blogger – A Pursuit of Life – Barefoot& High Heeled

The Group Trip That Changed My Life

I love my solo travel. It is a massive part of who I am. However, I have also had incredible experiences on group trips. One in particular stands out more then any other group trip I have been on and participated in – my trip to Tanzania with UGO Impact. It has now been one year since my trip with them, and the continual impact from it in my life has not ceased to amaze me. It transformed my being and changed my life.

The program itself is a 3 month transformational coaching program, the trip was 2 weeks, and it consisted of a one week volunteer project working alongside the Dare Womens Foundation and then a one week trip to summit Mount Kilimajaro. There is group work and individual work focusing on personal development before and after the trip. This served to open us up before the trip so the experiences can have a deeper meaning, and after the trip so we can get the best long term success with everything we had just experienced during the trip. Another great thing about the group calls pior to the trip is that it gave us the opportunity to get to know eachother on deep personal levels, and when we arrived to Tanzania it was all warm hugs and embraces, as we had already began our journey together in the video chats.

I am very much into personal development, so when I read about UGO Impact combining it with travel, giving back, and then completely challenging ourselves with Kilimanjaro, it spoke to my heart and soul straight away. A magical combination.

I love doing volunteer work, one of my favorite jobs I ever had was when I used to lead volunteer projects in the remote jungles of Central and South America. It had been far too long since I had done something like that, so the first week working with the Dare Womens Foundation and alongside the community lit my soul on fire in so many ways that I couldn’t have imagined. It was as though I was suddenly back to a place where I feel so fulfilled inside. I actually had no idea it was missing from my life until I got on the trip.

The whole week we sang, we danced, we worked, we ate, we laughed, we connected.

We always made time to do our group coaching and personal development sessions. Some days I would go into the session not thinking it would be too profound and then after the session I was once again mind blown at my self discoveries. One week on the volunteer project truly didn’t feel long enough. Although, the excitement for Kilimanjaro was also pulling at us all.

By time we got to Kili, our group bond was super tight, and it was exciting knowing we were all about to embark on the next level, life changing journey together.

Even through the highs and lows of challenges on the mountain we still did our group work and coaching sessions. Saying that it brought a deeper meaning and impact, almost feels like an understatement. I mean, I feel like I should have much more profound words to use, as it is so hard to sum up into actual words the effect it all had. When you are mentally opening yourself up and digging deep within yourself in a group of love and support, you will automatically have a much more transformational experience in the other activities you do surrounding the mental work.

As you go through the challenges everything you experience suddenly can become a metaphor for your life – who you are being, and how you are showing up.

Kilimajaro was incredible and also life changing in and of itself. It was something I had wanted to do for many years. I am so glad it never happened until I did it with UGO Impact. If I would have just went and did it without this amazing coaching program, the great foundation from the volunteer work, and my amazing group that I was so connected with, it would have still been life changing, but not nearly to the level as with the combination. Not even close.

After Kilimajaro I found a determination in myself that was not there before, I found grit and drive that was buried deep within. I realized I have so much more in me then I was giving. I also learnt that some things in life don’t need to be rushed, it is more about the perseverence and taking it one step at a time. On the mountain they said ‘pole, pole‘ which means ‘slowly, slowy‘. We need to get acclimatized at every level so our body can keep going. As in life, we climb the mountain towards our goals, we can’t always run towards them, sometimes, we have to take it slowly, one step at a time, making sure we have our bearings for the next step and the next level. As long as we keep going in the direction, we will always reach our summit.

On this trip I also fine tuned and discovered more of my deep values, and I realized I had stopped living my passions. Somehow I had let them go to the side and in turn I stopped feeling like my true self. Thanks to my trip with UGO, I found myself, I remembered what is important to me so I can live my best life, and give the world the best version of me. We all deserve to live our best lives.

It amazes me that a year later I am still having so many takeaways.

I am so excited that my friends, the founders of UGO, Jill Valentine and Nicole Hrinco are running this program again this fall! These two completely lead with love. They are there fully for your success and transformation.

Courage, Community, Kilimanjaro 2020 – is happening this fall!

