5 Year Update: From Slow Runner to Marathoner, My Triumph

slow runner to marathoner

From being a slow runner to marathoner; five years ago, my life changed forever when I was kicked out of your running group by some local postpartum moms for running too slow. I had a burning desire to reclaim my life and was ready to work hard for it, but you wrote me off far […]

Supporo Compression Socks: My New Top Secret Running Gear

Supporo Compression Socks

This post is shared with you in partnership with Supporo Compression Socks, all opinions expressed are 100% my own! What’s the first thing that you think of when you hear compression socks? For me, it’s Grandma’s socks, but my friends at Supporo Compression Socks are leading the game in changing that perception with the cold […]

Clayton Shagal Review: Easy Skin Routine For Oily Skin

Clayton Shagal

Disclaimer: I received the Clayton Shagal products in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own! I recently fell in love with La Maison Clayton Shagal products and it shocked me to learn how many people didn’t know that this is made here in Canada and has been around since the […]

The Best Night’s Sleep – Endy or Douglas? Why We Switched Back!

Endy Or Douglas

Disclosure: I received an Endy Mattress in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. You might recall that last year we switched from the Endy mattress to a Douglas. Surprise! As some may have seen we switched back to the Endy. You might be wondering who provides a better night’s sleep, […]

Pumpkin Spice Donut Recipe: Easy & Delicious

This Pumpkin Spice Donut recipe was originally posted in the fall of 2017 and definitely needed some grammatical  rewrites for easier reading. The recipe hasn’t changed so I hope you still love them as much as we do.   Pumpkin pie and any variation of, especially a Pumpkin Spice donut basically owns my heart! The […]

5 Easy Tricks To Keep Running So You Won’t Want To Give Up

One of the hardest parts about running is learning how to keep running so you won’t want to give up. According to an article I read on Healthline, a 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology found it takes 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit. The study also concluded […]

Small Rental Spaces- Beautiful Bedroom Transformations On A $200 Budget!

Living in a rental home definitely has its pros and cons, one being landlords really don’t want you putting too many holes in the walls. Bedroom transformations can be hard when you don’t own the space to begin with. When I began redecorating our room, my goal was to create a quiet tranquil safe place; […]

Top 6 Dry Skin Skincare Products To Beat Dry Skin For Good!

Disclaimer: This Dry skin skincare products post may contain Affiliate links which means I make a small amount of qualifying purchases. For a long time, I had no skincare routine until my skin was at it’s worst and I needed dry skin skincare products like no other! Last year I began using Riversol products and […]

Lebert Equalizer Bars: Best Full Body Work Out At Home

There are a few shares that I’ve been working on that have recently taken a new direction given the self isolation. These amazing Lebert Equalizer bars are definitely one of those items. The Equalizer Bars were my most trusted items at home when I couldn’t get to the gym and now with gyms being closed, […]

A 3 Kinds of Delicious Waffle Board Galentine’s Day Brunch

There is nothing better than a waffle board with endless topping options and gal time. So with Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s time for a Waffle Board Galentine’s Day Brunch! For years, Valentine’s Day has been away for couples to show their love with huge massive grand gestures but this last year my gals […]

Tired of Cereal? Treat Them To A Delicious Healthy Breakfast Cookie.

A healthy Breakfast cookie you ask? Sometimes…ok most times feeding two kids breakfast during the school months can be quite daunting. My girls love sleep as much as I do so we aren’t waking up early on a school day to make a breakfast pizza or french toast roll ups. They don’t love oatmeal and […]

4 Fun Things To Do In Harrison Hot Springs: The Final Adventure

By now you must know that Harrison Hot Springs has a very special spot for me. From the romance to the food, right down to all the things to do in Harrison Hot Springs, if you haven’t visited yet, what are you waiting for? Well over 10 years ago, we visited Harrison Hot Springs. My […]

Dining In Harrison Hot Springs: A Delicious Adventure Part 2

Planning a romantic trip to Harrison Hot Springs during the slower season initially had me a bit worried. Dining in Harrison Hot Springs was another worry on it’s own. Would restaurants be closed for the season? Would we still find the delicious adventure we crave? Last week I shared about our romantic rendezvous to Harrison […]

Powder Brows Over Microblading! What Is Big The Deal Anyway?

