Best Waterdown Health Festival

I've been on a quest lately after being diagnosed as Gluten, Dairy & Egg Intolerant.    There are other ones for me but those are the major ones for me to avoid.     There has been so much to learn and shopping/eating has become a new way of life for me.                             I have learned a lot from my Naturopath, Dr. Carly Wendler and I have learned a lot from the great staff at Goodness Me in Waterdown.    They have been fantastic with lots of food samples, advice from staff and they always have classes every week to help educate and promote good health in various forms.                                    Tomorrow, May 25th they are have a Health Festival at their Waterdown location.  You can sign-up for free classes, try out some new products, score some great deals and win prizes! Plus, they will be grilling on the BBQ from 11:30AM-6PM (including Gluten Free options) so come hungry!

 

Classes scheduled for Saturday are:

 

5 Secrets to Increase Your Energy & Reduce Your Waistline

10:00AM - 11:30AM

Gluten & Dairy Free Eating Made Simple

1:00PM - 2:30PM

Create the You, You Want to Be!

4:00PM - 5:30PM

 

I will there attending Dr. Carly's class "Gluten & Dairy Free Eating Made Simple"    On Dr. Carly's Facebook fan page is a great description of her class and what she'll be covering...

"Are you wondering about the boom in gluten and dairy free eating? Why does it seem that everyone is tittering about this shift in what we are feeding our families and ourselves? Everywhere we look these days we are seeing books, programs, and health professionals recommending these changes for specific health issues as well as for general overall well being and preventative health. It is not without great scientific support and research that these recommendations are making their way into everyday language. Societies that have the highest consumption of wheat and dairy also have the highest rates of pediatric type 1 diabetes, eczema, allergies, ear infections, heart disease, celiac disease, auto immune diseases and the list continues!     For complete event details please visit www.drcarlywendler.com events or www.goodnessme.ca "

 

We are so fortunate to have such a great store in Waterdown like Goodness Me.    With the increase of people with Celiac and Food Intolerances, it is a valuable resource in our community and I hope you'll check out the Health Festival Saturday.

Best Gluten Free Frozen Yogurt

Every few years, a certain type of shop will become popular... Tea, Coffee, Donut, Cupcake, Ice Cream with Mix-Ins... they've all had their time of popularity.     The trend of the moment seems to be the Yogurt Shop where you can mix the flavours, and add in pretty much as much toppings as you want.      You walk in choose a cup (the only size is large!) and you have your choice to serve yourself what kind of flavour(s) you want.     Some might go for just one flavour, or swirl two together... or maybe pick two flavours and put them in the same bowl yourself.    

Then you get to go to the topping area and put anything your heart desires on top.    Then you go to the cashier and they weigh your purchase and you are charged by the weight (and of course you can't put anything back in case you've rung up a $13 cup!!!)

For me, I am crazy about a new place in Burlington called CC Swirls www.ccswirls.com  located at 2201 Brant Street (in the plaza between Dollarama and Freshco).      What I love about this shop is EVERYTHING is Gluten Free!!!!    They have the cups that you can fill up with your favourite frozen yogurt and topping (note... they do have some toppings that would have gluten in them) or they have a freezer with pre-packed frozen yogurt,  frozen yogurt bars and frozen cakes.     I also need to be dairy free so for those of us with Gluten Free/Dairy Free needs, they also offer one flavour of Sorbet.

There are many great shops locally in the area Yogurty's is a great place right in the heart of the core in Waterdown @ 312 Dundas St E (and a favourite place of my daughters!).      They've just started to offer a Gluten Free & Dairy free flavour(s) there as well.      http://www.yogurtys.com/

Our family has also tried Menchies which is located at 1900 Appleby Line in Burlington.   They have many Gluten Free options, and just one Gluten Free/Dairy Free sorbet flavour as well.    www.menchies.com

I'm so glad to have found these shops (especially with summer right around the corner) and that they offer something for those of us with dietary restrictions.

Best Prom Dress

There are lots of great places around to get beautiful dresses... locally you might like to try Angie's Bridal on Mill Street South, or you might be able to find a dress at either of the other two bridal shops in town like the Coach House or Michelle My Belle both on Dundas Street.

