I stayed late at work this afternoon. A lot late. 

And as I rode the Skytrain home, with a familiar twinge of pain returning to my neck, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit blue.  Okay, I’ll admit it. I kind of felt sorry for myself. That’s when I checked into Instagram. Sure a lot of times it’s filled with nonsense, way too many selfies, and pictures of food. But once in a while, you find something that inspires you.

Browsing inspiration pictures was just what I needed this afternoon — it was just the kick in the pants that I was looking for!

Note: links to all the original images can be found on my Pinterest account

Question: What exciting things do you have going on this week? I’m looking forward to spending quality time with the Husband after a busy couple of weeks for the both of us! He’s my lobster and I heart him!

Back when I lived in Europe, I often heard people talk about taking city breaks. That terms was totally foreign to me but I understood it meant taking a quick getaway to an easily accessible nearby city. Within the European context, that often meant a quick trip to Paris or London.

Now that I live in Vancouver, I’ve become a huge fan of city breaks; mostly because they’re particularly well suited to our busy schedules (where our days off don’t always line up). Of course, given our location one of my favourite places to take a city break is Victoria, British Columbia. There’s something about taking the ferry over to the Island, the relaxed pace of life, and the beautiful sights that always makes me feel so regenerated after a getaway to Victoria.

Question: Are you a fan of city breaks? What is your favourite destination for a quick weekend getaway? Do you have any city breaks coming up? I will be heading to Portland (for Fitbloggin’ 13) at the end of June, and I can’t wait!!!!!

This past year has seen me go from my normal office (which requires a sometimes lengthy drive) to one only a public transit commute away. It’s been a nice shift with more than a few side benefits (hello perkier butt!). Unfortunately, this week I discovered one of the downsides of my commute.

As a lawyer I often have to bring work home with me. Most of the time I try to make sure that my work involves only online research but there are the few times when I find myself bringing loads of paperwork home.

Such was the case about a week and a half ago; of course instead of driving to work like a sensible person, I decided to bring everything home in a not so supportive backpack. I’m sure you can see where this is going . . .

By the next morning I woke up with quite a bad neck strain. I wrongly assumed that it would go away during the course of the day – instead it only got worse and worse.

So much so, that while at dinner that evening my friends assumed that I was incredibly exhausted – I wasn’t but the pain was so bad that I had to prop my neck up with my hands.

What followed over the next week was nothing short of excruciating. Most days my neck and traps were in such contorted agony that they caused my head to tilt down and to the side. I looked decidedly pathetic!

Getting my neck back to normal has been no easy feat — thus far it’s required one doctor’s appointment (for Tylenol 3 and muscle relaxants), two massages, and five chiropractic appointments. Thank God for my extended health plan!!

And can you believe that after all those treatments I’m still not cleared to exercise!??! I’m pretty well back to normal (save for driving since shoulder checks are still painful) but my chiro wants to wait until everything is a bit less tender.

Lesson learned friends!! I’m never taking my neck for granted again! And I’ll never play that fast and lose while carrying heavy objects again! Not only because it hurts like @&#$*! when you do but also because I want to be able to enjoy a long and healthy life!!!

All these pictures were taken on a recent cruise from Vancouver’s Coal Harbour up Indian Arm and back. Our trip lasted approximately four hours and included a luncheon of roasted wild salmon, loads of salads, and ridiculously yummy desserts. It wasn’t cheap ($65 + taxes/fees) but it was totally worth it for the delicious food and incredibly gorgeous views. In fact, I honestly think my day on the cruise is one of the nicest days I have ever spent in Vancouver!!!!!

Question: Have you ever injured your neck!?!?! I think I suffered something similar to whiplash – my muscles were so tender that I couldn’t sand to be in a moving vehicle and even swallowing was something to be avoided. Never in my life did I think I would be in so much pain that I would consider begging for a neck brace!!

Living in Vancouver has its perks. One of them is that I have the opportunity to attend health and food related events. And most often than not I get to go with my fellow blogger friend, Marianne of French Fries to Flaxseeds.

That’s how earlier this year, we found ourselves at the Vancouver Wellness Show.

This was my very first trade show experience and I have to say I quite enjoyed it! Which is saying a lot because I was brutally sick. Brutally.

The number one benefit to attending the annual Wellness Show was the swag!!! Although Marianne and I attended as press, had we purchased our tickets we would have more than made back the cost of our ticket (under $20) in the loot bags you get at the door.

