Recommender systems are best described by looking at e-commerce sites such as Amazon. What happens when you put something into your cart? Amazon recommends other products to you that might compliment the purchase, or that you as an individual might like. They can do this for two reasons: the long tail and big data.

The long tail is a concept of the trend towards online stores offering a wide range of products, as opposed to a very niche set of related products. Amazon is able to benefit from having a long tail in their merchandising to be able to be a leader in e-commerce, with “something for everyone.”

Big companies are able to utilize big data in their e-commerce efforts as well. Big data is a large volume of data that inundates a business on a day-to-day basis. But it’s not the amount of data that’s important. It’s what organizations do with the data that matters. Big data can be analyzed for insights that lead to better decisions and strategic business moves.

The articles I found while helping with primary research for this thesis project were from all over the world and I made sure to keep diversity in mind. Since e-commerce spans across borders, it is imperative that companies and platforms take many different cultures into consideration. I also included many articles with a sustainable approach to e-commerce and recommended that he integrate it into his main ideas for the future of the fashion industry online. 

As a hard-working student, I will give school the majority of my working energy but as a growing human, I will not allow school to consume me in my entirety.

What do I do to prevent school from completely consuming my energy? I make an effort to feed my soul daily.

By feeding one’s soul in addition to studying hard, personal growth and success can flourish in many ways and not just academically. This is a very important concept to understand and will be different in practice for everyone depending on how one wants to grow. As a student, one can grow in many different directions to pursue one’s true passions and callings in life.

Over the break, one way that I allowed myself to relax after one of the hardest semesters in my program is I asked myself the question: Which way do I want to grow? And changed my To-Do list to a Want-To-Do List.

As the new semester is starting, practicing daily and intentional growth will not only feed my soul during school, but it will also allow me to grow into the person who I want to be physically, mentally, creatively, and academically.

The following tips outline five ways to start your daily growth.

Tips for Growth – Which way do I want to grow?

1. Grow Creatively

• Practice daily creativity: Photography, writing and designing graphics are three things that I do to feed my creative soul.
• Join Facebook groups and UVIC Clubs to connect you with other creatives in the area. In the past, I have been involved with the Photography Excursion Club at UVIC and am a part of a Facebook group called Creators Victoria that has connected me with many other photographers, models and artists in the area.

2. Grow Socially

• Join one of many UVIC clubs that allow you to meet new and interesting people.
• Apply for a position or volunteer within the student society of your choosing (University of Victoria Student Society – UVSS, Commerce Students’ Society – CSS etc.) I am a part of the CSS within the business school and have gained a whole new social network and work experience as a result.

3. Grow Compassion

• Start volunteering your time with a local charity that you feel passionate about.
• Call your Mama or Papa more often!
• Spend more quality time with your extended family like your grandparents.

4. Grow Self-Confidence

• Take a dance class! Personally, I love swing dancing at Red Hot Swing and dancing Hip Hop at Vibestreet Dance Studio in Victoria.
• Start practicing yoga daily with YouTube channels such as Yoga With Adriene or at a studio (although those can get expensive after the first month).
• Start working out or running. School is busy and exhausting but working out will make you feel way better in the long run.

5. Grow Mentally

• Get outside every day for some fresh air. I do this by biking to school every day. UVIC bike centre is an amazing resource to take advantage of fully equip with a bike repair shop, a pump to fill up your tires, a heated garage to store your bike and lockers to rent for your gear!
• Explore a new place. I love adventuring by hiking and backpacking. Since we live in such a beautiful place, exploring it is a real treat for the body and soul.
• Practice mindfulness and be grateful every day for everything that you have. One way to do this is to start a gratitude journal that you keep by your bed.

Deliberately choosing activities that will help you grow is a mindful practice in and of itself. Being mindful of your actions includes pausing in the times when you may be working too hard. In order to be a healthy overachiever, and in order to live a balanced life full of accomplishments, focus on feeding your soul at the same time as working hard. Just as most plants need water and sunlight, students’ souls need daily nurturing as well in order to grow, thrive and bloom.

