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. 

Pumpkin Carving Inspiration from 2021 Designs

I am excited to carve the pumpkins, but I am holding off until closer to Hallowe'en as it is abnormally warm in Vancouver. I do not want my beautiful creations to turn soft and mouldy prematurely before the big night. 

I found some pictures of the pumpkins I carved last year. I also stumbled across pictures from Krause Berry Farms. They had a professional pumpkin carver working on site. The pumpkins he carved were expressive and I loved how he used fun shaped gourds and ears of corn for the noses! I also love when they use the stem of the pumpkin for the nose too! The carvers use a variety of tools like graters, wood and clay carving tools, and massive knives.

Ned Fulmer Fired from The Try Guys for Cheating is October's Biggest Internet Scandal

Blogtober feels incomplete if I did not address the most shocking scandal on the internet. The Try Guys have fired Ned Fulmer from the company because he and Alexandria Herring from The Food Babies, could not keep their hands off of one another. The internet has been left bewildered and confused because Ned Fulmer was the "My Wife" guy!

The internet scandal has caught the attention of major news outlets like CNN and even A-list celebrities like Seth Rogen who tweeted "what is a Try Guy?" 

Most millennials my age are familiar with the Try Guys and have watched the group get into hilarious situations for years! I even went to the Try Guys live show back in October 2019! The Try Guys were comprised of four individuals: Keith Habersberger, Zach Kornfeld, Eugene Lee Yang and Ned Fulmer. The Try Guys have always been wholesome and the last people to ever find themselves at the center of a scandal. 

They made their debut on Youtube back in 2014 under Buzzfeed and made videos of them trying random activities as a group which often resulted in comical outcomes. In 2019, the four of them left Buzzfeed and together formed their independent production company, 2nd Try LLC. 

Laity Pumpkin Patch Maple Ridge has a Pumpkin Cannon

This year I challenged myself to go beyond my favourites and visit new pumpkin patches in the Lower Mainland. Laity Pumpkin Patch is in the mountains of Maple Ridge and is so massive that they have two farms across the street from one another - North and South! I went to Laity Pumpkin Patch South. 

The primary reason I made the drive out to Maple Ridge was to see Laity's Pumpkin Cannon in action. The massive air compressor launches a fresh pumpkin at a stacked pyramid of blue barrels. Watching a pumpkin being launched at high velocity and its guts exploding on impact was awesome. Laity Pumpkin Canon launches every hour and everyone near and far on the property hurries over to watch the pumpkin go boom. 

The Eastside Flea: Vancouver's Hipster Community Market

The Eastside Flea is a great community market on the edge of Vancouver's Chinatown. Being my first time visiting, I did not know what to expect. The space was buzzing with energy and laughter because everyone was having a fabulous time. The Eastside Flea has over 40+ vendors, many being vintage and antique sellers. Entry into the market is $4 a person and also gains you access to the cocktail bar. 

The crowd at The Eastside Flea definitely draws a huge hipster crowd with its welcoming and carefree atmosphere. A couple of food trucks keep the masses fed and hydrated. There are brightly painted picnic benches and Muskoka chairs to hang out on. The weather was spectacular on Sunday, so everyone was soaking up the warm fall sunshine. Crack On, Ay! Mamacita, Aperitivo and Disco Biscuits were on site on Sunday and it is constantly changing. 

Family Style Italian at Savio Volpe

I cannot count the number of times I have dined at Savio Volpe and there might already be a blogpost on one of my many pasta-filled dinners there! The menu is continuously updated to incorporate fresh and seasonal ingredients. 

My favourite "Per La Tavola" aka For The Table is Savio Volpe's buttery Garlic Knots which come hot from the oven dusted in pecorino romano and black pepper. Always add the hot marinara sauce! These remind me of my time in Los Angeles when I dined at C&O Trattoria which not only serves platters of garlic rolls to all guests but also has singing waiters! 

