​Have you ever received that little something from your partner that makes your day a bit brighter? Sometimes it’s a special event, sometimes it’s a new product, but most of the time (in our case), it’s food – specifically the little snacks. Those make the biggest impact on how my day is going to play out.

​One of the perks of committing to one area for several years is discovering the best local foodie restaurants near home. Having lived in Toronto for over 6 years during my university days, I knew of numerous local hot spots that my friends and I would gravitate to, and often. Now, living out of the city and in the suburbs for the last 5 years, I’ve had to rediscover what constitutes ‘the best restaurants’ in my neighbourhood – the best in the ‘Tri-Cities’ area. Here are a few of my favourites!  

​Are you still stopping off at Timmy’s, Starbucks or Rotten Ronnie’s on your way in to work for a quick bite? That $5 a day could go towards better things if you make your own breakfast burritos, at a fraction of the cost. We’ve done this a few times now and ours only cost about $1.50 each and are made with fresh ingredients - here’s how!

​This summer has been one of the wettest summers I have ever experienced (and definitely the most unsuccessful one ever in terms of results from my backyard garden). Fresh veggies are some of the best ‘healthy’ treats one can have, but this year has been a bust for backyard vegetable gardens… I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for the farmers who do this for a living!

Product Name: FoodSaver 2-in-1 Stainless Steel Vacuum Sealer
Model: V4825 Bag Sealer
Retail Price: $175 - $250 CAD, replacement bags about $40 CAD
Where to Buy it: online or in stores – Amazon, Costco and Wal-Mart are a few viable options
​Features:

• Offers air-tight vacuum sealing for moist and dry food items
• Removeable drip tray (easy for cleaning, dishwasher safe)
• Automatic sensor for sealing or manually seal
• Retractable hose accessory for removing air from other products/FoodSaver bags
• 5 year limited warranty (some newer models are only 1 year)

​For the second year in a row, I’ve attended the Niagara Falls Ice Wine Tour and once again, it did not disappoint! This year we revisited Niagara-on-the-Lake and explored Twenty Valley (St. Catherine’s - Lincoln - Jordan area), hitting up a total of nine wineries in one day. Talk about satisfying your sweet tooth! If you love sweet wines and food, this Ice Wine Festival is definitely for you!

Many of my friends and family are aware that I just returned from a short trip to Taiwan. Below is my itinerary summary and a few comments/tips if you’re planning a trip of your own! I was lucky enough to be invited to stay with a friend, and decided to make the most of the trip by seeing as much as I could of the island (within reason of course). Taiwan is often referred to as Ilha Formosa (beautiful island), and it truly is. 

I will start off by saying I am a little biased to favouring buffets. Mandarin and Ye’s Sushi are two of my fiancé’s favourite places to eat out and very rarely do I object (I like them a lot too)! I’m all for buffets because I find that they are often the best option for satisfying all palettes and ensuring there is something that everyone can enjoy. No matter what mood I’m in or what I’m craving, the buffet will provide (or at least offer something similar that I can indulge in). 

​I’ve always had a love for food and I’ve never shied away from trying new things. As a child, my mom never catered to me by preparing “kid-friendly” meals, and I now appreciate that she did this while I was growing up! She fed me what the adults were having, and if I didn’t like it, then too bad because that was all I was getting. Over time, I grew to like virtually everything and I'm now willing to try pretty much anything once. I’ve had escargot, I love calamari, I eat sashimi/sushi regularly. The most exotic food I’ve eaten is probably alligator, which I tried when I was in New Orleans in 2010 (it tasted like chicken to me). 

It is common knowledge that grocery shopping on an empty stomach means you will buy additional items you don’t need and that you will spend more if you carelessly eat out often. So simply don’t do it! Plan your meals in advance and your shopping list ahead of time – this keeps money in your pocket.