Merry Christmas!

It's turning out to be quite the nice holiday season, despite a lingering cough/cold that won't give up! 

Tons of snow arrived just in time for a white Christmas (and of course perhaps some snow-shoeing over the holidays!), there's been lots of food, lots of time with friends and family, lots of last minute shopping and to-ing and fro-ing.  

It's been nice to sit back and relax, enjoy some libations and great food with family and friends.  But most of all, the holidays are a reminder to reconnect and spend time with those we love.  And that, we've been doing and will continue to do lots of! 

So from our home to yours, wishing you a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays and hoping you too have the opportunity to spend lots of time with friends and family! 

rest little angels

They were between the ages of 5 and 10.  They had barely spent time in this world before they were savagely taken from it.  They were babies.

Yesterday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut was a tragedy beyond words.  20 children and 7 adults murdered.  I see comments like "how horrible, especially right before Christmas".   The timing doesn't matter; what does matter is what we do about it.

December 21st is around the corner; it is the supposed "end of the world" according to those who like a bit of drama.  A notion that I like much better is that it is the end of this world and there is a transformation on the horizon to a world that is more humanistic and more connected, one where we all have greater awareness and respect for each other.

I can't help but wonder if yesterday's events were a catalyst towards that transformation.   I can only hope.  This cannot happen again, the question is, what will we all do differently today and tomorrow and the day after as a result?

learning to run again

I am a treadmill junkie, I admit it.  My latest goal : re-learn the joys of outdoor running.

I used to run outdoors - a lot.  In elementary and high school I ran with the track team - long distance, short distance, didn't really matter the distance!  Went off to college, then working life started and 17 years later, any running I do has been relegated to the treadmill.

I'm comfortable on the treadmill; I don't have to worry about weather conditions, air quality or any of that nonsense.  I can  throw on my shoes, some shorts and a tank top and jump onto the treadmill, plug in the ear buds and tune out to (or into, depending on the day) the likes of Florence & The Machine (my new big time favourite is their song Breath of Life - wicked for running!). 

And here's my biggest reason for staying on the treadmill - I have a mild form of asthma - exercise induced asthma to be specific.  Wheezing, coughing and frustration ensues when I get off the treadmill and head outside to run.  I end up walking more than running and end up disappointed; nothing more motivating than repeated failure, right?!   It can be because of poor air quality, cold weather, windy weather or I'm just trying to run too darn fast (which is an oxymoron in and of itself, since I am not fast... at all).  In this Canadian climate, winter and blustery days are my enemy.  Oh, and did I mention I live along a river?  Yes, the wind coming off that baby on days like today is a tad unpleasant.  

Today marks the start of a new journey - learning to run outside again.  Today was day 1.   A lovely group of ladies arrived down in the park along the river.  Our coach is Corey Turnbull - marathoner, 50km runner, triathlete and all around great guy who loves running and wants nothing more than to share that passion with others.  Couldn't ask for a better coach!  This past week has been pretty nice temperature-wise : 10 - 12 degrees (50F) each and every day this week.  Today?   0C with a windchill that put it at about -4 degrees (about 24F).   YIKES!!!!   Seriously, what a day to start.  

But you know what?  It was awesome, all of it.  Ok, the wind off the water, not so pleasant actually, I won't lie.  But the rest of it?  Just fine and actually fairly comfortable.  4 laps around the loop for a total of 4.4km.  

So off we go for the next 8 weeks!  Wish me luck - I know there will be days I'll need it!  

local food from our local farmer

Ok, so most of you know already that we participate in a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) program with a local farmer.  I wanted to give you a little insight to who that farmer is and how, as consumers, we are managing the seasonal nature of a year round CSA program (some days are easier than others!). 

Angie Peladeau and her family own and run Heritage Harvest Farm, a small local farm about 15 minutes from where we live.  They have tons of garden space, lots of open area for the animals to roam and munch and they take immense pride in what they do and how they do it.  I highly encourage you to check out their website and learn a little about their world and how it makes ours a better (and much yummier) one!  PS - she makes a killer sourdough-type bread that is to die for and surprisingly, doesn't seem to have the same negative impact on gluten-sensitive little old me... more research to do on that front!