Every single person on the trip had such life changing transformations that they had to create the opportunity again. If I could, I would do it again, one hundred percent in a heart beat. It was that good. One of the most epic experiences of my life.If you are searching for more meaning in your life, and are excited about the idea of getting your hands dirty helping a community in need and climbing a mountain while connecting with the most amazing group of people, send me a message or comment on this post so I can connect you with UGO – truly two of my favorite women.I came back from this trip a better, happier and more aligned version of myself. For that, I am forever grateful.

I Tried Six Forma Facial Treatments And Here Are My Results

Touted as a ‘non-invasive’ facelift, the Forma Facial is a favourite of many A-list celebrities. It uses radio-frequency to target deep in the layers of the skin to improve skin elasticity and help build collagen. Recently, I received 6 forma facials in Calgary, Alberta at Rejuve Your Body which is in Kensington. Rejuve is exactly as the name, the most amazing place to rejuve your whole body.

I was on the search for something that could help with the loose skin under my chin. I like to keep things as natural as possible, so the less cutting or injections was what I was after.

I actually had no idea what to expect when I headed in for my first treatment. Forma was something I had not even heard about prior to this. However, when Rejuve owner Elanna Halisky explained to me about it, and how it was non-invasive and simply assists your skin to tighten, tone and produce more collagen – I was in.

From the first time I walked in the doors, every person I came in contact with was incredibly welcoming at Rejuve. To me it makes a massive difference walking into a warm environment. The treatment starts at the doors.

Before you begin the treatment you use a cleansing cloth to clean off all of the makeup and dirt.

And then it’s go time.

The wand of the machine used to do the treatment heats up and a large gob of gel is placed on the end of it and on your skin. This gel barrier is what makes it possible for the laser to be on contact with your skin and then also gives it the ability to penetrate deep into the layers of your skin.

The treatment itself actually feels very warm and relaxing. The temperature strength is adjusted for each individual person’s needs. As I laid there with my eyes closed melting into the treatment, I felt a sense of relaxation over my whole body. It really does not take long at all, it is about 30 – 45 minutes, depending on the areas you are getting done. This is why the nickname is the ‘lunch break’ facial.

After the treatment your skin is slightly red, simply due to the heat from the machine. However, there are no other side effects, and you can immediately notice a tighter smoother look to your skin. Depending on your personal goals a series of 6 – 8 sessions is recommended for the most dramatic and long-lasting results. Luckily, Rejuve has packages that make this a much more doable process. I did 1 treatment a week for 6 weeks, and my results blew me away.

One thing I noticed after a few sessions was a renewed self confidence. Not that I lacked confidence before this, but it definitely brought it to another level. I never imagined a facial would do that for a person.

It has now been a month since my last treatment and my face just continues to change for the better. The forma facial tightened all my loose skin and as I am working out and eating healthy to transform my body, my face is following suit. I feel the forma facial gave my skin a massive boost which has enabled it to continue to progress and change. I am definitely a believer thanks to Rejuve Your Body.

Self care is always a good idea.

Beating Anxiety, Inflammation And Insomnia With The Best CBD Oil

CBD oil is a hot topic right now. As is anxiety, inflammation, and insomnia. With so many brands popping up in the market, it’s difficult to find a quality one that we can feel confident investing our money in and that gives us the results we are looking for.

Our bodies all contain an endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for creating homeostasis feel within our bodies. When our bodies are relaxed, they are capable of doing what they are made to do – heal themselves, and with more cannabinoids, it can do this at a higher level. We do create our own cannabinoids, however, due to poor diets, stress and toxicities to name a few, we do not create adequate amounts. So by supplementing our bodies with external cannabinoids, we nourish our endocannabinoid system.

Last summer I tried my first bottle of CBD and I totally lucked out with it, it worked fantastically and showed immediate benefits. It for sure helped with my anxiety and gave me an overall relaxed feel, plus it took away the pain and inflammation in my collapsed ankle. I was super excited about it.

Not long after that, the brand I first used was discontinued, and I had to begin a search for a new kind. Little did I know it would be a long and disappointing search. I ended up trying 10 various brands over the course of 8 months and I was not getting the results I expected or that I knew were possible from a quality CBD oil. I was beginning to get very discouraged and so was my wallet.

