STEPH CORKER IRWiN!

Clean the Shoot…Change your Life!

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:32:34 +0000

*NOTE: this blog post is far too graphic and totally inappropriate for male readers. Or better yet, it is probably far too much information for a man or a woman. Perhaps your interest is piqued? Perhaps it is best to close this blog and go google something else…but my friends, I had an experience that deserves to be shared….

Are you sure you really wanna read about this?

…..

You can turn around now…..

……

Just sayin’: you were warned!

Hydro-Colonoscopy! CHANGED! MY! LIFE! (or in the very least, my insides!)
Did you know your colon is FIVE feet long? It is one of the largest internal organs and is closely linked to our brains. It doesn’t get a very good cleaning and typically houses the crap, no pun intended, that our bodies cannot use. Well, let me tell you – 18L of water later, I felt like a different human being.

Tony the great Robbins often speaks about cleansing your mind, body and soul and kick starting that with a colon cleanse. While I appreciated the idea of what he was getting to, lying on a table to allow someone else to perform said-procedure just felt a lil wrong. And two years after searching for just the right experience in Vancouver, one of the coolest people i know (this is where hyperlinking is not appropriate!) exclaimed with JOY that she had her poop shoot cleaned!

So picture this: you are lying on a surf board with a hole large enough for your patoot that sits directly above the toilet. A wee perforated tube (about the diameter of a straw) gets inserted and proceeds to pump 18L of warm water through all 5feet of colon muscle. All water and excess debris exits the body in approximately 30minutes and you stand up feeling like you just finished the Wild Rose Cleanse or did a month of abs.

I left with a new appreciation for everything that I consume and how it either feeds my body or sticks to my colon. I also left with a mind free of food cravings of any nature. In fact, all I fancied was cucumber water and a handful of spinach. This is what was most fascinating to me: to learn how food molecules breakdown and stick to our colons…our brain remembers the pattern in which those molecules (good or bad) attach themselves and then requests that the pattern be repeated. For example: eat a simply carbohydrate, follow it with a simple sugar, both are bad…and then repeat. GACK.

Anyway. I could go on. But I won’t. In my glee of excitement going back for water-party-poop-shoot #2, this crazy story came up at my Bro’s house warming party – in the kitchen of course – and I promised I would blog about it. So ladies, this is for you:)

Teri is your gal! She can be reached via phone 604-732-4101 or email info@highersource.ca
ENJOY;)

Juan de FabFuca: Day3

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:38:46 +0000

The last day – it was rather bitter sweet – my shoulders were definitely ready to no longer carry a pack, but I didn’t want this hike to be over!

Day3: Sombrio Beach to Botanical Beach – 48km + 2km into town

Gooood Morning Day3 - it's SO nice to meet you!

After a walk on the rocks, we found the cliff-to-climb to get back to the trail...(this picture does not do it justice!)

Mid-Climb; Mid-Smile!

Seriously....the waves, the ocean, the rocks...un-believable!

50km later, The End.

I realize these pictures hardly do it justice. The peace, the beauty, the hikes up the hills…it’s a hike worth doing!

Juan de FabFuca: Day 2!

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:35:15 +0000

I’m pretty sure I was out cold by 9pm on night one and did not budge an eyelid open until 8:30AM the following morning! That was nearly 3 nights of sleep from the week prior and felt soo heavenly! (Unlike some unbelievable human beings, I clearly love retina rest!)

Day two started with delicious bowls of oatmeal, americanos and tent collapsing. With a much shorter day on the horizon, we were keen to keep it relaxed.

Day 2: Chin Beach to Sombrio – 8km (HA!) The goal was to get 14km, but at 8km it simply looked far too nice to carry on:)

Morning smiles!

First river crossing of the day - can you see Hawaii in the distance?

Trekking on the very edge of the west coast with the most beautiful beach (Sombrio) in the near distance!

Love this Man! Love this backdrop!

Love my life!

Loved the beach even more than the view of the beach and decided what’s 4km between friends – Sombrio for the night was where we were pitchin’ the tent! 1pm and the day of hiking was over! Yipppeeeeeeeee!

I proceeded to practice savasana for the afternoon on a bed of rocks...

...while Doug made fires!

We marked our territory! Watched the SUPers in action, ate dinner on the beach and watched the sun set on a day of total relaxed, unplugged, BLiSS!

