Scandinave Spa Whistler

If you are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and visiting Whistler, head to the spa! Located just an 8 min drive from Whistler Village, the Scandinave Spa is a perfect haven for some quiet time. Book a reservation online for your spa experience or walk-in that day. There could be some wait times.  

Scandinave is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. There is no time limit once you're there so no time pressure.

The spa has a no phones or talking policy so you can just relax, disconnect and soak in silence. 

We enjoyed the different warm pools and sauna. It was also nice having different areas like the Firepits and Hammocks area. 

Note: The layout includes lots of stairs so be careful moving around using sandals/slippers. 

The spa provides complimentary tea and apples. For other snacks, there is a small cage but unfortunately the gluten free options didnt have much protein and were mostly sweet offerings.

No need to bring your own lock. A bathrobe and towels are also provided for you. There are some Scandinave Spa souvenirs for purchase near the entrance but no actual gift shop.

Parking is free but the lot can get full. 

Overall we really enjoyed our spa experience at the Scandinave Spa and look forward to the next visit!

Don't forget your snacks!

Scandinave Spa Whistler 

8010 Mons Rd, Whistler, BC V8E 1K7

Check out their website for more info 

Lily and Roo Vegan Nail Salon

Located in the neighborhood of Kitsilano, this Vegan nail salon was recommended to us and we had a really nice experience.

Despite how busy they were (Sunday afternoon), they checked on us while we waited for our booking, brought us water/tea and even offered us snacks! 😀

Once we sat down, they made sure we were happy at each step of our mani pedi. One person helped with the pedicure the other did the manicure. It was such a relaxing experience!

Lily and Roo is a great place for some "Mommy and Me" time. Kids are welcome and the salon offers special prices for kids under 11. It was the first mani pedi for my little one and they were very patient and careful. There is kid-friendly nail polish, Ella+Mila, available too.

Make sure to book a reservation because it's a popular salon and after our lovely afternoon, we can see why!

Don't forget your snacks! 

Lily & Roo

2575 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2E9

Check out their website for more info.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month

You may have seen pink ribbons around this month? For those who don't know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month in North America and other parts of the world, including Sweden!

Pink semlor in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month at Vivels Cafe! 

Breast cancer awareness month helps raise awareness for Breast Cancer, its detection, its treatment, and the need for a reliable, permanent cure, which, unfortunately, is still not available...

Breast Cancer is the most common Cancer in America. 1 in 8 women in the United States will get breast cancer in their lifetime. So many people have been affected by Breast Cancer, either themselves, a friend or family member.

 

Although they say it usually affects women over 50, women under 50 can still get breast cancer. My own mom lost her battle with Breast Cancer at 45 years old, when my siblings and I were very young. 

There are a number of different risk factors (Some avoidable (like alcohol), while some are not (family history)), but the cause of Breast Cancer is not known. It's the result of damage to a cell's DNA.

From the National Breast Cancer Society page: 

"Having a risk factor does not mean that a woman will get breast cancer. Many women who have risk factors never develop breast cancer."

Now, a mom myself, I can't imagine having just 9 years with my little ones. ❤️ it just seems too short :(

Self-testing and mammograms are some ways to help detect early Breast Cancer. If you feel a lump, don't hesitate, get it checked.

Learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness at the Breast Cancer Society.

Don't forget your snacks (and self tests)! 

Birdies Eats and Drinks Burnaby

A newly opened restaurant, by Earl's, Birdies Eats and Drinks is a great family-friendly restaurant with a lovely vibe and relaxing atmosphere. Located in Burnaby, Canada, the restaurant is spacious and airy with several seating sections to choose from.

Not sure whether to sit out on the patio or indoors? Ask for a table near the unique Garage door that they put in just for the restaurant!

Birdies' Passion fruit Spritz 

At Birdies, weekends are for brunch and it has it's own menu! Brunch items include a Birdies take on bacon and eggs, a delish Avocado Benedict and much more!

There is juice for the kids and the server reminds you to mention any allergies when you order. The crispy pave style potatoes were a favorite!

The restaurant is California-inspired, everything from the beautiful artwork and decor to the vibrant, fresh colors, of each dish and drink.

There are only a few options for dessert on the brunch menu. We tried the Drunken Tiramisu which was huge and great for sharing.

