Millennials: Getting the right mix of financial advice

I never thought I’d be in an article about having good finances, let alone millennials and good financial advice.. It seemed impossible back when I graduated from collegge and uni, faced with debt from school, and every major credit card. I moved back from Australia and was BROKE. I had mounting debt and wasn’t making nearly enough money. I was on this show called Maxed Out (now on the Oprah Network!) where I confronted my debt with a financial advisor and through that experience, got a better paying job. If you don’t think you’ll get a spot on a show so you’re able to tackle your financial issues head-on, instead just get in touch with a service like Traverse City wealth management firm so you’re able to fix your finances. The host thought me making a living by being ‘Casie Stewart’ was a total joke and nearly impossible since I didn’t come from money. She compared me to Paris Hilton and I officially launched my casiestewart.com website at the end of the show. I had been writing THIS IS MY LIFE at blogspot but finally went to my own url. This week, an article that I consulted on recently came out with a study from TD bank. It quotes me and was published on PR Newswire, Yahoo Finance and some other places. This is my real story and my actual serious advice is if you are having money worries, no matter how broke you are, it is helpful to see someone who can get you on the right track. I’m 31 and debt free now! When looking into loans and finance advisers, you’ll need to do your research and learn to understand the alternative lenders and options you have. I have also learned a lot about managing money and utility…

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Urban Farming is Big in Japan

I never really thought I’d be into farming but urban farming, now that’s stylish. Came across this video about urban farming in Japan via @tasdesignbuild. I love sustainable architecture that either helps the environment or uses technology to make it functional.   This my friends, is an awesome beginning… In other news, you can now buy Joe Fresh online. Weeeeeeeee! <3 CASIE

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The 7 Vices of Highly Creative People

An oldie but  goodie, came across this again while cleaning up old bookmarks. The article blog post was originally published on Salon in February, 2000. THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND. I was born a creative person and at times I’ve wondered if my vices are helping or hindering. It gives me comfort that many of the greats were open about their vices too. This list is a pretty good one, you’d enjoy the whole article on Salon too I’m sure. The 7 Vices of Highly Creative People Drinking – For [Winston] Churchill, like many other great drinkers, alcohol was a tool used to feed creativity and social discourse.  Smoking – Smoking has often been linked with creative genius. Gabling – The world is full of stories of highly creative people whose success was based on the big gamble. Oysters – Certain foods are frequently associated with highly creative people. None more so than the oyster. Fashion – The highly creative always choose their wardrobes with a more consistent flair. Sex – The sexual appetite and prowess of those possessed by creativity can’t be argued. Abuse the Card – The highly creative travel an expensive road, and the best way to stay between the yellow lines, or at the very least keep food on your table, is to Abuse the Card. Here’s to the crazy creative ones! Love to know if you have any to add to the list below? LMK in the comments or Twitta. <4 CRAZIE CASIE

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Magic Happens

Screen shot from this week’s episode of Girls on HBO. I really like this show.  Below is a similar one I Pinned  21  weeks ago, that I drew on iPad months ago. I love when things like that happen. It’s a thing from the internet. I don’t know where it originated. There are lots of versions. It’s a good reminder. Ordered these Shosh and Jessa rings for Lauren and I from Etsy.  I love ordering from THE INTERNET.

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Have Confidence in Your Business

Watched this talk last night by Mike Monteiro about being a person who works in the business of being creative. He talks about relationship building and uses good language. The start is amusing and I learned a few things. I drew on iPad while he was talking. He brings in his lawyer, who is quite insightful. Especially when it comes to how to take care of client service contracts as a small business. Sounds boring but it’s not. I watched the whole thing. Having a business lawyer like Weisblatt Law Firm can really help expand and build on your business in the best way possible with sorting out legalities. If the person you are working with has their lawyer on the call, you should have yours. 2011/03 Mike Monteiro | F*ck You. Pay Me. from San Francisco Creative Mornings I like when he says ” I would like designers to stop being bottoms, realize the power you have in the relationship”. (You’ll enjoy that part I’m sure.) I love listening to entrepreneurs talk. It’s like candy for your brain. At the end he says something that I say to you and myself like, errrrrrrry day. Go do something awesome.

