I haven’t been running but I picked up skipping again! My sister and I used to be a skipping demo team for the Heart & Stroke Foundation as kids. We would tour around to different schools doing routines to music, double dutch, and cartwheels in & out of spinning ropes. It was fun. I’m sure I have a photo of us in our uniforms under my bed at home.
Can’t remember the last time I wore a hat? This was sent to me from Van Der Pop.
I forgot how much of a workout skipping is, it’s hard! I started listening to Roz & Mocha again on 92.5 and if a song comes on I like (ex. Lady Gaga), I grab my rope and skip. I can still do most of these need to work on a couple of the harder ones.
We ventured out to get some supplies today like groceries, TP, and gas. We divided the list so we could do a quick job. Walmart wasn’t too busy and people were keeping their distance. It’s hard to believe this is really happening. A lot of shelves were empty but we get all the things we needed and don’t need to get anyting for another two weeks.
I went to the LCBO and then cracked a beer when we got home. I have had more beers in the last week than I have in a while. Not making new habits but being in quarantine is hard sometimes. I had a few FaceTime & Houseparty hangouts again. It’s a weird thing these online hangouts, have you ever joined a Houseparty and been like, ‘whoops nope, leaving now?‘ It’s awkward.
I took off my shellac using this tutorial which went great. However, painting my own nails? They’re brutal. I’m embarrassed. Gonna take my polish off today and go au natural. At this point, I’m giving up on having nice nails. Shorter nails are better for hygiene in this unique time anyways!
Monday! I always loved Monday because it’s the start of a new week and you never know what can happen. Today though, I know what will happen and the unknown is kinda scary. I am trying not to think about everything too deeply but it’s hard.
I got back on the workouts this morning and it made me feel better. I love the IG Live workouts but at the same time, it’s a bit overwhelming to see what everyone is doing and how hard they’re working. I’m really trying not to eat all the snacks. I’ve been sticking to intermittent fasting but the night is hard, the anxiety kicks in and I want to grab the chips.
Fresh air is nice.
I got out the art supplies and painted a couple of pieces of paper. I’ve been saving onion skins to use as a fabric dye. I have a pile of recycling for making an indoor garden. We’ve been very conscious of waste as we don’t have pickup, I’m not sure what we’re going to do about garbage & recycling yet.
I made a curry but we are getting a bit low on supplies. We need to get groceries sometime soon. This is a helpful tip if your house is feeling dry, feel free to add something to the water to make it smell nice ex. citrus, vanilla, cloves & cinnamon, essential oil (not all at once!).
Some of my activities today included a Mexican inspired breakfast scramble, National Ballet on IG Live, multiple pushup challenges, a DJ set by Kardinal w/ workout (15min), making energy balls, making toasted coconut macaroons, a chickpea curry in the Instant Pot, and watching the entire first season of ‘Feel Good’ on Netflix.
I finally washed my hair today. I feel so refreshed! Last night was super fun! We joined a live stream dance party, laughed w/ friends on Houseparty, and chatted with a few people on the phone. It has been a loooooooong time since I have been this social. I find I’m connecting with more people in a day than probably ever.
Today I was ready for a break from isolation hangouts, FaceTime, and Houseparty. We started watching Tiger King on Netflix which is a totally insane story. We’ve also been watched Collateral and an Icelandic show called The Valhalla Murders. Yesterday I watched Where’d You Go Bernadette on Amazon Prime and although Cate Blanchett was good, I thought the book was better than the movie. Sorry to be one of those people, it’s true!
Short update today. Need a break from everything. Tomorrow is a new day and I am planning to make coffee and workout like I used to. I love this video from Briony and love the idea of making a collage over the next couple of days. We have lots of knickknacks around there I could put to good use. Cut & paste, crafts are something I’ve always loved and I have heaps of letter I cut out the other days from magazines.
Hi from the woods! ☀️??❄️Went for a nice walk this morning. It’s very cold but refreshing. Saw one neighbour out for a run and shared a smile & wave with the 2 cars that passed us. There is true beauty in the way we are all connecting right now through technology. ?
How are you doing? I did yoga this morning w/ Misfits Studio and watched Snoop Dogg on IG Live. I think today I will try some new recipes and see what other workouts I can join in on IG Live. At noon I did a bit of the Fit Factory and some Barry’s for about 15 each. I didn’t feel like doing the whole class but something each day is better than nothing.
Sean packed a couple of film cameras and has been shooting film. Yesterday he cleaned the whole fireplace. He hasn’t seen it that clean since he was a kid.
He put a GoPro on the remote control truck. It’s pretty rad!
Yesterday was so cold & gloomy I didn’t feel like doing anything. I basically lazed around all day eating snacks.
The sunshine today makes me feel alive again.
I have a feeling tonight’s internet part will be LIT, lol. If the internet was ever going to crap out, tonight’s the night! Everyone will be online. I wonder who will be going live? I might hang out with my BFFs on FaceTime and put IG Live on the iPad.
Tonight is going to be the biggest internet party in history.
It’s raining and I woke up feeling tired. It could be the weighted anxiety blanket we’ve all been carrying or it’s the beers. Today, I’m giving myself a break from the routine, schedule, and everything to be in my feelings. Yes, there is a BBQ behind me in these photos.
