LOVE LIST - MAY MOOD // 014

The other day, I went back and began reading an old blog of mine (fun fact if you scroll back far enough on my site - you’ll find it!) and I realized I basically was creating the same content (as this newsletter) WEEKLY back in 2017. Every week I would share my weekly FEELS (ex. titled: WEEK 28 FEELS). I wrote every week until… I stopped and never went back and don’t think there was any reason beside life getting busy. I wish I never stopped. It brought me so much joy going back and reading this weekly journal of my life. It was great content - I used to do some really cool stuff.

My current reality = I couldn't write a weekly blog because life is busy - one: kids take away a lot of time and energy! and two: I definitely don’t do enough exciting things on the weekly to even share! But maybe that’s something to change? Recently, I went to Revival 5.0 - thanks Liat! and Kristen from the ten spot spoke about choosing fun and adventure! How to actively bring more fun into our day to day both with my family and on my own… make time to do the things I love and that energize and inspire me. So with prioritizing fun and adventure… above is my MAY MOOD(board).

“twenty years from now you’re gonna wish you more fun. so have more fun” - so while I will continue to stick to my bi-monthly newsletter. I’m revisiting my old blog (circa 2017, pre-kids life) and taking some inspo from it to do more, say yes, and have fun… especially with summer just around the corner!! (please no more rain!!!)

… and now here are a few specific things I am really into right now:

What I’m reading …
One Golden Summer

I am lining up my summer reads and of course I had to start it off the Carley Fortune’s brand new book and it did not disappoint. The way I know I love a book so much is when I find myself sneaking away during the day to read and that was this one. I’m usually a read before bed gal but not with One Golden Summer.

I’m using…
Mini Ceramic Grater Plates

I was recently in Spain and got the prettiest handmade kitchen gadget from Tierra Cocida. It looks like a normal dish with a bit of texture but it's a grater! I’ve used it for garlic, parm, and even fruit. Because it’s ceramic it can go in the dishwasher and oven. I found a similar one made in canada here. It would also make a great hostess gift!

ICYMI -
I made a bunch of really cute custom sticker collages - currently taking custom commissions for June and July, I escaped to Spain and ate lots of tapas on the beach, and celebrated lots of birthdays in the fam!

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LOVE LIST - MARCH MOOD // 013

Hi! So here we are at the end of March. January was the longest month ever and then February and March basically didn’t exist - anyone else feel this? Spring is officially here (even though it doesn’t necessarily feel it)… I’m SO ready to pack away the winter gear!! With Spring on my mind… above is my MARCH MOOD(board).

“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable because that is how you grow”. I see Spring as a time to grow… maybe it’s the flowers beginning to bloom or being a spring baby…but I’m trying to embrace the new, the change, the uncomfortable (and FYI it’s not so easy). If you’re feeling the same - you got this!!
… and now here are a few specific things I am really into right now:

What I’m reading …
Romantic Comedy

In this month’s Book Club I’m recommending Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld… finally a book I couldn’t put down! Okay - so it was a little slow to get into… but part 2 and 3 = 👌. I love to read before bed (best last thing to do right before sleep - I promise!) but this book I would find myself wanting to read all the time and I would sneak away and read.  

I’m making …
Pinterest Collages

Every newsletter I create a collage to start it off. I create these in a design software called Adobe Illustrator but did you know you can make super easy (and I mean SUPER EASY) collages in Pinterest? I’ve been choosing making over scrolling lately, and have been making a conscious effort to try and create instead of doom scrolling. Here are a few of my most recent collages - how fun? I recommend trying it.

I’m eating …
Canadian Snacks and Staples

I feel a lot of us are more aware than ever about where what we are consuming is coming from. I did a quick search of my pantry and fridge and I was amazed by how many of my favourite snacks and go-to staples are Canadian so I wanted to share! What are some of your Canadian faves?

