Happy New Year!

Hello friends, 

I hope you’ve had a wonderful Holiday Season and that 2025 is off to a GREAT start! Let me begin by saying how fortunate I was to close 2024 in my beloved « Great North » (which is not technically accurate, but you can judge yourself by the below pictures) in the company of so many loved ones, thanks to USCIS, bestowing a literal “Christmas Miracle” upon us by granting me my Green Card (talking about timing…!!!) To say I was thankful is an understatement!

Upon revisiting my 2024 photos & memories and setting my intentions for 2025 I realized that although it had been a somewhat challenging & frustrating year, 2024 yielded some very positive discoveries and experiences of all sorts. And as my mantra this year is to focus on the positive, here are my top 2024’s highlights:

-I did lots of cycling, camping & hiking trips in amazing locales — which made me realize I really want to prioritize doing this in the coming year also, and my « better half » has us alllllll equipped and ready for lots of fun outings ahead <3

-Among those trips was an unforgettable stay at the amazing Acadia National Park (Maine) where we experienced a profound connection to nature & ate so much lobster we almost started growing claws!

-I worked as a bartender on a sailboat for a few weeks — prompted by a completely unexpected & somewhat chaotic first-night beginning as a civilian— which made me reconnect with this part of myself (I used to work in hospitality between gigs, and bartending was a big part of it until I quit about 7-8 years ago)

-In waiting for my Green Card a lot of my family members & friends came to visit me in various parts of NYS, which made me feel so loved and enabled various little adventures & discoveries. I was able to spend my sister’s birthday with her, Max & my niece in NYC, spend Canadian Thanksgiving with my aunt Lucie & cousin Jennifer, go camping upstate with my dad & Marie, spend Easter with my friends Mélisa & Dan, and visit old McDonald’s farm with my mom, sister & niece <3

-On a health & fitness level, I started teaching various yoga & fitness classes again, and embarked upon a handstand challenge; which I’m very excited about. I’m delighted to see my life take this turn again, as there will be more to come in 2025! Stay tuned ;)

-Music is still a very important part of my life and I’m looking forward to seeing my agency, Phirocious Productions, grow. Speaking of which, I launched our brand new website recently so please feel free to have a look at it and share it with the world! With this venture, I look forward to utilizing the many skills I have learned along my performing journey and continue pairing work & pleasure wherever the events take me. In the last year alone, my 2 main bands; Nuage Rhythm & the Phirocious Swing Orchestra, performed for 43 celebrations in 12 different states, allowing me to truly combine everything I love doing; which I am ALWAYS very grateful for.

-Elias & I were also guests at our friends Garrett & Natalie’s wedding in Brooklyn (not often do we get to experience this side of things!)

-I was fortunate to join many of Elias’ touring ventures as a proud member of the Lakecia Benjamin quartet (they are nominated for 2 Grammy’s; so stay tuned!!!)

-I saw many live concerts, namely my favorite band ever (The Cat Empire) for the 1st time in the last 19 years!

-I saw one Broadway show and one comedy show. It would be great to improve these numbers in the new year!

-I reconnected with Tango dancing

-I met two new family members: the wee Julia & Keira

-I went to Las Vegas for the first time.

-I wrote & recorded a podcast for the BBC. Guess what it was about?! If you haven’t already, check it out HERE.

-I read many great books; my favorite being the final volume of Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy, which left me with such a fondness for these brilliantly written characters that it was hard to leave them behind! It’s so inspiring when an author actually makes you want to begin this dream project of a lifetime… 2025 might be the beginning of this journey; who knows?!

This year, I vow to reconnect with sharing my passion for health & fitness, continue growing my business, and spend many beautiful & precious moments with the people I love.

I’m also hoping to truly find my life purpose, strive to accomplish a few other things I mentioned above, and continue focusing on positivity & love… There might be some challenges ahead so better doubling down on these 2! I would love to hear what you are hoping for in 2025?! 

As always, thanks so much for your continued support. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you a very healthy New Year!