See Dave Do

Author: Dave

  • Cooking With Yves

    Cooking With Yves

    Being the one that cooks at home, I’m always looking for new recipes and ingredients to try out in my food. Honestly, who wants to eat the same thing every week? Mel and I partnered up with Yves Veggie Cuisine to try out some of their products. I have never cooked or really had eaten any Veggie meat replacement product before so I really wasn’t sure what to expect. We made 2 recipes which you can find below including Pizza, Taco Salad. All of which way surpassed my expectations as far as taste and texture.

    CLASSIC VEGGIE PEPPERONI PIZZA

    First off was the Classic Veggie Pepperoni Pizza, I know what you’re thinking. But in all honesty we used the Yves Veggie Pepperoni was actually really good and since we made pizza more or less from scratch. It tasted like home! I would def make this again, and see how sometimes it’s hard to come up with things to cook when we have our vegetarian/vegan friends over. This is an easy alternative that everyone can enjoy!

    You can get the entire recipe –>HERE<–

     

    TACO SALAD

    This is a perfect meal to prep and put in the fridge for a quick grab and go meal for when you’re running late but still have to eat! Prep everything in a mason jar and get ready to be transported. I used the Yves Original Veggie Ground Round for this recipe. This was a product that really interested me as it tasted great and made the entire meal taste great and is a fantastic substitute for ground beef or pork in my opinion.

    You can get the entire recipe –>HERE<–

     

    Creamy Vegan Carbonara

     

    Carbonara has been by far my favourite pasta recipe to make and eat. So this was definitely one I HAD to try! Using some Yves Veggie Bacon to replace the normal bacon I would use to make this. It was a pretty easy recipe to follow, and although everything contained in the pasta was vegan, it tasted quite good. The consistency of the bacon is a little different from animal bacon but once cooked it’s very similar. Flavour wise, the carbonara tasted indeed like carbonara which is exactly what we were going for. For me at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. I would be more than happy to make this dish again, especially if i was having a dinner party with people that have dietary restrictions.

    You can get the entire recipe –>HERE<–

     

    Honestly, this was my first time cooking veggie/vegan food and I really wasn’t sure what I would think of it all going in. However, I will say i was pleasantly surprised at how good everything tasted despite my preconceived notions of what veggie/vegan food was supposed to taste like. It just goes to show you that if you’re willing to try you may find some hidden gems you never knew existed beforehand! I would encourage you guys to try out at least one of the above recipes and let me know what you think of them.

  • Away In Belize For The Holidays With #MDVP

    Away In Belize For The Holidays With #MDVP

    *** This post was made in generous partnership with: NEUTROGENA Canada and GAP. All thoughts and opinions are exclusively my own.

    As some of you may know, every year @Melhwang @Thelustlistt and @Thedunklistt and I get together and enjoy the holidays together. This year, we decided to split it up an do a two-part holiday, which included “Stay and Away.” Mostly because we are all very indecisive people that can’t make up our minds haha. We found an amazing deal online for a flight to Belize and that’s all we needed to help make-up our minds on where to go. All we knew is that we wanted to get out of the cold for a bit and enjoy some sunshine and warm weather before the snow began at home!

    I hadn’t heard much about Belize leading up to our trip, so I did what I do every time I travel somewhere new. RESEARCH! First off, the one thing that still sticks with me about our trip has to be how amazing Belizian people are. Always extremely friendly and accommodating and genuinely HAPPY people!

    So, what is there to do in Belize and why should you go? Well, there are a few reasons for both and it all depends on what you’re looking for in a destination. So I’m just going to let you know what we did and let you make your own decisions based on my experiences. We spent 10 days in Belize, specifically Sand Pedro Island, it wasn’t the beach vacation I had originally anticipated, however, Belize proved to have so much more to offer.

    Things to experience while in Belize:

     

    Catamaran Excursion

    Any time I go down south to the Caribbean specifically any beach destinations, the excursion I ALWAYS recommend to everyone is the Catamaran! If you have never been, you are missing out. This catamaran was a little different than others I have experienced but still fun none the less, especially considering that Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia). As you would assume, diving here is extraordinary, as is snorkelling (which is what we got to do). We got onto a medium-sized catamaran with roughly 12 others, and set off to Hol Chan Marine Reserve to spend some time snorkelling and taking in the abundance of marine life that Belize has to offer. A word of advice: don’t forget sunscreen! I can’t stress that enough. Nothing will ruin your vacation and time abroad faster than a sunburn. Enter my sunscreen plan for a successful day in the sun!


    NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50

    This was my go-to during my stay in Belize. This sunscreen layers invisibly for a clean and non-greasy finish. Not only that, but it’s infused with hyaluronic acid, glycerin and Vitamin E to keep skin hydrated! Best part is that it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes!

    NEUTROGENA ULTRA SHEER Face & Body Stick Sunscreen SPF 50+

    This was my first time trying a sunscreen like this, and it’s the best thing ever! It’s formulated with HELIOPLEX technology, which provides effective protection from aging UVA and burning UVB rays and Dry-Touch technology for a non-greasy finish. This sunscreen comes in a stick form, making it ideal for both face and body. It’s super convenient-and AMAZING for travel!

    Back to the catamaran adventure! After arriving at Hol Chan and anchoring in, we got our snorkelling gear and were ready to go. We spent the better part of an hour checking out coral reefs where we got to see some stuff you would only see on the discovery channel. Marine life included nurse sharks, stingrays, octopus (octopi?), an abundance of different fish including a GIANT grouper, and we had the pleasure of encountering an eagle ray as well (they look like they are flying through the ocean). Getting back to the catamaran we had a chance to go to shark ray alley, where James (our guide) put out some chum, and we were quickly surrounded by what seemed like 20 nurse sharks. We all jumped into the water to get a closer look! It was an amazing experience, truly. After spending some time there, we all got back on the catamaran and got dropped off at Caye Caulker a small island just northeast of Belize City (roughly one hour away by an express ferry). They also gave us two hours to go explore the island and get some lunch.

    [Not so] Secret Beach

     

    It may be called the Secret Beach, but it’s more like a not so secret an hour away from San Pedro by golf cart kind of beach. It’s a great day trip, off the beaten path and you can spend the entire day there lounging on the beach, snorkelling for seashells, hanging out at the beach bar, or just lounging on one of the two piers they have to take it all in. Do be sure to stay until dusk, the sunsets there are absolutely beautiful!

    Baboon Sanctuary and Horseback Riding

    Want to potentially meet some wild howler monkeys? Belize is home to an amazing Baboon Sanctuary. Now I say potentially because they are wild, so they might not be around when you visit. Luckily, our guide for the day was a man named Robert who has been part of the conservation efforts in Belize to protect the habitat of the native howler monkeys in the region. We took a walk through a nearby trail where Robert gave us the low down on all that nature has to offer, from the different plants available and uses they have for them. All while using his perfected howler monkey call to lure wild monkeys in. It might seem a little strange at first (I know it was for me) but it worked and a troop of howler monkey came by to hang out with us, mainly because we came bearing gifts….cocoa leaves! We got to take some photos with them as they got quite close trying to getting those tasty cocoa leaves they love so much. A wonderful experience for sure! And when you are done playing with the monkeys (or they get bored of you), you can head next door and go horseback riding! For me, it was my first time riding a horse. I had a blast the entire time-from my horse jumping up and trying to back kick Mel’s horse, to it taking off on me as I held on for dear life. I didn’t get hurt so it was fun, haha. A little sore afterwards but definitely wasn’t complaining; will for sure ride again! After it was all said and done, I picked up some local beet juice being sold by a local at the side of the road and we headed back to San Pedro.

    Cave Tubing

    Do you like short hikes and learning about fruit-bearing trees? You will pass a wide variety of these (which are all conveniently marked) on your hike up to the mouth of a cave system, where your tubes will be clipped into the rest of the people in your group. You can marvel at nature’s work while floating through dark caves, semi-fast rapids, and lazy river sections. You may encounter a few bat varieties along the way but worry not, they are generally sleeping and won’t bother you. Enjoy the fresh cool river water and the formations nature created in the caves (which resemble objects and animals), and once you’re done, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the rest of your day!

    Where to stay:

    We stayed at two places while we were there; -we wanted to make this trip affordable but enjoyable at the same time. So, we opted to stay at a mediocre spot for the first 5 nights, which I won’t get into because they are tearing it down in early 2019. The second half of our stay in San Pedro was at the Mahogany Bay Resort – now this place, I will def talk about! It’s brand spanking new and is basically one of the more luxurious places you can stay on San Pedro Island. The property itself still has some growing to do, as they do have lots for sale for people that are interested in buying a vacation property. The main lobby house is big and beautiful and home to the pool, as well as the 24 hour gym and restaurant. The rooms range from cozy cabins to not-so-cozy lofts, which is really cool. It has a lot of wood accents, rainfall showers, all in all, a really great place to stay if it falls within your budget. I had great nights of sleep on their comfortable beds and soft poofy comforters! But then again, I was rocking some of my comfy Gap sleepwear. There is nothing better I enjoy more than a solid pair of sweats, the cotton bottoms are super comfortable and they have a nice touch with varsity style branding on the hip. Raglan shirts are the most comfortable shirts ever, super soft and breathable too! all of which you can find below:

    OUTFIT ALL GAP:

    Shirt: Double-Face Long Sleeve Raglan T-Shirt

    Pants: Stencil Logo Fleece Joggers

     

    But the best part about Mahogany Bay Resort is that they own their own island beach! With a free shuttle going to the island every hour, IT IS A MUST VISIT! Considering Belize is known for its diving, you will be hard pressed to find any good beaches that are readily available.

