Going multimodal with Cowlines

October 10, 2018 No Comments

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Cowlines. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

I ditched my car five years ago when I made the move to Vancouver from Ontario. Do I regret it? Not for one second! Do I miss it? Not really and I’ll tell you why. I don’t miss the car payments, the outrageous cost of insurance, gas or all the inconveniences of parking and I certainly don’t miss the stress of traveling in city traffic. My boyfriend owns a vehicle and spends so much time every day sitting in traffic and I see the stress on his face at the end of the day created by his commuting. And living in the City, I hear the honking all day of frustrated commuters!

So how do I get around? I go multimodal. I walk, take the bus, train, ferry, and cab (patiently waiting for Uber and Lyft to make its way to Vancity). My favorite mode of transportation is walking or taking the bus. Luckily, I have a bus stop right outside my doorstep which is extremely convenient. Tip: When looking for rentals, scout out the closet modes of transportation.

I love going multimodal because I feel like I’m truly making a difference to the planet by reducing my carbon footprint. I’m a firm believer in global warming and I’d like to believe my efforts, however small, are fighting climate change and improving air quality. That’s why I love Cowlines. Cowlines is an app that is able to track and report your carbon footprint using the world’s first GHG Quantification methodology. How cool is that!?

Cowlines is a super advanced trip planning app that combines all transport options available in your city and finds you the fastest, cheapest or recommended way to your destination. Like there Instagram says, it’s like having superpowers! Once you choose between one of the 3 options available: fastest, cheapest or recommended, Cowlines will find the way there combining all the transport providers that you want except your own car. It’s YOUR choice! That’s what I LOVE about this app. Simply touch the transport icon/s you don’t want included in your search and voila! your only left with the transport options you want for that route. It’s so easy!

The transportation providers Cowlines has integrated into their app is quite impressive. Transport options include bus, train, subway, tram, ferry, bikeshare, carshare, rail, cable car, ride-hailing and taxicab.

Fun fact: ‘Cowlines’ is a term urban planners use to describe the easiest or best path to a destination.

Cowlines has easily become my favorite and most used travel app on my smartphone. Not only does it make traveling super convenient for you, but it’s also a beautiful user experience. The app’s design is very simple and clean. (See below) There’s no sign-in required or any hidden charges which, means no hassle! Just download the free app, and GO! Go be multimodal and save the planet!

I know what you’re wondering. YES, Cowlines supports other cities such as Greater Toronto, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, LA, San Diego and NYC (all coming in Fall/Winter 2018).

I’m eager to watch Cowlines take over the trip planning space. Move over Google Maps, Cowlines is coming to a city near you!

Cowlines is now available for download at the App Store. To learn more about Cowlines, click here. To find them on social, click here.

For general inquiries, please reach out to info@cowlines.com.

I hope learning about Cowlines has inspired you to rethink your transportation journey (regardless of if you live in a city or not).

What’s your favorite mode of transportation? Let me know in the comment section below! 🙂

Until next time,

Amy Johnston, xx

Fashion, Lifestyle

Your guide to Vancouver’s murals

September 24, 2018 No Comments

One of the things I love about my city is its street art, specifically, wall murals. Vancouver has a wonderful display of murals throughout the city but I find myself drawn to those located in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.

This past August, the city had a large range of new murals pop-up for this years Vancouver Mural Festival., the city’s largest annual free public art celebration. To learn more about VMF, click here.

Just recently, I walked down the streets and alleyways of Mount Pleasant, mural map in hand, exploring the new and old murals. I loved how bright, flowery and detailed they were as if every stroke of the brush was strategically planned. These artists are definitely talented!

When I finished exploring, I returned home to scroll through the photos taken by my boyfriend and as soon as I saw them I couldn’t wait to share the beautiful work of these artists. I couldn’t decide which mural to share with you as they were all brilliant so below are a collection of my favourites.

Artist: Thrive Art Studio

Outfit Details

Dress: Aritzia

Hat: Target

Sunglasses: ILYMIX (Use my code for $15 off)

Shoes: Nordstrom

Satchel: Coach

Artist: Thrive Art Studio

Artist: Sandeep Johal

Artist: Danielle Krysa

Artist: Hanna Lee Joshi

Artist: Illya Viryachev

Artist: David Shillinglaw

If you’re planning on checking these out during your weekend or on your travels to Vancouver, I 100% recommend it. Using the mural map will absolutely guide you to where you need to go!

