My travel must haves

                                                    Okay, so I don't pack light.

From all my travels recently and as I get ready for NYC I have been thinking a lot about my travel must haves. Here is my list:

Bose noise cancelling headphones: Want to tune out that engine noise? crying baby? loud sniffer? or those annoying announcements about the cruising altitude of the plane? Well then, these headphones are for you! The ear muff style create some sort of pressure chamber for my head, so I can't wear those and I did not think these ear buds would work as well, but I was wrong. I bought a pair for the huz for Christmas (to be the test run) and I just used my regular apple head phones for our Asia trip. #BIGregrets. As Jeff listened to movies in perfect isolation from the goings on of a completely full plane with 300+ passengers, I heard every sniff, snore, and movement. Fool me only once...I have just received this pair in the mail. Thank you Visa points!Find them here

Snacks: If you haven't figured me out yet, I am ALL.about.the.snacks. I can't fathom travel without them, and you never know your airport options. My mother in law is my kindred spirit, we once picked her up for a trip to the states and moments after leaving her driveway she pulled from her purse, sliced aged cheddar cheese, gourmet crackers, wine, and spiced meat; she went next level! I usually only make my own travel mix at the bulk zone, some beef jerky for Jeff, gum, and chocolate covered gummy bears when I can find them. I am also in love with Nugo protein bars, they taste amazing and are so handy to have in your purse to avoid hangry moments. 

Tea bags: I am a tea lover and non coffee drinker and I NEVER want to be left with a flight attendants offer of a Tetley tea bag circa 2012..so I BMO. If you really want to take it up a notch, consider making one of these...then make me one!

Travel Pillow: For long trips and even car trips, this memory foam pillow is glorious. It clips in the front so it doesn't fall off your shoulders, it holds your ipod and it sings you to sleep (kind of).

Sunglasses: enough said. Currently crushing on these and these

Deck of Cards: or monopoly deal (see post here about that). I like to know that if there is a time delay or the opportunity presents itself, I can crush Jeff in a game of Gin Rummy.

Scarf: This is actually a MUST. Block yourself from coughers, or use as a pillow/blanket/backrest/napkin? It serves every purpose, so pack it! Find this one here.

Fit Bit: relish in those 20,000 steps a day because of all the sightseeing. Wearing this will push you take the long route of the non moving sidewalk variety and help you wear off those chocolate gummy bears. Loving this new pink colour!

Herbal Gravol: I get car sick, sea sick, roller-coaster sick etc., but I also have major FOMO,
 so I eat a couple of these babies and I am good to whale watch in the high seas or just survive a long car ride, without the side effect of sleepiness.

Tote Bag: I always bring a carry-on bag that can double as a beach bag, shopping bag, purse holder etc. I love this one from Chapters.

Travel Wallet:  My dear friend Shalini gave me the most fabulous travel wallet from KIKI K a couple years ago, mine is mint green with sparkle polka dots, its gorgeous. It holds my plane tickets, passports, travel itineraries, money etc., its invaluable for travel. Here is their current version.

Comfy & Cute Walking Shoes: fashion can only take you so far, then you need some comfort shoes. loving these ones (currently on sale).


                                      Do you have any unusual but amazing travel must haves?

Must Read Book: Me Before You

I just returned from a Florida vacation, where I was treated to reading one of the best books I have read in a while. It is the kind of delightful read you cannot put down and you want the world to just pause so you can finish it. I had to share with you and hope you will read it. The book is called Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, find it here. There is also a sequel called After You, which I am patiently waiting to get from my mom when she's done, I have heard it's also amazing.

Me Before You is also soon to be a movie, but I highly recommend NOT watching the trailer until after you have read the book because it gives to much away. Me Before You is a sweet and entrancing love story that will warm your heart, while also making you ugly cry. I am not kidding, be careful where you read this book, it made for an awkward plane ride as I sobbed in the window seat haha.

If you have already read the book, or won't read it, see the trailer below. The characters are pretty close to what I pictured, I cannot wait to see it! Downton Abbey fans you will be excited to know Bates is in it!


Enjoy and Happy Reading!

Baby Update; our trip to the fertility clinic

Last week was our long awaited appointment with the fertility/multiple miscarriage expert and I am happy to say we have a plan, although it's not exactly what we were hoping for.

Arriving at the clinic was very surreal, Jeff and I were having a great weekend away and I kind of forgot the reason for our trip, until we stepped off the elevator at the clinic; let me tell you shit got real, really fast.

It was a strange place, so many people and doctors running all over the place and couples of all sorts waiting. We sat down to wait for our appointment, surrounded by huge brochures on infertility yoga, coping with loss, counseling services, IVF, IVF with genetic screening, IUI, apple fritters and coffee, while Katy Perry -Firework played on repeat (or maybe it just felt like it was). A couple beside us went in for their appointment and shortly later came back, the girl sat in the chair next to me just sobbing. Then another lady went up to the desk to ask some questions, just pouring with tears.

It was one of those super strange experiences where you almost have an out of body moment. As we sat there amoungst the sobs, Katy Perry, fritters and overwhelming information, I thought to myself..."so this is our story eh...not how I saw this baby thing playing out."

I know I am not the first person to go through this, it was just that moment of realizing we were actually there, at a fertility clinic, awaiting our news.

