Easy Ways to UP YOUR MOOD in Winter

I don’t know if I’ve ever spent so much time at home, inside the house, as I have the past month and during the Polar Vortex. Thankfully, today our upstairs patio door is no longer frozen shut but winter is far from over. Long winters like these are often hard to get through and the constant dull weather can really bring down your mood. If you’re feeling stir crazy or craving some something to boost your mood, here are a few things I like to do to make me feel happier when the SAD kicks in. Home Spa Love yourself and self-care your mood to a higher frequency with a little time, DIY beauty hacks, and products. You don’t need heaps of money or fancy stuff to pamper yourself like the queen you are. I love doing masks and usually get them from Shoppers. Also recommend checking out the beauty section of Winners, they almost always have a good selection at a great price. I got this set of metallic masks to nourish, brighten, and hydrate plus an applicator brush there the other day for $7! ? I Pinned a few DIY recipes with ingredients you probably have on hand here or scan the pin code in the Pinterest App. Make a quick body scrub by mixing your used coffee grounds with coconut oil. Or make a simple lip sugar scrub with and a combination of white/brown sugar plus olive oil/coconut oil/honey, with peppermint, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, or activated charcoal to brighten. My mum makes a GREAT, thick, face cream with marigold, frankincense from New Direction Aeromatics. I love it! Light Therapy This helps to boost your mood, deal with SAD, and can (not an expert!) help depression. I have the Phillips Hue light system in my room that includes Hue…

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Go Ahead, Use Your Phone! Telus Has Easy Roam!

Even though I was really glad to be home from New Zealand, I would LOVE to be back there on the beach right now. This winter seems never-ending and I even missed a month of it! While I was away I didn’t miss a beat posting things to the internet. For three weeks I used Google maps as my navigator, Stories, Twitter, and Facebook to share photos, and was able to stay on to of emails.   A few people asked about my phone data usage and what plan I had. If you have ever travelled overseas, the phone/data situation can be stressful and very expensive. That was, until now! ? Telus has a great add-on called Easy Roam where for you can use your phone’s regular data plan in over 100 countries. If you’re in the USA, Easy Roam is $7/day and capped at $100 per billing cycle. For international destinations, like New Zealand, the $10/day fee is capped at $150 per billing cycle. Telus Easy Roam lets you use your Canadian rate plan while travelling in the US and 100+ international destinations – now and on all future trips.   Honestly, this is such a good deal. I remember travelling to the states for a weekend and a friend racked up $1,000 because she didn’t have a data plan like this. The good things is, you’re only charged for days that you access your Canadian plan in your destination. So, if you don’t need to use your Canadian data plan (hellooo wifi!) you’re not charged. While in NZ, I had wifi at almost every place I stayed, so that helped for nighttime/morning scrolling (just like home haha).  Safe to say, I didn’t go over my monthly data and or get a shocker of a bill when I came home. If you’re planning a winter…

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The Best Fish & Chips Come Wrapped in Paper

The last couple days have been so incredibly lovely. We’ve been staying with Catherine and having so many laughs. The first day we visited nana who was doing ok but she seem’s a bit better. My last update I was feeling super emotional, it was real talk. Happy to report I’m feeling much better now. I’ve been meeting up with cousins and getting to know my family and my heart is full of love. Yesterday we went to Himatangi Beach for a long walk and swim.  IT WAS AMAAAAAZING. Both my mum and dad used to go there heaps growing up. My granddad used to have a beach house but I didn’t know which one so I don’t have a photo lol. I walked along with mum, and my cousins Alec (dad), Margot (his daughter), and their two little Scottie dogs. It was so much fun. They call them ‘doggos’! We ran up and down the beach playing with the pups and walking on water while the tide was out. After we stripped down to our togs (kiwi for bathing suit!) and body surfed in the ocean. That night Alec invited us over for dinner and we had a good kiwi bbq w/ salad, potatoes, steak, sausages, and wine. Lots of wine! Mum drove home lol. We all told stories around the table and laughed our heads off. We had more wine back at the house with my other cousins and I loved every minute of it. Doing a good job of making up for lost time while I’m here. Did a pop by and made dinner plans for my mum’s twin brother’s daughter and her family next week (another cousin party!). Today we tried to go to yoga but it was closed for the week. It’s crazy how everything shuts down…

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Fashion File: #LillyforTarget, Joan for Céline, #mycalvins

