Day 373: Social and Culture

Today I started my new FT role at Funday Agency as Social & Culture Manager. My job is focused mostly on internal communications & operations relating to building company culture. Last year I came to the realization I didn’t want to work specifically in social media anymore. I was looking to expand and do more things related to general marketing. That beung said, it’s been 5+ years since I’ve worked FT and I expect there will be a *bit* of an adjustment.

Today’s lunch was provided by Do Rueda in Spain who sent over a delicious selection of Spanish tapas and wine to taste. I saved the wine for after work but tuned in for a lunchtime seminar with several sommeliers from the region. Back in 2019, I went on a press trip to Spain where we spent a week visiting 13 wineries in Do Rueda, Spain’s top region for verdejo & white wine. See those posts here!

Another great surprise today was the delivery of new blue light glasses from gry mattr, a new company from Joe Mimran (the founder of Joe Fresh). I picked this design on a whim without realizing they would look almost identical to my old fav glasses I wore when I first started Twitter (see small image here).

I had this same black & white photo as my Twitter image from 2009-2012. Back then, I used to wear glasses ALL the time and I absolutely love these new ones from gry mattr. Thanks Joe!

A BIG thank you to everyone who reached out via social or LinkedIn to congratulate me on my new gig. Excited for the future! Have a great week!

Day 372: Social and Culture Manager

Woke up with a killer toothache this morning and took an easy morning for my Advil and CBD to kick in. It was another beautiful day and I am loving the energy I get from this weather! I ended up taking an afternoon nap and felt nice and refreshed when I woke. Went for a nice walk to the grocery store to get supplies for the week. Sean is shooting something up north this week so I’m home by myself, which I don’t mind. ?

This week I am starting full-time at Funday Agency and I am so excited! I absolutely love working with this team so it was a natural progression to move from contract to FT. My role is Social & Culture Manager and I’ll be working on Funday initiatives, branding, and merch. This is a new role that was created just for me and I’m really keen to develop the Funday brand. One of the recent tasks my team completed was our first round of Funday supplies including notebooks, note cards, Sharpies, and stickers. They turned out so good.

Here’s to a great week! Sending sunshine!

Day 371: First Day of Spring!

Today is the first day of spring! Guys, we made it through the winter, congratulations!

I went to the garden center at Canadian Tire and cleaned up our patio. I finally planted all of the Pothos cutting I’d been propagating over the winter.

After my gardening expedition, I went for a nice long walk with Michelle and we had a drink on a patio for the first time in MONTHS. It was so lovely to be outside and enjoying the sun!

Day 370: Sunrise Cold Plunge in Lake Ontario

This morning I woke up nice and early and went to Humber bay part to meet some friends for a cold plunge in Lake Ontario. The sun was just coming up over the horizon and it was cold but beautiful. It was the first time IRL meeting Amy Shio, aka Les Best the wonderful woman who has been a big part in inspiring me to run daily.

Megan, Amy, Eric, Phil, and I ran into the water just after 7:30 am and stayed in for about 45 seconds. I wasn’t expecting the waves to be SO HIGH but it was still fun. When I came out of the water, it was so cold that part of my hair was FROZEN!

I reckon next time we’ll pick a spot that has less waves and rocks because it was a little scary! Hoping to go back in the water again next week.

Happy Friday!

Day 369: Wherever You Are, Be There Completely

Day 368: Think About Perspective

I do a petty good job of sharing positive stories, sunshine, smiley faces but let me remind you, once again, what you see on the internet is never the whole story. Some days are hard, messy, or just plain garbage. Life is hard and we are living through a deadly global pandemic. We’ve learned a lot after one year of this but that doesn’t make it easier on the day-to-day. I try to find joy in the little things, stand and face the sun, and get out fresh air to clear my head.

The past year has really taught me about perspective and I try to keep that in mind when I’m faced with it a challenge. No matter how much I try tho, I can’t help but feel sad or angry sometimes, both made more difficult if you’re tired. This week has been a mix of awesome and shitty, a real rollercoaster.

