Lifestyle – Two Wild Tides

Iceberg Alley Performance Tent 2019

September 26, 2019 | Leave a Comment

I cannot believe it’s here and gone again. Iceberg Alley Performance Tent 2019 was one to remember– not that I’d ever expect anything less. It was another 10 days of fabulous performers, including Metric, Colin James, Black Jack Billy, Alan Doyle (check out our post about his performance last year!) with a surprise Great Big Sea reunion, and Our Lady Peace. This year, I was lucky enough to take in TWO amazing shows: Bret Michaels with Haywire and Timber, and David Wilcox, Kim Mitchell, and Loverboy. Can you say classics?? The shows were phenomenal and the venue continues to kick ass.

In case you’ve never been, here’s a little rundown of what the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent is like:

It’s a giant blue tent pitched on the banks of Quidi Vidi Lake (think circus tents)
There are about 10 days of incredible concerts in mid-September
Hardly any lineups!!!
They have a separate, attached tent for toilets so you never have to go outside
They lay out a floor so you don’t have to worry about your heels sinking in the grass
Free stadium-style seating on the back wall facing the stage
There are multiple bars where you can get liquor, beer, craft beer, and wine (again, no lineups!!)
Local restaurants have food booths with amazing eats
Covered smoking area
This year they had a candy bar!
VIP section with premium seating as well as private bars and bathrooms
All at a competitive price– you won’t break the bank at Iceberg Alley

Now let’s talk about this year’s shows:

As a long-time classic rock/hair band super-fan, I was thrilled to hear Bret Michaels, the singer from Poison, was coming to the Tent. Poison’s classic hit “Nothin’ But a Good Time” is my #1 pump-up song! I am so thankful to the folks at Iceberg Alley for having me at the show.

St. John’s-based Timber opened up the show and Canadian band Haywire kept the party going before Bret Michaels took the stage. I love that Iceberg Alley gives a space for local artists to perform.

Bret Michaels, as pretty as ever, rocked the Tent with all Poison’s classic hits. You might have spotted me jamming out to “Your Momma Don’t Dance,” “Unskinny Bop,” and “Talk Dirty to Me.” All the phones lit up when he sang “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” and “Something to Believe In.” He even performed songs from other classic rock artists like Journey and Kiss. His energy was contagious. Bret really seemed to love The Rock, and I think he made everyone’s night when he promised a Poison reunion here in Newfoundland in the near future. What a dream!

On the last night of the festival, my friends and I headed down to the Tent for classic rock icons David Wilcox, Kim Mitchell, and Loverboy. I was stoked! Hit after hit after hit! It was a sold-out show and the crowd was on wheels. As it turns out, some local rock legends also decided to come out and enjoy the show…I finally met Alan Doyle! Unfortunately, all the concert pictures from that night are super blurry– probably from me jumping up and down nonstop all night! (sorry not sorry!)

Iceberg Alley Performance Tent ROCKED again this year. It never disappoints! The festival has become a well-oiled machine and is honestly one of the most enjoyable concert venues I have ever been to. We cannot wait for next year!

all the best,
char

Meditterean Vibes: Healthy Pasta Salad

June 3, 2019 | Leave a Comment

I was in a rush to get to work a few days ago and needed something quick to pack in my lunch bag. I was feeling tired of the same old staples I’d been eating and certainly sick of eating unhealthy lunches from cans, boxes, and fast-food chains. Needless to say, I’d fallen into a bit of a rut when it came to meal-prepping. I didn’t have much in my fridge, but I did have some veggies that needed to be used up. Keep reading to see what I came up with (and that I haven’t been able to stop making since!)

I feel like this dish is Mediterranean-inspired. It’s super healthy with lots of vitamins and healthy fats. Plus it’s filling without feeling heavy.

What you need for the salad:

1 cup pasta (use gluten-free if desired)
1 cup cucumber, chopped
1 cup tomato, chopped
1/2 cup chickpeas
1/2 cup red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup white onion, chopped
1 tbsp hemp hearts

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

For the dressing, you’ll need:

1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp cane sugar
salt and pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a dish, then toss with salad ingredients. Other ingredients that would taste good are olives and feta cheese. Enjoy hot or cold!

Let us know if you try this recipe by commenting below, sending us an email, or reaching out on social media, @twowildtides.