I had a list of requirements I was looking for, and potentially my standards were high as I had such good results initially. Long behold I came across Calm By Wellness. After I inspected the website, I could see every minute detail about the oil. The company had it all there, very transparent.

Calm CBD oil is organic and full spectrum, which means it has all of the cannabinoids minus the THC cannabinoid which is the psychoactive cannabinoid. Full spectrum is important to me as having all the cannabinoids means that it has further health reach within our bodies. Plus Calm is made in Loveland, Colorado. Colorado has some of the strictest agricultural laws out there, so you know it really is organic and all that it says is in the oil plus how it is made is legit. They also infuse it with love in good ol’ Loveland. It was checking all the boxes.

Calm has two different flavours of drops. The Strawberry Lemonade and the Peppermint.

Flavoured with essential oils, sweetened with stevia, infused with organic hemp seed oil and fractioned coconut oil, it was an easy choice as the ingredients were things that I would naturally put in my body. I love the peppermint flavour myself, as minty fresh things always get me.

When I started my first bottle of Calm CBD oil, I did not have high expectations, nor did I want to. It all looked amazing in writing, but I needed to see if it lived up to that. I had been disappointed enough times already.

After the first dose, I immediately felt ‘calm‘. Exactly as the name. I have suffered from insomnia off and on for years as it runs in my family. However when I take a dose of my Calm CBD at night, I am asleep within 30 minutes, and I have an amazingly restful sleep. I have never experienced sleep this good in all of my adult years. My anxiety that was slowly creeping back disappeared and any inflammation is gone as soon as it starts once I take a dose. I have been completely blown away. It is better then I could have ever imagined, and now a part of my everyday lifestyle and my ‘can not leave home without’ stuff.

I also tried the gummies, which not only are delicious, but fantastic after a workout to reduce post-workout inflammation.

I feel so lucky I found Calm By Wellness it truly has been a CBD game changer, and the best part is, they ship all over the globe! Set’s my little travelling soul at ease knowing I can order some of this no matter where in the world I am. If you are interested in checking it out, I will link it right here.

http://bit.ly/calmbywellness

Health is the best investment we can make. Without high-quality health, we can’t have a high-quality life. Plus I love getting better with age – just like a fine wine.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

Waterton National Park – A Southern Alberta Gem

The windiest place in Canada. That is what Waterton National Park is known as being. Having clocked winds of up to 170km an hour. It is also known for its mind-blowing beauty. Prior to this trip, I had no idea of either of those things. How on earth did I not know?! Surely I have been living under a rock.

A short 3 hour drive from Calgary and you will find yourself in the little town of Waterton. The drive itself was beautiful. As you enjoy the country landscape, suddenly you find yourself amongst the wind farms.

It was the first time in my life I was surrounded by so many wind turbines. So many firsts for me on this trip. It is incredible how majestic these turbines look and feel when you are up close and personal with them. I was in total awe.

As you head into the gates at Waterton National Park your eyes become immediately fixated to the view of the lake engulfed in the mountain range. It doesn’t take long for you to recognize that you are in a very special place.

The first structure that greets you upon entering the town of just over 100 people is the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel.

Established in 1927, it has an old world charm to it. It also has the most picturesque view in the whole town. It is as if you don’t want to blink, so you do not miss a moment of the splendour.

Although sometimes you DO have to close your eyes and feel all the energy surrounding you.

The high tea at the hotel is something not to be missed. An elegant session of pure indulgence, with a view that is equally an indulgence for your eyes.

As you stroll through the quaint little town, the feelings of peace and tranquillity overcome you. My soul was feeling relaxed simply being amongst it all.

I stayed at the Bayshore Inn, which is a hotel that boasts lovely views of the lake. You are short walking distance to all the local restaurants, so it is not a problem to dine.

Cameron Falls is a short walk from downtown, a beautiful spot where you can enjoy a bit of nature and take some nice photos while on a leisurely stroll.

The area is known for its fantastic and very accessible hiking. It is amazing to see the aftereffects of the forest fire that nearly wiped out the town in 2017.

