Skip to main content
Category

Self Love

Apr 19
Love0

Playing the Beauty Long Game

By Beauty, Makeup, Self Development, Self Love, Uncategorized

WHAT DO I MEAN BY THE LONG GAME? TAKING TIME, INVESTING IN YOURSELF, KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO CHEAP OR QUICK SOLUTIONS.

YOUR FUTURE SELF THANKS YOU.

We live in a world where we can download answers to (almost) anything in seconds, order food and have it in minutes, speed dating, “there’s an app for that”, surgeries and procedures for almost any change we want and while constantly looking though the veil of social media where everyone’s life, body, husband, work, vacation etc seems perfect…those quick fixes get incredibly appealing.  Lemme tell you, if it looks to good to be true, it probably is.

Start slow with baby steps.  Fall in love with the process and yourself.  Like planning ritual bath evenings – it doesn’t have to be expensive either, it just takes a bit of planning and creativity.

I used to be a freelance makeup artist in Toronto and would often work for brands in large fancy schmancy department stores.  The women I would help were usually older, had a lot of money and would have typically worn a lot of makeup at least every day for most of their lives.  Their skin was (typically) very dry, thin, crepey and their mentality was the “needed” products like addicts.  Then I moved to the country where I had my wee beauty store and served a very different market, still the same age but farmers wives, women who worked in the city, mothers of three… rarely wore makeup and it was usually a low priority.  Their skin was plumper, had more life and was way better in general.  Makeup isn’t bad, but take breaks, give your skin some love, eat well and know that makeup isn’t life, use it if and when you want to, it’s a tool for some.  I’d rather see a lip balmed smile over a perfectly lined red lip scowl annnny day of the week.

I remember coming back from some retreats that really fed my soul.  Like my yoga teacher training, it was a month of yoga at least four hours a day, sunshine – hello a bit of a tan!  And the most incredible clean food.  I’ve never looked better in my life.  EVERYone said how incredible and young I looked and I wasn’t wearing heels or dressed up, my hair was never that done and it was, most of the time, without any makeup.  I beamed happiness, I was healthy, confident, more self aware and felt such an inner calm I was more present to listen to what others had to say.  That was my prettiest self.  Of course it starts to slip, in my ideal life I would have a month away like that at least once a year *fingers crossed for one day*.  And then people would question if maybe I had an aging portrait of myself in my attic…

SOME IDEAS- MAYBE PICK A COUPLE TO START WITH:

  • DIY products – just by purchasing a base amount of ingredients – there are so many things you can make!  From Body scrubs, to oils, teeth whitening treatment, balms, insect repellent… oodles of options
  • Eat well.  I know I know, you’ve heard it before but you are what you eat.  Try and be clean, organic and as local as you can.
  • Take a Gua Sha or face roller class (or watch YouTube vids) to learn the proper techniques of a good self face massage – Gua Sha is a gem stone curved paddle which helps with muscle, joint pain, self with a bit of a natural facelift and can also benefit the immune system and reduce inflammation.
  • Dry brushing
  • Yoga and meditation – So important to have a calm mind.  Self awareness is key for living a happy life.  And c’mon, stress wrinkles aren’t fun.
  • Acupuncture
  • Naturapothy
  • Do things just for you.  Seriously.  It isn’t selfish, you can’t pour from an empty cup.  Do what fills your soul and makes you happy, your friends and family deserve you and your best, right?
  • Say no – nicely, but if you don’t feel like going to that thing of Friday, just bow out, be honest.  It’s ok.
  • A great support system.  If you leave your friends drained or feeling bad about yourself… check in, go there, ask yourself why and if you still want these people in your life or if you can shift the energy to a better place.
  • Stare at the stars, go for walks without your phone, wander down streets you’ve never been on, be present and open
  • Smile…better yet, laugh often.  Find those people, those circumstances and laugh your ass off as much as you can.
  • Love you.  You deserve nothing less, love you first.

I hope you liked these ideas!  If you have any to add, shoot me an email or find me on INSTAGRAM – I’d love to hear them

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY SUPPORT IN THIS, I GOT YOU

BOOK ANY TIME FOR YOUR FREE FIRST COFFEE DATE TO GO OVER SELF CARE, RECIPES OR ANYTHING YOU NEED

Apr 17
Love0

Spirit Junkie Masterclass Level 2

By Adventures, Manifesting, Self Development, Self Love, Uncategorized

It took me three years, but in Oct '18 I finally made it.

