Keira-anne.com

No doubt that the face of air travel around the globe has changed beyond the point of return in the last decade. In fact, I can’t even remember the days of flying without my liquids in a Zip-loc bag and making my way through comprehensive security screening checkpoints.

In early 2010 it was announced that, in compliance with new Transportation Safety Administration protocol, full body scanners would be coming to Canadian airports. These scanners were not to be unlike x-ray machines, allowing security personnel a thorough view directly through passengers’ clothing. The idea behind the technology was that concealed items would be more easily found. However, the notion of literal transparency had people up in arms over their privacy. [source]

Photo: Impact Lab

On my last air travel trip, I bounced through Phoenix Sky Harbor airport on my way back to Canada. After clearing U.S. customs, I made my way to my departure terminal, but not before a stop in security. Though I had the option of a search without the body scanner, the scanner was the primary option for security screening.

I didn’t think twice before stepping in and raising my arms to do the YMCA. Seconds later I was told “all clear” and asked to move through. I had nothing to be ashamed of and certainly no weapon to conceal.

I never thought twice about any of it, knowing that each and every one of my fellow passengers had been scrutinized to the same degree. If anything, knowing that put me at complete ease about safety in the air on my imminent trip. That said, I can most definitely understand that some wouldn’t be comfortable with that method of screening for various reasons.

Sound Off…

• Do you think body scanners are an invasion of privacy or a necessary part of safe air travel?
• Do you think beefed up security measures should be extended to BC Ferries, rail and bus service?

Earlier on the weekend, needing a mixer, J picked up a bottle of Coke Zero and stashed the remnants in my fridge. I didn’t partake in any at the time, but last night as I flipped on a movie and popped some popcorn, I reached for a glass.

Zero calories? No sugar at all? What could go better with my evening flick before the week begins? I figured it would be harmless but doubted my choice by the time 11:45 p.m. rolled around…

Photo: joshc on Flickr

After what seemed like five minutes later I checked my cell phone clock again. It was now 12:55 a.m. I flipped, tossed, turned, stretched, covered up, uncovered and checked my clock again. 1:52 a.m. By the time 2:23 a.m. rolled around, I stopped checking and finally fell asleep not long after.

What frightened me most as I struggled with this extremely rare occurrence of insomnia was the severe impact that one little glass of “zero” cola could do to my entire body. “What was even in that stuff anyway?” I thought to myself.

If that one little glass was strong enough to impact me in such a way from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, it couldn’t be good for me. And that got me thinking to which other foods and drinks I consume that could also have potentially negative effects.

In recent weeks I’ve undertaken to increase my organic food consumption because those foods are better for me. However, I’d yet to consider the flip side of the coin and wondered why what I was cutting out was bad for me. About two months ago I gave up my daily cups of coffee, swapping them for green tea. I’ve also tried to reduce my refined sugar intake and increase my daily fibre through fresh vegetables. Last night’s wake-up call certainly served to reinforce my new choices.

What’s one thing you have a habit of consuming that you’d be better off without?

Photo: Kristen Douglas/The Mirror

At the end of May, 1994 I was a month away from graduating junior high school, desperately hopeful that my awful perm would disappear by summer and excitedly cheering on the Vancouver Canucks alongside my brother and my dad. BC’s hockey team was on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since I was in diapers.

Sadly the Canucks were defeated by the New York Rangers but 17 years later, the Vancouver Canucks are once again preparing to engage in battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup. The only difference is that this time they’ll be bringing the Cup home! Though parties are breaking out on the streets of downtown Vancouver on a regular basis, fans on Vancouver Island are feeling the fever just the same…

Campbell River – The famous “Big Rock” on the shores south of Campbell River have become even more noticeable after local resident Steven Ordano constructed a Canuck-shuk made of local driftwood and resembling hockey hero Roberto Luongo. Visitors to Campbell River will have no doubt that the seaside city is bursting with Canucks fans!