Last year, I learned of a company in Burlington, Brash Avenues (a marketing company) that was taking donations of used/donated prom dresses, tuxedos and suits for teens looking to go to prom.     Proms have gotten out of control with  expensive dresses, hair, hair pieces, makeup, limos, etc... To go to prom can be so expensive that some kids don't go just because it is an expense they or their family can't afford.

This year, Brash Avenues has offered to collect dresses and suits again, but will be able to offer teens the experience of shopping by appointment only at the exclusive and discreet Mapleview shop "Dreams Dress Boutique" https://www.facebook.com/DreamsDressBoutique

Taken from the Dreams Dress Boutique page on facebook... "They (Mapleview Mall) are helping us with dress collection as well as creating a stylish boutique that will be DISCREET, private and made for the girls to feel special. The boutique will be invite only for those in need of a d...ress for their special occasion. We will be giving VIP passes to the girls in need of a dress so they are able to visit the store. Please pass the message on to teachers, principals and anyone that may know a girl in need of a dress.
Dress donations will be accepted at Brash Avenues as well as Mapleview Centre from now until May 10th. The dress collection at Mapleview is located next to Guest Services on the lower level. We are also graciously accepting shoes, accessories or anything that will make the girls special day a wonderful experience.
Mapleview is also running a contest for all who donate new or gently used dresses, accessories, shoes etc... to either Brash Avenues or Mapleview. When you make a donation you will get a card with a code to enter into a contest. The contest will include a weekly draw for a $200 gift card to Mapleview Centre, and a grand prize of $500 gift card to Mapleview along with a 2 hour stylist session with Style Icon Krystin Lee.   For more information on the Dream Big Dress Boutique, please call Crystal at 905-637-1578 or email crystal@brashavenues.com
Thank you in advance for all the community support. This project is only a success because of our amazing community in Halton & the GTA!   Please share this page and message to help spread the message!"

 

What a great service to provide!     And what a great way to pass on your teens prom dress from last year that that they aren't going to wear again or if you are a fella... and you have a suit that you are looking to get rid of... certainly a young guy would appreciate a suit to wear to prom (and possibly again and again).

 

 

 

Best Local Hockey

Waterdown is such a great town for local sport.     There is great choice when it comes to Dance Studios, Karate, Soccer, Ice Skating and of course Hockey!

This weekend the Flamborough Minor Peewee AE Sabres are set to finish their best season in years!     At the end of the regular season, the Sabres have acheived a record 23 wins, 2 losses and 3 ties which is the best finish the Flamborough Hockey Association has marked in recent memory.

TOMORROW... SATURDAY MARCH 23rd @ 3pm at the brand new North Wentworth Arena, the boys are hoping to bring home the GOLD in the OMHA (Ontario Minor Hockey Association) Championship.      

The team is hoping that the community will come out and support their team by filling the arena with lots of cheering fans wearing Blue and Gold (team colours) and making lots of noise for the boys with horns, bells, whistles and chants of support!

How awesome is it for them to have home ice advantage on one of the best seasons they've had in years.... Come on Flamborough.... come out and support the boys this Saturday!

Best Gluten Free Bakeries

Since having the diagnosis of Food Intolerance (Gluten, Casein & Egg mostly) I have been on a quest to find some of the great desserts, cookies and baked goods that I know I am going to miss and need a great healthy replacement for me.   

The first place I tried out was Kelly's Bake Shoppe on Brant Street in Burlington.     I was most interested to go there since they are the ONLY place I have found that are ALL Gluten Free and Vegan (no animal products like eggs and milk).       I tried a great sample of their products... a few cupcakes (all great), the Mile High Brownie (FANTASTIC) and bought a bag of their Gluten Free Croutons (excellent on my gluten free vegan Ceasar Salad I made at home).    Can't wait to go back and try more!



