I recently went to preview the SMYTHE FW23 / PS24 collections at the Ace Hotel. The collections are GORGEOUS, I loved the colors, shapes, and fabrics.
Smythe makes the most beautiful blazers and suits, love this fit!
This was my absolute favorite item I saw that day! A 2-piece suit with sparkle details down the pants and blazer, LOVE IT. 😍
This sleeveless turtleneck is so cute, great style/colour for fall/winter! To shop the latest looks from Smythe visit shopsmythe.ca and follow @smythethebrand on Instagram.
Side note, the Ace Hotel is SO NICE. It was my first time there and I definitely to go back for a staycation.
There were a bunch of gorgeous dresses in fun prints and sparkles. This gold lamé dress was STUNNING! I ended up borrowing it for the Vence Film Festival! Wore it to an event at the Immersive Island and to the premiere event for Tatami.
Over the past 2 months, I’ve been working with Weaver & Loom through Funday to bring this exciting project to life for Yorkville Murals featuring rugs designed by Jules Monson. 👩🏻🎨🐍🐍🐍 This was especially exciting because Jules is a friend, our first guest on the Cast of Creators podcast, and I have a few of her pieces on the walls in my room.
Using the Weaver & Loom platform, Jules created a series of rugs for her ‘Sssnakes’ installation at the Manulife Centre. This installation includes 18 unique snake-themed rugs, available in three different color schemes and various sizes.
This collaboration has shown the incredible opportunity for artists like Jules to transform their art, both new and existing, into exquisite, high-quality floor coverings.
We worked closely with Jules throughout the entire process, from design and initiation to production and shipping, completing this remarkable project in just two short months. Weaver & Loom’s digital platform streamlines the traditional rug-making process by removing layers of middlemen, making project delivery more efficient and cost-effective than this industry has ever seen.
If you’re in Toronto, check out Yorkville Murals this weekend to experience Jules Monson’s large-scale installation inside the Manulife Centre, near Over The Rainbow.
🌟 If you’re an artist/interior designer and want to explore the platform or dream of creating your own beautiful bespoke rug, shoot me a DM.🌟
Let’s talk about the importance of owning your own website and content. As creators, we have no control over what happens with social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or…X (Twitter).
I’ve had a blog for the past 18 years, and over that time, I’ve seen a lot of apps come and go. I lost my first blog when MySpace shut down, years of Daily Booth photos when they ceased operations, and RIP the thousands of videos and views I lost when Vine died (I’m still sad about this one). The only thing that has lasted the test of time is my website, my home base on the internet, the place I own. As a long-time blogger, I’m passionate about making the web a more empowering and profitable place for creators.
Invest in Yourself, Own Your Digital Real Estate
Our social media accounts are just rented spaces, we don’t own them. Algorithms change, policies are updated, and one day, our accounts could be suspended or deleted without explanation. I’ve seen friends lose years of content when their account gets shut down (often for no reason!) or hacked. This is why it’s more important than ever to build a home that you own for all your digital content.
How Hvr is Changing the Game for Websites
When I first learned about Hvr, I was inspired by and related to the founder’s goals of empowering creators & publishers to reclaim their communities and earnings power at their sites. Over the past two years, I’ve worked with our Hvr team to build a suite of tech that transforms websites into community spaces where publishers can truly connect with their audience. Our partner program (Hvr Sitepartners) helps creators/publishers increase revenue & engagement at their sites.
Increase Revenue & Engagement as a Hvr Sitepartner
All the details about our Sitepartner program can be found at hvr.world/sitepartners and you can easily check out our quick start guide here to sign up.
Here are a few great things about being a Hvr Sitepartner:
Earn commissions on new signups
Built-in commenting increases time on your site
Your latest content will be delivered to anyone following your site
If you don’t have a website yet, have no fear, soon Hvr will be introducing Easy Publish, a simple way for you to create & publish to your own website FROM MOBILE. If you’ve ever tried updating WordPress or another blog platform from your phone, it’s not cute and can be very frustrating. Easy Publish is free and you’ll be able to create a site with your Hvr account. Send me a message if you’re interested!
