Special Film Screening: Mighty Jerome

Join Karlyn Percil & BCYN in spreading some holiday cheer this Christmas!

St Lucia To Host Health & Wellness Retreat in November!‏

HEALTH & WELLNESS RETREAT

IN THE EDEN OF THE CARIBBEAN 

Retreat will feature workshops and wellness experiences including yoga, feng shui, art, cuisine, pottery, and photography cooking classes using local herbs and spices, and spa treatments at the Sulphur Springs. Other activities will include: nature trail hikes, bicycle rides, kayaking, bird watching and other specially-designed experiences. 

‘I Am Beautiful’ Book Launch

‘Da Kink In My Hair

The LuvLi Ladies’ Show

Do you believe in you? What’s on your belief window?

Do you believe in you? We all do crazy things ( and I say we because sometimes I’m guilty of it as well…) and one of the craziest thing I believe we do as humans is that we undermine our abilities, our strength and our belief in who we are. We keep talking ourselves out of so many wonderful things we could be doing for us and for some reason we always  find an excuse why we shouldn’t, why we can’t.. why we believe that it is just impossible!

What do you really believe about YOU?  And most importantly what’s stopping you from believing in you?

From pursuing your dream, from feeling beautiful, from knowing that you are great,  from getting out of that unhealthy relationship or friendship..Is it a lack of belief  that you don’t  deserve better? Or is it the fear of being alone? Is that why we hold on to tainted relationships and friendships that don’t uplift us? Or could it be harsh words from someone whose opinion quite frankly, doesn’t really matter today.

So why are you cheating yourself? Why are you punishing yourself? Why are you holding back by not believing in you? You can do so much when you fully believe in who you are. Believing in yourself and embracing your authentic self (you know the one with flaws and all) is such a wonderful feeling! Its like eating spinach like pop eye! When you believe in yourself,  your belief  gives you huge muscles which helps you lift, carry and to take on any challenge which may come your way. You will  feel invincible!

But what happens when the spinach is done?  How do you keep on believing in you? You can do so by paying attention to your belief window. Your belief window tells you what you believe about you. It carries a whole bunch of “stuff” which may or may not need to be there.  Examine your belief window and ask yourself, “What do I need to get rid of? What’s dragging me or keeping me from being the best me? What’s keeping me from believing in me?”

Now that you’ve asked yourself the question, listen to the answers. Getting rid of the negative beliefs on your belief window requires a committment from you. It may not be easy but you need to start today.

So today, I urge you to start looking at your belief window and start writing new beliefs about you…positive, uplifting and wonderful thought and beliefs:) Get rid of the old ones which keep dragging you down..you know the ones that prevent you from believing in you. Change, scratch or  WIPE off a few!

I strongly believe, that the more attention you pay to your belief window, the easier it will be, to keep on believing in yourself. Start now..

And remember, ownership is needed within in order to believe. OWN who you are today and know that you are valuable and unique!

Stay beautiful:)

Karlyn

Beauty Point: Focus on beauty

When we spend time focusing on other people’s faults, we tend to have less time to focus on enhancing on what makes us beautiful. As a matter of fact the more we focus on faults in others, the less we are able to see beauty in oursleves.

Focus on what makes you beautiful and you will see beauty in others as well. We are all beautiful people. We must only be willing to see that.

Have a beautiful day!:)

Karlyn

2011 African Canadian Achievement Awards

Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival

New Name: Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Turns Up the Heat this Summer

Same Festival, Same Vibe!

 TORONTO, May 25, 2011 – The Festival Management Committee (FMC) today announced a new name to the Festival that has captured an audience of more than 1.2 million people annually on the August long weekend: The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival (STCC) will be back in July with the same line up of events featuring the Toronto Mas Band Association (TMBA), the Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes and the Pannists, as well as an array of new programming leading up to the Parade on July 31^st. 

“This is the 44^th year for the Parade, and all of the participants are preparing for another major turnout of attendees this summer,” said Denise Hererra Jackson, CEO of the FMC.  “Rebranding ourselves as the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival allows us to move forward with an exciting program that will appeal to members of the community of all ages.”