The charred remains with the blanket of regrowth sprouting from the earth show all too well just how big and scary that fire must have been. That being said, the hiking is still incredible. An activity you must partake in when in Waterton National Park.

Hiking to Bertha Falls is a great 2 hour excursion that is the perfect way to spend a bit of your day. The sights along the way will not dissapoint.

I happened to be there during the Taste of Waterton food festival and part of their festival includes a pie cruise on the lake. It is exactly what it sounds like, a boat ride with pie. This time was a very special cruise as Country music star Paul Brandt hosted it.

Paul Brandt spoiled us with some music, and we cruised over to the United States side of the lake and back.

It was anyway exceptional way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Waterton National Park is a very special area. In some ways, I am glad I didn’t know about Waterton prior to this visit as the shock and awe of its beauty went far past what my expectations would have been if I had heard of it. It left my imagination wide open. A bucket list must for all nature enthusiasts.

If you would like to watch my vlog about the visit you can have a peak right here.

Volunteering, Community and Connection in Tanzania

Giving back and supporting others – that’s what makes the world go round. In fact, I forgot just how much immersing myself in a different culture, giving back and working alongside the people sets my soul on fire. The sharing of energies in these situations amazing.

While in Tanzania I took part in a volunteer project with UGO Travel For Change and we partnered with The Dare Women’s Foundation. It has been so many years since I partook in a group trip. Yet the values of UGO Travel For Change spoke to my core, so it was a no brainer to go on this adventure with them. Plus the group of women(and one guy) on this trip fit together like a perfect puzzle. It was amazing how much we all complimented each other as a group. I would for sure join UGO again.

The Dare Women’s Foundation does incredible work in Tanzania. It is an NGO working to empower Tanzanian women and girls, with a focus on rural areas, through poverty alleviation, social justice, economic empowerment, and gender equality.

The foundation had a piece of land donated to them, and with it, they plan on building a home where women who need shelter can live, heal and work on building a sustainable future. We came to help build them a fence to enclose their property.

I love hands-on work. There is something so satisfying about getting dirty and doing physical labour. Especially when you are doing it alongside an amazing community of locals. It was very hot, and that took to get used to, but the sweatiness just added to the whole experience. This is literally where the term ‘sweat hot mess’ is very fitting.

Every day the mama’s would come and out of nowhere they would build fires on the ground and whip up the most incredible meals. I mean unbelievable meals. Makes me think I need to step up my game next time I am camping.

Song and dance accompanied all the tasks and even the bus rides. There was always singing going on. It always amazes me how the people in Africa truly know how to enjoy life. Making the most of every day and every moment.

I would have to say the cement was the hardest part of the work. First, we had to mix it on the ground and then we had to carry it in buckets to the fence where we then poured into the ground to create the cement base. Most of the buckets didn’t have proper handles so that would be why I would say it was the hardest. It was more so just painful for the hands.

The baby goats made my day – every day! The neighbours were kind enough to let us use their outhouse for the duration of the project and on their little property; they had cows, goats and chickens. I had no idea that playing with baby goats is one of my absolute favourite things to do in life. Now I know.

Before we finished the project, we each planted a tree on the property. The significance being we leave a piece of us that will grow and be something beautiful when we return.

On our final day, we had a farewell party. All the mamas came as well as the construction guys for lunch and a little ceremony so we could thank them for all of their amazing hospitality. We all pitched in to prepare the food with as much love as they used to prepare all of our food.

We sang we ate, we danced, and we said our heartfelt ‘see you again’ to each other.

It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It encompassed so many of my passions all in one and it ignited this massive desire to incorporate more of this into my life once again. It is a good reminder we should always take the time to do something we love, whatever lights us up, even if it is just something brief, as that light we gain from it will overflow to all areas of our life.

The more you give the more you get, and I am starting 2019 off full of gratitude. It is about more than just giving back. On the deeper side, it is about community and connection on a global scale.

Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro -The Trek That Changed My Life

A physical, mental, emotional and spiritual journey that will change your life.

