It’s been just over a week since my surgery and I’m feeling more like myself today, finally. I didn’t realize how much having huge boobs affected my mental health. Everyday when I got dressed I’d try an find an outfit that carefully hid them enough not to be obnoxious but also looked cute. I actually feel a big weight off not only my chest but my shoulders in an emotional way.

It was so easy for me to make a huge mess trying to find something to wear each day. Clothes mountain was a regular occurrence, I’d try things on then toss ’em on the bed or floor with frustration. I’m so glad I didn’t get rid of clothes that were a little too small, I can wear them now! Last week I wore a jacket from Nasty Gal I ordered online about 2 years ago and it fit like a charm. Before last week, it looked unbalanced and too small to sit nicely on the chest.

I’m a size 4 at most stores and often I’d get a tops size L or a 10 just to fit them in. Now, so many of my dresses, button down shirts, and T-shirts actually fit. They’re not stressed at the buttons or stretched. It feels amazing! 

The whole process of going through surgery was less horrifying and painful than I imagined. My surgeon, Dr. Rice, was really great and his staff helped calm my nerves through the whole process. For the first 3 days I was really in pain, couldn’t move much, needed pain killers. The next 2 days I was feeling good, able to walk around. On the 6th day I felt so great after my post-op appointment. I went out for dinner, then met up with friends, stayed up late, and had a few drinks. In hindsight, this was not a good idea. I was SO SORE the next day. Had a wee hangover plus the bruising was starting to get worse. I spent the next 3 days barely leaving the couch. Thank god for Netflix, iTunes, and a BF who loves to relax.

I’ve got about 2 weeks until I can do regular exercise. I’m so excited for this! Working out has been a huge sense of anxiety and me feeling uncomfortable for the last few years. I could never just throw on something cute and go for a run outside, working out meant finding the right bra (or 3!) to strap the bubs in, then covering up with something baggy to avoid unwanted glances. I’ve had dents in my shoulders from straps for years and thankfully my back/shoulders felt better almost right away.

I’ve booked a session with a trainer but if anyone has exercises they recommend, please LMK!

Also, if you’ve been considering a breast reduction and want to ask me about going through the process and how it was covered by Ontario Health insurance, send me an email casie[at]casiestewart.com. It was just over a year ago when I got a referral from my doctor and booked my first appointment to discuss with a plastic surgeon. I’m happy with the results and can’t wait till the bruising and swelling disappear.

Sitting in the waiting room with my sister. An hour from now I’ll be in surgery. I can’t wait to have new boobs and ditch some of this weight! I’m looking forward to this all being over and starting a new workout regime in a couple weeks. I’ll be able to wear cute workout clothes for once! And only 1 bra!

In other news, someone’s dad decided the waiting room for surgery was a great place to listen to all the different bird sounds from a bird watching website. I politely asked him to get headphones or stop. I’m in hospital clothes (he wasn’t) so I feel like I can do that rn.

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Good morning from Trinity Bellwoods! I was on my way to the office when I decided to have a little hangout with my computer. If you missed my Facebook LIVE you can watch it here.  It’s absolutely stunning out today!

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It’s like a mini vacation with every visit, like hitting the reset button. ?????? Today Sean and I had the best day, ice cream and a car show, then Grand Electric Muskoka for tacos and ceviche. ???

TBH I like the Grand Electric Muskoka vibe WAY better than the Queen West location, not as loud and the staff are higher on the chill scale.?

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Looking back at my Amazing trip to Costa Rica where I stayed at Anamaya Resort. Read about my digital detox here. I’m ready for another one TBH! Check out this cool Summer Solstice RESET happening on June 20th in Trinity Bellwoods.

Have a beautiful day! 

XO CASIE

A photo posted by ? C A S I E S T E W A R T (@casiestewart) on Jun 9, 2016 at 8:26am PDT

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This weekend was so nice and chill. We had a couple friends up at the cottage. Saturday was super sunny and beautiful while Sunday was the perfect lazy, rainy, couch day.

Put the LayBag in the water and it is so awesome. I purchased it after seeing ads on FB and I’m super glad I did. It’s a bit harder to fill up than it looks in the commercial but I’ve almost got it down.