Now when I visit a city, I always look to see if they have public street art. It’s certainly become one of my to-do’s when planning a trip.

What city do you think has the coolest murals?

Until next time,

Amy Johnston

Fashion

My first blogger collaboration! | ILYMIX

September 13, 2018 No Comments

I was gifted this product. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you, ilymix, for this opportunity.

With just starting my journey as a new Blogger, I was quite thrilled to receive a notification through my Instagram account from a company expressing interest in partnering with me for a collaboration. How EXCITING!

Working in social media, I am always reaching out to micro and macro influencers but I have never been on the receiving end of one of these emails. I now know what it feels like to have a brand express interest in something you’ve created, and I must say, it feels pretty amazing!

I had never heard of ilymix prior to them contacting me, therefore, I had no idea what kind of reputation the company had or what type of products they sold other than sunglasses. I took it upon myself to do some quick research, just to check if the company was legit or not. There was enough evidence online for me to feel confident in knowing I wouldn’t be scammed out of money, so I put my order in. Based on my experience, this company is 100% legit, they offer a great selection of sunnies and you can totally trust them! In fact, I had such a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to express my feelings about it.

I placed my order on July 2nd and the package arrived on July 17th so delivery was right on time. Once I placed my order, I received a confirmation email including a tracking number allowing me to keep tabs on my new glasses, which is always a reassuring when online shopping. Am I right?

Like a 5-year old who couldn’t contain her excitement, I ripped open the package delighted to see a lovely brown box with ilymix printed on the front. My order was packaged with such caution and care and came complete with the cutest pink paper confetti. *See below*.

Now I don’t know how you guys feel, but I really appreciate cute packaging. Any company that focuses on great presentation is one that takes great pride in their product and also provides that WOW factor to its customer, ie. me, hehe.

I couldn’t choose just one pair so I ordered 4 pairs: the retro oversized cat eye sunglasses, the double crossbar metal pantos aviator, and one other pair that did not arrive with my package. Out of my overall experience, this was the only disappointment. I had originally ordered the Andri sunglasses in silver, however, a different pair were sent to me. I really wanted the Visby sunglasses in silver, but unfortunately, they were sold out. This item seems to be the hot topic for the season, as it continues to show up as sold out online. Bummer!

ilymix has an amazing range of sunglasses. Retro, small-frame sunglasses are on trend this season, and these guys carry a wide stock, which is great. Personally, I am not a fan of the small eyeglass look, but I’m always down to change with the trends. I took the plunge and ordered the retro oversized cat-eye sunglasses, which to me, looked the least small. As my face is round, I find larger frames better compliment my features.

I was shocked to discover that my favourite of the three turned out to be the retro oversized cat-eye sunglasses. I love the colour, the frame and how they look on my face. *See below*. Let me know what you think down below! 🙂

Hat: Winners

Dress: Aritzia

My second favourite were the double crossbar metal pantos aviator. See below.

Hat: Winners

Dress: Aritzia

My least favourite, to no surprise, was the pair that I didn’t order. Overall, these sunglasses are well made, fit comfortably and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a new pair of shades. ilymix also sells iPhone cases, handbags, scarves and hats. I can’t speak on the quality of those products, but I can speak highly on these sunglasses, and they truly are a great value.

As my gift to you, ilymix has provided me with a referral code that will slash $15 off your first purchase. All you have to do is click this link to receive $15 off your order! Enjoy and let me know down below what item’s you choose!

Until next time,

Amy Johnston

Travel

3 Days in Kelowna | What You Need to Know

September 10, 2018 No Comments

To finish off summer 2018 with a bang, my boyfriend and I drove out to Kelowna, BC for a few days to soak up the last of the seasonal heat. This was our fourth summer in a row visiting old favourites and discovering new hot spots. I find it difficult to go through summer without visiting the Okanagan, it’s just too picturesque. Luckily this year, we arrived just as the wildfires had ceased and weren’t subject to any of the smog. If you live in British Columbia, you know how horrible the wildfires can be, and this year was no different. I’d like to extend a big thank you to all the firefighters and first responders for your continued hard work and service!