It’s important to remember that a bad day isn’t all days, you are strong, you can handle this. Take some deep breaths, a walk outside, or even take a little nap. There’s no sense in letting a bad day ruin everything and with each new morning, we have an opportunity to find some good in the day.

Today I was having a hard time when I decided to stop everything and go for a long walk. The air was cool but the sun was out, by the time I got back home, I felt better.

I love this reminder shared by Amy Shio on Instagram, a good one to keep.

Day 367: Making Fun Happen

Had a great run this morning and found some street art on the way home. Can you guess what I drew here? The sun of course! Love seeing people out here making fun happen.

I received a fabulous box from the tourism folks in Stratford, ON filled with all kinds of goodies from local retailers. It was so fun to open! [WATCH THE VIDEO HERE] I grew up in the 519 and Stratford has so many memories for me. We used to visit all the time with my parents and I spent few weekends going there for dance competitions.

To help support local businesses, they’ve created this lovely box filled with local Stratford treasures. Purchasing one is not only is a great gift, you’re supporting local shops in an Ontario tiny town. Check out @visitstratfordon on IG or visit their website to order. Each box is $100+HST (includes free shipping across Canada). My last visit there was in 2018 and I made a guide of things to do when you visit, in this post.

The shirt I’m wearing is my OWN vintage from 1989. I used to go to heaps of car shows w/ the family as a kid. I was playing with the mirror and found it hilarious to see my reflections multiply. ? Just’ making my own fun over here.

This week I also received a package I ordered from a childhood friend’s new biz, The Curator’s Shop. They created it during covid and ship boxed full of all kinds of luxury goods that make great gifts. I purchased the Hinza Tote, a green plastic, sustainable multi-use bag made from sugar cane, a renewable resource. For over 50 years these bags have been produced in Sweden.

Finished the day with a long walk from Junction downtown to Queen & Bathurst with Michelle. It was so sunny and I loved seeing random friends along the way. She had these photos made for me at Christmas and I just picked them up. So fun. I need to print more photos!

Day 366: Big Spring Energy

I’ve been waking up so early this week and I’m not sure if it’s Daylight Saving Time or general excitement. Knowing spring is around the corner has me feeling some kinda way and I’m working on a couple of projects that have me BUZZING.

Last year when I was off work for a couple of months, it made me think about life and what I truly wanted. I’ve been working in social media for so long and felt like I needed a change. I joined the Advisory Board at Hvr then took a contract with Funday Agency. I’ve been so inspired by the work I’m doing, it’s transferred to everything I do.

I spent years not being *truly* happy and I think this past year really gave me a chance to revaluate what matters. I reprioritized a few things and through that gained a new perspective on life. I am truly excited for the next year and what I might can accomplish.

Here’s to BIG SPRING ENERGY. ☀️? She’s ready to BLOOM!

Day 365: A Year of Cottage Living

Living in the woods for a year will change you.

I remember when I started dating Sean and spending time at the cottage, I dreamed of us running away to live in the woods. I’d eat healthily, build a garden, go for long walks, and letting my hair grow out.

Today marks one year since we packed up our essential items and moved up to the cottage to wait out the Covid-19 Pandemic. We thought it was a great opportunity to open the cottage a little early and get some jobs done around the property. We had no idea it would last this long.

The first few months were filled with online workout classes, dance with Ryan Heffington, and long runs outside through the woods. Over the summer I read a bunch of books, perfected my tan, and safely hung out on the water with cottage friends.

In August, I spent a week in the city and it was so nice to walk with friends, sit on patios, or hang in the park. I started a new job in August we both worked from the cottage for most of the fall. I was starting to miss home and good wifi, I wanted to get back to some kind of normal routine.

In December, we had our first family Christmas at the cottage complete with a tree, presents, and fireworks. Sean and I spent a nice 7-day stretch at the cottage the week before NYE. We came back to the city on January 1, 2021.

