A Different New Year's Eve

View of Downtown VanCity

It's New Year's Eve and D and me have had a blast watching Team Canada beat the US at hockey tonight. 

Here in Canada, the New Year is received a little different.  The country closely follows the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship right from Christmas Day all the way until the first days of the New Year.   This one is particularly sweet since it is taking place in Alberta, Canada and Team Canada is doing great.

The Championship is a great opportunity for young players to showcase their talent and that is one of the reasons why fans follow it so closely.  D and I are wondering which team has Canadian player Mark Stone; that kid is doing such a great job.  He's been putting the puck in the net like no one else there!

Ten teams make it to the Championship.  The usual big opponents for Team Canada are the USA, Russia, and Sweden.  This competition started in 1974 and Russia won the gold medal on that one.  If I am not mistaken Russia and Canada are tied in the number of gold medals.  They both have won the Championship 15 times and this year the final, it seems, is most likely going to be Canada vs Russia.  But let's not get too ahead of ourselves just yet.

Well, I have to go kiss this awesome year goodbye and receive 2012 with a big smile! Happy New Year to you all and GO CANADA GO!!!

For more about today's game click here.

With my nieces during our Christmas Party this year.  ~Notice my Canucks jersey~ It's always Hockey time around here :-D

A cup to your health!

The other day my husband made a surprising confession to me.  He said that for breakfast he had brewed some tea instead of our morning usual timmies (short nickname for Tim Hortons coffee).  Talk about something I had never expected to hear from him!  I mean I had never seen anybody drink as much coffee as he used to.

Coffee is huge in Canada, especially Tim Hortons coffee.  Although McCafé® is becoming more  and more popular.  But Canadians are also avid tea drinkers.  I read in Stats Canada that in 2008 Canadians consumed about 79 litres per person in a year.  That's a lot of tea!  It must be a combination of the British legacy and the large Chinese and Chinese descendant population.  It's great news though since tea has so many health benefits like helping you build stronger bones.  

If you want to know more about the health benefits you get from drinking tea read this article from Canadian Living magazine here.  I just know that when I am waiting outdoors for the train to take me home, it feels great to sip on a warm cup of tea.