At the beginning of May, I upgraded my living situation from a crappy Capreit run building (the WORST) to a lovely, bright, two bed, two bath place with all the trimmings.

Moving is the best. I have been so divinely happy in my new place. I was in the old one for almost three years and change is always good.

However, the actual process of moving can be really stressful, especially in Toronto. One time, I needed a couch moved from my friend’s place to mine and I called up a company that I found on Craigslist that lied about the price, and refused to bring the couch upstairs until I told them that they wouldn’t get paid unless they did. They were also two hours late and demanded a tip.

This time, my friend Tiffany told me about Energy Crew movers. She raved about their professionalism, friendly attitude and extremely reasonable prices. Here’s her testimonial on them.

Originally I had them booked up, but then had to cancel because I couldn’t manage to book the service elevators at good times at both apartments on the day that I had wanted to move. However, they were extremely friendly and very accommodating. They answered emails and tried to move things around to help me out. BlogTO.com also called them the best movers in the city!

At the end of my rope, I headed to Homestars.com and started going through ratings and reviews. I came across Augusta Movers , contacted them and booked them right away. Dinko, one of the owners of Augusta, was amazing. Him and his partner arrived right on time and completed the move in about 4.5 hours, moving with incredible efficiency.  The price was extremely reasonable and they were amazingly friendly. I totally want to be Dinko’s bestie.

I would highly recommend Augusta Movers if you are planning a move in Toronto. I also can contest to Energy Crew’s professionalism, prices and friendliness. 2 options for ya!

FINALLY! I can appease my love for LOFT without a hike to Yorkdale! LOFT is coming to the Eaton Center, just in time for summer! And if you saw my LOFT Summer Preview post, you will know that’s something to celebrate.

This dress will be mine!

Love these shoes too:

As a LOFT girl, I have the opportunity to bring one of my readers along for the press preview which means you will get to see the store before ANYONE else! Not only that, you will get a $100 LOFT gift certificate to pick out a new summer outfit while you’re there!

The summer collection is starting to show up on the LOFT website and you can check out all your favorite pieces before the preview!

So you want to come?

Just comment below which piece is your favorite from the new arrivals section in the website and retweet this post with the #ImWithALOFTGirl Hashtag and we can go shopping together

Is there really anything better than the Saturday morning of the long weekend? I think not. Last week was difficult to chug along through. After coming down from a Vegas high and with the knowledge that a long weekend was approaching, it was hard to stay focused.

I posted the above picture to my Facebook page. Someone didn’t like it.

What tipped you off, Jonathan? #noduh

Mid week, I received goodies Essie and Hawaiian Tropic, which put me in a very summery mood.

I kicked off  the weekend with a mani/pedi, loaded up my Kobo, slapped on some Hawaiian Tropic and enjoyed life.

This week is a short one but it’s going to be busy. At the beginning of each week, I get mini panic attacks, like Oh My God, how am I going to do this all? HOW?? I have four conference calls and a meeting today. That’s bananas.

Come Friday, I usually laugh because life is great and what was I so worried about?

Hope your long weekend was amazing! And have a great short week all! Remember, its a short one

Oh yes, and I have a sweet contest coming up tomorrow XOXO

Ever since May has hit, I’ve been pushing myself to move harder and harder. I don’t know what it is, but even though I hate cardio, I always feel better after a good session.

With the announcement of Oakley’s new ambassadors for 2013, I am feeling even more inspired to keep up my active lifestyle. The women who have been selected to rep the brand for this year are inspiring and completely motivating! Here are the Ontario winners:

Charlotte Beatty has a really outgoing personality, is super bubbly and runs and does yoga! I like her energy in her video and that she challenges herself! Read more about Charlotte here .

I had a feeling Heather Gardner would end up winning! She’s got a great look and is really passionate about motivating other women to move their bodies to the MAX!

Lauren Dickson is another girl who is perfect to rep Oakley. Just look at that wonderful yoga stance. She has already inspired me to get back into it

Look at Dany Guimond-Valcourt’s enviable arms! I love this girl, she’s got an amazing smile and a great personality.

For the winners from other provinces, check out the Oakley Active Facebook page. All of these women were well selected and totally deserved to win! I can’t wait to follow their journey this year as Oakley ambassadors and continue to be inspired by them!

