top5.

I've hit a milestone - this is my one thousandth blog post! 

To celebrate, the sunshine has finally peeked her head out of winter here in Toronto - this weekend really does feel like the official start to sping.

With that, I feel like it's time to cap off March with a top five. Here are a few things that have been at the top of my playlist, heavily used in my kitchen or just on my mind.

Mexican lime juicer. 

Throw away any other juicers for lemons and limes, The Mexican lime juicer  is just the way to go. 

It's easy to use and has a small strainer so you'll never have seeds in your drink. 

This is my absolute must-have for my kitchen for summer 2013. 

High waisted shorts. 

Part pinup doll, part modern. Plus, high waisted shorts will make any one's legs look about a million miles long - just make sure to find the right cut for your hips and bum. 

Pair with cat eye sunglasses and a cherry cola for maximum effect. 

Adventure Club remixes. 

After hearing "Lullabies" and "Crave You", I have totally changed my mind about dubstep music. I realize now there are varying degrees of remixes - like anything, there's very amateur to professional. 

The team between the Adventure Club remixes are simply the best. 

Check out "Lullabies (Adventure Club Remix)" by Yuna above. 

Sergio Bustamante. 

 

Along the Malecon, a large pedestrian walkway in Puerto Vallarta, there is a plethora of public art. My mother's and my favourite artist, Sergio Bustamante created this amazing piece called "In Search of Reason". It's highly interactive, as you can climb up the iron ladder overlooking the ocean. 

I have a full post about Sergio Bustamante and other Mexican art coming up soon, but for now,  here's a little taste. 

WWBD. 

I'm always looking for new things to teach in class and inspire my students. For whatever reason, I came up with WWBD, and it has just stuck. 

When in doubt, what would Beyonce do? 

I saw smiles creep onto several of my student's faces, and instantly take on their "Sacha Fierce" character. Needless to say, I think it worked. 

Happy Easter and more to come next week! 

fred.

"This search for what you want is like tracking something that doesn’t want to be tracked. 

It takes time to get a dance right, to create something memorable."

— Fred Astaire

I hope you enjoy your long weekend surrounded by friends and family. Happy Easter!

wildcat.

Well, March has been quite a wild month, and I wasn't even on the grid for part of it!

It's been very exciting to finish my piece I'm choreographing for my next big show, perform alongside some of my favourite Toronto artists, travel to Mexico and so much more this month.

However, this week has been a bit different. I like to be control of things, and when I'm not, that can be a bit tough to handle.

I talk a lot about grabbing life and running with it, but what happens when that race slows you down?

Looking back on this month, I wouldn't have done anything differently. Taking the opportunities and chances to seize the moment and just go with things has been so rewarding. Taking this week to step back and have a reality check has been unexpectedly helpful.

Even though I'm out of commission for a couple days, I'm hungry to go back out and attack the next opportunity. I'm happy, healthy and alive. Everything from here is a bonus.
_____________________________________________________________________

There are a few people who walk into your life that you don't realize influenced you until they're gone.

Dan, I remember you hosting Wildcat TV in middle school, pep rallies in high school and being one of my first friends when I was the new kid at Burton Valley Elementary - all with the biggest smile on your face.

My heart goes out to your family and close friends - you'll be missed buddy. Rest in peace Dan.

mantra.

"Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. 

Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. 

Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. 

Say no when you don't want to do something. 

Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. 

Decided whether you want to be liked or admired. 

Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you're doing here. 

Believe in kissing."

- Eve Ensler

burner.

Happy Monday! I can't believe next weekend is already Easter - this marks a whole year since I have been completely out of school, internships and started "real life".

I had lunch with a girlfriend this past weekend and we always end up falling into a hardcore motivational chat about life (in a good way). I find it so interesting to hear and see how others view the world around us, and it helps me stay open-minded.

This time, something from our chat really struck me - somehow we got into an analogy about the things we put on the "back burner". 

How many times have we said this? 

I don't have time for it, I got a couple projects on the back burner. 

This got me thinking - how often to we pull things out from the back burner? Should we? 

In so many ways, I feel like I am finally really starting to live my life in the moment, or focusing on the front burner. When you're cooking, that's usually the most important part of to have done right and finish. However, the back burner can contain the flourish and spice for the meal. We still need it, just not at this moment. 

Reality is, we can't complete the meal without the back burner. They need to be taken off of simmer sometime, or else they get burnt (and lost). 

With spring awakening around us, I pledge to take my projects off the back burner and put them to work in front of me. It's time. 

Just a thought. 

mirrors.

I have Justin Timberlake's new album, The 20/20 Experience,  on repeat. I'm loving the smooth rhythms, old school vibe and of course, his voice.

