So, @whoinspiresu? You could win $10K!

In 2009 I heard/blogged about this great contest where you make a video about something or someone who inspires you and you’re given the opportunity to win $10,000. Well, the ‘Who Inspires U?’ Video Contest for 2012 has begun and Tri-Cyclen Lo is on a mission to help empower young women across Canada achieve their dreams! They’re are giving $10,000 in cold, hard cash to support your quest for GREATNESS!! Inspiration is a HUGE part of how I got here and turned my dream into a reality. I’m living it out every single day. One of the most inspiring people in my life is my Mum, she’s always encouraged me to be myself, be creative and follow what I was really passionate about. This weekend I asked her about inspiration, what it means to her and what inspires her. Here’s a mini interview with my lovely Mum on inspiration, creativity and living a great life. Enjoy! You’ll like her accent I reckon! The Who Inspires U? contest is open to young Canadian females  ages 18-34 (no Quebec, sorry!). There is also a monthly contest with an AWESOME prize pack of an iPad 3, coach bag and Dior fragrance. I just entered. To enter yourself click HERE. Here some useful links for more information about the overall $10k contest, monthly contest, prizing &  video requirements: Monthly Contest $10K Video Contest  Official Facebook Official Twitter Official YouTube Contest: Rules & Reg Your video must be 5 minutes or less and submitted between March 1st 2012 and May 18th, 2012. All videos will be judged on creativity and entertainment value of the video and your inspirational story and how you are striving to achieve your inspirational dreams, so get creative!! You will have a chance at winning $500 in Round 1 if you are in the Top…

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this inspires me -> the moment of reckless abandon

“The moment of reckless abandon where you lean back & laugh at the simplicity & absurdity of everything… the momemnt when you so fully realize, it doesn’t get any better than this right now.” My friend Amanda had just come back from Australia and she wrote this down on a tiny piece of  envelope for me many years ago. She said it basically summed up her entire  time there. I’ve still got that piece of paper kicking around somewhere,  it’s a great reminder to take a step back and think about all the greatness in your life and be thankful for it. I dream about going back to Australia. One day… I’m climbing out of my cold coma and feeling a bit better today.  Let’s hope I’m on the mend ♥. I really hate being sicky 🙁

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Playsuit Party w/ Biddell!

The other day I joined a bunch of Toronto fashion ladies to hang out with Evan Biddell at a gorgeous studio where we modeled his new line of Playsuits. It was a Playsuit party! If you haven’t heard of the Biddell Playsuit, it’s ‘an oversized flying squirrel-shaped onesie for any body type that inspires movement and creativity.’ I swear, as soon as you put one on you feel fabulous. I. ordered my first one in 2020 and now I have 3! View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Biddell Playsuit (@biddell) Black & White Playsuit The Black & White Playsuit has pockets! This new edition to the lineup is 92% Bamboo, 8% spandex, machine washable, and “equal parts casual & dressy”. I love it. It’s super soft and so comfortable. Gold Lamé Playsuit An absolute stunner. Perfect for the holidays, or any day. This one looks so nice layered with big jacket, a belt, and great shoes. She fancy. All The Playsuits I also have one in yellow and this glamorous black & gold chain print. Seriously comfortable and can be worn around the house (for hosting?!), with heels/accessories, or as a casual look for any time, really. The best thing about the Playsuit is it fits EVERY BODY. This photo from the 2021 summer Playsuit show is so fun. Look at all these beauties. I love you Evan Biddell! Thank you for your friendship and fun times! P.S. We talked about having an actual Playsuit party. Do you have one? Download our Hvr browser on your phone so you can comment on my blog & LMK if you’re interested.

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Day 317: A Writing Prompt for You

Hello & happy Monday! Getting a good start on Monday gives me the energy I need to carry me through the week, or at least until Wednesday haha. I did the Daily Calm meditation as I crawled out of deep sleep and made my bed. Put on my running gear right away and did 2km on the path. I did about 300 jumps on my rope while the kettle boiled & before making coffee. Was at my desk and ready to rock the day for a meeting at 9:15 am. LFG! Today’s blog is inspired by an Instagram post from my friend Ama Scriver. I’ve used Ama’s writing prompts before and decided to share this inspo with you today. Creative writing is so FREEING, just write, let the words flow with nowhere to go, get them out. Side note, Instagram is weird about embedding posts now so I have linked to her original post on Instagram here or in the image below. Feel free to take it and write something today! I wrote this without thinking, only feeling. It took under 5 minutes. I think something really important about the creative process is to just create, make something without the pressure of having to monetize it. JUST CREATE. It won’t always be a masterpiece but you need to consistently make things to practice your craft. Future Me, by Casie Stewart, 25 Jan. 2021 Future me is free, she is fit and healthy. She smiles into the sun, long hair flowing in the wind. She travels to the beach and spends summer at the lake. She loves freely and supports her friends. She sees challenges as an opportunity and she can face anything. She is bold but soft, caring, and strong. Future me knows her worth but in her heart she’s…