“The Festival is an important summer celebration of diversity through arts and culture in Toronto and as such, is important to the roots of this city,” said Chris Alexander, CFO of the FMC.  “The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival will continue to grow and meet the needs of the attendees, while reinforcing its relationships with the Toronto community, its sponsors and other stakeholders.”

In addition to its commitment of title sponsor, Scotiabank also announced $10,000 in prizing to be divided among the TMBA, Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes and the Pannists, based on competitive judging.

“Scotiabank’s partnership with the FMC opened an exciting new chapter for the Bank – given our extensive presence in the Caribbean and the importance of this event to the City, our customers and our employees, this event is a natural fit for us,” said John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Toronto Region.  “Today we have come together to reinforce our support for the Festival Management Committee – their decision to rename the Festival, the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival, continues to reflects our diverse and multicultural communities.  We’re looking forward to a great festival!”

The STCC has released the official programme for the summer festivities today, and festival goers will see new additions, including a sports component featuring athletics of the Rugby League.  Programme details can be found in the backgrounder and a new name and logo will appear in all marketing materials as well as on the revised interactive website, www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com.

About the Festival:

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 44th year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. The Festival Management Committee is responsible for the managing and staging of North America’s largest outdoor festival.

Corporate sponsors of this year’s festival include: Scotiabank, The Toronto Star, Sway Magazine, The Grid, CTV, CP24, The Federal Government of Canada, The Province of Ontario, The City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, Mobilicity, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Ontario Place, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Public Libraries, Yorkgate Mall, Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex & Liberty Entertainment Group, The Caribbean Camera Newspaper, Toronto-Lime.Com, and GraceKennedy (Ontario) Inc.

For more information about the programs and events, please visit the festival’s official website at www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Office is located at 263 Davenport Avenue, Lower Level; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5R 1E9. Contact info: Tel: 416-391-5608; Fax: 416-391-5693; Email: Stephen@stephenweir.com

8th Annual Barbados Charity Ball

Enter to win a trip for two to St Lucia and come Jazz it up with moi:)

Hey guys,

The St Lucia Tourist Board is giving away a trip for TWO to St Lucia!!!!! Here’s your chance to visit my beautiful island to “Live the Music” at the 2011 St Lucia Jazz Festival! More details here : http://www.stluciajazz.org/jazz_sweepstakes2011/ 

 Contest begins on March 28th and ends on April 22nd.

Below is a gorgeous view of Rodney Bay, in St Lucia. Good luck and I will save you a rum punch!:)

I am counting down my days!

I love her style: Halle Berry

Halle looks absolutely stunning at 44! The colour of this dress and the cut looks fantastic on her. OK…off to do some lunges…lol.

Give back and stay beautiful:The Knapsack Project 2011

I strongly believe that when you do care about someone else and when you give back, it helps nurture your internal beauty. So here’s an opportunity for you to do so!

Che Emmanuel (brother of my friend Anika) has a project called the  Knapsack Project 2011, an inititative aimed at providing less fortunate children in St. Lucia with the basic necessities for school.

Such a great initiative! Do support…and add points to your beauty bank!:)

See the below link for a copy of the PDF file and how you can be of assistance.

Knapsack Project by Che Emmanuel[1]

Women Of Honour- A Pre-Harry Jerome Awards Event

Milan was fantastico!:)

  I celebrated my birthday in Paris & Milan this year(me on my bday in Feb) Milan was everything I hoped for and more…the people, the language, the food, the shopping…did I mention the food?…Absolutely amazing!

The Cathedral…I look at such architecture in amazement, trying to figure out how this was built with such limited tools back then. Such amazing talent!:)

The streets were magical, romantic and as I mentioned before, the architecture was breathtaking! Here are a few pics from my trip. Hope you are inspired as I was:)

Photoshoot: My new purple lips:)

New pic: Just wanted to share a new pic with you from a photoshoot I did last year in December. Shot by CJ Cromwell – TO Portfolio. Make up done by the fabulous Truth “Alethea” Miller. She’s awesome!  Trying something new can be refreshing. I’ve tried different shades of purple,but this shade wasn’t one I would’ve tried. Loved it! Try something new (makeup wise)  and let me know how it turned out…

I will be hosting the 20th Annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival:)

YAY! I am super excited and super excited (wait I said that already)…LOL

More information on the Jazz Festival can be found here: http://www.stluciajazz.org/

Amazing lineup! Hope you guys can join me!

