I love you Mum, Happy Birthday!

Mum + Me

When I was a little girl I always wanted to do things my own way. I picked out my own outfits at a very young age and sometimes they were … questionable unique. Once I left the house in one orange sock and one green sock to match my orange and green outfit (mum may have made?). I left the house feeling confident and stylish, ready to take on the world. (I was like, 6 or 7.)  One of the neighbours said to mum, “you’re going to let her go to school that?”, she replied “if she feels confident she can wear whatever she likes”. Bam. Thanks Mum.

You have always encouraged me to be creative in all the things I do and now as a grown up weird and wonderful woman I could not be happier.

You are the best, ILU.

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Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

I love this time of year. It really does feel like a second spring with the change in air and trees. It’s a bummer to leave the summer but winter is a time for work.  It’s my most creative time where I hibernate and cultivate ideas. Movies, binge watching shows on Netflix, writing, and cooking.

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Drove up to the cottage after work on Friday. It’s crazy that we can roll up here on a long weekend and hit no traffic, then, at the end of cottage season we still managed to catch some coming up Friday. There’s this one great spot just before Barrie where 104.1 The Dock kicks in on the radio and the sky, if you can catch it looks so magical. A photo will never quite capture it but you can imagine.

Woke up like this, actually. Thanks to my babes at Untitled&Co. for my sweater! I’m shooting my favs from their store next week. My hair is wild when I wake up and with this new violet colour, I think it looks rad when it’s mad! It’s been a week since I had the colour put in and it’s got that grey feeling again. Autumn <3

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The wifi at the cottage is faster than we have at home. It’s so beautiful and relaxing.

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Made a nice brekky  on Saturday morning w/ Martha Stewart style fluffy eggs. One of my fav things about cottage life is all the cooking! I spend heaps of time whipping up things in the kitchen. I’m taking a class on food photography at Henry’s next week so perhaps I will get into sharing some of my culinary creations.

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Had fireworks last night.

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This morning was so misty. There’s magic in the air.

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One of my fav things about Sunday morning is the Will and Grace marathon on The W Network.  I watch 5 or so episodes, read, and do blog stuff. Relax, recharge.

Title is a quite by Albert Camus, a French Philosopher who died in 1960. Here’s another great one by him.

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of.
You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.

With love,

CASIE <3

#TIFF14 Bang Bang Baby Premiere

#TIFF14 Bang Bang Baby Premiere

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 On Monday night I joined Sean for the premiere of Bang Bang Baby.  The feature debut film is directed by Canadian Jeffrey St. Jules. It’s a surreal, fever-dream fusion of small-town musical and 1950s sci-fi. The event was at Spice Route on King West.

Thanks EXPRESS for this shirt + pants I paired w/ my fav Rudsak leather jacket and clutch from Banana Republic.

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Sean (Visual Effects producer) posing w/ Bang Bang Baby producer Don Allen.

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Fun night but going on on a Monday sure takes it’s toll! Here’s to a couple more days of TIFF then R&R at the cottage.

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In other news, how much do you love these? Blue suede boots from Shelly’s London X NastyGal. I got dinged on customs, $60 but I caved and picked them up from the postie anyways. LOVE.

<3 CASIE

 

Anytime is Game Time w/ Mattel. Game On!

Anytime is Game Time

Anytime is Game Time

My friends at Mattel recently send me this pack of games. I decided to take them up to the cottage for some family fun!

They recently hosted a bunch of blogger for Mattel Game Night where everyone was invited to play games over snacks and drinks. I wasn’t able to make it this year but have attended their game night a new times. Here’s me playing Apples to Apples a while back.

You can win games from Mattel too by entering their Anytime is Game Time contest on Facebook. Contest closes Sept. 10th so get your name in there!

Thanks Mattel for sending the games. Heading up to the cottage this weekend and will be crackin’ these boxes!

<3 CASIE

#TIFF14: CFC Annual BBQ Fundraiser for Canadian Film

#CFCBBQ

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Yesterday I attended the Annual CFC BBQ at the Canadian Film Centre w/ Sean and the team from 1188 Films. His company was an event sponsor and was demoing the latest Oculus Rift part of David Cronenberg’s Body Mind Change project. You may remember my slight obsession w/ POD and Body Mind Change last year.  

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CFC BBQ Highlights:

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The Canadian Film Centre is absolutely gorgeous. Follow @CFCCreates for all kinds of news, info, and behind the scenes stuff about Canadian Film. I’ll be working with CFC later this year for the Buffer Festival celebrating top YouTube talent. Stay tuned right here for that!

<3 CASIE

#TIFF14: Win a #NKPRIT14 Lounge Experience

#TIFF14: Win a #NKPRIT14 Lounge Experience

Last week I visited the NKPR IT Lounge on media day to check out what celebrities would be recieving when they’re in town and get a little pampered myself. I’v partnered with NKPR to give YOU the same treatment. Scroll down and enter to win a VIP NKPR Lounge giftbag. Some of my favourite items include Rudsak, Christian Rex, Saje, Tweezerman, Yogurty’s, and Yo Sox.

Earlier last week Natasha from NKPR and I attended the premiere of Behind the Red Carpet, a documentary that we are both in, along with Chris CJancelewicz and George Pimentel about the Toronto International Film Festival. We gathered in the screening room of The Spoke Club with the director, distributor, and closest family. After the film we learned that our movie will be on CBC later this year and on iTunes for you all to watch. Squeee! 

   

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Here’s the dealio. Enter below to win. Contest is open to all residents of Canada except Quebec (sorry guys!). Starts TODAY, September 8th and ends WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10th. Your gift will be sent from NKPR. Winner, I’d love to see a photo of you with all your goodies. I wish you all good luck.

