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Almost all my life, I’ve had ideals and expectations about what I thought New York City would be like. Four full days into our trip, I can say with absolute certainty that this city has met and exceeded any ideas I held. Rebecca and I have been living an adventure that is nothing short of amazing.

Before we arrived, Rebecca and I agreed that we wouldn’t plan an itinerary, but instead wake up each day and see where New York City takes us.

In the short time we’ve been here, we have drank $2 cans of PBR in a Tribeca dive bar, strolled the sunshine-splashed pathways of Central Park, soaked up the atmosphere at Union Square, stood face-to-face with the Empire State Building from the top of Rockefeller Center, given our credit cards a solid workout with some of the city’s best shopping, cooled down with frosted hot chocolate from Serendipity 3, strolled through the West Village like a couple of locals, mesmerized ourselves with the dazzling lights of Times Square and noshed on fried green tomatoes in Hell’s Kitchen.

Needless to say, the pedicures we treated ourselves to were much deserved. Whoever said that New York City is a walking town wasn’t kidding.

With three full days left, there’s much we still want to see. Battery Park, the Staten Island ferry, Chinatown and the Brooklyn Bridge are on tomorrow’s agenda, and we’ve already snagged tickets to see Sex and the City 2 while we’re in the city. I’m sure that by the time we arrive home, it will have all seemed like a dream, but we’re certainly living that dream while we’re here.

Feel free to explore my complete Flickr set here and Rebecca’s full Flickr set here.

An occasion such as this one called for a big, borrowed suitcase. My darling Pepper’s 29-inch upright is loaded with five pairs of shoes, three handbags, tops, bottoms, under tops, under bottoms and is still barely 2/3 full. Just minutes ago we checked in with our airline; a window seat for me, a middle seat for her. One particular hopelessly chic hotel in the middle of Manhattan is eagerly anticipating the arrival of two West Coast girls.

In just 24 short hours, Rebecca and I will be making our way to New York City.

Photo: A. Strakey on Flickr

I can’t deny that the fact that our ultimate girls’ vacation has finally arrived is a bit surreal. While I anticipate that the adventures that await us will likely keep me from blogging, I’ll definitely be rolling out some updates via my Twitter and Flickr, so be sure to follow along. In the meantime, if you haven’t yet entered to win a $100 gift card, this week is your last chance – I’ll be drawing a winner upon my return.

Enjoy the long weekend, play fun, play safe and don’t forget to slather on the SPF!

Hugged by the mighty ocean on all sides, it’s not difficult to find a Vancouver Island shoreline worthy of stealing your breath. Though the salt water is the same no matter where you find yourself on the Island, the contrasting and varied landscapes are a testament to just how creative Mother Nature can be.

With the bright rays of Summer on the horizon, I’ve got beaches on my mind. There are few things I enjoy as much as spending a sun-drenched afternoon by the sea before winding down the day with yummy cocktails on a patio while shaking sand out of my hair and from in between my toes. That said, this week’s Island Profile is dedicated to just a few of the countless beaches that reach around Vancouver Island, working north to south.

The Alders, Cape Scott Provincial Park

Photo: nrtphotos on Flickr

Campbell River

Photo: Counteract. on Flickr

Stories Beach

Photo: max8989 on Flickr

Miracle Beach

Photo: WindyWinters on Flickr

Kye Bay

Photo: ianredan on Flickr

Goose Spit Park

Tribune Bay Beach

Qualicum Beach

Photo: Van Felt on Flickr

Parksville Beach

Photo: Steven Hart on Flickr

Rathtrevor Beach

Photo: 9-lives on Flickr

Long Beach, Tofino

Photo: justthisguyyouknow on Flickr

Roberts Memorial Beach

Photo: maplemusketeer on Flickr

Shell Beach, Galiano Island

Photo: stephengg on Flickr

Sombrio Beach

Photo: BinoCanada on Flickr

French Beach

Photo: p.m.graham on Flickr

Botany Bay

Photo: tibchris on Flickr

Oak Bay, Victoria

Photo: turbulentflow on Flickr

Dallas Road shoreline, Strait of Juan de Fuca

For more information on beaches and parks across Vancouver Island, visit the BC Parks official website.

