A new store just opened up in Gore Bay, and you will want to head over for a visit! Located by the water and in the newly renovated Harbour Centre by the marina, this is the perfect location for inspiration. At North Channel General, you will find items of the highest quality.  North Channel General has made it their duty to bring only the best products to their customers.

The shop is beautiful and quite "Zen".  With no cluttered displays, they only showcase a few choice items.  You're not bombarded with a million different items, but presented with a handful of carefully selected pieces and they are all so visually stunning!

No kidding!  When you walk in, you immediately get a sense of "Ahhhhhhhhh".  Not only are the folks at North Channel General quite possibly the loveliest people around, but the shop itself makes you feel like all your stress and worries are melted away...even if momentarily.  It really does remind me of the shops I used to frequent when I worked and lived in Japan.  The space is "clean" (as in uncluttered) and visually peaceful.  You definitely get that feeling in this store.

Some of the items North Channel General carries are:




North Channel General also sells artwork from local artists like Jack Whyte and Ann Beam.

Among my favourites are the wicker bags.  They're perfect for a day at the beach.  The photo does not do the product any justice.  My 4 year old daughter wanted to play the budding photographer and snapped this shot while we were at the beach.  Bag seen in background.


North Channel General is also on Facebook.  Visit the North Channel  General FB page and check out all their fabulous items.

Visit their store

Location:
40 Water Street, Studio 2
Gore Bay, ON
P0P 1H0
Hours of operation:
Mon-Thurs: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri:-Sat: 11:00 am - 7:00pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

website: http://www.northchannelgeneral.com/

All photos (except the photo of the bag) are courtesy of North Channel General. 

She slumped back into her armchair, face glistening from the heat.  Another hot, humid Summer day.  There was no reprieve from the heat.  With no comfort of the air-conditioning she had in her city life, she had to remind herself that A) this was the "frugal farmer" thing to do and B) no A/C was far better for the environment.  Yes, it was her duty as a citizen of the Earth to not use A/C and to find other ways to keep cool in the sweltering heat.

A dip in the lake?  No.  Her back took a beating from the strong rays of the sun at the beach the day before.

A run through the sprinkler?  To be honest, the heat was too intense.  Plus, sprinklers and hoses only invited a certain four year old girl to soak her Mama and the dog.

What could possibly offer some refreshment and momentary comfort in this heat?

Fizzy Strawberry Lemonade!

That was the solution!  With a bumper crop of strawberries, making a cool, refreshing pitcher of strawberry lemonade would quench her family's thirst and keep them cool and refreshed.  With the "special" fizzy water that everyone in the family loved so much, this was absolutely perfect.

Even the four year old was a huge fan of S. Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. This is not a sponsored post, by the way! We actually really love S. Pellegrino and have a few bottles on hand at all times!

 Ingredients:
2 cups strawberries, washed and tops removed
1 cup lemon juice (you can use Real Lemon, but I prefer freshly squeezed lemon juice - for the lemons I get at our grocery store, 1 cup is equaled to 8-10 lemons)
1 (750 mL) bottle of San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, chilled
Simple Syrup (1 cup sugar, 1 cup water)
Ice

Instructions:
Prepare syrup by boiling sugar and water in a pot. Once sugar is completely dissolved, remove from heat and let cool completely.

Puree the strawberries by adding strawberries and simple syrup into blender and "puree". I like a smooth drink, so I press strawberry puree through a strainer to remove the seeds and solids. Only let the strawberry juice through.  You can put the strawberry pureed "pulp" into ice cube trays to use for other recipes later on.

In a pitcher, add lemon juice, strawberry juice (made from your strawberries and simple syrup), and 1 (750 mL) bottle of San Pellegrino.

Serve in a tall glass with ice.  Garnish if you wish, but you're probably just going to want to drink it and forgo the garnishes because it's so tasty!

Enjoy!

Summertime is BBQ season, kick back on the patio with a cold beverage season, and I-really-don't-want-to-turn-on-the-oven-let's-have-watermelon-or-salad-for-supper-instead season!


In my quest to try new-to-me recipes, I wanted to incorporate molasses into some of my dishes.  Why? Well, being Asian, I didn't exactly grow up using molasses in my food as a kid, and I am now married to a farmer whose mom uses molasses in her dishes.  There's a certain level of curiosity and also the want for a challenge, and that exciting challenge is cooking with molasses!

Sure, I can make a great gingersnap cookie with molasses, but I want to use it in BBQ recipes and things one wouldn't think to use molasses in!

I came across some Sizzlin' Summer Recipes with Crosby's Molasses!

