3 Perfect Spots To Float The River In Edmonton

3 Perfect Spots to Float Down the River In Edmonton

We recently bought kayaks (If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you are already sick of seeing my pictures of it!) I've been getting a lot of questions lately of where to go or how to do it! Realizing not everyone has kayaks or canoes, but float devices seem pretty accessible to most, here is three of the top places to get into the North Saskatchewan River. 

These locations are perfect for a float after work one day or you can do an all day trip on a weekend afternoon. Over the course of summer the sun sets anywhere from 10:30pm (June) to 8:25pm (early September)

Terwillegar Dog Park

Bonus to this location: the dogs you get to see and pet along the way. Based at the bottom of Rabbit Hill Road. Park in the parking lot and walk out to ward the water and there is a lot of space to get in from there.  

Quesnell Bridge Edmonton

Make you way as if you are heading to Fort Edmonton Park, and before you head into their parking lot, you can park underneath the Quesnell Bridge. There is a bit of beach space, but mostly it's from a concrete pad.

Under Henday between Lessard Drive and Terwillegar Exits

If you park on either side of the Henday at the bridge between Terwillegar and Lessard exits, there are trails that will take you all the way down to the water. You can also park your car at 321 Heath Road and follow the walking path down. This will be a longer walk however. 

Quesnell Brudge

You can park your cars and/or get out: 

• Laurier Park (shorter float)
• Emily Murphy Park (Medium Float)
• Dwson Park (Medium Float)
• Capilano Park (Long Float)

Couple of Tips:

• Pack snacks
• Pack water
• Bring Extra Sunscreen
• If possible, I recommend buying a dry bag like this one from Amazon. Keeps your stuff (including your phone dry) and because it's made for this you can attach it to the side of the float so it doesn't take up float space. 
• Grab some friends and tie your rafts together or go in on a big one together!

Wall Climbing Wall Brawl is Happening at The UofA July 27

Wall Climbing at The University Of Alberta

Wall Brawl is a series of wall climbing events being put on by the Climbing Centre at the University of Alberta. All ages and skill levels are welcome to come try out new boulder problems!

The next one is being hosted Friday July 27 6-9:30pm and only costs $20 for the public! $15 for Alumi and current students. Great date night or grab a friend or older kids possibly?

When: Friday July 27th 6-9:30 Pm

Where: University of Alberta Wilson Climbing Centre 8708 114 street

Register here or call 780-492-2231

Mega Bounce Run Comes To Edmonton July 28

Mega Bounce Run 2018

Who says kids get to have all the fun? This July the Mega Bounce Run is coming to Edmonton! A fun run with 10 different bouncy obstacles to bounce through, over, under and down!

This race isn't for those looking for best times. Honestly I'm going to sign up and see if I can make it the slowest run possible and enjoy ALLLL the time on the bouncy castles!

You can grab a friend or your kids (yes it's kid friendly) and enjoy a fun time on the bouncy castles! Everyone gets a t shirt and medal to take home afterwards too. Below is the course. I'm looking forward to finding out what "Pillow Land" is!

Where: Capilano Park

When: Saturday July 28 9am- 12 pm. Groups leave the start line every 20 minutes. 

Grab your tickets for the event HERE Use The code BITCHIN5K to get 15% off!

Pina Colada Protein Smoothie Recipe

Pina Colada Protein Smoothie Recipe

Sometimes a smoothie is a nice refreshing way to get in a meal or a snack in between meals. I am all over the smoothie train especially in the warmer months. 

Because I have smoothies so often I like to experiment with them often so I don't get bored. This one is a simple 4 ingredient recipe (that can be easily swapped for rum instead of protein powder, hint hint)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 3/4 cup coconut milk (can be swapped out for other milks)
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder. (Ive been using this allmax one)

Blend it all up and enjoy. You can add more juice for a thinner smoothie. (or rum ha ha)

How To Feel Gratitude When Everything Sucks

Feeling Gratitude When Things Are Hard

The last couple days have been challenging for several reasons. And something I'm learning is that it seems a lot of tragic and crappy things will happen to us. As time goes on we love people and places and things. We learn to discover what it is we are passionate about and what we are not. 