VIDEO – Faves, Caves and Waves at Sombrio

5 THINGS TO SEE AND DO AT SOMBRIO BEACH

1. Walk the beach & take it all in. // When you get to the main beach, start walking to the left and keep going. My favourite sound in the world is the noise that the strong waves at Sombrio make when they wash and recede along the huge, rounded stones that have made a beautiful bed along the first section of the beach. You may notice some happy campers who have set up camp along the top of the beach.

2. Visit the waterfall. //  As you walk down the left of Sombrio Beach, you will eventually have to turn a corner that takes you to the next section of Sombrio Beach that faces a small inlet. After you turn the corner you will carry on for about 400 meters until you come across a very small and unassuming stream that leads to the ocean. Follow this stream up the beach and you will find a trail that leads into the brush. In about 5 minutes, this trail will lead you into a stunning, emerald oasis.

3. Ride the waves. // My first surfing experience was at Sombrio Beach, believe it or not. The waves are frequented by surfers all year round however the real waves happen in the early winter. In February of this year I rented equipment (surf board, wet suit, and boots) from Sports Rent in downtown Victoria and joined some friends who knew how to surf and it was a very humbling experience. I figured if I have a rip curl tattoo I should probably try surfing at some point!

4. Explore the caves. // After you reach the stream along the second half of Sombrio beach, if you keep going down, you will reach a steep cliff of rocks. Within those rocks, close to the shore, there is an entrance to a cave. If you are visiting at low tide, you will be able to check out the cave. Make sure to bring a flashlight so you can see the small stalactite formations on the roof of the cave!

5. Spend the night. // Sombrio Beach is one of the campsites along the Juan de Fuca Trail. I did the trail this summer (blog post coming soon!) and guess what my favourite place to camp was along the 47km trail? Sombrio Beach hands down. You are able to camp right on the beach and the backcountry camping permit is only $10 with a parking lot a 7 minute walk away.

The following are some logistical tips about Sombrio Beach you may want to know before planning a trip:

• The road was just rebuilt however, it is still pretty muddy so make sure you bring a car that loves potholes and getting dirty.
• Bring rain boots so you can enjoy walking on the beach and in the waves. Also, the weather can change frequently so bring layers and a rain shell.
• You loose cell service just after you pass Sooke so make sure you are familiar with the directions before hand and pay attention to the road signs about where to pull off.
• Make sure you plan to stop at Shirley Delicious Cafe for a delicious coffee and/or lunch – you won’t regret it!

Enjoy your next trip to Sombrio Beach, friends and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or are looking for a buddy to beach-comb with.

Quinoa + Protein / Toppings + Sauce

Protein

• Chicken
• Tofu
• Portobello Mushroom
• Cauliflower Buffalo Wings
• Fried Egg

Toppings

• Steamed Veggie Assortment (bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, peas, green beans, kale)
• Sweet Potatoes
• Chick Peas
• Kidney Beans
• Cheese (cheddar, goat cheese, blue cheese, parmesan, feta)

Sauce

• Tomato Sauce (or any flavor of pasta sauce)
• Pesto
• Coconut milk + Curry Paste (green, yellow or red curry)
• Enchilada Sauce

Example Quinoa Bowls

1. Pesto Chicken Bowl
2. Tofu Curry Bowl
3. Mexi-Cauliflower Bowl
4. Breakfast Pesto Bowl
5. Tomato Basil Portobello Bowl (featured above)

The Speaker Series

Gustavson School of Business Conference 2018

Entrepreneur, speaker and social media guru, Deidre Tansey is the Founder & Social Engagement Architect at Ampersand Media. I was super impressed from the very beginning to the very end because Deidre gave a lively and energetic presentation despite the low energy in the room (I was in the morning session). Here are the key questions raised and answered about the landscape of social media in today’s tech savvy world.

