La Niña

La Niña has arrived to the Pacific Northwest…

This week, Vancouver metro received snow two nights in a row, which is extremely abnormal.  It is quite common for an entire year to pass with no snow in sight.  When it does come, it doesn’t stay very long, which is fine with me.

La Niña is associated with cooler than normal water temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, unlike El Niño which is associated with warmer than normal water.  In the continental US, during El Niño years, temperatures in the winter are warmer than normal in the North Central States, and cooler than normal in the Southeast and the Southwest. During a La Niña year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the Southeast and cooler than normal in the Northwest. 

Speaking of La Niña, my younger sister arrived last night for a week-long visit.  We have a ton of fun things planned this week!  She is out getting a $40 90-minute massage now and this morning, we took her by the beaches and Stanley Park for pictures, followed by the Vancouver Baker’s Market.  When she returns, we'll walk along the seawall and go for dinner at Nu Restaurant, which specializes in seafood and foods found within 100 miles from here.  We got a table right on the water in False Creek, so it should be a great first night.

The snow will also benefit our trip to Whistler tomorrow, as it forced the resort area to open the season early!!  We got really lucky getting a room at "off-season" pricing and then having the resort start its winter season a week early.

Updates on our trip to follow...

Xanax please?!?!

...or any drug should do.

I thought my 2-hour journey to Washington and back this morning with a crying baby in the back would take me over the edge.  I got through that just fine, but then my toddler realized he is now 3-yrs old and doesn't want to take his afternoon nap.  I am not having that - I worked too hard to get them both on the same nap schedule and that is my time to get some work done, surf the net, shop online, cook , etc.  That was easy though...lock him in his room for 2 hours of "quiet time".  He decided to pee in his underwear twice. No problem!  Let's change those bad boys.  What did it for me was the 90 minute tantrum...while trying to cook dinner for 3...and puree food for 1, while Julian asked for every food item we didn't have in the house and while Amelie let out massive cries in her frustration to sit up, crawl and move her chubby little bum.

Someone get me a glass of red wine pronto!  It should go nicely with the burnt quinoa.

I will be escaping to the infrared sauna tonight...for a few hours.

Brandi's

I've been doing some marketing for my friend's beauty clinic for a few months now.  I had a very important task this past weekend...

She was trying to target a new market segment: Strippers.  Off we went, trying to sell some treatments to some of the strippers in town (hey, this recession is requiring some desperate measures).  Naturally, we ventured to the fanciest strip joint in town - Brandi's

This was actually the place where Ben Affleck allegedly cheated on JLo. That's right, I got to see the private room and all.  Melvin was quite jealous...

Happy Birthday...

Julian!  I can't believe you are 3 years old today!

Julian had a month long celebration for his birthday with a small dinner celebration in NY last month to cake & ice skating with his twin friends yesterday, a birthday play date today and treats with his class tomorrow.  We are cutting the sugar off tomorrow afternoon!

Amélie turned 7 months today and started crawling.  Yay for getting old!

Boga Yoga at The Beaumont Studios

Before I get into my yoga update, I wanted to share the disadvantage of too many glass walls and windows in your home.  As I was giving Julian a time out in our "solarium" yesterday, I turned around to storm off...right into the glass wall.  I'm talkin' cheek on glass, stubbed toe, the works.  Needless to say, that ended the time out very quickly with a burst of laughter from Melvin, Julian and even Amélie.


Moving on...I taught my first class at The Beaumont Studios tonight.  Melvin came out for support and I had 6 people in total.  I taught an hour long class under candlelight and I think it went pretty well.  Teaching is definitely tiring though, especially after a full day with the kids...

Infrared Sauna

We've been ecstatic that our building just built an infrared sauna.  After the kids are asleep, we take turns going down to use it either before or after a gym workout or swim.  It's pretty damn awesome.


What is the different between this and a regular sauna you ask? An infrared sauna is a sauna that uses heaters emitting far infrared radiant heat. Unlike traditional Finnish Saunas, infrared saunas do not use steam, (which heats the air, and thereby the user), but instead use infrared radiation to directly heat the user.  It is the same heat the sun emits, but without harmful UV rays.


It is the same heat that is used for newborns in the "warmer" at the hospital and in incubators for premature babies.  There are so many advantages to using an infrared sauna that a lot of spas and wellness centers are building them these days.  

