Interview w/ Sassoon Toronto’s Kimberly Wallace + #SassoonStyle Giveaway!

I’m sitting at Sassoon interviewing Kimberly Wallace while she does my hair. I’ve been coming to Sassoon since the start of 2017 and she’s my favourite colourist here. I’ve been following her on Instagram so we instantly start talking about the event I was at last night, her changing hair colours, and all the time I’ve spent at the cottage this summer. Safe to say there are lots of laughs and good chats every single time we’re together. I asked Kimberly a few questions about trends and tips to keep your hair healthy and happy. Interview w/ Sassoon Colorist: Kimberly Wallace What type of shampoo/conditioner do you recommend for my type of hair and why? Colour safe shampoo ex Kerastase Chroma Riche, because it’s for colour treated or highlighted hair. Great for blondes! What are trends you see for hair and beauty this summer? I’m finding that lived-in colour, balayage, ombre, are very popular.  Looks that are low maintenance. That way, you can feel like your hair is sunkissed but you don’t have to come into the salon every 4-6 weeks. What is one hair tip that I can share with the world? Be realistic with your hair goals. For example, if you have thick dark hair like Kim Kardashian and you want to go blonde in an afternoon, it’s not going to happen in one session. Or asking for pink hair but have brown colour, that’s not going to happen in one session either. Another thing to note is pastel colours are great but they only last two weeks. Instagram filters and editing can be deceiving, what you see isn’t always what’s real! (We chatted about how the Instagram is sometimes a web of lies, don’t believe everything you see on IG!) Being blonde is a full time job! A post shared…

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Best Buy Appliances Dinner at Baro w/ Celebrity Chef David Rocco

This week I had a totally amazing dinner on Wednesday night with about 100 other media people from around the city. We were ushered up to the 3rd floor of Baro, King West, and greeted by an amazing tablescape and cocktail bar. I was happy to see Ryan Emberley, friend and amazing photographer who I credit for the great photos! The dinner was hosted by Chef David Rocco and Baro Executive Chef Steve Gonzalez presented by Best Buy Canada to showcase their new appliances. We are hoping to renovate our kitchen, so checking out new appliances is something I do now. Yay, adulting!  The chefs used the most pimped out badass appliances I can only dream of having! LG’s 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with Ice & Water, Samsung Smooth Top Induction stove, Bosch Built-In Dishwasher, and a few other smaller kitchen appliances for making the meal. They all cater to the new trends of being energy efficient, compact, stylish, and connected. I wrote about Best Buy Smart Home earlier this year here. It was great to see a bunch of friends. I’ve been really hibernating this summer so it was nice to be out of the house and share laughs over a great dinner. I sat with Gunnarolla and Gracie. We were all invited into the kitchen to help David Rocco and it was amazing. He is so nice and fun. He was prepping some cheese to put into the risotto when he cut a piece and handed it to me on the end of a sharp knife. I was totally swooning at that moment! Dolce Vita! David Rocco Interview Time! What is one ingredient you always have in the kitchen? Always have two olive oils on hand. One for drizzling and one for cooking. One litre of olive oil is made up of 1,375…

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ALL I THINK ABOUT IS KARMA.

First, been listening to the new Taylor on repeat and I like it. I feel like she’s grown up the last for years and is probably sick of everyone’s bullshit. I can totally relate to that because I am 35 now and in my ‘I don’t give a f*ck’ stage where I will do what I want and not let anyone else’s expectations dictate how I feel. Second, this summer I’ve really taken time to relax and chill out. I’ve still blogged and updated the internet but it’s been less than years prior and it kinda feels good. I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon but I’ve learned it’s really important to give back to yourself. I’ve had a few meltdowns over the years after being totally exhausted and overwhelmed by trying to do too much. On that note, I’m realllllllly looking forward to TIFF this year. This week I was at the annual NKPR ‘Festival Countdown’ and it was so great to see everyone. I’ll put together a post about that exclusively. I’ve got my list of gifting lounges to check out in the first week and there will without a doubt be a bunch of parties. Yesterday I signed Sean and I up at the new LA Fitness near our house. I paid for it with my own money and I have been going for about a week now. I have never joined a gym before and I really like it! After doing yoga religiously this year, I feel ready to take it up a level. I refuse to spend this winter sitting on the couch again! Years ago Sean said I would be really fit if I only worked out as much as I watch Young & The Restless so that’s now what I try to do. Kinda silly…

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Sure Kid, Play w/ Your Fooooood!

