A Day in Durham

A Relaxing Long Weekend

Emily — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:44 +0000

While everyone has probably made it up to the cottage by now, I’m spending the long weekend working. Yes, that’s right. Working. But it’s okay with me. The weather is beautiful, and I do have a few things on my agenda – besides work – this weekend. On Sunday, my friend Matt will be celebrating his 27th birthday in style with a party in Whitby; and on Monday, I hope to catch up with Amandla – one of my workaholic best friends. Let’s just say, I’m thrilled we’ve finally found some time to hang out. So I guess all-in-all, the next few days do have their positives.

Granted when I am busy at work, looks like my little man is spending his afternoons relaxing and soaking up the sun at the backdoor. Oh, how puuurfect.

Zinc Door Summer Promo

Simply changing your bedding to keep up with the seasons is the key to keeping your bedroom fresh and stylish. With summer quickly approaching, now is the time to store your winter bedding until next year. Upgrade your room to match your mood with bright colors and fun designs and save money by doing so! Right now, Zinc Door is offering 15% off Trina Turk bedding with promo code 15BED. It’s always a happy hour at home with Trina Turk’s fun, whimsical bedding and accents. Don’t miss your chance to save on these stylish and modern bed sets. Enjoy!

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Archie’s Girls by Mac

Emily — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:45:44 +0000

I adore Archie comics and Mac Cosmetics. So, imagine my surprise when the makeup company released Archie-inspired lip glosses, mascaras, and nail polishes around Valentine’s Day. My heart nearly stopped. Did I mention I’m also a sucker for limited edition lines? I usually want to buy up everything – classic compulsive spender, I suppose. But you know what, I am really pleased with these particular purchases. I love, love the “Pep Pep Pep” nude colours in the Betty products; and one thing I will say about Mac, despite their high prices, they’re actually really great quality. I only use Mac foundation, and their nail polishes go on like a dream. “Archie’s Girls” has been my favourite line from Mac, and I really hope they rerelease some of these products again.

Advertisers must love me.

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Happy Mother’s Day

Emily — Mon, 13 May 2013 02:09:34 +0000

There’s a lot I can say about my Mom, but I will keep this short and sweet. If I am not at home, I am calling her while driving home from work. Now that she knows how to text, we generally message throughout the day … she has come to really enjoy sending me happy faces – which I find pretty funny. And if that isn’t enough, I’d say we both can enjoy a good episode of The Big Bang Theory together. My Mom is my best friend, and if the Backstreet Boys didn’t use the word “son” in their song “(Cause Mom You Always Were) The Perfect Fan,” then I’d say they wrote that song about us. Anyways, the lyrics still ring true.

“There is never a day that passes by I don’t think of you. You were always there for me – pushing me and guiding me, always to succeed. You showed me when I was young just how to grow. You showed me everything that I should know. You showed me just how to walk without your hands, ’cause mom you always were the perfect fan.”

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Throwback Thursdays

Emily — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:00:47 +0000

Have you ever had a teacher who changed your life? I’ve had the privilege of having many great teachers, all who have no idea how inspiring they were. Perhaps one of the most memorable ones I’ve ever had was Ms. McArthur. She was new to the school when our class had her in grade 5, and I managed to get her again the following year in a spilt grade 5/6 class.

It’s hard to remember everything when you’re so young, but her kindness and her overuse of the happy face on all my assignments has undeniably rubbed off on me. And if somehow she ever reads this, I would say that her impact on me was something like Mrs. Jean Thompson had on Teddy … a reference to a story she read us many years ago; a story I’ve never forgotten. ”Thank you … for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.”

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Ocean’s 2

Emily — Sat, 04 May 2013 01:50:50 +0000

I’m home, a bit sunburned, and still recovering after my trip to Vegas this week. It was my second time to the dessert, but this time around, I travelled with one of my best friends Jaya. Among the many activities and sights we managed to squeeze into three days, my favourite was zip-lining on Fremont Street. We also hopped on the roller-coaster at the top of New York New York, saw Criss Angel’s “Believe” at the Luxor, and took a romantic gondola ride at the Venetian. I never had the chance to go to the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam, but if I ever go back again, those will definitely top my list.

