Another kind of R & R

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Where's the RELAX button please?

There was no other way of saying it, the truth is I was trying to force some Rest & Relaxation into my life after an extended period of nonstop going, oh the irony of this... 

I'm well aware Vegas is not a place to unwind, especially when we weren't planning on leaving the Strip. But with only a few days off work, it'll have to do. It ended up being a good escape with a change of scenery. We sampled lots of food, saw an amazing show, Beatle's LOVE, and experienced the surreal culture of the city that never sleeps. So did I find the R&R as scheduled? I did but it's a different kind. 

Let me tell you about the "before" part of this trip. Besides wrapping things up for the school breaks to start, the little guy got sick and missed 4 extra days of school, nursing sick kids always adds to the load. Then they was a leak in the house. "the ceiling is dripping mom" as the homebound sick kid tells me. 

A faint optimistic inner voice says " thank goodness this didn't happen while we were away." The weekend before the getaway was also filled with volunteering duties at the Judo Tournament, I was pretty much done when I underestimated how tired my body was and sprained my thumb badly ( good thing it wasn't my left thumb)  at the clean up.

Ready to throw in the towel, white flag going up, will this trip help me decompress?

Get into the proper Mindset 

Once I got off the hamster wheel, Surrendering started the process of unwinding, letting go of control and embracing Acceptance allowed progression to take place.

We arrived at Sin city with my family hoping for a few days of sun, warmth, well warmer anyway, 3 days... Ready set chill!

The first day of getting there went smoothly, no hiccups, despite jumping in the taxi with wet hair to catch the morning flight, that was a first for me. 

Arriving at the hustling and bustling city was exciting but also a little daunting. The step tracking took a toll on the family and after feasting at famous Wicked Spoon Buffet, the family caught an early night of shut eye.

Me? I was still charged up by a mixed of factors. From the excitement of the day, the buildup of the week, and the best part, fuelled up by the amazing all you can eats, I wasn't ready for sleep yet. So I went out for a walk to watch the colourful lights the strip offers. Sometimes it doesn't take much to satisfy me,  I was happy to do my usual hydration run and got enough water for the next day. While I was at the 24hrs Walgreen's,  it was eye opening to browse through groceries and personal products I don't usually notice at home,  it was fascinating to see all the products available for many quick fixes. From energy drinks to puffy eyes patch. Does anyone else get a kick reading labels? Besides water,  I had some fun finding bottled iced coffee with nothing else added. Wow, that's a victory!

On the food front, I'd loosen up my eating protocol. Since Hangry isn't a thing anymore, with my fasting skill in place, I easily lost track of time until my family starts discussing what to eat for lunch. Knowing the variety of foods available, and the teenager's anticipation to critiquing the chefs he follows on social media, I pack digestive enzymes, probiotics and activated charcoal pills, for anyone who needed it.

Ask me more how to get these at wholesale prices 

Hard lesson to learn, where's the relax switch? Boundaries, I was still receiving emails and texts concerning the restoration and work. So I ignored the ones that don't require a respond, can wait till I get back, and sent replies of I'll respond after a certain date. It felt good to set my boundaries. 

Learning  learning  learning 

Vegas is an interesting creature of its own, we used to come for the fashion trade shows before the kids, 3 days was always max, and this time was the same. We came, we saw, we ate and now home to homemade bone broth, reasonably priced veggies and coffee. 

Yes, I'm not excited to deal with the restorations from the leak, but it's a good opportunity to get rid of stuff we don't need. Spring break with spring cleaning. 

What did I learn from this quick trip? I was doubtful the day we arrived whether this trip would serve its purpose. My husband wasn't in favour of the choice of destination, especially for the kids, so that negative voice played on my exhausted state and dripped on some guilt. But after I caught up on rest, I realized no matter where you go, you can and should make the best of the experience. Vegas is not the magical Kona we went to last year, but building memories with loved ones can happen anywhere. Watching the fountain show at Bellagio, seeing the awe in our kids' eyes with every new experiences. 

So can you speed up the decompression process?

No it takes time, conscious mindfulness can help.

What would I do differently? Recognizing the importance of ongoing selfcare while at home. Sure it might be easier said then done. Getting away to change the setting maybe the most effective way to chill out, but it would be best to maintain a level of mindfulness through regular meditation. My yoga practice is my moving meditation, but the ego may play with the mind when the body is tired from the physical aspects. Sometimes, we might just need to quiet the mind without tiring out the body. 

