girls.

The most popular question of the day (which I have heard from several girls) - "Which girl from Girls do you think I am?"

Forget counting down the days until the holidays. HBO's Girls returns January 13.

Check out the trailer for season two below.



Enjoy and have a great weekend!

five.

There's less than five weeks left of 2012. 

Hands down, this has been one of the best years ever for me. Here's hoping to an amazing last month of the year and going out with a bang.

There will be lots coming up on the blogette this month. Keep checking back for my holiday gift guide, more Notes on... and a holiday playlist of eclectic holiday tunes. 

femme.

Last Friday night, I was having drinks with a girlfriend in a cozy pub after a wild work week.

After the first pint, the topic of conversation moved into an interesting territory - people's quirks. 

We  reminiced and fawned over some of our favourite things about people we either know (or don't), whined about another's behaviour, and little things we wanted to incorporate into our lives in the upcoming year. 

My friend said something interesting that really struck me. She said we all have our own little tidbits and guidelines to life, and there's probably someone out there trying to mirror one of them.

"You have your own rules Portia, think about it. We all do. It's the little mantras we repeat daily. The habits we have picked up. We do it without even knowing it."

This got me thinking. We have been idealizing certain people for their lifestyle choices forever. I have a little book about how live more like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and other startlets. But what about the people around us? They're the ones with the goldmine of secrets.

I'm going to start asking and recording for two to three little mantras/details of what some of the ladies around us live their lives by. My hope is to have a list maybe at the end of each month of things I admire and notes to live life by.

Notes on December 

Have a signature beauty look - whether it's red lips, cat eyes, et cetera, be your own icon. 

Relish your days off and take full advantage of them. 

Always have your fingers and toes polished.

Never underestimate the power of a handwritten card. 

Have a bottle of champagne in the fridge chilled at all times. You never know when you'll need to celebrate, or sometimes the celebration is because there's champagne in the fridge. 

Got a manta/note? Let me know! It could make next month's list. Tweet me (@PortiaFavro) or comment below. 

olivia.

STYLE STAR: OLIVIA PALERMO

We all have our opinions about reality TV shows and their stars...but in the real world, I gotta admit that Olivia Palermo is one of the best dressed ladies on the scene.

I have a few friends who are involved in the Canadian fashion scene either as designers, PR or stylists, and I am constantly seeing them pull and post photos of Palmero on their social feeds.

To me, this girl has got it right - she's mixes prints, bright colours, textures and quirky jewelry for the every day. From what we see in street style shots, I would like to think Palermo thinks along the same lines as I do - dress up every day. Pink pants, why not? Big, glittery necklace? Go for it. 

This upcoming season as we look into more layering, I'll be taking a page from her book (and am currently on the hunt for a faux-fur vest).

Here are a few of my favourite Palermo fall/winter looks:

rockette.

Growing up, my family and I religiously woke up early every Thanksgiving morning to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

As kids, we ooh-ed and ahh-ed as our favourite stars (usually Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys...really now, not much has changed) were on the floats coming down 5th Avenue in New York City. I especially loved watching the university drill teams with the cheerleaders/dance squads perform in front of Macy's at the end of the Parade. As a little girl, I dreamed that might be me when I got to college.

 However, the people I was always most excited to see perform were the Rockettes.

platforms.

There are a couple of questions I get asked on both a weekly and/or daily basis. 

The first is usually, "when do you sleep?" (the answer, lots of naps)

The second has to do with social media. 

A lot of my peers involved in various realms of work, especially the arts, are always asking me, "I just don't know what to post. How can I use social media to help me?" 

It can be overwhelming - there are over a hundred different social media platforms available, and countless post-production programs for video, audio and photo projects for content (which then we want to share on the social platforms). 

It's frustrating to research how to use these programs and teach yourself. And at some point, you need to be tweeting more than photos of your lunch from our Instagram feed.

That's where I come in.  

Got questions about social media, editing, blogging or anything else techie? Let's chat. 

Feel free to email me anytime at plfavro@yahoo.com and tell me what you want to know. 

