Happy Holidays And Only Good Vibes For 2018

16th December 2017

2017 City Refinery 1

Hello friends!

I just resurfaced from fighting off one beast of a cold and now I’m onto my next battle – packing up our lives in Toronto and getting ready for our move to California in the new year!

2017 was a whirlwind of uncomfortable challenges, self discoveries and big emotions but many fond memories were also made….

BFF and I celebrated our birthdays in Barcelona. I was part of #TelusStories. We got our US Business Visas after a long and tedious administrative process! CJ started Little Kickers soccer and it’s so freakin’ cute. We threw a DIY pizza + cupcake party and went to Great Wolf Lodge for his 4th birthday. We also spent the summer exploring our beautiful Ontario backyard with trips to Blue Mountain, Deehurst Resort and Prince Edward County. After four years, I taught my final CampTech blogging class. Adfluent recently turned 7.0 and we celebrated our second year as a Google Partners ad agency! And well, since it can’t all be sparkly unicorn farts year round… I did have a mommy meltdown earlier this month. Lost my sh!t working through the insane logistics of our move and travel itinerary while trying to answer CJ’s gazillion questions (he’s at the ‘why’ phase now).

 

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This Is Spaces Toronto

7th December 2017

Spaces Queen West - Elevator Lobby

I am really excited that Spaces has opened up in Toronto! This means freelancers and girl bosses like myself will have another place to call their ‘second home’. Or third, fourth home. That’s right they have 60 locations worldwide!

I was invited to their launch party a few weeks ago and got a chance to check out the stunning new space myself.

Spaces Queen West - Entrance

Having the ‘right vibe’ in a co-working space makes all the difference. It’s the place where you get your hustle on, find inspiration and meet other creative makers. So it’s way more than just a place to plug in your laptop… think of Spaces Toronto as a cool 46,000 sqft office (without the politics and drama)!

Spaces Queen West - Business Club

Spaces sits snug in the Queen West neighbourhood. It’s actually the former Urbane Cycle. Which explains why there are bicycle spokes dangling from the lobby ceiling. And that wooden spiral staircase… it takes you up to the glass meeting rooms, private offices and reserved desks on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

 

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Holiday Gifts Worth The Splurge

1st December 2017

Holiday Gifts Guide 2017

Have someone super nice on your list that is splurge worthy? Then these luxury gifts will surely surprise and delight…

I love Tumi products for their stylish functional designs. This leather trimmed Dara Carry-All is the perfect go to bag to tote around a laptop, wallet, makeup and everything else in between. Free personalization available. $475

The Sonos compact speaker is mini but has mighty big sound! Streams over wifi so the dance party and beats never stops. $200

The Dyson Pure Cool Link removes up to 99.97% of pollutants and does so while directing a cool stream of fresh clean air. City condo dwellers can breathe a sigh of relief again. Available in blue or white. $500

You don’t need to be a gamer to fall in love with the new sleek Xbox One S. With a library of 1300+ games to chose from, it’s also a solution for your cable box and can stream 4K content from Netflix and YouTube. My son will soon be introduced to the world of Minecraft and I can’t wait to play Cuphead, an unique 1930s-inspired art style game with a banging soundtrack. $250

Give the gift of rest because sleep really is the new luxury! Casper has created this unique pillow-in-pillow design that boosts the perfect balance of softness and support. $85-100

Foodies will be obsessed with the Philips Air Fryer. Prepare healthier versions of favourite comfort foods lickety split with minimal mess to cleanup. $330

APL has made a pair of TechLoom rose gold sneakers for her. And these heather grey kicks for him are pretty sweet too. $140 USD

 

Winter Holiday Events In The 6ix

23rd November 2017

Winter Events 2017

Bundle up and check out these fun holiday events that will get you into a holly jolly spirit…

Nov 16 to Dec 23 – Experience the romance of an old-world Christmas Market in the Distillery District.

Dec 2 to Jan 2 – Casa Loma is all dressed up for the holidays! Wander through the dazzling lighting display in the gardens and witness Professor Wick’s magic show.

Every Saturday Dec 2 to 30 – Enjoy wintry outdoor activities, shop local gifts and sample tasty eats at the Evergreen’s Winter Village.

Dec 2 – Modern Mama Social kicks off their inaugural event with mini makeovers, delicious nibbles, giveaways and private shopping at Anthropologie.

Dec 3 – This very special edition of The Bunz Flea (cash + trades) is happening just in time to get a good start on your holiday shopping.

Dec 8 – Round up your social media peeps for the annual #HoHoTO Party.

 

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Farewell Camp Tech!

20th November 2017

Camp Tech

Came home to find this lovely bouquet from the nerd ladies at Camp Tech.

I still remember hobbling into CSI to teach my very first blogging class. I was nervous as heck and 38 weeks pregnant! Last week I taught my LAST class. (We are moving to California!)

It’s been four years of dropping marketing and social media knowledge bombs. I’ve enjoyed sharing my own story of how I turned my hobby blog into an ‘accidental business’ seven years ago. I loved that I inspired hundreds of eager writers to start their own blogs and turn their passion for story-telling into side hustle businesses. And in return, I learned what goes into creating an effective presentation… and have conquered my fear of public speaking!