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Day 183: You Don’t have to Monetize Every Hobby

I’ve loved sewing my whole life. I also have a new sewing machine that I’ve hardly used for about 8 years. I want to sew, but never had the time or made the time to do it. As a kid, I spent heaps of time sewing with mum. I even started my first business in grade 3 sewing gym bags for classmates. Early into quarantine, I took the time to make things for the pure enjoyment of making them. I did heaps of tie-dye, turmeric dye, made friendship bracelets, and practised line drawing on iPad. The art of creating gives me so much joy. It inspires creativity in other areas of my life. I loved sharing the things I made on social media and mailing some to friends. I was reminded you don’t have to monetize every hobby, it’s incredibly freeing to create for the sake of creating. This weekend, I started sewing again. I took a few items of clothing that were ripped or on their way to donations and made a few scrunchies. The big pink ones are a soft rayon fabric and flop when you doa top know. they used to be part of Joe Fresh shirt from years ago that had a mark on it. It was so fun to make them and patch together my old clothes to make new patterns. I spent most the day sewing, listening to music, watching Netflix, and letting my creative juices flow. After posting my creations, I had a few people saying they want to buy or ask where to order. I’m not there yet, I might never be! For now, the Quarantine 2.0 version of me is Casie Sew-Art. I’m back at my machine baby, who knows what I’ll create next!

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TIFF19: Take a Peek Inside Twitter’s #TwitterHouse!

Yesterday was the ‘official’ start of #TIFF19 and I got a first look at #TwitterHouse! ??? Hosted by Twitter & Elevation Pictures, it’s the first time Twitter has reallllly had a big festival/event presence in Canada. Please enjoy this quick little tour! View this post on Instagram A post shared by CASIE ??✌?? #TIFF19 (@casiestewart) on Sep 6, 2019 at 3:39am PDT I am SO looking forward to this weekend bc I’m attending  @Twitter’s #SheInspiresMe panel w Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu and the cast of #Hustlers. Huzzahhhhhhhh! I love Twitter so much. It’s my fav social media platform. I’ve been by there Twitter Canada office a couple of times, check it here. I love this time of year SO MUCH and am trying to enjoy every single moment! I’m grateful and thankful for every opportunity that comes my way. Please lmk if there is anything you REALLY want to see or if you have a question for @JLO? I doubt I’ll get to talk to her but hey, it’s #TIFF, anything can happen!!!!! If you aren’t following me on Twitter, do you even tweet? Lipitor no prescription buy Sertraline online Buy Tadalafil online Buy plus Viagra online

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Creativity: It’s Always There, You Just Have to Find It

I haven’t written much in the last week. I’ve been busy but I’ve also been tired/lazy. Last week I directed a commercial, went to a conference, and had a press trip. It was non-stop go-go-go and although I relaxed over the weekend, come Monday I felt drained. I love my work and what I do but I am much more of a homebody and introvert than you might realize. I love staying home! Being a blogger (writer) means you spend a lot of time at home on your computer.  I’m listening to the Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack, did you see that movie? It’s beautiful. I saw it on one of the flights I’ve taken since January. By the end of February, I’d seen almost every new movie on Air Canada. I was happy to see this one pop up, it’s good. After coming back from New Zealand I was pretty relaxed and ready to start 2018 business. But now, I can’t believe it’s April and I feel like the last two months have been a blur. I was super sick for half of February then I had a week in Vancouver, a week in San Francisco, a couple weekends at the cottage, and few days in Ottawa (Gatineau). Where did the time go?! This weekend we are heading up to the cottage and I can’t wait. Before we head north, I’m attending a creativity workshop with FITC. I’m hoping for an electric charge that inspires me to make things. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine, feeling tired but your creativity is always there, you just have to find it. I’m a very creative person but I go through waves of stopping and starting, staring at my computer, into hour-long blackholes of scrolling FB or IG. It’s easy to get caught…

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Encouraging Women in Tech w/ Ladies Learning Code + Booking.com

