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Beach Bag Must Haves



After escaping the city for a week, I found myself in pure relaxation mood at the cottage. It was the land of no technology, i.e. I left my laptop at home and was surrounded by Mother Nature at her finest. This was the first time in a very long time that I finally put my laptop away, stopped working and simply enjoyed my surroundings. I felt refreshed and had no worries. Being by the lake (that has a sandy 'beach') was what I needed this summer along with roasting marshmallows by a bonfire.

But it wouldn't be complete with taking an impromptu dip in the lake and that's when you have your carryall tote prepped. I've rounded up some of my beach bag essentials for a fun day in the sun!
Beach Bag Must Haves
Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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Cronut



Once again, this is another reason I would like to move to New York along with various other ones. But let's take a second and relish in the idea of a hybrid between a doughnut and a croissant. Its name, the Cronut. This reminds me of my high school days where I would have a croissant from Première Moisson every morning as it was right around the corner from my house. Having grown up in Quebec, French pastries were part of my daily diet and don't worry I did work out like a mad woman. So I simply couldn't resist this new craze. The concept of the cronut is brilliant in my mind and after hearing about this, I was just so ecstatic. Someone will be taking a trip back home to Montreal really soon!

Flaky layers on the outside paired with a creamy filling on the inside, how can you say no? People literally line up in the wee hours of the morning to munch on this treat in the city that never sleeps. I may not be Dominique Ansel but I will attempt to make my own version of the delectable delicate hybrid masterpiece. 

This month, my baking mission is: the cronut. Obviously!

Wish me luck!




Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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On Vacation



Oh how it feels nice to be back in the province of Quebec and at the family cottage. I can finally relax by the lake and be away from the online world. I seriously have not taken time for myself since the start of university and that was about five years ago!

I have either been job hunting, working or blogging, so this week is much needed. The laptop and cellphone are being left at home. Instead my trusty journal and pen are coming along for the journey. It will be nice to clear my head and get away from the city. 

See you all in a week!

{Lake at the Cottage}

Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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Taste of Kingston | Battery Bistro



Well hello my fellow Kingstonians! I'm assuming you've already heard the news, but for those of you who haven't, Fort Henry is now home to the largest outdoor waterfront patio-deck in Kingston. With a spur of the moment lunch, I decided to dine at the new Battery Bistro. Upon first glance, it is situated in the Advanced Battery and overlooks Lake Ontario, Royal Military College along with our lovely city.


Seated at a lower table as requested, the unbearable heat that was upon us this week seemed to have disappeared with shaded umbrellas, a cool breeze and refreshing drinks of course. The casual menu offered a wide variety of light snacks to main courses, where it also featured special summer drinks, draft beers (Steamwhistle being one of them, my favourite!) and local wines from Prince Edward County.


I ended up going with my craving of the individual pizza and it was well worth it. I'm a small person but apparently I'm known to eat a lot. Some may call me a foodie and I'll take it as a compliment. The pizza I had was scrumptious and just had to have every last bite of it. With the choice of three toppings, I choose crispy bacon, cremini mushrooms and have arugula as an uncooked topping. The crust was soft yet had a tad of crunch to it, just how I like it.

Are you drooling yet?

I simply wanted to try everything on the menu, especially the Salmon & Brie sandwich minus the capers!

To stay cool, I sipped on some cold ice tea but for next time, sangrias anyone?


The servers were friendly and attentive to their guests, a plus in my books. The heat sure was not getting to them as they made sure you experienced the Battery Bistro to its fullest. Paul Fortier and Jessup's Food always serve up a delight and it's to finally see it offered on a daily basis to the public.

While eating you could hear the Fort Henry Guards marching away while playing the drums and fife in the parade square. It was nice to listen to something out of the ordinary compared to the hustle and bustle of downtown. Cannons would go off and no one would budge, like it was the norm. Most individuals were in awe with the view and taking the time to enjoy it as was I.

 The Battery Bistro offers live music and entertainment on Wednesday and Saturday nights before the commencing of the new Sunset Ceremony show which now apparently inlcudes a light show that I have yet to see. Open from mid May to Labour Day, don't miss out on entertaining the kids, sipping on fine wine and being mesmerized by the historical military reenactments. Or if you're a busy bee, be sure to visit the Battery Bistro on your lunch break!

Cross your fingers because the Marines may come to Fort Henry next month!

Hours: 11h30am - 9h00pm

Look out for more Taste of Kingston posts every Friday!

Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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Bar Cart Styling



Every girls needs one of these when they move into their own place. A bar cart is much needed even if it doesn't hold what its suppose to.

