Ricky Shetty's Blog, page 9

Family Travel Bloggers – Round-The-World Trip

Finally! We are heading off on our Round-The-World (RTW) Adventure on Wed, Dec 7, 2016 with our first stop in Manila, Philippines to celebrate Anne’s Parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary. We will be in Manila for Christmas and New Years as well as doing some Island Hopping in Bohol and Camiguin. From the Philippines, we will be visiting Anne’s brother in Hong Kong while doing our first family trip to Disneyland. From Hong Kong, we will be visiting Anne’s sister in Dubai. Then, it’s off to South Africa travelling overland from Johannesberg to Cape Town as well as doing an African Safari. Lastly, we will be making our way through South America, Central America, and North America. The only 2 continents we are leaving out are Europe and Australia (I’ve been to both before so we will save these 2 places for a future trip). This will be an amazing learning opportunity for our kids while at the same time bringing our family closer together. We will be doing a combination of family sightseeing as well as learning about the local food, culture, and history. We will focus on integrating into local culture by taking public transport, staying at Airbnbs, and exploring off-the-beaten path non-touristy areas. We’d also love to meet more locals so please let us know who you know while we are on the road! Here is our general route (might change based on circumstances Philippines (Manila, Bohol, Camiguin, Tagatay, Corregidor) China (Hong Kong, Macau) UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) South Africa (Johannesberg, Kruger National Park, Cape Town) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Peru) Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Belize) North America (Mexico, US, Canada) We will be updating our social media regularly as well as adding lots of videos on our YouTube Channel so please follow the links below: Facebook Fan Page Twitter Instagram YouTube Channel What are YOUR big travel plans for 2017? Leave us a comment and let us know!!

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Cozy Cabins Nature Resort

Every summer, our family loves taking road trips. Last year, we did the Cascade Loop, Vancouver Island, and Northern BC. This year was the Sunshine Coast, the Coast Mountain Loop, and the Okanagan. We travelled around the Okanagan a few years ago with just our daughter before Ryan and Renzo were born and have been wanting to go back ever since! This year, we got an invite to stay at the beautiful Cozy Cabins Nature Resort from my friend Erik Hatterscheidt, the President of Basic Bananas Canada. Erik’s parents Harald and Kim have owned Cozy Cabins for the past 20 years and are one of the most hospitable couples we have ever met. Honestly, this was one of our best vacations yet as it was a time of deep connection with my wife and kids away from technology and enjoying nature and family! Cozy Cabins is about an hour east of Vernon near the town of Lumby and is a good getaway from the summer vacation crowds who flock to Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Osoyoos, and the rest of the Okanagan while still being close enough to explore the area on day trips (we visited Kelowna City Park, Kangaroo Creek Farm, and O’Keefe Ranch during our trip). Here are our top 5 reasons for staying at Cozy Cabins: 1) AMAZING HOSPITALITY  It’s very rare in this day and age of commercial tourism to get the intimate and personal hospitality that Harald and Kim provide. In the summers, they have a weekly communal meal and often Harald will take kids on the RV around the resort. They raised their 3 kids on the resort and love hosting young families such as ours. Plus, Harald and Kim know the area extremely well since they have lived here for over 20 years so they give you lots of tips about sightseeing and exploring. Here is an interview with the owners Harald and Kim: 2) INCREDIBLE SERENITY No TV, no Cell Phones, and no Internet. Yes, no technology whatsover…just nature and family. It’s been a while since we have taken a “Tech-free” vacation…actually, it might be the first time we were entirely tech-free during our entire stay! Since there is no cell or wifi, you can’t “cheat” or “check our emails and social media quickly.” You really realize that you don’t need to check the internet, emails, and social media as you tend to do living in the city. Instead, […]

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Coast Mountain Loop

So far, it’s been a great summer in Vancouver! After almost a week of rain, this week has been sunny and warm so we decided to do the Coast Mountain Loop! We will be driving from Vancouver to Pemberton, taking a small 2 cabin sightseeing train to Lillooet, then to Lytton back to Vancouver. This is the first time we are going to do this loop so it should be exciting with lots of surprises and fun activities for the kids along the way! Each summer, we focus on doing new trips we have not tried before and this summer we get to add the Coast Mountain Loop to our completed road trip archive! With 3 kids, we always try to pack light! Having travelled a lot in my 20’s, I am a huge fan of packing just what we need. In fact, we will be driving a compact car from Chevy that we are doing a review of (Yes, the 3 car seats do fit even though it’s a tight squeeze for the kiddos). This time, we are not bringing any strollers, just our 1 small bag with clothes and a cooler with some food and snacks! That’s how we roll! This will be little Renzo’s first major road trip – pretty adventurous for a 3 month old! As we pack, I have to consider comfort and ease as we will be driving for hours and not to mention running after the kids as soon as we unbuckle them from their car seats. My go-to staples have always been comfy shorts and t-shirts. These shorts from House of Fraser is definitely a good choice from dads who like to be fit and fashionable while not sacrificing comfort. Nothing beats the heat like this t-shirt and short combo. Easy, stylish, and comfy!  I am excited to make wonderful memories with my family on this trip. I anticipate the drive to be spectacular with amazing views and picturesque landscapes of beautiful British Columbia! Make sure you follow us on Social Media for some pictures and videos from the trip. Have a great summer!!   

