The Return of TWIR

You have told me what you want, and I have listened.

News

Like any good movie also The Week In Review makes a return to your screens. Many of you have reached out to me and asked me to start to write the TWIR again, and after much thinking I decided to dust the good old TWIR off again and take it out of retirement. I hope it will get better and that you still will like it as much as previously, and that together we can make this the best resource for finding out about excellent content from the outdoors - be it backpacking, paddling & packrafting or bikepacking and climbing. And no, this is not an April’s Fool Joke.

I’m all about protecting the wild spaces which we need to enjoy our outdoor hobbies. Podcasts are a great way to learn while you cycle or commute to work, or while packing your gear for a outing. Listen to Endangered Spaces: Bears Ears. Also the Mountain Podcast is always worth a listen, so check it out if you haven’t yet!

And related to that is the monumental decision of the Outdoor Retailer leaving Utah for its government’s anti-environmental decisions. Read also this: Outdoor Retailer is leaving Utah over public lands issues.

Sleeping badly? That can be fixed by a few nights out camping!

Have you seen the new packrafts from the Packrafting Store yet? Light and affordable they’re the perfect entry to packrafting.

These Double Down Suits from PHD look like the thing fo your next 8.000 m summit attempt. For us regular backpackers maybe a bit overkill, though =)

Redbull Uncorked rethinks the Park. Cool little video with great scenery - I’d love to go skiing there!

Walmart acquires outdoor retailer Moosejaw (for $51 million).

Anton Kupricka made a movie - watch the Purpose trailer here.

Six things every climber should do before they die.

Pssssst, the Outdoor Food Shop has a new look - go check it out!

Cyclists, Pedestrians and car dirvers - how about we try to be better together? [German]

If you hate that your phone always dies when you’re outdoors, you’re in luck: The 94-year old inventor of the Lithium battery just came up with something better!

Want to learn about ultralight backpacking? Join Carsten “Sauerkraut” Jost on one of his ultralight backpacking courses!

And a new Mountain Climbing Method cuts Summit Times in half - but is it healthy and safe?

Want that new jacket or hiking pants? Head over to Backcountry and take 20% Off one Full-Price item with the code: 20MAR.

Trip Reports

Inspiring & beautiful trip report from Aleš and friends of their #biwipowproject to Piz Palü - the next level of #Microadventures, for sure!

Treasure Island is a wee little video that not just Pirates will enjoy!

The Time Is Now, something worth remembering if you post-pone trips all the time.

Definition of an epic trip: Man bikes 13.000 km from Sweden to Nepal, climbs Everest and cycles back home.

My good friend Henryk tries winter climbing in St. Anton - on a Via Ferrata!

I wrote for the Outdoor Enthusiast Magazine about ski-touring across Europe and how I totally am not a ski-bum.

Ski-touring in the Tatras, still a dream of mine! [Polish]

MAD in Madagascar, a great African climbing video!

Skiing the Bishorn, or how to ski up and down a 4.000m peak.

Three Belgian climbers free 1200-meter route on Central Tower of Torres del Paine in 19 days - but they only brought 15 days of food. I guess that burger back in town has never tasted better!

The difference a day makes.

Gear Reviews

Carola is planning for her Arizona Trail thru-hike and ponders about food and long hair. [German]

Willem helps you planning your packrafting trip into wilderness areas, while Luc has a very detailed Data-Driven Trip Planning Workshop which will teach you a thing or two.

Jackie talks about the most important thing on a trip: Craft Beer.

How to choose the best backcountry ski width for you.

Can’t go outdoors this weekend and worried what to do? Here’s a lot of free maps to plan dream trips on.

Alex discusses his electronics on the trail in 2017.

And finally, a look at Wanderlust Bikepacking Bags.

If you enjoy The Week in Review & other articles why not support me with a coffee or two? I work Full-Time on Hiking in Finland to bring you inspiring trip reports, in-depth gear reviews and the latest news from the outdoors. You also could subscribe to the rarer-than-ever Newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Youtube for more outdoorsy updates!

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this article to help finance the website. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.

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Another Vyvanse-assisted Suicide Streamed Live on Facebook

Two years ago, I investigated the suicide of a 7-year-old Florida foster child five years after his death, to find out whether officially recommended changes to the state’s foster care program had been implemented following the tragedy.  Based on records obtained from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) spanning the five-year period after the child’s suicide, I concluded nothing had changed.  After reviewing the DCF records, psychiatrist and child advocate Dr. Peter Breggin warned then about the foster program’s ongoing and dangerous practice of psychotropic polypharmacy: “Whenever you put children on multiple psychiatric drugs you are creating an experiment that is doomed to do more harm than good… We need to stop experimenting on America’s children.”

We had hoped by calling attention to the lack of real progress overhauling the Florida foster care program’s over-reliance on pills to cure all ills, further tragedies might be prevented.

Mission failed.

Experimenting on foster children

Recently, a 14-year-old Florida foster child, prescribed a psychotropic cocktail similar to the 7-year-old foster child, committed suicide in a nearly identical manner, only this time streamed live on Facebook.

