Pangea Organics from The Pretty Secrets

Hey Friends,
A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win a Pangea Organics Give-Away from Edmonton blogger, The Pretty Secrets. I was so thrilled, as Give-Aways always seem like something you enter and never win! I'd love to share with you what I received!

I really enjoy all 3 of these products, especially because lavender is one of my favourite scents and cardamom one of my favourite spices. I feel very spoiled indeed! I think my absolute favourite would have to be the lip chap. It does such a great job of keeping my very dry lips feeling hydrated and smelling like heaven. The bar soap comes in a close 2nd!

A big thanks to Pangea Organics and The Pretty Secrets!

Thanks for reading!

Love,
CP

Cooking and Treats

Hey Friends, sorry for the long break in between posts. Last week was very stressful for me, but hopefully the next few weeks will be more consistent! This post is going to be all about food and health, just a warning!

 Bottle of Merlot, Brie, fresh rosemary, and french bread.

 Rosemary potatoes and carrots! 

 Brussel sprouts.

Since moving to the Uk, I have definitely been suffering from the Heathrow Injection! There are so many more fast food shops/bakeries/and just better treats in general, that I'm finding it hard to keep myself under control. Even when I was living right downtown Edmonton or Vancouver it would take me at least 10 minutes to walk to the nearest grocery or corner store. In London it only takes about 1 minute to pop over and grab a Twirl (one of my favourite chocolate bars!) no matter where you are.  This is very problematic as I have a deadly sweet tooth. That being said, thank god for dance classes. Also, right now I am so poor that I don't have enough money to spend on extravagant treats and meals all the time, so when I do get a treat... I enjoy it. 

 One of the many bakeries in Musswell Hill.

I love the croissants from this place! Delish! 

I finally bought a chocolate meringue that I had been eyeing for about 3 weeks. 

What has been happening on a weekly basis is the making of my standard healthy/hearty meal, Rice Bean Casserole (Recipe found here). It is the cheapest, quickest, and healthiest of any meal I have found to date. All together it costs about £7.43/batch (£1 -mushrooms, 70p x2 - peppers, 50p - can of tomatoes, 70p - can of kidney beans, £2.18 - mozzarella cheese, £1.65 - wraps, I usually have onions, garlic, rice, and oil at home).  One batch usually lasts me about 5- 6 days! This is almost all I have been living on and I'm not going to lie, it's started to get a wee bit old, but it does the trick. 

Prepping to make Rice Bean Casserole. 

All chopped up! 

My tiny Oreo Cupcake.

The big Christmas Tree in Covent Garden.

And let us not forget that Christmas is right around the corner, which is the ultimate feel good food/treats time of year! What's your plan to stay in shape through the Holiday season? Any pointers?

Thanks for tuning in! 

Love,

CP

Time to Breathe.

For the first time since I arrived back in Edmonton, I've had the chance to breathe. 

It has been go, go, go with read throughs, rehearsals, the professional training with Feats Festival, not to mention my joe job - and that's just the way I like it!

Feats Festival of Dance 2011

Photo By: Tracey O'Camera Photography

on the MOVE: injury prevention and recovery

This is a sensitive topic for most athletes and artists! 

For this topic Dr. Sian Williams, chiropractor and former actor, talked to the group. She discussed lifestyle choices, training disciplines, form, footwear and common injuries!

Sian encouraged us to think for ourselves! Using the knowledge and experience that we already had as a collective!

Here are the questions she asked: 

(Grab a piece of paper and take 30 seconds to a minute and right down YOUR answers!!!)

on the MOVE: cross training

The first topic we discussed at on the MOVE was cross training. The discussion was led by professional dancer, Helen Husak. 

Here are my notes, enjoy!  

____________

Not all of us are lucky enough to live in cities where there is a "Harbour Dance" or "Steps",

where daily technique classes are offered in almost every style and level of dance. This is when cross training becomes very important to dancers! 

