Last Week!

Lots of fun stuff on my blog last week… here’s a quick “look back”!

My (our) story about surviving a 10-day juice cleanse!

Then I had the privilege of introducing this adorable kid, Micheala!

And Julia’s “BFF” prom shoot! So fun to be a part of that! 🙂

Of course, I can’t leave out yesterday’s closet shopping post! 🙂

Hope you’re enjoying a spectacular weekend… I’m sure lovin’ the sunshine out here! 😀

Always, Aims

Surviving: 10-day (raw) Juice Cleanse!

A couple weeks ago I offhandedly agreed to join my sister in the 10-day raw juice cleanse she was planning to do. (it’s probably a good thing I didn’t think it through too much before saying I’d do it…because I probably would’ve backed out!) 🙂

What is a raw juice cleanse? It’s pretty simple. It’s basically a full body “detox” and cleanse… it’s really good for you, and I’m sure my body loves me so much more now! 😛 (I could go more into details but this isn’t a health blog. It’s just a post about my personal experience.) What’s involved? Drinking raw juice….for 10 days…and NOT EATING ANYTHING! (and no coffee!!!)

juice: cabbage, tummeric root, celery, broccoli

I decided to blog about it now, after the fact because I wasn’t sure I’d last the entire 10 days. 🙂

This one was yummy! Pure watermelon juice!

So, we drank juice (and water!)….LOTS of it!  For the first 3 days I had headaches and not very much energy (probably because my body was detoxifying.) But for the next 4 days I felt really good. But by about day 7…juice isn’t very appetizing, at all…haha. (This is when I was thankful to have a support person in my sister!) But we did it…we survived!

Juice: carrots, apples, parsley, ginger

Ok ok….confession time. I ate a tiny dinner on the night of day 2 (because I was SO hungry…and seriously it was mostly broccoli!) On day 10 I ate salad because I was involved in a fancy dinner at a restaurant, but it was the very end of day 10. 😉

Juice: beets, lime, apple, jerusalem artichoke

Some advice:

Don’t do it alone! If you ever have to do something like this…find someone willing to do it with you. It really helps to have someone by your side knowing what you’re going through, who can relate to your suffering 😉 (Ok, that was a little over dramatic…but it’s kind of true.)

Try (if possible) to plan it when you’re not overly busy and won’t be fasting/cleansing during a holiday or family celebration. Take it from someone who knows! (Unless you want to sit drinking broth while your family eats a steak dinner…!) 😛

juice: mango, kale, coconut water, celery or cabbage

By the way…I’m SO MUCH MORE thankful for food now! Wow! I can’t describe how unbelievably yummy that first egg was…or the first bite of a tangy strawberry! THE FIRST SIP OF COFFEE! 😛 I’m more appreciative of my country, of where I am blessed to live…and how we have access to so much food! I can’t help but think of all those people who don’t have food…don’t even have juice or water! Who would give anything for water (not to mention juice or food!)  😦 We have SO much! And I think know we take it for granted…I did! Doing this juice cleanse was a great reminder of that… helped build some character too. 😉 Want to know how self-disciplined you are? Try a juice cleanse! hehe 😛

Enjoy your holiday if you’re celebrating Victoria Day today! 😀

When you eat…take a moment to be thankful for what’s before you! 😉

Always, Aims

What are pachos anyways?

UPDATE:  Click this link for a WAY BETTER picture of Pachos! Better PACHOS post!

This is kind of “in reply” to what I posted a couple weeks ago in my Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday post.

I pretty much failed at trying to explain what pachos are… and since I happened to go back to Kelly Os to celebrate my brother’s birthday on Sunday… I attempted to take a picture (of course I ordered Pachos again!)

Yeah, it’s a cell phone picture and our table was candle lit… but I think you get the general idea. They’re kind of a mix between a French fry and a baked potato (they aren’t as greasy as French fries.) Toppings include cheese, chives, and BACON! To be dipped in a honey mustard sauce… but honestly, you have to taste them for yourself to experience their true yummyness…

Pachos at Kelly Os

Kelly O’s restaurants can only be found here in BC, so if you’re ever down here make sure you visit! (And of course, I highly recommend the Pachos! 😉 )

That said, and since we’re still kind of on the topic of cell phone pictures.  I snapped this one Saturday… When people ask why I love where I live, scenes like this come to mind first.  I get to see this every time we drive back and forth between the two cities.

I enjoyed sharing a couple of the things that make where I live unique! Thanks for reading 🙂

Always, Aims

Missed yesterday’s post? It’s here.

Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday…

Whew…! It’s nice to take a breath in the middle of a busy long weekend.  Today might be a little more of a “wordy” post…just sayin’. 🙂

It’s gorgeous outside today…a sunglasses and bright smiles kind of day, warm enough to leave my jacket at home.  There are pros and cons about part timing two cities…today for example.  I’m missing out on the first paintball game of the season. 😦  But, one of my favourite coffee shops is in walking distance from where we live here.  I took advantage of the sunshine and took a walk.  I love sitting in the corners of coffee shops and observing etc. especially when I get a seat on a comfy couch, like I did today!  This coffee shop is adorable!  It used to be a house, and the owners transformed it into a little coffee shop.  There are vintage-ish knickknacks, black and white photographs on the walls, a basement, and porch (and free wi-fi! Yay!) It’s a cozy little place and I come here often. 🙂 It’s here that I, I mean my sister, discovered a mango tea latte with a shot of vanilla…wow!

The one sentence that’s been going through my mind over and over this Easter is:

“He bore the wrath, I know the grace”.

Cross in the Berlin Wall.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts on Easter in one sentence.  Words can never describe how thankful I am, and how much it means to me.

Saturdays are for unexpected plans, like today when my friend and I went out for pochos… I’m not one of those people who takes pictures of food (yet!) so I didn’t.  But if you’re ever in the Okanagan Valley make sure you find a Kelly Os and have some; SO yummy…!!!  You kind of have to eat them to believe how incredibly awesome they are (think cheesy fries with a honey mustard dip…and BACON!) 😀

Hope you all had as much sunshine as I did this Easter!

Always, Aims