Birdies' Drunken Tiramisu with chocolate shavings and Edible flowers!

Birdies is open all day and serves lunch, dinner and Happy Hour. Their Happy Hour is everyday from 3 to 5pm, onor 9 to late on Sun-Thu and 10 to late Fri and Sat.

At Birdies, you not only enjoy some delicious eats and drinks but pretty great customer service too. The friendly staff really make sure you enjoy your dining experience!

Whether you're getting together with friends, lunch with colleagues or bringing the family for brunch, give Birdies Eats and Drinks in Burnaby a try!

Don't forget your snacks!

Birdies Eats and Drinks

3850 Lougheed Hwy., Burnaby, BC V5C 6N4

Check out their website for more info

Sturebadet Marina Tower Stockholm Sweden

Everyone needs a break every once in awhile, especially us parents! Why not a break for some spa time, at a place like Sturebadet Marina Tower!

Located by Saltsjöqvarnskaj at Elite Hotel,  Sturebadet Marina Tower is even accessible by ferry from Stockholm city.

Check in at reception, then head to the locker room to get ready for the spa. Shampoo, body wash and conditioner are all available for you to use. A Hair dryer is available for those who need one too.

While you wait for your treatment, you can sit and enjoy some complimentary nuts, dried fruit and tea in the waiting area. Note: Treatments like a massage include 3 hours of spa time. 

It's a nice touch to provide some snacks for spa customers!

You can also order other snacks and coffee but if you'd like lunch, you need to go to the Elite hotel restaurant. 

The spa area includes a pool, jacuzzi, Swedish sauna and Haman (Turkish style sauna).

On a weekday afternoon, it is less busy but note that prices depend on time and day of the week with Friday and the weekends costing a bit more.

There is a lot of space in both sauna areas so they can accommodate a number of people. 

It was our first experience at the Hamam sauna and the steam was intense! It really cleared the sinuses!

Hamam Turkish-style sauna at Sturebadet Marina Tower.

We had a really relaxing time at the spa not just for our tired muscles but also a great mental break. It was perfect to go when it wasn't crowded so we didn't need to wait long for the jacuzzi or be in a crowded pool. 

If you're looking for a quiet place to relax and re-energize, checkout the Sturebadet at Marina Tower. Everyone deserves some down time! We will definitely be back!

Don't forget your snacks! 

Sturebadet Marina Tower

Saltsjöqvarns kaj 25, 131 71 Nacka

Check out their website for treatments and opening hours.

Mormors Dumplings Stockholm

 

Located in Stockholm, Sweden, in the neighborhood of Södermalm, Mormors Restaurang & Dumplings (Mormors means Grandma's in Swedish) is an authentic Chinese restaurant that specializes in Dumplings!

They offer vegetarian, pork, beef and chicken dumplings! The dumpling dough is soft and has a nice chew to it. They come in orders of 10 or 15 pieces.

The dumplings in hot pot dish was pretty popular as well.

We were surprised to find that even if the restaurant had just opened for lunch, it was already packed and more people were coming in to order takeaway or wait for a table.

Duck dish and wonton soup

It's a small restaurant, nothing fancy but the food is tasty! Stand in line to order your dishes then grab your own water, miso soup and rice crackers. Choose a table before you lineup if you can. 

Wait your turn to order but have your order ready!

Kids loved the dumplings so we went back for dumplings takeaway!

Chicken and corn dumplings and beef dumplings.

Mormors Dumplings are delicious and it's worth a visit if you don't mind the wait or small space. Leave strollers outside as there's no space inside for them. 

It's always nice to support local businesses! 

Don't forget your snacks!

Mormors Restaurang & Dumplings 

Bondegatan 58, 116 33 Stockholm

Check out their website for menu

Dairy and Egg Free First Foods for Baby

We found out that my little one had allergies at around 3 months old. They started getting red cheeks that got itchy and raw after the baby scratched it. We put little socks on their hands because their nails grew so fast and that way I didn't have to cut/file their nails daily.

When they started eating solid foods at around 6 mths, we had to make sure it was safe. Having an older child as well, often means we have two versions of the same meal. 

When baby turned toddler they were curious and tasted their siblings food a few times. So it's helpful to have them sit in different places not next to each other.