Scarecrow Fest at Art's Nursery

The Fraser Valley is filled with pumpkin patches and it is about time someone introduced something new to the Hallowe'en festivities. Art's Nursery has done just that with its Scarecrow Fest! The best part, the Scarecrow Fest is completely FREE at Art's Nursery. Let me reiterate, Scarecrow Fest is FREE and is a wonderful activity for young families and adults. 

The flower and plant nursery is spread out over a massive plot of land and you can tell a great deal of love and care has gone into setting up the property. There are beautiful garden sculptures, fountains, various flowers, fruit trees and basically every plant you could want. For the month of October, scarecrows in every inch of the nursery. These scarecrows are recognizable Hollywood and television characters we have grown up watching and loving particularly from Hallowe'en movies.

Oktober Fest at Braidwood Tavern - Four Seasons Whistler Resort

 

When in Whistler, you dine at the Braidwood Tavern the restaurant situated inside the Four Seasons Whistler Resort! Now until October 16th is the Oktober Fest menu and it is everything German beer, meat and potatoes. The team at Bradwood Tavern makes everything from scratch in-house with a modern take. 

To start we did the Charcuterie Board, but I would argue it is more of a tower. A three-tiered wooden tower arrived laden with dry cured meats, salami, cold cuts and various accompaniments. Two large Bavarian pretzels still warm from the oven topped the tower. There were two types of grainy mustard to enjoy the pretzels with. To balance the salt from the meats, there were pearl onions, caperberries and those tiny little pickles I love called cornichons. 

Train Wreck Hike Whistler

South of Whistler adjacent to the 2010 Olympic Athlete's Village is the unconventional trail - Train Wreck. The short trail takes you directly to the resting place of 7 train cars in the 1956 train derailment and crash. 

The trail is easy to access from the Sea to Sky Highway and is worth the stop when heading to or from Whistler. It is a casual 15-minute stroll to the suspension bridge which helps you traverse the roaring Cheakakmus River to the brightly painted box cars. Cheakakmus River is aggressive white water crashing up against the stones, so you do not want to fall in. 

Fairmont Banff Springs Breakfast at the Vermillion Room

No vacation is complete without a fancy brunch and when in Banff, you head to the Vermillion Room Bar & Brasserie inside the Fairmont Banff Springs - I will be discussing the hotel property in detail in a different blog post! I have stunning pictures of the property to share, but the pictures I took during breakfast are horrid and I regret not being able to retake them. 

The Vermillion Room is almost like a well-kept secret as it is located at the back of the hotel on the second floor. Guests not staying with the Fairmont Banff Springs tend to not venture past the grand entrance, but I encourage you to head up the massive stairwell and across the second floor as you will be rewarded by the expansive dining hall of the Vermillion Room. Though the Vermillion Room itself is impressive, the unobstructed view of the famed Canadian Rockies Mountainscape is the real reason to brunch here. 

The Final Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Harry Potter in Concert

The era of Harry Potter at the Orpheum Theatre has come to an end with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) wrapping up their final shows of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I think most 90s kids would agree that Harry Potter was our childhood. We grew up with the books and the movie franchise so having the opportunity to relive the magic was a magical treat. 

The movie is the darkest of the franchise, opening with the burial of Dobbie the free elf and the wizarding world plunging further into despair as the dark lord continues instill terror into the magical community. The Orpheum Theatre was sold-out, packed to the ceiling with excited Potter Heads. I have great admiration for the work and effort that goes into dressing up as your favourite character. Since it was the final movie, I thought I would channel my inner Hermione Granger by wearing my official Harry Potter Gryffindor Sweater from Universal Hollywood. 

Five Acres Flower Farm Workshops

 

The Fraser Valley is home to many farms, one of which is a small-scale family-run flower farm. The micro-farm is tucked behind Amanda McAllister's family home and every summer, she invites flower enthusiasts to join her for flower workshops. This is my second year attending the Flower Experience at Five Acres Farm and it is safe to say that this is now an annual end-of-summer/fall tradition for me. 