Disclaimer: I partnered with Erin of The Perfect Feather and received a Powder Brow session to highlight my experience with the differences between Powder Brows and Microblading! By now I’m sure you’ve heard the term Microblading and you may have even heard of Powder Brows and like me asked: “What’s the difference?” After 2 rounds […]

Blue Grouse Estate Winery The Perfect Bed & Bottle Getaway

This winery post is in partnership with Blue Grouse Winery. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. They say you’ll never forget your first and that couldn’t be truer about my first winery visit. I remember watching the wine bottles being passed around at special family dinners growing up and even sneaking a sip or […]

How To Survive Burnout & The One Question That Saved Me!

If you or someone know you may be dealing with burnout, be gentle. It is very much a real thing and can be devastating but they can/will survive burnout. Just know symptoms look different for every single person. Hold space for loved ones, they need you now! I hit a wall in June or maybe […]

Homemade Refined Sugar Free Bread: Delicious & Easy

Disclaimer: This Refined Sugar Free Bread recipe post is brought to you by our friends at gogo Bags. We love them so much, they gifted us these bags to share our recipe with you! My family loves bread especially homemade white bread and there is nothing better than fresh bread except Homemade Refined Sugar Free […]

Finishing Strong With Club16 Trevor Linden Fitness

Disclaimer: I received compensation and services in exchange for sharing my honest experience with Club16 Trevor Linden Fitness. Another year, another Vancouver Sun Run completed! If you’ve followed my fitness journey, you know I’ve been at this for 3 years now as a sponsored runner for The Vancouver Sun. This year, I also partnered up […]

Personal Branding 101: Build Your Canadian Personal Brand!

DISCLAIMER: This personal branding post was written in partnership for the DIGITAL ME campaign with Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), all opinions expressed are 100% my own! When I first began blogging, I started like many others on the platform blogspot.com, within a few months, I knew how important it was going to be for […]

Hotel Zed: Went For A Sexy Nooner & Stayed For The Night!

Disclaimer: We received this trip to Hotel Zed in Victoria in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own If you’ve ever read a romance novel or watched a romcom there is usually a couple who runs away for a romantic rendezvous at a hotel.  Sometimes it happens midday and this […]

5 Steps For An Easy Mirror Makeover to Brighten Up Your Bedroom

Disclaimer: I received the Chalked Ultra Matte Paint from in exchange for inclusion in this post. All opinions expressed are 100% my own! I had never thought of repainting old mirrors or doing a mirror makeover until I couldn’t stand the thought of buying a new mirror. If you’ve ever shopped for a mirror, you know […]

A Personal Mission Statement The Key to Finding A Happy You!

If you follow me on Instagram at all, you may have heard me talking about my personal mission statement in the last half of the year. Many businesses have one but do you for yourself personally? Does your family? Putting my own personal beliefs and goals down on paper was one of the best things […]

5 Easy Ways To Start Your Path to Spiritual Healing!

In October the 3rd Annual #Atozselflove Yoga Retreat took place at Nectar Yoga BNB on Bowen Island. Unintentionally, early in the planning stages, it had a spiritual undertone. With the passing of my grandmother just weeks before, this retreat was how I found my path to spiritual healing. When I began this adventure with Self-love, it […]

A Spiritual Connection at Nectar Yoga BNB

Whether it was intentional or not, this years’ #Atozselflove yoga retreat took on a bit of spiritual feel. I wasn’t looking for a spiritual connection, however, as the giveaway for a spot on this years’ retreat concluded, my grandmother at the age of 99 passed away. My heart shattered into a million little pieces. I had […]

Goodbye Boring Sandwich! Hello Soft & Delicious Flatbread Recipe

School Lunches..I’ve been at it for a few years now and it sucks folks, I get it! I don’t judge you for secretly kind of resenting your child for requiring 3 meals a day! It’s something about school lunches that particularly turn children half demonic. Not anymore! This delicious flatbread recipe will calm your child’s […]