We have been getting produce, eggs and meat from Angie for a couple of years now and this past spring we embarked on a bit of an experiment alongside them to participate in a year-round CSA program.  The reality of Canadian winters means most of our food from fall through spring came from the grocery stores (and therefore, the USA, Mexico, China, etc).   Long treks for a lot of that produce and while still healthy choices, less than ideal in terms of the impact on the environment. 

We have now entered that late fall season where the niceties of summer such as fresh herbs, zucchini and gorgeous tomatoes (oh, and hubby's fav - hot peppers) have vanished.  In their place though, we're discovering some goodies we've never had before - kohlrabi and different varieties of squash for example (and seriously, how did I not know about the magic of spaghetti squash before now?!)   Then there are the standbys - potatoes, beets, carrots, onions - lots of those this time of year!   

So, how are we managing the seasonal produce world?  Pretty well so far, though I'm trying to be creative, especially with potatoes - you can only have mashed taters so often before even I tire of them! Trips to the grocery store are few and far between and mostly to pick up things like lemons, limes, avocados and mushrooms - those don't do so well in our Canadian winters!  We'll see what the dead of winter brings and I'll discover how creative I can get.  Until then, here's a recipe with my new favourite veggie - spaghetti squash!

Herb Infused Spaghetti Squash

• 1 spaghetti squash, cut lengthwise
• fresh herbs of your choice and as much as you'd like (I particularly like thyme, basil, oregano)
• garlic, as much as you'd like, raw or roasted
• sea salt and pepper
• olive oil or butter (if it's butter, keep it organic)

Lightly oil a baking dish and place the squash, cut sides down.  Throw it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes (or until tender).   Remove it from the oven and let it cool a little so you can handle it; using a fork, scrape the squash out of the shell into a mixing bowl (this is where the magic happens - it is amazingly just like spaghetti!!)   The rest is easy - just add the ingredients of your choosing and toss with your squash!  This is fantastic as a side dish or light lunch. 

So many variations with spaghetti squash - treat it just like spaghetti and top with marinara sauce; prepare as above and add veggies of your choosing to make it a meal - hot OR cold! 

it's about practice

Practice, practice, practice!  It's something we all probably heard as youngsters - "practice makes perfect".  But there's something about that cliche that doesn't sit well with me - "perfect".  

Through our yoga practice, we strive not for perfection.  Our practice is our journey.  Some days our practice is full of a sense of joy, accomplishment; other days bring frustration and impatience.  The 2 experiences are equally valuable: those practices that come with ease teach us the wonder of joy, happiness, acceptance; those that bring frustration serve to remind us to be patient with ourselves, to examine the source of frustration and then let it go. 

Our practice is not about perfection; that is elusive.  Our practice can be our opportunity for growth, for introspection, for celebration, to cultivate patience and acceptance.  But only if we let it :-)

What do you embrace about your practice?   

falling off the proverbial wagon

It happens to all of us now and then.   We have our healthy habits, we're conscious of why those habits are important and then WHAM, you find yourself picking up a McDonald's cheeseburger and some fries and wondering what the heck happened! 

Yup, that about represents the last 2 weeks for me.  McDonald's (and yes, I deeply, DEEPLY regretted it about a half hour after eating it), more dinners out, skipping breakfast and/or lunch, picking up the chocolate bar for a quick sugar hit in the afternoon...  and I know exactly why I sit here with a dull, pounding headache.  

So how exactly do we find ourselves in this situation from time to time?   For me, it's busy at work, busy with studying, busy teaching and I forget to take the chicken out of the freezer.  We get home from work, I haven't thought about dinner and boom "let's go to Chuckles Jack or Bistro 54"!  Next thing you know, I've chowed down on deep fried dill pickles and butter chicken (maybe a piece of chocolate cake too...) at Chuckles Jack or Caesar salad, pasta carbonara and homemade gelato at Bistro 54.  Oh, and don't forget the wine...   I don't even want to think about how many calories I've consumed!!!  (Seriously though, if you're ever in the area, these are 2 of my fav restaurants - awesome people and even better food!) 

