Events | No Good Woman Left Behind

Events | No Good Woman Left Behind

Last week I told you an awesome story about how Telus went out of their way to do something awesome for one of their longest standing customers, Ramona. See that story here. This week, they are sponsoring a story on my blog for me to highlight someone in my community. I’ll be donating the money earned from this post to the story I’m about to share.

I’ve picked a friend who has contributed to the Toronto tech & social community for years, graced the stage with her burlesque skills, and recently displayed the utmost strength as she was recently diagnosed with Cancer.

I’d like you to meet Carolyn Van.

Carolyn is a 28 year old young woman, born & raised downtown Toronto.  She loves spending time in dance studios, tweeting & talking about technology and sharingher love for design. She’s an educator, entrepreneur, innovator and all around amazing human.

In mid-March 2014, Carolyn was diagnosed with Lymphoma Cancer. I can only imagine what it would be like for a woman who is so busy working, teaching, speaking, and making the world a better place, to have Cancer disrupt her mojo. I’m impressed with Carolyn’s ability to remain positive and share her story. She’s been documenting her ups and downs on her blog “Cancer Chose The Wrong Woman to F%$! With“.

I’ve known Carolyn for a few years and two years ago we were part of the Army of Sass with the fine ladies below (and my sister!). Run by Carla Catherwood, the Army of Sass is a burlesque troupe empowering women to put on their high heels, share their high hopes, and bust a move on stage. We had so much fun!

We performed in December 2012 at the Mod Club for 2 nights to a totally sold venue each night. It was a an amazing bonding experience for us all. The experience of performing on stage for a packed house is so energizing!

I’ve joined some of Carolyn’s closest friends from the Toronto dance and technology communities,  to put together a fundraiser for her on July 30, 2014. The “No Good Woman Left Behind” fundraiser at the Virgin Mobile Mod Club will be in Carolyn’s honour and to drive awareness of Lymphoma Cancer. Event ticket and auction proceeds will go towards helping to subside her medical and personal costs during treatment and healing.

Screen Shot 2014-07-03 at 11.09.39 AM

 Screen Shot 2014-07-03 at 11.09.45 AM

You’ll be able bid on some fantastic gift packages from Toronto Symphony OrchestraArts & Crafts ProductionsHigh Heels High Hopes and see performances  To donate, get tickets, or find out more information visit nogoodwomanleftbehind.com.

 I would like to thank Telus for sponsoring me to highlight a strong person I admire in my community. Carolyn has been reading my blog and been a friend for years. I’ll be donating the money earned to No Good Woman Left Behind and I hope to see you at the event on July 3o, 2014.

With love,

<3 CASIE

TELUS truly cares about the communities where we live, work and play. Putting customers first is our top priority and guides everyttelusvideohing we do, from our Give Where We Live philosophy to our Customers First days.  See how TELUS gave loyal customer, Ramona, a big surprise to thank her for being such a great customer for almost 20 years. Watch it here.

 

World Pride 2014 – TORONTO

World Pride 2014 – TORONTO

Pride was SO MUCH FUN. I’ve been going for years and this year, Toronto was host to WORLD PRIDE and it was bigger and better than ever. After coming back from the cottage on Sunday afternoon I met up with all my besties and my sister and we danced the night away. Can you believe that it rained then there was a double rainbow right over Church Street and the closing ceremonies? Could not have been more perfect. Surely a day to remember 🙂

World Pride 2014 Photos

20140701-122840-44920748.jpg

20140701-122842-44922091.jpg

20140701-122841-44921581.jpg

20140701-122841-44921175.jpg

20140701-122842-44922989.jpg

20140701-122842-44922196.jpg

20140701-122842-44922587.jpg

20140701-122843-44923765.jpg

 

<3 CASIE

It’s your life. Make the most of it. #TasteLife

It’s your life. Make the most of it. #TasteLife

badge_1_casie_yellowtail

One of the things I love most about summer is heading up to the cottage, taking in all the fresh air, and boating on the lake. It’s an amazing way to really soak up life’s greatness.

Over the next few weeks I’ll he sharing some of my fav ways to #TasteLife in partnership w/ [yellow tail] wines from Australia.

