I just remembered about an unique essential oils blend that works very well. I have heard about it from a friend who worked in a reception area during the flu season and was swearing that Thieves oil blend helped her stay healthy. I bought it and kept for future needs.
The opportunity to try Thieves Oil Spray presented itself during a spring season, when I just started working for a family business. At first, older family members came to work with flu -like symptoms, sneezing and coughing. The next day I brought my Thieves oil spray and sprayed around myself at least three times a day. Within a week, maybe a week and a half,  younger family members contracted the same symptoms. I continued to spray around myself and remained in good health.

You will need:
10 drops Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
20 drops Clove Essential Oil
8 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
18 drops Lemon Essential Oil
5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
and an empty dark glass bottle (sold at any health stores like Nature's Fare)
I bought all ingredients online at Natural nutrition website, but you also can get ingredients from any health store. Prepared Thieves Oil is also sold - I bought one bottle for immediate use and waiting for components to arrive to make more of my own.

Uses: add 30-50 drops into spray bottle (100ml) with distilled water and sanitize your hands, air around you, any surfaces. It can be used in a scent burner, aroma diffuser.
It also smells divine!

Eating healthy, nutritional meals is super important to keep immune system balanced and working well.
I strongly encourage everyone to absolutely eliminate alcohol or cigarettes from your life not to overburden the immune system.

This potato soup is our family favorite, vegan friendly and contains only 8 ingredients!
You will need:

1. Yellow flesh potatoes cut in chunks (5-6 large)
2. Carrots, peeled and cut in chunks (2-3 large carrots)
3. Onion, cubed (1 large red or white onion); 2 garlic cloves smashed
4. Celery sticks cut in chunks (2-3 sticks)
5. Vegetable Broth ( 3 cups)
6. Full fat coconut milk-one can
7. Salt 1/2 tsp and black pepper 1/2 tsp, 1/2 tsp dried dill, 1/2 tsp celery salt
8. Fresh kale for nutrition 
9. Bacon for serving-several crisp links, or fried pancetta

Instructions: add first seven ingredients into pot, close the lid and cook for 25-30 min. After that open the lid, add washed kale leaves and let them wilt for about a minute. Using immersion blender puree the soup.
​Serve with bacon crisp or pancetta bits.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of frozen cranberries, thawed;
• 1l water or cranberry juice (use 500 ml water and 500 ml juice). Apple/Orange juice will work too;
• 1 orange cut in wedges;
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• Cinnamon stick and star anise (one each) if desired, but not necessary

Add thawed cranberries into the pot and smash them, releasing jelly-like substance. Place smashed cranberries into the sieve over a clean bowl and squeeze juice from smashed cranberries. Reserve the juice ( we preserve vitamins in raw juice).
Add smashed cranberries into a pot, add water, apple/orange juice if using, sugar, spices and bring to boil. Turn of heat and let it cool. Add reserved cranberry juice. Pour into mugs and decorate with orange slices.

As of today, March 15, 2020 officially there are 73 COVID-19 virus cases in British Columbia, with two being identified in Interior BC region.
If in the beginning of March 2020 health officials were concerned about people coming back from China, lately virus cases were reported globally for total 156,400 confirmed cases. The virus spreads in geometrical progression domestically as well. 
There are 5,833 reported deaths from COVID-19 globally, with only one being in British Columbia. Top 5 countries with the most reported cases-China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain.
Canada ranks 20 on that list with 252 confirmed cases. Those numbers are probably skewed (my guess by 1.5), as not everyone reports their sickness.
I got my information from Center for Systems Science and Engineering
gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/

Media created a panic response from the masses: toilet paper disappeared from each supermarket. I actually don't have a logical explanation why exactly toilet paper? 
I have seen the video of people in Costco erratically running towards toilet paper isle and loading up. That created a response "Monkey see, monkey do".
As of yesterday shelves with non-perishable food, such as canned vegetables, fish, meat got emptied. Despite the announcement from the government officials that there is no shortage of food is foreseen. Well, Corona virus spread in Canada was not foreseen either, right?
Below is the picture from WalMart Center showcasing empty shelves, where canned food used to be.  Pictures above are from SuperStore.

Empty boxes where tuna once was.
It is probably wise to stock up on food items, planning for self isolation if you or any of your family member will be diagnosed with a virus.
Here is the shopping list that might be useful for stocking up:
1. Cold and flu symptoms reliving medication (such as Tylenol, NeoCitran), cough suppressing medication, nasal congestion sprays.
2. Water- you could get a water filter, bottled water.
3. Hot liquids: green tea, chicken broth.
4. Food. When you are sick, it is best to eat light and easy digestible foods like vegetable soups, rice with vegetables. With all the madness surrounding shopping, still buy two weeks worth of supply: bag of rice, bag of oats, frozen vegetables and meat, eggs, etc.
5. Cleaning supplies. It is a fact that virus is capable of living for several hours outside of a carrier. That means we have to be prepared to clean surfaces with disinfectants: Lysol, Bleach, Windex.
Last, but not least: stay away from crowded places like shopping malls, crowded stores. Remember to dress according to the weather- it is cold outside, so the jacket is mandatory.
There is no need to panic, historically there are ups and downs. It will turn up eventually!

