Evenimentul Bask-It-Style 2016 in Toronto, editia a opta

De curand am fost invitata la un eveniment monden care are loc in fiecare an in septembrie, in timpul zilelor TIFF -- Toronto International Film Festival, iar editia din acest an al festivalului de film a avut loc intre 8 si 18 septembrie. Printre vedetele care au venit la TIFF anul acesta sunt Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Gerald Butler, Matt Damon, Dakota Fanning, James Franco, Jennifer Garner, Richard Gere, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ryan Gosling, Woody Harrelson, Anne Hathaway, Ethan Hawke, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Hudson, Holly Hunter, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Shia LaBeouf, John Malkovich, Matthew McConaughey, Cynthia Nixon, Lupita Nyong’o, Dev Patel, Christopher Plummer, Natalie Portman, Emma Stone, Charlize Theron, Justin Timberlake, Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Naomi Watts, Sigourney Weaver, Rachel Weisz, Reese Witherspoon, si altii. In acest an, festivalul TIFF s-a aflat la cea de-a 41-a editie.

Evenimentul anual Bask-It-Style este organizat de compania de relatii publice GLO Communications, condusa de Jessica Glover pe care o cunosc de cativa ani, iar anul acesta a avut loc cea de-a opta sa editie. Scopul evenimentului Bask-It-Style este promovarea unor branduri si produse din Toronto care participa ca sponsori la acest eveniment, si cadorisirea cu aceste produse a vedetelor ce vin la TIFF, pentru a fi promovate. In timpul acestui eveniment care dureaza cateva zile, media de moda si divertisment din Toronto este de asemenea invitata pentru a primi si testa acele cadouri oferite de sponsorii evenimentului, in ziua ce precede inceperea festivalului. Astflel, ziua Bask-It-Style din acest an adresata presei din Toronto a avut loc pe 7 septembrie, iar festivalul TIFF a inceput pe 8 septembrie. In fiecare an, festivalul TIFF incepe in ziua de joi de dupa weekendul lung cu ocazia Zilei Muncii din septrembrie, iar presa de moda si divertisment din Toronto este invitata la evenimentul Bask-It-Style cu o zi inainte de inceperea festivalului, adica miercurea de dupa weekendul lung.

Este a cincea editie Bask-It-Style la care am mers in calitate de media (prima oara am fost in 2012), iar evenimentul din acest an a avut loc la Thompson Hotel din vestul Toronto-ului, pe strada Wellington West. Printre sponsorii evenimentului Bask-It-Style care au contribuit cu cadouri pentru vedetele prezente la TIFF in acest an, dar si pentru presa, s-au numarat scriitori, designeri, reprezentanti ai unor branduri de frumusete, producatori de produse alimentare, de bauturi alcoolice, de cafea, si altii.

Iata si cateva poze de la Bask-It-Style 2016.

Lista sponsorilor evenimentului Bask-It-Style 2016

Masini de inchiriat la Toronto, Turo.com

Masini de inchiriat la Toronto, Turo.com

Mereadesso, un brand canadian de produse de ingrijire si frumusete

Mereadesso, un brand canadian de produse de ingrijire si frumusete

Scriitoarea canadiana Adrienne Kress, co-autoarea romanului "Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X."

"Don't You Cry", roman de Mary Kubica

Coltul editurii toronteze DK Publishing

Coltul magazinului de incaltaminte Mila's Fine Footwear din centrul Toronto-ului

Creatoarea de moda Annie Thompson, alaturi de una din creatiile sale

Geanta Annie Thompson

Genti Annie Thompson

Bijuterii Studio1098

Bijuterii Studio1098

Bijuterii Studio1098

Bijuterii Studio1098

Cafea Doi Chaang

In timpul evenimentului Bask-It-Style 2016

Iata si cateva din cadourile care au fost sponsorizate pentru evenimentul Bask-It-Style 2016.

