Enchanted Chameleon

vancouver aquarium :: expansion complete!

Hey everyone!  Last week I had the chance to join a bunch of my fellow bloggers at the Vancouver Aquarium to tour the new expansion that is now complete and sample some delicious Ocean Wise canapes from the new Executive Chef.  I have to say that the Aquarium is a whole new place inside, I barely recognized it!  I used to take C as a babe and we knew that place inside and out.  We went earlier this year to meet with a friend and we were super surprised to not only not be able to meet at the whale statue where everyone meets (see above, its return to the front of the Aqarium) but a whole other temporary entrance plus all the stuff that was getting done inside.  Well this time I tell you it is complete and it is amazing!  "The new sustainable, state-of-the-art building will almost double the existing gallery space and dramatically enhance visitors’ enjoyment in exploring, learning and connecting with over 50,000 aquatic creatures." The Aquarium has so much to be proud of and this expansion project is just one to name a few, with the wonderful research and care of animals that they do at the top of my list.  When I mentioned to C that it was a whole new place and of course, the super cool story of how the octopus used to escape at night and eat the fishes in other tanks, it was on the top of his list to go back and check it out.  My mom comes in from Ontario next week and I can't think of a better way to spend the afternoon, all of us together.

Things that got me excited during the tour: indoor seating and eating area; water bottle filling stations with a counter that shows how many bottles are being saved (LOVE!); the new bat area; the delicious food - the Halibut Poppers with house tartar sauce was sustainable fish heaven in my mouth (all the more reason to book an event!) and of course, the personalized tour where we got the inside scoop on the expansion and the little, yet amazing details that went into this project from the water wall outside, the landfill that was saved, and the colour refelctions of the building made to resemble the scales of a fish.  There is SO much room and potential for corporate and other events now.  I look forward to the possibilities in the large, teaching space that is decorated with photographs, captured by the aquarium staff themselves.  One of my absolute favourite, final, personal touches. 

But of course, you don't need to take my word for it, go visit yourself!  I assure you it will be a whole new tourist attraction to those that have already been a million times before.
XO.  Suzanne

whistler :: mini-vacay

More than anything in this whole entire world that this mum and this boy needed when school ended last month was a little getaway and some R & R.  There are many reasons why we feel like we've been through the ringer for the past year or so, and as we retire reasons for being in the ringer new reasons would unfold.  Most especially by the end of our year at school last month, which is the end of school for now, unschooling: the next frontier - we just needed to get out of dodge.  Ok, I'll speak for myself, I needed to get the heckfire out of this city and away from everything school, house, work and everyday related.  

I was originally banking on a little trip to Harrison Hot Springs.  I did everything possible to point the compass East but C was all uphill battle so uphill to the mountains it was.  As it was just on the cusp of summer, school wasn't actually out in spite of the strike going on in public schools, and my weekends are Monday to Wednesday, the affordability of Whistler was a sure win. 

The plan was:

- a cheap hotel room in the village, kitchenette and pool a must
- maximum two eat out meals, not including a visit to Cows for ice cream
- 2 x 5 activity passes to the Family Adventure Zone presented by Nintendo (I saved money here and didn't do any activities myself, just took a million pics of C)
- RELAX!!!

After my leisure rise out of bed the first morning and the discovery that nothing opens when they say it will open and I desperately needed something from the pharmacy, we did some exploring.  As if it was so simple.  Now, I'm not sure how other people's children are on vacation or in regular everyday life, but mine likes to play it safe.  On vacation, with a hotel room that has a TV with cable, safe means staying inside and not going anywhere.  Of course, that wasn't going to happen.  Ye have little faith. 

The upper village of Whistler has a Family Adventure Zone sponsored by Nintendo that opens up for the summer.  It had only just opened up two days before we arrived and again, Whistler is on it's own time schedule.  When we first arrived at the Family Adventure Zone right when it was supposed to open there was barely an employee there, let alone ready for business.  We had to meander around the village, spot a bear by the bus stop and detour back.  It was a little more happening by then.  I'm sure on a weekend it's wicked busy.  I bought the pass for C, it is by far a better deal, you essentially get one 'ride' for free and C headed to the Spiderman Web climby thing.  He loved it so much he did it again.  But then he discovered the bungee trampoline.  That's when he declared that this was the best day of his life.  That's right, I know a thing or two about planning some fun.

