CASIE STEWART
THIS IS MY LIFE • BLOG EST. 2005
LIFE Yorkville, Toronto

Sassoon Toronto Celebrates 50 Years in Yorkville

Sassoon Toronto Celebrates 50 Years in Yorkville

Last week Sassoon celebrated its 50th year in Toronto. Imagine how much the city has changed in that time!? Yorkville transformed from a small eclectic bohemian village to a leading luxury destination. In celebration of Sassoon Toronto, I had a chat with Ian Wookey, son of Richard Wookey, the developer behind Yorkville who was friends with Vidal Sassoon and ultimately brought his salon to our city.  An Interview w/ Sassoon Toronto’s Ian Wookey Richard Wookey is known as the grandfather of Yorkville and in the 1950’s bought a lot of property in the area. Hazelton Lanes wasn’t always the luxurious residences you see today, those buildings were rooming houses for hippies and motorcycle gangs, surrounded by coffee houses playing live music with the likes of Joni Mitchell. Ian Wookey tol me there were eclectic fashion shops, strip clubs, and paraphernalia stores.  His father spent a lot of time in London, UK in the 60’s Beatles era where he met Vidal Sassoon. They partied together, took summer trips to the Mediterranean, and Wookey mentioned he was doing a big development in Toronto. This was around the same time Vidal Sassoon gave Mia Farrow the iconic pixie haircut. (Not far from mine today!) Wookey said ‘I can build you a salon in Toronto‘ and that was Vidal Sassoon’s first salon outside London, UK. Vidal Sassoon arrived to Canada in 1968, opening his first and what would be the only (at the time) salon in the heart of Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood. The 3 level salon was way ahead of its time and they hosted a huge opening party with all the local notables and coverage in the news. The rest Wookey said, is history. Vidal Sassoon went on to be a huge trend-setting name internationally and was a 50% partner in Sassoon Toronto.   The model for the salon has changed a little bit over the years…

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Fitness

21 Days Till the New Year – Why Wait to Make a Change?

21 Days Till the New Year – Why Wait to Make a Change?

Went for my first yoga class in a while today. I feel so good. Found a studio that’s a 7min walk and beside a great coffee shop. I also downloaded a countdown app for my next trip (California!) and set a countdown till the New Year. There’s 21 days till 2017 and since it’s been such a sh*t year for heaps of reasons, I’m gonna try and make the last bit really great. IF NOT NOW, WHEN? In case you’re just tuning in, I had breast reduction surgery this summer and have been a bit slow getting back to it. The recovery was not too long/hard but big stretches with arms over the head were not in my favour. I did some aerial yoga about 3 months after but not full on yoga-yoga. Plastic surgery is something that I had been thinking about for a long time so I made sure to do as much research as I could before committing to a procedure. One of my friends has recently had a breast reduction operation at the luxurgery facility in New York. I cannot wait to meet up with her soon so we can swap stories about our procedures. Today was the day. Registered for a noon class at YOGA YOGA and set out to make it a good one. A couple weeks months ago I picked out some great yoga gear from the new Gaiam website as a gift from the brand. THANK YOU! Today I opened all the packages and put on new stuff for class. WOO HOO. YOGA YOGA is a vinyasa yoga studio in the Junction Triangle super close to my house. Had it not been a snow storm I’d totally have been there in 2mins via bike. Felt good to stretch. The class was warm…

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Contests

Netflix Canada Contest: Orange is the New Black?

Netflix Canada Contest: Orange is the New Black?

OK, I started this book today. Sitting on Queen Street in the shade waiting for (rain) someone boyfriend. Netflix sent me a signed copy from the author. Autograph is orange highlighter, naturally. It sounds good, the creator of Weeds made it. Scroll down if you want the prize only, winner gets the following.. PRIZE PS3 ($269 Future Shop) Six month Netflix Canada subscription ($48) Author signed copy of Orange Is The New Black book (Piper Kerman Priceless) I love Netflix and I watch heaps of moves. Last year they sent me a FIVE YEAR subscription and I am excited because more series are being produced for Netflix ONLY. [I was a subscriber before they contacted me.] WATCH THIS IT’S FUNNY Taryn Manning, Donna from That 70’s Show, Jason Biggs (American Pie),  and Janeane Garofalo. LOVE IT.  I like this story, from the first chapters, because I could be this person. So could you. It’s not that hard to get trapped in a cross-border love/drug smuggling scandal. I saw Broke Down Palace, I know how this works.   HOW TO WIN This is a totally made up contest – WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO SAVE ME IN JAIL? Tweet Basically this could happen to anyone, right? In order to pay her debt to society (for a 10 year-old drug money thing smuggling for an African Drug Lord), Piper must trade her comfortable New York life with fiancé  Larry (Jason Biggs) for an orange jumpsuit and prison life. It’a a wild roller coaster  I haven’t read it all yet but SOMEONE LIKE YOU can have a new PS3 to watch it. Imagine I was in jail… I’d be like a junior Martha Stewart. Naturally. PS3 plays Blueray.  This is a fun contest. Tweet or die FTW. Much love, CASIE  

