Hello and happy Thursday to you! I quite enjoy Thursdays – we don’t have any activities after school and I get a bonus couple of hours after school with just the two big kids. Last night I asked my 5 year old son what he’d like to do with the time we have together and he said, “Meditation! Can we do meditation ALL DAY?” Monk in the making? We’ll see. But boy, some quiet inward time sounds yummy. What about you? What would you do today with two hours to devote to your kids?

Anyway, in celebration of Thursday I’m joining up with Pink Chai Living, Love Laugh Mirch and The Write Balance to share with you 3 awesome things that you may be interested in if you love connection, nourishing food and social enterprises. I know, kind of a hodge podge of things – but really, isn’t that what we are too?

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One: Beyond Nourished

A food experience I will never forget: when I went to the Being Woman retreat on Saturday I was blown away by the breakfast and lunch that was served. I mean, ok, I know we all have meals where we say, “This is delicious!” and they are delicious…but this was a different experience. Not only did the food taste fantastic, guys…it was HEALTHY but you wouldn’t know! (I like healthy food that tastes like…well, like it’s not super healthy). So, of course, I’m chatting with the chef extraordinaire, Rachelle, and I’m like, “Soooo…do you cater?” as I am already planning to have a party JUST so I have an excuse to have it catered by her. When she replied that she’s not a caterer, I’m pretty sure the disappointment was written all over my face. She quickly added that they are an education-based company and they actually TEACH people to cook – like that!

If cooking lessons or learning new recipes or eating better (and tastier) is on your wish list, then please check them out! A cooking retreat sounds like something I can handle right about now. Not into a retreat? Build your own cookbook right on their website!

I wish I had taken pictures of the food but I really just wanted to eat it. Check out Beyond Nourished’s website and let me know what you think!

Two: The Art of Allure and Human Connection

Do you ever feel like, you live in this big city but aren’t really connected to people? Like connected. Not just ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ to people you cross paths with. But like, able to reach out and talk about things that weigh heavily on you, or able to laugh about the joys of life?

Provence Restaurant in Vancouver knows that true connection isn’t always easy to come by so it is hosting the premiere The Art of Allure and Human Connection program from October 15-18, 2015. Led by life coach, seminar leader and dance Chen Lizra and Provence chef Alessandra Quaglia, these 4 days of connecting and cooking the Cuban way are sure to add some spice and happiness to your life.

Get more information here and find out if it’s the right fit for you!

Three: Cuddle and Kind Hand-Knit Dolls

You must know by now that I’m a sucker for social enterprise. I mean, really. Creativity + entrepreneurship + kindness? Equals awesome. So when I stumbled upon Cuddle and Kind Hand-Knit Dolls to feed hungry children, I noted it down to share with you.

The family who created this company shares their message and mission with you here in this video. Check it out if you would like a shot of inspiration – these dolls would make the sweetest newborn or Christmas gifts while they provide employment for women and feed hungry children in North America. For every doll purchased, they buy 10 meals for children through Children’s Hunger Fund and World Food Program USA.

Do you have anything you’d like to share to inspire us? Drop a line in the comments!