Peak Physique is the latest and the greatest  fitness centre  in St. Paul.   St. Paul is considered  the centre of the Lakeland but ironically never had a “centre”.  Lac La Biche has the Bold Centre, Cold Lake has the Energy Centre, Bonnyville has the C2 Centre.  Now St. Paul has the Peak Physique Centre and all is right with the world!  If you are a personal trainer or fitness instructor looking for more clients and classes give Bob or  Denise  a call  (780) 615-7325.  Peak Physique is located on main street across from Ideal Carpets – 5018-50 st. St. Paul, Alberta.

 Without further adieu let me introduce to you……. PEAK PHYSIQUE Gym and Fitness Centre.   

www.peakphysiquegym.ca

Merry Christmas is easy to say for most people not so much for me and I’ll tell you why.  I wasn’t raised with Christmas. We never believed Christ was born on Christmas Day.  In fact we believed he was born “In the beauty of the Autumn Christ was born across the sea”  That’s a song we used to sing in Church.  So for me to say Merry Christmas is  just a mouth full of awkwardness. I’d much rather say Happy New Year!” or ”Happy Holidays!” and mean it .  I wonder how many people really understand or believe what they say, or do they just say it because everyone else is. Even now after 29 years of being married and Celebrating Christmas with my husband and his family, I still don’t know what to believe.  Well, that’s not really true.  I guess if I think about it deep down in my core I don’t believe  Christ was born on December 25.  But I will tell you what I do believe.  I believe in family, love, and spending time together during the Christmas season.  If for nothing else Christmas means taking time out of our busy lives, sitting down around the dinner table to share the  love of food, & family.  Most importantly relaxing  into happy memories.

Just because we  didn’t celebrate  Christmas growing up doesn’t mean I don’t have happy memories.  We had Christmas holidays like everyone else.  We played together outside building snow forts and having snowball fights.   We stayed up late watching movies and  slept in till noon.  Never spent money we didn’t have, no stress, no expectations, or family fueds. I never had to worry about what to buy for who, what to eat when, or who’s house to visit .   We ate caramel popcorn, Christmas candy and Japanese Oranges.  The oranges were a delicious treat.  We would twist each end of the little green papers they were wrapped in, lay it over the orange and roll it across the floor .  It was our  little wind up toy.  And my favorite Christmas candy was the  little waffle squares that tasted like cloves.   Now  a days the candy  all tastes the same, the Japanese oranges aren’t as  sweet and we have no snow!!

Enjoy Christmas and have a happy New Year!

Happy Hanukkah! (hebrew)

A Blythe Yule an a Guid Hogmanay (Scottish)

Becky

Historic?  Does that make me historical? Hmmm.  I took a trip down memory lane yesterday and visited the Vilna Pool Hall. Yes indeed!  Skipped a few math classes to hang out at the pool hall.  Never actually played any pool but I played the juke box and I could sure light up the pin ball machine!  I can still hear that beautiful “ping ping” sound as those shiny steel balls ricocheted everywhere. And if I remember correctly my sister was the reigning  foosball champion.  I just walked away from that one.  I knew she’d kick my butt!  This was in the 70’s when the pool hall was filled with high school kids and cigarette smoke.  But way before my time, in the 30’s and 40’s it was a prime male hang out.  Girls seldom entered, only peeked through the windows so see which boys were there.  The men spent a lot of their  free time in the pool hall placing bets, rackin’ em up, and fist fighting.  Aaahh …. the good ol’ days!

Today, the Vilna pool hall is the oldest operating pool hall and barbershop in the province.  It was built in 1921 and thanks to the “Friends of the Pool Hall Society”, it has been fully restored and is available for private events as well as open to the public for a friendly game of pool.  I had the VIP treatment when I was there!  Judy and her husband were my tour guides and my personal  photographer!  

