My Husband's Haven: A Canadian Cottage Inspired Father’s Day

When my husband and I first started dating he was thrilled to show me his favourite place, the family cottage. 

While I wouldn't call myself an outdoorsy girl, as the years went on I too began to fall in love with my husband’s haven. 

This year we've already been on two amazing escapes with our little one to the family cottage and after a visit this past weekend; I couldn't help but notice just how happy my husband is when he’s there. It’s going to be amazing to watch him teach our little guy to fish, drive the boat and build fires as he grows up on the lake. This Father’s Day, I am planning a Canadian cottage inspired gift that reflects my husband’s love for campfires and dock-time. I'm also going share some theme-based ideas for dads based on a few beloved daddy destinations.

The Dockside Daddy (aka my husband)

For my husband, dock-time is his favourite time, whether he’s prepping the boat for a sunset cruise or hunting for kindling to build the biggest campfire possible, these comfy classics from Roots Canada are perfect for those cool cottage nights.

Roots Tracksuit (matching with my son’s … this is part of the surprise)

Canadian Pure Maple Syrup (another farmers' market find)

After the delicious breakfast in bed I had on Mother's Day, I think that we've started a new tradition. While I'm still deciding what to make for breakfast this Father's Day, I know it will involve some good old-fashioned Maple Syrup. Found this one at the Annette Village Farmers' Market and it came with a few fabulous recipes. I've literally been putting this stuff on everything lately. Stay tuned for a Maple Madness post coming-up on the blog. I'll share some fun ways to use Maple Syrup, adding a touch of sweetness to your everyday meals. 

The Daytona Dad

My dad loves the beach so much that if he could live in a beach shack, he probably would. This Beach Blanket from Old Navy is perfect for that waterside day-trip you've been planning with dad this summer.

The Backpacking Papa

If the dad in your life loves a good getaway, whether it’s hiking the Bruce Trail or backpacking through Europe, here is a fabulous find that will satisfy his taste for travel.

RCAF Travel Bag (from Chapters)

This is the perfect travel bag for all of the shower and shaving essentials that dad will need to take along on his travels. Check out the Red Canoe collection at Chapters/Indigo for more great travel accessories for dad.

When searching for that perfect gift I'm always trying to find something thoughtful, but also practical, and this Father's day I was inspired by the some of dad's favourite places and spaces.  

What inspires you when searching for a gift? Would love to hear some creative gift giving ideas. 

Sweet Strawberry Rhubarb Salad

I get so excited for farmer’s market season every spring. An afternoon at the market makes what can sometimes be a seemingly mundane task like grocery shopping into an enjoyable and inspiring outing.

           

Today was the first week of our local farmer’s market and the colours of the vender tables were particularly vibrant, filled with strawberries, spinach, cucumber and an abundance of rhubarb. 

After walking past a series of tables that were featuring rhubarb, its vibrant red stalks and lush leaves catching my eye at every turn, I decided to stop and ask one of the vendors what was the best way to incorporate this vegetable into everyday meals. Wasting no time, he quickly began to show me how to clean the stalks and explained that it would taste best if used to make a simple syrup. His kind and helpful tips are what became the inspiration for the dressing and salad featured below.

Sweet Strawberry Rhubarb Salad Ingredients

Salad

2 Cups Fresh Spinach (tear into bite-size bits)

1 Cucumber (sliced)

2 Strawberries (sliced)

2 Tablespoons granola

Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

1/3 Cup Rhubarb (cleaned and cut into small slices)

1/4 Cup of Strawberries (sliced)

1/4 Cup of Sugar

1/4 Cup Water

Dressing

2 Tablespoons of the Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

1 Teaspoon of Dyonnaise Mustard Blend

1 Teaspoon of Lemon Juice

1/8 of a teaspoon of salt and pepper

Directions Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup

1.     In a small saucepan, combine rhubarb, strawberries, water and sugar.

2.     Bring to a boil at medium-high heat for 7 min or until your rhubarb is very soft.

3.     Remove from heat and let stand for 10 min.

4.     Set aside the larger pieces of fruit

5.     This makes more syrup than you will need for your dressing, so I like to keep what's left for Sunday morning pancakes!

