Warm fires and bright stars - camping season is right around the corner but do you have the chops to survive in the wilderness? Discover if you have what it takes to do a quintessentially Canadian experience. Escape the amenities of suburbia and become one with nature at the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum in Kingston as they host their annual Lumberjack Workshop Weekend this June.

While the idea of camping in the great outdoors may seem intimidating, trust me it's amazingly fun and therapeutic. 

But hey, if you've never pitched your own tent, made coffee on a Coleman stove or roasted marshmallows over a campfire, get out your flannel and join this sweet outdoor camping experience for adults and hone your skills in the great outdoors!

Lakeside, or in the forest, once you've mastered the fundamental skills, the choice will be yours.

THE PERKS OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS 

WHEN? 

June 2nd, 2018 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

WHERE?

MacLachlan Woodworking Museum
2993 Highway 2, Kingston, ON

BONUS

All meals, camping, and workshop activities included with registration.

WANT TO SIGN UP? YEAH, YOU DO! 

Head on to the event page here.

Thanks to the City of Kingston for sponsoring this post.

Happy Self-Care Sunday! 🙏🏽

Spring has finally made an appearance and I couldn't be happier. Plus my skin is loving it. When the weekend rolls around especially Sundays, I jump for joy as that means I get to pamper myself and replenish my soul so I am energized for the next week. This is definitely the most gratifying thing and the best part of the week that I look forward to. Well, I'll admit that the first half of my Sunday is usually spent still in my PJs and being lazy. Everyone loves a lazy Sunday - am I right?!

While it's been a few months now, I've gotten into the habit of practicing self-care Sunday rituals and it has helped my well being immensely. It's pretty much a spa day - I wake up late with bae, make a delicious breakfast, lounge, walk and cuddle our furbabes, meal prep for the week (yes I find this therapeutic), lounge some more, do some blogging, finally shower, exfoliate with a face mask, do a pore strip, moisturize and then snuggle up into bed while diffusing my favourite essential oils!


But the best part recently thanks to Shiva's Delight, has been that my skin has never felt so smooth and glowy. My facial routine hasn't really changed in years until I had the pleasure of using these new products. Partially my fault or perhaps I'm in denial that I'm almost thirty but hey, I have been using an anti-age eye cream since college and no wrinkles in sight (knock on wood)! Pampering myself on Sundays is truly about clearing my mind, getting a good night sleep before the grind of a new work week but most importantly treating my skin to much-needed attention.

Congrats on your home buying journey! It's such an exciting adventure (and stressful might I add) but with spring on the horizon, I'm here to share some secrets that will help make the process that much easier. My fiancee aka foodie partner-in-crime and I finally bought our dream house six months ago and we couldn't be happier.


While I did a lot of research prior to us house hunting, some couples are so excited at the moment that they lose focus on reality, so today's blog is all about avoiding those hidden costs or unknowing information that could potentially creep up on you. And folks, if you haven't clued in - buying a home isn't easy or cheap. Buyers can be tapped out emotionally and financially before they can even call the home their own.

Best tip I got: Buy with your head, not your heart.

TIP #1: SET A BUDGET

I highly recommend evaluating your financial situation, ensuring you have set a budget to see how much you can afford and staying mindful of your budget. If you're looking for a mortgage and you have been pre-approved for an amount, know that you don't have to go all in. This is your safeguard as it definitely gives you an edge when buying your first home.

The ouch: Aim to save for 20 percent down payment.

TIP #2: THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFESTYLE

This will ultimately make or break if you can actually afford your dream house. Crunch the numbers yourself and see if you are able to make payments for the mortgage, utilities, gas, cable, internet, house tax, child care expenses, retirement savings and the cost of your lifestyle. Do you enjoy dining out? Do you enjoy drinks after work? Or indulge in a daily latte in the morning? So remember that even if the bank approves you for a $400,000 mortgage, that doesn’t mean you can actually afford it. You'll have to make sacrifices along the way. It's better to look at the numbers ahead of time to avoid any unsettling situations in the future.

TIP #3: PICK A GOOD REAL ESTATE AGENT

Find a good real estate agent that you will 'click' with. You are putting your lives so to speak in their hands to help you find your dream home, so make sure they communicate in the way you do, that they know your wants and dislikes, and that they have a good understanding of the market.

Psst.. our realtor was amazing! If you're in the Kingston area, I'd highly recommend Callie Warren! I live and breath social media so seeing a realtor so active and sharing listings through different channels was a big win.

TIP #4: GO BEYOND MLS

I'll admit I'm a millennial - I use Instagram and Facebook on a daily basis so don't limit your house hunt to MLS or real estate agent websites. Use social media to help you find a home and save time.

