To Travel is To Live

Wow!  It's been months since I added something to this blog!  I feel so guilty now! Over the past 9 months, I've started two new IT jobs, Bryan has started one new Process Improvement job, and I began working at a chiropractic clinic doing my holistic nutrition (my real passion).  Plus, I've been super busy getting my nutrition business up and running (check it out if you're so inclined here - I focus on helping women with adrenal fatigue, chronic stress and confusing sleep, concentration, hormonal and anxiety issues overcome them with the right foods and lifestyle). With everything that's been going on in our lives, I decided it was time to celebrate! Starbelly caught my eye at least 18 months ago (I think - I'm pretty sure they've been around that long).  I've been yearning to try this place and have suggested it a few times. I never won.  :(  Finally, I bit the bullet and booked Starbelly Open Kitchen for one of our 'new job' celebrati...

When I left Extreme Swing after dancing my butt of for almost 4 straight hours last June, I was so giddy with happiness and excitement that I decided I couldn't wait until the Dance Stampede to attend another west coast swing event.  I began looking up future dance events to see what might work with my schedule and budget and settled on testing out the Seattle Sea to Sky weekend that occurred earlier this month.  The format of the event was very similar to that of the Dance Stampede so it was super easy for me to figure out which workshops I wanted to attend and determine how to schedule my days.  Since Bryan had come with me (and he doesn't dance) and I had never been to Seattle, I wanted to ensure some of my time was spent exploring with him while also getting my money's worth from the dance event.  My overall impression of this event was that it was pretty well organized but of a much smaller scale than Dance Stampede.  It fell on par with Extreme Swin...

For two years I have seen the signs indicating a haunted house within the community of Douglas Glen yet have never managed to check it out.  This year, I began walking by the house which hosts the attraction, watching the owners building and setting up their garage and converting it into something that was proving to be very intriguing.  Sitting outside their house throughout the year are often two older-style hearses, which, honestly, are something I would absolutely love to own!  These people are truly Halloween fanatics and I was eager to support their efforts this year. After running out of candy (yes, we suck) and turning off our lights, Bryan and I ventured out on the lovely Halloween night to visit the haunted house.  I was expecting it to be fairly busy but as we rounded the curve in the street, the sounds of excitement and Halloween ghouls floated towards us, enticing us and drawing us near.  The cars were lined up for blocks on either side of the str...

One day last week, an email arrived from one of the many promotional companies I subscribe to advertising tickets to the TELUS Spark Adults Only night.  The featured theme was CSI, a night of insight into the world of forensic tools and techniques used to solve crimes.  I love anything that deals with forensic science, most notably, forensic psychology (or, really, any forensic information I can find on neuroscience, psychiatry, illnesses of the mind, or general behavioral traits in criminals), and decided this might be an interesting evening out with Bryan.  Apparently, TELUS Spark offers Adults Only nights once per month on the 2nd Thursday of each, offering up different themes, opening up the exhibits to the more 'grown-up children' out there, and even offering up a bar.  Previously, the mere thought of visiting Spark, an attraction identified as one where children can play with science and learn about how things in our world work, gave me shivers as I imagined...

With a name like "The Park", are you really sure what you may find behind its doors?  Well, don't let this stop you from trying out this wonderful gem of a restaurant in Quarry Park.  Located in the old Baton Rouge building, on the corner of 18th Street SE and Quarry Park Blvd SE, not only does The Park offer fresh, sustainable and locally produced food options, but they have a fabulous west-facing patio unobstructed by tall buildings!  With these types of outdoor seating options few and far between in this city, we were especially excited that The Park offers us a well-rounded dining and drinking option in our neighborhood.  Aside from some decor alterations and removed walls, the inside of the restaurant looks quite similar to Baton Rouge (albeit more cheerful).  Both the dining room and the lounge are quite large and always seem to have room for customers when we stop in, usually for a weekend lunch, late afternoon beer on the patio, or dinner.  I cann...

When I was first told I would be going to Hawaii, the first place that popped into my head was Pearl Harbour.  I had to see this museum and monument and learn more about what happened that fateful day.  The more I learn about the wars that shaped our world, the more aware I feel I become about keeping the peace and what is important.   We chose the Passport ticket option from one website .  For $65, you have access to all four museums on site at the memorial.  The USS Arizona museum is filled with educational and informative tidbits - the audio tour guide is a great way to experience the museum and really feel the emotion and heartbreak that the survivors, to this day, felt.  Not only does the tour give you facts about the events leading up to, and including, the bombing by Japan, but actual stories are told, bringing those few hours to life once again.  Walking through the museum in my own world, listening to the tour, I was overcome by emotions tha...

This spring contains a triad of vacation accommodations, and with the luxury of each occurring within weeks of the others, I have had time to reflect upon the pros and cons of each:  the all-inclusive resort; the vacation rental by owner (VRBO), and the upscale hotel.  As my interests start to lean more towards experiencing a place like a local, you can expect that the vrbo or hotel are becoming my preference. However, each definitely has their pluses.  First, the hotel.  This option usually includes amenities such as in-room fridges, coffee makers, private bathrooms, and on-site lounges or restaurants.  Not every hotel has these options, as it does definitely depend upon the price range and the star classification.  As I try to compare 'apples to apples', I am looking at hotels in areas wrought with tourists, sandy beaches, daily tours and excursions, and located in high-traffic, safe areas.   A hotel offers you freedom to search out you...

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Today I thought I would do some research to find out how Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world.   It’s always exciting to visit another country and experience their traditions first-hand, and a look into those traditions that would intrigue me enough to specifically plan a vacation seems like a fitting task for today’s post! When Valentine’s Day is considered here in Canada, most people think of flowers, chocolates, and husbands scrambling at the last minute, getting ripped off by knowing vendors!   Stores are full of cheap, useless pink and red decorations (because, honestly, aside from perhaps elementary school classes, who actually throws a Valentine’s Day party?), and everyday chocolates come out in heart-shaped boxes at slightly higher prices.   It’s a fun day – I love Valentine’s Day, but not for these traditions.    Valentine’s Day is based upon St. Valentine , a patron saint from the 5 th centur...

On most Friday evenings from September through June, people looking for a place to dance to music from big band era jazz to current Top 40 hits can swing by the regular, yet informal, west coast swing dances held in Calgary.  Hosted by a great group of friendly, experienced dancers, these events are meant to help people enhance their west coast swing skills and keep on dancing - as any dancer knows, this is what is most important! Everyone is welcome, no matter what their experience.  In fact, what draws newcomers into this group and makes them members for life is the welcoming atmosphere and the lack of judgement by their peers.  Everyone is there to enjoy themselves, and most people are willing to help beginners out with their techniques and steps without criticism.  Dancers who have competed in west coast swing across the world attend, as do local instructors.  The music is diverse and there will be at least one song that is easily recognized by every atten...

It’s that time of year again, when the days of December run out and turn into the first few hours of January, marking the end of one period and the beginning of another.   It also tends to mean celebration and parties, so much so that people feel obligated to ‘do something’ each and every New Year’s Eve.   Surmising this tendency, I decided to look into some of the New Year’s Eve celebrations that are common in the locations I’ve either traveled to or plan to visit in the near future.   Here in Calgary, the traditions are common with other Canadian cities – people drink and drink a lot.   Sometimes there is dinner, sometimes dancing, but there is always a lot of liquor.   Every pub and nightclub realizes this and offers the same type of party that occurs on a typical Friday or Saturday, only for a vastly inflated cover price and maybe higher priced drinks.   For people looking for something a bit more special and unique, though, Calgary offers some...