This year, Marc and I ate and drank our way through the downtown Kelowna core, all the while discovering new eateries and breweries. If we could be professional food and/or drink reviewers, trust me, we would! Haha. This mini vacation was definitely fit for a foodie or two. As I uncovered these awesome new places to visit, I decided to create a Kelowna travel guide for you guys to use while exploring BC’s lake and wine country. Below, you’ll find my personal recommendations on which restaurants, breweries, and wineries are best to visit and where you’ll have the most fun. Enjoy!

Restaurants

Location: CRAFT Beer Market

257 Bernard Ave

CRAFT is known for its mass selection of craft beers and delicious food in Vancouver, so seeing that Kelowna now has one, we had to check it out. The entire upper floor is a beautiful open patio with a stellar view of downtown and the lake and rolling hills. If you fancy this type of view while enjoying a beverage or a bite, this is the restaurant and bar for you! All I can say is, WOW. Downstairs is very sleek, modern and stylish with large booths and several TV’s, as well as large, open bay windows looking out on Bernard Ave. The place is truly massive and if you find yourself a spot on the rooftop patio, you won’t want to leave. See below. Like any CRAFT Beer Market, the tap list is extremely impressive and the food never disappoints. We enjoyed the space so much, we visited twice in 3 days! My favourite item on the menu is their CRAFT House Soup and their BBQ Beer Can Chicken Sliders. The rooftop patio even has a game section for everyone to enjoy. Play shuffleboard and/or bean bag toss while enjoying a cold beer with friends and/or family! We would also recommend the asking for the Barrel Nachos with BBQ Beer Can Chicken, too good!

LOCATION: Laneway Canteen

225 Bernard

Similar to CRAFT, this little Kelowna spot recently opened in the Laneway and it’s bumpin’. What is it? It’s a food truck situated in a laneway with the cutest patio attached. If you’re a fan of fresh taco’s with fresh ingredients, you can’t skip Laneway. If you’re also a sushi fan, try the raw Mahi tuna taco with cucumber, fresh pico de gallo, crispy nori, diced pineapple, and spicy mayo. It’s life-changing. They are fully licensed and also have a margarita menu, (the Sriracha Pineapple is definitely worth the money!) and the margs are always a double. See below.

Location: Krafty Kitchen + Bar

281 Lawrence Ave

Krafty Kitchen + Bar was definitely my favourite find this trip because I was graced with the best brunch of my life. See below. You’re looking at smoked salmon, hollandaise sauce, pickled onions, delicately poached eggs and capers with crispy breakfast potatoes underneath. Hands down delicious! They also have a great cocktail menu with delectable drinks! Marc had the Cucumber Gimlet and it was fantastic.

Also, some of the best service we had all trip was at Krafty. We had tried Krafty Kitchen + Bar the evening before for a nightcap and we had mentioned to the server that we would be returning the next morning for brunch. When we arrived the next morning, our server had the same little table by the window ready for us with menu’s open, ready to take our order. I was very impressed. I’ll definitely be returning next year with my stretchy pants on! Hehe. 😉

Notable mentions:

LOCATION: Micro Bar & Bites

1500 Water St

Breweries

Location: Tree Brewing

1083 Richter Street

I’ve been visiting Tree Brewing every year since I’ve been coming to Kelowna. This brewery has a fabulous location by the Kelowna harbour and a lovely patio to enjoy those hot Okanagan summers. If you’re looking for a seat on the patio, I would suggest visiting during the week as weekends can get very busy. As far as drinks, I recommend trying the Hefeweizen and Grapefruit Radler for easy summer drinking! See below.

Location: Vice & Virtue Brewing Co.

1033 Richter St

Vice & Virtue Brewing Co. is the newest brewery to hit the scene in Kelowna and it’s a little stunner. The aesthetic and style in this place is very cool! See below. They brew absolutely fantastic beer and I “loved” one in particular. I recommend trying The Love Potion Raspberry ‘BerlinerVice’ which is a Berliner style beer, fruity and tart. We enjoyed this crushable summer brew so much, Marc and I both bought growlers to fill and take home. I wish there was a Vice & Virtue in Vancouver! I would definitely be hanging out there all the time if I lived in Kelowna. Did I mention they have the prettiest glass growlers?

