Vancouver Island Blog - Keira-Anne.com

Uptown Fashion Swap – Swap Tips

Keira-Anne — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:52:35 +0000

While I’ve never been to a clothing swap of any kind, from what I’ve been told, a solid strategy is key! With under a week until the Uptown Fashion Swap, the folks at Uptown have a few tips of their own to help you maximize your potential for successful swap swag!

Photo: emma.kate on Flickr

What To Swap…

If It Doesn’t Fit, Swap It!

Tried, Tested and True
Some pieces our closet just can’t be without. A great bag, that little black dress or even the perfect pair of pumps. Closet purges are healthy but hang on to the classics.

Make Some Room
It can be difficult to see the pile on your bed get larger while the hole in your closet grows. Remember that not only are you swapping out items you probably won’t ever wear, you’re also making room for all the fabulous new finds around the corner!

Swap Day

Head To The Back

Bag It!
If something is still originally tagged, grab it! Even if it doesn’t fit or isn’t your style, consider that it could make for a great gift for someone else.

Dress the Part
Clothing swaps can be chaotic at best, so dress in a way that will allow you to very easily try items on. The pros suggest leggings, a tank top, a great-fitting bra and comfortable shoes or flip flops.

Stock Up
A clothing swap is a great opportunity to add classics to your wardrobe, so keep your eye open for them. Crisp white dress shirts, great denim and well-tailored blazers should be added to your list.

Photo: Neesa Rajbhandari for The SWAP Team on Flickr

Keep these tips in mind and I’ve got no doubt that Uptown’s Fashion Swap will make for a memorable fashion fête. Remember that those who are purchasing tickets and participating must have their 10 swappable clothing items brought to Uptown no later than Saturday, May 19th!

Tickets for the Uptown Fashion Swap are $20 each and available at Uptown’s guest services desk. The evening also includes music, tapas and and outdoor party to celebrate the swap. For more information on Uptown, visit them online, become a fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter!

From now until September, make a donation to my BC SPCA Paws For A Cause campaign and you could walk away with a fantastic prize! Click here to find out more!

Uptown Fashion Swap

Keira-Anne — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:28:14 +0000

Almost every woman’s closet has a handful of pieces that are either too tight, too bright or not quite right. Clothing swaps are an excellent means of unloading what your closet doesn’t want while finding a hidden gem or two to bring home. As the saying should go: “one woman’s stash could be another woman’s treasure.”

Photo: Katy Kash on Flickr

The Uptown shopping district in Victoria is holding its first-ever Fashion Swap event and, while a shopping centre may not be the first place you’d think of finding gently used clothing, Uptown saw the Fashion Swap as a great opportunity. Not only does the swap support sustainable consumerism, Uptown is raising funds for breast health by donating funds to The BC Cancer Foundation.

When:

Where: Uptown shopping centre (at the corner of Douglas Street, Saanich Road and Blanshard Street)

How Much: Tickets are being sold at Uptown’s guest services for $20 each and include a $10 donation to The BC Cancer Foundation, a $10 Uptown gift card and free on-the-spot makeovers including hair, nail and face treatments!

What: Before May 19th, participants are required to bring ten lightly-worn or even brand new brand name items. Once the clothing is sorted, this will equate to over 3,500 items to hunt through for the perfect piece!

The evening also includes music, tapas and and outdoor party to celebrate the clothing swap. Click here for tips on what – and how – to swap clothes and maximize your finds! For more information on Uptown, visit them online, become a fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter!

From now until September, make a donation to my BC SPCA Paws For A Cause campaign and you could walk away with a fantastic prize! Click here to find out more!

Donate Some Cash, Win A Prize

Keira-Anne — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:45:18 +0000

Apart from being vital to the SPCA’s annual operating budget, the annual Paws For A Cause fundraising event is a bundle of fun!

I’m thrilled, honoured and completely excited to be participating in the 2012 event, and this year marks my fifth anniversary doing so. Each year around this time I set out to hit a personal goal of raising money for the BC SPCA. All funds raised stay within the Province of BC’s SPCA shelters and is money that is crucial for a number of reasons.

Apart from day-to-day operations, the SPCA uses the money raised for the following reasons and so much more:

animal cruelty investigations – including the Whistler sled dog investigation
ticketing and enforcing against animal irresponsibility in your community
critical animal care and surgery
food, medication and maintenance
emergency situations such as wildlife rescue

The magic number this year is $1 million dollars Province-wide. Only 2% of the SPCA’s annual operating budget comes from tax dollars, so this fundraiser is a must.

