Ontario, “yours to discover”. I never really understood what that meant as a kid, whenever I’d see it on an Ontario license plate. It’s shameful to admit that I was raised and live in Toronto, and I will plan trips all around the world, but have never taken time to explore my own backyard! I was surprised to see just how much there is to discover within less than a 3-hr. drive from Toronto. I went on a little road trip with some girlfriends to Ontario’s Southwest, specifically Sarnia & Point Edward and Grand Bend. We visited several places along…

My husband and I recently went on our honeymoon. We spent a week in Dubai and a week in Mauritius. As both were places we’d wanted to visit for a long time, this trip was quite the dream come true! We saw a lifetime’s worth of sights, which I’ll write about in full travel guides on each location soon. But first, I wanted to recap our stay at one of the hotels in Dubai that made our honeymoon extra special: Fairmont Dubai. With over 600 hotels offering a total of more than 100,000 rooms, Dubai is ranked as one of…

I used to spend far too much of my time money at coffee shops. I’m ashamed to admit that every morning, like clockwork, I would go to Tim Hortons to buy an XL coffee, and sometimes get 1 (or 2) breakfast sandwiches to go along with it. The combined total of my order could be as high as $10.25, and it didn’t just stop there! At least 1 or 2 times a week, I’d also buy specialty coffee, like a latte or flat white at an independent coffee shop (averaging about $4-$4.50 a pop). Talk about throwing my money down…

Last week, my good friends, Solmaz, Anna and I had the pleasure of staying at The Westin Harbour Castle for a girls’ staycation! Our staycation fell on a Friday evening, and could not have been more perfectly timed, after what felt like the longest week and after receiving the sad news about Anthony Bourdain. We arrived just after check-in time and quickly made ourselves VERY comfortable in the huuuuuggge Executive Suite on the Penthouse level! The Hotel & Location The Westin Harbour Castle is at 1 Harbour Square, in between Bay St. and Yonge St. in Toronto’s Harbourfront district. It…

Every Dad is unique, which is what makes our individual relationships with our fathers so special. Like my Dad, I’m the youngest of 4 siblings, so we share a lot of similarities. My Dad has helped shape me into the person I am today. He’s guided me with his wisdom and life lessons, has taught me to use common sense, be street-smart, and pragmatic in all my decisions. His goal has always been to provide for his 4 daughters – to ensure we had a roof over our head, food on the table, and a good education. Like many immigrant…