You’re invited to celebrate the launch of the Toronto O-Active Training Club with Ambassadors Meagan and Diana next Tuesday the 28th! Check out full information here! I will be there in my Oakley gear ready to RUN!

Last Tuesday, I headed to Fishbar on Ossington, FINALLY. I’ve been dying to try out Fishbar forever. It has two of my favorite words in its name so I figured it would be right up my alley.

I was completely overthrown though. I’m not sure what I had expected, but whatever it was, Fishbar completely surpassed it.

Located at 217 Ossignton Street, Fishbar serves a wide selection of decadent AND sustainable seafood dishes. In addition to that, Wednesdays are #WhateverWednesdays when you can bring your own bottle of wine and forego the corkage fee by donating to OceanWise which is all about a conservation program that supports sustainable food practices.

So what’s on the menu? Oh man.

To start we enjoyed fresh oysters with anchovy crustini

We then moved on to Tuna Sashimi and and Ecuadorian Tilipia Ceviche followed by Spiced Lentil Salad with Lobster Creme Fresh which was too good to be true.

This was followed with Oysters Rockafeller with smoked bacon, Pernod cream and Grana Padano.

We had a little palette cleanser of Apple and Campari Sorbet

We then had the Diver Caught Sea Scallopss and Maple Miso Glazed Wild Pacific Salmon

And my very favorite, the Rowe Farms Grilled “Petite Tender” and Lobster topped with Truffle-Scented Hollandaise Sauce and the Sicilian Gnocci that literally melts in your mouth, with freshwater prawn, shiitake mushrooms, wilted aruglia and first cold pressed olive oil.

Too good to be true. Honestly.

I had a great time and can’t wait to head back to Fishbar.

Check out their site here.

If you don’t know the story about Kelly Oxford, here’s a nice article for you to read because I don’t feel like regurgitating talking points from interviews on this site. I will break it down for you VERY briefly. Kelly Oxford is truly the definition of Twitter famous. She’s not like  me at a media event saying “Maybe you know me by my Twitter handle” and a small percentage of the time someone  might say “ohhh ya, I follow you”.  Kelly Oxford is flat-out super famous and it started from Twitter.

That is, her fame and recognition started from Twitter. She’s quick to say that Twitter is not the only thing factor contributing to her fame and reading this quote below, you’d be hard pressed to argue:
When the Chicago Tribune ran an article about Oxford last summer with the headline, “Writer takes short route to Hollywood success,” she took to her Tumblr. “The message I am getting from this is that living my whole life as a writer, writing for years and years, meant nothing,” she blasted. “Going to screenwriting seminars, blogging daily for 12 years, staying up for days and days to finish scripts, was a waste of my goddamn time. The message I’m getting here is that you can write a few funny tweets and become a screenwriter. It’s the American Dream, and this Canadian is calling bullshit.” Flare

Fair enough. Again, she’s amazingly talented and after reading this book, I was like, whoa. She’s awesome. Kelly walks us through her Canadian life from child, to 12 year old to teen to young adult to adult and as I read along, I find her to be probably the most relatable famous person ever.

Maybe it has something to do with her being Canadian, but I read through this book and at each stage in her life, there was at least three things when I was like “Oh My God, Me TOO!”

Here’s a few:

1- I was an very passionate, dramatic kid and loved being the center of attention

2-I never peed my pants at a gas station, but I did go to Disneyworld with my family at 12 and was probably way too old to enjoy it, but I really did. This was during 7th grade March break, when I was in a junior high hell of young suburban kids who drank and smoked cigarettes and weed and kissed with tongues.

3- I grew up always thinking, one day I would be famous, but had no discernable talents that would make me famous, like being able to act or good at sports or being exceptionally pretty enough to model.

Sometimes, I still think I will be famous for something.

4 – When David Copperfield invited her for brunch in Vegas, she got too drunk the night before and had to cancel.  I can so see myself doing something like that.

These are really just the tip of the ice berg as you delve more and more into the Kelly story.

Long story short: Kelly Oxford is cool. She is annoyingly cool, probably the coolest person ever. She’s also annoyingly gorgeous.

I liked this book. It was a super easy read and perfect for the summer. You can read it after a bunch of wine, or by the pool or on the stationary bike.

I also want to be Kelly’s new best friend.

Charming approved.