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Visit Downtown Langley This Summer – The 2016 McBurney Plaza Summer Series

The Greater Vancouver Area has a lot to offer to families this summer.  We are very lucky to be living in Vancouver where almost every city is busy organizing great events for families. We even have a hard time putting all these activities on our family schedule.  There’s nothing we would want to miss!! The city of Langley is quite special to us.  Visiting its downtown core brings us back down memory lane. Downtown Langley is home to over 500 unique shops, services and restaurants. This pedestrian-oriented shopping area features free parking, and includes historic Innes Corners, trendy McBurney Plaza. My wife enjoys a leisurely stroll through this beautiful area, you’ll find handmade giftware, jewellery, fine art, fabulous clothing and footwear, unique housewares, hand crafted furniture, antiques and a variety of other fabulous items that you won’t find anywhere else. Perhaps it’s time to take the whole family back to Downtown Langley and we are just so excited for all the events they have this summer! This Summer,  McBurney Plaza is hosting fun and educational summer events for kids. See details below. McBurney Plaza Summer Series: When: July 9th, 23rd August 6th & September 17, 2016 Time: noon – 3pm Where: McBurney Plaza Address: 20518 Fraser Hwy, Langley Website: For a complete schedule visit http://www.downtownlangley.com/events... Big Top in the Plaza (July 9th, Saturday): Inner Ring Circus presents “Cause & Effect Circus”. The West Coast’s favourite jugglers have teamed up to create an award winning show packed with high level circus skills. Visit Scruffles the Clown as he twists up his amazing balloon creations, and come see if you have what it takes to learn how to juggle.  Enjoy popcorn, face painting and more! Show Schedule: 12:30PM: Inner Ring Circus presents Cause & Effect Circus (www.innerringcircus.ca) 1:30PM: Inner Ring Circus presents Cause & Effect Circus 2:30PM: Inner Ring Circus presents Cause & Effect Circus 12:00PM – 3:00PM: Scruffles the Clown (www.scrufflestheclown.com) 12:00PM – 3:00PM: Face Painting by Catz Faces (www.catzfaces.com) 12:00PM – 3:00PM: Inner Ring Circus Interactive Juggling Tent Music in the Plaza (July 23rd, Saturday): Who has four strings, a Juno nomination, and calls Langley his hometown? That’s right, world renowned ukulele virtuoso James Hill!  Toes will be tapping in McBurney Plaza as James Hill, and the incredibly talented ‘cellist-turned-songwriter’ Anne Janelle, take the stage in McBurney Plaza for this free outdoor concert. Arrive early and visit the musical playground, filled with unique instruments made from salvaged and upcycled […]

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Whistler Children’s Festival 2016

Our family loves to go on “staycations” and Whistler is always on top of our list whether it is during the winter season or summer. With the picturesque scenery driving up the Sea to Sky highway and a few look out stops, it’s always a joy for Anne, the kids, and I to take some time off to relax and enjoy a taste of this beautiful province. It really feels like a different world and it’s only a day trip away or an overnight journey if you want to enjoy for longer! This year, Whistler will be celebrating for the 33rd year, the Whistler Children’s Festival happening this weekend, July 8-10 2016 Friday 5 pm – 8 pm Kick-off Dance Party, Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 4 pm) at the Whistler Olympic Plaza, in the heart of Whistler Village. We went to one in 2014 and Rianne and Ryan definitely had a blast. It definitely will be a fun packed weekend for the kids with free activities, arts and crafts workshops for all ages and amazing performers!! The Whistler Children’s festival  is the only child-focused summer festival in the region. This festival provides a dynamic, unique cultural experience for both residents and visiting families with a goal to foster youth engagement through experiential learning, and this goal is accomplished each year through live performances, free activities, and a diverse offering of hands-on creative workshops. The Whistler Children’s Festival has been an incubator of emerging performers and artists who have gone on to continue their creative work in many other areas. So, if you have no plans yet for this weekend, this will be an awesome place to take the kids!        

