Vancouver Island

The last two years have been scary and limiting and most of us have stayed put for the most part. From working from home, homeschooling, and mass-closures (especially in my province, which had some of the strictest rules in North America regarding the Pandemic), understandably travels were put on hold or cancelled altogether. 

In the summer of 2020, Canada had closed it's borders to international travels, so our planned trip was of course cancelled. We knew we wanted to do something for Brad's three week holidays, but of course had to stay in Canada. Bonus points if we could find something socially distant and in nature, as we'd just passed six months of curfews and lockdowns in our tiny urban condo with five people and were going slightly crazy. Lockdowns were challenging for everyone, so I don't want to claim it was harder on us than anyone else, but I will say if you lived through the pandemic without a back yard and have kids, it was particularly grueling. 

Thankfully Canada is a huge country, so we were able to travel within the country and enjoy a little adventure whilst keeping Pandemic rules, testing, and masking. We went to Vancouver Island and spend all day every day outside on the secluded beaches and trails. It was wild to be in such an absolutely mind-blowing landscape and climate, yet still use Canadian dollars! I couldn't believe we were still in Canada as it's worlds away culturally and mentally from Montreal. 

We stayed in Victoria, renting our friends beautiful home while they were camping. Then we went on to Salt Spring Island, renting a rustic cabin that came with hens and a super gentle dog! What an idyllic, restful few days. Then last stop was Ucluelet, a surfing town just south of Tofino. We still visited Tofino, but Ucluelet was much more affordable. We met up with friends from Montreal who were camping out West the same time we were there and had a beach day, complete with wet suits (which was absolutely necessary as the water was *freezing*). 

We usually travel to urban locations, but for safety reasons and also to give our bodies and minds a rest from isolation in the city, this destination was the perfect choice for Summer 2020! 

We cooked all of our meals, both to save money and because restaurants, though open, didn't feel safe. Vancouver Island wasn't masking very much in 2020, but since we were coming from a much stricter environment with higher infection numbers it felt really strange and wrong not to. I should add that we all tested negative before travelling out West and wore our masks any time we were around people, but that wasn't too often as we were usually out on the forests or on the beach. 

It was all absolutely charming and the absolute best place to catch our breath. I am so grateful that this option was open to us in 2020. Of course, many would have chosen not to travel at all and I absolutely respect that. 

If you're looking for a Canadian getaway, I can't speak highly enough about Vancouver Island. The only drawback to this location is the price and sometimes the weather. It's quite chilly on the coast, and there were times I wore a thrifted winter coat that I found while there. It was August! We definitely didn't pack enough warm clothes. The cost of food was astronomical compared to Montreal. Everywhere, but especially as we travelled further West to Ucluelet and Tofino. Grocery shopping was on a strict budget, and we ate Raman and eggs for most suppers! In that sense it reminded me of Iceland - absolutely gorgeous but very expensive. Vancouver Island was such a dream! 

Victoria is a city I could see myself living in, and that's not something I have ever said about a Canadian city apart from our beloved Montreal! 

Wistful Thoughts on Fall & Apple Picking

Covid or not, you'll still find us paying to pick our own fruit in sweaters that are too hot to wear by noon, haha!

It's Fall and these constants are so refreshing. So much has changed. Insert heavy sigh here. The way our kids go to school and we go to work. The way we go to church and meet with friends. The way we travel, or don't. The way we unwind, or don't. It's exhausting reminiscing about the freedoms we enjoyed last Autumn compared to this one. Last year when we frolicked in and out of cafes for pumpkin spiced drinks unmasked. When I flew to Scotland with a friend and had a week kids-free (still pinching myself!). When our kids birthday parties were allowed to be indoors and no one had ever heard of Microsoft Teams or Zoom. It gets heavy remembering those pre-Covid Autumns, so maybe let's not.  Let's just glory in the small and silly pleasures that Fall affords, like apple picking outside the city and pulling out warmer clothes.

Covid or not, September is still hopeful. Fresh starts abound and new is always exciting (even if it's also scary). The weather is perfectly chilly in the mornings and fresh and sunny most afternoons. The leaves are slowly changing, but we haven't packed away our Birkenstock's just yet. And if you live in our part of the globe, you're going Apple Picking. Like always, we went to La Magie de La Pomme which is about 40 minutes from our home in the heart of the city. 

