Water bottles Are So 2003!

Carrying water bottles is so 2003! They’ve been banned at Hong Kong Uni, Adele concerts, and for all of San Francisco. I’ve stopped buying bottled water since getting my new Bkr water bottle, but now, there’s a new way to save our planet… I’ve always been a fan of Paris Hilton and along with SodaStream she created the Paris Hilton Institute for Plastic Pollution Solutions who developed NanoDrop. Cute, right? “A revolutionary scientific achievement, a highly condensed form of water that is 5,000 times more hydrating than regular water.” One little drop is equal to 1 glass of water.  Say whaaaaa? “This is the beginning of a new era for humans, sea turtles, oceans, and all other living creatures on the planet.” Ok, so if this seems a *bit* far fetched you’re right, NanoDrop is not a real product. Did you check the calendar today? heh heh ? However, the water bottle crisis is totally real and Paris Hilton is serious about saving the planet. She’s also a big fan of SodaStream and if you saw my IG story this week, I just got one! We’ve wanted a SodaStream  for a while and I’m so happy to welcome it into our home. It takes 2 seconds to turn tap water into carbonated water and I can’t wait to start experimenting with flavours. We’ll be totally cutting out sparkling water purchases at home and in the office. STAY HYDRATED BB!  

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Some Stuff I Directed for Bacardi Canada Instagram

Had a fun time directing this shoot for Bacardi Canada’s agency with 1188. We spent two days on set in a studio. one shooting the people and another shooting product. We had a cast of about 5 people, most found via casting with the addition of my sister, Brock Mclaughlin, and Garrett. I love doing these fun shoots! Safe to say we had heaps of Bacardi left over! Slow Motion Challenge your friends. And your tastebuds. 3 drops of @tabascocanada + Fuego = #FuegoFace #Fuego #TruePassion #Shot #Tabasco #BACARDI #Weekends #RedRum #Party A post shared by Bacardi Canada (@bacardicanada) on Jul 17, 2015 at 2:05pm PDT The shot. All turnt up. #Fuego #FuegoFace #RedRum #SpicedRum #Tabasco #BACARDI #TruePassion #party #weekends A post shared by Bacardi Canada (@bacardicanada) on Jul 25, 2015 at 10:04am PDT Hey #Toronto. Want those @veldmusicfestival tix? Show us your #FuegoFace for a chance to win! No purchase necessary. Must be 19+, Transportation not included. Full R&R: http://bit.ly/1Ku7IJh #Fuego #VELD #VELD2015 #VeldFest #FestivalSeason #TruePassion #BACARDI #Tabasco #RedRum #SpicedRum #Contest #YYZ #Selfie A post shared by Bacardi Canada (@bacardicanada) on Jul 27, 2015 at 1:00pm PDT Fair warning. Your #FuegoFace is hilarious. And it will be shared at www.Fuegoface.ca #Fuego #SpicedRum #RedRum #TruePassion #BACARDI #Tabasco #SundayFunday A post shared by Bacardi Canada (@bacardicanada) on Jul 26, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT The shot. All turnt up. #Fuego #FuegoFace #RedRum #SpicedRum #Tabasco #BACARDI #TruePassion #party #weekends A post shared by Bacardi Canada (@bacardicanada) on Jul 25, 2015 at 10:04am PDT Continuous Pour Fair warning. Your #FuegoFace is hilarious. And it will be shared at www.Fuegoface.ca #Fuego #SpicedRum #RedRum #TruePassion #BACARDI #Tabasco #SundayFunday A post shared by Bacardi Canada (@bacardicanada) on Jul 26, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT Stills First time #Fuego. #FuegoFace #SpicedRum #RedRum #Tabasco #Party #FridayNights #TruePassion #BACARDI #Selfie A…

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100 Pieces of Sponsored Content + New Ad Standards for Influencers

