Today is my birthday! I woke up and went for a run in the sun. I feel better than I have in a long time. I’m happy, healthy, and excited to see what the next year will bring. Growing older is such a gift and I intend to continue celebrating each day! Tonight I’ll be attending my fav class at the gym, eating a healthy dinner, and going to bed early. Cheers to another trip around the sun, HBD to me!
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This weekend I did the CN Tower climb for the World Wildlife Foundation! I made it to the top of the tower in 21.5 minutes. It was hard but I was really determined to beat my last time of 23 minutes. Some of the fastest times I saw were around the 14-15 minute mark, the fastest of the whole climb was 11 minutes. I don’t know how that is humanly possible! They must have run the whole way, 2 steps at a time! I probably could have done it a little faster if I wasn’t out late the night before but oh well! 🍻 Happy with my results and tbh idk if I’ll ever do it again. Twice is enough for me! Overall, proud of myself for doing it. Thought I would be sore the next day but I was totally fine. Running has clearly paid off! My next big fitness activity is the Toronto Marathon on Mother’s Day in May (I’m doing the 5k!). 😁 In other news, check this out! I had a shoot a couple of months back for my gym, The Body Engineers, and I’m on the poster for the new challenge that starts this week. If you’re interested, sign up here. In the last challenge, I came in 2nd place out of the whole gym and was the only woman in the top 3. 🎉 She’s a fitness girly now!
View PostOn Saturday, April 1 at 10 am, Sean and I hopped in the car, drove to Budapest Park, and went in the lake with 20+ people. SO FUN! The cold dip was hosted by my friend Meghan Yuri Young x Soho House Toronto x Othership. The water was cold (obviously) but the sun was shining and the sand felt warm on my feet. We started with breathwork led by an Othership Guide, did 2 min in the lake, then had coffee and hung out at the beach. On the way there, I got a notification from the Co-Star app that said ‘Being yourself is exhilarating”, what perfect timing! I’ve been leaning into trying new things and honestly, it’s so much fun. When we got home I walked over to Lucky Tiger Vintage at Lansdowne for their first-ever bin sale. I waited about 45 mins but it was totally worth it. Everything was $5-20 and I came home with a huge bag of goodies. 🤗 10/10, a fabulous day!
View PostWent for a run this morning for the first time in 2 weeks. I was going out pretty consistently in the first two months of the year then kinda fell off my game in March. Good thing is, you don’t need to wait for a certain day to start again, there’s no time like today. Thankfully it was less cold than recent temps and the sun was out. Spring is nature’s party! So happy we made it through winter and it will be Taurus season soon. I’m starting a new challenge with my gym in April and am ready to give it my best. I was in a challenge for the first 6 weeks of the year and came in 2nd place, and was the only woman in the top 3. 😁 Have been going to more yoga classes lately and overall feel pretty good. Looking forward to warmer termps, gardening, and flowers in bloom. 💐
View PostI’ve been going to yoga again since the start of January and it’s made a difference in my life. I love yoga; moving, stretching, bending, breathing. It sounds so simple but they call it a practice for a reason, you have to work at it. For years, I had class 4x a week with Sandy, and it changed my life. Part of my ‘Trying New Things’ this year includes going to more fitness classes at different places. I signed up for a free month of ClassPass this month to experience new places. I went to Mosiac Yoga today and I was kinda nervous for a few minutes before leaving the house but once I got outside I was fine. It was great, I already booked another class. Join me for free here. I used to have a really hard time being still, alone with my thoughts, resisting the urge to move. In 2019 I wrote a post called ‘It takes Practice” where I talked about learning how to be still, slow down. Looking back, I’m so glad I started to make changes before the pandemic. It would have been harder otherwise. Seeing the person I was in old blog posts makes me prouder of the person I am now. It’s hard to grow & change, but so worth it when you come out the other side. This is a quote from the end of that post from 2019: “If you’re feeling stressed or holding something inside, let it go. Write it on a piece of paper and throw it in the fire. There is no sense carrying it with you for another day, week, or year. Free up that space in yourself to fill it with something that makes you happy, with sunshine.” CASIE STEWART, 2018 ‘ It Takes Practice‘ The…
View PostHave plans for the day after Valentine’s? On Wednesday next week, I’m moderating a panel that brings the fashion industry together to talk about the value of goods in the circular economy. It’s been a lil’ while since I was on stage at a live event! 🤗 The event is hosted by Zane Aburaneh (founder of ZANE on Queen) and it takes place at George Brown College at 6:30 pm. There will be an interactive Q&A about how to improve sustainability in fashion by working within a circular economy. The focus is looking at how we can maintain the value of goods through restoration and regeneration. Zane will be introducing his latest venture, Gluu, a web-based platform restoring the chain of production for after-purchase care, with skilled craftspeople in your local area to restore jewelry, leather goods, and fine artifacts. There’s a great group of panelists who are all leaders in the Canadian fashion industry: A couple of fun facts, I’ve known Zane since high school and the last time Amanda and I were on stage together, she was the panel moderator. It’s gonna be a great night. If you’re in the city and interested to join us, RSVP here. It’s free!
