CottageLife | So Long Sweet Summer Home

I rolled down the window as soon as we got to cottage county this weekend, Toronto didn’t have snow yet and I wanted fresh air. It smelled like winter, crisp and clean. Closing the cottage is bittersweet, it looks so nice all covered in snow but we can’t stay. I wanted to. I imagined staying up for weeks, making fires, taking trips to town for groceries. Wearing jogging pants. There was more snow than I thought and it crunched with each step.  Tossed a few snowballs in the lake and watched them stay in little circles. The water is really, really, cold, small ponds alongside the road are freezing over. Picked up this blanket and mugs from the Target for TOMS collection. They were sold out of the poncho I wanted but I got Sean one of the chambray shirts. He has at least five that look similar but this one was nice. He’s totally one of those ‘Lumbersexuals’  everyone is talking about with a beard, who wears plaid and the Canadian tuxedo (denim on denim). Had to pour out our homemade beer and tried snow painting. No Picasso! Winter is a season I find inspiring.  I’m planning to lay low and hibernate the next few months. Working on something I hope to launch in April. In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. Albert Camus For now, lights out at the cottage. The very last step of closing for the season. Until next time Muskoka, see you in the spring. <3 CASIE

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Travel | Montreal Moments

Yesterday I had brunch w/ Montreal Tourism at The Richmond. They were in town promoting all the wonderful events that happen in their great city over the next few months. I was treated to Montreal’s mouthwatering cuisine, charming joie de vivre, and a look into fall and winter adventures. Tourism partners and chefs included Guillaume Cantin from Les 400 Coups, Sophie Ouellet from EVO and Christian Faure from Maison Christian Faure along with Via Rail, Igloofest, Montréal en Lumière, Quartier des Spectacles, Phi Centre, The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, McCord Museum and Grévin Montréal. Earlier this month I was in Montreal to get a look at MTL à TABLE, their food festival starting October 30th. Three Ontario blogs were matched with three Montreal blogs then paired with a Chef to get a behind the scenes look at what goes into making their MTL à TABLE menu. A photo posted by CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) on Oct 10, 2014 at 3:42pm PDT A photo posted by CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) on Oct 10, 2014 at 6:12am PDT The group included tour included myself, Amanda Cosco (Girl About Toronto), Taylor Stinson and Natalie Sehgal (Girls on Bloor) from Ontario and Jason Lee (Shut Up and Eat), Adnan Albakri (514 eats), and Na’eem Adam (Mechant Mangeur) from Montreal. Check out this vid Amanda, Girl About Toronto, made of her experience. Read about my trip to a farm and fromagerie w/ Chef Jason Nelson here. For more info about what’s happening in and around Montreal visit their blog at tourisme-montreal.org. To learn about MTL à TABLE  and participating restaurants tourisme-montreal.org/mtlatable. BON WEEKEND! <3 CASIE

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CottageLife | A Boy And A Girl In A Little Canoe

Back to the grind today after an absolutely wonderful weekend up at the cottage. Sean and I went for a nice long canoe jaunt yesterday in the sunshine. How lucky are we to have this weather!? You can like this photo on Instagram right here. We attempted to go through this tunnel to another lake where our friends cottage is. It was like being inside a beautiful painting. The colours of the leaves are so vibrant and the sky was incredibly blue. We were ill prepared to portage the canoe over this little blunder. Next time I’ll wear better shoes and put my phone in something more secure than a ziplock bag. Did you know you can still use your phone while it’s in a ziplock? The more you know. Learned that trick in Thailand last year. I finally got to float in my donut. The water was pretty cold but I really didn’t care! Went on a crazy fast seadoo. Heaps of fun! MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, MY FAV. This week is gonna be a busy! Tonight my sister and I have a date for the premiere of Gone Girl starring Ben Affleck. I’m hosting a Twitter chat with Hotels.com X Nine West tomorrow then speaking to fashion students at Seneca College. Thursday I fly to Montreal for a couple days exploring culinary awesomeness with Tourism Montreal. It will be the weekend again before we know it! Happy Monday, make sure you soak up some of that sunshine!  <3 CASIE

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Travel |My Stay at Trump Toronto w/ HotelTonight