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“this is a Cinderella moment for a science nerd like me’, she said.

Angela is my hero today! Check out this cure for Cancer she’s working on. Way to go girl! What were you doing at 17?  

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I’d like to thank the academy & blah, blah, blog!

Remember a couple months ago I asked you nicely to click a link and show some love for my life(s) work? Welllllllllll…..thanks for your votes and thank you for reading because…drum roll please…we made the shortlist for Best Life Weblog in Canada!  Congrats to my friends for noms in their categories Unbrelievable, Shop My Clothes and Dear Photograph. To check out all nominees or judging criteria go here. In other exciting news…MY SXSW panel has been scheduled. If you are going to be please please don’t miss it. There’s lots of things to see & do there but our panel is Psychology of Narcissism & How It Affects Brands. The hashtag is #LOOKATME and it’s sure to be entertaining. On that note I leave you with this song I’ve been diggin’ ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ feat. Kimbra from Gotye’s album Making Mirrors. Sitting at Darren Kwik Studio waiting for toner in my hair while blogging and tweeting away. Thank you Telus & iPhone for the MAGIC of Personal Hotspot. I now have the freedom to stop & blog it like it’s hot any time, any place. Heading to get Sammy & meet my darling sister Jenie & friends at Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant for her birthday dinner. Have an awesome night!

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Howard Green on BNN: What’s the deal with Klout?

It’s always a pleasure for me to go back to 299 Queen Street, the most famous address in Toronto and the home of my last full time 9-5 job. Especially when it’s to be on camera! This time I was on BNN talking online influence with Headline News anchor Howard Green who also spoke to Shelby Walsh, VP of Operations at Trendhunter and Joe Fernandes, CEOof Klout. Watch the entire episode on the BNN HERE or my single clip HERE. Ok, here we go, 00:30 seconds and we’re LIVE. No anxiety. I love being on TV! I’ve officially moved from ‘Social Media Expert’ on eTalk to ‘Pro-Blogger, Casie Stewart, BLOG ENTREPRENEUR on BNN.Look out world! 🙂 Mum, Dad & Nana are gonna love this!  

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The Science of Social: Periodic Table & Google+

Came across this last night on Google+ via Drew Olanoff. Good find. So many networks, omg. How many are you on? Click the photo to see it in large size. Been playing around in Google+ for the last week. It’s cool. Has potential. I’m a Google Fan Girl so I love seeing & testing out their new technologies & products. If you aren’t in yet, sign up here. Chris Brogan wrote about getting started here. One thing I am really loving is following people that inspire me and getting to see their posts The newsfeed reminds me of a blog. It’s clean & easy to navigate. Talking about this makes me want to draw wireframes. I’ve not had many conversation or a ‘hangout’ on video yet but I will soon. I wanna carve out some time to dive right in & organize my circles. Sounds so nerdy & I love it. These are some screen shots from my profile. Home dashboard: Get started info: Activity happening: Mashable posted some pretty funny parody videos and this one is my fav. The “Hitler Learns” series never fails. Kudos to whoever out there on the internet created this, you are funny. Social networking FTW! Ha. P.S. Monday I’m speaking on a Panel at MaRs. The panel is a Panel Discussion on Panel Discussions. It’s going to be interesting. The other speakers are very smart & good looking. You should come. Get a free ticket here. If you ever want to host a panel, this will give you valuable information on how to avoid making mistakes.

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A Panel Discussion On Panel Discussions? You got it.

Have you been to a panel discussion before and thought…Who are these people? Who picked them? Did they prepare? What are they even talking about? I know I’ve attended conference sessions and thought a bunch of those things. A panel is best when it is informative and you have experts sharing information of VALUE. On July 18th, I am speaking on a panel with some of Toronto’s most rad people: Alex, Erin, Joseph, and Nicolemoderated by Sonya. We ‘re taking a playful look at the panel discussion and how to get the most from them. Some of the topics that will be discussed will include: How to pick a panel How to prep for a panel What makes a panel work How to drive people to an event Examining different panel archetypes Panel Etiquette Good and bad introductions Speaking in soundbytes 101 – Speaking 140 chars at a time Panel Pet Peeves Moderating 101 Hope you  make it out to MaRS at College & University to hear us. This team has heaps of experience and I’m honored they chose me to be part of it. Tickets are FREE too.

