More Update on the Cafe Build

Hello hello! How has 2025 been for you all? All I gotta say is Holy Moly! It has been full of learnings and things just keep coming at us nonstop. Very overwhelming. I have had to really find the strength within to keep going. And I even surprise myself with how much strength and resilience I posses. I have been meditating and praying more that’s for sure.

It’s been exactly two months since I wrote here. Now, onto the progress of the cafe. I get asked this question all day long at the restaurant. WHEN? WHEN? We don’t have a date yet, but it looks like sometime in late June or even July 2025. To say Dr. Phil and I have been stressed is an understatement. We’re just “anxious” to get started I guess. And for those who missed the previous updates, the cafe address is 198 Des Newman Blvd, Whitby. It’s right by the elevator inside the New Whitby Health Centre. And no, Mathilda’s in Oshawa is not closed…not yet anyway hahaha. Everything will be coming from the restaurant’s kitchen.

But here we are, moving forward. Dr. Phil is now a pro at auctions. He has acquired most of what we need for the cafe. We just need a couple more appliances. There are a lot of admin stuff in the background that nobody tells you about. And there are only so many hours in a day to juggle them all in between our full/overtime work. I currently work nearly 100 hours weekly. And it’s tax season….go ahead, just keep adding them on! I feel like two of me might be nice LOL. Experience comes in handy. I retraced my steps to when I first had to build and open my yoga studio in 2015/2016 and then retrace my steps to when I opened the restaurant in 2018. All the drawings, endless inspections and check offs, registration for this and that…making sure I don’t miss any step… thankfully I have gotten great at surrendering so I sleep well at night.

Ok, enough whining, Mathilda. You know what keeps me sane? The people around me who are so helpful and kind. They are always willing to help or offer guidance and direction. There are some sharks out there too, but we are blessed with kind, honest, and helpful people. And I’m vibing to keep attracting those types of humans into my life.

Ok, now onto the visuals. Pictures are worth a thousand words. Let’s just get on with them. Enjoy these renderings and real photos of work being done.

Much blessings sent your way. Keep doing the internal work. You can’t expect improvements and change if you don’t do the work. You are the most important project in your life.

Namaste,

Mathilda

UPDATE ON OUR NEW VENTURE

What a ride the past month has been, eh? Tariff scare, extreme cold weather, lots of the white fluffy stuff, a lot of sickness going around…. the list goes on and on.

Thankfully we have been healthy and thriving. We focus on eating nutrient dense food, mindful exercise, cultivating a peaceful mind, and staying hopeful and joyful despite the chaos and uncertainty around us.

It saddens me to see businesses closing left and right. Small business owners especially have been put through the ringer these last few years. And just like rubber bands, they can wear out, get overstretched, and snap. Where are you in the rubber band journey? I hope nowhere near snapping.

Dr. Phil and I have been busy working on our joint venture. This reminds me to clarify a few things. To those who are still wondering, NO WE ARE NOT MOVING. I have been personally explaining it to many of you who asked in person about what we’re up to. Destiny (soul contract, whatever you call it) has brought us together to manifest our shared plant-based passion into reality. We are in the process of building this “lego” masterpiece block by block. You should see our list of things to do/acquire. Dr. Phil has spent over 100 hours learning everything there is to know about coffee, coffee beans, and coffee/espresso machines. I left this 100% in his hands as I know nothing about it. I asked him if he would be able to keep his sanity after we’re operational. He said yes, when things are running smoothly. I mean, I wanted to ask if he felt like changing his mind about diving into the food industry, you know, because it’s the least recommended business to get into (says business experts, due to very high failure rate)… but there is no turning back now… the company has been incorporated and we start paying rent soon. Social media accounts have been created, measurements have been taken, drawings are almost finished, and things are in motion.

…Which leads us into YOUR next question: WHERE are we going to be? Haha! Wouldn’t you like to know!