3 Simple Ingredients For a Delicious Baked Garlic Butter Chicken

You look up and suddenly it’s almost 5 pm and I realize my family may want to eat dinner.  With nothing planned, panic sets in. I have plenty of butter, garlic, and chicken on hand but that doesn’t necessarily make a dinner. Or does it? Introducing Baked Garlic Butter Chicken, not to be confused with […]

Being A Sugar Wise Family After A 30 Day Sugar Free Challenge

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and Kellogg and have received compensation for this Sugar Wise post. All opinions are my own. At the beginning of the summer, I completed 30 days sugar-free. Like many other Canadians, I was looking for ways to reduce my sugar intake and become sugar wise. During my challenge, I tracked […]

Recharge With A Yoga Retreat For Two {Giveaway} #Atozselflove

The time is here and we’re gearing up to recharge with our annual #Atozselflove Yoga retreat at Nectar Yoga BNB on Bowen Island. This year given that it’s the third year, we decided that we would host a giveaway for one person and a friend to join us for 2 nights of zen. When I […]

Changing The Way We Cook This Summer With Breville Smart Oven Air!

Well, summer no doubt this summer has been HOT!! With the temperature soaring upwards of 30 degrees and beyond, cooking is no longer a joy. In the sweltering heat the last thing we want to do is turn on the oven, however, our newest appliance is changing the way we cook. We recently welcomed to the […]

Mouth Watering Delicious Strawberry Spinach Salad

Fun Friday Fact… I am a picky eater! This strawberry spinach salad quickly became my savior! It wasn’t until I after I had children and had long since moved away from home that I began to explore foods I had never tried before and revisit some I had previously written off. One of my picky […]

A Nutritious Lunch Special Ground Pork Stir Fry Recipe

I’ve said it before, lunch is a hard meal for me! I get distracted, things get busy and I am not a fan of cooking meals for one! The habit of meal prepping the week before has definitely become my savor. This is nutritious Ground Pork Stir Fry is my other lunch special that I rotate throughout […]

Does The Weight Of Motherhood Ever Lift?

We talk about losing ourselves after having children, we become mothers the world shifts and our own importance becomes mute! Now on the flip side, our kids grow up far too quickly and lately, I’ve been reflecting on those moments when they need you a little less. Those moments when you feel like your role […]

Celebrating 99 Years Young with Aeroplan’s New Promise

DISCLOSURE: I am an ambassador for Aeroplan and received compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Many of you know that Vancouver is not my true homeland, I am from Saskatoon Saskatchewan originally. For years, Ava and I have been making the trip back to Saskatchewan several times a year. As […]

Delicious Spicy Ground Turkey Chili with Quinoa Recipe

Monday to Friday it’s just Zoe and I. She’s a sandwich and cucumber kind of gal, my palette is slightly more defined. After making her lunch, there is usually an email that comes up or something shiny happens and next thing I know lunch has come and gone. And then Ground Turkey Chili with Quinoa […]

OMG! The Most Delicious Cheeseburger Spring Rolls Ever!

It ain’t no secret that I kind of love spring rolls but if you didn’t know I’m also a big Cheeseburger fan! Want the best of both worlds? Try these tasty Cheeseburger Spring Rolls! No bun to sit heavily in your stomach but all the flavor of a delicious cheeseburger! Make them ahead of time for […]

Unboxing The Most Amazing Luxurious Nights’ Sleep!

Have you ever suffered a bad night’s sleep at the hand of a bad mattress? If the answer is yes, then you know how I was feeling for the last few years! My husband and I suffered sleeplessly in pain as the box retailer we purchased our bed from would not honour the extended warranty […]

How Finishing A 10km Run Made Me A Stronger Mother!

