Life According to Samantha

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

HAPPY MONDAY TORONTO - TO DO THIS WEEK

Good morning and HAPPY MONDAY! Toronto is hot and humid this morning running on a high of 30 degrees Celsius and a low of 18. I hope you remembered to bring an umbrella because we will definitely (supposed to be) seeing rain and thunderstorms this afternoon starting between 2-3PM.

So - what is going on this week in the city?  

TODAY

Paramore The After Laughter Summer Tour - at Budweiser Stage

The show kicks off at 7:00pm and be sure to arrive early for a great spot on the lawn if you have LAWNGA tickets! 

Sam Smith - at Air Canada Centre

Starting at 7:00pm see one of your favourite sad song singers (funny sidenote: Sam Smith headlined Wayhome the very first year and almost ran me over with a golf cart). 

Pride On The Water - Sip & Sail Cruise by Mariposa Cruises

Buy tickets HERE!!

TUESDAY

Trinity Bellwoods Movie Night in the Dog Bowl 

Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park have organized Bike Valet with space for 200 bikes! Join all your friends in the Dog Bowl for a hot summer’s night picnic in the park and flick! 

WEDNESDAY

LEARN TO SAIL - TORONTO ISLAND SAILING CLUB

The TISC has a bunch of spots left even though the sailing season is underway! Check out there event HERE!

THURSDAY

Indigenous Arts Festival 2018

The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation put on National Indigenous Peoples Day, as well as the Indigenous Arts Festival celebrating Indigenous culture at Fort York in Toronto. Enjoy culture, contemporary music and storytelling incorporated into an educational day of fun and dance for the whole family. 

FRIDAY 

Amal Clooney at Roy Thompson Hall 

International Human Rights Lawyer Amal Clooney discuss along with veteran journalist Nick Clooney, to talk about human rights issues facing our world today. Tickets are going fast - get yours HERE

With the weather warming up and school letting out just around the corner, what are your plans for this week in the city? What are some cool events you want to go to? Let me know! 

(Photo by: @real_samantha -instagram) 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

BALANCE VOX BOX REVIEW

This picture has been popping up on all my social media accounts because I just can’t get enough of this amazing Balance Vox Box I got courtesy of @influenster and #InfluensterCanada. All these amazing goodies came in the mail and I can say I really loved them all. Each item tasted great, from the David’s Teas to the brand new flavour Clif Bar. 

Vea snacks were new to me, but I will definitely be purchasing more in the future and while the Protein Gummies from Herabaland were...different, in texture and taste, they still made for a great, vegan - cruelty free post workout snack. 

Ask me about my Balance Vox Box and how you can sign up to be an #Influenster just like me! 

*Disclaimer: All opinions are my own - all samples provided by Influenster and Influenster Canada courtesy of their respective brands.*

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

MARK SALLING - SUICIDE

WARNING: This article has specific reference to suicide and assault. Please do not continue to read if you are triggered easily by these subjects. 

Former GLEE star, Mark Salling, was found dead this morning hanging from a tree, multiple reports have confirmed. According to TMZ.com a family member reported him as a missing person to LAPD at 3AM Tuesday morning. 

When the body was found police say he had been deceased for quite some time. 

Salling was currently awaiting sentencing, set for March, after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. 

TMZ also reported back in August that Salling had cut his wrists in an attempted suicide, his lawyer later denied. 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

DON’T SHOP AT FOOT LOCKER CANADA

*UPDATED* 

AND HERE’S WHY:

Black Friday - it’s a day that meant we would have to cross the boarder and head south if we wanted the chance of scoring some awesome discounts on products - especially in time for the holidays. 

But NOW - us Northerners have been treated to Black Friday deals all across Canada and even more Cyber Monday specials to purchase to our hearts content. 

Here’s where Foot Locker Canada comes into play. I purchased a pair of Blue Fenty Sliders - my little sister had seen mine on vacation and fell in love. Obviously I had to order her a pair. I set out - on Black Friday and found an awesome deal. $69.99 on the exact shoes she wanted with FREE shipping! Awesome, purchased, shipped, tracking all done. Then, the shoes came. 