Directions for Dressing

          Combine 2 tbs of the syrup, dyonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper; whisk until blended.

Directions for Salad

Combine spinach, cucumber and strawberries; pour dressing and sprinkle with granola.  Lightly toss. Top with the bits of strawberry and rhubarb leftover from your syrup.

Enjoy!

Mini Vacations with Babies

Part One: Getting our Baby Travelling Feet Wet at the Cottage

Travelling is something my husband and I love to do, and to be honest I can’t get enough. The travel bug bit me years ago and I think I may have a small case of wanderlust. Every time we come home from a trip, all I can think about is where we should go next. Our last big trip was to England and Ireland just over a year ago and even though we splurged on that trip, thinking it might be our last one for a while, I’ve been reading up on how to fly with a little guy. So, in order to prepare for another potential skip across the pond with Benjamin we are going to try a few mini vacations first.

First Stop: The Family Cottage in the Kawarthas

For our first trip with Benjamin we chose to try the family cottage; a place that feels like home away from home. It took a week of convincing, as I was worried about Ben’s sleep patterns in a foreign place, but after a few lengthy dinner discussions I gave in and we decided that it was time to give this mini vacation thing a try.

Here are a few things that we learned from our first mini vacation with a baby:

1.     Plan your Packing

Try to keep track of diaper counts and clothing changes a week before you leave in order to plan your packing. We did not do this and ended the weekend with only two diapers to spare. Now that the cottage has road access, we could have gone into town for more diapers, but it was close.

2.     Pack a Bottle or two for the Road

If you are breast or bottle-feeding, this plan works! Even though I did a feeding right before we left the house and the trip was only two hours long, Ben still got hungry on the highway and I was able to feed him while we were driving, which put him back to sleep right away.

3.      Backseat Diaper Changes are Best

After two experiences with no change stations in public bathrooms, I decided that the backseat change is best. Being a bit of a germaphobe, this option has now become my preferred choice even when a gas station change table is available. The Brica goPad Diaper Changer is perfect for these situations.

4.     Invest in a Travel Bassinet/Playpen

We put the Graco Travel Lite Crib on our shower registry mainly because our house is so small that this was the best playpen option we could find. It turns out this is also a must have travel item! It pops up and folds down in seconds, which makes it perfect for packing. It also offers three stages depending on the age of your baby: giving you sleep and play options. I never thought I would say this, but it’s a travel mom’s dream.

5.     Consider the Elements (weather, bugs …both)

Knowing that May is black-fly season, we brought a baby bug net with us up North. This was also another great shower gift. It comes in handy at the cottage and in the city, there are some serious bugs in the city this year (or having a baby makes you more aware of them) and this allows us to go on walks or just hangout on the back deck without having to worry about them. Either way, no bug bites for baby Benjamin as he practically lived in this bug net. I also just found out that sunscreen is not recommended for little ones (infants), so a good sun hat and a baby tent are necessary for those sunny days. The Travel Crib/Bassinet has a tent-like attachment, which is perfect for this as well.

6.     Don’t Forget to Take Some Much Needed Mommy Time

While we were away there was plenty of family around to play with and look after Benjamin, giving us one of the mornings to enjoy a little time to ourselves. This is something I still find hard, but I have to admit, it was really nice. Take a bit of time to enjoy the holiday, if possible have your morning coffee before the baby wakes-up, or take an early morning stroll while daddy’s on baby duty. You want to make memories with your family while away, but also take a breath and enjoy.

Do you love to travel? What are some of your go-to products and suggestions for travelling with little ones? 

Brunch with Baby at Mildred's Temple Kitchen

A few years ago a good friend of mine introduced me to Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in Liberty Village and I fell in love with the place. I’ve taken everyone I know to Mildred’s for brunch and can’t speak highly enough about the overall experience. So when I decided it was time to take the plunge and bring our son out with us for brunch, this was the only place I could think of. 

Mildred’s brunch menu offers a variety of creative twists on classic dishes, making it a great choice for your foodie friend or your no nonsense grandma.  A few of my personal favourites include:

Huevos Monty: A delicious quesadilla-like egg dish that’s made with black beans, flour tortillas and topped with a few delightful dips (fresh salsa and avocado crème fraîche).

If you like savoury Mexican inspired dishes, this one's the perfect choice.

