Suncatcher Rainbow Decals at The Little Mountain Shop Holiday Pop-Up - The Polygon Gallery

The Suncatcher Rainbow Decals are a part of The Little Mountain Shop Holiday Pop-Up inside North Vancouver's The Polygon Gallery! I am bouncing with joy because The Little Mountain Shop selects which brands to include, so it is an honour to have been asked to be a part of the Holiday Shop. The Little Mountain Shop Holiday Pop-Up has an all-all Canadian lineup of mostly local, women-led, BIPOC makers and creatives which includes me!

The Suncatcher Rainbow Decals look pretty alongside Vancouver's most coveted lifestyle brands like East 29th (phenomenal facial serum!), Flax Home, Mumgry, Zimt Chocolates, and Homecoming Candles. Many of the brands are Vancouver-based, female-owned and BIPOC. 

Safe Sweat is Revolutionizing the Gym Game

Over the past decade, workout facilities have been seeing significant revitalizations with spin rooms, boxing bags and even treadmill group classes. Long gone are the days of the big warehouse-like spaces filled with subpar workout equipment. Safe Sweat is redefining what a gym facility should look like with its "Fitsuites."

The 2,700 square foot space has been divided into 8 pods dubbed "FITsuites," which are outfitted with what I affectionately call the Rolls Royce of gym equipment. Each pod is equipped with cardio, squat rack, multi-functional bench, dumbbells, kettlebells, focus & recovery devices, fitness accessories and a massive TV fully stocked with streaming, music and workouts. 

No detail was missed by co-owners Emre Ozgur and Andrea Kloegman in designing the FITsuites. Together, they have 50 years of experience in the fitness industry. 

McDonald's Boo Buckets 2022 Complete Collection

The internet has been going mad for the McDonal's Boo Buckets and it was not until I was gifted the McBoo for my birthday did I suddenly develop the urge to acquire all three and complete my collection! The Boo Buckets have been released around Halloween on a number of occasions, with 1986 being their debut year. 

After many years of reiterations, some great, others downright awful, the Boo Buckets have officially returned in 2022 since their last release in 2016! Maybe McDonalds needed the 6 year break because they have completely revamped the buckets and drawn inspiration from the amazing designs from the 80s and early 90s before everything became commercialized and cringe. 

Capilano Suspension Canyon Frights

 

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has been taken over by skeletons for their annual Canyon Frights! The iconic bridge was looking extra scary in the morning fog. On either side of the bridge, there are loads of pumpkins and Halloween decorations. 

I happened to have picked the morning of Vancouver's first fall rain and wind storm, so I was up against the elements too. Not one to let the rain deter me, I pressed on and made the most of my time at Capilano Suspension Bridge. I always go to the park's opening because I get to have the bridge all to myself. There is no other way to do it!

Michelin Guide Vancouver Restaurants Announced

Kissa Tanto - 1 Michelin Star

After months of careful delegation by a team of anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors, eight Vancouver restaurants have been awarded 1 Michelin Star each. In addition to the eight Michelin Stars, 12 restaurants were given the Bib Gourmand and a list of recommended restaurants in Vancouver was also released. Really is about time that Michelin Guide came to Canada, so it is a big deal that Vancouver has received its very first ever Michelin Stars. 

A few of my predictions matched Michelin Guide, so you could say I am pretty much now qualified to join the elite individuals tasked with selecting which restaurant deserves a Michelin star. My personal favourite is Kissa Tanto which is now officially a 1 Michelin Star restaurant! If The Four Seasons Vancouver had not closed, I strongly believe The Yew would have been a strong contender for a Michelin Star. 

Pumpkins after Dark Burnaby Walk Through Experience

Pumpkins After Dark is new to Vancouver, so I was unsure what to expect. I have always appreciated the talent and creativity of professional pumpkin carvers, but Pumpkins After Dark took it a step further by creating massive lifesize displays out of pumpkins. I ended up spending two hours there and it is well worth the price for those looking for outdoor Halloween activities. 

You enter from Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, but the majority of what is to come is hidden from sight in the adjoining forest. I am not one to buy event merchandise, but I could not help myself when I saw the light accessory tent. The light-up Jack-O-Lantern necklace was $10 and in my opinion my impulse purchase was well worth the price! Little did I know I was about to get my mind blown by the lit up real carved pumpkins. 

Birthday Wishlist Fall 2022

October is my birthday month and with the big day a few weeks away, I have been thinking what would I want as a birthday present? With each passing year, there is less and less that I want as I already have so much, but I am not about to turn down a birthday present!

I want cake! A chocolate chiffon cake enveloped in roasted strawberry Swiss meringue buttercream from The Federal Store. For candles, the long skinny Meri Meri ones. A wonderful flower arrangement from Garden Party Flowers in peachy pink and white tones. Hopefully, they have my favourite avalanche white roses, wax flowers, lisianthus, and dahlias! Finally, I want to share blow out the candles and share my birthday cake with my wonderful friends. 

Cake, flowers and friends are what I want every year as a present and truth be told I am happy with just that! Now if people insist on getting me something more for my birthday, there are a couple of things I would be thrilled to receive. 

Do NOT get me a Gift Card

I hate gift cards because I am a gift card hoarder. I have amassed a diverse collection of gift cards from so many stores and restaurants, some probably go back several years. I do not know what is wrong with me and why I cannot bring myself to use them.