Last week I attended a Women in Tech Panel hosted by Booking.com to kick of March which includes International Women’s Day. It was nice to see some of my fav ladies and be inspired by powerful women on the panel. The panel included: Melissa Sariffodeen, CEO & Co-founder of Canada Learning Code; Helen Papagiannis, Ph.D, a world-leading expert in the field of Augmented Reality; Huda Idrees, the founder and CEO of Dot Health; and Ioana Popa, Strategy Manager at Booking.com. It was refreshing to hear their stories of creating new things, fighting stereotypes, and career struggles. “Surround yourself with good people, be confident, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.” Closing advice from an excellent #womenintech panel #BookingFEMpowers @bookingcom pic.twitter.com/lqnjjFEqDY — Women of Influence (@WomenOfInflnce) March 1, 2018 This year, Booking.com is honouring International Women’s Day with a month-long series of events in partnership with Canada Learning Code. I’m quite familiar with Canada Learning Code, it was Ladies Learning Code was founded by some awesome Toronto Women. Since 2011, LLC has had over 17,500 participants and held over 600 events. The organization is dedicated to ensuring all Canadians – particularly woman and girls – are given equal opportunity to access education in tech, a field still mostly run by men. Yes, ladies!  March Workshop w/ Ladies Learning Code Booking.com has a two-part Ladies Learning Code workshop on March 21st and 28th. For $65, you’ll learn basic coding skills and build your own website in a positive and encouraging environment. It’s totally a-ok if you aren’t a code whiz, this workshop is perfect for beginners. There’s more! Everyone who takes part in the workshop is has a chance to win a $500 Booking.com travel credit which can be used at any of the 1.6 million properties available on the site. PLUS, you’ll receive a professional one-hour mentorship…

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Make It A November to Remember: #NaNoWriMo + My Next Travel Adventure

The other day I scrolled an article on Vogue w/ Wes Anderson’s best interiors and discovered Hotel Chevalier. I’m obsessed now,  watched it 5+ times. It’s a 13min American-French short with Natalie Portman and Jason Schwartzman, set in Paris at Hotel Raphael. I have not been to Paris yet but I will go to this place one day. The more I learned about the film the more I wanted to know. Wes Anderson is so creative with the minute details of everything and I love it so much. Have you seen Grand Budapest Hotel? In Hotel Chevalier, Natalie Portman was cast after W. Anderson get her email from Scott Rudin, the producer of Closer. [Another movie I totally love and it super weird.] This movie is only 13 minutes but is so beautifully written and styled, it inspires me. I love it. I love the colours, directing, script. It’s great.  This month I’m heading on a week-long vacation (sponsored by ME!) back to New Orleans and staying at a beautiful villa w/ a few friends in the French Quarter. I was there for my first time in September for a speaking gig. Booked this trip months ago and would love Sean to come with me but I also love travelling alone. I love being in airports and on planes or writing in my hotel room. I’m really looking forward to warm weather and wandering the streets. There is also a Christmas store I only had a couple minutes in last time that I plan to spend a good chunk of time in. Today is the start of National Novel Writing Month and I’m really giving it a go this year.  Have been writing a lot more lately. Planning for to write 500+ words a day for the month between novel/blog. I didn’t know about National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo)…

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Who Would WANT to Be NORMAL?! Not Normal FTW!

I woke up to a FB notification from William Jones this morning and he said this ad make him think of me. I don’t know if it’s just because I was half alseep but when I watched this…I felt a little emotional. I’ve alwasy been ‘not normal’, had my own style, made my own path, and done things in my own way. Probably the Taurus in me and strong influence from my parents to ‘be myself’.  It’s great to be part of a world where we embrace the NON NORMAL. NOT NORMAL is the philosophy that has guided the design of MINI for over 50 years. And it’s the same philosophy that connects the brand to people who drive MINI today. In a world where so many people are trying to fit in, MINI extends an open invitation to those who would rather stand out: http://bit.ly/11gMBY8 . I  hope my blog inspires you to go out into the world and BE BOLD, BE YOURSELF. Think of your life as a movie, YOU are the director, you decide what scene is next and who is in it. You are the STAR! HAPPY TIFF! Have a beautiful day! <3 CASIE Buy Soma Online Buy Strattera Online Buy Trazodone Online Buy Ventolin online

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Toronto Mini Maker Fare: 3D Printing & more!