     

    How to get around:

    San Pedro and Caye Caulker are both amazingly small beautiful islands, and the best way to get around is by golf cart. You can rent one for the duration of your stay literally on every block. That being said, there is a lot of competition and you can get the best prices if you shop around a bit. If you are staying in the city of Belize, I would say just taxi anywhere you need to go. I would recommend hitting up our driver we met at the airport when we arrived. We ended up booking him for everything we needed. As most drivers have partnerships with different excursions, he kind of became our fixer from the time we were there. He booked, picked us up, dropped us off, and took us back to the port for each excursion. And he was able to save us some money since we packaged a bunch of excursions together. You can find his details below:

    Norval Flowers
    +501.604.2948

    The best way to get a hold of him is on WhatsApp, give him a ring and he’ll take care of you!

    All in all, I would recommend Belize if you like adventure travel! It’s not a beach destination in itself and requires a few long boat rides to get to a beach I would call relaxing. But if you want to play with monkeys, visit Mayan ruins, go frolic in the rainforest, cave tube, and experience the second largest barrier reef, then I would 100% recommend Belize to you! One thing I almost forgot…make sure to enjoy a couple of Belikan beers for me if you decide to go!

     

     

  • Tokyo On A Budget? NO PROBLEM!

    Tokyo On A Budget? NO PROBLEM!

    So I’ve been to Tokyo a bunch of times, I think the number is up to 18 now and one question that I still get to this day is “Dave, isn’t Tokyo crazy expensive?!!”. The sweet and short is yes and no. Truth is that any large metropolis you visit in the world CAN be expensive, and Tokyo is no exception. That doesn’t mean it has to be!

    So to help you all out that are hoping to go to Tokyo or Japan in general and are on a budget or don’t want to spend a bajillion dollars to experience my favourite place, lets break down travel costs from low end to high end and break it into categories.

    TRANSPORTATION

    Getting around major cities is Japan is a breeze thanks to the amazing subway systems they have built, for all the times I’ve been there the subway has been my primary source of transportation. So what will that cost you? well it depends on how often and how far you  plan on using it. Fares are based on distance from the origin station. The further you go the more you pay. So what are your options?

    Option 1: Get yourself a Pasmo or Suica card. These are refillable transit cards good for the subway, buses, as well as vending machines, purchases at the convenience store, etc. You load up how much ever you want and just use it as you go.

    Option 2: You can also get an unlimited day pass for use on both the Yamanote Line as well as all Tokyo Metro lines. This will set you back about $16/day and I would only recommend it if you plan on going to a lot of places in one day.

    How to save money: Plan your days ahead of time and choose areas of interest that are close to each other, take the subway to the first location and walk to the next! Rinse and repeat!!

    When it comes to travel expenses YMMV, also if you ware doing other cities other than just Tokyo I would highly recommend getting the JR rail pass. It costs a couple hundred bucks, but you will get your monies worth if you plan on visiting Osaka, Kyoto, and anything in between. It also gives you access to JR lines within the city, so the Yamanote line in Tokyo is included (you can literally visit all of Tokyo off the Yamanote Loop)

    How Much I spend: Roughly $10/day

    FOOD

    This one is entirely up to you. If you want to eat high end food, you can most definitely expect high end prices!
    Tokyo has the most Michelin star restaurants in the world, so yes if you plan on eating at them everyday, it’s going to add up. Thats not to say you should stay away from them. The food scene is incredible there, you can eat somewhere like Torikizoku which is a restaurant chain Izakaya that charges about $3 for everything on the menu including drinks and alcohol. If you are looking for other cheap eats, you have Yoshinoya, 7-11, Lawsons, and other budget chains that wont break the bank. On average I spend anywhere from $10-$30 depending what i’m in the mood for. You can find a good bowl of ramen for under $10. If you are looking for sushi, you can find places that don’t charge much per piece, keep in mind that most places don’t do ACE like they do here. So again with everything in this guide, YMMV.

