On Taste of Calgary:

So as many of you know, Taste of Calgary was this past weekend at Eau Claire Market! For those who don’t know, Taste of Calgary is a local food festival that allows people to sample food from a few of Calgary’s very own food vendors.

Before I start this blog post, I just wanted to point out the number one reason I will never truly be a foodie: I tend to eat the food before I can take a photo of it. So here is my blog post on Taste of Calgary and a bunch of photos of half eaten food samples!

So the way it works to try samples at Taste of Calgary, you have to buy tickets. Each ticket = $1 and each food sample has a ticket price of about 2-5 tickets ($2-$5). The best suggestions I got was to go around the festival and make note of what you want, how many tickets is required, and then buy your tickets. Otherwise you may end up with a random few ticket stubs here and there.

First up is Halo Steak, Seafood & Wine Bar!

I tried their Bacon Prawns, which were so good! Crispy, tidy to eat, and delicious!

Then I tried Crepes & Cravings! I tried the Sweet ‘Smores Crepe and the Savory Spicy Hawaiian Ham Crepe. And they were both delicious! I’ve gone to  Crepes & Cravings a few times, and I usually get their sweet crepes, the Nutella with strawberry and bananas, and yes. It is as freakin’ amazing as it sounds. I definitely suggest this place!

Sweet ‘Smores

Savory Spicy Hawaiian Ham

I went to Bubblemania Cafe next, and if you know anything about me, it’s that I am in love with Bubblemania. I probably am seen at Bubblemania more than I am at any other location. (This includes my home.)

Without being too biased, I would like to say that at Taste of Calgary, the Karage Chicken with Sriracha Mayo Sauce was the best deal. I ate a lot of it before I took a photo (I told you, I have a problem) but for only 3 tickets, you actually get quite a good amount. This is also a dish I tend to get a lot when I go to Bubblemania, and I have never been disappointed!

(If you do end up going to Bubblemania, definitely try their Nutella Milk Toast, and I promise you, your life will never be the same!)

Next two places were Globefish and Delice Pastry, Shop and Cafe. I had the Crispy Shrimp Dumplings and some Watermelon Juice!

Both were great! The Crispy Shrimp was absolutely delicious and so worth it! The Watermelon Juice was, although not my favourite drink there, very refreshing.

At Oriental Dumpling, (Warning: their website auto-plays music. Just in case you have a heart attack like I did.) I tired their Bubble Tea with Dragonball Pearls (exploding mango pearls, or mango boba).

This was definitely my favourite drink at Taste of Calgary! Watermelon bubble tea with mango boba, so refreshing!

At Goro + Gun, I tried the really popular Ramen Burger! I found that these were super sought out for at Taste of Calgary.

While I really like the concept of this burger, I find its a bit hard to eat, the noodles tend to fall apart. The burger itself is really good, but when I eat ramen, I tend to overdo it with the seasoning, so this was a little plain for me. But it was still really good, and I would definitely suggest grabbing one, even if just to try it out!

A few other places I tried (whose food I ate before I could take photos…) were:

| Black Betty Burgers & Wine Bar – Black Betty Slider, super delicious!
| Mini Melts – Mint Chocolate Ice Cream, so fun to eat!
| Africana Bar and Grill – Mango Fruit Juice, a big fan, super mango-y

So if you haven’t had the chance to check of Taste of Calgary, I would really suggest stopping by next time it’s in town!

| danielle

Finding A Home In The Strangest of Places

I don’t know if I ever really knew what it was like to feel so completely a part of a bigger picture, to feel so accepted for who you were, whoever that person may be. I never thought I would welcome the ringing in my ears or be so saddened by the lack of bass pumping through my very veins. Even now it’s hard for me to accept reality, that there is work that needs to be done, bills that need to be paid. For one weekend, all the stress of the real world slipped away and memories were made that will carry me through the next year until I can make new ones, with amazing people, new and old.

Shambhala, a paradise of sorts, has not only left a mark on my heart, but on the hearts of the 11,000 other people there.

“Waking up in heaven only to walk straight back to hell.” This is only one comment that filled my Facebook news feed during the days following the magical music festival. Other comments cried out in the same manner, expressing sadness to return to the real world, to say goodbye to the British Columbia wilderness, to say goodbye to the lights, the trees, the sun, the sand, the people, the music, and above all, the bass.

I never thought that a simple rhythm could ingrain itself so strongly into one’s soul, could complete a ritual of healing so strong. That rhythm, pulsing through you for four days straight, healed wounds both hidden and visible. It healed insecurities. It healed broken emotions. But most of all, more than it healed, it brought together. That rhythm brought together people from around the world, from Calgary, to Vancouver, to Salt Lake City, and further, from England, Australia, South America. A joining of love, a joining of hearts. The overflowing emotions in each person showed in the smiles, the hugs, the laughter, but most of all in the acceptance. No judgement, no hatred, no enemies. We truly were all friends.

Everyone looked out for each other, day or night. The magic in the air inspired thousands, the music did the same. Going by too fast, all too soon we were forced to return home, to hell, as the afore mentioned comment stated. But we each took something, or many of these somethings, back with us as we drove away from the gates that welcomed us home.