This album is taking a different direction from what we've seen for awhile. Instead of a la carte singles, The 20/20 Experience is made up of six to eight minute pieces, from ballads to melodies. While there's no track quite like "Sexyback" or "Cry Me a River" I'm still impressed that JT has taken a chance and done something completely different.

Currently loving "Mirrors", and his video. The dancing at the end is incredible - sharp, simple, classic.

Enjoy!

printemps.

It's been a busy week back on the grid. Although yesterday was the first day of spring, it's still feeling just like winter here in Toronto. 

Alas, all the running around is actually what can keep us warm and (momentarily) forget about the weather. These are the days where I promise to myself I will not complain during the heat this summer. 

Not only is it spring, but also dance competition season! I have several dancers competing my choreography across B.C. in the next few weeks. It's hard to believe I'll be heading back out to B.C. in just over five weeks to host The Vibe Dance Competition - time truly flies. 

In other dance news, several have asked, and I will be teaching one open workshop for the public when I'm back in May. The lovely Lucy Hazelwood, Artistic Director of Luki Dance Productions is also having me in to work with her professional company dancers while I am in Kelowna. Very excited! 

Stay warm m'dears and keep your chins up. Good things and weather are a'coming! 

spectacularly.

Classrooms come in all shapes and sizes. Some have textbooks, others have ballet barres. You may travel there daily, or correspond with someone via Skype.

If there's anything I've learned over the past five years, I'm a teacher, and the world around me is my classroom. 

From teaching dance choreography to professionals and first-time movers to sitting down one-on-one to create a social media strategy for a client, I have so much satisfaction when I see a pupil have that "aha!" moment.

I'm all about experimentation and pushing the boundaries. Not every person learns in the same way, so trying new exercises and drills can make a dramatic difference. I admit it, sometimes I try a new tactic that falls flat on its face.

However, I one of my friends repeated a great quote the other day that has really stuck with me:

"If you're going to fail, fail spectacularly." 

Last night, I took a chance in my beginner dance class by giving them an exercise I normally practice with my advanced students. Personally, I was something even I find tough to do, and I have been dancing and teaching for over 15 years. 

These women, many of whom have never danced before the beginning of 2013, listened attentively, harnessed actually what I was looking for, took my explanation and left their hearts on the studio floor. 

One lady came up to me after class and said that was the most incredible she has ever felt dancing. I put my arms around her and fought back tears. 

She, along with so many others, is turning a corner and getting it. I'm so honoured to be a part of this process. 

Whether it's in the office or a dance studio, these moments as a teacher are what drives you to continue doing it. 

Just a thought. 

ride.

"I was always an unusual girl, my mother told me that I had a chameleon soul. 

No moral compass pointing me due north, no fixed personality. 

Just an inner indecisiveness that was as wide as wavering as the ocean. 

And if I said that I didn’t plan for it to turn out this way I’d be lying- because I was born to be the other woman.

 I belonged to no one, who belonged to everyone, who had nothing, who wanted everything with a fire for every experience and an obsession for freedom that terrified me to the point that I couldn’t even talk about- and pushed me to a nomadic point of madness that both dazzled and dizzied me."

- Lana del Rey, "Ride" 

B&W.

Happy Saint Patty's Day! 

My oh my, weekend life literally was go go go the morning after I stepped off the plane (red eyes are my not friend by the way...) 

Celebrating a birthday, warming a home and celebrating my faux-Irishness are a pretty divine way to end my vacation. 

Time to hit the hay for some beauty sleep. Have a great week! 

hola.

Well, I'm officially back on the grid after a stunning week away in Mexico. 

For the first time in a year and a half, I disconnected myself from all technology. No phone, no texting, no email and no social media. There's still a part of me that didn't want to come home. I was perfectly happy hanging on the beach, ready to jump in the waves at a moment's notice. 

It was a treat to touch down and be greeting by several "we missed you!" texts and messages, but I'm seriously going to try to settle down with my addiction to my phone. Stepping completely away was one of the best things I could have done. 

In a country where people aren't recording every waking moment with their phone, life is just so much more present. Viewing things through your eyes, not a lens is the way it should be.

However, the wanderlust bug has got me - after being in Toronto for a year (which I have no regrets about, I had some incredible projects I got to work on) I feel like I'm falling into a little bit of wanderlust.

I'm finding myself already skimming through travel websites wondering, "where can I go next?".

I hit my palm to my head yesterday and realized I will be back to B.C. in just over six weeks for a emcee gig, and potentially to NYC for another weekend visit before then.

But first, heading back into the Toronto chill to prepare for another week of teaching, dance and work. Expect some Latin-inspired music and moves to sneak up in class this week...

Enjoy your weekend. Stories and photos to come from Mexico.