Here we go, couple great fashion stories yesterday! I also had my hair done. Stopped into The Loft, Queen West and decided it was time to ditch the violet and bring back blonde. I love the decor in there, it’s all vintage and charming, the furniture,  old trunks, china plates, brass fixtures. Reminds me of Mum’s house growing up. I’m heading back there Friday afternoon for a Dermalogica facial. I’m addicted, I’ve been getting them on a regular basis for a year now. A photo posted by C A S I E S T E W A R T (@casiestewart) on Jan 1, 2015 at 10:23am PST Target announced their latest collab, Lilly Pulitzer for Target. The collection comes out April 19th AND Target Tweeted me IT’S COMING TO CANADA. I’m so stoked. I can’t WAIT to redo our rooftop patio and spice up the cottage Palm Beach Style. I’ve reached out to my friends at Target to see if I can get involved or at least front of the line on opening day. Read more about the collection in the release from Target here. Chalk this on the life goals board! Author, fashion icon, and one time Vogue editor Joan Didion was named as the new face of Céline at 80. You’re never too old to have great style! I love that they’ve made this decision. Read more about it on Vogue or anywhere else that reports fashion. In other news, The Biebs is the latest to join the ranks of notable celebs to post for Calvin Klein. He’s all grown up and totally catching some heat for the campaign but mostly because some of the shots look weird. I reckon the one shot looks like his head has been shopped onto his own body and it’s ver giraffe like. See the video below. The…

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Casual Sunday, Content Conductor

Limitless, the movie, the you seen it? Bradley Cooper takes a drug that allows him to use ALL of his human brain. He goes crazy. I’d go crazy. I don’t really go to the gym but I work out my brain. Imagine you could use your whole brain. I love science news. “to that mystery is the contention that humans “only” employ 10 percent of their brain. If only regular folk could tap that other 90 percent, they too could become savants who remember π to the twenty-thousandth decimal place or perhaps even have telekinetic powers.” Scientific American, 2008 I’m working brain triple time today. Backing up my entire Macbook, making it new again. Keri would be proud! Dell Ultrabook is good. iPhone is a such an incredible device for making things. I’m watching Edie Segdwick in Ciao! Manhattan on Netflix. Welcome to THE FUTURE. I wonder what her blog would be like if she was here? Maybe like this, talking to herself. Then I replaced it Rum Diary. Johnny Depp as Hunter S. Thompson.Last night a friend and I made mojitos with mint from my OWN garden. Oh yeah. Thanks Mum for bringing back my green thumb. I read a great article about the making of the movie and Johnny Depp’s Rum Diary promise. It talks about them being at Hotel Nacional in Cuba. I stayed there. Been to Puerto Rico where it’s filmed too.  Somebody get me a mojito. Good quotes. The babe girl in the video has a turtle covered in Swarovski. Are big turtles good pets?  I wanna live at the beach, again. Oh God, why did she have to happen? HA! The fashion in this movie is amazing. Happy Sunday!  

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Hey May Baby, I Like That Spring In Your Step

I found the May flowers. They’re in my garden. Japan Instrgram app Pick is a whole lotta fun. It’s like the OG Instagram but you can add glitter, bears, bowties, wigs, hats, glasses, messages, glasses, hearts, stars, hearts, and more. Gizmodo wrote about it last week if ya missed it. It’s my big in Japan plan. I wanna go there so bad. See all my supa kawaii photos by visiting naver.jp/casiestewart. My first Japan profile! Other Instagram is here. If you’re looking for a tasty snack, grind some dark chocolate with sea salt on hot popcorn & mix it up. Delightfully tasty and fairly slim. Today I learned that “people born in May are more likely to have a spring in their step than those who started life in January” via new research published by Daily Mail UK. SOME FACTS: Those born between March and August considered themselves luckier than people born between September and February. Lucky “May-borns” include rugby player Jonny Wilkinson, footballer David Beckham and model Jordan. The environmental factors around the birth period, like exposure to sunshine and temperature are considered possible influences on the body’s biological systems. In the name of spreading sunshine I uploaded a couple videos of my last Mexico trip to Viddy. I’m SO ready for summer to get here so we can all soak up the sunshine and wear less clothes. I have a scarf on as I type this and THAT AIN’T RIGHT. Enjoy the day. Sending sunshine your way. 🙂 IF YOU ARE HUMAN, COMMENT. LOVE TO HEAR FROM YA.  