I can’t imagine my life without it

Actually I can... but I don't want to. I look back on my past self with so much love, but also with a "oh, you still have so much to learn". And this is just the beginning, I will never stop learning, progressing, falling and getting back up again. I'm so blessed to have been able to do this training and to have met so many people who are like family now.

Left: I geeked out and brought my light letter box...they all LOVED it 🙂

The entire place is magical, the grounds, services and even the food.

I drove down and allowed myself a full day to get there to enjoy the trip, it was in late fall and absolutely gorgeous.  New York state through country roads and small towns with planned playlists = awesomeness.  I arrived at Kripalu and though parking everywhere was packed, I scooped one of the closest spots in long term parking. *thank you universe*.

I was actually quite nervous.  Excited but, nervous for, I don’t know what.  I immediately felt better when I saw a few fellow Spirit Junkie friends.  We caught up and chatted over coffee while our rooms got ready for us.  The rooms were basic and perfect.  Just what we needed.   I of course brought my diffuser with my favorite scents 😉  Which, thankfully my roomie was very into it.

Having our first evening of intros we got our first taste of the amazing food….. omg the food!  So clean, so many options… incredible.  Then off to bed as early as I could.

The girls and I got up extra early to nab our seats, I needed to be in the front row.  Not to be too much of a keener, but when I sat front row and SJM1 this year, magical things happened, Gabby noticed from the stage and mentioned it to me later AND in a facebook live.  I felt on fire (in a good way) so if it helped me there, damn right I’m doing it again.  The power in that room was so strong.  This was the first year that it ended up being all women.  I felt accepted, loved and haven’t felt so at home with a group of people in my whole life.  Everyone deserves this feeling at least once in their lifetime.

But above it all…it’s about

the people you meet

Sure, we covered a lot on personal growth, got into marketing and business, public speaking (which I was super excited for) writing our first book.  We had several guest speakers (aka badasses) and we learned and got inspired by so much.  Some we were looking for, some hit us in a big AHA moment… but the people you end up meeting and connection with on such an incredible deep level, very quickly.  Some knew things about me in two days that I never told anyone.  Ever.  It’s just that kind of vibe.

I had a group of girls, who are like family to me now.  We are a core group of four who still have group calls all the time, we support and call each other when we need to, I also have several more women who I feel deeply connected to and we support and keep in touch all of the time.  To have running buddies, to have people who “get it” and understand what you’re going through and, love them, but not all of our regular friends and family get it.  Not all of it.  So this…this makes it worth a million.  The connections and freedom to be the real you, scratch that, all sides of you and be loved for it, is priceless.

 

Below : Can you spot me?  Front row baby!

Jul 31
Love0

Confession… I’m in love with Jay Shetty

By Adventures, Manifesting, Self Development, Self Love, Uncategorized

I mean... who wouldn't be...

I've been a fan of his for a looooong time.

He’s done a LOT

From Monk to Forbes 30 Under 30, has a BILLION views and 10 million followers

And though he has a great resume… it’s his message I’m in love with.

Jay's wisdom, sharpness and vision wrapped up in a millennial model look, with that Brit accent (and don't get me started on his eyes) is the perfect package for getting these messages across to many. Known as the Digital Monk, his viral videos are making an impact for the better, with age old ideas modernized and brought to the masses through video and memes. He definitely gets the right, and well deserved, attention.

I really, really wanted to attend Gabby Bernstein’s Spirit Junkie Masterclass in NYC for a third time (yep… three times) but when I saw that Jay Shetty was to be a guest speaker, I freaked out a little.  Like a lot.

I manifested the shizzle out of attending and it totally happened.  The universe wanted me to be there.  I rarely had weekends off and I had it off.  A friend invited me to share a hotel room. It timed perfectly around my parents vacay for watching my cat.  My soul needed to be there so my human part made sure that it happened.  And NYC, you never disappoint.

Sunday, our third day, rolled around and that morning, there he was.  In the isle next to the stage with a line up of people waiting for a pic.  I was shaking a bit as I squeeled into my IG story.

*side note*  Guy’s… I’ve worked and have met MANY celebs.  Seriously, I’m not shaken up and/nervous by just anyone.  This hardly ever happens.  But I was for reals shaking.

It was his turn, we heard him speak.  He was AMAZING and then he sat with the other speakers to the side of the stage.

I knew I had to say something to him.  I knew it since I heard he was speaking.  I knew it would be speacial and not just a line up kinda thing.  I felt that the right moment would come up and, for some reason after our break, I didn’t want to take my seat.  I hung out on the stairs into the theatre watching everyone have a warm up dance party.  I didn’t know what I was waiting for, but I felt I was to wait.