The farm specializes in dahlia varieties. There are rows and rows of dahlias, from small round heads to large dinner plate varieties. So many shades of pinks and oranges! Aside from dahlias, Amanda grows other cut flowers too like cosmos, zinnias, lisianthus, sweet peas, and snapdragons. She is currently working on establishing a field of peonies. I did not know it can take nearly three years for a peony plant to establish its roots which are vital for healthy large peony blooms. Next year might finally be the year that the peonies will be ready! 

Blogtober 2022

October is my favourite month. Granted I am biased considering I am an October baby, but you cannot deny October is the epitome of fall. The pumpkin patches are open, there is pumpkin spice everything and the weather is perfect for cozy oversized knits. The leaves are changing colour, so everything is warm shades of orange, reds and yellows. 

On numerous occasions I have challenged myself to do a month of blogposts and every time that I say I will, I fail spectacularly. Blogging is tough! Carving out time to write write interesting blogposts and editing pictures is not easy. I need to be in a certain headspace to write, so I cannot be exhausted from work or drained from the pain of a migraine. 

Delivery Robots at Pizza Hut

Robson Street is playing host to Pizza Hut's newest employees, a pair of delivery robots! I set out to track down the duo because the delivery robot pilot program is only here until Friday, September 30th. The robots are being trialled at 1725 Robson Street and are in partnership with Serve Robotics, the maker of the little 4-wheeled machine. 

I wanted to track down the robots and catch them in action, but I had no plan on how to do it. Walking down Robson Street towards Pizza Hut, I saw the robots parked outside. I think they resemble Wall-E from Pixar with their box frame and big round white eyes. Unlike Wall-E, these delivery robots do not make cute sounds and talk or collect little nick-nacks. 

Meet Me In Gastown + Dinner at Monarca

Vancouver does not have much in the way of evening fun, in fact, some would argue Vancouver is completely devoid of nightlife. It is not every day a fun community event is organized and when I heard it was in Gastown, I knew I needed to attend. 

With its bricked walkways and roads, heritage buildings and gorgeous cast iron lamp posts, Gastown is simply magical in the evenings. Meet Me In Gastown took place on Thursday, August 25th and was a community celebration featuring the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra + Light Show in collaboration with Gastown Thursday Nights. The festivities took place at the corner of Water Street and Alexander Street and the streets were alive with people. 

Honestly, nothing beats dining outdoors on a warm summer's evening. Monarca Cocina Mexicana set up picnic benches in the courtyard and served a special Meet Me In Gastown Menu. Other restaurants in the area had similar setups. This was my first time dining at Monarca. The menu is upscale Mexican and the interior of the restaurant is edgy yet still chic.

PNE 2022 Fair Food Tour from Wacky to Healthy

 

The PNE is well underway for its 112th year, and with it comes exciting new foods to try. Fair food vendors are always trying to come up with the wildest creations. I am a sucker for traditional fair foods. Each year I look forward to cinnamon sugar-dusted mini doughnuts and the massive freshly squeezed lemonades. 

My favourite has to be Acai Dude. The Acai High smoothie bowl was refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day. A blend of acai, mixed berries, banana and coconut milk were topped with fresh fruit, peanut butter drizzle and florals. I guess I have become one of those boring healthy people, but I swear, fresh fruits taste so much better and do not leave me feeling heavy like fried food does. 

Brunch at Catch 122 Gastown

Vancouver's food scene is constantly evolving with the addition of new restaurants and closures of familiar favourites. With no shortage of exciting new menus to try, it can be tough to circle back to the restaurants I have dined at. It has been years since I have had a meal at Catch 122, so I am glad that I stumbled back into this Gastown brunch favourite. 

There was already a lengthy waitlist for brunch that morning at Catch 122, but when it comes to good food, I never mind the wait. Considering the fickle food scene in Vancouver, the fact Catch 122 has kept itself relevant for nearly a decade - they opened in 2012 - is commendable and only further speaks to how tasty their food is. 