The other night I watched two movies and sat by myself at the kitchen table cutting out words from magazines. I use to love cut & paste to make art so I figured why not give it a go. It’s still kinda fun and I picked so many good words in great fonts, not sure the next steps at this point. ? The green/white thing is a digital thermometer I was sent a couple of years ago. I’ve been checking our temperatures each day. I checked Amazon for a link to it and the price is over $685 right now for a product that’s about $120. Whoa.
How do I feel? Uncertain. Unsure. Idk how to feel about all this, it’s hard to process. Today I realized there might not be anymore Young & The Restless for the first time in 40 years. I know this is a bit silly when you think about the real issue but it was like a wake-up call. I’ve been watching this show my whole life.
Looking back to the things I was thinking about this time last week, the world has drastically changed.
Last Friday was my last time at the gym, I had a lunch meeting at Drake Commissary, and walked freely around in my neighborhood. I probably should have stayed home now that I think about it.
Today I’m giving myself permission to do whatever makes me feel good. I packed a bunch of beauty products and I’m gonna use them. I might listen to a podcast or book on Audible. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I need to relax, chill, and not give myself grief for needing a break. This has been a heavy week with emotions flying high.
In other news, I changed my blog format so the front page is full posts, so you can single page scroll, no sidebar, the way it started. Last month I posted 50 Self-care ideas, most you can do at home and with things in your house, that list is here.
This perfect avocado was a simple pleasure in my day.
I love the mornings up here, so peaceful. We set up Alexa in the kitchen and I made coffee. Sean and I did yoga by the fire in a class hosted by City Shred on IG TV. My calendar has more workouts & FaceTime meetings scheduled than ever before and it’s giving me some structure, for now.
Roast cauliflower
Egg cups
Spicy carrot fries
Through this, we’re all adjusting to a new way of life in isolation, communication through technology, and trying to maintain a routine. I am so thankful for social media and the ability to connect.
Sean thought it was H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S to send me a Zoom meeting request from the other room. Look how much he’s smiling?
I have to try and not start little arguments over nothing, it’s hard to be at home with your partner for days on end. Kindness, remember to be kind. Choose your battles, there’s nothing we really need to fight about right now.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, I was in the interview process for a job I was really keen on. Today I had a call with HR and the process is put on hold, I knew this was inevitable and they’re going to reach out when this passes.
My afternoon was full of friends hangouts. I FaceTimed with Hawley who’s in TO near Bellwoods. Spring starts tonight and I thought about being Bellwoods drinks beers with friends. Remember those days?
Just here thinking about hanging out with other people and celebrating the first day of spring in Bellwoods. ?? pic.twitter.com/SlP56lH7by
I FaceTimed with Keri for two hours, we drank beers and laughed a lot. Checked in with my sister and it was nice to see her face too. I hung out with Jen & Jess on FaceTime talked about boys and how much fun we had in Spain last year.
I am trying not to check the news too much but it’s impossible not to track the situation. I wonder how long we’ll be like this?
Today we started the day with a trip to town to pick up our Click & Collect groceries. It was the first time we’ve ordered them like that and it was quite convenient. They had to substitute a few items for smaller quantities (ex. 3 avocados instead of a bag) but it wasn’t an issue. I forgot a couple of things so had to run inside, making sure to distance myself and leave the aisle if I saw an older person coming close. We all have to do our best and we’re living under the notion that we could all be carrying this virus. I also ran into the LCBO, I have cut down on drinking over the past year but honestly, it’s challenging times so I want to have a few things on hand.
I had a FaceTime with Talia & Nelson who are also up at their cottage. She took me for a walk in the woods, I gave them a tour of the cottage, and we watched Nelson hit some targets.
I did a workout from Fit Factory TO in the kitchen and then we made salad & cannelloni for lunch.
I watched Miley Cyrus hang out with Cameron & Lauren from Love Is Blind and there are so many people going Live right now, there is lots to watch.
We got our cottage WIFI properly active as there was a delay from Bell because they have limited staff on hand. I am able to login to our account and watch our home cable on the iPad. Sean also got the hot water working so I finally had a nice shower. I needed one after all my workouts lol.
Sean and I went for a walk on the lake which I thought would be romantic but tbh it’s very slippery and I’m quite terrified of being on the ice. It’s safe and the ice is about 2 feet thick but I just can’t seem to shake the fear of it cracking and me falling through. So, for now, I will stay close to home.
We cooked a nice dinner together in the kitchen while watching Wheel & Jeopardy, just like home. I guess we’re kind of getting into a routine that’s a mix of exercise, working, and filling the day with walks & phone calls.
Hope you are doing ok & we will get through this. ?
Today was a-ok. Aside from the almost constant anxiety rolling through my veins, some good things happened.
I worked out when I woke up. I decided a workout by the fire was kinda romantic and sweet but it got hot realllllllly fast. Might skip the fire tomorrow morning! ?
I had a client call in the AM and did some work for another client project in the afternoon. At lunch, Sean and I did the Fit Factory TO Live workout on IG. It was hard to finish and I really got my sweat on. I’ve managed to eat pretty healthy and feel good overall about my food choices. I was concerned I would eat all the snacks out of stress but the habits I started months ago are paying off.
