Over the past couple weeks I’ve had several people ask me “Why the name ‘Press Play’” Well here goes! Yes, I do love the alliteration but there is more to the story...

Hey Guys! Today my friend Jess Dalliday is back from The Healthy Sweet Potato Blog with an amazing homemade protein bar recipe! I made them last week and trust me they are a winner- aka they are already long gone! I actually used muffin pan instead of a baking tray and they worked out great (and fooled me into thinking I was eating a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!). Take it away Jess!

I know I don't need to tell you again that I was absolutely GLUED to the PyeongChang Olympics so I literally just feel like I'm coming down from my Olympic high and BAM! the Paralympics start Friday! So many great moments during the Olympics but one of my favourites has to have been watching Justin Kripps and Alex Kopacz race to their gold medal in the 2-man bobsled! I know Alex from his varsity athletes days at Western University here in London and it has been so fun to continue to watch his athletic journey unfold. When watching the Olympics we often don't think about the sacrifice that athletes make and I am so grateful that Alex agreed (literally straight off the plane from Korea) to share some of the highs and lows with us today!

I don't know about you but for the past two weeks I have been absolutely glued to the Olympics. I have always loved watching the Olympics (and maybe still have a scrapbook I made during the 1998 Nagano Olympics) but now having worked in the sport world, I feel I have such a better understanding of the hard work and dedication it takes the athletes, coaches and support staff to get to such a high level of performance. Having personal connections to some of the Canadian athletes and staff has made it even more exciting to watch! 

For a long time, I was caught up in the idea that everyone else's relationships were perfect and it was just mine that hit road blocks and bumps.  However, the more open I have been about my own relationship, the more I have realized that every relationship has their own issues and maybe we just aren't great at sharing them with each other. So today, some of my friends and I are sharing our own perfectly imperfect love stories. Not many of us have the perfect love story and it is often the challenges in relationships that help drive us to find out bliss. 

A highly debated topic among fitness enthusiasts and a common question I get from my patients: Pilates or Yoga? Today, I am so excited to have one of my own Pilates instructors give us her take on the debate! Niki is a professional dancer and certified Pilates instructor (don't worry, she isn't biased!) but more than anything this girl is a mover! She moves in ways I didn't even think were possible (and makes me try them too!). If you don't believe me check out her moves on Instagram @at_the_mat! 

I have always struggled with finding balance but last year things came to a head when I just had too much on the go. I had made some major life changes- I moved (for the 5th time in 5 years!), I started a full-time Master’s degree and was still working in clinic- and it was too much. In the summer of 2016, I started experiencing intermittent panic attacks and what felt like paralyzing anxiety. In an attempt to make some positive life changes, I contacted transformation coach, Rita Catolino.

No matter how prepared I am the night before, my mornings always seem a little rushed! Smoothies have become my go-to during the week as I can make it the night before, pop it in the fridge and run out the door with it in the morning. I am such a creature of habit and make the exact same smoothie every morning for breakfast but I think change is upon me!! I have enlisted some of my instgram foodie friends to share some of their favourite smoothie recipes with us today and I know that they may just get me a tad more excited to rise and shine!

These days it can be really easy to feel like you are getting lost in the health care system. Listen, I work in health care and I even feel like I've been lost, so I know it isn't easy. The health care industry is BUSY- there is limited time, resources and budgets but those who work in health care are by and large doing their very best to serve every patient to the best of their abilities. Today, I thought I would give a few tips so that you can make the most of your appointments and ensure you are getting the most out of your time spent with a health care practitioner.

Rachel is a morning show host on 97.5 Virgin Radio in London but over the last 6 months she has also embarked on her own initiative, Here for Her.  Her goal with Here for Her is to end awkwardness and stigma surrounding woman's health issues while also supporting other local women's health initiatives through the sale of the Here for Her clothing line. I have been so thrilled to watch this passion project take off for her and can't wait to see where she takes it! Though Rachel and I only met last year we instantly felt as if we had know each other forever and have been sounding boards for one another throughout our new creative journeys. I can't wait for you to get to know more about Rach and Here for Her today!

My poor iPhone is on the way out. After 3.5 years, it has served me well but if I get one more "Storage Almost Full" notification, it may just end up being tossed into a snowbank! As I try to end my data storage woes, I have found myself forced to delete apps off my phone. So long Starbucks, Adios Weather Network, Sayonara LinkedIn. Sadly, those are just a few of the apps that I've had to part ways with but there are four apps that I flat out refuse to give up- and those four apps are the ones I want to share with you today! They have all added enough value to my life that they survived the cut, so I know they will bring value to you and your life too (as well as help you out with any new years resolutions you may have in mind!).