Imagine yourself in a house full of 3, 4, and 5 year olds (and their moms), sprawled out on the floor with their sleeping bags and pillows!  Popcorn, every single flavour of Goldfish crackers available to mankind, fruit and veggie platters decorated like fish, a coral reef and starfish and  multi-coloured gummy frogs and turtles swimming in a sea of blue Jello?!  What mom would willingly open up her house to a dozen junior kindergarten kids for a fun movie matinee? Me! That's who!

The Plot

What the moms thought

What the kids thought

Disclosure: I am participating in A Turtle’s Tale 2 – Sammy Escapes From Paradise Blogger Campaign by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

When Little One was a baby, I noticed that Lansinoh seemed to be one of the brands all my breast-feeding mom friends talked about.  Lansinoh has everything from breast pumps to breast pads, breast milk storage and bottles and drinking sets.

In fact, one of the best gifts a friend ever gave me was a basket she put together filled with baby necessities from Lansinoh.  The Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads came in really handy, as did the Lansinoh HPA Lanolin.

I was excited to see that Lansinoh also has items for feeding babies as they continue through different stages of their development.  When I first saw the mOmma Spill-Proof Cup with dual handles and Straw Cup, I was intrigued by their unique design.

Because of the round ergonomic shape and soft handles that are designed for baby's hands to grip, and the fact that pliable silicone spout is for of baby's developing teeth and gums, this makes for a great cup. With babies that like to toss things or drop things frequently, it really helps that the spout is spill-proof.

Gadget Girl, one of my mom testers was given the opportunity to try out both the mOmma Spill-Proof Cup with dual handles and the Straw Cup.

Gadget Girl's Thoughts

My 10-month-old daughter is still mainly using bottles, but we have started to introduce sippy cups. She will try to get them to her mouth (a feat she can’t do with a bottle unless she is lying down) and has tried a few types so far. I love the shape of the mOmma, however, when you turn the cap to close the cup, the sipper also turns and can become uneven with the handles. 

Perhaps if the sippy cup had the handles on the top but separate from the cap/sipper feature, it would make it easier to make the sipper and handles line up, thereby allowing the baby to get the sipper to its mouth. The handles are very helpful in helping her get the sippy cup close to her mouth. 

Over all a good sippy and has not leaked yet even though my daughter throws it around.

Can’t wait to try the mOmma straw cup when she is ready for a straw. She's still not quite ready, but she is eager to try sipping out of the straw!



Did you know that the mOmma Spill-Proof Cup has been awarded the PTPA Seal of Approval? Parents Tested and Parents Approved.

Editor's Note:  When using the Lansinoh mOmma cups, it is important to note that one needs to push the spout down all the way inside the collar of the cup before closing to avoid unevenness.  Pushing the spout down all the way inside the collar of the cup will help ensure proper use and an optimal drinking experience for child. 

Disclosure - Our Mom Tester received products to facilitate this honest review.

I have a confession.  I'm a guilt-ridden mom.  I know this insanity has to stop, but I can't help it.  I'm conflicted.  Little One started camp today and I don't know how I feel about it.

I'm excited for her.  In fact, I'm super excited.  She gets to spend a few weeks this Summer hanging out with her cohorts, learning new things, and having fun.

The other part of me feels guilty about not letting her have an easy, restful Summer vacation.  After all, Summer vacation, as we all know is fleeting.  It goes by far too quickly and kids are only little for a short time.  Part of me contemplated letting Little One stay home this Summer and not having structured activities.  She could play outside, play on the trampoline, and we could go to the beach after I finish work.

Yes, I work from a home office, but I put in regular working hours.  The only difference is that I don't leave my house to go to my office.  I know it's a new concept for many and most people who don't work from home cannot comprehend that just because your office is in your home, you can't just take off or do what you want whenever you want.  To be honest, I find it's more of a juggling act to accommodate scheduling and activities. For this reason, it is so difficult for me to work when Little One is home during the day.  Summer camp has been a huge blessing.

The community's Summer Recreation Program is fantastic, and so reasonably priced!  $15 a week! $20 with field trip. You can't beat that!

This week, the kids have Outdoor Expedition Week. They'll be making terrariums, going on a fossil hunt on the beach, making homemade bird feeders, and even going on a field trip to Manitoulin Streams where they will be exploring habitats and creatures in the water.  Manitoulin Streams will be taking the kids on a "Stream Detective" workshop where the children will be netting aquatic bugs, building a bass spawning nest, and more.

Little One is very excited about the upcoming Hands-On Science week.  They'll be doing hands-on experiments, including making their own lava lamps out of an empty plastic bottle!

