With the leaves changing colour, fall makes the perfect time for a road trip. If you're looking for small-town charm, Brighton, Ontario just a quick jaunt of highway 401, is your relaxing getaway waiting to happen! From locally-owned shops, historical landmarks, trails, and other natural beauties, this charming harbour town sits along the scenic shores of Lake Ontario. It is only an hour and a bit from Kingston and home to the picturesque nearby Presqu'ile Provincial Park as well as the town’s annual Applefest event that draws quite the crowd of thousands of visitors. Just so you know, Brighton has some of the finest apple orchards in Canada!

Last month I had the pleasure of exploring this quaint area in the Bay of Quinte located just on the other side of the ever so popular Prince Edward County and boy was I surprised by the drive into town. Brighton has become the escape of choice for some city folks looking for a slow-paced charming experience and I was about to see why.

Keep reading to find out why!

 Here are a few of my favourite spots that I discovered during my visit:

AIR BNB STAY

Only a few blocks from the downtown Main Street of Brighton tucked away on a quiet street was where I found my Air BnB and a lovely host by the name of Sandra. Extremely welcoming, we immediately bonded over our love of dogs as her adorable black dog Tia greeted me when I first arrived. Warm and attentive, her home was beautiful. The room I stayed in was spacious, comfy and very cozy just a home. Sandra provided lots of great insight into the area and was helpful in recommending sights I should visit.

Bonus: The neighbourhood was quite lovely to walk around as well! Definitely a big thumbs up on this stay!

LOLA'S CAFE

PROCTOR HOUSE

PRESQU'IL PROVINCIAL PARK

Why You Need To Go: If you're looking to escape the big city, it might just be time to check out the quaint side of things. Presqu'il Provincial Park is a hidden gem of Brighton that has grown with popularity with tourists as a summer destination for adventurers, bird lovers and beachgoers. But let me tell you, fall is probably the best time to visit as the changing colours are simply beautiful. As you drive along the parkway or walk the trails, make sure to have your camera ready. If you can, be sure to catch a sunset with cotton candy skies and visit the second oldest operating lighthouse in Ontario.
Bonus: It's open for day use all way until the end of December!

Where: 328 Presqu'Ile Pkwy, Brighton, ON

HELICOPTER RIDE OVER BRIGHTON

MRS. B'S COUNTY CANDY

Why You Need To Go: Looking to sweeten up your day? No matter if there's an occasion worthy of celebration or not, this goodie shop is stocked with a tempting selection of chocolate made the good old fashion way aka hand-made on-site one batch. Mrs. B's knows what's up when making chocolate and she is the pro in town. The store is the literal definition of being a kid in a candy shop because there's so much to choose from!

Where: 7 Prince Edward, Brighton, ON

THE WHISTLING DUCK

END OF THE THREAD ANTIQUE EMPORIUM

This one of a kind shop is not your traditional antique shop as there's more than meets the eye. A mix of vintage and new pieces but also unusual unique items. From cute modern farmhouse decor that immediately caught my eye to pieces with character and charm, this store is perfect for those willing to go on an adventure, or as antique shoppers say, ‘go on a hunt’ to find that hidden gem.

Also, you wouldn't believe if I said it but there's also a cafe shop tucked into this location. And if you're craving some ice cream then it's as simple as heading around back to the Tin Roof Dairy Bar where you'll find the best cones in town.

Where: 13 Main St, Brighton, ON

CHEER FARMS

Fall just wouldn't be the same without visiting Cheer Farms in Brighton, a family-owned and operated farm market. As soon as you step outside your car, you are immediately hit with the smell of sweet maple along with apples and fresh baking. They have a variety of sweet treats from loaves drizzled in icing, pies galore to classic donuts. If you weren't aware, apples are a big deal in the community of Brighton as they are surrounded by an abundance of apple orchards. Stop by their roadside farmers' market or during AppleFest at the height of the harvesting season to try their bountiful goodness of apples, seasonal produce and finger-lickin' sweet treats!

