Takeoff

"In the midst of our lives, we must find the magic that makes our souls soar" - unknown

I fly to Melbourne, Australia this evening. Approximately 20 hours of travel time. My carry-on bag is stuffed with the essentials (fruit, granola, tea, flax seed capsules, bunny) and entertainment (computer, camera, books, movies, health magazines), bound to keep me comfortable and occupied for the long journey ahead. Here's hoping anyway. If all fails I'll pace the ailes and do some yoga stretches...realistically I will do that anyway.

My nerves are tinging and mind is racing...Australia is finally within reach. I'm almost there and the sun is getting hotter.

The magic of travel is that you leave your home secure in your own knowledge and identity, but as you travel, the world in all its richness intervenes. You meet people ou could not invent; you see scenes you could not imagine. Your own world, which was so large as to consume your whole life, becomes smaller and smaller until it is only one tiny dot in space and time. You return a different person. - Kent Nurburn, from Simple Truths

I've prepared all I can, by packing 'no jet lag' remedies and squeezing my friends and family tight, for one last bear hug. All I can do now is relax and takeoff with an open mind and open heart. The rest will fall into place.

I'll be taking bits and pieces of my loved ones with me, to Australia. I can't wait to share my journey with  them, one photo story at a time.

I'll miss my family at the gym, Pure + Simple, and friends at the Naturopathic Clinic. I'll miss my brother, best friends, and favourite vegan restaurants. I'll miss my Dad and Mom too. But I know, in my heart, that our love will stretch far and wide, across all bodies of water. Effortless ocean-sized love.

Wish me luck and I'll see you when I arrive, down under.

Wanderlust, the urge for adventure, and the desire to know what is over the next hill are like echoes in the backs of our minds that speak of speaks not quite heard and places not quite seen. You should listen to these echoes. Take the chances and follow the voices that call you to distant places. Live, if only for a short time, the life of a traveller. It is a life you will always cherish and never forget. - Kent Nurburn



XOXO

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I love this shot

 

Mickey Mouse pancakes (spelt flour with walnuts and piped in peanut butter)

My Mom and I were the flippers

Stockings are the best part ;)

We tore through our stockings pretty quick :P

Up bright and early Christmas morning

After breakfast we walked to Starbucks, naturally

Fam jam and Alex dishing up for Christmas dinner

Alex & I by the Christmas tree

All done! :) I made a tasty spinach salad with pear and vegan mashed potatoes

Bro and I being goofy

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had safe and wonderful day with friends, family, and loved ones.

9 days

Well, all my Christmas presents are nestled under the tree and my suitcases (x2) are almost packed. My nerves are beginning to tingle and excitement bubbles bursting in my tummy. Nine days till Australia..and only five more days till Christmas. I ask myself, yet again, where does the time go?

This past weekend was full of love, happiness, and celebration! Alex flew home from Melbourne on Friday and the next day we hosted a big holiday party at my house. I baked all day Friday, which totaled approximately 7 hours, on my feet, in the kitchen. I made the mistake by not sitting down to enjoy a healthy lunch, and I probably didn't drink enough water. I almost tuckered myself out for the party. Now I know that a well balanced meal takes precedence over perfecting the icing of my vegan cupcake. Duh!

I cannot wait to share some of my delicious baking recipes with you! But first, some delicious banana bread and party photos ;)

I had 3 incredibly over-ripe bananas and instead of freezing them I happily concluded a) a yummy post-workout smoothie and b) banana bread

Blueberry Banana-nut Bread

• 2 large over-ripe bananas
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/3 cup organic apple sauce (I used unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup agave nectar 
• 2 cups whole wheat flour '
• 2 tbsp ground chia seeds (optional)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (I skipped the salt)
• 1 cup blueberries
• 3/4 cup organic raw walnuts (less or more to your preference)

Preheat your oven to 350. Spray or wipe a 9x5-inch loaf pan with vegan butter or oil (I used Earth Balance). In a large bowl, mash the bananas and add your lemon juice, applesauce, and agave. Stir well. In a separate bowl, combine your flour, ground chia seed, baking powder, soda, and salt (again, I nixed the salt). Add your dry ingredients to your wet and stir until well-combined. Fold in your blueberries and/or walnuts.

Spread the mixture evenly into your prepared pan and bake for approximately 50-60 minutes. Test your load by inserting a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, your banana-nut bread is done! Allow to cool before cutting and serving. Enjoy by the Christmas tree!

As the bread began to rise, my house smelled of toasted walnut and ripened banana pie. 

