MY #FORDSUMMER FESTIVAL ROAD TRIP!

2017 has been one crazy-kick ass-whirlwind of a year. If you told me a year and a half ago when I was just starting my blog that I would work with one of the largest car companies in the world I would never have believed you! As a content creator I often have these crazy big ideas. Little did I know it would be those crazy big ideas that would lead me to where I am today.

So to put things in perspective of how big this was for me, a couple months ago while at an event, I shared one of my crazy big ideas with this lovely gentleman that I met. As it turned out he was the right guy to talk to because next thing I know I'm submitting a topline proposal. Can you believe it!? I wasn't kidding when I said it’s been a kick ass-whirlwind of a year. Anyways, next thing I know my crazy idea is actually happening – Ford Canada wants to work with me!

As you can imagine I was (and totally still am) ecstatic about receiving this news! Although I have never owned a Ford personally I can clearly recall numerous memories from my high school and university years when I would cruise around the suburbs of Toronto in my bestie’s Ford Escape (dubbed the ‘Xena Warrior Princess’ because it literally kicked ass) listening to music, tailgating with friends, and of course road trips up north! Now my crazy big idea of a road trip to a festival with a couple of my influencer besties was now becoming a reality and I couldn't of been happier! Not only was Ford Canada supporting my dreams and giving me, as a content creator, the ability to show the full scale of my capabilities, but they also were supporting a festival with a great cause and provided us with two amazing vehicles!

The New Farm Festival is an annual festival fundraiser that supports ‘Farms for Change’; a partnership between Canadian organic farmers and community food centres. This year the New Farm festival featured many of Toronto’s top restaurants including Momofuku, Cafe Boulud, Colette, The Drake Hotel, and Planta just to name a few. On top of feasting from over a dozen delicious restaurants there were also many music performances throughout the evening including this year’s headliner Joel Plaskett and the Emergency.

To head up the festival Ford provided us with two of their most coveted vehicles – the Ford Flex a seven passanger SUV known for its spacious and comfortable interior, and the Ford C-Max Energi, Ford’s most fuel efficient, clean energy, multi active vehicle! Having never previously driven either one of these vehicles before I am happy to report that Ford continues to be in line with my ideals of what makes a good vehicle and reinforces the standards of comfortability, reliability, and safety I already associate with their brand!

The Ford Flex first premiered 10 years ago and is made right here in Canada. This vehicle is not only one of Ford’s more stylish cars, but its bold boxy design is very in-vogue today. The features in this car are outstanding and definitely set it apart from its competition. From the Ford SYNC 3 technology (making it easy and simple to sync your phone for a hands-free drive) to the active park assist, and the voice activated navigation this vehicle not only insures you will arrive safely to your destination but also enjoy the ride. It is definitely safe to say that this vehicle is the ultimate road trip vehicle! With seven-passenger seating and all climate control settings it’s easy to ensure everyone has a comfortable journey. I was amazed with the design of this vehicle; it felt bright like you were outside thanks to its multi panel vista roofs. The cooling function in my seat was so clutch and came in handy during the long drive up to the festival especially now with the summer heat. It wouldn’t be a road trip without some great tunes to sing along to and the Ford Flex’s Sony stereo system with Sirius XM kept the good times a-rollin!

Although the Flex does make the perfect road trip vehicle I still would have to say that the Ford C-Max Energi was my favourite out of the two vehicles. The Ford C-Max, although compact, feels very spacious. It has a massive windshield making it truly feel like a vehicle from the future. It was so quiet I had to double check that the engine was even on and after an entire weekend of driving I still had a half a tank of gas! Although it was a much smaller vehicle then the Ford Flex it was still very comfortable and had a lot of the same features like the Sony Stereo system with Sirius XM, the Ford SYNC 3 technology and voice activated navigation. It wasn’t the design that necessarily made me favour this vehicle, but instead the thought of how it was helping the environment. As much as I enjoy going on festival road trips (especially ones that have to do with sustainable farming) I almost enjoyed the whole experience more knowing that we were using a green vehicle. All the worries about climate change and the environment aside, the Ford C-Max is still a perfect car for any young adult or college student who may struggle with raising gas prices. For me personally it’s definitely a vehicle I will consider purchasing in the future. 

Whatever your budget, adventure level, family size or environmental/social beliefs Ford Motors Canada is a great company making great cars. They not only helped make one of my big crazy ideas a reality and took a chance on me, but their standards on performance, safety, design and technological are among the highest in the automotive industry. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and would definitely recommend anyone looking to purchase or lease a new vehicle to head straight to your closest Ford dealership and test drive one of these models!

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND HOW I BECAME EMPOWERED! #pHabulouslyMe

Although this post has been generously sponsored by “pHemme”, the opinions and language are my own, and in no way do they reflect “pHemme”

Although this post has been generously sponsored by “pHemme”, the opinions and language are my own, and in no way do they reflect “pHemme”.