Despite the fact that I know Little One will have a great time, I only wish I could spend more of the Summer with her. She's only four years old.  When I was four, we didn't do any organized activities during the Summer. For us, Summer meant getting to sleep late, sleep in, hang out with our friends and  play all day. Summer meant freedom.  It was a break from school and just a time to relax and be kids.  I put Little One in Junior Kindergarten at three years of age and now Summer camp activities at four years old.  I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing.


Do your kids go to camp or Summer activities?  What's your take on this? Should kids just be kids and take it easy for the Summer or do you think they need organized activities?

There's nothing that screams "SUMMER'S HERE!" better than an ice cream cone enjoyed on the beach and a swim on a hot Summer day.  Thankfully for Islanders and visitors alike, all of this can be found daily in Providence Bay.

Enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk, or walk along the beach and enjoy the sunset.  Providence Bay is one of our favourite places to play. This is why...


Owners of the Auberge Inn in Providence Bay have added to the Auberge Inn family by including ice cream shop, Huron Island Time.

What Huron Island Time has to offer:

I have a confession.  Much to my husband's dismay, I want our old farm house to look like it's right out of a Better Homes & Gardens magazine.  I'm not really winning this battle, but it's my hope to one day have a home worthy of being in Country Living magazine.  *sigh* One of these days, my dream will come true.

To add to our "rustic meets modern" home (that's the look I'm striving for), I love a house that smells wonderfully when you walk through the front door.  Apples and cinnamon, vanilla, and the like are so welcoming. I love pretty things and things that smell good.  Who doesn't, right?  This said, I'm very particular about the pretty, scented things I have in my house.  I'm extremely sensitive to fragrances and anything too overpowering makes me ill. Very, very ill.

A few years ago, I was at the Manitoulin Trade Fair and came across a Scentsy booth. I have been hooked ever since!

I love the Scentsy Bars for a wickless alternative to traditional scented candles.  Such a great way to refresh your home.  We've got the Rustic Star Plug In Warmer and I'm in love with the Taro Plug In Warmer!

What I love is that the Scentsy wickless concept is simply decorative ceramic warmers that are designed to melt scented wax with the heat of a light bulb and not with a traditional wick and flame.  As someone with allergies and doesn't do well with smoke, I can appreciate this.


To peruse the wide array of Scentsy products, visit www.anita.scentsy.ca or check out Anita's Scentsy Facebook Page. 


 Because like me, Anita's Scentsy is as excited about all the Scentsy goodness, she wants to share the love with my Life on Manitoulin readers!

Anita's Scentsy has donated a Scentsy Plug In Warmer and the Scentsy Scent of the Month to be given to one lucky fan! This month on the website, the featured scent is Watermelon Mint!

To enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open to residents of Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure - This is a sponsored post, however, as always, all thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.

When I lived in Toronto, my canine baby was a pampered pooch.  He got groomed twice yearly and had the royal treatment.  He really was a spoiled boy.

Fast forward a few years and we're no longer living in the city. We're on an island in the middle of one of the Great Lakes and in Northern Ontario!  How on earth did we get here?!

Chance seems to love rural living though.  He gets to run around our farm and be free as a bird.  He is one very happy puppy!  Okay, he's ten years old, but he looks and acts like a pup!

The only drawback of country living is that this once well-groomed city dog is now always covered in gross things and doesn't smell great at all.  I will not mention what he's covered in, but we live on a cattle farm.  You get the picture, right?

There isn't a day that I don't thank my lucky stars for Patti McKenzie, Pampered Pet Grooming owner and dog groomer.

No word of a lie, Patti is the most amazing person ever.  She is so good with the animals and has that magic touch.  I say this because my dog won't let anyone touch his paws, and Patti is always able to get him to let her do whatever she wants and needs to do to get him groomed!

You see, when Chance was a pup, an elevator incident had his paw stuck and dewclaw bleeding. Since then, nobody has been able to touch his sensitive paw. Nobody except Patti, that is!

A few years ago, he was run over by a bus and almost died.  For three months, he was pretty much in a vegetative state. Crushed organs, a crushed pelvis, and no mobility, had our canine baby out of commission for a long time.  It was a miracle when he all of a sudden decided to get up and start running around again! He looks and acts just like a pup still.

I thought for sure that no groomer would ever be able to touch him without his protests, but Patti seems to have the magic touch.  She always sends Chance back to us looking like a brand new pup.  Coat clipped down for his "Summer look", smelling fresh (the good kind of fresh, and not the "ripe" kind), and clean!  He's always so happy when he comes back from the groomer's and he looks a lot lighter too!
If you're on Manitoulin Island, I highly recommend Pampered Pet Grooming.  For more info, check out their Facebook page!

Link up your Wordless Wednesday posts! Granted, mine wasn't so "wordless" today!
We'd love to check your WW posts out!