Here are some first food ideas for baby:

Porridge - Enago Dairy-free porridge is one brand we tried. There are others available as well and you can just add water, non-dairy milk or breastmilk.

We cooked it, then used a blender to blend food before letting baby try it. As they got older and more teeth came out, we made it chunkier. 

-Broccoli 

-Banana

-Chicken and rice

-Potatoes and Sweet Potato

-Carrot 

-Fish

Foods we tried only a couple of times:

Apple - steamed and mashed but it was too harsh on baby's tummy.

Salmon - we gave salmon until we noticed he was getting red hives and got him tested for fish. (Unfortunately, he was found to be allergic to fish)

For snacks

-Vegan banana bread or muffins - can make them yourself with a few ingredients.

-Cucumbers

-Blueberries 

-Snack Seaweed

-Dried mango (our toddler liked sucking on this and it helped on the flight, landing and takeoff with their ears)

-To-go Smoothie pouches - dairy free

-Vegan cheese puffs 

-Corn puffs

As a parent, you learn to pickup on the signs of how often your kids need snacks - hangry behavior, or crying.

It's also recommended to give the same snack for a week and see if you notice any negative reaction. In the case, you suspect allergies, mention this at your baby's next checkup. They can give you a referral to have your child tested for common allergies like egg and milk.

Skin prick test done that re-tested for various existing food allergies.

Good luck and enjoy the food adventures! They're curious and interested in trying everything at this age so go ahead and add flavoring to the meals if you like. Later on they may get more picky!

Don't forget your snacks!

Småland at IKEA

We visited the second largest IKEA in the world located just outside of Stockholm. 

If you're a parent, you know, shopping with kids can be exhausting. It takes longer, since you are always putting things they've grabbed back or they are having tantrums over wanting to buy something.

A visit to IKEA however, the shopping experience is made a little easier. You could go for a reasonably priced lunch at the IKEA cafeteria with the kids, they could find something to play with in the kids area or even better head over to IKEA's kids-only area, Småland! 

Parents can get some shopping done, browse for design ideas, pickup their IKEA order or even sit and have a dessert and coffee. It's really a brilliant idea! 

Remember to pack some socks to wear in the Kids area, if it's a warm day and the kids are wearing sandals. The same parent who checks in the kids, must pick them up. In Sweden, the kids area is only for kids 3-7yrs old.

One of us picked up the kids while the other parent stood in line to pay for everything we had bought that day. Then we switched and got the kids some Vegan softserve ice cream :)

Enjoy your next trip to IKEA (after you drop the kids off at Småland)!

Don't forget your snacks!

IKEA Stockholm - Kungens Kurva

Ekgårdsvägen 2, 141 75 Kungens Kurva

Check out more info on the IKEA website 

Toddler Has a Nut Allergy

 

We discovered that my toddler had multiple allergies when he was a baby at just a few months old. He was tested for dairy and egg at the pediatrician's clinic as those are the two most common allergens for kids. They did both a blood test, and a skin prick test and it confirmed he is allergic to both.

Later, once he started daycare, he started to have skin reactions to soy and fish. We then had him tested for both and it was confirmed that he is allergic to both :(

But now, unfortunately, the list is growing as we found out at 2.5years old that he is allergic to nuts as well.

How did we find out or suspect he was allergic to nuts?

It happened during the holidays, when we were visiting family. The holidays mean many meals and only spending time with close family due to the Pandemic.

After one of the meals, we had cake for dessert. The cake that they packed up for us at the bakery was the wrong one - it turned out being a cake with a nut filling.

I gave him a few small tastes of it because he has tried very small amounts of nuts before and I thought it was almond. Within a few minutes he started to cough and I took him away from the table and gave him some antihistamines. We thought it could be milk or egg in that cake. But after maybe 10-20 minutes, his left eye started to get swollen - maybe he rubbed his eye we thought?

I checked with the bakery and the cake we had was Hazelnut cake. He had never tried hazelnuts, so we suspected it could be that.

We thought it would be better the next day, but his eye was still a little swollen. It wasn't until the following day, that his eye looked almost normal.

I made sure to contact the doctor once we were back in Sweden and after a blood test they confirmed he was allergic to nuts.

This week we spoke to the Doctor and got an update from the blood tests.

He IS allergic to nuts:
Hazelnuts, Cashews, Sesame, Peanuts and very allergic to Walnuts and because Pecans are related to Walnuts, Pecans too.

