Summer is over but that doesn’t mean that there’s any shortage of events to go to! Here’s a list of some of events that are on my radar.   in my calendar and they should be in your calendar too!

1. TIFF. September 10 – 20, 2015

Even if you don’t go to a movie, head downtown and hang out near any of the venues or even a hotel lobby to see how Toronto explodes during this festival.

Did you know that the Toronto International Film Festival® invites audiences to step outside the theatre for a Festival Street initiative?  From September 10 to 13, King Street West between Peter and University Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic and transformed into a pedestrian paradise free for all to enjoy.

2. The Toronto Garlic Festival.  Sunday September 20, Wychwood Barns

I’ve been going to this festival for years and always delighted to see how creative the vendors can get. Please note the new location (which I think is great news by the way).

3. Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. September 18 – 20, Nathan Phillips Square.

Never been to this event but it’s now in my calendar.

4. Toronto Food and Wine , September 18 – 20, Evergreen Brickworks

Sample, sip and savour your way through the festival, get up close and personal with your favourite celebrity chefs and culinary professionals, experience once in a lifetime dining experiences, relax in the exclusive VIP lounge, enjoy book signings, attend exciting trade seminars, and much more.

5. Soupalicious, Sunday September 27th at Wychwood Barns from noon to 3:30 pm. I absolutely adore this event as it’s well organized, supports a great initiative, and features dozens of great restaurants that serve tasty, tasty soups. Just make sure to buy your tickets in advance and show up early!!

September is going to be a busy month. (but in a good way).

Hope to bump into you at one of the above mentioned events.

Cheers!!

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For many years, I went to summer camp and fondly remember many canoe trips and even a sailing trip! However as an adult I’ve only gone camping three times. Sad but true.

Last week this all changed, as I finally went camping again.

Here’s what was involved:

a) I googled “best camping spots near Toronto”. Found this great website  that inspired me to pick up the phone and call a  1 888 number to book a camp site at Elora Gorge Conservation Area. On a side note: I found it extremely interesting (?) to call an American Call Centre to book a Canadian Camp Site.

b) I sent out a tweet: “Going Camping. Need a recommendation for a tent”. My fellow lifestyle blogger friend (who goes camping regularly) suggested: Coleman.

I swear her camping blog posts inspire me and I encourage you to click here to read about her camping adventures.

c) Went to Canadian Tire to buy a tent, sleeping bag, cooler, lanterns and a bbq grill. The Coleman tent said it would go up in a minute and I swear it went up in a minute. It took less time to set up the tent than it does to make my bed!  As for the sleeping bag – it kept me warm and cozy and it was on sale! $39.99 ! (hooray). Actually the tent was on sale too. ($189)

d) As for food: I wanted to follow the rule: K.I.S.S (keep it simple) – so eggs, bread, hot dogs, jiffy pop corn, pancake mix, salami, bagged salad, oysters, tuna patties, muffins, blueberries, cheese, etc were on the menu!!

e) The camp site we selected (area C number 166) was quiet, well shaded and included electricity (so I could charge my phone…I’m bad eh?). It wasn’t near the water or the quarry but I didn’t care  – it was QUIET and peaceful and truly beautiful to be surrounded by so many trees.

 Even though it rained and we left early, we did get a chance to hang out for a few hours at the Quarry.

What did we learn?

-we forgot oven mitts and toilet paper. Oops!!

-we didn’t bring the right clothes and it rained an rained and rained. In fact it rained so much that we packed up our tent and left a day early.

However, we can’t wait to go camping again and trust me, I will be blogging about these experiences.

To book a campsite this summer:

Grand River Conservation Area: 1-877-558-GRCA (4722)

Reservations at Ontario Provincial Parks: 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275)

To buy camping equipment:

Head to www.canadiantire.ca for all your camping needs!

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I grew up watching a lot of sports as my dad owned Ritchie’s Sports Shop in Ottawa for 43 years. I attended many live events and watched a lot of sports on TV, but had never been to an opening ceremony before. This all changed on Friday night.

I finally attended an Opening Ceremony. It was a big deal for me to attend on a Friday night but I made sure it happened as it was a once in a lifetime experience.

