With the holiday season fast approaching, adding a bit of sparkle to your daily routine is always a blessing - especially when it involves time-saving hacks. Whether you're a stay at home mom, working or a student - we're all busy in our own way so a little extra help around the holidays is always appreciated.


Meet Minted - a fabulous company I came across when I was looking for blogger business cards. It's a design marketplace of independent artists from around the globe - amazing right?! With stunning designs, this year thanks to Minted I already have my holiday cards signed, stamped and ready to go.

Hard to believe right? Well folks I'm serious - it's November and Minted has crossed off one very important item off my list. Who doesn't love to save time and make their holiday card beautiful from the inside out with an added personal touch.


 They have a great selection of beautiful photo-cards, featuring the latest trends, and the best part - matching envelopes with the ability to have all of them addressed! Because honestly, who has time in their day to do that. Avoid the pen smudging this season!

It's as easy as exporting your contacts to excel, uploading them to your Minted account and presto - they are available to you whenever you order cards. Then you receive all your envelopes pre-printed with addresses in the design you choose! That's not it - you can also choose to order return address labels. The holidays are already jam packed with so many things to do, so I fell in love with these time-saving hacks that are a lifesaver for workaholics like myself.

This year I was inspired by the ever so popular foil pressed card with rose gold detailing. Though I knew I wanted to incorporate a little bit of added personalization and highlight the city I live in. As a locavore and a gal who loves to snap photos, picking the right image for the card was the toughest part of the entire process.

You have the ability to be as creative as you want or if you need a little extra help, the Minted service team is their to assist you from start to finish. The options are endless from foil, letterpress, luxuriously thick or fancy glossy paper, the choice is all yours.

If you have kids drawings, a family photo or whatever your heart desires, this year's holiday cards will be a breeze with Minted! 

Design your artwork now at www.minted.com

Thank you Minted for sponsoring this post!

It is a proud moment indeed for Mackinnon Brothers Brewing Company as this week a glass was risen at a quaint gathering to celebrate the release of their brand new 2016 Harvest Ale.

Why so special?


This brew was made using 100% of ingredients grown on their own family farm thanks to their unique commitment of staying local. With farm-grown ingredients of Newport and Vojvodina hops as well as AC Metcalfe barley, the taste and tradition of this new brew certainly resonates with their farm and the region. As malt for the brew was malted just a hop, skip and away in Belleville by their friends at Barn Owl Malt .

Keeping the entire operation local has successfully allowed Mackinnon Brothers to set themselves apart from others in the craft beer industry. So let's give these boys a well deserved round of applause for staying local and true to their roots but most importantly for brewing a 100% farm-sourced beer, a goal on their minds since the inception of the brewery.


In the wise words of MP Mike Bossio of Hastings-Lennox and Addington, Harvest Ale is "sustainability in a glass" and that it is! So let's cheer to a glass of locally sourced beer - it doesn't get any better than that.

The final product in all its glory - the 2016 Harvest Ale.


Where: 1915 County Rd 22, Bath, Ontario

For more information visit: www.mackinnonbrewing.com

-xoxo

Fall is one of the best times to have a leisurely stroll in and around Kingston thanks to the beautiful yellow, orange and red colours that appear for just a short time each year. Take advantage of this and head out to Jones Falls Lock Station located just off of highway 15. Don't forget to bundle up, pack a lunch and take your camera to capture picture perfect memories!

Multiple entry points along County Road 11 off of Highway 15 are available. The bottom of the locks can be accessed using Kenneys Road by Hotel Kenny where parking is available just a few feet away. Other options include taking Stone Arch Dam Lane to view the top of the lock station.

It was a quaint fall afternoon when I strolled down to Queen's University campus - a place I called home for four years. This time my adventure led me to the exclusive University Club with a gracious invite to attend English Tea Time.


