CASIE STEWART

Casie November 18, 2014 LIFE

Travel | Take Me Away To…Cuba!

Since it’s winter and we’re all dreaming of sunshine, I’ve decided to get a little more organized with my travel stories. Starting this week and each following Tuesday, I’ll be writing about my adventures past, present, and future. As part of my quest to keep more memories, it’s great to relive those moments and what better time than RIGHT NOW. Guys, it’s -5 in Toronto right now and I’m wearing a big fur hat as I work.

This week, we adventure to Cuba! I visited Havana back in 2010 w/ a friend. We stayed at Hotel Nacional, a famous spot where gangsters, famous people, and socialites used to hang out. The hotel opened in 1930 and Notable guests include Ernest Hemingway, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Backstreet Boys, Naomi Campbell and tbh there’s so many!

I absolutely love being in a country that speaks another language. Best way to learn I reckon! I danced to the sounds of Buena Vista Social Club, ate delicious fresh fish, and took in heaps of history about Cuba. Each day I watched different coloured taxis roll up with old white walled tires. It was like going back in time, I loved it. My dad builds hot rods so I’ve been around old cars like this my whole life.

My friends at Air Transat made this video a couple weeks ago and gave away all-inclusive trips to passengers. Did any of you guys see the Cuban Cab? Would you have taken a ride? I can’t imagine the being handed a trip so random like this! I could love to go back to Cuba. Especially today!

Stay warm out there!

<3 CASIE

CottageLife | So Long Sweet Summer Home

I rolled down the window as soon as we got to cottage county this weekend, Toronto didn’t have snow yet and I wanted fresh air. It smelled like winter, crisp and clean. Closing the cottage is bittersweet, it looks so nice all covered in snow but we can’t stay. I wanted to. I imagined staying up for weeks, making fires, taking trips to town for groceries. Wearing jogging pants.

There was more snow than I thought and it crunched with each step. Tossed a few snowballs in the lake and watched them stay in little circles. The water is really, really, cold, small ponds alongside the road are freezing over.

Picked up this blanket and mugs from the Target for TOMS collection. They were sold out of the poncho I wanted but I got Sean one of the chambray shirts. He has at least five that look similar but this one was nice. He’s totally one of those ‘Lumbersexuals’ everyone is talking about with a beard, who wears plaid and the Canadian tuxedo (denim on denim).

Had to pour out our homemade beer and tried snow painting. No Picasso!

Winter is a season I find inspiring. I’m planning to lay low and hibernate the next few months. Working on something I hope to launch in April.

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
Albert Camus

For now, lights out at the cottage. The very last step of closing for the season.
Until next time Muskoka, see you in the spring.

<3 CASIE

Fashion | Gifts that Keep on Giving, TOMS for Target

Starting November 16th you can find a special collection by TOMS at Target stores across North America. The limited-edition collection is co-designed by TOMS founder and chief shoe giver, Blake Mycoskie and goes along with TOMS One for One® giving model where every purchase helps a person in need.

Along withe the collection they also created this totally awesome ‘Together Sweater’ inspired by TOMS One for One. Naturall, I tried it on with all my fav people. I love togetherness. Sean has agreed to wear it to a ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater Party’ and I reckon it’s a contest winner! Sorry guys, the sweater ISN’T for sale.

They’ve got items for for men, women, kids, and home and with this collection, Target is donating a blanket, meals or shoes in partnership with TOMS and North America-based charities American Red Cross Disaster Relief, Canadian Red Cross, Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. Each product displays the corresponding donations so you can easily see how your purchase is helping someone out.

I’ve got a couple pairs of TOMS and have picked a few of my fav items from the Target collection below.

Love this poncho and am hoping to score one bright and early tomorrow morning. Each purchase will give a blanket so someone in need.

Sean’s fav outfit is chambray shirts and jeans, aka the Canadian tuxedo. The plan is to pick one of these up for him and by doing that, TOMS will provide one week of meals through one of their selected charities.