• Removes Toxins
• Reduces Stress
• Improves Skin - clears cellulite, tones & hydrates cells and pores
• Burns Calories - as much as 600 calories or more in a 30 minutes session
• Pain Relief - Arthritis, muscle spasms, joint stiffness, sprains
• Strengthens Cardiovascular System - stabilizes blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output and increases metabolic rate

With that said, if you come out for a visit, don't forget your swimsuit!

Remembrance Day

We had a great laugh at this!

Today was "Remembrance Day" in Canada; Veteran's Day in the U.S.  Everyone was on holiday and we were going to head to Seattle for a long weekend.  However, I was talking to a friend and she was like, Uh, you know everyone will be on the road right?  That's all she had to say to change our plans.  I'm not trying to sit in the car for 3 hours just to cross the border, which should only take 45 minutes.  We'll have to reschedule for another time, when people are working!

Instead, we headed to Stevenston Village, a fisherman's marina in Richmond, B.C.  We had a great time in this very cute village and dined on some fish n chips, of course.  The fishing boats line up each day on the dock and sell salmon, tuna, shrimp and crabs right off their boats.  I love it.

Then, we went up to North Vancouver while the kids napped in the car and found the Salmon Hatchery, which is where the salmon are trying to swim upstream.  It is very similar to the facility in Seattle, which I went to awhile back.  Always very interesting to see and I recommend everyone to check something like this out one day.

When the kids woke up, we headed to the Vancouver Aquarium. Julian didn't know where to run between the jelly fish, dolphin show and beluga whale.  It was a great time.

This had to be the most eventful Veteran's Day / Remembrance Day I've ever had in my life!

What's in a Name?

Julian was drawing quietly last night...

Mommy:  Hey Julian, what are you drawing?

Julian: I'm drawing Papi's name.

Mommy: Oh yeah?  What is Papi's name?
Julian: His name is Melvin.  I'm drawing mommy's name too!

Mommy: Wow...What is Mommy's name?

Julian: Babe.

LOL!

Colonics Continued

There have been a lot of questions offline about the medical viewpoint and insurance coverage of colonics.  This is what I know and then I'm totally done with this topic :)

Doctors: They usually want a scientific answer and/or benefit of something.  I am not sure  if doctors really know too much about the irrigation part of it and its benefits, (unless one researches and/or does it, right?), but most do know that the colon is somehow associated with the state of our health.  I would be interested to hear a viewpoint of one that has actually tried it.  Here are some statements that I've researched and heard of. 
Footnote: I've spoken to 3 hydrotherapists, 1 naturopathic doctor and asked about what they have talked to MDs about.  I also checked out WebMD. Melvin felt it was important I made my sources clear :)

Remember: To each his own. I am just stating what I've researched.

1- It is not natural. Totally fair, but well, neither are surgeries, neither are the toxins and chemicals and pesticides that we are ingesting these days.  Removing a gallbladder and,  moreso, without explaining to patients what the function of a gallbladder is, is also not "natural".  Just because the removal of a gallbladder  or appendix are totally normal surgeries these days does not mean they are natural either. 

2- It makes the muscles down there lazy and people rely on the procedure to go to the bathroom.  I know from experience that this is not true as for the first time since toddlerhood, I'm actually going everyday!  I also know 8 people that have gotten this procedure done and all can attest that this statement is false.

3- You lose probiotics (good bacteria) during the procedure. Yes, this is absolutely true.  This is like how chemotherapy kills your bad cells, as well as your good.  Your good and bad bacteria get cleansed out during the procedure.  This is why it's particularly important to take acidophilis (pill or liquid form) for  at least 2 days after.  However, most of us, as adults, should be taking acidophilis (good bacteria) everyday anyway.  Even both my kids take it.

Now, in regards to insurance...I've actually been able to get 90% covered through extended insurance.  So far, Canada rocks with that.  In the US it's not covered.  I believe that anything preventative (aside from a yearly physical exam once a year) is not covered in the US and people get treated for pre-existing conditions, for the most part.  Again, you go in with a stuffy nose, that is what they look at.  So dumb and so controversial, I'm not going to get into it.  

Not to mention, if you do feel something is wrong, you need to jump through hoops to get the proper tests covered by insurance for it (speaking from my mom's experience).  At the end of the day, prevention is the key word.  I know people that were put on diabetes medicine before they got diabetes "because it runs in their family".  How is that right? Also, how many people out there are on crazy strong acne medicine that causes depression, infertility, etc.  My only thoughts on this is look to the internal cleansing first...before reaching for that prescription. Most of us don't want to change our diets and lifestyles (trust me, I'm one of them)...it's a tough call.