I had a FaceTime with Brigitte and we laughed so much! It was amazing to hang out. FaceTime is really coming in handy for this isolation time. I’m loving how so many people are using Instagram Live to share music, workouts, meditation, cooking, their life at home. It’s bringing us all together in an amazing way.
I found a way to remove my shellac at home which is going to be necessary soon. Luckily, my IG friend Katie responded and introduced me to Ka Yee who made a story highlight on how to do it. Find it here if you’re in the same boat as me!
The sunset was really nice on the lake tonight. Despite its beauty, I’m feeling stressed and the news gives me heightened anxiety. I know it’s going to be ok and it will be over eventually but it doesn’t take away the feelings we get while going through it.
Here’s some enjoyable things that might help you and your family while we’re all at home together. Keep an eye on Twitter and IG because there are so many more people coming online to offer free classes and concerts. Today John Legend did one Live at his house on his piano.
FREE DANCE CLASS TOMORROW! Tune in to my Instagram Live on Wednesday at 1pm PST/4pm EST and lets get those bodies moving! All are welcome. Spread the word. See you on the dance floor.?✨ @officialdadancepic.twitter.com/C3DUEoX7Hh
We had fun yesterday. I mean, it seems hard to have fun in this situation but, if you think about it. You can still have fun if you want to.
Sean and I had a good time driving to the cottage, listening to oldies on 104.1 The Dock. We had fun driving over the mini snowbank driveway at the cottage right when Black Betty came on, I cranked it and we plowed through the driveway in the snow. As much as unpacking the car is work, it was still kinda fun. Navigating the snow, carrying bags & boxes, trying to balance, while inside started to warm up.
We worked from about 4:30pm to 8pm getting the cottage ready. I remembered Alex was going Live on IG at 8pm, so I joined. We talked about life in isolation and doing a fireworks show on Friday night. It was really fun! We haven’t hung out IRL in ages but it was just as good. I chatted for about 15min and jumped out before she ended the chat at 8:30pm. I left to help Sean get wood and get batteries.
At 9:30 I called my friend who recently came back from two months in Asia and traveled through China to get home. She’s been in quarantine for two weeks already. We chatted about everything from COVID-19 to workouts and she helped me with some ideas of what I can do up here.
I want to share positivity. I want to be your sunshine at this hard time. I don’t know what else to do. I’m not sure exactly how and what I’m going to do but each day, I’ll try to share some good. If nothing else, I’ll share how I’m feeling. Maybe a smile or a beautiful sunset.
I’m happy to be here and have this space to share. I’m grateful for the ability to be in the woods and work remote. I’m so happy to have Sean here with me and not be alone.
This situation can be really isolating but you are not alone. I am here, on the other side of the screen. I typed these letters with my fingers. I hit the space bar for each word, each pause, and you can hit the space bar on anything in your life.
Don’t get too caught up in the news. Use this time to build a strategy for your dream job, a business plan, a book outline, a workout guide, a meal plan, or Marie Kondo your kitchen cupboards.
I spent a lot of time in isolation last winter, it’s not that bad. The seeds you plant today will blossom later this year. But, they will never bloom if you don’t plant them.
Last winter, I spent hours organizing cupboards, closets, drawers. I became obsessed with organizing and decluttering. At the time it seemed crazy but I was thankful for the work I did ALL YEAR LONG. It paid off. I have not had trouble finding outfits or spices in ages, it’s been amazing. 2020 could use another pass at our Tupperware department and the pots/pans but now I know how to do it. On that note, there are heaps of organization accessories at the Dollar store, you will be surprised.
Do not waste this time eating snacks and watching Netflix. I love those things, but you do not want to do them all day. You have an opportunity right now to DO SOMETHING, MAKE SOMETHING. Sean and I have spent many weeks at the cottage. Aside from weekends over the summer, we try to do two weeks each August and one over the winter at Christmas. I’ve learned to get things done but also enjoy the day. It’s important to enjoy the day, no matter where you live or work. Years ago I worked in Liberty Village at a software company, I would go for a walk at lunch and then blog about what I saw. It was simple, unplanned, an adventure each day. You can live like that, now, today, forever. Look at your day as an adventure.
In an effort to have normalcy, I have imagined somewhat of a routine for my new life at the cottage. My routine looks like working out when I wake up, making coffee, email/client work until noon, lunch, work, 3pm walk or activity, then wrap up work 4:30-5:30 (I like to watch Y&R if available!). I make dinner during or after Y&R then chill out over Wheel/Jeopardy. AT night I’ve been writing which is really good for my brain.
I know it’s hard right now and there are so many factors adding to our anxiety. The only way I know how to deal with this is to share is my life and what I’m going through. I hope you find this helpful or at least a break from your own anxiety and comfort in knowing you are not alone.
We are all in this together. Stay inside. Drink more water. Wash your hands. Find joy in your new routine. You can’t change what’s going on but you determine your actions and how you deal with it. Try to be positive and take breaks from scrolling. ?
We made the decision to come up to the cottage and make it our work from home space. We have a stocked fridge and fireworks. The fire is heating the cottage and we’ve got the water turned on.