Cadouri ambalate in geanta verde Browns Shoes

Produse de frumusete -- L'Oreal, Mary Kay, Mereadesso, Povince Apothecary

Bijuterii de argint Studio1098

Cafea Doi Chaang, ciocolata organica Green & Black, vin rosu Meiomi

Carti, reviste, ghiduri turistice, noutati editoriale

Alte cadouri -- ochelari de soare, vouchere, carduri cadou, diverse

Photo credit: Victoria West

Bask-It-Style Event for TIFF 2016 – The Eighth Annual Media Day at the Thompson Hotel in Toronto This September

For TIFF 2016, stars and media had the opportunity to excite their senses at a non-traditional gifting suite – Bask-It-Style by GLO Communications, a well-established public relations firm from Toronto

Toronto’s premiere gifting experience, Bask-It-Style by GLO Communications, opened its doors for media and celebrities for the eighth time at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with a feast for all five senses. Media were invited to indulge in the Front Room of the Thompson Hotel Toronto (550 Wellington Street West, Toronto) on Wednesday, September 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Bask-It-Style event’s annual media day. Bask-It-Style, a twist on traditional gifting, gives busy stars at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) one less thing to worry about while in town promoting their films and schmoozing with their peers – collecting new products. This year’s sponsors covered it all from beauty to fashion and from books to technology. There was something for every visiting celebrity in town for TIFF. In the past, celebrities gifted through Bask-It-Style hotel partners have included Matt Damon, Jennifer Garner, Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Colin Farrell, John Legend, Sir Elton John and many more. Among this year’s TIFF attendees are Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Gerald Butler, Matt Damon, Dakota Fanning, James Franco, Jennifer Garner, Richard Gere, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ryan Gosling, Woody Harrelson, Anne Hathaway, Ethan Hawke, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Hudson, Holly Hunter, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Shia LaBeouf, John Malkovich, Matthew McConaughey, Cynthia Nixon, Lupita Nyong’o, Dev Patel, Christopher Plummer, Natalie Portman, Emma Stone, Charlize Theron, Justin Timberlake, Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Naomi Watts, Sigourney Weaver, Rachel Weisz, Reese Witherspoon, and many others.

“We are excited to kick-off the eighth year of Bask-It-Style,” said Jessica Glover, Principal, GLO Communications. “This year we are thrilled to work with our venue sponsor, Thompson Hotel, and to showcase some brands that will be gifted to the biggest stars through our hotel partners.”

On Wednesday, September 7 media were invited by appointment only from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to bask in the style of the suite. This is the fifth time that I am attending the Bask-It-Style event; first time I was invited to the Bask-It-Style gift lounge back in 2012, and I have attended it every year ever since. This year’s event was held at the luxurious Thompson Hotel, located on the trendy King West area filled with all of TIFF’s go to spots. The lobby of the hotel where the event took place reflects the Thompson Hotel’s signature blend of avant-garde design, luxury boutique furnishings and high-tech functionality. It was redesigned in February 2016 and it features built-in audio visual, including a 60 square foot media wall and plugins for Mac Mini, Apple TV and HDMI.

The greeting area of the Bask-It-Style event at Thompson Hotel in Toronto, September 7th 2016

The greeting area of the Bask-It-Style event at Thompson Hotel in Toronto, September 7th 2016

Participating gifts at Bask-It-Style 2016

Upon entering the hotel, guests had the chance to admire a sleek Tesla Model S70D provided by Turo, Canada’s first peer-to-peer car rental marketplace. Turo allows travelers to rent any car they want, wherever they want it, from a community of local car owners. The company's unique car selection is unparalleled, with over 800 makes and models for rent. Guests were given the opportunity to rent the Tesla Model S70D or any car of their choice at a special TIFF media rate. Once inside the suite, media were able to experience Turo’s database of cars, learn what the service is all about and plan their next adventure!

Tesla S70D, available for rent at Turo

Media tastemakers: Gratify your tastebuds with food and drink
In the suite, media guests’ sense of smell was aroused with the sweet, earthy aroma of Doi Chaang coffee. Doi Chaang representatives were on-site to sample their single-estate, 100% Arabica roasts and to share tips on brewing the perfect morning cup. After sipping their coffees, guests’ tastebuds were be stimulated with mouth-watering treats crafted in-house by the Maple Leaf Tavern, as well as giftcards for media to experience Toronto’s best tavern.

Doi Chaang coffee

Doi Chaang coffee

Beauty room: Touch up your beauty routine with spa-quality skin care
Guests could improve the look of their skin with Mèreadesso skin care. Beauty consultants walked the guests through a selection of vitamin-rich Mèreadesso products designed to lessen fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone and boost elasticity. Guests will have touchably soft skin when they use the Mèreadesso Travel Ease + Kit at home, which includes their All-In-One moisturizer, Face + Neck cleanser and Beautiful Body balm.