I was a total VV aka Vegas Virgin until last week. I had the amazing opportunity to head to Sin City for my girlfriend Tiffany’s Batchelorette Party from Thursday to Sunday.

First of all, Kiefer Sutherland was on our plane to LA. That made my frigging life. I love Jack Bauer. Always have.

We got to Vegas around 4 on Thursday, checked into the MGM Grand, got dressed and did a tour of the strip.

I was immediately blown away by the city, as I am sure all Vegas Virgins are. It really is incredible. Lights everywhere, people are euphoric (drunk?), excited and happy. The entire city smells like delicious fast food.

Apparently, they pump oxygen into the casinos to keep people going. I’m not surprised. You really lose the time in Vegas. Before you know it, it’s 4 am. Bananas. And the rooms are equipped with these “blackout” shades so even when you wake up, you have zero notion of what’s happening outdoors.

The water show/fountain at the Bellagio was my favorite I think. The water danced to Billy Jean by MJ. It was awesome.

I also loved hanging out by the pool. We had two pool days that burned my white Canadian skin (which is already turning into a sweet tan, so I’m ok with it). The first, we hung out at the MGM Grand’s epic pool/s. I drank a 27 dollar frozen cocktail called Tickled Pink, read four gossip mags and took a snooze.

That night, we got dolled up and headed to Fiamma Trattoria for dinner which was just too good to be true. I had Cesar salad and split the Surf and Turf (which was the best I’ve ever had) with one of the other gals. The grilled to perfection sirloin was smothered in blue cheese and gravy, served with a lobster tail, good GOD.

(very dark)

After dinner, we played the slots for a bit than did a tour of the other major hotels and casinos like Aria,  Bellagio and Ceasars Palace (CP was the least impressive, I must say)

Sex and the City slots! I ended up winning like 30 bucks in Wheel of Fortune which I quickly lost and that was the extent of my gambling ways.

Look what I saw! Chanel hoolahoop bag!

The next day we headed to the Palms for a pool party.

A pool party in Vegas is a lot how you would expect it. Loud music, douchey guys, girls dancing on speakers. If you take it for what it is, it’s fun. I decided to give into it.

Quick Vegas Tip:

If you are looking for a brunch spot and can’t stand the line at Denny’s, we found a most charming all-day breakie place in the Hawaiian Market Place on the strip called Zingers. Friendly service, patio and a good shopping spot to buy ridiculously large sun hats like you see above.

All in all, Vegas is cool, but it isn’t a relaxing place by any means. I’d love to go back with Brody and take in some shows and experience more restaurants and maybe get hitched in a chapel.

Oh yes, and I picked up this sweet little Pandora charm

Have you been to Vegas? Is it on your bucket list?

I feel like I have been totally MIA when it comes to my blog. I’ve been so incredibly overwhelmed with work and I just took a quick trip to Vegas this weekend where I refused to touch a keyboard with a ten foot pole.

So please forgive me while I catch up on charming you or finding things that might. This week, I have a full roster for you including:

Vegas roundup, Everything’s Perfect When You’re A Liar by Kelly Oxford review, review of the new menu at Fishbar, winners of the Oakley Ambassador contest and several other tidbits of awesome, like what’s up in business, the Essie Summer collection, new John Frieda products and more!

Ok, hope your week is wonderful xoxoxo

By the time you read this, I will be flying closer and closer to Las Vegas, to the MGM Grand, to this lazy river, most importantly.

It’s my first time in Vegas! I totally checked out yesterday

Can’t wait to share my pics xoxo Have a great weekend

Easily one of Toronto’s most anticipated marketing events of the year, The Art of Marketing is a fantastic conference of great speakers discussing the topic that influences so much of our lives: marketing.

Below are the speakers for this year’s event at the  Metro Toronto Convention Centre:

Biz Stone – co-founder of Twitter

Seth Godin - New York Times Bestselling Author, Purple Cow, Tribes, Poke the Box & Linchpin

Charles Duhigg - New York Times Investigative Reporter & Bestselling Author, The Power of Habit

Jonah Berger - Professor of Viral Marketing at University of Pennsylvania and Author of Contagious:

Why Things Catch On

David Usher - Juno Award Winning Musician & Creativity Expert

Amazing right? I haven’t seen David Usher in person since like Edgefest 1998 when he was fronting for Moist.

Purchase your tickets using the promocode #TWITTERFAN for a discount! Click here!