This morning in the city I went for a run outside (no gym!) and it gave me so much joy that almost every person I passed gave a little wave and a smile. We’re all in this together.
The cottage isn’t fully winterized so each time we come up for a stretch of time in the winter we have to clean everything, put the water in, turn the fridge back on, and remove the shutters from the window, among other things. It takes about an hour to get the place liveable and then about two more hours to get fully set up.
Sean’s workspace is in the living room while I work in the kitchen. It’s nice to have our own spaces to focus on the work we need to get done. We spend almost 2 weeks up here each summer and a week at Christmas so we know how to make it work.
We’re not sure how long we’ll be at the cottage with everything going on. Emily is at her mum’s this week and we might have her up here with us next week. I packed all my old drives to sort through, my favourite books, a stockpile of beauty products, and my most cozy outfits.
Being here makes it a bit easier to socially distance myself from the news. At home, I had CP24 on non-stop, or the radio, and was constantly scrolling. At the cottage, I find it easier to put my phone down and focus on work, being creative, or making things in the kitchen.
I was feeling really stressed yesterday and not sure how to deal with it. It’s hard to imagine everything going on and it feels like an episode of Black Mirror.
I am choosing to document my feelings and hopefully, my sharing will give you some comfort. Writing has always been an outlet for me and helps me deal with stress & feelings.
I think we’re going to do a fireworks show on IG live sometime this week so I will let you know. If you ever wanna reach out, I’m just a tweet or IG DM away. This is hard for all of us and the best thing we can do is make the most of it.
In other news, this morning we packed up everything to load up the car. I played Tetris getting everything in there, it was so full. We were almost the cottage and Sean asked ‘did you grab the toilet paper?‘. OMG, noooooo, I forgot the damn toilet paper!!!!!! Luckily there’s some up here and lots of paper towels but LOL. Whoops! ?
It’s not often that I have nothing to say. I’m not sure how to handle everything that’s going on. It’s hard to believe this is happening.
Please wash your hands (image via sarashakeel on IG)
I feel like hitting pause on everything because our health is really what matters. How can life continue in any normal way? But things do continue like payments and deadlines. It’s hard to take a break when you need to monitor the situation. You know you should look away but you can’t because it’s right here affecting everything you do. On the computer, in your email, on social media, tv, every time you go to the fridge and think about your food.
I should do something to make myself feel better. I haven’t gone to the gym in a couple of days and I don’t want to lose my mojo. I finally got it going after a struggle up fitness hill. Today I made a nice curry and cooked some of our favourites. Did a face mask and a hair mask but it didn’t take away the knot of anxiety in my chest.
Last winter I spent a lot of time at home because of my injury and the insane amount of ice outside. Since then, I really benefitted from the work I did around the house during that time. I completely moved my room around so I had a nice workspace, organized my closet, sorted every bin, reorganized the cupboards, spice drawer. It gave me sanity in a time where I felt I couldn’t go anywhere and I didn’t feel like myself. It was hard but I made it through and learned a lot about myself in the process.
I’ve been trying not to touch my face if I’m outside and it’s really hard to not touch your face. I wish I had started this practise years ago because I know it’s smart. I still have nerve damage on the right side of my face so I get little pains where I want to itch it. It drives me crazy. Probably makes me look crazy too.
We all know that we need to stay at home. Our patience preparedness, work, finances, relationships, mental health, everything is stressed. I don’t have anything to say other than I am here, on the other side of this screen inside at my house too.
Today I spoke to Preston High School’s grade 10 and 11 students. I was invited to talk about my career, taking a unique path, and the changing world of work. I graduated from PHS in the year 2000 and most of the kids in the group were born 2000-2002. Crazy! Where did the time go?!
Back in 2000, wifi was getting popular, I’m pretty sure I had a Nokia phone, and a job at Blackberry seemed like a great career move. The world has changed so much since then and speaking at PHS today made me really proud to be part of the growing social media world.
Going Back in Time
I first learned about marketing at PHS and it lead me to a three-year Business Marketing diploma program at Conestoga before heading to Australia for university.
Bondi Beach, Australia 2004
I always a passion for marketing and entrepreneurship, I loved marketing because it allowed me to be creative in business. While at uni, I started an online diary to keep my friends & family informed of what I was up to using MSN Spaces. This was even before I discovered MySpace. I was my first step into having my own place on the internet.
When I came back from school, I wanted to work in fashion. I met someone on my flight from LA to Toronto who connected me with one of his clients. I was home from school for two weeks before moving to Toronto to sublet a room in a house with 5 students. I took over the room from someone I met at school in Australia.
The skills in learned in marketing have carried me through my career and helped me to be a leader in a new industry as it developed. Creativity in business has helped me navigate situations where I didn’t really know exactly what I was doing. I’d never been a Community Manager or worked at a TV station before I started working at MuchMusic and had never worked at an agency before taking a role as a Social Media Director at Community.
Working at Much, 299 Queen Street, Toronto
The school hasn’t changed much and it was nice to share my thoughts with the students. I did a walk around before school started to peek into old classrooms and see the lockers. Such a flashback to see the stage where I spent so many hours rehearsing and performing.
