I know what you're thinking. This post is supposed to be about hiking, why am I staring at the coastline? Well, for starters, I'm not a very experienced hiker, and this was my first trip to Haiti. I was blown away firstly by this view. The ocean was the bluest blue I'd ever seen and the serenity could not be put into words. As for the greenery? Despite very little rainfall this season, the trees were so lush, they calmed me. Anyway, moving on..

I've heard of the hiking trails from fellow bloggers, and decided to go based on instinct in order to find the hiking path I've been hearing about. After arriving on the island, a few locals guided me to the path that leads from Seguin to Port-au-Prince. If you haven't been before, so you know, the pathway is a rubbled road with many dips and ridges, which makes it a bit of a challenge if your balance isn't in check. Many locals use this trail however, balancing baskets filled with produce on their heads as this is the primary path for accessing their capital. I'm not sure how they managed to keep balanced, carrying those heavy vessels atop their heads, I know I certainly struggled, even with my simple rucksack.

After a few minutes of hiking however, I quickly realized that I was not dressed appropriately. At this time of year, the weather tends to get a bit chilly, and light fleece is recommended as a bare requirement. I'm not sure why I chose denim shorts and a tee.... perhaps fashion over practicality ruled me that morning. Either way, I found myself cold, and tired very quickly into the hike and trudged through the rest unwillingly. I didn't. even. take. my. camera. out.

Tell me about it right? I wish I snapped photos of the gorgeous mountains. I wish too that I could somehow get you to breathe deeeeeeply enough to inhale the clean air with wisps of evergreen and salt water... It was replenishing and renewing. You'll just have to trust me on that one, but on my next visit I promise I'll capture it. On the hike back, I did manage to capture our friend Sully's boat, as he was the one coming to get us so that we could continue back to the west of the country. If you squint really, hard, maybe you'll see him.

Here's the literal only shot my buddies managed to get, as I was just about ready to give up. Note the cute bungalow at the back! I was too tired to go in, but it certainly had a Caribbean charm with that sunshine yellow, complimented only my the beautiful sunshine that warmed us up on the way back.

After about 7 hours of hiking, all the adrenaline that comes with adventuring... I also decided to engage in one of my all time favourite travel hobbies...They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll just let the next one explain what I did for the rest of that afternoon... all in all, I totally recommend it. More on this later...

Until the next adventure,

Aimee.

Everyday this week, I've sat at my office desk jail and lamented over not having hotel breakfast spreads, or a gourmet chef cater to my breakfast appetite and cravings. I feel as though I have been doomed to a life of cinnamon oats, avocado toast and lukewarm tea. The breakfast gods have shun me, for my lack of time to prepare something delish when I'm rushing to get to work.

Then it dawned on me, there MUST be something I can make ahead and bring to work to save myself from this mundane monotony that I surely don't think I deserve. So I got to thinking, what can I make, that will keep well in the refrigerator.... and requires minimal effort?

"AH! AHA! I know! MMMM... FRITTATA" I shrieked... much to the dismay of my coworkers who must think I'm a little peculiar...

Why? Well, frittata is mostly egg-based, and what's more breakfast-y than eggs? I always associate the two with vacations and leisure days, so it was needless to say that the well known Italian dish, which closely resembles an omelet would be a brilliant solution.

As I'm writing this, I'm stealing bites of my little problem-solver of a dish. Oh the taste!

Last night I decided to pull together the list of very easily available ingredients, all of which I actually had on hand except the fresh mushrooms which I picked up on my way home. Its the ideal dish for having at work, ideally with a slice of toast and a glass of fresh OJ! If you wanted, you could even swap out the skillet for a muffin pan, and make single servings for easier division.

Anyway, let me spare you the suspense and pop the recipe down below. I'm hoping to post a couple more easy dishes to break the boring breakfast at work trend... so feel free to let me know if that's something you'd like!

