If you missed my post over the weekend (here), I’m super excited about 2017 and the year is off to a great start! Last week is LA was just what I needed to motivate and inspire. LET’S DO THIS.
I have two speaking gigs this month and both are FREE to attend. You can get a ticket on the links below.
January 19th I’m speaking on a panel with Tangerine Bank about investments. I’ve talked about my finances a few times of the years and this panel focusses on RSP and investment stuff for millennials. Tickets are free, there’s a Q&A, and you can enjoy refreshments with us at BrainStation. ?
Jan 25th: Writers Recap CES + Smith Lowdown Focus + Ingress Nex Band
I’ll be joining a panel of journalists talking about wearable tech trends coming out of CES. I’ve spoked at WWTO a few times and they get a HUGE crowd. There’s already 400+ people registered.Pizza Pizza and beer from Lake Wilcox Brewery will be served. ?✌?
? This week in LA was a relaxing, reset, recharge. It started w/ a Sunday sound bath & breath workshop where I set my intention for the next few days. ??I spent a lot of time alone this trip, driving a convertible all over LA, one-on-one visits w/ old friends, discovering new things, random shopping, last minute airbnbs, and a fancy ? dinner by myself before flying home.
Today we hosted Emily’s 9th birthday party ? (whoa kids!! ?) and after I started thinking about work. And it made me feel good! I love Sunday cooking and tomorrow I’m making a soup for my job. Sometimes I think to myself ‘this is my life?’ and I’m *finally* starting to (hello 2017) say ‘YEAH GIRL IT IS YOUR LIFE, YOU CREATED IT‘.
I’m feeling energized and inspired by everything around me right now, similar to when I started my blog almost 12 years ago. Whoa dinosaur, April 2017 is 12! ?
I’m really exited for 2017, to try new things, and put even more action into stuff that brings me pure joy.
Feeling a fire in my soul and warmth in my heart and what is another word for #blessed bc, well y’know what I mean. Here’s to making every single day feel like vacation. ?
Woke up in Beverly Hills and checked to make sure the car was there, it was! (I parked on the street and thought it was a safe spot but in the morning I learned that was actually a red zone. All good!)
Left my airbnb to drive around Rodeo Drive before going to The Academy, The Broad, and the Arts District. I’ve been busy so will break things up a bit, heaps of photos! ☀️???✈️
My goal for this LA trip was to spend time doing what I want when I want. I needed a reset. I needed a break. I wanted to explore LA, see friends, and take in the whole experience while driving a convertible. Well, check that off my 2017 list baby because it’s exactly what I’ve done. Yay! ?
First trip of 2017 starts bright and early tomorrow morning.I’m heading to LAS VEGAS!
I’ll be joining a bunch of journalists + influencers from North America for CES and my trip is sponsored by Harman Kardon (JBL, Bang & Olufsen etc). They’re hosting us at the Hard Rock Hotel and on Friday night they’ve got STING playing a concert in the hotel bar.
I AM SO EXCITED.
Aside from my set itinerary, I’ll be exploring the conference floor, attending talks, and rounding up all the hottest tech trends.
▶︎ Later this month I’m speaking on a panel at WeAreWearables Toronto about tech trends from CES. Get a ticket for it here! I’m also checking out VR stuff for Sean’s company Occupied VR.
I can’t wait. CES is so freaking exciting. I went a couple years ago, tech heaven! It’s also a bit warmer there than Toronto. I’m also hoping to check out the Neon Sign Museum and maybe do a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon.
After Vegas, I’m driving to LA with a friend and staying in Venice Beach for the week. I can’t wait to document this trip.
Did you have a nice time over the holidays? I did! I took a break from blogging and IG to recharge my batteries and I feel so alive! It might help that yesterday I went for a b12 shot and IV of vitamins at REVIV. In 2017 I am excited to focus on doing great work, telling stories about tech, and helping others.
As I was driving yesterday the sun was going down and it was so bright and beautiful I stopped to catch it lighting up my face.
Lovin’ that first Sunset of 2017!
Over the holidays I did a couple volunteer shifts for different charities including cooking & serving lunch at Evangel Hall on New Years Eve w/ the #GivingBackVibes crew. [We did this last month too, see here.]
Jen and I with a HUGE salad
I fulfilled my dream of wrapping presents at the mall before christmas w/ Nneka Elliot at TD centre in support of StepStones For Youth. The day before I volunteered to help sort clothes with the NuScreen Digital team at Brands for Canada. I feel so good that I was able to give some of my time to help others. You’re going to see more of this in 2017.
I went home between Christmas and New Years to spend some quality time with my parents. Set both mum and dad up with new tech gadgets and had lots of laughs over great food. They’re only an hour away so this year I want to spend more time hanging out.
On New Years Eve, Sean and I went to Ikea to get some organizing stuff and things for Em’s room. We watched the Minimalism doc on Netflix a couple days before which kickstarted a HUGE purge on the entire house. It feels so good going into 2017 with more room and less clutter.
The bed I ordered from Amazon is all set up in the Boudoir (nickname for third floor) and it’s the blogging studio I was dreaming of. I’ve got a couple more lights for my home photography setup and can’t wait to take more portraits this year.
Got a b12 shot yesterday after a drip of vitamins at Reviv. They’re the global leader in IV infusion and booster shot wellness treatments. The IV boost I got is a mix of vitamin and nutrients that restores your body w/ minerals, anti-oxidants, and electrolytes. I might check out their LA or Vegas locations this week!
This morning I went for a run in my neighbourhood. I’m so loving the Junction Triangle! I usually run on the West Toronto Rail path which is being extended all the way to King Street/Liberty Village. I learned this weekend that The Drake Hotel is building a spot in the area right beside the Tower Automotive Building, where the the new Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art will be.
I’m feeling really excited and optimistic about this year. Thursday I’m heading to Las Vegas for CES then I’ll be in LA all of next week.
Mum wanted me to share this with you as a reminder you can do anything you want in your life. You are the author of your own life story.