Attending the Wellness Show gave me the opportunity to try out some fantastic new products. In particular, I loved the Manitoba Harvest hemp hearts, the Hippie Granola, and Daiya vegan cheese wedges. Those are all products that I have bought since the show and will continue to buy in the future.

But aside from the products in the swag bags, I also discovered some fantastic products inside the show. Take the K9 Natural for example, it’s a raw freeze dried food for dogs. I was a little wary of giving some to Daisy but she gobbled it like it was some kind of puppy crack. To be honest, I’m considering switching Daisy over from her current dog food to K9 Natural.

Bio-K is another fantastic discovery I made at the Wellness Show. Basically, Bio-K is a high dose probiotic packaged in small containers of yogurt like drinks. The theory behind Bio-K is that if the bacteria in your stomach is well balanced you will improve your overall health.

By the time I hit the Wellness Show, I had spent about two months consistently ill. So I bought some. And guess what? I haven’t been sick since!

Bio-K is pretty pricey so I don’t take it everyday but I take enough to make sure that I stay on track. As a bonus? It’s very yummy!!!

Some of the booths at the Wellness Show weren’t up my alley.

Some were very homespun.

Some were loads of fun – such as the Latin Fitness Ztudio demo (if you’re in the Burnaby area check these girls out, they’re fantastic).

Some were delicious.

And some were downright miraculous (this stuff helped me kick my brutal respiratory infection).

Here’s the bottom line about the Wellness Show – it’s an annual event with something for everyone! Wether meditation, reflexology, cooking demonstrations, or product samples . . . the Wellness Show has it all! I intend on going next year and I hope you’ll consider being there too!

Question: Have you ever attended a trade show? What did you think of them? I was honestly surprised at how much there was to see and do!!

Years ago I used to detest the thought of running. In fact, I would refer to it as walking fast enough to feel uncomfortable; a statement I would always follow up with “And why would I want to do that!?!” Those days of absolutely dreading running are long gone but that doesn’t mean working up to a 10K was easy.

I’ll confess that there were days I didn’t want to head out on my long runs. Sundays when I would have rather slept in. Times I disliked looking like a mess after all my runs. But I got through it and I’m pretty sure these are the eight reasons why . . .

1) My training group

To prepare for this race I joined a training group. We would get together once a week for our long runs and we would run the rest of the time by ourselves. Having people to run with not only made the whole experience feel more collegial, it also forced me to follow a schedule.

Although training groups are not for everyone, I definitely felt that training with the clinic was a good step for me this time around.

2) Running with a Bestie 

I wouldn’t have stuck with training had it not been for good old fashioned peer pressure. I can’t recommend getting a running buddy highly enough!

My friend and I both live far away from the training clinic location but we chose a place halfway between the both of us. I knew that every Sunday, my amiga would be there waiting for me. I also knew that during the middle of the week, we would check in on each other and see how the runs were going. That meant that if I didn’t show up or didn’t train, I would be letting a good friend down. And that was unacceptable.

Besides, having someone to run with on race day made the experience all the more memorable.

In other news, I just noticed I look a little cross eyed above. Weird. And very disturbing.

3) Proper fuelling

In past races I have had serious fuelling issues. I never eat enough or I eat too soon before the race and then crash halfway through.

Thankfully, just as I was preparing to run the Sun Run, the good people at CLIF Bar sent me some of their wonderful products to help me on the way. Their bars are fantastic hits of nutrition for those of you that love being active. The Husband and I have eaten CLIF Bars on long hikes deep in the Rocky Mountains (where to bring anything else would likely attract bears), packed them as quick meal replacements on the go, and in my most recent case – used them to fuel before a race when I was too nervous to eat anything else.

And then there are the Shot Bloks and Energy Gels. Those things are a God send!!!! Generally, I fuel during a run when I’m going to be out there longer for an hour. And in those moments when my energy is waning the Shot Bloks and Energy Gels are perfect. I prefer the Bloks myself since they remind me of gummy candies and are easy to get down. Depending on how you’re feeling during a race the consistency of the Energy Gels may not be ideal but I know many a runner that swear by them.

During my recent Sun Run outing my friend started to cramp up. I’m not really sure when or what she had eaten but she was fading. I opened up a package of my Shot Bloks and gave her some. Pretty quickly she felt better and was able to get through the rest of the race. She was super impressed and even mentioned how I should share the story on my blog – so there you have it! True story!!