Walking up a mountain. No big deal right?
At least one would think it was no big deal until you find yourself immersed in it all and in a very different reality.

Mount Kilimanjaro has been on my bucket list since I first laid eyes on it when I was doing my solo trip across Africa with my portable massage table. I knew I would one day be back to conquer it, I just didn’t know when. Then the opportunity arose recently in my life, years after my solo trip across the continent and it was suddenly time.

We chose the 7-day trek up the Machame route. Not the most difficult route, but absolutely one of the most challenging.

From day 1 we were amongst some of the most incredible scenery.

We began at the lush rain forest, and as we progressively got higher in altitude the vegetation continually changed. The landscape and beauty were spectacular every day.

I was totally blown away by the porters running up and down the mountain with very heavy loads. We would leave camp they would pack up and run ahead of us to make sure everything was ready for our arrival.

Blown away, and incredibly grateful. That is not an easy job.
We had some long days in the beginning with a duration of 6 – 7 hours hikes, as we got higher the hikes got shorter yet more intense particularly due to the altitude.

We always had snacks and warm drinks waiting for us when we reached our next camp.

It is about around day 3 that most people start to feel the effects of the altitude. I made sure to have all of my natural supplements and remedies with me in order to prevent altitude sickness as much as possible. As we get higher our blood begins to thicken which in turns starts to make us ill. So I had plenty of natural things in my little health kit that helps to thin the blood. It all worked so well, I had my moments, but really nothing too bad at all.

Altitude sickness comes in waves. At one point you can feel totally fine, then suddenly you feel awful, and then shortly after that you feel fine again. It is like a roller coaster ride all in itself.

The most important things are – rest and water.

We chose the absolute best company to guide us. They are called Safari to Summit, and they continually went above and beyond for us on the daily. Our safety and health were number one, and the food blew us away every day.

Literally, the chef also known as ‘the stomach engineer’ prepared our meals in a tent on a propane stove, and the things he would produce were what dreams were made of on a cold, strenuous journey up Kilimanjaro. No matter the elevation, the food was always on point.

Summit night was tough. My lips were cracked, my body feeling the pressure, and my mind having to keep strong. We started our last leg of the journey at 11pm. It was dark, cold, and where the real challenge was about to begin.

About an hour in is when I started to feel the altitude. There were some that were vomiting, others with severe headaches and body aches. For myself when it would pummel me like a crashing wave, it would come on as tight pressure in my chest and body making it very difficult to breathe along with vertigo that would make it hard to focus as well as giving me the feeling I was about to fall down the mountain. It was extremely tough, to say the least. I had to stop a couple times to even out and give myself a pep talk. I shed a few tears and asked my body if it could go on. It said yes. So onward I marched.

As we got higher the weather became more brutal. It was blizzarding and so cold that even with two pairs of gloves and two pairs of socks plus hand and feet warmers, I was still so cold my fingers and toes were burning with the icy bite of frost. Pushing through the last few hours was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my whole life.

Having an incredible team of support absolutely helped make the success of this possible. At times I was the support and at other times I was receiving the support. This time I joined a group trip with UGO Travel for Change, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

This accomplishment put so many things into perspective for me. I found a drive in myself that is so much bigger than I ever thought before. I can clearly see I am capable of so much more.

The journey down the mountain was split between two days, and I will say aside from the summit the trek down was the hardest. It was rough and my knees almost couldn’t take it. I was ready to throw in the towel and say I couldn’t go on. It was so painful. Although clearly, that wasn’t an option. How in the heck else was I going to get down?
On the last morning of the trek, we were treated to a farewell song and dance by the guides and crew. They were so amazing and what a high vibe way to say goodbye.

My knees were swollen for days after and I could barely walk. Going down is no joke. This adventure turned out to be more than just a physical challenge. It was physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

I had so much support to help me achieve this incredible feat. I had the intention to fly this flag at the summit to show my gratitude to all those who supported me in so many ways. However, I never expected this to be as difficult as it was, nor with such extreme weather conditions. My time at the summit was so short as it was unbearable and my flag was in my bag that one of the porters took to carry when the altitude was nearly doing me in. I still flew my flag with nothing less than overflowing gratitude when I returned to base camp, and it was with us all at the top.