Tip: I reheat mine, with a slightly dampened paper towel over the top, to ensure that it doesn't dry out too much when microwaving. I also suggest having this warm, versus piping hot.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 6 egg whites
• 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, finely shredded (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided use
• 1 small red onion, diced
• 1 cup (4 ounces) cooked, sliced potato
• 1 cup small heirloom tomatoes
• 4 julienned pimentos (red or green works well, I used both for colour)
• 1 1/2 cups Fresh Mushrooms, sliced about 50mm thick
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 400 F. Whisk together eggs, egg whites, Parmesan cheese, pepper, and basil; reserve in refrigerator until ready to use.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until soft and slightly golden, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Add mushrooms and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes
• Add potato and tomatoes; cook 2 more minutes
• Add remaining oil to skillet and stir to incorporate vegetables. Add egg mixture and tilt pan to evenly distribute eggs. Cook until eggs just begin to set, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake until top is lightly browned and eggs are fully set, 11 to 12 minutes
• Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Cut into equal-size wedges. (Note: Can be served warm or at room temperature.)

Bye bye blah breakfast!!! 

Endless paperwork. Tons of calls to be returned. A constantly buzzing phone. A filled inbox. Annoying co-workers and bosses who drive you nuts. Family drama. Friend drama. Bills. Expenses. Did I leave the iron on?! Ugh I have to get gas today, my tank is on E!

Reading that string of text was exhausting in itself, but we all know the struggle of the daily grind. If you're like me, balancing a full time job, school, family and endlress responsibilities - the word "frustration" is often more than a word - it's often a lifestyle. 

While  easier said than done, we need to find ways to reset ourselves and throw our frustrations aside. We must fight the battle of frustration in pursuit of peace if we ought to survive. 

One of my favourite mechanisms for coping is actually heading to scenic areas filled with lush greenery and untainted natural beauty. The soothing sounds of nature, without the annoyance of buzzing, pinging mobile devices and technology is often the easiest getaway. I also love a soothing cup of white ayurvedic chai tea, or even peppermint for added comfort. *DING!* (Yes, that's the chime for the imaginary light bulb to signal my latest idea). Why don't I combine these two loves? Oh, because someone already has? 

Indeed. Someone with a similar passion has already combined the beauty of nature with the healing powers of herbal teas and tea-time. Down at San Antonio Farms, in Santa Cruz, you can find lush gardens of endless beauty (most of which you can actually purchase) and a tea-garden with a most delightful offering of teas, snacks and desserts. You can even book their venue for a wedding! 

After an incredibly grueling work week, I actually found myself there this weekend to pick up a few plants (in lieu of the Corpus Christi Holiday in Trinidad and Tobago on June 15th, which is said to be the ideal date for planting!). I had myself a sip of their wonderous tea, and got my nature fix. Talk about productive and healing! Give it a try sometime, you won't regret it. 

Below are some photos I managed to capture while exploring.

According to the local weatherman (although not always reliable) it seems as though we're in for an upcoming heat wave! I for one feel as though I was meant for life in the arctic... at the slightest bit of heat, mere seconds after stepping outdoors I often feel as though I'm melting. It's no secret then, that as a lover of adventure and the outdoors, I must find ways to combat the heat!

It's a good thing I live on an island! There's almost always watermelon lying around, so I've decided to share one of my all time favourites for cooling down.

I introduce you to the signature Aim-mojito-melon-with-mint. Yes, I know, the name's not very clever, but I promise you it's delicious. LiveScience.com actually swears by this superfruit noting that watermelons are mostly water — about 92 percent — but this refreshing fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids. There's even a modest amount of potassium. Plus, this quintessential summer snack is fat-free, very low in sodium and has only 40 calories per cup. 

So here's how you can make the already super-wonderful-watermelon even better!

Ingredients:

▪    1.5 c. cubed frozen watermelon

▪    3-5 oz water (depending how on thick you want it)

▪    1 tbsp or less of honey (optional)

▪    1 juiced lime

▪    4-5 mint sprigs

▪    (Optional) 1-3 oz Bacardi yum... I mean rum.

Instructions:

▪    Blend all ingredients together.

▪    Garnish with some fresh sprigs of mint if you want to make it pretty.

For those of you wanting a bit more out of the entire watermelon you most likely bought, I also suggest you try my personal recipe for rum-infused-melon balls, the featured image for this post. Of course, you can also enjoy your watermelon plain, but where's the fun in that? 

Ingredients:

▪    1.5 c. balled watermelon

▪    3-5 oz Bacardi rum

▪    1/2 juiced lime

▪    2-3 mint sprigs

Instructions:

▪    Place melon balls into a dish, and mix in all ingredients. 

▪    Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes, covered.

▪    Garnish with some fresh sprigs of mint if you want to make it pretty.

▪    Serve chilled!