View PostEarlier this month, I painted two small canvasses that will be part of an art show in support of CAMH that opens next week & runs until the end of February. On Valentine’s Day 2023 studio IDFK will launch an art exhibition called “showURheart”, a mass collaboration artwork that’s made up of hundreds of individual small pieces to create a ” Great Wall of Love“. Each canvas will be included in a silent auction with 50% of the proceeds to CAMH. Here’s a little peek at my two canvases while I was working on them. If you want to see MY final artwork or the rest of the paintings, you’ll have to pop by Studio IDFK next week at 190 McCaul St. The exhibition will run from February 14 to 28, 2023
View PostThis month I started a 7-week pottery course at ArtScape Youngplace w/ Toronto Potters. I’ve spent a few hours once a week learning hand-building and how to make things on the wheel. I’ve wanted to try pottery since I was a kid, probably since I saw GHOST w/ Demi Moore & Patrick Swayze. 😊 Before class, I thought it would be a nice relaxing experience to make some pottery, and do something creative away from screens. I quite enjoyed the first class and building things by hand. In the second class, we learned how to use the wheel. It’s harder than I thought! In class three I made a bowl, it took almost the whole class. Learning new things can be challenging but I like it. I feel like I’m using a new part of my brain. Pottery is frustrating, the smallest movement or too much pressure can ruin your creation. It’s a lesson in patience and staying calm. 🙏 You’re also using different muscles and strengths, felt it in my arms after our first class on the wheel. I keep seeing inspo everywhere I go, from Chapters to small shops, and the farmers market. I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to make, your guess is as good as mine. 😝 My course was covered by my work as ‘Creative Development’ so I’m hoping to make something cool I can show them. May the Ghost of Patrick Swayzee guide me in my next class. I could use the help!
View PostThis is me right before spending a good 2.5 minutes in Lake Ontario in the middle of winter, on a windy -11 day. Sean and I joined Meghan Yuri Young & Chloe Wild for a cold plunge hosted by Soho House Toronto. It was, as you would expect, cold, but fun. I had a full day of self-care and it was lovely. Sean dropped me off at the 1 Hotel (the old Thompson!) as I was attending a workshop hosted by NüLove featuring my friend, Coach Carey. The best thing happened, walked into the lobby and looked over to see Lisa Sonshine, who was also attending! Both Lisa & Coach Carey have been guests on our Cast of Creators podcast watch or listen to all our eps here. The workshop was so good, we meditated, had a healthy lunch, got inspired, and wrote letters to our future selves. 1 Hotel is going to mail the letters to us in a couple of weeks. I really love this idea and might send my future self a few letters this year. My wonderful day of self-care continued with a walk down Queen Street in the sunshine, popping into shops. My friend Angela has just re-opened her new shop in her old shop’s old location. Check out aka The Store on IG or in person at 662 Queen. There are so many cute things, clothes, shoes, jewelry, glitz, and glam! My final stop (before spending a quiet night at home) was a bright mani with my girl Amanda. Her manicures last WEEKS and I love how she’s helped my nails grow longer & stronger than ever. If you’re looking for a great gel mani, book an appt here. (I realized after that these colors are a little Mcdonald’s but IDGAF, I like it.)…
View PostOver the holidays I was interviewed by Jen McNeely, founder of She Does The City about cold water therapy. If you’ve been here a while, or follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I’ve been dipping myself into cold water for the last couple of years. It started at the cottage just before the pandemic and when we lived up there in 2020, I really got into it. Check out my interview here. I’ve got my galvanized stock tank set up on the roof at home and go in it 3-4 times a week, usually after my run and before a shower. I need to get some new lights set up for night dips. If you’re interested in taking a guided dip, check out Unbounded Well or Othership. See my past posts on cold water therapy here. Use this link for a $10 credit at Unbounded in the Stackt Market. Their outdoor experience has cold plunge wells, Scandinavian saunas, a geodesic breathwork studio, and bonfire lounges. It’s great! I’ll be there in the evening on January 18th if you want to join. 😁
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