TIP #5: SPOT THE ISSUES WITH AN INSPECTOR

During your house tour, you may not notice underlying problems but that's where hiring a licensed home inspector will be your saviour and give you peace of mind that you’re avoiding any major issues before buying. But don't forget about checking common items such as opening windows, looking under couches or rugs for scratched floors, switching lights on and running the taps.

TIP #6: THERE ARE CLOSING COSTS

Along with saving for your down payment when purchasing your dream home, you'll have to take into consideration the money required to close your mortgage. From home inspection fee, legal fees, property transfer tax, land transfer tax, title insurance and the list goes on! But don't worry as there are some great rebates for first-time homeowners at the time of the purchase and come tax season. So your lawyer and accountant will be a wealth of knowledge.

TIP #7: RESEARCH & PICK A MOVER EARLY

Moving was my least favourite part of buying a home because A) all the stuff you have to pack B) dealing with a pardon my language shitty a moving company. Do your research and request quotes from multiple movers, as the expense of getting your belongings into your new home can be quite costly based on the distance and the number of items you own.

The ouch: Starting at ~$400

TIP #8: SLOW AND STEADY ON THE NEW FURNITURE

Once you’ve saved for your down payment and budgeted for closing costs, don't forget to set aside a buffer to pay for what will go inside the house. If you're a couple, you'll be combining two lives into one space so communication will be your best friend to settle on a style that you both agree on.

Remember this is your fresh start, take your sweet time furnishing your home with quality pieces. Focus on basic items first rather than spending thousands of dollars buying new furniture. Also, why not try finding cute items on Facebook Marketplace or antiquing?

TIP #9: LET'S PROTECT YOUR HOME

TIP #10: SAY HELLO TO PROPERTY TAXES

When you become a homeowner, one of the least exciting things you'll have to deal with is property tax. But hey, the upside is that it allows your city to deal with snow removal, garbage pickup and the list goes on.

Thankfully the city I live in has a monthly payment option rather than having homeowners fork out a large sum twice a year.

The ouch: Starting at ~ $1000 per year

I hope this will help you in your journey to finding your dream home!

If you haven’t been to or heard of Prince Edward County yet, don't worry you don't live under a rock just quite, but seriously pull up your Instagram app and look up the hashtag. You won't regret it - with picturesque landscapes, wineries and vineyards to eateries, The County as the locals call it, is the perfect spot to celebrate any occasion.

Today I bring you my favourite spots in The County that you and your closest gal pals will love for the ultimate girls getaway. This is your chance to escape the city to reset, relax and remember what it's like to have a little fun away from all those darn responsibilities.

Here are my go-to spots in the County to have a blast with the gals:

THE JUNE MOTEL

THE DRAKE DEVONSHIRE

Pamper yourself and the ladies to a luxurious and tranquil spa day. From pedicures to services like botox, there's a little something for everyone. But also can we take a moment to admire how freakin' cute the decor is!

Book your spa date now.

ROSEHALL RUN VINEYARD

The go-to spot in the County for premium sparkling wine!

Home to the County's best Shawarma, stop in for a delectable local bite and leave with a big smile.

Shawarma poutine anyone? And if you have some beer lovers with you, stop by Barley Days Brewery just across the road.

Got a sweet tooth? Then you're at the right location. I'll have to say their campfire flavoured ice cream is by far my favourite and a two scoop cone is always worth it.

p.s. don't want to drive? 

Give County Sips a ring for a personalized guided tour of the County!

Hello, ooey gooey cheesy deliciousness!

Today I bring you my favourite comfort food of all time,  mac n cheese but in my favourite city and adoptive hometown of Kingston.

 Whether it's a straight-up classic version or a unique twist on the traditional. There's just something about this cheesy, carb-filled dish that makes me coming back for more. However you like it - I'm a baked with a thick bechamel sauce kinda of gal with add-ons such as lobster or crispy bacon topped with breadcrumbs.

The Public House MacDonald's mac n cheese

But of course, who's really going to turn down this dish when dining out? Not this gal.

So here are my go-to spots for the best mac and cheese in Kingston:

STONE CITY ALES

THE PUBLIC HOUSE

This take-home mac n cheese is topped with brown butter panko and filled with cream cheese, old cheddar and gruyère. It's a creamy and cheesy delight to add to your dinner table!

Montana's smoky bacon mac n cheese certainly lives up to expectations and by far satisfies my comfort food level. Baked in a skillet until the top is golden brown and crispy, their spiral pasta in a cheesy bacon and white wine cream sauce is beyond drool-worthy. And let's not forget the crispy bacon and in-house baked cornbread served on the side.

Come to mama!