The second place I tried out was You'd Never Know Bakery in Dundas.    Super friendly staff that was excellent about coaching me through some of my options.   The President and Owner Rhonda Barr was there working away and even came over to chat with me.    She helped me pick out some great options and even helped me with advice on buying Gluten Free and dining out.     At Ya'd Never Know, I ended up not purchasing sweets but went more for freezer meals, All Purpose Gluten Free Flour, Pizza Crusts, Hamburger Buns and the MOST incredible prepared chicken breast I've ever had.     I've been on such a bland diet for months now that this amazing marinade had so much flavour it was a little taste of heaven for me.      I hope they have it when I go back, Rhonda had said it was a seasonal option.    It was truly amazing.    There was so much selection there.    Ready made salads, ready made meals, bulk grains like Quinoa Flakes, baked goods, soups and meals for the freezer.    So far I have really enjoyed everything I bought from there.   Rhonda even informed me of the Canadian Governments tax rebate for those with a diagnosis of Celiac or Gluten Intolerance.     I am going to be a regular there for sure.

 In Waterdown, the new bakery Beyond the Batter does have a daily gluten free feature and sometimes will have a vegan option as a Baker's Choice.     Each day of the week they offer a different flavour for Gluten Free.    My favourite is Midnight Craving and they offer the Gluten Free option on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  To see a list of the cupcake selections please visit their website   http://www.beyondthebatter.com/Daily-Cupcakes.html        While Beyond the Batter does offer Gluten Free and Vegan options,  they do say on their website "If you are allergic to these ingredients we do not recommend that you consume our products. We do our best to ensure that our Gluten Free and Vegan do not come into contact with any of these allergens, however do not guarantee it."

Also offering Gluten Free cupcakes is Cupids Cupcakes located in the Longo's Plaza at Walker's Line & Dundas.     While offering Gluten Free cupcakes, they do not offer Vegan at all.     Their literature states that they bake Gluten Free on special order and you need to order either a dozen mini's or a half dozen full sized.     I went in one day and asked about what they had Gluten Free and they did have two vanilla and 10 chocolate mini cupcakes in the freezer that they could sell me.     I have frequently bought cupcakes there for the last couple of years and could not tell the difference between their Gluten Free and the regular cupcakes.     When placing the order, you can get any of the icing flavours normally being offered on their daily schedule.   They do require 48 hours notice before pick up to have your GFree cupcakes ready.

More places are offering Gluten Free options so thankfully it is getting easier to find substitutes when trying to stick to a Gluten Free or Vegan diet.

Best TARGET Store Waterdown!

See ya Buffalo.... the main reason for me shopping across the border is just about to open a store in my community of Waterdown.... I am a Target lover!!   (or should I say Tar-jeigh, in a french accent)       I am a local girl at heart and love to shop at the wonderful small businesses here in town... but I must admit that I have been anxiously awaiting this new Target store opening for about 2 years since they announced that Target was buying our local Zellers.

My sister lives in Guelph, so seeing that Guelph, Fergus and Milton Target stores had their soft launch opening last week (to work out any bugs in their systems before opening in larger markets), my sister and I headed to Target last Saturday.      Shopping on a Saturday is usually busy, but the first Saturday that a Target store is open in Canada was crazy busy!      

Kudos to the staff in Guelph.     They were great at rounding up buggies and making sure that they were available for anyone walking through the doors.      I saw several staff in each department and the huge lineup that went from the cash registers to almost the other end of the store in the food department moved very quickly.     It was a massive line and we considered putting everything back and heading home but I was determined to make it home with my finds.

One thing I was concerned about was that the quality, selection & price of merchandise was going to be different in Canada as compared to the US.     I am so disappointed each time I go into a Walmart store in the states and every time leaving say to myself..."The stuff here is so much nicer than at home!"

After my 1st experience shopping at Target last weekend... I am THRILLED!      From what I saw, they had alot of the same merchandise you'd find in the US!     I bought my daughter some bedding from Target in the US last year and found the same bedding at the Guelph store!     The clothes.... OMG the clothes were fantastic!     Such selection, colour and style.      Loved the kids clothes and home decor too!    I was also so happy to the prices of the clothing.     If they cost more in Canada, it is not much of a difference.    Bought some beautiful and comfy high heels for $34.     I had bought similar shoes at our local Walmart for $19 before Christmas and they destroyed my feet!