Nanaimo – With Finals tickets averaging over $900 – each – families are looking for more affordable and family -friendly ways to catch the games. The Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association was recently proud to announce that Playoff games will be broadcast on a big screen at Diana Krall Plaza. Game 1 kicks off on Wednesday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m. Bleachers and outhouses will be available but spectators are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner and lawn chairs. [DNBIA Online]

Victoria – Canucks fans in Victoria can be a part of social media history this evening as three local mega fans – Alex Hodgson, Jeff Thompson and Chika Murugiah – are creating a tribute video for their beloved NHL team. Don your Canucks gear and head to Sopranos Bar & Grill at 730 Caledonia Avenue to show your support. Visit the Facebook event page for more information.

Is your Island community sharing the excitement over the Vancouver Canucks’ run for the Cup? Let me know and I’ll post the event here!

With current temperatures in Vancouver far below the balmy Springtime usual, it’s difficult to not feel a little blue when looking out the window. Days that should be filled with sunshine and shorts are spend bundled up in layers.

It’s been a month since I traveled with J and a few of his family members to Mexico, so I thought I’d post some of my favourite shots from the week in an attempt to bring some visual sunshine to your computer screen.

After a quick bounce through LAX and a pass over Marina del Rey, we landed in the Pacific coastal town of Zihuatanejo. Instead of opting for a gleaming all-inclusive resort, we pooled our cash and rented a fully staffed villa for the week.

Our first day there was spent stretched out on the sand at Playa Las Gatas with cold beers in hand.

That night we hit the town to take in Game 6 of the Canucks v. Blackhawks series and made some culinary explorations.

J and I could handle our “street meat” quesadillas without a problem. At 25 pesos, it was hard to pass up. J’s cousin, on the other hand, had a different reaction…

One of the best things about staying in a small fishing village, as opposed to an “Americanized” resort is enjoying an authentic Mexican experience. Exploring the town on foot was always exciting, whether exploring shops, making friends with stray dogs or sharing a conversation with locals.

I was a big fan of the homemade mango margaritas at Miguel’s restaurant, crushed with fresh mangos grown in nearby Ixtapa. Muy fuerte!

Fishing is one of Zihua’s chief industries and the local fishermen set sail early each morning, bringing in their catch to Playa Principal. Restaurateurs and shop keepers meet them there to pick up the daily specials.

The best part of having a “home” to go back to at the end of each day was having a lot of space to chill out. The views were out of this world…

Around the middle of the week, J’s aunt and uncle threw a muy grande fiesta to celebrate many years of marriage and a love that’s still growing strong.

We donned our best party clothes, grabbed a few dozen of his family’s closest friends that they’d met in Zihuatanejo over the years and partied all evening.

Needless to say, there ain’t no party like a Zihua party. Cheese enchiladas, kegs of Corona beer, pepino juice, lively music, dancing and a ton of laughter were staples of the celebration.

The next morning the boys woke early to hit the waves for some deep sea fishing. While I could have taken the opportunity to sleep-in, it’s hard to ignore a Zihua sunrise…

…and while the boys were sailing the high seas in search of dinner, us girls grabbed a cab to Playa La Ropa for some girls-only fun in the sun.

While munching on lunch, we made friends with a couple of parrots named Mario and Luigi. Mario, in particular, took quite a shining to me.

Upon their return from the ocean, and much to my surprise, the boys had an incredibly successful fishing trip. J managed to reel in an 80+ pound sailfish – the biggest one the village had seen all week!

Our host, Carlos, sliced up a bit so I could whip up dinner in the kitchen while the rest of the fish was given away to local villagers. J whipped up some tasty mango salsa, I baked the sailfish. Teamwork makes for a mighty good family feast!

On our last full day, it was unanimous that we would hit up Playa La Ropa once again for a full beach day with everyone tagging along. However, not before stopping by the only fire department in Zihuatanejo. All of the gear is used and donated while the trucks were a generous donation from Zihua’s sister city in Palm Desert, California.

Zihua’s fire department had a resident dog who slayed me with his sad eyes, but I can’t remember his name for the life of me.

Before long we found ourselves back at Playa La Ropa, digging our toes into the powdery sand with cold daiquiris in hand.

