This coffee was nice. Atelier on King latte art, I like you.

The rain is no reason to get down.

Or bored.

Only boring people get bored. I’ve never been bored a day in my life.

I recently wrote an article for Levis about Crafting Your Persoal Brand. It came out this week and I’m pretty proud of it.  I shared some tips that will help you (or anyone) to build and showcase their talents online. I hope you will check it out.

“Casie Stewart knows a thing or two about leaving an online footprint. Recognized by Klout as one of Toronto’s top tweeters and bloggers, she has plenty of tips on how you can leverage social media channels as an invaluable element to your personal brand.”

Here are some tips on building your personal brand to help  establish yourself online:

1. Set a goal: Make a plan for your brand. What are you passionate about? What do you want to be known for?
2. Start a blog: Use WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger or Posterous to create a free home for your online activity.
3. Find a mentor: Find someone who is doing what you want to do and introduce yourself, learn from them and get inspired.
4. TGIF: Twitter, Google, Internet, Facebook: Create profiles for yourself online and update them regularly with things that align with your brand.
5. Get Involved: Seek out events related to your passion and get involved by volunteering. This is a great way to grow your brand, meet others and learn from experts.

I’ve been building my personal brand online for over five years. At first, no one read my blog, and I had no followers on Twitter. We all have to start somewhere but have the potential to go anywhere. In the words of Napoleon Hill, “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

As soon as I saw the first part of the tweet pop up on my push notification on ipad I knew what it was, I just had a feeling…could it be? Me and for what?

In this: Top 5 Digital Marketing Agencies on Mashable

“When Virgin America was launching its first international route to Toronto, its Creative Director Jesse McMillin contacted Evan Fry, V&S’s Chief Creative Officer to brainstorm ways to build buzz and find a local brand ambassador in Toronto. They came up with the Virgin America Toronto Provocateur. The website V&S created — with a video of Sir Richard Branson himself — received 1,500 contest entries, which were narrowed down to 20 candidates (this seems like a small number, but candidates needed to live in Toronto, be able to do the joband submit a video, which limited the applicant pool). The site received 46,000 unique visitors and V&S helped Virgin find its cheeky new ambassador, Casie Stewart, who still functions as the provocateur.”

Never heard of Mashable? Geeks & nerds across the universe think about/have thought about waking up to themselves on Mashable. Well, I know I sure have.

Read the article on Mashable & leave a comment there, or here, anywhere! Have an awesome day.

P.S. get a ticket for JapanQuakeTO at Tattoo on Thursday right hurrrrrrrrrrrrre!

Oh how I love you Obama, let me start counting the ways with this very photo.

Meanshile, other parts of the world, things like this are happening. The National Post has been putting up some phenominally mind blowing photos. Take a gander here.

Save the DATE ladies & gentlemen, JapanQuakeTO is happening on March 31, 2011. We have set up japanquaketo.ca where you can find all the info and get tickets  (most likley) tomorrow.

P.S. Yes that was meon Global news in the 6 hour, they said my name right, spelled it wrong and the hashtag is actually #japanquakeTO.

I closed my blinds last night and got to thinking about Japan. In bed with iPad & Android, I looked outside, the lake was calm.  I said goodnight to Twitter. I don’t usually do that, I often leave like an irish goodbye.

I said goodbye because I love my friends and in the back of my head I know that so many people in Japan woke up Friday morning and never got a chance to say goodbye. They woke up to their houses and lives right fucked up. I can only imagine that happening. There is no word to explain how is makes me feel when I watch those videos over and over. It’s like a movie but it’s not a movie, its real.

The world trade centre, that was real. We all remember that day. I remember lots of other stuff in my life but that WTC stands out as something totally monumental, like Japan. I will never get any of these images out of my head. The water rushing over the city, the planes crashing into the buildings. Yes, one distaster was man made and one natural but to me, they are the biggest I’ve ever seen.

The thing that really is blowing my mind is the severity, scale and consequences of it all.

How the hell do you fix a first world nation that’s been shaken, stirred and radiated? Japan was pretty much run through the dishwasher. There’s going to be a massive ripple affect on society from this. Japan is home to vehicles and electronics that WE love. It is the third largest national economy in the world after US and China in GDP & purchasing power parity (aka PPP if you forgot). I read on Bloomberg.com that Cannon, Sony, Panasonic, Toyota, Honda, Sapporo have all suspended production. I love Sapporo! I have a Cannon!

Never have I ever seen something so massive and destructive my entire life, but then again none of us have. There was no YouTube, no live blog, no twitter when I was young. The world has changed.

I’m suddenly reminded of school, I have a B.Comm Degree in International Business & a Diploma in Marketing. I love learning and the world economy. Blogging is all about learning, so is the internet. The curious ones learn to use and share it and they get ahead. I’m really interested to see what happens now and how the situation in Japan affects and brings the world together. I really hope it gets better and not worse. The amount of after shocks and rising death toll are scary. I’m thankful to live in Canada. Canada has a long standing history of being friends with Japan and I want to help.

A Toronto fundraising event, JapanQuakeTO, is being organized for March 31 for victims of Japan. Imagine we ALL buy a ticket and donate a prize that goes up for silent auction. Think about how much stuff that is, lots. I can’t just sit here and not do something. Last year over 200 people attended HaiHaiTO in support of Haiti and I was proud to be part of that team.

I’m ready to do it again.