This summer Sean and I have had heaps of time up at the cottage and it’s really helped me chill out. Ever since my digital detox in April I’ve really tried to take some relax time on the weekends.

This weekend I’m going away with Ford Canada on a mystery getaway. If you check the #EscapeandDiscover hashtag on Twitter a bunch of us bloggers have been anxiously trying to try and figure out what we’re doing.

Blog friends, #EscapeAndDiscover?

— CASiE STEWART (@casiestewart) May 30, 2016

Oh Internet ILU.

Last week I had an event and as usual was scrambling to find something to wear. A few days earlier the girls at Fitzroy Boutique sent a note about their new dress rental service. Decided to popped by there a couple hours before the event to see what they had. I needed a Cinderella moment!

The store is always full of beautiful dresses, flowy things, and great accessories.

The latest pop-up is at 98 Ossington, half-way between Queen & Dundas, west side. They’ve got two racks of dresses for rent, and for $50 you can borrow a beauty for 3 days AND IT INCLUDES DRY CLEANING. Check out all the dresses here.

I wore this super cute Sea Shell dress by Blessed Are The Meek. The back is open making it fit really nice in the front, not too tight on the tatas. It’s super flowy and short making it the perfect dance number for a wee lil’ lady.

This is the intro price so if you have a summer full of weddings and garden parties, book now! Thanks A&J for making me feel like a qween!

Some fun stories coming up this week, 2 upcoming trips, a HUGE life change, some thoughts on mindfulness, being your best self, an upcoming workshop, AND a Kobo giveaway. I’ve been reading heaps since I got mine and love it, perfect for on the boat, in a hammock, or on a long drive (to the cottage!).

Here’s to a great week and sunshine all around!

It’s amazing how much you forget how to take the subway when you haven’t in a while. This morning I went from Dundas West to Summerhill and somehow made three mistakes along the way, wrong stop, wrong way, wrong side. 

What a n00b! I’m nearly done my book on Kobo so I guess that’s the real reason. 

I use do take the subway to work at my first job in Toronto. About an hour each way from Broadview to Yorkdale. It was worth it because I wanted to work in fashion SO BAD and this was my foot in the door at a really big private retail company. 

It’s so weird when you catch eyes with someone on the subway. Quick, look away. 

Typing on my phone is a great way to stay entertained. Almost done my coffee but I’m here now. Took way longer than I expected. Should have taken an Uber. It’s not as close to the subway stop as I thought, I really screwed up these directions but it’s pretty nice out today. ☀️

Growing up I spent heaps of time at the library with mum. Each summer we joined the Summer Reading Club and went back and forth to the Preston Branch carrying books in the wagon, the stroller, or homemade bookbags. Mrs. Macdonald, the librarian, was a familiar part of our lives and helped us learn to love books and reading.

Since joining the internet, I’ve read less books, well, I’d say less books overall since college/uni. This year I set a goal to read more books, scroll less websites. So far I’ve not done too bad! Last week I started a 7-day reading challenge with Kobo to discover the joy of e-reading.

The new Kobo Glo HD is the latest eReader, it’s 6″ screen is super clear and reads just like paper. There’s 4GB of storage which is a LOT of books. Up to 3K!

This is my first time with an e-reader and I really like it. I find it much easier to read on this device than phone or iPad due to the screen (Carta E Ink). You can also customize the light, font, and margins to personalize your experience.

Next week I’ve got a GIVEAWAY for a Kobo Glo HD so we can be twins. If you’re keen to get reading before I then, DL the Kobo app on any device (with this link) and get a $5 credit towards your first purchase.

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Things I like most about my new Kobo:

• – It’s SUPER light, nothing like carrying around a few novels ?
• – Fits in a small purse or the pocket of my trench coat
• – Battery lasts ages
• – You can read in the sun, no glare! ☀️
• – The Kobo app has so many books and recommendations, all you need is wifi ?

This weekend I started YOU by Carolyn Kepnes, the same author of Hidden Bodies I read earlier this year. It’s a real page turner, I’m on chapter 28 now. ?