If you have no clue to where to start, simply try to infuse your personal style. Feminine details are always a must even if this includes festive pieces that can be used year long. When entertaining, the rule of thumb(or well mine) is to stock up on cute straws, napkins and coasters. Pretty packaging on products is a plus! Who doesn't love a little bit of color, graphic patterns and texture? You need to remember two words, style and function. It should look cute but also serve a purpose.

A tray is a great way to start displaying your items. It can hold a shaker, glass filled with straws, glassware or an ice bucket. A vase with your favourite flowers, perhaps some peonies can also be showcased and give the room some colour.

Use your imagination and be creative, this is your space.

Remember to always have a bottle of bubbly to celebrate a spur of the moment occasion!


Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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Tuckernuck Styled



After stumbling onto Tuckernuck's online boutique, I simply fell in love with it. Filled with attire and decor that gives the modern preppy look a twist, it has classic and timeless features tied into them. The site itself is quite amazing, featuring the cutest blog where they photograph real people styling their favorite pieces.

They have the most stylish skirts that can be worn either casually around the city or a tad dressed up to the office. Both youthful yet sophisticated, the skirts are primarily my main obsession at the moment. Oh along with the Needlepoint hat as it would be great to wear while rowing or lazy days in the sun.

Tuckernuck seriously needs to start shipping to Canada asap! Pretty please!



Doesn't Carly of The College Prepster look great in this chic statement piece skirt?!

She truly is my inspiration. She is my role model and has been since my third year of university. Her dedication to work is above average but she still stays true to herself and her style. A humble person indeed. Her reasoning for blogging was the exact same as mine, a creative outlet. A space where she could could write about light and exciting things. It was a way to relieve the stress of school, all its expectation and to document life digitally. 

She is known for her quirky preppy fashion sense and she sure does pulls it off, even in a city like New York!

Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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Taste of Kingston | Bread & Butter Bakery


Upon entering you feel like a kid in a candy shop, but surrounded by baked goods. The aroma simply entices you even more drawing you closer to the glass display cases that hold the deliciousness that Bread & Butter Bakery and Fine Pastries has to offer. From bread, cakes, baked goods to savory products, the owner Wendy Whithall has the dedication and passion to produce quality items that not only look great but are made from scratch and appetizing as well. An idea that formed back in 1998, Wendy has now been in business for fifteen years with much support and encouragement from her husband and two daughters (who presently all work there!). She turned her love of baking into a thriving career that has shown impressive growth.

{Display case with my favourite Blueberry Lemon Buns!)

Her background includes that of accounting but have always wanted to open her own business such as a bed and breakfast or something on a smaller scale, Wendy took it upon herself to get the credentials and experience she needed to get started. It is with that motivation that she attended Niagara College where she specialized in Culinary Skills and moved on to working at Inn on the Twenty, a winery restaurant in Niagara (where Anna Olson also worked after her departure) as a Pastry Chef. With four years of food industry experience prior to opening Bread & Butter, her husband, and herself finally moved to Kingston due to his employment. Not knowing anything about the city of Kingston, Wendy absolutely loved it right away. The somewhat small-town charm appealed to her and the short drive to their nearby cottage was also a huge feature.

It was then that Wendy took the plunge when she saw an ad one day for a bakery that was closing and selling all their equipment. Luck and faith were on her side. While the bakery was supposed to be small and quaint, this entrepreneur (which she doesn't consider herself but you know she is!) didn't expect what would happen. It took off like a flash without any real problems and now this establishment has 34 employees along with Wendy and her family. This modest venture turned into a place where the kitchen runs non-stop seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, and three shifts of people baking. Now that's impressive! Having had a definite picture in mind of a French patisserie, Wendy just went by her own tastes and that of her family when it came to choosing products to sell. Her concept is simple, to sell what she would want to buy from a bakery if she either didn't want to bake or just didn't have the time. I say keep doing what you're doing because everything within the bakery, I would purchase as I definitely wouldn't be able to recreate in my own kitchen. 

Wendy is personally invested in all her products and it clearly shows when you walk in the door. She strives to and takes pride in maintaining the highest standard in fine baking and cooking. Everything in the store is made fresh each day, using all-natural ingredients and as much local produce as possible. Wendy and her family literally add care and detail to everything they make at Bread & Butter Bakery. Though having been baking on her own after she got married, Wendy's learning progressed slowly over time and with many flops. She notes that it's always a learning experience and there is more to learn each day that goes by.