Mrs. Biederhof’s Legendary Light & Fluffy Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes: Sweet, creamy and a warm pillow-like pancake on a plate.

Prepare to enjoy a little taste of pancake heaven. The blueberries, cream and oh so fluffy cakes will fill your dreams for weeks. You will want them again … and again.

Luckily there is a side-order of pancakes for those of us who can’t decide between savoury or sweet and want a bit of everything.

Currant Scones: With just a touch of sweet, these scones pair perfectly with one of the signature teas. Simple perfection!

While I was pregnant I decided to scope out some of my favourite places in the city to see where we might be able to bring our new baby. I would look at things like the space (how much room there is for a stroller), the facilities (can I change a diaper while we are there?) and the overall atmosphere (sounds, lighting and a welcoming feel from the staff). Mildred’s became our brunch spot after many of my appointments while pregnant and I added this to our list of possible family date spots.

Soon after our son was born, we took him to brunch at Mildred’s for the first time and the overall experience was even better than I expected. The staff was incredibly accommodating, finding us the perfect spot to sit so that the stroller felt like it was part of our table. The white noise in the restaurant was perfect for keeping the baby happy and the bathroom had a great place to change diapers. Ben's only two months old and he's already a regular!

Mildred’s wide open seating area makes it easy for the staff to accommodate little ones, but be sure to plan ahead if you decide to head over there on a Sunday morning. While Mildred’s might seem like a hidden gem, this west-end brunch spot is very popular and you want to make sure you prepare for a bit of a wait. We always try to get our names on the list and do some shopping while we wait. 

With mother's day just around the corner, Mildred's is the perfect place to bring mom for brunch or a Sunday evening roast. A local hot-spot that combines culinary creativity, welcoming warmth and class!

Happy St. Patrick's Day !

        A year ago today my husband and I were making our way home from a pub in Dublin at 3am to pack our bags and head home after an amazing trip to the England and Ireland. A trip that just happened to end with us celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin! Today we are rushing around the house getting Benjamin ready for his one-month check-up at the Doctor’s office. A lot can change in a year.

            Our trip last year was one of many adventures Scott and I went on before the birth of our son. We chose London, Stratford, Bath and Dublin as our major stops, taking a four-day detour on the Isle of Wight to visit my best friend who moved across the pond a few years ago. The trip was amazing! One of those trips that we are reminded of often; especially when we hear Irish music or while enjoying a hearty bowl of Guinness stew (a new favourite of ours). What I know for sure after a few years of travel is that we are so happy we did it.

            For Scott and I travelling has been a major part of our relationship, something that defines who we are as individuals and as a couple. I am so glad that we had the chance to do some travelling as a couple before the birth of our son. While I do not think it’s impossible to travel with children, I can say that I know it will be different. For example, the 3am walk home from the pub might not be on the itinerary.

            I don’t really like to offer too much advice on the blog, but after talking with my younger sister about her desire to travel through Europe, I feel like I need to say a few things about the importance of travel. If you have any desire to travel, do it! Travel while you are young if possible and travel as often as you can.  Try to travel with a loose itinerary, leaving room for curiosity. While I do plan out the majority of my home-life using lists, calendars and daytimers (yes I have a daytimer that might also be my bible) I love to venture off the beaten path when travelling. Lucky for me, Scott is amazing with maps and though I was convinced that we stumbled upon Big Ben while in London, he told me later that he planned our route there. With that said, if every part of the trip is carefully planned you might miss out on the adventure.

            As a result of our travel experiences Scott and I are able look back on these trips fondly, cultivating those memories often and enriching our present lives with the things we learned along the way. Travelling before children was something we both felt was important; however, I do not think our travel days our over, but that the trips will change with our growing family.

            Since Ben is only a month old, we have not made any solid plans for our next trip. Instead  we have a loose plan to go on at least one trip in the next year or so and hope that what we learned from our past adventures may give us the confidence to travel with our son. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself though, since our first trip to the grocery store was on Sunday and if the past month has taught me anything about parenting, that is to expect nothing and just go with the flow. So far Ben seems to love moving, taking walks in his stroller and of course, car rides. Maybe he will love travelling as much as we do. We will have to wait and see.