All posts tagged: britishcolumbia

Yoga Update + My New Fave Mat

Good morning loves, <3 There are quite a few advanced yoga postures I’m currently working on in my practice, so I thought I’d share a few with you (along with some tips) and perhaps you can relate it to your own practice. 🙂 The first posture I’m working on is king dancer! This pose seemed so far out of my reach even just a few months ago… But one day during my practice last month, I flipped my grip at the last minute and voila! I pulled it off… somewhat. 😉 King dancer is a very intense posture for me, so I make sure to warm up lots before getting into the full expression. I like to do lots of heartopeners and really focus on warming up my shoulders (lots of extended puppy) beforehand. You’ll notice a huge, positive difference in your ability to pull off ANY posture if you take the time to warm up and stretch first. I can’t stress that enough.  Another posture I’m working towards (and have been for some time …

Othello Tunnels

Exploring Othello Tunnels in Hope, BC

Good morning loves! <3 It’s been a little bit since my last post, so I really hope you’re all doing well, enjoying the summer, and keeping cool! You’ve probably heard by now, of the raging fires in British Columbia… I believe there are 123 active fires at the moment. Consequently, the air quality where we live is very poor. We are immersed in a huge smoke cloud, and can no longer see the mountains… That being said, I believe rain is on the horizon! It looks as though it may start to cool down a bit next week, as we’re finally seeing some rain clouds in the forecast! Let us take a moment to really feel the rain, and believe it’s presence is upon us.  It’s not so nice to be outside in this smoky weather, so Irek and I have been hiding out in our apartment, with our pretty kitty cat, Petrie Dumbledore. However, we did manage to get out a few days ago and explore a beautiful place called Othello Tunnels. The tunnels …

Kelowna

Birthday Road Trip to The Okanagan Valley

Good morning! <3 It’s been a few weeks since my last post so I’m excited to share some new photos with you guys! Going forward, I’ll be posting something new every week, so stay tuned for more content (including lots of yoga posts)! Last week was my 28th birthday, and contrary to how most people feel, I do not feel old, and I am not anxious to be reaching the infamous, daunting 30. Instead, I feel vibrant, healthy, and grateful to be able to experience all of the amazing things this universe has to offer. To be honest, I am not a huge fan of birthdays… I’m not really sure why, I just have never have been. Usually on my birthday, Irek and I stay home with our cat and order takeout… But this year we thought it was time to switch things up a bit. 😉 Our first stop on the way to Kelowna (which is a 4.5 hour drive from Vancouver) was Alexandra Provincial Park. Irek saw some photos on Instagram of this …

Exploring Whistler with Nita Lake Lodge

A couple weeks ago we spent some time at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler. To be honest, I fell in love the second we stepped foot on the property. Okay… so that could have had something to do with the three overwhelmingly gorgeous golden retrievers sprawled out in the middle of the lobby! I can’t think of a more perfect welcome. 🙂  Since the hotel is pet friendly, they have many neighbourhood pups who hang out and greet people as they’re checking in, while their parents are enjoying a few cocktails at the lounge… So adorable!! <3 Nita Lake Lodge has a very relaxed, tranquil atmosphere. I felt like any tension I was carrying dissipated immediately, even just within the first few minutes of being there… I’m already dreaming of how lovely it will be to spend some time there in the summer. It’s actually the only hotel on a lake in Whistler, so it’s the place to be in the warmer months if you’re into kayaking and supping etc! Irek and I will for sure head back in July or August for a few nights. 🙂 We had some …

Why I love Vancouver

There are so many reasons why I love Vancouver. The people, the energy, the fresh mountain air, the fact that we have the largest coastal temperate rainforest in the world, the proximity to the Pacific Ocean… need I say more? That’s why it’s always such a pleasure when our friends visit and we have the opportunity to show them around, while at the same time renewing our love for this beautiful, lush province. Irek and I spent last week with fellow Travel Bloggers and Hawaii natives, Reid and Maryrose of Wanderlustyle Travel and Lifestyle Blog. They visited Canada for the first time with their globe trotting 10 year old son Landon (who happens to be the coolest, most relaxed kid I’ve met). We were also reunited with two very special people, Kim and Phil (Love Over Blood, The Vegan Artists Collective) who we first met in Bali last year… I loved them from the very first second. On their first full day in Vancouver, we headed to a few must-sees in the area: Capilano Suspension Bridge, Lighthouse Park, and The Cleveland Dam. The weather was exactly what you’d …

