miss_social.

There's a lot to be said about recharing your batteries. 

After a couple weeks (and weekends) full of nonstop meetings, social media strategy building and a lot of birthdays/events...my mind and body needed to check out. 

Over the last 72 hours, I've tucked away in my little apartment, emerging only for a quiet dinner with friends, yoga class and a coffee run. It has been glorious. 

My nickname when I was working for the London 2012 Games was "Miss Social" (and some say I've just carried it through), but sometimes the social media gal need a social break. 

I'll be back full-force tomorrow friends. Happy Sunday. 

top5.

These summer days are just flying by on me - I can't believe the first of August is coming up this week. 

I've had some fantastic opportunities to take advantage of both a B.C. and Toronto summer, and it's still not over. My biggest goal is to see, do, eat and explore as much as possible before fall. 

Appropriately, I have themed this month's Top 5 list around this warm weather. 

Read it, take notes and then get outside and enjoy that sunshine! 

Songza. 

I'm obsessed with Songza. This "music concierge website finds the perfect playlist based on the time of day, activity and your personal preference of music. 

With guest curators, the best of the summer and HBO Girls-themed playlists (Marnie's is my personal favourite), Songza is guaranteed to give you the best music of the season. 

The Painted Girls. 

I kicked off my summer reading list with Canadian author Cathy Marie Buchanan's "The Painted Girls. 

Inspired by the Degas's Little Dancer Aged 14 (pictured above), Buchanan paints an incredible story about three sisters, the Paris Opera and one of the era's most famous criminal trials. 

If you like historical fiction a la The Other Boelyn Girl, this is a like-minded, well-researched and indulgent read. 

Caravan Farm Theatre 

Nestled in Armstrong, B.C., the group of players at the Caravan Farm Theatre puts on outdoor shows in both the summer and winter. 

Don't be fooled by its location - several of this season's actors have major credits, including work at the Stratford Festival and for Cirque du Soleil. They're performing "Head Over Heels" (a modern interpretation of Shakespeare's "The Twelfth Night" until August 25.

Beyonce 

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Queen Bey. Her Mrs. Carter tour is coming to Vancouver this November. I got my fingers and toes crossed I can stumble upon some tickets.

London 2012 

A year ago this past Saturday, July 27, the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics kicked off one of the best times of my life. I can't believe how much time has passed since the Games - can't wait to see what's to come on social media for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016! 

olympic.

2013 International Olympic Academy Application 

Portia Favro 

Portia casually "Bolting" at CTV Olympics HQ (August 2012) 

Unlike most fathers, my dad is not a sports man. However, every two years the Favro Family household became Olympics Central. 

Every television is turned to a different spoting event, and my family, clad in our Olympic gear, fully submit ourselves into the Games. 

As a little girl, I dreamed of being an Olympic figure skater or gymnast, but being an elite athlete wasn’t in the cards for me. 

Little did I know, the Olympics still were. 

Upon graduating from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2012, I was brought on to co-lead the social media team for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Consortium, CTV Olmypics throughout the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

I spent the summer searching for Olympic trends, snapping photos and uploading them to Instagram, tweeting live events (like Usain Bolt’s 100 metre and Michael Phelps last race) and interacting with Canadian fans on our Facebook page. 

After London 2012, my eyes were opened to a completely new world of sport with the Paralympics. From a social media angle, this was the first time many in the Paralympic community had a voice. The achievements of so many athletes who had overcome various disabilities has changed the way I live my life. If these people can do this, I have no excuse not to jump at every opportunity that comes by. 

CTV Olmypics London 2012 Team 

I would love to attend the 2013 International Olympic Academy’s International Session of Educators this summer and learn as even more about the Games and share my knowledge about covering live events through social media.

I would especially be interesting in raising awareness and creating even more of a conversation about the Paralympics. 

Below are photos are from the Olympic Parade of Heroes in downtown Toronto (September 2012) and video from an opportunity I had to perform in a flash mob for the Canadian Olympic Committee (November 2012). 

