summer ♥

I love summer time! 

We are lucky to live in the fraser valley where it is mostly green and lush all year long however we do give up the sun for 8 months of rain and cloud to enjoy such a rainforest environment. This summer has been surprisingly wonderful filled with sun-sun-sun! It is an amazing difference how a little spot of sun can effect mood and energy. I find myself more active, eating more consciously, and becoming more connected with myself through yoga and mediation. 

I have titled this post "summer ♥" as I believe it has been the best summer up to date! I have had the opportunity to do some travelling (San Francisco and Montreal) two places I have always wanted to explore. And of course any travel experience is not fully successful without the foodie experience. My dear friend Janelle knows exactly what I mean. We are both extremely health conscious and LOVE food so when we are together we make an exaggerated effort to fit in as many food places as our short time together can offer! I just visited her in Toronto where we ate out at 2 raw vegan places called Live and Rawlicious. Live offered an amazing combo where we could sampled 4 of their most popular dishes - including pizza. At Rawlicious we shared a pesto pizza (sooo good) and a rawich (dehydrated onion bread wrap - yummm)and topped it off with a oreo cookie crunch smoothie (the best***) Our food experience did not end there as we dined out at 2 more amazing places in Montreal called Crudessence (raw vegan awesomeness, I brought home their cookbook) and Aux Vivres (not raw but great vegan food). I have recently made an account on happycow which I am excited to share my foodie reviews with the world. More people should eat vegan and raw! Love your body!

It has been a full 8 months since I stopped using shampoo and switched over to baking soda & tea tree oil and lemon. I found that in the beginning of my transition I was washing my hair more frequently, but now I can go weeks without it getting oily. I also found that baking soda & tea tree oil is very abrasive so I tend to only use it once a month or less and use lemon as my regular wash. Someone recently recommended leaving coconut oil in my hair as a conditioner so I plan on experimenting with that soon. 

Another recent change would be downsizing from a car to a scooter, a 2007 Yahama Vino 50cc to be more specific. Although it is not an electric scooter is does not use much gas to get me around. My bicycle is still my #1 way of getting around but the scooter has been an excellent new addition. I have been daydreaming about getting one for years! 

Right now I am enjoying the awesome sunny wonderfulness in Kincardine Ontario, my hometown. My mom and I recently made a delicious beet salad (not raw but vegan!) with a raw vegan macadamia nut cheese, beets, red swiss chard, apples and lightly toasted agave pecans! Yumm! More colourful the better!