The Naam Restaurant

Lately, I’ve been hearing really good things about The Naam Restaurant, located in the heart of Kitsilano. So, on our way to the beach the other day we stopped in for a quick lunch to see for ourselves. The Naam has a lovely outdoor patio area with plants all around and a really homey, welcoming feel. The menu has a huge selection of different cuisines, from Mexican, to Thai, to Italian even. I had a very hard time deciding what to order! We went with nachos to start, which were good, although too much daiya cheese (dairy-free) for my liking. And then I had a veggie burrito with a garden salad and some potatoes. The burrito was good, although again, too much daiya cheese. The flavours overall were nice but for me, there was just something missing… it didn’t ‘wow’ me. And as for Irek, he ordered his usual – a veggie burger. He said pretty much the same thing; the food was good but it wasn’t outstanding. That being said, The Naam is open 24 …

The Canadian Desert

One of my favourite things to do in BC in the summer is visit as many different wineries in The Okanagan Valley as possible. This past weekend we decided it was time to road trip to Osoyoos! Osoyoos is the southern-most town in the Okanagan Valley, and on average has the hottest, driest summers in all of Canada. However, this year, I think Ontario is giving it a run for it’s money… It’s been ridiculously hot there this year- so I’m told! And I’ll be experiencing that heat myself in just a few short days when we fly out to visit family! 🙂 Now, Osoyoos is home to the first Aboriginal owned winery in North America, called Nk’Mip Cellars. It did not disappoint and has now become my new favourite in the Okanagan! The view from the patio restaurant was a dream… In fact, we loved it so much that we ended up staying for 4 hours and managed to put away quite a few glasses of wine. And speaking of wine, I also now have …

Twenty Mile Bay

There truly is nothing like disconnecting from the world to spend a few days immersed in nature. Irek and I did just that this past weekend and went camping at Twenty Mile Bay, near Harrison Hot Springs. To reach the campsite, you have to off-road 40k through the mountains, with stellar views all the way. It’s one of my absolute favourite places in British Columbia… If you visit the area and are looking for an epic place to camp, this is it. It was the first time in weeks that we didn’t do any work and really didn’t think about much at all. We took the time to shut off our brains, relax, meditate, do yoga and absorb the beauty around us. I love so many things about camping; staring up at the stars at night, the fire dancing in the wind, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore (or the silence in the morning when the water is still)… Suffice to say, it was exactly what we needed to refresh ourselves and …

Mission Hill Family Estate

There is the most beautiful winery in Kelowna called Mission Hill Family Estate. I fell in love with it the first time we visited a few years ago. It’s such a dreamy, magical place, with vineyards surrounding the entire grounds and beautiful views of Lake Okanagan. Mission Hill is also home to The Terrace Restaurant, which is easily one of my favourite restaurants in The Okanagan Valley. They grow most of their own fruits and veggies and work closely with local farmers to source the rest. Irek and I both feel it deserves a 10/10 as the service is unparalleled and the food is to die for… There aren’t too many vegan options on the menu, but the chef was super accommodating and we couldn’t have been happier with our meals. Irek and I will probably head back to The Okanagan Valley a few more times before the season is over, and I recommend you do as well! Just keep in mind that since Mission Hill is one of the most well-known wineries in Kelowna, it …

The Okanagan Valley

Irek and I spent the last couple of days in The Okanagan Valley, which is about a 4.5 hour drive from Vancouver. It’s a gorgeous place, with more wineries than you can imagine! I fell in love with this area the first time we discovered it, 3 years ago. There is nature all around and the climate is desert-like so it gets super hot in the summer. The valley is also home to the warmest lakes in all of Canada, so it’s a great place to explore if you like to be on the water (great for supping, kayaking, boating etc). Just outside of Kelowna (which is the main city) is a smaller town called Vernon. At the top of this beautiful hill in Vernon is a resort called Sparkling Hill, our favourite in all of British Columbia. We spent Christmas there this past year with our beautiful friends from Australia, Robyn and Lewis, and they fell in love as well. The resort has 8 different saunas and steam rooms, and it’s also decked out in …