Mereadesso beauty and skin care products

Mereadesso moisturizer

Style room: Delight in lush textures and fine fabrics with fashion, jewellery and shoes
In the style room, guests could experience the stylish bags by the celebrity bag designer Annie Thompson. Among her latest Spring 2016 and Fall 2016 collections, the designer showcased her A-List super tote, specially designed for the Bask-It-Style event (retail price $325), which is lightweight, washable and locally made. Guests’ tired feet were in for a treat as they slipped into the cushy yet fashionable shoes displayed by staff from Mila’s Fine Footwear. Each guest received a gift card from Mila’s so they can carry on the sense of ease and comfort after they leave. Some of the various shoe brands that were scheduled to be gifted at the lounge event included Birkenstock, Finn, Josef Seibel, Cloud and Gerry Weber, Fly London, Pikolinos, Ara and more. Next, media guests could feel the cool weight of Studio1098’s handmade sterling silver Canada Collection jewellery line, designed to celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial moment on July 1, 2017, when Canada will celebrate its 150 birthday. Studio1098’s ambassadors were present at the event and made themselves available to discuss the one-of-a-kind designs that won them the coveted NOW Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Jewellery Store in 2015.

Annie Thompson designs

Annie Thompson designs

Annie Thompson designs

Annie Thompson designs

Mila's Fine Footwear -- available at Mila's on Front store, 77 Front Street East, Toronto

Mila's Fine Footwear -- available at Mila's on Front, 77 Front Street East, Toronto

Mila's Fine Footwear participating at Bask-It-Style 2016

Mila's Fine Footwear participating at Bask-It-Style 2016

Studio1098 jewelry, 1098 Yonge Street, Toronto

Studio1098 jewelry, 1098 Yonge Street, Toronto

Studio1098 jewelry, 1098 Yonge Street, Toronto

Studio1098 jewelry, 1098 Yonge Street, Toronto

Reading room: Books, books and more books
The reading room had guests browsing a compelling array of books. They mingled with award-winning author Adrienne Kress, and had the opportunity to get a peek at her first collaboration with New York Times best-selling author Frank Beddor, and his book Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.BO.X., published by Automatic Publishing. This is an exciting new adventure for middle graders featuring a teenage Hatter Madigan, the most popular character from the best-selling The Looking Glass Wars trilogy. DK Books ambassadors were also there on-hand to discuss their hottest reads for Fall 2016, including the newest edition of Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Toronto touristic guide which features a handy pull-out map, as well hundreds of full colour photos and dozens of useful top 10 lists of what to see, where to eat and where to stay in Toronto. Harlequin staff were on-site showcasing all three best-selling novelist Mary Kubica’s thrillers: The Good Girl, Pretty Baby, and her latest hit Don’t You Cry.

Writer Adrienne Kress and her newly released book "Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.BO.X."

"Hatter Madigan: Ghost on the H.A.T.B.O.X." by Frank Bedder and Adrienne Kress

New book releases from DK Publishing

"Don't You Cry" by Mary Kubica

Some other cool items in the bag
The goodies just didn’t end there! Some other treats featured in the gift bags included:
**L’Oreal’s Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold Mini, an ultra-fine hairspray which gives a strong, clean hold and a soft satin touch, perfect for media and talent on the go;
**A tasty wine Pinot Noir by Meiomi Wines;
**Mary Kay® Gel Semi-Matte lipstick, a new lipstick with a pop of colour which lasts for hours;
**And for those with a little sweet tooth, there was white chocolate, 70% dark chocolate and milk chocolate bars from Green & Blacks Organic. Plus more goodies, of course!