Everything I have gone through has led me to be the super empowered woman I am today. By overcoming my past mental and emotional challenges, by taking control of my anxiety, knowing my triggers and the base of all negative inner thoughts I am able to not only empower myself but others around me. My ability to be open and vulnerable, to feel energized and motivated, encourage and support others, be poised and emotionally in control, and be daring to try new things empowers me.

When I was young my eldest sister committed suicide. As you could imagine this changed my family dynamic forever. It felt like everyone in my family split in a different direction like an atom in an atomic bomb. Her passing led me to be filled with a lot of anger that I didn’t and couldn’t deal with for a long time. Without even knowing it, I grew up over night. I was dissatisfied with my life because as much as I felt emotionally and physically independent I was angry at what was taken away from me (my sister, my idea of a family, my care-free childhood). I didn’t know it then, but I would later battle with depression and a ton of anxiety.

I am not a psychiatrist. I cannot tell you how to overcome your own emotional and mental issues. I can tell you what empowers me so that maybe you can change your perspective, feel good about yourself and your relationships and maybe start to be super empowered and motivated as well!

I don’t like to be vulnerable and I think most people can relate. It’s hard to put yourself out there when you know that the world will instinctively judge you for it. I think we have all heard someone say it’s hard to love someone and be open to love if you don’t love yourself. Allowing myself to be open and vulnerable and sharing personal information with you takes a lot of courage. At this point in my life I have accepted my past, I have developed the tools to deal with my anxiety and depression and I know that I am a strong person. My strength and courage comes from knowing that there isn’t really anything negative you could say about me that I haven’t already said to myself. I have been on dark and stormy self-destructive seas, but I am a seasoned captain now.

Although fully accepting who I am was one of the hardest steps to empowerment for me, and took a long time to do successfully, it was so emotionally cleansing that it made all the challenges I faced worth it.

Being physically strong also empowers me. Taking care of myself through physical exercise pumps endorphins into my brain and body making me feel invincible. Eating healthy, and making sure I am getting enough protein and vitamins helps my body function so that my brain can function. This may sound like a ‘no brainer’ but it’s important because if I’m physically not well, it takes a big toll on my emotional wellbeing and my ability to be motivated and productive. Take care of your body, treat it like a temple. You may even be surprised how physically exhausting yourself can actually help you deal with anxiety and stress and leave you more energized, motivated and help you think clearer.

Empowerment also comes from surrounding yourself with authentic people who truly care about you. I have a good core group of friends who support me emotionally and who I equally support. My boyfriend once said to me, “Not everyone is going to like you, and if they do it’s because you are boring” - and he makes a good point. So, I spend my time with women who are like minded and encourage and support me like I do them. If I can contribute to their success and not feel threatened by their achievements but instead celebrate their hard work and allow it to motivate me to work on my own goals - I become even more empowered.

What I love about Sophia Amoruso, is that “#girlboss knows when to throw punches and when to roll with them.” I am 100% a #girlboss but what sets me apart from many others is how I get things done. I don’t need you to like me or see things my way or force my opinion onto you to feel empowered. As I said before, part of being empowered is knowing yourself. Walking away from an explosive situation can be even more empowering then engaging in one. And, you can save yourself from the added anxiety and stress of dealing with the aftermath.

Push your boundaries and take some risks. My daring nature has allowed me to try new things and learn about new hidden talents I never knew I had. I feel for people who have anxiety when it comes to doing things alone or being placed in situations where you know nobody - it can be really hard. But some of my solo missions have led to some of the most empowering self discoveries of my life. When I went to university in Australia at age 18, I didn't know anyone! Introducing myself to people all over again allowed me to make my ‘realized self’ work in tandem with my ‘idealized self’ until it became the same. You want to feel empowered? Work through a fear or try something new, you may just discover something you never knew you were good at… in any event, it’s empowering.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, empowerment comes from within. If it wasn't for my tough past, the challenges I had to overcome, and the tools I developed to battle through my depression and anxiety I would not be the super empowered woman I am today. That is why when I was approached to take on this assignment from a sponsor whose product many may not openly talk about using, I knew I had an opportunity to talk about how being vulnerable, being honest with yourself, and being supportive of others can lead to empowerment. So I took this assignment on and fully embraced it with the main purpose of empowering others. That is why I am donating all of my earnings from this post to Indie 88 and Lana Gay’s ‘Up All Night’ campaign in support of CAMH. I hope this post will empower you to say yes when it comes to talking about mental health or any taboo issues because although its hard it will always get you to a better place.

To find out more about pHemme® Fresh and how to be a bold and confident woman, visit pHemme.ca ! Follow the pHemme conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

DIY MOTHERS DAY GIFT BASKET + LAVENDER ROSEMARY BODY SCRUB

As Mother’s Day approaches many of us will start to scramble to find the perfect most thoughtful gift worthy of our ever so generous and loving mothers.  This year I spoke to 7 moms both new and experienced to finally clarify what a good Mother’s Day gift is. If you’re like me and believe that any tangible gift couldn’t possibly be sufficient enough to demonstrate your appreciation for your mom then you are right. As a matter of fact every mom I interviewed said a good Mother’s Day gift would be to just spend time with her kids.

