International Women's Day

This International Women’s Day, join us at #ConnectHer2017 in celebrating the political, social and economic achievements of women in Mississauga and Peel. This is an opportunity for women of all ages to come together to EMPOWER, INSPIRE & ENCOURAGE each other!

Admission is FREE! Invite your colleagues, friends, your mother, and your daughter!

What to Expect:

1: Two panels with some of Mississauga's finest leaders

2. Over 15+ Table Mentors to network and learn from! (Women in tech, entrpreneuriship, design, fitness, education, public service, and MORE!)

3. An oppurtunity to connect with other women, business owners, students, and professionals in our community.

For full details visit http://www.chrisfonseca.ca/ward3-map/connecther-2017/

Twitter @ConnectHerPeel #ConnectHer2017 #IWD2017 #BeBoldforChange

Fashion + Function: Ashley Chloe® Helix Cuff™

SAN FRANCISCO -- September 7, 2016 -- Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ashley Chloe® is bridging the gap between fashion and function in wearable tech. Ashley Chloe® confronts this challenge head-on with the stylishly innovative Helix Cuff™, its flagship wearable tech accessory for seamlessly connecting your active modern lifestyle. With a team of world–class product designers and engineers, the fashion-forward startup focuses on creating digital accessories that improve daily use cases. The Helix Cuff™ is the beginning of a line of innovative digital wearables that transform the way we interact with technology.

The Helix Cuff™ is the world’s first wearable with extractable Bluetooth® headphones on your wrist. It solves the problem of dealing with tangled and easy to lose headphones in a fashion-forward way. The HelixCuff™ was successfully funded on Kickstarter, was awarded “Kickstarter Staff Pick” and saw over 250% in funding.

Angela Pan, Founder and CEO of Ashley Chloe®, drives the fashion tech brand with her experience in dual roles as an ambitious female entrepreneur and former early-stage tech investor. Pan saw a huge gap between beautiful design and incredible functionality in the current wearable market. Noticing the pains of tangled, plugged in headphones that we all experience, she created a wearable, wireless solution with her experienced team of ID designers and engineers from Nokia, Google/Nest, and GoPro.

“Our design belief is that we wanted to create something new, and usually new things come from existing elements put together in a novel way and we believe that the most interesting things happen in the in-between spaces.”

Ashley Chloe® is currently showcasing at this year's Startup Fashion Week and sees this event as a valuable place to make connections and gain exposure with the fashion-forward audience here in Toronto and educating us about fashion tech.

You can order The HelixCuff™ here.

Alicia Keys' Glow, Au Naturel

I read an article on my favourite online magazine the other day, about Alicia Keys becoming more confident in her own skin and I was ecstatic! I can't emphasize how much I love reading about this rather than the next nudie that's breaking the internet.

She addresses a tough topic that we can all relate to, so I didn't even think twice about sharing it on facebook. A split conversation began in the post's comments, which I was happy about. People were reading it and had something to say! What I wasn't 100% happy about, was that I was a bit misunderstood. I guess some women took it as an attack on wearing makeup in general, but that is not why I shared the story. Frankly, it could've been anyone's story and I would have shared it regardless! I just LOVED the message and what I took away from it.

Sharing this wasn't actually about makeup for me at all. I enjoy the occasional dolling up just like the next woman! My sharing this story was actually for the bigger picture: insecurity in general and overcoming it in our own unique ways. Also, I never wanted anyone to compare their situation with hers--we shouldn't be comparing ourselves to anyone (except our old selves!), in the first place! Try to fight the urge to compare. I just wanted to share an encouraging story of bravery and overcoming that critical inner voice.

Insecurity, like cancer, doesn't discriminate. I agree that Miss Keys is gorgeous at any time of the day, but these are our own opinions of her. No amount of money or fame could change how she felt about herself. She does have more admirers and opportunities than your average woman but it doesn't mean her insecurities were any easier to fight. She had a journey, unique from ours and she is still journeying. Insecurity is anyone's battle and writing/singing about it is all that Alicia Keys can do for us. What we do with what she shares is up to us, right?