What is cross training?

today

I woke up drank a DanActive

ate toast with peanut butter and banana

then 

left for yin yoga (my newest love)

I almost fall asleep after class

then

I went and practiced a tap number I am working on for this Saturday

then

I practiced singing

then 

I ran the entire show for Saturday

then I ate some snacks

then I waited for the tap studio 

then 

I tapped 

then

I accidentally bruised the top of my foot

because I was wearing high heel taps and hit the top of my foot with the heel

yaaaaaaa

not cool

sigh

dinner time

chicken noodle soup

grilled cheese 

spinach salad 

8 Days A Week

At the yoga studio that I go to, it's the first 30 day challenge of the year! I decided to do a little mini challenge of my own. I am doing 8 days of hot yoga in a row!

Today was my 6th day - so far so good. To be honest I am getting tired, not to mention sore. Waking up for those "earlier" yoga classes is some times difficult, but oh, so worth it! 

The thing I really like about hot yoga is what it makes you do outside of class! You have to drink more water and eat better, because you don't want to eat a bacon cheddar burger before class - you just don't! And when you chow down on your homemade chocolate chip cookies, you don't feel guilty because:

 1. you deserve it and

 2. your just going to sweat it out tomorrow!

Cooking With Chelsea: The Preston Bagel

    Feta and Avocado Bagel

what ya gotta do:

1. toast your favourite kind of bagel
2. cut up 1 avocado into medium to thin slices 
3. lightly butter or cream cheese your bagel
4. put as much avocado as you want onto your bagel
5. sprinkle with feta and Mrs. Dash (original).

A yummy breakfast, brunch or lunch treat! 

* note to self: don't use red plates with green food after December. 

Enjoy!

nom nom by prestonc4 on Polyvore.com

kick the sick.

I am not telling you to go kick a sick person - that would be cruel!


So a day before my Cabaret, my throat started hurting. The 'it hurts to swallow' kinda sore throat.  Great, what perfect timing!

What I did to prevent this issue from affecting my Cabaret:


Day Before Cabaret
        1. gargled with salt water
        2. oil of oregano
        3. throat coat - organic lemon echinacea tea + honey
        4. didn't sing and barely talked
        5. yin yoga
        6. mentally went through my song with music

Day of the Cabaret

        1. gargled with salt water

        2. oil of oregano

        3. throat coat - organic lemon echinacea tea + honey

        4. lightly hummed through all of my songs with music

        5. Redoxon C (best vitamins ever!) 

        6. did recovery warm up

        7. sang through the newer songs in my cabaret 

We shall see how it goes tonight - fingers crossed


Post Cabaret
It was surprisingly well! Voice held out just fine and I had lots of fun making my patter up and just going with it! 
I am definitely going to do more Cabarets or even open mikes in the near future!

Cooking with Chelsea: Chocolate Smoothie

My Mum used to treat the kidlettes to a Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie, the most scrumptious thing in the entire world.

As an adult I still crave this yummy treat, I have just given it a healthy upgrade.

Mum's Version
        2 bananas
        2 scoops vanilla ice cream
        1 cup milk
        2 tbsp Cocoa or chocolate sauce
        1/3 cup peanut butter
        1 egg

My Version

1 banana 

1 - 1 1/2 cup milk of your choice
2 or 3 ice cubes

1 serving chocolate protein powder or cocoa powder 

1/3 cup  Natural Peanut Butter

 I had it before yoga this morning with protein powder and it kept me going through the entire class!

Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie by prestonc4 on Polyvore.com

Hand In Hand

After rehearsal the other day I was reading Dance Magazine and came across a very interesting and relevant article!

Your Body: Taking the Heat by Jen Peters discusses the pros and cons of dancers that practice Bikram hot yoga (aka ME)!


In the article you hear from different Bikram dancers about their experiences.

 Kathryn Mowat Murphy "swears that it has injury-healing, emotion-strengthening, toxin-flushing, weight-managing, and career-extending effects." (Par. 1) So far in my practice I fully agree.
The article goes on to talk about Bikram Yoga's origin and how it has now become a "popular warm-up spot" (par. 3) for professional dancers. 
There are warnings, such as over stretching ligaments and dehydration. This article  gives you information on how to "sweat smartly" (par. 7).
I hope this encourages more dancers to try Bikram yoga. It has really helped me with my dancing, and also in my mental health. I find that yoga of any kind always leaves my body smiling! 

