25.

As I get older (I do have a birthday coming this week...) I realize more and more how much time matters.

Sunday morning coffee.
Holidays with my family.
Late night cocktails with good girlfriends.
Days off.
Jam-packed days of dance rehearsal.

The list goes on.

I never, ever really thought I would associate myself with a quarter-life crisis. I just didn't have the TIME for it. I'm extremely happy and satisfied in my career, relationships and extra-curricular activities.

But lately, I've run into feeling a touch off-kilter at random parts of my day.

Holly Golighty said it best, "...the mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid, and you don't know what you're afraid of."

Am I afraid? At times, absolutely. With power comes respsonsibility, trust and guidance. I must respect that, especially with current opportunities I'm pursuing.

Am I afraid? Not at all. I'm finally where I'm supposed to be. Every single day is a new challenge. I don't know what next week looks like. I love it.

Bring it on 25. Let's do this.

instagram.

We are now on Instagram! 

Five years ago when I started this blog, having a social media component (or straetegy) was just NOT a part of the equation. 

I've decided to hold my self accountable, continue to be creative and express what I want as a writer here as often as it seems fit. Instagram will give a peek into my musings and updates on new articles and posts. 

Follow along if you would like! @SunriseJunction

Have a beautiful weekend friends. 

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. 

virtual.

My office doesn't have fancy art, cubicles or even a coffee machine. One day I'm looking out the window of a downtown coffee shop. The next, I'm sitting in a head office boardroom at a meeting. In the evening, I am most likely that girl you see having pint in the corner and looking connect with an awesome restaurant in Vancouver.

Some say it's not "stable"...but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I alawys knew I wasn't going to be behind a desk. The beauty of being a journalist and social media specialist is you're always on the go - the news and content doesn't come to you.

According to Forbes, those who work from home (or virtually) are "13 per cent more productive, happier in their jobs and less likely to leave their office-bound peers." The Loop Team is truly unique in this realm, and like any "office" environment there are things that work and don't. Here's how to combat them:

looplife.

If you didn't know...I'm also the social media/communications coordinator with GetintheLoop.ca - we are profiling different team members every few Fridays, and I'm this week!

Here's a bit more about my background and how I'm "in the Loop". You can also check this post (and many others) out on the GITL blog:

Ever wonder who's behind the Get in the Loop Twitter account? Meet our social media coordinator, Portia Favro.

I spent most of my childhood dreaming I would grow up to be a ballerina.

Having danced my entire life, I seriously considered a career in the performing arts. But in May 2008, that plan completely changed.

understanding.

Oh my! How has it been nearly 10 days since I last posted on here?

I guess that happens when there just aren't enough hours in the day. But life has been good, real good. 

Lovers of Marley was a huge success - we had nearly 800 people see the show, with a sold out show this past Saturday night. Being a trained contemporary dancer, you don't often get the opportunity to perform in a project the general public will understand...but this was it.

A huge thank you to so many for their support and taking the time to come out to see the show. I still can't believe we had a line wrapped around the block to come in on Saturday night!

I've also been experiencing recent growth in both my social media consulting and dance instruction business - I've got a couple exciting projects in the works that I'll be announcing more about this upcoming week.

Vancouver, you've been sweet to me. Thank you for taking me for who I am and supporting these wild adventures of mine...it's just beginning.

instagram.

I gotta say, there have been some great 'grams coming up over the last few months. I've throughout enjoyed following and interacting with several brands, friends and to be frank, people I've never met via Instagram.

Here are the accounts that I'm following this month - guaranteed, they'll liven up your feed if you're looking for something fresh!

@TaylorSterling 

Founder and Creative Director of The Glitter Guide, Taylor Sterling is the ultimate girls girl. Some wouldn't stop to take a photo of an interesting wall or moment happening on the street. 

Taylor captures it perfectly, and reminds us to stop and smell the roses in life. 

@blushshop

Simple shots from the waist-down of outfits, perfection in the use of white backgrounds and snaps of this dog - basically, one of the loveliest accounts I've seen. 

@GQ

It's not secret that I'll go for a GQ-esque guy every time. Let's keep this dapper look, gentleman-ly feel and witty/smart work up guys, it doesn't just pass by us ladies. 

@treasuresandtravels

Three Vancouver girls, Tegan, Bethany and Lindsay, write the divine blog Treasures & Travels. 