Wineries

Location: Summerhill Pyramid Winery

4870 Chute Lake Road

Sunset Organic Bistro

This year was my second time visiting Summerhill Pyramid Winery and I already want to return. In my opinion, this winery has it all! Great wine, great views and of course a great restaurant. We started with a complimentary wine tasting, usually taste tasting is free with 4-5 wines allowed per person. Sitting on the patio at Sunset Organic Bistro is sometimes so rare because of how popular this winery is, but this year we did! I would highly recommend enjoying their charcuterie & cheese board with a glass of one of their delicious red’s, white’s or rose’s. See below. If you’re a fan of pickled vegetables, grilled bread, local honey & fruit preserves, olives, nuts, and meats, then you can’t pass up on the charcuterie. All in all this place is stunning and truly picture perfect for a seasonal wedding, engagement or anniversary party. I would suggest making a reservation prior to visiting, as weekends can get very busy. If a winery tour is in the books for your next trip to Kelowna, be sure not to miss Summerhill Pyramid!

Jean Jacket: Anthropologie

Dress: Uniqlo

Hat: Winners

Notable mentions:

Location: CedarCreek Estate Winery

5445 Lakeshore Rd

Extra:

Where to Stay

Our first two trips to Kelowna, Marc and I stayed in two different hotels, recently we have been staying in Airbnb’s to save a bit of cash. I would recommend staying in an AirBnB as it’s cost effective and there are some pretty great hosts located throughout Kelowna, especially downtown, for your convenience. I’m very happy to pass on information of past hosts we’ve stayed with, please feel free to inquire! As Kelowna can get very busy during the summer months, I recommend booking either a hotel or an AirBnB well in advance, I would suggest 2-3 months prior. Kelowna has many events, trade-shows and festivals during the summer, two most notable being the Okanagan Tattoo Show & the Okanagan Beer Fest which attract a lot more people than you would think and both eat up a lot of hotel space in June and July.

If looking to stay in a hotel, I would recommend staying at the Prestige Beach House. It’s located downtown right beside the Kelowna park/beach. Honestly, you couldn’t ask for a better location. It’s a lovely, clean hotel with a great restaurant attached, perfect for brunch!

I hope this guide is helpful and you too are able to enjoy everything that the wonderful city of Kelowna has to offer.

If you’ve ever visited Kelowna or the Okanagan, let me know some of your trip highlights below.

Until next time,

Amy Johnston

Travel

5 days in Calgary | What you need to know

August 12, 2018 No Comments

Last month I had the pleasure of visiting my friend for 5 days in Calgary, Alberta. Not only did I want to spend time with her but I also really wanted to check out the famous Calgary Stampede, “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. I had never been before, and since she offered her place to stay, I thought it was a perfect opportunity (Thanks, Darlene!!!!). This is a great tip for people who want to travel and save on accommodations – visit a tourist destination where you know someone.

I purposely flew in the same morning the Stampede started, departing around 8 am from Vancouver, BC. I would recommend an early morning flight to avoid the mid-day and evening rush. I always like flying to my destination early in the morning and leaving late on my departure date to maximize the length of my travel. I would also recommend flying vs. driving from Vancouver. The flights are not that expensive (mine was $300) and it’s a 2-hour flight vs. an 11-hour drive.

I stayed 5 days in Calgary and would recommend this length of stay to anyone. I had only ever visited Calgary once in the winter and due to the weather conditions, I did not sightsee. Honestly, it was too cold to even go outside lol so with that said, I would definitely recommend visiting in the summer. In the 5 days, I was there, I went to the Calgary Stampede where I attended the Rodeo, drove to Banff where I visited Lake Moraine and Lake Louise, shopped on 7th avenue and drank and ate my way around 17th avenue.

Below you’ll find my Calgary travel guide – recommendations and tips for your next visit to “Cowtown”.

Where to Eat/Drink

Location: Downtown

5 Avenue Place

Brunch: I would highly recommend Oeb breakfast co. It has a large menu with lots of different options to choose from. It took me about a half hour to decide what I finally wanted. I ordered the Upstream (see below) and it was delicious. Service was great and ambiance was lovely. It definitely isn’t a budget-friendly option but if you want to skip lunch, it’s definitely worth it. It’s chef-driven, locally owned and won Best Brunch by Where Magazine and Best of Calgary 2017 & 2018.