ICYMI -

I made super cute valentine's day cards with my boys. I spoke to design students at Humber College (first time!) I was on set for a few prop styling jobs where I found myself shooting confetti cannons and making it rain money (literally) all day and I’ve also been creating some throwback sticker reels - just for fun (more from this series to come)! … and my website is up and running with STICKER CLUB tab where you can buy sticker collage kits, sticker books, stickers off the roll and all the other fun sticker stuff! Happy sticker shopping (+ more will be uploaded this month too!)

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LOVE LIST - JANUARY MOOD // 012

Happy 2025! We are a month in - how are YOU feeling?
It’s been the longest month but also - how is it the last day of January!?

At the beginning of the month I was thinking about what my 2025 word, or what my power word of the year should be. Last year, it was CLARITY and I was really tempted to continue using this word for 2025 because I didn’t end 2024 with full clarity and no other words felt quite right… But then I saw a post on Instagram that really connected with me and instantly I knew what my word was. I knew it was ACTION. So, I committed to my word. I wrote it down. I added a daily phone reminder and was ready.

A week or so later I was going through some of my notes and I came across one thing I jotted down that a speaker named Edwin Chung said at Platform Social (the event I did a sticker activation for Pinterest last October). Most of the event I was busy running my sticker station, but I did get to listen to a few of the speakers and I wrote down literally one note. I completely forgot about it and I opened up this note and it said: “Take action before clarity” - it was one of those magical moments where everything just made sense and I knew I chose the right power word going into 2025. Even though I do not have full clarity yet, I am taking action this year!

So here we are… above is my first collage of 2025, my JANUARY MOOD(board).

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN, ACTION - instead of being stuck in in planning mode, I am taking action this year. and taking action sooner than maybe I’d like or am comfortable with. and adding a little sparkle while doing it.  
… and now here are a few specific things I am really into right now:

What I’m reading …
The Let Them Theory

Right now I am reading (well listening - I always listen to non-fiction books) to The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. I feel like everyone is talking about this one… I’ve listened to many of her Podcasts and I’m not sure I’ll get through the whole book but I’ll report back! BUT if you’re more into fiction books, you can see my round up of the books I read in 2024 here:
Part I
Part II

I’m watching…
Matilda in Concert

I went for the first time to TSO (Toronto Symphony Orchestra) and saw Matilda. What an amazing experience! Matilda to this day is one of my favourite movies and it was extra special because 80 year old Danny DeVito narrated the performance while the TSO played the music live! If you closed your eyes you would have never known it was live - spot on! I would recommend checking out the In Concert shows … Encanto is coming up next!

ICYMI -

Valentine’s Day is up on Sticker Club by rayna marlee! There are three different Valentine’s Day options including a Sticker Collage card kit, DIY mini sticker cards, and sets of I Spy mini cards…. and yes it’s up ONLINE. My website has been updated and now has a STICKER CLUB tab where you can buy sticker collage kits, sticker books, stickers off the roll and all the other fun sticker stuff!

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If you want to receive my monthly updates and faves directly to your inbox… I would LOVE for you to subscribe! to my newsletter ❤️ Thanks for reading!

LOVE LIST - NOVEMBER MOOD // 011

We’re nearing the finish line. 2024 is coming to an end - how did we get to the holiday season already? It feels a little off, I think because of how mild the weather has been but the calendar doesn’t lie and we’re just over a month away from a new year!

So here we are… above is my NOVEMBER MOOD(board).

Enjoy the space between where you are and where you are going - is what I am really feeling right now … I’ve put myself out in the world with a new side project I’m working on (more on that below) and I know it isn’t where I want to be but I am definitely focusing on enjoying the process to get to where I see myself (even though that’s not always clear).
… and this is usually where I share a few specific things I am really into right now but I am not going to this month. I don’t know about you but I feel bombarded with Black Friday and then Cyber Monday deals, deals, deals!!

I really did have all intentions in creating a wonderful Canadian local shop gift guide for this months newsletter but then pretty last minute, I hopped on the market train and signed up for about half a dozen local markets for Sticker Club by rayna marlee. It has been very time consuming but fun as well! The sticker collage kits have been a hit. It’s been great seeing what people are interested in and gravitate towards as well, seeing how faces light up and people share their childhood stories and memories.

