Year: 2016

Carillon Miami Beach

Published by Molly Catherine

I have only ever transited though Miami, but never spent any length of time there. I think it will now be a regular destination for Irek and I as we absolutely loved the vibe and of course, the heat! We had the most amazing stay at Carillon Miami Beach… I can confidently say that it’s within my top 5 favourite hotels we’ve ever stayed in. Below are some highlights from our time in Miami… The Grounds; The grounds at Carillon were stunning. There were beautifully manicured gardens and palm trees everywhere, tons of lounge areas, and incredible views of the ocean from almost every angle. The hotel is situated right on the beach, and there is a lovely walking path right in front that stretches along the entire strip. Pool Area; There are two beautiful pools at Carillon, both of which overlook the ocean. It’s the perfect place to soak up the sun, listen to an audiobook and just chill out. Irek and I spent most of our time lounging by the pool and cooling down (it took us …

The Brazilian Court Hotel

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I arrived in Palm Beach last Monday and had such a lovely time. We stayed at The Brazilian Court Hotel, which had such a peaceful vibe, and was surrounded by tons and tons of greenery. If you know me, then you know if there is nature around, I’m happy. Below is a brief summary of our time at The Brazilian Court Hotel and some highlights from Palm Beach! The Grounds; I fell head over heels in love with the grounds at The Brazilian Court. Everywhere you walk is surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery. All day long the birds were chirping and the palm trees swaying in the wind. It felt like a scene from a movie, or from a time and place far in the past, that I’ve never experienced before. It’s the perfect place to meditate and just be…. Pool Area; The pool area was serene and gorgeous. I could have stayed there all day just listening to the sounds of nature and soaking up the sun. Unfortunately we were only visiting …

Fall Favourites

Published by Molly Catherine

Fall has officially arrived… And that means winter is just around the corner! For me, that means tons of rain and lots of hibernation. For my Ontario friends and family that means lots of snow, and lots of shovelling. Either way – not super fun. But, on a happier note… Since it’s a new season, I thought it would be fun to show you guys a few new products that I’m really loving. And, if you happen to have any recommendations for products I should try, let me know in the comments! 🙂 This beautiful watch you see above is a product I received from JORD Wood Watches a couple weeks ago. I’m absolutely loving it – specifically because of how light and versatile it is! This model is the Frankie Zebrawood and Champagne but there are tons of different sizes and styles on their site if you’re interested. And if you are, follow this link: JORD Fall Giveaway to enter to win a $75.00 e-gift code towards any of their products (also just by entering you’ll receive a $20.00 e-gift …

Virtuous Pie Restaurant

Published by Molly Catherine

My favourite food for as long as I can remember has been pizza. But since going vegan 14 months ago it’s been the one food I haven’t really eaten much of. I’ve made it a few times at home but it’s been mediocre at best… So, you can imagine my delight when I heard there was a new vegan pizza + ice cream shop opening in Vancouver! Virtuous Pie opened their doors just a couple weeks ago in China Town and I cannot recommend them enough. Their pizzas and salads were soooo delicious. And, their dairy-free ice cream was the best Irek and I have ever had! So… do yourself a favour and get some vegan pizza from Virtuous Pie! They deliver too. 🙂 Hope everyone is having a fabulous week so far. Sending lots of love!! 🙂 Cheers, Molly xx __________ “I will not kill or hurt any living creature needlessly, nor destroy any beautiful thing, but will strive to save and comfort all gentle life, and guard and perfect all natural beauty upon the earth.” – John …

Joffre Lakes, Pemberton

Published by Molly Catherine

On Friday, Irek and I did one of the most beautiful hikes in BC… It’s called Joffre Lakes, and is located in Pemberton, about 30 minutes north of Whistler. There are 3 lakes you visit during this 4-5 hour hike, and they’re all so unique and beautiful. The water is a different shade of blue at each one and the mountain views are breathtaking. I feel most connected to the Earth when we are outside, fully immersed in nature. And, during this particular hike, we were lucky enough to see many different animals! We saw chipmunks, whiskey jacks, some deer, a blue heron, and… On the drive back, we saw a beautiful, big black bear! He was crossing the Sea to Sky Highway in Squamish. It was the closest we’ve ever been to a bear- he was only about 10 feet away from us. It was truly incredible. If you get a chance to visit Whistler, I definitely recommend you hike Joffre Lakes. It’s one of those magical places you’ll never forget. And, it’s just …

So long, Summer!

