My Evive Experience
Off the top these are simple, fast and delicious!
Let me start by saying I was given a free box in exchange for my opinion or review. I have not been paid by Evive or it’s promotional team. I think they offered me a code word to promote if anyone wanted to use it for a discount but I don’t go too hard with stuff like that because I don’t want to tell anyone what to do with their money.
Smoothies made easy.
Evive offers a variety of flavours, ingredients and ‘styles’ of pre-made, frozen goods. Spoiler alert: it’s not all smoothie-cubes. In my box I received some lunch options, too! I received the B12 Smoothies Kit and Bam Chili, Golden Curry, Mac Squash and Tom Thai lunch wheels plus one Evive Mason jar for mixing.
My thoughts.
A great idea! Every time I feel like having a smoothie (vegan) my kids, 4 and 6, want one, too (non-vegan). My ‘quick meal for me’ turns into a 10-15 minute process of making theirs, finding their respective cups (one has to be ‘baby’ kind the other ‘action figure’ style - it’s a whole thing), then I have to clean the blender fully before attempting to make mine. In the time that takes, usually one has spilled theirs and/or is asking for more. There are times when I don’t get to make the smoothie I started out wanting in the first place!
Evive smoothies come in pre-mixed, frozen cubes. The cubes are neatly separated in cube like ‘wheels’ which are recyclable. You want a smoothie? Pop them into a jar, add water, juice or whatever type of milk or other ingredients you want for mixing) allow time to melt a bit and then SHAKE. Because I have a blender handy and sometimes have difficulty using my hands (arthritis), I opt for the blender… then, pour! One smoothie wheel makes enough for both kids and then I get to keep another for myself. All products are vegan (correct me if I’m wrong) which makes quick smoothies or meals a very easy choice.
Have you tried Evive?
When I started posting about my Evive experience, I got some feedback from friends who had tried them and were just as happy as me and my family were. One friend specifically said,
“We’ve been doing this as breakfast for months. We order 60 at a time. I’m up at 4AM so I put it in my bag and drink it on my way to work. Super convenient and gives me enough to get through til lunch.”
If you’ve tried them, let me know what you think. The ads are all over my social media timelines but that’s probably because I’ve searched them/have been posting about them. I have spotted them in the wild at my local grocery store so it’s nice to know this Canadian made, Canadian based business appears to be doing well.
Now that I’ve formed my opinion, I would be interested in trying more of the flavours I enjoy for the stress-free smoothie experience alone.
Vaccine Links to Book Your Appointment
Eligibility is opening up with Phase 2 currently underway in the province. Here is a one stop shop for checking eligibility status, joining a waitlist and/or booking your COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
Week of April 26: All Ontario adults age 55 and up; those 45 years old and up in hot spot communities; and licensed childcare workers.
Week of May 3: Ontario adults over the age of 50; adults age 18 and up in hot spot communities' those with health conditions deemed "high risk"; and some people who cannot work from home.
Week of May 10: Ontario adults over the age of 40, those with health conditions deemed "at risk"; and more individuals who cannot work from home.
Week of May 17: Ontario adults over the age of 30.
Week of May 24: Ontario adults over the age of 18."
Two major pharmacies have set up ‘waitlist’ e-mail alerts:
From CityNews:
Ottawa Public Health officials believe the city is still on track to start Phase 3 of its COVID-19 vaccine rollout in July, as directed by the Ontario government.
Passing the Time.
Life in lockdown: part two? Three? It’s hard to keep track.
Lockdown is set to end May 20th and that’s what I’m hoping for. It’s tough working from home. A privilege, of course, but it’s very hard to focus on performing a quality radio show (which is more than talking here and there; it’s fielding, researching and logging requests, engaging with people on social media and text/no phones from home which means scheduled interviews for upcoming segments need to be done from studio, posting relevant content to social media and staying up on the times). So pull that off while tending to the needs of two children aged four and six.
Our six year old is supposed to be doing online learning but we are taking a hands-off approach to that for the most part. It didn’t work very well for us this time last year so we’re just letting Eve log in when he wants. We’re trying to get some activities done based on what was sent home in his work books but there’s no pressure. Things are stressed enough, schedule-wise (*everything wise).
No daycare. No family relief concerning child-care. No camps. No friend visits. No parks. While parks are allowed now, with the most strict of safety measures/rules in place, I’m a kid magnet. They flock to me and it’s too hard to keep our distance so we avoid it. Playing in the backyard is ok but the kids are mostly resorting to games on their tablets and a lot of Netflix (at least the shows are educational, right?)
We are all very lucky to have tablets and TVs and, above all, our health. The mental health thing needs constant monitoring because emotions can run hot. It’s hard to explain why life is like this right now. It’s hard to not let the kids be iPad zombies. It’s hard to work, be a mom, manage household chores, relationships, food/groceries, bills - monitor this that AND the other thing. Most days I am at my stress limit by lunchtime.
What’s gonna help? I don’t know.
Reading books? Riding bikes? When the warmer weather decides to stay? Healthier food choices? Medicine? Stay on top of your mental and physical health and just hang on as best you can.
My 35th Birthday Wish for CHEO Kids!
My 35th birthday is April 25th and I’m hoping you’ll give a gift to a child in treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario aka CHEO to help me celebrate. We’ve been doing this since 2018 and my goal for 2021 is to hit $5,000. Will you help?
Please give a gift to a child in treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario this April.
If you’re in my family or friend circle and you’d typically treat ME for my birthday, the best gift I could receive that really lets me know that you’re thinking of me comes in the form of a financial donation to CHEO’s Child Life department.
All proceeds go to providing a child (ages 0-18) in hospital with a new toy, game, book, art supply kit and other forms of entertainment (escape) while undergoing treatment.
In previous years, you’ve been able to swing by the radio station or a tour, a chat and a photo (sometimes even a hug or a hi-5). Unfortunately, in person donations are postponed until we can all safely gather again.
Here are some photos from my Birthday Wish:
To be totally transparent, this fundraiser is ongoing. I started it in 2018 and promote it every year during my birth month (April). I want to make it as financially accessible as possible for those who wish to give a gift to a child who could use the distraction. In my personal experience as a CHEO Kid (which runs deep; from 1988 to 2003), many children who spend a large amount of time as ‘in patients’ (receiving treatment that requires them to essentially live in a hospital room) don’t have a lot of options in terms of NEW gifts, books, toys that are JUST for them. Many come from socioeconomically challenged or disadvantaged homes and YOUR generosity makes a massive, life changing impact.
As I age, the urgency to let children with rare diseases or crummy circumstances know that there is hope for a brighter future rises. If I was a millionaire and able to donate in a massive way, I’d probably still be asking you to contribute to the Child Life Department because awareness and acceptance is part of the giving process.
I have spoken about my disease in detail before but if you have any questions that aren’t answered in these posts below, please feel free to reach out.
Here’s a recent video I created to explain Autoimmune Diseases in an easy to understand way:
March Already? Sunny Day Ahead!
Tomorrow’s expected high is the hottest Ottawa's seen in a while at plus 12! Woohoo!
Proudly completed DryFeb with over $1,400 raised for the Canadian Cancer Society. Being sober the entire month wasn’t too bad! The whole ‘having a sinus infection the entire time’ thing sucked. I felt like I had hangovers that I certainly didn’t earn… even though I gave up the hooch.
Obviously back on the wagon and, otherwise, life is pretty great. The sun is shining and we’re getting longer days, warmer days… the ice is melting, the snowbanks are disappearing and spring is en route.
Time to think about motorcycles, spring break, cottages and spending more time outdoors.
Oh yeah, and the end of this goddamned pandemic.