If you want to chat about Hvr, share thoughts on this topic, or have questions about our Sitepartner program, download Hvr for iOS/Android and leave a comment on this page. As the website owner, I’ll get notified & reply as soon as you post!
Your social platforms are there now, but they might not be forever. Your website is a powerful tool that allows you to take control of your online presence, build your brand, and connect with your audience.
Last week I was at Stoney Lake and it was a sweet escape from the city. Our time was filled with cooking, family-style dinners, peaceful afternoons in the sun, naps, and lots of sunsets. I took Sean wakeboarding with the sea-doo, spent a good amount of time floating, and finished an entire book (highly recommend!). My friend Jen brought her dog, Gary, and I made some new friends from NYC. It was a bit bittersweet as our friend who owns the cottage aka ‘Scottage’ is selling the property.
As much as it was great to be away, it’s always nice to be home. I’ll miss these beautiful sunsets tho!
This summer has been so busy, can hardly believe we’re almost half way through August. WHERE DID THE TIME GO? These bright yellow photos were from the KIND Summer Fair last month.
This week I’m taking some time to recharge at Stoney Lake with Sean and some friends. I’ve been swimming, tanning, sea-dooing, cooking, laughing, running, reading, and doing yoga. It’s amazing how a few days at the lake will refresh your perspective, help you sleep, and brighten your mood. Sean and I did this almost every weekend for years.
Yesterday I did a self-tape for a commercial from the cottage. I can’t tell you what it’s for but if you are reading this please put out some good vibes that I book it!
Can you spot two differences in these photos??
We’ll be back in the city on the weekend then it’s the homestretch of summer before we go to Italy in September (more on that later!!!). 😁
In other news, this is one of my fav songs right now. Good lyrics.
This thing from Amazon is my latest obsession, Octobuddy! It’s amazing for taking selfies when you don’t have a photog around (which is almost always lol). All the photos in this post were taken with my new lil’ guy!
The name has over 38M views on TikTok while the brand account only has 662 followers. Influencers everywhere have been posting about Octobuddy and I had to get one. It’s a little silicone sticker with multiple suction cups that attaches to the back of your phone and sticks to shiny surfaces (mirror, window, etc).
It’s great for hands-free selfies/videos and is around $20 CAD on Amazon.
When was the last time you kicked off your shoes and felt the soft, cool grass beneath your feet? Taking a moment to connect with the earth and embrace the simple pleasure of lying in the grass can do wonders for our well-being.
It might sound a bit woo-woo, but trust me, there’s science behind it. Studies suggest that grounding can reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and even boost our immune system. It’s like hitting a nature reset button for your busy life.
When I was home visiting Mum I took a few minutes to lay in the grass each day, look at the sky, close my eyes, and take a few deep breaths.
If you’re feeling stressed, try grounding yourself in nature. It doesn’t have to be complicated, find a (clean!) patch of grass, take off your shoes, and let the earth do its magic. Tune in to the sounds of birds chirping, the rustling of leaves, and let a feeling of calm wash over you. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you for it. 🙏
Went home recently to spend a few days at Mum’s with the fam. My uncle Jimmy (Mum’s twin brother) passed away in New Zealand and I wanted to be there for her. I didn’t realize how much I missed spending time together. My sister was there for a couple of days too!
We went for nice walks in the neighborhood by the river, checked out the local thrift shops, and drive around remembering the places we used to hang out. I had three days off work and stayed a few extra days to work remotely. Grateful to have a job where I can work anywhere.
Before heading home, Bonga and I went for wings at our old stompin’ grounds, Moose Winooski’s. It’s changed a lot since we used to go there on Thursday nights back in high school. The wings there are just as huge as I remember tho, so good.
This is the first summer in 15+ years that Mum & Steve have been home and not sailing on the boat. Already planning a trip back soon. 🤗