NOTE TO TRAVELLERS: I do want to make a mention, we stayed at the MGM Grand. It’s absolutely large and intimidating, and the smell of perfume fills the air – I suppose they’re trying to cover the scent of cigarette smoke. My previous stay was at the Vdara in the City Centre – a much better experience overall. Also, when travelling to Vegas … make sure you know what kind of cab you’re in. I lost my cellphone in a taxi, and all I could remember about it was: dark-ish, possibly a van or SUV, with a male driver who had gray hair. No one could help me identify the company … although, I thought that was a pretty solid description.

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Kris Allen at The Rivoli Toronto

Emily — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:33:48 +0000

I try not to get addicted to reality shows. Truth be told, anyone who knows me will tell you: I GET OBSESSED. So, it’s no surprise after I watched the first episode of American Idol, Season 8 … I was hooked. Kris Allen has always been my favourite Idol. There is a certain “earthly” sound and sincerity about his voice. Not to mention, his efforts around the world and his passion for his faith continues to inspire me. I’ve followed Kris’ career since I saw him back in 2009. I’m even guilty of downloading “Brand New Shoes,” his independent album, prior to Idol.

Now imagine my excitement when I heard the news Kris would be in Toronto, performing at the city’s downtown Rivoli. The Out Alive Tour featured New York’s Jillette Johnson – who, without exaggeration, has an outstanding powerhouse voice. She’s not mainstream; I’d classify her more indie, with lyrics that ring of our local Peter Katz.

When this Arkansas native finally hit the stage, he opened with “Out Alive” to a thriving Canadian crowd. Kris sang the favourites, including mine – “No Boundaries” – all while rocking our Canucks flag on his t-shirt. His attempts at pronouncing “Poutine” (with emphasis of the “poo”) were great. And I definitely swooned a bit when he cracked out his ukulele, something he says always gets the same reaction. “It’s so cute, I just wanna hug it,” he joked.

I won’t elaborate on every detail, of course. This is already bordering on my longest post ever. But I can finish up with saying, what a memorable show. I just want to thank Kris. We’re so happy you came to Toronto for your first Canadian gig! I think the feelings were mutual throughout the crowd; your show was remarkable.

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Breakaway

Emily — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:59:28 +0000

Once again, I’ve been a bit absent from the blogging world these past few weeks. First of all, happy April everyone! It seems Old Man Winter is still raging through Ontario, Canada and bringing with him snow and freezing rain. Burrrr! I can tell you, I’ve been fighting some type of cold bug, which has got me sniffling, sneezing, and at times, a bit feverish. Hopefully, I’m rid of this soon.

Anyhow, I thought I would breakaway from my typical posts, and write something a bit more meaningful. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had some really positive experiences. I wanted to say thank you to Krista from Balanced Life Yoga, who called me a few days ago and sent some of the kindest sentiments. I know photography is something I do secondary to broadcasting, but her genuine comments about my work has given me something so profound.

Also, I want to say that hard work does pay off. I’ve spent many years in the field – both photography and journalism – and after hours of tireless and thankless work, I’m starting to realize the value of experiences and more importantly, the amazing relationships I’ve built with people in the community. It’s the little things in life which keep me motived, and are a reminder of the amazing blessings I have been so lucky to receive.

Finally, a post to my mom – my biggest fan. Thank you for your words when I’ve been down. I think today is as good as any to say you’re appreciated.

Blurb Yearbook Special

Remember all of those special moments of the last year?(your child graduating and moving onto a new school, your kids first soccer season or school field trip!) Now, you can remember them forever by creating a Blurb School Book! The best part about Blurb School Books is they are easy to create and a great fundraising tool for your school or class … Use the code MYSCHOOLBOOK to receive your 15% discount on Blurb School and Yearbooks until 5/31/2013.

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Hy Tea in Pickering

Emily — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:42:51 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by Hy Tea in Pickering. The city’s small tea shop and restaurant is located off Liverpool Road, on Frenchman’s Bay at 1295 Wharf Street. It’s owned and operated by Hy Niles – an extremely personable and kind hearted woman, who served us while we were there for an afternoon of treats and tea.