I got the notification from my concierge that the package was delivered and ready for pick up so eagerly after work I skipped down to pick it up. Wearing my “Sister of the Year” shirt metaphorically. 

When I got upstairs and unwrapped the packaging and opened the box...I noticed the colour looked a lot lighter than what I had remembered online. That’s when I pulled the shoes out and saw THIS:

TWO DIFFERENT SHOES. The Blue one on the left is what I was expecting and the white one on the right was what was received. 

I immediately contacted Foot Locker letting them know what happened and that I would like the proper pair to be sent as this was a Christmas gift. 

Well - wouldn’t you know, they will not honour the deal or purchase (even though it was their mistake) because they ran out of stock and they couldn’t send me what I had purchased. 

On TOP of that. I have to mail the shoes back or bring them into a local store to get my REFUND - They will only refund me when they get the shoes back...Great. So now - during the Christmas holidays and Christmas rush I have to go back into the mall (EXACTLY WHAT I WAS AVOIDING) to return these shoes, and I’m out the money I had to re-spend on the same product somewhere else. (BROWNS SHOES BY THE WAY). Their customer service was slow, and extremely unsatisfactory. I would HIGHLY recommend for you to find somewhere else to shop. Foot Locker is clearly unable to compete with the hundreds of other shoe shops and sports stores who have impeccable customer service and little to no errors on their online shop in reference to shipping/handling. 

I just wanted to get all my shopping done early - before the madness and copious amounts of mall folk rushing to get everything last minute. I wanted to get into the Christmas spirit - but all this has done has turned me into a Grinch. 

Thanks again Foot Locker Canada. I’ll be sure to pass this photo and story around to everyone else I haven’t already shown. Hope you have a good Christmas! 

And for the future, everyone should shop Browns Shoes. They have way more of a selection anyway!  

*UPDATE* SO - I brought the shoes back to the Footlocker on Yonge street across from the Toronto Eaton Centre. The staff was pretty mortified. The cashier showed her manager and they both apologized profusely to me for the mistake and said they had more in the back stockroom in that size. Well, the customer service team I spoke with via email said they were completely out of stock on the shoe and could not help me and I could only be refunded. Due to this lack of knowledge on the email representative’s part - I bought the shoes from another store, and had to settle for a different colour. Now, my good friend happened to be at Yorkdale Mall and showed them this article I wrote, the GM, Chris and CSR Devon told her to pass on the message for me to come in and they would immediately fix it for me. So what I’m wondering is, why are the stores held to a higher standard of customer service than your Marketing Managers in charge of the public social media accounts and the front of the line when it comes to customer service complaints? I think Footlocker Canada needs to figure out their corporate offices before they start ruining the retail aspect for all employees who work there. I would’ve happily exchanged the shoes had I even known that was an option. 

(Image courtesy of Shutterstock)

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

THE REAL LIFE PRINCESS DIARIES - MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY ANNOUNCE THEIR ROYAL ENGAGEMENT

You heard it right here. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have officially announced their Royal Engagement. It really is like the REAL LIFE Princess Diaries. 

Meghan and Harry began their romance back in 2016 when rumours began sprouting around Halloween time. A year later and their budding romance has now bloomed into a beautiful engagement. 

Meghan currently lives in Toronto while filming hit television series Suits where she and the Prince have been spotted spending a lot of time together over the past year - especially during his 2017 Invictus Games - Also held in Toronto this year. 

Clarence House reports on Twitter:

Also releasing an official statement:

You know what they say (or sing) Miracles Happen Once In A While - who says we all can’t be Princess’ right? That or at least get married to Nick Jonas. I’d say that’s a pretty close second. And I’ll take what I can get. Hear that Nick J? I’m still available! Call me! 

And all the best wishes to the new Royal Couple To-Be! The wedding is set to be held in Spring 2018. Will you be watching!?

(Photo’s courtesy of: www.thesun.co.uk, @ClarenceHouse via Twitter)

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

SUCKER FOR YOU - MATT TERRY

UK X-FACTOR 2016 Matt Terry comes out with a killer tune called Sucker For You. Not gonna lie, this is the first time I’ve heard of the musician and I initially thought it was Nick Jonas. His voice and the beat of the song go great together. Give it a listen and let me know what you think! 

