CASIE STEWART

THIS IS MY LIFE • BLOG EST. 2005
Fashion

Plant Stores & Vintage Shopping

Cory and I made a date to go for a nice Saturday walk in the sun. It’s hard to stay positive with the compound stress of seasonal affective disorder, Covid, and general life anxiety, but seeing a friend and getting outside always makes me feel better. One great way to beat winter SAD is to plan a day with plant stores & vintage shopping.

The Urban Gardener is my fav local plant shop, I swear just walking in there will boost your mood. It’s warm, green, and filled with beautiful growing plants. I picked up a new lil’ guy to bring home with a nice new planter pot for him to live in.

Our next stop was Pictus Goods on Dupont which is filled with heaps of lovely goods for your home, candles, jewellery, and fresh flowers. Super cute shop! Highly recommend checking it out. They also have a GREAT selection of nice cards.

Our third stop was a private shopping appointment at Nouveau Riche Vintage which DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Tbh, IDK if I have EVER seen such an incredible collection. They have heaps of items for sale including designer, denim, coats, and accessories. The best part for me was the exclusive rental section we got to check out that’s filled with the best outfits you can dream of. SO GOOD.

I didn’t get anything but Cory scored a few goodies. I will deff be back there again!

Related Posts

LIFE

Keep Going

This week has been pretty good. I’ve been out running every day except Monday when we had a massive snowstorm. I find it really helps my mental health. I remind myself daily to KEEP GOING no matter how cold it is or if I’m tired. I miss going out and seeing people but I’ve also made new routines that include making nice dinners, taking better care of my skin, and going to bed early.

On Sunday I met up with some friends for a hike around High Park, it was cold but refreshing. Didn’t realize there was a skating rink there! My skates are at the cottage and since I broke my collarbone a few years ago, my skating skills are not what they used to be. I’m scared of falling!

Trying to not let the winter SAD get me down and am working at finding joy in little things. If you’re looking for some ideas to boost your mood, I wrote a few posts about beating winter SAD.

Happy Friday & have a great weekend!

Related Posts

2022

There’s No Bad Weather

I’m a firm believer that there’s no bad weather if you have a good outfit. Not a lot going on here these days with the panini running the show, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat the sidewalk like your runway. For most of the pandemic, I got up, got dressed and did my hair. Getting ready always makes me feel like I have my sh*t together, even when I don’t. These days I’m a little more lax on my WFH outfits but I still make an effort.

Although we’re not doing much, I love putting on a cute outfit when I go for a ‘mental health’ walk. DAY OR NIGHT. Me and my outfits have deff brightened a few peoples days during this panorama, mostly senior citizens but I’ll take it. You have no idea the power of a great outfit until you put it on. Go for it.

I solemnly swear that if you feel like garbage, putting on a whole look and going for a strut will brighten your day.

Me and my outfits have deff brightened a few peoples days during this panorama, mostly senior citizens but I’ll take it. Advanced style! The bar for fashion is pretty low in a pandemic. Go for it, you literally have nothing to lose.

When I need the motivation to pull it together and leave the house, this song always comes to mind. Do you know it? A Fatboy Slim jam from my party girl days “when they know what is what, but they don’t know what is what, they just strut, what the f*ck“. Works every time to get my ass in gear.

Last weekend I walked down to meet a friend on Ossington and went to a winter garage sale. I didn’t buy anything but it was a breath of fresh air. Thought it was kinda cute that my reusable bag matched the print on my jacket and the shopping bag matched my hat. I’m here for simple pleasures these days!

LIFE

2022: Be Consistent

Well, well, well, guess who’s back? I really jumped the gun when I stopped counting the days about a month ago because shortly after, Omicron took over our lives. December feels like a blur, I was mostly at home, Sean was up north. I hung out with friends, went to an event, things started to feel normal, right before they weren’t. Covid was everywhere.

Sean and I were both sick over the holidays and spent Christmas alone together in the woods. I really enjoyed a break from work, life, and the city, even though I was sick for 90% of the time. The past year has been exhausting for a suite of reasons and it was nice to check out for a bit.

I have opened this blog to write something more than a handful of times but I just couldn’t do it. I haven’t felt like myself and I haven’t felt like sharing. Up until this week, I still had a brain fog that left me feeling like a dull pencil needing to be sharpened. I took a break from running and didn’t start the New Year with goals and aspirations like usual.

BE CONSISTENT

This year I commit to ‘Be Consistent’, that’s my theme. I will keep running, eating well, drinking less, and working on myself. I am going to come out of this damn pandemic a better person. ARE YOU WITH ME?