Metaphorically speaking, here is what I learned about life from this amazing experience – having been crashed on by waves of altitude/challenges along the way, having to stop and shed some tears a few times, check in with myself and have strong self talk to keep going onward and upward to finally reach the top. The summit. Where I shed more tears, this time of joy. It showed me that in life when we are climbing our mountains, building our success and working to achieve greatness, it will not always be easy, the hardships will come in waves, and we may cry a few times along the way. Yet if we can keep our eye on our goal, our mindset strong while being gentle on ourselves through the hardships, we can do anything and everything that we set our mind to. Ending up at the exact destination we were reaching for or somewhere even better.

Northwest Territories – The Land That Lures You

There are some places in this world that hold special places in our hearts. A place that heals us, rejuvenates us and sets us free. These places seem to hold an energizing power over us like none other. Perhaps it is because we match the vibration of the land. Or, perhaps it has been such a part of our life that it seems to be engrained in our being.

In the essence of it all, one of those magical places is the Northwest Territories. The land where I roamed as a child and where I grew into a woman.

With vast seemingly untouched forests, a multitude of serene lakes, rivers, a surprising amount of waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife – you will be amazed and wowed at every turn.

It is the land of the midnight sun in the summers and has a sky of colourful Northern lights that will dance for you all winter long. A splendour that makes the cold and dark winters more bearable and inviting.

The sunsets will pull you into a trance that will take you straight into a glistening stary night. You will be treated to endless shooting stars whizzing through the sky.

When you stand amongst the trees with the wind gently breezing by, you will be surrounded and cradled by the healing energy and interconnectedness of it all. The sounds will soothe your soul.

This land is filled with the rich traditions of our ancestors and the spirits of the animals.

The pulsing of the land will fill you, penetrate your cells, and lure you to a place that feels so much like home in a dream that you often dream.

Northwest Territories is the land the sings the song of your soul.

5 tips to simplify your life, live minimally, and feel free

Freedom feels so good. In fact, for myself, it is one of the best feelings in the world. One of the best ways to create more freedom in your life so to simplify your life, and live minimally.

Having and creating more space in your life means you will have more space for new and amazing things to come in. Such as more travel, flexibility to enjoy a little more spontaneity, more money, and peace of mind in general.

Over the years I have downsized more and more. It seems every time I would leave the country to go travelling, I would come home only to downsize even more. Bit by bit my materials became less and less.

Although it is not just about minimizing your materials, it is also about clearing the space in your mind. It all goes hand in hand. But, by simplifying your life and all the various facets of it, you will free up your whole space, and welcome so much more awesome energy into your life.

By taking actions steps everyday to free up your life, it becomes easier and you naturally become in alignment within yourself. When you are in alignment, life won’t just give you lemons, it will give you the whole lemonade stand and a helper.

Here are 5 tips that have been tried, tested and proven true in my life to simplify and create so much more freedom.