In 2009, 7-year-old Gabriel Myers hanged himself in the bathroom of his Florida foster home.  Toxicology detected amphetamine, fluoxetine and olanzapine in his system.  Medical records indicated psychiatrist Dr. Sohail Punjwani prescribed young Gabriel 50mg of the ADHD drug Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), and 25mg of the antidepressant and antipsychotic combination drug Symbyax (fluoxetine, olanzapine).  Although there was no doubt Gabriel died at his own hand, Broward Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Stephen Cina did not rule his death a suicide, stating: “It is unclear whether these drugs contributed to this fatality or not.”  Dr. Cina noted in his report that neither Symbyax, nor one of its key ingredients olanzapine, also known by the brand name Zyprexa, was approved for use in children; and that “fluoxetine [Prozac] and olanzapine can increase the risk of suicidal ideation in children taking this drug.”

It also came to light that Gabriel was among Florida foster children being used as guinea pigs for pharmaceutical clinical trials.  After an investigation into his clinical trial practices, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Dr. Punjwani, citing violations including failure to protect the rights, safety and welfare of human test subjects; doses exceeding protocol-specified limits; and failure to follow clinical trial plans.  Through an executive order, then DCF Secretary George Sheldon instituted a limited prohibition of the shady practice of conducting drug experiments on Florida’s foster children.

Drug-induced Risks

A recent Canadian study found youth prescribed ADHD drugs were thirteen times more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic medications, and almost four times more likely to be prescribed antidepressant medications than children who were not prescribed ADHD drugs.  The study’s authors argued that children with ADHD have more psychiatric comordibities than children without ADHD, omitting the exceedingly relevant fact that psychosis and depression are labeled side effects of ADHD drugs.  Clearly, the possibility eluded the authors that the increased rates of psychosis and depression observed may not be linked at all to so-called comorbidities of ADHD, but rather to the drugs prescribed to treat ADHD.

Indeed, the Vyvanse label warns: “Vyvanse at recommended doses may cause psychotic or manic symptoms even in patients without prior history of psychotic symptoms or mania.”  According to the DSM-5, up to twenty-five percent of all first episodes of psychosis are substance/medication-induced.  Likewise, the label for the stimulant drug also warns: “Fatigue and depression usually follow the central nervous system stimulation.”

Research suggests drug treatment of ADHD unleashes a domino effect, triggering more psychiatric diagnoses, which in turn lead to risky polypharmacy.  The cascading reactions associated with drug treatment of ADHD are especially disturbing, considering many children have been misdiagnosed with ADHD in the first place.

Which leads us to the tragic case of Naika Venant, the 14-year-old Florida foster child who recently hanged herself in the bathroom of her Florida foster home, witnessed in real-time on Facebook Live.  Medical records from a medication management visit the month prior to her suicide indicate psychiatrist Dr. Scott Segal increased Naika’s doses of Vyvanse and Zoloft to 50mg each.

Like Gabriel, Naika was prescribed 50mg of Vyvanse.  Like Gabriel, Naika was also prescribed an antidepressant.  Like Gabriel, Naika also hanged herself in the bathroom of a Florida foster home.  Almost inconceivably, the medical offices where Gabriel and Naika were treated have the same street address, too.  Which leads to an obvious question: Was Naika involved at some point in a clinical drug trial, like Gabriel?

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) records indicate Shire, the manufacturer of Vyvanse, paid the Segal Institute for Clinical Research over three hundred seventy thousand dollars from 2013 to 2015.  In response to a complaint alleging Dr. Segal enrolled a subject with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in a schizophrenia study, the FDA previously inspected the site, initially classifying the inspection in the field as requiring voluntary corrective action, a classification subsequently amended at headquarters based on evidence of a dual diagnosis later supplied by Dr. Segal.

Even so, the DCF incident report in response to Naika’s suicide does not reflect as favorably on the doctor(s) who prescribed her drugs for ADHD and depression, going so far as to question whether she even had ADHD in the first place, and noting the cascading effect of such a diagnosis:

Lastly, there was a noted concern regarding possible inaccurate and multiple diagnoses. Naika’s primary diagnosis consistently remained Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). An ADHD diagnosis for a child who has suffered trauma, however, comes with its challenges, including how often symptoms of trauma in young children mimic those with ADHD. A psychological evaluation conducted with Naika stated that there is much concern that her attention problems are due to anxiety and trauma rather than ADHD symptomatology and recommended further evaluation to clarify the ADHD diagnosis. However, it does not appear that further evaluation was conducted. In addition to the ADHD diagnosis, Major Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder were given by various treating mental health professionals over the course of Naika’s life. However, limited documentation within the assessments does not appear to support these diagnoses or the medication prescribed [emphasis added]. An additional consideration is the cascading effect of a diagnosis, which drives the development of the treatment plan.

Parents, Spread the Word

With respect to other suicides noted in its recent Vyvanse pediatric safety review, the FDA seemed to trivialize fatal adverse event reports associated with the drug, chalking them up to comorbidities and teen angst: “It is difficult to perform a causality assessment of suicide-related events and lisdexamfetamine from the postmarketing cases, because of the comorbid conditions… and the prevalence of youth suicides.”  Readers familiar with my research published on Mad in America will recognize this FDA Vyvanse pediatric review as the same document the agency retroactively redacted to cover up the homicide of an infant by a child prescribed the stimulant – a day after Shire submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for a chewable formulation of the drug intended for young children.  Nothing to see here, move along.

Children are our most precious resource, and foster kids are among the most vulnerable of them to whom our society owes a special duty of care.  As Dr. Breggin pointed out: “These children need to be treasured and protected, and to be given wrap-around loving care.  They do not need psychiatric drug interventions, which inflict more neglect and abuse by suppressing their mental functions in order to make them more manageable.”