And now for the holiday party photos..in front of my Christmas tree, obviously :) 

Sean & I - There are no words for Sean.

He never fails to warm my heart and make me laugh.

I wore a gorgeous sequin top..very Christmasy :) 

Ingrid & I - Ingrid and I used to work together at Thornley Fallis.
She's a bright light <3

CJ & I - CJ and I have been friends since grade three!
We're great gym pals and even better friends. 

My party was a great success. Everyone left warm, happy, and full. It was a lot of work, but well worth every last cupcake and homemade truffle. Tis the season!

...9 days till Australia.

Holiday Party Pampering

Considering the fact that I'm not working right now, my days are packed with appointments, errands, socializing, and holiday party planning. As soon as I enjoy a day of rest, I'm once again out the door to shop or organize for either Christmas or my Australia departure, both of which are fast approaching. Even though I have much to write and share with you, I've unintentionally neglected my blog this past week.

However, I will have you know that my lack of blogging has over compensated for my abundance of pampering. Yes, that's right. Between suitcase packing and gift wrapping, I've been buffing my skin, oiling my scalp, and sculpting at the gym. Despite a few moments of sheer panic and oh-my-god I am moving to another country in less than two weeks, I remain looking refreshed and incredibly well rested. Good riddance.

To look shiny and new for the holidays, I thought I'd share my top five beautifying tips.

Top 5 beautifying tips for the holidays

1. Buff away dead skin: With the cold winds and dry air, exfoliation on a weekly basis is vital. I like to use an extra gentle exfoliant mask with jojoba beads or oats. My favourites include Naturopathica's oat face polish and Pure + Simple's sensitive skin exfoliant. To exfoliate your body, try dry bushing before you shower.
   
2. Steam to gleam: Kristen got me hooked on steaming before any big event, and the holidays are no exception! In the next two weeks, I have several parties, dinners, and family gatherings to both attend and host. Tis the season! Last week I treated myself to several nights of exfoliation, steaming, and hydrating masks. It's such an easy and relaxing at-home spa treatment, which yields great results.
   
   
3. Lather up the oil: To steal in moisture, consider a nourishing skin oil such as sesame, jojoba, or sweet almond. I like to use sesame oil this time of year as it's both warming and grounding.
   
   
4. Exercise: Just because you're slipping into holiday mode doesn't mean you should jeopardize your exercise routine Exercise is key to maintaining healthy digestion and circulation. Make exercise a priority and you'll feel stronger and more energized throughout this time of year.
   
   
5. Hydrate: According to Paul Pitchford, author of Healing with Whole Foods (a massive textbook that I cannot pry myself away from), insufficient water consumption causes toxicity of the body as well as constipation, tension, tightness, overeating, dryness, and kidney damage. The amount of water in your diet will significantly influence your long-term health. Consider investing in a Kleen Kanteen or BPA-free water bottle to help monitor your water intake. Strive to balance dehydrating foods, such as dried fruit and breads, and limit caffeinated beverages. Because I workout daily, I aim to drink 2 litres of water per day. Sometimes I'll add a slice of lemon, cucumber, or a couple onces of aloe vera juice to my water. 

The holidays should be fun and care-free, contrary to any last minute shopping or holiday baking malfunctions. Whatever your favourite beauty regime is, find the time to relax, indulge, and just be.

My little brother and I.
Looking, and feeling, fresh and rejuvenated. Note my headband..my hair was still a little oily :/ lol

Happy Holidays!

Baking Baby

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to bake. There is something about the mixing, measuring, and methodical rhythm of it all that really chills me out. Vegan baking especially fascinates me.  I like experimenting with different textures, natural sweeteners, and healthier flour options, such as quinoa and brown rice. My favourite thing about vegan baking is discovering different, and healthier, substitues for ingredients such as eggs, butter, milk, chocolate chips, and sugar. Yes, even sugar.

Soaked pecans and dates for a pie crust, carob chips over processed chocolate, or avocados for a raw key lime pie, the options are endless.

Thanks to a tight knit community of veggie and vegan bloggers, finding unique ideas and creative inspiration is easy. As I continue to mix and mash in the kitchen, I find myself using less of my measuring spoons and more of my free flow imagination. Practice will do that ;)

Since it was a chilly day here in Toronto (-5 and snowing) I decided to stay warm and bake, for the love of vegan baking.

Bursting Blueberry Bars
These bars are packed with antioxidants and cancer fighting compounds, such as Pterostilbene. I like these bars because they're gluten-free, low in sugar, and incredibly easy to make.