The water is exactly as you’d imagine it to be – filled with fragrant sea salt and warmer than bath water. The waves, however, were more powerful than they look. One scooped me up, tossed me feet over head and stole my sunglasses as a souvenir.

Parasailing proved to be a popular – and cheap – way to see the beach in all its glory. J and I opted out and rented a SeaDoo instead. Zipping back and forth across Zihua Bay at full throttle was more my style.

This was definitely a vacation that will be hard to beat. I met so many wonderful people, dined on incredible and authentic food and had my breath taken away by the sheer beauty of such a place.

Though I doubt we’ll see 35+ degree temperatures anytime soon in British Columbia, here’s hoping that some summer weather will be on its way very, very soon!

You can view all the photos in my Mexico set on Flickr.

Some people ask my why I keep doing it year after year. Others ask me why I do it in the first place. Does $500 or $1,000 really make a difference? Is it even important at all?

News headlines in 2011 across British Columbia have been rocked to the core with various allegations of animal abuse and neglect. The outrage over the slaughtered sled dogs in Whistler was felt on all four corners of the globe. Protests in Victoria over a beaten pit bull puppy reached a fever pitch.

Photo: Marty Hogan on Flickr [This photo is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent one of the sled dogs killed in Whistler.]

One thing has become abundantly clear: the vast majority of BC residents simply will not tolerate animal abuse in any form. To paraphrase the very wise Mahatma Ghandi:

“The greatness of [British Columbia] and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.“

It is for this handful of reasons – and many more that can’t be counted – that each year I pledge to walk for the animals in the BC-SPCA Paws For A Cause. 2011 marks the fourth time I’ve made this commitment and the third year I’ve done it with Jordy in tow. While I have personally saved only one animal from a neglectful home and given him a love-filled future, walking in the Paws For A Cause each year helps ensure that hundreds more can have that same hope.

With only 2% of its annual operating budget coming from government funding, the BC-SPCA has a crucial need for funds supplied through generous donations. The group cannot investigate animal abuse, care for injured animals or find new homes for the homeless without you and me. And before you ask me “what about humans that are suffering in one way or another?” take a minute and nosh on some food for thought.

My goal for 2011 is to raise $1,500 for the BC-SPCA on September 11, 2011 in an effort to contribute to the $1,000,000 Province-wide goal. Whether you scrounge up the change from your couch cushions, give up your lattes for a week or have a bigger number in mind, any amount will help!

Please click here to donate to my personal pledge campaign today.

There are few shops in the Comox Valley that I enjoy exploring as much as the I-Hos Gallery. Located on the First Nations reserve in Comox, I-Hos features handmade treasures from skilled artists and craftspeople across Vancouver Island. It’s also the place where I purchased my most treasured silver orca ring several years ago.

The Island’s First Nations’ population is vast and its history is deep. So often a band’s heritage can be fleeting, and the I-Hos Gallery is proud to help preserve the land, the stories and the people that founded the Comox Valley area.

Photo: Tempest Kat on Flickr

This June I-Hos is proudly hosting a series of workshops and events that may be of great interest to locals.

Native Herb Walk

June 5, 2011 – 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
$20 per person
Puntledge RV Campground, 4624 Condesory Road, Courtenay, BC
Barb Whyte of the K’ómoks First Nation will guide participants through flora and fauna, explaining how and why various herbs have been an important part of First Nations culture. Herbs will also be available for purchase.

Cedar Basket Weaving Workshop

June 21, 2011 – 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
$80 per person
I-Hos Gallery, 3310 Comox Road, Comox, BC
Those who have always been fascinated with intricately woven cedar baskets will have the opportunity to create their own in this full-day workshop led by Kathy Edgar of Ditidaht First Nation. Please provide your own lunch and snacks; food will be available for purchase.

National Aboriginal Day Celebration

June 21, 2011 – 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
No cost
K’ómoks First Nation Band Lands, 3310 Comox Road, Comox, BC
This free, family-oriented event celebrates each aspect of First Nations and Aboriginal culture. Stories, songs and dance are highlighted, along with traditional and delicious food to nibble on.