If the FDA will not fulfill its mandate to seriously investigate pediatric psychotropic fatalities and adequately warn the public of elevated polypharmacy risks, then it’s up to us as parents to spread the word ourselves.

• • •

Andrew Thibault is an extremely curious, inconvenient parent.  He is co-founder of Parents Against Pharmaceutical Abuse (PAPA), a parent movement opposed to over-diagnosis and over-medication of children.  A frequent guest of The Justice Hour on South Florida’s Health Talk Radio, he has also been quoted and his research has appeared in the Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, and Christian Science Monitor.

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Ashbury and Oak – Polygon

Introducing Ashbury + Oak by Polygon –  Choose from  three and four bedroom townhomes in Langley’s Willoughby neighbourhood. This family community offers everything you need with retail shopping, restaurants,  recreation centres nearby.

 

Features

• Queen Anne-inspired architecture, with dramatic pitched roof lines and bay windows
• Convenient main floor powder rooms
• A side-by-side two car garage in every home
• Decks or raised yards for outdoor entertaining
• Contemporary interior design with open-plan layouts
• Kitchens with family-sized kitchen islands, engineered stone countertops, a built-in recycling station and stainless steel appliances
• Spa-style ensuites feature a luxurious spa-style shower with showerhead with wand and integrated bench seating
• Warm laminate wood flooring throughout the main floor living areas
• Nine foot ceilings on the main floor, eight-foot on upper and lower floors
• Central Green & play areas connected with well-lit pathways
• Access to Kinfolk House – the residents’ only resort-style clubhouse featuring a swimming pool, great room, fully-equipped fitness centre, indoor playground + much more

 

The post Ashbury and Oak – Polygon appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Cambie Gardens Vancouver by Onni

Coming soon to the Cambie corridor is a new development called Cambie Gardens by Onni. This stunning development is going to consist of 2,160 residential homes spread out over a 25.4 acre site. Also, included in this amazing project will be retail and commercial space, health centre, YMCA club and pool, a 2.5 acre park and the new Canada line transit station.

Floor Plans for Cambie Gardens

Floor plans have yet to be finalized but we can expect a wide range of unit options.

Pricing for Cambie Gardens

Please register and join our VIP list for early access and be the first to receive information on plans and pricing.

 

The post Cambie Gardens Vancouver by Onni appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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567 Clarke + Como by Marcon – Availability, Plans, Prices

At a Glance

• Coquitlam’s tallest building
• 364 market condominiums
• 2 commercial units
• 20,000 sq ft of amenity space
• 530 underground parking spaces
• public plaza
• adjacent to Evergreen Line transit station
• near Simon Fraser University
• close to Lougheed Town Centre shopping

The Intersection of Life + Style
Marcon Developments presents 567 Clarke + Como, a striking transit-oriented landmark that brings urban convenience to relaxed suburban living. Coquitlam’s tallest building offers an attractive mix of one- to three-bedroom homes with enough density to give residents an outstanding selection of amenities, in addition to nearby golf, lakes, and trails.

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With the Evergreen Line’s Burquitlam Station just steps away, you’ll reach the West Coast Express commuter train in only one stop. Coquitlam Centre and Lougheed Town Centre are also on the line, making it a breeze to meet all of your shopping needs without the hassles of traffic and parking, doubly so if you want to meet friends at Port Moody’s booming Brewers Row when the work week is done. Given the vibrant community development we’ve seen around other transit nodes, like Marine Gateway and Brentwood, expect the selection of amenities, services, and leisure activities in the surrounding neighbourhood to only get better.

Pricing for 567 Clarke + Como
Marcon have not yet released final pricing details. Nevertheless, sign up to our VIP list to ensure you keep up-to-date on this remarkable opportunity to buy.

Floor Plans for 567 Clarke + Como
Plans call for 364 homes with a mix of 122 x 1-bedroom, 217 x 2-bedroom, and 25 x 3-bedroom condominiums. Contact me to discuss availability of plans suited to your particular living needs.

Amenities at 567 Clarke + Como
Residents will enjoy an exceptional selection of amenities that include a 7,600 sq ft landscaped podium rooftop with basketball court, sandbox, artificial grass for dogs, and an outdoor kitchen with barbecue area. The entire 29th floor will be a 6,650-sq ft amenity room, while the top floor Sky Lounge with outdoor rooftop patio offers a relaxing space to marvel at the stunning panoramic views. Utilize the services of the building concierge for when you aren’t available to take deliveries or greet guests.

Parking and Storage
567 Clarke + Como will include 449 resident and 81 visitor & commercial underground parking spaces.

Maintenance Fees at 567 Clarke + Como
As yet to be determined.

Developer Team for 567 Clarke + Como
Beginning life as a construction company has given Marcon Developments the experience to deliver homes not only of high standards, but also of high value. Homes built with extra attention to detail – where the fit and finish is just that much better. Marcon has developed some notable residences over the years, such as the first high-rise in Canada to achieve LEED certification. Building to these standards helps to future-proof your home, as well as allowing you to breathe easy from the first day you move in.

GBL Architects is a cohesive and progressive Vancouver based firm of 38 architects, project managers and technicians with a 25-year reputation of providing a full range of architectural services to the private and public sector. The firm has built its reputation on high-quality design, tight project management, technical proficiency, financial responsibility and keen administrative skills.