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Events

Yorkdale Expansion Opens Today w/ Ted Baker & More!

Yorkdale Expansion Opens Today w/ Ted Baker & More!

Last night I ventured uptown to Yorkdale Mall for the VIP pre-opening of the $220 million expansion. Yorkdale added 145,000-square feet of space 800 more parking spots, 27 new stores and a high-end food court. Five upscale stores are making their debut in Canada: Microsoft, Tesla Motors, Ted Baker London, Kate Spade and Ann Taylor Loft. As an Ambassador for Ted Baker in Canada, I was extremely happy to hang out in the store, try on clothes and meet the entire team. I got a few goodies too, Scuba dress, bulldog scarf, I haven’t been to Yorkdale in ages and it’s really quite a lovely destination. Stop into the Ted Baker store this weekend for a chance to win a $2,500 shopping spree. Hellooooo!   [View the story “Ted Baker London Launch in Toronto” on Storify] Ted Baker London Launch in Toronto Storified by CASIE STEWART · Fri, Nov 16 2012 09:01:55 All 3 in one photo! @GracieCarroll @itsallstyletome @casiestewart @ted_baker #TedBakerYKD http://pic.twitter.com/vIpo2YwnBest of Toronto Attention #Toronto! Come stop by the FIRST Canadian @Ted_Baker store at @YorkdaleStyle, now open! #TedBakerYKD http://pic.twitter.com/jNZKRDgpFaulhaber Comm Admiring gourmet-style fish’n’chips fm @partsnlabour @ted_baker @Photostar @YorkdaleStyle #toronto #mylifeasapromogirl http://pic.twitter.com/DJo8HVkxCarrie Davis Kiborn We caught @styleblogca at the @Ted_Baker launch tonight @YorkdaleStyle! #TedBakerYKDFaulhaber Comm I mean, really? Stunning doesn’t describe it well enough @Ted_Baker. Brilliant #Preview tonight. #Yorkdale2012 http://pic.twitter.com/1tBrNeuSDylan Dias RT @clickflickca: Hello @casiestewart @ted_baker http://yfrog.com/h7mogtijCASIE STEWART @Ted_Baker #Obsessed with this piece! Had a brilliant night in a brilliant store. #Yorkdale2012 http://pic.twitter.com/oev9vZG0Dylan Dias “@ted_baker: Ted has arrived in Toronto! Our new store @YorkdaleStyle is now open! http://pic.twitter.com/AfyQKAtj” @leo_savageOliver Worsley We love it! "@Shes_So_Savvy: @ted_baker ill take one of these please @yorkdalestyle http://pic.twitter.com/PPfVnd4C”Ted Baker RT @chrisdionne: Cutest @casiestewart right now @DieselCanada. #DieselYorkdale http://pic.twitter.com/kFwadFFtDieselCanada New ted_baker bag has puppy print inside. #love http://instagr.am/p/SGKS_DSa3t/CASIE STEWART In love with my first @Ted_Baker…

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Tech

The Social Network: New MySpace Design

The Social Network: New MySpace Design

This looks cool. I loved MySpace. I really was my first Social Network. I lived in the New York when it came out and wasn’t able to work so I watched a million movies and taught myself HTML. The new Myspace from Myspace on Vimeo. It’s exciting to the the Internet buzzing about the new design. At CES this year MySpace announced the launch of a MySpace TV partnership with Panasonic. Justin Timberlake is co-owner with Specific Media Group and it appears he’s innovating the social media space. I’m into it. Thoughts? CASIE

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