What can be better than a short, but sweet getaway in Vancouver for New Year?
While the most of Canada is covered in snow, Vancouver displays blooming shrubs on the street.
​The average temperature in Vancouver during month of December is 7 C. Locals noticed that it feels warmer when it rains and colder with higher humidity in the air when it doesn't rain.
Vancouver is the most beautiful city on earth any time of the year!

The recommended place to stay is the Marriott Hotel which features spacious and comfortable guest rooms, complimentary buffet style breakfast (eggs, breakfast sausage, bacon, vegetables, waffles, pancakes, toast, coffee or tea), little convenience store onsite, parking lot. They have very comfortable mattresses and pillows (comparable to River Rock Resort). The bathroom loaded with toiletries from  Paul Mitchell brand.

Lovely kitchenette with fridge, stove top, dishwasher, microwave, full set of plates, cutlery, cups and pans/pots. It became my home away from home!

The New Year morning hugs me with a smile through D'oro's affogato, mmm so good!

D'oro Gelato and Cafe offers a variety of coffee, tea, gelato/sorbetto, pasties, panini. Every item is always fresh and super tasty! They always serve coffee with complimentary almond biscotti. 

My plan is to watch the Polar Bear swim in the afternoon in the English Bay beach area.  
The Polar Bear Swim has been taking place in the icy waters of English Bay every year on January 1st since 1920. It’s one of the oldest and largest events of its kind in the world and attracts over 2,000 participants most years and thousands more that come to watch.
The event takes place at English Bay Beach which is located near the intersection of Denman Street and Davie. The Cactus Club restaurant is close by and its address is 1790 Beach Avenue in case you need the location for your GPS or want a nice place to warm up at afterwards.
I love the event and bright spirited people, whose New Year resolution is to change something in their life. Let's give a New Year bright start!

Recently this question startled me, as I didn’t think much about it. However after giving it some thought I wanted to share it with others.
Canada belongs to G7 developed countries as per UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018 report.  Canada has ranked twelve in the UN's annual Human Development Index (HDI 0.926), out of nearly 200 countries. The HDI measures health and life expectancy (82 years at birth), access to education (16.4 years of schooling) and standard of living (average earnings per capita 43,433).
Based on this statistical data I presume Canadian citizens are capable of making the right choices for themselves in every aspect of their life. I think legalizing Marijuana for recreational use in moderation has several positive aspects:
1. Cash flow redirected into Federal, Provincial, Municipal budgets to help fund growing needs of our society. Gambling, Tobacco, Liquor sales have been contributing to Canadian economy steadily for many years, but they reached their peak and can’t provide growth required for further generations. 

2. After government will enact quality control over marijuana production and sales, marijuana products would become safer for consumption.I was taught in school that demand creates supply, but not vice versa. In this situation people that were not using marijuana before its legalization won’t start using it just because it became legal.
 
3. Educational programs funded by marijuana sales will provide information about positive and negative effects, safe dosage, etc. Nobody should be left in the blind spot. I believe educated people are capable of making the right choices for themselves depending on circumstances. 
4. Marijuana industry will grow and provide working spaces for our citizens, reducing unemployment rates. 
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Canada is a land of opportunity and this is just another opportunity to embrace with open mind. As Canada is a second country in the world (Uruguay first) to legalize marijuana, we are leading the world in this matter. Stay positive, Canada!

My absolute favorite store of all times recently opened it's doors in Vancouver, Canada. Lemongrass House offers a wide variety of professional SPA products and has 42 outlets around the world. The main production is located in Phuket, Thailand. All products are handmade from fresh natural ingredients, essential oils.
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What could be a better Christmas gift than 100% natural, fresh SPA products from Thailand?
 The first Canadian store was open April 2018 and is located 209 Abbott Street, Vancouver BC. They offer free shipping across North America for purchases over CA$75. During the month of December there is a Special offer for first time buyers 10% off the purchase.

Online shoppers, here is the link www.lemongrasshousecanada.com/

There is an abundance of products to choose from: essential oils, soap, shower gel, body butter and scrub, face care, hair care, hand and foot care.

The reason why I love these products is simple- my skin is super reactive to any preservatives, chemicals used in creams and lotions. My skin quality control mechanism passed products from Lemongrass House for everyday use.
My personal favorite for face skincare: Blue Chamomile Face Cream. It has calming properties and smells divine! Ingredients: fractional palm oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, white orchid extract, aloe vera gel, cucumber extract, green tea extract, banana extract, vitamin C, blue chamomile essential oil, citricide.
Favorite body butter: Coconut and coffee, Frangipani. Frangipany is a symbol of Thailand, lovely flower with delicate yet intriguing scent.

My favorite hair product: Vanilla Absolute conditioner. Very good moisturizer for dry, damaged hair.
I can't live without leave in conditioner Rosemary& Vanilla hair oil. It conditions hair during cold and dry winter time and leaves heavenly scent of rosemary and vanilla. This is a must have for me.

I used to buy home fragrance oils from Pier 1, but after I discovered room fragrance made with essential oils from Lemongrass House I switched to natural oils reed diffuser (my lungs thank me).
My favorite scents are: Vanilla Absolute, Jasmine, Royal Lotus.
I have not tried their soaps, bath milk, bath oil, face cleaners, toners, masks. There is plenty to discover for me!

December is the month of Staff Christmas parties.
This is the special month of the year, because it is the best opportunity to find out who is really who in informal atmosphere.
I also think that companies providing a dinner only are losing a brilliant opportunity to engage each and every team member through fun/social activities. I witnessed people working better together after a Christmas party, as some social barriers were destroyed and better understanding of one another was reached during collaborative activities. I also remember myself thinking about leaving the company during a Christmas party and gift exchange, realizing how deep the gap is in our values.  

There are several rules of Aristotle that I follow in my life and apply to Christmas party/Gift Exchange:
Temperance: The virtue between overindulgence and insensitivity. Aristotle would view the person who never drinks just as harshly as the one who drinks too much.
Liberality: The virtue of charity, this is the golden mean between miserliness and giving more than you can afford. 
Magnificence: The virtue of living extravagantly. It rests between stinginess and vulgarity. Aristotle sees no reason to be ascetic but also warns against being flashy.
Truthfulness: The virtue of honesty. Aristotle places it between the vices of habitual lying and being tactless or boastful.
Wittiness: At the midpoint between buffoonery and boorishness, this is the virtue of a good sense of humor.
Friendliness: While being friendly might not seem like a moral virtue, Aristotle claims friendship is a vital part of a life well lived.  This virtue lies between not being friendly at all and being too friendly towards too many people.
Shame: The midpoint between being too shy and being shameless. The person who has the right amount of shame will understand when they have committed a social or moral error but won’t be too fearful not to risk them.
Justice: The virtue of dealing fairly with others. It lies between selfishness and selflessness. This virtue can also be applied in different situations and has a whole chapter dedicated to the various forms it can take. 

The time we are living in provides so many opportunities for spiritual growth, generosity that allows us and people around to become better versions of oneself.  This is the true meaning of life. There is no choice between material and spiritual growth. It is a ladder, a step by step process. It has to start in effort to achieve gratefulness of the soul, which in turn will materialize gratefulness of tangible assets.  
Christmas is a fantastic opportunity for spiritual growth, sharing your time/affection with family members, maybe volunteering at local Food Bank.
And please, be generous during gift exchanges with coworkers, it is such a simple step leading up the ladder.