Sean spent most of January and February 2021 at the cottage alone or with Emily while she was doing home school. I wanted to spend some time at our house in the city, I missed my stuff, my closet, and the comfort of our space. I love the cottage but I also miss my old life and seeing friends, even at a distance, seeing them brings me so much joy.

Although the pandemic has been a tragic year for us all, I’m extremely grateful for a year of cottage living. I learned a lot about myself living up north, isolation in the city is one thing but isolation up north is even more distanced.

You have time to be with your thoughts, nature, your feelings. We learned to use what supplies we had on hand and I discovered a love for propagating plants.

Here’s hoping this summer we can have people over and enjoy lake life together. Miss you.

Day 364: One Full Pandemic Year

Sometimes it feels like, is anyone out there? You’ve been following my year but how has your year been? How are you doing? I’m here if you want to talk, text, email, or Tweet. It’s me on the other side of your screen.

Some days I feel good like I can handle this, I got it, I’m doing good. Other days I melt into the couch in loungewear wondering when the hell this will be over. I binge-watch shows and eat too many snacks. Then go to bed early, in my same clothes, and wake up hoping for a good day.

Day 1: Social Distancing was published on March 14, 2020, it’s been one full pandemic year. My biggest accomplishments have been growing my hair out, writing this blog, and surviving. Getting through this has been hard and just making it to Day 364 is an accomplishment, so man people aren’t with us today.

Although our old ‘normal’ seems a lifetime away, there are things to look forward to. As vaccines continue to roll out, and stores start to reopen, we’ll get back to some kind of normalcy. Yes, you still have to wear a mask and it might be sometime before we’re all vaccinated, but the days are longer, patios will open, and things will get better.

One thing we can all take from this is the joy of slower living, the hygge of having a space that feels cozy. How important it is to have best friends, or how a call from someone can turn your day around.

Some of the best times I has this year were long walks with friends or hanging out in the park. I have great memories with our cottage friends and spent lots of time reading on the dock. I’ve talked to mum almost every day and she always seems to have the right words for whatever mood I’m in. I’m grateful for Sean and us sticking through, despite the hard days and my occasional meltdowns.

Living up north for a year has brought its own challenges! For the first few months, I was on CERB and not working. It took a little time but I fully opened up into my creative self, started sewing, making things, propagating plants, working out heaps, and perfecting healthy recipes. Sean worked through the entire pandemic and only took a few days off around his birthday in August. The cottage is his happy place, a safe space, he feels most at home here. He’s run over 1,600 KM in the woods and loves to take daily breaks to chop wood with an axe, use his chainsaw, or wakeboard in the summer.

The cottage isn’t fully winterized but as of today, we managed to make it one full year! Even through winter! We had a few things break, a flood, loss of power, wifi issues, a few plumbing mishaps, a really pesky chipmunk, and now, a new water tank. Each time Sean was faced with an issue, although stressful, I admire his ability to find a solution to the problem and stay calm. I am less calm (through everything!) but I’m working on it.

If we can get through one year of a deadly global pandemic, we can do anything! Here’s to brighter (AND LONGER) days ahead. Thank you for reading and following my adventures (or lack of adventure haha). My hope is that one post or picture from the last year brought a smile to your face and made you feel less alone.

We’re all in this together. Hang in there!

Day 363: Counting The Days

Socially distanced. Wearing a mask. Staying home. Staying inside. Working from home. Distanced walks. Banana bread. Zoom meetings. You’re on mute. Loungewear. Self-care.

It’s wild to think back to March 13th, 2020. I remember going to the gym in the morning, meeting friends at Drake Commissary for lunch, eating inside. Picking up beers from the brewery, walking home in the sunshine. I went for a walk at magic hour, sat inside at the bar for a pint near our house. The next day my sister came over and we watched Contagion thinking, no way this could happen here.

I’m not exactly sure how to ‘celebrate’ one year, it’s not the kind of thing you’d throw a party for. A party is technically illegal these days. I’m gonna keep counting the days until the pandemic is over. Hopefully the end is near but looking at how the vaccinations are rolling out, it might be a while.