Now if only the CLIF Bar people would bring their Z Bars up to Canada . . . oh how I love those things!

4) Information

I have to confess that I’m a bit of a fitness technology junkie! There’s something about having information about pace, calorie burn, and distance run at my finger tips that motivates me to no end.

Generally, I would do long runs with my Garmin by my side. Checking on my pace would help keep me honest and avoid the temptation to phone it in.

But the Garmin is not the only device I used, right before the race I bought a BodyMedia Fit Core – because apparently if Jillian Michaels is selling it, I’m buying it! My little BodyMedia device is the descendent of the BodyBugg and can be seen on the arm of every Biggest Loser contestant. Using an arm band equipped with four sensors it provides me with information about my calorie burn during the day, minutes of moderate and vigorous activity, steps taken, and even sleep efficiency!

I think it’s safe to say that I love my little toy! And I especially loved seeing my massive calorie burn after the Sun Run!!!!

5) Beautiful Places to Run

I don’t know about you but I find it highly motivating to find a beautiful place to do my training runs. More specifically, I absolutely adore running by the ocean!!!

And while there’s nothing like the ocean to fill your lungs and quicken your step, other types of surroundings are also fantastic! I for one love running through neighbourhoods or city streets in the early morning hours. Anything but the dreadmill. Anything.

6) New Kicks

Most of us tend to keep our running shoes way too long! I bet if you’re anything like me, you have a tendency to run in shoes that have long lost their shape and support. Well that my friends is a recipe for absolute disaster.

That’s why in preparation for my 10K training I invested in a new pair of runners. But I didn’t pick out the prettiest pair or the cheapest ones, I went to a running store, armed with my custom orthotic insoles, and got fitted for a pair that was perfect for my needs.

Most running stores will be happy to assist you with your running shoe needs. And some will even offer fantastic return policies, allowing you to exchange a pair, even after you’ve used them!

7) SierraSil Joint Formula 14

I first heard of SierraSil Joint Formula 14 when I was contacted by the manufacturer to see if I would be interested in trying a sample. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to at first but once I read that the product was endorsed and used by the Vancouver Canucks to aid in recovery — well I guess you could say I was sold!

SierraSil is an all natural supplement made of essential minerals ground into a fine powder and packaged in capsule form. The capsules are taken between meals and do wonders for joint pain and general mobility. I know it sounds crazy but the mix of minerals act like magic for the body.

Given that I have a tendency towards knee pain, I honestly don’t know that I could have survived training without SierraSil. I could definitely tell the difference between when I took it regularly during training and when I neglected my supplementing regime. I can not recommend SierraSil strongly enough!!! Two thumbs way up!!!

8 ) Recovery Time

I learned a long time ago that my body doesn’t do well if I run every day, or every other day for that matter. That’s why I tried to keep my running to three days a week. This allowed me to get my long runs in, gradually ramp up my mileage during the week, and still have time for cross-training. Because as much as I love a run where your foot hitting the pavement matches the beat of the music streaming through your headphones, there is more to life than running.

So there you have it friends! The 8 things that got me through my first Vancouver Sun Run!

Question: What keeps you motivated to keep on training (whether that be for a race or for achieving general health)? Do you find an exercise buddy to be helpful? Or do you prefer to go at it alone?

A couple of Sundays ago I did something I haven’t done in over two years — I ran a race!!!

If you’re thinking to yourself that I was nervous after a few years away from racing, you’re absolutely right. In fact, my tummy felt rather like I’d swallowed a whole bunch of butterflies. But butterflies or not, there was no turning back. I had gone through the training clinic, I had promised my bestie that I would stick with her throughout the race, and well with the recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon, running had taken on a greater meaning.

So I did what any other wannabee Vancouver runner would do. I laced up my shoes. Donned my blue and yellow. And headed out the door.

The Sun Run happens to be Canada’s largest road race at about 50,000 participants. I had been warned by many that the amount of runners would feel overwhelming but I didn’t believe them. Silly me.

On race morning it became abundantly clear that a good chunk of Vancouver decided it was a good idea to head out for a 10K run that morning. It was crazy to think that I started two short city blocks back from the start line and it took an hour for the waves ahead of us to clear out. Given that there were maybe 8 city blocks behind me waiting to start, I shall consider myself lucky.