… DRUM ROLL…

Do you remember the Oshawa Clinic that is no longer? Well, it has moved to the new building in Whitby, Hwy 412/Hwy 2 intersection. We will be at 198 Des Newman Boulevard in Whitby, right by the entrance, to the left of the main elevators. The New Whitby Health Centre opened in July 2024. It has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors since opening. It's a 154,000 square-foot, four-story medical facility that offers a wide range of healthcare services: urgent care, diagnostic imaging, sleep clinic, audiology, physiotherapy, fertility treatments, dental care, psychological support, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Medi-Spa, and more coming in the future. It is Canada's largest multi-specialty medical group practice. It houses >80 doctors and specialists and growing.

There… now you know. And I know what your next question will be: WHEN?
We’re aiming for May/June…there are lots to be done and training and all that fun stuff. We have to be absolutely ready before we welcome you all. We are here to make an impact on true health care: prevention and disease reversal.

Stay tuned as we keep you updated on our progress.

Stay healthy…make the small changes you need to make TODAY. This time next year, you could be in a completely different state of being.

Cheerio,

M

We’ll be to the left of the main elevators

Seating area

GIVING YOU CRUMBS THAT LEAD TO What's Coming up and Welcoming Someone to THE MATHILDA’S TEAM

Hello hello hello! How has 2025 been for you so far? It has been COLD my gosh! But I am on fire!

No, this is not the full/big announcement…yet… as we’re still finalizing a few things. But I will give you some crumbs. It’s another location, and we’re partnering up with the medical community—> Lifestyle medicine in practice.

Where we’re going next will require us to serve a large number of people. Over the years, we have learned a lot about what it takes to serve 50+ people in under an hour, with under 5% error rate. Now I know why we had to learn to do this. Everything in our experience has been preparing us for what’s to come. We have a lot of thinking and planning to do on how to make this happen as smoothly as possible at the new location, as well at Mathilda’s Restaurant, while still providing great service (and learning your names and getting to know you and your allergies and preferences). Serving more people and spreading the plant love has been our mission since the beginning. That’s why we keep at it rain or shine. I’m sure you have seen some new faces at the restaurant. More new faces are coming as we are training and preparing them for the birth of another precious baby. Thank you for your patience as we bring them up to speed.

Anddd this leads perfectly to who we are welcoming. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Phil Narini to the Mathilda’s team. Dr. Phil is an advocate for nutrition-based health and wellness. His approach to nutrition emphasizes the power of food in preventing and even reversing diseases, aligning with our mission at Mathilda’s Inc. and Mathilda’s Sauces Inc.

You may know him in Durham region for his expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Yes, the same guy. He has served the community for over 24 years after a career in family practice, years in academic research, and training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin with subspecialty training in Micro-Reconstructive and Hand Surgery. He is still the same guy and he has now joined our team to expand our reach and improve our focus on disease prevention and reversal with a plant-centred diet. Dr. Narini's science-backed approach on nutrition will help us expand the message that diet plays a critical role in our overall health and well-being.

You know that we’re passionate about flavour, not just the benefits of plants. Together, we hope to inspire our growing community to make more mindful choices that support long-term health, reduce the risk of chronic and lifestyle diseases, and provide the body with the nutrients it needs, one bite at a time. Being Italian, he can’t help but bring his Italian roots into play. So stay tuned for what we will be offering at the new location.

If you see him at Mathilda’s or at another café 😉, you can call him Phil or dr. Phil. He is eager to help answer questions about foods, herbs, and spices that can help improve your health and well-being. Maybe he can help you craft your own healing smoothie? Empowering you is our goal.

Stay tuned as we embark on this journey with Dr. Narini, where delicious, plant-based food is not just a trend, but a proven, effective way to heal, sustain, and thrive, backed by science. I remember that day almost ten years ago when I realized that I was no longer ill. The pain was gone. The chronic inflammation was gone. That led me into a wellness rabbit hole. And I have been passionate about sharing this lifestyle with you all since then. We look forward to serving you at a higher level by sharing more of these life-changing insights and helping you make informed choices that benefit your health and well-being.

Have a great weekend. Stay warm. Pursue things that set your soul on fire.

Photos of Dr. Phil below

Namaste,

Mathilda

Outdoor fun with his lovely wife, Heather.

On vacation with his athlete wife, Heather.

Showing his goofy side.

Thank goodness he’s a dog lover too, just like us.