This year, celebrities will receive a variety of goodies in bags designed exclusively for Bask-It-Style by Annie Thompson. The total value is $1,400 and it includes:
•Automatic Publishing – Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X. by Frank Beddor and Adrienne Kress;
•Annie Thompson – A-List super-tote, celebrity gift bag sponsor;
•Browns Shoes – Media bag sponsor;
•DK Books – Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Toronto, new edition;
•Doi Chaang coffee – Social Medium Blend Fair Trade organic coffee (340g) and Beyond Fair Trade by Mark Pendergrast;
•Green & Black’s organic chocolate – white chocolate bars, 70% dark chocolate bars and milk chocolate bars;
•Harlequin/MIRA Books – Don’t You Cry by Mary Kubica;
•L’Oréal Canada – Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold Mini;
•Mary Kay® – Gel Semi-Matte lipstick in Poppy Please and Powerful Pink;
•Maple Leaf Tavern – $100 giftcard for celebrities, $50 giftcard for media;
•Meiomi Wines – bottle of Meiomi Pinot Noir wine;
•Mèreadesso – Travel Ease + Kit travel size beauty products;
•Mila’s Fine Footwear – $500 giftcard for celebrities and $25 for media;
•Province Apothecary – perfume;
•Sharp Magazine – magazine sponsor;
•Studio1098 – handmade sterling silver maple leaf pendants and cufflinks;
•Turo – $150 car rental credit;
•Thompson Hotel – venue partner.

Bask-It-Style event and its sponsors can be followed on Twitter:

#BaskItStyle
@jessica_glover
@GLO_Comm
@BrownsShoes
@DKPublishing
@doichaangcoffee
@greenandblacks
@HarlequinBooks
@LOrealParisCAN
@MapleLeafTavern
@MaryKayCanada
@MeiomiWines
@Mereadesso
@MilasOnFront
@ProvApothecary
@sharpmagazine
@studio1098
@ThompsonToronto
@turo

Follow Bask-It-Style and its sponsors on Instagram:

@jessicaglover99
@glo_comm
@anniethompsonstudio
@dkbooks
@doichaangcoffee
@greenandblacks
@harlequinbooks
@lorealhair
@marykaycanada
@meiomiwines
@mereadesso
@milasonfront
@provinceapothecary
@sharpmagazine
@studio1098
@turo
@thompsontoronto

GLO Communications is a boutique PR firm creating dynamic publicity campaigns for clients in the lifestyle industry, including publishing, fashion, beauty and entertainment. They specialize in media relations, PR strategy development, marketing communications, product launches, event management, media training, product seeding and evaluation and measurement.

Bask-It-Style sponsors

Annie Thompson
Annie Thompson is one of Canada’s most revered fashion designers. Established in 1981, Annie Thompson Studio creates limited quantities of carefully crafted, made-in-Canada separates to compliment unique bodies and personalities. As an advocate of green living, Thompson uses mainly organic and natural fabrics in her stand-out designs. From dress-up gear to her most casual, everyday styles, Thompson’s designs are quietly loud, thoroughly comfortable and surprisingly complimentary. Thompson’s “Personal Baggage” line of contemporary, upcycled handbags and backpacks offers users rare character and functionality. There is nothing trendy or mass-market about Annie Thompson’s designs.

Automatic Publishing
Los Angeles-based Automatic Publishing focuses on story projects that inherently harness the imaginative energy of authors, artists and fans. The company has developed a unique marketing strategy that focuses on the very personal author-reader connection, operating on a continuous marketing model that ensures books connect with audiences where they are: in schools, in stores, in libraries and online. Automatic Publishing’s titles include the novels Hatter Madigan: Ghost in the H.A.T.B.O.X. and Static; the graphic novel Looking Glass Wars: Crossfire, and the hit comic series Spectrum.

Browns Shoes
Browns Shoes, a family-owned business established in Montreal in 1940, is synonymous with top international designer collections, luxurious leather goods, and exclusive street savvy fashion for ladies, men and children. Browns is one of the few companies that donates 10% of its pre-tax profits to charities. Mr. Morton Brownstein, Chairman, was recognized for his extraordinary fundraising work when he was appointed to the Order of Canada in July 2004.

DK Books
The world’s leading illustrated reference publisher whose aim is to inform, enrich and entertain readers of all ages, DK publishes highly visual, photographic non-fiction for adults and children, bringing unrivaled clarity to a wide range of topics with a unique combination of words and pictures, put together to spectacular effect.

Doi Chaang Coffee Company
Doi Chaang Coffee Company is one of the most innovative, socially responsible, yet economically viable, specialty coffees on the market. Rated among the top 1% in the world, the coffee is the only single-estate, 100% Arabica, USDA certified organic, Fair Trade certified and shade grown coffee grown in Thailand. The beans are cultivated and processed by the indigenous AKHA hill tribe in small, family owned gardens in Doi Chang village located in the Chang Rai province of Northern Thailand, but freshly roasted and packaged in British Columbia. For more information, please visit DoiChaangCoffee.com.