Trepp Design delivers carefully-contemplated, distinctive solutions customized to meet unique interior design needs for residential, multi-family, and commercial projects. TDI expresses individual preferences in inventive ways, leaving an iconic imprint on each environment. The team creates inspired designs with a timeless look and future-focused feel for local, national and international clients.

Expected Completion for 567 Clarke + Como
To be announced.

Are you interested in learning more about other homes in Brentwood, Lougheed, or Metrotown?

Check out these great Brentwood Presales!

The post 567 Clarke + Como by Marcon – Availability, Plans, Prices appeared first on Mike Stewart.

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Cambie Gardens by Onni – Pricing & Floor Plans to Come!

At a Glance

• 2,160 market residences
• building heights from 3-28 storeys
• retail & commercial space
• community health centre
• YMCA with 25-metre pool & therapeutic pool
• 69-space child care facility
• 2.5-acre park
• urban farm
• new Canada Line transit station

Healthy Community Living
In partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health, Onni Group and IBI Group Architects are redeveloping this 25.4-acre Cambie Corridor site into an exciting mixed use, master-planned community based on the City of Vancouver’s objectives for environmental, economic, and social sustainability. To that end, Cambie Gardens will offer a variety of housing options, retail & commercial space, healthcare facilities, social & recreational opportunities, space for urban agriculture.

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Beyond the extensive amenities and services that will be available within Cambie Gardens, a new Canada Line rapid transit station to be built at 57th & Cambie will give residents exceptionally convenient access to shopping at Oakridge Centre, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, Richmond Centre and the leisure pursuits of downtown Vancouver. A mere 12-minute jaunt to YVR puts the world at your doorstep.

Pricing for Cambie Gardens
Sign up above to our VIP list for priority access to availability, plans, and pricing.

Floor Plans for Cambie Gardens
A significant number of 2- and 3-bedroom homes appropriate for families are called for in the Cambie Gardens master plan. With Sir Wilfred Laurier and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary schools located at Heather & 57th, don’t miss out on this outstanding opportunity to raise your children with everything they’ll need in close proximity.

Amenities at Cambie Gardens
An extraordinary range of community amenities will be available to residents within walking distance, including a new park, urban agriculture, child care facility, YWCA, plazas & public spaces, retail businesses, commercial spaces, and a new Canada Line transit station. We are awaiting plans to be finalized that will specify what will be offered in each building.

Parking and Storage
Ample storage and underground parking are to be included in each building. Details will be published once they are finalized for individual buildings.

Maintenance Fees at Cambie Gardens
To be announced.

Developer Team for Cambie Gardens
The Onni Group is one of North America’s leading private real estate developers, with extensive experience designing, developing, building and managing innovative projects. As a fully-integrated company that directly oversees every step in the development process, Onni has built over 10,000 homes. In addition, the company owns and manages more than 7 million square feet of commercial property, over 5,500 rental apartment units, and has an additional 10 million square feet in various stages of development. With offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Mexico, Onni continues to expand and diversify into new markets throughout North America.

IBI Group, a globally-integrated architecture, planning, engineering, and technology firm, has been retained as architects for Cambie Gardens. From high-rises to industrial buildings, schools to state-of-the-art hospitals, transit stations to highways, airports to toll systems, bike lanes to parks, they have designed every aspect of a truly integrated city for people to live, work, and play.

Expected Completion for Cambie Gardens
Cambie Gardens will be built in five phases. Construction and sales of Phase 1 are expected to begin in 2018.

Are you interested in learning more about other homes in the Cambie Corridor, Mount Pleasant, or West Side?

Check out these great Cambie Corridor Presales!

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TIPS TO HELP YOU DETOXIFY AND LOSE WEIGHT

3 Factors to Consider When Choosing Window Treatments

There are many factors to consider when choosing which type of window treatment you’d like to get for your home. Here are three of them:

Image Source: Flickr

Style
Unlike many years ago, window coverings are available in a variety of different styles. Your choices include wood blinds, cellular shades, woven wood shades, pleated shades, shutters and draperies. While many people will choose the same wood blind or shade for every room in their house, that isn’t always the best idea.
A better idea is to consider what each room is being used for and then choose your window coverings based on that.
For example, bathrooms and bedrooms require more privacy then let’s say your kitchen. For those rooms you should look for coverings that room-darkening features. Not only will that help to block the sun on those summer mornings when you want to sleep in but the sun rises at 6 AM, but it will also block anyone from seeing into your room. Another benefit is that in the summer the room-darkening shades will block out the heat and the winter they will block out the cold. Source: SheBudgets

Budget
Are you outfitting just one window or the entire house? You may consider spending more on certain windows and scaling back on others. Window treatments are priced by size, so expect larger treatments to cost more. Custom sizes and specialty fabrics, patterns, and features also add to the cost. Source: GoodHousekeeping

Window’s Exposure
Windows that are facing towards the east or south can produce large amounts of heat and sunlight. This can cause furniture, carpeting and other areas of the home to fade if some level of sun blockage is not used. Source: AngiesList

Still haven’t decided? Contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help you out!