Although a year must pass until the place we all call home opens it’s arms once again, hope can’t be lost. We will face hardships, pain, loss, and sadness as we conquer the next 365 days, but when we see those dusty farm gates again, we will be just that much stronger and we will appreciate the music and the people that much more because we deserve it. We deserve the love and the acceptance. We deserve paradise, our version of it. We deserve Shambhala. But just because the weekend is over and all the people have managed to find, hopefully, safe travels home, it doesn’t mean we have to forget the feelings that ranch brought to us. Shambhala may be over until next year, but each and every memory remains, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on forgetting the magic any time soon.

| cassie

snapshots | moraine lake | 08.10.14

This past Sunday was filled with sunshine, a Kool-Aid blue lake, and the love of my life. Adam and I slept beneath the stars in the mountains, wandered around the woods, climbed a giant rock pile, and went canoeing in Moraine Lake. It was such an amazing way to spend a day.

I’m so lucky to live only hours away from such incredibly beautiful places; I’m so grateful to have somebody so special to explore them with.

| alex

On Cosplay:

I’ve been cosplaying since I was 14-years old, with a gem of a schoolgirl cosplay of Kagome from InuYasha (and this was the most embarrassing sentence I’ve ever had to type out).

For those of you who don’t know, cosplay is defined as dressing up as characters from shows, movies, anime, manga, comics, ect. And it’s completely awesome.

Photo by Jessica Roh

Many people cosplay at conventions, festivals, and gaming tournaments to show a little love for their favourite characters. I wanted to write this post as a shout out to the extremely talented cosplayers we have in our great city.

The cosplay community in YYC is really inspiring. Since YYC has exploded with some big conventions (such as Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo) we have started seeing an influx of truly wonderful and talented people showing their stuff here, and many of them made their start at Otafest (and we all know how much I love Otafest).

Cosplay is an incredibly creative outlet that has grown in popularity over the years, spreading into mainstream culture. I am honestly always blown away by what a single person can do with enough time and dedication, not to mention insane amounts of talent. So I just wanted to give a shout out to many local YYC cosplayers who are amazing at what they do and show what a fun and creative thing it is to cosplay!

Below are some links to a few local cosplayers and photos of their amazing work.

Note: Many of these cosplayers make their own cosplays from scratch. Because they’re that good.

Vanessa Wedge

Photo by Adam Woz

Tali XOXO

Photo by Julia Wawawa

Becka Bee

Photo by Seth McCauley

Gladzy Kei Art and Cosplay

Photo by David Mckenzie

Jessica Roh

Photo by Gladzy Kei | Design by Yuchenghong

| danielle

Alberta Adventures: Mount Lorette Ponds

Today, my best friend and I headed out to the mountains for a much needed escape. We drove down the highway catching each other up on our lives, taking breaks to sing the chorus of our favourite Jonas Brothers songs. When we saw a group of ponds on the side of the highway, we pulled over and found a perfect little spot for walking around and taking photos. It was an overcast and gloomy day but Paula shined light with her smile and her companionship. Sometimes the best cure for a heavy heart is a day away with your best friend.

I think today is exactly what Paula and I needed: highway driving, the mountains, laughter, and each other. I hope your Tuesday was just as beautiful.

| alex

Alberta Adventures: Lower & Upper Kananaskis Lakes

Because of my work schedule, my weekend is a little broken up (my days off are Sunday and Tuesday). I used to resent this; I had to make sure to be home early on Friday evenings, or at least be prepared for feeling exhausted the next morning. Having to work Saturdays has also resulted in me missing out on a lot of things (camping, road trips, etc.) because that’s usually a day that people have off. However, I’ve recently started to fall in love with my mid-week days off. Since most of the people I know typically work on Tuesday, it is now a day reserved for solitary wandering and indulgence. I take my time waking up, eat breakfast in bed, and spend the rest of the day doing whatever it is I feel like doing. I’ve never really been the kind of person who enjoys being busy, on the move, caught up in something all the time, and I have a love/hate relationship with scheduled plans. So having an entire day every week when I have absolutely nothing I have to do is a blessing.

With my mid-week day off yesterday, I decided to drive to the Kananaskis Lakes. I went for a brief walk on the trail at the lower lake and then set out my blanket to sun bathe for a couple hours. I started reading Bossypants by Tina Fey (it’s hilarious so far) by the lake and occasionally got up to dip my feet into the water. The only other people around were those canoeing and fishing, so the peaceful quiet was only sometimes interrupted by the laughter of families or couples. The weather was beautiful, the water beautifully clear, and I even saw three little bear cubs while I was there! It was amazing.

Upper Kananaskis Lake was only 15 minutes away, so I decided to drive up to check it out afterwards. I only spent a half hour there, reading and taking in the view, but it was equally as lovely. The lake was surrounded by the snow-dusted mountains and the water reflected perfectly the clouds above. I sat myself a couple feet away from the water on a rock and enjoyed the steady transitions from sunny and hot, to cloudy and cool.