As a relatively newbie to the city, I love following their site and 'grams to see where the ladies are munching, hanging out and spending the season. 

Hands down, these gals got it when photographing with natural light - a must-do in my books!  

I'm always on the hunt for great Instagram feeds to follow for upcoming blog posts (and life). If you know someone interesting that I should take a peek at, tweet or leave me a comment below. 

I'm also on Instagram shares a few treats from my life...learning new tricks daily!

Have a lovely rest of your weekend.   

I do not take credit for any of the photos used in this post. Photography belongs to the credited photographers, text belongs to Portia Favro. 

timing.

Man, it's true. Life moves pretty fast. If you don't look around once in a while, you could miss it.

I've been very lucky to have the time to catch up with friends who are living all over the world, take in some classic winter activities and spend quality time with my family.

As I pack my bags and get ready to head back to Vancouver tomorrow, I can't help but get that ping in my stomach.

I feel (and know) it's time to go, but am sad to leave. I feel like I only just got here. 

My family gave up doing a big Christmas a few years ago when my brothers and I were living across the Canada and Europe. The fact that we were all in the same town was a big deal, and we decided to keep our "no presents" traiditon.

Here comes the cheesey life lesson bit, but really, the greatest gift we've had is time. 

It's a luxury - only a week off here, a couple days free there...for someone to give me the gift of their time is enormous. Take and run with it my friends.

It's been a treat Kelowna...but back to Vancouver I go! There's lots on the go these first few months of 2014 - check out more below:  

abridged.

Every once in awhile, an interesting trend pops up in the blogosphere that catches on quickly - this month it's an abridged autobiography.

I recently was "tagged" to share my thoughts and my story on the blogette...here we go!

Grew up in: San Francisco Bay Area & Kelowna, B.C.

Now lives in: Vancouver

Trait she values most in a friend: Honesty 

At age 10 she thought she would be: Prima ballerina

Her job: Social media specialist and writer by day, dancer/choreographer by night

Just finished reading: A large stack of magazines piled up on the bedside table

Favourite smell in the world: YSL Paris - my mother's perfume

Her cocktail of choice is: Gin and tonic, extra limes 

Never leaves home without: Cell phone, water bottle and lipstick 

challenge.

The last few weeks have been out of this world. That's the only way I can put it. 

Over the past year I've been dancing (pun intended) on a line between "Corporate Portia" and "Portia the Artist". However, since my move to Vancouver, I've been totally accepted as both. 

People in both realms of my career have taken me for who I am, and accepted the other half with open arms. 

Dance I broke up for a while, and now we're back together. Journalism and I went through a rough patch...we've now worked things out. 

Smooth seas don't make skillful sailors. 

Let's go. Challenge accepted. 

instagram.

As much as I try to follow and maintain a healthy work-life balance, what's a gal to do when the things she enjoys in "off" hours transform into career passions?

Instagram it all, of course.

Thus, I've been on the 'gram more than ever lately, and these are a few of accounts I've had my eye on this fall. Between great photos, styling ideas and to-die-for foodie posts, I recommend following these gals stat!

@emilyschuman

I think I speak for most of the female population that I have a bit of a girl crush on Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere.
This modern-day Martha Stewart has a fresh take on lifestyle blogging, and a knack for showing the beauty in everyday activities.Her Instagram photos are as divine as her blog - if I could walk in any one's shoes for a day, Emily's grey pumps are definitely front-runners.

@welovecitrus

I just can't get enough of interior designer (and crafter extraordinaire) Ana's fresh 'grams.
Besides inspiration photos, her too-cute babies make weekly appearances on her feed - their little outfits and those chubby legs will put a permanent smile on your face. 

@theeverygirl_

When life gets hectic, one of the best things to do is check The Everygirl Instagram. You'll often seen a quote (like the centre one above) that hits you square between the eyes.
 Mixed in with travel shots from around the world, every photo is postcard-worthy in my books!

@kellygolightly

It's no secret that Breakfast at Tiffany's is my all-time favourite movie, and has been since I was a teenager.
Needless to say, Kelly Golightly is the epitome of the modern-day Audrey, with a touch of Holly, and lots of sass. She's also the queen of cropping photos into shapes like clubs, hearts and circles - no one on Instagram does it better.