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9, Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

The post 3 Factors to Consider When Choosing Window Treatments appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

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4 Types of Showerheads

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Your overall showering experience is affected by many factors. One of these is the type of showerhead you’re using. Check out four common showerhead types below:

Standard Wall-Mount Showerhead
The most economical option, standard wall-mount showerheads can be adjusted slightly by moving the shower neck. Models that offer varying spray types fit the needs of most users. Source: BHG

Hand-Held Showerhead
A hand-held showerhead is connected to a long hose and it sit in a cradle when it is not in your hand. Handheld showerheads can be used as a fixed shower head but when taken off the cradle they can be used for much more, like bathing pets, washing children, and even for cleaning the tub.
Hand-held showerheads are available in many different lengths of hose but to meet ADA compliance they must be at least 84” long. The longer the hose the more convenient but it could get in the way of the tub. Hoses between 60” and 72” work well for the average home. Source: Plumbing.About

Ceiling-Mount Showerhead
The ceiling-mount or top-mount showerhead is installed on the ceiling. The spray of this type of showerhead is reminiscent of rain, as water comes from directly overhead. Ceiling-mount showerheads come in many shapes and sizes. Some models can also be mounted flush to the ceiling, which is great for bathrooms with low ceiling heights. Source: Property24

Aerating Showerhead
By mixing air with water, these showerheads form a misty spray to make the flow feel more substantial. Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water instead. On the models we tested, aeration cooled the water from 5 to 15 degrees F on its way from the showerhead to where it would hit your back. Laminar-flow showerheads may cost a little more, but they save energy by maintaining the water temperature better. And they don’t create as much steam and moisture, a plus especially if you live in a humid region. Source: ConsumerReports

Step up your shower experience by trying out a new type of showerhead! Contact us!

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 4 Types of Showerheads appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.

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Everly Green – Qualico

A new Collection of Willoughby, Langley Townhomes & Single Family Homes.

This wonderful new community of 54 townhomes and 36 single family homes is coming soon to Willoughby.

Ideally located at the 82nd Avenue and 204B Streets, this unique community features a shared common greenspace and is bordered on 2 sides by a nature belt. The townhomes will feature 2, 3 and 3+den plans, with either yards or roof top decks. The single family homes will feature 4 bedroom + den or 5 bedroom + den plans, some offering master on main living.

Each home at Everly Green has been thought through carefully and  equipped with fixtures and finishes to give you enjoyment to give you peace of mind, from the Kitchen to the Laundry room!

Each home is equipped with brand name appliances, they will not let you down.

Beautiful  natural surroundings and mountain views make Everly Green the perfect place to call home.

The post Everly Green – Qualico appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Double Chocolate Malt Cake

Owing to the fact that my brain is a bit dead since finishing my literature review last week, I’ve been struggling to motivate myself to write about this cake. Thus, I’m keeping it super short & sweet today because honestly, I don’t think I need to do much talking about this cake anyway – the title is almost enough!

I made this cake for my friend’s birthday at the end of January and oooh it’s a good one. It was originally going to be a 2 layer cake then, in a last minute panic, I made a third layer because there can never be TOO much cake – eh? The sponge is the standard, moist chocolate cake you’ve probably made before. The standout here is the frosting, for me. I based it on this chocolate pudding frosting (with malt powder added for that salty kick) but I found it too goopy to use like that. Soo I ended up beating a bunch of butter and cocoa powder into it. Worked a treat, made a hell of a lot of frosting and it’s WAY less sweet than a standard buttercream. Oh hellloooo!

Double Chocolate Malt Cake

 

Save Print

Serves: 3-layered cake

Ingredients

• 75g (1/4 cup + 2 tbsp) unsalted butter
• 80ml (1/3 cup) refined olive oil or neutral oil
• 60g (3/4 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 45g (1/4 cup + 2 tbsp) malted milk powder
• 300g (1½ cups) granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 190ml (3/4 cup) full fat yogurt
• 250ml (1 cup) just-boiled water or hot coffee
• 300g (2½ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• ½ tsp salt
• 1x recipe for chocolate malt pudding-style frosting (see recipe below)
• 100g maltesers, crushed

Instructions

1. Grease and line three 20cm cake tins. If they’re loose-bottomed, place them onto a couple of baking trays to catch any batter which drips through. Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F).
2. In a small pot, melt the butter over a low heat until just melted. Pour into a large bowl and mix together with the oil, cocoa powder, malted milk powder, sugar, eggs and yogurt until well combined. Pour in the just-boiled water and quickly (but carefully) mix together until smooth.
3. Add in the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Use a whisk to gently stir together until the flour has just been mixed in.
4. Divide the batter between lined tins and bake for 35-45 minutes until toothpick inserted into the centre comes out mostly clean – ok if a few crumbs are stuck – and when gently poked, the cake springs back. Leave to cool for a few minutes then gently loosen the edges of the cake with a knife. Leave to cool completely then pop out of the tins.
5. Once cooled, level the cakes using a serrated knife if the layers have domed tops. Use the frosting to sandwich the layers together and to coat the entire cake. Decorate with crushed maltesers.