Is social media evil?

Of course not! She insightfully debunked this myth by arguing that social media is purely an amplified reflection of society. This point particularly struck me because of the underlying truth of it. Social media is a tool and it is important to realize that it is the people who are using it for evil who are to blame, and not the tool itself. Knifes are very useful tools in the kitchen but also as a weapon- it’s all in the user and use.

Isn’t social media just focused on making your life seem better than everyone else’s?

I have heard and even said this countless of times. The point that was raised was that this is actually an underlying human characteristic. It’s in our biology and nurtured within our society to try to elevate how we portray our lives. An example that came up was when Mom turns slightly psychotic whenever there’s company coming over. There’s vacuums, laundry and dishes flying everywhere and right before the door opens, BAM… It’s as if it was the final “before & after” montage on an episode of TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive. We always want to show our friends and family the best and most awesome version of ourselves and our lives and in that light, I don’t see anything wrong with that. #BestFootForward

What is the most important tip to curate your social media presence?

Be genuine. Be authentic. Be real. Be you. No questions asked! People engage and connect with raw and real life. It’s why hilarious videos and memes go viral- people gravitate to people. So be a person and not a robot. Embrace what makes you different and own your personal brand!

model: Suzy Dominguez – @artkeyologie

additional business related insight

How can you effectively bounce back from a making a mistake in business and in life?

Another key abstraction from this presentation was the importance of perspective when communicating feelings in the business world. If you put yourself into the shoes of the person who was impacted by your mistake, the road to an understanding will become less of an uphill battle. The technique that was highlighted was the “feel, felt, found” method. Formulate an apology by addressing that you understand how they feel because you have been in their shoes before, this is how you felt when you were in their shoes, and this is what you found in the end. This method works in business and in personal relationship skills and is very applicable in any interpersonal situation!

A special thanks to Deidre Tansey for her insightful and fun presentation this weekend! ♡

Sweet Seaside Snack

Soft serve ice cream is indeed the guilt to my pleasures. If I were to describe the perfect afternoon in downtown Victoria, it would begin and end with getting soft serve at the Beacon Drive-In, Victoria’s hot-spot for ice cream all year round. Whether you are going on a date, or spending the day with your family, this is a wonderful place to stop for a sweet, seaside snack. Not to mention, the gorgeous Beacon Hill Park is right across the road and is strangely more enjoyable with an ice cream cone in hand! ♡

Double Decadent Delight

Attention coconut lovers: If you ever find yourself in downtown Victoria, it would be a sin to pass up this decadent delight. On the white plate showcased above is none other than the Double Coconut Cream Tart at Rebar. The rich coconut cream filling, wrapped in a buttery pastry crust and topped with shaved coconut flakes has a mouth watering, hypnotic quality that will put any self-respecting coconut lover into a trance. #GoCocoNuts

Enchanting Italian Ending

In the words of the Italians, “First we eat, then we do everything else.” For a food and coffee lover, Italy is easily on my Top Ten Places to Visit Pinterest board. This authentic Italian restaurant proves that cultural saying. Il Covo Trattoria is located along Superior Street on the way to Fisherman’s Wharf. The patio string lights lead the way into a cozy, welcoming space with rustic decor and a lovely, far-away feel. My Dad treated me to this magical place on my birthday and I ordered this dessert, the Panna Cotta. As a simple delight, their Panna Cotta is a light and less sweet European cream pudding topped with a dusting of cocoa powder and fresh fruit. An enchanting ending to a special day, indeed!