2025 is the Year of Execution

Hello everyone,

Happy new year! My gosh, we’ve gotten through the first week of 2025 already! I know you think a year is a long time, but it really isn’t. There are only 52 weeks in a year! 52! And we only have 51 left (as of today).

So what will the end of 2025 look like for you? Crazy that I’m already 51 weeks ahead, right? But if you’re familiar with quantum jumping, this works just like it, but in physical reality. Visualize Dec 31, 2025. What does it look like in your life, relationships, business, etc.? THEN, you work backwards… week by week… to today, week 2. Working backwards helps to break down the steps you need to take (changes you need to make) to TODAY. Where should you start today? What first step do you need to take TODAY?

I’m currently working on a big project. I have my projected launch date and I’m working backwards to break down the steps I need to take today. It’s project management. Life management. It helps minimize anxiety from uncertainty and doubt.

Not gonna lie, I’m nervous and anxious. But I am also confident and certain that I am capable of overcoming whatever challenges are presented to me. This doesn’t come from arrogance. This is the result of years of overcoming adversities and falling down and getting back up, over and over again. You cannot become confident if you don’t dive in and make mistakes. Your confidence and belief in yourself come from learning how tough and resilient you are. And that is achieved through facing challenges head on. I don’t do ice baths or 75 hard… my daily life is ice baths and 75 hard. Day in and day out. I don’t need simulations. I live it. I’m not afraid of reality. I’m not afraid of doing the real work. I’m not afraid of hard work. I have mental toughness. I’m fired up! Ready to serve more people.

Do I doubt myself from time to time? Absolutely. Almost daily. Do I talk my ego out of giving up? Absolutely. Do I not want to get up at such an ungodly hour daily? Absolutely. But knowing why I’m doing what I do gets me out of bed. My purpose gets me up when I fall down. Money doesn’t make you happy. Material wealth doesn’t make you happy. Having a purpose does. Money is simply a tool to help you fulfill your dreams and visions. Money can help a lot of people, if you know how to control and manage it and not let it become your master.

I have a feeling that everything I have been working on these past few years (I have a few things in the pipeline) will all come out this year. I’m ready! I pray that I be given the strength, wisdom, resources, and passion to continue to serve.

May you be reminded why you chose to be here at this time. If you need reminders or want to learn more about yourself, I have a group past life regression coming up on Sunday, January 26th. Click HERE to register. I will guide you to explore 3 past lives. It’s less “scary” than a private session because we can’t go into too much details. I will ask your soul questions so you can obtain some key information about each life. Usually people recognize their patterns and vows made/declared after a particular life that is then applied to all the lives after (future lives). This is crucial for a deeper soul healing. Only when you understand your soul journey will you be able to break your patterns, fully heal, and move on.

The event is at 50% capacity as of today. Judging by how busy I will be in the coming months, I may not be able to offer another one until much later this year. I also have private sessions here and there, which I absolutely love because I get to learn so much about others’ past lives and learn from their experiences and the wisdom each soul brings.

One of the moments that changed my life completely happened during a past life regression. As I brought this soul to meet her guides and get some messages, the room was filled with Divine beings. They gave me a very important message. To step forward without fear because they surround me at all times. I am divinely guided and if I can feel and tap into their presence and guidance, being fearful seems silly. I have never felt such peace. I can’t even describe it. Divine! Heavenly…not earthly. So comforting. So blissful. It was like I was in another dimension. Almost like a near death experience from what I’ve read. My life was changed completely after that. I had this new boldness and courage.

And no, this message is not just for me. It’s also for all of you. YOU are divinely guided. Let go of the fear. Take that step forward and embrace your greatness. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Namaste,

Mathilda

Business & Life Update

Hello lovelies, how is everyone doing? It’s been a while since my last update here.

My gosh what a year it has been! After speaking with so many of you, we have all agreed that this has been a “weird” and very challenging year in all areas. Let’s face it, the world (especially this country) has changed SO MUCH in the last few years. Countless people are struggling and the economic impacts trickled down to the average people as well as small and big businesses. I have witnessed many businesses closed, which is devastating to say the least.