But here comes my question - is it really all that bad?  That is in part a rhetorical question of course.  Here's my take: while these foods are not going to contribute to a slimmer waistline, they're also not going to kill me IF (BIG IF!)  these food choices are not my norm (and I assure you, they are not).  To me, it's all about balance - that McDonald's cheeseburger served significant value - reminded me why I eat them oh so rarely!  But it, along with the myriad other less than healthy things I've consumed over the last couple of weeks remind me to pay attention - to what I eat, what I don't eat (as in, skipping meals), that I stay active and make time for myself.  

So, why the long-winded post about my slip up?   Because it happens to everyone, because I think it's normal and because it's a learning moment.   Take the slip ups for what they are, don't dwell since you can't change it and move onward and upward, learning to make better choices.  

Back onto the wagon I get (though I will still enjoy the occasional piece of chocolate cake)!   

giving thanks

Our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend is coming to close, and as I slow down before getting ready for my week ahead, I'm taking a few moments to acknowledge how truly fortunate I am.

This weekend was full to the brim with family, great friends and much too much food!  Friday brought family from out of town, dinner at mom and dad's with them and late night chatting; Saturday some work around the house followed by an awesome evening with friends and family, some of the best local cheese around along with some fine Canadian Scotch, Glen Breton and some lovely Porto; Sunday, my mom's awesome as always turkey dinner, again with family and friends; and holiday Monday brought a great workout then off to fly for an hour with friends (who knew you could rent a plane for an hour and head out?!)

More than anything, it's the time spent with family and friends that is most welcomed and most appreciated.  It is a reminder of what is truly important and of value in my life. The hours of Trivial Pursuit Sunday was a refreshing tradition that we had at some point given up - why, I'll never know!  I mean what's better than a game of trivia, a bit of friendly competition, girls against the guys, ESPECIALLY where the girls win - and on a golf question, no less :-)   Sitting around at a friend's place Saturday evening just relaxing and catching up was a welcome escape from the distracting busy-ness I sometimes find myself in the midst of.  It is sometimes the perceived mundane aspects of our lives that actually have the most to offer - something I commit to reminding myself of when I start to carried away.

So, on this absolutely gorgeous and cool fall evening, before setting out for the work week, I thank all of you for an absolutely awesome Thanksgiving long weekend and for the subtle reminders of everything I have to be thankful for!

busy, busy, busy

The last 6 weeks have been chaotic.  And I mean chaotic in the best of ways - filled with good things, great people and new ideas.

The newest of new ideas is the creation of a recreation association in our community.  I'm volunteering my time with a group of other health and wellness oriented people to create The Hub, a recreation association that will provide access to fitness, activities and recreation for all members of our community and to those of surrounding communities.

The history goes a little something like this - formerly a provincial hospital, a massive 800,000 square foot facility on 350 acres is closed, left vacant in 2008.  Said facility has a pool, gymnasium, auditorium, classrooms - but is closed, no longer available for use and has a massive for sale sign on the front lawn.  Prospects are grim; not only has this facility closed, so have a couple of others, resulting in hundreds of job losses in a town of 9,000.    Not good (and did I mention I had just moved here!?)

Fast forward to 2011.   In general, the town's prospects are looking better - slowly (we are the turtle, not the hare).  While searching the world for someone to buy up this huge facility, the town inadvertently misses a local solution.  The sale of the facility is announced and as it turns out, a local family in the construction business has purchased it - welcome now to The Gallipeau Centre!  The idea is to build a community within a community - residential dwellings, commercial ventures, medical facilities and the list goes on.

Fast forward again to 2012, when a local businesswoman (and my mentor) Darlene Maclachlan brings a bunch of us together to talk about the possibilities.  It wasn't long before we had a laundry list of ideas, volunteers, people to talk to, presentations to do and most importantly - plans to make!

We've come a long way in a couple of months and I'm proud to be able to say I get to work alongside some amazing people (including my Dad!) to figure out how to make this a reality.   It's a little bit daunting some days, but oh so rewarding!  The possibilities are endless and the benefits immeasurable, which is why I continue to believe this will become a reality.  