By sitting in the front row, I could have touched his sneaks...

The following is my journal entry from the day after

I waited for some reason.  He was in the main room with everyone dancing and I waited on the stairs taking it all in.  He was surrounded with people wanting photos, validation and to be seen by him.  I waited.

He walked by being escorted by a volunteer, bathroom break?  Meeting? I thought.  I followed and they went outside, was he leaving?  I have huge boundaries and respect for people in high demand, I don’t ask for selfies when I work with celebrities, I try to make conversation as though they’re just a normal person, like a barista or neighbour.  They are often a person with very little privacy and I honor that.  But…..

I paced in the lobby feeling the pull in my gut of what to do, to stay inside and miss my chance or to run out, possibly get turned away, dismissed, let down.

A spirit junkie friend ran out to take a quick photo with him.  I don’t even remember following.  I said “Jay, I just have to say thank you so much for all of the work you do, I’ve been a fan since you started, I share your videos all of the time and got so many people into you and your message.  You make me so proud to be half English *gushing on*…

He said Thank you about five times as I rambled on fanatically, I said “you inspire me, I have a message I’m nervous about sharing with so many spiritual and wellness workers, buying unicorns from Walmart being made by unfairly paid workers in China with the #highvibe or making themselves and the planet sick by using toxic over-priced products, or buying gemstones mined by children…”

He said “yes, this is so important, I wouldl say to keep it positive and share what’s going on.  Don’t call anyone out or shame anyone.  Where are you based?”  “In Canada, Ottawa, but travel a bunch” (and now I’m wondering why the ef he asked that… damn it) I then asked “would you mind taking a photo?”

Then I said, “I know I have a strong voice and presence, I’m one of the ones in the audience who raised both hands when you asked “who’s funny?”  He said “…To keep going…”

I offered an out by starting the “I don’t want to take up anymore of your time…” But he kept talking, very interested in my ideas, had suggestions and advice for me, was so caring and thoughtful, focused on me and not what was going on around him, like the girl waiting for a photo.  We chatted for a couple more minutes and I offered to take the photo for the girl waiting.  His car arrived, I said “thank you so much” as I shook his hand.  And I walked (sure did feel like a girly skip) inside.  I don’t remember getting back to my seat and I was shaking again when I got there.

The feeling of suggesting a topic to someone of this caliber and have them lit up and engaged felt incredible. To be seen by a hero of yours is unparalleled.  The validation is great, but being on the same platform as them, even just for a few minutes, opens up that possibility for me to reach that level all of the time.  Have these conversations many more times with thought leaders.  My soul was singing.

‘Till next time Jay Shetty.  I know there will be one.

 

Follow your gut.  Get to those places your soul wants to go.  Let it lead you.

Mar 31
Love0

How I Manifested Peeing with Gabby Bernstein

By Aventures, Beauty, Self Development, Self Love

Yep.

You heard me.

I freaking manifested peeing with THE Gabby Bernstein…

I had been a fan of Gabby for about a year, getting more into yoga and my spiritual development (or should I say return as I had been very involved when I was quite young) I found her through online sources – it started out as a mention here and there and then I watched her as a guest through a membership site I’m a part of and at a point I said to myself – that’s IT!  “Who is the Gabby Bernstein person?!”  And I was hooked.  Her message, her vibe, her everyday realness, a spiritual teacher who was sassy and into fashion?  Tell me more.

I frequented her online live video’s, blog posts and podcast interviews and loved her everything she was about.  I was incredibly inspired and excited.  Her ideas and teachings elevated my own mind and energy.  From mindset, to manifesting, releasing blocks and self love healing… I was so in.

The pic that got regrammed by Gabby when I went to see her speak in Montreal.  The Universe Has Your Back and Judgement Detox have been added since.

Spirit Junkie Masterclass dates were announced, it’s a weekend event in June attracting like minded high vibers, mostly women, who come together in a theatre holding 300 in downtown NYC.  Coming from all over the world to learn, expand, turn inward, understand and love.  I immediately felt a huge tug from my insides.  I had to be there.

Since I’m a makeup artist who had weddings booked pretty much every weekend, especially in the summer and sometimes a year in advance.  I actually had that very weekend off (and this was only about six weeks until show time) WHA?!  But what’s a girl to do who is broke AF, especially with the Canadian dollar – this just wasn’t gonna happen in a usual way.

