Life on Manitoulin

Places to Stay & Things to Do on Manitoulin Island this Summer #ManitoulinSpotlight

2013-05-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

With the MS Chi Cheemaun sailing again and the everyone celebrating the unofficial start of Summer, you're now ready to plan on your amazing Manitoulin Island Summer vacation. Right?

I'm not lying when I say that Mantioulin Island is truly a magical place. I left Toronto in 2004 and fell in love with the Island. I've been living here for almost 10 years and love living here. Plus, being close to so many stunning beaches and lakes is pretty sweet (especially in the Summer)!

Places to Stay & Things to Do on Manitoulin Island this Summer

Manitoulin Island is known as an outdoor haven for those who enjoy hiking, cycling, boating, canoeing, kayaking, camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The Island is also fabulous for those interested in visiting museums, art galleries, farmers' markets and local shops.

Accommodations

There are many places to stay on the Island. Here are but a few of the places my friends and family have stayed at:
Manitoulin Inn
Turtle Creek
Auberge Inn
Buckhorn Motel
Gordon's Park
Big Buck Cottages
Hutchinson's Cabins
Meldrum Bay Inn
Manitoulin Resort
Timberlane Rustic Cottages
Fred's Camp
Sunset Bay Resort
Black Rock Resort
Rock Garden Terrace Resort
Southbay Guest House
Paradise Motel
Tehkummah Tipis

For a complete list of accommodations, visit the Our Manitoulin site.

Places to eat

Garden's Gate Restaurant

Garden Shed Cafe

School House Restaurant

Lake Huron Fish & Chips

Pizzeria in South Baymouth

The Roosteraunt
Ridge's

The Anchor Inn

The Musky Widow

Carol and Earl's

Mum's

Many more places to eat - Head over to ourmanitoulin.com for more eateries!

Attractions

Providence Bay beach

Bridal Veil Falls

Manitoulin Chocolate Works

Burns Wharf Theatre

Kagawong

Perivale Art Gallery

Cup and Saucer hiking trails

Gordon's Park Eco-Resort (stargazing, interpretive centre, edible wilds tour, and more)

Kicking Mule Ranch
Rainbow Ridge Golf Course

Edwards Studio

Pow Wow in Wikwemikong

Farmer's Markets

Art Tour

Debajehmujig Creation Centre/Debajehmujig Storytellers

South Baymouth

Southbay Art Gallery

Hettmann Studio

Other

You'll want to know where to get all your necessities while on vacation. You can find gas stations in Little Current, Sheguiandah, Manitowaning, South Baymouth, Tehkummah, Mindemoya, West Bay, Kagawong, Gore Bay, etc. When coming off the ferry, your first gas station is the Shell gas station/Carl's Trading Post. The gas station at the north end of the Island (not too far from the Swing Bridge) is in Little Current.

Need groceries? Little Current and Gore Bay have Valu-Mart. There's a Freshmart in Manitowaning, and Foodland in Mindemoya and Little Current. There are also smaller stores that carry basic groceries in many of the townships.

There are I.D.A. and Guardian locations if you need a stop at a pharmacy. The stores are fully stocked with everything you need from sunscreen, cosmetics, baby and feminine products, allergy meds, etc. The gift sections also have a great selection of items. Little Current, Manitowaning, Mindemoya, Gore Bay all have pharmacies should you need to purchase any necessities there.

For a complete list of Island Businesses, click here.

Websites/Resources:

My "Go-To" site for all things Manitoulin is Our Manitoulin. Local events, accommodations, business links, and everything you need to know are all listed on the website.

Other sites to peruse for planning your Manitoulin vacation are: Manitoulin Tourism, Manitoulin Island, Manitoulin Island Cottage Rentals,

If you're planning on visiting beautiful Manitoulin Island, there are many things to see and do! Be prepared to be amazed by the white sand beach at Providence Bay and the crystal clear, turquoise water of the many lakes on the Island.

Manitoulin hospitality awaits!

Ferry information can be found here.

Watch for my #ManitoulinSpotlight posts. I'll be featuring a different Manitoulin business every Monday beginning next week!

Calling all Canadian entrepreneurs: Tell @TELUS & @globeandmail your greatest business challenge for a chance to earn a $100,000 grant

2013-05-22T22:35:00.001-04:00

Being a small/medium sized business owner isn't easy - especially when you're starting out. A little help, like a small business grant can certainly go a long way. This is yet another reason I am a TELUS client (and fan) through and through. A company that is invested in helping entrepreneurs grow is a company I appreciate and respect.

In March, TELUS and The Globe and Mail launched The Challenge, the 3^rd annual contest inviting Canadian small and medium-sized business owners to present their biggest business challenge for the opportunity to win a $100,000 grant from TELUS.

This great opportunity was given to entrepreneurs across Canada to submit entries at Globeandmail.com/thechallenge and the entries will be judged by a panel that includes entrepreneurs and business experts.

In 2012, TELUS received more than 1,200 entries. The 2012 winner Glassopolis, sellers and distributors of fire-resistant glass in Toronto, Ontario, invested in new machinery to increase production and customer distribution.

If you won the $100,000 grant, what would you put your grant money toward?

To enter the contest, entrants are asked to describe the following in an 800-word submission:

A challenge their business is currently experiencing (200 words);
A proposed solution to this challenge and how the $100,000 prize would help overcome that challenge (200 words);
An explanation of the results they expect to achieve (200 words);
A description of how their business incorporates the following values into their business: 1) community investment/commitment to charities, 2) customer service and 3) innovation (200 words)

Calling all Canadian entrepreneurs: Tell @TELUS & @globeandmail your greatest business challenge for a chance to earn a $100,000 grant!

Canadians and fellow small business owners can join the conversation and follow the contest on Twitter via @TELUSBusiness and @GlobeSmallBiz using the hashtag #smallbizchallenge, on LinkedIn and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TELUSBusiness. The contest closes May 27, 2013.

Submissions close next Monday, May 27th!

It is easy for any small business owner to enter the contest for a chance to win the $100,000 business grant. Just fill out the quick online form and submit via the website!

Another Reason To Visit #Manitoulin Island! #WordlessWednesday @MCWChocolate

2013-05-21T20:11:00.001-04:00

Another Reason To Visit Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Chocolate Works. Need I say more?

Picked these up for some friends and some clients :)

Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts! We'd love to check them out!

#4000Party Contest 8: Oliver's Got You Covered

2013-05-21T07:23:00.000-04:00

In celebration of @LilSugarMag and @chancesmommy both reaching 4,000+ Twitter follwers, we're having a fun-filled few days of giveaways!