The bakery itself wouldn't be prospering without Wendy's team, who deserve oh so much appreciation. The hardworking staff endure the heat especially in the summer but still manage to put out high-quality consistent products which are enjoyed by all, as Bread & Butter Bakery supports many local organizations such as Martha's Table, the Food Bank, and the Ban Righ Centre. They also donate gift certificates to hundreds of fundraising events in Kingston and the surroundings each year. Involvement within the community is huge for Wendy as she finds it rewarding and satisfying. One aspect that I found truly touching was the simplicity of bread and butter being offered in lower-income schools in the area. It is a great gesture as some children have never had the opportunity to taste fresh bread. From young to old, Break & Butter Bakery is your one-stop shop. While its location is semi uptown and attracts west enders, it's worth the trek (it's only about ten minutes!) to nibble on some tempting handmade creations. 

With motivation and constant effort, you too can be in the same boat as Wendy and her pride and joy of Bread & Butter Bakery. Age isn't a factor when you start a business and Wendy is an inspiration to that. This family-owned business is here to stay and a gem of a place in Kingston.

Some lovely goodies that are offered in store:

You have to try the strawberry buttercream whether it's on a cupcake or cake, you'll know what I mean when you've had it. Take my word for it!

{Buttercream Cupcakes}

There was a crunch upon my first bite into the macaron and every bite after was splendid. Sweet, moist and airy, they are available in coconut, raspberry, chocolate and lemon. The lemon was my favourite as it was light and zingy. It's sometimes hard to distinguish taste with macarons, but Wendy and her staff have hit it spot on using all natural flavours without artificial preservatives resulting in great tasting products.

{Raspberry & Lemon French Macarons}

The vibrant redness of the plump strawberries shows their freshness and being local, makes them taste all that better. Beneath lays a creamy custard and a shell that had the consistency of a cookie/shortbread rather than a pie crust, which was actually quite pleasant. 

{Fresh Strawberry Tart}

I now understand why the strawberry rhubarb pie is one of Wendy's favourite. It was full of flavour, sweet and tangy. The crust was flaky but soft and fell apart in your mouth. Nothing says summer like a fruit pie and this was heavenly.

{Strawberry Rhubarb Pie}

{Strawberry Rhubarb Pie}

The loaf of bread was still warm when I had it and no toasting was required. To enjoy the true freshness of the bread, I spread some butter and homemade blueberry jam along with a side of poached eggs, let me tell you this is the last time I buy bread from a grocery store!

{Fresh Wholegrain Bread}

These butter tarts are like no other I've ever had! 

{Butter & Raisin Tart}

A bun in form of a muffin, how perfect is that? They sure are sticky so hopefully, you don't mind getting your fingers a tad messy.

{Raisin Bun}

Be sure to stop by 1530 Bath Road and get yourself some sweet treats or a savoury meal! 

Look out for more Taste of Kingston posts every Friday!
Rosalyn Gambhir
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Shopbevel | Stunning Studs



Founded by a Stanford Business Graduate, Shopbevel is an up and coming startup that is making head waves in the jewelry design community. It has already been featured on Today Show, InStyle, People, Cosmopolitan and others. Since its launch, this company has attracted well over 30,000 users and 4,000 plus designers from around the world. The woman behind the idea, Courtney McColgan. From the looks of it, she has en eye for jewelry design and is quite the business lady as Shopbevel is backed by two reputable ventures of Lightbank and Great Oaks, where the lather is an early investor in Modcloth, Warby Parker and Bonobos.

The concept of Shopbevel is simple. It's a competition. Designers submit designs, the community votes and Shopbevel brings the winners to market. That's it. Designers have the opportunity to get brand exposure while Shopbevel produces the selected product and holds inventory. On top of this, designers recieve a 15% royalty on every piece of product sold. These designers are creative professionals based all around the globe. Young and old, inexperienced to successful designers all have the chance to participate with Shopbevel.

Let's face it, Shopbevel would be every girls dream and now, it's Courtney's

The jewelry that is offered is exquisite and for a consumer looking at the pieces offered, they are quite affordable. Most ranging less than $100 or even less than $50. Shopbevel is a site worth checking out!

Here are some of my favorites:

These Emerald earrings are one word, fabulous! They are sure to dress up any outfit and make a summer statement.

How cute are these Elephant Studs? They were inspired by vintage pieces and show there animalistic nature.


Use "BBSTUDS" at checkout for 25% off until the end of July!

Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies



So I would like to say that I, Rosalyn love sprinkles. In cookies, pancakes or on ice cream! I am unsure where this obsession originated from but I am addicted to them. It may have started when I made Cake Batter Blondies into a Birthday in a Jar last summer. However it was definitely because of College Prepster's post on Instagram that made me make these Cake Batter Chocolate Cookies!