This can lead to heart ache when things happen, or don't happen as planned in our lives. Which can leave us feeling sad or angry or otherwise. 

But all those inspirational quotes tell us to feel gratitude. "Gratitude changes everything" or "There is always something to be grateful for."

Yes. BUT. BUT it is REALLY hard to feel gratitude when you feel shadowed by a gloomy cloud. It's easy to share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #blessed when you landed the job you were after or nailed something you've been working on. So much more difficult when it seems like you are stuck in a dark room with no windows or doors.

So where do we even begin?

Name it. One of the most interesting concepts I have come across I learned from my teacher Michele Theoret and one of her peers Pamela Moskie. Emotions are not good or bad. They are simply emotions. If we can take what we are feeling and name it as sadness or anger then we can work at it from there. Once we recognize we are sad, hurt or angry and name it, we can start to find ways to deal with it. 

I've named my sorrow. Now what?

Feel it. Honestly if you are sad. Be sad for a bit. Let it happen. Again no emotion is "bad". Be angry. Be happy. Feel it. I can't give you a time limit to be guided by. I don't think there is one honestly. 

I've cried and felt it, where is the gratitude in that?

Let's find out why we are angry or sad or otherwise. What is the opposite? My example of a loved one passing away. I am filled with great sadness. Sadness that feels like a heavy weight on my chest. I am grateful that I was able to love. Love someone so much that I miss them. Grateful I have memories of them. Grateful I knew them. Grateful she helped make me who I am today.

Angry? Pissed off at the world? I am grateful for my passion. I am grateful for my knowledge of wrong and right. I have gratitude for the lessons in my life that have gotten me fired up.

Now I must say that my advice here is given from personal experience. I am not a therapist or psychologist. And some cases such as depression and anxiety may require the help of these professionals.  I encourage seeking help if you feel you can not manage. 

I hope you find peace in whatever you are managing and that you take care. 

Last spring I went through a difficult time and I wrote in my journal something along the lines of "it's dark. There seems to be no windows or doors. No light. But I have to believe that there will be one again." It did come. 

Love, 

Jen

My 5 Favourite Podcasts on Self Development

5 Favourite Podcasts on Self Help and Development

Are you a podcast junkie? I have my ups and downs. I like them running and driving to teach classes. Recently on my Instagram I was talking about a podcast I was listening to that sparked a curiosity, leading to me attempting a no sugar experiment. Then Of course I was asked, well what podcast was it and what am I listening to?

These podcasts are mostly about self development/improvement/help, whatever you want to call it. Depending on the mood I'm in or the title of course I will listen in. 

1.The Upgrade. First of all Melissa and Alice have similar sounding voices and I find that hilarious for some reason. But they both have really pleasant voices. In the description of their show they say "Look, you're doing great but quite frankly we think you can be a little better." I love this. 

2.Lewis Howes The School Of Greatness. I love that the people he has on his show are athletes, business people, celebrities and hearing their wild stories of how they came to their greatness. Lewis is pretty down to earth which makes it easy to bridge the gap between us regular Joes and the all stars he brings onto the show!

3. Lori Harder Earn Your Happiness. Well the name says it all. She's after happiness. How we get it, how we keep it, how we find ways to detach from things that prevent us from having it. 

4. Kelly Covert, In Her Voice. Kelly has a very calming tone to her voice. I love her podcasts for early morning walks and more chilled out activities. Her view is all about women finding their own authentic voice and living out  your own visions of your life. 

5. Jenna Kutcher, The Goal Digger. This one is certainly more business based, but I see it as more improving things about ourselves to be better at business. Like stepping outside of our comfort zones and being brave to get where we want to be in business. Her Instagram is pretty the bomb too.

Take Care, 

Jen