Medicine costs more later when you really, really need it, so why not "do what we can" now. without the use of prescription meds...At the end of the day, this is the reason I'm so open to alternative medicine, as well as organic foods.  Do what we can, right?

Okay...moving on to the next thing...til next time!

Diwali

 

Mommy & Julian working on the Rangoli

I'm going to take a bit of a break from all the poop talk...

This weekend, Vancouver had many celebrations for the Indian holiday of Diwali. Diwali is popularly known as the festival of lights, which is a five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. Diwali is the most important festival of the year for Hindus.  

We are lucky enough to live right across the street from the Roundhouse Community Centre, which hosts the largest celebration in downtown Vancouver.  Yesterday, we witnessed some very talented Bhangra dancers, Mendhi artists, painters, sari designers and, of course, an assortment of Northern & Southern Indian snacks.  It was so great to see people of all types of ethnic backgrounds enjoy the event.

Above, Julian and I were contributing to making the Rangoli, which is a traditional folk art in India, often using symbols to signify different things.  This Rangoli above is made out of dyed rice!!  Pretty amazing, huh?

Not for the faint-hearted...

If you have an aversion to poop, I would skip reading this...:)  Also, please do not read if you feel you'll get so grossed out and then later give me crap about it! :)

Many of you have asked me to write about my colonic irrigation journey.  I don't blame you, it's a  fascinating topic, whether you want to admit it to me or not.  This is going to be information overload, but it's so important to share and document.  I want to be clear that this is not about weight loss, it's about your overall health.

Also, my colon is far from being at the state of where it should be and my diet could use major help too.  For me, it's just good to be aware.  It helps you become aware of your body and its energy too.


Facts
- 80% of your energy goes towards digestion.  If you have a clean colon, this energy can be better distributed to your blood, glands, brain, motor functions, etc.
- Our colon houses up to 25 lbs. of waste.  That's right folks, you read it right.
- Health begins in the colon.  Toxins are absorbed by the colon, so this is where diseases start, if our waste is not properly eliminated.
- We are supposed to have 2-3 bowel movements a day.  It has become the norm in our society to go once every 2-3 days.  In fact, the definition of constipation has recently been changed by doctors that you are not considered constipated until you have reached 4 days.  WHAT??
- Bad breath and acne are often a sign of an unhealthy colon.


Okay, so on to the procedure and my experience...Picture a lasagna pan after a huge dinner with the family.  No one ever wants to wash it out.  All that build up can be a pain in the ass to scrub off and often times, you need a Brillo Pad to get that bad boy cleaned.  So what do you do?  Let it soak...That pan is your colon after how many years of build up...a colonic is the "soaking" to eventually (after a series of treatments) get that build up out of your body.


Here is another scenario for those of you that are parents.  You know the baby's first poop?  The meconium?  THAT is what has stuck to the sides of our colons after so many years.  The reason the baby has that first poop like that is because that was the build up from the 9 months he/she was in the womb.  Do you remember how hard it was to clean that first changing?  


Colonic Irrigation by definition is also known as hydrotherapy of the colon, high colonic, entero-lavage, or simply colonic. It is the process of cleansing the colon by passing several gallons of water through it with the use of special equipment. It is similar to an enema but treats the whole colon, not just the lower bowel. This has the effect of flushing out impacted fecal matter, toxins, mucous, and even parasites, that often build up over the passage of time. It is a procedure that should only be undertaken by a qualified practitioner.  


Here is a picture to help you out.  Usually, an enema only clears out the Descending Colon, but this procedure irrigates the entire thing. 

Most of our colons are disfugured because the waste that remains (up to 25 lbs) build up pockets.

Moving on, this is why our poop is in all sorts of shapes and sizes when we "release".  :) Here is a video from the man who invented the colonoscopy procedure.  Warning:  The video is a bit dry, but does show live footage of colons from individuals with breast cancer, gout, etc.  You can see the difference between their colon and a healthy one.  Click here for your viewing pleasure.

Okay, my brain is totally dead from writing this.  I think I covered most of what I've learned.  Here are some tidbits from my personal experience.

- On my 1st colonic, I got rid of 3-4 lbs of waste.