    
The one thing I would say, is that there was obviously massive amounts of people buying in a short period of time, so even though the store is brand new and the merchandise is all new.... there was certainly the look of "Black Friday Sale" in the store.     Popular items were completely gone or had little selection of size.     So if you go in knowing that, you won't be too disappointed.     Soon, shopping at Target will be a normal everyday thing and this frenzy of shopping will level out.

**************************************UPDATE**************************************************************
Just announced TODAY that the Waterdown location as well as others will open on TUESDAY MARCH 19TH, 2013.   See the annoucement here:  https://twitter.com/target_ca/status/313641031738486784/photo/1

To stay updated on what's happening with Target Canada, check out their website www.target.ca and Target's facebook page (become a fan for regular updates) https://www.facebook.com/#!/TargetCanada

Best Gluten Free/Vegan Shopping

I have been struggling with not feeling well for years, but since last summer/fall I have been having intense itching, skin eczema and digestive issues.    After much investigation and change of diet, have come to find out it was all due to Food Sensitivity/Intolerence.       Thanks to the amazing skills of my Naturopath, Dr. Carly Wendler (Waterdown Village Chiropractic Group), I now have answers.    I was tested for Celiac Disease and found that while I tested negative (my score was 7.3... 15 is considered to be having Celiac), I do have Gluten Sensitivity which was confirmed by separate food sensitivity tests.    It was found that I have High or Extemely High Intolerence to Wheat, Spelt, Rye, Dairy, Eggs, Garlic & Almonds, with Moderate Intolerence to Corn, Peanuts, Turkey and Barley.   Dr. Carly can be found on-line at www.drcarlywendler.com and she can also be found on Facebook.    I highly recommend her.   
  
Food has become so genetically modified that more and more, people are developing problems with the food they eat which can go on for years undiagnosed.     So much so, that going Gluten Free and Vegan is much easier than it was 5 or 10 years ago.     The government has also seen the significance of people going Gluten Free and have a tax credit for those diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerence.     More information can be found at
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns300-350/330/clc-eng.html
but I would consult with your accountant or a tax professional about the requirements for receiving this benefit.     From what little I understand about this (I am not a tax expert), it seems like you may qualify to receive money back on the difference of the cost of food that has Gluten and food that is G Free.

I have been exploring many many different new aisles at my local grocery store and finding new specialty shops in order to serve my new dietary concerns.

In Waterdown, I have found that Sobey's and Fortino's have excellent Organic/Gluten Free and other Allergen Free products.     I have been pleasantly surprised at the wonderful selection.    Fortino's even has their dry goods, ready made freezer products, refrigerated food and homeopathic supplements all in the same area to make your shopping easier.     Bulk Barn has a great selection on the south wall of the store of gluten free flours, mixes and other product.    There are even little areas of the grocery sections of Walmart that offer some Gluten Free products.     Anyone with dietary restrictions knows that you need to read your labels.... my new way of shopping now.

Of course, whatever you are looking for that needs to be Gluten Free can be found at Goodness Me (locations in Waterdown, Burlington and Hamilton).      The staff are so helpful there.    Prices are a little more there, but if you are good for comparison shopping, you get to know what store carries what products.     My recommendation would be when you get your list of things to buy from your dietican/naturopth/homeopath or from your own independent study of the internet, I would try Fortino's first, Sobey's second to find out what product they have (look in every aisle, because some things are spread out (like at Sobey's) and then head to Goodness Me to finish off your list.    

I have spent hours researching recipes online, pinterest, and just basically googling Gluten Free etc... and have learned so much.     Tonight, I have just come across another great new outlet store to try out...   El Peto  in Cambridge....   http://www.elpeto.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=40&layout=blog&Itemid=61     I have seen their products carried in the local stores (Fortino's/Bulk Barn) and am curious to check out their outlet store to see if prices are any cheaper.    Maybe it'll be worth the short 25 minute drive to Cambridge.

I do love how accessible Waterdown is.    You can make it to so many major centres within 1/2 an hour to an hours drive.

This is a journey I have just begun... next week I will talk about the local bakeries and restaurants to find gluten free options.