Where: 365 Main St, Brighton, ON

CRICKLEWOOD FARMS

If you're looking for the perfect day adventure with the family, Cricklewood Farms is the place. This fifth-generation farm means business as it features six acres of intricate corn mazes and orchards for apple picking with over forty varieties.

BRIGHTON APPLEFEST

I saved the best for last! An annual event that draws thousands of visitors locally and nearby, Brighton AppleFest festivities take over Main Street Brighton and is a true testament to showing appreciation for the many apple orchards and rich agriculture that surrounds the area. You can delight yourself in some sweet apple treats while taking in the fall colours. AppleFest takes place over the last full weekend of September with a pancake breakfast, vintage car show, children’s activities, arts and crafts vendors, foodie vendors, a parade and of course, plenty of apple-related food items to eat and bring home.

So to wrap it up, add Brighton, Ontario to your fall bucket list because you won't regret it!





Thank you to the folks at Bay of Quinte for organizing this amazing trip!

Personally, I struggle to speak up about my mental health and sometimes blame being tired on a bad night of sleep or a long week. Whether that's because of my upbringing, my South Asian roots and the community viewing mental health as a taboo or personal weakness, I can't say but it's something I want to bring up.

Lately, I've been fatigued most of the time to the point where I don't have energy or motivation some days meaning creativity goes out the window. I know it's partly my own fault (maybe? an excuse again? urgh I don't know), I haven't been eating properly, exercising or getting enough hours of sleep. Let's just say self-care has been put on the back burner.

MY 9 TO 5

Could this be due to my day job? Partly. If you weren't aware, along with having a blog and being a freelance content creator, I manage multiple social media accounts and digital platforms for various tourist attractions in South Eastern Ontario. Well, social media never sleeps (it's always on) and when you work with various people in different locations and properties that deal with customers first, let's just say my schedule has been a hot mess even though I'm supposed to work a certain amount of hours a day. Thankfully I'm able to be flexible with my schedule but trying to take even a day off, use a lieu day or a vacation day has proven to be difficult (unless I go to a remote island or off the grid).

When your job requires you to be online, all the time, it can be hard to simply unplug. The job might seem easy with the perception of scrolling on Facebook and posting pretty photos but it takes planning, research, strategizing, analyzing data, getting content along with attending meetings, keeping on top of emails and dealing with requests from colleagues. But it's also not fairies and pixie dust, there are days where you have to also manage bad reviews, respond to upset customers and deal with trolls.

Let's just say being a marketer, social media manager or creator is not all hunky-dory.

"We're expected to be marketers, creators, analysts and customer service people. We're stressed out." - Thea Neal

While being called a 'unicorn' from those in your industry is a compliment, it's also a sign that one person can't do it all. I'm passionate about the work I do and the stories I share that create engaged communities, it keeps me going on a daily basis. But it's hard to complain to people who don't work in social.

"Social media managers, entrepreneurs, and influencers have a unique set of mental health challenges because they spend their days in the trenches of the internet. Self-care is an important part of mental health, and sometimes that means taking a break from social media, our phones, and technology." - Taylor Loren

Positivity has played a huge role and having support from my partner at home has been crucial to staying afloat along with a supportive team at work backing me up. So remember that next time you comment on a brand page, there's an actual person behind it.

STEPPING AWAY?

So have I thought of taking a social media hiatus? Of course, I have. Giving your mind a break from screen time is important and the truth is, stepping away from social media when your side hustle and full-time job both focus on it, is hard taking a complete hiatus. But I have found things that have helped me a LOT to stay sane:

TIP 1
This one has been my saving grace! Remove all notifications on your phone and put social media apps into folders where they're hard to reach.

TIP 2
Set boundaries with colleagues. Let them know it isn't appropriate to message you on your personal channels about work. Make it clear how you would like to be contacted. I say this because there are some who forget to communicate via proper work channels. No thanks, I don't want to do work while I'm having dinner on a Friday night that I'm not scheduled.