"I don't want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing!" ~Alicia Keys

You can read the full article here.

R

Nail art, Manicures & Bubbly

My good friend Bless, of Infinity and Bliss, and I had the chance to experience Toronto's first pop up nail and champagne bar, TNCB. While we were getting our nails done, we were treated to champagne, chocolates and meeting Eliza, who owns the business. She shared her stories and her plans for the business, the kind that always inspires me. Eliza loves to do things a little differently. Combining bubbly, chocolates and tea from France with a nail spa treatment is a brilliant idea that women can indulge in. I kept in touch with Eliza afterwards, asking her to be a part of my Local Love series. Expect my post on her answers later in July! In the meantime, book an appointment for some pampering! The pop-up shop is only around until June 5th!

R

Local Love: PR & Event Planner, Bless of Infinity & Bliss

Bless is practically family to me and that is how I knew about her. We clicked and started to get close a long time ago, when we were both bridesmaids at a mutual friend's wedding. Currently, if we're not out for afternoon tea, jamming to a song at home or dining at one of our favourite spots in the city, we're working on building our businesses together.

She's a multi-threat: event planner, PR girl, blogger, pianist, singer and choreographer...though, she stays pretty humble about it all. She runs her business and her life with a certain type of OCD, like me. We laugh about it, but we both love to be busy, organized and prepared.

When I pitched the idea of my Local Love feature, she was the first to jump on. Of course she would be because my girl stays woke! In just a few words, get to know the mind behind Infinity + Bliss:

Try describing yourself in 3 words.

Dauntless, responsive & evolving

What's your morning routine like?

I Wake up at 7am. Then I check Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, snapchat and emails (to wake my eyes up). Then I go upstairs to eat breakfast (my room is in the basement). After that, I will pack the lunch I made the night before. Then once I'm done in the kitchen, I will start my daily skin routine, brush & floss my teeth, style my hair (I don't care if I don't have make up on my face, the hair needs to be styled no matter what!) Then I'll do my make up if I still have time. I'll leave the house at 8am to commute to work on the ttc - which takes an hour. Then I'll start work at 9am. First thing I do at work, is drink a glass of water and then coffee! One milk, one sweetener. 

What are you most grateful for today?

Im grateful for every experience that I've been through.  Whether it was a bad experience or good experience, it has made me who I am today.

Name someone you truly appreciate and why:

My significant other, Carlo Pangilinan. He's the seed to the drive I have in me and my motivation, which only grew from being inspired by him. He's very supportive and always inspires me to be a better woman. 

Why did you start your own business?

Event planning, writing and promoting is something that I know I'm good at and also very passionate about. It's also something that's definitely built into my personality. I believe in the art of expression and I believe my business is an outlet for the many things I want to share to the world. Plus! I'm so good at bragging about the things I love ;) might as well put it in writing.

Do you have a mantra or MO?

I'm have such a competitive personality and drive, but I definitely do not believe in discouraging other people just for self advancement. The only person I'm competitive with, is the person I was yesterday. I always want to improve and learn more. I believe in embracing mistakes and flaws. I always want to be the best person I can be for myself and for the people I care about. I believe in fighting for what you want until there's nothing left in you to give. I also believe in honesty and authenticity. I know I can do it a little too much - but like I said, I'm always improving. 

Who is your muse or style crush?

My muse is Beyonce. Not the commercialized version of beyonce but I'm such a fan of her work ethic, her motivational  speeches and her talent for writing. 

Style crush: Lately, it's been Khloe Kardashian and Jessica Alba. Khloe has the most classiest looking dresses, great casual looks and an amazing fitness style. I love how Simple yet put together Jessica Alba is. 

What are your favourite places?

The gym. I'm there every single day. Haven't taken a day off...yet. Also, anywhere with my babies (my dogs, milky and Boris) and surprisingly, I actually love being at work *laughs* 

Stores to shop:

Zara, Oak and Fort, Club Monaco, Aritzia and forever 21. However! I've been diggin' Sirens a lot lately. Their inventory has a lot of classic pieces. Best bang for your buck! 