It felt like the most perfect Saturday, in the most beautiful place on earth. Only downside to Sombrio Beach is that it is very accessible by locals, so it was not the most secluded beach we came across on the journey, but that’s okay!

Rested and recovered, we had 20km to go on Day3…

Juan de FabFuca: Day1

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:56:25 +0000

Hiking along the western coast has been a dream since moving to the left coast and hence the Juan de Fuca trail making the Bucket List (#28, don’tcha know!)…and cross that one off the list. Sunday evening, we emerged from the woods from three awesome days on the trail. The pain in my neck from my hefty pack has disappeared, so in my attempt to keep this dream top of mind, I’m going to share my day-by-day accounts. I took far too many pictures and simply had far too good a time to keep this one short.

Here’s the journey in photos – hope it inspires you to chuck a pack on your pack or simply lace up your trail runners (to those crazy ultra types!) for a beautiful 47km trek!

Day #1: China Beach to Chin Beach – 21km

The day started bright and early at 5AM as we bundled into the car to head for the ferry and then drive out to Jordan River. We finally hit the trail head at 11AM at kilometer zero.

Bear Beach: first beach crossing - more sand than rocks - heavy pack & blue skies!

Most delish lunch: pita/pb/gorp!

A wee river crossing - chasing the red markers hanging in the trees!

Stunning views as we pranced along the shore line...this implied it was "flat". (Unlike the climbs/descends of the final 11km!)

I dare not show you our faces when we finally made it to camp at 8pm on Day1. Let's just say dumping these packs was a welcomed treat!

What can be cooler than catching your water from a waterfall flowing thru a tree stump? Freshly pumped chilled water after a long day of hiking - perfect hydration!

The day ended just before dusk, on the windy beach where we set up our tent inhaled our dehydrated dinner and quickly proceeded to hit the hay. We had the “most difficult” (as per BC Parks) section out of the way, and two full days left to enjoy the remainder of the trail.

Little did we know just how “awesome” we’d feel in the morning…

TeamFab is off to the FabFuca!

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:01:35 +0000

We started packing tonight: packs, dinners, clif bars, books, head lamps, tent, sleeping bags, crib board and a box of wine – we should be set.

Juan de Fuca – we are coming for a walk in the woods this weekend (whilist crossin’ another one off the Bucket List, don’t mind if I do!) WoooooHoooooo!!

Living the Good Good Life…

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:27:53 +0000

I question if one could ever get sick of this sunshine? It is perfectly hot (not too humid), perfectly clear blue skies, frankly – it’s perfectly summer! And as I sit here on a warm Sunday evening, I’m thinkin’ that i lived this sunshinin’ weekend up to the max: from a kickin’ morning bike ride with SuzG & her partner in crime, to QT at the beach and a BBQ at home with my Man on Saturday; and the Grouse frickin’ Grind four times, ocean swimming and patio time on Sunday.

I’m so insanely grateful for Elevated heart beats, Amazing human beings, in the most Beautiful place on earth. The only thing missing is my family who is sweltering on the other side of the country.

I'm also grateful this crazy Ontario-ite decided to call North Van home! She is indeed, the parter-in-crime. (But don't tell her coach we had a photo shoot on our "ocean swim"!)

Come on Fam, don'tcha wanna float like beached whales at our favorite secret beach!

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent (read: heart beat, smile or untapped adventure!) left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me”.

- Erma Bombeck

The gift of a lifetime: swimming.

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 05:21:42 +0000

Dear Mom & Dad -

It finally feels like summer on the west coast – it was a hot and sunshining day today, so I did just as you would do, and went out for an adventure after work! I headed down to our favorite secret beach in West Vancouver, where the beach is rocky, the ocean is chilly and the view is perfect.

one or the money…two for the show…three to get ready…and four, to, go! 5 strokes later, goosebumps et al (wetsuit was at home!), I was reminded of endless days jumping off of docks, getting thrown off of tubes, early morning swim practices and weekends full of swim meets.

And as I chased the sun around the island, I was so thankful for the fact that while I’ve never been the fastest and never first – I knew how to stay afloat, I knew how to swim. Swimming has taught me about setting goals and chasing dreams; it has taught me about exiting the water early in a triathlon and suffering through later on the run and that’s perfectly great; it has taught me that crazy, wild adventures happen if you jump into the deep end and kick hard with a smile; and it has taught me that prancing around in a bathing suit with chubby legs is okay because they can swim longer than some people can run!