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in CASE you didn’t know.

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What if they call me a “Social Media Expert”? UPDATE: They did.

So, Rockstars don’t call themselves ‘Rockstars’ but it’s cool cause everyone else calls them, which is what makes them rockstars. Say Rockstar one more time in that sentence haha. Do you know a ‘real’ Social Media Expert, am I one? I have heaps of Tweets/Blog/Posterous/Facebook/Skype/Flickr/Blogger/Google+/YouTube and more but that term is usually associated with douchebags. I’m not a douchebag. Catch me on eTalk tonight for the Royal Tour coverage (starts at 7pm on CTV). Got to tape in the studio, I was standing in front of that eTalk sign above. Didn’t get a photo of us shooting. Doh. I used to work at CTV behind the scenes so was a pretty rad to be back today in front of the camera. Saw a bunch of old colleagues and was dressed to impress.  Wore high shoes, nicely tailored dress, hair up, bow, red lipstick. Zing! I hope I come across smart and cool. I really hope I don’t look bad. (It’s nerve wracking ok!!) I’ll be at an event this evening so I won’t see it until I get home. I’m not sure how long it will be either. My segment is about the big role social media is playing in Will & Kate’s visit, the photo one of our MP’s posted of them (below) and the Royal Tour app. The Royal Tour App is one of the most popular in Canada right now. The Blue Man Group were also there this morning. I touched a BLUE MAN! They use blue oil paint and it is very messy. I had some on my finger. One of the BMG guys was pretty cute, well, for a Blue guy. 😛 I love being in front of the camera. I really want to be on TV. Look what they did to C. Perez, Senior Producer. He got…

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Voter turnout in 2008 was lowest in Canadian History

I know you are really smart because you are here reading this. If you are in Canada you are even awesomer and today you have an election. You get to have a say in what happens in your country, our country. I don’t care who you vote for but please, PLEASE GO OUT AND VOTE.  It’s so important. I rounded up a few things from the internet and I hope they inspire you to go to your polling station and PUT AN X IN A BOX. There is much at stake in this election. Yet the biggest decision for many eligible voters is not whom to choose, but choosing to vote at all. …read more. “stop being such a hipster and go to the polls and vote” These videos were made by KIDS in highschool. They are voting. You know you are legally allowed to leave work & vote. I found out some info about my riding & canditates from Project Democracy. You can find your info there too. I live in the downtown hipster riding. Imagine all of us voted? Our votes make a difference dudes. I read a good article about the ongoing election tweeting debate on canada.com “You can’t stop the tweeting folks“. Maybe we will change a law tomorrow? Do they really think they can put a lid on the information that is being released on the Internet on election day while efforts by other governments to control information in their repressive regimes are proving to be so ineffective? It’s as fruitless as trying to hold your ground while a massive tsunami rushes towards you. If Elections Canada is truly serious about the necessity of concealing election results while some polls are still open, the only way to accomplish it is to keep all the results…

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Aisles turn to catwalks: Stolen Girlfriends Club SS 2011

I’ve told you about Stolen Girlfriends Club before,  most fav NZ designer. My girl Anna Fitzpatrick at Red Bull in NZ sent me this awesome vid of the SS SGC collection ‘Untitled’. Check out what they did… Stolen Girlfriends Club invade New World Victoria Park. Stolen Girlfriends Club present their Spring 2011 collection ‘Untitled’ Gone are the runways, front row seating, backstage, and media-only invite list. It was everyday shoppers who were treated to 20 beautiful models walking the aisles of a supermarket as if they were the cat walks of Milan. Music courtesy of White Lies – Peace and Quiet (33s remix) No runways, front row seating, backstage, or media-only invite list, for six minutes New World Supermarket (Auckland, been there) was taken over by models. The show was put together with Red Bull who have been lovers of their unconventional style since 2005. Marc Moore, design director of SGC, wanted to present ‘Untitled’ in a location that took fashion out of its usual context. “We thought about presenting our new collection in a total random and public place, we wanted it to be like a ‘fashion flash-mob’. It’s always a challenge to keep people on their toes in anticipation but I think that today’s show really did surprise”. She looks surprised… Todday I’m heading to lunch to meet a few friend who is giving me a NEW fancy camera. I am going to take so many photos of everything including myself . Haha. Someone from Global News is coming to interview me after that about being cool twitter/blog. I dreamed of this kinda stuff happening to me when I grow up. Have plans to do something fun this evening too. Life is good. Enjoy the sunshine today 🙂

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and just like that… #2010

this video is cool and so so are you

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is a reaction what you are looking for @globeandmail? annoying.