Karlyn

Farewell Twitter & Facebook :(

 So I have to say adios to twitter and facebook (for a bit) as I concentrate on an assignment given to me by my Brand Consultant, Michael Carter of Leap Agents. I was given this assignment tonite and I was like, “you want me to do what?”…LOL.. which was a bit difficult to swallow. It is a happy/sad moment.

Yes – I have to sign off twitter and facebook for 30 DAYS!!!!!! (I can still do my Jazz posts) I know!!! *gasp*!! But I have to follow the rules on my new journey. My new journey will result in a more focused me,which will entail more tailored messages for you:)

So I bid you lots of love & laughter and don’t forget to smile at a stranger and to Celebrate U in all that u do!:)

Hugs and I will tweet and FB with you guys in 30 days! (hopefully)

And remember whilst I am gone, “Be Inspired and Celebrate YOU!:)”

Paris: Shopping

So my very first purchase in Paris was in this gallerie on Champs-Elysees. Gallerie is like a mini mall ( a space with a number of boutiques).

I loved the galleries! Lots of variety and lots of fun shopping!:)

Isn’t it cute?! Can’t wait for summer!!

The best part? Only ten euros! Now that I loved!…LOL.

My European Journey: First up – Paris!:)

Hey guys! I spent my birthday in Europe this year which was absolutely amazing ! From the people, the food, the culture – it was truly an amazing experience!

First stop – Paris! One of my most delightful discoveries was how close french creole or kweyol (my local language spoken in St. Lucia) is to French. I do know that French is the basis for the kweyol we speak, but I was a little surprised how much of our french creole was actually French! I’m a bit off with my pronunciation, but most of what we say is actually legit french words – I understood quite a bit! A wonderful discovery for me!:) Here are a few pics from my trip. Of course first up Champs- Elysees! Had to hit up those pastry shops! It’s so beautiful walking on Champs-Elysees, there’s so much to see, eat and do. The Champs- Elysees is known as the most beautiful & prestigious avenue in the world! From the beautiful buildings to the amazing cafes and of course shopping, it was truly a delight being in Paris (the rain did not dampen my joy & yes it was cold!)…LOL

Of course my first stop was a pastry shop…see how stuffed my mouth is? LOL

Second pic – On Champs-Elysees – we stayed close by at the Mariott, so we were there every day! I walked it from top to bottom! (Oh yes bring proper walking shoes, you will need it!) Yes it rained but I enjoyed it thoroughly:)

Last pic – The famous Arc de Triomphe is a monument for those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary.

I have lots of pics and will update the gallery soon. In the interim, enjoy a few pics from Paris. My post on Milan will be up shortly. Bonsoir!:)

The Universe Loves you!: Message from the Secret Scrolls

Hey guys,

I love the Secret- I have the book & the DVD!!! I usually put the DVD on and let it play in the background – so inspiring! So when I received today’s message, I thought I would share a bit of what I love with you:) See message below from from Rhonda Byrne, Creator of The Secret and The Power.

From The Secret Daily Teachings
The Universe is completely and utterly in love with you. No matter how many mistakes you make, no matter where you are in your life, no matter what you think of you, the Universe loves you for all eternity.See? The universe LOVES you!:) It really doesn’t matter what others say or think. The Universe has lots of love to give and I am taking it all in!:)

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret and The Power… bringing joy to billions

So go on, accept the love from the Universe and celebrate YOU!:)

Karlyn

Esperanza Spaulding: Grammy Award Winner & A breath of fresh air:)

Esperanza Spaulding made headlines last night when she won a Grammy for best new artist.

I’ve never heard of her and most of my twitter timeline was filled with: “Who is Esperanza?”

I, like everyone else googled her and was pleasantly surprised. To be quite honest, I was looking for the usual “Rihanna, Keri Hilson, Nikki Minaj, Ciara -ish” looking kind of girl and was pleasantly surprised to be a fresh faced, huge fro (means afro) sister.

Which brings me to this question: Why are people upset that she won? Is it because she’s not as popular as Drake & Justin Bieber or she’s not made up with push up bras and skimpy clothes like the Rihanna/Ciara ish? Or is it because people don’t like/appreciate jazz?

