Mia Gordon
Reporter, Host, Content Creator, Blogger

My favourite hiking apparel

This summer I came up with a Sea to Sky hiking Bucket List: The top 10 hikes I wanted to try near my own backyard. We are half way through the summer and I have been able to cross off 3 of these incredible hikes: Slhanay, Echo Lake, and Panorama. I am starting to feel more confident in my ability to hike more challenging trails and am loving being in the mountains now more than every before and a big part of that is having the right gear and knowing what to pack.

Of course I always take the 10 essentials with me to help me stay safe in the mountains, but I wanted to share of the gear that I love that helps get me to the peaks.

My favourite hiking gear 

Hiking boots: One of the most important pieces of gear is your hiking boots. My go to for longer and more challenging hikes is the Trezeta Argo. I really love the grip on this boot and also how light it is despite it having a lot of support. I also love its waterproof feature, especially when I had to do some river crossings for Echo Lake. Another big selling point for me was the double density EVA midsole cushions the support to reduce impacts on the ground, minimize vibrations and accompany the step.

T-Shirts: I recently started hiking in Devold Merino Wool t-shirts and I don’t think I will ever be able to go back to anything else. I love everything about these shirts, but mostly the breathability of them. Even on a really hot day on an exposed mountain I never feel sweaty or heavy in them. This is thanks to their thermo regulating and moisture wicking, keeping you nice and cool in the summer heat.

Hiking Pants: When it comes to pants I am a sucker for anything Luluemon – I just love their flexibility – it helps me climb when some of the hikes get technical. I am a big fan of the Base Pace High Rise Shorts for summer hikes – I especially like that they are pocketed .

Layers: No matter how hot it is I always bring layers with me (one of your 10 essentials my friends) I am a big fan of Columbia’s sweaters  – I have a few of them for work and they just really fit well and are very breathable. Their Omni Heat is also really great for base layers when hiking in cooler months.

Socks: Ok I didn’t think this was an important hiking element until it became a very important hiking element. I remember I was getting really bad blisters and thought it was because of my boots but then my husband asked what kind of socks I was wearing. Now I will only hike in specific hiking socks and in particular smartwool socks. They are also made from merino wool, so temperature regulated, but they have cushion in all the right places and are very breathable, which is great on hot days when you do have proper hiking boots on.

Sports bra: Again Lululemon is my go to here. I just love the support and comfort that I get from their sports bras. And it doesn’t hurt that they are cute so that when I want to go for a glacier lake dip they can double as a bathing suit.

Happy hiking my friends

xo

Mia

My top tips for camping with a toddler

Living in BC I have always loved exploring the beautiful outdoors. Whether it be hiking, biking, ski touring, or camping. But now I have a little sidekick that makes heading out on some of these adventures a little more challenging.

I decided this year I was going to try camping with my little guy for the first time. I turned to my Squamish Mom Hive for the best tips and tricks ahead of the trip and also learned a lot while we were there that I wanted to share with you in case you are thinking of planning a camping trip with a toddler.

Tip #1 Think about logistics

 

This is something completely new and different and it could of been a total disaster – I mean toddlers barely like going to sleep a half hour later than usual – how about going to sleep in a completely different environment, outside, without any comforts of home. So wit this in mind I decided our first camping trip would be short and sweet – just one night as a sort of test drive. I also decide to keep it close to home in case it was a disaster and we had to abort the mission.

Also, something I learned the hard way is really check the weather ahead of time. We were having a heat wave in BC but of course the day we went camping it was cooler and raining and not something we prepared for.

Tip #2 Make sure you have the right gear

You know how when you are packing for vacation with your baby and somehow you have 3 extra suitcases somehow – well camping is no different it seems. There is so much extra gear that you need to think of brining for someone who is a quarter your size. Here is the gear that was a must have for us on our trip.

