who said Monday's are bad?

In just a mere short eight hours I will be experiencing something great...tasting and trying Ketel One vodka!! Yahoooooooooo! I've been invited by Matchstick to attend a vodka sampling event this evening.

Don't know the Ketel?

Ketel One Vodka is distilled from 100% wheat and made at the Nolet Distillery in Schiedam, Holland. It is distilled in alembic copper pot stills, filtered over loose charcoal, and rests in tile lined tanks until ready. Ketel One Vodka is named after the original, copper pot still, “Distilleerketel #1,” and is handcrafted in small batches. The alcohol content of this spirit is 40% (80 proof). The Nolet Distillery also makes Ketel One Citroen and Ketel 1 Jenever Gin. [Wikipedia]

who is responsible for the red tea commercial? it's gross

Have you seen the new commercial for Tetley Red Tea? It is not nice to watch, it is gross actually. There is only one thing that I can think of when I watch this commercial. If you are a man, you may not get it, right away. If you are female and have your period, you will get it right away. See for yourself...

I know who is responsible. The commercial was developed at john st., Toronto, by creative directors Stephen Jurisic, Angus Tucker, art director Donald Vann, copywriter Gerald Kugler, agency producer Dale Giffen. Please note their names, it sounds like they are all men. The first time I watched it I was in shock. It's almost as bad as thew Campbell splashing soup commercial. I highly recommend doing focus groups guys, any woman would have said 'No, I don't like this ad."

the good word? the beats are sweet

I’m definitely digging the poetic lyrical stylings of wordPEOPLE. Lead singer Missy C passed over their newest album ‘The Peoples Eatery’ for me to check out and I am impressed. I have a love for well written lyrics and lust for beats with rhyme and style. There’s a common sound between older Black Eyed Peas or Roots albums that is positive & uplifting, makes you bob your head while you listen.

Missy C has a soothing voice that makes me wish I knew the lyrics so I could sing along. I also know that she has wicked style, looking forward to seeing her on stage! The emcee ape.X can rhyme the way I like, quick but clear. Makes you want to listen to it over and over. My favorite tracks are ‘Just Don’t Know, ‘People’ cause of the fat fast pace and the album title track ‘The Peoples Eatery’. The track ‘Swinga Things’ has a really light beat that’s super catchy; reminds me a bit of Lilly Allen. I love it.The sound of this entire album is kinda R&B, funk, rock, with some old school flava; an eclectic mix of music to my ears. I can see myself dancing at their next show or on a sunny summer afternoon with pints and friends (same thing). I’m looking forward to their next show. They just played in Guelph last week. I’m keen to check out the live performance for stage presence, seems like they have a lot of energy, and well, that is exactly what I like.

on the burts bus, summer bees

Not too long ago I received a gift package from Burt's Bees that contained a bunch of products to try out. I put aside my Aveeno the past two weeks and I've been using Burt'sBees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea butter Body Wash. I like it because it's 98.5% all natural and not tested on animals. It is really soft on your skin and doesn't leave it dry. I would have liked if it was a little more foamy for the loofah but that aside, I really like it. It makes my skin feel lovely like on summer days. The sun is shining bright today and it makes me happy.

this shampoo is great if ...

you like a burning itchy head

For the past two weeks I've been using Dove Advanced Colour Therapy shampoo for light hair and I'm officially ready to toss it. My hair feels pretty normal, its short and low maintenance, however, my head, it feels like I have a sunburn. I stopped using it but it absolutely made my head itchy and hurt. If this is something you like, try this shampoo. If not, try Aveeno. I usually use Aveeno Skin Relief body wash on my hair, makes it nice and soft.

hey universe, i need a new camera!

I've had bad luck with cameras. I've been through a few. However, that was when I used to drink and go partying all the time. A text book alcoholic, I could say, you couldn't say that without pissing me off. It's just not nice. The Toronto Police have a checklist and you could be one too. so don't judge me.

I've been taking so many pictures and I really need a new camera so I can take better ones and put them here and make videos so you can see how funny I really am. I believe in the powers of positive thought and I am asking the universe to send a camera to me.

You know my address uni, we've been friends a long time.

mail is great, especially when it has style

I love getting mail. Makes me happy. I mean real old fashioned snail mail. The kind mum sends in the summer when she's sailing on her boat and abandons the internet. The kind with stamps.