I’ve been trying do a better job of keeping tract of my actual blog related work. Since casiestewart.com is a mostly a diary about my life, it can be hard to determine what is sponsored (work) and what isn’t. I share heaps so maybe you miss the little disclaimer line now & then. I like to keep a good mix of non-sponsored content mixed in with the spon con. Last year I set up casiestewart.biz as my online portfolio website and I UPDATED IT THIS WEEKEND. There’s 100+ examples of sponsored things I’ve done over the past few years. Crazy how they all add up! Found this quote on Forbes over the weekend and it’s what motivated me to stop scrolling social media and put in some quality time building my website. I’m finding/remembering stuff all the time so there’s a bunch more to add. CASIESTEWART.BIZ/WORK  This week I’m on a panel at the NextMedia Conference talking about this stuff with someone from the ASC, Facebook, and an agent who represents influencers. It’s sure to be a good discussion and spark even more around the topic. In a prep call for the panel, Janet from the ASC said: “We have simply introduced a new Interpretation Guideline to require disclosure of any material connection, because we identified a gap in the coverage of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards regarding bloggers and influencers.” Influencers and sponsored content are a very hot topic right now with new rules in Canada from the ASC based on the USA FTC regulations on testimonials, endorsements, and reviews. If you are interested in the you can find them here. DEFF WORTH READING. I’ve got a few more things to share on this topic, it’s surely not going away. Until then, make sure you take a peek at my work at…

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Guilty Pleasures! ? Bachelorette Canada & Wine! ?

Tuesday this week was the premiere of Bachelorette Canada and I watched and tweeted along with the rest of the country (it was trending!). Yes, I know these ‘looking for love‘ shows are a bit silly but I GOD DAMNIT just love them for the commentary and chatting away on Twitter. I started show tweeting when I worked at MUCH & MTV 6 years ago, it really takes the TV watching experience to the next level. If you could have a glass of wine with any of the bachelors, who would it be? #BacheloretteCA #TogetherWithTwoOceans pic.twitter.com/dnmALJtMC2 — TwoOceansWineCA (@twooceanswineCA) September 14, 2016 In case you didn’t notice during the commercial breaks, Two Oceans Wine is one of the sponsors and they graciously sent me a couple bottles & goodies to enhance my viewing experience. I’ve partnered with them to share my thoughts on Twitter and the blog throughout the season. The things is, wine goes really well with show tweeting. It’s like hanging out at a party, making new friends, laughing, all the while sitting on your couch with a blanket and snacks. I would say I probably posted 20+ tweets during the 1.5 hour premiere!  #BacheloretteCA Premiere Fav Moments This is Canada’s first season of The Bachelorette, where Janine Poplak (from Vancouver) met 20 dudes, and gave out 15 roses. Some of my fav moments from the premiere below. Bachelor Kevin P. played a little tune on his ukulele and I quite enjoyed it. Side note, I have a uke and my goal is to learn to play by Christmas. Whoa Kevin + ukulele that was cute #bacheloretteca #TwoOceansWineCA — CASiE STEWART (@casiestewart) September 14, 2016 Her dress was gorgeous. Look at that long train! ???? Kevin W gave her a high five when he got out of the limo, haha. This was a cute moment when…

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Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television – Pioneer Award!

U P D A T E: I  W O N ! Thank you for voting for me and supporting me all these years. You, the internet have been here the last 10 years like no one single human could ever be. For that, I am forever grateful and give gratitude. It’s crazy awesome to win an award for something that didn’t even EXIST a decade ago. Thank you. Don’t ever doubt yourself, you CAN make magic happen, you have to believe in yourself. xo CASIE [symple_divider style=”solid” margin_top=”20″ margin_bottom=”20″] Something exciting happened yesterday! I’m a finalist in the Academy Social Awards celebrating social media innovators in Canada. The awards are hosted by The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, the Canadian version of The Academy in LA that does the Oscars. Oh hello! This wasn’t even on my radar, especially after being sick and going non-stop with travel and work. This award is celebrates pioneers in the industry, this year marks 11 years of my blog. Winner’s of the 2016 #AcademySOCIAL will be announced live at the event on March 10th 2016. #AcademySocial​ will shine a light on the incredible talent and achievements made by social and digital media innovators. More in the video below.  [vimeo id=”156277969″] Don’t forget to VOTE. You can vote daily but that’s only if you want to remember.  Thank you for following along all these years, I’m planning some great stuff for 2016!