To show you how much we appreciate YOU we will be giving away 1 product each day on Twitter for the next few days!! Woot!! Not on Twitter? Don't worry, we have you covered! All prizes will be announced on Facebook as well...just follow the link and enter for your chance to WIN!!

So many chances to win, so much fun! To get started, make sure you are following us!!
On Twitter - @ChancesMommy
On Facebook - LifeOnManitoulin
On Twitter - @LilSugarMag
On Facebook - Lil-sugar.ca
Hashtag: #4000Party

**No R.S.V.P necessary** Just join in on the fun and remember to enter daily (via rafflecopter) to win the prize for that day! All entrants can only win once for the duration of the contest. Open to both US and Canadian residents.

Put away the messy permanent marker! This package contains plenty of labels for everything your child brings to sleep-over camp.

This Package Includes:
20 x Original Labels
50 x Mini Labels
14 x Shoe Labels
30 x Iron-on Clothing Labels
35 x Stick-eez™ Clothing Labels
2 x Large Bag Tags

More: Visit http://www.oliverslabels.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 2-4 is the Unofficial Start of Summer! Target Canada Makes Summer Living Easy! @target_ca {GIVEAWAY}

2013-05-17T18:40:00.000-04:00

May 2-4 is the Unofficial Start of Summer and Target Canada Makes Summer Living Easy.

For many of us in Canada, Victoria Day long weekend is the unofficial start of Summer! You know it's true. We get really excited with the milder weather. To us, May 2-4 weekend is shorts and flip flops time! It's when we open up our cottages, head to the lake, do some serious outdoor entertaining and rev up the 'ol BBQ!

Target Canada has prepared a check-list of all the essentials families will need to kick off the season. They've thought of everything from Road Trip Essentials to Cottage Weekend and Summer Entertaining!

ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS
The family road trip can be tough – often inching along as everyone hits the highway for the inaugural cottage visit or weekend away. To keep kids occupied (and drivers sane), be sure to pack the following:

Snacks – keep a secret stash of goodies to make a long trip a bit more bearable (and fast food pit stops to a minimum). Target’s owned brands Market Pantry and Archer Farms have a variety of snack items including fruit strips, granola, chips and popcorn to snack on along the way
Car friendly games – for long drives, best to pack some car friendly games and books to keep little ones occupied and entertained.
iPad – make sure the family iPad is fully charged for tech savvy kids to quietly play their favourite games in the back.
DVD – great for a rainy day or dull drive, pack favourite movies for the DVD player, such as The Rise of the Guardians, Mulan or The Lorax.
Safety First – with so many cars on the highway, make sure to have a fully stocked first aid kit in the trunk.

COTTAGE WEEKEND
May 2-4 often marks the opening of family cottages across the country. Load the family van with these essentials to ensure everyone has a great weekend together and is ready for the summer:

Cottage comfies - Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate for the long weekend. Be sure to pack warm clothes and blankets if temperatures drop at night. The Roots Outfitters for Target collection has hoodies and jogging pants for the whole family to keep warm round the campfire.
Sun/Skincare – be sure to hit the pharmacy aisle to be prepped for the elements. Don’t forget sunscreen, bug spray and a first aid kit for the cottage and boat. Target’s Up and Up line has everything to stock the medicine cabinet with all essentials for the summer.
Meals – bring foods that are easy to cook so you can spend more time outside having fun with family and friends. Frozen pizzas and chips and dips are easy items to have on hand for quick bites and easy but delicious appetizers for guests.

SUMMER ENTERTAINING
Canadians love to entertain outdoors and take advantage of beautiful summer-like weather. Target has everything from Bublé to bistro sets to make entertaining a breeze this season:

Plastic makes perfect – with kids running around in bare feet, plastic dishes and stemware make entertaining outside stress free. Target’s Threshold collection carries colourful dishes and serving trays to create a beautiful outdoor tabletop.
Accessorize – gardens and greenery provide a beautiful backdrop for any occasion. Add to the outdoors with seasonal accessories including bright patio rugs, umbrellas and pillows.
Ambiance – set the mood with outdoor lanterns and low background music (but remember, sound travels!)
Food - check the grocery aisle for quick and easy appetizers to pop in the oven as guests arrive. Archer Farms’ Spanakopita and Lobster and Cheese bites are crowd pleasers – just make sure you have enough on hand for seconds!

Now, if you know me in real life or if you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll know that I am all about entertaining. I love hosting dinner parties and I love cooking for lots of people!

Target Canada has some fabulous ideas for your Summer entertaining! The ingredients for these next dishes are available at Target, including all the Market Place products (chickpeas and extra virgin olive oil for the dip and marshmallows for the S'mores bars). The Ghiradelli chocolate chips and Golden Grahams Crunch cereal are also available at Target.

The following recipes are courtesy of Target Canada:

{ CHICKPEA & FETA DIP }
What you need:

2 cans (15 ounces each) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed
2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese, divided
1/3 cup roasted red pepper strips, divided
1 clove garlic
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
TRISCUIT Crackers

Here’s how:
1. Process chickpeas, 1/2 cup cheese, 1/4 cup peppers and next 4 ingredients in food processor until smooth.
2. Spoon into serving bowl; top with remaining cheese and peppers.
3. Serve with crackers.
- Serve with TRISCUIT Thin Crisps or Archer Farms Tortilla Chips
- Two kinds of crunch: serve dip with cut-up fresh vegetable dippers in addition to crackers

and

{ HONEY GRAHAM CRUNCH S'MORES BARS }
What you need:

3 Tbsp. butter
3 cups miniature marshmallows
4 cups Honey Graham Crunch cereal
1 1/2 cups Market Pantry miniature marshmallows
1 (11.5 oz.) bag milk chocolate chips

Here’s how:
1. Spray 8 or 9-inch square pan with cooking spray.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan over LOW heat; add 3 cups miniature marshmallows. Cook and stir until melted and smooth; remove from heat. Add cereal; mix until well coated.
3. Press firmly into prepared pan with the back of a buttered spoon or waxed paper. Sprinkle 1
1/2 cups miniature marshmallows in single layer over top.*
4. Heat chocolate chips in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 minute; stir. Heat in additional 10 second increments until completely melted. Spread evenly over top of marshmallows. Let stand until chocolate is set. - Makes 16 bars
- If desired, toast marshmallows by heating under broiler a few minutes until lightly browned. Then drizzle with chocolate.
- This recipe can easily be doubled and made in a 13x9-inch pan. (You will need to purchase 2 bags of miniature marshmallows.) - Sprinkle over hot cereal.
- These make a great snack just served plain or mixed with dried fruit.
- Stir slightly crushed cereal into ice cream or frozen yogurt for a crunchy treat.