The only people who really send me mail are mum and companies that want me to test out, chat about, review their stuff. I get all my packages delivered to my office because I love when they get dropped off at my desk and the girls go 'oooooooh what did you get this time' and it makes me feel even happier to get it. This year I have been given subscriptions to Wired (totally love the most) and Flare (props to Canada). Flare arrived this week. Getting mags for free and delivered is much more fun than buying them. I like this section on of stuff. I buy alot of vintage stuff and this is 'stylespiration'. Yes, that is a word, I just added it to the Urban Dictionary.

put on that ruskie baby

I'm love my ruskie hat, plus, it is warm as hell. It's winter in Toronto and the wind is once again whipping at my windows. There's something about Russian girls and theses hats that is super hot. I keep thinking to myself 'each day is one closer to summer' hoping it will keep my spirits up. I usually get the S.A.D.ness this time of year and I'm tryna fight it. Taking vitamin D and B50 complex helps alot.

2009 ArtVenture: The AGO (Ontario Art Gallery)

Last night I had the pleasure of going to the AGO, again. TGFFW (Thank God For Free Wednesdays). I love it there. So many inspiring ideas which arouse my wild & creative mind. I decided to make my own art and snuck a few shots in. Please don't be mad my dear AGO or Mr. Gehry for it is so lovely I just could not help myself. This is my favorite. You know I love Andy.I really enjoy some of the modern stuff and photography. I was looking at some of the pictures and I saw this total stud, I don't know what it is about him. I have a thing for nerdy dudes.I love the staircase. How is winds around and shows beautiful views of the city lights. It makes me happy to dance around the stairs as they twist and turn and travel higher.Its is super busy on Wednesday's since it is free. The gallery opens at 6pm and closes at 8:30pm. This is not enough time to get around the whole place. There are many nooks and cranny's of artistic expression. Coat check is $1 and you have to check your bags. You are allowed to sketch in pencil, but not in pen. I like to write.

the power of a post: social media with love

Want to see something amazing? I witnessed something happening tonight on Twitter. Right before my eyes. If you tune in, you can see for yourself!

I follow David Armano on Twitter. He has a friend in need and decided to reach out to his community on Twitter to help her family out.

Here is an excerpt from his blog post earlier this evening:

"I've been at this blog for nearly 3 years now and have never asked for something like this—I hope I've earned enough trust to be able to ask something back from you. Above is a picture of Daniela and her family. Brandon, age 6, Daniela, age 9 and little Evelyn age 4. Daniela recently divorced her husband after years of physical abuse. In recent years her mortgage went unpaid and she's lost her house.As of this moment, Daniela's family is staying at our house and we are trying to help her find a one bedroom apartment for her family to live in. With Evelyn, her youngest having Downs Syndrome and Daniela herself being a Romanian immigrant with very little family support she literally has no one to turn to. Except us (all of us)."[read more]

As I wrote this post there there were 211 MORE ReTweets in response to Armano on Twitter. His goal to help out Daniella was $5,000. There have been, at this moment 208 contributors and over $,7,000 dollars raised anonymously to help her give her children a home. I suggest you check it out for yourself.

If you didn't believe in the power of a post or social online media, now you will.

UPDATE: Over $12,000 in 24 hours raised! Check it out!!

stick it to the aussies like that, eh

Air New Zealand has great food
and also has a sense of humor...

I saw a deal selling a trip to NZ for $1,278 with a stop in Sydney for free. First of all, this is a great price and secondly, an amazing idea. I think of the Aussie/Kiwi relationship in the same way I do the Canadian/American relationship. They are funny and nice (and good looking) and the Americans, well, you get my point. I mean, no offense to anyone from Australia or the US, just a good laugh.

The Kiwi's have the piss taken out of them more than necessary the Aussies and my friends make fun of me. Here's a laugh I found...

A pregnant Aussie and a pregnant kiwi are sitting on a park bench knitting jumpers for there unborn babies, the Aussie says to the Kiwi lass

"I hope mines a boy, cause I'm using blue wool" the Kiwi has a think about it and a few minutes later says,

"Hope mines retarded, I just fucked up the arms."

the tall tower is timeless, technology takes us higher

I look out my window and stare at the tower all the time. I was thinking how crappy their website for the unit was several months ago, they must have heard me say that because they updated it. Every night at the top of the hour there is a crazy laser light show that I absolutely love. I have been studying it (its right out my window OK!!) and it seems to be getting more complex and adding more colours & designs all the time.

Here are my favorite facts:

• Millions of colours and infinite effects

Microprocessor controlled, each fixture can produce 16.7 million colours. Intelligent digital control makes the system programmable from a single computer console. Each fixture has a unique “address” that can be programmed individually to create an infinite variety of lighting effects

• Directional lighting

Unlike conventional light sources, one of the unique benefits of LEDs is that they are directional; light output can be controlled and precisely directed. Therefore the resulting lighting will illuminate the Tower while ensuring light output does not “spill” or interfere with nearby hotels, office towers or residences.

