CASIE STEWART
THIS IS MY LIFE • BLOG EST. 2005
Travel

Yes, I am Still At The Cottage

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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LIFE

Rain Delay 

Rain Delay 

The last few days have been so blerghhhh. I don’t even know where the last couple days went. Oh, actually, I have finished two books and both Ozark and S5 of OITNBon Netflix. It’s been really nice relaxing but I’m looking forward to being back in the city and off the couch. Heading back to yoga classes and eating less snacks. I’m due for a manicure and an appointment at Sassoon! Scrolling the internet today has been crazy. It’s hard to believe what’s going on in Charlottesville and with the US overall. Even though we have pretty good wifi at the cottage I’ve taken a bit of a break from following everything as close as I usually do.  It’s hard to process and I really hope it gets better and not worse.         

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LIFE mmm Bueno White!

LONG LIVE SUMMER!

LONG LIVE SUMMER!

I’ve been trying to make the most of my summer. Despite heaps of rain this year, I’ve really tried to be outside. I’ve gone on epic bike rides around the city with my bff, through the park, along the railpath.  Spent heaps of time up at the cottage. Caught some sun on the West Coast,  went to a friends cottage, mini golf, canoe rides, and last weekend we took Sean’s new family boat out for a spin. Just like summer, the new Bueno White won’t be around for long. It’s only avail over the summer so I suggest you pick up a couple if you see them. You’ll only find Bueno White in select locations of Dollarama, Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, 7 Eleven (and a couple others). I found them at the corner store near my house and bought a whole box for the cottage. Honestly, I don’t eat that many chocolate bars but the Bueno White chocolate is so milky and creamy. It reminds me of chocolate from New Zealand I had as a kid. Melts in your mouth!  This Bueno is my fav Bueno, so good. The white chocolate reminds me of NZ chocolate. ? #treatyoself pic.twitter.com/sxBGK1bV8U — CASiE STEWART ☀️ (@casiestewart) July 20, 2017 I’ve been carrying these little treats around on my adventures all summer. In each package there’s two individually wrapped bars, so you can have a wee little snack when you’re looking for something sweet, or treat yourself to both bars. You probably deserve it!  ?  I recommend trying it with vanilla ice cream after dinner.? (Or whenever, do what you want! ?) Keep your eyes peeled for Bueno White and grab a couple before summer is over. Make the most of each day, soak up that sunshine!

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Tech

Amazing Use of VR: #AllConnected by @Telus

Amazing Use of VR: #AllConnected by @Telus

Sean sent me this today and I couldn’t’ help but tear a but a bit watching it. I love how Telus uses VR to bring this family together. It’s up there as one of the best uses of VR I’ve seen so far. It’s truly amazing what technology can do to bring people closer together. I’ve been working with Telus as a partner since 2009 and over the years I’ve joined forces to do some great things in our community. I really love how working with Telus feels more like working with friends or family, not just a large mobile phone carrier. I’ve been able to build relationships with people that work there and other #TeamTelus members. They’re committed to making a difference across the country in communities, with technology, and for the environment. On World Environment Day last month, I attended Telus Talks: Our Planet. Our Future at the Toronto HQ where a panel (including Roberta Bondar! Fan girl!). Telus announced they’ve made a commitment to a long time partner, Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), to “provide funding and technology over the next three years to continue protecting Canada’s landscapes and species-at-risk in all 10 provinces.” Stop by the Telus blog to read more about how they’re Creating a Friendly Future, making waves in healthcare, and making a commitment to helping Canadian youth.   THANK YOU TELUS!  

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Travel KICKSTARTER

The Flight Pack Kickstarter is LIVE!

The Flight Pack Kickstarter is LIVE!

I love travel and as you know am always on the go. My next trips (aside from the cottage) are Two Islands Weekend and a speaking gig in New Orleans. Travelling all the time means I almost always only take carry-on and keep my tech accessories/toiletries to a minimum. Seeing people who haven’t packed things up properly or don’t have their things organized at airport security is a pet peeve. Gloria, one of my friends and long time blogging babe created something to solve this problem, THE FLIGHT PACK. They’re almost half funded and only launched today, congrats girl! The Flight Pack is a travel bag that’s meticulously designed to keep your essentials the way you want it. Minimal: We decided less is definitely more. The Flight Pack has a simple, sleek silhouette created for a hassle-free experience at the airport. Modular: Carefully designed to keep your travel essentials organized your way with a removable vanity panel and detachable compartments that snap in and out of the bag. Durable: Well made for people on the move – this is not the kind of bag you’ll want to replace anytime soon. This bag is simple to clean, and builds character over time. The Flight Pack launches on Kickstarter TODAY and they’ve got some great options available including the EARLY BIRD for $85 CAD which includes 1 product and you save $55 off future retail cost ($140), with free shipping worldwide. CHECK OUT THE KICKSTARTER Gloria is an awesome human, you might recognize her from the last couple GIVING BACK VIBES lunches we cooked up at Evangel Hall. Love supporting friends doing cool things. If you have a cool side-hustle or project on the go, lmk!  