Avery, Tara and the rest of the CampTech Team, It’s been so much fun geeking out with you ladies! Thank you for letting me be a part of the coolest camp. Xo

Camp Tech

Jen McNeeley of SheDoesTheCity.com will be carrying on my blogging torch as of February 2018!

I’ve been reading her blog for a decade and it inspired me to start my own in 2010! I got the chance to get to know Jen while working on various campaigns and as an Amex Ambassador. She rocks and always keeps it real!

Camp Tech offers half and full day workshops with an emphasis on developing practical skills you can use right away. Topics include Digital Marketing, Social Media, Podcasting, WordPress, HTML, Google Adwords, Google Analytics, SEO and more. Expect small classes and instructors that are engaging, fun and know their stuff! Locations in Toronto and Ottawa.

 

#TelusStories

16th November 2017

When technology meets creativity, opportunity, passion + grit, online businesses are born. Sharing my story of brand evolution, big dreams, crushed dreams and becoming a digital nomad with Telus.

Big thanks to Virginia Hastings and the Shine Media video crew for a fun day and helping this camera shy gal shine!

 

Fall Events In The 6ix

15th October 2017

Fall Events 2017

Fall rules with these foodie, frightful and fun events! Here’s what’s happening this month and the next in and around hog town…

Every Friday Sept 29 to Nov 24 – Kick off your weekend at #FNLROM.

Oct 1 to 31 – here’s a roundup of all your spooky Halloween festivities.

Oct 20 to 22 – 400+ cask-conditioned ales, epic eats, raw beats + art, all at this year’s Cask Days.

Oct 25 – The Food for Action dinner is a charity meal featuring 20 chefs from some of Toronto’s top restaurants who will each be preparing a special three-course meal.

Oct 27 – TedxToronto ‘Legacy, what will yours be’ in this year’s theme.

Oct 28 to 29 – From breads to cakes and everything in between, Canada’s Baking and Sweets Show takes you on a gourmet tour of the hottest trends in the world of baking. Get ready to eat, shop and learn!

 

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STEM Toys + Activities For Preschoolers

10th October 2017

Ontario Science Centre

In anticipation of our jam packed traveling schedule next year, I started dabbling into homeschooling. Once or twice a week, CJ would skip school and we would take the classroom outside. It’s been so easy with this fabulous extended summer but now that fall has rolled around, I’m in panic mode on how I’m going to spark curiosity while keep this super active boy entertained indoors.

It’s been a lot of trial and error and I’ve had to hack a few of these to make it age appropriate for a preschooler but here are some cool STEM toys and activities that gets CJ excited about learning…

EduScience Lab

Have you seen the Operation Smile commercial on TV? It happened to be airing in the background when CJ (at 1.5 years old) pointed and made a bunch of inquisitive sounds. He watched with fascination as I explained that ‘doctors heal people including sick kids’, and since then he’s been saying he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. (Mom can definitely get on board with that haha!) So even though this Human Body Kit is rated for ages 8+, I bought it anyway and he loves it! One time he even sat for 25 mins as I read him the lab guide!

Skeleton Anatomy Kit

It includes 12 bones that fit together like a puzzle in a clear skeleton shell and 9 squishy organs that feel like gummies. It’s actually a really cool toy that I enjoy playing with as well. Of course, I’m trying to get him to clean up after each ‘operation’ he performs as the pieces are quite small and it’ll really suck to lose an organ! $30

Blokus

A math teacher introduced me to Blokus. There is just one rule to this game — each piece you play must touch at least one other piece of the same colour, but only at the corners! . CJ is still too young to understand the concept so we created our own rules. He’s big into mazes so we try to make one on the board. Another way to hack it is to see if you can place all 84 piece on the board. The pieces are small so it’s great for fine tuning those fine motor skills and getting little hands to turn the shapes until they fit. $25

 

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MomsTO Very Mommy Wine Festival

28th August 2017

MomTO

When CJ was born I found a fabulous tribe of new moms who lived downtown but there was definitely no wine served at our playdates.

And that’s what makes this event extra unique. MomsTO invite you and your babe to their inaugural Very Mommy Wine Festival on September 13 at the Artscape Wychwood Barns.

Join 500 other women to laugh, vent and celebrate the life changing experience of motherhood.

Your $65 ticket includes a swag bag, wine + canapes. And yes, it’s all you can drink and eat ladies!

 

The Suspense Is Killing Me… Give Me An Update Already!

16th August 2017

GoodVibesOnly

One of my pet peeves is Facebook updates that go something like this… ‘omg can’t believe this is happening, send me good vibes pleeeease’! WTF right?!

Well I wasn’t planning on being one of ‘those people’ that create unnecessary suspense with no followup but I’ve probably annoyed enough of you over the last few months — dropping hints then disappearing to the cottage and Spain for half the summer.

So I owe you guys an apology and update.

Before the guessing game continues that I got a job (no!), that I’m pregnant (nooo!), moving (yes), here’s what’s up with the fortune cookie photo I posted on Instagram…

Fortune Cookie

At the beginning of the year, we applied for a US Business Visa. Which explains why I was extra busy and cranky. Government paperwork is a beast!

Spring rolled around and we still hadn’t heard back. That’s when I started to lose my mind! Planners have to plan right?! Boxes were half packed. The deadline for CJ’s school tuition was coming up and we had no backup if he loses his spot. Travel plans grind to a halt. Our life was (almost) put on pause.

 

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