If you're reading this and have the opportunity, check out our idea here - it's a competition that provides funding to community oriented ideas.  For us, this will be seed money to get the pool fixed and re-opened.   If you have a moment and can sign up and vote for us, that would be awesome!  More than anything, we're working to create awareness of the benefits this will provide to all members of our community and if you can help us with that, we'd be oh so grateful.

cheers,
A

ah, vacation...

I'm just back from a few days vacation with my better half - we spent 5 awesome fun-filled days in New York City.

I love New York.  I know it's a cliche, but I really do.

There is just so much to see and do, and if doing the touristy thing isn't your game, then there's lots to just enjoy.  I had already been and visited Rockefeller Centre, The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the like.  This trip, we decided to skip the typical tourist sites and just enjoy the city. We missed Central Park altogether thanks to mother nature and particularly nasty thunderstorm, but it'll be there next time we go, so I'm not too fussed.

Walking was the name of the game and other than a couple of cab rides back to the hotel after long days, we walked everywhere.  We spent most of our time in Midtown, shopping on 5th Avenue, taking in Grand Central Station and its beautiful architecture, and just generally anything that caught our eye, including little bistros to stop in for a snack. Another full day walking the High Line and then the neighborhoods around Greenwich Village and Soho was filled with beautiful brownstones, some wonderful tapas at Boqueria and some unexpected Christmas gift opportunities (I'm the one who you'll see running around the week before Christmas doing my shopping!) and to finish off our day - the most amazing pizza I have ever had in my life at Lombardi's.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention 2 of my favorite restaurants - Bobby Flay's Bar Americain and a new discovery Rue 57.   I'm slowly amassing a list of "favorite" restaurants that I've decided just means I need to stay in NYC longer :-)

Next week it's back to work and back to reality, but not without some superb memories of NYC in the summer!

It was a great reminder that vacations are made for memories, so don't forget to take yours and make some of your own memories!

eating local

I happen to live in a rural area where farmers are plentiful, meaning we have ready access to locally grown foods from late spring through fall (nada in winter, but more on that).  That's not to say I don't stop by the grocery store - no matter how hard I wish or pray, avocados, lemons and limes just aren't going to grow here and I love them!

A couple of years ago, while out at a local restaurant for brunch, I commented on how incredible the eggs were - turned out they were from a small family farm right down the road.  The restaurant owner was all too happy to give me their contact information and before I knew it, we had ready access to farm fresh, free run eggs!

Not long after, we signed up to participate in their seasonal CSA (Community Support Agriculture) program and a now 3 year relationship with Heritage Harvest Farms began!  As you'll see from their website, Heritage Harvest Farms is a small (well relatively speaking anyways), local, family run farm.  This year was the launch of their year round CSA program whereby for a set fee, we receive a weekly delivery of goodies throughout the year, a sample of which you see below.

What you can't see here are the dozen eggs, as well as meat products we receive every week.  The produce includes large tomatoes, a bagged mixture of grape/cherry tomatoes, various varieties of peppers, lettuce, various types of greens, cucumber, zucchini, green beans, purple beans, beets, fresh herbs and 2 loaves of homemade artisanal bread EVERY WEEK!  During winter months, the produce is expected to consist of things like carrots, parsnip, squash, potatoes, etc - the cold weather stuff.

The CSA model, if you're not familiar with it, basically requires the consumer pay a set fee for an agreed upon period of time and in return gets a share of the expected crop.  Obviously with farming, there is a risk/reward component and it mostly involves mother nature (assuming you've found a trustworthy farmer to work with).  When mother nature cooperates, there's the potential for significant bounty; if not, well... you get the picture - there's no guarantee.  You share the risks but you also share the rewards!

I love my farmer (yes you, Angie); our families have become acquainted, we stop by the farm and visit (albeit short visits given how much work they have to do!) and in general we have developed the kind of lasting partnership a foodie (that would be me!) can only dream of.

