Canadian Casual

 I wore this casual outfit for a day of shopping in downtown Kingston. With weather being unpredictable at times in Ontario, I was comfortable for most of the day in my loose tank and layered the flannel on top as the day cooled off.

Normally my husband shoots my outfits (begrudgingly), but I tapped my little (is 19 still little?) sister to take these shots while we were away and I have to say, she understands my creative direction alot better than Jon does (sorry babe, it's a fact). If only she wasn't living 20 mins away from me and busy with her own life. sigh.

[Clutch; Sandals (similar)]

From Top- [Love Bangle; Pave Bangle; Railroad Spike Cuff; Black Enamel Cuff (similar); D Cuff (similar)]

[Jeans (similar)

Flannel Button Down Shirt

Canadian Favorites; Kingston Edition

Since my second trip to Canada, I've started to collect a few favorite places to visit while in the country, keep reading to see my Ontario favorites!

Kingston Olive Oil Company

• On my last visit I was introduced to this awesome oil company in a pop-up shop near Fort Henry in Kingston. This year, my mom (who is equally smitten) and I made it a point to visit their full store in downtown Kingston on Brock street. 

Coffee & Company

• I popped into Coffee & Company for a quick "fancy" coffee beverage towards the end our trip (a week sans fancy beverages was almost too much). In addition to receiving a delicious "Milano" with latte art, I had a great 5 minute conversation with a few members of the staff and found myself wanting to sit down and grow some roots in the cute shop.

Cooke's Fine Foods

• Cooke's was recommended to us by one of our fishing guides as the place to pick up pepper jelly. Not a fan of peppers myself, I walked out with a pound of their locally roasted Chez Peggy II coffee beans for my husband and a cappuccino chocolate bar made by Galerie Au Chocolat for myself. Located on Brock St across from Kingston Olive Oil company, you could easily spend an hour in there browsing all the novelty foods available. 

City + Cargo

• Stumbling upon City + Cargo was such a happy accident. While waiting for my mom outside the Kingston Olive Oil Co (she got a bit carried away), I walked next door to City + Cargo after spotting GORGEOUS leather goods in the window. I didn't make a purchase that day, but I kept thinking about this classic tote bag and made a second trip to Kingston specifically for one of these totes to bring home. I love to support other small businesses and part of the fun of purchasing this bag was talking to the owner of the store who made my bag with his own hands. Hearing how passionate he was about his products was infectious and left a strong impression on me.

Bubba's Pizzeria

• While shopping for my beloved tote, the troops became restless. What I mean to say is that my younger siblings who have to eat approximately once per hour became quite hangry after realizing we drove 35 minutes for me to buy a purse. We wandered into Bubba's to appease them and wound up stumbling upon "The Best Poutine in Town". I have to say, I was thoroughly surprised, it was amazing. Having no other Poutine to compare against, I'd say Bubba's was definitely the best. What Bubba's lacks in decor, it makes up for in cheese curds. I'd happily stop back for lunch! PS the pictured size is listed as a "small", Canadians must have different sizing up there because I could only get through about 1/3 of it before one of the troops commandeered it. 

A Canadian Love Affair

Last week I returned from a relaxing and fun week spent in Canada with my family (Mom and Step Dad, 4 siblings aged 7-19, and Grandpa). This was my second trip up, and was my Grandpa's 15th. He started on a solo fishing trip and over the years gathered grandkids and kids to take with him. Next year is already booked and we are now adding my mom's best friend and her family to the mix!

We were in Gananoque (Gan-uh-knock-wee), Ontario. It's about a 6 hour drive from NJ (7.5 if you add in stops). Gananoque is just over the Canadian border and is located right next to the 1000 Islands region. We stayed directly on Lake Gananoque at Tedford's Lakeside Lodge. The family that runs the lodge could not be nicer, even accommodating my pescatarian diet and my brother's Froot Loop diet.

Of the 7 days we were in Canada, 3 were spent on the lake with our super knowledgeable and friendly guides that have lived their entire lives on/around the lake. Typically we will fish in the morning, eat our catch for lunch, and then fish in the afternoon for sport (throwing back all fish that won't be eaten).

What follows is a visual recollection of our trip!

L-R: Braedon, Me (26), Kyran (14), Gabrielle (19), and Gavin

In Canada, milk is sold in a bag. My mother got a huge kick out of this and was insistent that I needed to take a pic for my blog.

Just a few essentials! [Sunscreen; camera, facial oil, body oil]

My mom with one of her biggest catches!

My siblings and I are fully on board with the athletic slide trend-our opinions differ on who makes the best ones!

Gavin-12

One of my only catches from the entire trip.

Braedon-7

During breakfast the last day of our trip, family awards are presented. I won for the smallest fish caught and the most seaweed or "salad" caught. Pretty fitting for a pescatarian!

A few delicious treats smuggled into the US from Kingston.

Kingston Olive Oil Co.

While on vacation I stumbled upon an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting bar run by Kingston Olive Oil Company. I dragged my mother into this tasting bar following a tour of Fort William Henry in Kingston, Ontario and I was pleasantly surprised when I sampled several different, delicious oils and vinegars. 24 Olive oils (21 infused varieties too!) and 28 vinegars are available for purchase in addition to 21 gourmet salts as well as handmade Olive Oil soap and spice rubs. All of the oils are infused in Canada and are available for shipping to the US!

Kingston Olive Oil Company imports extra virgin olive oil from around the world based on the harvesting season and guarantees each batch for 18 months, which I am told is the lifespan of any oil. Most oils that we purchase in stores far exceed those 18 months and are not as fresh as they should be. I can tell you that I am now questioning all of the oil I've ingested in my life based on this new found knowledge.

I came home with three bottles that day; Vanilla Balsamic Vinegar, Milanese Gremolata Infused, and Cayenne Infused Oil for my father in law.  My mother came home with 5 or 6 bottles as well, I'm not even sure which she decided on because she loved every single one!

I had no idea how to use it, but I knew that I LOVED the flavor of the Vanilla balsamic, so I took it home and figured out that I would find a way to use it later. Luckily for me, KOO's website offers recipe suggestions and I fully intend to share with you guys what I made-stay tuned!