I was sitting on the couch last night and I caved, I purchased the official replica of this ring. Fan girl, crazy, call me what you want. I love her and the Royal Wedding is one thing I really love. I will 100% be up watching despite the time difference.

One of the best things about having a blog is keeping memories. I found this one post title “you wouldn’t believe me if i told you” from 2009. I had been asked to go to this fashion show for Puma and in my post after it I wrote:

I’d love to do something else for Puma downtown or online please! I’m thinking something that involves me and clothes/shoes/accessories. Thank you, love Casie.

Pretty neat I’m doing something with them now. Found this old post from May 2009 when I worked in Liberty Village. The title is a quote I was happy to find “the trouble with jogging is the ice falls out of your glass”. I like this video. Our Puma Social video from last night will be done this week. Stay tuned, you’ll see it here.

Where am I, do you know?

Oh, did you hear? DB & Posh Spice are having a baby girl. Breaking news via twitter. That kid is gonna be the most awesome, well, potentially. Let’s hope she get’s the right mix of both their looks.

Speaking of looks…looks skinny & sexy to me.

The SXSW launch of iPad 2 today must have been really fun. This is the Mashable video. I’d like to do more reporting. I really enjoy that.

I’ve got a heart on for a new iPad2 and I think Andy knows already. After reading all about it, I’m not gonna rush out for it since I’ve got first gen already. I’ll be ready for up upgrade when iPad3 comes out. Maybe I’ll be an iphone user by then too.

In other more important news, THIS situation in Japan is crazy.  The explosion:

It seems unreal like in a movie, like something I saw in 2012. Scary. Scary that it is real, really happening right now.

I added a DONATE banner on tumblr.casiestewart.com where you can make donations directly to the Red Cross.

I’ve been following the CNN liveblog:

[3:08 a.m. ET, 5:08  p.m. Tokyo] An explosion has been reported near a nuclear plant in northeastern Japan’s Fukushima prefecture, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the country’s nuclear and industrial safety agency.

[2:19 a.m. ET, 4:19  p.m. Tokyo] A small amount of  radioactive Cesium has escaped into the air surrounding a nuclear plant in northeastern Japan’s Fukushima prefecture, Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Agency said.

There’s a meeting Saturday afternoon 3pm at Darkhorse on Queen for a fundraising event. Come if you want to get involved. Makes you really appreciate each day, family, and the safety of Canada. I’m thinking of you too Mum. I know you are in the other side but please be safe. I missssssssssssssss you.

I need to get some spray chalk for summer.

I have crazy awesome friends who do really cool things. Today and everyday, I’m thankful for the things I have and peoole around me. I thought hey, why not let you know about some of that awesomism?

Remember how EVERYONE voted for me in the Virgin Ameica Provocateur contest and I won? I couldn’t have done it without your love and support. Seems like contests involving social media are the new way to get the coolest person for the job. Check out some of the cool things some of my friends are doing right MEOW!

Lauren O’Nizzle in the challenge to be the CosmoTV Blogger Girl. Vote for her here!

Brock & TRexx from 1loveTO have made their acting debut. Check their site to win tix.

Christine is in a challenge with War Child Canada to be a blogger in Ethopia and help people. You can vote for her here.

Kevin is in a sweet contest with Sauza Gold to win $10,000! If he wins they are having a huge party.  He’s a great guy, you can vote for him once per day and for the next month. Lets get this kid some CASH! Vote here on FB. He can totally beat that bitch girl.

Happy Halloween from two of my boyfriends Terry & Gubler.

One more thing, I am in a Smrnoff commercial! Have you seen it? I haven’t. I know it’s on TSN. HELL YEAH. I’d like more commercials please!

Today is Sabrina’s birthday, she FINALLY IS TWEETING!

TODAY is an awesome day. Make the most of it. Remember, you will never be younger than you are TODAY!
Love & light xo CASIE

oh em gee, a baby!

You wouldn’t normally say “domestic” with me in mind, I’m usually the opposite. Not really into cooking, children, cleaning and stuff like that. However, last night I cleaned my room, vacuumed and made a hearty butternut squash soup…from scratch! It startes like this, boiling the squash then peeling and putting in blender with magic ingredients before letting it simmer on the stove. Very tasty. If you wanna try just ask!

I’m actually pretty good at cooking, Mum taught me well. The thing is, when you’re single, cooking for one person isn’t really that fun. I love entertaining (surprised?) and having people over, that’s when my Martha skills come out.

How hot is Sabrina working our new LG Kompressor unit. Dayum grrrl! This thing sucks like a mofo. Our house is like mad clean atm. You can sleep on the carpets. I have to keep it that was cause a crew is coming to film at my place for an upcoming project on Monday. Tres exciting

Ok, TED afternoon session is about to start! I’m ready to be INSPIRED! Hope you are having a wonderful day.

PS: I’m not affraid of babies anymore. Look at Isabella, she is just too cute for words. MISS YOU! I know she can’t read this yet but I just wanna let her know. xo

This morning has been so inspiring. Currently Broadway Sleep are performing and they are an eight piece group. Great voices, pretty faces. I’m sitting front row with @andrewfstewart @kristenannehill and @chrisunwin. Seen heaps of people today who are all excited and feel proud to be here. You can be here too by dropping into the live stream. I posted the link in my earlier post!

Pretty stoked for all the goodness I’m gonna soak up today. If you thought I was positive and excited about life before, just wait till the end of today!

Sending love + light from the front row at TedXTO!