Archives for February 2017

The Monday Morning Checklist

February 27, 2017 | Leave a Comment

Happy Monday!

It’s the beginning of a new week and we’re ready to hustle hard. Whether your week is lined up with midterms, practices, meetings, rehearsals, class, or work, know that you will get through it. Better yet, you might even enjoy it! It’s that tricky time of the year when school starts to pick up and life can get hectic. Pause. Breathe. Keep moving forward. We believe in you.

Start your week off on the right foot with these tips and tricks:

Workout – Plan your workouts. They’re just as important (if not more) than your classes, meetings, and work. Trust us. Don’t skip the sweat session.
Meal Prep – We like to prep our meals and snacks on Sundays but sometimes it ends up being Monday. Plan your meals and snacks to reduce hassle and stress when the week picks up.
Hydrate – Drink water. Lots of it. Try flavouring it naturally with fresh fruit and herbs.
Technology – Set a time before bed to turn off all of your electronics. Spend some time with yourself. Unplug and just be. Your sleep will thank you.
Study – We like to pencil in our studying and work. It helps us stay on track. All nighters help no one.
Get Outside – Get some fresh air even if it’s only a 10-minute walk.
Sleep – Functioning on low amounts of sleep can be disastrous for your health. Please rest. It’s so important to get enough quality sleep. When you’re well-rested everything else will work out!
Self-care – It’s hard to remember that we need to take time for ourselves. Sometimes you have to plan self-care time into your daily schedule. Make sure you have some self-care time scattered throughout your week. This can be as simple as taking a bath, reading a book (not for school), or trying out a face mask.

We hope you have a great week!

Take care.

xoxo,

char & linds

Mini Road Trip: Leading Tickles

February 24, 2017 | Leave a Comment

“Not all those who wander are lost.” These words crossed my mind as I hopped in my car and took off to God knows where. I picked a random route off of the Trans-Canada Highway that I had never driven before, snowshoes and camera in the backseat, and my mind was open to any adventure I might come across.

The route I took was the Botwood exit, near Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland. I grew up in Central Newfoundland, yet I have done little exploring in the area so I figured it is about time I start. The road led me past Botwood, through Northern Arm, through Point Leamington, and past Glovers Harbour, and finally into Leading Tickles. I was intrigued by not only the silly name of this town but also by road signs that boasted great hiking at Oceanview Park, so that is where I headed.

Oceanview Park, as I quickly learned, is a seasonal operation. It has a campground and hiking trails with stunning views of the water, and I would imagine it is an enjoyable place to camp in the summertime. I decided to strap on my snowshoes and hike the West Bear Cove Lookout trail, although there was another trail that led to a higher lookout I wish I had tackled as well (let us know if you have!). There is also a gorgeous beach off of the campground that allowed me to get up close and personal with the pack ice that was pushed up onto the sand. NEVER climb on the ice pans that are in the water, it is super dangerous!! The only disappointment of my day was that in all the towns I passed through, I never found a nice place to grab a bite to eat. There were several small convenience stores that I could see, but no sit-down restaurants. If any of our readers know of a place along this route, please let us know!

When I set out on this little road trip, I knew I would not be disappointed— Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada as a whole is so incredibly beautiful no matter where you go. Leading Tickles proved to be a quaint little town with a great outdoor adventure opportunity. I recommend it any time of the year! Have you ever driven this route? Let us know about your experiences and suggestions in the comments below or by shooting us an email or a message on our social media. We love hearing from our readers!

Island Spotlight: Tenerife

February 22, 2017 | 1 Comment

Spain is a beautiful country that has so much to offer. From the culture to the delicious paella, to the beaches and the history; there’s something for everyone! I was lucky enough to sneak away to the Canary Islands for a quick trip when I was in Spain. I highly recommend making the trip. I opted to spend my short stay in Tenerife, one of the seven islands. The flight from Barcelona to Tenerife was about 3 1/2 hours but don’t let that discourage you!

The island is absolutely beautiful! The beaches are unique as the sand is black. The island has been known for its volcanic activity in the past, hence the black sand. I encourage you to wear your sandals and bring a blanket to lounge on at the beach because the sand becomes extremely hot under the sun.While in Tenerife, I wanted to visit Teide National Park and Garachico. I did this with a company called Tenerife Private Tours and had a fantastic experience with the tour guide, John. If you’re heading to Tenerife check out this company!

Teide National Park

This park is a must-see in Tenerife. You will get to see a volcano and hardened lava! It is unbelievable. Take a tour through the park, walk around and explore. Mount Teide is breath-taking, it’s so cool to see a volcano in real life. It hasn’t erupted since 1909 and while still technically active, it has been dormant for over 100 years. The entire park is quite the sight and should be on your bucket list.

