distance.

"The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for.

And the most you can do is live inside that hope.

Not admire it from a distance, but live right in it, under its roof."

— Barbara Kingsolver

Have a fabulous weekend.

playlist27.

Holy smokes where did July go already? I've started work with CTV's Olympic bureau and am getting very, very excited for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games starting next Friday.

If you're not already, follow @CTVOlympics on Twitter for all the latest news, athlete information and more throughout the games.

My brain in thoroughly induced with everything British, so it felt fitting to dedicate this month's playlist to the artists of the British Invasion.

Of course, we honour the classics (we all know how much I love my Stones...) but it's time to share the torch with some of the new voices coming out of the UK. Check out Marina and the Diamonds, Florence and the Machine and Rita Ora, some of my new favourites.

Also released this afternoon - The Spice Girls will be performing their hit "Wannabe" at the London 2012 closing ceremony. #Cantwait

Enjoy the playlist and have a great weekend!

unplugged.

I know it's still the beginning of the week, but I'm already craving the weekend again.

Not only does weekend mean free time (and with the weather so warm and lovely in Toronto, who doesn't want to be outside?) but also time for Yoga Unplugged.

After seeing tweets, Facebook posts and the like repeatedly about the free yoga class put on by Lululemon and 889 Yoga, I decided there was no time like the present to check it out.

Last Saturday I packed my bag, grabbed my mat and headed to the swanky Thompson Hotel, where class took place on the outdoor patio overlooking the water.

Even better, the theme of the evening was "Diva Soul" - cue Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Sade and Beyonce on the playlist.

I was literally surrounded by yogis dancing on our mats and taking in the cool evening while the sun set.

Somewhere between side angle pose and another downward dog, I looked up at the number of people on the deck with me. This weekly event is HUGE. There were easily 150 people sweating and om-ing it out together, yet the only noise you could hear was the teacher's voice and the music.

Needless to say, I'll be back at every chance I get. This week's theme is Roots Rock Reggae, I'm beyond pumped.

Yoga Unplugged runs every Saturday afternoon from 4-5PM at the Thompson Hotel until September. Discover more by searching #YogaUnplugged on Twitter and Instagram.

Namaste.

rey.

I have been totally bitten by the Lana del Rey bug.

Her voice is haunting, beautiful and her music sways somewhere between classic ballads and R and B with heavy beats. Even better? It's all wrapped up in movie-like music videos.

"National Anthem" pulls in some classic Americana references - del Rey impersonating bombshell Marilyn Monroe serenading JFK with a "happy birthday" song, Jack O outfits...Even the filming technique has a vintage feel to it.

Overall, I'm just obsessed. This is my pick track of summer 2012.

Check out the video below:



I'm heading into some crazy preparation and a few weeks of Olympic work, so my apologies for a lack of posts here.

I'll be tweeting mucho during the games, make sure to follow my on Twitter for the latest updates! (@PortiaFavro)

newsy.

"So what shows do you watch?"

I'm finding that in both the dating and friendship worlds, this question keeps coming up more and more. Just like political mindsets, taste in music and areas of the city both divide and bring us together - I arguably can say the same about TV shows.

But it's not just the ones we get on basic cable, (Yes, I admit to watching some reality shows when I'm near a TV...ahh the joys of no cable) but also those on the specialty networks. Yes, I'm talking about HBO, but also AMC, MTV, CBC and more.

Recently, I have found both HBO's Girls and The Newsroom have sparked a number of arguments between truth and TV-land glamour of the shows between friends.

Since I dabble in the reality of this simulated worlds, I try to put on my journalist hat as an outsider and hear what my reporter friends, normal friends, superiors and colleagues all think. There have been a matter of opinions, and some I definitely do and do not agree with.

When meeting someone for the first time, I find the inevitable "Do you watch Mad Men?" question always comes up. Now, I love John Hamm just as much as the next girl, but I am sorry to say that I have never taken the time to get into the show. I want to, but just need access.

Some people at this point may take another hesitant sip of their drink and change the subject.

So is this what we have changed to? The fictional lives of our favourite characters in television shows are synonymous with those in reality? We love to follow a storyline, ponder and analyze the lives and decisions of characters - and more than ever, they have become a part of our real lives too.

I gotta watch more TV.

Just a thought.

PS this is my current obsession du jour - The Newsroom. I saw a sneak peek of the pilot last month through a contact, and am absolutely lapping up each episode now. Check out the trailer below.