Archives for November 2016

5 Healthy Study Snacks

November 30, 2016 | Leave a Comment

Exam week is the time when we all start to reach for junk because we feel like we don’t have the time or energy (or money!) to eat nutritiously. These are some of our favorite snacks that are quick, easy, and satisfy the cravings.

Switch up your apple game by cutting them into flat, round slices (like cookies!) and topping them with your favorite nut butter, seeds, fruit, or chocolate chips.

I used almond butter with sunflower seeds and pomegranate seeds.

Craving those warm, sugary drinks from Starbucks? Make a dairy-free, refined sugar-free version right at home.

In a pot over medium heat, combine 1/4 cup of vegan cocoa powder with 2/3 cup of almond milk and stir until fully combined. Add 1 tsp of vanilla, 1/4 cup maple syrup, and a dash of cinnamon. Top with whipped full-fat coconut milk, and enjoy!

This snack is AMAZING and so so satisfying!

Slice up some cucumber, spread on some cream cheese (use a vegan version if you please), and sprinkle with fresh rosemary and ground black pepper.

YUM.

Another drink idea for late night study sessions:

Make a simple and easy tea latte by steeping your favorite tea (I used chocolate orange) and adding a splash of almond milk. For extra sweetness, stir in honey, stevia, or maple syrup.

This is perfect for non-coffee lovers like me!

If you’re craving a salty snack, like chips or pretzels, we got your back.

Roasted chickpeas are an amazing alternative to chips and are a great source of protein!

Spice them up with cinnamon and honey, salt and pepper, chili powder, or salted caramel.

We hope these ideas give you wonderful snackspiration and we wish you a successful and motivated exam week!

Let us know your favorite snacks in the comments below. We really love reading your replies!

All the best,

char&linds

Kayley Reed: Wear Your Label CEO

November 28, 2016 | Leave a Comment

The ‘Trailblazers’ section on our blog has finally launched! We created this section to showcase some of the incredible things that are happening on the East Coast of Canada. Our goal is to highlight individuals that are doing important, inspiring and groundbreaking work!

Our first trailblazer is Kayley Reed, CEO and Creative Director at Wear Your Label! We’re consistently inspired by the strong, fierce and talented women in our community and Kayley is no exception. Check out our interview below and don’t forget to check out Wear Your Label’s new winter collection here. (We’re currently obsessed with their new olive tee that says “your body is not the enemy” scroll down and you’ll see Kayley rocking it!)

Name: Kayley Reed

Hometown: Olds, Alberta

Favourite Travel Destination: France & anywhere sunny!

TWT: How did WYL start?

KR: Throughout university, I struggled with depression; it was something that I barely spoke about to anyone in my life. I felt a lot of self-stigma and was scared of really speaking about what I was going through. Eventually, my depression developed into an eating disorder, and while I was still in denial, I realized that I needed help. I started group therapy and met other people who “got it”. It was one of the first times in my life that I felt that I wasn’t alone. In my final year of university, I started volunteering at a local mental health organization, working on different programs to engage young people in mental health advocacy. There, I met Kyle, who was also working on similar projects. We both connected over our personal experiences with mental illness and were frustrated with the stigma. We realized that we could potentially use our experiences to create something positive… we both loved fashion, so we came up with the idea to put mental health labels on clothing to both raise awareness & give back to mental health charities. That idea continued to develop, and grow; we received support & funding from the University of New Brunswick to launch our first products, and have been building on that ever since! Today, Wear Your Label is a fashion brand that designs positive products to create conversations around mental health & donate back to mental health initiatives across North America.

TWT: Why is talking about mental health so important to you?

KR: Because I’ve been there. I know how isolating it can be to struggle with mental illness; how you can find yourself in denial of what you’re going through, or not ever wanting to get out of bed. I guess I feel a kind of responsibility to share my story and bring this invisible issue to light. I want others to know that if they’re struggling right now, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it will get better. You can live with mental illness and build a successful, happy life.

TWT: What can we do to help fight the stigma?

KR: Educating yourself is important. Knowing the statistics and understanding mental health is key to positively contributing to the mental health conversation. 1/5 people live with mental illness, but 5/5 of us have mental health. We all get stressed out, nervous, sad, mad, anxious, and happy at times. We all need to take care of our mental health in order to be the best versions of ourselves. And we all have a part to play in ending the stigma; it’s easy to feel disassociated from an issue when you’re not personally affected, but understanding that mental health is just like physical health can help bring together more allies.

TWT: Why is it important to you to keep the East Coast roots of the company?