    I will say beware buying drinks from vending machines, they are everywhere are super accessible. They only cost $1-$2 but can quickly add up if you’re buying drinks regularly. Grape Fanta and Boss Coffee get me every time lol.

    How much I spend: Roughly $30-$60/day

    SIGHTSEEING

    So sightseeing for the most part is FREE! Any shrines and temples that I’ve been to in Tokyo have been free, My favourite price for things! But a lot of museums, temples, castles and gardens charge an admission of at least a few hundred yen.

    Being that I have been so many times, I don’t really do very much sightseeing. However new museums and exhibits do pop up and are most def worth the fees. Most notably are the 2 TEAMLAB exhibits BORDERLESS and PLANETS, with a price tag of around $40 they are worth every penny. Spending up to 4-5 hours in each of them it was one experience I may have to do a second time, next time I’m in town.

    Here are some FREE options in Tokyo:

    Meiji Shrine
    Imperial Palace and East Gardens
    Sensoji Temple
    Observation deck of the Tokyo Government Office
    Hachiko & Shibuya Scramble
    Takeshita Dori
    Yoyogi Park

    There are so many things you can do on a budget while you are in Tokyo! if you are planning on taking a trip and want some help with your itinerary, feel free to drop me an email. I would be more than happy to give suggestions and recommendations for any type of trip.

    Have you ever been to Japan?

     

  • Best Piece Of Furniture You Didn’t Know You Needed

    Best Piece Of Furniture You Didn’t Know You Needed

    When it comes to decorating and buying items for the perfect office, I feel like one of the most overlooked things is a good office chair. Sure you spend big money on a powerful computer to get your work done, but then you spend hours sitting at it and half the time, it’s in a cheap $50 office chair from Ikea ~ NO BUENO. I’ve been seeing more and more gaming chairs online from various you tubers and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Are they really as good as people say? The short, YES, yes they are! Everything from the firmness of the built-in cushioning, to the articulating padded armrests, to the fact that you can fully recline the chair and literally take a nap if you want. Not to mention the accessories that come with it including a removable/adjustable lumbar support and head cushion!

    Literally took 30 minutes to put together straight out of the box without any extra tools. I spend hours every single day editing, writing, gaming, whatever I may be doing. I’m always in an office chair, so sitting in one of these has been some next level stuff. So let me give you a quick rundown.

    • Padded armrests with adjustable height, as well as articulating left and right.
    • Fully reclinable (this is bananas).
    • Standard Adjustable height.
    • Firm but comfortable cushioning in the chair much like a racing seat in a sports car.
    • Included removable lumbar support and headrest.
    • Super smooth casters extremely mobile.
    • A multitude of styles and colours to choose from.

    Honestly, I have been recommending these to everyone and for the people that have picked one up, they have had nothing but good things to say about it. Especially when compared to the chairs they were using before. Also, you don’t have to be a gamer to get one lol! So to check out DX Racer and the chairs they have on offer, you can thank me later!

  • AirBNB In Tokyo: What You Need To Know

    AirBNB In Tokyo: What You Need To Know

    So you’ve decided to take your two week vacation from work and booked a trip to Tokyo, Japan. Next step, is booking accommodation to enjoy your trip. For the longest time I always just booked a hotel and called it a day. Theeeeeeeeeen I discovered AirBNB and I will say, there is no better bang for your buck. So I’ve just convinced you to get an AirBNB instead of a hotel…. Hold up there are a few things you should know. Especially as of June 15th, 2018 the rules have changed! As of said date, Japan has lost roughly 80% of their AirBNB listings.

    Japan has passed a new law that makes it much more difficult to be a host on AirBNB:

    • Hosts limited to home-sharing to 180 days a year.
    • Local Governments can regulate services in their own area.
    • Home-renting is now only allowed in certain zones.
    • All home-sharing hosts must have valid licenses.

    So due to these new rules it will be a bit more difficult to get yourself that AirBNB. How do you get around it, BOOK EARLY as possible. There are limited amounts of AirBNB available at the time of writing this, most due to the fact that, Many owners still have not been able to acquire a valid license yet, I do expect this to slowly increase and hopefully the Japan AirBNB market begins to rebuild to where it once was. So book those AirBNB as early as possible.

     

    What’s it like?