Happy meal-prepping,
char

My Yoga Practice

May 9, 2019 | Leave a Comment

I’m a (very) amateur yogi and proud of that. Yoga is a type of fitness activity that is great not only for the body but also for the mind and soul. It opens doorways to building strength, achieving mindfulness, and getting in touch with your self and your body. There are unlimited ways to practice yoga, and there is no such thing as a right or wrong way to practice in my opinion– do what feels right for you. There are many variables that influence the way you practice yoga; from the gear you use, to the setting in which you practice, to the poses and flows you accomplish.

Our favorite gear:

Block- this helps with poses that would otherwise require a deeper stretch than you feel comfortable with. Use a block for support and to help ease into those difficult poses. We use this one from Lululemon.
Strap- this also helps with easing yourself into those deeper poses that require a little more flexibility. Remember to know your limits so you do not hurt yourself! We also grabbed ours at Lululemon.
Mat- these are self-explanatory! You can get mats that are pretty inexpensive (I claimed a free one from a cereal box once!) and they work just fine. If you want something a little more durable, though, try one of these Prana mats available for purchase at Mountain Equipment Co-op.
Towels- why would you need a towel for yoga? If you do hot yoga, you will know why. A larger towel that extends to the length of your yoga mat catches sweat and keeps your feet from sliding off the mat (yeah, you get that sweaty!). A smaller towel to wipe your face throughout class is handy too. You can get these straight from Prana.
Clothing– yoga pants are everywhere these days, and they aren’t being worn just for yoga! Although you can find yoga clothes in pretty much any clothing store, elephant pants from One Tribe Apparel are our new favourites because they are made sustainably in a non-exploitive work environment, and they help save elephants!

Our favorite settings:

In class. Modo Hot Yoga is our favorite yoga studios to attend, as they are super friendly and offer great classes for all skill levels. Haven’t tried it before? Karma classes are only $5 on Friday nights for beginners– what’s the karma? Your $5 goes to a local charity!
At home. Picture this: gross weather, broke student, no time. Ten minutes in your bedroom or living room is all you need for a successful practice. Make sure to sufficiently clear your space so you don’t hurt yourself!
Outdoors. We love yoga on the beach, where you can enjoy the sounds of crashing waves and seabirds. Or in a grassy area, on a beach, or in your local park, so if you lose your balance your fall is soft.

Our favorite poses/flows:

When I practice alone, I typically follow a YouTube video (I love this one!) or I just do the poses that I like and feel comfortable with from memory. This can be tricky– it is hard to remember poses and the safe way to accomplish them, but this comes with time. When I practice in class, my favorite is Moksha Flow.

Favourite pose? Definitely vrksasana, a.k.a. tree pose. It makes me feel so rooted (pardon the pun!) and balanced.

What poses are your favourite? What gear do you recommend? Let us know if you try anything from this article, we really love reading your responses! Or tag us on twitter, instagram, or facebook @twowildtides

Have a great week!
-char

Foolproof Grocery List

May 6, 2019 | Leave a Comment

Grocery shopping can quickly become expensive and a dreaded chore– unless you shop at Costco and enjoy ALL the free samples. In order to maximize your time, budget, and health, check out this foolproof grocery list that we created. For your convenience, download it to your phone or print it off and take it to the store with you.

Modify this to meet your own dietary/budgeting needs. For example, vegans or vegetarians would obviously eliminate the animal-based protein. I usually buy one or two items from each category every week or so. Balance is key.

Happy grocery shopping! (and don’t forget to treat yourself!)
-char

Healthy Matcha Milkshake

April 29, 2019 | Leave a Comment

Any Booster Juice lovers out there familiar with the matcha monsoon? It’s one of my favourite treats to get on campus or at the airport. Of course, while smoothie joints offer healthier alternatives to sodas, they are still loaded with sugar. We recreated the matcha monsoon at home with dairy free ingredients and a lower sugar content.

Organic matcha powder is known to have many health benefits, including antioxidants for healthy skin and hair. Consumption of matcha powder or matcha green tea has even been linked to weight loss, energy boosts, and prevention of heart disease and diabetes (although these studies are limited). Health benefits or not, matcha is still a delicious flavour that a lot of people enjoy.

For the milkshake, you will need:
1 tbsp matcha powder (too much creates a bitter taste)
1.5 cups vanilla or coconut dairy-free ice cream
1 cup of vanilla almond or coconut milk
1 tbsp lemon juice (I read somewhere that lemon brings out matcha’s health benefits)
2 tbsp maple syrup for extra sweetness
1 cup of spinach for bonus healthfulness (totally optional!)

Add all the ingredients to a blender (I use a Magic Bullet) and blend until completely smooth.