#smwto

Social Media Week came to Toronto this past week and brought with it amazing venues, intelligent and informed presenters – and way too much free booze. What I was approaching as being a great opportunity to get out and about the city, network and meet young people interested in the same things as me really became a week of behaving like a nineteen year old again.

Monday – So you have a LinkedIn profile, now what?

The first event I went to, held at Camaraderie on Adelaide was all about the power of LinkedIn and was absolutely amazing. The two speakers, Sue Varty and Marc Roginsky were incredible presenters and were able to highlight so many aspects of LinkedIn I had known nothing about. It is incredible what this social networking tool can be used for, and the opportunities that are available to anyone who is connected and knows how to use it. I was deceived by the fact that this event was only a couple of hours and had no drinks involved...and so assumed that the rest of the week would also include early nights.

Julie, Me, Zee, Lisa...fast friends!

Wednesday – JWT Retail Slam/NKPR Truth, Dare, Double Dare and Promise to Retweet

The JWT Retail Slam took place at St. Andrew’s Church on Bloor – a beautiful venue – with the most interesting speakers I’ve heard in a long time. The panel of presenters talked on topics including group buying, f-commerce (facebook commerce) and the introduction of the QR code to North America. The speakers were engaged and entrenched in the world of social media and were true experts. They spoke to us about what we can expect to see in the next one to five years in the Canadian retail space, and it was unreal. After two hours of presentations, there were drinks and hors d’oeuvres served in the hall. My friend Zee and I decided we would have one drink and call it an early night. Unbeknownst to us, one of the servers would take a huge liking to us and insisted on keeping our glasses full and our plates stacked.

Bustin`a drunkin`move...

It was here that we met two of the coolest girls I’ve met in a LONG time – Julie and Lisa. The four of us instantly hit it off and needless to say got a little reckless. Knowing we all had to make it into work the next day, we should have stopped there, but alas we did not.  Zee responsibly went home to bed, and Lisa, Julie and myself went off to NKPR to continue the night. The truth, dare, double dare and promise to retweet event was sponsored by SKY vodka and was my demise. I made it home at sometime past 1:00am with poutine on my shirt and not a clue why I woke up on my couch – and I actually somehow made it into work on Thursday.



Julie loving it!

Thursday – The Dark Side of Social Media

Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to this event, despite my ridiculous hangover I had to work late, and traffic was brutal getting back into the city due to the Leaf’s game. Zee made it to this one on her lonesome and again said the wine was free flowing, so probably for the best that I didn’t make it out! However, I did get to spend a wonderful evening eating chicken cordon bleu and drinking delicious ice wine for dessert, so I can’t complain!

Friday – GenYTO Social Media Week Party at Lee’s Palace

Zee & Me

On Friday night Zee and I headed out to the smwto wrap-up party put on by GenYTO at Lee’s Palace. I cannot even begin to find the right words to explain how this evening went. From singing Dog Days Are Over at the top of our lungs, filling up drinks with the booze I had stashed in my purse, and dancing like absolute mad men – we had the time of our life! By the end of the night, empty handed and unable to stand we took a cab home, but got out 10 blocks from where we needed to be and ended up walking (stumbling) back to my place with a stop on the way to get disgusting food from Coffee Time. I still cannot answer why, of all the places, we stopped at Coffee Time. This was one of those nights to never forget and can’t begin to remember.

So that was Social Media Week in Toronto...brilliantly put together and amazingly fun. Next year, at least I’ll be prepared for what I’m getting myself into!

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It’s A Twelve Step Program...

I have had a GREAT response to suggestions for what I can do for my resolution to try something new every month for a year, so thanks everyone!!! :) From the many tasks that have been sent my way, some completely ridiculous and others extremely intriguing, I have come up with my short list.

Before I get into what is next to come, I suppose it’s best to start with January and my challenge of becoming a true Canadian and going ice skating.

Challenge One - January

Me about to go skating...looking a little nervous!



I figured that my natural athletic talent, poise and grace would lend itself to me being a fabulous ice skater right off the bat. And as I assumed – it was true! I was about as good as the five year olds on the ice and slightly better than the one guy who looked like he was about to have a panic attack. However, I happily did not break a bone or fall even one time! And as I mastered the art of stopping like a true hockey player and spinning in circles like the best figure skater I can now happily call myself Canadian. I loved the rink, right on the water and a lot less busy than the insanity of Nathan Phillips Square - with the best DJ in the city. Not only did I get to skate, but I got to rock out to old school Xtina, Snoop Dog and the best of bad eighties music.



The beautiful rink...right on the water



Please note that everything above about me being good is lies– I tried to stop a handful of times, all of which I chickened out and clung on for dear life in fear of falling. And I may have attempted to spin once, and came dangerously close to wiping out and bringing down everyone around me!

I'm actually upright!

The best part of the whole adventure was the delicious hazelnut latte I had afterwards by the fire at the cutest Second Cup on Queens Quay, which was then followed by a few vodka waters to warm the blood from being out in the cold for so long...yum yum.

Challenges Two – Twelve

I sourced suggestions from near and far about what I should do over the next eleven months to push myself outside my comfort zone, and here are some of the things that I got back:

·         Be a Mom for a day

·         Get my ears pierced

·         Get a tattoo

·         Run a marathon

·         Complete a triathlon

·         Go to L.A.

·         Take a knitting class

·         Join the circus

·         Learn to meditate

·         Go to tea at the Red Tea Box

·         Kiss Vinny from Jersey Shore

·         Go skydiving

·         Take a pottery class

·         Learn a new language

·         Get scuba certified

·         Pick up a musical instrument

·         Go shopping at St. Lawrence Market

·         Learn to drive standard

And the list goes on...

From this I have compiled what I think to be the best of the suggestions and will be completing one each month for the next year. I’m not going to divulge what order they will happen in or what is next to come, but I can say...if I disappear for awhile, maybe it’s because I’ve run off to join the circus or Vinny and I have fallen in love and I’m now a Jersey Shore Guidette J

Freeeeezing cold and looking forward to my latte!