Well well well , just past week one and let us be honest, 2021, not a great start.  I obviously need this website to reflect my hopes and desires as much as the truth that is the struggle.  So, as much as I want to post reflections on awesome trips, great food and general positivity, in order to do so I must be acknowledge what is happening right now.  The breakdown of society with the "haves and have nots' , the lack of empathy people are demonstrating (loud and proud) towards one another and the feeling that there is no end in site.  I feel like every time I say to myself, well just around this bend things will be better, there is either a larger or a different barrier in place.  With the acknowledgement of this, I strive to move forward prepared, not only for my mental well being but to let others know we can get through this  And the only way we can, is if we work together. 

Alright! Let’s have some fun. With a stretch ahead of us where staying at home is the cool thing to do, we decided to take a trip down memory lane. I can almost guarantee that you can attach some sort of feeling or memory to a certain dish, a snack or smell. Food does this to me all the time! Meatloaf reminds me of dinner with my grandma, and custard reminds me of my mom. For Mike it’s his grandmas spaghetti and meat balls ( with extra sauce on the side) on a Sunday night. So we decided to do a little throw back experiment and make all the dishes that we loved growing up and to see if they were as good as we remembered. So keep reading to see if the dishes got a YAY (I’ll grab it again) or a NAY (thank you, next)

I caught myself, I was holding back tears as I drove over the bridge that connects our little island to mainland Ontario, that may sound super dramatic but we have only crossed the bridge twice since the onset of COVID. Once to see Mike's family before the tourist season started, (whatever that really means anymore);  and the other an emergency trip to Kingston Animal hospital to tend to a nail situation, Marzipan's not mine. So as I crossed the bridge I realized I had been holding my proverbial breath for the past six months. Two months later and I’m still containing that energy from the little getaway to the shoreline of Lake Erie (Check out the awesome re-cap from Sarah here) .  Lesson learned, explorers still need to explore, and now we just get to be a little bit more creative.  This week I am staying close to home but discovered quickly that I still have a lot to learn about my own region.   The Bay of Quinte is approximately two hours from both Toronto and Ottawa so it is the perfect distance for a weekend getaway or in my case the ultimate staycation.  

When you need that extra boost to get you through your day, all you need to do is sometimes open up your eyes! I learned this when I decided to actively search out the good within one week. I was pleasantly surprised when I didn’t have to search too hard.

How are you feeling these days? You don't really know do you?, well join the club. With all the unknowns floating around the atmosphere, it is hard to differentiate between what is deemed necessary and relevant and what some may consider redundant and excessive.
Sarah sent me a video the other day, that put into perspective how I was feeling. I am going to continue to pick flowers, paint stones and chase rainbows. Because I believe when all of the unknowns eventually fall to the ground I will have a bouquet of hope.

Like a much needed morning coffee, a diverse group of women managed to percolate my imagination, awaken a curiosity I’ve allowed to become stagnant, and brew a new sense of purpose. Leading up to International Women’s Day (May 8th, 2020) this panel of trailblazers shared stories of trials, hope, and following their truths, all with a shared theme of travel. The Travel Corporation out did themselves with the first #TTCIWD talks and panel session. From Left to right: Sarain Fox, Amy Vitale, Patricia Schultz, Nadine Sykora and Roxanne Joyal