Reduce Clutter – I feel like this is self-explanatory, however, it can be so easy to let things build up, and before you know, there is just stuff all around you. I find that not only does meaningless stuff create stagnant energy in our lives, but it also blocks our creative flow. Anything that is just lying around and taking up space, can go. Unless something it has sentimental value, it is not necessary to keep around. Out the door, it goes for me.
Think Before You Buy – ‘Do I really need this, or do I simply want it?!’ That is the question I so often hear myself saying. We have all done it, seen something shiny and pretty, and decided right on the spot that we had to have it, only to get it and have it accumulate dust. Never to be used, and only to be a space taker. When I come across something I like, that I wasn’t in the market to get, I always have a good think about it first. The majority of the time, I will leave and go think about it for a day or more. If a few days pass and I am still thinking about it, then I will go back and get it, and if it was still there waiting for me, it was meant to be, and if it is gone, then it wasn’t meant to be in my life. That helps keep the clutter down in my life.
Choose Experiences Over Stuff – less stuff means more adventure. I don’t know about you, but I live for adventure and awesome experiences. It is so much more enriching then mass amounts of material stuff. My experiences that I have had around the globe are priceless, and if having less stuff means more of that, then I am in it for the long haul. Plus the less money you spend on stuff the more money you can spend on travel and adventure.
Make A List And Be A Doer – accomplishing things just feels so satisfying. No matter where I am, I love being a doer. When you make a list, it helps you visualize exactly what you want to achieve, and will be a sure way for you not to forget everything, it also pushes you to be a doer. You get things done and don’t let things pile up in life. When you let things pile up, it wears a person down, as you are always in a stress state of having way too much to do. Placing those check marks beside the things you finished, feels so good.
Forgive And Release – emotional clutter is a thing. When we hold on to negative feelings or resentment, it holds us back and stops the flow in our life. A lot of time it’s about forgiving ourselves over others. It is so easy to be hard on ourselves, blaming ourselves for our hardships, putting ourselves down for not being as far along in our pursuits as we would like. Also, when we feel others have wronged us, and purposely did negative things towards us, it is all too easy to point fingers and hang onto anger and resentment towards them. The reality is, these feeling are truly only hurting ourselves. By forgiving and releasing the situation, whether it is towards yourself or someone else, and doing it sincerely and from your heart, you open a massive space for amazing energy to flow into your life. That doesn’t mean you need to keep anyone in your life that is holding you down, but you can still forgive and let it go. Total freedom is what lies on the other side of holding on.

When you create space in your life for more freedom, whether that is time freedom, mental freedom, emotional freedom, financial freedom, and so on – whatever it is that freedom is to you, you open up your energy space to many more wonders of life. When you are not bogged down by clutter in all it’s various forms, you then are standing up tall and reeling in the highest and most fulfilling life you can imagine.

For me, I love having the freedom to pack up at the drop of a hat and go explore the world. I love having the freedom to go and help people when they are in need, and I love to have the mental freedom to enjoy life to the fullest.

Freedom, feels amazing.

Easy, healthy, anywhere in the world – Flax Tortilla

I absolutely love nothing more than taking care of my body. Well, I actually love a lot of things in life, and that just happens to be one of the tops! It is so vital that we love and nurture our bodies, as they do so much for us, and the better we take care of our body the better it will take care of us. Especially in times of illness. If you love and nurture your body daily, it will bounce back from unforeseen illness so much faster.

No joke, travelling the globe I have experienced some seriously crappy travel illnesses. Something you can’t really get away from when travelling. Plus, just being home in the city also brings about some bugs. So, regardless of where I am, I prefer to keep my immune system in extra good shape, that way, in turn, my body is stronger and can naturally be healthy, vibrant and awesome.

Not to mention, when it comes to food, I like it to be easy, and tasty!! Something I can do anywhere and anytime. Travelling, camping, at home. You name it, I like to always have the ability to bring health and wellness to the table.

This flax tortilla is incredibly tasty and so easy to make.

All you need is 3 things.

Ground Flax Seed
Salt
Water

For this one tortilla, I used about 3/4 cup of ground flax seed, a dash of salt and about 1/4 cup of water.

You can also add any spices or herbs that you would like to change up the flavour. What can I say?! So versatile.

Once you mix it up, roll it in a ball, and let it sit for a couple of minutes while the pan heats up, then place it in the pan and use the back of a spoon to flatten it out gently.

I say gently as it will break if you are too rough, but if you are gentle, it will flatten super easily.

Cook both sides until golden brown, and then add your choice of toppings. Voila! You have an incredibly tasty morsel, chalked full of Omega 3’s, fibre and antioxidants.

I change my topping’s all the time. This time around I put, organic grass fed cream cheese, avocado, cherry tomato and fresh mint.

It’s even better when combining it with a fresh smoothie.

So easy to make, and even easier to get addicted too. Here’s to glowing, no matter where in the world you are.

Spring Rejuvenation With Some TLC At Inner Balance Spa

Nurturing my body, going the extra mile to promote healing and restoration, particularly after winter, it’s something I don’t falter on. After all, if you love your body, it will love you back.

Exfoliation and detox play a large part in my daily self-care regime. It is so important to renew our skin, lymphatic system, and promote overall renewal in our bodies as a whole. Plus, it keeps your skin and body youthful and supple for so much longer in life.