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Interview | The Noteworthys – BTS with a Blogger Extraordinaire

I was recently interviewed for thenoteworthys.co, a Canadian site you’ll find a carefully curated collection of unique, high-quality, often hand-made items by emerging designers. They love to take you behind the scenes (BTS) to learn about inspiration and workmanship behind designers they feature. They also like to feature people like ME. Being ‘Noteworthy’ means following your passion in creating a life you love living. Now THAT is something I am totally down with! I can agree, being Noteworthy “ means taking a leap to of faith to follow your dreams.“ They asked, what does Noteworthy mean to me? Read the full interview here and see my top 5 picks from the store below. Top 5 Noteworthy Must-Haves  1)  Crystal Crop Top. Looking good Misty Fox! 2)  Leather Envelope Clutch (Large). Perfect for a digital girl on the go! 3)  Robin Waxed Tan Jacket. Love this + matching shirt = A+ 4)  Polka Dot French Bowtie. I need this!  5)  Karoo Oxford Dress. Adorable!  

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TD Savvy Saver Quiz – Are Your Finances on Track?

Whether you’re a recent grad or mid-career, each stage of your life calls for some money management. Something I know I can always use help with! It’s Financial Planning Week here in Canada (November 16-20) and  TD has launched an Savvy Saver Quiz, to help you understand your personal finances. By answering a few quick questions, TD will help you determine your financial stage and what considerations you should be making at this point in your life. After going to college (Marketing @ Conestoga) and university in Australia (10 years, where did the time go!) I had a sizeable debt to tackle and I wasn’t really sure how I was going to manage it. I consulted a financial planner and put a plan in place. My hard work paid off and my debt was replayed by the time I was 30. Words can’t explain the joy I felt opening a letter stating it was done. Going to school overseas was a pricy but I wouldn’t change that experience. Living at Bondi Beach was a DREAM! Not sure where to start? Take the TD Savvy Saver quiz to help figure out your current situation and where you need to be. By answering a few multiple choice questions, you can determine what stage you’re at financially, considerations you should be making, and find tips and advice to help you along the way. I’m in the stage where I’m getting all my financials sorted but buying a new house and family are on my radar. ☺️ If you’re keen to learn more about making your financial future positive, check out tdcanadatrust.com or my previous posts with TD on Planning for Life’s Unexpected Moments and Money Tips for Millennials. XO * post sponsored by TD, opinions and story my own obvs. Thanks for supporting me and following along ?

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Contest | Doritos Crash The Super Bowl + $1 Million

I spent a good chunk of time watching entries for the Doritos Crash the SuperBowl and this is one of my favs. The Doritos contest is back and I would love to see one of my friends submit a commercial and Crash Super Bowl 50. SUBMISSIONS END IN 16 DAYS. [iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/2OF7_JB-kq0″] My fav part of the SuperBowl has always been the advertising and my friends at Doritos Canada asked me to share some info about the LAST Crash’ the SuperBowl Contest. Last year, Canadian Graham Talbot (and his twin bro) created a Doritos commercial, “When Pigs Fly,” that aired during Super Bowl XLIX. He also took home a $50,000 USD prize and was the first winner outside the US. YASSS CANADA. Over the past nine years PepsiCo’s Doritos brand has given away more than $7M USD in prize money and helped launch careers by hooking winners up with once in a lifetime job opportunities. This year marks the 10th and final year of the Doritos Crash The Super Bowl contest. [iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/_PVEAuV11-4″] The winner not only gets to attend to the Super Bowl (50th annual and in San Fran, love that city!) to see their commercial air, but $1MM USD and the opportunity to work with Zack Snyder who recently directed Batman VS Superman. 1 MILLION DOLLARS. ? Winning video from the 2015 Superbowl:   [iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/2JqRXLQYF9o”] How the competition works: At the crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/toolkit you’ll find a whole suite of assets to help make your creative dream come true, sound effects, music, product shots, end cards, logos, etc. Make a video – 30 second brand commercial for Doritos Submit – by November 15th, 2015 Vote – starting January 5th, 2016 Win – announced February 7th, 2016 This year, three finalists will attend the SuperBowl and watch the game in a suite and find out with the world who is the winner.  The…

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Giveaway | The Future is HERE and So Is Pepsi Perfect