By the time I finished writing this post, I released some expectations that comes with the conventional R&R that just sit right. So when I was searching for an image that suits the title, I decided to coin it Regroup and Refresh, it seems more fitting. 

What do you think? 

Island travels + product review

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My recent Island family wedding not only filled me with joy, connected me with new friends, I was practically basking in warmth and love all weekend long. As an only child, I never got to watch the magic of siblings team work. Both the bride and the groom are from a large clan, the bride is one of 5 and the groom is one of 7. Impressive right? On the wellness angle, I'm going to relive how a trip away from the city refreshes us and how we can bring some of that getaway magic into our everyday lives? I also have a product review to share, discovering MCT oil powder from Perfect Keto was great for travels. So keep reading!

In this post, I'm going to dissect the magical weekend and break it down to how it gave me a better perspective on my healing progress through reconnecting with nature, foraging, and experiencing intuitive eating at it's best. My goal is to see if I can inject some of these elements into my day to day to keep me this machine of mine running smoothly after returning home. 

crushed shells beach and sea star

Put down the devices and turn on Nature

I know, we don't really need to turn "on" Nature, it's always there and around us, it's when we decide to turn it off because we're so consumed by technology that throws things out of balance. Remote areas can mean unreliable internet connections, which can be a good thing when you're trying to unplug. Recently I went to a wedding on one of the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Galiano Island, since I had committed to enjoying my time without trying to work, I didn't stress about the shotty "connections". Funny thing is I found a different kind of connection that was running full force everywhere I looked. While on the island, I learned that simply by reconnecting with nature, I found fulfillment easily without social medias. Even being partially unplugged, I felt the freedom of not being tied to an invisible weight. During the day, we were out exploring the island, we walked along beaches, it was fascinating to see some were filled with crushed shells instead of the sand. I felt like a kid again jumping from rock to rock while trying not to step on the slippery seaweeds. It sure beats any "games" on the devices. Real life games are the best! One night, an 80 feet tree fell on my family's 20-acre property, so the next day, a few of us gathered and watched my cousin go to work.  He cut down the limbs to prep it for his freshly build band saw. Cracked me up when one of his sisters said, "... he's doing that just for a core workout." I can't decide which activity was my favourite, either watching the children play in a natural setting or my blackberries picking. I fully enjoyed soaking up nature's magic while basking under the sun, wading in the ocean, and roaming in the woods. How can I inject more nature into my city living? Being on the Westcoast, it's actually not that hard, the tricky part is the distraction from the device. A little trick I use now is set most of the apps on my phone to use Wifi only, adding that extra step to connect to the internet when I'm out will encourage me to explore my surroundings and enjoy the present betters.

Directions

Disneyland on AIP/ Paleo/ Keto eating style

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Going on vacations should be fun right? For the longest time, I didn't think so. I used to have so much anxiety at the thought of going into a flare while away from home and not having my "stuff" to calm my angry gut. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Ulcerative Colitis,  it belongs to the Inflammatory Bowel Disease family and it was debilitating. Fast forward to today,  I was lucky to find remission through diet and lifestyle changes instead of taking the conventional pharmaceutical route.  If you are also following a unique diet in the name of health, in other words, not the Standard American Diet,  I am going to show you how you can enjoy your vacation with proper planning. In my case, I am currently following a keto focused, Paleo Autoimmune Protocol. What does that mean in plain English?  Basically, my diet is free of grains, dairy, soy, nuts, nightshades and I only eat starchy vegetables sparingly.  What about fruit? Seasonal berries are on the menu,  so summer is exciting times!

Never take the simple things in life for granted

Last November, we went on a family trip that was special,  Why? It was the first trip since I was officially in remission where I could enjoy life with their family like a healthy "normal" person.  Even with my autoimmune condition in remission,  it still takes extra preparation to make the time away from home go smoothly.

Planning 

When I was researching online, I plugged in different combinations of keywords that best describe my specific eating style, it's rare to find suggestions matching the exact protocol you are following,  unless you are Keto AIP, then you are at the right place.

