Travel BC: Wreck Beach, UBC

I'm in the final months of my life chapter at UBC.  As an out-of-province student from Ontario, I've lived all around campus and I began and will end my first and last terms living on the west side, above Wreck Beach.  As a final salute to the beach, that classic summer joint in all its nudist glory, may I present my Wreck Beach photoshoot.

Hint: click the first photo to enter the photo viewer.

Chloe Golightly
...on holiday.

chloelnlam@gmail.com

Learning to ski

There's nothing more thrilling to me than trying something new.  They say you should try at least one new thing everyday, and I couldn't think of a better way to live.  Today you can join an air guitar competition, tomorrow you can make a naked self-sculpture on the beach (and declare it to every passerby) - each day is a new possibility.

I was devastated when an accident on November 11th left me in a knee brace and limping for a month.  Resting in bed for the first month pushed my mind to soar over all the bucket list items I wanted to accomplish.  I realized that the only way I'd accomplish them all before I passed away (or got in another crippling accident) was to try and achieve one new thing a day, for the rest of my life.

So the first week that I felt slightly capable of any physical activities, I called up my wonderful friend Alex, slipped a fat pair of snowpants over my knee brace, and hit the slopes.  Now I've been snowboarding since I was a young'un, but this year I knew I wanted to learn to ski.  I did pretty well for my very first time, wouldn't you say?

When something has got you down, and you don't think you'll get back up again, be patient, stay focused on the goal... and never let go of the desire to soar.

Chloe Golightly
...on holiday.

chloelnlam@gmail.com

Travel BC: International Mountain Day on Grouse Mountain

It's International Mountain Day - The day to celebrate the cold, jagged, striking, solitary, breathtaking land formations that cover 27% of the earth's surface.
Here are some shots I took on Grouse Mountain last season.  Looking back to that day I sat in the snowbanks, finger on the shutter button, clicking away candids of skiiers and boarders, I recall my own days as a novice boarder 5 years ago when I first moved out to Vancouver for studies.  This year, the final years of my studies, I plan to make another trip up to Grouse, but this time to learn to ski.  I'll keep you posted ;)

Hint: click the first photo to enter the photo viewer.

Snow, smooth, like ladies' skin

Mountain top tomfoolery

My two best friends ;)

Chloe Golightly
...on holiday.

chloelnlam@gmail.com

P.S. Today is also Noodle Ring Day... whatever that is.  Maybe I'll make some next year, stay tuned!

National Dessert Day

Summer is over and fall is upon us here in Vancouver.  Ohhh fall, the start of another season of umbrella eyeball gauging, gumboot floor squeaking,  bike ride bum soaks, mildew-scented buses, and untameable frizzy hair.  The days are getting shorter, the sun is slowly fading, and the jackets are getting heavier.  Nevermind that.  I'll celebrate another summer well spent by sharing a sample of sweets I prepared throughout the last few months in honour of America's National Dessert Day.  Enjoy!

Ginger matcha green tea icecream

Classic chocolate cake, adorned with garden raspberries

Walnut crumble apple pie

Vegan gluten-free choco apple pie (See recipe below!!)

Chunky mango lassi coconut icecream

Maple bourbon pecan pie

RECIPE:  Vegan gluten-free choco apple pie

This recipe was based on an idea of a best friend of mine who introduced me to raw vegan eating.  For all raw munchers out there, it's not 100% raw because of the melted chocolate, but last time I checked melting chocolate does not take from its nutritional value ;)  I modified it a bit to my taste and liking, and here is the final product.  Enjoy!

Serves:  8 people, 4 hungry ones, or 1 greedy sweets-addicted hungry hungry hippo

Prep time:  20 minutes

Makes:  1 11-inch diameter pie

Crust ingredients:

1 1/2 cup unsalted roasted cashews

1 cup unsalted roasted almonds

10 large juice mejool dates

2 tspn honey

2 pinches of salt

Pie filling ingredients:

2 large apples (I use 1 red delicious, 1 royal gala)

3/4 cups vegan chocolate chips

3/4 cups chocolate hazelnut butter (or can use almond butter)

1 tbspn coconut oil

Blend in a food processor the cashews and roasted almonds into a fine mix (at the brink of ground, but not yet).  Some large chunks can be left for added texture when eating.  Remove and place into large bowl.  Remove seeds from dates and blend in food processor (you may need to soak your dates in hot water for 2 minutes if they are too hard).  Mix dates with blended nuts, honey and salt.