Can you believe it hasn’t even been 2 years since those ladies kicked me out of their little running group? I put it out into the universe that I needed to find a stronger, healthier version of myself, and the stars aligned accordingly. It was only in finishing a 10km run that I became a stronger […]

It’s All About (The) Crunchy Chicken Taco Cups

When I was pregnant with Ava all I wanted was hot sauce, specifically Taco Time hot sauce. I was never a huge spicy food fan but boy things have changed since then! Hence my love for sharing my Mexican inspired recipes, like our Chicken Tortilla soup. Today I’m sharing our easy crunchy chicken taco cups recipe […]

Shopping Online For The Best Canadian Beauty Products

DISCLAIMER: We received compensation and products in exchange for an honest review of these incredible Canadian Beauty Products. As always, if I don’t love them, I don’t share them! “You can take the girl out of the prairies but you can never take the prairie out of the girl!” This quote is me, 100%! If […]

A Shot Of Turmeric A Day Keeps The Inflammation Away!

It seems like every few months there is a new fad in the health & wellness department! It can be hard to stay on top of them all. Sometimes they’re so short-lived that they’re not worth getting into in the first place. Turmeric has taken the wellness department by storm. However, Turmeric has actually been […]

Deep Fry Smart! How To Make The Perfect Thai Spring Rolls

DISCLAIMER: We received the Breville Smart Fryer as compensation for inclusion in this Thai Spring Roll post. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. As always, if I don’t love it, I won’t share it! Everyone loves Thai food! You can’t not like Thai Food. I try to incorporate elements of Thailand […]

No More Greasy Burgers! Easy Turkey Burger Recipe FTW

There is something so satisfying about a good turkey burger recipe. Perhaps because it’s a heart-healthy delicious alternative to the greasy beef burger that everyone will love? With the right combo of herbs & spices, it’s very hard to detect a difference.  Bonus factor: the kids won’t be able to tell the difference! Ava inhaled two […]

The Perfect Tomato Garlic Salad Ready in 5 Minutes

If you’ve seen the Beef Shawarma recipe then you will have seen the Tomato Garlic Salad accompanying it!  Tomatoes are not only delicious but good for your health. This Tomato Garlic salad makes for a delicious Shawarma platter side or even on its own with pitas! It’s easy to make and truly is the perfect side […]

Beef Shawarma So Good You’ll Be Craving More

You haven’t lived until you’ve had Beef Shawarma! One of those food items I saw on every street corner in Vancouver but admittedly was too afraid to try for many years. I fell in love with a good shawarma platter several years ago! Shawarma was one of those meals that you went out to have […]

Dinner In A Hurry Italian Sausage Soup With Cheese Tortellini

They say never grocery shop when you are hungry! I will go one step further and say if you are not comfortable experimenting in the kitchen, never go on Pinterest when you’re hungry or ill-stocked.  This Creamy Italian Sausage Soup With Cheese Tortellini happened all because I ended up on Pinterest and got inspired by 3 […]

In A Rush? Quick & Easy Southwest Chicken Quinoa Dinner

Like many other households, Santa delivered an Instant Pot  Duo Plus this year for Christmas! I hadn’t really known much about it until my slow cooker literally fell apart. With no experience with a pressure cooker before, I will be the first to admit I was a bit intimidated. Life is now 50 shades of […]

An Easy and Healthy Breakfast Pizza Recipe

Pizza is a staple in our house! We’ve talked about this before, it’s no secret that we all love our Pizza. Now combine in the breakfast element and this breakfast pizza is a complete level up! This recipe is very easy to make and can be prepped ahead of time. It’s guaranteed to be a […]

A Delicious Rum & Eggnog Cheesecake For Holiday Entertaining

Eggnog Cheesecake? Yup, it’s a real thing! Add some rum and you have everyone’s favourite holiday drink in cheesecake form! This post was previously published but I wanted to update the photos and include my recipe for the gingersnap crust. This recipe is very easy but you do have to pay attention! I managed to […]

A Quick & Easy ‘Never Miss Breakfast Again’ Recipe

According to LiveStrong.com if you miss breakfast, it can cause you to lose energy, increase hunger, cause a drop in your metabolism and actually cause you to gain weight! Being too busy to eat doesn’t seem like such a good idea anymore now does it? No, this post isn’t sponsored, I just thought that was interesting info! […]

Top 10 Ways to Incorporate Self-Love Into Your Day

Self-Love is an important topic here at Ava To Zoe. I am so guilty even to this day for not taking time for myself. I try really hard but sometimes life takes a course and we just have to go with it! Once a year, I set everything aside and invite along some guests on […]