Recognize this place? How about this?   [iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/11BwLs3pHF4″] It’s FINALLY 2015 and Marty McFly is coming to the future. I think I watched this movie about 100 times growing up. Over the past few years there’s been some confusion on the REAL date he comes ‘back to the future’ and it’s October 21, 2015. When Marty travelled through time in ‘Back to the Future’, the only drink Marty wanted was Pepsi Perfect. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the major motion picture, Pepsi is helping bring the futuristic vision depicted in the film to life. Pepsi has created a limited quantity of Pepsi Perfect bottles to celebrate the classic flick. [iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/XrwRdzFP-fY”] A neat fact about the above ad is the that it was created by Davie Brown Entertainment, creator of the Pepsi Challenge and THE VERY SAME AGENCY that created the fictional Pepsi Perfect product in the movie back in 1989. INCREDIBLE. This is some next level product placement – fictional product becoming real 30 years later. Amazing. I’m part of the Canadian launch with Pepsi Canada and I’ve got a few of the VERY limited edition Pepsi Perfect bottles to give away in a special Pepsi Prize Pack. I would love to share Pepsi Perfect with YOU.   How to Win a Pepsi Perfect Prize   This is a show & tell contest: Show and/or tell Pepsi Canada and me WHY you are the biggest Back to the Future Fan. I’ve opened up comments for you to leave one below or you can share via Twitter/Instagram as long as you tag @casiestewart & @pepsicanada. See the widget below to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway What’s Do you Win Exactly? – 1 500mL bottle of Pepsi Perfect – 2 Pepsi Perfect/Back To The Future t-shirts – 1 Back To The Future Trilogy DVD set – 1 Pepsi Perfect…

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Travel | Sky High in Cottage Country – My KD Golden Noodle Adventure

Last weekend I went on an epic cottage adventure. If you were following Twitter or Snapchat you’d have seen a bunch of tweets from myself and Lauren as 2 planes landed on our lake and took us flying around Muskoka for the afternoon. My guests included Lauren, Steve, Sean, and one other special guest…a golden KD noodle. Ok so you’re thinking what? A Noodle? Yes, a NOODLE!  KD is celebrating the love it’s fans have for it in a way that’s truly worthy,  WITH GOLD. Until October 5, Canadians have the chance to win a 1-LB 24K Gold Noodle, worth approximately $30,000 CAN. To enter pop by your local grocer and pick up a limited edition box of KD Gold. Next, enter your unique PIN, found inside specially marked 4 and 12 pack bundles of KD Macaroni & Cheese, at kdgold.ca.  No the noodle is not in the KD box! It’s pretty heavy!  You can also win hundreds of instant prizes, including gold-plated KD cuff links, sunglasses, flip flips, or a gold plated coin. If you’re wondering how I like my KD, I like to switch it up, sometimes ketchup, maybe hot dogs, other times a healthy dash of black pepper. As a side note, I didn’t actually try Kraft Dinner until I went to college. My parents are from New Zealand and they don’t have KD there. Thankfully my college crew introduced me! It’s one of those things everyone has in their pantry and sometimes the perfect fix  to feed your hunger. My KD Golden Noodle Adventure in Muskoka Here’s a few snaps from our float plane experience. We flew from Bala to Port Carling, went for lunch, and flew back. It was beautiful to experience an aerial view of Muskoka this time of year, the leaves are all starting to change. Special…

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Contest | Show Off That Brilliant Smile! Brush. Whiten. Go.™

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Colgate* Optic White™. All thoughts and ideas are my own. Thanks for supporting me and the brands I work with. [symple_divider style=”solid” margin_top=”5″ margin_bottom=”5″] If you know me, you know I smile a lot, heaps in fact. It’s a huge part of my life and I’m generally a pretty happy person. I’ve always been the one flashing her teeth around, spreading sunshine with a smile. ??? Having nice teeth started early with mum’s influence. In high school, I had braces and unlike other kids, loved going to the orthodontist for updates. Brilliant smile! Skip ahead a few years after coffee, wine, age etc., keeping that smile bright is important. Colgate contacted me a couple weeks ago about trying their new Colgate* Optic White™ Toothbrush + Whitening Pen and I was totally down to give it a go. (Tbh, I’d seen it on tv and wanted to try it already). Got one for Sean too. I’ve been using the new Colgate* Optic White™ Toothbrush + Whitening Pen for about a week and it’s quick and easy. One thing to note is the whitening gel has a nice minty taste and won’t hurt your gums. Maybe you’ve considered getting your teeth whitened, but have yet to do so. If this is the case, you may find that visiting a Dentist in Healdsburg for example, could be the push you need to get you the smile you have always wanted. Anyway, I have sensitive teeth so I wanted to test this out before giving you my thoughts. This is a convenient and affordable way to get whiter teeth. Saying this though, if you have considered getting your teeth whitened professionally as you know that you won’t be able to be consistent while using this whitening…

