Life is Like a Blog of Chocolates

You never know what you’re gonna get. You start a blog, you write, you post, you share. If you are interested in blogging that’s a good place to start. And, if you’re prepared when opportunity presents itself, you’re lucky. I’ve grown so much over the past seven years writing this blog and I’m extremely grateful for all the awesome it’s brought into my life. This is my sister Jenny 😉 Mum rung me from the boat this morning and they’ve sailed into Canada after being away for about a month. I can’t wait to see her. She’s so inspiring. Living out a childhood dream today casting kids for a commercial. I always wanted to to this. TBH it’s not that glamorous! Getting kids on camera and judging them as they act out part of the scene. I was pretty nervous at first but after a few, it’s easy. Having gone to heaps of auditions is helpful. Got this last night 🙂 If you are around & about Queen West pop by the Great Hall & get a SummerWorks programme. GO TO SOMETHING! Most stuff is free and you will be glad you did. Get cultured! There’s a gallery across from Dog & Bear at Dovercourt where Nina Arsenault has a piece of performance art. It’s super interesting. She is a great writer. Jenie and I went by there on Friday. I’m gonna pass by again on my way home. I wrote about Nina’s Live Art piece on the SummerWorks blog here. Hope you’re having an awesome day!  

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I found some gold at the end of the rainbow, I’m giving it all to you.

Found this cool portrait project from NY called Humans of New York while I was creeping Catherine’s Twitter. Photos are all done by Brandon Stanton. He also writes stories. I love stories. Rediscovered this cool web app that shows you Google maps in  interactive polar panorama images. Queen Street West, Toronto – Trinity Bellwoods Nasty Gal Accessories page girl. I might be obsessed with NG. I found these cool painted records on their blog yesterday.  In Other News:  As long as the world does not end in 2012, I will be online for the next ten years. AT LEAST!  I renewed my domain for a decade. I will be 40. Holy shiiiiiiiiite mang. I’m working on a new site design & blog this month. I can’t wait to share it with the world. Thank you for reading, commenting (why u no comment?), and following along my adventures. I’ll be celebrating eight years of blogging in April 2013 and I think it’s time for a party. And the world heaves a collective sigh of relief. 😉 RT @casiestewart: I have renewed by domain till 2021. WORLD, I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE! — Christine Estima (@christineestima) August 8, 2012 I am a little in love with these screen shots from the video shoot w/ Carty this weekend. You watched it ya?

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Marketing is Dead. Strategy is Dead.

Learned a bunch the last few days at FITC but what really stuck with me was the very last session I went to by Jason Theodor about creativity and how to create more, better different. I have some great notes from the conference I’ll be formulating into a piece an article TAXI. Feeling inspired! This UK stud is from Tumblr – OH CASIE Read this article “Marketing is dead” by Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide. I’ve been a Saatchi fan for as ling as I can remember. Passion for advertising and design started very young. Anyhoo, here’s an excerpt, read the whole thing on The Drum UK here. I reckon you’ll enjoy it. “We don’t just live in a VUCA world – a volatile, uncertain, ambiguous and complex world – we live in a super VUCA world. We live in a vibrant world where our kids are connecting to each other and to brands across the world with no money involved. To us this is a world that’s gone crazy. “Strategy is dead. Who really knows that is going to happen anymore in this super VUCA world? The more time and money you spend devising strategies the more time you are giving you rivals to start eating your lunch. “Management is dead. To win today you need a culture and an environment where the unreasonable power of creativity thrives. Ideas are today’s currency not strategy. Martin Luther King did not say ‘I have a vision statement’ did he? He had a dream. You have to make sure you have dreams and your brand also needs a dream.” In other news, posted a bunch of bearded babes to my Pinterest board yesterday. If you’re into that, you’ll be REALLY into it. Enjoy the day!  