KR: I love the East Coast. It’s funny because I’m actually from Alberta. I grew up in Alberta and only moved to New Brunswick 5 years ago for university – I stuck around because it was where our support was for Wear Your Label. But honestly, it’s a special place. There is so much opportunity for young people – so many supportive programs, people, and organizations – and the quality of life for the cost of living is pretty amazing. I do a lot of traveling to bigger cities (like Toronto) and am able to build relationships that way, but I haven’t yet been persuaded to move because I don’t feel the need to. The wonderful thing about the age of the internet is that you can kind of run a business from anywhere.

TWT: Describe what it’s like to be the CEO of your own company in 3 words:

KR: Exhausting, but rewarding

TWT: What are your favourite forms of self-care? And how do you find time for yourself on the road?

KR: I’m a creative, so I love to write, sing, play with mixed media and make art that isn’t related to Wear Your Label. I’m also big into #SelfCareSundays – they’re part of my weekly routine. I love lounging, hanging out with friends, a good Netflix series, snacks, bubble baths, and animal cuddles!! On the road, it can be a bit more difficult because my schedule is slightly out of whack, but I love walking around by myself in new cities, having some down time to find a cool coffee place, and I always watch comfort shows (TLC and classic movies) before bed 🙂

TWT: What would you say to someone who is currently struggling with their mental health?

KR: It’s okay not to be okay. You’re hurting now, but this feeling doesn’t last forever. And to this point, you’ve survived 100% of your worst days. Don’t give up or lose hope – you are not alone.

TWT: What’s next for you and WYL? Are there any dreams, goals, and plans you can share?

KR: Ah, I’m always dreaming. The past two years have been amazing, and sometimes I can’t even believe we’ve made it this far. But I think 2017 is going to be “the” year. I am finally at a place where I am fully comfortable managing my own mental health, I’ve developed so much self-awareness, and at the same time, Wear Your Label has grown through challenges and obstacles. I never fully know what to expect, but I am planning an expansion in 2017 to take Wear Your Label to a larger audience. Right now, we’re just focusing on putting out new products, keeping up with demand, and growing alongside our community of followers 🙂

TWT: Do you have a favourite quote or words to live by?

KR: Right now, my favourite quote is: “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously”

Photographer: Kelsey Schroeder

Thanks so much Kayley! We’re so thrilled to feature you!

-char & linds

xoxo

Winter Survival Guide

November 25, 2016 | Leave a Comment

We just had our first snowfall, which means winter is right around the corner. Soon will be the days of shoveling, blizzards, snow boots, and darkness at 4 o’clock. If you are at all like me, you will find yourself scrolling through summer photos and reminiscing on tropical vacations. We’ve all been there! Here are my tips on how to kick the winter blues:

1. Eat Tropical.

Ever notice how certain foods remind you of warmer weather? Yeah, me too! These bright, light snacks and meals provide the perfect pick-me-up.

Citrus and other tropical fruits are packed with Vitamins C and D, which is exactly what your body lacks during the cold, dark months of winter. The grapefruit pictured above is actually topped with honey and cinnamon and broiled for about 5 minutes. Yum!

2. Adapt Your Fitness Routine.

I am not a gym person. I like to exercise and stay fit outdoors; hiking, biking, kayaking, and the list goes on. So as you can imagine, when the snow piles up these activities are not as enjoyable, plus they can become dangerous. When the temperature drops, these are my go-to ways to stay active without having to go to the gym:

Hot Yoga (or at-home yoga practice)
Snowshoeing
Skiing
Skatin
And a surefire way to get some exercise? Shoveling out your car after a storm!

3. Get Creative.

Staying in bed all day watching Netflix sounds like a perfect snow day. But if you are restless like me and feel the urge to do something productive on a snow day, try a DIY! By getting your creativity flowing you will forget about the drab weather outside, find yourself in a good mood, and you will feel accomplished.

Try our DIY photo garland from last week.

Or Pinterest it up! Try something new.

4. Get Out and Make The Most of It!

Winter is winter and it is not going anywhere. Unless you live in Newfoundland, in which case today is winter, tomorrow it will probably be spring, and the next day will likely be winter again.

So get bundled up, go outside, and enjoy it! Make a snowman, have a snowball fight, build a fort, go tobogganing, just basically be every winter cliché you can imagine – because it is so fun, I promise.

HOW DO YOU SURVIVE WINTER?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments! We love hearing from you!

Fall/Winter Lookbook featuring Figgyduff Dory + GIVEAWAY!

November 23, 2016 | 7 Comments

We are back in that awkward transition period between seasons, where you don’t know if you’re going to be overwhelmingly warm or ‘froze ta det’. This lookbook aims to show you some ways to maintain your fall style while also staying cozy on those bitter November days.