I'll create a custom and personalized plan to fit your needs and meet one-on-one (or with your team) to teach you how to put these technqiues in place and make sure you feel comfortable. 

Looking forward to this next chapter! 

mondays.

A few years ago in a restaurant in the middle of Mexico, I remember reading this quote scribbled on the wall in black sharpie: 

"If we don't meet your epxectations, lower them. Then everything is a bonus". 

This year so far has been a bonus. I went into 2012 knowing I would graduate from university. I had it set my mind that I would work as hard possible to pursue my passions. 

Growing up, I was a control freak. I hated not knowing what was coming at my next. However, with the news, live performances and well, life, I have finally freed myself from these constriants.

Personally, I have had a few friends experience loss or have had their world turned upside down by things they can't control. This really hit me how small the window is for us to grab opportunities and run. Yes, not every one may be perfect, but it's experience. 

I've gotten some really lovely tweets, messages and texts in the last week of people saying it looks like I'm doing well. I'm very lucky to be in the right place at the right time, working with some incredible people. Looking at each day as an opportunity has changed what I do, and I am in full, wild pursuit to make my time here (whether it be in Toronto, or on Earth) as valuable as possible. 

However, I wouldn't be able to live the dream without the support of my amazing family and friends. Major shout out to you all, you're my village that has picked me up when I tripped and have my back. 

Just a thought. 

cart.

After how crazy it was trying to find an apartment this past September, it's hard to believe it's already been three months since I moved into my humble (new) abode.

After a few weeks of sleeping on an air mattress and using a dumpster-dive speaker as a chair, I saved up, put out the cash and have a furnished place. Hey, there's even a touch of art on the walls!

From here on out, it's all about the details. Those little items that are the "icing" to an apartment. They aren't essentials, but as I live here, I'm seeing places where I could put something.

There's a little section of the wall next to my kitchen that is screaming at me to make into a mini bar.
Thus, the hunt for a bar cart has begun.

white.

"I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. 

If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. 

Lukewarm is no good. 

Hot is no good, either. 

White hot and passionate is the only thing to be."

- Roald Dahl 

This quote basically sums up this year so far in a nutshell. This past week has been a perfect example of running after your dreams with wreckless abandon. 

Sometimes it can feel totally out of control and you have moments of doubt, but at the end of the day, you realize it's a part of the process. 

I just got back from a wild dance show tonight, The Bazaar, which was full of new and vetern dancers/choreographers to the Toronto dance scene. Each number had to incorporate a Justin Timberlake song, and could be any style of dance. 

I grew up watching N'Sync videos and dancing around to JT at dance class, and I was apparent most of my peers there had as well. This was the perfect theme for our generation. Never before have I seen such interesting use of talent - fouettes with waacking, down and dirty hip hop crews slow jamming and so many flashbacks to my childhood. 

I left refreshed and full of ideas - I can't wait to get back in the studio and start moving around with some of my dancers. Something is brewing, I can feel it.

calvin.

This video is a bit wild, but I'm absolutely gaga over this song. For whatever reason, electronic music has completely taken over my playlists (maybe to keep me awake for those early AM shifts)

I've been a huge fan of Florence Welch since I first heard "Howl" by her a couple of years ago. Her voice hits you to the bones, so much soul.

I'm especially loving her David Bowie-esque ensemble/coiffure in this video.

My apologies for being a bit m.i.a. this week. I have been working mucho at the television station and dancing my feet off at rehearsal and performances. I'm one month away from being home for Christmas where I also will be teaching a plethora of classes across the Okanagan across the 10 days I am there. Stay tuned for details coming soon!

Expect to be hearing this in class for sure.

Calvin Harris featuring Florence and the Machine, "Sweet Nothing"

manhattan.

"Chapter one, he adored New York City..."

The first few notes are some of the most iconic sounds we will ever know as humans. On this cold, rainy evening, this piece of music captures everything about the weather, the city, the news all in mere moments.

Tied in the opening sequence of Woody Allen's infamous film, Manhattan, (one of my favourite movies) the rain doesn't look so bad after all.

"Rhapsody in Blue" by George Greshwin. Enjoy.