Upstream – Organic Spinach. Dill & Vermouth Cured Lox w/Avacado on a butter croissant, brown butter hollandaise, crisp potatoes and market fresh fruit.

Location: Kensington

1136 Kensington Road NW

Lunch: First off, I fell in love with the Kensington area. I would definitely recommend this area for food/ patio drinking. I ate at Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey and ordered the Brisket Sandwich with a Caravel – Hazy Hefeweizen. I don’t normally eat brisket but this sandwich was a 10/10 and the hef. was super refreshing – a perfect summer patio drink. We also had great service here. I feel like you have to eat BQQ when your in “Cowtown” and this place doesn’t disappoint.

Craft Beer: Caravel – Hazy Hefeweizen

Location: 17th Avenue

219 17th Avenue SW

Drinks: Mill St. BrewPub is the first pub stop on 17th avenue and it’s definitely not to be missed especially if you’re a fan of Mill Street brews. I thoroughly enjoyed a flight of delicious in-house craft beers on the patio (see below). The staff is friendly, great service received and a lovely ambiance.

Notable mentions:

728 17th Avenue SW

Lunch: Trolley 5

718 17th Avenue SW

Drink: Market

Dress: UNIQLO

Hat: Aritzia

Inside the adorable Market Restaurant

Where to Shop

Be sure to hit up 7th avenue where you’ll run into a pristine Holt Renfrew, a massive beautiful Simons and a lovely mall called the Core. When you’re in the Core, be sure to check out The Devonian Gardens. Unfortunately, when I went they were partially closed but a great place for a photo op and a lovely place to stay cool if it’s hot outside. Tip: Skip the downtown Hudson’s Bay and Nordstrom Rack which, are not worth your time.

If you’re staying outside the city, I would recommend visiting the Chinook Centre, which is the largest shopping mall in Calgary and has everything you need including a movie theatre.

Where to Visit

Calgary Stampede

I’m so happy I can now check Calgary Stampede off my bucket list! I have to say it’s quite similar to the PNE in Vancouver or CNE in Toronto except with a lot of cowboys and cowgirls with horses and bulls. Tip: When planning your trip to the stampede, attend on a value day where admission is free during a period of time. Yes, the entrance lines are long but trust me they go fast.

Dress: Old Navy

Hat: Aritzia

Fanny Pack: Plum Clothing

I would definitely recommend purchasing tickets to the Stampede Rodeo. It’s an amazing show where all the action takes place. You’ll see barrel racing, novice bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, junior steer riding, novice saddle bronc, saddle bronc, bull riding and bareback. I have to admit the tie-down roping and steer wrestling are hard to watch if your an animal advocate but the bull riding is fascinating. Tip: Grab seats that are on the shady side so you’re protected from the sun’s rays. It’s about a 3-hour show and it can get very hot! Good to know: if you purchase your ticket in advance, it includes admission to the Stampede Park on the day the ticket is valid for.

Banff (Lake Moraine and Lake Louise)

My friend and I drove from Calgary into Banff and I have to say it’s one of the most beautiful drives. The rocky mountains are breathtaking (see below). Living in Vancouver, I’m certainly used to being around mountains every day but these mountains look and feel different.

Our first stop was Lake Moraine and I was blown away by how beautiful and pristine the water and grounds are. After visiting Lake Louise, I would recommend spending more time at Lake Moraine. For one, it’s less busy, two, the water is nicer and three, you can be closer to the water while you walk/hike around the lake.

Top: J. Crew

Capris: HUE

Tip: Bring a sweater. It gets cooler as you’re closer to the mountains. This is something that I forgot and wished I hadn’t. Tip: If you can pack a lunch/picnic/cooler and bring it with you, I would definitely recommend doing that vs. spending astronomical food prices at either of the lakes. Tip: Try to avoid going on a weekend. We went on a Sunday and it was madness.

Good to know: There is a $9.80 per adult fee for entering Parks Canada when entering Banff National Park so factor this cost into your travel budget.

Overall, I was quite surprised by just how much I fell in love with this city. I’m a city girl but not a big city girl so Calgary was the perfect size for me (just like Vancouver is ;). I would 100% return to Calgary next summer to explore more of their restaurant and bar scene. Until next time Calgary!

If you’ve ever visited Calgary, let me know some of your trip highlights below.

Amy Johnston, xx

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