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COMMUNITY 54 – From NY To Parkdale

Stopped by the Community 54 space in Parkdale the other day (Queen west of Dufferin). It was opened a couple months ago and features a wide mix of vintage & new clothes with a pile of old school artifacts you might find at granddad’s garage sale. I picked up a sweet & long vintage dress for summer. Wore it to Canadian Club Whisky tour. The Official: Community 54 is your neighborhood lifestyle boutique inspiring nostalgia through creativity. From classic arcade games and vintage street wear, to indie clothing brands and contemporary art, our space is a destination for curators of unique collectibles. It’s a place where culture mavens and social connectors interact with local artists and designers. First established in the Lower East Side of Manhattan by partners Daymon Green and Jason Jacobs, Community 54’s two locations are a manifestation of years of sharing ideas and a common entrepreneurial drive. (Toronto Partners are Trung Hoang & Joel Reilly) Shop Style: My Photo on the Shop Wall: In other news, The Condo Store is giving away 2 pairs of Toronto FC Tickets courtesy of TriTickets. ENTER HERE ON FACEBOOK. If you win, take me! I freaking LOVE the TFC. Been twice and the fans are freaking CRAY. I posted a few vids & photos from past TFC games etc here. Last year one of the hot young players sent me a personal message 🙂 Go win those TICKETS. On that note, I’m outta here & off to the ladies networking lunch for FITC! HUZZAHHHHH!  

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Juma Installation at Toronto World MasterCard Fashion Week

Toronto’s Juma, unveiled their Fall/Winter 2012 scarf collection at the Edward Day Gallery without the use of models, opting for an installation style event.  An elite group of Monday night fashionista faves soaked in the wonders of Juma’s silky garbs.  In case you didn’t know, Juma is a brother and sister team (Jamil and Alia) who create unisex, progressive ready-to-wear and accessories using their own digital prints inspired by art and travel. The upcoming season’s work was no exception and channeling aspects of local culture, and wildlife from the siblings travels in Thailand and Northern China but adding a spacey 60s mod vibe. I wonder what their trips are like. I can imagine they are quite unlike anything most family vacations I’ve been on! Since launching their line in the 2003, the duo have relocated to New York where they spend half their lives, bringing some inspiration to their designs. According to Jamil, the two of them looked forward to “developing an environment that will embody the personality of the collection.” I guess this was true enough.  The walls of the gallery were draped with dozens of scarves, not unlike the paintings that usually house the gallery’s walls, with glossy lacquered branches hanging here and there.  It was well fitting as Juma’s scarves really are works of art that bring loud psychedelic burps pops of colour to the  minimalist wardrobe that Toronto just can’t seem to escape from. Aside from launching the exotic and always eye-dazzling array of garments and scarves Juma has been quite busy on other fronts brokering deals with Holt Renfrew, (now available in shops!) designing a tutu for the National Ballet of Canada’s 60th Anniversary, and also planning a new store opening, (location still being kept a mystery) but I’m guessing either Toronto, or New York. – JESSE

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THE GRID: Introvert or Extrovert?

This week has been full of awesome fun. While I’ve been away I was written about TWICE in Toronto’s culture newspeper The Grid. One day I was in an article about being an introvert and the very next day was a video about me being extroverted and all over the city. Truth is, I’m a little bit of both. I really love spending time alone, in silence and at home and, as you all know, I also love being around lots of people and in the spotlight. Here’s a link to each article. Casie Stewart is a 29-year-old blogger who was recently featured in an article in The Walrus by Maryam Sanati called “Brand Me,” which shone a spotlight on the major players among Toronto’s “Gen Y personal branders.” These professional internet personalities have managed to generate the success and attention they quite openly—and shamelessly—seek, simply by transcribing the minutiae of their existence online. “Because Stewart’s peers have not known self-doubt as much as we have,” Sanati, a self-identified Gen-Xer, writes, “and because they’re so much better at maneuvering in the digital age than we were, they feel perfectly at ease.” That may be true for Stewart. When it came time for her to speak at the pub, she described herself as “hyper-social.” In fact, the only time she admitted feeling less than socially fluent was during her offline hours. One more thing! If you are at SXSW Storify will build a story from all your online activity automatically if you connect your accounts. I’ll publish mine tomorrow. Now, off to the convention centre for some fun! Have an awesome day 🙂

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FRINGE, FLOWERS, GLITTER, GIRLS