{ WIN IT }

Who's ready for Summer? Are you excited for May 2-4 Weekend? Leave a comment telling me how you'll be spending your Victoria Day weekend and you can win a $50 Target Gift Card with which you can buy your Summer entertaining essentials (or buy something nice for yourself)!

Open to residents of Canada. Ends June 3, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure - I was compensated for this post, however all the thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

School's Out For Summer! Not Quite, But A Staycation At @Fallsavenue @FallsWaterpark is Perfect for Family Fun This Summer! #likenowhereelse {GIVEAWAY}

2013-05-17T01:51:00.001-04:00

People used to always tell me "Oh, we hate road trips" or "Road trips are so awful" and "You can't go on a road trip with young kids."

When we were kids, my parents took us on tons of road trips and we had a blast! We'd drive from Montreal to Florida every year. We'd also make shorter road trips from Montreal to Toronto or Montreal to New York to visit our family. What I loved the most was the adventure! I loved driving to Florida with my family and passing through all the States until we reached our destination.

I always knew that when I had kids of my own, I wanted road trips to be part of their childhood memories.

School's Out For Summer! Not Quite, But A Staycation At @Fallsavenue @FallsWaterpark is Perfect for Family Fun This Summer!

Before I had my daughter, people told me "It's impossible to travel with kids." We've had to make long drives from the Island to Toronto every few weeks in Little One's first two years of life because of her appointments at Sick Kids Hospital. 6 hour drives were no problem. Ever.

Plus, when you live on the Island, kids have no choice but to get used to traveling and being in their car seats for a few hours. Everything is so far to get to. Being in a car seat for a while is not an option.

Since we're too busy on the farm to leave on vacation for an extended period of time and airfare costs are quite pricey, we love the idea of a Staycation. We want to travel as a family and keep our travels to just Ontario. We love exploring our province.

I realize traveling may not be easy for everyone, so here are a few things that work for us:

Plan your stops. We stop for pit stops and breaks to stretch our legs every 3 hours. It helps break up the drive and if Little One needs to run around for a bit, she can. We know exactly which rest areas and gas stations we will be stopping at.
Pack lots of snacks and water/beverages! Healthy snacks to nibble on while en route always keeps our 4 year old busy.
Play road trip games like "I Spy" or the Alpahbet Game. We also look for unusual license plates or landmarks in towns we pass through.
Play some music! Little One can last a 6 hr drive to Toronto just chatting away or singing away. Music always livens up the drive and keeps the driver awake!
Favourite toys, books, activities - We pack a little backpack for Little One's items. She often "reads" books to herself or colours in her activity book.
iPod or DVD player. Little One enjoys playing alphabet and math games on the iPod and she loves watching her Disney DVDs! We bring a bunch of DVDs as a last resort. Normally we bring them out near the end of the drive if she's getting antsy.
PLAN LOTS OF FUN THINGS TO DO AS A FAMILY! A trip to Niagara Falls was the best thing that happened to our family recently. When we found out we were going to Niagara, we made sure to sit down and discuss all the things we wanted to see and do. Having a game plan is key for us. This said, a little spontaneity is great too. We don't always follow our plan. For example, on day 2, Little One decided she didn't want to do any sightseeing anymore and wanted to spend the rest of her vacation at the waterpark. Fine by us!

Here are a few things we planned that made our trip amazing!

A family stroll to check out the sites and sounds of Niagara Falls was the perfect way to begin our mini vacation. The Clifton Hill, the main drag is always packed and bustling with people! I love the energy. We even stopped and watch a few musical performances and dancers. Little One was in awe!

Since Hubby hadn't been to Niagara in ages and this was Little One's first trip, we had planned to check out as many attractions as we could. Hubby really enjoyed the Guinness World Records Museum. Hubby is a facts guy. He likes statistics and is a total trivia nut.

We also went to Ripley's Museum (Ripley's Believe It Or Not!) My husband would have liked to stay longer and read through every single rare and mind boggling display in the collection. I think we rushed him. The man can spend an entire day reading! He soaks that stuff all up! He loved it!

I was surprised that with all the oddities, Little One wasn't scared. She was rather intrigued by it all. I really thought she was going to cry!

We went to Brick City and some other fun places for kids to enjoy. Little One really enjoyed the LEGO exhibits.

Of course, we just had to go to the Rainforest Cafe! Little One had never been before, and I worried that the tropical rain storm and the gorillas and elephants would make her scared. I was wrong again! She loved everything about the Rainforest Cafe and just had a blast. She was so amazed by her surroundings.

Here's Little One having a chat with Oprah. Too cute! Edward and Bella from Twilight on the right, and the Star Trek guys and Pope Jean Paul II below.

Again, I thought Little One would be afraid of the wax museum, but she loved it!

Of course we had to go to the Hershey Store! I think that was one of my favourite spots to visit! We may or may not have bought $100 worth of chocolate. No, I'm not kidding.

Though Little One thoroughly enjoyed sightseeing and going to all those cool attractions, her absolute favourite part of the trip was...

She loved it so much that she didn't want to do anything else but stay at the water park. She also made us promise to take her back to Niagara for her birthday. As you can see, Niagara Falls & Fallsview are definitely #likenowhereelse!

This Summer, will you be 'Staycationing'? We really love @Fallsavenue and @FallsWaterpark. The perfect family getaway that is still 'close to home'.

Check out my other post about our stay at Falls Avenue Resort! You can win the following...

The Prize:

Fallsview Family Suite at the Sheraton on the Falls
Four Passes to the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark
Celebration Dinner at the Rainforest Cafe

How to Enter:

Simply enter for your chance at winning a Niagara Falls getaway at the contest link here. Contest winner will be drawn on June 3, 2013!

Make sure to follow @fallsavenue and @FallsWaterpark, as well as @chancesmommy @inRdream @orangeheromama @Gingermommy and @adomesticmomma and their #likenowhereelse tweets!

For more information, please visit www.fallsviewwaterpark.com and www.Sheratononthefalls.com.

Connect with Fallsview Waterpark and Falls Avenue Resort on Faceook.

Disclosure - I am a Falls Avenue Resort Brand Ambassador. Though affiliated, all the thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

#4000Party Contest #7: Win a Set of 5 Funkins! @myfunkins

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

#4000Party Contest #7: Win a Set of 5 Funkins! @myfunkins

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#WordlessWednesday ~ 4 Generations

2013-05-15T00:15:00.000-04:00

#WordlessWednesday ~ 4 Generations

May 15th. On this day last year, my grandmother passed away. I'm so glad my Little One was able to spend some time with her while she was still alive.

Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts. We'd love to check them out!