To start I found Danielle Walker, another IBDer who follows a Paleo lifestyle, has great resources under her "Eating at Disneyland series"

Then I turned to my AIP community and read up on The Bacon Mum's great post Shout out: The Magic of Disney where she offers lots of smart tips about her travel experience. So I took more notes.

Finally, the keto part, I turned to my keto sista, Leanne Vogel from Healthful Pursuit and went through her keto travel tips.  Even though the keto thing is kind of new to me, I realized the most important thing I needed to focus on is having enough good fats on hand. These are my three fat staples while on this trip: Avocados, Extra Virgin Olive oil and Creamed Coconut. The beauty of being Fat Adapted ( teaching your body to use fat as preferred fuel instead of glucose through a ketogenic eating style ) is my blood sugar remains more stable, which translates to NO MORE HANGER! I can go a lot longer without being hungry so the hypoglycemic Hulk no longer busts through my seams in her old ravenous way. Trust me, I think my family might appreciate this new change more than I do.

How about the Everyday Disneyland Theme Park tips?

Find this book Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Anaheim 2017 either at the library or you can order it online through the affiliate link above. Read up on the magic of Fast Pass especially if you have small children.

Packing 

The following is a list of gadgets and hard to find items I am sure glad I packed.

• Tea bags, I made them through the coffee machine. These are my favourite at the moment
• Handheld Electric Frother  to blend Fatty collagen block into my tea
• Collagen,  I pack a few of them in tiny ziplock baggies or old medication vials and slip them into my purse for a quick protein fix 
• Bring extra ziplock bags of varies sizes to portion snacks
• Canned Smoked Oysters, from Trader Joe
• Canned Smoked Sardines, also from Trader Joe
• Small bottle of EVOO or buy one at your destination
• Creamed Coconut packet ( great as fat bomb on the go ) 
• Small bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar or buy one at your destination 
• Essential oils - lavender, thieves, peppermint
• Thieves fruit and veggie soak or spray to clean off fruit without water

Exploring your local resources

Find your closest healthy grocery, Trader Joes is probably the best but Wholefoods is, of course, a bit pricier choice. Believe it or not, I managed to get what we needed at the closest, grocery only, Walmart.

Shopping List

• Buy enough water for everyone in the family, bottled waters are extra pricey inside the theme park.
• Prewashed Salad mixes 
• Lemon or limes - squeezing the juice from them make great salad dressing if you don't have your ACV 
• Whole fruit if you brought swiss army knife or peeler, otherwise get a few packages of already cut fruit

Eating out

My first meal there was at Earl of Sandwich just outside of the theme park. I got the Earl's Cobb Salad and asked for olive oil on the side, they didn't have vinegar for me but I solved the problem by grabbing a few cut up lemon wedges they had for people to squeeze into their pop.  Whatever works works! We followed Bacon Mum's advice and made a reservation for dinner inside the theme park. The chef did take the time to come out to verify my food restrictions but it was a pretty overpriced piece of fish and a side of arugula. The one place I found my most satisfying meal was... wait for it... Cheesecake Factory.  I never thought I would be able to eat compliant meals at there just from the sick of their name. Besides their desserts, they are known for their huge salads. Back in the days when I went for their Cheesecakes, I would have never been able to finish their ginormous salads. Now, it's the perfect size for me. I do wonder if they had health in mind when they planned out the sizing of their salads?

Now that you are prepared, are you feeling more excited than nervous about leaving your kitchen? You should be, so let the FUN begin! Remember to take lots of pictures, LAUGH with your family and ENJOY every moment of your trip because

YOU deserve it!

AIP/ Paleo in Vegas

My hot yoga balcony studio

I am finally sitting down to finish off my Vegas travel post after listening to Phoenix Helix's podcast on Paleo Travels. If you haven't listened to it, I highly recommend you do even if you don't have a trip planned in the near future.

I was a bit apprehensive about this trip to Las Vegas mid August. Firstly, it was the first flight travel since my diagnosis; packing my kitchen in the van for a road trip is easier than condense packing that involved security checks and liquid limitations. Secondly, I wasn't sure how I would take to the extreme hot desert temperature. Thirdly, we were there for work ( tradeshow time ) so it was easier and cheaper to stay on the strip and not rent a car. I was unsure where I would buy fresh produce. However,  my excitement to be traveling sans children for the first time - EVER overcame all my distresses. 