  • Pack and Play:If you are car camping I would suggest bringing a tent big enough that you could fit your pack and play. It creates a sleep space separate for your baby. Another great tip was to bring a blackout cover. Lot’s of people suggested the slumber pod but we just went with a blackout cover from amazon and it worked great and was half the price
  • Find the perfect toddler sleeping bag: I did a lot of research, and I mean hours worth of research trying to find the perfect sleeping bag and I landed on the Deuter Littlestar. Firstly I loved how cute it was with the little ears, but the material was also so soft. Then it had so many additional bonuses. It had zippers on both sides so easy to transfer Max. I loved that it was expandable and so it could grow with Max – since he is such a big kid and grows out of everything so quickly. I also loved that it was quick dry – which was a bonus on our first camping trip since it did indeed rain.
  • Bring the comfort items: One of the biggest tips I got was to make it as close to home as possible. So we brought along his sound machine and bunny.
  • Bring a carrier:We didn’t have any hikes planned but everyone kept telling me to bring a carrier and I am so glad we brought our Deuter Kid Comfort. We used it to help out with nap time (Max always falls asleep on walks) but also if there were any areas I didn’t want him running around or wasn’t safe I would leave him strapped in
  • Bring the basics: You are camping, you are outdoors, you are in nature – you need to bring the essential – extra clothes, kid sunscreen, baby safe bug spray , a first aid kid, and all of the snacks

Safety first

You are stepping out of your comfort zone and into a new environment and so all those baby and toddler proofing that you have done at home don’t exist out here so it is important to follow some safety tips.

  • Book with your toddler in mind: Check out the campsite’s location before checking. Is it near a busy road or a fast moving body of water? Maybe better to save it for an adults only trip.
  • Baby-proof the campsite: Before setting up your tent take a walk around your campsite looking for any dangerous items like sharp sticks or broken glass.
  • Keep child away from fire: I mean this one is pretty obvious ( I hope) but don’t leave your child unsupervised near the campfire
  • Write your campsite on your child’s hand: In case your toddler gets separate write down your campsite so it is easy for them to find you.

Have fun with it

Listen, this is a completely new experience – it isn’t going to be perfect but I promise it will be fun. Being outside in nature will be such an amazing time and enough to tire a toddler out but if you still need some activities why not try a scavenger hunt with items you find in nature, or better yet get your toddler to help you with tasks – Max loved trying to bang the pegs into the tent.

 

Happy camping my friends,

xo

Mia

Find out more about my new favourite skin care product from VIIcode

As an on camera personality I am always trying to look and feel my best, as a new mom that isn’t always easy. I am tired ALL…THE…TIME. So in order to fake it until I make it I rely on good beauty products.

I have shared some of my favourites here before but recently I did a big haul. I wanted to make sure that anything going on my face is high quality with trustworthy ingredients. Out with the old and in with a new they say. And one area I am really focusing on lately is my eyes – because as many moms know, that is the first place to give away how tired I really am. It is also a really sensitive skin area and so I wanted to chose my product wisely. I have recently fallen in love with VIIcode’s latest T2 Oxygen Eye Cream.

About the product

This eye cream is created to regenerate skin cells near the eye  with the help of some true superheroes aka natural ingredients which include

Elderberries

This product is filled with antioxidants. It helps maintain the cells around the eye to keep the skin firm and glowing

Jojoba oil

Another oil filed with antioxidants that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Evening Primrose oils

Primrose is great for boosting blood circulation, helping give those tired eyes life.

What I love

The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle was the smell. It smelled really fresh and earthy. I also really loved the texture. I have tried a lot of eye creams over the years but have never felt one quite this smooth before. I have been using the cream at night for the past few weeks and I am already noticing a softer texture around my eyes.

There you have it my friends, my latest beauty secret for you all.

xo

Mia

 

 

Mom life: Returning to work after mat leave

While the first few days feel like I blur I still remember the feeling. The feeling of utter joy to have my new baby in my arms but I also remember just feeling so overwhelmed, anxious, scared, and of course tired. I remember wishing away the early days. I can’t wait until he sleeps through the night or I can’t wait until he no longer has to feed every two hours.

But then the days started to fly by, and those early sleepless nights were a distant memory. As someone once told me “The days are long but the years are short.” And it’s so true – this year flew by in the blink of an eye. And 13 months since I said see ya later to the Weather Network to embark on this incredible new journey as mom – it is time to head back to work.

This year has been my biggest year of growth yet. It has taught me patience, kindness, love (like I have never known before) and what is truly important to me. It has been a year full of memories, laughter, tears, and now it is time to turn the page on the book again and start a new chapter.