Do you have a favourite spot in town for mac n cheese?

Cupcakes AND dog cuddles - what else could you ask for?!

Today is National Cupcake Day - the sweetest event of the year for a furry cause and your chance to flex your creative baking muscles! How does it work? It’s simple - bake your favourite cupcakes, host a fabulous cupcake party, collect donations for those cupcakes and bring the money to your nearest humane society!

 What better way for animals lovers and bakers to unite forces to fundraise to help save lives of animals in their community.

Today my galpal Darcy from D'Appetit Baking and Catering Services is helping the cause by sharing her tip and tricks for decorating puppy cupcakes:

Seriously, how cute are these?!

Experiment with Different Piping Tips

This is your chance to be unique. The puppies featured were decorated using decorating tips #18, #21 and #233.

Don't Worry About Being Too Precise with Your Piping

To give your cupcakes the real effect of a dog, remember that dogs, for the most part, are not perfectly groomed so your cupcake doesn't need to be either.

Have Fun with Different Colours to Create Different Breeds

We stuck with vanilla and chocolate icing, but you could add toasted coconuts, regular coconuts or be wild and colour your icing to the preferred colours. We used chocolate chips for the eyes, Smarties for the tongue and shaped sprinkles for the nose, but you can use M&M's, Nerds, or try your favourite candies out!

Practice Makes Perfect

It's a cliche but so true, if you aren't happy with your first attempt, then simply try again!

The Basic of Making a Puppy Cupcake

Step 1:
Start by piping the face, covering the top of the cupcake with your preferred design. Starting from the middle and working your way out works best.

Step 2:
Pipe on the ears - adding any preferred candies for desired ear effect.

Step 3:
Pipe the snout - I used techniques on some, others have just a pile of piped buttercream. Add your choice of nose and tongue accents.

Step 4:
Donate to a local bake sale, eat and enjoy!

And I couldn't leave you hanging and not show you our new pup Dakota!

For more information about National Cupcake Day, visit www.nationalcupcakeday.ca

Nighty night my lovely friends!

Where my ladies at? It's Galentine's Day! 💕

(Okay well unofficially.)

p.s. if you're unaware of the term - Galentine's started off as a celebration by the hilarious Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation (seriously just Netflix the show!) Essentially, February 13th is a day to celebrate your sisters, friends and all the other awesome women in your life.

Featured: Bread & Butter Bakery Cupcake

In true Rosalyn fashion, what better way to honour this day than by indulging in our sweet cravings around the ladies we can be our true selves around. So hopefully it's cheat day for my fitness gals because we're treating ourselves to a sugar-fueled extravagant night and just one dessert won't do.

To make things easier, I'm sharing my favourite local desserts so what are you waiting for?

Grab your favourite chick flick and call your best gal pals for a cozy night in! And best of all, I've got you covered for all the scrumptious desserts: 

SMALL BATCH CAFE & EATERY

BREAD & BUTTER BAKERY

A post shared by Bread & Butter (@breadandbutterbakery) on Feb 8, 2018 at 6:24am PST

A post shared by CRAVE Coffee House & Bakery (@cravecoffeehouse) on Jun 17, 2017 at 4:43am PDT

A post shared by M (@maddy_ferguson) on Dec 1, 2017 at 12:09pm PST

A post shared by J McA (@foodinmyfacehole) on Apr 13, 2016 at 8:06am PDT

A post shared by James Pallister (@jjpallister) on Apr 7, 2016 at 8:10am PDT

A post shared by Balzac's Coffee Roasters (@balzacscoffee) on Feb 11, 2018 at 4:45pm PST

Happy Galentine's Day to all my fabulous ladies! 

Cheese. 🧀 Oh, the glorious simplicity of something so flavourful and comforting, especially when paired with the perfect glass of vino or maybe even a cured meat or two. Throw in some sweet honeycombs, nuts and jelly and you've got the perfect shareable with your BFF or date night with that special someone.

Image by Stone City Ales

TANGO NEUVO TAPAS & WINE

A post shared by @broke.and.hungry on May 22, 2017 at 9:47pm PDT

A post shared by Marina Darling (@thedarlingadventure) on Aug 9, 2016 at 8:35am PDT

A post shared by @sarahrkpl on May 28, 2017 at 2:04pm PDT

A post shared by Megan Mattice (@alifeoflessons) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:39am PST

A post shared by Lindsey.eat.world (@lindsey.eat.world) on Dec 26, 2016 at 6:55am PST

Cheers to a delicious charcuterie!

This is for all my lovely vegan friends out there. As we all know, restaurants in Kingston offer vegetarian options, but sometimes vegans aren’t so lucky. Fortunately, there’s a new spot in town where vegans can feel at home. No matter what you order, you won’t have to scrutinize a list of ingredients first.