To announce that I love dogs would be stating the obvious, so let me begin by saying that my love of dogs doesn’t discriminate. While I’m often wary of people, there isn’t a dog I won’t approach for cuddles and kisses. So when I heard that my friends Rebecca and Josh adopted a three-year-old pit bull from Hug A Bull rescue, I couldn’t wait to meet him. This past weekend I got my chance.

What surprised me most about Jake first was his size. He isn’t the beastly, muscular menace most come to expect with pit bulls. Jake is a 50-pound pure-bred American Staffordshire terrier that was built for play. He instantly took to me and was quick to show off. Rebecca and I took Jake for a walk in the woods where he displayed his expertly perfected stick-fetching skills, all the while being entirely cute. Yes, cute. His mannerisms and facial expressions were almost puppy-like and it was impossible not to fall for Jake’s charms and huge heart.

When the walk was done and Jake had expended all his energy in the woods, he climbed up on the couch beside me, flopped onto my lap and rested his head on my knee. The boy loves to cuddle when not showering his “mommy” with appreciative kisses.

The stigmas attached to this breed of dog have become unavoidable, but I can’t help but wonder if such stigmas would exist if not for the media. Fear sells headlines, so it’s not unusual for news outlets to resort to fear mongering. No doubt a pit bull’s bite would be stronger than that of, say, a golden retriever. However, if a golden retriever barked at and nipped someone at the local park, it’s highly unlikely that the story would make the 6 o’clock news.

My personal experiences with pit bulls have only ever been positive ones. One of my closest friends is a Special Constable with the BC-SPCA and, over her career, has only ever encountered a single aggressive pit bull. Breaking through stigmas surrounding animals is, in my opinion, equally important as breaking through the stigmas we have regarding people. That said, what have been your experiences with this breed? Do you love them? Fear them? Why or why not?

One of my best camping memories from childhood involved wandering the beach at Whaling Station Bay on Hornby Island, collecting oysters and bringing them back to the campsite. My family and I would cook them over the campfire and smother the succulence from the sea in garlic butter. For the fourth year in a row the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival is gearing up to celebrate our abundant ocean with a unique event.

Photo: wallyg on Flickr

The festivities start simmering on Saturday, June 19th with a gala soiree on the shoreline of Baynes Sound as diners’ palates will be tempted and teased with a nine-course shellfish feast. Prepared by some of the Comox Valley’s top chefs – as well as Rick Bowman of Monk McQueen’s Restaurant & Patio and Scott Practico of Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House fame, both from Vancouver – attendees will wine and dine their way through some of the coast’s best offerings.

Accompanied by exclusively-provided wines from Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery (a personal favourite of mine), this evening promises to be a foodie’s delight. Only 200 tickets are available and can be purchased for $120 each with all proceeds going to the Y.A.N.A. organization, helping local children get the medical treatment they need.

Sunday, June 20th is a day for everyone at Comox Marina Park with a number of sampling booths, desserts, a beer garden, live music and an oyster shucking competition under the sun. Activities start at 11 a.m. and run until 5 p.m.

For more information on the event, and to find out how you can purchase tickets for the gala dinner, please visit the Comox Valley Shellfish Festival’s official website.

Cute shoes, right?

They’re comfortable too…

You’ll never guess where I got them from.

When I was recently invited by Mark’s Work Wearhouse to get acquainted with their new Spring and Summer collection, I was intrigued. I’ve always associated MWW with industrial wear for men and women – and socks. Lots of socks.

Clearly I was wrong, as I soon discovered that MWW has emerged as a supplier of clothing for everything from the construction site to the office to summer evenings on the beach. A key component to their designs is functional fashion. Easy to wear, relaxed structure, soft fabrics and – most surprisingly to me – great style. In addition to these fun cork wedges, I picked up a light-weight cardigan, a breezy summer top and a camisole with a built-in bra in a tasty shade of melon.

The awesome people at Mark’s Work Wearhouse want to give one lucky reader the chance to pick up some Spring and Summer wear for themselves. I have one gift card worth $100 that can be used at any Mark’s Work Wearhouse store across Canada for men’s or women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Winning is easy. Simply leave a comment below or Tweet the following on your Twitter account:

Everyone who both comments and Tweets has their name in the draw for two entries. The contest is open until midnight on Saturday, May 29, 2010 – I’ll be drawing the winner on Sunday, May 30. Good luck!