I don’t know about you guys but I love her natural big fro & her voice! I love Rihanna & Drake too…the great thing is that there is room in the world for all of them.

There is room for Rhianna, Ciara, Nikki, Lady Gaga as well as for the Esperanza’s and India Arie’s of this world. Let each have a moment on stage:)

Go Esperanza! Show the world that you can stay true to your music, to you and still win a Grammy!:) Congratulations!

There is beauty in diversity:)

I love her…that’s all:)

Black History Month Celebration @ Parliament Hill

Hey guys…

Last month I received a very exciting email, stating that I am one of the recipients on the Black History Month Poster for 2011. This poster is initiated by the City of Toronto, along with Dr. Jean Augustine – the first African Canadian woman to be elected to Canada’s National Parliament . Dr Augustine is a local hero in our community,who introduced a motion which was passed unanimously by the House of Commons to recognise Black History Month across Canada! More on Dr Augustine and her many accomplishments here

Dr Augustine was also on the trip to Ottawa with us and it was such an inpsiration having her share her wisdom and knowledge with us! I learned several untold stories, and other amazing things done by members of the Black community. The Breakfast Club of Canada was also present, along with 50 – 60 children from various backgrounds. They were very excited to go to Parliament Hill and I spent some time with them talking about what they would like to do when they grow up – amazing responses! (I also learned about DSI and all the wonderful things it can do-I didn’t have a clue what it was before..LOL)

Pic on the left – The Hon Dr Jean Augustine, Rick Gosling (who’s responsible for the BHM poster coordination, and two other MP’s- Scarborough and Missisauga who attended the ceremony)

The theme for the 2011 Black History Month poster – is “Canada is Brighter, Stronger, and Better because of the contribution of the Black Community”. My dear friend and lawyer Tanya Walker recommended me & I am so thankful to her for doing so!:)

Black History Month is an opportunity for Canadians to recognize the past and present contributions that African Canadians make in all areas. Thank you to all who are constantly paving the way for others. I’m honored that my mere contributions are being recognised. The Poster will be distrubuted to all Schools, Community Centres and Fire Stations across Ontario.

Hope you take some time this month to learn more about Black History Month and the inspiring individuals in our community.:) You can view the poster and learn about the other recipients here

Be Inspired..

Add some style to your wardrobe with Credo Toronto:)

Credo is a European line, new to the North American market. They carry tailored shirts for men and women. I call them “statement” shirts!:) The one, two & three collar shirts carry great detail in amazing colour! See pic above – me in one of the two collar designs. Photo taken by CJ Photography.

Ready for the great news? They’re having a 30 – 50% off sale at their store in Yorkville!! See below for more info. Happy Shopping!:)

My fav Golden Globe dress!:)

I got a quick glimpse of the Red Carpet dresses and my fav was Eva Longoria! Eva looked stunning in Zac Posen which was accessorized with simple diamond studs.

I know, I know it’s black…but look how stunning the dress is!:) Also love the green worn by Angelina Jolie and Mila Kunis as well!

The Law of Detachment…

Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is one of my favourite books…It’s a book I hold near (like in my bag) and read over and over again. I was fortunate to hear him speak last year December at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto! He is such an inspiration!

One of the laws I am trying to practice (and I find is the most difficult) is The Law of Detachment. Deepak provides steps we should follow in order to implement the laws in our lives. See below.

“Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detached involvement.”

My difficulty in this is that I find detachment very similar to indifference..What do you think? Can it be? If I don’t force solutions on problems and if I say OK, we will see things your way and not let the other person’s view upset me, then am I practicing the law of detachment? or am I being indifferent?

How can one tell the difference? Would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

He also goes on to say that “The more uncertain things seem to be, the more secure I will feel, because uncertainty is my path to freedom. Through the wisdom of uncertainty, I will find my security.”

How many of us feel like we need to have a definite answer? Sometimes I do…I feel like I need an answer!…lol.. That we need to feel the commitment before we find security in anything. Unless we have that offer letter in our hands, we don’t feel certain about the job. I do agree to a certain extent that uncertainty does give us freedom. If we are not tied to the expected result, then if and when it doesn’t happen, then there’s no disappointment. Neither are we waiting, anticipating a particular end result.