My photo is still up in the PHS Hall of Fame and I’m grateful for their support!
This week I’m making my way from Toronto to Cambridge, then to Leamington, Ontario visiting my family along the way. I’m really excited to visit my dad’s new house. He’s lived there for 2 years and I’ve never been! Leamington is the most southern point in Ontario, on the same latitude as Northern California, with a slightly warmer climate than Toronto. The last time I saw dad was in the summer when he came to the city in his hot rod. I’m looking forward to hanging out tomorrow and exploring the area.
Ford Canada lent me a 2020 Ford Edge for the week. This vehicle is a great compact SUV, it’s good on gas, has a great system, and I’m in love with the heated steering wheel. I’ll share a more thorough review of the car after my trip this week.
2020 Ford Edge
I drove around the city quite a bit this past weekend visiting my sister, hanging with friends, and helping a friend move some new furniture.
Today I’m going to my hometown (Cambridge, ON) to spend some time with mum. I can’t wait to see the house renovations and spend the night in my childhood home. It’s always an adventure at home, especially going through my old stuff in the basement.
I love road trips and being in the car by myself. The last time I took a long solo drive was in New Zealand two years ago. It’s a great way to clear your head and get some perspective. I’m hoping to come back with a few new ideas and some inspo. I am also looking forward to my parent’s home cooking! ?
Since making exercise part of my life over the last few months, I’ve started to crave the feeling I get from working out. Each night I lay out my gym stuff and look forward to going each morning. I wrote a bit about my fitness journey here and once I started to see results, it motivated me to keep going.
I’m committed to not letting this winter give me seasonal affective disorder like last year, I never want to get that way again. I’m sure there will be sad days here and there (there deff are), but I know I can fight it with fitness.
Today’s tip to beat Winter SAD is to SWEAT. Find a class, get a YouTube video going, download Nike Training club, dance, or jump around.
Do something to get yourself moving, create endorphins, get your brain high on body moment.
My Fav Apps & Fitness Resources
I like the NTC app for exercises and the NRC app for running. I often do Yoga with Adrienne on Youtube or find workouts on Pinterest. There are so many free resources available online if you don’t have a gym membership.
If you are in GTA and want a workout buddy to try a class, ask me anytime! I love hanging with friends and movement makes us all feel good.
I recently attended a new kind of dinner with amazing food that was infused with cannabis (THC & CBD). The entire experience was highly curated to take us on a journey through incredible food and unique experience.
The team at byMINISTRY aims to show how cannabis can be integrated into life through food & drink, culture, and wellness. They’re taking your plant-forward lifestyle to a higher place and I am here for it.
The Experience
Sean and I arrived to be greeted with a non-infused temperance cocktail as there was no alcohol on site. Before each course, the chef (Ted Corrado) walked us through what we were about to eat and if it contained CBD or THC. It was nice to learn about the food before eating it, including how the mushrooms were foraged or fish arrived at our plates.
I recently went to the launch of High Beauty, a line of skincare made with Cannabis sativa seed oil you can now find at Hudson’s Bay in Canada. I’ve been using the products for a week now and my skin feels soft and radiant.
I was so impressed with the products and beautiful packaging, I wanted to learn more about the brand. I’m really interested in new products that contain anything derived from hemp for cannabis.
I reached out to the founder to get a bit of a backstory and learn more about the company. Scroll down for my interview!
I’m on another podcast! A couple of weeks ago I hung out with Heather Loduca and we recorded an episode of her podcast, Coming Up in My Sneakers. On each episode, Heather talks to industry leaders about their ‘come-up’ story of who they are and how they got to where they are today.
In this ep, I go right back to the beginning and share about my family, my first business, publishing, high school, and more. We laugh a few times in the first 6 minutes so I hope you enjoy it lol.
I’m not sure I’ve ever shared this much about my personal life before so if you’ve got time, hit play below or find the podcast on your favorite service here.
The podcast is available on all podcast streaming services, find your fav way to listen here.
Casie Stewart is THE original influencer. Before Instagram, before Tik Tok, Casie was blogging and connecting with brands and using unique business tactics that are completely applicable today. She started back in the 00’s when people didn’t even know what an influencer did or how it could help their company. In this episode Casie offers real advice, amazing stories from working with Much Music and Virgin Airlines and a colourful come up story that any 2020 influencer can greatly benefit from.
Self-care can legit mean just about anything these days. For me, there are a lot of things I like to do and sometimes it’s as simple as putting away that pile of clothes or saying no to leaving the house. I made a list of things I like to do for myself, usually on a Sunday to prep for the week. Self-care is taking a few moments to yourself to do something for yourself, which makes you feel good and alleviate stress.
Thankfully this winter hasn’t been as brutal as last year’s super cold months where everything was covered in ice. The 2019 winter blues really got me down and I am trying to best to make this winter not seem as dark, lonely, and depressing.
It may seem like I am out on the town quite a bit but I assure you, it’s usually not for long. I love staying at home. I love hair masks, face masks, exfoliating, nice lotion, naps, cooking, and doing things inside the house.
I started this list to make 10 things but kept going and now there are 50. Most of these you can do without leaving your house of opening your wallet. I added a shoppable section at the bottom in case you want to grab any of my favorites via Amazon Prime.
