Love You Daily

How cute is this? Atlanta designer Zach Graham has decided to create an “I love you” image every day for his fiancee and post it on his tumblr.

This reminds me of something my amazing husband would do, if he had the Photoshop skills to do it ;)

See all of the love-inspired images here.

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Canadian visits

I just got home yesterday afternoon from a particularly great trip in Canada!

I saw lots of family…

…like my nephew, Ben

…my Dad and my red-headed niece, Jillian

…my Mom who’s always surrounded by her grandkids

…my silly sister, Jenn (I have to admit, I didn’t take this photo, Ben did!)

…my Grandparents and Aunt Deb even came to visit for a day!

I was lucky enough to be invited to my former employer, The Agency Group‘s 15th Anniversary party on Thursday night.

It was so great to see old friends and co-workers, like Eli!

Robbie T.

…and a whole lot of other great people that I miss working with. I know it sounds unlikely, but Canada truly has the best entertainment industry, just for the people alone!

Unfortunately, I didn’t stay for the entire TAG party, I caught the last train back to the ‘burbs and when I walked into Union Station, I found myself on a TV set.

I spent the following night out with some of my favourite friends at Clinton’s on Bloor.

Julia and I

…and who could miss Rob Blyth?

The next morning, I was lucky enough to have the service at our brunch spot be so slow that I got an extra couple hours with my girls!

The perfect ending to my trip had to be watching the Junos with my parents on Sunday night. I forgot what a game of “I spy” Canadian TV can be. My favourite part was when Shania Twain said she loved “Canada’s bush” in her acceptance speech.

This trip was particularly special and enjoyable because I got to spend 6 days with friends and family and saw almost everyone I’d hoped to. It was also my Mom’s birthday and I managed to take a meeting with a former co-worker that turned into a new freelance gig for me, doing what I do best – design, web management, and social media. Turns out, I just needed to go back to Canada to find a job! ;)

I’ll see you again soon, Canada, I love you!

Dear Toronto

We’ve had some fun times, Toronto…

…I want some more!

Come see me tonight at Clinton’s (Clinton & Bloor Streets). I’ll be there with my favourites and my camera.

Rooftops and Shingles

Friday was my last day working for Insound. They were a sweet company to work for, my co-workers were great, and I enjoyed the 10 minute walk of a commute, but I didn’t feel as though my full potential was being required of me to do the job I was working. Also, the position was destroying my legs. I consider myself to be pretty in-shape as a regular visitor of my gym and an avid practicer of yoga, but the constant bending down, climbing stepladders, lifting, squatting, etc. for 8 or 9 hours a day really got to my joints. I am now on anti-inflammatory meds for my knees and hips and taking glucosamine twice a day. Crazy right? Just wait, it gets weirder – I also probably have shingles. I thought only old people got shingles, but apparently not. Once you have the chicken pox, it lies dormant in your system for the rest of your life. A weakened immune system or other injury usually brings it out in the form of shingles. Mine aren’t too bad right now – just two patches of four spots each on my ribs and stomach – they’re just a little itchy sometimes. I really hope they don’t get worse because I’m headed to Toronto for a visit on Tuesday. I will be going back to the doctor Monday to confirm shingles is what I actually have so I can start to treat it.

Last night, following my last day of work, a couple buds from Insound celebrated with me in the form of rooftop beers. The building has an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline and the rest of Greenpoint. Later, one of my best ladyfriends, Kate, came to Greenpoint to meet me for huge burritos and I had to share the rooftop skyline with her too.

So once again I’m technically unemployed, but I have many projects TBA including a part time job as a personal wedding assistant. More to come later, friends!

Help Japan

If you’re like me, you’ve been watching the media coverage of the horrifying scenes in Japan and feeling just awful, wishing you could help in some way that will make a difference. It’s not as though Japan is a third world country, but many parts of it have been completely demolished and they need all the help they can get right now.

When natural disasters happen, you often see tons of charities online, asking for donations, and it’s not always easy to know which ones are legit or not. You can always trust the Red Cross, and right now, Living Social is running a deal that if you donate $5 to the relief fund, they’ll match your donation. You don’t even have to have an account, you can log in through Facebook! Click here to donate now. What’s five dollars to you anyway?

Poster: Design You Trust photo: The Atlantic

Slutwalk Toronto

Did I really need another reason to boast about how amazing Toronto is? Well I just got one.

Local ladies Sonja JF Barnett and Heather Jarvis have come together to plan Toronto’s first ever Slutwalk after Toronto Police made the following statement in January: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”. The organizers of Slutwalk are out to change how women are viewed and the attitude and education surrounding rape.

The message is clearly incredibly important and this is something that is overdue for a change, but what also gets me is the straightforward name of the march and the bold posters. Way to go, ladies.

If you’re in or around Toronto and want to participate, the walk will take place Sunday April 3rd in Queens Park with speeches at 1:30 and the walk beginning at 2:00. See all the info here.

Melissa Auf der Maur: Girl Crush

How cool is Melissa Auf der Maur?

Having been both a part of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, she’s one of the true lady rockstars left in the world. She’s also managed to develop her own identity while playing bass next to enormous personalities like Courtney Love and Billy Corgan by always pursuing new projects, meeting and collaborating with other musicians like Ric Ocasek and Rufus Wainwright, not to mention her efforts in photography, comic book writing, and fashion.

Despite Melissa’s impressive resume and history, she is also a truly sweet and friendly person. Maybe that has to do with her Canadian heritage ;)

At her March 3 show in New York, I felt like I was at a fashion party. Everyone around me was 6+ feet tall and gorgeous, boasting an effortless fashion sense. They also all seemed to know each other, and at the end of the night, Melissa. Her personality seems to be one that invites everyone inside to talk about anything. The first time I met her, the conversation managed to take a most ideal turn: mid-nineties Canadian rock reminiscing. What could be better? (Besides intimate stories about being on the road with Smashing Pumpkins, but some things are best left to the imagination.)

Melissa Auf der Maur is truly girl-crush worthy and I hope she continues her efforts in all applicable areas. The world needs not only more rockstars like her, but also people.