My personal goal is $1,500, but if the donations keep rolling in, I’ll gladly bump that number! To offer you some incentive to donate, a few amazing Island-based businesses have offered up wonderful prizes to my readers! Everyone that makes a minimum $20 to my personal campaign will be entered to win one of the following prizes in a random draw:

A gift basket of assorted animal-friendly bath and beauty products from Saltspring Soapworks
One of two $25 gift certificates for mouth-watering fare from Nanaimo’s Modern Cafe
An assortment of farm-made jams, garlic, lavender products and more courtesy of the fine folks at Shamrock Farm in Comox

Stay tuned in the coming weeks to learn more about these products and companies, but in the meantime, please head on over to my Personal Campaign Page to make a loving donation. Jordy and I will be walking on September 9th at Marina Park in downtown Comox.

If you own an animal-loving business that would like to contribute a sponsor prize to my personal campaign such as the local businesses above, please feel free to send me an e-mail with more information.

Cathedral Grove and Coombs

Keira-Anne — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:36:37 +0000

Yesterday my mom and brother decided to cash in on the incredible sunshine we’ve been blessed with lately and took my niece on her first visit to Cathedral Grove with a stop in Coombs. I wasn’t able to join them on their day trip, but my fingers are crossed that my mom managed to pick up some Alberni Valley honey and Mexican vanilla for me!

Consider this to be a guest post if you will, but my mom’s photos from their day trip were simply too great not to share!

All pictures © Tempest Kat on Flickr. [used with permission]

To plan your day trip to Cathedral Grove at MacMillan Provincial Park or Coombs, visit the following links:

Adventures In Vegan Baking: Chocolate Chip Cookie Edition

Keira-Anne — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:04:12 +0000

When Rebecca and I visited New York City two years ago, we did a lot of walking and explored almost every neighbourhood on the island of Manhattan. On one sun-soaked late afternoon, I dragged her to the Lower East Side, over the tiled cupcake doorstep and into celebrity favourite Babycakes for some vegan baking.

Photo: Rebecca Bollwitt on Flickr

Any skepticism Rebecca had was hidden well as we indulged in gluten-free, (refined) sugar-free vegan cookies with gooey vanilla frosting sandwiched between them. Fast forward to 2012 and I finally got my hands on a copy of Babycakes’ official recipe cookbook, a cookbook I recently cracked open a few weeks ago.

In paying tribute to our visit to the bakery, my first project would, naturally, be the cookie sandwiches.

After a quick (yet wallet-draining) trip to Whole Foods, I had everything on hand to whip up the recipe. However, once everything was laid out on the counter, I felt more like I was commencing a scientific experiment.

Apart from being entirely vegan (yes – even the frosting!), Babycakes’ other claim to fame is that they’re mostly gluten free. And on top of that, the baking could almost be considered healthy as the recipes use natural sugar substitutes such as agave syrup and evaporated cane juice rather than refined sugar.

Baking without butter, eggs and sugar was fixing up to be entirely new territory for me. So could I do it?

Of course I could! But not without the assistance of my lazy sous chef/pastry assistant, Jordles. Most of his time “supervising” was spent curled up by the patio door in a zen-like state. Shocking.

No matter what you’re making, if you don’t have the tools of the trade, you’re in for a difficult task. Luckily my aunt thought to buy me measuring cups and spoons for three Christmases in a row, so I’m well-stocked in that department.

I started by mixing my sugar replacements with melted coconut oil (it’s not as yummy-smelling as you might think). So far, it’s looking a lot like the beginnings of cookie dough…

Next comes the mixing of the flours and dry ingredients. As with anything baked, good quality baking soda that hasn’t expired is a must. And because I wasn’t using eggs, this is the part where I added a bit of xanthan gum.

What is xanthan gum, you ask? It’s a carbohydrate molecule derived from a natural bacterium. It’s used to thicken food as well as to stop food products from separating. A one-cup bag will set you back about $15 but a pinch goes a long, long way.

Next up? The chips. And in this case they were carob, simply because I wanted to make these cookies vegan through and through. The verdict? Blech! J loved the cookies with the carob chips but I preeeeeeetty much hated them.

Similar to dark chocolate, plant-based carob is a safe chocolate alternative to have in a home where you’ve got a dog that likes to eat anything and everything off the floor (see my sous chef above). However, next time I’ll just use my much-loved Nestle Tollhouse Morsels because, well, I’m not vegan and I love me some real chocolate.

By this point, I had something in my bowl that closely resembled cookie dough. It smelled like cookie dough. And yes, it certainly tasted like cookie dough. Everyone knows that all diligent bakers simply must test the cookie dough, right?

