Vancouver, B.C.

~ Crystle ~ 9 Comments

Vancouver, BC | Yea Yea PuebloVancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloVancouver, BC | Yea Yea PuebloVancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea Pueblo

Family Photo - Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea Pueblo

The sights and sounds of Vancouver, B.C. offered a truly international experience on our Canadian Sojourn this past weekend. We took to the city by foot and spent our time hiking along water fronts, through coniferous parks, and around urban plazas. Foreign language conversations echoed off of tall buildings and blended cacophonously with the sounds of car horns and seagull caws. Peruvian Chaufa, fresh Seafood and strange new vegetables nourished our bodies. We tried fiddleheads for the first time (delicious!).

On our final night in Vancouver, we stopped into a Cathedral to listen to a performance of Gregorian Chants. The Cathedral was dimly lit and a curtain of incense smoke hung densely in the air. One monophonic chorus after another rang high into the rafters of the vaulted ceiling of the ornate Cathedral; melodious reminders that life is grand.

Family Photo - Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloStanley Park - Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea Pueblo

While the women in the chorus sang, I was overwhelmed by gratitude for the beautiful family I have and the amazing adventures we find ourselves in.

Family Photo - Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloVancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloFamily Photo - Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea Pueblo

On the way home from our Canadian Sojourn, my post-vacation rumination on this sentiment was interrupted by news of a natural disaster in the community in Oklahoma we called home for many years.

I was saddened to hear the news, but tonight as I watch the story progress I’m selfishly feeling grateful that my family is healthy, safe, and in tact. The time we spent in Vancouver this weekend furthered our bond with one another, and made it difficult to stomach the news of a climbing death toll in Oklahoma.

Stanley Park - Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea Pueblo

It’s hard to believe such tragedy is ongoing while we’re safe and sound in our calm, manicured suburb following a fun-filled yet restorative vacation.

The eyes of the world are on Moore, OK as things wind down around here. We hope friends and family back home are safe and that healing begins soon for the city of Moore.

And to Vancouver, B.C., we will to see you again after our Great Alaska adventure.

Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloStanley Park, Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloVancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloChaufa - Vancouver, B.C. | Yea Yea PuebloVancouver, B.C. By Night | Yea Yea Pueblo

Tiny Dresses

~ Crystle ~ 4 Comments

Margot + Yango | Yea Yea PuebloWhile I thoroughly enjoy the tender moments when my elderly beagle, Yango, gingerly sniffs the chubby face and little toes of my darling Margot, I find that by far, tiny dresses are the best part of having a baby girl. I can’t visit major retailers without detouring to the baby section to thumb through the racks for a tiny dress for my tiny girl. Call it projection, call it what you will, but there’s something about the mini hangers, the little bloomers, and the lively patterns; it’s all so adorable and so addictive.

Margot will wear this Anchor dress to Vancouver, British Columbia this weekend, our first “international” trip with her. My festive baby will fit right in.

Margot | Yea Yea Pueblo

Vanilla Bean Cream Soda

~ Crystle ~ 5 Comments

Vanilla Bean Cream Soda | Yea Yea PuebloRecord heat swept through our area earlier this week. You’d think that since I’m from Bakersfield, a city with some of the hottest summer days in the nation, I could swing the heat, no problem…this is not the case.

You see, in Bakersfield, CA we had this wonderful invention called the air conditioner. It’s a foreign concept up here in Washington state, mainly because they’d only be in use for a few days every summer. Our house is a two story, equipped with zero cool-air-emitting contraptions, making the days a little toasty when the temperatures surpass 80 like they did on Monday. Whoa, 80 degrees? Yeah, I know. Sweltering.

Vanilla Bean Cream Soda | Yea Yea Pueblo

I’m probably the only person in Washington wishing for the rain to return. Fortunately, the temps dropped back down into the 70s, and rain is on the horizon (which reminds me, I’m pretty sure I’m going to love the cold weather in Alaska!).

This pop came to my attention when searching for a vanilla bean based beverage to take the edge off these warm summer days sans A/C. The original recipe, from Cheeky Kitchen, calls for granulated white sugar. I chose to use Agave nectar to sweeten it instead, since it’s a low glycemic sweetener. It absorbs into the body slower, preventing spikes in blood sugar. I kicked my pregnancy-influenced sugar habit recently, and didn’t want to completely relapse.

Vanilla Bean Cream Soda | Yea Yea PuebloVanilla Bean Cream Soda Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cup Organic Blue Agave Nectar

1 Vanilla Bean – caviar stripped

1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract

1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract

1 QT Sparkling Water – Chilled

Directions:

Slice vanilla bean lengthwise, use paring knife or spoon to scrape vanilla bean caviar into a large pitcher.

Add Agave nectar, and extracts to the vanilla bean caviar and mix thoroughly.

Add sparkling soda slowly.

Notes:

The caviar will separate from the mixture and float to the top. If you plan on serving immediately, I recommend topping the pitcher with copious amounts of ice. This re-integrates the caviar into the drink. Or, hold a spatula over the spout while pouring over ice in individual glasses to limit the amount of caviar going into each glass. This seemed to work for me.

Shelf life is about a 24 hours since the carbonation tends to disappear slightly with each pour.

Bonus!: to enhance your porch-sitting, spike this soda with white rum. It’s insanely delicious.

Vanilla Bean Cream Soda | Yea Yea Pueblo