Night at the Museum

Every Friday night until June 22nd, the ROM in Toronto has a unique experience for those 19+. The museum is transformed into a party with music, drinks and dancing! The galleries are open until 9:30pm while the event continues until 11pm. With only a $9 cover charge, it's definitely an inexpensive night out for the young professional on a budget! ROM bucks can be purchased and used towards beverages or food from local vendors ($1 = $1 ROM buck). For the single folks, where else can you chat up girls in 4-inch heels and short dresses posing with dinosaur skeletons? If you're attached, it's a perfect date night! 

Aryka's Advice: I was lucky enough to win VIP tickets which allowed me to skip the line. However, Friday Night Live @ ROM starts at 6pm so get there early or you may have to wait awhile! 

May the odds be ever in your favour....FREE MOVIES!

Team Jacob

If you happen to live in a major Canadian city, then you must know about the wonder that is advanced movie screenings! There are a lot of contest skeptics, but the odds are in your favour...it's an entire theatre of winners! Almost all films are screened in advance to show critics and generate publicity. From my experience, movies are generally on weeknights or Saturday mornings. You can easily win tickets to at least one movie every single week! Plus, even a bad movie seems decent when it's free!

Aryka's Advice: For those in the GTA, this is the most comprehensive website in Toronto that lists contests for free screenings!

http://www.iheartmoviesto.com/movie-contests/movie-contests/

VIP Mother's Day Experience!

Private photo opp with the camels! 

I haven't been to the Toronto Zoo since elementary school so I was thrilled to win a VIP experience courtesy of Today's Parent magazine! I received zoo admission for 4, complimentary parking, a private Zoomobile tour of the Zoo and a free luncheon! 

I was even given a swag bag (A notebook made from recycled paper products and elephant poo? That's incredible!)

The white lions are the newest attraction and now I can't wait to see the pandas which are coming in 2013!

Although I had to deal with the embarrassment of being asked if I was a young mother, it was worth it!

Aryka's Advice: Always read the rules and regulations. I didn't need to be a mother to win a VIP Mother's Day Experience at the Toronto Zoo!

Top 10 Event

After another contest win, I recently had the opportunity to attend a fantastic event in Toronto. The premise: "10 celebrated people. 10 minutes each on stage. 10 things you should know before you die". Considering I'm changing careers and searching for a new job, I figured I could use some guidance! I was thrilled to hear the experiences of such a diverse group of people including David Miller, Hana Gartner and Melissa Fung.

I had box seats and tickets to the exclusive VIP After  Party! 

David discussed his work with initiatives benefiting youth in the city, Hana spoke about embracing the present moment and Melissa talked about the importance of forgiveness after being kidnapped in Afghanistan.

Each of the speakers clearly had a love and passion for what they do which I found particularly inspirational!

More information can be found here: http://toptenevent.com/

Aryka's Advice: One of the speakers, Jully Black, had an outstanding quote that I thought I would share: "Are you living or are you existing?

Gala-vanting

I can't resist a good party...particularly if it's labeled "Gala of the Year" and "Best Dressed" from the National Post. I was thrilled to recently attend the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario’s (POGO) Gala After Party at the Liberty Grand. POGO works to ensure Ontario's children have access to state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment. 
This year's theme was "Inspire" and I was certainly inspired by the incredible designer dresses and Christian Louboutin's I spotted on attendees. 
More importantly, $600,000 was raised! 

Aryka's Advice: Go DJ, that's my DJ. Contests are a fantastic networking opportunity! Whether it's Toronto glitterati, fashion bloggers or the DJ your friend has her eyes on....

Hola!

I have to admit, I haven't fully utilized the call-in radio contests. But when I heard that Q107 was having a promotion on Thursdays of giving away a trip EVERY HOUR, I knew I had to get in on this. It was an instant win for a trip for 2 to an all-inclusive 5-star resort in Manzanillo, Mexico. You just had to be caller 1007. Easy, right? It actually was. I won on the first day of the promotion! Better still, the departure date I ended up choosing was actually an 8-night trip. Wonderful.

Aryka's Advice: Make a list of times that all of your local radio stations are having giveaways. Redial. Redial. Redial.

I'm Gonna Be A Supermodel

In creeping the internet in search of Toronto Fashion Week tickets, I came across an open casting call for Sunny Fong's new line VAWKKIN which targets the young fashion forward female. Sunny was a former winner of Project Runway Canada and had previously launched his VAWK line.

I submitted a picture and wrote how I personified a VAWKKIN woman. After demonstrating my "walk" in person I was selected! I attended 2 runway boot camps with Canada's top plus-size model Liis Windischmann and Ben Barry of the Ben Barry Agency.

On the day of the show, I received the full model treatment with professional hair, make-up and even a personal dresser! Fortunately, I did not have a Carrie Bradshaw moment. Although I still don't know how to smile with me eyes.

The full video can be seen here: VAWK - MASTERCARD FASHION WEEK FALL 2012 COLLECTIONS

Aryka's Advice: In life, there is a reason you are presented with opportunities. Go outside of your comfort zone and OWN it!