If you scroll Instagram for one minute you’ll definitely come across a fully grown adult foodie who’s played with their food a little to make the perfect snapshot. Last month I got an email about ‘making playing with your food fun again‘ from Whippet asking Em and I to have a little fun with their new Whippet Sticks. So, we totally did! I picked her up from school and let her open the delivery of Whippet Sticks in coconut and brownie. They’re made with real coconut and chocolate, and no artificial colours with 0 G of trans fat per serving. So, a sweet snack, but not a bad snack! I’m pretty sure she thought I was legit crazy when I told her what we were doing. YES, PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD. I maintain a childlike fancy in my life and get along pretty great with a 9yo. We sat up on the patio deciding what we were going to do with our treats and ended up doing the ‘Sumo Squish‘ with a few, played tic-tac-toe, and made a few little critters. Emily lives with us 50% of the time and I really try to do fun things with her that don’t involve a screen. I so fondly remember doing activities with my mum like going for walks, the library, crafts, and making things in the kitchen. You can find Whippet Sticks at your local grocery. Pop by their Facebook page to see what other fun things people have been doing. Thanks Whippet for the fun after-school (summer daycare) activity.  Don’t forget to tag your posts #HowDoYouWhippet! I srsly recommend the coconut ones, they’re not too sweet and the dark chocolate is divine. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!  

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Yes, I am Still At The Cottage

But I’m starting to get cabin fever. I’m ready to come home. It’s been about two weeks up here and mostly just Sean and I here together. I’m so looking forward to friends, events, a conference, and my good blue shampoo. (If you are blonde, you’ll understand! My hair is yellow!) I also really need a manicure. Today I screamed at a chipmunk that startled me, like a total crazy woman. I want a Starbucks. I got a couple new bug bites taking out the garbage this morning (it comes on Mondays) and I just about lost my shit. Enough damn bugs! The views are beautiful but everyone has a breaking point. Sean and I cooked a great surf & turf BBQ last night w/ aglio olio (Italian pasta). Then we had a dip in the hot tub and watched a beautiful sunset. But I’m still ready to come home. Tomorrow Lauren and I are attending an entrepreneurship conference that includes an aerial yoga class. So fun! I’ve got a media preview at the Spoke Club after then a Sweat yoga class. I miss yoga. I’m not as good as I would like to be at self-starting a practice on my own up here. I do at home! I don’t know what it is about the cottage that makes me so lazy and eat all the snacks, I guess that’s what they call ‘relaxing’. I sent an RSVP for a TIFF event this morning and I am really getting excited about it. I’ve been doing TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) for about 10 years now and it’s fun. The city is so alive! The first couple days are the best and I love media day before the official opening. I’m going away to adult summer camp (Two Islands) on the…

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THIS IS YOUR DAY 

Woke up and went right outside to stretch on my mat. I’m really going to miss doing that over the winter! Can you believe it’s already August? I’ve been making the most of my summer but it seems to be just flying by! Next week we’re at the cottage for 10 days and I can’t wait. It’s been a few weeks since we were up there. One of my fav things on the way up to the cottage is stopping at a little Fruit Market and getting heaps of fresh berries, other fruit, and vegetables. Usually, when we drive through the Holland Marsh, I put down the window, and smell the fresh air outside. The vegetables don’t smell as strong this year because of all the rain I think. It kinda smells like fresh celery. ? Looking forward to waking up and having my coffee on the dock. Afternoon naps. Kayak and stand-up paddle on the water. Random DIY projects. Cooking. Silence. Time to read and write. Lots of sunshine. Quality time with friends. Been reading a poetry book called LOVE HER WILD sent over by Simon Schuster. It’s full of short ones that remind me of broken down tweets. Before I had a blog I wrote so many poems, it was my favourite thing. It’s making me want to write more! Love this one via @AtticusPoetry. Thank you @SimonSchusterCA ?? pic.twitter.com/QFhOAdeoOQ — CASiE STEWART ☀️ (@casiestewart) August 1, 2017   With love,   