As I swam back to shore, I was so totally grateful for sunshine filled, ocean swimming adventures as a result of your copious hours, dollars and heart beats invested in my chlorinated childhood. Life is better where it’s wetter!

Love you both…XO.

Sunshine + Gelato!

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:56:15 +0000

It’s time for gelato cones and sweaty night runs, picnics at the beach and repeats on the grouse grind…hello vitamin D, it is soo nice to see you!

The Best of Oregon (err, the Farmer’s Market!), circa2010

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:28:44 +0000

“Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants; cant’s into cans; dreams into plans; and plans into reality. Don’t just think it – ink it!” – Unknown

But dreams? Could it be true? BUT OF COURSE! Dreams are simply goals without timeframes and my bucket list is just that. 100 dreams – some much bigger than others – of things I wanted to do/see/experience/have before I die. And this bucket is gettin’ crossed off…

#29 – Weekend getaway to Portland Oregon – WOOT WOOT!

In my dreams, I imagined going to Portland to see heaps of bikes and experience the coolest farmer’s market i had heard of. It got even better when Jo was up for an adventure! Two chics, two dogs, camping stuff (just in case we felt inspired to sleep in a tent, ya know) and a simple agenda: cross something off of our bucket list.

The Best of the Farmer’s Market – definitely vying for “Best Farmer’s Market, ever!” :

1. Berries GALORE. Everywhere, every variety, big and juicy.

2. Two Tarts is actually 6 chics who make delicious basil macaroons & other sweet treats.

3. Dudes buying fresh flowers? Hollla! (And check out those peonies!)

4. Beans, Beans, Beans!

5. Fresh Walnuts - straight from the tree. (Also got a lesson in how these lil nuts grow!)

6. A lil quotation inspiration at the fresh pasta stand? Naturally!

7. The MOST delicious fresh bread we have ever tasted! Baker: "well, that is what happens when you bake it in the morning"

8. Portland Recycles!

9. Homemade IceCream Sandwiches should obviously be at every market!

10. The Bucket is Fillin' Up: #29 - CHECK!

Other very honorable mentions of awesomeness in Oregon:

* Ace Hotel – the most charming boutique hotel i’ve ever stay at.

And they allow dogs!

* Stumptown Coffee – really darn delicious!

* Astoria – cutest lil quaint town, with a great bike shop, an awesome coffee shop and a farmer’s market the day after Portland’s! Jo purchased a new road bike here – cross that one off the bucket list!

* Seaside Beach – Beautiful! AND, dogs can run free! (Watch out for Clammers on your morning barefoot run, don’t mind if you do!)

The Perfect Picnic!

Best Adventure Buddies!

* Did i mention no tax? Holla!

It was the most perfect weekend – Girl’s Weekends just might have made the annual requirements list! And JoJo is definitely my favorite adventure buddy! Running bare foot on the beach, drinking Starbucks for dinner and driving 6 hours “just because”….thanks girlfriend!

It’s a WONDER, FULL Life!

Stephanie Corker Irwin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 05:20:55 +0000

I must admit it – some of my favorite days are the days I get to share a blog post with whoever may want to read it. Because that usually implies awesomeness has ensued – so awesome i fact that I want to share the goodness with you. But lately, I’ve been hangin’ on to moments of sleep on the ride of the most WONDER, FULL life…

Let me tell you where I’ve been since we last met on line here:

* Experienced the deliciousness of Cafe Nuba – highly recommended and added to the list of Favs, fo’sho.

* My Man decided that running around the sea wall after work would be fun in the sun: awwesome!

* Made my first ever gluten-free, sugar-free, totally delicious quinoa choco birthday cake with greek yog + raspberries on top.

* Road trip to Oregon with this cool cat: cross that one off the bucket list – Heck Yes! (The Best Of will be published this weekend)

* Rocked the Grouse Grind with the Appleton Grind-Virgins…they broke a sweat while sending text messages *gasp*.

* Danced on the grass with cool chics at Lilith Fair while Sarah & Sheryl rocked out, but more importantly, Sugarland bounced her crazay self around stage and Erika busted a move. *Estrogen-Fest 2010 – swoon*

* Caught wind that NoMoSolo was being voted by Georgia Straight’s “Best of Vancouver: non-internet dating service”...without even being live. *Sparked the Fire – heard ya Vancouver!* Made my heart smile real big.

…and now it is July! We are half way through 2010. Can you believe it? Life really is WONDER, FULL, eh