- On my 3rd colonic, I had 3 feet of waste come out and on my 4th colonic, I had more!

- I saw waste that included yeast, candida (these are the organisms that are "carb eaters" which are the reason we crave carbs.  They are VERY hard to kill as you need to go off carbs for weeks), acid and a bunch of other fun things.

- On my 4th colonic, I saw undigested food, which means I was making major progress and actually cleaning a bit of my small intestine.

- I've also done 3 colonics with a "coffee soak", which goes right through the Portal Vein directly connecting the colon to the liver.  This automatically cleans your liver which makes the toxins from the bile go directly through you colon and out.  I found this to be extremely successful as I could feel the acidity of the bile (I thought the coffee was actually hot but found out later it was the acidity I was feeling!).  Also, the bile toxins is what actually goes into your gallbladder making gallstones, which are actually cholesterol crystals!! Our gallbladders hold 500-2000 of these stones!  I have high cholesterol so this is particularly insane to me.  The second I am done nursing, I'm going to do the gallbladder cleanse, so I'll let you know how it goes.

 Gallstones in Gallbladder!

If you decide to do a colonic irrigation, I recommend doing a juice or raw food diet for 2-3 days prior to your FIRST one.  Again, picture the lasagna pan, the first couple appointments are to "soak" and loosen up your build up from however many years of life you've lived.  I heard if you do a raw food diet for 6 weeks with a colonic once a week, you can lose 25-30 lbs in a healthy way.  I am not doing this because I need my cooked food and I'm nursing.

Okay, my brain is fried from this post.  Feel free to chat with me about this and I could recommend a place in NYC that my sister has tried.  There are also places in Philly that do this, which I've found online for a friend, but I don't know anyone that has tried it yet.  Good luck!

Addition (2 hours later) - I forgot to mention some pretty cool things that the people administering my procedure have seen come through the observation tube.
* Barbie shoe
* Comic strip from a bazooka wrapper
* Meat from a vegetarian of 8 years
* Clam, which my sis saw yesterday and she hasn't had clams since Sept.  Chew your food, girl!

East Meets West

I've been learning a lot about Eastern and holistic medicine and practices lately.  Melvin thinks I'm absolutely nuts; however, a lot of the beliefs and ways just "make sense".  Also, Eastern Medicine is at least 2,000 years old, so I don't think we Westerners have a right to judge if it's been working for that long already...

Vancouver is busting at the seams with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic clinics, as well as Naturopathic Doctors.  We've been to a couple of places and here are some things I've noticed and learned.

1. The practitioner always makes it a point to learn about not just you, but your parents, your grandparents, your history, what you eat, what you poop, lifestyle, etc.  They treat you as a whole, not just the stuffy nose you came in with on that day.  This is HUGE, from my point of view.  It means they are trying to get to the root of the problem and not just giving you antibiotics for your "symptom". 
2. Your body's energy and emotional stability affects your organs and health in more ways than you think.  Stress is a major killer, which we all know, right?  However, from what I've learned recently, it's worse than we could have ever imagined.  This is why acupuncture and acupressure is so good for you as it releases blocked energy (qi) within your body.
3. Cupping is a wonderful method to release "knots" in your neck, shoulders or wherever.  It also releases stagnant blood.
4. 90% of your health is a reflection of your colon's health.  Notice how pediatricians ask how a baby poops?  They are concerned about the consistency, color, frequency, etc.  Well, as an adult, when was the last time a doctor asked about your poop?  Guess what? It is just, if not more, important now!!
5. 80% of our body's energy is spent on digestion.  Again, goes back to the colon...if our colon is clean and healthy, this energy can be used by our brains, blood flow, glands, etc. and our energy will be better distributed.  When a baby or child is sick, don't force them to eat!!  This is what my parents, grandparents, etc would always do, but it makes things worse!  Their little bodies need all the energy they can get to HEAL - lots of fluids and don't force solids on them!
6. Vitamin D deficiency is a MAJOR problem these days, especially during cloudy winters in places like Vancouver.  Make sure you are getting at least 1000-2000 IUs of Vitamin D daily.  To give you an example, baby supplements are usually only 400 IUs, which is not enough, especially for breastfed babies.  Vitamin D can help boost immune systems (making bodies stronger against allergies) and create good bone structure.  I recently discovered Julian is bow legged and our Naturopath is boosting his Vitamin D to help with this.  We are also going to get it checked out structurally today, but hopefully it helps!
7. I wondered why it was quite hard to find a naturopathic doctor in NY and apparently there are all these licensing laws that make it way too hard to open a clinic there, which is a shame.  300 naturopathic doctors graduate in British Columbia alone each year.   
8. I would add more but I think Julian is about to run over his little sister right now!!!