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LIFE DEAR DIARY

THIS IS YOUR DAY 

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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Travel

Showin’ Her the Ropes! Girls Trip to Vancouver, British Columbia ✈️

Showin’ Her the Ropes! Girls Trip to Vancouver, British Columbia ✈️

It’s just after 10om in Vancouver and I’ve been up since 5:30am EST. Emily and I have been travelling all day. It’s been pretty great! This is her first trip alone with me and it’s her first media trip ever. Tomorrow we’re on location with Subway Canada visiting Windset Farms for a planting & picking day while we enjoy beautiful British Columbia. We landed here about 11:30 PST and she was swimming in the hotel pool by 12:30. Since it’s our first trip together, I wanted to make it special. Instead of doing touristy things, I shared a few of my favourite activities to do on a media trip the day before our scheduled activities.  Travel can be exhausting and there’s nothing I really love more than sitting in a hotel room, having room service, and working away on my computer recharging my batteries. Here’s what we got up to today! Safe to say she said things like “we have the best lives” and “we’re queens“. Looking forward to tomorrow! We’ll be at the farm at 9am for a day of fun and to see where Subway harvests vegetables for locations across the country. I made a storyboard on the plane ride here to direct the video we’re creating. It’s gonna be great! Follow along on Instagram Stories or Twitter. In the afternoon we’ll be back at the hotel for some pool, and Friday night room service + movies in bed before heading home Saturday. My hope for this trip is to leave her with some great memories and good travel habits. Ok, I might be setting her up for ‘fancy’ travel habits but there’s nothing wrong with starting that young! OK, Boss Baby is almost over, time for bed!  

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Events METRO WEST QUEEN WEST

West Queen West Has a Metro Now!

West Queen West Has a Metro Now!

Heaps of prepared food. Lots of fresh juice. Massive gluten free section. Huge bread assortment including pretzel croissants (??) and Italian bread with real Italian ingredients (might be made by a real nonna?). Huge meat selection that will do custom cuts and a cool female butcher. Fresh sustainable seafood. So much yogurt. Exotic snacks. Self-checkout. Starbucks and collective art space on the lower floor. I also rode my bike there. A new grocery store in the hood is pretty exciting. Before I lived in the West End, I was at Cityplace when the new grocery store opened up. [I actually even set up a Twitter account based on the store which I then shut down]. Everyone was so excited and that might seem a little dorky but when a new food store opens in your neighbourhood with all your fav things and fresh prepped food, your life is instantly better. So, I  biked over to the new MetroWest Queen West for a tour on opening weekend (10mins bike from home!). This location puts a focus on local and community with organic chicken from Yorkshire Valley Farms in Etobicoke, pastries from Dufflet in Toronto, and Portuguese products from Borges Foods Ltd. in Mississauga. Thanks Metro, for inviting me to the opening and the pedicab ride! Make sure to stop by and order a ready-made pizza, pick up some beer for the weekend, and grab yourself a fresh juice. For info about Metro in-store events and other happenings, follow them on Facebook at Metro Ontario.

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LIFE

Things That Are Distant Though Near ☀️

Things That Are Distant Though Near ☀️

Sitting outside yoga and feeling happy. The sun is bright, air warm, I’m sipping coffee at a picnic table before biking home.  Had a pretty magical day yesterday, took Steph to Drake Commissary before her flight. After, I walked Queen West and popped into the Trinity Bellwoods farmers market to pick up some stuff. What a gem that place is, there was a babe playing guitar and singing, lots of fresh flowers,  vegetables, fish. I got an organic chocolate fudge popsicle and sauntered down Dundas on my way home. I wasn’t listening to music but it was so lovely it was like there was a soundtrack playing.  Went to yoga last night and this morning which makes me feel back on my game. ??  After so many days at the cottage I was really missing my vinyasa flow. We did yoga outside today and it was so nice. The sky was a bright blue and breeze warm.  Finally replaced this little thing aka my personal photographer. It’s a Bluetooth remote for your phone. It works great and aside from photos you can use it for Snaps, Stories, or Boomerangs. Ordered on Amazon via Prime after I lost my other one. ??? In other news, Lauren and I are doing something crazy today for the new Spider-Man movie. Make sure you are following my Instagram for Stories as they happen! ? With love, 

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LIFE CHEESE HEAVEN

Celebrating Canada 150 w/ Great Canadian Cheese

Celebrating Canada 150 w/ Great Canadian Cheese

What a nice surprise it was to receive this package, cheese! ??? To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada is highlighting three distinct Canadian cheese from local cheesemakers.  This weekend I’ll be hosting a friend from NYC at the cottage and treating her to wine and great Canadian cheese. TODAY IS A GREAT DAY…. ??? #CanadianCheese pic.twitter.com/noMdZbbViU — CASiE STEWART ☀️ (@casiestewart) June 27, 2017 Canada has a tradition of producing high-quality, great tasting cheese. A couple years ago I was in Montreal and visited Fromagerie Au Gré des Champs, one of the top cheese makers in the province. It was so cool to see how and where cheese is made. Tasting fresh cheese really gave me an appreciation for it. Safe to say my suitcase was loaded up with cheese for my trip home! Growing up I didn’t eat a lot of cheese but *luckily* I grew out of that lactose allergy in my teens. I had hardly tried anything other than cheddar and mozzarella before Sean and I  started dating 7 years ago. Since then,  he’s shown me a whole new world of great cheese! There’s so many great varieties, and ways to eat it; sharp ones, super soft ones, melted cheese in general, cheese with garlic, on crackers, with potatoes, pizza, fruit, or my personal fav, with vegemite on toast. A Bit of History Cheese making in Canada goes back to our French and English heritage, “French settlers brought over methods for making soft, ripened cheeses, while United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, introduced the distinctly British characteristics of cheddar“. In my research, I learned cheese making in Canada can be traced back to the early 1600s but it wasn’t until 1864 when the first cheese factory was set up. Cheese making in Canada is older…

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