Tucked away on a slight hill between Stuart and King Street overlooking Lake Ontario, I was joined by the lovely Jessica of Explore YGK and her adorable son whom was the sweetest little gentleman and got all the ladies attention! We were directed to the front hall where a gorgeous table awaited us by a big bay window. After a much needed catch up, we were showen with a vast selection of teas and of course our choices were unanimous - a traditional English Breakfast presented to us in a white porcelain teapot that I simply couldn't help admire while our tea steeped.



It was great to see such a vibrant and historic space offer this unique experience - you know, pinkies up in the air and little finger sandwiches with ladies who are dressed in pretty dresses.


As the chatter continued amongst us, the best part followed - the food and of course as a foodie, I was most excited and didn't know where to start!


Plated on a two tiered serving platter, we enjoyed mini sandwiches and dainty sweet treats all prepared by executive chef Keith Lee and his culinary team at the University Club. Sandwiches included egg salad, chicken salad, cucumber alfalfa and adorable smoked salmon pinwheels along with delightful cinnamon raison scones served with strawberry jam (my favourite!) and clotted cream. Quite the mouthful I know - but that wasn't all. Oh the sweets - they were marvellous from wild berry tarts, chocolate brownies and short bread.



 Seriously us two gals managed to satisfy our cravings just perfectly and finished our tea time with a last sip to good times. This was the most ideal way to end an afternoon!


Do I have you hooked? If you're looking to host a similar event, look no further than this wonderful spot with the most gracious ambiance. The University Club at Queen’s is available as an event venue and is the perfect backdrop for small intimate and elegant gatherings such a birthdays or bridal showers - the options are truly endless.

Sweaters, pies and all that jazz - fall is finally in full swing which means it’s officially time to bundle up and get in the festive spirit. From leaves changing colours to pumpkin spice everything, there is so much love for autumn and the same thing can be said for the slew of activities that comes with it.

1. Stroll through a Magical Scene

Impress your date with a one-of-a-kind light show at Pumpkinferno located at Upper Canada Village. It is a wonderful display of over 7000 hand carved pumpkins, scattered in quite the variety of themed scenes under the night sky. This is certainly a road trip worth taking - you'll encounter intricately carved pumpkin sculptures from Elvis himself to famous portraits by some of the greatest painters in history. The best part? Don't forget to stop by Willard's Hotel on site for a scrumptious homemade dinner that will knock the socks off your date in a cozy atmosphere!

2. Admire Fall Foliage while Hiking

There's nothing better than sipping on a pumpkin spice latte and taking a leisurely stroll in the woods. With vibrant colours and a chill in the air, it's the perfect time to cozy up with your date and enjoy each others company. From Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area to Lemoine Point or Rock Dunder, there are endless amounts of trails for you to enjoy.

3. Get Spooked at a Haunted Attraction

If you're a fan of horror movies, scaring your friends or walking alone in the dark than you're in for a treat because haunted attractions are popping up left right and center. This is your chance to show off your bravery with a date at some of the scariest haunted houses such as Fort Fright but hey if you're aren't up for the challenge, they offer protection amulets that ward off the scary creatures.

4. Get Lost in a Corn Maze

Right or left? Who knows! Test your skills with your date by losing yourselves in a corn maze this fall. With fun themes, puzzles as well scavengers hunts, farmers have been challenging their visitors with new experience each year with fun and innovative mazes. Are you daring enough to enter? Why not head to Wolfe Island's infamous corn maze for a try!

5. View From On Top with a Helicopter Ride

What better way to capture the fall season with your date than overlooking your city with a helicopter ride! And guess what? 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours by Kouri's Kopters is right in our own backyards. It's clear why helicopter tours are so popular - they combine adventure and spectacular views. This is the most worth-while experience and don't forget to get your cameras ready.


What are some of your favourite fall date ideas?

-xoxo

Pile on the layers and warm up the cider because all signs point to autumn! Being the first official weekend of the season, it's the perfect moment to watch the leaves change, indulge in seasonal treats or cozy up on the couch, there are plenty of options to choose from. The city of Kingston truly came alive this past weekend as you saw folks exploring the local scene and enjoying the wonderful sunny weather we had. Though there was a slight breeze in the air, it was also the perfect opportunity to pull out my quilted vest out of the closet!

