Vic Living

After being home for a week I have realized how much I have missed this beautiful city. After going on a few hikes, meeting up with old friends and visiting the mainland I could not be more excited for whatever this summer holds.

Waterfall to the trestle

The trestle

Tunnel 

While in Vancouver we went to Granville Island, where we walked around the public markets, grabbed some lunch and had a few tasters at the brewery. 

Stoked on tasters

Granville Island Brewery

Childhood friends reunited

My friends like to close their eyes for pictures

One of my favorite summer drinks- Raspberry Mojito

 After some drinks and a meal at Earls on top we made our way to the commodore to see Alex Clare. Such an amazing venue, and concert. 

Alex Clare pretty much front row. 

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

Since it's starting to feel like summer is here, Mary and I thought what better way to celebrate being done school then to make homemade summer drinks. Strawberries we're on sale, and I have been having a serious craving for lemonade so we thought why not make strawberry lemonade. It was delicious with both Gin and Vodka. 

You can find the recipe here. 

We made a few adjustments, we added more strawberries, put in 1/3 less sugar, and cut up a few extra strawberries to add on top. 

Serve with ice and enjoy with friends.

FIsh Tacos

After an amazing day soaking up the sunshine, we decided to finish off the day with some homemade fish tacos. For our fish tacos we made homemade guacamole, a green apple, cucumber salsa and a pineapple, mango salsa.

Homemade Guacamole is very easy to make, what you'll need is:

2 large avocados

garlic

salt and pepper

lemon to taste

Mash up the Avocados, and add the other ingredients to taste. We left the pit in the dip before serving cause it keeps the guacamole from going brown. 

Our first salsa consisted of:

1 green apple

1/2 a cucumber

salt and pepper

1 tsp of apple cider vinegar 

Combine the ingredients, mix around a bit and serve.

The Pineapple, Mango salsa included:

1 mango

1/4 pineapple

1/4 red onion

lime juice

Add all the ingredients together, stir a bit and its ready to be served. 

For our fish tacos we chose to use salmon, but any type of fish would work. 

We prepared the salmon by putting some garlic, lemon and salt and pepper. Placed it in the oven for about 15 minutes. While the salmon was cooking we placed our corn tortillas on top of the oven to warm them up. 

Add the toppings you desire and voila! Homemade fish tacos.

Marys cat even got to join in on the deliciousness, with some leftover salmon

Serene Sooke

After a hectic few days of packing up our apartment, finishing exams, driving home and unpacking, I finally was able to relax and enjoy being back in Victoria. Today was a great reminder of how much I love the Island and how much I still haven't seen. My friends and I met for an early breakfast to start the day off right at our local breakfast place called The Village. After ordering some delicious meals we went on our way to Sooke for the most amazing hike ever. The hike is around 4km roundtrip and has everything from ladders, to an old pipeline and ending with a cabin and canoe. 

 The Old Pipeline

Fallen tree

We made the trek in just under an hour, which was great since we were able to spend some time in the wilderness. We took the canoe for a spin, and did some yoga on the rocks. If it was warmer out I would've loved to have gone for a swim. We saw a few hikers on the trail, but overall it felt like we were off the beaten path. 

This cabin was has a woodstove inside, and campers are able to stay overnight. It was very well kept with little snacks such as granola bars and rice for the next campers. 

Amazed by the beauty

The canoe

Couldn't stay inside on such a gorgeous day

Top 10- Bucket List

A few years ago I started writing down a list of things I wanted to accomplish before I died. My list has now made it to the 70s and along the way I have crossed quite a few things off. I thought I'd give you a look at my top 10 things I have yet to do. This list isn't in any order of importance, I just write things down as they come to me.

1. Graduate University (soon to be crossed off)

2. Chase the summer

3. Visit all the Continents (I've been to 3: North America, Europe and Australia)

4.Volunteer in Africa

5. Move to Italy/ Learn Italian

6. Take a sign language class

7. Win at Quiz Night

8. Meet the Red Hot Chili Peppers

9. Go on the Ellen Degeneres Show

10. Swim with the Dolphins or Sharks

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What are some of the things on your list? 

Japenese Gardens and Organic Eating

My roommates and I are coming to our last week of living together and are trying to cross off a few things before we all go our separate ways. We ended up going to the Japanese Kasugai Gardens that we have walked by plenty of times before but have never been inside. The gardens were small in size, but filled with beautiful trees, bridges and statues.

After the gardens we went for a little stroll along the water since it was such a gorgeous afternoon. 

We met up with one of our friends and went to Raudz for a local, organic meal.

I ordered the Oat Crusted Artic Char and would highly recommend it. 

One of my roommates ordered the Codfather fish of the day which happened to be Haida Gwaii halibut, also a great choice. 

We shared a bottle of wine and were all very happy with our meals.

At the end of the meal they give you a homemade lollipop, ours was strawberry and pink peppercorn flavored. 

Overall a great day with great company.