Illuminarium: Experience Extraordinary

I recently went to the opening of Illuminarium Toronto in the Distillery District, an immersive art experience. I almost didn’t go because we were leaving for Venice Film Fest the next day but I am so glad I did! I’d actually like to go back when it’s not an event so I can take it all in.

Illuminarium was one of Las Vegas’s top immersive attractions and now you can experience immersive storytelling as a permanent fixture in the city of Toronto.

The event was super fun, we danced, drank, and immersed ourselves in the art around us. My favourite was the safari adventure, seeing the animals all around you was a cool experience.

About Illuminarium

The immersive venue uses cutting-edge visual, audio, and projection technology to bring you shows and experiences unlike anything you have ever seen Illuminarium will transport you to the surface of the moon, face to face with an African lion, or down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

Guests attend Illuminarium as it opens its first Canadian location in Toronto on August 30, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario

Thank you Deanne Moser & DM Public for a great night!

Photos by Kennedy Pollard for Getty Images


TIFF | Bask-It Style Lounge

This year’s Toronto International Film Fest was so much fun. I was hot off the heels of Venice Film Fest and the whole experience felt like a movie. One of my favorite events every TIFF season is the Bask-It Style lounge hosted by Glo Communications. They bring together a variety of brands spanning fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, inviting media to discover what’s new and take home a great selection of items.

Natalie and I met up to view the brands together and it was truly a great time. We had our makeup done by Stila, hair by Marc Anthony, tried on glasses by Victoria Beckham, and more. One of the BEST gifts was the Philips Sonicare Prestige, it has Bluetooth, an app, and uses AI to get to know your mouth. Incredible!

We sampled wine from the Rueda region in Spain. A personal favorite of mine, ever since I visited the region back in 2019 (see here!). Wine sommelier Renée Sferrazza was on site to take us through the different blends and I took home a 2020 bottle of Nēkora by Diez Siglos. Renée was a guest on our Cast of Creators podcast earlier this year, listen here.

MORE PHOTOS

Venice Film Festival

Venice Film Festival

At the start of September, Sean and I flew to Italy for the Venice Film Festival. His immersive documentary, Spots of Light was accepted into the Venice Film Festival competition! It was also my first time in Italy!

We arrived in style with an Official Festival car picking us up from the airport and taking us to the airport boat dock. I’d been dreaming of taking a fancy water taxi and arriving just like Lady Gaga’s iconic arrival in 2018. It was close to that, aside from the paparazzi and me dangling my feet off the side of the boat lol. We arrived at the Excelsior Hotel (where all the celebrities are dropped off!) and were whisked away to another festival driver for hotel delivery. I was loving every moment!

FESTIVAL PHOTOS

Smythe | FW23 + Pre-Spring 2024

Smythe FW 2023

I recently went to preview the SMYTHE FW23 / PS24 collections at the Ace Hotel. The collections are GORGEOUS, I loved the colors, shapes, and fabrics.

Smythe makes the most beautiful blazers and suits, love this fit!

This was my absolute favorite item I saw that day! A 2-piece suit with sparkle details down the pants and blazer, LOVE IT. 😍

TAP TO SEE THE GOLD DRESS!

The Perfect Glamping Getaway

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in nature, glamping in Ontario is the perfect solution! Combining the comforts of modern amenities with the tranquility of the outdoors, glamping offers a unique and luxurious experience. To ensure that your glamping trip is a success, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.

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Yorkville Murals: Jules Monson

Over the past 2 months, I’ve been working with Weaver & Loom through Funday to bring this exciting project to life for Yorkville Murals featuring rugs designed by Jules Monson. 👩🏻‍🎨🐍🐍🐍 This was especially exciting because Jules is a friend, our first guest on the Cast of Creators podcast, and I have a few of her pieces on the walls in my room.

Using the Weaver & Loom platform, Jules created a series of rugs for her ‘Sssnakes’ installation at the Manulife Centre. This installation includes 18 unique snake-themed rugs, available in three different color schemes and various sizes.

This collaboration has shown the incredible opportunity for artists like Jules to transform their art, both new and existing, into exquisite, high-quality floor coverings.

We worked closely with Jules throughout the entire process, from design and initiation to production and shipping, completing this remarkable project in just two short months. Weaver & Loom’s digital platform streamlines the traditional rug-making process by removing layers of middlemen, making project delivery more efficient and cost-effective than this industry has ever seen.

If you’re in Toronto, check out Yorkville Murals this weekend to experience Jules Monson’s large-scale installation inside the Manulife Centre, near Over The Rainbow.

🌟 If you’re an artist/interior designer and want to explore the platform or dream of creating your own beautiful bespoke rug, shoot me a DM.🌟

Photos by @jgazze

A Sweet Escape

Last week I was at Stoney Lake and it was a sweet escape from the city. Our time was filled with cooking, family-style dinners, peaceful afternoons in the sun, naps, and lots of sunsets. I took Sean wakeboarding with the sea-doo, spent a good amount of time floating, and finished an entire book (highly recommend!). My friend Jen brought her dog, Gary, and I made some new friends from NYC. It was a bit bittersweet as our friend who owns the cottage aka ‘Scottage’ is selling the property.

As much as it was great to be away, it’s always nice to be home. I’ll miss these beautiful sunsets tho!

Be My Light, Be My Yellow

This summer has been so busy, can hardly believe we’re almost half way through August. WHERE DID THE TIME GO? These bright yellow photos were from the KIND Summer Fair last month.

This week I’m taking some time to recharge at Stoney Lake with Sean and some friends. I’ve been swimming, tanning, sea-dooing, cooking, laughing, running, reading, and doing yoga. It’s amazing how a few days at the lake will refresh your perspective, help you sleep, and brighten your mood. Sean and I did this almost every weekend for years.

Yesterday I did a self-tape for a commercial from the cottage. I can’t tell you what it’s for but if you are reading this please put out some good vibes that I book it!

Can you spot two differences in these photos??

We’ll be back in the city on the weekend then it’s the homestretch of summer before we go to Italy in September (more on that later!!!). 😁

In other news, this is one of my fav songs right now. Good lyrics.

Latest Obsession: Octobuddy!

This thing from Amazon is my latest obsession, Octobuddy! It’s amazing for taking selfies when you don’t have a photog around (which is almost always lol). All the photos in this post were taken with my new lil’ guy!

The name has over 38M views on TikTok while the brand account only has 662 followers. Influencers everywhere have been posting about Octobuddy and I had to get one. It’s a little silicone sticker with multiple suction cups that attaches to the back of your phone and sticks to shiny surfaces (mirror, window, etc).

It’s great for hands-free selfies/videos and is around $20 CAD on Amazon.

ORDER ONE AND JOIN THE CLUB.

Grounding Yourself!

When was the last time you kicked off your shoes and felt the soft, cool grass beneath your feet? Taking a moment to connect with the earth and embrace the simple pleasure of lying in the grass can do wonders for our well-being.

It might sound a bit woo-woo, but trust me, there’s science behind it. Studies suggest that grounding can reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and even boost our immune system. It’s like hitting a nature reset button for your busy life.

When I was home visiting Mum I took a few minutes to lay in the grass each day, look at the sky, close my eyes, and take a few deep breaths.

If you’re feeling stressed, try grounding yourself in nature. It doesn’t have to be complicated, find a (clean!) patch of grass, take off your shoes, and let the earth do its magic. Tune in to the sounds of birds chirping, the rustling of leaves, and let a feeling of calm wash over you. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you for it. 🙏

Stay grounded my friends. Have a great week!