I’m heading to San Francisco tomorrow to meet with Virgin America. I was recently in New Zealand ,as you know, and had a wonderful experience with international people and companies. So, as  I was walking today I thought, “maybe I should consider jobs outside of Canada, it seems there is more opportunity for a young lady like myself”. Then I saw this. Urgh. Rolls eyes. I get it that it’s meant to draw attention issues about ‘women in power’ or make people pipe up and talk about the brain drain but like, seriously? I feel like the bunch of “old school people” sat together in a room and decided “this is a great idea”. Meanwhile, as a young person, it makes me think “hey maybe that’s right” and does NOT make me want to join the discussion AT ALL. To me, this billboard is silly. You get more bee’s with honey. Traditional news can be so annoying, this is a prime example.

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foursquare: it’s time to have “the talk”

Dear Foursquare, I’ve gotta gett his off my chest, so here it is… I’ve been having mixed feelings about our replationship recently. I’ve started feeling a bit crowded.  I need some space. I don’t want everyone knowing where I am all the time. You know how much I love you and I really  like what you do. It’s not you, it’s me.  I don’t wanna break up, I just need some space.  I want the mystery back in  our relationship.  I want things more like they used to be. We have so many great memories and you’re always bringing me closer to my friends (Twestival, Foursqaure Day, Earthquake/Superswarm, Karaoke, NXNE). I still want more of that. It’s the little things, the little checkins all the time here and there, it’s getting to be too much. I’m taking back the pants. Please no hard feelings. Remember when I made that awesome shirt for your birthday? I’ll checkin at work tomorrow.  Love you. xo CASIE

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mashable social media day :: toronto

I like social and media. And I like talking. Pix frm the event are here via Kevin Chung. Here’s my talk, I hope you enjoy it. Casie Stewart (@casiestewart) at #SMdayTO from Ron Wolf I like talking about how many awesome people I have met through twitter. How I got a job because I really loved the internet, being social and sharing creativity all over the place. I like landscape photos better than portrait. I like when the sun shines through the clouds and you can see it coming right at you. I like writing the stories as they happen and living out all kinda of adventures. I like being positive, it’s really the best medicine you can give yourself. I’ve always liked to write. In 1996 my friend Holly and I, with the help of our Mum’s publihed and anthology of poetry & prose called JEANS. It was all kinds of things we had written in Grade. 8. I wanna publish a new book. I have hundreds written verse and such just dying to have your eyes. Words all wanting attention. I’ve decided to hire and intern, I need some help with the casiestewart.com stuff. Looking for someone unique, someone kinda like me to be honest; loves internet, learning, sharing, twitter, hard work, fun. There’s always skill involved but the things that really matter most are not learned in class. What I think (1996) I’d like to do more public speaking. I like it and I’m just getting started. I won in a speech competition about a hundred years ago when I was younger. This one time, in drama class, I read my whole speech with my back facing the audience, it was the speech you tell youself before you go on stage. The two minute “you can do…

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the internet is a funny place

I was watching Jeopardy like I do pretty much every night I can. I saw this babe with a bowtie named J.R. so I tweeted it. Tweeting shows is one of my favorite things. It makes watching TV more intertaining and interactive. I do alot of work on the computer so it feels like I’m spending time with friends, which I am. I checked the hashtag and relized I wasn’t the only one noticing. Googled him naturally, found an article. Read the comments and… there he was. A second article posted today. He’s a Nashville Scenester with a signature bowtie. I also just notied this, heh heh. The Show premieres tonight. I’ve watched the first three episodes, it’s funny and…sexual.