Ingredients

• 1 pint blueberries 
• 12-14 blackberries (optional)
• 1/4 cup coconut water OR apple juice
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbsp cornstarch OR brown rice flour mixed with water to form a smooth paste
• 3 cups oatmeal (not instant)
• 1-2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 6 ounces unsweetened organic applesauce
• 5-6 tbsp agave OR maple syrup
• 5 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp chia options, to thicken the blueberry mixture (optional)

Directions
Preheat your oven to 375. Lightly oil (literally, 1/2 tsp) an 8x8 baking dish and spread with your fingertips. In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, blackberries, agave, and coconut water (or apple juice). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it boils, stir in your vanilla and brown rice mixture (or cornstarch). Continue to stir until it thickens. I added chia seeds to help the thickening process.

*side note* Chia seeds are my secret baking weapon. Seriously, I sprinkle them here, there, and everywhere. Chia seeds originate from the mint family and are an excellent source of natural omega 3, fibre, calcium, and antioxidants.

Put about half your oatmeal into a blender and grind to a fine powder mixture. Pour your ground oats into a medium sized bowl and add the remaining oatmeal, cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix, mix, mix! Stir in the applesauce and water. You can even add a handful of hemp seeds for extra texture.

Spread half the batter into your prepared baking dish, smoothing well to cover the bottom. Spoon the berry filling over the batter, and cover with remaining batter.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Cool for another 30 minutes and cut into bars.

Delish.

Super healthy teeny-tiny cookie bites
These cookies are even better crumbled on top of a warm bowl of oatmeal. Easy-peasy, delicious and nutritious.

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic oats
• 1/3 cup raw almonds, ground (or almond meal)
• 1 large, very ripe, banana 
• 2-3 tbsp shredded coconut 
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1-2 tbsp hemp seeds
• 1 tbsp cacao nibs 
• 1 tbsp cinnamon 
• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1/2 tsp baking powder 

Directions

Pre-heat your oven to 350°. In a medium sized bowl, mix and mash your wet ingredients (banana, coconut oil and vanilla). Grind your raw almonds, with a food processor or magic bullet, until you have a flour consistency. Now in a smaller bowl, mix together all your dried ingredients. You know the drill...add your wet to dry. Ensure your banana is fully mashed and distributed evenly. Form into timbit size balls and slightly flatten with your finger tips. Bake for 13 minutes. 

Bite size health-cookies in the cookie jar ;) 

Happy baking!

Holiday Love

Despite a snowless ground here in Toronto, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. Everywhere I go, everyone seems to be toting shopping parcels, with a bright red Starbucks Christmas cup in hand. My neighbours even decorated their car with cute reindeer antlers. I dislike winter, but absolutely love the holidays. I'm so happy that my time off overlaps with the holidays. It feels amazing to wake up rested and refreshed. This morning I woke up early and read in bed for a solid two hours. I finally cracked open Eat Pray Love. Despite having seen the movie and knowing the books premise (I think the whole world has read this book) I'm really enjoying it. Gilbert has a strong voice, with a wonderful sense of humour.

I paused half way through the "Bali" chapter to make myself some breakfast and a warm tea. Because I am in holiday mode, and unemployed, I decided to take an extra five minutes to make a tea-ish-latte thingy.

Coco Chai Rooibos Steamer 
Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
• 1 tbsp coco chai roobios tea
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg 

Directions

Start by boiling your water, with a kettle as you normally would. In a small pot, boil your choice of milk and stir in both cinnamon and nutmeg. You can even add a touch of maple syrup or agave, if you like it extra sweet. Once your water is done boiling, poor about half over your tea. I used coco chai roobios loose leaf tea, from DavidsTEA, but you can easily use another type of chai loose leaf or bagged tea. Then add your milk mixture, with a dash of extra cinnamon on top. Enjoy!

Delicious and full of flavour.

Yesterday Nadine and I went to see the movie Tangled in 3D. The movie was at 2pm so we were practically the only ones in the theatre. Another blissful afternoon. We both forgot that Disney movies often include sing-a-long songs and couldn't help but giggle the whole way through.

Looking sexy in our 3D Cineplex glasses

Back to my book (insert nerd face here). Once I finish the Bali chapter, I hope to tackle the tornado that has struck my room, particularly my closet. Yes, my room is currently a disaster. I have yet to clean, organize, and pack for Australia. I did however, have ample time to mess it up. Alas, in good time.

For now, I will continue to wade in a state of bliss.

Happy December!