Rainbow Suncatcher Decal Pop-Up a Success

My first Pop-Up shop for the Rainbow Suncatcher Decals was a massive success! Thank you to everyone who came by, said hi and supported my little venture. When I first started Rainbow Suncatcher Decals, I did not have plans to sell directly to consumers, but this pop-up shop was so much fun that I am considering doing another pop-up or market. 

Now the day itself was overcast with sporadic spurts of rain. Not ideal weather considering I was set up outdoors along the sidewalk. Not to mention the Rainbow Suncatcher Decals NEED sunshine to create the beautiful rainbow rays! 

I cannot talk about the Pop-Up shop without mentioning Habit Trading Co. which hosted me for the day. Christa, the owner brought amazing energy and a positive vibe. Christa helped me set up and decorate and was my all-around personal Hype Women for the entire day. Each time I made a sale, Christa would cheer me on, and give me advice throughout the day. Christa is no stranger to the world of retail, so I tried to soak up as much information as I could from her. 

My favourite part about doing the Pop-Up shop was getting to interact with everyone. Making those in-person connections with the community is something I deeply value. 

What I would do differently for future Pop-Ups?

• TABLE CLOTH - I borrowed one for the day from Habit Trading Co., but I should bring one. 
• SIGNS - Information on the Suncatcher Decals and pricing etc
• PICTURES - Of the rainbow ray effects that the Suncatcher Decals produce
• SUITCASE - save me multiple trips to the car by putting everything into a suitcase
• CHANGE - I primarily use cards for payments, so I did not even anticipate others using cash and would need change

I thought it would be fun to make treats to share with guests, so I landed on the idea of doing rainbow rice cereal treats. I pictured them to be cute, but instead, they turned into a mint green colour and bright coral colour which I then sprinkled with rainbow nonpareils. I affectionately dubbed them my zombie squares and they tasted delicious! 

It was interesting to see which designs shoppers gravitated towards. The top two designs were hands down the Female Floral Vase and the Monstera Planter. Not surprised since Vancouverites have a not-so-secret obsession with plants. The two rainbow designs appealed to the younger crowd who also enjoyed the zombie squares. 

BYES

Khatsilano Returns After a 2 Year Hiatus for its 10 Year Anniversary

Khatsilano has returned and for its 10-year anniversary, the iconic street party was bigger than ever. Every summer I look forward to a couple of events: Canada Day, Celebration of Lights and Khatsilano! The massive street party kicked off at 11 AM and the festivities did not end until late into the evening. Comfortable walking shoes are a must because it takes place between Burrard Street and McDonald Street along West 4th. 

Khatsilano did not disappoint with its multiple performance stages, activity areas, food truck block and phenomenal sales. We all know the shopping on West 4th is superb and every year for Khatsilano, the shops offer amazing deals for that day only. My favourite shop, Hills Dry Goods had fabulous sales and an additional 20% off EVERYTHING in store! I took advantage of the sale and bought myself an organic cotton sweater in a gorgeous pink. I do regret missing the Ganni crewneck on sale for $40, but you cannot get them all. Most of the stores set up little sale tents outside. I found a great sample sale piece from Anian for nearly 70% for my friend. Cannot wait to see him rock it during the winter. Other notable deals include Clearly Contacts, Old Faithful Shop and Ming Woo. 

The Frenchsicle - French's Ketchup-Flavoured Popsicle

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of French is mustard. Not ketchup and definitely not ketchup-flavoured popsicles, but that is precisely what happened mid-morning in downtown Vancouver on June 22, 2022! 

Just outside the Holt Renfrew was a cute little ice cream cart in French's iconic mustard yellow colour. Ketchup-flavoured popsicles aka the Frenchsicle were passed out to those who were brave enough to give it a try. Ketchup is a universally beloved condiment, but reimagining it as a frozen treat is a bold move on French's part! 