What I packed: the million dollar questions for AIPers

Beside the usual canned and dried goods ( canned smoked oysters, plantain chips, coconut apple bars ), I cooked up this seared ahi tuna, broccoli and purple yam meal and packed it in a cooler bag to eat on the plane. Luckily, I wasn't hungry on the flight so I ate part of this as my late dinner at the hotel. Note the children utensils for airport security purpose?

I haven't been to Vegas for probably 7 years so when my husband said that he would books a nice hotel because I was coming, I didn't know what to expect. To my delight, we stayed at the Cosmopolitan which were originally built as apartments so the rooms had a fridge, dishwasher and microwave. The fridge part was already filled with overpriced beverages but there was room in the freezer to put my food. The tuna lasted well in the freezer as I snacked on it over the course of my stay. To prevent temptation I covered the tray "moment of weakness" candies and snacks on the counter with a towel. I also pre-made and froze some of Kaiku lifestyle's plantain pancake as another source of AIP carbs. 

Testing the heat

I start my day with hot yoga on the balcony. The reason why people pay more money for hot yoga classes is because the heat makes you more flexible and bendy. 20 minutes later and I was sweating.

Then I went to the pool for a dip, I was the only person in the oddly shaped pool trying to do some form of laps.

After I cleaned up,  I made my way to the trade shows to meet my husband. If you have been to Vegas, you will know how every hotel looks so much closer than the seem.  You can usually see the hotel you are heading to but because they are so big, you still have be walk at least 15 mins. I was sure glad I packed my snacks for the tradeshow because their prices for fruits was crazy - a banana or apple was $5US. In the evening, I was pleased to find a little market place where I bought some fresh produce at decent prices for the rest of our stay.

Here are a couple dinners I had on the Strip.

Taro chips mushroom avocado ceviche appetizer at Carson Kitchen. I gave the cherry tomatoes to my husband.

BBP ( Bobby' Burger Palace ) - burger on salad greens, again hubs got the tomato 

For lunch on our last day in Vegas, we tried the buffet at the Wicked Spoon. Here is the true test how I fare with all the food.  - selective, not quantity but quality. Meats, Roast beef, house cured bacon, crispy pork, smoked salmon, carrot mango ginger lime juice, gluten free dessert

Grilled salmon

Being very cautious with my selection

smoke salmon

Carrot, ginger, mango juice

My Five finger shoes stood up to the test

So how did I do with all my initial concerns about this trip?

On the Strip with no car? No problem as I was prepared with compliant food, I was not bothered with walking as long as I stayed hydrated and look for shade if I am out in the sun. I think the extra Vitamin really powered my body.

Food? The heat actually decreased my appetite, with the extra activities like pool time, tradeshow and  just plain experiencing this surreal city, I ate less. And I did find some normal priced produces while we were off the strip. The buffet wasn't as scary an experience as I imagined. Just because it was there, doesn't mean I had to eat it. I really enjoyed the foods I chose and went back for seconds. 

How did this trip improve my health? My body really benefitted from the sunlight and heat, I am unsure whether my body reacts to heat differently comparing to before but the extreme heat seems to be what my body loves. I joked that I will become a leather faced retiree living in Palm Spring. This was such a great little recharge getaway. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids but being able to just focus on myself and my husband is a real treat for any parent once in a while. All I focused on was getting enough water and how to get to my next destination - the simple joy on wonder!

The Art of Fermentation Workshop with Sandor Katz

My morning toast to the water view before the big day

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On February 8,  I had the privilege to attend a workshop The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz at the Pacific Rim College in Victoria BC.

Sandor is known for his passion and knowledge about fermentation, he has written books like The Art of Fermentation and The Wild Fermentation and is well respected in the fermenter communities all around the world. I highly recommend anyone interested in fermenting to acquire these books as great resource materials.

Traveling to attend this workshop was also a turning point for me. I haven't travel alone since I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis a little over a year ago. The thought of venturing out of my comfort zone was daunting but when this opportunity came up, I knew this was my chance to take the next step on my healing journey.

What is Fermentation?

Sandor starts the workshop with the definition.

Fermentation = microbial transformation 

He covered many topics from his books along with demos and Q and A throughout the 9-5 workshop.