A couple of friends in Canada got their vaccines this week and I can’t wait to get mine so we can all hang out. I miss seeing friends. events, concerts, yelling in a crowded bar, karaoke, fashion shows, press-previews, or grabbing one last drink at a dive bar.

Today we watched The One on Netflix and finished the 8 Episode series. Good show! Sean chopped wood and we had a nice fire, cozied up on the couch. Pretty sure it was only 9 pm when we both fell asleep.

Day 362: The Sun Shines for You

Today was cold and so windy. On days when it’s really sunny, the sun streams into the cottage living room, casting a beautiful light onto the couch area. I was mesmerized by it today! I could feel the warm energy on my face and it gave me hope for spring and longer days ahead. Daylight Saving Time is on Sunday and it will be so nice to be able to go for evening walks without it being dark.

This week at the cottage has been so nice, calm, relaxing. I’m looking forward to being home next week, checking on my plants, and going for distanced walks with friends. Both Muskoka and Toronto are still in lockdown so there’s not much to do but with warmer weather, we can hang outside.

Please stay safe, stay home, and wear a mask when out. We’ll get through this, hang in there!

The sun shines for you!

Day 361: Making Smoothie Bowls

New fav lunch is making smoothie bowls, I didn’t realize how simple and beautiful they were. I’m always looking for more ways to integrate fruit, vegetables, and fiber into my meals and this is IT. Picked up a great mix of frozen fruits & veg for smoothies, then add coconut, bran bits, dairy-free coconut yogurt, and fresh fruit. Absolutely divine!

Spend most of the day working, really quite enjoying my job, and will be working more over the coming months. Sometimes I dream about working in an office but other days I love the freedom of working from home.

I’ve been going through old posts and looking back over the past 12 months. This weekend marks one year of pandemic life and I’m so glad to have kept this diary. I feel like I’d have no idea where the year went without it!

Should I keep counting the days after one year?

Day 360: Wednesday Workout

Today was a good day. Went for a guided run on the treadmill with the Peloton App. I love their fitness trainers and music. I also did a barre workout and it reminded me so much of ballet as a kid. From 3-13, I spent heaps of time in the studio with multiple classes each week. I learned so much from Ms Lisa, not just about dance but strength, persistence, hard work, and how to stand tall, walk with my head high.

Took another short dip in the ice today, a cold plunge hurts but feels great after. I didn’t last too long today, it was windy and that makes it harder. I’ve got some friends in the city who want to give it a try so we might find a spot in the city next week.

Looking forward to our weekly trip to town today, Walmart here we come. Wonder if they’ll have any plants in yet? Last year I got a beautiful Monstera and a Fiddle Fig at Bracebridge Walmart, each for $25. In the city I paid $80 for a Fig tree the same size!

Sending you good vibes through the internet, hope you’re having a great week!

Day 359: Welcome to Ice Beach

It was so warm today, almost 10 degrees! Sean came into where I was working and said ‘let’s go tanning!’. We sat outside in the Muskoka chairs, in the snow, and soaked up the sun. If you squint a little the ice almost looks like sand. Welcome to Ice Beach!

Can you believe we’ve been at the cottage for almost a whole year? This week in 2020 was the last week before everything changed. I have learned so much in the past 12 months, especially about myself. I’m grateful for the experience of being here with Sean, connecting with nature, and learning to appreciate a slow living.

I am loving this weather so much. It’s incredible how warmer air and a touch of sun can boost your whole vibe. Feeling more creative this week than I have in a while. This jacket is one of my most treasured vintage finds, I got it at Curries’s Music in Gravenhurst, they have a great section of clothes in the back.

Day 358: Ice Cold Therapy

Yesterday we had an epic day of outdoor adventure with Pat & Miranda at their cottage. Sean has been really into Wim Hof breathing and cold plunges for the last year. Some benefits of cold therapy are reducing inflammation, swelling, and sore muscles, improved quality of sleep, more focus, and improved immune response. To read up on it, check out wimhofmethod.com. If you can tough it out for a few minutes, you’ll feel AMAZING after.