Conclusion:  Get your colons cleaned!  Yes, I have my 4th colonic irrigation appointment tomorrow night.  I will blog about the benefits of this and my experience later, but all joking aside, it is totally important for your body to have a clean colon.  Food for thought...

Happy Halloween! And the winner is...

Kristen!  Congratulations (Julian picked the name out of a hat today) and a coupon voucher will be sent to you shortly!  Let me know what you end up buying :)

Thanks to those that submitted a comment and, of course, thank you for reading!  I have a ton of topics to write about this week, just sorting them through my mind.

For now, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

$35 GIVEAWAY! Comment on this entry for a chance to win!

Are you in need of housewares, baby items, apparel, accessories or are in the mood to shop online? Well, I am hosting my very first giveaway.  It is with CSN Stores, which features 200+ online stores, offering a great online shopping experience. Place a comment on this entry to be included in a drawing to win $35!  Have you bought a new home and need a dining room table? Or are you expecting, have had or need a baby shower gift - perhaps a video monitor?

Here are some of my favorite items from their websites:

Le Creuset is having a close-out sale!

7A.M. Enfant - must've missed this when I registered for the kids!

Over 2,500 bathroom sink faucets to choose from!

If you would like to win a 35 dollar gift certificate that is good for any of those 200+ online stores, then all you have to do is comment on this post!  Just be sure to include your email address so I have a way to get a hold of you if you're the winner.  I will choose a winner next Monday (November 1st).  Until then, good luck!

Note: This contest is limited to the United States and Canada.

Saturday Routine

We're still unpacking and recovering from our 2-week trip to NY, but slowly and surely, we're getting back into the daily grind.  Today was a routine Saturday - Melvin took Julian to soccer practice, while I stayed at home.  Amélie napped and I worked on doing the umpteenth load of laundry, updating pictures and restocked the refrigerator with meals.  On our lunch menu today - Fried Manchego Cheese and Tomato Soup.

This Saturday is a little different in the fact that I am getting certified in Kids Yoga, so I have my second class this afternoon.  I had my first of three classes yesterday and not sure that it's my cup of tea, but I'm learning some handy tricks for Julian in the process.

Hey Friend, take your time

Cool that fire in your mind

Patience, Patience

Keeps you cool

Helps you follow

The Golden Rule!

Patience, Patience

Namaste

I taught my first class last night at a studio I rented from Treloar Physiotherapy and 6 people attended!  It was great.  I was feeling tired and under the weather because Amelie has been teething and has a virus that has been keeping me on my toes.  In any case, I mustered all the energy I had and taught my butt off.  


It felt great.  Hopefully people will come back next week!


People often wonder why a teacher ends a yoga class with Namaste.  It has several meetings and could be interpreted as simply a salutation, as well, but it also means: I see the higher self in you.


We say this because in the spiritual path, the aim is to reach "realization" and awareness of your higher self, leaving your "small" selves behind.

First Class

Teaching my first class tonight!  I am literally CRAPPING IN MY PANTS.


Breathe....

Nuevo Latino

We went to Cobre Restaurant last night and it was really good food....Latino?  Not so much.  There were certainly Latin flavors in there.  We ordered four tapas (Sablefish, Sea Prawns, Flat Iron Steak and finally, the Boar Belly), plus dessert, and they were really flavorful and the presentation was beautiful.  We would certainly return, but our search for an authentic Latin restaurant lives on.  


Coleen: Is the chef of Latin descent?
Server: No, believe it or not, he is Caucasian, born and bred Vancouver, and is of Scottish descent.
Coleen: Hmm, ohhh-kay.


Server: Our desserts this evening are a Dulce de Leche with whole, evaporated and condensed milks and a Tres Leches cake with coconut.
Coleen: Oh, cool, does the Tres Leches have the three milks too?  
Server: No 
Coleen: Hmm, ohhh-kay.
(server leaves)
Coleen: I am so confused.
Melvin: Yeah, I don't think she knows what tres leches means. Let's just try it.
Coleen: I don't understand how the first dessert has three milks but Tres Leches doesn't.
(server returns)
Server: Hi, I just wanted to let you know that there is, in fact, dairy in the Tres Leches dessert.
Coleen: Okay, thanks (in my head, I'm like WTF?).  We'll try that.