Speaking of the small pleasures of new fall clothes, Lily and I are wearing mainly thrifted pieces, but Oli and Chloe were treated by Boutique Mini-Cycle to some lovely new clothes recently. Oli is wearing a long sleeve tee, from the iconic Spanish kid's company Bobo Choses and thrifted jeans, and Clover is wearing top to bottom Phil and Phae, a ethically-sourced kid's company based in the Netherlands that I'm in love with! Both of these companies are sold at Boutique Mini-Cycle new and often appear in their re-cycle (used) section too. High quality clothes may cost more, but as I've witnessed working at Mini-Cycle's recycle program, they really do last and last, holding up in quality and style for years to come. 

Apple picking was just what the doctor ordered last week. We gloried in all things Fall, eating a picnic lunch and ordering super indulgent apple fritters before climbing apple trees, playing with goats and lambs, and picking enough apples for five apple crisps (my freezer is packed!) 

I think we'll be back to select some choice pumpkins and gourds in the weeks to come. Last Autumn and it's freedoms are a thing of the past, but there is still beauty and delight to be found this season. We're re-learning this every day.  

Why we always choose vacation rentals over hotels + a glimpse at The Prince Edward County Church Airbnb

From following our many travels over the years, you already know by now that we're typically Airbnb users. Before Airbnb, we rented vacation homes on other platforms or directly from owners, but we've always loved the freedom and flexibility that renting our own space brought over the constrictions and cost of hotels, especially in this season of life with three young kids.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, I'm aware that writing on tourism of any kind may appear insensitive. I want to be very careful as I share these travel tips because I know many reading have had to cancel long awaited vacations, and that sting may remain for some time. As I write about vacation rentals over hotel stays, know that I'm speaking from past experience and in most cases, local travels. Many of the Airbnb stays we have enjoyed as a family have been in Quebec and Ontario, just short car journeys from home. Over the March Break we were invited to stay in the Prince Edward County Church, under four hours drive from Montreal and we had a really incredible time. For anyone re-thinking international travel in the upcoming months, I can't recommend vacation rentals in our own country enough, and the Prince Edward County Church in particular. Read on for why we love renting and a few pictures of the fabulous former church that hosted our family.

We have stayed at hotels as a family before, notably the Chateau Frontenac for Christmas when our kids were all age three and under and this past summer for a few days during the Bulgaria leg of our stay. If we've stayed in hotels in the past, we either had no other option for accommodation (as was the case in Bulgaria) or found a once-in-a-lifetime price and wanted the experience while it was temporarily in our budget (as was the case with the Chateau Frontenac, as they were undergoing some renovations and slashed their prices for a very short while). Renting homes has always been good to our family and I'd love to share why, nine times out of ten, we'll choose renting over a hotel. I also want to take a minute to share our recent March Break stay at the Prince Edward County Church, an Airbnb property that we were lucky enough to stay at for a few days. 

WHY WE RENT HOMES INSTEAD OF BOOKING HOTEL ROOMS

1. The space
   
   As a family of five, hotel rooms are way too cramped for us. We live in an urban condo all year round, so we're not looking for a massive family home by any means, but we do want more space than essentially a large bedroom. Rental homes come in all shapes and sizes, of course, but I've yet to stay in one that was smaller than a basic hotel room! I like having a place to go before my family wakes or after the kids are down at the end of the day. That Christmas that we stayed in a hotel in Quebec City, Brad and I literally hung out in the closet so not to wake our sleeping babies! At the Prince Edward County Church we had so much space to ourselves - it was glorious. As a former Methodist church, you can imagine how unique the architecture was. One of the larger homes we've ever rented, it provided little nooks, balconies, and two living rooms.
   
   
    
   
2. A fully functioning kitchen
   
   I love to cook and when travelling we still eat many of our meals at our rental space. Cooking your own meals is budget-friendly and provides comfort and routine for your kids, which is essential. It's also something nearly impossible to do when staying in a hotel. We love renting homes for the cooking possibility, and the Prince Edward County Church had such a great kitchen (including a Soda Stream, french press, tons of cookware, beautiful serve ware, etc). I ordered a Goodfood box ahead of time to be delivered to our Airbnb, which was so convenient! For anyone interested, I here's a code for $40 off your first order. I also brought some baked goods, easy snacks, and fun treats for the daytime. It's always worth asking your Airbnb host about what their kitchen does and does not have. Some rental homes have very little and others are really well stocked. Our March Break rental fell into the latter category, happily, but I have stayed in Airbnbs that didn't have can openers, cutting boards, or sharp knives, which made things tricky. Even if you're just using the kitchen for breakfast and snacks, rental space kitchens are preferable to a hotel's minibar.
   