 For those of you who aren’t familiar with Terry, he was placed in the “boys” category on X Factor and the 24 year old was then mentored by ex-Pussy Cat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger. Give a listen to his winners single, “When Christmas Comes Around,” which was an original written by fellow Brit, Ed Sheeran. Currently Matt Terry is signed with RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

WALK ON WATER - EMINEM ft. BEYONCE

For your Monday and Tuesday Blues! Let’s JAM!

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

HUGH HEFNER DIES SURROUNDED BY LOVED ONES AT AGE 91 - UPDATED

The iconic Playboy founder has passed surrounded by loved ones according to local Toronto radio station, Kiss 92.5 along with multiple other news and media outlets. 

*UPDATE: According to TheSkimm, Hef will be buried beside the legendary “OG cover girl,” Marilyn Monroe. 

Cooper Hefner writers about his father: “My father lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer and a leading voice behind some of the most significant social and cultural movements of our time in advocating free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom. He defined a lifestyle and ethos that lie at the heart of the Playboy brand, one of the most recognizable and enduring in history. He will be greatly missed by many.” 

Former girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson also broke her silence reporting to E!News, “Hef changed my life. He made me the person I am today. I couldn’t be more thankful for our friendship and our time together. I will miss him so much but he will be in my heart forever.”

A touching tribute to such an iconic legend. 

RIP Hugh! 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

Taylor Swift Tix powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan

Taylor Swift is committed to getting tickets into the hands of fans... NOT scalpers or bots. So she’s collaborating with Ticketmaster #verifiedfan to create an exclusive program to help YOU get the best access to tickets, in a really fun way.

TAYLOR SWIFT TIX POWERED BY TICKETMASTER

Hate those bots that take up all the good seats before you even get a chance to refresh your screen?! Well Taylor Swift has teamed up with Ticketmaster to come at you with the ultimate Verified Fan ticket experience. Sign up using the link in the photo and take part in “boosts” to get yourself on the priority ticket list today!! 

GOOD LUCK! and don’t forget to reblog to your friends! 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

One More Light (Official Video) - Linkin Park & Tribute Concert Announced

With just close to 3 months after the tragic passing of Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, the band has announced they will be performing a tribute concert at The Hollywood Bowl on October 27th. 

Proceeds from the concert will go towards the bands charity, Music for Relief’s One More Light Fund. - MFR was founded in 2004 by Linkin Park, after a tsunami struck the Indian Ocean. The charity raises funds for disaster relief and climate change education. 

Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, September 22nd at 10am LA time, but LP Underground members will receive an advance presale password for access starting this Tuesday at 12 noon. All tickets will be available for sale through the Linkin Park website. 

Along with the benefit concert, the band released a music video for their song One More Light, a song that wasn’t initially chosen as a single, but whose lyrics resonated with so many after Chester’s passing. The video (above) shows tons of behind the scene’s style footage from LP’s past concerts. Co-Director DJ Joe Hahn tweeted:  “It has been incredibly emotional to work on this, and especially to watch it. I feel that by doing it, we not only faced some of our biggest fears, but it enabled us to use our talents to bring some light to people that need it.”

LP bandmate Mike Shinoda posted of the upcoming tribute concert:

If you can make it out to the Hollywood Bowl October 27th, this is going to be one great show. Let me know if you’re planning on going, and your fave LP memory! 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

REVIEW - REVLON MEGA MULTIPLIER MASCARA

Hey Lifers, I just wanted to start off this post by saying, HAPPY MONDAY! After a refreshing two week hiatus, I am finally back and want to start off the week telling you about this wonderful new product I had the opportunity to try out over the past few weeks. 

I got home from work and noticed I had a package waiting for me, and to my surprise, it was this awesome new mascara from Revlon waiting to grace my lashes. I was so excited to try this product as I had heard some pretty great things about it from the makeup community. 