Demo time

In my 8 pages of notes,  I would like to share a couple of topics I am glad to have gotten clarification and affirmation from:

1. Anaerobic ( without oxygen like sauerkraut being submerged under water  )  vs. aerobic ( with oxygen like kombucha being kept in a breathable cover ) ferments

2. The Purpose of fermentation

• Preservation of in Season foods
• Pre-digestion for easier absorption
• Detoxification by improving and balancing gut flora health

What I got out of the event?

As a facilitator, Sandor is a down to earth and knowledgable speaker. He warmingly shares his stories around ferments through his extensive travels. I appreciate how he gracefully addressed questions without dismissing any that are more specific to nutritional needs and outside of his area of knowledge.

The Art of Fermentation workshop gave me the opportunity to be in good company of like minded fermenters. The event has affirmed my love for fermentation and interest in the human microbiome. I am glad I took the online course Gut Check: Exploring the human microbiome from Coursera a few months back where I got an introduction of the Scientific background on the topic. The "Expansive possibilities" of ferments fascinate me so much that I wish to continue learning about this world of microbial community.

Specifically,  this workshop has inspired me to explore wild fermentation more. I have since started my first batch of Beet Kvass and cucumber, radish, garlic greens ferment and patiently waiting. I also want to experiment wild fermenting fresh fruit in water to see how it does. As Sandor says, " everything ( food ) is fermentable and I will continue to explore.

Left: Brine method ferment - cucumbers, radishes, dill and garlic
Right: 2nd pressing Beet Kvass

Eat to Live

NOW CLOSED

It was the night before I was to meet my visiting cousin for lunch. I haven't been feeling the best in the gut and have just started a new ( stronger ) dose of homeopathic remedy so I was nervous about where I could eat out. My cousin is also on a gluten free diet now too so I searched a bit harder to find a safe and enjoyable place to meet. I didn't feel like driving out to Vancouver to find a place where I could possibly indulge in a gluten free menu that is possibly filled with corn, soy, dairy and eggs, let alone Paleo options. I decided to type in "Paleo restaurant Vancouver" again, to see if something new will pop up.

The Living Cafe popped up, oh and it in Steveston. Bonus!

I liked their moto "Eat to Live". I reviewed their menu online and was wishful this could be a new addition to the far and few places where I can eat out.

I remember this location was a RAW food cafe before and it didn't look very busy, so I never bothered to try it. However I didn't know it had changed into a gluten and peanut free/ vegan and paleo option restaurant a year ago.

Herbivore Hash

Gluten free Quinoa Chocolate chip cookie for little man

Egg Free, refined sugar free chocolate chip cookie for me

As always, I asked the server what kinds of gluten free flour they use in their bakings and she smiled and said she could bring me the ingredient list. To my surprise she brought a thin binder filled with listings of every ingredient in all their baked goods. I was a little overwhelmed but impressed with how detailed they were. Later I learned the owner/ chef, Amanda Kroetsch is a celiac. I admire and applaud her dedication to open up a business that caters to an audience that has to be one notch above healthy eating, some of us are healing our bodies with food. The reason why any restaurant that caters to restrictive diet seems to be niche is because most people with special diets have limited choices and usually have to cook and eat at home. We have to plan ahead all the time or suffer the consequences of off limit poor food choices. Depending on the level of food sensitivity one has, it can be have a serious affect on someone. We cannot pop in anyway to grab a quick snack.  Until now, maybe some of us can take advantage of the curb side delivery service The Living Cafe provides or head on upstair for sit down.

What is so different about The Living Cafe is even though the chef is a celiac and her focus could be mainly on gluten free food, Amanda also offers many Vegan ( which means no egg or dairy ) and Paleo options on their menu.

In their retail section, you can find gluten free baguettes, breads and bone broth to take home.

Being on the AIP ( Autoimmune Protocol)  low FODMAP eating plan, I still have to ask and read up on the ingredients.  At The Living Cafe, the time and care they have taken to list all their ingredients for their customers have taken the anxiety out of the equation for me.  There are seeds used in some of the baked goods, but having the knowledge of the ingredients list helps me make proper food choices.

I look forward to making this one of my safe and relaxing eating out place. 

