[iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/J4z5DiwzF68?list=PLeS2JeMvu-JvSVtq-hJWQkERb7LyJz_vL”] I absolutely love stories like this! Over the past few years I’ve had a few friends help me out and I don’t know if I’d be where I am without their generosity. Sometimes a little here is all you need to get on track or get closer to your goal. It warms my heart to see generous people being surprised with a gift that helps make their dreams come true. I feel it’s important to give unconditionally, giving is it’s own gift! Seeing peoples faces light up when they open a gift or receive a surprise is so wonderful. There’s a playlist of videos BMO created through this Help Given initiative. I love them all, get a tissue, I couldn’t help but have tears of joy. Seeing how happy Arash is when they give him a day off here is so great. [iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/JLtZPCR9h_s”] Kindness Brings Good Karma A couple weeks ago I helped out a friend who was going through a tough time, I was able to help them but it involved using money I’d been saving for travel. Yesterday, out of the blue, I was invited on a trip to a sunny destination. The two things weren’t related but in the whole grand scheme of the universe, I feel I’m somehow being rewarded for my generosity. More details about that next week! Sending my love for happy holidays, warm wishes for a great new year. To see more from BMO’s Help Given initiative, see here. With love,      * This blog post was sponsored by BMO but the opinions & stories are my own!      

As winter starts to creep up on us I find myself looking back through old blog posts of my travels. I’m keen to book a trip for Sean and I for a little R&R under the sun early 2016. I’m thinking Dominican Republic, Cuba, or Costa Rica. I’m dying to feel sand on my skin and salt water in my hair! ?? Over the last few years I’ve been to Thailand, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and LA during the winter. I absolutely LOVE to travel but preparation is key if you want to have a good time for example, a travel shoe bag is a must for me and I don’t travel without them. Also, if you don’t manage your money right, it can be expensive. Up until a few years ago I didn’t even have a credit card because I was still paying off my student debt from school. This doesn’t mean to say that just because you’re at university, you can’t have a credit card; those studying away from their home country can still get a credit card for International Students. Having a card with travel rewards was really important to me now. I want to get something back from all the purchases I make on my trips. I’m also really interested in qantas credit cards which are another travel-based provider, as they offer rewards for frequent flyers which is certainly what I am! I would rather take a great trip in the winter to boost my inspiration and pay it off my credit card, than not go at all and let the winter blues get me down. You never know what’s going to happen, YOLO! I’ve partnered with a Capital One Canada one to tell you about their new and improved line of Capital One Aspire Travel MasterCards.…

This morning I ventured out to Etobiocoke for a plant tour of a clients workshop. It was pretty neat. I love the smell of workshops. My dad owned a big hot rod shop that had a warehouse when I was a kid, I spent so much time there growing up.  Had to fully gear up with glasses and steel toe shoes. It’s crazy warm in Toronto right now, 12 degrees! Apparently it’s NOT because of Global Warming, just an El Niño keeping things warm. A record-breaking El Niño has shunted the jet stream far to the north, paving the way for warm air to shatter records. [More here.] Here’s a little sneak peek at the Christmas tree April and I decorated at the 1188 office on Friday. It’s a selfie tree! We’re even got Drake, Kanye, and Otis the dog (RIP, love you). Had some great chilli for lunch. Tonight I’m doing a holiday screen printing workshop with Peach Berserk. Can’t wait! Might finally do that all over print of my face. I know that’s what you want for Christmas!   

Oh hellooooo! This week has been a bit of a weird one. I’ve been pretty busy at 1188, this weather is lovely, and I’ve taken a bit of a relaxed holiday mode to blog work. When you’re a blogger/influencer you really don’t get a day off. I know I’ve chosen this but it doesn’t make it less tiring! My goal for December is to spend more time doing things offline/without a screen. More on that & Holiday Mode tomorrow.  I’ve still got things to share, my addiction to documenting will never go away!       Made falafels this week for my first time and I’ve made them twice since. Seriously, best ever, so good. As a dipping sauce, crush up a garlic clove and blend with low-fat mayonnaise.  You’ll love it.  Last night we took Emily to get a tree and tonight we’re planning to decorate. I wrapped a bunch of presents the other day so we had a few to go under the tree.  These cuties! ??   Looking forward to hosting family Christmas at our place this year. Hence all the work I’ve been doing to get the house ready!  It never ends!   

Yesterday I joined friends & colleagues at FCP for the cheque presentation where they delivered $25k to Regent Prk Comminity Food Centres. Last week the new food terrace st FCP matched 10% of sales as a way to give back.   Nice to see Daniel who JUST got married (to Julio of course). Congrats!