I’ve realized that implementing the laws of success isn’t a “one day thing”. I need to constantly practice and constantly re-visit the laws. Have you read the book? Any thoughts on the law of detachment?

I strongly recommend “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success”..truly an amazing book. You will be enlightened! I was:)

More on Deepak Chopra and his amazing work here: http://www.chopra.com/laws/detachment

Do you have the right to lead?

What gives a man or woman the right to lead? – Great question isn’t it? My boss forwarded me this excerpt from a book entitled “The Right to Lead” by John C Maxwell. I was inspired to learn more when I read the pointers below and was ecstatic when my boss said to order one for everyone on my team! John also provides some key guidelines to help one become a better leader. I don’t think we all have the right to lead. Leading can be a very lonely road/position sometimes. It’s also not a popular role – it’s a serving role in my opinion. And nothing is too small for a leader to do. What’s interesting is the focus on “YOU” and making yourself the kind of person people would want to follow. As always it begins and end with “YOU”. See how important “YOU” are?:)

What are your thoughts on the subject? Have you read this book? Let me know. Would love to hear your thoughts!:)

From The Right to Lead – By John C Maxwell

The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go.

As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:

1. Let go of your ego.

* The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, “Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.”

2. Become a good follower first.
* Rare is the effective leader who didn’t learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United State Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first – and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.

3 Build positive relationships.
* Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today’s generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.

4 Work with excellence.
* No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.

5. Rely on discipline, not emotion
* Leadership is often easy during the good times. It’s when everything seems to be against you – when you’re out of energy, and you don’t want to lead – that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.

6. Make adding value your goal.
* When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership – and its highest value.