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Contest | TIFF ’15 Win A Celebrity Gift Bag from the #NKPRIT15 Lounge

Last week I visited the NKPR IT Lounge at the TIFF bell Lightbox. This lounge, hosted by NKPR, celebrates it’s 10th year and brings together an array of great products and sponsors, to offer gifts to celebrities in town for the festival. I was very Ellen Degeneres/Justin Bieber when I visited. haha.  “Celebrating 10 and 40 years respectively, NKPR’s highly sought-after IT Lounge and the Toronto International Film Festival will officially partner for the first time – a coming together of the decades – to create an exclusive anniversary Festival experience at TIFF. … In 2006, NKPR’s IT Lounge was the first gifting suite in North America to bring cause to the forefront. This tradition of giving back continues, and in 2015 a donation will be made to Artists for Peace and Justice for every celebrity who sits for a portrait.” Since Last Week An Array of Celebrities Rolled Through   What’s in the NKPR It Lounge Swag Bag?   The winner will receive premium festival treats below, plus extras including an eOne DVD collection of popular films from previous TIFF years. – Racinne Lady I Messaging Rejuvenation System $69.99 – Saje Natural Wellness Pocket Pharmacy $59.95 – OGX Beauty Organix Sea Mineral Moisture Surge Treatment $14.50 – Case of Flow water – BottleGreen Sparkling Elderflower Water – David’s Tea – Pumpkin Chai – Barilla Pasta – CROSS Pen – Square One – $50 Gift Card – Festival Hair Essentials Pack from Goody valued at $50 – Fuzz Wax Bar – 1 free service – Tom Tailor Canvas Bag Enter to Win an The NKPR IT Lounge Celebrity Swag Bag   a Rafflecopter giveaway For an EXTRA entry retweet this tweet and comment on this Facebook post. Each one will get you another entry and increase your chances of winning the mega prize. Open to anyone in Canada. Sorry Americano &…

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Events | The Lowdown on the The Flat White At Second Cup

Last week I was invited to hang out at Second Cup on King and learn about how to make the perfect Flat White. The flat white is a fav in Australia and New Zealand, something I’m very familiar with!  When I lived in Australia, each morning I’d ride my bike over to the Le Paris Go cafe in Bondi Beach and get a flat white to start my day. I’m so glad it’s made it’s way to Canada! Nicole from She Does the City, me, Wendy from Hip Urban Girl, Nicole from Dainty Girl The girls and I sat down at the coffee bar with Second Cup’s in-house coffee expert and curator Pat Russell, Senior Product Developer. Pat has been with Second Cup since 1996, so he REALLY knows his stuff. A photo posted by C A S I E S T E W A R T (@casiestewart) on Sep 8, 2015 at 6:55am PDT The flat white is known for its smooth texture which highlights the true taste of the espresso, without any bitterness or excess of milk. It features a double shot of Second Cup’s rich Espresso Forte, velvety steamed milk, and a thin layer of micro-foam. I prefer a flat white over a latte because it has less milk.  (I had a lactose allergy growing up so I try to do have too much milk these days.) If you’re not a milk drinker, you can request your flat white be made with almond or soy milk for a bit of added sweetness and nutty flavour.  Another thing to note is the Flat White is only available in one size – an 8oz/250 ml cup – this is to preserve the proper ratio of espresso to milk. How a Flat White is Different than Other Coffee Drinks I invite you to switch up your coffee routine and try a Second Cup Flat White…

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Travel | 48 Hours in Calgary – Public Art Around Every Corner!

Had a chuckle watching this video shared by Tourism Calgary today. We were really busy and did heaps of things in 48 hours, there’s so many moments little moments I kinda forget. Good thing we had a camera crew following us around to capture them. See the full 2 min video here and check out all the fun things to do in Calgary at visitcalgary.com/calgary48/bloggers. [youtube id=”IXcGPddYkx0″]   Get your camera ready—there’s public art around every corner. @casiestewarthttps://t.co/Gm2hnsCjUk — Tourism Calgary (@TourismCalgary) September 2, 2015

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