Over the past week, I’ve been back to my morning runs, got my hair done, and have been cooking great meals in our new air fryer. I’ve not been doing much other than watching Amy on Jeopardy, finishing 3 seasons of Succession, taking care of my skin, and going to bed early. I also started a class on crypto with a friend. It’s boring-ish life but I like it.

We will get through this and hopefully, come out stronger. I’m determined to look back on this pandemic time and see how it changed me for the better.

Sending sunshine through the internet.☀️ Hang in there, 67 days till spring. ?

Related Posts

Fashion

Luxe Outerwear w/ HSG Fur

Earlier this year I was a model for HSG Fur’s Fall/Winter campaign. It was so much fun to get dressed up and wear all the fancy coats. This was still peak pandemic so it had been ages since I was in front of a camera or in a studio. These are few of my fav photos from the shoot!

  • casie stewart hsg fur toronto

Photography by Franklin Lau
Outerwear by HSG Fur
HMU by Robert Weir Beauty

Herman Sellers Gough Furs has been Toronto’s full-service furrier since 1880. The HSG Fur store in Yorkville is closing soon as their lease is expiring so they’re having a massive sale where their entire inventory is up to 75% off. This includes furs, accessories, gifts + a vintage selection. They’ll have a new store open next year.


HSG Furs @ 1255 Bay Street / 416-962-2597 / 11am – 6pm Monday to Saturday

One of my goals this past year was to do more modelling and this year I was in a few campaigns, not just as an ‘influencer’ but an actual model! I spent a couple of years modelling when I was a teenager and I love being in front of the camera. More of this in 2022!

Related Posts

Fashion

Holiday Hippie Market

It was so lovely out today! Had a very slow morning watching holidays movies in bed and playing Nintendo. After doing some stuff around the house I put on a cute outfit and biked over to the Holiday Hippie Market on Ossington.

This new location was so GOOD. Heaps of vendors and such a great vibe. It was pretty busy all day and there was a huge lineup when I left. Hopefully, that means they’ll be back to this same location again soon. Highly recommend checking it out, follow @hippiemarketlife on IG for updates. See posts from my past visits here.

Stayed in last night, ordered pasta, and finally watched the first two episodes of ‘And Just Like That‘ (the new Sex and The City). I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it but I will 100% be tuning in as new episodes come out.

Related Posts

2021

Back on My Morning Routine

I’ve been back on my morning routine this week and it feels so good. Running first thing in the morning is an incredible way to start the day! I set out my running gear before bed so I can roll out at 7 am jump into my clothes, grab my AirPods, and hit the road.

This week has been kinda cold but once you get moving it’s super refreshing. I love running to the south end of the West Toronto Rail Path and seeing the sun come up over Dundas West.

It blows my mind that I’ve been running consistently for over two years. I started on Daylight Savings in 2019 and I’m extremely thankful for starting this habit before the pandemic hit. I feel like it saved my sanity through those hard months. Let this be a reminder, it’s never too late to start a new habit. It’s also ok to skip a day, think long term, consistency is key!

In other news, I’ve been listening to Will Smith’s new book on Audible and it’s great, raw, real, honest. After seeing him on tv and in movies for so long, it’s nice to hear him tell stories about his own life. Highly recommend!

I enjoy listening to audiobooks on my runs because when I feel like taking a break or slowing down, the words keep me going. Some other celebrity memoirs I’ve enjoyed on Audible are by Mariah Carey, Matthew McConaughey, and Jessica Simpson.

Happy listening, reading, or running!

LIFE

That’s a Wrap!

I’m done counting the days and as we say in film “that’s a wrap”! This panini may never be over but I want to focus on the future, the positive. There’s no way possible of knowing how long we’ll be wearing masks, need vaccine passports, and have the threat of Coronavirus. As the holidays approach, people are getting together, things are opening up, I’m calling quits on my daily pandemic diary. Back to regular blogging! It’s been 600+ days since I started counting and to be honest, pretty proud of myself for keeping it up this long.

Looking back through the posts from the last two years is pretty emotional, to be honest. Day 1: Social Distancing was on March 13th, the last day I went to the gym. I shared a lot of myself during this time, the good days, the bad days, the crafts, the fun, and the anxiety. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all these posts but it’s a nice time capsule to keep memories of this moment in history. I’m basically a historian haha.

I got a new Apple Watch charger today finally.

Today, I’m writing this from a restaurant, after work, while having a glass of wine. Mask off as per regulation, Vax Pass scanned. Our lives will never be the same but maybe they can be better? I’ve changed so much through this experience, today I feel stronger and hopeful for a bright future.