I’ve told you about my love for 3D printing for months now and today is a special day, my bf is having a 3D printer delivered to his office, it’s also his birthday.  [LOVE YOU!] (He subscribes so this will be in his email :)) You can subscribe too. I so freaking excited to learn how to print in 3D. Next month is the Toronto Mini Maker Faire where people show what they are making, and share what they are learning. I’m stoked to soak up inspiration and see just what’s possible. For two days, innovators, artists and hackers from all over the city are busting out of their garages to take part in the biggest show and tell around. It’s going to be 3D printing, robots, Tesla talk, flame throwing unicorns, oh y’know, all my fav nerdy things. Gahhhhhh.  A friend on the organizing team called it “burning man meets craft show” so when she emailed me I knew I had to tell you. You’ll get the to make and learn through interactive activities and workshops too. What can you do at Toronto Maker Faire? Make your first robot Get inspired to design your own wearable electronics Learn how to solder Take your skills up a notch by attending a hands-on workshop Find a project that inspires you and talk to the maker who built it! Tickets – Get them here! Adult per day: $25 Student/Senior/Unwaged per day: $15 Child (6-12 years) per day: $8 Sunday Morning Family Pass (10am-1pm – 2 adults, up to four children): $25 Children 5 and under are free. AND IN OTHER 3D PRINTING NEWS… The crew of volunteers running the show are giving you one more reason to get your tickets early, the chance to WIN a 3Doodler, the world’s first 3D printing pen! DON’T EVEN, this thing started out as a…

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Tia Maria Room in Montreal on Thursday. Wanna come?

Helloooooooo from London, England! This week is a busy one as I arrived here early today and will be in Montreal come Thursday afternoon then, back at the office Friday afternoon, and on stage in the Santa Baby holiday burlesque show Friday night.  Yikes! I live for this though. I love being on the road, I find it really enhances my creativity and inspires me. I’m excited for all the things I learn and people I meet on each trip. I met two dudes while boarding the plane who get their biz cards printed through my office! Cray. I’d like to invite any of YOU  to meet up with me in Montreal on Thursday for the  Tia Maria Room. If you can make it please Tweet, test, comment, email, or do something to let me know so I can add you to the list! There will be lushious cocktails, sensual tunes, a performance by Jarvis Church, and of course, me! I’ll be working and tweeting for Tia Maria and would love to see you there. LMK! Time for a wee nap then I’m going to take in the city! <3 CASIE

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HIGHER

I’m going up there. Right on the edge. Cross my heart and hope to die I make it though ok. A wee bit terrified but excited in the same. That’s my favourite feeling, nervous/excited. The kind that makes you get all riled up with excitement yet you’re deeply terrified.

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Speaking | Panels, Parties & People #SMW

Social Media Week kicks off around the world today. Here’s my picks on what you wanna check out including parties and panels. I’m speaking on two that fall on Thursday & Friday. There’s a TON of things going on so check the schedule & see what peaks your interest. Image is from Say Media’s blog, LEGGOOOO, VROOOOOOOOOM! Monday: 7pm: SMW Tweetgasm & Official Launch Party (Both at Gladstone Hotel) Tuesday: 8am-6pm SMW Coffee House @ ING Direct 2-3:30 Keynote: Jon Sinden on Brands & Fans 3:30-4:30 Conversation in Social Metrics @ Entrinsic Wednesday: 10am-12pm: Content may be king, but without Context – no one will pay attention 4:30-5:30: Not Another Open Bar Event: Is Your Brand Seeing a Return On Influence? 9pm: Social Media Week Toronto Official After-Party: After Hours Conversation Thursday: there’s LOTS of great stuff! 9am-1pm: Entrinsic Presents: CaseCamp (No it’s not Camp about ME!) 1-2:30: Social Media Friends, Anxiety & You: 5:30-6:30: Community Management beyond Twitter & FB 5:30-7pm: Getting Serious About Travel Blogging 5:30-9pm: SXSW Pre-Party @ Spice Route Friday:  8:45-10:30pm: Driving the Social Media Conversation w/ GM 12:30-3:30 Post it, Pin It Party (lunch/drinks) 3-4pm: Social Storytelling: Creating and Curating Content Strategies That Work Friday 6-8pm: Building Valuable Social Features into your Web and Mobile Applications Information about my panels:  Thursday, 1-2:30: Social Media Friends, Anxiety & You: Hosted by Maria Lianos-Carbone, publisher & editor of amotherworld.com, this panel will be talking about the anxiety that can come along with being so open in social media and sharing more of your life than ever. I’m looking forward to this cause I deal with anxiety ALL THE TIME. Other panelists include Stéphanie Montreuil Principal, The Lotus Pad Consulting, and Chris Eh Young. Location is The Office Pub, 117 John Street, 2nd Floor at Adelaide. There will be networking after so come say HI. Friday 6-8pm: Building Valuable Social Features into your Web and…

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