With the arrival of Stella came the need to get over my aversion to patio dining. In the past, I’d much preferred an air-conditioned dining room, but it was no longer about me. I’d do anything for that little bat-eared and brindle bug; I’d even dine outside, apparently, vulnerable to various types of winged insects…
Category: Pup
Shopping, Pidgin & a Movie
After taking Stella to the park yesterday, my friend Christina and I met up downtown for three of our favourite activities: shopping, dinner, and a movie. Our first stop was Sephora – always a dangerous place for me, but not nearly as bad as my favourite store, Aritzia. I’d say 98% of my wardrobe is…
Morning at Granville Island
One of my favourite places in Vancouver is Granville Island. It’s like one giant farmers market with so much good food alongside art and culture. Earlier today, my mom, Stella, and I took the False Creek Ferry over to Granville Island to have lunch with some friends and their pup, Charlie. It’s a quick ride…
Stella’s Morning
Stella was bored the second she woke up, and she definitely let everyone know. Just before 8am, I could already feel the humidity setting in, so I was hoping she wouldn’t ask for a walk. But she did. So after breakfast, we took a mini walk around the neighborhood (and I made sure to bring…
Patios & Piers
One of my favourite things to do on a summer evening is take Stella for a walk by the water at Garry Point, then sit down for dinner with family and friends at one of the patios in Steveston Village. We love Paesano’s and Tapenade, but I think the family favourite is a cup of…
Ice Cream Sandwiches Take Four: After the Doctor
Stella had to see Dr. Maja this morning for a follow-up (we’re dealing with a particularly stubborn round of allergies), and afterward she always gets a walk and a treat for being a little trooper. Going to the vet has become a much more pleasant experience for us since we started seeing Dr. Maja (Healing…
Food Cart Fest ’13
This past Sunday, I went to Vancouver’s Food Cart Fest with my family and some friends. It was a little drizzly and chaotic (parking was nearly impossible because it was also Dragon Boat weekend), but we finally got in and began to check out each cart’s menu. There was a good variety of carts, from grilled cheese at Taser’s to…
Rocky Point Ice Cream
Rocky Point Ice Cream has been undergoing renovations for awhile, and had a little Scooper truck going in the meantime. Unfortunately, the truck was never around when we were, so you can imagine how happy we are that the renovations are finally over and the little shop finally open, scooping cones in myriad hand-crafted flavours…
Stella in Instagrams
[checking out my birthday cake; “helping” set up at my aunt’s new pet store; Yaletown walk; waiting for fish & chips; just chilling]
Father’s Day
A belated happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there! Father’s Day…or rather, Father’s Day weekend in the Alba household saw a lot of good food, including desserts-in-a-jar from Beta5 Chocolates (strawberry-rhubarb and black & tan), as well as shrimp and salmon from the Steveston Fish Market (steamed and grilled, respectively). And since we…
Stella’s Grub
So I talk about food and I talk about Stella, but I’ve never really talked about what Stella eats. She’s a very allergic little Frenchie, with a very sensitive stomach, and currently eats pressure-cooked quail, with a side of boiled potatos and steamed bok choy. We started her off on the same Natural Balance +…
Camosun Bog
Yesterday morning, Stella and I took a walk at the Camosun Bog, which is part of Pacific Spirit Park. The bog is a protected area with lots of plant and animal species, including a lot of sphagnum moss. We started at the entrance at 19th & Camosun which Stella didn’t particularly like because she had to…
Pup & Grub 