And for the record I have an idea for fertility clinics. Hold the fritters #aintnobodyneedafritter and give me some puppies to hang out with before/between appointments. I would have had a very different experience if instead of crying women and depressing brochures, there was this in the corner of the waiting room...

Bucket of puppies!

I digress...it was our turn to go meet the Dr., who took one look at our file and said "humf, I usually don't see patients of Dr.X until the OR room for ivf." Then he left the room. Jeff and I sat there thinking, what the efff.

He came back and we quickly realized he is one of these older Dr.s who says exactly what they are thinking with zero filter, although that's not necessarily a bad thing.  He then explained that there is no reason someone my age with good health has had all these miscarriages. The last one was lost because of a genetic abnormality, but we don't know about the others. He told me I have PCOM, which he said is like PCOS, but with the only symptom being hyper stimulated follicles. So I was at least happy to have found some possible cause...although in the last 5 mins of our appointment he said "ohh wait you don't have PCOM, your scan was normal." WTF?! lol

We almost should have brought a 3rd party note taker who isn't emotionally or directly tied to our situation to brief us on the appointment, after the appointment haha

The Dr recommended that we do IVF with genetic testing, as this will be our best chance for a healthy baby(ies). We are still learning all about the process and everything it will involve and more importantly for our date to start. Thankfully the Ontario government recently started funding (as in January 2016) 1 round of IVF, which is amazing, but as you can imagine the list is already quite lengthy. We should hear in a couple weeks when our start date will be between January and March 2017.

Being the non patient person I am, this was the hardest part for me, I really don't want to wait so long, but then again I am sure time will go by very quickly. When I told my grandma everything she said "don't even worry, because it's already been written." I will just have to remind myself this as I try and be patient.

In very exciting news, we become Godparents in May which is the greatest honour in the world, to my life long friend Amanda's son George! One of my best friend's had baby girl named Autumn in March, which I cannot wait to spoil all summer, when they get back to town and my sister is pregnant with a little girl expected in August  - so very very very exciting times ahead!

30th Birthday Dream Trip to NEW YORK CITY!!

START SPREADING THE NEWS...


This was on my winter to do list, although we had no idea where we would end up going. I could not be more excited to say we are going to New York City.

My bf Nikey and I love to travel and after being roommates at uni and then spending 3 months of 24/7 together we realized we are also travel soul mates. Keep us well fed and we can make an adventure out of anything...just don't drag us to anything boring. It is rumored we viewed the entire Louvre including a 1 minute stop at Mona Lisa in 10 minutes...but spent 4 hours eating crepes. #sorrynotsorry #thatshowweroll #dontjudge

Throwback - us at the Grand Prix in Monaco. Fun Fact. Nikey invented the selfie!

As we we are turning 30 this year, we thought it would be a good chance to knock off some bucket list items and go somewhere new. We are looking for suggestions on must see things to do, please tell me any must do's or more importantly must not's! We have already booked ourselves into some seriously luxurious accommodations, because we wanted the true NYC experience, hotwire f**ked us over. We were led to think our room would be this....

but instead it's this....

On the bright side...it appears Ryan Gosling once stayed there and he made it worthwhile, so we plan to do the same. Stand by for our photo.

As for plans...
- Aladdin (Broadway production)
- Hop on Hop off bus tour
- Top of the Rock (but one level down for a drink)
- New York City library (working on convincing Nikey of this one)
- Central Park bike tour
- TV show taping - I am so excited, we already have Kelly and Micheal tickets for one of the days!!
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Times Square/Grand Central Station
- Statue of Liberty
- The High Line

As this trip gets closer, I like to alternate between singing New York, New York and songs from Aladdin. This is only amusing if you know that I can't sing to save my life. Poor Jeff.

2 Life Changing (well okay, maybe just delicious) Healthy Snacks

Sugar Free, No Bake - Peanut Butter Cocoa Balls

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup honey (I used less)
1/4 cup natural peanut butter (I used more)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, stir the honey, coconut oil and peanut butter together until combined and smooth. Next add in the remaining ingredients, stir and remove from heat. Use your cookie scoop or (if you are living in the dark ages) a spoon to make little balls of the mixture. Drop onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer to cool down for about 15 minutes. I recommend keeping these in the fridge as they taste much better cold and hard! These things taste kinda like my monster cookies...but guilt free! #cleaneatingprogress

Coconut Whip Cream with Berries

 

Ingredients:

1 can of coconut milk (that has been in fridge upside down for at least 6 hour)
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tbsp maple syrup
berries

Directions:

This is my go to for a quick and easy treat. I always try and keep at least one can of coconut milk in the fridge (upside down) because you never know when you want to whip up this very delicious very easy recipe. When you are choosing your coconut milk at the store, shake the can and try and get one that doesn't have much movement or sloshing. When you open the refrigerated can it will have separated into hard packed cream and liquid. For this recipe you can throw away the liquid (or store for a smoothie). I use my mix master to whip the hard coconut cream and then slowly add cocoa powder and maple syrup to taste. You can't go wrong here, add more or add less, whatever you like! Once it's all whipped add a dollop heaping scoop to your favourite cut up fruit or berries...enjoy!

Do you have any go to healthy snacks? and I mean something more exciting then celery and peanut butter (because I am currently eating that and I want to hear about something else lol)