7.Give your power away.
* 01140..
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You’re meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.

~~~~~~
John Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 12 million books.

You can order the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Right-Lead-Study-Character-Courage/dp/0849957680

Enjoy & Be Inspired:)

Happy New Year to you!!:)

Hey guys,

Happy New Year from me to you!:)

Have you thought about your resolutions for next year? Do you come up with new ones every year or do you keep the old ones? Maybe like most individuals you may be thinking of some new resolutions for 2011. But are they really necessary or are you doing them because everyone else is?

A couple of years ago, I realized that my goals, re-discovering who I am, along with my love affair with me, doesn’t have to wait until December to happen! It can happen throughout the year as I worked towards my goals, on me, on my life!:)

I use a seasonal pattern for my check points as this provides me with an opportunity to pause, re-evaluate and see how aligned I am with my goals. What about you? What works best for you?

Do you set resolutions at the end of every year? Is that effective? As you get ready to leap into 2011, think of where you are, where you would like to be/go and create your goals based on that.

As for me, I am going to continue working on my old resolutions – especially a key one which keeps coming back year after year. It is my love affair with me!!! It’s one of my cornerstones…where I celebrate who I am and be inspired by life!:) I’ve embraced all the lessons I have learned this year and used it for growth (some areas required more work than others). Remember everything happens for a reason and the only thing you can control is yourself. Your emotions, your happiness, your growth – so concentrate on working on you by sharing with others what you do great and working on those areas you need to brush up on.

I would like to wish you all the very best for the New Year! Treat each laugh, each tear, each lesson, each victory as a stepping stone to the wonderful life you are creating! The beauty of your life lies in the journey.

There are lots of exciting things coming up for me in 2011!!!! I have been blessed and I am grateful to be here to actually be a part of this wonderful journey I call life. I am surrounded with some amazing friends, family, acquaintances and mentors who keep inspiring me every day! – Thank you to all of you!

Enjoy your personal journey and I am looking forward to sharing more with you in 2011!

Karlyn

Who inspired you the most this year?

Who inspired you the most this year? Are you starting a special project because of that inspiration or were you inspired to change a certain part of your life?

One of my special projects was inspired by my niece Nelza-Starr. She’s 7 yrs old and was the inspiration for a very special project which will be released next year…Incredible isn’t it?

Will share more with you guys very soon. I would love to hear your story. Who inspired you the most this year? What did they inspire you to do? Do share!:)

My niece Nelly (my nickname for her) & I…:)

And remember, Celebrate You in all that you do and Be Inspired!:)

Inspiration: Harry Jerome – A Canadian Hero

As some of you may know, I am the Chair of an Award Show here in Toronto called the BBPA Harry Jerome Awards (HJA). The BBPA HJA honors the achievement of African Canadians or individuals who have contributed greatly towards the African Canadian Community – someone who is as inspiring as the late Harry Jerome. But who is Harry Jerome you may ask?

Harry Jerome was one of the premiere track athletes of his time! His physical successes were partnered with scholastic excellence and social consciousness. Despite his relatively brief life, Harry left a substantial legacy and a blueprint for success.

He was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1940 and in the 1950s his family moved to North Vancouver where they were the only Black people in their conservative neighborhood.

Harry went on to set the standard as the world’s fastest man, and represented Canada at two Pan American Games, two Commonwealth Games, and three Olympics. At the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia, Harry completely severing his left quadriceps muscle; most orthopedic surgeons said that he would never run again. However, Harry concentrated on his return, and after months of physiotherapy and quiet determination, he achieved “the greatest comeback” at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, capturing a bronze medal.

Outside of athletics, he earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in science at the University of Oregon and was always conscious of the challenges facing African Canadians. He obtained equipment for young athletes who could not afford the expensive gear, created opportunities for Blacks outside the sports arena, and was a vocal opponent of the misrepresentation of African Canadians in Canadian television and wage discrimination barriers against Blacks.

After his retirement from active competition in 1968, Harry went on to work with the Federal Ministry of Sport. He was named British Columbia’s Athlete of the Century, and, in 1971, received the Order of Canada as a testament to his achievements.

In 1982, Harry Jerome died suddenly at the age of 42.

Harry Jerome took on the concerns of a community and a country, epitomizing excellence, determination, and dedication. He truly is a Canadian hero and an inspiration to all.

You can nominate someone for a BBPA Harry Jerome Award!! Click for nomination information. Or feel free to call the BBPA’s office at 416-504-4097.

Love her style – Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth looked fantastic when she accepted her star on the Walk of Fame. I think she’s put on a bit of weight which looks great on her! Err back to working on my legs! Tata

The white dress, light make-up and tan looks fantastic. We love Gwyneth’s style:)

Inspiration: Lotay Yang – Black Card Circle

