Latest Posts

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….

The Brazilian Court Hotel

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 for two days… so I forced myself up and we did some exploring in the city (see my Instagram for additional photos of Palm Beach).

The Brazilian Court Hotel

Accommodations;

The one bedroom suite we were graciously given was beyond my expectations. Again, it felt like we were in another time, another place. I have never stayed in a room with such a rustic, South American vibe… it was beautiful. The highlight of the room for me was by far the jacuzzi tub. It was a dream.

The Brazilian Court Hotel

Dining;

The Brazilian Court didn’t have too many vegan options for us, however the chef was super accommodating. He made some plant-based dishes specifically for us that we were very pleased with. They also make a mean Cosmopolitan…it’s all about balance right? I also have to mention the service because it was outstanding. The servers and hosts were professional and friendly and we felt very taken care of. For breakfast and lunch if you want to switch it up, about a 5 minute drive away is an awesome little spot called Field of Greens with the best acai bowls ever! And right beside Field of Greens is a restaurant called The Chickpea – they have some great wraps that you can request to be made vegan. So there are definitely options in the area!

The Brazilian Court Hotel

In Summary;

Our stay at The Brazilian Court Hotel was truly beautiful. If you’re looking for a place to stay in Palm Beach it’s definitely a great option. You can also request to have one of the staff take you down to the beach, set you up with chairs, towels and whatever else you require.

Overall, it was a lovely experience- a huge thank you to The Brazilian Court Hotel for hosting Irek and myself.

I hope everyone is having a beautiful day. Sending lots of love!

Cheers,

Molly xx

__________

“I do believe in an everyday sort of magic — the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like…”

– Charles de Lint

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 code by email – excluding the winner). Must enter by Oct 9th. Good luck!

This little beauty you see above is my new “Circle of Life” bracelet from Ashley Bridget! It’s super cute and matches perfectly with my JORD Watch. Ashley Bridget has so many different styles, from beaded bracelets to silver necklaces, to bracelets like mine shown above. You can use code “INSTA60” to receive 60% off all jewellery on their site. 🙂

The next product I’m really into right now is my new vegan purse from Pixie Mood. This style is called the ‘Steph – Nude Triangles Cork’ and it’s super funky and really different – hence why I love it! Pixie Mood is a Toronto based company and their products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and PETA approved. When I received my bag, the first thing I noticed was how well-made and high quality it is… very affordable too! Use coupon code “MCP15JC” for 15% off their site (valid until Nov 26, 2016).

It’s impossible for me to write about my favourite products and not include OSEA Malibu. I believe I’ve mentioned OSEA on the blog before, but let me just reiterate how much I love their vegan skin care products… They use the most amazing ingredients only found in nature, one of the main ones being Algae extract. Algae is super rich in minerals that moisturize, nurture and soothe the skin. Personally, after using their products, I’ve seen a huge difference in a short amount of time (about 1 year). If you have skin issues like rosacea or acne (or even less serious issues such as uneven skin tone), and are struggling to find a product that works – give OSEA Malibu a try… Trust me.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Next time you hear from me (next week) I’ll be in Palm Beach…

Enjoy the rest of your day! Sending lots of love.

Cheers,

Molly xx

__________

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

 – Roald Dahl

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.

Virtuous Pie Restaurant

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 Ruskin

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.

Joffre Lakes Pemberton

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.

Joffre Lakes Pemberton

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 as beautiful in the winter… But make sure to bring snow shoes!

I hope everyone has a beautiful week ahead! Sending lots of love.

Cheers,

Molly xx

__________

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field… I’ll meet you there.”

– Rumi

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 my yoga practice by the lake (before it’s too cold). I actually wrote a guest blog post on Tonic Active’s site. You can check it out here: https://www.tonicactive.ca/blogs/news/fall-is-upon-us. I gave my 3 tips on how to stay healthy and active during the fall and winter months. It’s so easy to become lethargic and glued to the couch – but that won’t do your mind or body any good!

Yoga by the lake

Have a lovely day and get some fresh air.

Cheers,

Molly xx

Wearing; Tonic Active – use code ‘molly20’ for 20% off their site.

__________

“You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in your imagination.”

– Roman Payne

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 did not disappoint!

Lettuce Love Cafe Burlington

You must try Lettuce Love if you’re close to Burlington! I believe they do takeout as well, and it’s always nice to have a healthy takeout option for those nights you just don’t have it in you to cook a big meal.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week thus far!

Cheers,

Molly xx

__________

“Could you look an animal in the eyes and say to it, ‘My appetite is more important than your suffering’?”

– Moby

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.

Hamilton Ontario

Have a beautiful day & keep smiling!

Cheers,

Molly xx

__________

“Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the unconscious, and they must be brought into connection with action. They must be woven together.”

– Anaïs Nin

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!

The Hogtown Vegan Restaurant Toronto

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 difference!

The Hogtown Vegan Restaurant Toronto

I also have to mention the interior of the restaurant; it was a blast from the past. The retro colours and the old-school record labels hanging on the wall made it feel like a scene from the 70’s! It was super trendy and had a very chilled out atmosphere. I definitely recommend visiting The Hogtown Vegan if you’re in the GTA. You’ll leave there full & satisfied, and the food is worthy of a 10/10 rating! Just keep in mind that it’s not something you should be eating everyday- but we all have to indulge sometimes, right?!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous day. Stay tuned over the next few days for more posts about our time in Ontario!

Cheers,

Molly xx

__________

“Only when we have become non-violent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves.”

– Cesar Chavez

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 hours a day, so it’s definitely handy for people who live in Kits and are looking for some late night munchies! All in all, I would rate The Naam a 7/10. There are definitely other places I would be more excited to eat at, but it’s a decent option if you’re in Kits! Let me know in the comments if you’ve been there and how your experience was…  🙂

The Naam Restaurant Vancouver

Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

Cheers,

Molly xx

Ps. I’m heading to Toronto tomorrow to partake in some family events so it may be a week or so until another post is up! Hoping to visit a couple vegan restaurants while we’re there… I’ll keep you posted!

__________

“Animals are not products. Life doesn’t have a price.”

– Anonymous 

The Canadian Desert

Published by Molly Catherine

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! 🙂

Osoyoos British Columbia

Osoyoos British Columbia

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 a new favourite! It’s a white blend called Dreamcatcher and combines 45% Riesling, with 29% Sauv Blanc, 12% Pinot Blanc, 6% Ehrenfelser, 6% Semillon and 2% Chardonnay. It was delicious! Crisp, but it also has some lovely, fruity undertones.

Osoyoos British Columbia

If you’re heading to the Okanagan Valley you must stop by Nk’Mip. They have a resort just beside the winery, so you can crash after enjoying a couple bottles of Dreamcatcher, or any of their delicious blends. There are also many hiking, ATV, and biking trails in Osoyoos and it actually sits on the warmest lake in all of Canada, Lake Okanagan. So, it’s the perfect place for paddle boarding, kayaking, boating etc. The adventures you can have in the Okanagan, and Osoyoos specifically, are endless!

Wishing you all a beautiful day! Keep smiling and stay cool. 🙂

Cheers,

Molly xx

Ps. I can’t finish this post without mentioning our lovely server, Melanie. She was a beautiful soul and all 3 of us (Irek included) ended up discussing our love for Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, and all the amazing things the universe has to offer – you just have to ask. Cheers!

__________

“Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real.”

– Deepak Chopra