The kids clothes are especially cute and by picking something up for your fav lil’ shorty you’re doing some good. This t-shirt gives 1 week of meals and the hoodie 1 blanket.

The housewares items are all under $30 and make great gifts. I’m a fan of these little journals. Nothing like afresh new notebook for jottin’ down ideas!

The TOMS for Target collection is available for a limited time at all Target stores in the U.S. and Canada starting tomorrow, Sunday November 16, 2014. My plan is to get there bright and early and pick up my favs! See the whole collection at target.ca.

I know it’s only November but I’m totally in the holiday spirit. I started Christmas shopping last week and I can’t wait for holiday parties. You can count on seeing the Together Sweater a few times before Christmas too. If you’re in the mood for some holiday tunes, check out the hap-hap-happiest Christmas playlist on Rdio.

Tweet me at @casiestewart w/ your fav item from the TOMS for Target collection for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

Here’s to a holly jolly Christmas! 🙂

<3 CASIE

Fashion | Rudsak, A Sample Sale for The Cool Rebel

Popped into the Rudsak sample sale yesterday just after 10am when it opened and there were heaps of shoppers filling their arms. It comes at the perfect time of year since winter just hit! There’s a ton of shoes, bags, accessories (hats, gloves, wallets etc), as well as winter coats and spring/fall leather jackets.

In a preview of the sale the other day I picked up a new leather/fur jacket, purse, and boots.

The sale is at 99 Sudbury and runs November 13th-16th. Full details below.

If you’re not familiar with Rudsak you might want to check out my posts from their April sample sale, fashion week, and the store opening at Yorkdale earlier this year. Founded in Montreal in 1994, Rudsak is a brand that celebrates the authentic cool rebel. They’ve got a rock and roll attitude with a focus on quality leather. This year they celebrated 20 years with a capsule collection named after 20 rockstar greats with only 20 of each item available.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the goodies you’ll find at 99 Sudbury this weekend…

If you stop by I’d LOVE to see what you get. Yesterday I got Sean a nice black scarf and this hat/scarf for myself. Find Rudsak on Instagram at @Rudsak, Twitter @RusdakCanada, and Facebook/RudsakCanada.

Rabbit fur & wool scarf, perfect @RudsakCanada purchase for this ❄️ weather! #RockRudsak… https://t.co/pMoY3Us0EO pic.twitter.com/q3JkRqZ1fi

— CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) November 13, 2014

CASIE

Dinner with Chef Chef Nina Compton + Saint Lucia Tourism

On Monday night I travelled to Toronto’s Queen East for a mini escape to Saint Lucia with Chef Nina Compton and their tourism board. I’ve never been to Saint Lucia but I’ve also never wanted to go more than right now after tasting the food and hearing travel stories from other guests.

Chef Nina cooked up some seriously delicious food. My fav was the cacao beef short rib with polenta and baby veg. The spicy cacao martini was a nice start to the night. You might recognize her from Bravo’s Top Chef, she was the runner-up and fan favourite on the most recent season. Chef Nina is in Toronto as the first culinary ambassador of Saint Lucia. Now that’s an awesome gig!

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Here’s some snaps from the night by the lovely Becca Lemire. Did you know Saint Lucia, aside form it’s natural beauty, has a tropical rainforest and one of the world’s few drive-in volcanoes. DRIVE IN VOLCANO. A DRIVE IN VOLCANO. I can only imagine the other magical wonders waiting there for me.

Thanks to the Saint Lucia Tourist Board and Chef Nina Compton for a delicious dinner and some time to catch up with Andrew (aka Dobbernation). I had a great time meeting Charlene who has been reading THIS IS MY LIFE for years had never ran into me IRL. HI CHARLENE. It’s a truly humbling and awesome experience meeting people who have been reading for a while. It’s nice to get to know ya. You know heaps about me!

Here’s to a wonderful day. It may be getting cold outside but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the sunshine wherever you go.

Stay warm out there!

<3 CASIE

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Here’s to a holly jolly Christmas! 🙂

<3 CASIE

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