Sean filmed this with a drone and it turned out so good.

Watch the video on Instagram here.

Pat had to break the ice with an axe before we could go in the ice hole. He went first for about 2 min, then me for about 1.5 and Sean too. The temperature outside was about -6 and the ice water was VERY VERY COLD.

Felt so energized after going in the cold water. I’m gonna try and go in our ice bath at the cottage a few more times this week. I find it really helps with arthritis in my arm and sore feet.

Here’s to a great week!

Day 357: Walk On Water

Nice morning walk on the frozen lake. The ice is very thick. Crazy to think we went right across to the other side. Walk on water, baby!

I love these smoke bombs, thanks Sean! You can find them at your local fireworks store or here on Amazon. Made a video and posted it on Instagram.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

It’s so quiet and peaceful out on the lake. The shifting ice makes these subsonic sounds that you can feel in your bones. With a shift in temperatures, ice moves, vibrating up and down, kind of like a drum or deep-sounding bass. It’s really cool to feel when you’re walking on it. Sometimes it’s loud and we can hear it from inside the cottage.

How great is this jacket?! It’s Sean’s mum’s and has matching hot pink snow pants. I love it! Hi Lorna if you are reading this, miss you!

356: Playing Outside

Today we had an adventure and went to visit Talia & Nelson at their cottage. I dressed for playing outside and it was a beautiful day.

Around this time last year, we spent a night at their place and went snowmobiling. We even drove snowmobiles to a lake-side restaurant and ate inside. Inside! It was the last weekend before the pandemic hit.

It was so mild today, I even unzipped my jacket for part of the walk. Nelson & Talia showed us all the targets they have set up for shooting. I’d never shot a gun until this day but it was the right place and time. Nelson turned to me and said “Casie, you’re up!” and carefully walked me through it. I’m not a gun person by any means but at this moment, I felt safe and decided to give it a try. Proud of myself, I was pretty good at hitting the target!

Feels good to spend the day outside enjoying winter, making the most of each day. We drove back to the cottage as the sun was setting.

Day 355: WFH In The Sun

Sean and I drove back up north this morning after dropping Emily to school. It’s still winter up here with a foot of hard snow, ice, and the lake is totally frozen. It’s too slippery to run outside so I’m grateful for the treadmill in the basement from Sean’s parents! ?

I worked in the morning then took the afternoon to bake black bean brownies, cook stuff in the Instant Pot, and enjoy the sun through the windows. Love a little WFH in the sun.

My Friday winter style today is casual with a side of leathery pants. In other news, my hair is getting longggg, I love it. Might get crazy and do another temporary pink dye later today.

Looking forward to an outside hang with some cottage friends tomorrow!

Day 354: Hanging Out With Me

I always kinda danced to my own drum but over the past year, I’ve realized how much I really like hanging out with me.

casiestewart huji march 4 20211

I’m so fun. I love walking, running, exercise with me, making crafts, sewing. I love writing alone in my room with the lights dim and Netflix in the background. I love playing in my closet or going through the bins under my bed. I love being alone with my stuff and talking to myself.

I laugh when I’m alone with me about all kinds of things. I smile into my phone when I text friends. I smile when I write emails and I think it shows.

I think one of the best things we can learn from the past year is how to JUST BE with our thoughts and who we really are. It’s the biggest life lesson we can learn. It’s a journey, not a destination. The process of getting to know oneself is ongoing and there are bumps along the way. The road to self-love is less traveled and you have make your own path. We can all get there, it just takes work.

Don’t get me wrong I love my family and friends, but when you really know and love yourself, you have more to share.

Day 353: Can’t Break My Stride

Feeling good this week. It’s like that full moon energy is in my blood! I’m on a 3-week Peloton streak and have been running each day. It’s still cold but I don’t even mind. Fresh air and exercise are something I look forward to each day.

