Reunited with Motorola: Rogers Moto X

They say you never forget your first cellphone and it’s true. I still remember the day my dad brought it home.  I was an anxious 13-year-old, desperate to get my hands on one of those cool portable devices that would allow me to send instant text messages to my friends and talk to them without my mom going “hello, who’s on the phone? I neeeeeed it.” during the middle of a conversation. This cellphone was long overdue; by now everyone already had one and I had been begging for my own for months on end. My dad finally came home with one of the most popular phones (at least amongst my eighth grade class), the Motorola V360, and it was perfect.

Fast forward three years, and I upgraded to what was the sleek, incredibly thin and even better looking Motorola Krzr. It was THE phone to have. And while I had a blast with my flip phones, sharing many conversations, winky faces and “wut r u doing 2day?” texts, soon the era of smartphones came, and well frankly, my relationship with Motorola was put on the back burner.

I had a great relationship with Blackberry, before I took a bite of Apple and switched to the iPhone 5 which I’m currently using. But today I’ve been fortunate enough, thanks to Rogers, to reunite with my first cellphone love: Motorola.

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The Moto X is available only at Rogers, and offers touchless control, an active display and a quick capture camera among its list of impressing features. What does that mean?
“Talk to it, and it learns your voice. With a twist of your wrist, it becomes your camera and gets the shots you’d otherwise miss and it tells you what you need to know—even when you’re not touching it.”

See for yourself:

Now I’m very much attached to my iPhone and I’ve always been an Apple person, but I’m ready to switch over and take on the 60-day Moto X Challenge (aka a challenge I’ve presented myself with where I’ll be completely dedicated to this Moto X). Change is not something I usually enjoy, but with this device, it’s one I’m welcoming with open arms and ready thumbs! I’ve only just begun to play with this new toy, but one thing’s for sure, the camera quality is stunning and I can’t wait to capture memories. I’ll definitely update you at the end of my 60-day challenge to let you know if I’ll be sticking with the Moto X or switching back to the iPhone 5.

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–@Naomi_ML

How to snatch the best concert tickets

 

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I am addicted to concerts. There, I said it. I only discovered the immense pleasure of seeing your favorite artist perform live a little over a year and a half ago at the late age of 19, but I’ve made up for the many teen years I’ve missed out on attending concerts by getting my hands on tickets to any and every show that caught my eye–or more like ear.

From One Direction to The Maine to Demi Lovato to the Warped Tour, I went, I screamed, I sang my heart out, I spent all my money on merch, and I suffered from post-concert depression. And because of that I have the most amazing memories.

And here’s the thing, I don’t just go to a concert, I LIVE that concert. Almost always have I had amazing seats where I could see the performer’s sweat dripping from their forehead. And always do my friends say I’m so lucky. But it’s not luck. Okay, well it’s a bit of luck. But it’s also timelines and determination that got me those amazing seats.

Below I’ve put together a list of tips and tricks to help you get the best seats in the house, and for those of you who prefer watching/listening I also made a video!

 

1. Always try for the pre-sale
Most tickets go on sale around three days before the general sale, and this is your best bet to getting tickets to a show that’s bound to sell out. Even though you need a password, you can find it online the day before or morning of on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Most of the time it’s the artist, the venue or Ticketmaster/Live Nation who post the password. There are also the fan presales that go on sale around the same time and for this, you usually have to be a part of an artist’s fan club (meaning you have to pay $30 for a yearly membership of nonsense) but don’t let this stop you! Search up “xxx presale password” on twitter or Facebook, there’s bound to be one kind superfan who’s willing to share the password. Also, if you or your parents or a really good friend have an American Express card, you get access to special tickets and a presale.

2. Buy on time
Think of it like a job interview, be ready and there fifteen minutes early. There’s nothing worse than getting to your computer at 9:59 and having to power it up and wait for your browser to load. Have your computer on, your internet connection double checked and Ticketmaster open to the page. Then as soon as your clock hits 10 am (You could even set up a stopwatch or get a to-the-second clock ready a minute or two before) hit refresh to purchase your tickets. Also be prepared with not just one but two credit cards on hand (just in case the first one doesn’t work). Though the timer gives you ten minutes to make a purchase, the longer you wait, the more likely the tickets will disappear and become unavailable. And regret sucks.

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3. Enlist the help of your friends
Seriously, two hands can only do so much. Get your parents, siblings, friends, anyone who is up and available at 10 am to help you out, whether it’s on a computer or on their phone. It’s simple math: the more people who are trying to get tickets for you, the greater chances you have of getting A) seats and B) greater seats. If two or more people are lucky enough to find tickets in their basket, you can take your pick at the better section.

4. Don’t settle for the first
You may have gotten tickets with your first click at 10 am, but do you really wanna sit up in section 300 in the 24th row? I (along with Drake) am just saying, you could do better. Tickets come and go as people loose them because they run out of time or empty their basket. Keep searching until you find tickets that agree with your budget and your standards. Because who wants to see an artist look like a tiny ant on stage?