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Get off the couch.

Went for a run this afternoon after getting inspired a post by titled ‘Women, Fitness & The Myth‘ written by by Bangs & a Bun. She’s one of my fav writers and my fav UK blogger. I’ve been followung her for years and seeing her progress in business, blogging and fitness is motivating. Her latest venture Spikes & Heels is what got me to put on my shoes and kick some pavement. I’m so glad I did! It’s an incredibly beautiful day in the city. Took this using 360 Panoramic app in iPhone from  hTO Park (Urban Beach) which is right beside the lake. If you stand on this one certain rock you can perfectly hide the CN Tower. Empire Sandy, looking dandy. I’d love to go on a sail for my birthday. A sail for let’s say, 30 people? 30th birthday. Does anyone know who can make this happen? It would be magical. Somebody was backed up at Lower Spadina. Shadow play 🙂 Toronto Music Garden is one of my most favourite places in the city. This tower has a beautiful story, if you go there you’ll see it. One time Keri and I did this MEGA Planking thing for ‘World Plank Day‘ in 2011 when it was cool for like a week. Most of them were done in the music garden, see here. It’s almost Earth hur for Earth Day and I’m planning to be out of the house. Have a great night! <3 CASIE

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You want vacation time? Go teach 3rd grade.

Welcome back to work everybody! How was your weekend, what did you do?   I danced a little like this. Cruised Queen Street, rode bike, watched movies, got some sun, went to the Island, hung out at the beach, saw an air show, went to a concert, worked, dined with friends. Excellent Labour Day. The best I can remember. I’d love to get to a cottage soon. Can I come stay at your cottage?   New boots. Creeped the Jays game. We beat Boston. The Labour Day Parade went from 9ish – 11ish on Queen Street. I love the bagpipes & steel drums. Heaps of orange with signs of Jack Layton everywhere. It was a a looooong parade. Niche is an old fav for brekky (Queen/Bathurst). I hardly ever go out for breakfast anymore. I love getting up and working on Saturday mornings. I’m not upset about the change in season, I love Fall fashion!! I hate when people complain about the weather. TALK ABOUT SOMETHING MORE INTERESTING. Have you nothing better? It’s hot, it’s cold, it’s gonna change and be unpredictable. Embrace the fact you can read this from a computer at your office or house and smile. Pretty please 🙂 Today kicks off the busiest time of the year for me. Four months till New Year and heaps to get accomplished. Set yourself a goal or two today.  Time flies and if you don’t write them down, you’ll forget them. There’s so many things in one day, it’s near impossible to remember them all. Having a blog helps. Have a great day,

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PLANK GIRL.

Now remember kids: Safe Planking is FUNNY but Dangerous Planking is STUPID. Today is… Last night Keri & went PLANKING. It was really fun. Music Garden double plank. Wikipedia: Planking is the act of lying face down with arms to the sides of the body, in unusual public spaces and photographing it. Kinda dumb but oh so funny. Sorta like this… Tree plank. If everyone in the world would hold a one minute plank every day, we would be more fit & stronger and centered. This takes core strength guys. Hold it, steady. LEAN is SEXY. Planking, originated in Australia and was originally called The Lying Down Game “à plat ventre” (on one’s belly). Haha my shorts. Two cute boys w/ a boat took this for us. Planking is a great way to make friends. The Rules from Know Your Meme: More Public the Better. Larger the Group, the Better. No location is out of bound when playing the game. (Please be safe!) Palm of hands held against the sides, toes touching the ground. Amsterdam Brewery plank. This got us free beers. Plank you very much Tyler, ya babe. Our hair looks cute. Have you planked? Would love to see your skills. Gonna plank at South Beach this weekend. One of my fav’s is Apple Store planking on Tumbr. Get creative & please don’t kill yourself forpetessake! Plank ya later.