As I said, restaurant was really special.  Great food and good Latin flavor fix.  We just thought the chef being Scottish and Tres Leches not having 3 milks was rather funny!

Jewish Wedding

Melvin wearing his Yarmulke

I went to my second Jewish wedding last night and had a great time once again.  I grew up going to Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, so I'm not completely ignorant, but this was my 2nd wedding at a temple, with a reception following in the next room.  The Hava Nigila is my favorite part, by far.

These facilities are amazing because when you enter the cocktail hour room or dinner room after the ceremony, you are transported to what could very easily be a ballroom at a hotel or at a specialized venue.  You would have no idea you're at a temple.  I'm not sure if it's the norm to have an insane amount of food during cocktail hour either, but it was the same both times.  Pretty much passed hors d'oeuvres and 10 stations, consisting of fish n chips, sliders, hot dog stand, ceviche, veal milanese, pasta station, caviar, ribs & mashed potatoes, duck and tuna tataki.  Filipinos always make sure they have more than enough food, but I can honestly say last night had us beat a million times over.  Dessert consisted of a plated Milky Way dessert, build your own sundae, cupcake and milkshake carts, PLUS passed cookies, red velvet cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit tarts, cream puffs and more brought to each table by the servers.  I couldn't even look after awhile.

It was a great night with good friends,great food and Hava Nigila.  Mazel Tov to Jodie & Mike!

Now I'm packing for our flight to Vancouver with one extra bag full of kids clothes and 10 more pounds.  It's been real, New York...

TV

I can't pinpoint what it is, but the TV programming is so different in NY vs. Vancouver.  We get Seattle news and some channels, but it's still different.  There are just some things I've seen this week that we now know we would not see in Vancouver...for example, Chileans going crazy and dancing in traditional garb at some bar in NYC when the miners were freed.

Cheating Miner

Funny


Cheating Miner

Home (?)

It is so weird being back home.  From the moment we stepped off the airplane in Newark Airport (which used to be my second home), my stress level went up slightly.  It was a stressful time before leaving for Vancouver, so I'm working on disassociating that feeling with the location.  

Anyway, it has been really great seeing old faces! We had a blast with our college friends in Philly, forgetting how good a greasy cheesesteak is at 1:00am.  Melvin went out with the guys on Friday night and I with the gals on Saturday night. Julian had a few play dates, so all were very happy.  

Our restaurant of choice on Saturday was Koozeedoo, which features Portuguese fare in the Northern Liberties neighborhood.  Having been to Portugal  twice (Lisbon & Sintra), it definitely brought me back.  The food was excellent and is shared family style, so we dined on Duck with Baked Rice (excellent-good call by my friend Beverly), Seafood Feijoada (tasty, but I prefer Brazilian Feijoada - if you are ever in Brazil there is a huge Feijoada buffet at the Sofitel Hotel Rio de Janeiro every Saturday that is to die for), Potato Croquettes (also tasty, but the Spaniards do it better), Steak with Fried Potatoes & Fried Egg (excellent - so glad we got 2 orders of this!), Shrimp with Hot Sauce (yummy, yum, yum and it had major kick) and finally, Bread Soup with Mushrooms, Cheese & Poached Egg (could've done without...gimme the mushrooms and hold everything else).  For dessert, I got the traditional egg custard, which was just good.  I was really hoping for a traditional Pasteis de Nata, but I guess there's nothing like the original in Lisbon.  If you ever find yourself in Lisbon, make your way to Antiga Confeitaria de Belem, which is located by the waterfront in Belem.  They let you take those bad boys on the airplane, so I brought back a dozen (not to share) and it was just heaven.  There is also a place in Newark, NJ (Teixeira Bakery) that sells them and they are a good fix, since Lisbon is not a hop, skip, jump away. 

Last night, we went to Ephendi with our Rockland friends and had a wonderful time. Ephendi (New City, NY) is the sister restaurant of Turkois Grille (Airmont, NY) and features Turkish cuisine, which is amazing. We each had our own plate and I have to say that this place does not have a bad dish on the menu.  The food is so fresh, whether it's the fish, kebobs (lamb, chicken, etc) or appetizers.  The main dishes are served with a bulgar pilaf in tomato sauce that is just to die for.  It was definitely a great night with good food and friends.