90 minutes of moving meditation for this cold blooded gal, is absolute bliss!  

Little Guy.

Today I woke 'early' and went to Bikram yoga!

And oh man, was it good! 
Today's class was the best class that I have had since I sprained my ankle! I think the little guy is back in action, or at least soon.
 How exciting!

Here are some cute yoga outfits from Shakti Activewear to inspire you to get your butt in a yoga class!

I want it!

Yup.

I need this in my life!

AND 

Some more motivation

Now go do some yoga! 

Black Swan - By Accident.

Today after doing hot yoga, I was giving myself a wee massage and accidentally slipped and cut myself, with myself.

Whoops.

After showing my room mate, he asked me if I was turning into the Black Swan... I laughed uncontrollably.

Not yet... at least.

Who Needs An Ice Pack...

So after going to my Active Release Therapy appointment (which was painful, but productive) Dr. S told me to ice the areas that she worked on.

Problem! I don't have an ice tray.

Solution: SNOW!
This is Canada people,.. 

HOT YOGA: Don't be racist!

Hot yoga, my newest love.

Yoga and dance go together very well, so I have been trying studios all over the city, with just the West Moksha Yoga Edmonton to go!

I have discovered through talking to people (both theatre and normal people),  that there is some racism between Moksha and Bikram yogis. I get it- people have favourites and some just can't handle 90 minutes of hotness. But let us not be haters, if you are a strictly Bikram yoga goer, why not try Moksha and switch it up a bit!

I look at it this way. 

         -If you feel like knowing what you're getting yourself into, so you can focus on technique and what not - Bikram is your man!
         -If you feel like a challenge, enjoy surprises, and possibly want a shorter class - Go Moksha.

Don't be afraid to change it up!!!

Studios 
        #1: Bikram Yoga West Edmonton  Even though it isn't the closest to me, it is my #1 choice of hot yoga studios in Edmonton.
- The best smelling Bikram studio in the city!
- An amazingly friendly and supportive staff.
- Great smooth and solid floor.
- Fans
- A lovely frosted window.
- Only $20 for first timers-  8 days unlimited!

Fun Fact: This is where I took my first hot yoga class ever!

www.bikramyogawestedmonton.ca

       #2 Moksha Yoga Edmonton (South and West) I wish you were closer Moksha!!! Unfortunately it takes me an hour busing 1 way to get to either of these studios.

        South
- The most beautiful and spacious yoga studio I have ever been in.
- Amazing change rooms and showers
- Free natural mat disinfectant!
- Cork flooring
- Beautiful frosted windows
- Only $20 for first timers-  7 days unlimited!

Fun Fact: This is my best friend B's favourite studio!
www.mokshayogaedmonton.com

          #3: Birkam Yoga Edmonton - 124th Street  The down town hot yoga place.

- Great location

www.bikramyogaedmonton.com

        #4: Bikram Yoga Edmonton - Strathcona The Whyte Ave hot yoga place.

- Great location

Fun Fact: They used to have carpeted floors... figure that one out!

www.bikramyogaedmonton.com

Yoga!

Pepsi Ball:$1 ... Healthier feet: Priceless

I have always been a big fan of foot massages. All you need for this little self massage is a pepsi ball or a pinky ball. A pepsi pall is about the same size as a tennis ball, except they are made out of a soft, solid rubber, (To buy a pepsi ball, just visit the nearest Walmart. They are located in the sports section). The pepsi ball was even approved by my Active Release Therapist, Dr. Dustie Steeves.

 How do you do this, you might ask. Place or step onto the ball, starting at the heel (Putting most of, or as much of your body weight as you can handle, onto the ball).

 Slowly, work your way (side to side) down the foot, massaging out all of your knots.

Once you get past your metatarsals, your foot stands flat on the ground, while your toes get a nice stretch up on the ball. At last, when you have finished your entire foot,  roll off the way you came on.

Make sure to move slowly and never do anything that causes a bad pain sensation. A pepsi ball is a great thing to keep in your dance bag! I even take it into ballet classes with me, it's such a life saver!

Happy massaging!