Take a Visit to The Sunflower Farm!

This week I visited The Sunflower Farm on the edge of Lake Simcoe along the backroads of Brock, Ontario. If you’ve been looking for a great summer adventure with family or friends, get to Durham ASAP. The sunflowers are only in bloom for 2 weeks! Durham Region is about an hour from Toronto and is made up of eight cities and towns; Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Uxbridge, Scugog, and Brock. On my adventure with the Toronto Blogger Collective and Durham Tourism, we visited four of their scenic rural routes, A Country Path, the Leaksdale Loop, Backroad of Brock, and the Sideroads of Scugog. I will share more about each route in my upcoming posts! I truly loved visiting The Sunflower Farm! We got to meet Ursala, the farmer of this multigenerational family farm and she introduced us to the animals including the cutest little goat named Feta. The farm has thousands of sunflowers, a sunflower-shaped trail, and plenty of great spots for taking photos. You can also purchase merch or sunflowers to bring home. Planning Your Visit to The Sunflower Farm Something that made the day really special was travelling around the area with Town Trolley Tours. Our hosts, Michael and Pauline, took us to each stop in their replica “San Francisco Trolley”, sharing stories about their lives, the region, and playing tunes on request. We even had a sing-along to The Tragically Hip! You can rent the trolley for events, weddings, and more, details here. If you’re looking for a great activity to get in before the end of summer, I highly recommend taking a trip to The Sunflower Farm and North Durham. There’s lots to do in the area! Check out durham.ca to see their curated collections of farms, markets, breweries, wineries, historical sites, and attractions. You’re…

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Summertime in the City

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Feastie Food Festival at Henderson Brewery

This past weekend I joined Natalie for a sip & snack event called Feastie Food Festival at Henderson Brewery. It was such a beautiful day and we arrived just in time to catch the media tour. There was heaps of great food + we got to make our own cocktails & sample a few of others. Putting a spotlight on Local, BIPOC & Female-owned Small Businesses, while Pairing with Really Good Drinks… As the founder of Evelyn Chick Projects (ECP), Evelyn leads a premier hospitality agency offering beverage consultancy, event management, and custom cocktail experiences. She also runs Ahma, a pop-up event space, and Simpl Things, a day-to-night bar in Parkdale. Additionally, she recently authored and published ‘For The Love of Cocktails’. Had a feeling it was going to rain so we set up a perfect spot inside the brewery to watch the storm roll in. It was crazy windy! Thank you to the team at Bubblegum Canada for having us. Super fun! If you’d like to learn more about the vendors or other events, visit feastie.ca.

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Now We’re Soaking Up The Sun

Can you believe it? It’s already mid-June! This year is flying by! It feels like we were setting our New Year’s resolutions just yesterday, and now we’re soaking up the sun, savouring long days, and making the most of every beautiful moment. Summer is in full swing, and I couldn’t be happier. There’s something magical about this time of year that brings out the best in all of us. My favorite thing to do is simply be outside. Whether it’s a long afternoon walk or an impromptu picnic with friends, being outdoors is my absolute favorite. There’s nothing like the feeling of the sun on your skin and a gentle breeze to remind you of the simple joys in life. Have been doing a lot of 5K+ walks lately. I love exploring new neighborhoods and rediscovering familiar ones. There’s always something new to see and appreciate! Walking is a great way to clear my mind and get some exercise. Parks are another perfect spot for summer, I like to bring a blanket, snacks, hydration, and lounge in the sun. Summer is all about creating memories with people you love. As we dive into the heart of 2024, let’s make the most of every sunny day and warm night. Embrace the spontaneity, cherish the laughter, and soak in all the summer goodness. Here’s to an amazing June and an even better summer!

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Awkward Portrait Studio – BFF Edition

Last week my two BFFs and I stopped by the new Awkward Portrait Studio by Awkward Family Photos to preview it before opening weekend. Lauren, Sarah, and I were joined by the lovely Greta (Lauren’s cat) for a super cute photoshoot. Scroll down for a link to my giveaway for your own session. 😁 Once you arrive at the pop-up you can pick your backgrounds and use any of their many props. It’s located at Richmond & Bathurst and each 30-minute studio session includes 2 backdrops and 10 digital photos. You can also buy printed photos, merch, or the official Awkward Family Photos book. I have posted a giveaway on my Instagram for a FREE portrait session. ENTER HERE! The winner will be announced Friday. You must be following me and @awkwardportraitstudio. The session is for 30 mins and you can bring up to 8 people! Pets are welcome. If I were to do it again I would plan much more awkward outfits and weird poses. They have iPads where you can view all the background choices and get inspired by awkward ways to pose. Some of them are seriously hilarious! I planned for us all to bring denim jackets at the last minute and I love these ones so much. Awkward Family Photos – How It All Started Childhood BFFs Mike and Doug started the website in May 2009 after Mike saw an awkward vacation photo hanging in his parents’ house. Thinking there were probably heaps of other people with their own awkward family images, they created a friendly place where everyone could share and celebrate their awkward family moments. Book your family or friends session here and see us on their website.

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Cold Punge Crew: Unbounded Sunrise Social

Had the best day! Woke up early and went to Trillium Park at Ontario Place for the Unbounded Sunrise Social event. Watched the sunrise with a meditation, jumped around to music, went in the cold, then in the sauna, and listened to live tunes by the fire. It was perfect. Went to a few of these events last summer, so fun. This year they had a Sunset Social but I couldn’t make it. If you’re looking for an event that doesn’t involve going to a bar or restaurant that will make you feel GREAT after, this is for you. The cold plunge community in the city, especially Unbounded, is so lovely. Positive people with an interest in wellness, having fun, and making the most of each day. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) Benefits of Cold Plunge There’s a bunch of benefits for the mind and body. Please remember, I am not a doctor and you should prob check to see if this is safe before you give it a go. Aside from being great for stress & anxiety, it helps circulation. When you plunge into icy water, your blood vessels constrict, pushing blood toward your core to keep you warm. Then, when you get out, those vessels open up and send fresh, oxygenated blood rushing back to your limbs. This can help reduce inflammation and speed up muscle recovery. If you’ve been hitting or need a little extra recovery, cold plunge. Cold shock releases endorphins, filling you with energy and positivity. It’s pretty crazy! Everyone at this event was smiling. The mental act of pushing through the pain of cold water will make you feel a natural high (for real). A 2-minute dip in cold water can be just the thing to clear…

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