The recipe instructed the cookie dough to be slightly pressed upon once scooped onto the cookie sheets…

…however, I ended up with paper-thin cookies from my first batch because the dough had spread so much while baking.

The second dozen I refrained from pressing down and ended up with slightly more structured cookies.

Once the cookies were baked and cooling, I was ready to move on to the frosting. If the idea of vegan cookies sounded strange, the notion of making vanilla frosting without any dairy products whatsoever seemed downright insane to me. The recipe even specified that the frosting could – and should – be made in a blender!

I knew that in no way was my ages-old blender up for the task of making frosting and that this was a task for KitchenAid. I gladly hauled my 13-cup food processor – the food processor of all food processors – onto my kitchen counter.

Only a handful of ingredients later, including to-die-for coconut flour, et voila! I had thick, creamy, amazingly emulsified, sweet ‘n sticky vanilla frosting.

The frosting recipe requires a minimum of six hours of refrigeration to bring it to Babycakes’ bakery standards, which I did. But I couldn’t resist dipping a cookie in the slightly goopy frosting for a mouth-watering preview.

Would I do things differently next time? Definitely. Apart from the obvious chocolate-for-carob swap, I’d also use rice milk instead of soy milk in the frosting because the soy flavour can be overwhelming if you’re not used to it.

I thought my friends and family would be as skeptical as I was about the cookies. J downed them with no problem, but the next day when I invited several friends over, John was holding out on trying them. After the moment came where he finally gave in, he immediately proclaimed “My God I could eat all of that frosting with a spoon!”

Case closed.

While I do not have the rights to publish the cookie recipe or the frosting recipe online, Martha Stewart does (of course she does). You can find the recipes here:

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vanilla Frosting

Tweed Ride Victoria

Keira-Anne — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:44:34 +0000

In recent years, it’s been difficult not to notice that style and cycling have seemingly come together in a way that’s almost interchangeable. In 2009, a group of cyclists across the pond in London capitalized on this notion and organized the first Tweed Ride. Four years later the event is certainly picking up traction in North America.

Photo: Joe Philipson on Flickr

What’s a Tweed Ride? Groups of bicycle enthusiasts assemble for a slow-paced ride in the hopes of raising money to purchase bicycles for African children. Access to bicycles allow African children the ability to more easily travel to school, thus allowing them the education opportunities they might not otherwise receive.

Tweed Ride has gone global and rides can be found in communities from Japan to Finland and all points in between. The second annual Victoria Tweed Ride is only 10 days away. Participants are encouraged to dress in classic tweed, “smart”-styled outfits or anything else that evokes a by-gone era.

Photo: Joe Philipson on Flickr

This year’s Victoria Tweed Ride will take place at noon on Saturday, May 12th and is open to the first 350 registrants. The cost to register is only $8 and promises to be a jolly good time as the riders weave through downtown Victoria after meeting on the front lawn of the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Tweed Ride will happen, rain or shine, and will wrap up with “tweedy tea” at the end of the ride. Prizes will be awarded for Ladies’ and Men’s Best Tweed as well as Tweediest Child. For more information on Tweed Ride Victoria, or to register as a participant, visit Tweed Ride Victoria online.

Island Profile: Coastal Black Estate Winery

Keira-Anne — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:37:37 +0000

Last week we visited Big D’s Bees, located outside Campbell River, on Thursday’s Island Profile. Also north of the Comox Valley, and on the same 800-acre property as the beehives, is Coastal Black Estate Winery. This award-winning fruit vineyard has quickly gained a glowing reputation for itself within Vancouver Island’s constantly evolving wine culture.

Fruit wines and mead wines have become increasingly popular in recent years, something that Coastal Black’s winemaker, Abel O’Brennan, solely focuses on. The adjacent bees that Daniel Ludwig raises provide a stimulating environment for Abel’s blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.

All three succulent berries are harvested on-site at Coastal Black and have been incorporated into table wines, refreshing sparkling wines and mead wines (flavoured with honey after fermentation). Coastal Black Winery prides itself for being able to offer a break from the everyday grape with their fresh berry wines.

Those wishing to visit Coastal Black Winery can do so by booking a tour and tasting. Currently the winery’s tasting room is open on weekends from noon until 4:00 p.m. and tours can be booked online. The winery also plays host to a number of events, gatherings and weddings.

