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Treat Yourself And Fly Solo

Movies Alone

How many concerts have you missed because your friends have different music taste? Don’t let that be an excuse anymore. When I was at Western, I flew solo to a Barenaked Ladies concert, which I was reviewing for the Gazette. My intention was to listen, enjoy and take notes. It didn’t matter who sat next to me.

Likewise, when award show season was at its peak in the winter and I needed to watch nominees, I waited for no one. I spent an afternoon at Cineplex Odeon Varsity theatre, treated myself to a Yogen Fruz smoothie (I’m addicted!) and never looked back. Still Alice is an introspective film about aging that I was content to watch alone and I didn’t feel an urgent desire to discuss it with anyone afterwards.

A new study from the University of Maryland found that many individuals don’t spend time alone in public because they fear what observers will think. It’s sad to imagine how people are missing out on opportunities to enjoy themselves simply because they value opinions of strangers.

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SUBWAY Style

Photo Source: CNW

Photo Source: CNW

Hungry for haute couture? Look no further than SUBWAY’s collaboration with Canadian designer Sunny Fong, owner of Vawk, who launched a capsule collection inspired by food at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto.

We are always looking at new ways to be a part of pop culture and share our healthy living message,” said Kathleen Bell, Director of National Marketing, SUBWAY Restaurants Canada. 

Fashion Week presented an opportunity for SUBWAY to make a bold statement with stunning outfits inspired by their menu. This marked the first time SUBWAY participated in the festivities. Six outfits were seen on the runway, plus two other designs were displayed in the tent with materials from SUBWAY packaging. Backstage, models were fed SUBWAY sandwiches to help energize them — what a filling snack!

Trivia and Treats at Campbell’s HQ

Campbell's

Imagine if your employer rewarded you for knowing the company’s history inside and out. Campbell’s partnered with Allen & Gerritsen’s A&G Labs for an innovative employee engagement initiative that does just that. Campbell’s added an interactive level to their cafeteria’s vending machine and in doing so, they prove that vending machines can do extraordinary things.

As you can see in the video, the screen on the vending machine asks employees trivia questions about Campbell’s. If they get two out of three questions correct, then a prize will drop out at the bottom. Usually it’s a small snack, but a few lucky winners can win a GoPro camera or Fitbit.

The element of mystery adds to the fun and it’s not surprising to see that employees want to gather around and watch as their peers answer questions. What a unique thing to do during a break!

[2025 Update: Unfortunately, the YouTube video has been removed.]

The Edmonton Escape

Hot On The Street - West Edmonton Mall - Sea Lion

December is a month of reflection. Publishers encourage readers to start making lists of resolutions. Employees carve out more time to spend with loved ones. There’s suddenly an increased pressure to not only shop but also think about our past and establish goals for the future.

As Jeanne Beker discusses in Globe Style Advisor, escaping concrete jungles for rustic destinations can do wonders. Evidently, the article inspired me more than I realized. It gave me the urge to relax in an unfamiliar Canadian city and eliminate other destinations that would allow me to kick back in a warmer climate. Shortly after reading her advice, I booked a flight to Edmonton, Alberta.

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Reading The Globe Style Advisor

Photo Source: Canada.com

Photo Source: Canada.com

The swag bag from Spark Sessions was jam-packed with goodies to test. The Canadian bloggers who attended are still digging through it and sharing our experiences as we discover products we love. The reusable canvas tote bag was provided by The Globe and Mail and included the latest issue of Globe Style Advisor.

It’s been months since I read an issue of Globe Style Advisor. After listening to editor Andrew Sardone’s keynote, during which he discussed the evolution of street style and his vision for the publication’s future, I was psyched to sit down and read the Holiday 2014 issue. I spotted Andrew’s byline on a few pages, where he writes about hotels, drinks and books. Naturally, I am most inclined to read the coffee table book he suggests for the wordsmith: Understanding The World: The Atlas of Infographics by Sandra Rendgen and Julius Wiedemann.

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