For more information on the I-Hos Gallery, visit them online or “like” their page on Facebook.

Already an accomplished actress, singer, wife, mother, blogger and established fashionista, Gwyneth Paltrow can add culinary diva to her resume. Her recipes are easy to follow, make use of the freshest ingredients at your grocery store and are unbelievably scrumptious.

Having had my hot little hands on a copy of My Father’s Daughter for less than a week, I’ve already made my way through five recipes. The first recipes featured in my new cook-along project, G-ology, highlight vegetable stock and kale chips.

Have you ever looked at the ingredients in cubed vegetable stock? Salt tops the list with MSG close behind. Actual vegetables and so-called natural flavours barely make the cut.

True vegetable stock – a must for any hearty winter soup – is the real deal. Without a proper stock pot, I loaded the biggest pot in my kitchen with fresh chopped veggies, savoury herbs and barely a pinch of salt.

With all the herbs floating on top, the scent of the stock cooking down was nothing short of intoxicating.

Useful for a handful of the recipes in MFD, this vegetable stock will be a key component in my attempt at G’s butternut squash soup this weekend. Without any preservatives, the remaining stock will also be handy to have as it will freeze well for up to six months.

Another quick and easy recipe that caught my eye was home-baked kale chips. I’ve long been curious about this leafy green cabbage, packed with dietary fibre, protein and a ton of essential nutrients.

I was also under the impression that kale chips were something of a “hippie snack” and was completely skeptical that torn leaves could actually bake into crunchy chips.

Tossed with basic ingredients, the kale chips basked in the heat of the oven for several minutes, allowing the green leaves to turn brown and crispy. A bit of coarse salt added that extra kick that snackers often crave.

The verdict? Delicious! While kale chips are fragile and would likely crumble easily, it’s an easy to grab snack when you’re watching TV or keeping busy in the kitchen. It’s quickly become a must-have snack in my home.

With summer around the corner, it’s hard not to think of coconut-scented sunblock, swimsuits and ice cold drinks on patios. I live for beach days in the summertime, but the warm months also mark the start of summer blockbuster season!

Hollywood will be churning out some major hits over the next few months, most of which you’ll find at a Cineplex Odeon theatre. This summer, Cineplex Odeon will be presenting some of these films in a brand new technology called UltraAVX. What does that mean for your move-going experience?

• Giant, wall-to-wall screens
• Crystal clear digital projection
• Incredible sound that lets you hear every detail
• Large rocker seats for the ultimate in comfort
• Reserved seating

Photo: NotoriousJEN on Flickr

To celebrate the launch of this brand new UltraAVX technology, Cineplex Odeon has generously offered up a chance for two of my readers to catch some flicks. What’s up for grabs? A bundle of four movie passes valued up to $70 – and they’re valid for films presented in RealD3D or UltraAVX! Treat three friends, treat a sweetheart or save them all for yourself.

You’ve got three chances to enter:

1. Leave a comment below and tell me which summer blockbuster film you’re looking forward to seeing. Need a hint? Cineplex Odeon has a list of what’s coming your way. (2 entries)

2. Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I entered to win summer blockbuster movie passes from @cineplexmovies and @keiraanne #UltraAVX http://tinyurl.com/3fate8n

I’ll draw one winner at noon on Thursday, May 26th and another winner at noon on Thursday, June 2nd. Good luck!

This contest is open to all residents of British Columbia. The passes have no monetary value and are not transferable. Keira-Anne.com contest winners within the last six months are not eligible. Cineplex Odeon theatres can be found in Nanaimo, Victoria, the Lower Mainland, Kamloops, Kelowna and Vernon.

It isn’t often that my mom manages to take a break from her busy life on Vancouver Island and escape to the city to visit her one and only daughter. When the time comes that she does, we try to make the most of our time together. Though I left my camera at home, my mom was more than happy to snap shots of our week together…

Unwinding a bit was my mom’s top priority, so we did spend a lot of time at home, eating homemade pie, cuddling with Jordy and watching movies together.

It’s started to become a tradition that, during her trips to the city, we get together with Rebecca and her mom for a mother daughter double dinner date. Our dining choice this time around was the Teahouse in Stanley Park.