So, if you’d like to visit one of my pop ups to support me and other amazing local vendors, here are a few markets I’m popping up at:

Sunday November 24 - Cedarvale Holiday Marketplace
Sunday December 1 - Bialik Marketplace (private ticketed event)
Thursday December 5 - Hillcrest Market (ticketed event)
Saturday December 7 - Sweat and Tonic Market at The Well
Sunday December 8 - McMurrich Market
Thursday December 12 - Alexander Muir Gladstone Market

With Black Friday just around the corner remember how easy it is to shop Amazon but how meaningful it is to support local makers and economy

On another note, if anyone has any good book recommendations please pass along. I’ve read five books since the last newsletter and I couldn’t even choose one I wanted to share because they were all just meh!

This is my final LOVE LIST for 2024.
Wishing everyone (a very early) Happy Holidays and New Year.

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LOVE LIST - SEPTEMBER MOOD // 010

Happy New Year, I mean September! But seriously, September feels like a new year, a fresh start and I am ready for it. I’m holding onto the last days of Summer but I’m all in my Fall Feels: brisk mornings, shorter days. cozy sweaters. taking chances. evening walks… and this may be controversial but pumpkin spice is NOT on my Fall agenda in any form.

So here we are… above is my SEPTEMBER MOOD(board).

If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working on it - I have literally been stuck on an idea for this entire year and I am finally doing something about it. Keep reading to find out what I am talking about… and this is me encouraging you to keep working towards your dreams. You can do it (and I am always here to listen and support!)

… and now here are a few specific things I am really into right now:

I’m wearing … 
Charm Necklaces

Is anyone else on the Charm Necklace trend? They’ve been popping up everywhere all summer so when my 14 year old niece was visiting from out-of-town I thought it would be a perfect activity for us to make our own. I used to do this in high school and hadn’t walked into these bead stores since, but here we were on Queen Street (check out Hi Beads or Arton if I’ve inspired you)... and how cute did it turn out?! Also, please take a moment and check out this tamagotchi charm by Kimberly Doyle, or as they call them: gemagotchi (which sell out in seconds each launch!) How cute!!

What I’m reading …
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

In this month’s Book Club I want to recommend: One True Loves. Also a movie, which I am just remembering now that I need to watch! Anyone seen it?

Another book to note: The Perfect Couple (that I am currently almost done reading). I wanted to read this book because the Netflix Show just came out and I always love reading the book BEFORE watching. Not sure how I feel about it yet… so will report back. Also, are you team read the book first or watch the movie?

I’m crushing on…
Scrunchie Watch Strap

I was SO hesitate to wear a watch. I wear very minimal jewelery and could not stand the thought of having a watch band… but I wanted to count those steps! (FYI: it’s VERY hard to find a cool pedometer) but thanks to a friend who let me try her Apple watch, I am not hooked. I think it’s thanks to this scrunchie watch band I use. It feels like I am wearing a scrunchie (which I basically wear daily anyways)! It comes in a 3-pack and there are some pattern variations.

ICYMI -
SO what have I been STUCK on? (pun intended here).

Well, exciting things are happening in the sticker world (and this is just the beginning!!) Stickering has been a fun and nostalgic but also mindful and creative activity I have been doing this past year. I have been posting some of the sticker collages I’ve been designing and I’m excited to share that I am now offering Sticker Collage Events with the goal to create experiences centred around stickers.

Stickering is a mess-free, creative, and mindful activity. Sticker art is a non-intimidating form of self-expression that’s guaranteed fun! The possibilities are endless from birthday parties to social and corporate events: think stickering with your besties, think wine and stickers, how about a team building activity with your office, a Holiday Party activity, or a personalized PR launch event.

There are so many ways to customize a sticker event to make it a truly unique one-of-a-kind event! I can't wait to bring people together through stickers and I can’t wait to sticker with you!

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If you want to receive my monthly updates and faves directly to your inbox… I would LOVE for you to subscribe! to my newsletter ❤️ Thanks for reading!