   
    
3. Separate bedrooms
   
   Unless you're splurging for a several suite hotel room, most hotel stays also mean sharing a bedroom with your kids. No thank you! I love how renting homes gives us all more privacy and comfort. The Prince Edward County Church actually had three bedrooms so my kids didn't all have to share, as they do at home, which was a major perk for them! Brad and I also had a king sized bed which we don't have at home, so everyone was spoiled :)
   
   
4. Finances
   
   I've already mentioned this point so I won't drag it out any further. By and large, Airbnb rentals cost less than hotels stays and you get so much more. Plain and simple!
   Also, as an added incentive, book any Airbnb with this link and receive $60 off! (new users only)
   
5. Getting the local experience
   
   Even if finances weren't in the equation, I think I'd always opt for renting a local home over a hotel for this exact reason. We love renting in small communities, off the tourist path, and really getting a feel for what life would be like living in that town/city/country. We love finding a local grocery store, markets and shops and moving right in, so to speak. Aside from renting a home, I'd recommend staying in fewer places and for longer to get this experience. I've seen European tours that boast covering five countries in five days and that's just not for me. We'd rather see fewer countries or cities but get to know the ones we do see really well. 

We have already planned an international trip this June which may or may not come to fruition. We'll be following the expert's advice and international laws when the time comes, but for now it's too early to tell if we'll need to cancel our trip or not. If we do cancel, we'll likely look at the Maritimes or Northern Quebec and definitely rent a home instead of booking a hotel. Staycations can still be adventurous and restful, so I'm not worried!

If any of you are looking at Prince Edward County, which is just over an hour from Toronto and under four hours from Montreal, you really must check out the Church. It's absolutely stunning and filled with history and unique touches around every corner. We were hosted by The Prince Edward County Church and did not pay for our stay, but I had been wanting to stay there for ages before the collaboration materialized and I know a few friends who have stayed there are raved about it. I can say with all honesty that their raving was well founded and our stay was something I'll never forget.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Save $40 on your first Goodfood box

Save $60 on your first Airbnb stay

la Maison Lavande

It's pretty hard to get me to leave the city any time of year, but especially in the summer when there's so much to do and see (and so many local pools to cool off in, too!), but one place you'll never have to convince me to visit is the beautiful Maison Lavande.

Last week I was lucky enough to attend their media soiree and was reminded all over again why I love visiting their lovely property. Frolicking in the lavender fields is attraction enough, but every year their space evolves and they thoughtfully add to both their property and menu. This year there's a massage cabin and relaxing centre under the ceders at the back of the property, the boutique has started offering their cleaning products in bulk, and their menu now boasts savoury and sweet scones (spoiler they're both incredible), lavender frozen yogurt, and healthy rice bowls along with their classic sandwiches, salads, and lemonade.

Maison Lavande is a must visit if you're coming to Montreal or looking for a day out of the city. You're allowed to bring your own picnic and enjoy the idyllic scenery and only pay a small entrance fee. I've been several times over the years and was reminded last week that it is a true gem. I bought some handsoap and essential oil in their boutique, which you can also visit online if you're not lucky enough to visit the family-owned property this summer. Enjoy the purple fields and herby air!

La Maison Lavande

902, Chemin Fresnière

Saint-Eustache (Quebec) J7R 0G4

Open everyday, 10am-5pm

Children 12 and under are always free (love that)

Teens ages 12-17 are $5

Adults are $10

*From August 5-September 1 (low season) everyone may enter for free. 

**All of these photos were taken at the soiree by the talented duo Camille and Guillaume from Our Next Project. Thank you Camille and Guillaume!

summer music 2019!

Music that captures the feeling of cold cocktails, cliff jumping, road trips, and long hot days. I've got your playlist!

 

Every year Brad makes the perfect playlist for our early-summer trips and then we listen to it nonstop all summer. He seriously has a gift for finding the best songs that just scream summer! Most of our friends now know to ask for Brad's top picks each year and we're always happy to share. During our trip I'd often post videos and there would be one of the songs from his annual playlist on in the background. I wouldn't think anything of it until my DMs would blow up for song requests, haha! 

Here's his 2019 playlist for anyone who wants some great music that evokes that wild and free feeling of summer. 

