Here is a piece I wrote about dating and divorce. It was slightly inspired by the Royal Wedding. Check out the link here.
ELENA:)
Here is a follow up piece to my first Cambodia article (A Better Place for our Plastic Bottles). It’s called Together We Rise, after a conversation I had with my friend in LA who told me about this email she received from a fellow small business owner. I loved it so much that I wanted to use it somewhere in my work.
ELENA:)
I am so grateful for all the companies that pitched in to make my Love List Lounge swag bags simply amazing. When I was curated the product sponsor list, I wanted to make sure that my guests went home with products I would use myself (what better way to be a brand ambassador – the endorse cool quality products!). Note: I’m drinking tea as I edit this post. I came across Tease Tea by chance on Instagram and I realized that these ladies were from my home country (Canada) so I had to have them participate somehow! It was great to meet Caitlyn in person and have her live tweet at my event. I was a little bummed that I didn’t have any tea for myself so I ordered some Duchess of Earl which should be on its way soon. Can’t wait.
What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day then to post an interview with a company founded by a women!
Here is 5 minutes 5 questions with the fun and kind Caitlyn Squires from Tease Tea:
1) How long have you lived in New York?
I have been living in NYC for the past 5 months and have loved every minute! I moved here from Toronto, Canada to open Tease Tea’s first US location!
2) What is a tea sommelier?
A tea sommelier is a person who has been extensively trained and is knowledgeable and well versed in all aspects of tea. My business partner, Sheena Brady, is a certified Tea Sommelier through the Tea Association of Canada where she embarked in an 8 month journey which includes everything from import/export regulations, tea ceremonies, health and wellness benefits, how to blend tea, cook with tea, bake with tea, tea infused cocktails – it’s quite an extensive program.
3) Tell us about Tease Tea?
Tease Tea is Canadian born company with an international reputation. We are an online tea boutique operating out of Ottawa, ONT and have our small shop in Manhattan.
At Tease Tea, we are committed to creating blends for the modern tea drinker, inspired by reaching your individual goals & desires.
Are you the classic type? Looking to unwind? Have specific goals? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We literally have a tea for nearly any desire or goal.
Our speciality teas are always selected and created in small batches to ensure customers are receiving the freshest product possible, every time.
4) What is your favourite Tease Tea and why?
This is such a hard question because I love them all so much! I would have to say To The Finish Lime, not only for its citrus goodness and AMAZING health benefits like antioxidants, energy increasers and metabolism boosters but for the inspiration behind the blend. To The Finish Lime was inspired by Tease Tea’s 2015 kickstarter campaign that funded our journey from Canada to the US. We raised $22,800 in 26 days with the support of our amazing friends, family and true tease tea lovers around the world. This blend was our thank you to all those who supported our dream and encouraged us to reach our goals.
5) What are the top three characteristics on your Love List (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or current mate)?
The top three characteristics on my Love List in a potential mate would be: Ambition, Loyalty and a great sense of humour.
Don’t forget to “Like” Tease Tea on Facebook and follow Tease Tea on Instagram and Twitter both @tease_tea
ELENA:)
After finishing the book last night, I thought it was due time to get rolling with my late review. (I have a new respect for Kindles’ though – the book was heavy to cart around on transit). All the stories and the photographs included in the book made for an interesting read. Lili had lived and Leslie Zemeckis did a fantastic job capturing her roller coaster of a life.
Before the book, I had never heard of Lili St. Cyr and the differences between us are obvious. But after reading Lili’s bio I couldn’t help but to pull some similarities:
- We both have affection for white roses, pearls, and champagne. I know Instagram accounts built on this love.
- Fans of great fashion designers like Balenciaga and Dior (Although my goal is to actually wear the clothes one day like Lili – My Dior espadrilles are magnificent. The perfume they sprayed on them at Le Bon Marche in Paris lingered all the way home).
- We like to keep busy, are disciplined and are always working on something. Lili was continually trying to improve and worked hard to be stand out.
- We don’t like the feeling of being claustrophobic or tied down. Lili did have 5 or 6 marriages by the time she was my age, which seems like a lot – but I figured she was into the euphoria of romance rather than a lifelong commitment.
- We like adventure. I seem to enjoy international travel more than Lili did but then again I’m also not carting around vintage trunks when travel either.
- We both have been to the Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood and the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco (it’s now the Westin St. Francis – but it’s kept it’s charm) and Bergdorf Goodman.
- She spent a large amount of time in Canada – Montreal to be exact. I’m from the west coast of Canada.
- Lili made a Love List (sort of)! On page 329, I was delighted to read that for an interview she broke down her lovers/friends and the qualities she admired about them such as wit, sex appeal and generosity.
At the high point in her career, Lili was pulling a 6-figure salary (maybe the equivalent of almost a million now?) but sadly spending through all her earnings at a rapid rate. Like a bad business case, if she only invested a small portion of her millions she wouldn’t have to sell her beloved house. A collaboration with a company like Agent Provocateur or Dom Pérignon would have been a lucrative deal (this is easy to propose as an outsider!). She did have her own lingerie line at one point. It’s a shame her club in NYC, Boudoir never made it. I’m sure the décor and design was amazing. Many opportunities sadly lost.
I enjoyed reading this well written biography full of details and packed with research. And although her demise was tragic and unpleasant, the story of the stripteuse can live on in The Goddess of Love Incarnate, as glamorous, passionate and full of joie de vivre as Lili St. Cyr herself.
ELENA:) ps: I had a short 5 minute 5 question interview with author, Leslie Zemeckis posted on my News & Events page.