*Disclaimer: I was not paid or asked to write this post or hold this contest. However, I received the clothing and the $100 gift card at no expense to me.

They say that the journey is the real adventure. What started as a one-night-only jam piece in 2006 has turned into international adoration for Vancouver’s Delhi 2 Dublin. Fusing musical roots from around the globe, these five eclectic musicians have created a sound that is far more than simply unique.

I first discovered Delhi 2 Dublin while wandering down Granville Street during the 2009 Juno Street Party, bounced with the crowd at last summer’s Big Time Out festival and last night celebrated the release of the band’s second studio record, Planet Electric. Rebecca and I made our way to the legendary Commodore Ballroom, a venue that was a dream come true for the band. While the new record is nothing short of a party in my living room, Delhi 2 Dublin is a band that’s a live band first and foremost.

Vancouver Islanders have a chance to see this musical gem in concert as Delhi 2 Dublin are playing a number of shows on the Island over the coming days.

Contact your local venue for tickets… that is, if there are any left. “Sold Out” is quickly becoming a term synonymous with Delhi 2 Dublin these days. The rest of my photos from last night can be found on my Flickr set.

Whomever was responsible for coining the phrase “blink and you’ll miss it” surely must have visited the sleepy town of Crofton at some point or another. A near-hidden part of the Cowichan Valley, Crofton is home to just 2,500 people.

Photos: Rick McCharles on Flickr

Situated directly across the water from Vesuvius on Saltspring Island, Crofton hugs the shores of the Georgia Strait about half-way between Chemainus and Duncan. Largely driven and economically stabilized by the local forest industry, Crofton is home to one of Vancouver Island’s largest pulp and paper mills.

Map: Google Maps

This is one town that’s always latched on to a soft spot in my heart. I spent many summers as a teenager and in my very early 20s working at Camp Qwanoes, a sprawling year-round retreat over-looking the water. In fact, I can’t tell you how many scoops of Island Farms ice cream I tucked into hand-made waffle cones at Ice Cream Island (pictured below).

Photo: Studio 3

While the area of Crofton was scarcely populated by First Nations people, the area saw great growth in the mid-1800s around Osborne Bay by settlers drawn to local mining opportunities. Mt. Sicker had abundant copper, a prospect that an Australian man by the name of Henry Croft could not deny. Though the town’s population plummeted when copper prices did the same, Crofton was already established by local forestry and fishing, preventing the town from becoming a ghost town.

Photo: Gypsy and The Fool on Flickr

View to Crofton from Saltspring Island
Photo: diffuse on Flickr (used with permission)

Today the community of Crofton is truly as quiet and tranquil as the waves that lap its shoreline. A handful of parks, a small community school, tree-lined streets where children ride bikes and locally-run shops all add to the town’s charm.

Photos: Rick McCharles on Flickr; Gypsy and The Fool on Flickr

Photo: RobertCiavarro on Flickr

Photo: Satoru Kikuchi on Flickr

Though not particularly known as a tourist hot spot, ferry access to Saltspring Island brings many travelers through Crofton in the summer months. Golfing at one of the several courses nearby, a hike on Maple Mountain, beach-combing on serene and deserted beaches, a picnic at Osborne Bay Park or a visit to the Old School House Museum are all ways to fill a day in Crofton.

Photo: RobertCiavarro on Flickr

Photo: James R. Page on Flickr (used with permission)

Both Photos: thorinside on Flickr

Some of my most favourite memories of summers spent here involve simply laying on the dock for hours on end and marveling at the stars. Simple? Yes. Breathtaking? Absolutely.

Photo: Gypsy and The Fool on Flickr.

Photo: Cowichan Valley Travel, Tourism and Photography Information

If a visit to Crofton is on your itinerary this summer, finding your way there is easy. On the stretch of Highway 1 between Ladysmith and Duncan, watch for the signs. If north-bound, turn right on to Mt. Sicker Road; turn left if you’re south-bound. A quick left on Westholme Road will lead you to Crofton Road, the quickest route into town. For more information on tourism in Crofton, please visit the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce.

After 51 fantastic, thoughtful and interesting entries on my AXE contest, we have a winner. Since I’m spending a sunshine-filled weekend with one heck of a great girl, Ashley‘s giving me a hand with this one.