Wondering if Canada’s largest outdoor drive-thru Halloween event is for you? Read on to find out what to expect, my honest review of the event, and my thoughts on whether Pumpkins After Dark is kid-friendly or not. September always signifies the beginning of the fall season for me. I think years of going back to school in September trained my brain to believe that summer ends in August. So when the invitation to the media preview of Pumpkins After Dark landed in my inbox earlier this month, I didn’t think twice about attending. What a great way to kick off the spooky season! What is Pumpkins ..read more

Pico de Gallo is a no-cook salsa made with fresh tomatoes, onions, chile pepper and lime juice. This chunky salsa is delicious with tortilla chips, or as a topping on fish, meat or poultry. On my recent trip to Mexico, I tried freshly made pico de gallo for the first time ever and fell in love with the bright flavours. Previously, my only experience with this salsa was the soggy store-bought stuff, which explains why I didn’t think it was anything special. It’s meant to be an uncooked salsa, but of course, anything sold in a jar has to be processed for canning (and sometimes contains preserva ..read more

Pan-fried dumplings are easier to make than you think! With a little practice, you’ll be making your own delicious potstickers in no time. Let me begin this post by saying, if you have never wrapped a dumpling before, don’t stress about how your dumplings look. While fancy potstickers with lots of pleats are very pretty, a simple half-moon dumpling tastes just as good! That being said, I have so much respect for anyone who can properly wrap dumplings. Those beautiful little parcels that you get at the restaurant are probably made by someone who has wrapped several thousands of dumplings over ..read more

Stems Flower Farm is an eight-acre flower farm just outside Cookstown, Ontario. Established in 2016, this small family-owned business has been providing premium stems to florists and event designers for several years. This year (2021), they opened a one-acre cutting garden on their property, where customers can stroll through rows of blooms and create their own personalized bouquets. I visited the cutting garden earlier this year and thought I’d share my experience. Hopefully, my review of the cutting garden at Stems Flower Farm will be helpful to anyone who might be trying to decide if they ..read more

I’m sharing ALL of the seeds that I’m using in my garden this year, including a variety of veggies, herbs and flowers. I know there’s a lot here, but I’m trying to grow as much as I can in my suburban backyard this year. That way I can test things out and share my results with you! I just want to mention that I do also have perennial and bulbs in my garden, and I do buy annual transplants each year. These are just the plants that I’ll be starting from seed. Many of these seeds have already been sown indoors and are sitting happily under my grow lights. If you want to see frequent updates abou ..read more

A sudden dip in temperature can spell disaster for tender plants, seedlings and flowers. Learn how to make a kit for your garden so you can quickly and easily protect plants from frost. Living in Ontario, Canada, it’s not unusual for us to get snow in April. What’s difficult is that there might be a week or two of warm weather that tricks our garden into thinking it’s safe to wake up, and then a cold snap comes around and kills everything. While a sudden cold spell is annoying, it doesn’t have to be detrimental to your plants. In fact, some edible plants (like carrots and kale) actually benef ..read more

Are you wondering how to plant seeds for your garden? Today I’m sharing my best tips for starting seeds indoors and outdoors. Starting your plants from seed can be a rewarding experience! There’s nothing quite as satisfying as planting a tiny seed, watching it grow, and then enjoying the rewards of your efforts. It can also be a very frustrating experience, though, and I don’t want you to feel that! With a bit of information, you can plant your seeds knowing that you’ve given them the best chance of growing well. How to Plant Seeds There’s a lot of information on seed starting here, so I’ve b ..read more

Are you growing vegetables from seed for the first time? Here’s a list of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed and tips to get started! Growing vegetables from seeds can be a rewarding experience! There’s nothing quite like harvesting (and eating!) something that you grew yourself. While growing vegetables from seedlings can be a bit easier, you’ll find that you have more options on varieties when you start from seeds instead. Plus, seeds are generally inexpensive compared to seedlings. If you’re not sure where to buy your seeds, you can check out local garden centres, hardware stores, or ..read more

What’s the next best thing to travelling?  Travelling virtually, of course!  When you’re unable to travel for any reason but still want your fix, why not try one of the virtual tours and online experiences from Arigato Japan to learn more about Japanese life, food, and customs? While virtual tours have sprung up due to [...] The post Visit Japan from your home: virtual tours and experiences with Arigato Japan appeared first on Kids and Compass ..read more

Have you heard of Takayama, a city in the Japanese Alps?  Home to sake, sarubobo, and steep-roofed houses, it’s one of our favourite destinations in Japan.  We’d recommend visiting for a couple of days, and this 3 day Takayama itinerary will help you make the most of your time.  Read on to find out about [...] The post The best things to do in Takayama with kids: a 3 day Takayama itinerary appeared first on Kids and Compass ..read more