3.5.3217

 

Chocolate Malt Pudding-Style Frosting

 

Save Print

Serves: frosting for a 3-layered cake

Ingredients

• 500ml (2 cups) full fat milk*
• 200g (7.1 oz) bittersweet or unsweetened chocolate
• 35g (1/4 cup) malted milk power
• 200g (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 50g (1/3 cup) corn flour (cornstarch)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 100g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 40g unsweetened cocoa powder
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. In a medium pot, warm the milk over a medium heat with the chocolate, malted milk powder and granulated sugar (stirring so that the sugar dissolves) until gently steaming.
2. Place the cornstarch into a small bowl and pour in some of the hot milk mixture. Stir together to get a slurry then pour this into the pot and return to the heat. Keep stirring over a medium-low heat until thickened then stir in the vanilla extract. Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature before covering and chilling until completely cold. (this is the chocolate pudding)
3. Once the pudding has cooled, place the softened butter into a large bowl. Cream the butter together with the cocoa powder and salt until smooth and slightly fluffy. Gradually stir in spoonfuls of the cold pudding, beating well between additions to incorporate it fully, until you have a smooth, spreadable frosting (you may not need all of the pudding).

Notes

- Adapted from BBC goodfood
- *I used almond milk in the frosting and just added 1 tbsp of butter whilst making the pudding, instead of using the full-fat milk

3.5.3217

 

 

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3 Important Things to Consider When Buying Curtains and Blinds

When choosing a window treatment, there’s a lot more to consider than just style – you also want your curtains to be functional. If you’re looking to spruce up a room with new curtains or drapes, here’s what you should consider.

Below are 3 important things to consider when buying curtains and blinds:

Image Source: Flickr

Color, Prints and Patterns
A rule of thumb: If you have patterned furniture or bedding (or a very elaborate rug), stick with solid curtains. If you have solid-color furniture or bedding, consider patterned curtains. For a subtle hit of style and energy, go for a small, neutral print, like dots or paisley, which reads like texture from afar. A large, graphic print in a color that relates to the existing decor is daring but can be spectacular. Source: RealSimple

Length and Lining
Before you take out the tape measure, decide how high above the window you’d like the curtains to begin. “Hanging panels higher than the window will give a sense of height to the room,” says Cunningham. Designers often hang curtains about six inches above the window frame, but for a dramatic look, some go higher.
If you plan to use the curtains to shut out the sun, those extra inches around the perimeter of your window frame will also help block out any creeping light. Source: ElleDecor

Blackout Lining
Blackout lining is a must for children bedrooms if you want a good nights sleep. In fact I’d recommend it for any bedroom. TV rooms and home cinemas will also benefit from a blackout lining, especially if you’re likely to watch TV or a film during hours of daylight. There are blackout options for both curtains and blinds. Source: GilroyInteriors

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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The Hub at King George Station

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Sadhana: Best Time to Meditate

You know you should be meditating, right? You tell yourself you’ll start this weekend. There are reminders all around you. Your Instagram feed is awash with long-haired women with zen faces and hands neatly positioned in prayer pose and you either want to roll your eyes or you look at them like exotic animals from a foreign land you don’t know how to get to. The concept of meditation is pulling at you and you may be trying to push it away.

I studied the physiologic benefits of meditation for years before I was convinced that it was as powerful an intervention as nutrition, movement, and detox, if not more powerful. The Benson-Henry Institute has been amassing before and after studies for 4 decades. I knew all of this and yet I too didn’t commit to a daily practice.

But then, I began to develop a sense of inauthenticity in my recommendation of the intervention to patients, despite rationalizing that they needed to meditate and I just should meditate. We make a lot of excuses in order to keep ourselves from changing.

It wasn’t until my mentor, Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez died suddenly, that out of sheer desperation, agony, and grief, I got on my knees and began. Because I had already been drawn to the kundalini community, I knew that my efforts would be amplified if I pulled my weary self out of bed before dawn. They call it “sadhana”, or daily practice, but there is a strong recommendation for it to occur in the Amrit Vela or the ambrosial hours of the morning. In fact, I observed that there wasn’t a kundalini teacher who didn’t swear by the existential forklift that sadhana represents.

So that’s what I committed to. I set my alarm for 5:30am and I vowed not to change it, no matter what. It was two months before my entire outlook on life, relationship to my own body, and spiritual dynamism in the world completely changed. I was literally rewired in those two months. I went from a controlling, hypervigilant, stress-addict to someone who knows deeply what it is to feel calm at the center of it all. I no longer experience stress because I feel, inside me, that everything is ok.

And I’m not alone.

Daily practitioners sit in humble awe at how their lives begin to take on a magic carpet ride effect – people and information delivered to them in perfect synchronicity. Opportunities surfacing effortlessly. Radiant health, and access to a feeling of being in the flow of their lives rather than hanging on by their fingernails.

Here’s what my beloved patient, Ali had to say about it:

“Could you also let Dr. Brogan know I have been doing the kundalini protocol she recommended to me in the morning for two days at 5:30 and it has helped immensely. My heart is so full of gratitude for her (and you) and while I know I have a lot of healing and work to do for the first time in my life I feel empowered to heal myself and not at the mercy of a doctor or a drug.”

And this was just after two days!

Here’s why I ask my patients to do pre-dawn meditation, every single day if they are ready for growth, healing, and transformation:

• Wake at the Right Time: We were meant to awaken in the dark. Contrary to the assumption that we naturally rouse with the light, if you consistently go to bed before 10p (essential for healing!), you will begin to naturally wake up around 5am or even a bit earlier. In my research, I have learned that the coldest time of the night is about 40 minutes before dawn, and that this is when our ancestors (and modern day aboriginal people) commence morning rituals. Connect to your ancient toolkit for self-mastery.