There we are! Enjoy and happy "liking" these divine Instagrams.

As always, I'm on the hunt for interesting profiles to follow - food, fashion, race cars...whatever. I'm all ears.

Let me know on Instagram (@PortiaFavro) and I'll feature my favourites again next month.

Have a lovely weekend!

All photos via the Instagram users. I don't own any of the photos from this post - just the writing! 

balance.

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted! However, sometimes a gal just needs a break.

I find October has notoriously been one of the busiest months every year. Between work, dance, Thanksgiving, Halloween, freelance contracts and of course, my birthday, I pop my head up and realize the month is halfway over.

This year, instead of whining that it's almost gone (along with this stunning fall weather in Vancouver), I've decided to take it outside and offline.

A few weeks ago I wrote about being the "yes" girl. Tina Fey said the best tactics in life include saying "yes" and figuring things out later.

This strategy has had me out of the house, running around town and exploring this beautiful new city I get to call home.

Thus, I've not been near a computer in my off hours!

In the constant struggle we face for work-life balance, I think this seems appropriate. I'll be back and forth posting on here over the next few months, just a heads up.

And with that...I'm off again!

Have a fabulous weekend.

projects.

My apologies for being a bit m.i.a. on the blogette this week. When you least expect it, things pop up and come together in ways you never thought were even an option.

I'm very lucky to be working with some fabulous people in Kelowna and Vancouver in the dance, digital media and communication world on a couple incredible projects.

Likewise, my Toronto friends have been extremely supportive over the last few weeks - even though I'm not there, I feel beyond connected through the various outlets available.

Needless to say, thank you to so many for your support over the last few months. This move to Vancouver has been spectacular so far, and it's only been five weeks!

I heard this quote the other day, and it really reinforced the attitude I feel I've been around the last few months:

A negative mind will never give you a positive life. 

Right? So good. 

instagram2.

This past July I posted an entry about my "must follow" accounts on the photo-sharing network Instagram.

Like my work life - I like to aim big, go big and reach out to as far as I can. The amazing thing about social media, is that you can directly interact with several big names in whatever industry you're interested in. 

I featured four accounts in that post who have caught my eye - never did I expect three out of the four of them to reply, retweet and share my post.  Big thanks to The Store on Queen ladies, Jillian Harris and Coach Bleecker Women for the support! 

I had several readers reach out and ask me to do series of "Must Follow" accounts - without further ado, here's Part 2! 

@StyleWithinReach

I have been following Caitlin's blog, Style Within Reach, and her work on The Glitter Guide for a whole now. I love her tangible, lively photos on Instagram. Unlike many staged posts, hers never seem "stiff".

Highlight: Her posts from New York Fashion Week captured some of the best details off the runway. The centre photo (above) is a piece seen at the Cynthia Rowley show. 

@BonAppetitMag 

Yes, Instagram is all about food photos, so it's no wonder Bon Appetit Magazine's collection has some of the best. My personal favourites are shot inside the Test Kitchen, and their mini how-to videos are some of the best I've seen. 

@LemonStripes

Travel shots, bright colours and a touch of classic style? Julia Dzafic, your Instagram photos make my heart go pitter-patter! I especially love how genuine Julia's beauty shots are - in an age where selfies and head shots are uber-posed, Julia's megawatt smile certainly appears organic and real. 

@Petite_Pearl

I have probably "liked" roughly 90 per cent of Vancouver-based wedding planner Jessica Minnie's Instagram photos. It looks like she's had a busy summer travelling around B.C. to make wedding days come to life - I particularly love all her detail and live shots throughout these evenings. Thanks for a summer of lovely shots Jessica! 

There you go - these are my top four Instagram accounts for September. 

I'm always on the hunt for interesting, new and fresh feeds to follow. Let me know your favourites on Instagram (@PortiaFavro). 

Until next month...have a great weekend! 

All photos via the Instagram users. I don't own any of the photos from this post - just the writing! 

goals.

This post is inspired by a little lady I like to call Ty. We met about five years ago in journalism class, and has been one of many friendships that prove age is just a number.

Even though I was graduating high school just as she was starting her term, we bonded and have been connected via social media and through the blogosphere. 

After reading her latest blog post, on Ty Peace n Love, I was inspired to take on same the challenge she did - confirming can creating your goals.