Garachico

I wanted to visit Garachico so badly because of the natural swimming pools on the coast. Garachico is a small town that was completely wiped out during the 1706 volcano. However, when the lava hardened it created natural swimming pools in the ocean. They’re absolutely stunning and the waves come right up over the edges, keeping the water continuously flowing. This was hands down one of my favorite swimming experiences of all time.

I finished off my trip with some beach time, wandering through the cobblestone streets and simply enjoying the incredible landscapes. Thank you, Tenerife. I will never forget you.

xoxo,

linds

9 Delicious + Nutritious Smoothie Boosters

February 20, 2017 | Leave a Comment

We’re huge fans of smoothies and smoothie bowls! They make delicious breakfasts and snacks on the fly. We’re always running from class to meetings, to work, to the gym, to rehearsals and smoothies are our go-to healthy energy boost.

Check out some of our favourite smoothie tips and tricks below:

Avocado – Add some avocado to your smoothies for a creamy and delicious texture. Plus, it’s an awesome way to add some healthy fats to your breakfast or snack.
Chia Seeds – Toss in a spoonful of chia seeds for a quick and easy protein boost. They blend in well and help keep you full.
Nut Butter – This is another favourite for some quick protein! A spoonful goes a long way. We really love almond butter!
Greens – We constantly load up our smoothies with tasty greens! This is a great way to sneak some extra veggies into your day. Our favourites are spinach, kale and romaine lettuce.
Almond Milk – We like to stay away from sugary drinks so we typically opt for unsweetened almond milk instead of juice. In a pinch, water works too!
Frozen Fruit – We like to freeze our fruit ahead of time because it makes our smoothies nice and cold. Bonus!
Honey – When we’re craving a little sweetness we add a small dollop of honey to our smoothies. Natural sugars for the win!
Cultured Coconut – We love using unsweetened cultured coconut in our smoothies. It’s vegan/gluten-free and acts as a yogurt replacement. Delicious and creamy!
Extras – If we have any fruits or veggies that are about to go bad, we often just throw them in our smoothies. We don’t like wasting food and try to avoid it as much as possible. So you know that cucumber that’s going bad in your fridge drawer? Throw it in and blend!

What do you add to your smoothies? Let us know in the comments below! We love hearing from you!

Happy Monday!

xoxo,

char & linds

6 Tasks That Will Improve Your Everyday Life

February 13, 2017 | Leave a Comment

Many of us want to make our daily life more efficient and enjoyable. I have brought together some tasks that help me to accomplish this goal, and I hope they work for you too! Obviously, none of us are the same and we all have different schedules, so what works for some may not work for others. Nonetheless, I encourage everyone to give these tricks a go, because you may find them to be game-changers.

Make your bed. It only takes 2 minutes to fix up your sheets after you jump/roll/crawl out of bed each morning. We can all agree that there is nothing better than coming home to a tidy room, and making your bed makes a space feel instantly neater. Having a tidy space should improve your overall emotional wellbeing.

Meal prep. This seems daunting, but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as you think. Next time you have time to cook yourself a meal, make a double or triple batch and store it in the fridge or freezer for the next time you don’t have time to cook. Or after your next grocery shopping trip, separate fruits and veggies from their original containers into assorted Tupperware to grab out of your fridge for a snack or breakfast on the go.

Wash your face. Establishing a daily skincare routine can add an essential element of self care to your life. Treat yourself to ten minutes (or more!) of skincare each day because you deserve it. Check out our winter skincare routine here.

Eat breakfast. Sorry, because I know this has been preached so much that the words now have little meaning. But there is a reason for that! Even just a small piece of fruit or a granola bar (homemade ones here!) can give you that boost you need to get through the morning until your next meal. Of course, if you can, opt for a heaping bowl of oatmeal or eggs and whole-grain toast. Bye-bye unproductive, moody mornings!

Brew your own coffee (or tea!). You will save money ($50 plus per month!!), have the opportunity to cut out unwanted sugars or dairy products, and save a bunch of time by avoiding the drive-thru.

Pack your bag the night before. This has been life-changing for me! Have a look at your schedule, see what books, clothing items, snacks, or tech you may need for the next day, toss them in your backpack, and sleep ten minutes later the next morning. This also reduces your chances of forgetting something while you’re rushing to pack your bags in the morning.

We are confident that these tasks will help you to improve your everyday life. Work on incorporating just one of these into your daily or weekly routine, and let us know how it helps (or doesn’t help) make your life more efficient. We love hearing from you! Also let us know if you have any tasks or routines that you find improve your life in general. We want to try them!

Have a great week,
xoxo, char&linds