While completing a History of Art Specialist at University of Toronto, I began WithLoveGabrielle.com also known as WLG. On June 12 of 2008, I wrote my first post on Chanel while “studying” for a Medieval Art exam and that is where the name was coined. A homage to Chanel’s first name, Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel, whose aesthetic and spirit has always inspired me.

My love for the visual extended beyond academics and into musings of everyday life. Capturing moments that inspired, experiences that taught, outfits that brought confidence and adventures that made memories.

WLG has grown into more than the passion project that it began as—it is my life story, unfolding over thousands of articles. It has shaped me, forced me to make choices I never thought I would. What’s more, it is a constant in my life, which has, at times, felt temporary. Like a diary.

In my pursuit of professional excellence, and with the support of an angel investor, I launched a social media agency, TryMus Group. In 2019, I also joined Seneca College as a Digital Marketing Professor. As I continue to follow my passions and dreams, I’d like to take you along for the ride.

Let’s share our journeys to creating a life that makes us excited to wake up in the morning. This is for you, who look up at the stars and dream; then wake up in the morning and turn those dreams into a reality.

Far from a clear cut path, my career’s been cobbled together through lessons and reflections, which all began in 2016. After graduating from Polimoda, I began working at a couture house in Paris—my dream! Or, so I thought. A month into the job, burnt out and disconnected from myself, I realized that, though I loved the artistry of the fashion world, the industry was not for me.

Lost and unsure how to proceed, I found myself guided by a mentor back to my roots. The summer of 2017, I admitted my dream of writing, and began freelancing for travel blogs and magazines.

When journalism grew stale, I pushed myself to dig deeper and dream bigger, beginning my first novel, The Play House, in 2018. The two years it took to write were the most mentally challenging, yet rewarding. I’d finally found it—my passion.

In this same bracket of time, I pivoted my freelance career. To preserve writing energy, I now write for outlets less. However, I offer more by way of creative services that tap into complimentary areas of expertise, like editing and content creation.

As I said, this has been far from a straight path, but I’m grateful for the twists and turns. They foster constant learning, plus the meeting of and collaborating with new people (like Marta!) regularly, too. In other words, they breed growth, which feels to me like one of the main purposes of life.

P.S. While I would never endorse a business that I do not personally support, it is important that both collaborative businesses and readers alike understand our practices and views as a company. These are our Disclosure & Transparency Guidelines.