It's a sad day to find out he is allergic to so many things that we, his parents, enjoy. But as long as we are careful about what is in his food, we are just grateful his reaction wasn't any worse and now we know to avoid the nuts.

In most Swedish daycares, nuts are not allowed in any of the meals or on the premises, so we don't need to worry about any nut exposure there. Since he is also allergic to seeds like sesame, we gave the daycare a doctor's note that he needs meals without all the things he's allergic too. They have been offering him delicious alternatives and he likes having his own portions.

Eating in restaurants, or for takeaway, we need to be extra careful of cross contamination. 

The doctor has also prescribed us some antihistamine tablets that are easier to take with us, instead of the liquid form antihistamine.

If you suspect your child has an allergy, I hope you have a clinic and pediatrician that is helpful and willing to do blood tests to confirm your allergy suspicions. 

Will they outgrow these allergies?

It remains to be seen. Kids can outgrow egg and milk but for some it just takes longer. For the other allergies, his soy allergy has actually been improving! So we will see how it goes as he grows up.

Thanks for reading and remember, don't forget your snacks (that are allergy safe of course!)!

Top 5 things on Daycare in Sweden

We had no idea about daycare and what to expect until we had kids and they started attending daycare once we were done with all of our Parental Leave. 

Daycare in Sweden is called "Förskola" and there are daycares everywhere! In our little corner of the neighborhood, there are 4 different daycares! It's really nice to be able to just walk 10 minutes to drop kids off.

Here are 5 things to know about Swedish Daycare. 

1) In Sweden, kids can start daycare from 1 years old. Most kids are older when they first start. There is also an "inschooling" or adjustment period for your child. Depending on the school and the child, the length of inschooling can vary. 

2) You don't need to worry about lunches. The school feeds them lunch, snacks and if they are there early enough, even breakfast. That saves us parents from having to prepare lunch for them. They get to try various vegetables and fruits too. I found my daughter loved pear from school. I also try to check what kind of bread and favorite meals they have so I can give it to them at home sometimes too.

Some schools grow their own veggies and use it in their meals.

The daycare should also accommodate the kids allergies. You just need provide a doctor's note to the school. 

3) You're going to need to at least two sets of outdoor clothes for the kids. Outdoor overalls for rain and a winter version for colder temperatures.

They're going to be outside even if it rains! Especially these days during the Pandemic. 

4) The price of daycare is almost the same as the child benefit you get from the government so that makes it almost free!

5) My post on daycare in Sweden without be complete without mentioning this last thing to know.

Please keep in mind that this varies depending on the city or area you live in, but if you are on Parental Leave with a new baby, the older child can't attend full-time daycare. And if both parents aren't working,  you can't qualify for full-time daycare. 

The number of hours depends on the city/kommune. In Gothenburg, it was a maximum 20h a week, and the school decided on what the days/time would be. 

This made it very challenging having the older child go from enjoying full-time daycare to half-time. Not to mention, the older kid would then be home more and compete for attention with the new baby. It's tough going from big sibling to an only child!

***One more thing, that applies to all daycares, in every country...Kids will get sick often! Germs spread so quickly in daycare and unfortunately, Kids can get sick pretty often :(

Hope this list helps new parents who are planning to start daycare in Sweden.

Thanks for reading and remember, don't forget your snacks!

Pandemic Travel With Kids

Holidays 2021 have arrived!! It was almost 2 years since we had seen family and 3 years since we were last in Canada. It still feels weird to be here... and of course, the Pandemic is still ongoing, although many think it's over. This year for the holidays, we took a  risk to fly home to finally see our families.

When flying with kids, there are more than a few extra things you need to remember. Flying with kids, during a Pandemic adds a few more important items to your checklist.  

Here are some Tips for Flying with kids during the Pandemic:

-As always, give yourself lots of time.

-Check-in online and pick seats. 

-Select a special meal online a few days before you check-in. During the Pandemic, there was only one option for dinner and breakfast on our flight. This was not an allergy friendly option. You can order kids meals and that also means you eat ahead of the others (in Economy Class). 

-Bring extra masks. Check with the airlines which mask they recommend.

-Book your Covid test and travel certificate (if necessary, different countries have different requirements. If you need to transit through a country, be sure to check their entry requirements as well.)