If you are feeling down, do one little thing each day to bring happiness into your life. You DESERVE it. Treat yourself!
You should do the thing you want to do, figure it out as you go. Don’t let anyone stand in your way. You know what you want to do with your life. What are you waiting for?
Cleaning the house at any time of year can be a challenge. When you have the long dreary winter where it’s dark before work and dark when you get home, it’s even harder. Also, how do we go through so many dishes and kid’s clothes in a week? IDK.
We have been meaning to do a deep clean on everything for longer than I care to admit.
AskForTask gave me two hours of free cleaning to try the service and let me tell you, IT WAS AMAZING. I booked the cleaning via askfortask.com and was able to list the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and share comments. The whole process took about 5 minutes and I paid the difference (after my discount) with PayPal. I booked the recommended 3 hours and our Tasker arrived Sunday morning and cleaned for the requested time. They require you to be home for the cleaning so I booked a time that worked for us.
Starting the week knowing the work is done has me feeling grateful. I can’t believe how much she deep cleaned! At one point I went to our first floor and she had completely moved our furniture to clean behind the couch. Our while place looks great. Highly recommend Maria with AskforTask, very thorough.
For all the work you do in a day, a week, a month, treat yourself and hire a cleaner. There’s a handy app that allows you to communicate with your Tasker and add more hours if need be.
It’s happening! We’re starting renovations on our house and I am so excited.
This past summer a good friend reached out to me about her client to see if we had any plans to renovate our bathrooms at home or the cottage. After a few months of talking, making plans, and sign-off, we’re renovating both bathrooms at home with American Standard.
I am 100% at the age where things like this give me great joy. I loved picking out fixtures, toilets, sinks, and faucets. For years, Sean and I have been thinking about doing renovations but it can be kinda overwhelming. We’re also planning to paint and make some changes to the kitchen. I’ve been building a Pinterest board with ideas and DIY tips for ages. All the current bathroom fixtures and accessories will be moved to the cottage to update that space and saved for our future shipping container project.
During our staycation at Hotel X Toronto, I was admiring the nice toilet in our suite when I noticed the brand, American Standard. This is the Townsend Vormax toilet we are getting! Yes, I ‘m excited about a toilet, this is my life now.
For the upstairs full bathroom, we’ve picked out matte black fixtures from the American Standard Studio S Collection. They’re modern and similar to the ones below. I can’t wait to paint, tile, and install everything. I’ve been looking up a nice radiator to keep it warm and found some good heating tips. We’re planning to do most of the work ourselves, both Sean and I are pretty handy.
We’re starting with the downstairs bathroom in February and making our way to the second larger bathroom next. If you have any tips or thoughts to share about home renovations, I’m all ears!
My goal is to try and stay calm through the process!
We are almost through January and the countdown to spring is ON! OK, it’s 50 days, and yes I’m counting. I’m really working on finding ways to make this winter not seem as long, cold, or depressing as 2019. Last week, I shared a post about beating winter Seasonal Affective Disorder by taking a vacation.
This week, I’m sharing an AWESOME recommendation for a staycation. Sean and I spent a relaxing ~24-hours at Hotel X Torontoin downtown Toronto and it was a really nice mini-getaway. If you’d like to see more of my stay in video, check out my Staycation highlight on Instagram.
Hellooooo snow!
I magically picked the BEST day for a staycation because we had a major snowstorm that morning. I arrived at noon for a hot yoga class and to see the amenities before checking in at 3pm.
From the moment you walk in the hotel, it feels luxurious. It makes for a great staycation because there are lots of plants, several restaurants, a great gym, and amenities, meaning you don’t have to leave the hotel. There’s also a kid’s play center if you have little ones. I have added the Guerlain Spa to my ‘must visit‘ list for next time.
Hotel X Toronto definitely has a resort-type feel. There’s a pool on the roof that I imagine is absolutely stunning in the summer. Yes, I did test it out in the winter. Scroll down!
Thank you, Hotel X and Duet PR for hosting our stay. The thoughts expressed here are my OWN, obviously. It was a really nice experience. Highly recommend!
I am no expert on self-love, recovery, or life, I can only speak from my own experience. I posted this image on my Instagram Stories 6 weeks ago and made a Story Highlight (the little circles) called 2020 MOOD as a reminder of the person I am going forward. Healthier, happier, a girl who can handle anything.
It is definitely scary to be who you really are (especially to share it online) but I figure, there’s not really another option! Why not be the most YOU that YOU can be? Do what you want. Pursue all the things. Make a list and start checking off those goals. What are you waiting for? The time is NOW. Get creative, write your own story. It’s your life, you’re in control, you only live once.
Thankful for Sassoon helping me grow my hair healthy and LONGER the last year. I’m obsessed!
If there is one thing you can take from this post, it’s that you do not know your own strength or power until you try to use it. Put your mind in the right direction and push it further than before. Open doors for yourself. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
My mum has had this on her fridge since I was in high school. It has always stayed with me as a reminder to do what I want!