A second declaration was also made this day during the gravity ride.  He said he no longer wanted to be an astronaut, he wanted to be a photographer.  Totally cool with me.

Naturally, the effort it took to coerce him out of the hotel room to the Adventure Zone had to be doubled when it was time to wrap it up and head back.

I booked us two nights, I mean, what's the point of just getting there and then turning around.  Plus, who can resist the feeling of freshly shaved legs and clean and starchy hotel sheets - not me!  During the time that we did opt for a little TV time in the hotel room, I found myself curled up in bed with a can of espresso coconut water and the book that I had gifted myself for Mother's Day in front of me.  I lazily leafed through the pics in the book and soaked up some inspiration.

One thing I did not predict on this trip was the purchase of a skateboard.  The week before I had treasure hunted a vintage letterpress drawer that I had on and off been hunting for a while now.  I finally found one, and was planning to go get it and hang it in C's room for his collection of Mini Lego Figures when to my dismay I discovered that C had absolutely no interest in this at all.  If you are going to spend money I want a skateboard, he said.  But... but... but... I found a vintage letterpress drawer?!?!  I can say with full confidence, this means shit to a 7 year old.  In any case, we hunted down a skateboard in the village, the great thing about the village really is walking to everything, even a skateboard shop and I allowed C to purchase the skateboard with money his grandparents had gifted him.  This turned out to be the biggest surprise fun that we had the whole trip.  Within 24 hours of the purchase, he was skateboarding.  He totally blew me away.

The morning we left, we were up at the crack of dawn-ish, and back to the skatepark with his banana board.  We had breakfast and we were off.  It was short, sweet and exactly what we needed to get us into vacation planning mode for our next trip which is going to be a biggie.  I feel that when I was running my own business, with the costs of being in the first two years of it and the amount of time that it took up running it, things like a little trip to Whistler weren't even on my radar.  There is alot that I have taken in these past couple of years since my life changed drastically for the better, and I have a new sense of less is more, quality not quantity  and family comes first.  I loved our little trip.  This feels like just the beginning of many amazing things that await us in the future.  Thanks Whistler - for resetting our mental clocks to Whistler time.  XO.  Suzanne

gluten free zucchini muffins with orange glaze

All stories must start somewhere.  Today, I start with a simple, delicious recipe as opposed to all the ups and downs of life that the last year and half have brought me.  Those stories will unfold slowly as time passes.  Today, I go easy on myself.  I'll start with muffins.

I mean, where would we be without muffins?  They are a staple in many people's diets.  An easy snack, a replacement meal, something cheap and easy to pick up on the go.  Filling.  Yummy.  When gluten free though, it's not such a staple.  First, you can't just pick up one muffin from a place that carries gluten free muffins.  You usually have to buy a $10 box.  And that's if a store even carries them.  If you make them, maybe they are super heavy like many gluten free foods can be.  I want to be full but I don't want to be walking through sludge the rest of the day just trying to digest my meal.

Although I normally like to make everything from scratch with my own mix of gluten free flours, I came into possession of the Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix.  Except that my narrow brain seemed to keep skipping over the part that said baking and was only using it for pancakes.  What an awful oversight!  I took a stab at the muffin recipe on the back of the package and what a light fluffy, perfectly tasty gluten free muffin did it make.  Super simple.  What a delight.  I had to make a second and third batch to keep up with the demand in my home.  Not all recipes go over so well.  This one was a hit.

Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins with Orange Glaze, makes 5

Needed:  1 1/4 C Pamela's Gluten Free Baking and Pancake Mix, (ingredients according to recipe on package - egg, vanilla, water, sugar - I used 1/4 C Coconut Palm Sugar), 1/2 C shredded zucchini, 1/8 t ground anise, 1/8 t cinnamon, coconut butter for muffin pan, 1/2 C icing sugar, 1 1/2 T orange juice, 1/4 t orange rind.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all the ingredients up to the cinnamon in a bowl.  Grease muffin pan with coconut butter.  I used a muffin top pan (so cool, I know, total find at the thrift shop) and the Fred and Friends Teacupcakes.  Bake in oven for 18-20 minutes.  Let cool for 10.  

MIx glaze ingredients together and glaze onto muffins once cool.  Let sit for 20 minutes for glaze to harden before serving.  Enjoy.  Suzanne