Good Eats!

This past Father's Day weekend was exceptionally busy for my family and I. I had been planning a motorcycle show (which deserves it's own post- coming soon!) and was in serious need of down time before the big day.What does this gal do to relax before a busy day? Pack up our van and head out to find an adventure of course!

We put the kids in the car, in hopes they would doze off, leaving us to enjoy the country road drive. What happened was of course the opposite- they were wide awake and singing along to Blake Shelton with the windows down and soaking in that fresh farm air. It was then that we decided to detour over to the Northern Soul BBQ chip truck we had passed on another adventure.I was certain the chip truck was on Charleston Lake, but Nick stuck to his guns and headed down Graham Lake Road....which did eventually lead us to Northern Soul BBQ. 

There, beside the chip waggon was the coolest thing I have ever seen- the smoker. It smelled amazing and I was excited to try something (anything!) that had been cooked on it. I ordered the pulled pork poutine, Nick had a sausage with pulled pork and the girls, true to form - had hot dogs. O.M.G! Yes, I just used Facebook lingo in my blog to describe this- it was THAT good! There are no other words. 

With full bellies and sleeping children, we decided to continue our country drive and see where we ended up. By the time the girls woke up we were on the other side of Merrickville and headed near Kemptville. As The Kemptville Ribfest was on, and my bike event was cross-promoting with the wonderful fundraiser- we decided to stop in and check it out! 

My girls immediately spotted the bouncy castles and ran over. Any event with these inflatable toys are going to be a huge hit! We also made sure to check out the amazing entertainment and the stop for a pony and donkey ride on the way back. It was a short trip, as the rain was approaching but we are very happy we stopped in to check out Ribfest! This is an annual event that is a MUST on the to-do list. Brockville is hosting their Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Leeds Grenville Ribfest in August and I cant wait to spend the day there with the kids. 

It was a perfect day to relax with my family and take in some local attractions as well. When you get the chance, head out on a local road trip- you never know where it will take you or what you will find! 

Let’s get Cracking

I want you to close your eyes and imagine this: The smell of caramelized onion, candied apple, chorizo sausage, blended herbs and cheese all cooking together over a well-oiled sizzling skillet with Burnbrae farm-fresh eggs...heavenly, isn't it?

Now picture the kitchen packed with 20 foodie bloggers, Farm owners, social media experts and basically a lot of people salivating at the sight of this delicious food being prepared in front of them. That was the sight at Burnbrae Farms, when we were invited to learn about the company, their products and their overall passion for egg production.

Owner and Chef, Seth O’Hara from the Brockberry Grill was on hand with his fabulous assistant Stewart Smith, to discuss cooking techniques, recipes, and his favourite tips on cooking with Burnbrae eggs. 

On the menu:

·         Alsatian tart (derived from the Alsatian region in France)

·         The famous Brockberry poppy seed salad

·         Wedge salad topped with blue cheese, hard-cooked egg (which Seth used a ricer to spread evenly over the lettuce), roasted red peppers, tomatoes and olives.

·         A shallot, wild mushroom, garlic and feta omelette with a Peruvian splash

·         A caramelized onion and apple, with spicy chorizo sausage and aged cheddar omelette

I had the pleasure of tasting the chorizo omelette and poppy seed salad – which I cannot begin to do justice trying to describe in a blog.  The flavours that I experienced in each bite were incredibly tantalizing to the senses and made me look at eggs in a whole new light. Watching this dish created in front of me looked incredibly easy- something I could cook for my own family (and will!) and it took less than ten minutes.

Various bloggers from all over the province gathered to learn more about Burnbrae Farms and this special lunch- focusing on egg dishes, was a huge treat! If you are interested in trying these dishes, make sure you head into the Brockberry Grill, located on King Street East in Brockville, On. I have been in many times and have quite a few favourite dishes- now I have another to add to my list!

Thank you Burnbrae Farms, Brockberry Grill and Set the Barr (social media marketing) for inviting me to attend this wonderful event - I can’t wait to get cracking in the kitchen!

Off to the races!

We all have that friend, you know- the one you go to things with because they are awesome and not necessarily because it's something you're interested in. I recently experienced that, and was surprised to find I have a new passion-racing!