Pining away and trying my little heart out in the manifest teachings of trust, faith and visualizing over a weeks time, a mini miracle happened – the price was discounted for a weekend.  All weekend I meditated on going, I was picturing myself there, front and center, meeting so many incredible people, traveling to NYC… my mantra for the weekend was “money comes to me in unexpected ways”.  Sunday rolled around and as I kept refreshing the sales page, finally, the discount was gone.  “Well”, I thought to myself, “I guess it’s not happening now”.  And I let it go.

Letting go is everything

The next day while in the middle of my own yoga practice at home, a thought hit my brain so hard while I was in down dog, I jumped up and don’t even remember running to my computer.  F it!  I’m recording and sending a video to Gabby Bernstein’s people asking if they need any help with volunteers or if they offer any scholarships. I recorded a short video in my Lulu tank in a full on sweat – I just had to get this out there.  Due to some techy difficulty my video wouldn’t upload properly and I decided to wait until the next day to send it so it wasn’t in the middle of a pile of morning emails (I’m so sneaky and thoughtful 😉

Early the next morning, I checked up on Gabby’s Instagram while waiting for my video to upload to YouTube and…. omfg….. OMG – it’s a post announcing they’re accepting videos for scholarships for Spirit Junkie Masterclass – are you kidding me?!?!  AHHHHH!!!!  So you bet I ran into my room to record an intro telling of the crazy awesomeness and sent that video in asap.

I waited and paced, feeling such a buzz through my body.  Even if I didn’t get the scholarship, I was so proud of myself for being open and listening to my inner self for knowing, a day early, to get the video done.  Don’t mess with me, I was on FIRE!  I called my mum (obvs) and declared “I could do a thousand, I could figure out my budget if it was discounted to one thousand dollars to go”

You know what happened next?

I got it.

I got exactly what I asked for.

An email from Gabby’s assistant Ali, telling me that they would love to offer me a scholarship at JUST UNDER the amount I declared out loud.  For realz.  And yep – there were tears of joy.

The word manifest hasn’t been the same since for me.

 

I’m going to effing NYC.

On my way to NYC for Gabby Bernstein’s SJM!


View from plane to NYC!

Staying with my dear friend who lives in Harlem, I was so excited to get downtown, the SJM alum bunch is the most kind and supportive and had arranged a late lunch spot down the street from the venue for anyone who wanted to join and we all walked (skipped or pranced would be a more fitting word – we were all BEAMING with anticipation)

I didn’t try to get this very spiritual number seat – meant to be

 

Lining up outside and pouring into the venue, we were the keeners and bee lined to get as close to a front row center seat as we could.  Then took turns going to the lobby to check stuff out, several vendors with gorgeous things to support us including Satya Jewlery, Love Bomb and Muse headbands were my faves.

Gabby’s Love Bomb mug on stage “Today I will manifest some cool ass shit”

 

On our way in!

 

The theatre filled up, I was making friends all around us and I decided to run to the bathroom really quick before it started.  I darted into the stall, peed super quick and bolted out only to have Gabby standing right in front of me.  She was adjusting her outfit (if memory serves me it was a very cool white pant onesie) and her friend and show producer was there helping her, I helped out a bit (post washing hands I promise) stumbling over words including “I used to be a stylist” or something like that and I’m sure made some more weird awkward comments before “break a leg” and ran back to my seat telling my neighbours “she’s about to come out!”.  The house lights dimmed, the stage lights came up and there she was, starting a dance party for us all.  We all were on our feet and didn’t stop the celebration all weekend.  There were so many tears, laughs, realizations, journaling, aha moments – I honestly can’t even describe it fully… what I can say that it was life changing, I would do it again in a heartbeat.  It’s a mission of mine to go to SJM2 this year*.  I can’t wait.

 

She takes the stage

 

Thank you Gabby for holding space for 300 of us in prayer, making sure we had tons of tissues, honesty, love and dancing up a storm.  I’m so happy you didn’t have a wardrobe malfunction up there… #yourewelcome 😉

XOXO

Below are some more pics of my Spirit Junkie manifesting.

 

See the rainbow – I caught magic everywhere, my eyes were open to it all after the weekend. Tattooed foot (same subway ride as the rainbow) “Strength”, green heart on the ground (Magic EVERYWHERE I tells ya!), Fake wrist tat with my necklace.  This necklace was a gift from my one of my best friends when I was going through a difficult time.  I wore it as a sign to anyone who needed it at SJM and then I found this fake tattoo in our lobby.  PERFECT.  The universe totally has my back.  And my miracles bracelet from our gift bag.  I still wear it every time I go out.

 

XOXO

 

 

 

*It took me three years, but my third SJM in a row – I did it, I signed up and attended level two that fall.  Click HERE for that post.

Close Menu