If you’re interested in purchasing Coastal Black wines to try something new, the wines can be purchased directly from the vineyard or at select wine and liquor stores across Vancouver Island. For more information, visit Coastal Black Winery online or visit the vineyard, located at 2186 B Endall Road, Black Creek. [map]

Island Profile: Big D’s Bees

Keira-Anne — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:27:42 +0000

Each time I learn of a new-to-me food producer on Vancouver Island, it never fails that I’m both surprised and intrigued. Some months ago I picked up at jar of Big D’s Bees’ honey at Edible Island in Courtenay. A week later I learned that my good friends at SNAP Weddings had recently taken engagement photos of none other than Big D himself!

Nestled on expansive farmland in the Campbell River area, the Ludwig family farm transitioned from dairy products to an emphasis on berries. While blackberries, raspberries and blueberries grow on the farm in abundance, honey bees are essential to that production.

Unbeknownst to many, the honey bee is a crucial component of our food source. Pollination affects all areas of agriculture and we simply cannot grow healthy, abundant vegetation without these little buzzers. Because of this, Vancouver Island is a protected honey bee region (though perhaps not for long).

The “D” in Big D is Daniel Ludwig, and Daniel has cultivated his lifelong intrigue of all things bugs into one of Vancouver Island’s largest honey bee farms. Daniel subscribes to the notion that eating natural food is a key ingredient to a healthy lifestyle, and not much is more natural than honey.

Amongst the berry bushes on what is Canada’s largest thorn-less blackberry farm, Big D’s Bees produces fireweed honey, blackberry honey and wild flower honey. Each of these varieties is as different at their names, offering varying flavours, colours and even degrees of boldness.

Big D’s Bees sells their honey directly on the farm as well as at a number of locations in Campbell River, Courtenay, Port Alberni, Tofino, Parksville, Nanaimo, Victoria and on some Gulf Islands. You can also spot Big D’s Bees honey at farmers markets and in Vancouver at Whole Foods, Meinhardt and Edible BC on Granville Island. For a complete store listing and for further information, visit Big D’s Bees’ website.

Big D’s Bees is located 2186 Endall Road, Black Creek, British Columbia [map]. You can phone the farm directly at (250) 337-8329 or by e-mail.

Vancouver Island Visitor Centre Grand Opening

Keira-Anne — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:30:37 +0000

After many months of both construction and curiosity, the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre, located in the Comox Valley, is open and pleased to welcome both tourists and locals alike. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Visitor Centre is hosting a grand opening party.

Photo: Vancouver Island Visitor Centre on Facebook

Home to Vancouver Island’s only taxidermy Vancouver Island marmot, a breaching orca, living oyster display as well as a lush indoor forest, the Visitor Centre exemplifies so much of what Vancouver Island has to offer. Whether it’s your first visit to the Island or your twentieth, it’s worth stopping by the Visitor Centre.

Photo: Vancouver Island Visitor Centre on Facebook

On Saturday, April 28th, make an outing to the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to be a part of the grand opening celebration. The event features First Nations dancing and carving, treasure hunts and face painting for the kids, a BBQ as well as building tours.

The Vancouver Island Visitor Centre is located at 3607 Small Road in Cumberland, just off the Comox Valley Parkway. For more information, phone 1-855-400-2882 or visit Discover Comox Valley.

We’re Going On An Egg Hunt

Keira-Anne — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:39:10 +0000

Between its towns and cities, Vancouver Island is an abundance of farmland, forest and lush landscapes. My family is fortunate enough to live within the forest and there’s really no better place the Easter Bunny likes to visit than the forest. But why take it from me? I’ll leave this story to my niece…

“Hi! I’m Sienna!”

“This is my pretty pink Easter basket.”

“My Auntie Keira said we’d go on a hunt for Easter eggs. I’m not quite sure what that means, but I bet it’s going to be fun!”

“Auntie Keira – stop taking so many pictures of me! I want to go nowwwww…”

[Hmmm... maybe if I just look like I'm going to have a tantrum, we'll get to go.]

“Hooray! It worked”!

“Now… where to begin?”

“I’m not so sure about this Easter egg hunt thing, but I think I kinda like it. Hey! I found something!”

“Ohhh! Something’s hiding in the grape vines!”

“I also found daffodils in our yard. I think they’re pretty but Auntie Keira likes tulips better.”

“The important thing to Easter egg hunting is being really, really fast! No Easter eggs for you, Jordy!”

“See? This is what I found already!”

“Hmmm… something’s hiding in the ferns. Daddy, help me get it!”

“A stuffy? In the woods? This requires further investigation.”

“It’s Minnie Mouse! I think I’ll keep her.”

“I didn’t know what to expect, but Easter eggs hunts are fun! I can’t wait until next year. Thanks for tagging along with me!”