Behind the scenes of what you see here or on social, I’ve been working on some really cool stuff and I’m excited to share it with you.

With love,

Related Posts

2021

Day 630: Canadian Street Rod Nationals

Today I pulled out a vintage shirt that belonged to mum. Our parents had a hot rod shop when we were kids called ‘Toys For Boys‘ and they went to heaps of car shows. This is from the Candian Street Rod Nationals in 1979, before I was born. I love it so much, fav colour. This shirt and many of my other vintage hot rod shirts were made at Tiger Brand, a manufacturer that used to be in Cambridge, ON (hometown). It’s amazing that after 30+ years they’re all in perfect condition.

My friend Jeremy used to be part of the company so I tagged him in my photo today. He ended up sending the screenshot to the family that owned it and this is the message I got back. Love it! I was gonna call this post ‘Tiger Brand’ but yesterday my title was ‘Eye of The Tiger‘ so that might be weird lol.

In other news, I left my Apple Watch charger at the cottage and even though I ordered a new MagSafe charger, the thing will NOT CHARGE. Pretty sure it’s bc of the voltage but alas, another day without my watch. Will go to Apple tomorrow. This is the first time since getting my watch last December that I haven’t tracked my fitness. I hate it! I can’t believe I’ve become so attached to this little device. If you’re considering ordering one, DO IT. I love it so much.

Got a manicure after work today and I can’t even begin to tell you how a small thing like that can really change everything. I feel put together again.

HOPE YOUR WEEK IS GOING GREAT!

2021

Day 629: Eye of the Tiger

BRB MANIFESTING. CHARGING IN THE SUNLIGHT.

Think my eyes look pretty cool here! Alexa play ‘eye of the tiger’. ? Amazing how bright sun on your face can set the tone for your whole day. I love letting her warm rays charge me up.

Have been thinking about this quote recently, one of my favs. Discovered it in high school and put it on a magnet that’s travelled with me to every place I’ve lived. It’s on the fridge in our house now and serves as a good reminder to never doubt yourself, take chances.

“Our doubts are traitors,
and make us lose the good we oft might win,
by fearing to attempt.”

― William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

Have confidence in your strengths & stay strong through the hard moments. Great things will come your way if you stick to your goals. Keep pushing through, you got this.

2021

Day 627: Grounded. Centred.

Had a nice run in the woods this morning then a cold plunge in the lake. I love being up here at the cottage so much. Nature calms me, helps me feel more myself. Grounded. Centred.

This coming week is a big one and I want to be prepared to handle anything. Taking an easy day to watch more holiday romance movies and spend some quality time with my computer.

In other news, I think my daily pandemic blog diary is coming to an end and I’ll stop counting the days soon. I’m ready to get back to my old blogging self and leave this panini in the past.

With love from the lake xo

LIFE

Day 626: Even the Sun Takes A Break

I spent the entire day in my new pyjamas and it was glorious. Was feeling pretty burnt out from the week and needed to charge my batteries. Ordered this set from Indigo, they’re a collab by my friend Sasha Exeter x Love & Lore. ? Sasha got this mug for me years ago in LA and it’s my favourite one.

There was a bit of snow in the morning but it didn’t last the day. It was pretty gloomy but made for the perfect weather to laze around and do nothing. People often call me a sunshine for shining so bright but I have to remind myself that even the sun takes a break.

Related Posts

2021

Day 624: We All Want to Be Loved

2021

Day 623: What if it turns out better?

How many times have you been in a situation, or given an opportunity but worried the outcome might be bad? Never? Well, that must be nice! LOL. I’ve found that through the pandemic my anxiety has gotten worse and it’s not that I think things will go bad, it’s just that I feel anxious something might go wrong.

The thing is, what if it turns out better than you expected? Better than you could have ever imagined? What if all your hard work, late nights, long days, sweat, tears, finally pay off like you always dreamed?

It’s possible.

One of my fav books from when I was little is from the ValueTales series, “The Value of Believing In Yourself“, the story of Louis Pasteur (published 1977). Pasteur is known for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization. The story is about him finding a cure for rabies because he believed in himself.

Funny side note about this book, I got a new copy for Emily when she was a kid and didn’t remember the part of the story where the dog passed away. Sean was like, “um the dog DIES?! What kind of story is this?!” HAHAHAHA. Safe to say, neither of them feels the same passion for the book as me. Whoops! (I’m sure mum will find this hilarious.)

Believe in yourself, anything is possible!