    Well, anytime you stay anywhere you should do your research beforehand. Like many large asian cities Tokyo is limited for space so they build up! That being said, it all comes down to your bankbook. If money isn’t an issue, you can find some really amazing spreads that are modern, spacious, with all the amenities you could want. However most fo us aren’t balling out of control, so I’ll use myself as an example. When I travel I always try to stretch a buck and the most for the least. AirBNB is no different, I usually book my digs a few months beforehand. If you have your dates set I would make a reservation as far ahead of time as possible to maximize the availability, and choices you have. I generally look at it this way, I personally don’t need amazing amenities as I spend 80% of my time out. I look for Location first and foremost, then I look at price, and comfort. I tend to stay in Shibuya [which has recently lost a lot of their listings] and try to pay in between $100-$130/night and thats generally for a place with at least 2 beds and 1 bedroom. Sounds big……but its really not, the Japanese have perfected making the the most of small spaces. But I don’t have any issues, be sure to read the reviews from past people who stayed there because sometimes photos don’t do the spaces justice at times. Also it’s super important that they come with pocket wifi, so I don’t have to use my phone on roaming, and I don’t need to get a sim card when I get there [Money saved]. As long as it has a decent bed a bit os space, and a clean bathroom, I’m good!

    Where Should I Stay?

    Next up, where should I in Tokyo? There isn’t one simple answer to this, so I’ll try to break it down by trip type:

    Party People: So you are young [or old] and your main purpose is to experience the nightlife that Tokyo has to offer. I always recommend staying near a subway station if possible. That being said I would stay in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, or Roppongi. All of those areas offers up fantastic nightlife and you will spend all night/morning dancing and drinking until the sun comes up, literally…. because subways stop running between 12am-5am [this is why you have an AirBNB near what you want to do].

    Culturalists: Yeah thats not a word, I just made it up, add it to your Davetionary! Basically you’re looking to explore shrines and culture. There are soo many places scattered around Tokyo that will fit your travel goals, but i would recommend staying near Asakusa, Yoyogi, Tokyo. Meji-Jingumai and Senso-ji being the largest shrines, and definite must visits. Yoyogi park is a wonderfull stroll especially on a Sunday afternoon. Alternatively you can stay near Tokyo station, which is within walking distance to Tokyo Imperial Palace.

    Foodies: Honestly…..choose another thing other than just food. You can honestly stay anywhere and find amazing places to eat no matter what you’re into. Tokyo has the most Michelin Starred restaurants in the world. But if local authentic is what you’re looking for, just follow the crowds. I have yet to wander into any random eatery and be disappointed by the food. But do beware, many places may not have an english menu.

    Connecting Out: if you are only in Tokyo for a few days and planning on heading over to another area of Japan. I would stay near Shinagawa or Tokyo station as those are the two hubs for the Shinkansen bullet trains.

    So that’s pretty much the skinny on Tokyo and AirBNB at the moment. If you have any questions, concerns, or just want some help with anything Tokyo feel free to leave a comment below or shoot me a message.

    Happy travels yall!

     

     

     

  • Welcome To My Living Room

    Welcome To My Living Room

    Being someone who loves spending time watching great movies, when Mel and I bought our house having the perfect living room space was really important to me. Above the day to day, we love to host people whether it’s friends or family! I find that the party ends up in one of two places, the kitchen, or the living room. Being an 80’s kid, nothing beats company with some board games. It’s one of the most effective ways to entertain guests and disconnect from our electronics addicted lives. For me having a space that’s modern, functional, and most importantly comfortable is so important. Choosing the right seating, and coffee tables can be quite the challenge. Luckily I recently discovered Structube and their offerings. I wanted to find a place that wasn’t your standard furniture warehouse, that had modern, yet comfortable pieces. But of course, I’m always trying to be conscious of what I spend.

    Originally I wanted a full sectional, and all the fixings to go with it, however like a lot of initial wants when you are trying to furnish any room there are limitations. Mine being space, Mel and I agreed it just wouldn’t be functional and would literally take up the entire room. So we opted for a couch with a built-in chaise which ended working out quite well. We picked up the Kinsey Leather Sectional in grey so it would match the house aesthetic regardless if we decide to change it in the future.

    As for the coffee table, I wanted something a little more functional than a standard table, we were able to find an EVO Coffee Table which is PERFECTION! It’s got a top that rises so it transforms into a pullout eating table for those nights you just want to watch a movie with dinner. It also has ample storage space, which I was pleasantly surprised with.

     

    These were the two major components we needed I left the rest to Mel to decide on the fixings to go with the table and sofa. She ended up going with a set of Taj Nesting Tables to hold our table lamp as well as a scent diffuser. We opted to save space seeing as how our house is quite narrow, I wall mounted my TV and opted out of getting a standard media unit.

    Adding some artificial plants, some baskets to hold our blankets, a couple of throw pillows for accents and we were off to the races. I’m super happy with how it all turned out and spend quite a bit of time enjoying the space and comfort of having a living room that I actually wanted!