I am SO looking forward to warmer days. I went through some summer clothes the other day and can’t wait to put away my winter gear and bust out the fun stuff. I know it’s gonna be a while still but I love having something to look forward to.

It looks like our lockdown order is going to be extended next week. We’re moving from Stay-At-Home order to Lockdown which means just about everything is still closed. Sean and I will be spending next week at the cottage. I wanted to be there to mark 1 full year of the Pandemic. So crazy it’sa been this long. I hardly remember pre-panini life!

Hang in there! We will get through this. Look for little things in your day to bring you joy. This song is my whole vibe today, can’t break my stride! Put it on and have a dance party. I promise it will make you happy! I love rapping along w/ the lyrics, can you believe I still remember them from the 90’s?!

Day 352: A Good Old-Fashioned Phone Call

Today I booked a meeting with someone and when she asked for my phone number I was so RELIEVED. In her email, she mentioned Zoom fatigue and I was like ‘YES I AGREE’.

We ended up having a great chat for 30 min before even getting to the meat of what we planned to talk about.

It’s amazing how wonderful a phone call with a friend or family member can be. I ring mum about once a day to chat about the day. Sometimes when I have a good day, I call her a couple of times!

I miss seeing people so much but there’s something so personal about a good old-fashioned phone call. These days gabbing with my girlfriends is the best way to connect, if we’re not able to meet for a distanced walk.

In other news, I’m on a good streak with Peloton workouts and discovered a new fav today. There’s a 20min Bad Boy Entertainment full body and it is SO GOOD. I’ve been a HUGE fan of Puff Daddy & the Family since the 90s!

Went out for a run at magic hour and she did not disappoint! The sky was so beautiful. As I arrived at the Dundas West bridge on my way to Roncy, the sun was just setting on the horizon. The cotton candy sky had me smiling as I ran the rest of the way home. I think this is gonna be my new thing, I usually run in the morning but a night run is a great way to close out the day. It made me feel alive and free!

I am living for these longer days when I can get outside AFTER Young & The Restless and it’s still light out. Hahaha!

Day 351: It’s Pandemi Lovato!

It’s almost been one full year since this thing changed our lives and today we’re back in the month of March. Did it March ever end? ‘Pandemi Lovato’ is my new fav nickname for the Pandemic, others include panny, panini, pandemi, Patricia, borona, & pantalangio.

Over the next few days, I’m going to read over posts from the start of the pandemic and roundup some things to remember. Journaling is such a beautiful thing and I’m glad to have this space to share and document.

Thank you for reading and following me on this adventure. I know we’ve all gone through so much the past year and I hope that reading my blog has made you feel less alone at least once. We are in this together. The collective experience of Covid-19 has changed us, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Feeling pretty happy today, I was excited for Monday meetings, getting dressed up (Monday tradition), and doing work after a relaxing weekend. I have definitely learned to slow right down over the past 12 months and have no problems creating time for rest. My skin and hair have never had so many masks and I make time for running, workouts, walks, and sleep as part of my routine.

The countdown to one year of the pandemic is on the home stretch and I’m sure we’ll see heaps of one-year roundups. Please don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t have a list of new skills or milestones to recap. Surviving is the greatest gift as so many precious people lost their lives and loved ones. Hopefully, we’ll have some more good news about vaccinations soon. I will 100% be getting the vaccine when my turn is called. Hang in there. ?

I love this March/James Franco gif so much. If you don’t get it, stop what you are doing and watch The Room (2003) and then The Disaster Artist (2017). It’s really quite the experience.

It’s only a few weeks until spring flowers start blooming, the days are longer, and we can pack away our toques. (HOPEFULLY)

Here’s to a great week!

P.S. I would like to note, we got snow in April 2020 (Day 32), so for everyone thinking it’s spring, don’t let ‘Fools Spring’ get you!

Day 350: Sunday, Pure Sun

On Sunday I like to keep the day free for myself to charge my batteries for the week ahead. Sean and I spent the morning in the kitchen, he is an expert level sous chef so he prepped all the food ingredients. We made roast vegetables, crunchy roast chickpeas, rice, a lentil curry w/ sweet potato, falafels, and my fav spicy Mediterranean-inspired rainbow salad. ?