Cookie Dough:

1 and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 and 1/4 cup yellow or white boxed cake mix
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 egg at room temperature
1.5 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips 
1/2 cup sprinkles (Don't be afraid to mix different types!)


Steps:

In a large bowl, sift together flour, cake mix, and baking soda. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugars on medium speed. Mix in the egg and vanilla until creamy.

Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Then fold in the chocolate chips and sprinkles (The best part!).

In-between Step:

Once everything has been incorporating, the dough must be chilled for at least 1 hour or up to a few days. This step is crucial as it will be easier for you to handle as the dough will be more firm. 

Final Step:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Scoop out rounded tablespoons of the cold dough onto a baking sheet. An important thing to note is to shape your balls taller than wider to avoid clumping and ending up with one massive cookie on your tray.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are slightly browned.  Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tip:


I say use 1 cup of white chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet, it tastes much better!



When the cookies are ready to nibble on, don't forget your glass of calcium, hence milk!

Enjoy!
Rosalyn Gambhir
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Taste of Kingston | Limestone City Cupcakery


With the re-opening of Limestone City Cupcakery, I thought it would be the perfect time to feature another young entrepreneur on Taste of Kingston. A love of baking was transformed into a sweet successful business in downtown Kingston.

Her name, Katherine Lussier. 

Her age, 25. 

Her business, cupcakes.

This young lady didn't always know that this is what she wanted to do but as a toddler along side her mom, she started baking and by the age of 8 or so was making/decorating cakes. A talent that progressed over time and no food industry experience other than baking in her own kitchen and selling at Farmers' Markets, Katherine took the leap from her homeland of Nova Scotia to Kingston and opened Limestone City Cupcakery.


Her education background of Biology, Geology and an honors thesis in Micro-Palentology may have given Katherine an extra advantage in the baking department as a science-minded person as she put it, is meticulous about precision. And we all know that baking is all about measurements to get great tasting treats.

Cupcakes to Katherine were and still are simple, fun to make and oh so popular with all age groups. So with dedication and persistance as well as support from friends and family, she did not let her young looks stop her from starting her own business at the age of 23. Now more popular than ever, Limestone City Cupcakery features 12 flavours a day that rotates between probably 30-40 flavours. The flavours came from a mix of inspiration from online, family and friends and some of her own favorite things to eat such as s'mores and gingerbread at Christmas. Her favorite flavour at the moment is chocolate chip cookie dough, how delicious does that sound! Yummers! 

Having being put on set back with the closure of the downtown Ontario Street location, Katherine and the company have bounced back and with putting more effort in being more consistent with side-line items, she will be adding new menu items once she finds out what people in the new location are in to.



My favorites:

Birthday Cake
Yellow cupcake with chocolate buttercream & sprinkles.

Banana Split


Banana cupcake with chocolate filling, vanilla buttercream, chocolate drizzle, & sprinkles.

Chocolate & Caramel
Chocolate cupcake with caramel buttercream & caramel drizzle.

S'more Please
Chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream covered in graham crackers, mini marshmallows, & chocolate chips.


With the rise of gourmet cupcakes, Katherine was wise in her decision to set up shop in Kingston and thanks to the online tools, it simply took her a few clicks to truly find out how to start her own business. It shows you that now days, with true passion and the help of technology anything is possible. All you need is drive and willingness to not give up or doubt yourself. Especially in the gourmet cupcake industry, finding your life's calling isn't always easy. Katherine followed her instinct and turn her passion into her dream job. Her cupcakes speaks for themselves. The icing is sweet but not to a point where sensitive teeth start to hurt and the cupcakes are moist. Her years of baking in her kitchen have paid off and she is now one of several entrepreneurs in the City of Kingston doing what she loves and being her own boss!


My all time favorite:

Mellow Yellow

Yellow cupcake with vanilla buttercream, rolled in sprinkles.


Be sure to stop by 326 Princess Street and get yourself a cupcake! 

Remember it's $2 cupcakes every Tuesday.

Look out for more Taste of Kingston posts every Friday!

Enjoy!

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Rosalyn Gambhir
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[name=Rosalyn Gambhir] [img=https://i.imgur.com/9rNiMGU.jpg] [description=Rosalyn Gambhir is the gal behind the blog The Staycationer. Whether it's exploring the local food scene with her foodie partner-in-crime or taking in the view from her favourite cafe, Rosalyn is always a tourist, looking for the next exciting adventure within Kingston, Ontario and beyond. The Staycationer allows you to rediscover hidden gems in your very own backyard.] (facebook=https://www.facebook.com/thestaycationer) (twitter=https://twitter.com/rosalyngambhir) (instagram=https://www.instagram.com/rosalyngambhir/)

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