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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! 

glory.

It's been a glorious, long hot summer here in Toronto.

It's been different - not going home to my summer job, friends, family and life in British Columbia was something very new for me (as well as the humidity of Ontario).

However in ways, this was my favourite and best summer yet both personally and professionally.

Big and small, here are a few of my favourite moments:

The last photo shoot with my favourite photographer Katie before she moved back to B.C. (and is getting married next summer!)

Taking in the "50 Years of the Rolling Stones" photo exhibit opening night at the Analogue Gallery with fellow J-Skooler (and my lovely friend) Cashlyn.

I got to celebrate my two passions with my friends and family on the same day.

I graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Journalism in the afternoon, and performed in a big dance show that evening.

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It's true, time flies when you're having fun.

I have had the time of my life covering the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games and cannot wait to for the next project. This was, hands down, the highlight of my entire summer, if not my journalism/social media career so far.

I'll be back on the blogging track as much as I can - I have many a post planned for you all and some fun features coming up this fall.

If you have an event, product or something you want reviewed, I'm open to the challenge! Just shoot an email to plfavro@yahoo.com or tweet me @PortiaFavro

Have a great start to your week and stay tuned...there's even more to come this fall!

PS how incredibly awesome were the Spice Girls in the Closing Ceremony last night? I died.

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Today was awesome. I got a taste of London, the Olympics and working with a fantastic group of people.

This is the start of something big.

Thank you to so many of you for all your support, kind words and thoughts! I'm ready to take on the next 17 days of Olympic coverage and cheer for my country along the way.


Check out this photo from inside the CTV Olympic control room. I was lucky enough to get to watch the lighting of the cauldron while I was in there!

Here's the link to the Opening Essay for the London Olympics. Not going to lie, I teared up a little when I saw it yesterday in a preview, especially when it talked about the Vancouver Games. It's a pretty special time to be a Canadian.

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I have to take a second and take this all in.

I'm so thankful, excited and pumped to be a part of a once-in-a-lifetime event. London 2012. For months, this has been on my mind.

Tomorrow, it really begins.

If you've been following CTV Olympics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google +, you can see that we've been busy this week. With athletes arriving in London and pictures/stories being shared instantly, our fingers have all been flying off the keyboards.

It's truly awesome to be sitting with a team of people from all walks of life (and all over the world) who are cheering, yelling and working every event, game, match and heat.

This is just the beginning. Tomorrow's Opening Ceremony will unlock a whole new kind of Olympics - the #Socolympics.

I'm in the front seat with an awesome team behind me. I can't wait to take in this 17 day ride.

Go Canada go!