This romantic restaurant with hearty dishes lends itself to a quintessential Vancouver dining experience. Diners are treated to sweeping views of English Bay and the Georgia Strait in between sumptuous courses.

While we each opted for different entrees, all four of us could certainly agree on dessert! The pistachio macaroons were by far my favourite.

As the sun appeared near the end of the week, I wrangled a day off from the office to spend it outside. After an always-reliable brunch at Cafe Zen in Kitsilano, J and I took my mom to Granville Island.

It’s by far one of my most favourite places in the city to wander, sample and sometimes just sit. With winding side pathways, a market just for kids (or big kids like me) and surprising boutiques, it’s easy to get lost on Granville Island for a whole afternoon.

We downed Italian sodas, perused over exotic fruit and quite literally just hung out.

As we were wrapping up our trip, J spotted some goslings by the pond. It was impossible for me not to stop and watch as they learned how to scavenge for food and paddle in the pond.

We spent our last day as we did our first – taking it easy. Like most recent Saturdays, this one was rainy so we grabbed a matinee showing of “African Cats” and some Olympia pizza.

City trips with my mom always go by way too fast. While I’m always glad when she can come and visit me, I’m always more than happy to make the trip to Vancouver Island to visit her!

All Photos: Tempest Kat on Flickr

Apart from blue eyes and blonde hair, another similarity I share with Gwyneth Paltrow is the love of cooking. Few things give me deeper satisfaction than creating tasty, savoury dishes for my loved ones – whether it’s a four-course meal or a batch of gooey cookies. I recently picked up GP’s first cookbook, My Father’s Daughter, and was instantly struck with inspiration.

I thought that if a blogger could re-create all of Julia Child’s dishes, then surely I can whip up my own versions of GP’s offerings. The idea is by no means original and I may fall flat more often than not, but chronicling my attempts will at least keep me on my toes.

I spent Saturday night flipping through the book’s pages, reading Mario Batali’s foreword and GP’s own take on “simple, (mostly) healthy, delicious food”. What instantly appealed to me was that not only did most of the recipes feature items that I normally have on hand in my kitchen, they’re also comprised of fresh and real ingredients without all the “bad stuff”. I’ll take a moment and try to forget that she agreed to guest star on Glee and instead focus on the fact that this woman seems to really know what’s what in the heart of any home.

Like GP, I wasn’t raised with health-conscious food habits. Both of us made frequent trips to the drive-thru with our families and an “anything goes” attitude was common in the family kitchen. As I got older, making the right choices as to what to put in my body became more and more important to me. Even today at 30 it’s still a struggle to say no to what my tongue craves. However, it’s the only body I’ve got, so filling it with refined foods, sugars and similar junk isn’t doing me any favours.

Eating organic isn’t easy for most of us, least of all me. Not only can it be difficult to source – even on Vancouver Island, organic food can often put a tighter squeeze on our wallets. I choose organic when and if I can, but it’s also important to be selective. Eating organic produce is essential to avoiding harmful pesticides and herbicides, but non-organic milk is not much different than the organic variety [source]. Do your homework, read every recipe twice and (my favourite of GP’s tips) enjoy a glass of wine as you go!

Like any would-be culinary pro, stocking my kitchen with helpful essentials would be a dream. While I’ve got a long ways to go, here’s a quick wish list of what would make my kitchen a little more complete.

• large stock pot
• butcher block cutting board
• Wusthof Classic 10-inch chef’s knife and 9-inch serrated bread knife
• extra large cast iron skillet
• practical herb and spice storage (spice racks are unacceptable in my kitchen)
• Le Creuset round French oven in Caribbean blue, the bigger the better
• a bigger kitchen!

Photos: AWP Butcher Block, Inc., Le Creuset

I’m excited to dig into the cookbook at further depth and (fingers crossed) share one dish with you each week. While I don’t feel it would be ethical to share the actual recipes on my blog, you can count on colourful photos of the scrumptious meals I plan on stuffing in my mouth and the mouths of my loved ones.