This couldn't have come at a better time, with my move to Vancouver. 

Do it now: write down two personal, two career and two health goals for the next one, five and 10 years. 

Do this four times a year. 

Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer

- Lululemon Manifesto. 

Okay...so without further ado, here are the goals. 

1 Year Goals - 2014 

Personal: 1. Buy the domain and create PortiaFavro.com, integrating this blog into it 2. Learn to really salsa dance. 

Health: 1. Continue dancing, swimming and exercising five days per week. 2. Work with a personal trainer one on one to learn what I'm doing right and wrong for my body 

Career: 1. Enroll, study and complete HootSuite University to keep my skills sharp. 2. Continue working, training and performing with the Army of Sass in Vancouver and the Okanagan

5 Year Goals - 2018 

Personal: 1. Compete in a ballroom dance competition 2. Visit Europe and go on epic tour of art, dance and food. 

Health: 1. Sign up and train for a triathalon or a tri by tri. 2.Continue dancing, teaching and training as much as possible (in my heels, of course).  

Career: 1. Covered the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games on the ground. 2. Be teaching regularly with a dance studio, company and/or production group. 

10 Year Goals - 2023 

Personal: 1. Own a vacation property somewhere in the world. 2. Get a dog. 

Health: 1. Swim the English Channel or the Escape from Alcatraz swim 2. Be able to do a handstand during my yoga practice. 

Career: 1. Supporting myself completely on my social media, writing and blogging work. Maybe even have my own company, if the time is right. 2. Have covered the 2020 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in whatever city it will be in (we'll find out this Saturday!) and/or Fifa World Soccer Cup. 

Whew...there we go. 

Can I do it? 

I'm going to be positive - yes. 

2014, you're first. Let's go. 

sip.

Happy Monday! 

Fresh off the weekend, and it's another busy start to the week at Portia Favro HQ. Quite a few things fell into place last week, and I'm finally starting to feel the wheels turn and things clicking here in Vancouver. 

I'm working on another big, exciting and also risky project. More details coming soon. 

For now, I'll leave you with a little something to sip on...

instagram.

Hello, my name is Portia Favro and I am an Instagram addict.

When I started using the popular photo-sharing application in 2011, it was solely to make my photos more interesting with the filters. It was free, easy to use and immediately changed the way I took photos.

Two years later, it's one of my essential networks for both personal and business use. I urge many of my clients to use Instagram, or at least be aware of its impact.

Like many of the big social media networks, there are a plethora of users. For most of the general population, the feeds include blurry pictures, some odd hashtags and a fair deal of food photos (which is never a bad thing!)

However, I think there are a handful of brands and users who are creating some incredible content on the application that hardly get noticed. So I've decided to feature my favourite Instagram accounts/users every month - these may be feeds that personal, professional or brand-focused, but are always inspiring and full of major eye candy.

Without further ado, here are my "must follow"accounts on Instagram. These guys and gals are doing it right!

@JillianHarrisDesign

Remember this Bachelorette? Jillian Harris is a true B.C. gal, and her Instagram fed truly reflects that. I love her healthy mix of design, food and personal photos from across the province/country! Her smile is infectious, and I truly feel that she takes the time to plan out and execute great content. 

@TheStoreOnQueen

I met Angela and Vava after they came to see a show I was performing in Toronto. We've run into each other at events in the city, and of course, at their divine boutique, The Store On Queen. These ladies are so passionate about their brand and their strong friendship, which is reflected through their feed. Their daily outfit posts are always full of life, colour and of course, lots of sass. I'm missing TSOQ! 

@donalddrawbertson

As another blogger put it - these are the best sketches, ever. I think I may have "liked" every single post since I've started following, no joke. 

@coachblkwomen

The pictures from the desk of the Coach Women's Legacy store on Bleecker Street in New York City are just, awesome. These shots are real, and even though the lighting, colour, etc., isn't always perfect, it doesn't matter. It humanizes the brand/feed and bring the streets of NYC (one of my favourite places in the world) to the palm of your hand daily. 

There you have it - my top four Instagram accounts of the month.

I'm anxious to hear what your favourite feeds are on Instagram. Let me know on Instagram (@PortiaFavro), and I'll feature my favourites next month. 

Happy Friday! 

All photos via the Instagram users. I don't own any of the photos from this post - just the writing!