Chilifest

The weekend started out with a traditional homemade brunch with my foodie partner-in-crime before I headed off to the annual Chilifest event in downtown Kingston! It featured local restauranteurs and chefs showing off their skills and competing in some friendly rivalry. Obviously as a foodie I simply had to attend but the best part was being invited as a judge this year. Boy was it a tough role but well worth all the chilly sampling as a winner was chosen (stay tuned!) and I was joined by the lovely Jessica of Explore YGK.

After tasting oodles and oodles of unique chillis, I had to walk it off by strolling through the farmers' market located just a block up the street. There was chatter, music and laughs to be heard as well as smiles to be seen by vendors and visitors a like. This was the first time in a few weeks that I had ventured downtown on the weekend - for my own sanity I usually stay clear of busy crowds and simply unwind at home or go on road trips to neighbouring cities.

Also the farmers' market is filled with insta moments!

What better way to pass some time than visiting a local art gallery? Kingston is filled with hidden gems and has several rotating exhibits all of which are quite unique in their own way. The Union Gallery is one of many and this season, a different setting took over the space. Emily Jan, a Montréal-based artist and writer, created a life-sized tablescape depicting the 17th century Dutch still-life painting. If you want something untraditional yet traditional, this is your cup of tea. I found it rather intriguing and unexpected especially when you get up close (you'll just have to go visit!).

After popping by Queen's University campus (also my alma mater!) I headed down the road to the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning - a community art space that holds Juniper Cafe and its waterfront patio (seriously best breakfast sandwiches in town!). With the foodie stuff aside, it is also home to the Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre - the main gallery presented an exhibition of works by Hyang Cho. Though quite minimalistic at first glance with neutral colours, it was fascinating to see the interplay between language and how it's explored in sound, installation, text and works on paper. 

The weekend ended on a high note when I attended an afternoon tea party at the lovely Toast & Jam in support of breast cancer where I was joined with fabulous company - Jessica of Explore YGK and Melissa of Improbable Escapes. The event pulled inspiration from Downtown Abbey with ladies dressed in their Sunday best as well as sweet and savoury dining options waiting to be devoured. How pretty are these cakes? 

Connection. Conversation. Collaboration.

These three words perfectly summed up BlogPodium 2016 - an event that brought together lovely bloggers and creative gals from across Canada. This past weekend's event was truly filled with inspiration. I had the wonderful pleasure of listening to women who dominate in their niche and whom shared their expertise and guidance.  From tips and tricks on how to grow partnerships with brands you love to learning how to get paid what you're worth to SEO strategies - BlogPodium was the spot to be!

The day couldn't have started on a better note as Alyssa Garrison of Random Acts of Pastel chatted all about building your brand through Instagram. But please take a second to visit her page - it's so visually appealing and simply makes you smile! The highlight of her workshop was when she stated that as smartphones are essentially our bffs now days, we need to make a point to get to know them better and get nitty gritty. A neat trick that Alyssa shared with the group was to wipe your lens - simple enough right? Yet who would have thought that this makes a difference and trust me it does!

The keynote speaker Tiffany Pratt was full of wise words filled with great sentiment and quite the vibrant personality. Her takeaways were profound and honestly had more to do with you as a person than the practicalities of blogging:

1. You Are Who You Are

This couldn't have been said enough times - being authentic was the number one piece of advice given. With a plethora of blogs in the world, people admire individuality and want to see the real thing as you are your brand. So be proud of who you are, find your secret sauce and rock it! If you love what you do, then that will shine through your work. Tiffany summed it up perfectly that you don't need the best of everything to create magical beauty and that you live your life by your own design - so emit you own frequency and don't be afraid to shake things up.