• Early Empowerment: If you start your day this way, you’ve already won even before you leave the house. You have set your intention to be your highest self, to push through resistance, to reclaim balance. You can carry this in your pocket all day like a precious gem. It will become an irresistible impulse over time. I promise.

• Rewire Your System: When we open our eyes in the morning, we should, quite literally, begin weeping with awe and joy that we get to have one more day on this magical planet in this mysterious life adventure. Instead, our minds, like a lighthouse, search for what we have to freak out about. Undo this freak out, even in a few minutes, and send a different signal to your nervous and endocrine systems. Our stress hormone, cortisol, rises between 4-6am. If you can be in an intentionally meditative state during that window, you set the template for your reactivity for the rest of the day.

• Accelerate Your Healing: Once you let go of your fear and your familiar relationship to your illness and you believe that you are ready to heal and transform, you will. We can’t command the timeline, however, there are tools for acceleration. In my opinion, kundalini yoga is one of the most powerful ones, and all the more powerful pre-dawn.

• It Can Be Quick and Easy: Because you can start with just 3 minutes. Literally. Here’s what one Vital Mind Resetter had to say:

How to make the one decision that can change everything:

• WARM UPS are optional, but there are a number of simple movements that support your body’s preparedness for the meditative state. Here are some examples.

• CREATE SPACE for your practice. Use a special mat or blanket. Light a candle or burn some sage. Anoint yourself with an essential oil.

• GO TO BED before 10pm. Stop doing work late into the night (this was a hard one for me but my productivity has sky-rocketed since I stopped working at night!) and stop watching TV. Just go.to.bed.

• SET YOUR ALARM for no later than 6am. No snoozing. Sit up in bed right when it goes off. It hurts. I know. But it’s really only for about 5 minutes, and then you will ease into your practice, and feel the quiet peace of being awake when no one else is.

• TUNE IN in kundalini yoga, we protect and fortify our practice through a mantra – Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo – which calls on a chain of mastery before us to connect to our own inner creative force. It goes like this.

• MEDITATE with a 3-11 minute kriya or meditation, ideally one that you will commit to for 40 days. There are thousands of these online, but here is one example of a favorite of mine that can be done for 3 minutes, and one for 11 minutes. You can progress to doing full kundalini yoga sets like those featured on Golden Bridge Global Village (my favorite is called Kriya for Awakening to Your Ten Bodies), but start small and commit to daily practice first.

• CLOSE with one “long Sat Nam” which means, loosely, truth is my identity, with your hands in prayer pose.

This experience can be as short as 3 minutes or as long as 2.5 hours, but it’s in the daily commitment that your mind, body, and spirit get a message of safety. Everyone has three minutes to change their life. If you can’t carve out the three minutes, then it’s worth exploring what you are getting out of being stuck where you are. Does it feel familiar whereas healing feels scary? Does your diagnosis make your struggle seem real? What if you were to shed it? Is your illness a means of connecting to others? These are deep, real issues, and I believe passionately in identifying where, how, and why we are getting in our own way. There are no judgments, no right and wrong, simply insights and awareness. Sometimes observing is the first step to change. The second step is choosing to commit, and that step is repeated every single day as you move closer to your most authentic self, and to the freedom and joy you know in your heart is possible.

Recommended reading:

Sacred Therapies

Meditation as Medicine

The Kundalini Yoga Experience: Bringing Body, Mind, and Spirit Together

KRIYA: Yoga Sets, Meditations & Classic Kriyas

Praana, Praanee, Praanayam

Rebirthing: Breath, Vitality, Strength

I Am a Woman: Creative, Sacred & Invincible Essential Kriyas for Women in the Aquarian Age

Invincible Living

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Can I Really Get Better Through Mindfulness?

For the past 35 years, I’ve had the great fortune of bearing witness to the incredible struggle and amazing resiliency of the human spirit.  Day after day, year after year, patients have shared their most intimate stories with me — each one unique and each one special in its own way. Whether they were depressed, abused, worried, sad, unfulfilled, anxious, fearful, or just plain lonely—they all shared one common condition — SUFFERING.

Every one of them was suffering and every one of them wanted to know “Can I really get better?”  Of course, I would always give them the same answer:  IT DEPENDS. But actually, the correct and truest answer is ABSOLUTELY, yes you can get better.  But whether you actually get better or not depends entirely on how you define “better.”  For you see, there are many different ways of being “better.”

For many people, taking a pill and experiencing fewer symptoms is all they want.  Whether the medication actually works or they just think it works—it makes no difference.  They feel better and that’s all that matters.

But what if we define “better” not as symptom reduction but rather optimal physical and mental well-being?  Now the answer “it depends” has a whole new meaning.   The longer I practiced, the more I realized something was missing.  So, after spending years in the psychological trenches dishing up delicious words to soothe the soul, I made a startling discovery — WORDS WERE NOT ENOUGH.

To get truly better we needed much more than just words. Psychotherapy was indeed helpful but it was not sufficient.  So I embarked on a journey to learn as much as I could about how to achieve optimal wellness. I spent years studying Integrative Medicine and Nutrition, Nutritional Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Epigenetics and Nutrigenomics (environmental and nutritional influences on gene expression), the Microbiome and the Gut-Brain Connection, the practice of Yoga and Meditation, and finally, various models of Spirituality.