Yes, you read that correctly- THIS GIRL loves car racing. For years I had friends who raved about it and would even sit home on a beautiful afternoon to watch a race on TV. I would shake my head and continue on....not realizing what I was missing. That was until, one of my best friends recently asked me to come with her to the Brockville Ontario Speedway (BOS). She is continuously supporting things I do, always making me laugh and one of my most cherished friends- so naturally, like any good friend, I rolled my eyes and said "Yes, Of course. I would love too".

It was the season opener at BOS, and it was packed! I had no idea we had so many race fans in Leeds Grenville or how many racers. I realize this is smaller scale than other speedways, but I was already impressed.The grandstands were filling up, the smell of popcorn (and car fumes)in the air and the races began. I was in love. From the sound of the cars all taking off together, to the high speeds and crashing, this was the coolest place on earth!

The cost is minimal, the entertainment is awesome and it is a great way to spend a Saturday night with some friends or even a date night. There were families there (although it is a loud place so bring headphones for the kids!) and even a class with their teacher and parents for a fun field trip. The Brockville Ontario Speedway really is a fun spot to check out.

Samantha, my friend who introduced me to racing- is probably laughing at my passion for the sport now...but if you haven't been- you must go! You will see us there, we'll be the loud girls taking "selfies" and having an absolute blast!

Friends for Autism took over Parliament Hill

Autism and children's mental health is a subject very near and dear to my heart. I created a fundraiser in the city of Brockville this past November to raise funds for various children's mental health causes in and around our local community. This past year, the funds were donated to a group called Friends for Autism. 

Friends for Autism (FFA) was created by April Kuhlmann and a group of dedicated ladies who were passionate about the disorder. It is their goal not to find a cure for Autism, but rather have it accepted and help educate the general public about the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Friends for Autism has assisted local families find resources, finance expensive tools that assist those affected by ASD and provide overall support. It was my pleasure to introduce April to our MP Gord Brown, who graciously offered to take time out of a very busy schedule to give FFA a personal tour of Parliament Hill. 

MP Brown met with a few of the families that FFA has provided support with. He shared with us the history of the Peace Tower and the Parliament Library (which is the only part of the original building still standing, after a fire in 1916 engulfed the entire main building- "Centre Block"- on the hill). Mr. Brown also took us to places that are not usually on a regular Parliamentary tour, such as The Senate and The House of Commons, where we were able to meet MP Jason Kenney, Hon. Lisa Raitt and many other hard working MPs.

Pictured below is Senator Jim Munson speaking to the group. Senator Munson introduced and passed bill S-211, an act respecting World Autism Day. He has done a tremendous amount of work advocating for the cause and it was an absolute honour to have met him. 

One of our special guest Bradley, trying on an RCMP hat with a guard outside the Parliamentary Library. The guard was very kind, telling us stories about the Library and taking time to pose for the picture!

Often, we forget that our politicians are also citizens in our communities as well. They work very long days, have extended travel away from their family and are often touched with the same challenges we face. It was very clear from this visit that our MP Gord Brown had a genuine interest in Friends for Autism and we want to extend a special thank you for the time and support.

To learn more about Friends for Autism, please visit their Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/friendsforautism
or by phone : (613)246-3736
Website coming soon

The Brockville Home Show

I want to take a moment and give a very big "Thank you" to David Annable, owner of Annable Designs and AD Signs for organizing the 2014 Brockville Home Show.

Three weeks ago, the Brockville Home Show was cancelled (after spanning 30 years in this community) due to lack of participation and organizers. This was very disappointing to many in the industry and the community as a whole. For those not familiar, The Brockville Home Show gives local business the opportunity to promote their products to home owners, home buyers and anyone else in the housing industry. This is a great chance to network, support our community and give clientele exceptional deals.

One local business owner and personal friend of mine, David Annable decided that instead of seeing the annual Home Show cease to exist ,he would step up to the plate and organize, advertise and host it. As a local event planner and organizer, I can tell you this is a huge feat! Within two weeks Dave had the show filled with vendors and was tirelessly promoting through social media and Eastern Ontario Network (a local media company). Some of the local companies who came on board were Rona, All Out Home Inspection, The Mortgage Advisors, Falcon Security, Heritage Kitchens as well as many other wonderful local business!

The Big weekend came and the show, held at the Brockville Memorial Center, was a success! Friday evening was quiet but by Saturday, the parking lot was filling up and vendors and supporters alike were pleased with the outcome! Dave has made sure to speak with vendors and those in attendance to ask their thoughts on the show and how he can make it an even bigger success next year. If you have feedback or inquiries please do not hesitate to contact Dave Annable directly at: info@annabledesigns.ca

Thanks again Dave for your quick step up to the plate and a successful show!