What does a Ketchup Popsicle taste like?

Melanie Auld Permanent Bracelet Welding

Dainty jewelry is all the rage right now and I am here for it! Melanie Auld is a Vancouver-based jewelry boutique that has steadily garnered popularity for its charms and layered pieces. In addition to their ready-to-wear jewelry, Melanie Auld has added a jewelry experience to both their Vancouver and Toronto locations and I got to experience it firsthand!

When I heard Welding being offered at Melanie Auld, I immediately headed down to their South Granville location. "Permanent" bracelets are fairly new to Vancouver but have been around for a couple of years in cities like New York and LA. My guess is that the Pandemic slowed down a lot of plans for businesses, but nonetheless, Vancouver finally has the jewelry experience at the Melanie Auld boutique.  

What is WELDING?

Itsumo Brings Japanese Lifestyle to Vancouver

Japanse crafted goods bring so much joy to my life, so after discovering Itsumo, a Japanese Lifestyle store in Vancouver, I needed to visit immediately. The shop curates a collection of pieces crafted by master artisans in Japan. Itsumo focuses on natural intentional pieces that are made to last. 

Itsumo is tucked off of Main Street along East 6th, so it can be easy to miss. But if you have ever been to the Mount Pleasant location of Cartem's then Itsumo is just a few paces away. The shop focuses on Japanese specialty items as well as carries an impressive selection of incense which is traditionally used in temples and at home. You can also find coconut ash at Itsumo which is the traditional medium used to hold burning incense sticks.

Birdie a Non-Violent Personal Safety Device

Being a petite female living in a big city, there are times that I feel unsafe. I am an avid transit user, both early morning and late nights and there have been instances where I have felt uncomfortable. I have finally picked up a personal protective device, the Birdie and I am excited to share it with you!

In Canada, there are laws prohibiting possession or use of pepper sprays or mace for personal protection. Truth be told, I do not want to have something like mace on my keychain because imagine accidentally spraying it into your own or friend's eyes. I do not want to be the idiot in the ER with inflamed painful mucus membranes and eyes because I sprayed myself with pepper spray. 

Happy Easter from my Baby Chicks

Happy Easter Everyone! It is hard to believe that I became the proud mother of three beautiful chicks two month ago! Some questions that keeps coming up are "Do you still have them" " How big are they now" "Are you going to eat them"

Lets make one thing clear - I am NOT going to eat my chickens! They were more so of a pet. Would you eat your dog? Probably not! 

After hatching, the chicks were with me for a week after which they all returned to the farm to rejoin their broods. I also returned all the hatching equipment back to the company.

I do not know how big they are now, but on the day I returned the chicks to the farm, they had already grown 30% more. All three of them had gained strength in their flight feathers and were able to jump off of things. The black one actually flew up onto my knee when I was sitting on the floor! Another day or two, they would have been able to fly and jump out of the bin I was keeping them in! So it was definitely time for them to return to the farm because I was not about to have three chicks free-ranging in my bedroom and crapping every where.

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters Lonsdale is OPEN

49th Parallel Coffee Roasters has officially opened their 5th location across the Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver! The Lonsdale location is a short walk from the Lonsdale Quay and the Seabus dock making it an accessible cafe to meet up with friends. Warm sunshine fills the space courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows which are also great for people watching - or puppy watching if you are me!

I have been a longtime fan of 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters' sub-brand, Lucky's Doughnuts. Since the opening of their very first Main Street location in 2012, I have been obsessed with their soft pillowy yeast-risen doughnuts. No other doughnut has come close to the deliciousness of Lucky's. 

Hatch Day! Say Hello to my baby chicks!

I woke to peeping on Friday March 11 morning which was a massive surprise since Hatch Day was actually the next day. In total, I got three cute little chicks from six eggs. 1 egg was a dud, 1 egg I had dropped and 1 egg failed in its hatch. 