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Live for now. #PepsiPopUp

#pepsipopup

Last night wrapped 5 days of free concerts and interactive events at the PepsiPopUp at Richmond & John downtown Toronto. I stopped in to meet up with my contest winners and rock out a bit. I like this director’s chair look, don’t you?

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The show opened w/ Crystalyne who is about to go on tour across Asia. They were followed by Virginia to Vegas, also from Toronto. The pop-up was really neat because it only fit 200 people making the shows really intimate.

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Loved this Pop Art

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Projection outside the Pepsi Pop-Up

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Virginia to Vegas lead singer before hitting the stage

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Style award goes to this man w/ the awesome leather pants, creepers, and killer shades

As I was leaving a colleague at Pepsi said she overheard some girls on their way out say “Did you see Casie Stewart?”, “Yeah, that was her!”.  I think they were too shy to say hello so, girls, if you are reading this, HIIIII! Don’t ever be shy to say hello if you see me out, I wanna meet you!

The Toronto International Film Festival is on for a few more days and I’ve got some fun things in my schedule. My mantra for the day is LIVE FOR NOW. Remember, you’ll never be younger than you are today!

<3 CASIE

Happiness depends upon ourselves. #TGIF

Happiness depends upon ourselves. #TGIF

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

This week has been a busy one for me and probably for you. Back to school, back to work, TIFF, NYFW, and all the other little life things that pop up can really take a toll on your energy.

I’m channeling this moment from last weekend when Sean and I went on a long drive through the Muskokas, from Gravengurse to Port Carling, Bala, and back. I asked him to stop the car so I could stand in the middle of the road and admire all that surrounded me. The trees, the fresh air, the silence.

It made me think of one of my fav poems, Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken. It’s one of those things I dig up and read when I need to remind myself that taking the not so easy route and toughing through hard work is what makes all the difference in the end. “If it was easy, everyone would do it”, I’m sure someone older than you told you that before.

If you’ve got that stress flow cramping your style, take a nap, take a bath, take a walk, take your phone out of your hand, and take a minute (or hour, or afternoon) to appreciate all the good things in your life. You’ll feel a stress release, I promise.

HAPPYFRIDAY

<3 CASIE

#TIFF14: The Annual Essentials Lounge #ESSENTIALSLOUNGE5

#TIFF14: The Annual Essentials Lounge #ESSENTIALSLOUNGE5

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Yesterday I went to the Essential Lounge by EGPR and at the Templar Hotel, Toronto. I can’t lie, going to lounges is one of the most fun parts of TIFF! It’s a gathering of media, friends, brands, and it takes a great PR team to pull it all together.

We get a glimpse of how the stars in town for TIFF are treated and to see what brands are gifting. I love rummaging through the goodies and sharing them with Mum, my sisters, bf, friends that come over. Here’s some of my fav moments all shot by Ryan Emberley. You’ll recognize a few faces!

I started out with an express facial by Skinceuticals and went on to have my makeup done by tarte Cosmetics and hair by Schwarzkopf.

I was gifted a fantastic new bra from Calvin Klein and switched into it, tossing my old one before picking up a cute new pair of flats from Rockport.

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Lauren O’Nizzle, BFF from CBC & laurenoutloud.com

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Liem Vu from Global’s Morning Show

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Nelia from styleblog.ca

The essentials lounge happens right before TIFF to hook up press with products that’ll help them survice the TIFF madness and recover after the whirlwind.  and a swift recovery.

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Canon Blogtography crew Andrew Dobson (Metro & dobbernationLOVES.com) & Nelia

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Thank you Esther, Jess, and EGPR’s team far having me! Here’s to Essentals Lounge 6 and a happy TIFF ’14!

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<3 CASIE

#PepsiPopUp: Tickets + Show Details!

#PepsiPopUp Tickets

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I saw two shows last night inside the worlds largest Pepsi bottle for a five day entertainment extravaganza, #PepsiPopUp. The location is Richmond & John and you really can’t miss it! It’s huge.

There’s free shows each night this week until Sunday (scroll down for tickets!). Starting at 11am you can pop in for a refreshing drink and a bunch of activities. Tonight, Hollerado and Born Ruffians take the stage at 7pm.  Pepsi is giving away tickets on a first come, first serve basis so you’ll wanna get there early!

What to Expect:

  • Drum Machine and challenging others to a ‘drum-off’. This drum machine was first made famous at the Glastonbury festival and Pepsi is now bringing it to Toronto as part of #PepsiPOPUP– the first time it’s been in North America!
  • Huge huge interactive light wall installation 
  • Get a custom Pepsi T-shirt and receive an ice cold Pepsi

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First up last night was Meligrove Band and they were so good I bought their cd. The venue only fits 200 people so catching a show inside is really intimate.

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Dwayne Gretzky, is an eight-piece rock n’ roll cover band, aka members of Sweet ThingAl xOur Lady Peace,SheezerDustin Bentall & the Smokes, and July Talk. They closed out the night with rad tunes. I am kinda in love with them all. 

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Music Acts:

  • Thurs., September 4 – Born Ruffians and Hollerado
  • Fri., September 5 – USS and The Elwins
  • Sat., September 6 – Nick Cannon will be hosting this day’s event, featuring 4Count and Kreesha Turner
  • Sun., September 7 – Virginia to Vegas and Crystalyne

#pepsipopup

I’d love you to join me on Sunday for the last show. I’ve got three pairs of tickets for you to skip the line and see Virginia to Vegas and Crystalyne at 7pm. Contest details below. Open to anyone who can get to Richmond & John on Sunday. So, if you’re in town on a whim, enter below!

<3 CASIE

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Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. 🙂