#4000Party Contest #6: Set of 4 Pancake Puddle Books! @pancakepuddles

2013-05-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

The week of fun giveaways continues as Lil-Sugar and I celebrate both of us reaching 4,000+ Twitter follwers!

To show you how much we appreciate YOU we will be giving away 1 product each day on Twitter for the next few days!! Whoot!! Not on Twitter? Don't worry, we have you covered! All prizes will be announced on Facebook as well...just follow the link and enter for your chance to WIN!!

So many chances to win, so much fun! To get started, make sure you are following us!!
On Twitter - @ChancesMommy
On Facebook - LifeOnManitoulin
On Twitter - @LilSugarMag
On Facebook - Lil-sugar.ca
Hashtag: #4000Party

**No R.S.V.P necessary** Just join in on the fun and remember to enter daily (via rafflecopter) to win the prize for that day! All entrants can only win once for the duration of the contest. Open to both US and Canadian residents.

TODAY'S PRIZE:

#4000Party Contest #6: Set of 4 Pancake Puddle Books!

Their sense of humour, vivid imagination, and realistic reflections of childhood experiences offer an interesting dimension to their stories for young children. These two gifted writers will be endearing themselves to the hearts and minds of children for many years to come.

Did you know that Pancake Puddle Books have recently received the PTPA Award and are Parent Tested Parent Approved?

Come watch the video trailers on YouTube for the books:

The Pancake Princess/ No More Peanut Butter, Daniel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4rRg2SjJ84

Lucinda Queen of Everything and Wake Up, the Baby's Coming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxMQEsULrPg

Enter to WIN a set of all 4 Pancake Puddle books!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Saddest Day

2013-05-14T08:08:00.000-04:00

I was finishing up some last minute work for a campaign when I looked at the clock on the bottom right hand corner of my computer screen. All of a sudden an overwhelming sense of sadness washed over me. The date! The date made me burst out in tears. It was a reminder of the saddest day of my life.

My grandmother passed away a year ago tomorrow.

May 15, 2012. I still cry every time I think of her.

Sometimes I feel like I'm going bonkers, because one minute life is amazing and so many fabulous things are happening for us. The next minute, I'm just so sad. Weepy...and missing her so very much.

My heart hurts so much, I feel like I can't breathe.

Still thinking of you each and every day, Lola.

Tonight we'll celebrate your life by lighting a candle for you, saying a prayer, and cooking some Filipino food like you used to make.

Chill to Win with @TimHortons! {Giveaway}

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

I can almost feel it! Summer is almost here! Blue skies and lots of sunshine make me think that beach weather is just around the corner!

I have to say that warmer weather also makes me think of Tim Hortons Iced Capps and Raspberry Frozen Lemonade (which I dubbed #RasFroLem on Twitter last Summer)! Okay, I won't lie. I also drink Iced Capps in the cold Winter months because I love them.

I'm excited to share with you something super fun!

Chill to Win with @TimHortons!

Throughout Chill to Win, Tim Hortons guests who purchase any sized Iced Capp have the chance to win thousands of hourly prizes, including digital cameras, Coleman beach kits, daily prizes of $1,000 and one of ten $10,000 MasterCard® Prepaid card grand prizes. Winning is easy – just peel the tab on the side of the cup to find a PIN code and enter this code at www.chilltowin.com for the chance to win.

To help get you into the Summer spirit and enjoying those delicious Iced Capps, Tim Hortons is giving one very lucky Life on Manitoulin reader a gift basket!

The Tim Hortons gift basket includes:

1 yoga mat
1 beach tote
1 $25 Tim Horton's Gift Cards

Looking forward to Summer days, chilling by the lake, the beach, the pool and sipping on Iced Capps!

To Enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#4000Party Contest #5: Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Kit from @MeMyselfUsInc

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

My friend, Lil Sugar Mag and I are super excited that we've both reached 4,000+ followers on Twitter!

To celebrate, Lil Sugar (a.k.a. @LilSugarMag) and I are having a PARTY! To show how much we appreciate YOU, we will be giving away 1 product each day on Twitter for the next few days! Woot! Not on Twitter? Don't worry! We have you covered! All prizes will be announced on Facebook as well!

Just follow the link and enter for your chance to WIN!

SO MANY CHANCES TO WIN! SO MUCH FUN! TO GET STARTED, MAKE SURE YOU ARE FOLLOWING US!
On Twitter - @chancesmommy and @LilSugarMag Hashtag #4000Party
On Facebook - Life on Manitoulin and Lil-sugar.ca

**No R.S.V.P. necessary** Just join in on the fun and remember to enter daily (via Rafflecopter) to win the prize for that day! All entrants can only win once for the duration of the contest. Open to both US and Canadian residents.

We absolutely LOVE this super cute Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Kit from @MeMyselfUsInc!

Ice Cream Cone Cupcake Kit: Cupcake lovers young and old scream for Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes! Bake perfect cupcakes in silicone ice cream cones and decorate with sundae sprinkles. Kit includes: 6 Silicone Ice Cream Cones, Vanilla Cupcake Mix, Vanilla Frosting Mix, Sprinkles (Star, Chocolate, and Rainbow shaped). SRP $24.95

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day Brunch Made By Hubby w/ @MLFConnects #Bacon Portions {Giveaway}

2013-05-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

My husband loves his bacon. When he discovered Maple Leaf Bacon Portions at the local grocery store, he thought it was the best thing ever. Seriously, I've never seen a man more excited about a grocery purchase ever.

Maple Leaf Bacon Portions are a great idea - so you never waste bacon again. You can keep your bacon fresh for any time you need it. No more need for scissors or the knife to open the packaging, because it comes with easy-to-peel packaging!

When my husband told me about this amazing "easy-to-peel package" and "never waste bacon" concept, I laughed because...We NEVER waste bacon in this house! Bacon doesn't last long enough here with a husband and Little One who love their bacon! This said, I do think it's an ingenious invention because there are days when you don't need an entire HUGE package of bacon. The "portions" do come in handy!

Check out what my husband and Little One made me for Mother's Day Brunch!

I have never seen a frittata this fluffy! It was delicious! I wanted to share the recipe with you, but it's my husband's secret recipe and he won't even share it with me! He did say that one of the most important ingredients is the Maple Leaf Portions! I think he cooked up the bacon in the cast iron skillet and then used the bacon grease to cook the frittata.

Isn't that gorgeous?

Here's a little video of my two loves. They're so cute! Shameless plug coming up...I made this video with my BlackBerry Z10's STORYMAKER! I love that feature!

Humour me for a second while I tell you a super cute story.

Listening to Hubby & Little One making lunch for "the moms" & fam. I was laughing so much, I was crying.

HUBBY: This is how we make a Frittata for Mother's Day.