Two chicks had hatched overnight. The larger black coloured one and a teeny tiny little yellow chick. Both were still covered in fluid from the egg, so their feathers were matted down. For the first few hours, they would peep for a little bit and fall asleep as I am sure the hatching was exhausting. Near the end of the day, both were lively and full of energy. I had stepped out of the house in the evening and when I returned, the duo had turned into a trio with the addition of another tiny yellow chick. 

As much as I wanted to remove the chicks from the incubator, I was told to leave the chicks for 24 hours. The warmth and humidity help their feathers dry off and become fluffy but also give them time to gain some more strength in their little legs. 

The Batman: Dark, Gritty and Intriguing

The Batman has hit theaters and all everyon can talk about is Robert Pattinson as the titular character. Alongside Pattinson is the sensational Zoe Kravitz as Catwomen. The duo are quite the sexy matchup on screen and share a couple of electrified suggestive moments, but only share a single kiss throughout the entire 2 hour 56 minute run time. Oh yes, it is a LONG movie. We need to bring back Intermissions because I needed a mid movie stretch and bathroom break. 

There has been nothing but praises for The Batman, but for me, it is still no match for Christopher Nolan's Dark Night Trilogy. But, it is still better than the disaster that was Ben Affleck's horrendous DC universe Batman. The Batman is the darkest, grittiest live action movie to date. Practically every scene was dark night-time with heavy rainfall. All the tones were black, grey or neutrals making everything feel scary and creepy. To keep with the moody tone of the movie, Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne was made out to be emo. I could not take him seriously with his messy long bangs and smeared black eye makeup. Gave me major Spiderman 3 Tobey Maguire emo without the weird ridiculous pelvic air thrusts. 

Final Egg Candling Disaster before Incubator Lockdown

It is Day 18 aka Lockdown day! This is the last time I get to candle the eggs to check for development before putting the incubator into lockdown, which means I will not be allowed to open the incubator until the eggs hatch. Opening the incubator during lockdown IS detrimental to the eggs as it would cause a drop in temperature and humidity. Also in preperation for lockdown you have to add additional water to sustain the higher humidity over the course of the next four days. 

Since we are close to hatch day, the chicks have grown significantly therefore occupying a larger part of the egg. It also means candling is trickier as the developing chick body blocks the light from passing through making the egg just look dark. The smaller eggs were still the easier of the two sizes to candle. I could identify blood vessels, but it was nearly impossible to see anything in the large eggs. 

Dessert Club takes us to Japan - India for Flight 3

Will Travel for Food Flight 3: Japan-India just took place and it was another big win for the Dessert Club. With Grapes & Soda playing as host, everyone took their seats and eagerly awaited their trays of food. This time around, the menu was vegan/vegetarian focused. Just like a real flight, each patron could pre-pick either the Japanese Tray or the Indian meal tray. I went with the Indian meal while my dining companions opted for the Japanese trays. 

Grapes & Soda has been on my list of places to visit for years, but just never got around to it. The majority of the space is dedicated to the cocktail bar, so it was only fitting that there would be special drinks for the evening. Mixed by Kaname Yasui, there was the Black Sancho Gimlet, a Roasted Banana Coconut Lassi and an Apple Oolong Soda. Of the three, the Apple Oolong Soda was the cocktail for me as I love fizzy sodas and it was on the sweeter side. 

Maison Kitsune Cafe was not my Parisienne Dream

Cafe Kitsune is the newest addition to Vancouver's coffee scene. The allure of a Parisienne-inspired cafe where I could live my best "Emily in Paris" life was just too great to miss out on. Quietly opening its doors to Vancouverites along Water Street in Gastown, Cafe Kitsune offers classic caffeinated beverages and a small selection of eats. 

The lattes were served at our table in beautiful porcelain cups on a matching saucer. I do not think I have ever seen porcelain dishware at a casual eatery before, but I loved it and felt posh sipping out of the pearlescent cups. I had a classic matcha latte while my friend joining me opted for a plain latte. We paired our hot beverages with some food off of their brunch menu. The food is very rich, so go when you are hungry!