Let’s get started: First off, I don’t wear fake lashes...EVER (Okay there was that one time I was going to Vegas, but that was a first and last). My usual go to for mascara is Joe Fresh’s Argan Oil Black Mascara so I was a little weary to try out a new one on my lashes, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

My favourite part about this mascara is the brush. It has angled bristles so you can really get that maximum length desired. At the first application, you have to dip your brush in the product a few times more than usual to really get it on, but I had no problems with the application after the initial first try. 

All in all, I’m not sure that this product has really done enough for me to switch completely over from my usual, Joe Fresh product, but it’s nice to have in between those applications due to the angled nature of the bristles on the brush - it really spreads the lashes out. 

What are you waiting for? Try it for yourself! You can get Revlon Mega Multiplier lashes at your local beauty store or pharmacy make-up counter. And as always, let me know what you think!   

Disclaimer: I received this product for testing purposes from Revlon and Influenster Canada, all opinions are my own. 

#revlonxlashes #contest #megamultiplier @influensterca @revloncanada

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO - TAYLOR SWIFT

I’m just going to leave this here and let you all know that I AM IN LOVE. This is definitely a Video of the Year for SURE. Addressing pretty much everything. And can we talk about the very end? ALL THE TAYLORS! SO. MUCH. YES. 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

Monday Charts

Beat those Monday blues with Canada’s Top 10 songs from the weekend! Here’s what Canada’s listening to:

10) Kesha – Praying

9) Imagine Dragons – Believer

8) DJ Khaled Feat. Ruhanna & Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts

7) Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still

6) P!nk – What About Us

5) Liam Payne Feat. Quavo – Strip That Down

4) Jessie Reyez – Figures

3) Charlie Puth - Attention

2) Calvin Harris Feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean – Feels  

1) J Balvin & Willy William – Mi Gente

VIRAL SONG OF THE WEEK:

Camila Cabello, Young Thug – Havana

Enjoy and let me know what you think of the Viral Song of the Week!

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

#LOOKWHATYOUMADEMEDO - TAYLOR SWIFT - NEW SINGLE 

Last night Taylor Swift finally dropped her newest and first single from her sixth upcoming studio album, “Reputation”. 

Prior to the release Tay wiped her social media accounts clean and started leaving cryptic messages - in good old fashion Taylor Swift way, to make fans speculate what the album could be about. 

Many referenced the video of a serpent to the feud between Kimye West’s, and it’s been rumored that T-Swiz, could, POTENTIALLY, make a surprise performance at the upcoming VMA’s - well who’s this year’s host of the VMA’s you might ask? None other than Katy Perry, Swifts arch nemesis. 

While I do actually not mind this song and it’s darker vibes, I couldn’t help but think of another new artist and popular song writer, Julia Michaels. It sounds VERY similar to “Uh Huh”...which has me thinking. Did Taylor get help from Julia writing this, or just rip her off completely. 

So far it seems like the internet has been ripping into Taylor for the new song. Maybe it’s time to take a new approach to music writing. I get it, you write based off of your experiences, but maybe it’s time to stop airing ALL of your dirty laundry out in song. And damn, for a “nice girl” she sure does have a LOT of dirty laundry to air out...

Tell me what you think of the new song! I can definitely dig it, but you have to listen to it without thinking of all the feuds she’s had over the past few years to really enjoy the actual music. 

AND CHECK OUT JULIA MICHAELS, “UH HUH” just below! Do you think it sounds the same? Am I hearing things properly?! Let me know on Twitter or Tumblr :)

Cheers to FRIYAY,

S

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

HANES x KARLA ft. JUSTIN BIEBER 

I just got this email in my inbox about half an hour ago. I have got to say, it rattled me. Just a little over a week ago now Bieber fans everywhere were informed that Justin would be cancelling the rest of his World Tour - both Toronto Dates included. I went to bed and hoped that it was all a bad dream - I would wake up and it would all be a bad joke. Justin would still come to Toronto in September for his two shows I was so much looking forward to. But alas, that didn’t happen. Instead, I woke up to an email from Ticketmaster, confirming the truth. The concert was cancelled - but not to worry, my tickets had already been refunded in full. It was true, the Biebs was officially “over it” sources from TMZ claim. Some said he was influenced by New York Pastor, Carl Lentz to reconnect with his faith. 