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yesterday on twitter, this happened:

Photo: › want http://tumblr.com/xmj2ei4zvd # Photo: Aggy – I love you so. http://tumblr.com/xmj2ehdk28 # Photo: Bananas in pajamas are coming down the stairs, Bananas in pajamas are coming down in pairs, Bananas… http://tumblr.com/xmj2eh5n2v # Photo: jcrew: http://tumblr.com/xmj2ehdz81 # Photo: › OMGEEEEE, UNICORN SKIRT 😀 http://tumblr.com/xmj2ehdbyd # Photo: @morgan_c_ross at @ballroombowl last night http://tumblr.com/xmj2efoqth # BLOG GANG LEADER http://goo.gl/fb/wHHFk #blog # so, it Cane dead or alive? #yandr # omg when they took Lucy Abbot on #yandr aaaaah. so sad. # believe in the tricorn http://post.ly/1zni6 # boys be playing here like errry day w/ their shirts off now that it's warm out 🙂 http://twitpic.com/4tv8o3 # Gave my extra shwarma to a cute homeless guy named Adrian. We friends now 🙂 # Walked Bath/Bloor to Spadina/Gardener in the sun. Soooooo lovely! # Cult Member (@ Playdead Cult) [pic]: http://4sq.com/jNpTHZ # Tried shwarma for the first time. Didn't really like it. Opening deal @ this place today. http://twitpic.com/4tu55d # ILU @curbsidecycle! Awesome visit today 😉 (@ Curbside Cycle w/ @michaelnus) http://4sq.com/m6JRDe # recos for a good moisturizer w/ SPF? # heading to #Curbside at Bloor/Bathurst this arvo. Stoked, they have so many sweet things in the store! Bike pr0n http://store.curbside.on.ca # Post about #HotDocs w/ recos from @katekillet, check'er https://casiestewart.com/some-like-it-hot-docs # met a blog reader IRL who lives in Vietnam yesterday! # it is so beautiful outside, make sure you take a break today and catch some rays! #sunshine # what's for lunch? # A2 – big body (@ Sense Appeal w/ 2 others) http://4sq.com/lu4wcC # ASAP. RT @raymitheminx: You are SUCH a f–ing beach @casiestewart http://bit.ly/jmMzXs # Morning! # it’s that time of year again http://goo.gl/fb/8LBMV #blog # The entrance to my condo is covered in glitter. #borderlineartistic http://post.ly/1zba3 # I have never known a better wingman than myself, for the…

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this one’s for the boys, you’re going to the spa!

I recently had the bext Friday afternoon escape from work ever, three hours at a SPA! Yep. I received a gift certiificate to ME Spa, not just any spa, Male Esthetics Spa that caters primarily to men. I showed up to this! Spa owner Douglas Coburn told me about his work and we picked a couple services while I sipped champagne & ate strawberries. First up was a full body scrub including face. It was so great do something good for my skin. Post scrub I went in to the bathtoom in a robe to wash off the scrub. You can kinda see it on my skin. After that I jumped into another even softer robe. I swear to you it was like being inside a stuffed animal, like one of those Gund or really expensive stuffed animals. I was already feeling less stress. Douglas used to be the Director of Esthetics at Bode Spa in Ottawa. A men’s spa is quite like any other (woman) spa except here they really know manscaping and how to ease stress of life in the city. I love hearing a guy I know got a manicure or pedicure. It shows you take care of yourself and that is sexy if you are man or woman.  If you are a dude who takes care of yourself, you will likley feel more confident. Then when you use that confidence to chat a beautiful lady, you won’t be self conscious about your unibrow, hairy back (god forbid shoulders), crackly feet, nose hairs (gross) ear hairs (ewww). Think how nice your manicured hand will look/feel on her…..    Yes. This is Douglas, super nice. I had rushed there and was all high-energy-crazy-internet-person, he was such a nice calm for my ADHD. He also writes for a magazine…

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just call me the RE-ENERGIZER bunny

This workout thing is starting to change my life. Who knew I would ever be saying this? It must be a new year or something. Just LOOK at that happy face. In my most recent trip to The Motion Room I did the Re-Energizer Bootcamp. I’ve never been a gym-rat. I prefer Gym Bunny anyways. [insert cute smiley face] Boot camp sessions at TMR are at 6AM (Before Work) LunchTime (12noon) Afternoons (4pm) Late evenings 8pm or pre-arranged scheduling. It’s fun, you get shown what to do like this: Then we do it: HUZZAHHHH!!!!!!! Boot camp is done in a group & the Starter Packages are with personal assessment/direct one-to-one training. After the first two sessions of Boot Camp—you move into a Starter Package. This seriously turned my arms into burning man the next day but whatever. It’s good. I am strong! REALLY HERCULES-HULK HOGAN-ONE-ARM-PUSHUP-STRONG. Beat that. This is incredibly hard. You have to move your feet back and forth in the stirrup thinger while in a plank. OMG get ready for my abs to bust right out. This ball has sand in it and is surprisingly heavy. Why am I always smiling? This is supposed to be hard work. Crazy girl. There’s a bunch of stations we rotate through in 30 sec, 45 sec, 60 sec intervals. By the end you are hitting the floor but you feel awesome. AWESOME! The sell different sessions in 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks. at 2 or 3 x per week. As a scheduled gym, you set/select your timeslots upon purchase. Boot camps also includes an intro session to the starter package and nutrition sessions with their holistic nutritionist. Hookin’ you RIGHT up to get your body in shape baby. I whip my hair back and forth. Yeah I do.…