If all this fails or you simply aren’t available when the tickets go on sale there are other ways to snatch tickets to a highly anticipated contest. The most obvious and equally torturous method is contests, whether through radio stations, TV networks or online publications. They almost always exist for every show though the chances of you actually winning are seemingly none. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to try! (Just maybe hurts a bit to lose).

Also even though a show may be sold out, start checking Ticketmaster on a daily basis one to two weeks before the date of the actual show, because more than likely they’ll release more tickets. I’ve gotten the best seats to shows this way (Pit tickets for Taylor Swift hollah!). If you live close to the venue, it doesn’t hurt to check the day of at the box office, because I’ve also gotten pretty awesome seats to shows this way too (sold out One Direction show awwyeah!). There are also other options, though I don’t recommend them because of evil people called scammers, but you can always search up StubHub, or even better Kijiji or Craigslist (because you deal directly with the seller).

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The Ultimate Summer Bucket List

It’s that time of year when classrooms and school uniforms are replaced with beaches and bikinis. While you may have a preconceived vision of how this summer is going to be spent (ice cream dates, campfires, amusement parks), why not stray away from the usual activities and try something new.

by Naomi Leanage

The bright sun and warm weather confirm that summer is finally here. With no school to keep you occupied though, boredom tends to creep up and you begin to realize that you’ve already seen every summer blockbuster movie—twice.  That’s why it’s time to replace that school to-do list with a summer bucket list.

Some of these items may just provide you with a fun time for a couple hours while others will allow you to learn and gain valuable skills that will last a lifetime, but all are guaranteed to leave you with amazing and lasting memories.

Get on TV
There’s no need to sign up for acting classes and hire an agent to make this happen. It’s as simple as signing up to be an audience member for a live show. But for those who want more than a hour of screen time, you can apply for reality show castings in your area. So get off your couch, put away that remote and experience what it’s like to be on the other side of the screen.

Start a summer business
Who says the days of having a lemonade stand are long gone? There’s no need to succumb to the usual summer jobs that usually consist of folding clothes and flipping burgers, when you can use your passions, talents and skills to make some extra cash. If you enjoy cooking, start a catering company. Is drawing and art your hobby? Design a clothing line. Your friends and family will be your guaranteed first customers and from there you can easily expand. Social media and word of mouth make it easy to find new customers, and there are many grants available, funded by the government and other companies, to help launch your business.

Write to a Pen Pal
Though communicating with friends has evolved into easy and efficient instant messaging online, there’s still something special about writing a hand written letter, and receiving one in the mail yourself. A Pen Pal gives you the opportunity to write to someone from a different country, allowing you get to learn about a different culture and make a lasting relationship. Check out penpalworld.com to find your new friend.

Enroll in a class that allows you try something
At this age, most of us have figured out what we enjoy and what we don’t like doing. Sure, our parents may have signed us up for countless classes ranging from swimming to dance to baseball when we were younger. But have we tried absolutely everything out there?  Ever wanted to move your feet with some tap shoes on? Wondered what it’s like to push a puck across the ice? Dreamed of riding a horse across the field? There may be a natural skill you haven’t discovered yet. You’ll never know unless you try.

Feed 100 homeless people
Instead of going out and purchasing 100 fast food burgers, grab your friends and take the time to create meals for the less fortunate in your area. A sandwich, a fruit, a juice box, and a cookie can be easily put together in a paper bag. Then comes the fun part; distributing it. You can do this by either going to a local homeless shelter or walking the streets yourself.

Grow your own food
A trip to the garden store is all you need to get started on this. From vegetables to fruits, there are many different items you can grow right in your own backyard. Ensure that you have the space, and also the appropriate climate, soil and rainfall. It takes time, effort and care to ensure the crops grow properly. Visit a local farm or garden to get ideas on what types of crop to grow and how to do it right.

Participate in a walk, run, race or marathon
This is a great way to get fit (because you’ll definitely have to prepare and train in advance), raise money for a worthwhile cause (from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and gather support from your family and friends. First-timers can try a 5 or 10km run while those more experienced can aim for a full 42km marathon.  Check out marathoncanada.com for a list of upcoming events throughout Canada. For those seeking more thrill and excitement, running through the muddiest trails in Toronto (The Mud Run) or being attacked by color bombs (Color Me Rad) as you try to make it to the finish line will definitely satisfy you.


As published in the Summer 2013 issue of Faze Magazine

Style Shoot with The Next Star judges

On Friday, May 17 I was on set of the Faze Magazine summer style shoot with The Next Star Judges as the models! It was a long, but fun-filled day, and while my main duty was the behind-the-scenes videographer, I was able to grab some great photos as well:
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Most of the gorgeous jewelry brought in by the stylist was from H&M and Topshop!IMG_9629

While all of the shoes were drool worthy, my favourite pair had to be the black and gold heels from Steve Madden (first row, third from the left) which is no surprise since my weakness lately has been studs! IMG_9630

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