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate
Established in 1991, Green & Black’s Organic has grown to become the world leader in organic and Fair Trade chocolate and is committed to the creation of chocolate products that provide a taste experience like no other. Using only organically grown cocoa, sourced principally from the Dominican Republic, Green & Black’s Organic believes it’s possible to respect our earth while indulging in the best things it has to offer. Great time and care is taken to bring out the intense flavour that is the Green & Black’s Organic trademark. To find out more about Green & Black’s Organic products and values, please visit GreenandBlacks.com/ca and Facebook.com/GreenandBlacksCanada.

Harlequin/MIRA Books
MIRA Books is an imprint of Harlequin and features a lineup of some of the bestselling authors across North America as well as industry-anticipated debut authors. MIRA Books is committed to publishing the very best in commercial fiction, including women’s fiction, suspense and psychological thrillers, literary bestsellers, and historical. In 2015, 24 MIRA Books titles placed on bestseller lists (New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly) for a total of 194 weeks. MIRA publishes approximately 100 books per year in hardcover, mass-market and trade paperback formats.

L’Oréal Canada
L’Oréal Canada is a division of L’Oréal Paris, a wholly-owned subsidiary of L’Oréal Group, the largest cosmetics company in the world. Headquartered in Montreal, L’Oréal Canada had sales of $1,054 billion in 2015 and employs more than 1,200 people. The company’s prestigious portfolio of 35 brands encompasses all aspects of beauty. For more information, please visit LOrealParis.ca. L’Oréal can be followed on Twitter @LOrealParisCAN, and on Instagram @LOrealHair, #LOrealTIFF.

Maple Leaf Tavern
Maple Leaf Tavern is an updated Tavern offering North American influenced food and drink. Newly revamped and relaunched, this east-side institution is now turning out scrupulously crafted cocktails, upscale bar snacks and meaty specialties from a wood-burning fire grill. The tavern, located at 955 Gerrard Street East in Leslieville, launched in April 2016 and has been featured in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Life and many other media outlets.

Mary Kay Cosmetics Ltd.
Irresistible products. Positive community impact. Rewarding opportunity. For more than 50 years, Mary Kay has offered it all. With 3.5 million Mary Kay independent beauty consultants and $4 billion in global annual wholesale sales, Mary Kay is a top beauty brand and direct seller in more than 35 markets around the world. Discover what you love by connecting with a Mary Kay independent beauty consultant in your area at MaryKay.ca.

Meiomi Wines
Meiomi is a high style wine that is shaped, more than anything else, by the fruit sources that lay the foundation of the blend. A pure bred enjoyment wine, built to accommodate any pairing from food to friends. Unifying California’s most noteworthy coast areas opens the door for a dynamic and opulent wine that is ready to enjoy wherever you are.

Mèreadesso
Mèreadesso believes healthy, beautiful skin shouldn’t be easy, it should be effortless. Offering one-step skin care products that leave immaculate results, Mèreadesso is the epitome of simplicity, ease, and effectiveness: one regime for every skin type, age and gender.

Mila’s Fine Footwear
Mila’s Fine Footwear is an independently owned family business that’s been passed along for four generations. From their humble start in Aden, Yemen the family decided to take their business to Canada in 1967, starting out fresh in the small town of Strathroy, Ontario in 1989. After 27 years of establishing themselves as a true success and staple in their community, Mila’s Fine Footwear was overdue for an exciting, new challenge. With an incredible offer to move their store to the core of Toronto’s picturesque St. Lawrence neighbourhood, it was an opportunity the family couldn’t pass up. With a footwear legacy dating as far back to 1932, Mila’s Fine Footwear takes pride in offering superior customer service and satisfaction. Bringing their small town charm to the big city, they look forward to winning the hearts of Torontonians with the legacy that has garnered them over 80 years of success in the footwear industry. For more information, please visit MilasonFront.com.