Based in Los Angeles, CA, Lotay is the founder of Black Card Circle and The Black Card Circle Foundation. The Black Card Circle is an elite social network of prominent business professionals, who use their access, connections and wealth to benefit charitable organizations worldwide.

Lotay’s vision is “peace is possible” and that we are all here to make this world a better place. Sounds familiar?:) Indeed Lotay & I share similar beliefs and it was such an inspiration speaking with him. He shared his journey and his story with me, which I will share with you soon.

In in interim, read up on Black Circle and the amazing work Lotay has been doing. He is definitely an inspiration to me:)

http://blackcardcircle.com/news

My Love Letter to me:)

Decided to share my love letter with you guys…Your love letters should be kept in a “Love Box”. Your “Love Box” should be a dedicated box where you place all your love letters, inspirational quotes etc. Remember YOU hold the key to your happiness…only YOU.:) Self love is mandatory before loving someone else…

Feel free to share your love letter!:)

Karlyn

The Power Within

In February of this year I had the privilege of addressing the Caribbean Students Association at Carleton University. I was a nervous wreck, as I would be sharing the stage with seasoned speakers such as Brendon C Browne and Ewart Walters. Mr Browne is the Canadian High Commission – Designate of Dominica and Mr Walters is a seasoned journalist & philanthropist. Both were inspiring and shared quite a bit of their knowledge with me and the students in attendance.

See excerpt from my speech:
“Barriers, setback, obstacles – are too often pre conceived in one of the most dangerous area’s- our minds. It has often been said that if we believe we can’t, then most likely we won’t even try. Many people think, success or creating an impact only happens when you’re Bill Gates, or Oprah Winfrey. Success happens with you and what you believe you can achieve. It happens in the little steps that we take. When you obtained admission to this school, you were successful, Every exam you write, and passed, you are successful; Focus more on you and what you know you can accomplish and less on what others think of you”.

It always starts with YOU and what you think about yourself…so focus on the power that is within you and you will overcome your obstacles and accomplish your goals:)

Karlyn

Winter Look

I’m a short hair kinda girl…but I like switching things up every year with extensions for a whole different look. So usually around November/December, I change my look. See short hair pic below.

People always do a double take when I have extensions and some claim not being able to recognize me..lol (between you and me I don’t think I look that different). See below…still me right?:)

So I’m starting to feel the need to change once again…but I’m not sure if I should braids or do extensions. I did braids when I was in my teens…HA! So long ago!..So maybe you guys can help me out..should I do extensions or braids?

Help!

Karlyn

Be Thankful…

The minute I wake up I say Thank you! The minute I open my eyes my thankfulness begins.

My mom reminded me that I don’t need to be on my knees to pray or to tell God Thank you for all that he is doing in my life. That I should be say Thank You, every second of the day.

Being thankful helps us focus on the good and not the bad.

Being thankful makes it easier for us to smile.

Being thankful helps us realize and reminds us how blessed we are…

I encourage you Be Thankful every second, every minute of the day….Go on, say it, think it, whisper it, shout it: “Thank you!”

Danke!

Keep on celebrating you:)

Inspiration at the Aroni Awards

On December 4th, I attended the Aroni Awards, which are held every year in memory of Aron Y Haile and aims to inspire youth, to follow their dreams and pursue their education. All the Award recipients were amazing and they all had equally inspiring messages. The two individuals who stood out to me the most that evening were Wojciech Gryc and Aliyana Reshamwalla.

Aliyana is 5 years old and she won the Community Award! In her acceptance speech, she said that she hoped that we would all work together to help children around the world, as by doing so, we can all make the world a better place. Loved her tiara! Isn’t she adorable?:)

Wojciech won the Communication Award and in acceptance he quoted the following “The world is an evil place, not because of those who do bad, it’s because of those who look on and do nothing.” I believe that we all can do something, no matter how small! I don’t necessarily think that those who look on and do nothing are evil, but we all can do something. A smile, a nod, saying hello, becoming an ally – we can all do something to make this world a better place. Start by smiling at a stranger:)

For more information on the Aroni Awards,visit www.aroniawards.com

Be Inspired and do share with us what you are doing to make the world a better place.

In the end, we all go back to the beginning….

I have a love/hate relationship with December…It’s great that the year is over, but it also means that my birthday is so close! Yikes!!!:) I look at the picture of the little girl from time to time and I try to figure out, what does she think about her journey thus far? What is she looking forward to the most?

Will she leave a legacy behind that her parents will be proud of?

What will the New Year bring? I believe that we should always go back to our inner child and say hey….how are you?

Just touch base with her and ensure that she is OK..that all is OK.

That’s all..:)

Inspiration: Dr Avis Glaze

Someone mentioned Dr Glaze to me and as we all do in 2010, I opened up google and typed in her name. I was on an inspiration high for the rest of the afternoon!

She is such an outstanding individual who strongly believes that every child deserves an education. Her passion and tireless work in education has earned her many accolades and awards. She is also a Past Recipient of the prestigious BBPA Harry Jerome Awards!

Dr Glaze – thank you for inspiring me!:)

For more information on Dr Avis Glaze and her company, please visit: http://www.avisglaze.ca/about/index.html

Go get your inspiration high!