Yesterday Lau and I went shopping for some new SXSW digs. West49 hooked us up with a whole bunch of gear from Billabong & Element’s SS 2012 collection. I’m a long time huge fan of surf life & culture so this was totally rad. Safe to say, we had fun! I tried on a bunch and you’ll see all the goodies I picked over the next 10 days while we’re in Texas. There’s a whole bunch of pretty things the full West 49 lookbook here. Billabong recently partnered up with Aussie style blogger Oracle Fox and she designed 15 new items. I’d love to do that! “Growing up by the sea with all my girlfriends, we had an entire lifestyle that revolved around surfing and having fun – we pretty much still do. Most sunny days we have off you can find us surfing, sun baking, chilling a tour local beach kiosk/organic café or going on some road trip adventure. The pieces I designed with Billabong encompass that freedom.” – Oracle Fox Lauren and I both got this totally rad fringe sweater from her collection.  Glittery shorts? Yep, they’re mine now. Follow @West49 on Twitter & Facebook here. Yesterday Kate showed me this totally RAD chose-your-own-adventure HTML5 music video for Chairlift’s new video for “Met Before”. There’s more story lines than I’m sure you have time for in your busy day. However, I suggest you check it out for it’s sheer creativity & production value. Can we make one of these please?  HAVE AN AWESOME DAY!

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Daily Twitter News for 2012-02-04

It’s harder than you think. http://t.co/lEBrjC6l #thisismylife #tvontheinternet #video # Photo: Believe in yourself http://t.co/l7XThtlc # Good morning! two exciting event dates to launch today #genyto & @BridleBash! # ##GENYTO: Mardi Gras style at @LouDawgs, Feb 21! http://t.co/Y4p6aNQe #thisismylife #friends #socialmedia # Happy Birthday @dylanculhane you sexy South African babe! Love from Canada <3 # Last year's #MotionBall was fun. Archive post w/ @jeniestewart @nicoleMTV @liztrinnear @julianbrass & the Ned Ma guy 😛 http://t.co/9fLsS8MM # Date of @BridleBash announced for July, 28. Mark your calendar, gonna be WILD! https://t.co/5HgzFWeD #poolparty # I uploaded a @YouTube video http://t.co/y1E7cXSF Daily Vid Challenge: 3/29 – Feb.3, 2012 # I've just snapped a new picture: http://t.co/mE9oskph # preeeeeeeeetttttttyyyyyyyyy http://t.co/jIoBWNwv # Infographic: Generation Y and Facebook http://t.co/XhDR37v5 "actively shaping culture" #genyto # Tavi to Perform Neil Young Cover Live During Fashion Week http://t.co/HDVZkabM # Jesus Crotch he is so sexy!! The fashion evolution of David Beckham http://t.co/YZ3alyQq # Disco never dies http://t.co/aZYn1ImT via @dazedmagazine via @wearemansion #party # NKOTB ftw http://t.co/DXtDSASz # how could you hate this face? http://t.co/RqN1wWab # London College launches UK’s first ever ‘iPhoneography’ course http://t.co/GpTjouZW # haha "@maulingmueller If I text you a question and you immediately call me instead of texting back, I hate you." # Netflix on too many devices and now can't watch. Damn me for being nice and sharing account info! I need to watch my TARA! # i can't wait to hear what the personality disorder expert on my panel for #SXSW has to say about ME? i've never been assessed. (thank god!) # Sweet Dreams & Delivered Lunch http://t.co/Uoh6kHNq #thisismylife #socialmedia # Mad Men’s Minimalist Subway Ads Get Street Art Remixes http://t.co/KhJH0gVE # don't bite, little doggy http://t.co/C1wXt9sn # don't bite, little doggy http://t.co/C1wXt9sn http://t.co/2vsvuoUg # Who' gonna be next? Eddy Murphy ain't dead. http://t.co/kVk7Z4db…

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THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN’T DO