Here are a couple of my favourite photos from yesterday:

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

| alex

Canada Day Adventures

Happy (belated) Canada Day, everyone! I hope you celebrated with amazing people and had just as much fun as I did. Adam and I played giant Jenga, danced, and camped with friends; drove to a small town outside the city to buy fireworks; lazed lakeside and ate a patio dinner with three pretty girls; and set off a bunch of fireworks to finish the night! We definitely took advantage of having the day off and spent it beautifully. Here are some of my favourite photos from our sun-kissed day of celebration:

It’s no secret that I love to travel and that I’m constantly wanting to be wandering around unfamiliar elsewheres, but I’ve really been trying to live in appreciation of my home this summer. I’ve been trying to do this by spending time in the mountains, exploring small towns around my province, and revisiting tourist destinations and gaining a refreshed perspective. It’s been incredibly rewarding. I had become so accustomed to living in Alberta that I was losing sight of how wonderful a place this is and how extraordinary my surroundings are. Going forward, I am determined to take full advantage of all this place has to offer. I feel so privileged to be able to live here and to experience the beauty of this country firsthand. And the past couple of days have been a wonderful way to celebrate my loving curiosity and complete adoration for Canada.

| alex

Alberta Adventures: Badlands

Adam and I recently read about two ghost towns near Drumheller, so over the weekend we decided to do some van-camping in the badlands! As we drove toward the ghost towns on Saturday, we noticed signs pointing to several tourist destinations around Drumheller that we had never heard of. We turned off our planned path to walk across a suspension bridge, see the Hoodoos, explore deserted areas, read by a lake. It was one of those wonderful weekends where you feel like you have all the time in the world. So we did everything that we wanted to do, whenever we wanted to do it. It was so much fun adventuring, exploring, and relaxing around Drumheller with my best friend. Here are some of my favourite photos from the weekend:

We made some lovely memories this weekend. I hope you spent yours doing the same!

| alex

Alberta Adventures: Bankhead

This past weekend, Adam and I felt like an adventure so we headed out to the mountains and camped there overnight. We placed a mattress in the back of Adam’s van, found a secluded side road in Canmore, and spent the night surrounded by mountains, trees, and stars. It was perfect.

In the morning, we drove into town, ate brunch at Harvest Cafe (it was delicious), and browsed around a little vintage shop across the street. Afterwards, we headed to a ghost town called Bankhead just outside of Banff! We’d been planning on exploring  ghost towns nearly every summer but never really got around to it; I’m so glad we finally did! It was so interesting and fun to explore! Bankhead is well-travelled; there’s a pathway that guides you through it and plaques placed around the town briefing you with historical information. There aren’t any buildings left standing (the closest is shown in the photo above), but there are a lot of concrete foundations and even an old mining cart to see! Here are some of my favourite photos from Bankhead:

We headed home shortly after exploring Bankhead, but decided to stop after noticing an abandoned building just off the highway. I’ve actually noticed it in passing before, but had never really thought about it. I guess given the theme of our day so far, this was the perfect time to stop and take a look around! I’m not sure what the building was used for before, but all that’s left now is broken windows, graffiti, and a roof that’s caving in. There were also a lot of beer bottles and used couches. It made for a fun detour and great photos though!

I love going on adventures with Adam and I can’t wait for a summer filled entirely with weekends as amazing as this one! Happy Wednesday, everyone!

| alex

And don’t forget to breathe.

“And don’t forget to breathe.”

How true that sentence can be. Now, obviously your brain will not physically allow you to stop breathing. There really is no way to forget in a literal sense. But that’s not what I’m talking about.

Breathe. Stop. Take a moment and just be.

People get so caught up in their daily lives, rushing from work, to school, to home and back, never taking a moment to think about all the things in life that are worth our time. I don’t know if you’ve been feeling this way, but I have. It brings you down. And the doubt and hopelessness come creeping in, making you long for just a peaceful second alone.

So on Sunday, when the people in my life decided to go to Banff, I decided to go with. It was a family trip with the people I had felt I was losing touch with. Through multiple adventures in the mountains surrounding the small town, the four of us created a little piece of heaven. We climbed mountains, climbed trees, stood in the presence of rushing water falls, and took deep breaths as many times as possible.

At one point I stumbled on my way around a precarious rock and my one friend laughed at me. But his words rang true: “Don’t forget to breathe.”

I laughed off these words, not realizing until later exactly what he was saying. Maybe he didn’t mean it in the way I’m writing about it now. Maybe he did. But as we drove through the moonlit night, away from the mountains, back to the city lights, his words hit me. That small trip was a breath, a breath we had all been forgetting to take. We had gotten wrapped up in our lives, forgetting just how much we truly loved ourselves and each other. We came together on that trip, and never have I felt so at peace, so comfortable, than I did with those three other people. We were one and I could feel their energies surging through my soul, completing my spirit.

Breathing. Such a simple thing. Impossible to forget. Yet somehow we truly do forget to remember that sensation. Just stopping for a day, an hour, or even just a second, to remember to take that deep breath, to look around, and to remember what keeps you grounded, to remember what keeps you happy.

Life is a busy thing and we forget a lot of things: our car keys, wallets, and a multitude of other things. But if I can give you one piece of advice just remember this: don’t forget to breathe.

| cassie