How’s Mathilda’s? Mathilda’s is surviving. Minimizing payroll to counteract increasing rent and costs is how we’ve been able to stay afloat. And we do this by working more hours. Yup! It is what it is. Starting a business is the hardest thing I’ve had to commit to. And in this economy, it’s even tougher. Rain or shine, motivated or not, I show up. We have multiple projects happening, and one of them is my cookbook. It has been put off for years because of time constraint but it is now time. I can’t put it off anymore. Yes it means I’ll be working waaaay overtime, but what else can I do? I’ve given almost 20 years of my heart and soul working towards other people’s dreams, I can give at least ten years to myself… total commitment and dedication towards my dreams. I am passionate about making vegan living easier and healthier and about aligning my actions with my values. None of us are perfect but we must do what we are able to within our capacity. This is what I’m passionate about. I love serving you all.

We’re getting closer to the holiday season and the end of 2024. I pray that 2025 will be a better year for all of us. I’m about to give my everything to end this year with a BANG. And then taking a few days off to recuperate and prepare for 2025. I have been dealing with heel spur pain for a few months and it’s such a pain in the heel! Ha ha ha. It’s not funny though. It’s very painful. But it hasn’t stopped me from continuing to strengthen my body and building muscle. I just find other ways to do them. How I got this spur? Well, years and years of being on my feet combined with my scoliosis (hence why it’s the left heel only). Investing in proper shoes (expensive doesn’t mean good). I have been getting shockwave therapy. I’m really hoping this pain will be resolved soon.

I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your constant support and encouragement. All the ways that you have helped us survive and grow did not go unnoticed. We truly appreciate all your kindness and marketing. We wouldn’t be where we are without every single one of you.

Many of you asked if we have any plan for expansion. Of course we do. We dream and plan, and if everything aligns, we will be ready to execute. Dream big, baby! It takes just as much effort to be big as it is to stay small. Of course, the challenges will be at different levels. But I trust that I have all the resources and strength to overcome them. We are not given challenges we cannot overcome.

Have a great weekend. Hang in there. Do your best and don’t sweat the rest. Or try not to sweat the little things. Remember, it’s not about material wealth. You take none of them with you when you leave.

Namaste XO

The Ups and Downs of Life

It’s been over three months since I last wrote! So much has happened in my life this year. 2024 has been heavy with even more learning and growth. Sometimes I wonder if I could get through them all.

It takes sooo much courage to embark on a transformation journey. Along the way, we must be prepared to make hard decisions and let things and people go. As we change, our surroundings also will and need to change. There will be so many people whose journey won’t resonate with ours anymore and that’s required in order to complete the transformation. Be courageous. Be brave.

There were moments when I wanted to just throw the towels in and give up. But I’ve come too far to give up now. Life continues to present disappointments and frustrations. I keep most hardships within me. Why should I burden you all? You have your own troubles I’m sure. I also cannot share every little detail because of many reasons. There are some things that are meant to stay just with me.

I tend to go deep within as I sort through the life lessons. When I’m serving you all, I set my troubles aside and focus on the moment and encounter. I feel blessed to do what I do and I do my best not to take each moment and each encounter for granted. There were moments when it hit me and I shed a little tear, remembering the pain. As I get older, the pain and suffering have accumulated and become memories and scars. Some faded and became distant, but some are still quite raw.

For months I was feeling tired and mentally exhausted. There have been so many challenges presented to us and I’ve held out long enough when many probably would have fallen long ago. They were wearing me down and I had to sit with my intentions and purpose. After remembering why I chose to be here during this time, I reconnected to spirit. I now feel wiser. I have boundaries. I guard my heart more carefully. I no longer give all of myself so freely to whoever asks. I assess and respond accordingly. And I realize that I can rely on ME. I can always trust ME to show up and step up because I have the power of the entire Universe within me. And so do you because we are all ONE.

I learned the difference between being kind and being nice. These words have been thrown at us so freely and often exploited. I strive to be kind by staying true to who I am. I strive to be kind by being honest and authentic. I must be kind firstly to myself. I say NO without guilt. Lying because you’re being nice isn’t kind at all. You could mislead someone down the wrong path. You could really hurt someone. And then you would feel guilty and ashamed. You can be true and kind, by telling the truth in a nicer/kinder way.