I encourage you to begin with the end in mind next time you are choosing a spot to eat in Victoria! And don’t forget… always save room for dessert! ♡

MACCHA: A SIMPLE USER GUIDE

PROPERTIES

Maccha powder is micro milled green tea leaves. Most of the properties in maccha stem from the fact that when you drink maccha, you are consuming the entire tea leaf as opposed to steeping. Maccha can provide a much more sustainable caffeine buzz lasting up to 8 hours opposed to 2-4 hours with coffee and 5 hours with caffeine tablets. The buzz you experience with maccha is a combination of the caffeine from the micro milled green tea leaves (equivalent to ~20 cups of green tea!) and also a chemical called L-Theanine. Before you zone out with all of this science, you’re going to want to know what this chemical does to your body. L-Theanine is an amino acid that boosts your mood and reduces stress and anxiety. Woah… this is what we need!! A drink that provides us with caffeine, makes us happy AND reduces our daily stress pile-up. I couldn’t believe it either. The most important part about drinking maccha and getting these crazy good benefits is your source. You are what you drink. Treating yourself with farm direct, organic maccha is the only way to get this maccha trifecta.

PREPARATION

Maccha is a lifestyle, tradition and a zen and the preparation is the core part to each.

For all you DIYers, here is a short, 3-minute maccha youtube video to peek your curiosity. Unfortunately for the busy bees out there, throwing a tea bag in some hot water before you run out the door is not going to work with maccha. But as a person who normally has about 12 things on the go at the same time, I will attest that taking those extra five minutes to experience the complete zen-maccha-voodoo is 100% worth it. I have also included links to cafes in Victoria that serve maccha from JagaSilk below- some things are best left for the pros ;).

Disclaimer: I went to tea school. JagaSilk provides a Maccha training and knowledge course if you are interested in learning more properties (yes there are more!) of this crazy little powder.

Where you can get  maccha & tea in Victoria and Sooke:

Finding your zen is the first step. Take a moment to close your eyes and think about a small part of your day that you always look forward to… It’s not easy- I know. Some examples may be that car ride to work after a full day of lectures and studying; the music is blasting. Or maybe when you turn on the radio and make dinner for you and your roommates and/or fam jam… or when they make dinner for you Perhaps your zen is when you take a hot shower before bed, go for a run in the fresh air, or write another blog post. The most important part of this personal exercise is figuring out your zen for yourself.

So we have started the brain storm of zen, now what? Practice. It’s just like every other thing in your life, you have to practice in order for the magic to work. Turning off your analytical student brain and letting the calm release take over is the hardest part and comes with lots of practice. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind practicing a little release over my Spanish adverbial clause flashcards… but that’s just me!

*2 full grocery bags!!!

                       {CREAMY BLUEBERRY & KALE SHAKE }

Blend organic frozen blueberries, almond milk, a fair amount of plain greek yogurt, dates and chia seeds in your blender or Vitamix until creamy for a delicious kale detox.

         {SEA SALT KALE CHIPS}

Simply drizzle some olive oil and salt over kale and bake for 10-15 min. at 350F for a delicious afternoon snack.

                     {SUNRISE KALE CHOP}

Combine shredded beet, carrot, cucumber, avocado, celery, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, goat cheese and of course, lots and lots of kale. A nice homemade dressing is to shake grape seed oil (doesn’t condense in the fridge like olive oil), balsamic vinegar, strawberry jam (or maple syrup), and salt and pepper in a mason jar until combined.

Maybe one day I will have my Kale Creative Inc. food truck and live the dream.

The air in Malibu whips across the pier, through my hair and across the valley to LA. Our road trip down the Cali coast would not be complete without ceremonially stopping on the side of the road to run down the first beach in Malibu that we came across. The seagulls were curious as we softly buried our feet in the warm sand and stretched out our legs in the sunshine. Stopping for a bite at this pier in gorgeous Malibu never felt so good.

SEAFOOD PAELLA is the way to my heart.

Topped with a fresh lemon and served in a skillet, it’s as if we were dining in Valencia. The fresh seafood, salmon and chicken nourished our hungry traveler appetites. What was your absolute favourite meal while traveling?

My favourite meals have always happened by accident but I also believe that food tastes better when you are eating with people you adore. ♡