Here’s the breakdown of my research:

7/7 Spend time with all their kids together or in a one on-one activity (biking, galleries, movies) and a meal (home cooked meal or dining out)
6/7 Hand written letter, card, song, poem drawing or a handmade gift
5/7 Time at the spa or a haircut/blow out
4/7 Nicely framed family photo or a tangible gift (cookbook, jewelry, gift card to favorite store)
3/7 A complimentary house clean and flowers

If you are looking for something special to make for your mom check out my DIY Gift Basket Idea below:

 

My basket

- A bottle of Rosé I selected for her on my recent trip to Osoyoos BC.
- Artisan Jams from a farmers market
- Chocolates from Soma (best truffles in Toronto)
- DIY Lavender Rosemary Body Scrub (see recipe below)
- A notebook from NYC (my mom is always writing down notes)
- A hand written letter

Lavender Rosemary Body Scrub

If you are interested in making the Lavender Rosemary Body Scrub you will need:

INGREDIENTS:
7-10 drops of Lavender Essential Oils
1.5 Cups of Epson Salts
1 -2 TBSP of Dried Rosemary
2-3 TBSP of Coconut Oil
3-4 drops of Food Colouring (blue and red = purple)

per 350 ml jar

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients together so they are evenly and well blended. Scoop and fill in the jars

 

I hope you had as much fun making these and giving them away as I did! Please let me know your comments below or if you have any request!!!!! Id love to hear from you ♥ ♥ ♥

 

 


 

GEOMETRIC PHOTO WALL

So having just moved into a new apartment, I am desperate to make it feel like home. I know from my friends who are interior decor experts that "feature walls" are trending and can really bring life to any room. This geometric photo wall is like hitting two birds with one stone. I get my feature wall and also personalize my new home sweet home. It took me about an hour to actually make the wall but there is a bit of preparing that needs to be done like printing out your photos. If you are a student or are just looking for an inexpensive way to jazz up a room this is it!

MATERIALS:

Nails - I used Roofing nails because the heads are wide and the string wont slip off.
Spray Paint- So you can spray paint the nails if you want them to be a different colour
Binder Clips
String
Printed Photos
Shoe Box or any box

TOOLS:

Hammer
Drop Sheet - if you are spray painting
 

PREP:

Take the nails and place them into the box so they are half standing out. Place the drop sheet below the box and spray the box and nails with the spray paint. Leave them to dry for a couple hours.

Print of your photos.

DIRECTIONS:

Use the dry spray painted nails and start nailing them into the wall, placing them so they make the outer geometric shape you want.

Take the string and tie it around one nail and then wrap it once around the next nail and move on continuing to wrap around the nails until the whole wall is outlined the way you want.

Next start adding nails on the inside forming triangular shapes.

Take the string and close off all the triangles by wrapping it around the inner nails you just added until you are satisfied with the geometric shapes. When you are done crating your triangular shapes just tie off the string with a knot.

Next take the binder clips and photos and start placing them along the strings so they hang secured to the string.

 

What do you think? Would you try this approach??? If you have any questions or comments just leave them below and Ill get back to you.

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CHRISTMAS WREATH

I was feeling kind of festive this year and wanted to make something for my new apartment. I've seen people make wreaths before but I knew I wanted mine to be different, exciting, and bright. On my recent trip to Spain, I was reacquainted with an artist's work at the Guggenheim in Bilbao by the name of Jeff Koons. If you have ever been to the Wynn/Encore in Vegas you have probably seen his work. He makes these giant sculptures that look like they are light as a feather but are actually made of steel and weigh a ton. His subject matter consists of balloon animals, tulips, and even cartoon characters. Inspired by these shiny objects I decided to make this wreath. If you want to know how to make it yourself keep reading!

MATERIALS:

Christmas Ornaments - I got 3 boxes of these plastic balls from IKEA each were $14.99 CAD.
Grape Vine
Wire - To wrap the grape fine together and give it more stability
Glue Gun
Glue Sticks

DIRECTIONS:

Take your grapevine and wrap it around to approximately the size of the wreath you want.

Next, take some wire and wrap it around the grapevine so that it secures it together and makes a sturdy base.

Glue gun the edges of the wire down so that they do not poke out!

Next start taking your ornaments and gluing them to the grapevine. Keep gluing and make your way around the wreath. Once you are all the way around the wreath start to build up to give it more dimension.

Keep adding until you are satisfied with your results.

If you want to hang the wreath you can always use a nail and hook it into the grapevine base at the back or you can use a ribbon and tie it up.

If you have any questions or want to know more feel free to leave your comments and questions below in the message box! Did you like this activity? Do you want to see more of them? I’m always happy to hear from my visitors!!!

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