Who I am can be too much sometimes. I care too much. I help too much. I coddle too much. I need to instill more balance. Take a step back and let people learn their lessons. Let them be. It hurts to watch others suffer and struggle, especially when you see why they are where they are. But we all have our own lessons to learn. “Shut up and walk away. Don’t make their problems yours. Don’t take on their burden.” This is my new mantra.

And then I would hear news of their health decline, or other devastating news. So many “I told you so” moments. And then I would regret not speaking up when I had the chance. But would they have listened? Maybe, maybe not. Whenever I have spoken up, I was belittled and ostracized. They didn’t want to hear the truth. They were only seeking validation. And I’m not here for that. I’m being my authentic self when I’m truthful.

There is no other way because it didn’t happen the other way. What’s happened is meant to happen. Let it go. You just do your best at loving you and respecting other people’s journey. It’s a fine balance, isn’t it? How would I feel if someone takes my lessons away? I would be robbed of such priceless and valuable, maybe even life-saving lessons.

So these days I walk a little lighter, I feel a little lighter. I’m in a good space. I trust that everything always works out for my Highest Good. I’m surrounded by good hearted people who resonate with where I am and where I’m going.

For now, be content in the truth that it is what it is. Today is done. Tomorrow is a new day. We get to choose how we want to experience our reality. You know what I’m choosing. JOY. PEACE. ABUNDANCE. POSSIBILITIES. MIRACLES.

Thanks for reading. Hopefully I’ll write again soon. XOXO Be blessed.

Why do we Tend to Complicate Everything and Life in General?

I love observing human behaviour. When I go on social media, I study human behaviour through the comments. They give me a lot of insights into how people think, their assumptions, and the way they interpret a snippet of the videos and headlines they watch and read.

And one very noticeable thing popped up. We LOVE complicating everything in life. We have a tendency to believe there’s something wrong with us. This is very common for people who spend a lot of time online. Why? It’s the overload of information and suggestions being thrown at us all day long. They are trying to sell us something. If they can’t make you believe there’s something missing in your life, they can’t sell you anything. EVERYTHING we watch and hear gets absorbed into our subconscious mind. If you have a high level of awareness and mental toughness, you won’t be easily sucked into all the information and misinformation out there.

I learned so much about the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious mind when I took my hypnotherapy training. I started to observe the world around me with different lenses. The world became this fascinating place of learning for me. I became a more involved participant in life. I realized that I am a co-creator of my own reality and experiences.

Back to complicating things. We have so many limiting beliefs about our inabilities, fears, sickness, self-image, etc. We focus so much on why we can’t do something, our fears, that our health isn’t optimal, that we need to be fixed, etc. Having these limiting beliefs and perceptions about ourselves makes us susceptible to all the propaganda, advertisements, and marketing being pushed our way. For example, many people believe that we can no longer get all the nutrients we need from food because everything is poisoned and everything is chemical and overly processed. The truth is, we need less than we think we do. Our body is amazing. Yes the world is polluted, including the air, water, soil, etc. But we cannot afford to live in paranoia and extreme fear. That is even more toxic than anything we can put into our body. Our mind is the most powerful tool we have.

Focus on doing the best we can while still enjoying life. In the majority of cases, we don’t need expensive powders, supplements, probiotics, magic sticks, etc. It all starts with our mind. Once our mind is healthy, balanced, and stable, we can focus on nourishing our body with nutrient dense food as fuel. We can also then make more effort on using less toxic chemicals in our homes. But it doesn’t work the other way around. You can eat so clean and unprocessed, rid yourself of any chemical from your home (everything is chemical by the way) but if you are obsessed over it, you might end up becoming ill. Your mind turns everything you eat into toxins. For example, you might not go out due to fear of not being able to eat “clean”. You may avoid social situations because you would be exposed to toxins in people’s homes, outside environment, or the food they serve you. You might also avoid going on vacations. You have fights with your partner, family, and/or friends over the food they choose to eat, the chemicals they use in their homes, etc. You have no peace of mind. I have met countless people living like this and the majority of them did end up becoming ill. “I don’t know why I’m sick. I’m so perfect in my diet etc.” The answer lies in their question.