LO: I know what a Frittata is! Hakuna Frittata! It's a wonderful thing. It means no worries for the rest of your life...

Isn't that hilarious?! My 4 year old cracks me up! I think we should hence forth call that frittata the Hakuna Frittata! Any Lion King fans out there? *sigh* You know you're a parent when...

If you check out the Maple Leaf Foods website, you can find lots of great recipes to make with bacon! Check out these Maple Bacon Waffles I made! I used maple syrup from our farm!

They were delicious! A definite keeper! I'll be making these again (and again). The recipe is on the Maple Leaf website here.

{WIN IT}

Now that I've probably got you thinking BACON, would you like to win some? TWO lucky Life on Manitoulin readers will win $20 in FPC (free product coupons) EACH. That's $40 of product in total we're giving away.

To enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada. Ends 5/29.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Electrolux Canada's Ergorapido® Brushroll Clean 2-in-1 Vacuum is a Mama's Best Friend {Review & Giveaway}

2013-05-12T21:59:00.000-04:00

There. I said it. Electrolux Canada's Ergorapido Brushroll Clean is a Mama's Best Friend. It's true. Well, maybe third best friend (my first two being Hubby and Little One)!

The one thing I absolutely hate about living in an old farm house is the fact that I am forever having to sweep and vacuum. I'm talking every day. To be honest, it's exhausting, annoying and who has time to lug a big 'ol vacuum around every day? I don't!

Dirt dragged into the house, dust from the gravel roads and lane...it's a full time job keeping this house clean and I am failing miserably. Seriously. It makes me want to cry.

I was recently given the opportunity to try out the Electrolux Ergorapido and I am in love.

I know what you're thinking:

Sure. What's so great about a vacuum cleaner?
Of course you're going to say you love it if you get to test it out for free and keep it.

First of all, it's not just a vacuum cleaner. "Extra cleaning power with no strings attached" - and, they really do mean no strings! The Ergorapido is cordless and it has Brushroll Clean Technology. What does this mean? This exclusive innovative feature removes tangled hair from your vacuum's brushroll and deposits it into the dust cup in seconds!

I also love the fact that it's bagless! One thing I am annoyed with is having to go to the store to buy replacement bags for a vacuum cleaner. With the Ergorapido, it's easy. Just press the buttons to release the compartment that has the dust cup inside it and dump out the mess into the garbage can. Easy peasy! Hooray for bagless cyclonic technology!

Because the Ergorapido is cordless, you don't have to worry about running out of your power cord or getting all tangled up in it. Initially, I was a bit worried about the fact that this is battery-run. From past experiences with battery-operated vacuums or appliances is that A) They run out of juice quickly and B) They don't have much power.

I am happy to report that this is not the case with the Ergorapido. It's also got a patented 180 degree swivel head that allows you to clean around and under anything. The docking station is also where you charge your vacuum. The docking station and vacuum itself are so compact that they can be kept in the corner of any room and be out of the way. I am thrilled that it doesn't take up too much space. If you've ever been in an old farmhouse, the one thing you'll notice is that there is NO storage space!

Another thing I love? It's so lightweight that even my 4 year old can use it with ease. She LOVES vacuuming with the Ergorapido. This makes me a very happy Mommy! She thinks it's so fun and says "it just glides!"

I had a super cute video of Little One vacuuming the living room for me. She even released the dust cup and emptied it all by herself. For some reason, I'm unable to upload the video though.

The Ergorapido is also a 2-in-1 lightweight stick vacuum and handheld vacuum, which is perfect for our house. We have no carpeting in our house, and it cleans our floors so well! This works really well on our stairs and wood and linoleum floors. Yes, linoleum. Early 1970s vintage to boot. Yes, that is going to change this year, as the patterns are absolutely dizzying. Honey, are you reading this?

Oh, as for question #2, I'd never give a product praise if I didn't love it and believe in it.

Do you want to check it out for yourself?

{ WIN IT }

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form. Open to residents of Canada. Ends 12AM EST on 5/27

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure - I received the above product for review purposes. All the thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

Mother's Day

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

On Mother's Day, I usually give a huge shout out to my Mom for all the love and encouragement she has given us, as well as the sacrifices she has made for us. My Mom has a heart of gold and would do anything for her loved ones. She's also a little feisty and I can see a lot of her characteristics in my daughter.

I also give a big shout out to my amazing Grandmother every Mother's Day. She died last May and this is our first Mother's Day without her. So much of who I am is a large part of my grandparents' involvement with us and the values they instilled in their grandchildren. I miss my grandparents dearly.

This year, I want to reflect on what being a Mom means to me. I ended up writing my four year old daughter a letter.

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing Moms out there!
What does being a Mom mean to you?

May is Love Your Lentils Month! PLUS a Twitter Party & Contest #LoveLentils

2013-05-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Have you heard about the Love Your Lentils Recipe Contest?

When I was at the Food Bloggers of Canada Conference last month, I had the chance to chat with the wonderful folks from @CdnLentils. I couldn't resist the heart shaped postcard that boasted the face of none other than one of my absolute favourite chefs! CHEF MICHAEL SMITH!!!

I am absolutely ga-ga over Chef Michael Smith! Even my 4 year old daughter knows who he is! She's been watching Chef at Home with me ever since she was a teeny tiny tot!

Lentils just so happen to be one of my family's favourite things to eat! I use lentils in soup, curries, stews, salads, pureed into a hummus-like dip, and in my baking. It's so versatile and so good for you!

Did you know that May us Love Your Lentils Month?

It's true! May is Love your Lentils Month and Lentils Canada is bringing bloggers and home cooks a #LoveLentils Twitter party AND a fabulous, fun contest! Submit a lentil recipe and you can win one of several amazing prizes! Chef Michael Smith! That's all I'm sayin'! No, you don't win him! You can win a culinary adventure with him!

VOTE FOR MY RECIPE, PLEASE!

I took the plunge and submitted my Trinidadian Oxtail Lentil Stew recipe in hopes that I get selected to spend a day with Chef Michael Smith! If you've entered the contest, I'd love to see your amazing lentil recipes! Please share! Plus, I get to see what I'm up against! Just kidding!

Love Your Lentils Recipe Contest

Open to Canadians

PRIZES

Contest Entrants may have a chance winning one prize per entry, of which the prizes may include:

Grand Prize

There are three (3) grand prizes available. One (1) in the category of Bloggers, one (1) in the category of Home Cooks, and one (1) for the Voter. Any successful Voter will have to answer a skill testing question to win the grand prize.

Each Grand Prize Includes:

On Sunday, June 23, 2013, grand prize recipients and one guest will join Chef Michael Smith for a culinary adventure in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where he will guide them through a Saskatchewan’s culinary adventure!