I love a weekend delivery and I was happy to get this beautiful art-inspired package from Pure Sunfarms in BC. They sent a few items from their new collection of apparel, accessories, objects & art inspired by their love of plants & modern life. I love the package design and art by Brooklyn-based artist Laura Garcia Serventi. I’m gonna frame the print!

“I draw inspiration from the natural world, both flora and fauna, as well as vintage botanical illustration and vintage books of science. I also look back at art history a lot. But botanical gardens are my favourite.”

LAURA SEVENTI

I’d love one of their ‘SUNSHINE’ shirts (obvs) and also their decorative ashtrays that look like a sun, see below! My gift included natural Palo Santo from Woodlot and their yellow Grower’s hand soap that smells AMAZING, it has lemongrass, turmeric, Balsam Fir, and bergamot. Sean is a big fan of Pure Sunfarms cannabis products and everything in their Marketplace is so artfully designed. I stan a weed brand that makes great, artful products. ?

“Nature has always been our greatest source of inspiration when it comes to both ingredients and scent. Our priority is to make products that are clean burning and made with simple, organic ingredients, but we’re also a scent company at heart, and we want our scent catalog to serve as a connection to the earth.”

SONIA CHHINJI, WOODLOT

I spent the afternoon watching Georgis & Ginny on Netflix and did a hair and face mask. The one I’m wearing here is the Black Charcoal by Boscia and it peels off leaving your skin feeling AMAZING. Highly recommend!

Took some time to care for my plants, gave them all a nice spritz with moon water, and took a few cuttings from my Monstera. Michelle got me an amazing ice ball mold and I iced my face before bed. I am obsessed with icing my face lately, it feels so good and it great for depuffing.

Feeling good & ready to star the week!

Day 349: Talk To The Moon

Met up with Michelle to go for a nice walk in the sun. I was thinking of taking the King Streetcar from Bathurst back to Dundas West but changed my mind. Decided to follow the sun and head west on foot, picked up some flowers, and walked home. Went through Trinity Bellwoods then along Dundas, when I passed Lansdowne, the sunset lined up perfectly with the bridge at Sterling Road. Got home as the sky turned to night.

Was feeling big moon energy and said my 6 wishes under its bright light. Learned this manifestation from mum and always go out and talk to the moon, tell the universe exactly what I want. It’s amazing how fast the universe responds if you go confidently in the direction of your dreams, leaving doubt behind.

casie stewart instagram scorpiomystique
IMAGE VIA SCORPIOMYSTIQUE

For the full moon, I attended on an online sound bath hosted by Sound Meditation Presents. A sound bath is an opportunity to travel inward, explore your thoughts and feelings through sound and breathing.

In January 2017, after 3 crazy days of CES in Las Vegas, I drove to LA. I offered to drive a friend back and he brought 2 friends for the ride. I was on a solo mission so didn’t mind the company. One of the friends was Suzy, who invited me to join her for Sound Bath LA. Had no idea what it was but I went. We grabbed blankets and pillows and drove with her friend to a dance studio. It was such an incredible experience, I wrote about it here.

I left that night feeling like a different person, I’d changed. Spent the next week in LA, alone, staying at different Airbnbs and going on adventures. There is nothing like traveling by yourself to rediscover who you are. I was forever changed by that trip and made some life changes the moment I got home.

Tonight’s sound bath was hosted by the same group that did one I went to in LA. The man making music in & hosting is Guy Douglas aka The Gong Guy.

This is what the livestream event looked like:

This practice has also been known as “Sound Healing” or “Sound Baths”.  The beautiful sounds brings balance and harmony to the body, promote positive energy, and is a powerful way to cultivate a sense of well-being. 

Sound Meditation is a very effective form of meditation, and as such, can help ease depression, anxiety, and addiction. 