On Friday night I stayed at the Trump Hotel and booked my room using Hotel Tonight. I’ve known about the app for a while but was yet to use it. I was contacted to take part in an exclusive influencer event where a group of notable Torontonians met up for cocktails with HotelTonight co-founder Jared Simon. We were asked to pack a bag and come to the event where we’d leave to stay in a hotel later that night. Exciting!  We were each given a unique code that allowed us a stay that night at one of Toronto’s best hotels. I was gunning for the Trump Hotel as I’ve never stayed there before and it’s oh so fancy. Others in the group stayed at The Gladstone, The Beverly, and the Thompson Hotel. Earlier in the day I chatted HotelTonight co-counder & COO Jared Simon about the app and what’s next. HT is the world’s leading last minute hotel app with a rotating selection of rooms made available each day with bookings open until 2am. After working in the travel/hospitality industry they were inspired to create HotelTonight, knowing that most hotels operate at a 60% occupancy. I personally think it’s an awesome idea and recommend the app when someone visits my city or when friends are looking to do something special with their partner.  It was very easy to book my room using the app; pick a hotel, add credit card, book, arrive at hotel, checkin, stay, checkout. I asked Jared what’s next for HotelTonight and he told me expanding to even more than the current 500 cities, growing consumers (like us!), and innovating the app experience. I love adventure so next time I travel somewhere I’m gonna wing it and book a random night w/ HotelTonight. Jared dared me! Not a bad place to…

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Travel | Postcard from Montreal

A couple years ago Sean and I drove to Montreal in a Fiesta for a weekend sponsored by Ford Canada. It was really fun and the weather was warm. We stayed at the W Montreal which I totally love, ate good food, and spent afternoons in the sunshine. This is the video Sean edited of our weekend ‘Postcard from Montreal’. Summer, please come back soon. I’m dying to get back up the the cottage ♥ CASIE

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Events | I just love Canada so much. #sochi2014

Bearded bobsledders representing Canadian culture #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/x1Ai59AkAN — Justin Kripps (@justinkripps) February 5, 2014 Canadian athletes pose with Olympic rings in Sochi: http://t.co/13s41DzBUm #Sochi2014 #cbcolympics pic.twitter.com/R3MgPEGzPi — CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 6, 2014   And speaking of Canada, can’t ignore this little rascal. Puffing up the airwaves in his pot plane. According to an official report obtained by NBC News, there was so much marijuana smoke in Justin Bieber’s Super Bowl-bound plane that pilots were forced to wear oxygen masks. The report also states that Bieber and his father were “extremely abusive” to a flight attendant. What a little btch that Bieber! lol <3 CASIE Isotretinoin no prescription Kamagra no prescription Lasix no prescription Levaquin no prescription

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The Wilderness, Downtown People

It’s hard to sleep in up here. The air is so fresh and it’s oh so quiet. The lake is still as a rock, frozen in time. Watched the sunset on the roof. It was realllllly cold. I had tears running down my face, almost turning to icicles. Sean took some snaps with the camera, camera. Nice to have a break from the city and be back up here. It’s warm inside with the fire and heat but I can’t wait for summer! Good luck to all my peeps running in marathons today. Sending love to Boston too. Enjoy the day xo ❤ CASIE

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Tia Maria Room in Montreal on Thursday. Wanna come?

Helloooooooo from London, England! This week is a busy one as I arrived here early today and will be in Montreal come Thursday afternoon then, back at the office Friday afternoon, and on stage in the Santa Baby holiday burlesque show Friday night.  Yikes! I live for this though. I love being on the road, I find it really enhances my creativity and inspires me. I’m excited for all the things I learn and people I meet on each trip. I met two dudes while boarding the plane who get their biz cards printed through my office! Cray. I’d like to invite any of YOU  to meet up with me in Montreal on Thursday for the  Tia Maria Room. If you can make it please Tweet, test, comment, email, or do something to let me know so I can add you to the list! There will be lushious cocktails, sensual tunes, a performance by Jarvis Church, and of course, me! I’ll be working and tweeting for Tia Maria and would love to see you there. LMK! Time for a wee nap then I’m going to take in the city! <3 CASIE

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From MYL to YYZ, here we go! Now say it again in French.

Adieu Montréal! Temps de rentrer à l’Ontario et à retourner au travail. Ça a été une tranche. Merci W Montréal pour un excellent séjour, Ford Canada pour une voiture douce et la technologie pour rendre tout cela possible. La vidéo nous avons fait est rad. J’ai utilisé Google Translate. J’ai une amie française qui pense qu’il est tout à fait hilarant et c’est pour elle. Vous avez un super journée! <3 CASIE

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Amour de la vie et de Montréal aussi!

