I woke up this morning determined to find my hot pink photo album and bring back some memories. I didn’t find it but I did come across a bunch of things that made me feel fond about friends, happy about starting a new year and proud of things I’ve done. This was me at Mum’s house on my 21st birthday, eight years ago. This was me at Mum’s house on my 21st birthday, eight years ago. A few months after that photo I shipped off to Australia for university. This was right before the airport, my family. There was a time where I thought I’d never get Mum & Dad together for a photo but such is no longer the case. I grew up so much that year I was away. This was at The Moose in Kitchener (anyone from there will recognize it!) the day I got back from Aus. I was so tiny, all my friends were like “where did your boobs go?”.  I left at about 125lb and came back barely 100. Living at the beach is a great diet. I figure today, my birthday is as good of a day as any to share some memories of where I came from/how I got here. One thing that always changes, is my hairstyle. I’ve had so many colours. Teen model. That was not the end of teen modeling. Oh no, there was much more. And more. After I won this pageant I did all kinds of fashion shows. It was really fun to be honest. I got lots of practice being in front of the camera, walking on stage and it introduced me to some people at Gap where I got my first ever real job. I had braces for about two years in high school. This…

This is one of my most favbourite books and I totally thought I lent it to someone. So glad I found it, I’ve been mad at myself for months. MAD, angry. Angry like the wake up after you were so wasted you don’t remember what you did and your BFF is mad at you because you did something stupid. (As if NONE of you have ever had that happen?) It’s an inspiring book. My copy is very special because it is filled with notes and drawings I did. It’s writted by Paul Arden. He is a creative genius who worked with Saatchi & Saatchi for over 15 years and did some really awesome ad campaigns. I became obsessed with PHAIDON Publishing after I found this book which lead into an obsession with Saatchi. Safe to say, I was pretty stoked to work with the Toronto Saatchi office for the Toyota car recenetly. THIS: I was so obsessed I wrote a letter to Roger Kennedy the Creative Director of Art and Design, Saatchi & Saatchi in the UK. I will have to dig that up because I bet reading it now & thinking of my former self would be quite charming or potentially inspiring/hilarious. Creativity & smartness are the way to my heart. I picked up the book second hand at Gertrude & Alice, this darling little book shop on Hall Street in Bondi Beach, Australia. Why anyone would discard it is BEYONE me. It was my favourite spot, so old & little and right beseide Le Paris-Go my fav French cafe. It was the ultimate hipster hangout before cool kids were called hipsters (was there 2004). I worked up the street at Vibes Boutique. I’ve lent so many books outand almost al  the time, they don’t come back. If you…

I recently had the bext Friday afternoon escape from work ever, three hours at a SPA! Yep. I received a gift certiificate to ME Spa, not just any spa, Male Esthetics Spa that caters primarily to men. I showed up to this! Spa owner Douglas Coburn told me about his work and we picked a couple services while I sipped champagne & ate strawberries. First up was a full body scrub including face. It was so great do something good for my skin. Post scrub I went in to the bathtoom in a robe to wash off the scrub. You can kinda see it on my skin. After that I jumped into another even softer robe. I swear to you it was like being inside a stuffed animal, like one of those Gund or really expensive stuffed animals. I was already feeling less stress. Douglas used to be the Director of Esthetics at Bode Spa in Ottawa. A men’s spa is quite like any other (woman) spa except here they really know manscaping and how to ease stress of life in the city. I love hearing a guy I know got a manicure or pedicure. It shows you take care of yourself and that is sexy if you are man or woman.  If you are a dude who takes care of yourself, you will likley feel more confident. Then when you use that confidence to chat a beautiful lady, you won’t be self conscious about your unibrow, hairy back (god forbid shoulders), crackly feet, nose hairs (gross) ear hairs (ewww). Think how nice your manicured hand will look/feel on her…..    Yes. This is Douglas, super nice. I had rushed there and was all high-energy-crazy-internet-person, he was such a nice calm for my ADHD. He also writes for a magazine…