We are lucky enough to have had the opportunity to team up with local clothing brand Figgyduff Dory. The clothing is inspired by Newfoundland culture and resonates strongly with our philosophy here at twowildtides. If you don’t have a clue what Figgyduff is, I can’t blame you! (hint: it’s a Newfoundland tradition, the definition is on Figgyduff Dory’s website)

Due to Newfoundland’s usual dreary weather this time of year, the images for this lookbook turned out a little gloomier than expected. As much as we all yearn for blue skies and sunshine, the reality is that we live in ‘Fog City’, and we might as well embrace it. Figgyduff Dory’s designs are versatile and fun, and styling them was an absolute blast. We cannot wait to wear Figgyduff Dory both at home and on our next adventure!!

For a relaxing evening downtown. Downtown St. John’s is the most iconic area of our city. We love strolling around and taking in the culture that surrounds us. This outfit features several key trends of the season: button-up skirts, velvet, burgundy, chokers, and knitwear. This rich colored velvet skirt paired with Figgyduff Dory’s Gold Sugar Skull Puffin top are a stunning duo. Throw on a knit cardigan to keep yourself warm!

For a day at school. Lazy people, rejoice! This outfit lets you look good with minimal effort. LBD’s are so easy to wear and never go out of style. This dress in particular, with it’s ‘cold-shoulder’ sleeves, is especially trendy right now. Wrapping a flannel shirt around your waist is multifunctional: looks great, and if you get cold you just put it on! Finish off the look with Figgyduff Dory’s ‘Some Sweet’ beanie. Five-minute outfit, timeless look.

For a more professional look. Some occasions call for a more dressed-up look. The ‘Brigus is always a good idea” tee from Figgyduff Dory looks so sharp tucked into a pleather skirt. Complete the look with some booties or heels and maybe a neat blazer or trench coat. We love how this shirt puts a Newfie twist on the timeless Audrey Hepburn quote “Paris is always a good idea”.

For the coldest days. The ‘froze ta det’ beanie is my favorite piece from Figgyduff Dory! It is chic, warm, and you can wear it with anything. On the most bitterly cold days of November, pair this beanie with the biggest, heaviest, warmest knit you own (my great-grandmother knit this one!). With your knit you can wear tights, jeans, leggings, or a cute skirt.

For adventures. Whether you are going for a hike, out to a hockey game, heading to the airport, grabbing food with friends, or just at school, every day can be an adventure. To me, vests scream adventure, but not as loud as the Sugar Skull Baseball Tee from Figgyduff Dory! Wear these pieces together with a pair of jeans and boots for the perfect fall outfit.

And that is a wrap on our fall/winter lookbook! We hope you can take some inspiration from these looks and maybe add some of Figgyduff Dory’s unique designs to your wardrobe.

Want to WIN Figgyduff Dory’s ‘Brigus is always a good idea’ shirt as featured in this article?!?!

We are so proud to be holding this contest in partnership with Figgyduff Dory! There is only one prize, but you can enter up to three times. The rules are as follows:

Blog entry:

Leave us a comment on this lookbook telling us your favorite Figgyduff Dory piece that is NOT featured in this post. (you have to go to their website and look around!)

Facebook entry:

Like twowildtides on Facebook.
Share the post that corresponds to this contest on our page.
Tag a friend in the comments on the post that corresponds to this contest on our page.
Like Figgyduff Dory on Facebook.

Instagram entry:

Follow @twowildtides on instagram.
Repost and tag @twowildtides in the picture that corresponds to this contest on our instagram feed.
Follow @figgyduffdory on instagram.

Giveaway ends on November 30 at 11:59 pm Newfoundland time.

Best of luck!!

Alberta Video Diary

November 21, 2016 | Leave a Comment

This video diary highlights my recent trip to Alberta with my sister. We flew into Edmonton International Airport and stayed on a ranch in Athabasca. It was so fun to feed and hang out with the cows for a few days (I think the calf licking my GoPro was the highlight of the trip!). I was absolutely blown away by how flat the land is; it is so different from the rocky east coast. We drove across the prairies into Drumheller where we admired the sudden change in the landscape and visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the World’s Tallest Dinosaur. Drumheller is known for being rich in paleontological finds! We continued on to Banff- the mountains were an absolute dream! (See my full article on Banff here!) Finally, we spent the day at the Calgary Stampede where we played games, enjoyed carnival rides, and watched a rodeo.

We hope you enjoy! Have you been to Alberta? Tell us about it in the comments or on social media, we love hearing from you!

We are new to vlogging, so forgive us for the shakiness, graininess, and other troubles! We hope to get into more videography in the future, it is a learning curve so bear with us! If you are interested in keeping up with our videos, subscribe to our Youtube channel by clicking the Youtube logo on the video above and then clicking ‘subscribe’.