Back to the kitchen

Omnivore Tartine - pulled pork, tangy slaw, and picked red onion

Paleo Tartine summer melons dressed with balsamic, mint, arugala and topped with speck, shrimp tomato bisque


A quick visit to my favorite eatery in Bellingham - Twofiftyflore inspired me to get creative in the kitchen again. I have been tweaking my homeopathic doses with my homeopath and the last dose was not strong enough. This left me with more gut symptoms and less energy.  Yesterday, my homeopath suggested a stronger dose and after taking it, I am feeling better today. I took a nap after my inspiring lunch and felt recharged and ready to take on the kitchen again. 

 I found an open kobucha squash and a yam and decided to whip up a fluffy dish.

Squash and Yam mash

Ready to be broiled for a few minutes

Ingredients

• 3 c of kobucha or delicata squash, cut into large pieces for easier cooking 
• 1 larger yam, peeled and cut
• 2 tbsp ghee or coconut oil
• sea salt to taste

Instructions

1. Bring enough water to boil in deep pot
2. Boil squash and yam until soft ( about 10 mins ). 
3. Transferred them to my standup mixer and with the wire attachment, 
4. Whipped the warm starches with ghee and coconut oil. 
5. Add more hot water if the consistency is too thick

I like to use kobucha or delicata because you don't have to peel it. This alternative mash smelled as good as it tasted. My 4 yo asked for the wire attachment to lick like it was used on whipping cream. I seasoned it with himalayan pink salt and pepper.  This made a great side dish for my BBQ salmon as shown below. Lately, I have mainly been attending to all my ferments in the kitchen so it sure is good to be preparing fun dishes again. 

Whipping kobucha squash and yam with ghee and coconut oil

My dinner plate - BBQ salmon, cold summer squash noodle salad, whipped kobucha and yam, steamed broccoli

Quick Sea to Sky trip

We decided to go on a last minute, unplanned road trip up to Whistler, BC. We quickly packed our belongings, cooler full of healthy food and beverages and went on a quick adventure. I also had to take care of my ferments on the counter, burp any ones that need it and place the rest into the fridge so we don't come home to an exploded mess. The destination was Whistler, BC but we also wanted to stop along the way to explore other areas, Shannon Falls, Squamish and Pemberton were on the list and we knew we would stop at one of the many lakes along the way.

Wanted to eat here but they were closed Monday and Tuesday 

Luckily we found  The PONY  just down the street, this was my Salad Niçoise while my boys had a really amazing pizza in Pemberton BC

Stopped at Alice Lake on the way back

After we came back to the Lower Mainland, we drove through North Vancouver because I wanted to go to Ethical Kitchen ( NOW CLOSED)  to eat. I found this place back in November 2013  when I picked up my first SCOBY from someone who worked a few store down from the restaurant. Back then, I was fully embracing the Paleo diet. I knew little about fermenting foods but was eager to try my hands on making my own Kombucha. I remember the menu at Ethical Kitchen had Paleo options on it.

I had the pleasure to talk to the owner and creator of Ethical Kitchen, Barbara to find out more about their organic restaurant concept.

Since their website clearly explains their ideals and why they are doing what they do, I won't repeat it.

What I found most interesting was their Tuesday Breakfast School 10-11am.  They offer a light breakfast and a tonic drink for $5 and talk about health benefit of healing foods. 

Barbara shared a bit about the last Tuesday Breakfast School discussion topic below, 

"Every kind of food plays a role in nature."

"…learn about it instead of shunning it because food culture says you should avoid it."

As a truly family run business, they have listed Barbara's  children age 5 and 3 months in her staff list on their website. 

For their temporary staffing, they also take in interns. Sometimes they take in troubled youth, where these youngster are given a chance to gain work experience and learn sense of community. Ethical Kitchen also share their kitchen with the Japanese grocery next door which prepares soups or bento boxes and  soba.  

Besides a sit down menu that offers Organic foods, Paleo and other gluten free options are available, To bring home, they carry Lacto fermented vegetables, Kerry gold grass fed butter, ghee and homemade turkey stock for purchase. They also brew their own Kombucha and ginger beer on site, which is deliciously refreshing especially in this warm weather. 

Ethical Kitchen has become one of healing places not only because they serve nourishing clean food I feel safe to eat, but also knowing how they contribute to the community, I feel the care and love that is beaming from this little restaurant.

Barbara's recently opened a gallery/cafe called Parker St. Cafe at 985 Windermere, Vancouver to fill the lacking of gathering place for healthy snacks and beverage in the area. I look forward to visiting it soon.