Turo
Turo is a car rental marketplace where local car owners provide travellers with the perfect vehicle for their next adventure. Across the country or across town, travellers choose from a unique selection of nearby cars, while car owners earn extra money and help fuel the adventures of travellers from around the world. A pioneer of the sharing economy and travel industry, Turo is a safe, supportive community where the car you rent is part of a story, not a fleet. Whether it’s an F-150 truck to help on moving day, a Tesla for a luxurious weekend away or a classic VW bus for a picture-perfect road trip, travellers rent the car and own the adventure. Discover Turo at Turo.com.

Thompson Hotel, Toronto
Part of the King West landscape since 2010, Thompson Toronto has become known for its refined edge. A vibrant destination for discerning travellers and in-the-know urbanites, Thompson Toronto is a premier location, offering personalized service, distinctive culinary experiences and the city’s only rooftop lounge with a 40-foot infinity swimming pool. Designed by Studio Gaia, 105 ultra-sleek guestrooms, including three brand new suites for 2016, all feature floor-to-ceiling windows and a list of modern luxuries. Amid Toronto’s hot spots, Thompson Toronto is a star, offering its guests food, drink and entertainment options to suit any mood: Thompson Diner, a contemporary classic diner; Rooftop Lounge, a retreat with poolside cabanas and cocktails; the newly-reimagined Lobby Bar; French bistro Colette; and the effortlessly cool nightclub Wildflower. And, with 30,000 square feet of prime event space, including the Rooftop Lounge and luxurious Screening Room, Thompson Toronto offers the ideal setting for conferences, meetings, weddings and more.

Founded in 2001, Thompson Hotels, a Commune Hotels & Resorts brand, is an international hospitality company that offers sophisticated luxury to its discerning clientele. The Thompson portfolio of lifestyle hotels includes the newly-opened Thompson Playa del Carmen in Riviera Maya, Mexico and the recently-opened The Cape in Los Cabos, Mexico; Gild Hall and Smyth in New York City; Thompson Chicago; Thompson Toronto; Belgraves in London; and Thompson Miami Beach. Thompson Hotels also has multiple new projects in development, including The Beekman in Lower Manhattan, Thompson Seattle and Thompson Nashville. Follow @ThompsonHotels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for news and updates. For more information, please visit ThompsonHotels.com.

Studio1098
Studio1098 is consistently recognized as one of the Best Jewellery Stores in Canada. Winner of the coveted NOW Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for Best Jewellery Store for 2015, Studio1098 has been named both one of Toronto’s “Top 10” places to buy a diamond engagement ring and one of Toronto’s Best Jewellery Stores by BlogTO. Studio1098 is known for its excellent client service and its unpretentious, relaxed environment, where Tamara Kronis, Studio1098’s Chief goldsmith, gemmologist and jewellery designer creates high quality, custom fine jewellery right in the studio with the help of her team. Studio1098 is located at 1098 Yonge Street, just north of Rosedale subway station on Yonge Street between St. Clair and Bloor.

Tamara Kronis, Studio1098’s Chief goldsmith, gemmologist and jewellery designer, offers personalized custom design that ensures that each piece of fine jewellery she and her team create is “as unique as you are,” reflecting the individual style of each client. Her designs are inspired by art, architecture, and the movement of metal. Kronis is particularly influenced by the eras of Art Deco and Art Nouveau, but also loves taking on the design challenges of modern pieces inspired by geometry and nature. Prior to becoming a goldsmith, Kronis had a successful career as a commercial lawyer at a prominent Toronto law firm, and continues to be active in the business world as a corporate director of a large public utility. Kronis has won numerous industry awards as a goldsmith, has exhibited her work internationally, and has also taught a course at George Brown College on the Chemistry of Gemstones. Kronis lives in Toronto with her husband Martin and their two children.

Photo credit: Getty Images

I’m on Instagram

My dear friends and readers, I would like to share a little news with you today – recently I joined Instagram, and I would like to invite you on my Insta page. If you also have an Instagram account, please follow me and help me develop my profile, and feel free to let me know about your Insta profiles, and I will be happy to follow you as well. I am now finding my way in the social network, discovering great profiles and great pictures, following those profiles that appeal to me.

I created my Instagram account last Friday night, and over this long weekend for the Labour Day Holiday I was busy taking and uploading photos, and now I am ready to make my Instagram profile public and to share it with you.