Press this blend into the pie plate, ensuring you save enough to press up the sides of the plate and slightly over the edge.  Place this into the fridge while you prepare the filling.

In a saucepan over the stove, melt on medium-low heat the chocolate chips, chocolate hazelnut butter, and coconut oil.  Ensure the mixture is thoroughly melted and smooth.  Core the two large apples and cut into thin slices (at max 3 mm thick).  Remove the pie crust from the fridge and arrange the apples slices inside the crust.  You may choose to do a nice pattern at the top, but whatever you do, the filling will look beautifully layered when cut.  Drizzle the warm melted chocolate mixture all over the pie crust allowing it to seep in between the apple slices (if the mixture has cooled, it is a good idea to heat it up slightly before pouring).

Place the pie back in the fridge for a minimum of 15 minutes... then enjoy!  Nomnomnomnom!!!

Tips:

• For a fresh summer twist, try using strawberries for the pie filling, or both strawberries and apples
• This pie should be eaten within 48 hours due to the tendency for cut apples to brown or strawberries to mush

Chloe Golightly
...on holiday.

chloelnlam@gmail.com

P.S. Today is also Be Bald and Free Day ;)  Any takers want to do the deed and send me a photo to post?

To: "Grandfather", Happy International Day of Older Persons

Older persons are wonderful.  There's no other way to describe it.

Their years of experience makes them an invaluable bank of knowledge and wisdom, and it's all free :) You just have to talk to them to withdraw.  I spent much of my high school days volunteering at senior homes.  Each second was well worth it.  I recall nights before I got my license, my mom would come along close to midnight and have to pry me away.  I would be consumed in a 1950's showing of "Carousel" between Mrs. Clarke and Dorothy on the living room couch, or in the middle of a pink yarn crochet session trying to attempt a scarf.

I spent hours with Roy analyzing paintings hung on his bedroom walls, listening to him reminisce over the making of each one until his snoring took over.  I sat in the foyer waiting patiently with Mrs. Clarke for her packages from Germany (they always enclosed a delectable box of chocolates and a beloved postcard, my German lesson).

I met both my grandfathers once, when I was two.  Both eventually died of cancer, and oceans and miles had kept us apart anyway.  I did meet "Grandfather" though.  He was everything I imagined my own grandfathers to be.  Though I lost him too, not to cancer, but to another sad experience, I will always think of him fondly.One day I'll be old too, and hopefully as amazing as the seniors who have blessed my life ;)

Happy 91st birthday this year "Grandfather", Happy International Day of Older Persons.

Pencil sketch, a favourite medium of mine, of "Grandfather"
(Note: no tortillon/stump)

Chloe Golightly
...on holiday.

chloelnlam@gmail.com

National Better Breakfast Day

I'm a morning person, and have been ever since I can remember.
During my kindergarten years, I used to wake up early to draw in front of the TV with coloring pencils.  Running upstairs to show off my masterpieces, I would find the whole family still in bed.  Later in my grade 1 years I would rise with my mom each morning before the sun.  I loved sitting there on the toilet seat, watching her put on makeup.

Another part of mum's morning routine was preparing breakfast.  To this day, with a sister who has well graduated from university and a brother who's finishing up his second year, she still makes sure breakfast is available.  But a working single mother of 3 doesn't always have time to fry bacon and scramble eggs, and I can recall frisky fall mornings as a kid when I would get a slice pumpkin pie for breakfast (mmm my favourite!).

As I finish up my undergrad, my biological clock is still tick-tocking along at the same tempo.  I cannot seem to bring myself to sleep past the moment the first rays of sun slip through the blinds. Morning people don't need sugar for breakfast, but thanks to mom, I still like a little something sweet to kickstart the day every now and then.  Sometimes I'll even have a slice of my homemade pumpkin pie...

With that, I wish you a Happy National Better Breakfast Day!

Hint: click the first photo to enter the photo viewer.

Summer berry crêpe

Ontario peach crêpe, with cottage cheese and yogurt

My famous homemade chocolate hazelnut spread

Traditional HK-style french toast, with a secret twist (my homemade choco hazelnut spread!)

Homemade pumpkin pie with vanilla bean ice cream

Chloe Golightly
...on holiday.

chloelnlam@gmail.com

P.S. Today is also Hug a Vegetarian Day and Johnny Appleseed Day