(Sidenote: Pastor Carl Lentz, also known as the ‘Hipster Pastor’ due to his numerous tattoos, leather and social media following, is from the Chuch; Hillsong NYC. Hillsong, originally founded in Australia in 1983, now has 80 affiliate churches worldwide. It’s said that after being baptised by Lentz, him and Bieber became so close, Justin moved in with him and his wife Laura. The relationship even goes so far that Justin has called Lentz a “father figure”)

SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH HANES x KARLA you say? I’m just feeling pretty upset and let down by the cancellation of the tour, and now you want me to pay $30 for a plain white t-shirt/crop top? I don’t think so. You see, it’s too soon Universal Music, Justin Bieber, and affiliates. You just canceled a World Tour and didn’t even come to your home town. The wound is still open and it stings. You are literally pouring acid in the wounds of your fans by pushing this on us. It was just a week before the cancelled tour I was getting emails on new Tour Merch to purchase. Safe to say, I’m cooling it and taking a break from the Bieber-Train. I’m all for someone finding themselves and their faith, but to push this promotion on us seems a little crass. Clearly he isn’t struggling to make a buck, he didn’t really need to tour and was over it. I don’t think he is sorry for disappointing his fans and I think it’s time for a serious wake up call. I’ve been going to live shows since I was 7 - and let me tell you the amount of artists straight up bailing on their duties and commitment has sky rocketed. You NEVER heard about shows being cancelled, unless the lead singer randomly got sick. Now, whenever you purchase tickets there’s about a 50/50 chance you’ll actually make it to the show date. 

I’m putting my foot down. I’m done with the artists who clearly have reaped so much from their fans they feel the need to stop performing mid-tour and have the audacity to promote a 30$ white t-shirt. It’s gonna be a no from me - from now on. #ItsTooLateToSaySorry. 

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

HARRY STYLES - SIGN OF THE TIMES *AUDIO PREMIER*

SO MUCH YASSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So so sweet. What do you think?!?!

[lifeaccordingtosamantha]

PEPSI AND KENDALL JENNER...COME ON MAN!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you living under a rock, Pepsi recently released an advertisement featuring Kardashian-Jenner Clan sister, Kendall Jenner. Without saying more, you basically already can assume how it’s going to go, but the fact they actually released it, well to say they “missed the mark,” is a big understatement. 

The commercial itself, shows Kendall doing what she does best, not being aware of her surroundings or the general state of the world around her and posing for the camera - while just outside crowds march in protest.

Once she finally notices, a few marketing shots of Pepsi and some inclusive shots of different ethnicity are tossed in. She marches to the front, not before some more Pepsi is shown, and offers a can to a police officer, simultaneously ending the riot between civil rights activists and police. 

Which has most of the world wondering...WHAT THE F. Are you kidding me? People are rightfully outraged and Pepsi has since pulled all of the ad & have issued the following apology:

Kendall is apparently devastated by the whole ordeal.  A source said: 'This is the first controversial campaign she has been involved with. Even though she had nothing to do with the production and the message of the campaign, she will be blamed for this since she is the face.' (Daily Mail) 

While maybe it is her first controversial campaign, but definitely not the first for her family’s brand as a whole. We can’t agree that the Kardashian-Jenner’s have always been culturally appropriate. So it makes sense that they wouldn’t think there was a problem with the script before they went to filming. At some point, she’s going to have to take responsibility for her actions, as every adult has to learn to do. She isn’t a child and needs to use her brain once in a while.

People on Twitter & Facebook are obviously not having any of it:

Jenner seems to be the only one to NOT comment so far, although her thoughts prior to the commercial being aired, which Pepsi was planning on using along with their debut, sing a different tune than the rest of the world - 

“I had never been to Bangkok before, so it was interesting to be in that city,” she told Women's Wear Daily. “There were a lot of really cool people on set that I got to meet. It was fun, it was entertaining. The whole concept is really something that I’m about, so it was just fun to be a part of.”

Girl, what concept is that???? This family needs a history lesson. Or maybe just have a read in the local paper about what’s going on in the world RIGHT NOW. Could be beneficial!

Watch the ad below if you haven’t already and let me know what you thought!!!