I’ll be encouraging you to share the great things life has to offer on Instagram by tagging @YellowTailCanadawith the hashtag #TasteLife. Each week over the summer, [yellow tail] will post a new inspiration on Instagram and you’ll be able to win a weekly prize by participating. One winner will be selected to win an ultimate grand prize adventure worth $10,000.  Their winning photo will influence the label design on two [yellow tail] bottles next summer (2015).

Here’s my first Taste Life photo, underwater blogging! I was using a DryCase product to project my iPhone while I was in the pool during a film shoot.

To me, the ‘taste life’ mentality means making the most of each day, embracing those around you., taking in the simple pleasures, being spontaneous, and having a positive attitude. I look forward to seeing how you taste life this summer!

08-IMG_5144-001

Stay tuned for the weekly challenges and in the mean time, get out there and do something awesome!

<3 CASIE

badge_2_yellowtail-InPartnership

Let’s Do The Time Warp Again! Blog History #TBT

Let’s Do The Time Warp Again! Blog History #TBT

Today I’m taking you back in time and showing you some memories from June 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. The main reason I started THIS IS MY LIFE was to keep memories. Writing things down has improved my ability to retain information over the last 10 years.

June 2008 – SATC Movie came out and I went to a pink carpet party.

Gave away an Energi to Go charger for iPod on the blog. It was one of the first things I gave away to readers like you. It was also one of my first pieces of branded YouTube content. Here’s the video. This hair, omg so long and dark!

June 2009 – Pink hair for Pride.

Blogged about Dermalogica for the first time. I use their products now and love them still.

This old shirt of Dads. Bare arms with hardly any tattoos.

June 2010 – Gladstone Hotel event, that feather tattoo has been covered by more tattoos. It was a nice one though.

Sheldon, Hawley, Tristan

Went home to see Mum, she gave me flowers from the garden.

It was also summer of G20, I retreated to the island to escape the madness.

I also protested in the G20. Well kinda, mine was more like a sexy protest. I wore lace leggins and combat boots and took photos of cute boys.

2011 – Katy Perry concert and I wore a sequin bodysuit with ruffles on the bum. It was so freaking cute.

Always great to go back in time and remember fun moments in blog history.

<3 CASIE

Look what Telus did for one of their longest standing customers…

Look what Telus did for one of their longest standing customers…

When I watched this I couldn’t hold back the happy tears. I imagined what it was like for her, what it be like if that was me, or if it was my Dad who has been a Telus customer for almost 20 years too. If it gives you the feels, share with a friend 🙂

This act of kindness to show appreciation is the things dreams are made of. I think it’s incredibly awesome that Telus did this for one of their customers of 20 years. If your day has not been made yet, you will feel like making someone else’s after watching this.

A month ago Em and I volunteered at the Harbourfront Community Centre in Toronto for the #givewhereweliveday. Thousands of company employees and friends from across Canada took part that day.

This week the Telus Care-a-Van team is in Guelph, ON with a host of events and activities to specially thank TELUS local customers and the Guelph community. Telus truly cares about the communities they live, work and play. It makes me happy to have worked with them for the last five years. They’re a great bunch!

Hope your day is great. Bring the sunshine if you don’t see it!

<3 CASIE



Watched The Institute on Netflix Last Night…

Watched The Institute on Netflix Last Night…

Last night I watched theinstitutemovie.com on Netflix and I was really intrigued It reminded me of the BMC Labs ‘thing’ I was involved in earlier this year with Body Mind Change and the David Cronenberg project.

I knew that Body Mind Change wasn’t real but there were elements that seemed real and then played out by people I didn’t know and to be honest I still don’t know who was in on it or not. Sean wasn’t sure at times either and he worked on it. Remember when I picked up my pod in the lab and someone tweeted me but I never saw them and it was all really weird? I like that feeling of the unknown. Nervous/excited.

Here’s the trailer for The Institute, it’s kinda weird and artistic and if you don’t like it I’m not sorry. I thought the extravagance of it was pretty neat. I would like to take part in an Alternate Reality Game. If you know of one somewhere, let me know? You can watch The Institute on Netflix here.

The Institute is a documentary that examines a San Francisco-based Alternate Reality Game, where thousands of participants got more than they bargained for. Told from the players’ perspectives, the film looks over the precipice at an emergent new art form where the real world and fiction narratives merge to create unforeseen and often unsettling unsettling consequences. Written by Spencer McCall

Note made via Noteography 🙂 

To those dark horses with the spirit to look up and see… a recondite family awaits.