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there’s no blue monday in this department sir

the only blue is the sky above cause we’re covered in sunshine here and here Who leaves those big footprints? I wish I could walk on water. I should go to the island soon. I was thinking I missed the beach and the sunshine so I went to the urban beach, sat in a muskoka chair and felt the sun on my face. I kicked around some snow, found the sand below and even only if for a minute, I was reminded of summer. Did you know there’s actually a formula for ‘why’ today is the ‘ most depressing day of the year‘. Crazy talk. I always thought it was some time in February but maybe that’s high suicide day or something. According to a press release by a mental health charity, the formula is: where weather=W, debt=d, time since Christmas=T, time since failing our new year’s resolutions=Q, low motivational levels=M and the feeling of a need to take action=Na. ‘D’ is not defined in the release, nor are units. DON’T LET THE WINTER GET YOU DOWN EH! Have fun with it. Go exploring But dress warm. Nobody likes a whiner. You never know what you might find.  Hopefully it’s beauty in something 🙂 Hey, Red row boat your cuzzy Red Canoe is my neighbour. You look chilly sitting there. Read this nice article in the Toronto Star that is part of an essay called Lessons Travel Has Taught Me by Arthur Frommer. Thought it was worth sharing with you. It was a nice read, these are the main things travel has taught him: We are all alike. We are responsible for one another. There is no single solution for human problems. All people should be “minorities”. Travel keeps us young. Travel teaches us humility, the best human trait. In…

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yesterday on twitter, this happened:

#Boston ILU. # So hungry!! (@ Atlantic Fish Company) http://4sq.com/7lwDwj # The Eagle has landed 😉 (@ Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) ✈ w/ 41 others) http://4sq.com/4Dq8gf # See you next week Toronto. #RobotCasie is taking over blog after today 🙂 ILU! Byeeeeeeeee xoxoxo # Love that I can take a cab under $10 about an hour before my flight and still have time for a lounge coffee. Thank you @porterairlines 🙂 # Hey dude, stop reading what I am typing on this phone. # Eye spy somebody who thinks its still #Movember Creeeeeeepy! (@ Airport Ferry to Billy Bishop Toronto City) http://4sq.com/bf8XRi # Hi @porterairlines! (@ Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)) http://4sq.com/4OTvIN # Dear Phone, OMG you are driving me nutzo. can't wait to shut your face tomo and spend the day on the beach, WITHOUT YOU! Love CS. # Whoa that guy is huuuge! #nutcracker http://twitpic.com/3e4b5h # i wanna be in another country with a camera taking your picture http://goo.gl/fb/e3qRQ # New stylus for ipad, sht about to get #borderlineartistic # All I want for christmas is this…11" http://twitpic.com/3e42mg # Giving away a couple of these style bags but bigger on blog over the next week 😉 http://twitpic.com/3e42ee # Making some great time today. Meeting, lunch, blogged a bit, camera return. Might have time for a mani pedi before @porterairlines at 5! # Returning camera for a new unit. Same girl helping me 😉 (@ Best Buy) http://4sq.com/7kasVc # something she said about the vigilantes http://goo.gl/fb/gPOLH # GIFTING DAY 1: Givenchy Hot Couture Giftset http://goo.gl/fb/zRtN1 # First contest posts today at 10am! # Morning friends! # yesterday on twitter, this happened: http://goo.gl/fb/UgYZz # reverse pickpocket # just found this pic of me, mum, and my sis #samedress http://twitpic.com/3dzekn # FUN! RT @dfwcre8tive: Our photos from the @virginamerica…

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