Backyard to plate, my children picking Saskatoon berries

Upper left clockwise: 1. Display case of  Jars of ferment, grassed local whole milk, ghee and  turkey stock
2. Our delicious and nourishing meals 3. My meal described on the menu

Awesome day - Paleo Bellingham

Why was today so awesome even with quite a few UC symptoms to challenge  me? It was sunny and hot. I found Paleo eats in Bellingham and I taught my son how to tie his shoe laces.

The day started off with uncertainty, I had a semi rough night with sleep interruptions from UC discomfort. I woke up early and managed to bike my son to school. I only had my absorb plus shake for breakfast because I hope to have a calm gut for our day trip to Bellingham. I took my morning supplements and armed myself with tissue salts every hours to keep the inflammation down.

Before we left, I quickly did a search for new places I can eat at. I normally look for gluten free friendly options but this morning I enter "Paleo Bellingham". I think I had search for those key works before but had no luck. Today, something came up "Two Fifty Flora - 1015 Railroad, Bellingham, Washington". I was excited but wanted to keep my hopes from climbing too high to avoid disappointments. I often let my optimism run amok and envision a perfect spot where I can eat their food, my husband will also enjoy other options on the menu and have my child somewhat contained in safe area where I can relax and enjoy... Really, the key words are RELAX and ENJOY. Something I took for granted before I got sick. 

There was ample street parking when we arrived, nestled inside the beautiful modern architecture of the Whatcom Museum was a cozy TwoFiftyFlora. (NOW CLOSED). The decor was minimal modern, but not cold. Perhaps the concrete and glass interior was warmed up by the friendliness of the staff. I was served by Arlena, who later I found is the owner and creator of this conceptual eatery. She was having a little problem with the slow city wi-fi for the credit card payments but I didn't mind the wait. I was filled with optimism about a menu that offers a Paleo option on it. ( Perfect spot point no. 1) We ordered the Omnivore Tartine plate for my husband and the Paleo version for myself, I know our 3 1/2 yo will just taste test both our meals. I also eyed the good size desserts on the counter. I asked if they were gluten free and she replied " Yes, today they are all gluten free, sometimes we have a Paleo one". Wow, as I repeated what she said to make sure I heard her right. We sat out in the courtyard that has a giant rock ( perfect for my little climber ) and waited for our food to arrived. The courtyard was airy but enclosed. ( Perfect spot point No. 2). My little climber made good use of the rock and even rolled around on the concrete pavers. My excitement starts to take on a more relaxing tone. Our food arrived in metal trays lined with parchment paper, clean and simple. My Paleo Tartine was the Moroccan Lamb with  Peruvian Pork and Quinoa soup. Yes I recently confirmed with my Post Paleo FB group that Quinoa is a seed. The pork in my soup was tender and the lamb was flavourful. My husband's meal was the Omnivore with the Rachel and House made Pastrami with the Spring Pea and Ham soup. Both our meals came with delicately sliced green apes, a generous serving of fresh arugula salad in an apple vinaigrette. My Paleo meal was marked with a few almonds in a small ramekin dish, that was almost my clue that it was the Paleo one. My little guy went back and forth between our meals and asked at the end where the soup went, " in our bellies" I replied.

By then I was fully enjoying my moment there and feeling very relaxed ( Perfect spot final point ). We finished off our lunch with a GF chocolate chip cookie and a Pecan Sandy. Oh the Sandy was to die for, reminded me of Mexican Wedding cakes that I love.

Before we left, I had a chance to chat with Arlena and commended her for her efforts and ingenuity and asked to continue doing it.

Their menu was reasonably priced, our Tartine plates were $11 each the cookies were $3 each.

The drive back home was smooth with no gut issues for me. I was enjoying my meal so much that I was almost anticipating that I was eating things that will make me sick later but I didn't care if it would. But it didn't.

My awesome day ended with finally teaching my older son how to tie his shoe laces. His visual alignment challenges made this fine motor skill an obstacle for a long time. So it was definitely a big accomplishment to made the day super awesome.

So if you are ever in Bellingham WA, make your way to 1015 Railroad Street and enjoy one of TwoFiftyFlora's Omnivore, Vegan or Paleo special.