To be completely honest, I had a pretty rocky start with Instagram. I first considered to create an Insta account sometime last year, so when I wanted to go ahead with it, I actually found out that you can only create your account from a mobile device, a smart phone or a tablet, and not from a desktop computer or even a laptop. So then I went onto my Samsung Galaxy phone to download the Instagram application via Google Play and to create my account, but Google Play asked me for access to an awful lot of personal information – phone number, pictures from the phone, identity, location, etc. I reconsidered and dropped it, as I wasn’t willing to give so much access to anyone, and for the next while I never went back to it.

Later on, sometime this year, I felt tempted to go on Instagram again, but this time I found that I can actually create my account from the computer, which I did, with the profile name Writer Victoria West (Writer.Victoria.West). But I still couldn’t upload any photos on my Insta page from my computer, unless I did so from a mobile device, like my phone. When I wanted to download the Insta app on my phone via Google Play, it asked me again for access to all that personal information, and I hesitated again. I didn’t download the app, I didn’t start being active on Instagram from my phone, so all I did was to create my profile and like some profiles and photos, with no activity or uploading my own photos. I figured, ok, I’ll wait until Instagram introduces the option to be active from computers. If last year users could create their Instagram account from a mobile device only, and meanwhile the option of creating the new account from a computer has been added, then maybe they will also add the option of being active and uploading photos from computers soon.

However, that hasn’t happened so far. As of today, users still can be active on Instagram from their mobile devices only, and not from computers, and that took toll on my new quiet and inactive Instagram account. I also learned about their rules – your Instagram account will be deactivated and you may not be able to retrieve your profile, unless you post constantly and are active on the social network. I find it’s a pretty harsh rule, if you ask me.

My newly created Instagram account remained inactive, because I never bothered to upload any photos from my phone, I only viewed and followed other people’s profiles and photos, so after a while my account Writer.Victoria.West got deactivated on inactivity grounds.

Not a long ago however I saw a lovely profile, and I liked it so much and it inspired me so much that I decided to give it another try. This time I followed their rules and downloaded the Instagram app on my phone to create my Insta account. However, I wasn’t able to retrieve my first profile, Writer Victoria West, so I created a new one –Victoria West Toronto (Victoria.West.Toronto). I created it on Friday night, and I uploaded a few photos, whatever I still had on my phone, because I usually delete all the photos from my phone as soon as I download them on my computer. Then, on Saturday morning, I took an RV trip with my family, so all day Saturday I was busy taking pictures from my trip and sharing them on Instagram.

And now I am ready to make my Instagram profile public and to share it with you. What I love the most about Instagram and what thrills me the most about it is the beauty of the insta moments that you share with the other ones. Now I understand why it’s called Instagram. You live the beautiful moment, you take a pic of it, you share it on Instagram. Now. Live and capture the instant. Literally. The kind of pictures that we normally would share on Instagram are completely different from what we share on Facebook. While I never took the time or put in the effort to share coffee and flower pictures on Facebook, such shots are perfectly ok for Instagram. I usually share the big picture pictures on Facebook, but I oh so enjoy sharing the detail pictures on Instagram. After a few days spent on Instagram, I concluded that I am going to keep the two types of social media separate – the kind of pictures that I will keep sharing on Facebook will be completely different from what you’re going to see on my Instagram profile.

During this RV trip over the long weekend I captured every single beautiful moment that I had and shared it on Instagram. This weekend, away from the city, in my RV, was a perfect exercise to start my Instagram profile – since I spent two days in the woods, in the green of nature, topics for my pictures were somehow limited, as opposed to if I were creating these pictures at home, and it got all my creative juices out of me to capture everything worth capturing. I enjoyed taking and sharing each and every one of those pictures, and here are some of them, my favorites over the weekend.

Always so fresh, always my favorite Tim Hortons. :) I love coffee.

"Diana: A Celebration" -- the book that I enjoyed over this weekend, along with my favorite red wine and some timbits

In my RV

Playing with the RZR

My mini-office in my home away from home. I still enjoy my writing, even during my RV (long) weekends.

My beauty on the go -- some of my beauty stuff that I had with me over this long weekend while RV-ing. The "Good Luck" tag is my lucky charm -- always with me. :)

I prefer the European Fanta to the American one, I actually can sense the difference in taste. European Fanta is all about oranges, American Fanta is all about sugar. 