• Low maintenance

The LED technology installed at the CN Tower is designed to achieve excellent performance standards and with its intended use is expected to last in excess of 10 years, requiring minimal fixture replacement and maintenance. Unlike conventional lighting systems, the new system will not require frequent replacement and disposal of light bulbs.

Find out more information including how you can get the lights programmed for your event by visiting the site.

leon me, when you feel strong

My dear pops and sister have been listening to the Kings of Leon album 'Only by the Night'. Dad gave me a copy and I very much enjoy listening to it. The sound is music to my ears, literally.

Something I really enjoy is the Rorschach ink blot style cover. I first learned about these things in high school for Mrs. Weidinger, my marketing/entrepreneurship teacher. She was one of my favorites. I remember having very unique answers to those other kids in my class group. Looking back, totally not surprising. I now call it borderline artistic. I've always been the crazy weird one, even though I was well liked in school. That was probably because I had big boobs back then.

change your perspective

Have you been feeling down? Is the cold weather and season giving you a reason to frown? Have no fear for I am here and we will take that thought and toss it!! Change your perspective. Each day, hour, minute that passes is one closer to Spring, Summer and sunshine. There are a million things to be happy about. Each day is a new day and you have new thoughts and new things come into your life. Be happy about that. I never know from one day to the next what will come up in this online diary. It is exciting for me to write my thoughts down, the memories are what keeps me going. Pictures of the beach and me make me smile too.

"don't want all this cold cold shit "

..'sing it now' this just came on my tunes and oh, how I love this song.

"Throw off your shirt and let's get, Hot hot hot. We've never been, we've never been to the bridge, throw off your skirt and let's begin the rock. I've been to all the places on the block(you can believe it, believe it or not) i like to rock , rock! i like to rock, rock!. Jump right in and in too deep. Throw off your towel and let's get wet wet wet. Bermuda shorts are comin back to town throw off your pants and let's begin the dance. I've been to i've been to all the beaches on the strip and you better believe this shit. I like to dip, dip (x2)

the batch in new zealand. you don't say?

I'm watching the Bachelor, well listening to it while I do things around the house. Anyhow, one of the destinations for the show that is on next episode is New Zealand. Looks to me like they are in the beautiful and warm North Island where they take a helicopter flight over the massive hill ranges followed by a bungy jump, Possibly in Taupo? I watched Dad bungy jump there when I was 12. I wanted to do it so bad. You had to be 13. I'm still upset about it. Most of my family lives in New Zealand and they are cool. I have Canadian & New Zealand citizenship which is very lucky, thanks to Mum & Dad!! If you are looking for the best trip of your life and a way to show yourself how awake and alive you are, get moving and plan a trip to the Land of Plenty!!

Music video by OMC performing Land Of Plenty

1996 Universal Music NZ Ltd.

oh god, giving feels so good!!

I was more than glad to help out a friend when he told me about Networking for a Cause in December 2008. Daniel and friends raised over $3,000 in only 30 days to help families in need buy Christmas presents for their family through the Hospice of Peel Charity organization. This event was the first of a tradition that he is starting and I look forward to helping out again next year. Daniel is a very inspiring individual involved in social media & networking. Daniel is sure to shine in 2009!!

for pigeons sake!!

There are PIGEONS in my office.

We have a big loft and they are flying around.

I'm more afraid of the pesky little dirt birds than I ever imagined. They are scary with their beady little black eyes and dusty, dirty feathers. OMG. I was feeling triumphant and unstoppable today...now, I feel like I'm about to have a little (or not so little) bird perch on my shoulder or even worse...on my head!!

Omg. Please don't shit on me guys!

secret postsecret favorite mine

she was full of zeal

I'm really excited for 2009.Time to shine, feeling divine.I love how it rhymes. Shit. Did it again. Crime. Fun.

I had a wonderful day today. Spent the morning sleeping followed by a little breakfast snack and coffee. Had a great visit with the lovely Karrera. I did a little exercise in my room. Proud of myself for getting a jump on the 'New Years I'm gonna start the gym' phenomenon; I feel like I'm ahead of the game and gearing up for summer! Each day that passes is one day closer to summer. I've also gathered up heaps of supplies for the workshop. I have designed some really rad stuff for Spring/Summer 2009. I'm going to be working in the gallery space until it opens in the Spring, inspiring! I'm also stoked because I made a plan for August to join Karrera for Shambhala. Helloooo 2009, the year of opportunity!