Okay, must get ready for the day.  We have been shopping like crazy because sales tax in Vancouver is 12%, so need to stock up on kids clothes while we are here.  We also got the kids' Halloween costumes - Thomas the Train for Julian and a Hot Pink Ladybug for the little one. I'm going to need a vacation from this vacation for sure.

Traveling with the kids...

Portable DVD Player - Check
3 DVDs - Check
Library Books - Check
Hootie Hider - Check
Dry Ice & Breastmilk - Check
Car Seat - Check
Passports - Check

Prana (energy or life force - "essence")

Yesterday, during our graduation potluck, we presented our teacher with a couple plants for the new Prana Centre and as a gift from us, since we were the first group to graduate from the new location. 

Anyway, my classmate was in charge of the gift and card (guess who organized the potluck and everyone's duties?  hehe) .  She printed up this poem that she has been carrying around with her for a couple years now.  We read it aloud and our teacher was like, "who wrote that?" and my friend said she didn't know and she came across it online years ago.  Well, it turns out my teacher wrote it back in 2007!!  How weird, right?


I wanted to document it on my blog and share with anyone interested.


Prana Bridge
..is a suspended bridge that connects the muddy land of the small-self with the fertile land of the higher-self.  When the bridge sways from side to side in the storms of the mind, it is impossible to walk on it and reach the higher-self.  In extreme storms, you may continuously fall from the bridge into the ocean of ignorance.


When the bridge is still, you arrive safely on the other side to the island of realization.  The moment you step on the land of realization, the bridge disappears and with it the ocean, the storm, the mind and the ignorance...


...Relax your shoulders and Breathe...


-shakti mhi

Graduation

My graduation from the yoga teacher training is today.  I'm so sad it's over, but am trying to live in the moment and be ready for whatever comes my way.  We have our "ritual" today at 3:00pm and then family are welcome to join us in the potluck.  It should be super fun for my classmates to see the kids and see why I was pumping diligently twice a day to feed sweet Amélie . 


Time to start packing for our trip back to NY...

Déjà vu

My yoga teacher training at Prana Yoga College is coming to an end tomorrow (waaah!) and I got together with some friends I've made to "cram".  We have to each teach about 10 postures tomorrow, plus a written exam.  I felt like I was back at Drexel again cramming for a test (not) - haha.  I remember those days at the library, where Melvin really wanted to study and I looked around doing everything in my power to not study. 


Anyway, I'm as prepared as I'll ever be.  I'll be teaching the following flow tomorrow:


Up to all 4s, downward facing dog, pigeon (right leg and mirroring to class), downward facing dog, child's pose, rag doll up to sitting, camel, child's pose, downward facing dog, pigeon (left leg and mirroring to class), downward facing dog, child's pose


WISH ME LUCK!!

Bliss

Happiness is one of those things that many are always searching for.  What will make one happy?  Love? Success? Money? Vacation?  


One of the things I learned in my yoga teacher training course (it's almost over, so these entries some of you may find annoying will eventually come to an end!) is that people shouldn't look for happiness or try to achieve happiness.  With happiness, there is also unhappiness.


Happiness often relies on circumstance:
I can't wait until I graduate college...
I can't wait until I get married...
I can't wait until I go on vacation...
I can't wait to become a millionaire...
I can't wait to retire...


What you should strive for is...BLISS.  Bliss is the internal state of being that does not rely on circumstance.  It is a place where you are at ease no matter the situation in your life.  What is the opposite of bliss?  The dictionary says "misery", but when we had a discussion in my class today, I totally get it and I totally believe that once you are in a state of bliss, that's it. No one and nothing can take that away from you, except yourself.

Question of the Day

...Are you living life or just existing?


For the first time in my life, I can honestly say I am no longer living for the weekend or for my next vacation...Monday is no longer a dreaded day.


At the ripe age of 30 (almost 31 - gulp), I am, without a doubt, living life!!

Canucks vs. Mighty Ducks

Last night, we went to our first Canadian hockey game.  Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Might Ducks...Vancouver won 4-1.  The hockey rink where the Olympic hiockey games were held is a 10 minute walk from our apartment (pretty much a 1 minute drive).  Well, it was a pre-season game and we figured it'd be pretty empty, so we'll just drive, so we don't have to walk back so late.  Uh, can you say traffic?