Movie party!

The beauty that we don't see

This is what happens when you are being a bad wasp

Photo credit: Victoria West

Cumparaturi recente

Astazi vorbim despre cumparaturile recente pe care le-am facut, in ultimele doua luni de cand am scris ultima oara un articol din aceasta serie; desi nu au fost multe cumparaturi, doar cateva, caci n-am fost la shopping asa de mult in ultimele doua luni. De data aceasta sunt doar produse de ingrijire si frumusete, nu si haine, dupa cum urmeaza.

Servetele umede pentru uz general, lotiune tonica astringenta pentru ten, crema de baie, sampon uscat Herbal Essences. Voi mentiona doar cateva cuvinte despre samponul uscat – este prima oara cand cumpar sampon uscat de la acest brand. Din punctul meu de vedere, sampoanele uscate sunt o inventie geniala, perfecte pentru situatii de urgenta cand n-ai avut timp sa te speli pe cap, si cu un sampon uscat iti poti revitaliza parul in secunde, o solutie salvatoare temporara pana cand ajungi la dus. Sampoanele uscate Batiste au o reputatie foarte buna, si pe buna dreptate, pe care pot sa o atest si eu, caci am folosit un sampon uscat Batiste in trecut, varianta XXL Volume (mi l-am luat vara trecuta). Iar pentru ca l-am folosit doar in situatii de urgenta (asa cum si este conceput sa fie folosit), si nu ca sa prelungesc perioadele dintre doua spalari pe cap (obiceiul meu este sa ma spal pe cap in fiecare zi), m-a tinut timp de un an, iar cand mi s-a terminat de curand, mi-am luat acest sampon uscat Herbal Essences, din dorinta de a incerca si alte produse de acest tip. Inca n-am folosit noul meu sampon uscat Herbal Essences (mi l-am luat de foarte scurt timp), caci inca nu a intervenit nicio situatie de urgenta in care sa am nevoie de el, dar il tin in baie pentru cand situatia imi va cere sa-l folosesc, si s-ar putea sa revin cu un review dupa ce il folosesc de cateva ori.

Ramanem in zona produselor de ingrijire Herbal Essences, si de curand mi-am luat acest sampon si balsam Herbal Essences cu portocale, dar si acest set de sapunuri Dove cu portocale. Imi plac foarte mult produsele de ingijire cu arome de fructe, chiar si cu arome mai intense. Anul acesta am mai folosit produse de ingirjire cu rodie, iar de data aceasta mi-am luat produse cu aroma de portocale. Cat priveste Dove, imi plac foarte mult sapunurile lor solide, sunt singurele sapunuri solide din comert care nu imi usuca pielea, si adeseori, din obisnuinta, cumparam sapunul Dove albastru sau cel verde pentru piele sensibila, dar mai nou am inceput sa aleg si alte arome, cum ar fi cele fructate.

Si inca un set de produse de ingrijire – sampon si balsam Tresemmé, si trei sapunuri – sapun organic & aromaterapeutic cu mandarine, sapun lichid cu pepene, si un set de doua sapunuri de ingrijre de la supermarketul local. Mi-am luat aceste doua sapunuri Selection in ambalaj alb ca sa le folosesc pe post de sapun de rufe, pentru acele haine mai delicate din garderoba mea pe care le spal la mana si nu la masina. Am obiceiul sa cumpar sapunuri ieftine pentru a le folosi la rufe, si nu cumpar neaparat sapunuri din alea de rufe clasice maro deschis ca pe timpul bunicii, ca din alea nu se gasesc peste tot in magazine si supermarketuri aici la Toronto, sau cel putin n-am fost eu atenta si nu stiu sigur daca sunt disponibile. Ieri eram la cumparaturi si am luat de pe raft acest set de sapunuri, ca erau cele mai ieftine, dar ceea ce m-a facut curioasa in privinta acestor sapunuri este ca sunt cu lotiune, dupa modelul Dove de sapunuri cu o patrime crema hidratanta. Acu’ nu ma astept sa fie la fel de bune ca Dove, dar cred ca vor fi bune pentru rufele mele delicate. :)

Voi ce cumparaturi ati mai facut de curand?

Sa veti o zi frumoasa!

Photo credit: Victoria West