Guy Douglas & Simona Marie Asinovski

I put the sound bath on tv for Sean and went upstairs to listen in dim light with headphones. I wanted to go deep in the sound, it was great. I ended up falling asleep after 20mins and woke up just in time for the last 10 minutes. Had a lot of thoughts flying around and needed to calm the mind.

This is a quote from the Sound Meditation newsletter, I love it. They also have an app & if you’re looking to join one, visit soundmeditationsf.com.

“We are going to the moon that is not very far. Man has so much farther to go within himself.”

― Anaïs Nin

Day 348: Clubhouse Prom 2021

I attended the first-ever Clubhouse Prom and it was so much fun. Your girl even won Offical Clubhouse Prom Queen 2021!

The prom was hosted by Club F_ck It, the official home of Clubhouse’s longest-running party show. I’d joined the party a few times and was so happy to be included in the prom gang!

You might be thinking, isn’t Clubhouse an audio-only app? Yes, you are correct. I don’t really know how to explain it, but Clubhouse Prom was a real event, part performance art, drama, improv, and comedy. It was such a memorable experience. Virtual events have become our reality these days. As we’ve seen with Clubhouse, audio is emerging as a seriously cool way to connect.

On Wednesday before, there was a ‘Promposals’ room where people asked each other to prom. Before the night started, all the girls joined a room while getting ready. Before leaving to go to the actual event, we changed our profile images to hot pink Hummer limos. That way, we’d all show up in limos and reveal our outfits one by one. It took some time to coordinate the couples and order of guests on stage but the Mods did an amazing job.

I loved getting fully dressed up in an outfit with hair and makeup, it’s been so long! It was recommended that everyone dress up and change their profile photo to their look of the night. I picked up some drinks earlier in the day and was ready to party!

Pin on December16

Prom dates had the same photo for most of the night, then changed them again to share stories about snacks, drinks, accessories, or just about anything else. At one point the room was at 1,200 people but it was a revolving door of Clubhouse users popping in and out from 8 PST until I left at 4am EST.

My fav matching photos of the night belonged to my IRL friends Affan and Meg Button, who captured the ‘Betrayal Under the Sea‘ theme perfectly. Runner up was Daniella and Diego!

Aside from dance breaks, I spent most of the night smiling and laughing into my phone (like this ⤵️). I was anxiously waiting for the next PTR (Pull to Refresh) to see people’s new photos. IT WAS HILARIOUS.

Over the course of the night, people requested songs via IG DM to the hosts or on Twitter with the #ClubhouseProm hashtag. Everyone voted for prom king and queen at a specific URL. Around 3am, the winner was announced…..

The official Clubhouse Prom hosts were Marlena Rodriguez, Broadway B, Daniella Norling, Alana Nguyen, Minh Do, Eugene Baah, Ivy Astrix, Owen Ngángá, Cianna Costa, and Victor.

A special congratulations to Adi, my reigning Clubhouse Prom King 2021! We had so much fun! Aside from being a super nice guy with a great accent, I think he secured his King status when he revealed a new painting he did for Prom in his PTR.

Thank you to all the hosts for a great event and to everyone who voted for me. I’ve met so many really great people on this app.

I can officially add Prom Queen to my list of accomplishments!

Day 347: Toronto Creator Power Hour

Went for a nice walk went near High Park today. It was so lovely outside, felt like spring.

Last night I was a co-host of Toronto Creator Power Hour, a Clubhouse room hosted by Joëlle Anello, Casey Palmer, Solmaz Khosrowshahian, Trisha Enriquez. I pitched the idea to have a chat about blogging and we had Hawley Dunbar from Sidewalk Hustle join us.

We had a GREAT chat about blogging and how as a creator, it’s important to have an online home for your content that you own. When it comes to social media, it’s more like renting space as you do not own the platform and you can’t control what happens on IG, Facebook, etc.

After work, I listened to my latest book on Audible, ‘Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol‘. This is the viral book Chrissy Tiegen read before getting sober. I also made a delicious sandwich, I love sandwiches. ?