This extraordinary journey taught me that authentic healing could only occur if we were able to integrate all the parts of ourselves into a harmonious and cohesive whole.  But first off, to do this requires an about face regarding our collective belief that all pain is bad and therefore must be avoided for a satisfying life.

We must be willing to look deep inside ourselves and surrender our most cherished beliefs. Beliefs that are so strong (think “defenses”) that they function like our best friends. We must be willing to bear the discomfort of letting go of these beliefs because they do not serve our highest purpose. And we must be willing to do the hard work that is necessary to rid ourselves of toxic emotions so we can transform our suffering into self-caring and compassion.

Now, it seems to me this “wellness” stuff is all fine and dandy but how the heck do you really get there?  Simple — you need a road map.  So I developed a unique road map (in conjunction with friend and architect Richard Chadwick) that will guide you down the road to optimal wellness.  It’s called The Mindful Wellness Wheel and it was created to show how the process of mindfulness can be used to investigate the key aspects of your life objectively.

Many people find the concept of mindfulness difficult to grasp but it can be explained quite easily.  Mindfulness simply means being aware of whatever thoughts and feelings you are having in the present moment with full acceptance (i.e. without judging them). Mindfulness can also be thought of as a special or particular way of paying attention. By using this technique, you can look at each area of your life and make whatever adjustments are necessary to correct imbalances. Practicing mindfulness will enable you to respond to life rather than react to it (reacting=mindless, responding=mindful).  Developing the capacity to respond to situations with calmness, clarity of mind, and non-reactivity will improve your life in every way possible.

The Manifesto of a New Medical Model

To become healthy, you have to change the way you look at the world. It’s a sad but true fact that so much of what we’ve been taught is blatantly incorrect! This is especially true when it comes to health, nutrition, food choices, drugs, and the practice of modern medicine. Our present medical model is based upon detecting and treating symptoms of disease.  This is a fabulous model for acute care.  If you or your loved one has an accident or life-threatening emergency, this is the best medicine for helping you.

But if you or your loved one has any of the chronic diseases of modern high-tech civilization, modern medicine is an abysmal failure. The reason for this is twofold:

• Modern medicine is treatment focused rather than prevention focused — it focuses on disease rather than health

• Modern medicine is managed by huge corporations which control all aspects of how it is taught, practiced, and protected. Pharmaceutical companies fund and conduct their own research. They control what studies are published in medical journals and exert powerful influence through their advertising. Not only is this self-serving, but alternatives to drugs are kept hidden from the public. Most people have no idea that there alternatives to drugs, surgery, etc. which are more effective, safer, cheaper, and align with our bodies natural capacity to heal.

When we go to a psychologist, psychiatrist, etc. to get help with our emotional pain, we are confronted with an archaic system of treatment predicated on “specialization.” Our modern medical model is reductionistic and treats the body like a collection of separate compartments.  Therefore, when you need help, you see a “specialist” who focuses only on their area of expertise.  There is no attempt to understand the root causes of the problems or to integrate it into the bigger picture. Not only is this of limited benefit, but it doesn’t honor the great reality of the whole person — that is to say, everything is connected! Any type of emotional problem, no matter how mild or severe, depends on the whole body to produce its effects.

In order to overcome these limitations, The Mindful Wellness Wheel was created. I will briefly explain how this model works.  As you look at the illustration of the wellness wheel, you will notice at the center of the wheel is “Your Mindfulness.” This is the core and everything is built around this.  In this way, the practice of mindfulness can be used to explore each of the 8 areas of your life that are vital to effective and harmonious living. These 8 areas are:

• How You Relate to Yourself
• How You Relate to Others
• What You Eat
• How You Eat
• How You Move
• How You Relax
• How You Work
• How You Play

Your ability to be mindfully aware of all these interrelated aspects comprises the state of your wellness. Beyond this boundary is our connection to The Natural Universe Outside of Yourself. It is essential to recognize and honor the power of nature and our connection to it.  For most of us, this is a lost element in our modern industrialized world. Finally, beyond the natural universe is our Spirituality.  This model attempts to integrate all that is necessary for you to be wonderfully healthy and to appreciate your connection to all things, both big and small.

The time has come for a new medical model.  One that will allow each of us to achieve our true potential and live healthy, loving, and satisfying lives without chronic disease and the feelings of dis-connectedness that is so pervasive in our modern world.  I hope this discussion is helpful to all readers in ways that will lead to a new view of the way things are.

BE OPEN MINDED BUT NOT SO OPEN MINDED THAT YOUR BRAINS FALL OUT”- Groucho Marx

• • •

Dr. Stephen C. Fischer, grew up in Detroit, Michigan, the son of a pharmacist and a homemaker. He studied Pre-Med in college majoring in Biology and Chemistry. Then spent 3 years doing graduate work in Psychopharmacology and Experimental Psychology before deciding he wanted to be a psychotherapist. Dr. Fischer then spent 4 more years getting his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology and Psychiatry.

For the first half of his career, he focused exclusively on the psychological side of healing. Then, about 15 years ago, began to study nutrition, alternative medicine, holistic healing and integrative psychology. “As a psychologist first and foremost, I encourage nutrition, but never push it on my patients.” he says.

In his free time, he reads, eats healthy food, cooks healthy food, watches movies, exercises, does yoga, and enjoys sitting motionless in a chair for long periods of time doing absolutely nothing.

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