There was definitely an energy in the air at the start line and I was hopeful that it would be enough to power me through a good race. I knew ahead of time that I wasn’t doing it for time but I was eager to have a smooth 10k.

Unfortunately, the wait in the corrals proved much too long for my legs. By the time we got going they had absolutely cooled down, and the first thing they did was cramp up. I probably spent the first 4km trying to get them to release. Lately, I’ve noticed that this is not uncommon for my runs. In fact, I don’t seem to hit my stride until about the 5K mark.

Aside from the cramping the only time I noticed some discomfort was after we came off the Burrard Street Bridge. The incline itself really wasn’t too bad but the downhill, combined with the earlier calf cramping, was enough to cause my IT band/knee issues to bother me for about a kilometre. Pretty quickly though it wore off and I could return to running normally.

Of course by this point we were probably nearly the 8km mark – also known as the furthest I had actually trained for this race. Thankfully just as my energy started to wane, we encountered a super enthusiastic group of people from Lululemon cheering us on. It was definitely the boost I needed!!

From there on out there was only one flat stretch and another bridge before the finish. My goal at that point was to support my friend (her foot was starting to really bother her), and to finish strong.

I made a point to take in the view as we crossed the last bridge. The day had cleared up nicely and I truly appreciated being privileged enough to run in such a beautiful location!

In the final stretch I definitely acted as a cheerleader for my friend. It was a bit of a role reversal from two years ago when Penny basically willed me across the finish line of the Long Beach Half Marathon. Only this time, I was the one supporting someone else. That was honestly my overarching goal at the Sun Run and as we crossed the finish line, I couldn’t help but be thrilled for my amiga!!!

And well, I think you can tell she was pretty pleased herself!!  Truth be told, seeing her so happy made the race ever so memorable and completely worthwhile!!

All in all, I’m happy I did the Sun Run! It’s a very Vancouver thing to do and I’d like to think that I am now one step closer to being considered a true Vancouverite. But would I do it again? Unlikely. Sure I live by the starting line. And yes, I anticipate that I will feel a pang of guilt when the runners go by next year and I’m not with them. But the truth is, I think the race is just a little too big for my liking. It takes forever to start and unfortunately there are times where the roadway narrows much too much to comfortably accommodate the masses of runners. That coupled with people doing things like passing you only to stop dead in their tracks in front of you, causes to much frustration.

Having said all of that, I absolutely intend on doing another 10K! In fact, I’ve already chosen the race – next year I plan on returning to where it all began! And I hope it will be a glorious homecoming!

Question: Do you prefer smaller races or are you a fan of the bigger ones? I honestly haven’t done any small races (mostly because everyone tends to be really fast at those) but maybe in the future I need to look at doing smaller events!! When we did the halfway 5K in our training clinic, I absolutely loved the intimate and supportive feel of a tight knit running community!

Do you every daydream about beautiful interiors? Surely, I can’t be alone in this department!

I absolutely love where we live. Our condo is very much like a luxury hotel suite with a ridiculous view. But that doesn’t mean I don’t find my mind wandering . . . and when I dream of kitchens, my dreams look something like this . . .

 Note: links to all the original sources of these pictures can be found on my Pinterest page

I guess you could say more than anything, I’m drawn to kitchens that are airy and bright. I guess that’s how I like my casas. Except for when they’re dusty, in which case the sun can go shine somewhere else! HA!

Question: What is your kitchen ideal? Do you prefer lighter or darker colours I obviously like lighter colours but the mixture of the very light and the very dark can work quite well!

There are certain places in this world that I consider magical. One of those happens to be Victoria – and thankfully I’m blessed enough to be here for the duration of the week.

Last night, I headed out to Run for Boston on one of my favourite stretches in Victoria. I wasn’t the only runner out there – there were lots of us.

I’d like to think that I ran faster and stronger last night. It wasn’t just any run. It was a run in solidarity and a show of defiance.

And this was the view . . .

Questions: Have the events in Boston dissuaded you from running big races in the future? I’m scheduled to run Canada’s largest road race on Sunday (the Vancouver Sun Run 10k – with 50,000 participants) and apparently registrations have surged since the bombings! Which is not to say I won’t eye wayward packages with suspicion but I will run nonetheless!