So I’m here to let you know and maybe give you the permission you need to just do your best. Keep recommitting to your wellbeing and happiness. Keep striving for that balance in life. There’s nothing wrong with you. You don’t have to be a certain way or live a certain life. As long as you’re content, peaceful, and you feel joy about your life, then continue doing whatever you’ve been doing. However, if you’re not happy with where you are in life and are thinking about changing, please do it with a focus on long term health and sustainability. NOTHING is worth sacrificing your long term health and wellbeing for. NOTHING.

Thank you for reading. I’m working on a few things and they take time. I’m always working on things and myself. Great things take time. Be patient. You’re a masterpiece. XO

Purpose Driven Life

What’s YOUR Purpose? Do you even believe in living a purposeful life? Or is life just a meaningless existence?

When I was an employee, I was always giving it all I’ve got. I showed up early. Always. I was a team player. I rarely was ever hired fulltime when I started any job. I accepted whatever jobs I was offered, on casual or part time basis. Because I know my work ethic and I know that I can always pick up shifts, I always ended up working overtime. If there’s one thing I’m certain of about human nature, it’s that many people give so little effort at their place of employment. I can always count on people not wanting to work. So, because I want to work as much as I could, I never worried. When I was in healthcare, I worked EVERY SINGLE HOLIDAY because I wanted my coworkers to spend time with their kids and since I had none, I could make the residents’ day by working and cheering them up.

I dedicated myself to the betterment of the workplace and my coworkers. I chose to make it enjoyable for me and everyone around me. I didn’t want my time there to be a waste. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to love. I wanted to spread joy. I made my work my purpose. I sang to my residents. I taught yoga. I joined committees, I got involved. I looked after the people around me. At my last job, I had a wellness corner by my work station. Anyone who felt ill, injured, or just needed a little cheering up would come and get what they needed. I certainly wasn’t paid to do that. I loved it though. I got to be what I’m passionate about because the job was pretty mundane with being on the computer all day long, staring at 3 screens. So it was my little corner of sunshine. Health and wellness.

Did it help me climb the corporate ladder? Not really. I didn’t interview well. I wasn’t good at promoting myself. I got rejected for the promotions I applied for. But I believed that something better would come along. I never let the rejections define my identity. I still contributed and I still worked hard. If it wasn’t meant to be, it’s ok. I’m learning. I refused to have the victim mentality rule my life.

I decided that my purpose was where I was in each moment. It doesn’t have to always be grand. It can be taking the time to chat with someone and without knowing, you make them feel less alone. It could be smiling at a stranger and you help brighten their day. The smallest, simplest things can be your purpose in each moment.

I went above and beyond FOR ME. I wanted to learn as much as I could. And did I ever learn so many skills! And those skills I am still using to this day in my business. Priceless. My work ethic is unquestionable. And that’s a winning quality especially in the business world.

If you have the mentality “It’s not my company, why should I be loyal and give it 100%?” Well I can tell you that IF you do end up owning a business where you have to employ people, I hope you don’t get employees with your kind of mentality.

Sometimes you get great people, sometimes you don’t. But you can’t expect to attract great people if you don’t have the same beliefs and attitude about working for someone else. Your attitude and mentality will determine if you’re winning.

This is why no matter how hard and exhausting my days can be, I go to bed smiling. It doesn’t matter if Jhon and I are the only ones working that day, you can be sure that I’m smiling. I LOVE greeting my customers, serving them, and striving to make their day brighter. I strive to make someone feel a little more healed after our encounter and eating my food. I put so much love, blessings, and healing into everything I make for my people. I become the blessing I seek in my world. It’s an honour for me when they come and eat my food. I am humbled that they like my food and baked goods.

I’m working on a few other things that help expand our brand. The restaurant may not be around forever, but I want to leave a legacy. I want to make this world a more loving and peaceful place after I no longer exist physically. So yes, I live a purpose driven life. This is why I feel so fulfilled. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

May you CREATE whatever it is you seek to have more of in your world. Don’t wait to find it. And certainly never wait for anyone to give it.