-Have your digital Covid certificate saved on your phone.

-Pack plenty of snacks.

-Pack some key items in your carry-on:

-An extra set of clothes for yourself and the kids (we have had spills, and diaper accidents a few times when traveling).

-Any medicine for kids or yourself (we carry kids' anti-histamines for allergies, and kids' alvedon in case)

-Phone charger (or universal charger depending on where you are visiting)

-Snacks

-Water bottle (fill it up after security)

-Your masks - don't forget masks for kids! Some airlines require masks even if kids are 2.

We used FFP2 masks for kids.

- Don't forget a couple of small bottles of Hand Sanitizer 

-Sanitizer wipes to wipe the seats and tray table. Some airlines give you a sanitizer wipe when you board. 

- Pack any valuables you are taking in your carry-on.

Some ideas to keep kids entertained 
Books (find the differences, coloring books and books to read)

-A zippered pouch with different items to take out - a folding brush, a pez container minus the candy, string, tape, mirror (Toddler age)

Some ideas to keep kids comfortable 

-Bring a light blanket or sarong.

-Lollipops, candy or dried fruit for their ears (otherwise breastfeeding the baby on landing and takeoff).

-Their "stuffy" and or backpack with toys/books.

It was a long journey but we made it! We are blessed and grateful to spend the holidays with family this year. We've enjoyed plenty of food we missed (takeout and food delivery). Holidays 2021 have been wonderful so far :)

Happy Holidays! Stay safe and remember, don't forget your snacks!

Swedish Lussekatter Season

 

Lussekatter or Saffron buns are a Swedish Christmas tradition. Once Halloween is over, Sweden starts preparing for Christmas with decorations around the city. Lussekatter also starts being available at cafes, bakeries and grocery stores!

These soft,  sweet buns flavored with saffron are usually found in the reverse S shape and sometimes includes raisins or currants. They are traditionally eaten during Advent and especially Lucia day (Dec 13th). 

Tis the season to enjoy a lussekatt

 or Saffron bun!

The main ingredients of a Swedish saffron bun are plain flour, butter, yeast, a little sugar, currants or sultanas.

The flavor of a Lussekatt can be very subtle. I've tried it with a little butter ;) 

I have also seen it cut in half filled with whipped cream like a Semla bun, "Lussesemla". Check out my past blog post about Semla buns.

Lussekatt goes well with some coffee, tea or even some glögg (mulled wine). 

Once Lussekatter starts appearing in cafes and bakeries, I know Christmas and Lucia Day (a holiday celebrating Saint Lucia) are on its way and the countdown to the holidays can officially begin. 

Cafe Husaren in the neighborhood of Haga, in Gothenburg, always has delicious buns and pastries! 

Enjoy your countdown to the holiday season!

Don't forget your snacks!

5 Easy Indoor Christmas Activities for Kids

Gingerbread House Building

I found some mini gingerbread house shapes to use. Of course, the classic Gingerbread house kits are also great! 

Kids seem to prefer using smaller icing sugar tubes better but they liked the 'taste' of the bigger icing tubes haha!

Baking Pepparkakor cookies 

Rolling dough and making shapes. They already love to do this with playdoh too! So they have lots of practice ;)

This way, you can have some snacks afterwards too!

Painting Ornaments or Art for Gifts 

Painting is one of our favorite quiet time indoor activities. It's nice to have several brushes and colors, blank paper or other paper to color. My older kid likes to save the art to give away as gifts ❤

We have also enjoyed Painting Wooden Ornaments (from Flying Tiger Copenhagen) for the Christmas tree. These are small and easy to hold for tiny fingers. 

Reading Christmas Books

Getting into the Christmas spirit is easy with a book! With books, kids stop to ask questions about what's going on in the photos. The toddler loves to point to everything on the page and have us tell them what it is. 

One Christmas book we enjoy was gifted to us a couple of years ago now, "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Advent Calendars!

You can get Advent Calendars with crafts or little toys instead of candy. 

And of course, listening to Christmas songs while you are having fun doing the Christmas activity.

Enjoy the countdown to the holidays and remember don't forget your snacks (especially your Christmas themed snacks this season!)

Flying Tiger Copenhagen 

This store has lots of different materials for crafts and even activity books for kids.

Check out their website