Here's to all the farmers out there making a difference for families like mine - thank you!!!

letting yourself off the hook

My usual browsing about the web this morning yielded an interesting read by Dr. Lissa Rankin, The Pressure to Be Perfect.  It got me thinking about all the things I do less than perfectly: meal planning, working out, cleaning and tidying the house, walking the dogs, spending more time with my spouse... and the list goes on and on and on.

And now I'm wondering, why?  We eat relatively healthy meals most of the time, I do workout, the dogs are happy creatures and so is my better half (as am I) so what exactly is wrong with all that?!  When it comes to cleaning the house, I recently did what I thought was copping out - I hired someone to clean it for me and I LOVE it.  I did that because I felt I didn't do a good enough job at keeping the house clean, certainly not the way I would have liked to.  Now I'm seeing that hiring someone to do that actually relieves the pressure to be perfect at cleaning the house and gives me the gift of time to spend being better at something else, like walking our dogs or planning and preparing awesome meals!

So what to make of this pressure to be perfect?  I'm not sure, to be honest.  I do know that I hate the feeling of falling short but it it has got me thinking that striving for perfection is over-rated - WAY overrated.  After all, if you've achieved perfection, that would suggest there's nothing more to learn and that I don't buy for a single millisecond.  

More than anything, this has me reflecting on acceptance; acceptance for the way things are; acceptance that I have the ability to change or influence how things are (eg I can simply choose to walk the dogs more); and accepting that I am learning every day and therefore not perfect and never will be. 

So, here's to being imperfect, in all sorts of ways!

gluten free CAN be yummy!

In my intro, I mentioned that one of my food sensitivities is to gluten.  I don't know about all of you, but I LOVE bread and pasta!!!   A life without them seemed just... wrong!  I won't lie and tell you I'm 100% gluten free.  I take liberties with mom's home made apple pie and some wicked artisanal bread a friend makes but I try and keep it to a minimum.  If I don't pay attention and eat more than I should, the headaches remind me when I've overdone it!

In the early days of my gluten free lifestyle, I basically avoided anything that remotely resembled wheat or a formerly consumed wheat product - veggies, fruit, meat were my staples.  No bread, no pasta, oh and no tacos at the local Mexican restaurant (who knew that even their hard shell tacos were made of wheat flour!)  Reading labels became a part time job and, as a result, I just shopped the outside aisles - though I have discovered those tricky grocery stores have moved the bakeries...where?  To the outside aisles of course where that fabulous smelling, freshly baking bread could be found.  Why does baking bread have to smell so damn good?!?!

Anyways, on to successes!  I slowly started experimenting and have since discovered all sorts of wonderful gluten free carbohydrate-ridden indulgences. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Rice paper rolls filled with chicken, julienned carrots and cucumber, fresh basil and cilantro topped with some homemade peanut sauce.  Just takes some practice working with the rice paper, but not rocket science
• Corn or quinoa pasta with our homemade pasta sauce and fresh basil with a little parmigiano reggiano
• Oatmeal - my personal gluten-free favorite is Glutenfreeda plain instant oatmeal as I can avoid the sugar that I'm also sensitive to.  Add a little maple syrup, goji berries, flax seed, some coconut butter to make it nice and creamy and voila!
• Corn tortillas - awesome corn flour by Maseca - add a little water, salt then shape and roll out the dough.  I "bake" my rolled out tortillas in a dry non-stick frying pan, then put them into a warm (not hot!) oven wrapped in a moistened tea towel to soften them (best to put the tea towel into a cake pan or something like it).  Fill with anything your heart desires!  Add a little honey or maple syrup to the water when making your dough and you have an awesome dessert base!
• Quinoa, quinoa, quinoa!  Cold or hot, it's fantastic and filling (with the nutritional profile it has, you MUST add this even if not on a gluten free regimen).  Add anything you like to it - grilled veggies, sun-dried tomatoes and pumpkin seeds along with some gluten free tamari, a little olive oil and fresh herbs is spectacular, especially a day later! 
• Soba noodles are a great addition to soups, just make sure you check the ingredients to ensure there's only buckwheat in there!
• Rice noodles are a also a great addition to soups.  My fav is having them as a cold salad gado-gado style with veggies (it's really just an excuse for me to eat peanut sauce!)

