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.
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!
This time is year is so hectic, ahhhhh! Lots of running around from now till Friday! Today mum is coming down to help me with some office elfing, aka getting presents ready and delivering to clients.
This weekend at home was so nice, a great start to holiday mode. With Christmas on a Friday this year, I think it’ll be easier to really take some time to relax.
I’m totally in in love with these little sweaters Telus sent over to help get into official #HolidayMode. The entire campaign is great.
I probably spend the most time on my gadgets around my family but this holiday season, my goal is to spend less time staring at my phone and more face-time with the ones I love.
I like putting on the (digital) fireplace, reading a book, or simply relaxing on the couch and staring at it. If you don’t have one via cable already, pop over to the Telus YouTube and put this one on your tv.
I love the Internet and technology and how it keeps me connected to the world, but, taking a break from it is totally awesome too. Your batteries need a recharge.
Thanks Telus for helping me get into holiday mode. Can’t wait to cook Christmas dinner later this week! OK, off to do my efling!
It’s Christmas week, again already. Crazy to think how time flies, feels like I was just saying this the other day. (Omg how old am I? I sound like my parents!)
Can’t believe it’s trench coat weather! Dug up this Ted Baker scarf today, reminds me of spring.
Spent most of the morning driving around doing holiday things. Ford hooked me up with an Explorer for the weekend to help de-stress my holidays, and it totally worked. Dropped off stuff to donation centres, picked up something from Umbra, holidays gifts for the office. Learned how much a two-four of Jack Daniels is. See Snapchat before tomorrow for that one.The stereo in this Explorer Platinum is amazing, also heated massage seats w/ screens for back seats.
In other news, I’m on the TV at Umbra. GO STOP BY THE STORE AND SAY ‘I KNOW HERRRRRRRRRRR’. There’s ton of gifts there and that’s why I was back today.
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! ??
Venice Beach, California
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!
Koh Tao, Thailand
I’ve partnered with a Capital One Canada one to tell you about their new and improved line of Capital One Aspire Travel MasterCards. There are two to pick from that both offer great travel rewards and benefitsdepending on what you’re looking for. Here’s a quick summary and my fav features of each.
With this card you can book the hotel, airline or rental car of your choice, then redeem your reward miles to cover these travel expense and even pay for the taxes using your reward miles. There are no blackout dates or hidden fees. You also get 2 reward miles for every $1 on all purchasesand can earn a $400 bonus in travel rewardswhen you get a new card.
Once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, you earn a one-time bonus of 40,000 miles, that’s $400 in travel! There’s no limit to the mines you can earn either so start shopping! A couple other great Travel benefits include Travel Emergency Medical and Trip Cancellation insurance. I’ve stressed it before, never leave home without travel insurance!
With the Aspire Travel Platinum MasterCard, you get travel rewards on every purchase and there’s no limit to how the amount of miles you can earn. There’s a one-time bonus of 10,000 miles – equal to $100 in travel – once you spend $500 within the first 3 months. There’s also Platinum MasterCard benefits, including Travel Accident insurance, and Baggage Delay coverage.
Tortuga Island, Costa Rica
This photo was from a day sailing trip to Tortuga Island while surfing in Costa Rica. I would love to go back there! It was one of my fav trips and went there all by myself. I flew into San Jose and took an all day bus, ferry, then another bus to my destination, meeting all kinds of people along the way. I love that feeling of adventure you only get from exploring a new destination.
I’m dying to get on a plane and explore something new! I’ll be sure to document my travels, wherever they may be.
I absolutely love this. One of my fav songs since I lived in Australia 10 years ago. Heart warming to see this big group singing amongst the lights of the Toronto Christmas Market. I’ve not gone by there yet but plan to pop by next week during the day.
Something cool about this vid and another reason I wanted to share…
To perform Friday I’m in Love, they required permission from Robert Smith of The Cure. After he watched a short clip they sent him, he loved it SO MUCH he asked them to donate the licensing fee to charity. Together, Koodo & Choir! Choir! Choir! (80 choir singers in TO) are donating that fee towards sponsoring a Syrian refugee family.
ALL THE FEELS. I love it.
In other news, I went to the Koodo office during my last Telus visit and it’s full of bright colours and smiles.
Have been laying low and trying to slow down for the holidays this week. Monday I was at the office and took a little test drive w/ Chevrolet in the new Cruze.
Title is a quote by Jane Austin, today is her birthday.
This is my fav coffee shop in our neighbourhood, Cafe Neon. Walked over this morning and grabbed two coffees, for myself. I’m working from home today and wanna be prepared. Had a chuckle to myself wondering if that is a weird thing to do but don’t really care if it is! Quite warm out still, it’s nice walking weather. ?
Started reading Makers by Cory Doctorow yesterday, someone sent it to me in the mail. If it was you, please lmk. I am loving it and it’s crazy how it was published 2009 yet foreshadows the future and right now. Reading before bed helps me wind down the mind.
Continuous scrolling made me forget how much I love turning pages.
Heading home to hang out and get a tree with mum this weekend. Can’t wait!
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.
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!
The last few days I’ve been really focussing on slowing things down, spending time at home. After a REALLY busy year, I feel December is a great time to recharge dem batteries.
Took a trip to Ikea yesterday and it’s really quite chill there on Monday afternoon. Walked around talking on the phone, taking my time to dilly dally through the maze of housewares. Got meatballs of course.
Been loving this warmer weather and still haven’t given up wearing my leather jacket. Today calls for a manicure.