What’s Included:

Flight/transportation for two (2) to Saskatoon for June 23, 2013
3 nights accommodation (June 21/22/23) at the luxurious Delta Bessborough
$500 spending money for the trip

Second Prize

There are two (2) second place prizes available – one (1) in the category of Bloggers and one (1) in the category of Home Cooks.

Each Second Prize Includes: $500 giftcard to Amazon.ca

Third Prize

There are two (2) third place prizes available – one (1) in the category of Bloggers and one (1) in the category of Home Cooks.

Each Second Prize Includes: $200 giftcard to Amazon.ca

Winners will be notified via Email.

All prizes will be awarded by June 13, 2013. Prizes must be claimed by June 17, 2013 – no extensions will be permitted. Prizes must be accepted as awarded and cannot be exchanged, transferred or converted for cash. Prize does not include any fees, charges, taxes, gratuities, insurances, or personal expenses other than those costs/value or benefits described above.

Even more fun! To kick off the recipe contest, there will be a Love Your Lentils Twitter Party May 14th at 8:00 PM with Chef Michael Smith! I know, right?!

Check out the party and learn all about Lentils! Discover some delicious new recipes while you're at it. There will be some great prizes to win as well. Prizes include, cookbooks, cookware and starter kits.

#4000Party Contest #4: MARKUS Music Prize Pack! {$60 Value}

2013-05-09T06:31:00.000-04:00

My friend Lil Sugar and I have both recently met a HUGE (to us) milestone! Both of us have reached 4,000+ followers on Twitter! We both love Twitter and love engaging with our tweeps!

To celebrate, my friend Lil Sugar (a.k.a. @LilSugarMag) and I are having a PARTY! To show how much we appreciate YOU, we will be giving away 1 product each day on Twitter for the next few days! Woot! Not on Twitter? Don't worry! We have you covered! All prizes will be announced on Facebook as well!
Just follow the link and enter for your chance to WIN!

SO MANY CHANCES TO WIN! SO MUCH FUN! TO GET STARTED, MAKE SURE YOU ARE FOLLOWING US!
On Twitter - @chancesmommy and @LilSugarMag Hashtag #4000Party
On Facebook - Life on Manitoulin and Lil-sugar.ca

**No R.S.V.P. necessary** Just join in on the fun and remember to enter daily (via Rafflecopter) to win the prize for that day! All entrants can only win once for the duration of the contest. Open to both US and Canadian residents.

Win this adorable package of music and DVD's from www.markusmusic.com !

1: "Sing Along With the Best of MARKUS" My new CD release with 14 of my most popular songs from my 9 CDs
2: Big & Small DVD "We're Big & Small" includes 5 episodes
3: Big & Small "Smallish Library" 5 small board books in one pack
4: Howie Plush doll from Almost Naked Animals

Retail value is $60 plus tax!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#WordlessWednesday ~ Smoked Salmon w/ Linky

2013-05-08T01:27:00.000-04:00

This is what Little One does when she sleeps over at her grandparents' house. In this pic, she's basting freshly caught fish with maple syrup!

Grampy is an avid fisherman and catches fish from the freshwater lakes and brings them home for supper. We got Grampy a smoker for his birthday. He and Little One have been having lots of fun with it!

Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts! We'd love to check them out!

#4000Party Contest #3: $25 CardSwap Credit! {2 Winners}

2013-05-08T00:53:00.000-04:00

CardSwap allows you to buy the gift cards you want for every day purchases, and sell the ones you don't for cash. With every purchase or sale, you will earn SwapPoints. Earn, collect, and then spend your SwapPointson an amazing range of gift cards. 1,000 SWAPPOINTS = $10 GIFT CARD CardSwap is rewarding Canadians with gift cards and cash back savings on everyday purchases -- dining, shopping, grocery, and even gas. And CardSwap is still Canada's #1 site to buy gift cards and sell gift cards. You can buy gift cards and earn rewards redeemable for gift cards, or sell us your unused gift cards for up to 92% of the face value in cash. As Canada's #1 gift card exchange, we have created Canada's largest and fastest growing market place for gift cards where you can buy gift cards, sell gift cards, or donate gift cards to charity. CardSwap allows you to get money that you can use any way you want for your unused gift cards. Don't let those unwanted gift cards waste away in your wallet or get lost in your sock drawer. Turn your Winners gift card, Cineplex gift card, Lululemon gift card, and many more into cash today.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#4000Party Contest #2: WrapTraps {5 Winners}

2013-05-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

My friend Lil Sugar and I have both recently met a HUGE (to us) milestone! Both of us have reached 4,000+ followers on Twitter! We both love Twitter and loveengaging with our tweeps!

To celebrate, my friend Lil Sugar (a.k.a. @LilSugarMag) and I are having a PARTY!

To show how much we appreciate YOU, we will be giving away 1 product each day on Twitter for the next few days!

Woot! Not on Twitter? Don't worry! We have you covered! All prizes will be announced on Facebook as well! Just follow the link and enter for your chance to WIN!

SO MANY CHANCES TO WIN! SO MUCH FUN! TO GET STARTED, MAKE SURE YOU ARE FOLLOWING US!

On Twitter - @chancesmommy and @LilSugarMag Hashtag #4000Party
On Facebook - Life on Manitoulin and Lil-sugar.ca

**No R.S.V.P. necessary** Just join in on the fun and remember to enter daily (via Rafflecopter) to win the prize for that day! All entrants can only win once for the duration of the contest. Open to both US and Canadian residents.

#4000Party Contest #2: WrapTraps {5 Winners}

We love this mom-invented idea! A clip that prevents food from spilling
out of a wrap! Perfect for school lunches, eating on the go and picnics
too!
What's so great about wraptraps?

100% Canadian - designed, developed, manufactured and packaged
BPA and lead free
Specially designed so little hands can't open them
Gives you another menu choice.…no matter how young your kids are
They are fun!
Less food is wasted
Helps young kids be more independent
Kids love them…and so do adults!
A portion of on-line sales goes to Ronald McDonald House.

 Visit www.wraptraps.ca

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Avocado Recipes! Say Hello to @MissAvaCado #LuvMexAvocado

2013-05-06T13:19:00.000-04:00

Creamy, buttery, smooth, tasty, delicious, and nutritious. I'm all about the avocado and I'm always looking for new and exciting avocado recipes.

Being married to a farmer, of course we grow a lot of our produce and I support buying local food. What we can grow on our own, we do and what we can buy locally, we do. This said, I absolutely love my guac and will eat it too.