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Toronto Life + Beach Vibes

Had a nice relaxing weekend. We went to the beach and Scarborough Bluffs on Saturday as a family. It was so beautiful out, no rain! We had to delay the Airstream trip w/ Go RVing Canada but it’ll still happen before summer is over. Had lunch at my sister’s restaurant in the Beaches, Green Eggplant. Food there is amazing and portion sizes are HUGE. We all had takeaway that made for great snacks all afternoon. I started by day with yoga which was so good. After being sick last week I was really missing class and managed to go 4 times this week. I have an unlimited membership at YOGA YOGA so try to make it to as many classes as I can. In other news, the new Metro Food Basics is now open in the Junction Triangle. It was a whole thing because the neighbourhood thought a Metro was moving in and people didn’t like the idea of a discount grocery in the area. Read more about that here. There are heaps deals, if you’re into that! Looking forward to a good week. I’ll be at home/office trying to get as much accomplished as possible before we head up north for 10 days. It’s Sean’s birthday next week and we always spend it at the cottage. Sending you sunshine across the internet!

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Long Live the Weekend – Love You Canada!

Been having a pretty relaxing weekend. Can’t believe it’s already Monday. Back to the city tonight or tomorrow. I love being up here but I’m looking forward to going home. Feels like I’ve had more time at the cottage than home lately! My friend Steph is here from New York City. Sean and I met her last year at Anamaya Resort in Costa Rica. [Read about it here!] The weather has been a bit meh but it’s finally nice and sunny today. We created a super tasty wine spritzer with Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc mixed with La Croix, strawberries, and a bit of juice.

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Throwing Shade: New Celine Sunnies

I didn’t even know today was ‘International Sunglasses Day’ when I planned this post! It’s always crazy when those random days seem to line up with something you’re doing. A couple weeks ago I received an email from SmartBuyGlasses with an offer to pick out a pair of new sunnies for summer. It’s times like this I reallllly love my blog! I’d been eying a pair of Céline glasses for a while but couldn’t justify paying full price. Well, SmartBuyGlasses is the place to go! They’ve got heaps of designer sunnies at discount prices. I really like their huge selection of Carrera and RayBan (next on my wishlist!). I’m wearing the Céline ‘Tilda’ from SS15 which retails for about $500 CAD and on the SBG website they’re under $400. They’re made of acetate but have an expensive feel, as in they’re kinda heavy. I have a pretty big huge collection of sunnies ranging in price and save fancy ones like this for special occasions. They’re a little big on my head but I’m gonna try some Nerd Wax to keep them in place.

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At Home w/ My Biggest Fan: Dyson Pure Cool Link

When this was delivered Sean said ‘look, it’s your biggest fan!‘ ?  I don’t do product reviews often but when a piece of really cool tech comes along I’m happy to test it out and share my thoughts. A few people asked about the fan when it arrived early spring so scroll down for my fav features. tl;dr: This fancy fan is the best one I’ve ever owned. It’s quiet and you can monitor your home air quality from the iPhone app. Also, at high speed, you can be just like Beyonce! Since I was a kid I’ve been prone to seasonal allergies. They usually kick in around the worst times like March Break or Back to School. A member of the PR team from Dyson saw my tweets about allergies and offered I try the Dyson Pure Cool Link Tower. This fan has no blades and is easy to clean, plus it removes 99.97% of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. Allergies can actually be made worse by indoor dust and pollens. I received the fan in the spring and used it in the living room for the last couple months. It’s great for cleaning the air of smells (when cooking), making the house feel fresh, and cleaning toxins out of the air. You don’t even want to know how much dirt is in the air or carpets. I can’t 100% say it was just the fan but I hardly had any reactions this spring. I found the fan really helped with the air quality in our house. It’ll be nice to see how the app tracks and monitors our air quality. COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS FAN: It has wifi! I downloaded the app and have been monitoring the air quality in my workspace. I also have smart lights up in here, helloooo future! Set it, forget…

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