Let me start this by staying I felt like complete shit for a lot of last year. Behind the many smiling selfies, I was in pain, depressed, and trying to ignore nerve damage in half of my face. I had been treating my body like garbage with alcohol, bad food, no sleep, and something had to change.I gained a bunch of weight and after being small my whole life, I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t live like that anymore.
For a lot of 2009-2019 I went to multiple events a week, sometimes several per night. I was always on the go. I ate like crap and drank multiple times a week. When I hit my 30’s, my body changed, I gained weight, then I had a breast reduction, nearly broke my back w/ two cracked back ribs and closed out the decade with a fractured collarbone. A lot of good things happened in the last decade too but I’ve already shared that stuff.
For years I dreamed of being a better me, one who ate healthier, felt good in a bathing suit, had longer hair, and genuine happiness that shined out of her face. That’s who I wanted to be so I started doing things differently. From September to January, I lost 20+Lbs and does it ever make a difference! I’m saving time by not stressing over my clothes not fitting. I feel mentally and physically stronger. I have more energy and I’m happier. Here’s the low down on how I got here and I feel confident that I will stick to it this time because I love feeling this way.
Fasting
In August 2019 I started intermittent fasting, 8hrs eating window (noon-8 pm) and fasting the rest of the day. I started to feel healthier, more energized, and leaner (slowly). This doesn’t work for everyone but I like it. I recently started using an app called Zero that tracks your fast. Some days I stick to my 16:8 goal, some days I go longer, and sometimes I don’t. I try to do what feels good.
Working Out
When daylight saving time kicked in October 2019, I stuck to my same sleep schedule (early riser) and used that extra hour to go to the gym. I started with 10 min a day on the treadmill. I already had a membership at LA Fitness and after not going for most of the year, I was ready to put it to work.
I didn’t post about working out and I didn’t talk about it until recently. I did it for me, that’s the only person I had to show up for. Since then, I have learned to love working out. I keep my gym clothes beside my bed and almost every morning, I make coffee, get into my gear, and go straight there. I like the treadmill and Nike apps for the gym (NTC, NRC), and Asana Rebel or YouTube for home workouts.
I attempted and failed at working out MANY times. This time I was motivated by the end of the decade and becoming a better version of myself by the time 2020 arrived. Over the past few months, I worked out no matter where I was and if I didn’t make the gym I did something else (walk, weights).
I usually go to the gym at 6:30-7 am when it’s not too busy. I also wear a lot of the same clothes, I don’t stress about what to wear. You’ll find me in cropped cannabis t-shirts and Lulu’s or Joe Fresh leggings (they’re the best!).
Hey hey, it’s 2020 me!
Slimwave
In November 2019, I did five sessions of Slimwave at The Lash Pro Studio. Was invited to try it by their PR Team and there was no chance I was saying no to that. It’s about $700 for 5 sessions.
The treatment uses an electro-stimulating machine to work your muscles for 45 minutes, which works out to over 600 sit-ups. You are also wrapped in an infrared blanket that makes you sweat A LOT.
Infrared treatments warm your muscles during the Slimwave treatment and improve blood circulation & the appearance of cellulite, reducing swelling and providing lymphatic drainage.
After my first session, I noticed a difference, maybe it was water weight, but I felt energized. My treatments were twice a week spaced out over three weeks.
Slimwave is a non-invasive and painless transformation alternative to liposuction, plastic surgery or cool sculpting.
I definitely saw results from 5 sessions. It was a GREAT motivator to kickstart working out & eating well. I would love to do a few more sessions to target harder areas like stomach and thighs.
Idk why I wore this outfit for my photos so this is a bit embarrassing to share. You can definitely see my waist and ribcage are smaller, stomach a bit more toned. We couldn’t target the lower abs because I have an IUD but I would love to do that another time.
On my most recent trip to Cuba, it was the FIRST TIME I felt good in a bathing suit in over 15 years. My whole life I had huge boobs so it was always a struggle to find a bathing suit to fit them that didn’t look weird. I don’t normally post sexy or revealing photos but I wanted to remember this moment. Thank you to my friend Danica at Bathing Belle for hooking me up with the most beautiful swimsuits.
Hello, I am a Parisian lady!
A bunch of people asked about how I liked the Slimwave process. Sharing in a blog post (and video!) so I can go back to it when I feel down or perhaps reading this will inspire someone else. Also, feel free to invite me to a workout class anytime!
If you have any questions about Slimwave, finding motivation, or just getting started, reach out anytime. I’m always here for you.
I looked everywhere but I couldn’t see her through the forest of trees in my life, in my way. I couldn’t look deep inside to see that the fire was going out. She still burned, the warmth was there, but she wasn’t lighting up the sky the way she used to.
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I went to the Big Easy, New Orleans, it was loud. I took long walks in between fancy houses, danced in the street, made friends, smiled a lot, captured photos, and laughed to myself. I was with friends and sometimes alone. I stayed mostly healthy but I lived a little. Balance.
I went to the woods for a week where I hardly talked, just the two of us. I wrote a lot at the kitchen table, at my computer wearing headphones. It was the last week of the year, of the decade. It was just what I needed. We skated on ice for the first time in a year, in the sunset, on the lake. It was magic.