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Baby Renzo – Global Video Release

It’s been ONE MONTH since Baby Renzo’s Birth on Friday, May 6, 2016 at 8:30 am at Burnaby General Hospital. Renzo has been growing bigger and bigger. Renzo’s older siblings Rianne and Ryan love playing with him and they LOVE him so so so much. It’s amazing to see our 3 kids interacting and connecting even though they are all under 5 years old. One of our passions at Daddy Blogger is to capture the special moments and leave a legacy for our kids that lives beyond us. We are creating Family Memories through these Blog Posts, Social Media, our YouTube Channel, Pictures, and Videos. Recently, we teamed up with Sarah Lipi from Doc Me Productions to create an AMAZING VIDEO of Baby Renzo’s Birth which includes Anne’s Surprise Baby Shower, the Birth, and the Welcome Home. We filmed with a combination of Smart Phone, Facebook Live Video, DSLR, and GoPro. Here is a Sneak Peek:  

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Social Media Mastery Conference 2016

Looking forward to seeing everyone at our second annual Social Media Mastery Conference! Last year, we had 220 people and this year our goal is to get over 300 guests attending. Next year, we are going BIGGER at #SMMastery at Canada Place in March 2017. Social Media Mastery, Blog Mastery, and Internet Marketing Mastery are all owned and operated by YVR Conferences which is an Event Production Company which puts on various Conferences, Workshops, and Events in Vancouver.  This year’s #SMMastery features “The 5 Steps to Social Media Success” which includes: 1) STRATEGY – Shane Gibson 2) FOLLOWING – Avi Arya 3) MANAGEMENT – Katt Stearns 4) ENGAGEMENT – Jonathan Christian 5) CONVERSION – Matt Astifan Also, we will be having 2 panels: a) Social Media Platforms Panel (featuring Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google Plus, YouTube, Blab, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Periscope) b) Corporate Panel (featuring Flight Centre, Blenz, SPUD, Vancity Buzz, and The Province) Make sure you register with promo code “DaddyBlogger” to get 50% off: http://www.YVRConferences.com

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Mothers Day – Gift Idea

Dads aren’t always the best at remembering Mother’s Day and it’s sometimes difficult to find the right gift. However, this Mother’s Day, we can remember to make sure the special women in our lives get a gift worth remembering: a personalized message from the kids that will automatically be delivered to her on Mother’s Day.  Zang’s “Forget Me Not” service allows users to pre-record and schedule a personalized message for Mom that is delivered right to her phone, for free. “Forget Me Not” will even leave the message as a voice mail if Mom is unavailable, allowing her to listen to it over and over again. This is also the perfect option for dads that may be overseas or in the military and are unable to call personally. The service is easy to use and is available at http://www.zang.io/callmom.

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Nutrition Facts Table – Do you know how to read it?

This year, I’ve made a commitment to take charge of my health.  I admit, I am not the healthiest but I’ve made a conscious decision to be healthier! And this campaign  by the Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC), in a joint effort between Health Canada, Retail Council of Canada (RCC), the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), the Nutrition Facts Education Campaign (NFEC) is perfect to increase every Canadians’, including myself, awareness, use and understanding of the Serving Size and % Daily Value (% DV), on the Nutrition Facts table (NFt), to help make informed food choices for their families. This is so important! Honestly, I never knew how to read the nutrition facts on the labels until now.  Thanks to them for educating me and my family.  We can now make more informed choices when we go grocery shopping. So, how do you actually read it? These visuals will help you better understand how. 1) Start with the Serving Size 2) Use % daily value 3) And most importantly, look at the Nutrients! Now what? I think this is the best part! You get to compare products and see which is more nutritius and healthier! And then…compare serving size on the NFt table to the amount you eat. It’s that easy! To know more, make sure you visit https://www.canada.ca/NutritionFacts Here’s also a video from the event held at Save On Foods in Vancouver – https://youtu.be/b6bFrKoCoLc

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February Heart Month

My wife and I are always worried about the health and well-being of our aging parents. Anne’s family lives in the Philippines and mine are here in Vancouver. Anne keeps regularly communication with her mom and dad however I can always see the sad look in her eyes when she hears that her parents are having health challenges. In the past, she’s been tempted to want to jump on a plane just so she can see her mom and dad again. The last time we visited was for Rianne’s first birthday in May 2013. I was recently contact by the team at Bayer regarding their new Aspirin 81 mg Awareness Campaign and felt this would be a great fit for our Daddy Blogger readers since, like Anne and I, I’m sure you are just as worried about the health of your aging parents and loved ones. Have you had “the Heart Attack Talk” with your loved ones yet? If you find it awkward to bring up the subject, you might like to do it while cooking a meal together or while driving or over a nice cup of coffee. Here are some tips that may help you when discussing the issue with your loved ones. In the event of a heart attack, call 911, then crush or chew two ASPIRIN® 81mg tablets, it may help save your life or the life of someone you love. One heart attack occurs every seven minutes in Canada, with an estimated 70,000 heart attacks annually. So in the short time you take to read this blog post, it’s very likely there has been one heart attack somewhere in Canada. A recent survey by Vision Critical found that while 75 per cent of Canadians feel they know the signs of a heart attack, however only 10 per cent of those were able to correctly identify the correct symptoms when asked.       Of course, it is key to know the signs of a heart attack in order to be prepared. Some of these signs are:  chest discomfort  upper body discomfort (including discomfort in the arms, jaw, neck and back)  shortness of breath  sweating and nausea  light-headedness Here’s some interesting stats found by Vision Critical:    A new survey conducted by Vision Critical and commissioned by Bayer Inc. found that 74 per cent of Canadians aged 18-54 agree that their concern for […]

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