1. One Foot by WALK THE MOON
2. Quarter-life Crisis by Judah & the Lion (B's favourite)
3. Friends by NONONO
4. Bicycle (feat. klei) by filous
5. Deadmen by SAINT PHNX (Lily's favourite)
6. Body Talks (feat. Kesha) by The Struts (Oli's favourite)
7. Zombie Bastards by Weezer (we convinced the kids this song was called "Zombie Masters" lol, also Weezer just keeps being amazing all these years later)
8. Lose My Mind (feat. Mr Gabriel) by Jai Wolf
9. I Don't Even Smoke Weed by Empress Of
10. broken by lovelytheband
11. Avalanche Alley by The new Pornographers
12. Now or Never Now by Metric (I've loved Metric since my teenage days!)
13. PARAD(w/m)E (Rostam Remix) by Sylvan Esso
14. Forever by CHVRCHES (probably my favourite band)
15. A Little Bit of Faith by Kings Kaleidoscope (this band is Christian and has awesome music!)
16. these are my friends by lovelytheband 
17. Hand Me Downs by Arkells (I actually went to university with these guys and lived in the same dorm as them and this is probably my favourite song they've ever done!)
18. Wonderland by CHVRCHES
19. Fast Slow Disco by St. Vincent

ps - isn't it funny to see how bands desire their names to be written? I noticed so many are in all caps or all lowercase. That's not typos on my part, I'm just copying straight from our Google Play account where we pay a monthly fee to listen to their music!

Blue Mountain for Mother's Day!

For Mother's Day weekend, the kids and I had the lovely opportunity to visit Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, Ontario. Growing up in Ontario, I was no stranger to Blue Mountain and even had some failed attempts at snowboarding there in my university days (I'm more of a skier, what can I say?), but I'd never thought to come in the off season, which was why this weekend was so wonderful!

There were so many things to do at the mountain and the Village in the resort was totally picturesque! Our kids took to calling it Laketown (tell me you know it from The Hobbit!) and I loved letting them run free in the village between activities and whenever we were waiting for our food to arrive at restaurants. The village is pedestrian-only and feels so incredibly safe and charming - fun for adults but also ideal for children. To make things even better, Morgan came up to spend a day and night with us and after she left, my mother-in-law came up for a day as well. Being only 90 minutes from Toronto it was an ideal place to rendezvous with my Toronto-area friends and family!

We were hosted at the Mosaic hotel in the Village, which was so perfect for our family! There was a kitchen if we wanted to prepare any food (normally something we always do when on trips to save funds), and it really felt like a little chalet more than a hotel room (especially with the separate exits out into the village)! They even set up a little tee-pee in our room for our kids - something they'll do for any mini guest celebrating a birthday or special occasion (swoon!)

We got to try several of their restaurants and our favourites were breakfast at Oliver and Bonacini for breakfast, Copper Blues for lunch, and Northwinds Brewery for dinner and snacks. Eating out is such a huge treat for us and made the weekend extra special!

In the off season there's ropes courses, mini-golf, Crock A Doodle pottery painting, an indoor splash pad and aquatic centre (on top of our hotel having a heated outdoor pool plus hot tub), and our very favourite activity, the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster. We rode a similar coaster two summers ago in Switzerland but this one was even more intense! You control your cart, so you can go up to 35km/hr or use the hand breaks to go a bit slower. It's a really long and winding ride down the mountain and such a thrill! 

Getting away with just the kids wasn't on my radar and I was hoping Brad could join us, but in the end he wasn't able to get away from work with our family trip coming up. Even when driving was challenging (as all drives with kids are, let's be honest!), it was really neat to be away with my kids, just us. 

On the drive home as we were reminiscing about our favourite parts of the trip I was surprised when we all agreed it was that first night. We'd just had an 8.5 hour drive, we arrived hungry and exhausted, hours past the kid's bedtimes. We stumbled into a restaurant for a very late dinner and ordered a few fun things off the menu to split between the four of us. The thrill of being out so late, eating out, and being in a new place hit us all and we were all in the best mood! The days following were full of visits from friends, family, and tons of great activities, and it was an incredible stay, but that first night takes the cake. How fitting that it was on Mother's Day weekend that I'd remember that the best moments are just being together, and that my kiddos are my true BFFs?

Thank you Blue Mountain, for the amazing visit and arranging and hosting us so well. We'll definitely be back!