Grab a $5 @kobo credit at https://t.co/ZzII9tXPg5. Currently in the #kobo7 reading challenge! Been reading all day ? pic.twitter.com/kSQ4MePn9H

— CASiE STEWART (@casiestewart) May 14, 2016

If you’ve not switched to paperless bills from Toronto Hydro, here’s a good reason, aside from saving the environment and giving yourself a little less clutter each month. I dunno about you but we seem to have piles of paper that accumulate around the house, one less bill would be nice. If you need more storage for your clutter, office monster has a full pedestal range in a selection of styles.

Right now, if you switch to paperless bills with Toronto Hydro you’ll get an EnviroCare package delivered and be entered for a chance to WIN a National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures tour for two to the Rocky Mountains, valued at $9,300. This trip includes flight, accommodation, and activities for 11 days!

Switch to eBills before June 30, 2016 to be entered!
SIGN UP HERE ?? torontohydro.com/signup

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The thing I like best about this is getting rid of clutter. It boggles my mind how many things I accumulate each month week. I feel like I’m forever chucking things in the bin and an attempt to get rid of clutter.

For more info about switching or full prize details, visit torontohydro.com.

Three cheers for less clutter & saving the environment!

A couple of weeks ago I sent a jokey tweet to Endy (a Canadian mattress company) asking them to be my friendy, cute right? I was hoping it would be the start of a beautiful friendship where we got a new mattress and then had better sleeps forever. The end. Well, that’s exactly what happened! Sean and I have been looking through the best mattresses 2020 and contemplating whether or not we should get a new mattress. If you are in a similar position, The Dozy Owl has more info on buying a mattress for those interested. The process of finding the perfect mattress can be quite difficult if you don’t have time to head to the store to test them for yourself. Sites like Mattress Battle can remove some of the stress by supplying you with comparisons and reviews of the best mattresses so that you can make an informed decision. After checking out Endy, Sean said ‘why don’t you tweet them’ and that’s how it all started. A couple of days later I received an email from them and worked out a dealio.

Working with brands via social can be really fun. When I’m looking to get the attention of someone, I often reach out via tweet or slide into their DMs. Building relationships with brands or influencers is a lot easier if you keep an eye on what they’re up so, and start out with a compliment or nice message instead of asking for something right away.

Endy is manufactured in Toronto, compressed and rolled into an easy to move box, then delivered to your door (by bike if you’re downtown!).

@EndySleep hi Endy, be my friendy? ???? #LoveSleep

— CASiE STEWART (@casiestewart) March 22, 2016

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Last week my BFFs and I celebrated Jen’s birthday with a wine tasting thanks to Montes Wine.  Montes was founded  in 1987 and is the the pioneer producer of premium quality Chilean wines. Our night started with an informal tasting with a totally awesome sommelier, Lesley Prevost, followed by a delicious selection of Chilean catering.

Learning heaps from @purplelips! She’s awesome. TY @MontesWines! pic.twitter.com/NPODF26IkL

— CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) April 26, 2016

We were treated to four of their premium wines you can now find at the LCBO:

• Montes Twins Sauvignon Blanc 2015
• Montes Twins Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
• Montes Alpha Malbec 2o12
• Montes Alpha Cab Sav 2013

We all really enjoyed the Sauv Blanc, it was light and fruity, with nodes of tropical fruits pineapple, grapefruit and orange blossom. I could deff see myself drinking this all summer. I think it would be really nice w/with some fruit/Perrier on ice.

I really enjoyed the Malbec/Cab Sav blend, it has 14% alcohol and low acid (good for me with acid reflux ? ). The other two reds pair really well with meat & cheese.

Look at those angelic faces, Montes Angels! 

Nice discussion over these two. ??#MontesAngel pic.twitter.com/nDfFgBhJki

— CASiE STEWART (@casiestewart) April 27, 2016

If you’re looking to try something new at the LCBO (and love Chilean wine), give Montes Wines a try. They’ve also got a carmenère at the LCBO I’d like to pair with a nice BBQ at the cottage. Spring, get here alreadyyyyy! 

Later this month I’ve got a giveaway with Montes Wine that’s open to anyone in Ontario. Will let you know when it’s live!