2. Making It Work

Success doesn't happen overnight - it takes persistence and tenacity to get your foot in the door. But patience is the holy grail of hustling to get your way in the blogsphere. You can't be afraid to go the extra mile and while there's lots of ugly, you also need to also find a middle ground that will allow for work life balance. Trust me - juggling a day job, freelance writing, blogging and the list goes on, I have found my happy medium that keeps me sane yet I love it all. You need to work hard to play hard - no blogger woke up one day and instantly got invited to glamourous events. They worked their butts off to get to where they are today!

3. Sharing The Love

This is probably the biggest takeaway of all. Boys and girls, that means getting off your high horse and stepping away from negativity - no competition, no agenda and pardon my language, no freakin' bullshit. Comparison is noise - rather find your tribe and build a support system of like-minded gals who have your back. Spread the awesomeness!

"Negativity does not come my way. Because I don't give it. I don't say shit about shit. Watch what you give, 'cause that's what you'll get." - Tiffany Pratt


A big fabulous thank you to the organizers and sponsors for all your hard work!

-xoxo

Kingston truly comes alive every September with the return of students but it also marks the arrival of fall and all its sweet delights. I relish being in a constant adventure in my own backyard and this weekend was filled with excitement especially for a foodie. From usual weekend traditions to attending annual events, here's a snapshot of my weekend:

The weekend commenced at Fort Henry's first-ever Celtic Kitchen Party to wrap up the summer season in style. It was the perfect spot to gather together on a Saturday afternoon with friends and family to enjoy great music, indulge in savoury food and soak up Celtic culture and traditions. While the tunes were playing, I sampled appetizing meals from food vendor Tulips & Maple and my oh my was is darn good - I had traditional Scotch Eggs and the meal ended with a bang when I received a plate of Guinness beef brisket.

Kingston Fall Fair - September 15-18th

Fall Art After Dark - September 16th

Limestone City Tattoo and Arts Festival - September 17-18th

Fare for Friends - September 18th

-xoxo

It's officially fall!

While it's sad to see summer depart, there's something magical about fall that has me looking forward to change. Between the pumpkin spice lattes, cozying up by the fire, and snuggling up next to my sweetheart sipping on warm apple cider, there's not much I don't like. But of course there is quite a variety for food lovers to eagerly anticipate about the cooler season ahead.

To celebrate this beautiful season, vow to take full advantage and enjoy all the foods the season has to offer by crossing items from this fall foodie bucket list. Get started as soon as you can because we might not want to hear it, but we know it's true - winter is coming.

Spread fall cheer by making a freshly baked apple pie - it's the perfect fall culinary activity. From completely traditional pies with flaky, light, delicious crust–from scratch and apples doused in savoury spices to deep fried variations and others made heavenly rich with caramel, an apple pie will always bring a smile.

Apples are the quintessential fruit of fall - roast them, bake them or simply eat them raw. Sure, you can buy apples in a store. But nothing says fall like picking your own apples right off the tree. What better way to enjoy a fall day than getting the family or friends out of the house and into the country. Besides, is there anything more delicious than taking a bite from a perfectly luscious apple plucked right from the tree? I certainly don't think so!

With the changing leaves and the crisp autumn air, it's time to fully embrace the season with another delightful warm beverage - apple cider. Spicy, tart and refreshing, apple cider hits on all the right fall notes. Whether it be homemade or from your local farmers market, sit back, relax and welcome fall with open arms.

Whether it is sweet pumpkin pie or a savoury pumpkin mac n cheese, adding pumpkin to one of your favourite dishes this fall will give it that extra hint of warmth and flavour. Pumpkin is one of those things that just keeps giving this time of year - perhaps because here's no end to what you can make. If your dish has pumpkin, it's sure to be a hit! From breakfast to dessert and everything in between, the options for recipes are endless and will certainly have your kitchen smelling like fall!

Either the star of the dish or a side, root vegetables are a prerequisite when cooking up a storm this fall. Mashed, roasted or raw, root vegetables are tasty and nutritious. Whether it be potatoes, onions, carrots, butternut squash, or beets - these satisfying beauties can be transformed into delicious dishes!

What are your favourite fall activities?

-xoxo