Did you know you can pick up a Walking Tour  Guide book from the pool hall and learn about the  true Alberta boom-town.  I think it is one of the best self guided tour booklets I’ve come across.  It was  really worth the trip for me,  going down memory lane.  In fact I learned more yesterday about my own home town of Vilna then I ever knew before.  Pretty interesting.  Getting older is great because I probably wouldn’t of cared about the history of Vilna, nor appreciated it like I do now.  Wow, I really grew up and went to school in a pretty cool little town. Hmm, who knew!

Think snow!

Becky

Historic Vilna Pool Hall - 12' Brunswick Balke Collender Snooker Table - Snooker anyone?

On October 15 , I learned  a valuable life lesson…..I learned  I am better than I thought I was!  I think all of us…you and me ….. don’t give ourselves enough credit sometimes.  My lesson came in the way of a  marathon, the Iron Horse Ultra 100 full marathon.  I fell short of my training  as I injured my foot and it set me back big time.  Couldn’t run for 7 weeks and new I wasn’t going to be able to do the full marathon.  Then I was asked to join one of the relay teams and run leg 3.  I was a nervous wreck waiting for my leg 2 runner to come in.  Jumping up and down trying to keep warm  and trying to decide….do I wear my coat, not wear my coat, take my water, don’t take my water…..oohhh gotta pee….ooohh…to late, here comes my leg 2 runner! Shit…..oohh, no turning back now & off I went….and guess what….I had an awesome run !  I felt strong and free and soooo invigorated!  I couldn’t believe I did it,  I couldn’t believe I finished it!   This was a big WOW moment for me.  The valuable life lesson for all of us is the only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves.  If I hadn’t been a part of the relay team I would of never known  my full potential. So….Thank You Relay Team!!!!  YOU ROCK!! 

 Look at the  beautiful countryside!  Who wouldn’t want to run the Iron Horse Ultra 100 with scenery like this!  Soooo breathtaking!!  We may not have iconic  Rocky Mountains but we have majestic Moose Mountain, the North Saskatchewan River, and the infamous Butt Crack Hill.

I am lovin’ the Lakeland  Country Landscape!

Happy Trails!!

Becky

I’ve been on a big adventure……a culinary quest  adventure right here in my own back yard and your own back yard too if you leave in the Lakeland.  I’ve been  to a few Farmer’s Markets in my days but none so amazing as the Lac La Biche Farmer’s Market.  It’s so rich in ethnic diversity it’s  like a field trip of learning and tasting  delicious cultural foods.

From my everyday ordinary I found 3 extra-ordinary White Russian women doing what the love, growing their business’s by baking their hearts out for you  every week, year round at the Farmer’s Market.  I’ve been told these two business’s – Christy’s Bakery and Homemade Delights are one of the biggest reasons the Market is so successful.  People can’t seem to get enough of the delicious vegan breads, pastries, meat pockets.  I was an hour late for the market and I had to really hurry…. no time for idle chit chat, the tables were already half empty.  I couldn’t believe how fast their food was selling, until I tasted it.  It was then that I realized…..HOLY CRAP This is Good!! and I wanted more.  More to take home to my family and  friends!  I want to spread the word of how delicious  their food is.  Hard to explain the difference between ordinary food and extra-ordinary food until you taste it yourself.  You have to go to this market and see for yourself how wonderful it really is!  Buy some meat pockets for your kids school lunches or  for the grab and go before hockey practice.  Pick up the most tender, light and fluffy vegan bread pastries and enjoy them with a cup of steamy hot tea on a chilly Fall afternoon….. Aaaahhh….. I’m salivating already, or should I say….again!

You can shop the Lac La Biche Farmer’s Market every Friday and you can also preorder from Christy’s Bakery and Homemade Delights and pick it up right at there door.

Check out the Lac La Biche Ag Society at www.laclabiche.agsociety.com  for all events and activities, including the Farmer’s Market.

Place your orders with Christina at Christy’s Bakery (780) 798-2377

Place your orders with Rose at Homemade Delights (780) 798-3383

You can thank me later : ))

Happy Trails!