I want a balloon tree. I always have. The Balloon Tree by Phoebie Gilman was one of my favourite books as a child. We used to read heaps of books. Each summer Jenie and I would join the Summer Reading Club at the Preston library. I spent so much of my childhood at that place. I was either there, the dance studio, or gymnastics. I’m pretty sure I had my first reading by Robert Munsch at the Preston library.  I remember meeting Phoebie Gilman and having my photo taken with her. Authors were my celebrities back then.  When I wrote ‘Jeans: an anthology of poetry & prose‘ in 1996 we had our book launch there. We sold over 80 books that night and one dollar from the sale of each went to the Women’s Crisis Shelter.  It was a magical night. I’l never forget how good it feels sitting there signing your own book for a lineup of people. I’ve been (slowly) working on another  book. Write more, read more, that’s what I keep telling myself. I’m a big believer in the power of positive thought and a few things I’ve been thinking about lately are libraries and speaking. Not necessarily together but in general. The crazy thing is, I got an email from Marketing Magazine asking me to speak at an event next month and guess where it is? A LIBRARY. My favourite library in the city, Toronto Reference. We’re talking youth culture and the founder of VICE Magazine will also be there talking about The Creators Project between Vice & Intel. I’ve been a Vice fan for about ten years and have a diploma in marketing so this is all quite exciting. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN’T DO. The Creators Project is really cool and well, CREATIVE. “I have…

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(I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE

Last night at the SAY Media party for DX3 I had the time of my life playing with a parachute. It was so fun/cool/awesome, seriously. The band man is Rich Aucoin and here are his deets so you can follow him. Canadian and good looking too.   I was shaking the parachute with about a hundred other people. A bunch were in the middle and running from side to side as the parachute went up and down dancing the air. Charlotte from SAY emailed this photo to me after the show and I’m sure there are heaps more in cameras around. Right when photo was taken I was in this totally awesome childlike state where I swear I don’t know if I’ve ever had so much fun. It was absolute bliss. I’ve said it before and will again, the SAY Media team really know how to throw a party. In conversations last night I learned that lots of people were learning about the company for the first time. This is pretty rad for me because I’ve been working with them for almost a year now. I’m their Canadian ‘poster child’ for social & one of their passionate people building culture. I’ve mentioned them a few times on blog before. I think lots of old friends were surprised to see my face on their signage. “Hey look, that’s you“ I fell in love with how SAY Media really ‘get it’ the first time I received an email and checked out their site. They work with Passionate Voices connecting us with brands and stuff we like. Last year when I was an Android user, I did a national campaign with HTC. SAY is the first ever real advertising I hooked up with too. Those fancy video ads in my sidebar, that’s them. I’m heading to DX3 for day two today and will probably…

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LET’S GET DIGITAL.

Get out and do something. Next week is Advertising Week in Canada and there is a bunch of cool things happening.  This time of year can be kinda depressing spending a day or few hours at a conference is a good way to escape the winter woes and hopefully stimulate your brain. Two things I love most about conferences are scoping out well branded booths and good wifi. The later can be a challenge sometimes. The Detroit Autoshow had totally massive displays with lights, sound, art, fashion and cars. It was crazy how bright the lights were. CES was really, really, huge the conference floor 1.6 million net square feet of exhibit space. In partnership with Advertising Week launches Dx3 Canada, a new interactive trade show with sessions and exhibitors related to advertising, marketing and retail. My girl Amber Mac will be onsite filming her show and there’s a bunch of sponsors/exhbitors friends/partners of mine from over the years including Say Media, Trendhunter, Techvibes, Jaunt.ca. Some more details include: 100 of Canada’s top digital solution providers engaging free seminars Amber Mac’s Technology Spotlight Interviews show floor  etc I’ve always loved advertising. Started a creative ad agency in high school entrepreneur class, was the youngest but got the highest mark. BOOM! Each week the Say Media blog posts ‘this week in venn‘ a diagram that relates to culture & advertising. This was last week’s one and it went along with an awesome post by the CEO titled ‘This is why you work in advertising.’ It’s a good read about the art & romance of good advertising, making conversations human and creating passion. Better advertising for a better world. The DX3 Canada event is on Wednesday & Thursday next week. The trade show is FREE but if you want to attend the sessions you have to pay. There’s over 3o and lots of interesting stuff. I’ll be there…

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I GET MY FASHION PILLS FROM THE HIP PHARMACY.