I am a massive advocate of dry skin brushing for that exact reason, and I do it on the daily, which I talk about, it, and all it’s benefits here.

Although sometimes, a person needs a little extra pampering and an even deeper exfoliation. Done by someone other than yourself. Especially when spring has sprung! Well according to the calendar. If you look outside mother nature may tell you a different story, as she is a trickster around here.

Lately, my self-care routine has brought on a bit of an infrared sauna addiction.

I wanted to take my spring detox to another level. After doing some research to find a little oasis that had the amenities I was looking for, I came across Inner Balance Spa, which is located in the Kensington area of Calgary.

Processed with VSCO with a5 preset — Photo Credit -Sarah Ali BFA

It immediately stuck out to me as it is eco-friendly and all the products they use are derived from natural and organic ingredients.

Anyone who knows me knows that I live a life of natural living and healing as much as possible, so this made Inner Balance Spa an A+ in my books already.

For those reasons, it was my spa of choice for some rejuvenation.

I found the decor and atmosphere very welcoming.

It is bright, ambient, and immediately brings a wave of relaxation over you when you walk in.

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset — Photo Credit – Sarah Ali BFA

I was loving the wide variety of organic skin care products, including a fine line of natural make-up, as well as a beautiful line of essential oils, which infuse the room with an incredible healing scent.

I pretty much want one of everything on those perfectly laid out displays.

You seriously can not take me anywhere near the top of the line natural skin and beauty products. I am a minimalist in most things, except when it comes to my self-care and the products I use on and in my body.

The infrared sauna room is very warming to the soul and has an extremely therapeutic feeling all in itself.

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset — Photo Credit – Sarah Ali BFA

The sauna also has light therapy built in, and you can change the colours to your specific needs.

There is a print out which tells you what each colour corresponds with healing-wise in your body. It is very enjoyable to switch it up to your individual needs. I was in my happy place.

With a shower located right in the sauna room, and some of their organic body wash and lotion there for you to test out, the infrared sauna session soon feels like a mini spa day.

It was apparent to me, that all of the staff are highly trained. Their services range from massage, facials, body scrubs, infrared sauna, onward to acupuncture, and even nutritional consulting.

With so many great treatments to choose from, it is hard to narrow down a selection. I did contemplate a package, as they have fabulous packages on offer, as well as a ‘refreshment of the month’ package. Decisions, decisions.

Although, I was just looking to get a nice deep exfoliation to rid my skin of all the winter build up, and renew my body for spring. So, I booked in for their basic body scrub called ‘The Renewal’. The name said it all, and even though I say it is the basic choice, it by no means feels basic.

It is a 45-minute process that includes a body scrub + body polish + a 10-minute steam + an organic apricot oil moisturizing treatment.

The quaint and cozy steam room is built into the shower that is also located directly in your treatment room, so it provides perfect convenience.

After a detailed scrub down and polish, which feels absolutely incredible, you then step into the steam to help open your pores and take the nourishment in even deeper.

I loved the steam! It not only feels good on the skin, but it feels great on the lungs too. I easily could have stayed in there longer than 10 minutes.

After my steam room session, I was back on the table for the application of the apricot oil moisturizing treatment.

Oh my word, the smell of that oil was absolutely intoxicating, and the feel of my skin was total silk!

I left this treatment feeling divine. My whole energy and being felt lighter and refreshed. Not only is spring in the air, but I felt like I had a spring in my step.

I am a firm believer in body scrubs as part of my self-care now.

I would highly suggest everyone get one. Male or female.

If you want to maintain a silky smooth glow all your year round, I was recommended to receive a body scrub 4 times a year, once with each season.

All the details are covered at Inner Balance Spa. They even have an array of fresh complimentary teas on offer to soothe your soul from the inside.

Um, yes please!

I am so happy with my choice to visit Inner Balance Spa, and even more grateful for the great detail they put into their clients and into my own experience there. Total refreshment every time. Having been part of the Calgary community for 15 years, you can see that their articulate detail and above and beyond service is what has made them a mainstay gem.

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