I was speaking with my therapist the other day about the anxiety I am having around finding the perfect balance. A balance between work and life they say but it is so much more than that, work, life, family, friends, my baby, and myself. It sounds like something only a superhero could do. I was feeling so overwhelmed that this wasn’t possible. And you know what – finding that perfect balance might not be humanly possible -but we decided I would just take it one day at a time.

Before having Max my life was my work – I had worked for 10 years to get to where I am and I finally found a job that I actually saw as a career that I love. After years of working part time, freelance, hard news and all the in between moments. At the Weather Network I have finally had a chance to tell real stories, ones that matter. Bringing important information to people, while also focusing on climate change and sustainability – which is something I care deeply about. I have had a chance to even create my own documentaries on these topics. I love my work – it has allowed me to travel and explore. I have seen the Northern Lights in the Yukon, the glaciers that tower over Whistler, the grizzlies of the Great Bear Rainforest. I have been given so many incredible opportunities and I am truly excited to see what comes next as the videographer and bureau chief for the Weather Network out here in British Columbia.

But now I have this new priority in my life. Gone are the days where I can just pack a bag and go. Gone are the days where I can just drop everything and run out to cover active weather. It is going to be a new balancing act for sure – one that I am nervous to try and conquer, but also one that I am excited about. I am excited to write this next chapter of my life – of our lives.

I know it isn’t going to be easy, there are going to be hiccups, and bumps and challenges – but that is the world we live in, and now I know just how challenging it is to be a working mom, but I want to be a mom that my son is proud of.

So mommas I see you, I feel you and I am here with you as you start to write new chapters of your own lives.

xo

Mia

Our winter one-derland birthday party tips

Oh the joys of having a baby born on Christmas Day – every birthday will have a winter or holiday theme for the rest of his life ( I mean we already have all of the decor out right?). And so for one we just had to go with a Winter One-derland. 

The wanna be Martha Stewart in me looked up 25 different holiday snack ideas and decided I was going to make all of them – my friends talked me off that ledge and told me to focus on a few key items. A good combination of savoury and sweet and both adult and baby friendly ( I mean it was Max’s birthday after all).

Then came decorations – I favourited a million things on Etsy, but realized a first birthday party should not cost us hundreds of dollars. I also have been focusing on reducing waste – so decided on a few key items and also tried to make a lot of them with items around the house

The icing on the cake for me though was the idea of a hot coco bar. What kind of winter one-derland would be complete without one right?

So this is what we ended up with:

Food: We went with some winter wonderland themed treats

A veggie snowman

Every party needs a healthy snack tray and so took a wintery twist and used the veggies to make a snowman. As dog owners we know there is always some yellow snow to avoid so we added in some yellow peppers

Cranberry brie bites

Is there anything that says the holidays more than cranberry brie bites. Super simple to make and absolutely delicious

Christmas tree pull apart cheese balls

This was the bread and butter of the day. I had a vision to create cheese balls from pizza dough and bake them in the shape of a Christmas tree – this one took the most time and effort (remember a friend telling me to focus on one big item) well this was it and they were worth the effort.

snowflake cookies

Sugar cookies are always a delicious treat to add to the dessert table and so I baked and decorated 50 sugar cookies – we had left overs for Christmas so that was great.

We also set up

Hot chocolate bar

It was my dream to have a hot coco bar and wanted this to be a highlight feature.

We made the hot chocolate in an instant pot so it would stay warm throughout the evening and had some toppings like marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate chips, and some Baileys for the adults.

Decorations: It is easy to create a winter one-derland with decorations we already had

We kept everything simple and winter themed but there were a few highlights that I absolutely loved that really personalized the decorations.

We created a personalized banner with pictures through the months. Another favourite for me was we create a Max’s First Year poster, showcasing some of his accomplishments in his first year.

Overall it was honestly the most special day and to see our little one so excited to smash his cake, play with friends, and open gifts was incredible. But I my top tip for planning the best birthday party is don’t stress it mama. I was so nervous and stressed leading up to the big day. Did we have enough food? Were his friends going to have fun playing with the toys in the house? Were there enough decorations?

And then I realized that none of that mattered. It was all about friends and family coming together to celebrate Max. So just enjoy this special day mama’s, because after all your first baby only gets one first birthday.

xo

Mia