Flicks, Food & Shakespeare

With the DOXA (documentary film festival) underway, there is a good buzz surrounding some of the Canadian films in the line up for the rest of the week. Check out the festival program here, buy your tickets online & surprise a friend with a lovely spring evening night out.

If you have time for a bite before a show... check out Nuba. A stone's throw from the Vancity Theatre, their bustling cafe location on Seymour at Davie offers fresh, good, food fast. If you skipped dinner before the flick, and are in the mood for a late nibble and glass of wine - try Nuba's newest location at Hastings & Cambie. Wafts of aromatic spices excite your taste buds as you make your way down a few candlelit stairs, leading to a modern day take on 1940's Beirut. Gorgeous interior with a sultry mood, a great place to unwind and sample some amazing and healthy Lebanese cuisine. Inspired, tasty and reasonable.

This week kicks off Bard on The Beach located at beautiful Vanier Park. Vancouver's midsummer's eve is the perfect backdrop for this years productions of Othello, A Comedy of Errors, All's Well That Ends Well & Richard II. Enjoy a sunset set to Shakespeare, shows from May 28 to September 26.

Banff & Biking

I do apologise for my little hiatus from blogging. I took some time to go visit my sister in the Rockies, which also used to be my seasonal stomping ground for nearly 7 years. It was lovely to go back, although I took a slight temperature hit as I left Vancouver's blossoms for Banff's scattered flurries. Still, the mountains there are glorious - and I had a few really warm blue bird days while I was there. (*Blue Bird - Albertan terminology for "not a cloud in the sky"...)
Aside from a great visit with my sis, I spent time hiking through the forest, went for an epic bike ride with a couple of my closest friends, got a fantastic haircut and took a vacation from cooking for myself! Banff is lovely. If you haven't been - you must go. With no PST it is quite affordable and has a small town charm that I feel Whistler lacks (maybe I'm just Banff Bias ;-)
There are some great hikes close to town as well as hundreds throughout in the national park. 3 local mountains to ski/snowboard, amazing resteraunts (The Bison is a personal fave) there are oodles of places to stay, even a castle ;-)



Coming home to Vancouver, I felt rejuvenated from all the fresh air and good mountain life. I arrived back just in time for "bike to work week" although I am happy to report I ride my bike to work everyday, rain or shine :) One less car on the road, a time & money saver - if you don't bike, you should... I love it!

Bike to work week wraps up tonight with a fun and free BBQ at scienceworld hosted by the Vancouver Area Cycyling Coalition. Kicking off at 4pm, the bbq will include free food, entertainment by peddle powered amps, and a chance to meet thousands of cyclists from around the city. See you there!

Happy Earth Day. Inspired by the environment and the planet in which we live on, our global community celebrates today, April 22 as Earth Day. Earth Day intends to cultivate an awareness and sensitivity to our changing planet and how we all can reduce our impact on the environment everyday.

Taking small considerations in your life can help reduce the amount of waste you produce and increase the energy you conserve. Here is a list of ten things you can do to support a healthier environment.

1. Smart shopping
· Buy what you need, not what you want
· Consider renting and borrowing things that are seldom needed
· Buy used items from garage sales and second-hand stores
2. Simple savers
· Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
· Use aerators on faucets and shower heads
· Weatherstrip windows and doors
3. Transportation alternatives
· Walk, cycle, car pool and use public transportation
· When driving, reduce idling and maintain correct tire pressure
· Consider car sharing programs or renting
4. Food choices
· Choose local and organic foods that are in season and support local food producers
· Eat less meat, and only eat meat that is humanely farmed.
5. Washing and drying
· Wash full loads of clothes in cold water and hang to air dry
6. Heating and cooling
· For summer air conditioning, set your thermostat to 24°C or 25°C
· For winter heating, set your thermostat to 19°C or 20°C
· Install ceiling fans and programmable thermostats
7. Close to home
· Vacation, travel and work as close to home as possible
8. Bathroom basics
· Take short showers instead of baths
· Close water taps while brushing your teeth
9. Careful cleaning
· Choose natural, non-toxic cleaning products
· Make simple, natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and water
10. Don’t discard
· Donate, reuse and recycle items before throwing them into the trash
· Harmful materials like chemicals, batteries, electronics, etc. should be taken to local hazardous waste depots or recyclers



I'M FINE, YOU'RE FINE: ARTISTS RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE
April 22nd – 26th, 2009
Opening Reception today from 5:00 – 8:00 pm
2231 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

Joy Yoga: mystic skeptic meets master healer: jaw drops

Joy Yoga: mystic skeptic meets master healer: jaw drops

20 Reasons to Drink Water

1.Nothing can live without water.
2.Water is our main source of energy.
3.Water generates electrical and magnetic energy inside every cell of the body.
4.Water increases the immune system’s efficiency in the bone marrow (where it is formed) and all its mechanisms including its efficiency against cancer.
5.Water is the main solvent for all foods, vitamins, and minerals. It is used in the breakdown of food into smaller particles as well as their eventual metabolism and assimilation.
6.Water transports all substances in the body.
7.Water increases red blood cell ability to collect oxygen in the lungs.
8.Water clears toxic waste from different parts of the body and takes it to the liver and kidneys for disposal.
9.Water is the main lubricant in the joint spaces and prevents both arthritis and back pain.
10.Water is used in the spinal discs to make them shock-absorbing cushions.
11.Water is the best lubricating laxative and alleviates constipation.
12.Water reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
13.Water gives power and electrical energy for all brain functions.
14.Water expands your attention span.
15.Water reduces stress, anxiety, and depression.
16.Water restores normal sleep rhythms.
17.Water reduces fatigue.
18.Water reverses addictive urges including those for caffeine, alcohol, and certain drugs.
19.Water reduces the incidence of morning sickness in pregnancy.
20.Water prevents the loss of memory as we age. It reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
*From You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty! By F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.


Try and drink filtered water. Filtered water provides better tasting/smelling water by removing chlorine, lead and bacterial contminants. A filter is the last line of defense between your body and 2100 known toxins found in tap water. Drinking clean filtered water can boost immunity and protect the body from disease and create general overall better health. Do your research and find a water filter that is suitable to your needs and price range.



Spike your water!

Boost your H2O from plain jane to hooray by adding lemon, lime, cucumber, mint, ginger, rosemary or strawberries!
Refridgerate or leave overnight for maximum flavor!

Drink half your weight in ounces of water everyday!
ie: 120 lbs = 60 oz = apx 8 cups of water