Pop Up Perrier – Playground Party Photos!

Pop Up Perrier – Playground Party Photos!

_BAC0195

Last week the Burroughs Building on Queen West was host to Pop Up with Perrier, a playground themed party for grownups. I worked with Community Agency to invite some of my closes friends, media, and socialites from the city to come out and get down. The 5th floor was filled with green lights, old school arcade games, ping pong, and more. Photo credit to Ryan Emberley for these great shots.

Pop Up Perrier @ The Burroughes

Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 12

Becca poppin’ the ping pong table!

Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 11

Fashion peeps in the haus hey hey, Shawn Hewson & the Greta Constantine team

Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 1

My silk shirt is from from Philistine Toronto. Clearly I was loving life at this moment!

Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 5 Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 9

Jess from NKPR and Sabrina from NOW lookin’ babely

Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 13

Dirty Harry & Patricia J.

Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 21

One of my fav things was that all the drinks were pre-mixed in bottles. My fav was Grey Goose, Perrier, watermelon mint. Can someone let me know when & where there are available? I need a case for the cottage!

Pop Up with Perrier- Adult Playground 27

On the second night I wore my all over print Ryan Gosling shirt and it was a hit. People were taking photos of it all night. Lauren and I had fun chattin’ up our friends and taking selfies of course. 🙂

_BAC0611

Thanks to everyone who came out, it was great to see you!

<3 CASIE

Om T.O. Free all-day Yoga in the Distillery District

Om T.O. 2014

I don’t know bout you but I’m feeling it could/should be Friday already.  This week is a busy one as I’m working 9-5 and 4 nights this week w/ client events/freelance. It’s been a while since I hit my mat for some sun salutations so I was happy to see an email about Om T.O. – Free all-day Yoga-thon in the Distillery District. I’m gonna try and head there first thing Saturday morning to start my day.

Om T.O. 2 (1)

“Last year, 1,000 people go onto their yoga mats and participated in our inaugural event This year, we’re hoping to double that number and bring yoga to the masses,” said Casey Soer, co-creator of Om T.O. and co-founder of Spynga Inc., a participating studio. “It’s wonderful to see yoga enthusiasts with different skill levels come together to share a truly unique community experience.”

Participating studiosSpynga889 Yoga and Wellness Spa,Bikram Centre,Downward Dog, Moksha Yoga Uptown,Soghrati YogaYoga TreeYoga Sanctuary

Senior Sponsor: Global Botanical
Presenting Sponsors: Tonic MagazineSpynga
Beverage Sponsor: Wh2ole Water 114

If you wanna join me, I’ll be heading there around 9am. 40 min classes will be running all day from 9-5pm and it’s BYOM (bring your own mat). Follow on Twitter at @OmToronto #OmTO14.

NAMASTE!

CASIE

Yoga at Anamaya in Costa Rica
My Yoga Class at Anamaya Resort in Costa Rica

* this one time in Costa Rica I was in a yoga video. Check that view baby!

Top Down Cruisin’ Camaro Drive

Top Down Cruisin’ Camaro Drive

This weekend Klout & Chevrolet Canada hooked me up with a sweet ride to cruise around in. Sean and I rented a brand new Camaro last summer in California so we were quite familiar with it’s awesomeness. The car arrived Friday morning and sadly was returned last night.

I made a couple GoPro videos while on the back country roads but I’m not sure I should post them because it appears we are speeding! You’ll just have to imagine us cruising with my hair blowing in the wind. 🙂

20140615-121013-43813801.jpg

Thanks Klout for this experience, we had heaps of fun. Best part was Sunday cruising on Southwood Road up in Muskoka. Vrooooooom, this baby is FAST!

CASIE

It’s Time to Break Up w/ Your Stuff

It’s Time to Break Up w/ Your Stuff

If you are like me in that you love gadgets and like to have the newest thing, there’s a good chance you have a box, drawer, or pile of unused electronics. RecycleYourElectronics.ca is spreading the message of recycling electronics with a short video that shows the social and possible romantic consequences of being a person that stores old out-of-use gadgets around the house. Watch it here 🙂

To find a drop off location near you visit recycleyourelectronics.ca.

What does your stash of out-of-use electronics look like? Tweet me with a picture mentioning @ecycleOntario @casiestewart and #BreakUpWithYourStuff. You could win a $50 Visa gift card! Get ‘up on it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway