My Favourite Things

Creating functional spaces in our home

“We have been renovating our 1970s side-split for seven years and while it can be exhausting, it is also so rewarding making our home beautiful and functional for our growing family.”

Building/repurposing Furniture

“So often I fall in love with furniture that is either one-of-a-kind antique or out of my price range. I love building things - like the dining table I built with my dad from an $8,000 inspiration table or my most recent kitchenette island table that was repurposed from an old coffee table.”

Jyll Mackie HomeandDIYCreator

Camping

“When we aren’t working on projects around the house, we love going on adventures in our 1978 Trillium trailer - it might be a tight squeeze when baby #3 arrives but we will make it work!”

Our Pool

“Last summer we put in a pool and there is nothing better than watching our girls, 3 and 5, learning to swim and living their best life.”

A new store in Kingsville is catching the eye of many locals since they opened a few months ago.

Karen Couch has opened Shall We Knit at 17 Main Street West and inside her shop is another shop that belongs to her daughter, Tara Bendig, called The Bendig Company.

Karen operated Shall We Knit In Waterloo for the past 15 years, enjoying success there before relocating to Kingsville and opening here.

For Karen, her love of knitting goes back for years and she’s pleased to offer specialty yarns and needles, and will be offering knitting classes this fall.

“I always wanted to have a boutique type shop,” she said.

Karen specializes in mostly natural fibres and carries the Songbird line of hand-dyed yarns.

As for Tara, she describes her venture into business as a ‘labour of love’ — a dream come true that has come from the loss of her wife, Tina, last fall.

She says Kingsville has welcomed both her and her mom with open arms and they both find that people come in to look at one of their shops and end up browsing both of them.

Tara, a proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, offers eclectic gifts at The Bendig Company like handbags, jewelry, artist-created clocks, fun games, stickers, buttons and cards and a lot more.

“It’s all very eclectic,” says Tara. “You’ll find something nerdy for your brother-in-law.”

Cities

KALAMAZOO, MI

Located in southern Michigan, Kalamazoo is known for its countless points of interest. Visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for a dose of science, technology, history. Check out the Institute of Arts, or pop by the Nature Center. This city truly has something to offer to everyone.

COLUMBUS, OH

If you’re looking to visit a city with a young and hip vibe, Columbus, Ohio is calling your name! At night, take your pick from over 20 bars on High Street, and in the morning, refuel your body with fresh produce and foods found at North Market downtown.

Outdoorsy

TUNNEL PARK, HOLLAND, MI

Tunnel Park is a stunning 22-acre park that sits along the shores of Lake Michigan, making it perfect for swimming, family picnics and a few games of beach volleyball.

MONO CLIFFS PROVINCIAL PARK, ON

Hiking, scenic views, cliffs and nature…need we say more? Mono Cliffs Provincial Park is home to eight trails of varying distances, so whether you’re travelling as a novice hiker or looking for something a little more challenging, you’ll find a trail for you. Looking for an even bigger challenge? Consider hiking any section of The Bruce Trail that sprawls over 900km of Southern Ontario.

Small Towns

BAYFIELD, ON

Bayfield is the perfect small-town getaway for those seeking beauty and comfort. The historical buildings of Main St. are now home to independently owned shops, artisan stores, restaurants, cafés and inns, while the beach welcomes you for a day on the water and sunsets you won’t want to miss.

ELORA, ON

Prepare to be charmed by Elora, Ontario. Not only does this small town have amazing small shops and restaurants, but it’s also the home to the stunning blue-green waters of a limestone quarry. Shopping, swimming, dining, and accommodations - Elora checks off all the boxes.

Feels like Paradise

PUT-IN-BAY, OH

Ready to hit an island that feels tropical but is closer to home? Put-in-Bay is one of the best destinations around for those looking for swim-up bars and great music. Whether you’re there for a family weekend or a bachelorette party, let the energy of this island sink in and enjoy the water, the shopping, the eating and the pool parties.

PORT DOVER, ON

Palm trees in Ontario? Yes, please! Port Dover is one of the few places in Ontario where you can experience beautiful beaches lined with palm trees. We recommend this dreamy spot for days when you simply want to catch some rays and put your toes in the sand.

Bored children calling out from the backseat can try any parent’s patience. Thankfully, parents can utilize these four strategies to keep kids occupied on long car trips.

1. Take out the tablet. Tablets can be loaded with all sorts of entertainment, from e-books to movies to interactive activities to school lessons. Time restrictions on electronics may be a part of life at home, but parents can relax those rules on the road to ensure kids stay occupied until the family arrives at its destination.

2. Encourage kids to scrapbook the trip. If a road trip involves visiting multiple destinations, parents can encourage kids to spend some time scrapbooking their experiences in the backseat. Kids can write about their activities and paste mementos from the trip into their book.

3. Transform the backseat into a play area. Transforming the backseat into a play area can ensure kids have plenty of things to do and less time to dwell on how long it’s taking to get from point A to point B. Avoid packing anything that can be turned into a projectile but be sure to include some books, puzzles, dolls/action figures and handheld games.

4. Time the trip well.

Of course, kids don’t necessarily need to be actively engaged in an activity in order to be occupied during a road trip. If possible, depart in the wee hours of the morning, as it will usually mean you’ll avoid heavy traffic and it could also result in kids falling back asleep, cutting down on the amount of time needed to keep them entertained.