Who knew that there were so  many different kinds of bottles, nipples, soothers and feeding products out there?  With so much selection to choose from, it can get a little dizzying at times.

When I was a new mom, I went to family, friends and other moms for tips and recommendations when it came to all things baby.  I'm a research person when it comes to all things concerning my family.  I like reading ratings and reviews of products and I like finding out why parents prefer one product over another.

Though I nursed Little One, we also bottle fed her.  Hubby was able to give her a bottle of expressed breast milk so that Mommy could get a bit of sleep too.

Since Little One is now four years old, I have enlisted the help of my product testers for items geared towards infants and toddlers. Here's what my parent testers, New Mommy and New Daddy have to say about Dr. Brown's products.

Zombie Mom No More: Dr. Brown's Helps Parents With All Their Babies' Feeding Needs

I am a Zombie Mom.  I never realized what the hashtag #zombiemom really meant until we had our baby a few months ago.  Since circumstances did not permit me to breastfeed our child, we had to resort to bottle feeding her.  Before you cast any judgment, we do know "breast is best", but medical conditions have not permitted me to give my child that important gift of "liquid gold".

Coupled with me not being able to breastfeed, another challenge we faced was colic.  Yes, our sweet little babe is a very colicky babe.

When you have a colicky baby, you do research.  Lots of research  on how to soothe that baby's discomfort.  We've tried pretty much everything, but to no avail.  When Christine at Life on Manitoulin asked us if we wanted to try some Dr. Brown's items, we were really excited! What I like about Dr. Brown's Patented Internal Vent System is that it reduces colic, spit-up, burping and gas.  This is a big thing for us, as our child suffers from colic.

Bottles are not just bottles

I remember the first time I sent my husband out to the store to buy a few bottles for our baby. I just found out I couldn't breastfeed (after numerous attempts) and sent the husband out blindly into the world of baby stuff and more. The poor guy came back defeated...and armed with (I kid you not) over a dozen different bottles.  Plastic bottles, glass bottles, ones that were bent in odd shapes, straight ones, tall ones, fat ones. Oh goodness.

It also turned out our baby happened to be a fussy one too. Not happy with anything.  Some preferences were made apparent, but then came the colic.

With Dr. Brown's it's great to have the option of having different sizes to choose from depending on your baby's needs.

No technical, science wiz here, won't try to explain how things work. Let me just say that I was impressed with the patented internal vent system, but even more so when I read that in a university study that measured nutrient levels in baby bottle milk showed that Dr. Brown's fully-vented bottles helped maintain important nutrients (like vitamins C, A. and E, as well as lipids) that are key nutrients to baby's health.


Can I tell  you that  Dr. Brown's Microwave Steam Sterilizer is a parent's best friend?  I won't mask my excitement when I say the custom tray is molded for Dr. Brown's bottles and parts.  No more boiling huge pots of water and sterilizing your bottles and parts! It's really easy to use too!  Trust me. As one who has made it a habit of boiling all of Baby's feeding items, I've ruined a bunch of them all in the name of sterilization.  No one told me that if you boil some products, they don't work as well or don't end up fitting properly or end up making a leaking mess all over your baby's face.

Yes, the Dr. Brown's Microwave Steam Sterilizer is in fact a godsend.

For the love of soothers!

We have a fussy little baby when it comes to soothers.  We have about two dozen soothers (not kidding) and have been trying to find the perfect one. Soother nipples: Too small. Too big. Too hard. Too flat. Too round.  There doesn't seem to be any pleasing our child.  You won't believe me when I say this, but these soothers actually did the trick.  Now, that is a hard feat!

"My Momma always said, 'Soothers will give ya buckteeth!'"

These soothers were designed by a pediatric dentist and were developed to prevent dental issues. I remember many years ago, people used to say not to give your child a soother because it would give them buck teeth.  1. These were designed to present dental issues and 2. They really do help sooth our little peanut.

Whether you're an experienced parent or a pair of clueless first time zombie parents like us, we hope you maneuver through your parenting journey with relative ease. Remember to enjoy and savour the blissful moments and learn to laugh at everything else...like going to the store about buying a dozen different types of bottles in a sleep-deprived state or doing the dance of joy when your baby decides she loves a particular soother or bottle. For the love of baby bottles, soothers, and all that is good in the world, these moments are fleeting. Enjoy :)

 We're happy to report that you can purchase Dr. Brown's products at http://www.babiesrus.ca.

Thanks to Christine and Life on Manitoulin for giving us the opportunity to test these products.  Thank  you to Dr. Brown's for quality products we can trust on our fussy little peanut. ~ New Mommy and New Daddy


This post was generously sponsored by Dr. Brown’s, but the opinions and images are my own. For more information, visit www.drbrownsbaby.com.