London 2012 Torch (Photo by Portia Favro) 

Paralympian Summer Mortimer and Olympian Adam van Koeverden (Photo by Portia Favro)

Canada's London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Atheletes (Photo by Portia Favro)


Portia Favro performing in a flash mob for the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian athletes of Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and potentials for Sochi 2014. 

Thank you for your consideration. 

ring.

Happy Sunday! 

A few months ago I had the opportunity to perform for the Canadian Olympic Committee for the athletes of Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and potentials for Sochi 2014. I also got to meet several of my favourite athletes (Joannie Rochette and Justin Warner) as well as one of my journalism idols, Brian Williams. 

Needless to say, you never know what path your life will take you in. I never dreamed my journalism and dance jobs would cross like this. 

We're less than a year away from the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics - I can't wait to get involved and throw myself back into the Olympic ring again! 

Choreography Janet L. Castillo

I believe I've posted it before, but here's a quick look at our performance that evening. 

2012.

At this time last year, I was terrified of 2012.

I knew there were some big changes in my future, and I would be faced with that terrifying moment of "what I am going to do with my life?"

For whatever reason, I decided that if an opportunity came up, I was going to take it. Big, little, out of town, whatever. I was going to do it. I figured I would at least get a good story about it.

That escalated into some really unique experiences - some that went amazingly well, and other times, not at all.

However, at the end of this year, I have realized how much I have learned.

I learned how to lead a team in a professional enviornment. I found that with complete artistic power comes great responsibility. It's still true - patience really is one of the most powerful skills. And along the way, I met a plethora of interesting people who challenged everything I thought I knew, and pushed me to be the best version of myself.

2012 was definitely one of the best years of my life (so far).

Here are a few of the highlights:

Hanging out in the Montreal train station. 

One of my first segments airing nationally on Canada AM

Keanu and Brittney performing my piece, "Gotham"  

olympic.

A couple weeks ago I was cast in perhaps the perfect gig for me - performing in a flash mob for the Canadian athletes from Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and potentials for Sochi 2014.

After this past summer interacting with the athletes over social media, it was amazing to meet them in person. I also had the chance to say hello to the legendary Brian Williams and trade dance studio tips with Vancouver 2012 bronze medallist Joannie Rochette.

Needless to say, that was a day I will never forget.

Check out our performance here:

pausing.

Looking back at 2012, this has easily been one of the best years (so far) of my life.

Some incredible opportunities have come my way personally and professionally, and I'm happy to say that I feel like I've been able to take full advantage of as many as I could.

Although the tweets, photos and posts may seem like this year was smooth sailing, there were definitely some down moments. There were a couple of rough days (and weeks) where no one was calling me back about any job prospects, dance gigs or things to do.

Maria Shriver spoke at the University of South California earlier this year about the "Power of Pause". This video came across my path on one of my down days, and reset the tone for my approach to life.

Shriver spoke to the communication graduates about slowing down, and instead of jumping on the "fast forward" lane, to instead, pause.

"Pausing allows you to take a beat - to take a breath in your life. As everybody else if rushing around like a lunatic out there, I dare you to do the opposite," said Shriver. 

I can see where she is coming from, however, with the financial pressures of paying for your rent, utilities, and well, just trying to have a life, how can we pause?

That's when I put two and two together. Pausing doesn't mean having to run away on a vacation. Maybe pausing means still working, still trying to figure it all out and still giving everything a chance.

This philosophy helped me I take some risks this summer. I didn't marry myself to anything that would have kept me away from projects I wanted to pursue (like working the Olympics). My pause included working as much as I could, doing anything - writing, life guarding, choreographing - but with a goal in the future I wanted to reach.

Having the stability of the work and power to call the shots before the Games gave me a refreshed and clear mind heading into that period of time.

I thought I would have no work after London 2012, and still took a risk to stay in Toronto. Since then, I've had the chance to participate in so many interesting projects and gigs. Had I moved home or taken the "safe" path, I wouldn't have had any of those opportunities.

In so many ways, I think I'm going through another "pause". I know a heck of a lot more about what I want to do now, and 2013 will be my year to attack those goals head-on.

If you have 20 minutes, I highly recommend listening to Shriver's whole speech. Even if you're en route on your path of life, it still puts things into perspective.