home team is listed first, then the visiting team. That is the opposite of   Canada.
-It's cold there, but a good kind of cold.






2010 and High Heels Swag Off  Update

It's been a little while since the last 2010 and High Heels Swag Off so I am busy setting up a few more matches to post over the weekend. We last left off with the Finland Reindeer Hats vs. The Cheburashka Russian Doll.

Finland's reindeer Hats won by a landslide: The Cheburashka  Russian doll scored only 28% of the vote!


For information about the 2010 and High Heels Swag Off click on the Round One link below...

To View details on Round One please click here

To view details on Round Two please click here

Round Three will be...Belarus vs. Sweden...stay tuned!

Petro Canada Selects the Winning Correspondents!!!

by Lisa Ovens

Well hello again everyone! I've been off for a few days working on another project, so it's time to get back to business. First up: The Petro Canada Family Correspondents Contest....

Petro Canada's always popular fund raising glasses

Congratulations to the winning duos...the Radoslav's and the Brown Families. Their videos were selected by  the judges who I am sure had their work cut out for them. But here's a new development...Petro Canada added a third prize so another family team will be in on the action: the Van Deckers won, too!!

Kudos to Petro Canada for creating such a unique opportunity: reporting from the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver!. The three teams of families, or what I like to call "The Petro Kins" will fly to Vancouver, and while they enjoy a three night hotel package (includes tickets to three Olympic events, luxury motor coach transportation, dining in fine restaurants, and access to the Co Sport Hospitality Suite) they will also be meeting with Canadian Winter Olympic athletes and their families for interviews that will ultimately wind up on a special Youtube Channel for all to see. Plus they will keep us informed via blogging and twitter. Petro Canada is also giving each team an honorarium to the tune of $2010.00!

My Uncle Steve and I had entered the contest, too, and although we didn't win we had fun "dreaming big", and participating with families from all over Canada. I messaged my facebook friend, Denis Van Decker to congratulate, and suggest we all somehow meet up in Vancouver for a photo op so I can place it here on the 2010 and High Heels blog. I realize the Petro Kin will be on a super busy schedule, but hopefully I can catch them on their way in for the refreshments at the hotel Hospitality Suite!

Best wishes to the Winners and have a safe, happy Journey to Vancouver!

Petro Canada's I Will Dream Big Website

Finnish Reindeer Hat Mission Now Underway....

I saw my friend Michelle off at the YVR Airport this evening. She's on her way to Finland for a Hockey trip of a Lifetime. Readers may recall the reindeer hats pictured above that we saw during the Canada Hockey Cup back in August. We found out the hats were purchased at a marketplace in Helsinki. Michelle will be on the look out for the hats, and if her mission is succesful, I'll be sporting one of these adorable hats on an Olympic day when Team Canada is NOT playing!!

2010 and High Heels Swag Off: Round Two Finland vs. Russia

by Lisa Ovens

Welcome to Round Two of the 2010 and High Heels Olympic Swag Off!

Before we begin round two, congratulations are in order to the winner of Round One, Team USA Olympic Rings Bracelet. The Bangle swag beat out Team Canada's drinking glasses (75% of votes) Click here for Round One.















Now onto Round Two...

Team Finland: Reindeer Antler Hats

The Finnish Reindeer Hat could very well be the must have 2010 Winter Olympic accessory, but you can’t get them in Vancouver (even though the photo was taken at the Hockey Canada Cup Tournament in August) We found out from these two Fin Fans that the Hats are only available at a market in Helsinki, Finland. What we wouldn't do for these hats!! But there is hope: Hockey and High Heels book designer/ field correspondent, Michelle will be searching for these hats on a Finland trip in January.


Team Russia: Cheburashka Doll

CHEBURASHKA, Team Russia Mascot. According to Cheburashka.com, “Troll dolls don’t have a thing on Cheburashka!” Cheburashka dolls were all the rage in Turin, host city of the 2006 Winter Olympics. A red version was Russia’s Mascot in Beijing 2008.

A lead character in a Russian children’s story, Cheburashka was originally from Africa. The wide eyed furry creature managed to find a crate of oranges to eat, fell asleep and then wound up being shipped to Russia along with the oranges. Cheburashka has been melting hearts ever since.

Vote for your favorite Round Two Swag Now...place your votes at the poll located top, right of this page.

Hockey& High Heels Swag-Off: 2010 Olympics Edition!!

by Lisa Ovens

Welcome to the 2010 Olympics Swag Off! Vote for your favorite Swag! Over the next two months we'll be hosting preliminary rounds of swag matches. Come February, the top swag will compete along side the Olympic Ice Hockey Tournaments during the 2010 Winter Games.

  First up: Two competitors that happen to be fundraising swag in the “Under Six Dollars Category."

Team Canada: “The Robson” Tumbler

Team USA Olympic Rings Bracelet

Cast your vote at the polls at the top, on the right!!!!

Round One Swag Statistics....

Petro-Canada 2010 Drinking Glasses CDN $3.99 each ($4.99 when ordered from vancouver2010.com store)
Cheers to Team Canada, eh? Petro-Canada Vancouver 2010 Glasses are one-time only, limited edition keepsakes. Collect the series of Vancouver 2010 Glasses now! Each limited edition glass sold helps support Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Teams at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Petro- Canada recently released the 3rd and fourth glasses: The Garibaldi and The Jericho. Also available, the Capilano.More Drinking Glass info and purchase options click here

Team USA: Olympic Rings Bracelets US $5.95

Wear your support for Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics! The Team Rings bracelets!
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each bracelet benefits the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team. These rubber bangles feature Team USA colors with a silver tone logo, and fits most wrists. Not for kids under three (could be a choking hazard) Order bracelets here

History of the Hockey & High Heels Swag-Off

Pitting souvenirs, merchandise and general swag items against each other was born during the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. My home team, the Vancouver Canucks didn’t make the playoffs, and I needed something to do, so I followed the playoff series matching up team swag corresponding to each round. Click here for the Original swag off page at hockeyandhighheels.com.

Olympic Swag ON DECK: Reindeer Antler Hats from Finland!!!!