Kingston's very own Atomica in collaboration with Knifey + Spooney has launched a brand spanking new vegan menu that will make a debut on February 1st.

Best part, the new menu includes comfort food favourites that satisfy off-diet cravings along with more refined delights.

THAT TIME A VEGAN CYNIC BECAME A VEGAN SYMPATHIZER

Introducing a guest post by Kelly Keates:

Being a stubborn cynic for most of my life, I find it hard to change my way of thinking without testing the waters first. I have always been a hardcore omnivore, enjoying the tastes and textures of smooth cheeses and hearty meats. In my mind, vegan food just could not compete and I shouldn’t even give them the time of day. I was wrong.

Going into this experience, I was excited, yet apprehensive.

I had never eaten vegan cheese or meat in my life. How was this going to go? I consider myself to be an adventurous eater, but I just could not see how this could live up to my high standards.

Worse: what if I LIKED it? 

After taking a seat and ordering some drinks (a Moroccan Ruby for me – potent stuff), our first course was brought out rather quickly. Having come into this tasting menu late in the evening, the servers had the routine down pat and spouted off what was on the plate in front of us:

‘Charcuterie’ board with zaatar-almond chèvre, lomo di vegano, MacKinnon Brother's mustard, tomato jam, crostini, pickled onion and fresh berries. 

Looking at the board, I was a little worried about everything would go together. I decided to try the lomo di vegano (essentially vegan pepperoni) first. I was floored. It tasted nearly exactly as pepperoni. The texture was the only thing standing in the way. It didn’t quite hit the meat texture mark, but I could overlook that. I decided next to just load up a crostini with all the fixin’s and have at it. I was amazed! Everything worked together in perfect delicious harmony. And the chèvre! I had to keep reminding myself that it was not actual cheese because it was nearly indistinguishable from a soft cheese.

Next was the Jackfruit Bao Buns with ginger hoisin, sriracha, cilantro and cabbage slaw. 

This was the dish I was most excited about as I had been seeing this jackfruit business all over the internet and had to know what was up. I couldn’t fathom how anything but a pig could possibly satisfy my pulled pork needs. I was – again – wrong. I couldn’t believe the flavours and textures that were in this taco-like bun. This dish was a table favourite. I’ll probably be going back to Atomica just for this little slice of vegan heaven.

Next came the Knifey + Spooney Flatbread with calabrese ‘salami,’ funghi ‘bacon,’ la bomba tomato, cashew mozzarella, kale and caramelized onions. 

I was surprised that it was actually quite large and everyone at the table got their own flatbread. I will admit: coming after the jackfruit, this was a bit of a letdown. It wasn’t bad per se, just your generic flatbread. It honestly did not taste any different from any other flatbread, which I suppose is the purpose of experimenting with vegan foods. It would seem that the vegans are always trying to trick us omnivores into thinking the vegan version of something tastes exactly the same as the original.

The fourth course consisted of a Cashew Mozzarella Gnocchi with smoked almond parmesan-basil pesto, roasted cremini mushrooms, funghi ‘bacon,’ roasted garlic & red peppers, and ‘bottarga’ di tofu.

I have to say, coming after the flatbread, this was a little much. I was already stuffed by the time this course came around and I don’t think I got to appreciate it fully. Overall it was delicious, but I found the sauce to be a little overpowering. I adore pesto more than my future unborn child, but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. I think that this dish would have done better on its own as a main, being just a touch too rich for the 5-course menu.

Lastly: DESSERT. Who doesn’t love dessert? 

Set in front of me was a Chocolate-Chia Pudding with coconut whipped cream and chocolate-covered espresso beans. 

Until this moment, I didn’t think about how the dessert was going to work sans dairy. I mean, dessert is essentially a combo of all of the best non-vegan things: butter, eggs and cream. As it turns out, dessert can exist without these things. I know! I was shocked too! But this chia pudding was actually delicious. My only caveat was the initial texture, which was not what I was anticipating. The chia seeds thicken the pudding to a similar consistency of tapioca pudding – something I am not a fan of. With the coffee beans and coconut whipped cream, however, this dessert works. I didn’t even miss the dairy.

As my first real experience with any true vegan foods, it went well. I am proud to say that I went in with an open – albeit skeptical – mind that was delightfully changed by the end. This does not mean, however, that I am about to run out and buy some vegan pepperoni and cashew mozzarella to throw on my next pizza. I still like my dairy and meat. I do see the appeal now, though, where I didn’t before.

In my book, that’s a win for the conversion column. 

Photography by Claire Bouvier