TIP 3
Use a social media management tool at work if you manage multiple accounts. You don't want your phone dinging every five seconds. My absolute favourite is Sprout Social!

SIDE HUSTLES AKA BLOGGING

 This blog started out as a creative outlet to deal with the stress of my post-secondary studies when I was studying Computer Engineering (shocking right?!). Though my love for the city I lived in - Kingston, Ontario while attending Queen's University slowly grew on me and eventually, I escaped the campus bubble. I married my hobby of writing and my foodie knowledge to share my favourite local eats, weekend adventures as well as go-to events. Fast forward today and I am fully committed to my passion.

WHY? Because it is my voice when I feel like I don't have one.

Being a blogger definitely challenged me to learn new skills from social media, photo editing, networking, the ability to market myself and simply getting outside my comfort zone. (All key things that have contributed to where I am today!) I've been thankful to have been exposed to different types of knowledge and ways of thinking which have helped me become unique in my main 9 to 5 career.

But there's a downside...with blogging comes negativity as well where people will find a reason to project their insecurities and their fears onto you, your life and your creative work, and you’ll have to deal with it. I've learned the art of not caring as I can't do anything other than changing my own perspective. You should never have to second guess the content you put out to the world. Rather use it to fuel your passion and go that extra mile. I am so proud of what I have achieved, the connections I've made and how my creativity has blossomed. Though this has come with struggles of burnouts, criticism and negativity on a local level.

The other downside to being a blogger is if your day job already uses some of the same skills, it’s too easy to get drained. And that's me right now!

Lastly, the one thing I want to make clear about blogging is that it isn't all fun and games or the next hot trending thing to do. There's a business side to it, there's research, content to be planned, negotiation, taxes, and the list is never-ending. It's full time in itself if you take it seriously. When I'm asked if someone should be a content creator, travel writer or blogger, I ask them, why do you want to do this? In my mind, I'm thinking to myself, please have the right intentions. The glamorization of the side-hustle economy seemingly glows with possibility. There's definitely an allure to being a blogger where you get the opportunity to go to cool places and meet interesting people. But what people don't realize is that a lot of hard work goes into building and fostering relationships and a lot of behind the scenes tasks that take time and energy.

Remember, while I may seem like I have it all together, yeah I don't. I'm slowly figuring things out one day at a time. But my one piece of wisdom is when I'm struggling internally, getting outside whether it's watching a sunset or strolling along a waterfront, definitely is at the top of my list for improving my morale.

JUST A FEW OF THE FEATURED EVENTS:

VARIOUS LOCATIONS

1000 Islands Heritage Museum

Thousands Islands Boat Museum

Heather Haynes Gallery

O'Connor Gallery

Arts & Craft Collective

and more!

Follow them on Facebook to learn more about what all the BOOM is about!

 One word...

WOW!

It's the first weekend of fall and Kingston is the place to be with all the fun activities going on and better yet, it's also Culture Days. The amazing folks at the Kingston Arts Council are the host organization for this year. In case you didn't know, Culture Days is a nation-wide, three-day national event that celebrates arts and culture aka a weekend to shine a spotlight on the creative life of your community and recognize the importance of cultural engagement! It is set to kick-off in Kingston and across Canada on Friday, September 27th, 2019 and this year, the Tett Centre for Learning and Creativity is an official Hub for Culture Days events, inviting the community to learn more about the different organizations they house and to partake in workshops and activities at their Open House.