Guacamole was one of Little One's favourite foods as a baby. Before she could really talk, she would say, "GA-KA-MO-YEE!!!" to which we knew was her way of asking, "May I please have some guacamole, Mom?"

Not only is the avocado delicious, but it's one of the best first foods for babies, a great brain booster, and fun finger food!

Avocado Recipes Your Family Will Love

I'm not the only one who loves avocado! My husband and daughter cannot resist a burger dressed up with avocado slices or a bowl of sweet coconut-avocado ice cream!

I was in need of a quick lunch, so I threw together a light meal with some ingredients we had from the night before. I diced up some cherry tomatoes, onion, yellow pepper, and the star ingredient - avocado, and added some lemon juice, cilantro, a few cracks of the pepper mill. I also tossed in some crab meat from our sushi night the night before. I never made anything with crab and avocado before, but all of the flavours married together so well. It made for a lovely, refreshing lunch. Above photo: Avocado Crab Salad on Ryvita Crackers.

I make a really delicious Coconut Avocado Smoothie, but saw this recipe on the Avocados from Mexico website. It's a Walnut Key Lime Pie Smoothie! Instead of 3/4 cup of cold water, I used 3/4 cup milk just because my 4 year old likes creamy, thick smoothies. The photo above is of mine and the one below is of Little One's. She says, "I don't like the texture or taste of walnuts."

Little does she know, I ground the 1/3 cup of walnut halves into the smoothie mixture!

I was also curious about the Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes on the Avocados from Mexico website! I usually make a Chocolate-Zucchini Cake or Chocolate-Zucchini Brownies, but never Chocolate-Avocado anything!

The result? Moist, delicious cupcakes.

Avocado Recipes for everyone

What I love about avocados (apart from the flavour and nutritional value) is how versatile they are. I never used avocados in desserts (with the exception of my avocado ice cream and smoothies). It certainly never occurred to me to add avocados to my baking!

In our home, I use avocados in sandwiches (I love a good chicken, bacon, tomato, avocado, alfalfa sprout sandwich), in sushi (to be correct, it would be maki since sushi is made with raw seafood), in salads, and of course, guacamole!

Avocados would definitely be in my Top 5 favourite things to eat.

Want to know more about Avocados from Mexico? Check out their website here! Chat with them on Facebook and on Twitter too!

Disclosure - Though I have been compensated for this post, all the thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

#4000Party Contest #1: Butterfly Cupcake Kit - @MeMyselfUsInc

2013-05-06T01:07:00.003-04:00

My friend Lil Sugar and I have both recently met a HUGE (to us) milestone! Both of us have reached 4,000+ followers on Twitter! We both love Twitter and love engaging with our tweeps!

To celebrate, my friend Lil Sugar (a.k.a. @LilSugarMag) and I are having a PARTY!

To show how much we appreciate YOU, we will be giving away 1 product each day on Twitter for the next few days!

Woot! Not on Twitter? Don't worry! We have you covered! All prizes will be announced on Facebook as well! Just follow the link and enter for your chance to WIN!

So many chances to win! So much fun! To get started, make sure you are following us!

#4000Party Contest #1: Butterfly Cupcake Kit - @MeMyselfUsInc

Butterfly Cupcake Kit: Bring the garden to the kitchen this season with Butterfly-Shaped Cupcakes. Bake delicious cupcakes in cool silicone butterfly-shaped baking cups. Just mix, bake and decorate. Kit includes: 6 Silicone Butterfly Baking Cups, Vanilla Cupcake Mix, Vanilla Frosting Mix, Pink & Blue Icing Pen, Candies. SRP $24.95

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P&G Mother's Day Spa Giveaway! { $95 Value } #PGMom @PGInsider #spon

2013-05-05T00:29:00.001-04:00

May is sort of bitter sweet for me. Especially this year.

In May of 2008, we discovered that we were pregnant with Little One. That was one of the happiest days of my life. It was also the 6 year anniversary of my Father-in-law's death.

May was always a happy time for me, because I got to spend Mother's Day with my grandmother and spoil her. She used to come visit us on the Island and I'd throw a big Mother's Day meal together with flowers for all the moms - My grandma, my mom, my mother-in-law, my aunt, and my sister-in-law. My my grandmother wasn't on the Island, I'd get to talk to her on the phone or go to Montreal for a Mother's Day brunch at my aunt's house to celebrate with my grandmother.

In May (end of April, actually) of last year, my then 3 year old daughter and I made the very long plane ride to the Philippines to be with my grandmother in her last days of life. She died in May.

Every time I catch the scent of Olay moisturizer (or any Olay product), I think of my grandmother. My grandmother swore by Olay products. It was her "brand". To be honest, it makes me happy and nostalgic, yet deeply saddened at the same time. It probably sounds really crazy that a product or brand can bring back memories and have such a powerful effect on a person, but it does.

My grandmother was always so glamorous. Her hair was always perfectly in place, and she routinely applied her Olay moisturizer and her signature red lipstick.

This May marks the one year anniversary of her death. I'm still weepy. The funny thing is that every month, P&G sends me a package in the mail and recently, there have been a lot of Olay products included in those parcels! It kind of makes me laugh, because it's almost as though my grandmother is reminding me that she's still around and living in our hearts and our memories.

I keep thinking of the fun times with my grandmother. She loved her Spa Days and getting her manicure and pedicure done!

Spa Days remind me of my grandmother. Being able to sit back, enjoy some pampering, and take care of yourself is so very important.

This is why it makes me happy to be able to give my readers a chance to enter a...

P&G Mother's Day Spa Giveaway!

Enough about me walking down memory lane! Mother's Day has always been a time for us to pamper the mothers in our lives (including my grandmother)! What better way to do so than with a Spa Day? Here's what one lucky Life on Manitoulin reader will win:

P&G is providing a Mother’s Day Spa bundle valued at $95*. The bundle includes:

Febreze Vanilla & Moonlight Candle
Pantene Repair & Protect Conditioner
Pantene Repair & Protect Shampoo
Pantene Overnight Miracle Repair Serum
Pantene Stylers Hairspray Flexible Hold
COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss Grapevine
COVERGIRL LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara
Olay Massaging Bar Soap
One Free Clairol Hair Colour Coupon
COVERGIRL LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm

I use all of the above products and am thrilled to be able to give this Mother's Day Spa package to one of my readers! Good luck!

TO ENTER:

Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form. Open to residents of Canada. Ends May 13, 2013 at 12AM EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLAIMERS: Products may not be exactly as shown. I am a P&G Mom. As part of my affiliation with this group, I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are always my own, are never influenced by brand relationships, and are not paid unless otherwise stated (“sponsored post”).