Published by Molly Catherine

I can’t believe summer is coming to an end! It went so quickly this year, and I’m not ready for the rainy season yet! I’m trying to stay positive though and keep in mind that without the rain we wouldn’t have such a lush and beautiful province. So really, we should be grateful. 🙂 I did struggle a bit last year during the fall and winter months though, because we got so much rain; it really does affect your overall mindset (if you let it). It was the most rain we’ve experienced since Irek and I moved here 3 + years ago. So this year, we’re taking matters into our owns hands and have decided that the best option is to travel once every month or so, and head to tropical places only! This way we’ll break up the winter and it won’t feel so long. Next month we’re heading to Florida and Mexico, followed by Bali and Australia in November/December. But, in the meantime… I’m trying to get outside as much as possible and do …

Lettuce Love Cafe

Published by Molly Catherine

I’m so happy that we made a last minute decision to try Lettuce Love Cafe in Burlington the day before we flew home to VanCity. Lettuce Love Cafe is situated in the beautiful city of Burlington, Ontario (about an hour South of Toronto). It’s 100% plant-based and the food was absolutely delicious! It’s safe to say it was the best food we’ve had in the GTA since transitioning to a herbivorous lifestyle. Lettuce Love Cafe has actually been rated the #1 restaurant in Burlington multiple times over the last 6 years and they have plans to expand and also offer a smoothie bar + smoothie bowls right next door! What more do you need in life?! I already can’t wait to go back next time I’m in the area! Irek and I both rate this restaurant a 10/10 hands down. We loved our meals so much. I had a Mexican bowl with a really nice tofu scramble, and Irek had a power bowl with sweet potatoes, kale, mushrooms etc. We also tried some avocado fries, which …

One Hundred Waterfalls, Hamilton

Published by Molly Catherine

Irek and I just recently spent 10 days in Ontario visiting family and attending some special events. We didn’t have too much time to explore but we did manage to visit a couple waterfalls in Hamilton the day before we left. Something I didn’t know (and I lived in Ontario for 24 years) is that Hamilton is actually home to 100 different waterfalls! The city sits on the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment and is full of unbelievable beauty. While we were exploring, I actually felt like we were back home in British Columbia! To get to the specific waterfalls we visited you would drive west of Toronto for about an hour and arrive at Tews Falls. It’s a beautiful area with lots of places to picnic. I definitely recommend visiting this area if you’re in the GTA. In my opinion, it’s the closest place to Toronto where you can experience nature to the fullest. Have a beautiful day & keep smiling! Cheers, Molly xx __________ “Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the …

The Hogtown Vegan Restaurant

Published by Molly Catherine

Last week, Irek and I went to the #1 vegan restaurant in Toronto called The Hogtown Vegan. They specialize in vegan comfort food with a southern twist. This is the type of restaurant you could bring a meat-eater to and I guarantee they would leave satisfied. Actually, it was the first time in a long time that Irek and I both struggled to finish our meals… not because they weren’t good (they were delicious) but because the portion sizes were so massive! Since going vegan, I haven’t had a proper club sandwich- which is one of my favourite things! That changed thanks to The Hogtown Vegan! I can honestly say that it was the BEST club sandwich I have ever had. It was massive, and a bit difficult to eat, but worth every single bite. The meat substitutes used on the sandwich were tofu slices (which mimicked bacon), and soy “chicken”. The soy “chicken” was the best meat substitute I’ve tried since going vegan. I don’t think a meat eater would be able to tell the …

The Naam Restaurant

Published by Molly Catherine

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 …