I booked a beach vacation for the first official workday of 2020. I always wanted to start the year like that. It was a simple place. There was sunshine. I read a lot, slept a lot, laughed a lot. I thought a lot of thoughts. I didn’t take my computer. I needed a break, to disconnect. After seven days, I was ready to get started.
I spent the next week in my studio, my room, my desk, my computer. It’s just one room but it is all those things to me. I spent the entire year before this making the perfect space for when I found that spark, the one I was looking for.
It takes time to find her, to find IT. You have to look in places you don’t know exist, maybe they’re hidden, not ready to be found. You might have to face some kind of mountain, break down a wall, walk, run, fly, or carry something heavy. But when you do the work, take the time, invest in making that fire again, she’ll burn and grow, and the light will shine.
Last winter was really hard, we had one of the coldest seasons in ages, there was ice everywhere, and my arm was messed up. I spent most of the winter inside our house going Marie Kondo through every cupboard and drawer. This winter, I’m determined to find joy in simple things and actively make an effort to warm myself up and beat winter SAD.
Varadero Beach, Costa Rica
I wrote a few posts with ways I’m trying to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder with the hope it will help make our days a bit brighter. Some take a little more money/planning but others you can do at home right now. I’ll update this post with a link to each so you can scroll once they’re live.
Vacation
The easiest way to boost your mood in winter? Take a vacation. I know this isn’t an option for everyone with work/family/finances but if you can do it, it’s so nice. This year, I took a 7-day all-inclusive trip to Cuba with a friend. We have been talking about doing a low-key beach getaway at the start of January for 2+ years and finally did it! Cuba was a good option because we were not going for luxury, our conditions for the trip were affordable, beach, sun.
The beach was beautiful and the sun was hot. The food wasn’t luxe but we managed to eat simple, the main things I ate were bread, rice, fruit, pasta, and eggs. I read an entire book, took heaps of photos, and finished the week well-rested and refreshed. We went to bed early (and sober) most nights. I stuck to Amy’s 1K a day challenge and did some type of activity each day (long walk, dance, NTC). It was just what I needed and a perfect reset to start the year. I feel more creative, inspired, and ready to show 2020 WHO I AM.
I went to Cuba for the first time about 10 years ago and when I tried to blog or access the internet, it was a no-go. If I could access, it was expensive and super slow. Luckily, things have improved a bit! With Telus EasyRoam, I was able to have full 3G/LTE and access my data plan from home for $12/day. It allowed me to keep up on emails and share my vacation via social media.
If you are looking for somewhere to go. Here are a couple of vacation spots I’ve been to and recommend.
Anamaya Resort, Costa Rica
A couple of years ago I took Sean to Costa Rica for a much needed digital detox. I absolutely LOVE Costa Rica, it’s my favourite country to visit (so far). Over the last decade, I stayed at Anamaya Resort twice for a full week of yoga and surfing. It’s located on the southern Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, Pacific Ocean, near Montezuma, about 30min drive from Santa Teresa. If you are looking for a super relaxing getaway with great organic food, fitness, nice people, and a great vibe, go here. Highly recommend.
All-Inclusive in Mexico
One January, Sean and I spent a week in Cabo at Sheraton Los Cabos Hacienda Del Mar. The resort was really nice, beautiful beaches, buffet, spa, pools, and several restaurants on-site. We rented a jet ski in town, surfed a small beach, and went on a boat adventure. We really appreciated having (pretty good) wifi included in our stay. I’ve also been to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico which has a lot of beautiful resorts. Mexico is a nice winter getaway, just remember to be smart and safe.
Online Deal/Last Min Getaway
If you need to GTFO and soak up the sun ASAP, Cuba is pretty affordable. We stayed at an all-inclusive on the beach that had multiple pools, bars, restaurants. We went off the resort a couple of times to eat and overall each spent ~$100 the WHOLE WEEK. It was not fancy but I was grateful to be in warm air, sun, and sand.
There are some pretty good deals online today for Blue Monday. I highly recommend signing up for Rakuten before buying online because they are partners with TripAdvisor hotels.com, Expedia, a bunch of airways, and car rental companies. Save yourself some $ and get cashback on your purchases. I earned over $200 last year from stuff I bought online (hello, Amazon). I hope you find a good deal! I’m heading to breakfast with Sunwing at YD Square where they’re giving away a couple of trips today.
My next post in this series is STAYCATION and I’m excited to share about our awesome day with Hotel X Toronto this past weekend. Together we can beat SAD!
2020 is bringing more of the #oneleggedselfie, a fav of @hey.maca and the original Man Repeller. This is the year I start taking photos of my outfits. If I see an opportunity, I’m taking it.
I used to share my looks a lot but I stopped because I didn’t feel good in my clothes, in my skin. So, I made a change, I’m moving forward. I want to document what I wear so I can remember. Like this dress over a mesh t-shirt and pants, with running shoes? Oh, yes.
I am finally, after all these years, starting to plan content out a little more long term. I have some great stuff coming including a series on beating winter sadness, cause we all need to try and avoid Seasonal Affective Disorder. Last winter really got me down so I’m actively attempting to stay in high spirits till summer.
I am here when you need a pick me up on cold days or a reminder of what spring feels like. I AM IN BLOOM. Saw this on IG and thought it was a nice finish to a great week.