By entering the contest, you agree that if you win your contact information will be shared with a P&G PR agency for the purpose of mailing your prize. This giveaway may appear on other blogs as part of the #PGmom program; however, to be fair, you can only win once per giveaway. If your name is chosen more than once, another winner will be selected.

Decorate Your Outdoor Living Space for Under $100! #WalmartFrugalHeroes Challenge

2013-05-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

I was issued a challenge. Everyone who knows me, knows I love a good challenge. I'm also a "follow the rules" person. I need to follow the rules. Otherwise, life would be total and utter chaos. It would be like Lord of the Flies. Know what I mean?

The challenge: Decorate my outdoor living space for under $100!

Whoa!

I honestly had reservations about this challenge. I didn't think it would be possible.

Could I stay within my $100 budget? What would I get? I envisioned a beautifully manicured yard with flowers in bloom and stunning patio furniture. A porch swing? No, that would be too expensive. A screened in gazebo? Way over my budget.

On my drive to Walmart, my mind started to wander. When I entered the store, my palms began to itch! The excitement of furnishing my outdoor living space was too great!

I went to the gardening section and found lots of greenery and beautiful pots and planters. It would be stunning, but not stunning enough for this challenge.

I spotted these beautiful steel framed stacking chairs in my favourite colour! Aqua and white! I'd only be able to get two chairs and a folding table to keep within my budget. Then I spotted it. A 6 piece patio set! I quickly took photos of both options and BBM'd my husband. Thank goodness for Smartphones! I can't live without my BlackBerry Z10!

Hubby said to get whatever I thought was best. So helpful.

I ended up getting this:

I was completely shocked that this Cranston 6 piece patio set was on sale for only $98! That was totally in my budget!

The Total:
With tax, the patio set came up to $110.74. Without tax, I kept within budget. If you include tax, I am $10.74 out. I'm not sure if this means I kept within challenge rules. Whichever way you look at it, I still think this was a huge #WalmartFrugalHeroes success!

I am so pleased, and our Little One says she wants to live outside forever and ever!

I have never seen a four year old get so excited about patio furniture!

Hubby is very impressed that I managed to spruce up our patio at that price range. He says now all he needs is a new BBQ and we're all set for Summer dining outdoors! You can see our BBQ in the background. It's on its last legs! I'm pretty sure this is it's last year in commission.

Did you take the #WallmartFrugalHeroes Challenge? How did you do? What did you buy? Feel free to link up your #WallmartFrugalHeroes posts here:

Thank you so much, Walmart Canada! So thankful to have been invited to take part in the #WalmartFrugalHeroes Challenge!

Disclosure: I received a $100 Walmart Gift Card to take part in the #WalmartFrugalHeroes Challenge. All the thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

Fresh Vegetables for Spring - What's in Season

2013-05-03T20:23:00.001-04:00

When you live on Manitoulin Island, you quickly become aware of the need (and want) for eating your own fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. We have fabulous grocery stores on the Island, but being able to buy your produce from local Farmers' Markets or grow your vegetables in your own garden do make a big difference when it comes to taste and treading lighter on the Earth.

I love the fact that our beef comes from our farm. Our chicken, lamb, and pork are local. Grampy catches our fish from the lake. Our eggs come from a local farmer, and most of our fruits and veggies come from our farm.

It's also very important to me that my family gets our recommended daily intake of fruits and veggies. Though I'm guilty of wanting to have produce from overseas or across the border (yes, I love my avocados and we cannot grow them where we live!), I try to 'buy local' as much as I can. I do purchase pineapple and clementines (and I try not to beat myself up for it) and I try to make sure the bulk of what we eat are grown either on our farm, on the Island or in Ontario.

What vegetables are in season in Ontario?

In the Spring, we can get a variety of produce like:

ASPARAGUS from April through June. We have lots and lots of asparagus on our farm. We love them grilled, sauteed, steamed, and even eaten raw! Picking the asparagus and eating it fresh was something new to this city girl! I was surprised at how sweet the asparagus is raw! It tastes sort of like snowpeas!

ARUGULA from May through September. We love mixing arugula in with salad other greens and tossing it with a nice homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

BEETS from May through October. Beets are one of my absolute favourites. It was only recently that I tried eating beet greens! Love them! I also have a balsamic glazed beet recipe I really love, and of course, pickled beets are an all-time favourite here too!

CHARD from May through September. I make soups and stir-fry recipes with chard. Chard sauteed with garlic is also very tasty.

CARROTS from May through November. They keep well in cold storage. We eat them raw, add them to a variety of recipes, make carrot cake, carrot juice, carrot salad, carrot soup, etc. There are so many ways we use carrots in our cooking. To be honest, I enjoy just eating carrots fresh from the garden (washed).

GARLIC SCAPES in May and June. I never knew that you could eat the long green shoot that springs from garlic! The scapes are so delicious! I first had them at a restaurant as part of the garnish for my dish. I actually thought they were some kind of different string bean! Garlic scapes are now among my favourite things to eat!

GREENS from May to November. There are numerous types of greens you can grow and eat in the Spring that are perfect for mixing together in a salad. I love being able to have fresh salad greens throughout the seasons.

HERBS from May to October. Herbs can be grown or started indoors. It's great having your own personal little herb garden in your kitchen. This makes it easy to add flavour, colour, and freshness to your dishes!

LETTUCE May to October. Lettuce is easy to grow and pick. Great in salads and sandwiches.

LEEKS in the Spring, we go leek picking on our farm. Nothing beats a nice homemade leek and potato soup!

MORELS in the Spring. On the Island, Spring is an exciting time because of the morels and wild leeks!

MUSHROOMS year-round. If you grow mushrooms, you'll enjoy harvesting them! Just make sure you know which mushrooms are edible and which ones can kill you!

PARSNIPS in April and May, and again in October through November.

RADISHES May through October. I'm not really a fan of radishes, because I find their bite a bit too strong. My husband loves picking radishes, giving them a quick wash, and popping them into his mouth. He loves them.

RHUBARB from April through June. Admittedly, I wasn't a huge rhubarb fan before I moved to Manitoulin Island. I actually HATED Rhubarb when I was a kid. Now that I'm married to a farmer, my mother-in-law has taught me how to cook with rhubarb, bake with rhubarb, and learn to love rhubarb. Our rhubarb on our farm is so prolific, that it would be a shame to not use it. I have a rhubarb-strawberry-apple pie and a rhubarb strawberry dessert that I love making.

SPINACH from May through October. Spinach is fabulous eating in a sandwich or in a salad. We also really enjoy spinach in stir-fry or soups. Our latest way of enjoying spinach is in smoothies and vegetable juices! Gotta love the dark leafy greens!

Do you have a garden? What do you grow?