23.

It may be raining here, but nothing can get me down today. 

Thank you to so many who have called, emailed, tweeted, texted, et cetera et et cetera et cetera me for my birthday (and it's barely even mid-morning!) Y'all know how to make a girl feel very special. I'm blessed with good friends who have become my family. 

sparkle.

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.

I hope you read some fine books

and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful,

and don't forget to make some art;

write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.

And I hope, somewhere in the next year,

you surprise yourself."

-Neil Gaiman

Happy New Year.

journey.

Merry Christmas and (almost) Happy New Year! I hope that you all enjoyed lots of time with family and friends this holiday season.

2011 has been an amazing year full of opportunities in both dance and journalism; I'm hoping for the same in 2012!

Upon my return to Toronto I will be starting work in the Ryerson newsroom and then interning at CTV's Canada AM for my practicum placement. I'll still be running the social media for McClung's Magazine, and it will continue to have constant updates about the issue through the semester (check for the winter issue coming out in January!) I'll be graduating from the journalism program this June - needless to say, I'm excited!

In the dance world, I have completed six contemporary solo and duet pieces for dancers at Reflections Dance Studio and they will compete across western Canada in cities such as Vancouver and Calgary this spring. My open choreography/music theatre piece for Kelowna Secondary School's dance team will also be travelling to perform and compete in the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan in the coming semester.

Thank you to so many of my friends and who have believed in me and my vision (whether it be for something dance or journalism) and supporting me through this journey.

As I stand on the edge of my next chapter, I owe so much to those who support the dreamers. I couldn't do this without you.

Stay posted for updates about journalism, dance, life and everything in-between here and on my Twitter (@PortiaLoretta) for the coming year - this is only the beginning!

(PS here's another sneak peak of one of my dancers...beautiful lines!)

bubbly.

There are life events that are monumental - weddings, first kisses, breakups, legal drinking age birthdays and graduations are just a few.

We celebrate these events with an abundance of positivity and time with the ones we love, accompanied by good wine and friends.

But what about when things are a little rough? What about those seemingly "normal" days that seem to require a little something for us to celebrate?

In a yoga class a few weeks ago a teacher said that in a the huge question of "what is the meaning of life?" that perhaps we are put here to simply enjoy what life is.

"Don't fear getting older, for it's a privilege denied to many."

I stumbled upon this sequence of little videos the other day that reflect all these philosophies - common days, celebrating events, and enjoying the day to the hilt. It also helps that most of us have been though one or a few of these events, making them more realistic.

Celebrating with new friends:


Crying with the old:


And taking time for yourself.


All this has got me wanting to try a red bubbly champagne - New Years Eve perhaps?

PS speaking of all this enjoyment, although my family is adopting a family for Christmas and not buying each other presents, I will still be releasing my gift guide of some things I've come across that are lovely for hostesses, mothers or a good friend that you want to get a little something for. Stay tuned!

@.

Happy November darlings!

I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween! I've been plagued with early essay due dates this year, and unfortunately spent most of my weekend in the library. However, I did make it out to some gatherings (and the ever same Church Street Halloween night party) donning a Twitter-inspired costume.

One thing I learned this weekend: I have a newfound love for wigs. Seriously, not having to worry about doing your hair before heading out is awesome. All night it looks perfect and I didn't have to use one once of hairspray. I'm having a little bit of withdraw today from my little blue bob...

What did you go as for Halloween? I would love to hear/see costumes! Tweet a picture to me at @PortiaLoretta...I'll post my favourites here.

Hope you enjoy the Day of the Dead, and you're still living on okay. We're almost to the end of the semester, which means Christmas and New Years parties galore. I still think it's too early to bring in the Starbucks red Christmas cups (I still have American Thanksgiving to worry about!) but am looking forward to being in a Santa-themed show in December. Being home this year has also allowed me a lot of opportunities to choreograph, which I'm looking forward to!

Now for this snow business...well, maybe we'll get lucky this year and it won't come until Christmas Eve!