Now, my friend Lori and I stopped by the tea house for our first time ever, during the off season. But I can tell you, I’ve seen the establishment packed throughout the summer months – so it’s best to enjoy it while the weather is still a bit chilly for a perfect relaxing atmosphere!

If you’re a tea enthusiast, like me, you may always be looking for new and exciting places to visit. Hy Tea in Pickering charges just under $24 dollars for a high-tea experience, and includes a warm scone, whipped butter, tasty deserts, fruits, sweet Devon cream, delicious jam and delicate finger sandwiches. Although, they do suggest a reservation first.

A Message from Stella & Dot

Stella & Dot has taken Hollywood by storm with celebrities and editors adoring Stella & Dot’s boutique style jewelry and accessories line! Elizabeth Banks, an actress, producer and director, has been spotted wearing the Stella & Dot Medina Bib Necklace on multiple occasions! Add this necklace to a summer dress or with a shirt and jeans. Carly Rae Jepsen was seen accessorizing with the Spring Awakening Necklace while posing with Seventeen magazine. This beautiful necklace is perfect for spring! Shay Mitchell looks stunning in the Pegasus Necklace and owns several Stella & Dot pieces. Be your own celebrity and flaunt Stella & Dot’s couture style. Happy Accessorizing!

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Just Because

Emily — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:59:48 +0000

It’s almost midnight on this quiet night. I know I’ve been taking a break from blogging these past few weeks, but for good reason. I’ve found myself caught up with work and improvement meetings. With the goals I’ve set out for myself, now has become a crucial time for me to get better, and soon move onto new opportunities and adventures. To be honest, I don’t think my camera batteries are even charged right now. But I did want to share a small post – something meaningful and something that makes me happy. Of course when I think happiness, I think Jimmy Dean. Yes, I get it. I may possess a “crazy cat lady” vibe, but I can’t think of anything that makes me smile as much as this little man.

I was “digging” through some old photos, and I came across this one taken a few years ago. I always make him pose with me for webcam photos … but you know what, even though his eyes seem to say “SAVE ME”, his heart is REALLY saying, “I love you too, Emily.”

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Café Mirage Kennedy Commons

Emily — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:13:49 +0000

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to check out a café outside of the Durham Region called Café Mirage, located at Kennedy Commons in Scarborough. The day was drizzling and the wind was cold; a perfect afternoon to spend inside the cozy atmosphere of this GTA date spot.

And by date, of course I mean my best friend Jaya. As you know, we spend one day a week checking out cafés, restaurants and other local treasures – and for the most part, we’ve been pretty successful. Café Mirage was recommended to me more than once, but serves best for the romantics, I think. The chairs are big and comfy, and the desserts are large … too large for any one person to finish alone. But their selection and service is fabulous. So, if you and your hunny usually have trouble picking a treat to split, you shouldn’t have a problem at Café Mirage. I was born with a sweet tooth (a curse, really, especially if you’re trying to stay healthy), and there was a few options that really enticed me. Unfortunately, I will have to taste those another day.

And what’s a date without taking photos to share on Instagram, right? We both shared this photo, using different filters. That’s how much we loved it, and how awesome/quirky we both are. Thanks lovely, for another great afternoon of girl talk.

Calling all fashionistas!

ModCloth has one of the coolest new contests going on the web right now! From today through 7 a.m. PST on March 18, ModCloth is inviting community members to check out their brand new Style Gallery, upload a photo, love images and share the looks that inspire them throughout the week of March 11 – 18. The image that gains the highest community-generated loves will win the top prize of a $100 ModCloth gift card! The other exciting part, you ask? Two random lovers of that winning image will also each score a $50 gift card! Head over to ModCloth right now to participate in the Style Gallery or maybe just check out all of the great fashions available! Other details: The owner of the image with the most ‘loves’ between 7 a.m. PT 3/11 and 7 a.m. PT 3/18 will win a $100 ModCloth gift card. And ModCloth will contact the winners via email by 3/22 and announce the winners on the blog at 7 a.m. PT 3/27.

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