Can’t do it all….

So I have a confession…..sometimes I feel like I can do everything and in some cases end up over-committing. Doing this has negatively impacted my personal life, my business and so much more. I find myself trying to play catch up and you never really “catch-up”. There’s always something to be done and if it’s not business, it’s my community work or something else.

I had my “AHA” moment when I realize that I can’t do it all (I know some of you might be thinking that, I should know that by now) and yes you’re right I should and I do. But I suffer from the super woman – “I think I can do everything cause I don’t have any kids so I can cram everything in now syndrome”. You know the one a few of us suffer from? LOL.

That being said, once I realized that I cannot keep on doing this, saying “No” became much easier. What really helped me was assessing whether or not the request fits the vision or goals I have for myself. If it’s not aligned with my vision and plans for myself, I say “No”. It’s as simple as that. So next time someone approaches you about a new project or a new request, take a moment to assess and ensure that it aligns with your overall goals. If it doesn’t, then politely say “No”.

Until then, keep on Celebrating YOU!:)

Love her style – Blake Lively

So Blake Lively (from Gossip Girl – yes I love that show) has been wearing some dresses I absolutely LOVE!:) I think she’s my new fav gal to follow for great dresses.:)

Not to mention she has some crazy, gorgeous legs as well!!!!

*side note* – I’ve been running up and down my stairs to get my legs toned. It’s so hard to keep my exercise routine now that I’m not going to the gym anymore. I’ve pledged to do some at home exercises. Will keep you guys posted on how that goes.

So back to Blair and that gorgeous dress!…Do you like?

xoxo…lol..Had to…(You Gossip Girl fans will get it)..

Karlyn

There are no Coincidences!!

Hey…so as you know I draw inspiration from words, people, stories. I love being inspired – you know the spurt of adrenalin you feel after reading some thought provoking words.

Friends, family send me inspiring thoughts daily and once I read them and forward to my friends, I file it away in my inspiration folder. This way I can easily find inspiring emails when I need them.

So today I share with you one of my favs…

In life everything that happens, happens for a reason! There are no such things as chance, an accident or a coincidence. You reading this Daily Word today is a direct result to a thought or message that you willed into your life! The people with whom you spoke to yesterday or will speak to today all had/have a message for you and it is up to you to see and understand that message! Embrace the power of your thoughts and realize that you are the creator of your life!! Thoughts become things!! Good or bad it is all your fault!!! Change your thoughts you change your circumstance!! But always understand that the way it is is the way it’s suppose to be!! There are no coincidences!! Life is what you make it!!
-Ash’Cash

“Nothing happens by chance… No such thing as luck. A meaning behind every little thing, and such a meaning behind this. You may not see it all real clear right now, but you will, before long.”
-Richard Bach

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be”
-George Sheehan

“In the magical universe there are no coincidences and there are no accidents. Nothing happens unless someone wills it to happen.”
-William S. Burroughs

“There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from.”
-Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

“Everything happens for a reason. Every action has a reaction. Always remember that whats meant to be will always find a way to come about.”
-Unknown

“The answers to life’s questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look listen and trust.”
-Cherie Carter-Scott

Annual BBPA Holiday Luncheon

CANFAR’s Bloor Street Entertains: The Party

Private Shopping Event @ Credo in Yorkville‏

Celebrate excellence by nominating someone today!

Warren Buffet and Jay-Z on Success and giving back..

Part of me staying inspired is watching, listening and reading up on other successful individuals…they always impart some words of wisdom which helps me on my journey.

Some key points:

“Having the discipline and  the confidence in who I am , to be yourself” – Jay-Z

“The best moat you can have is your talent. Develop your own talent – no one can take that away from you” – Warren Buffet

“You don’t have to change who you are, but you need to adapt to change in order to be successful in your business..be aware.” – Jay -Z

“Running a successful business – learning what you’re good at and what you’re not.” – Warren Buffet

“I really did know I was going to be rich – I knew I had something that was gonna work.” – Warren Buffet

“If I want to take off my own tooth – I won’t do it myself. I want to get in done properly, so I will turn it over to the specialist, the expert in that field. I cannot do everything myself.” – Warren Buffet

“If you succeed a 100% in philanthropy all the time – your projects are too easy. Choose things where you might fail.” – Warren Buffet

“Recognize the poor decisions you’ve made and why they were poor. Do not expect perfection from yourself…expect to do good.“- Warren Buffet

“The best way to share philanthropy is to lead by example.” – Jay-Z

Click on the link below to listen to the entire interview …and Be Inspired!:)

http://video.forbes.com/fvn/forbes400-10/jay-z-buffett-forbes-success-giving

Taste of The Danforth…but what about fashion??

Taste of the Danforth was a fabulous time with the girls last weekend but when the chill of the night sets in at night, how do you stay warm while enhancing your outfit?

I decided to pull a quick look together with a scarf as opposed to a casual cardigan. Super cute and contrasting against neutrals, my girlfriend’s blue scarf across my shoulders was the perfect choice.

You too can easily throw a scarf over your shoulders for quick warmth or to accessorize your look without blowing your budget. Check out these cute options from American Eagle…all under $20! (available at www.ae.com )