Candling Eggs in Anticipation of Chicken Hatching

Hatch day is fast approaching with Saturday, March 12th being just under a week away. I have my fingers crossed that I will have a brood of cute little hatchlings! In anticipation of the chick hatching, I have been checking the egg development by candling them. 

I thought candling would be simple. Place egg on light and observe the embryo development. Maybe I am doing it wrong, maybe I have bad eyes (fun fact: I have terrible eyesight - 6.25) or the eggs are not fertilized. It is tricky to get a glimpse into the eggs. Darker shells reduce the amount of light that shines through. It also does not help that I have no idea what I am looking for when candling. 

Vallea Lumina Winter Whistler Night Walk

How I have gone this long without checking out Vallea Lumina is beyond me because I love outdoor attractions! Vallea Lumina is nestled within BC's glorious old-growth forests atop Cougar Mountain, a quick 10-minute drive north of Whistler Village. The unique outdoor multimedia excursion is part of The Adventure Group's numerous outdoor offerings in Whistler. Coincidently, Superfly Ziplines is also based out of the same location, so it was already a familiar site for me! 

I do not want to spoil Vallea Lumina for those that have yet to visit, so I am going to limit the amount of details I share. If I had to describe Vallea Lumina in one sentence, it would be:

Hatching Chickens at Home - Initial Set-Up

I have always been an eccentric individual, but hatching chicks officially cements my title as the quirky weirdo in the friend group! I strongly believe that as humans, we all have our own path in life. We come across certain moments in life that can be interpreted as "signs" and on Thursday late night, I had just that happen to me. 

On my drive home I was listening to the radio and that is when I heard the advertisement for chick hatching experiences. The moment I was in front of my computer, I researched the company. For $155 plus tax, I would receive all necessary equipment to hatch fertile eggs. I am not even exaggerating when I say that within minutes I had entered my payment information and submitted my order. The next pick-up window was two days away on Saturday and it just so happened to be at the Ikea adjacent to my house. 

Flight 2 Dessert Club x Potluck Hawker's Eatery

My friends have been raving about Potluck Hawker's Eatery and it was about time I tried it for myself. Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Sam Shem of The Dessert Club, is collaborating with various chefs and restaurants across Metro Vancouver for his Will Travel for Food series. Flight 2 takes us to Thailand and the Philippines! The Flight 2 collaboration between The Dessert Club and Chefs Justin Cheung and Raymond Reyes of Potluck Hawker's Eatery was a 2-day event. 

Since it was a limited event, tickets had to be purchased in advance. It was $55 per person which included a snack, beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), main and dessert. 

• House-made bar snacks

• Choice of beverage (alcoholic and non alcoholic options available)

• Choice of main: Khao Soi Gai (Chiang Mai style curry chicken noodles) or Sisig Sizzle Rice (Filipino minced pig head cast iron rice plate)

• Choice of dessert: Thai Tea Ice cream cake, Halo Halo or Turon with Chocolate Pot de Crème

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2022 is Pronounced 2020 Too?

Pandemic year number 2 has come to an end and we have officially entered 2022! For me, 2021 was still a great year. I know for many it was financially and medically challenging, but I was lucky to have had some wonderful experiences. 

In 2021:

• Purchased my very first home! A beautiful 2 bedroom 2.5 bathroom Townhouse!
• Made amazing new friends 
• Started a Fiverr business
• Began taking care of my skin with monthly facials
• Took a spontaneous trip to Calgary to Banff to Golden B.C. and back
• Celebrated my 28th birthday with the Four Seasons Whistler team
• Accepted a permanent work position
• Shopped locally from independent boutiques

As for 2022, I do not know what it has in store for me. People are already labelling it to be a repeat of 2020 because if you say it out loud, it sounds a lot like "2020 Too." I for one want to stay positive. 

Happy New Year and Cheers to 2022!

BYES