Great weekend in Montreal so far. Filmed w/ GoPro in the car today. I am going to be GoPro obsessed now. The Ford Fiesta is fun. Really good on gas. I love the old cobblestone streets in Old Montreal, this is such a great city. Beautiful day out today, super hot. Heading back to Toronto Monday. Hope you had a nice weekend! CASIE

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Ford Escape: Track Driving, Kayaking, Rock Climbing

Last week I had a full on escape from the city. It was so much fun. It reminded me of camp when I was a kid but it was way better. We drove cars fast and had beers after. Chantel, Keri, and I have awesome jumps lol There was about 20 bloggers on our ‘escape’ and the day started with lunch, then games, kayaking, rock climbing and extreme driving on a closed track. We finished with dinner and drinks at Arto Gallery in Distillery District. I’ve been on a few trips with Ford this year and am consistently impressed with their innovation as a brand. Thankfully, they provided us with kayak trailers so we could easily move them from point A. to point B. I scaled seven stories like a spider monkey. First time outdoor rock climbing and I was awesome at it. Instagram: This was GNARLY! My driving partner for the day was Toronto blogger Lisa Charlieboy. I’ve known Lisa for years so spending the day wth her was awesome. We were in Banff together in July for the World Media Fest. See her post from the day at Urban Native Girl. Follow her on Twitter at @UrbanNativeGirl. We did pretty good in the challenges and laughed our heads off. Gas, sharp turns, slamming brakes. I really, REALLY loved driving the Escape (hard) on the track. This is my face after totally tearing it up. I may have injured a few pilons on the way. They are fine. Ford Park Assist: Look ma’ no hands! Extreme Kayaking (with my phone): By the time we drove back to the gallery and got dinner the digital team had produced a video of all the days content. We all watched it together, there are some really funny parts and crazy driving. I’m…

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You Can Call Me Hollywood, I Will Call You Maybe

Oh well hello there & hi from Orangeville, Ontario. I made this Viddy for you using PicPlayPost. It’s free in the app store for today only! @viddy @yourfriendevan @picplaypost ….and VOILA, my first #picplaypst vid viddy.com/video/2923d9f7… — CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) August 1, 2012 This is the @bravofact film we’re working on today w/ Kate Yorga bravofact.com/2011/12/15/whe… — CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) August 1, 2012 In other news… Molson sent me a bunch of beers yesterday. Thanks TEAM! Is it the weekend yet? Check out the future of Ford through the eyes of top Canadian bloggers @casiestewart, @trina_stewart & @clickflickca! bit.ly/MRpQTe — Ford Canada (@FordCanada) August 1, 2012 Ford Canada featured me and two other Canadian bloggers who attended the Ford Innovation & Design conference in Michigan last month. See the post HERE to get our thoughts on an awesome experience. I now have to take the car and go pick up lunch. Have an awesome day! Go outside, do something fun 🙂

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The Weekend: Boating, Floating, & Banff Blogging

I’m absolutely in paradise. If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you already know. Last night we roasted marshmallows on the dock and I fell asleep in my chair mesmerized by the lakeside fire. Please take one second to vote for me in the Banff 2012 Blogger comp, voting closes Tuesday. Please help me win, VOTE FROM EVERYWHERE! Go to Apple or BestBuy, Futureshop, Nana’s cottage, your Dad’s phone! Glasses broke. Boating & floating are two of my fav pastimes. We’re about to make the Great Canadian Outdoor Breakfast with fire cooking and BBQ.  After Imma take this kayak out for a spin! Happy long weekend, summer is finally here! Wear sunscreen 🙂 <3 CASIE

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CANADIAN BLAST SHOWCASE @ SXSW 2012

Canada Blast is a showcase of a heap of awesome Canadian bands from March 13-18th at SXSW in Austin. It kicked off yesterday with a BBQ at Brush Square. View of downtown Austin from the Hilton across from the convention centre. Some team Canada friends were stayin’ here. Crazy to see how busy the streets were. Parties EVERYWHERE. Parachute party w/ @richaucoin #sxsw@ Canada Blast instagr.am/p/IK6f2bya-y/ goo.gl/peVkk — CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) March 14, 2012 Dec 31, 1969 | Source: Keek.com If you are still at SXSW, the Canada House tent has bands all day every day until Sunday. GO!It’s open to everyone and right at the corner of 4th & Neches by the convention centre. This ones for you Mum! @thesheepdogs @ #sxsw @canadianblast Mar 14, 2012 | Source: Keek.com Best beard goes to Ben Caplan. Sheepdoggy style, beards & mega long hair. Love it. Seen then a few times now (see here). Check out the full lineup for the week at canada canadianblast.com/sxsw2012.  

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