Scroll down to see some of the amazing Culture Days (free!) events taking place in the city of Kingston from September 27 to 29:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Kingston Writersfest presents: Voaden Prize Play Reading

Lorna Crozier Book Launch: The House the Spirit Builds
Studio 22 and Kingston Writersfest

Art After Dark – Fall
Downtown Kingston

Open House
Kingston School of Art

Afrisa Dance Workshop
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Art Exhibition by Pengyuan Wang
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

A Culture Days Celebration of Classical and Concert Dance
The Conservatory

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Fall Princess Street Promenade
Downtown Kingston

Ontario Street ABCs: Artists, Builders and Creators!
PumpHouse

Exploring Ontario Street: Curator Tour Outside the Museum Walls
PumpHouse

Participainting
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Sheep to Fall
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Kids Creativity Club
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Art Exhibition by Pengyuan Wang
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Bonus: Artbomb Festival
Various locations in Gananoque

Kingston Writersfest presents: Visual Storytelling with Claire Bouvier
Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront

Kingston Writersfest presents: And the Journey Continues…
Holiday Inn Garden

Imagining Rembrandt Tour: See for Yourself with Carmen Papalia
Agnes Etherington Art Centre

Community Drum Circle with Ollin
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

CRAFT Hub
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Play with Clay!
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Blue Prints: Cyanotype Workshop with Anna Soper
Kingston Arts Council

Create your own Hexaflexagon
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Art Exhibition by Pengyuan Wang
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

Tett Centre Open House
Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning

But long story short...

After scrolling through Instagram one evening, I stumbled upon a neat post. It mentioned that Kelly's Bake Shoppe, a popular bakery in downtown Burlington was coming to Prince Edward County for a pop-up event! The best part of it all was that they offered gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, peanut-free and vegan products. Ding ding ding! I was over the moon as I was able to finally indulge once again. If you know me, I have a major sweet tooth and well, Kelly’s Bake Shoppe to the rescue. As soon as bae and I got home from our adventures in the County, I took a fork and sampled each cupcake. Oh, goodness was I in heaven and in a bit of a sugar coma. These cupcakes were filled with so much flavour and topped with all the icing! My favourite cupcake was the strawberry shortcake vanilla that was filled with strawberry jam and topped with strawberry buttercream. Drool!

Vanilla cake with plant-based multicoloured sprinkles mixed throughout, topped with chocolate buttercream and more sprinkles.

MILE HIGH BROWNIE

It's been a good few weeks or so since my last blog post and I'm not sorry but that's because I actually took some time off for a slight digital detox from both my day job and blogging. But I will say that it's no surprise that during this time that my foodie partner-in-crime and I ventured to Prince Edward County (once again of course) for a day trip for lunch to visit Picton's newest dining experience - The Marans Dinebar.

Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Chef Guerin Sykes previously helped revamp the kitchens at Waupoos Winery before taking the leap and opening up his own venture. Featuring Middle Eastern with Asian inspired cuisine, this new spot by Chef Guerin and his wife Jessica puts the emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and all things County including their drink menu. Located right between the Regent Theatre and Picton Library on Main Street in Picton, you wouldn't believe it, but it doesn't have a full commercial kitchen! With only a few induction burners and other equipment, Chef Guerin creates flavourful dishes with such freshness and efficiency, might I add. As comes with small spaces, also comes creative thinking, being wise in how you cook and operate, which means the menu rotates and keeps you guessing every few months.

Scroll down to have a peek at some of the dishes we enjoyed:

When I was younger, I remember being glued to the television screen watching Canadian figure skaters from Jamie Salé and David Pelletier to Joannie Rochette and Elvis Stojko twirling around and seamlessly gliding across the rink. So when Cirque du Soleil announced its first-ever experience on ice, I was over the moon and the little girl inside me was beyond thrilled. CRYSTAL blends circus arts into unchartered territory - the world of ice skating, taking audiences on a unique journey to a frozen playground where the lead character Crystal dives into her own imagination and curiosity as she discovers she isn't like everyone else and out of sync with herself.

To escape her reality, she ventures out on a frozen pond and falls through the ice into an upside world. In this underwater world of her imagination, she sees a reflection of herself. Her reflection guides her through this new world and wakes her up to her own creativity.