The Easter Bunny Came to the Daigle house...

Easter weekend has come and gone for 2014. This year, we had all three of our girls home to celebrate and it was an absolute blast! Here is a sneak peak at what we did:

Good Friday we packed a picnic and headed out to enjoy some new parks around the area. Our travels took us to Merrickville, Perth, Westport, Landsdown and finally home to Brockville, On. 

Saturday was a day filled with family. We had a late lunch with a lot of great food. A special visitor was my niece Sadie, who traveled a few hours with her parents to make it. What a nice treat!

Our Easter Sunday was very low key as we enjoyed the morning at home cleaning and the afternoon out and about. Nick and I decided to take the girls for a long walk on the Brock Trail and stop along at the parks to play. We spent just over 3.5 hours walking the entire trail and taking in our beautiful city of Brockville. 

I hope each and everyone of you had a wonderful Easter! 

ION with EON

I've been lucky to meet many fascinating people in our community through writing my blog over the past two and a half years. I have met many politicians, retail store owners, artists, other community supporters and most recently - a salon and spa owner.

I met Ashley Holmes, owner of Mint Wellness, on set at Eastern Ontario Network (EON). She was a guest on one of the many shows we film. Ashley was friendly and inviting and I was drawn into a conversation with her immediately. We exchanged cards and kept in touch via Facebook. Then one day, a few months later while I was working at the studio and keeping updated on the business pages I follow on Facebook- I came across a promo on her page for an Ion Foot Detox Treatment.

I told my colleague (and social media mastermind!) Kim Barr to check out the page. Kim owns a social media marketing company called Set The Barr and I figured she would be interested in this page. We discussed the promo and thought it would be a neat idea to contact Ashley and try out her service. It was then that Joe Baptista (my boss and owner of EON) chimed in and suggested we take the camera crew over to Mint Wellness and film Kim and I trying out the detox treatment. We immediately loved this idea and asked Ashley if she would be interested. Naturally, she said yes and we made the appointment.

Fast forward a week and it was time to head over to Mint Wellness and try the Ion Foot Detox Treatment. Going in, I was extremely sceptical. I had heard first hand accounts of how this treatment did nothing for some and had read various articles with conflicting results and ideas on the treatment. I also had no idea how this treatment actually worked and what it all entailed.

Ashley and her team greeted us and welcomed us into the salon, currently located behind Pastime Motors on King Street West - and led us to a quiet and relaxing area of the salon. We were seated in comfy chairs, with low lights and a tranquil setting. Ashley was setting up and explaining the process to us. Both Kim and I had to wear a wrist band that was attached to a machine. This machine measured our PH levels and would also act as part of a positive charge that would create a current that would run through our body, once our feet were immersed in the water. Also in the water was the other part of the machine - a coil that would act as the negative charge. There was also salt added to the water to help balance our PH levels.

Ashley explained everything to us, step by step and answered many of our questions. I was a bit anxious of how this treatment would make me feel. Would it hurt? Could I get a shock? I was using my Facebook to post pictures and let people know we were trying this. To my surprise - I was absolutely fine. There was just a small bubbly feeling at the bottom of my feet, but not at all painful or even distracting.

Many were commenting on my Facebook posts, asking what I was experiencing. In a nutshell - the water started to change colours almost immediately after the machine was turned on. Over the 30 minute time period, it became incredibly dark, bubbly and basically disgusting. The different colours represented the different toxins that were being brought out of  my body into the water. This is where the scepticism comes out - as scientifically there is still no evidence to back up the claims of the Ion Foot Detox, however - I can tell you that once the treatment was over I was incredibly exhausted and weak. I had a headache almost immediately and needed to go home to rest. Ashley had suggested we drink plenty of water and did warn of any possible side effects. After rest and plenty of water, I woke up feeling amazing. Also that evening, I had one of the best sleeps I had in ages.

Please do check out our video of our experience at http://easternontarionetwork.com. I can tell you that I am still sceptical of long-term effects and if this treatment did indeed clear my body of some toxins, but I enjoyed the overall experience enough that I will be back to try it again a few times to get more conclusive information.

You can check out Ashely's business at the links below and contact her for prices and further information.

http://www.mintwellness.ca
https://www.facebook.com/mintwellness