Love this blog foudre.co, it’s full of beautiful fashion photos. One of the reasons I really love tumblr is there are so many passionate fashion bloggers lovers & brands there (McQueen, Vogue). Pre-Fall collections are coming out now and I love, love pre-fall. It’s that romantic time between hot & cold where you can go bare legs but still match a scarf & coat. There’s so much variety that time of year. Accessory heaven. This image is from Foudre & is Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2012. Pop Culture Prescription: Video above is is the new Single from Lana Del Rey. I like her. Lyrics for this song are good. “Born to Die” by Lana Del Rey who was on SNL last night free on iTunes from Interscope intersco.pe/yRiKV2. Thanks for sending that over! Cute boy with all the tats form the Born to Die video is Bradley Soileau, he blogs & we’re friends on FB. NBD. He walked in the Cavalli show during Milan Fashion Week yesterday (14th). Pix on his blog. Cool interview here. There’s heaps of Men’s style from Milan shows on GQ’s tumblr:  gqfashion.tumblr.com My friends have beautiful house for rent  in Leslieville. I wish I was heading to Germany for Berlin Fashion Week. I’ve got friends there I REALLY want to visit. I love Fashion Week season. New York SS 2012 Fashion Week is Feb. 9-17 which is also Social Media Week, Valentines, and the Toronto Auto Show. I’m in a charity auction for Heart & Stroke Feb.9th (Love a Heart), have to be at Auto Show (and am on a panel SM Week Feb. 17th.  I would love to scoot to NY for a couple days to catch a few shows & meet up with fashion blog friends from around the world. Hmmmmm….? You never know what might happen so make the most of each day.…

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you missed this yesterday

Got a real cute haircut this time @dkwikstudio http://t.co/SOCwsHc5 # Met babes @toristreats @wardrobeprofessor @thedrakehotel http://t.co/fpAQOeig # Never met a girl like you before… (@ The Beaver Café) http://t.co/NhjCrc1D # you missed this yesterday: – finding a few people have been unfollowed but not… http://t.co/ca9MXI7a #thisismylife # JUST in time for my trip new luggage from http://t.co/qd506lH3 to be delivered tomorrow. Woooooooooohoooooo # Looking at posts from this time last year. Remember this day at #Finch station? Gave away @virginamerica flight! http://t.co/pGoZequ1 # Vintage @michaelnus & @shrued http://t.co/hEILie7l # What's for lunch? I'm hungry but can't decide. Wanna deliver a surprise lunch? Because, that would be amazing! # Be nice & share. # I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/H8tbAIsX Aubade Alarm Clock # A Whole New World: iCasie! It’s like a whole new world now that I’m all Apple… http://t.co/J0SHCqb4 #thisismylife # What inspires you? http://t.co/5n3YelDf http://t.co/uvqpACf1 # Ballerina Rocket Man via @laurenonizzle http://t.co/45Bg5K7x #BLOG # just did my 600th @dailybooth http://t.co/jcGjLclk # Used Siri to ring Mum at work! # RE: @TheDanLevy @thedanlevy @megbutton I blame #hipster culture on the popularity! http://t.co/TntJKgLH # RE: yeah man, i was looking back at posts and thinking WHERE DOES THE DAMN TIME GO?! http://t.co/qNkHsJQD # Sign & sending PDFs on iPad is so satisfying. # Oh my, I will be in Costa Rica for Have Sex with a Man with a Moustache Day – N (@YouTube http://t.co/WtTlHrWb) # #SwarovskiSneakPeek tonight # This makes me sad. I follow YOUR updates for YOU 🙁 RT @aplusk Twitter Management http://t.co/AKhT4U1l # Ooh boys look at his sexy #movember babe, Josh! http://t.co/9OeGXANo # Waiting so long for his taxi I could have walked. #firstworldproblems # Yes please! http://t.co/Z3nGgjnA # Lookin good @keriblog. #swarovskiskisneakpeek http://t.co/aRJFT58e # Thanks for the cotton candy & gift @swarovski. http://t.co/2CFedfX1 # "In…

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Dear Boss,

I’d like thank you for how much I’ve grown working with you over the past six years. Your consistent hustle day in and day out has taken us around the world together and opened up possibilites that were once only real in your dreams. I started out part time but you gave me more attention as the years went by, allowing me to flourish into something that is full of excitement, culture and passion. I’m excited about where we will go together. I know it isn’t easy running your own business and sometimes you don’t feel like it, but I believe in you. You have shown many people that when you put your mind to something you can achieve anything, any for that, I am thankful. I am an extension of you and when you look back many years from now I hope you feel proud of us. Keep up the good work and go get yourself a manicure. My treat!

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