Becky

I’m sure everyone has heard of the historical Iron Horse Trail.  A 300km railroad that unfolds across Northeast Alberta and has been a part of Alberta’s History and landscape since 1920.  The Iron Horse Trail has been transformed into a multi-use trail, open year round and only accessible for hikers, walkers, runners, cycling, horses, ATVs and snowmobiles.  No vehicles allowed on this trail.  www.ironhorsetrail.ca .  Now instead of  hearing the train a  coming, rolling round the bend blowing its  lonesome whistle, you hear families on quads and the laughter of  children as they enjoy the beautiful  sights and sounds on the Iron Horse Trail.

Now, have you heard of Geocaching?  It is quite simply treasure hunting with a GPS.  There is a website www.geocaching.com  . Sign up for free and let the games begin!  You’d  be surprised to see how many geocaches there are  in your own community.  That alone is pretty cool…cause after all someone had to plant them, but who?  It’s like a little secret society of competitiveness and code names.    What I like about Geocaching is that it takes you outside, exploring and hunting for hidden “treasures” or caches using only your GPS coordinates, which you get off the Geocaching website.   You’re having fun, enjoying Mother Nature and learning a new skill!    Did you know  in the Lakeland we  have some hardcore enthusiasts who go all through the night on the hunt for their Geocache treasure!  I find that fascinating!!  Who does that!   Talk about brain power concentration and determination! 

The Iron Horse Trail is considered a Power Trail, a grab and go for Geocachers.  From Cold Lake to Abilene Junction there is 513 Geocaches .  By November 30, 2011 they anticipate 1500 plus Geocaches planted, which would make this a World Record for the Longest Geocache in the World!  More history made on the Iron Horse Trail!

Geocaching is a great way to explore  Alberta’s Lakeland!

Happy trails!!

Becky

Care to join  me in a Yoga class?  The  Fall sessions begin in September and registration is NOW! 

In every corner of the Lakeland there’s  a studio with qualified instructors eagerly waiting for you.  Don’t wait too long to register. Classes fill up fast! 

Yoga has been called the science of life as it promotes physical, mental, emotional & spiritual health.  There’s many different styles of Yoga each with huge benefits to your mind and body.  It’s amazing how great you look and feel when you introduce Yoga into your life.  The last time I took a Yoga class I felt long, lean and in line with my “self”.  I remember actually liking my body and having an overall sense of well being.  I suppose that is what being balanced feels like.  It’s time to incorporate Yoga back into my life, only this time I’m going to make it stick!  I’m gonna Yoga my runs, de-stress my life and stick my foot behind my head!

You will find the “BEST YOGA INSTRUCTORS” right here in the Lakeland.  Check out:

Thrive! … Naturally yoga and wellness studio in Lac La Biche at www.thrivenaturally.ca  (780) 213-calm(2256).  Serena is the Studio Director and is a ‘Certified Organic’ Fusion yogini.  “Serena inspired and transformed me from the inside out!

Yoga For You Studio in Bonnyville at www.yogaforyoubonnyville.com  (780) 826-3388.  Tracy is a Certified Instructor  who has expanded her studio for more space, new classes, and a larger studio  store for shopping!  “Tracy is an awesome instructor!”

Lakelands’ state of the art Fitness Facilities  also have Yoga classes starting in September.  In fact they host a wide variety of fitness classes, personal fitness trainers, and certified instructors.  These centres are a one stop shop!  Definitely worth checking out!!

 Bonnyville & District Centennial Centre www.centennialcentre.ca  (780) 812-3400   -  1-877-812-2740.

Cold Lake Energy Centre www.coldlake.com (780) 639-6400

Lloydminster Servus Sports Centre www.lloydminster.ca  (780) 875-4529

Lac La Biche County Bold Center www.boldcenter.ca   (780) 623-3829

Do you see what I mean?……You CAN create balance and breathe easy in the Lakeland!

CARPE DIEM!

Becky