This article is not for snowbirds, that fly to Mexico, Arizona and Palm Springs for winter months. Those lucky folks are having  a blast by simply being outside in the sun. I sincerely have to admit, I want to be able to do that too. However, our livelihood connected to Canada so tight, that we stay in Canada all year around.

If you spend your winters in Canada, than most likely you thought about ways to add fun activities. The most interesting and exciting activity for Canadians is HOCKEY.

There are multiple ways to participate in National Religion-play yourself, register your kids, visit live games or watch on TV. Whatever works.

We are Canucks fans and watch their games. 
The next best thing is skating- each city has a skating rink open to public for free. It is a fun activity. Here are the pictures from Valentine's Day skate, where couples came to skating rink as a date night.

Here are some ideas how to impress the significant other during St. Valentines outing/date.
1. Sweet lantern sleeve sweater $24.68
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​

2. Sexy halter top $15.53, cotton
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3. Sexy fringe backless dress $26.44
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​4. Romantic pink dress for a date $23.29
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​5. Burlesque Red/Black Corset Dress $26.39
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​6. Burlesque leopard dress $31.08
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7. Slimming effect elegant office dress $22.69
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8. Sexy lingerie $20.41
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9. Another sexy set $18.26
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​10. Floral embroidery nightgown $16.24
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Candy Lane is portraying the community spirit, the one we remember from "Christmas with Kranks". And you never know, who you will bump into while visiting Candy Lane! Christmas miracles happen more often than we think!

Another great activity for a whole family - is to build a snowman.
It actually takes time and some creativity, but this would be a time well-spent.
Canada has great outdoors - so much to do: skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, ice-skating, snowboarding, ice-fishing, ice-hockey and simply building a snow fort! Any of the activities provide happiness boost that lasts days.

Kelowna also holds annual polar bear swim and this year it was as a fundraiser for Adaptive Adventures.
Today, January 1, 2020 at 2 PM people of all ages took off their own winter jackets and ran towards Okanagan Lake for a plunge. The air was filled with excitement and expectation of a miracle. To be fair, it was about 4 C and no snow on the sand or ice in the water. It was a great year to start dipping!

Lifeguards were monitoring the event and everything went smooth for every participant. 

Vancouver, the greenest city in Canada is an attractive place to visit any time of the year. There is something exciting for every age group and any interest - hockey nights, amazing dining, concerts, theater, art exhibitions, shopping, craft beer pubs.
There is a brand new hotel just opened it's doors to public - Seaside Hotel, by Executive Hotel group. It is located at old shipyards area, next to ocean harbor. What is great about this location- you can take a 10 min sea bus ride to Downtown Vancouver! Visit Downtown and get back to North Vancouver- no driving required.
The hotel itself is featuring well-designed rooms with quality finishing. The carpets are soft plush (they still smell new), beds are super comfortable, pillows are made for good-night sleep.

Each room has two cotton bath robes, 2 pairs of slippers, as hotel offers spa services to it's guests. There is a modern coffee machine with Illy coffee brand capsules and a pay for minibar containing chocolate chip cookie, potato chips, soft drinks.
The walk-in shower with rain-head and marble tile floors looks stunning! The toiletries are from French brand L'occitane. Every detail in the interior design reminds you about seaside and soothes all senses.

The room also has large flat screen TV, desk and  a comfy chair.

Hotel serves tasty and reasonable priced breakfast in a tastefully furnished restaurant. 
There is an ice-rink just outside the hotel for winter skating, honey products store, Caffe Artigiano (they make most delicious London Fog and Coffee Latte), Pier 7 Restaurant, Tap&Barrel Shipyards eatery/brewery, Lonsdale Quay Market.

Lonsdale Quay Market features various shops that sell food and drinks. You are welcome to try anything fancy! Very tasty soups from Soup Masters, pickles, crepes, breads, baking, fresh produce. So worth the visit!

With Christmas being only a month away, it is time to do some Christmas shopping. 
Since most of us live modest lives, spending has to be conservative and presents better be useful. Hopefully I found something interesting for everyone.
Gift idea for all family members: everyday 100% cotton T-shirts. The price ranges from CA$5.38 to CA$6.73 ​s.click.aliexpress.com/e/s6K7pmIG

Cute puppy T-shirt s.click.aliexpress.com/e/MYBk9dqC
​Another puppy T-shirt s.click.aliexpress.com/e/BFadTojq

Here are links to man's T-shirts
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Jeans: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/tMw5eju8
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Wool long vest s.click.aliexpress.com/e/KJlZAXc4
Double-breasted hounds-tooth vest s.click.aliexpress.com/e/kyNwR5QC