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you can’t just ask a website why it’s black, y’know?

This is me today. Grey hair, glasses, Dr. Martens, tan, smile. I just went to Mc Donalds for lunch.  It was tasty as usual, I know it’s bad for me but I like it and i’ve been eating the stuff my whole life and it’s still not “caught up to me”. Life is short, do what makes you happy, eh! The stage is getting set up at work for the MMVA show June 20th. I’m pretty stoked that I’m the Twitter person, it’s the most fun job I reckon. Karrera is coming over tonight. She moved out West in Jan and we’ve been friends since we were kids so it’s pretty exciting. Today when I logged into Tumblr I was like WTF, YOU ARE BLACK NOW? Not that there’s anything wrong with it, I would have said the same thing is it was any colour. The reason Tumblr is black is they are requesting & matching donations for Safe Our Gulf. I get to frustrated watching stuff about the oil spill. So sad really. Ok, that’s all for now! MUAH! xoxo

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and when i see you smile

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twenty four seconds of fun

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dear 58ninety, hire jacob. thx ♥ casie

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feeling young and restless

i’m having one of those days. i’ve got heaps to do.  it’s getting done but for some reason i’m just outta my head. i keep thinking, stop it, get back to work, don’t let your mind wonder, wander. i wish the sun would com out. it’s cold in here and i’ve not taken my jacket off all day. i even dressed cute today. sigh. i keep reminding myself how fun it’s gonna be tonight watching the hills with a bunch of friends at MTV.  i always wanted to be able to do  this. in my last post i was so excited and now i feel all weird.  i said something stupid last night to a friend after a couple drinks and i think that’s what is getting me.  sometimes we say things, it happens. the other day i got so upset over  something that was  not even necessary. i like to think i’m a simple girl but i’m complex and  my mind is like a labyrinth sometimes. i go back and read things tagged writing and i feel some what at ease. it must be the creativity, left hand, wild imagination sometimes gets the best of me. i’m nervous and excited most the time, i love this feeling but sometimes it leaves me feeling open and vulnerable and i get scared.  take my own advice, build  a bridge and get over it. the other thing is that when you do things online all the time it’s all out there for everyone to see, they can see you, you can see them, the world is somewhat translucent. you can see, but you can’t always see through. this helps, writing it out. i got  new analytics ,the other day. google, i love you but your site stats were just not cutting it…

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one giant leap for nerd kind

i wish it was warm outside and my bike was fixed, the grass was warm, green i wanna sing a real song. her voice is so freaking good. i’ve been watching this all day. i really need to clean my room. if i don’t do it before sunset i’ve lost the day. maybe i should try a lesson in singing, but i’m scared. this is the dude i saw last night. i was at a place on richmond row for a friends event. first act up is bian notice who had a broken leg. his ‘crutch dancing’ was quite impressive. i didn’t get the best of it, sorry, i’ll let you imagine the kicks, spins and crotch thrusting. haha

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things like this make it not seem so bad

Surprise write up about me & social media in a Geek Girl feature from Two Geeks and a Blog.  Bob who wrote it said “Holy cow!  Casie Stewart may be a Jedi!” and quoted Star Wars. He also quoted “a blog is an engine” which was really nice because I like that one and it didn’t even get any comments. Found these today too. Didn’t know they existed, Search Stories from Google. This is called Newbie, it’s a grandma embracing technology. Oh Google, always warming my heart. You know just how to talk nerdy to me. You press all the right buttons. I’ve decided not to be so upset about my stuff, shit happens.  No sense wasting time feeling sorry for myself. I’ll get it sorted this week and you never know, it just might turn up.  ♥

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M.BL & SP: masters in blogging & self photography

Tonight I’m attending Social Media Trends 2010 & Beyond for Social Media Week TO. It’s sold out and hosted by Scott Stratton, aka Unmarketing on Twitter. Looking forward to seeing heaps of faces that I’ve really only been seeing via FB & Twitter for weeks. Might meet a few new peeps, hope to put a face to some of the names I’ve been following also. Work is good. Head is in check. Heart is happy. Sun is shining about as bright as the gold lightning Betsy Johnson tights I wore today. Zing! Have a great day 🙂

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