Throughout the show, both gymnasts and skaters perform acrobatics on the ice and in the air, combining multiple disciplines together. Synchronized skating, freestyle figures, and extreme skating are featured alongside circus disciplines such as swinging trapeze, aerial straps, and hand to hand. Figure skaters learned how to be pushers on Chinese poles, while circus artists learned how to skate, and extreme skaters learned figure skating moves. Just spectacular!

AND! Did you know the cast of this show represents eleven different nationalities?! All from the figure, extreme and freestyle ice skaters, acrobats, musicians and comic character.

After being wowed by the show on its first-night performance, I was thoroughly impressed by the music, the artistry, the acrobatics, the visual projections and most importantly the show's theme.

When it came to the music, it was lively, intense and intriguing. It was neat to see that CRYSTAL had popular cover versions of well-known pop songs - a first for a Cirque du Soleil show, that included Sia and Beyoncé, specifically recorded for the show that definitely got the crowd going. Cirque also paid homage to the music of Canada's Maritime provinces while preserving the signature sound of Cirque. This was combined with showcasing Canadian pride through a hockey act where extreme skaters performed crazy flips, twists and jumps at full speed, turning the ice into a giant pinball machine. I'm sure kids in the audience were mesmerized and what better way to keep the celebrating going as Canada Day long weekend was just here. As performers zipped by, the best part, was lead character Crystal jumping out sporting a Kingston Frontenac jersey. Well props to whoever was responsible for that neat marketing plug! 

Here's a sneak peek of the act and set design:

Overall this performance is definitely worth a watch and treating yourself! As Cirque du Soleil’s 42nd creation and the company’s first ice experience, you'll be amazed at the level of artistry and beautiful blend between skating and acrobatics. Playing double duty of figure skating while performing stunts such as aerial trapeze, balance poses and straps or playing an instrument, well I was left speechless with all these showstopping moments.

CRYSTAL is being presented at the Kingston’s Leon’s Centre for a limited run of performances from July 3-7, 2019.

Tickets available here.

Enjoy the show!

The anticipation is finally over folks! The iconic indulgence of Canada aka BeaverTails set up shop in downtown Kingston with lots of excitement from locals just a few weeks ago and drum roll please.... is now OPEN to the public right next door to Market Square.

But what are BeaverTails you might be asking?

In short, they are a hand-stretched fried-dough pastry made with whole wheat flour to resemble the long, flat tail of a beaver. From there, it's topped with a variety of sweet garnishes - anything from a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar to chocolate hazelnut spread and banana slices, as seen below! Drooling yet?

It's hard to believe but I had my first BeaverTails here in Kingston in my first year of university. As I'm originally from the province of Quebec, I knew them as Queue de Castor so when a mobile vendor was on campus and my floormates bugged me to join them - well the answer was heck yes and it's been a joyous time every time I indulge in one!

"BeaverTails is truly one of a kind. Irresistibly delicious, artisanal Canadian pastry, always there to share special moments that make lifelong memories."

Where: 20 Market Street, Kingston, Ontario

There's a new kid on the block and their name is Fractal Workspace. If you can imagine a cool, hip but modern space, this is it. Creators David Robinson and his wife Laura Simpson were the masterminds behind this new co-working space in the west end of Kingston, Ontario.

THE SPACE

Inspired by boutique hotels and embracing the shift in how we use technology, the co-working space complements today's mobile, creative and entrepreneurial workforce. As David states, "It's not the office of the past - this space is unique, dynamic and flexible."

In a world where social media and selfies rule, what really caught my eye was that it was an Instagram worthy space - cliché to say I know. But from the moment you walk in, you are greeted with a breathtaking flower wall (you'll just have to go into see it!) and as you walk around from one room to the next, you notice that the interior design is carefully curated to make the experience like no other that inspires creativity and innovation. All of which is thanks to Laura Simpson and her love for interior design.

There's even a studio dedicated to creating podcasts.




How neat are these private pods called SnapCabs?


I'm all about postive quotes and greenery to get my work mojo going!


For more info, visit www.fractalworkspace.ca

Where: 623 Fortune Crescent Suite 100 Kingston, ON