When tragedies strike, heroes rise to meet the challenge: the first responders seen sprinting toward the blast site, the runners who changed course to run to local hospitals to donate blood, and the fine citizens of Boston who at once opened their homes to marathoners in need of a place to stay. When we come together, we cannot be brought down. – George Takei

Marathon Monday is a day in which the running community, and the whole city of Boston, celebrates the triumph of the human spirit.

By now, we have all heard about the tragic events at the finish line. The running community is very small, no matter where you live. I, like many of you, know people that have run Boston.

It didn’t feel right to write a frivolous post tonight. So instead, I will simply join my voice to those praying for everyone affected by today’s tragedy.

And because I can do nothing more from such a distant place, I will lace up my shoes and head out for a run tonight.

Tonight, I will run for Boston.

In a city entirely full of wonderful restaurants there is one that has stolen my heart.

Within a matter of months Via Tevere has quickly become my favourite restaurant in all of Vancouver. And to think it all started with a random pizza craving one weekday night.

Nestled in an otherwise residential neighbourhood, Via Tevere is a hidden gem. Which is not to say, it is not popular – in fact, on any given night you will find patrons milling around outside the restaurant waiting for their table.

Dinner service at Via Tevere begins at 5pm and the restaurant does not accept reservations. It has been my experience, however, that if your group is not overly large the wait is never too long and it’s always worth it; because inside you will find the most amazing pizza you will taste anywhere.

The centre piece of the lively restaurant is Via Tevere’s beautiful pizza oven, imported from Naples. And what a fitting centrepiece it is because Via Tevere is nothing if not a temple to the absolute perfection of a Neapolitan pizza made in the true traditional ways.

The dining space is unpretentious, cozy, slightly chaotic, and decidedly European. Given the lively atmosphere, I would say Via Tevere is an excellent place for friends or couples.

And then there is the food . . . ah the food. I could wax poetic about the culinary delights of Via Tevere, and I frequently do.

It is my recommendation that you start your meal with a delicious salad; Via Tevere has two offerings in that regard, with my current favourite being the rucula con limone (arugula with lemon).

As I told the Husband on our first visit, I had no idea that lemon, arugula, and parmesan cheese could taste so glorious. Indeed, simple ingredients of the highest quality, prepared in such a way to make your taste buds sing, are what Via Tevere does best.

Most times we order just a salad and a pizza to share but on days when we’re particularly hungry, we also order a polpette della nonna. In other words, the biggest, most delicious meatball you have ever tasted. I don’t know how they do it but the meatball is more moist than any ground beef dish I have ever concocted in my kitchen. And the sauce is in a world of it’s own – obviously it’s made from cooked tomatoes but they somehow manage to retain an incredibly fresh taste.

Of course, no visit to Via Tevere would be complete without one of their pizzas. This is the part where I should pause and add that although Via Tevere is now my favourite local restaurant, I am not usually a huge pizza fan. But what can I say, I’ve been seduced by their uncomplicated honestly amazing food.

Because seriously – have you ever seen a better looking pizza!?!?!? I daresay not! Our go to order is the margherita (this time with salami) but I’m sure any pizza you order will be nothing short of fabulous . . . perfectly charred, with beautiful fior di latte (fresh mozzarella cheese), just the right amount of chew, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Perfection.

And if you’re thinking to yourself that all of the above looks like one full meal, you’d be right! But for the sake of the blog, the Husband and I ordered the graffe con nutella for dessert.

The graffe is essentially a donut type fritter but it’s unlike any donut you’ve ever had before. It’s light, not greasy at all, and almost reminiscent of an excellent churro. Take all of that and drizzle it with melted nutella and you’ve got heaven on a plate.

Here’s the bottom line – Via Tevere is spectacular. I don’t easily dole out praise on this blog and I have a fairly high standard when it comes to dining. In fact, there are a lot of restaurants that I go to, take pictures of, and never write about because I don’t think they’re worth promoting. And while I’ve had pictures from Via Tevere sitting in my camera for a while, I hadn’t blogged about it for a totally different reason . . . I consider Via Tevere such a treasure that I wanted to keep it all to myself. But then Food Network (and more specifically “You Gotta Eat Here”) let the cat out of the bag so it’s time to come clean.

So there you have it – bar none, my favourite restaurant in Vancouver. Via Tevere deserves every ounce of praise I have heaped on it, and then some.

You gotta eat here.

Question: Are you a pizza person? Do you love it? If so, what kind of crust do you like? I have to admit, before I was a thick bread-like crust kind of girl, but I’m all about Neapolitan style pizza now!