Hi. I’m Crystal Luxmore, a journalist & communications consultant in Toronto, Canada. My work has appeared in the Toronto Star and the Birmingham Post & Mail newspapers, The Walrus, Precedent, CBC.ca, msn.ca and let’s not forget, Waste Management World. I also like sound and work as a national news anchor, Wednesday co-host and associate producer on Take 5, CIUT 89.5 FM’s flagship current affairs, arts and literature morning show on public radio. Our signal goes from Barrie to Buffalo.
This blog is dedicated to my Memere – a courageous, loving, single mother who raised three wonderful daughters on a dishwasher’s wage. While the blog was once dedicated to thrift (see below), it’s since morphed to encompass everything encountered in life’s daily grind – from news, to food, to family.
Why blog on thrift?
Thrift is in my blood. From coupon clipping, to packed lunches, to family vacations in a souped-up 34-year-old Airstream trailer, my parents always believed in getting the most for their money.
I too am a penny pincher. I’ve joyfully hunted for treasures in outlets and warehouse sales, mall sidewalk sales, thrift stores, car boot and garage sales for all my 29 years, from small town Northern Ontario, to Toronto, Japan, South East Asia, England, and now, Toronto.
16 Comments
February 14, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Hey Sis,
I LOVE your site!! It is fantastic and very original! I wish I had half of your writing talent, I truly think you are the next Carrie Bradshaw (except married with kids!). Well we are all fine here, we had a snow day so Joe and I staying i all day and napped for 2 hours, hurray! Looking forward to more tips…remember the milk bags!
Jenn
March 3, 2007 at 2:38 pm
CRYSTAL LUXMORE IS FABULOUS.
Hi Crystal. Hope your birthday weekend is going well.
I like your ideas and appreciate your “less-is-more” attitude. When you’re home we’ll go to Kensington and Value Village to celebrate your talents with thriftiness.
(I really wish my phone book wasn’t packed and the server at work wasn’t down. I’d call ya right now, but alas, the phone number is not in my cell phone!)
Congrats with the bloggy-blog. It’s pretty cool.
May 17, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Hi Crystal,
I read an article you recently wrote about the mordern Jesus army in Birmingham.
I’m curious to know what your personal opinion was after going to the meeting.
Feel free to email me.
Darren.
December 7, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Hi working on a project that you might be able to help me with. Can you email me ASAP? thanks – kally
January 23, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Hi Crystal,
I am great neice of Wilfred Rochon whose grandmother was Hannah Neveau and grandfather was James Miller. When I googled Hannah I found your article about your trip and meeting the Miller’s ancestors. Could we be related somehow and do you know any more about my Indian heritage. Irene Rochon, sister to Wilfred Rochon, is my grandmother, mother to Joan Howard. Her grandmother was Lorena Rochon. I also am thrifty so I would love to subscribed to your newsletters…and who knows…maybe you and I are related!
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Irene Impellizzeri
January 28, 2008 at 1:16 am
Dear Irene,
Thanks so much for getting in touch. We are related. Hannah and James were our great, great grandparents. And our great grandmothers were sisters! Lorena Rochon was sister to my great grandmother, Jean Miller (married name was Jean Leach). They grew up on Mattagami Post together.
I recently discovered more about this part of our family’s history (as you probably read) when I took a trip up there this summer with my grandmothers’ cousin, Gordon Miller.
I’ll send you an email with my contact details – look forward to getting in touch.
cheers,
Crystal
March 26, 2008 at 6:13 am
Dear friend,
Your blog is looking pretty good. We would like to have one post in your Blog. I will pay for the post. Can you help regarding this?
Thanks
Lara
October 9, 2008 at 12:07 am
Hi Crystal,
Is there a way for me to email you directly?
Thanks,
Marta
October 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Hi Crystal I am the son of Beulah Leach, daughter of Jean Miller. You said our great grandfather had three daughters, what was the names and married names of the other two sisters? How many sons did James have? You said Leonard Miller is the current chief on the reserve. Allice Luxmore is my Aunt and I went to see her several years back in Keswick with my daughters. Send me an email back. Did you ever find out what years James was the factor for HBC and is it one of the stores in Gogama or on the reserve. So is Mattagami Post part of Gogama.Send me an email when you have a chance. Thanks
February 12, 2009 at 10:58 am
You are never going to believe this, but I just read your reply today. I am so thrilled. I never received your email with your contact information. Please feel free to write to me at the above address. I am estatic!
February 20, 2009 at 9:45 am
Hi Irene, Better late than never! I don’t see your email address? You can email me directly at crystal.luxmore@gmail.com
cheers –
March 13, 2009 at 5:56 am
This is very interesting…..yesterday I received a research request for a Beulah Leach. I work in a Resource Centre at the Ojibway and Cree Cultural Centre in Timmins. I looked up the name and found this website. Well….I have a lady named Alice, who’s apparently’s Beulah’s (and a Paul Villars) daughter and wants to know more of her family history. I grew up in Gogama and a band member of Mattagami First Nation as well. So I was able to help her somewhat by asking a family member. I”m interested in Tony Villars if he can email me. I’m sure that he can help in this research or anyone else? Thank you so much!
April 19, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi Kathy
Sorry that I took so long to reply to this comment. It seems to have gotten lost! I’ll certainly put you in touch with Tony and also with Gordon Miller, he has done a lot of research on the Miller family history and loves to get in touch with long-lost relatives. You can check out his artwork at http://www.gordonmillerart.com/
May 21, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Is it wrong that your blog turns me on a little?
July 1, 2009 at 9:41 am
Hello Crystal,
I can’t believe i found this site! i am also related. My mother is Barbara Rochon, sister to Wilfred Rochon. I would also love to find out more of the history of the Millers and the Neveau’s. I recently e-mailed the community center of Gogama to see if they had any info on James Miller, but they never got back to me. By the way i am seeing uncle Wilfred today, I’ll tell him all about this site.
November 17, 2009 at 11:46 am
Hi Alana,
The best contact for all family-related history on the Miller side, is Gord Miller, grandson of James. You can contact him – and check out his amazing art at: http://www.gordonmillerart.com/