Please share with us the last place you traveled to. People often say that travel is a teacher. Did you learn anything from your last trip?

I was in Cancun, Mexico in January, for my anniversary with my boyfriend. It was the best all inclusive trip I've been to so far. One thing I learned about this trip is, you get what you pay for. This trip was more expensive than our usual all inclusive trip budget- but every single detail of our trip was high quality and definitely worth spending a lot for. 

Describe your signature look:

I'm all about neutrals and If I'm going to wear color, it's nothing too bold (pastels, shades etc.)

my Casual: Black jacket, fitness leggings, Nike roches and big scarf! 

Work: Fitted midi dresses. I don't like wearing anything above the knee. 

What fuels your fire? What gives you courage?

Emotional Pain and rejection. Not just my own but the people I care about. It does take a lot for me to get hurt since I've learned to be more selective with what I pay attetion to. Regardless, Either makes me want to work harder or go to the gym. 

Recall the last time you were outside of your comfort zone and how you handled it.

I just started a new day job at a law firm. So That means, new boss, new coworkers and there are new personalities I had to get to know. It's definitely my first time working in a corporate environment which is also another challenge. I know my personality, and she's so used to being so carefree. She  can also be a bit too strong for certain people - so I have to put "her" away and slowly ease her way out slowly. So far though, because my boss is so easy going, I was able to adjust very easily. 

Name a woman you admire the most. What do you admire about her?

My Best friend, Len Alvarez. The most self-less woman I know. She's learned to be an advocate of happiness. She is altruistic with her close friends, most especially her family and sometimes even strangers. She's very kind and extremely loyal. 

Name one thing you feel is misunderstood about you.

My Honesty. People mistaken my honesty for being rude. However, most of the time, I'm not always trying to be rude. I know I can be a bit blunt sometimes - but there's nothing that comes out of my mouth without purpose. Obviously, if I'm not happy with something, when the opportunity presents itself, I will say something. My intent is to always try to Provoke change. 

Please share your favourite life hack:

My frequently updated internal map. Everytime I go somewhere, the internal map in my head updates and voila! I've eternally memorized how to get there. So I barely need directions to a lot of places in Toronto and GTA. I can close my eyes and visualize the location. I'm basically the prettier version of google maps ;)

What do you love most about your job?

I love planning and putting together every small detail, but the end result and my satisfied client is the best part of the job. 

What do you do to keep stress at bay? What do you do to unwind?

The Gym is my santuary and I always get something out of it each day. 

List one thing you do everyday to build your business:

Read! Read! Read! I read about 10-15 blogs every morning, on my commute to work. I read about 10 more going home. I also like to read other articles about other things e.g animals, politics, psychology and more. I try to read a book during my down times. I like knowing everything

What is your favourite place in Toronto and why:

The Sunnyside lake strip. There are so many great places along the lake. One of my favourite Brunch places, Eden, is located on the strip. Across my favourite brunch places, is also one of the best views of the Toronto skyline. My boyfriend and I love taking walks here. 

Please share with us your last act of kindness.

A woman had asked me for directions, and since i was already nearby, I ended up walking her to the destination. 

Name something you forgive yourself for:

*Cue the rewind button* My Honesty. I cannot emphasize this enough. Of course, If I find out I've hurt someone's feelings because of my honesty, I feel awful about it. But at the end of the day I would rather be honest than influence a decision or thought from a false statement. 

Recall a moment when you felt accomplished and/or proud.

I've recently found my motivation for going to the gym regularly and because of it, I am really happy with my health & fitness results and lifestyle. Most importantly, finally mustering up the courage to finally start infinity and bliss.  

What would you tell your 16-year-old self?

Stop trying to please everyone. You weren't born to make everyone happy. Also! The person that's about to break your heart for the first time will be someone you're very grateful for - and is the reason why you're where you are today. 

How do we follow you in the social media world?

Twitter: @infinitynbliss
Instagram: infinityandbliss

I love working with this firecracker and I know you would too! Go and say hello here.