We drove BACK to our apartment, parked in the garage and decided to walk.  I guess hockey really IS a big deal here!  Sheesh.  This pre-season game was packed!


I got tickets for Melvin's birthday - club seats, row 10.  It was pretty cool.  Lot of fights!


Speaking of birthdays, we went to a kids birthday party today.  We had some amazing Persian food.  The basmati rice had this herb called Zaresh (snuck into Canada from Iran!) and it was a perfect complement to lamb kebabs and marinated chicken fresh off the grill.  YUM!


Everyone was discussing how the rain "is just beginning"....we are totally nervous about this winter!  I hope the mild temperatures compensate for everything...fingers crossed!

Interesting Story

Sorry for slacking on the blog.  It's been crazy busy and I'm getting ready for my final teachings and exam and then "graduation" from my teacher training program (so so sad it is ending), as well as mentally preparing myself for our trip back to NY on Oct. 5th.


I did want to quickly share this story my yoga teacher told us.


One day, she and another instructor were sitting at a cafe in Yaletown.  They were discussing food (don't know specifics) when a truck driver at the next table interrupted them and said, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help listen to your conversation.  I just wanted to add that you both don't have any idea how bad it REALLY is."  He was taking a break from delivering bananas to Urban Fare, the supermarket that is across the street from our apartment.


It turns out this truck driver drives bananas from the States to Canada.  That is his job - banana driver.  Anyway, he explained to them that whenever bananas leave the U.S. to be exported, they have to be green.  They only bring over green bananas to Canada.  When he reaches the border crossing, he has to call the supermarkets in Vancouver - Safeway, Urban Fare, Choices, etc. to see how their supplies are doing.  So, if Safeway has a ton of bananas left, they say to bring the green ones in, as is.  However, if Safeway is running low on yellow/ripened bananas they need them ASAP.  So you know what this guy does?  He presses a button on the truck, which emits gas to the bananas, so that by the time they reach the respective supermarket, they are yellow.  The border is only 45 minutes away to downtown.  


That, my friends, is the reason to go for organic produce whenever possible.

Happy Birthday!

...to my hubby!

Hope you enjoyed your day, even though you had to work.  Love ya!

Season in Review

Today is the last day of the summer.  When we arrived in Vancouver, it was the first day of summer, so we've been here an entire season already.  It has really flown by!!

Season in Review
The summer in Vancouver is, by far, spectacular.  I will do a review of every season, but if I were to make a recommendation, I would say: come visit us in the summer!   We welcome you during all seasons; however, I can only speak intelligently about the summer so far.  Water activities are bountiful, mornings/evenings are comfortable, mountains are green and lush and the city is best seen on foot.  Summer fruits, like berries (3rd largest producer of blueberries in the world) are everywhere!  Farmer's markets, in practically every town, are in effect every week.   People dine on fresh coho salmon on restaurant patios all around town.  Rainy days are scarce in the summer (at least this year), but when it does rain, there is at least 4-5 hours of beautiful sunshine to be outdoors.  Also, I have not minded wearing my rain jacket and my wonderful Michael Kors rain boots.

As we move into the fall, I wonder how the rest of the year will be.  I still can't believe we are here.

Grouse Grind - Part Deux

Vrksasana - Tree Pose

Today, we hiked up Grouse Mountain's Grouse Grind during the kids' nap.  I thought that we could get back in time for Amélie's next feeding, but no such luck.

I came with the "I got this" attitude, so the first 1/4 was fine.  Then, I went into "oh shit" mode when I realized we'd only gone 1/4 of the way up Grouse Mountain.  Also, I saw a couple of my yoga peeps coming down as they couldn't make it up the mountain, so then I was a bit discouraged.

Well, long story short, we made it up, but I didn't beat Melvin's time - we did it in 1 hour and 27 minutes though.  I also got my Lululemon gear all dirtied up, which was unfortunate.  Note to self: no need to wear leg warmers just to look cute.  I decided to do the Tree Pose and practice oneness with the trees about 3/4 of the way up.    

It was a good time.  

To summarize for anyone planning to do the Grind anytime soon, here's my take on it:

1/4 - the longest trail, zig zags and is less steep

1/2 - getting a bit steeper and where most people lose hope

3/4 - point of no return and straight up rock climbing, there are ropes to help people along

last 1/4 - steepest and the point where people fear leg cramps