So you see, you really can experience incredible cuisine being gluten free, it just takes a little exploration and practice!  I'll be starting some experimenting with buckwheat flour (for crepes which I adore) and a heritage variety of wheat (red fife) which apparently tends not to cause the same reactions as modern hybridized varieties of wheat.  Will keep you posted on any successes with those.

Until next time, enjoy your gluten free goodies and share any of your favorites here as well!

how I became a yoga teacher

When I first started going to yoga 15 or so years ago it wasn't terribly popular; there was 1 sort of known studio downtown and because it was close to my office building, I thought why not go try it out?  I liked the idea of it, but felt intimidated by all the seasoned yogis who had their noses on their knees in a seated forward bend while I was lucky if I could grab hold of my calves!

It was years later in a small studio where I live that I had the good fortune to meet the owner and teacher, Darlene Maclachlan, now one of my dearest friends.  It took only a couple of classes with her to realize that I had been missing out on one of the most important aspects of yoga - me!  I had been so focused on everyone else and what they could do that I couldn't - I wasn't focused on my practice.  I couldn't (or refused to) recognize or acknowledge my own capabilities, limitations and opportunities for growth.  I was so stuck in the past (I used to be able to...) or looking to the future (someday I hope I can...) that I wasn't able to truly embrace the experience - the experience I was having then, in that moment, even (and especially) if that moment was a struggle.

When a teacher training program was launched at the studio, I did nothing.  I didn't think I could be a teacher - I had always been petrified of being in front of a group of people.  And yet it showed up in the back of my mind repeatedly over the course of a few months.  Still I did nothing and had assumed the session was full, when one day she told me that there was 1 space left she couldn't fill.  I was paying attention - that space was mine.

That was almost 1 year ago.  Since then, I've become a registered yoga teacher and have had the pleasure of teaching a brilliant group on a regular basis (oh, and getting comfortable in front a group too!).  Though I'm still getting the hang of teaching, I notice I am much more present and much more comfortable every single practice.  I can pay attention - in the moment - not only to me and how I feel, but what I see in my students - I am totally present.  I teach for them and I love it.  I learn from my experiences, from their experiences and all of that helps me (I hope) be a better teacher, a better student, a better spouse, a better friend...a better me.

I ventured down the teacher training path thinking if nothing else, I'd benefit from a better practice. Little did I know it would take me from "going to do yoga at the studio" to helping to teach me to live yoga every day on and off the mat and allowing me the privilege to guide others in their practice and exploration of what yoga means for them.

Namaste

what's the story, you ask?

So here it is - almost 4 years ago I was sick as a dog, I mean REALLY sick for about 4 months.  Constantly feeling exhausted and nauseous most of the time, I had gained upwards of 40 extra pounds that I certainly didn't need.  To sum it up, I felt like a walking zombie.  I missed more days of work in those 4 months than I had, EVER.  More often than not, I was in bed by 9pm and didn't (more like couldn't) get up before 11am.  Walking up a flight of stairs left me winded, toothpaste and shampoo made me nauseous.  I was miserable.  Suggestions of chronic fatigue syndrome left me bewildered and a lack of solutions had me wondering how long I was going to feel this way...I mean, this wasn't forever right?!  Then a friend suggested going to see a naturopath.  I was skeptical but figured it couldn't hurt, I mean she couldn't possibly make me feel worse than I already did so what was the harm?!

That visit changed my life - I know that's a strong statement - but it did.  Within a few visits, I discovered I had some food sensitivities - dairy, wheat/gluten and cane sugar. I remember getting home that night (Friday is our regular pizza and movie night) and bursting into tears wondering what on earth I was going to eat - surely I wasn't resigned to rabbit food for the rest of my life?

4 years later, 40 pounds lighter (with a few more to lose), asthma and allergies mostly a thing of the past, I am now a Registered Yoga Teacher and recently embarked on holistic nutrition studies through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.  I wasn't kidding when I said that visit changed my life.  It's taken a ton of work and I've fallen off the proverbial wagon more than once.  I would not trade the experience for anything.

I welcome you along for the ride - I have no idea where it will take me, so it'll be a surprise for all of us!