No matter how many photos I took, I simply could not capture the moment but I certainly did try.

It was inspirational to watch so many dedicated athletes walk into the venue! Of course, the ceremonies included spectacular performances as well. Sorry – no photos. Please forgive me!!

As mentioned in previous posts, I attended the opening ceremonies as a guest of McKesson Canada. At their cocktail party, (before the opening ceremony), I came across this sign and was impressed with this message: GET OUT THERE. GET ACTIVE.

atoma products help you get the most out of your day, even in the most demanding situations. Whether you’re on the field or at home, atoma products help you perform at your peak.That’s why atoma is proud to support athletes and be the Official Pharmacy to the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

See these atoma products? Well I will be using them throughout the summer. I know that these high quality products have the same ingredients as national brands but at lower prices. You gotta love it. They actually guarantee your satisfaction or you will get your money back.

Please visit this website to meet the athletes that atoma is supporting and to learn more about atoma products….www.teamatoma.ca.

Disclosure: This blog post was sponsored, however all opinions are my own

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Yesterday, I had a once in a lifetime experience to be a Torch Bearer for the Pan Am Games. This was truly a cool experience that I will remember for a long long time.

I can’t describe what I was feeling as I ran the 200 meters down Gerrard St. E as I was too busy waving and smiling! (see photo below)

I certainly felt protected as there was a convoy of 12 cars/motorcycles behind me!! Plus 3 policeman running beside me.

I also had no idea that people would stop me on the street afterwards to take photos of me.  I must admit I felt very proud to be part of this Torch Relay.

Fact: The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay was a 41-day journey that shared the Pan Am spirit in more than 130 communities.

Now that my Torch Bearer experience is behind me, I can focus on attending the Pan Am Games Opening Ceremony.  It will be thrilling to witness Sprint Canoeist,  Mark Oldershaw carry the Canadian Flag into the Opening Ceremony. Honestly, it’s not every week that I get to experience these types of events.

I am extremely honoured to be a guest of McKesson Canada at the Opening Ceremony and will be definitely posting on Twitter and Instagram.  So feel free to follow my tweets and instagram posts as I will be using the hashtag #atomaPanAm.

Stay tuned for my report on the 2015 Pan Am Games Opening Ceremony K?

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I’m pretty excited about the 2015 Pan Am Games for several reasons.

a) Believe or not, I’m a torch bearer. I think I saw a link to apply on twitter or facebook and applied on a whim. Sure enough – I was selected!! You can find me on July 7th at noon somewhere between 1470 Gerrard St East and 270 Coxwell. It’s a short run (250 meter) but it sure will be a memorable one!!

b) I will also be attending the opening ceremonies of the PanAm Games as a guest of McKesson Canada, through their atoma brands. They are one of the sponsors of the 2015 Pan Am/ParaPan Games and I’ve been fortunate enough to be selected as one of their Blogger Ambassadors. (pinch me, please).

For over 100 years, McKesson Canada has been the logistics and distribution leader in the Canadian healthcare sector. Their atoma brand is the private label brand of the IDA, Guardian, MSC and PROXIM retail pharmacies in Canada.

Therefore over the next few weeks, you will be noticing a few blog posts that will be associated with the 2015 Pan Am Games. Look out for a contest with atoma products, an interview with Mark Oldershaw (who is a Canadian Sprint Canoeist) and more!

 Mark is one of the five athletes that McKesson Canada is supporting on their journey to the Games. (The others include Jennifer Abel, Ryan Cochrane, Ellie Black and David Willsie).

I hope you are as excited as me about the 2015 PanAm Games!

In the meantime, you can start to follow me on twitter using (@momwhoruns) and look out for this hashtag too….#atomaPanAm K? Also, please take a peek at this fantastic contest that atoma is running. Click here!! This is one contest that you don’t want to miss!!

Disclosure: I have been compensated to participate as an ambassador however all opinions are my own.

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I discovered a few new things last week, which I would like to share with you.

1. JURASSIC WORLD: This is the perfect summer movie. I’m not saying its going to win any Academy Awards but it will certainly entertain you. After the movie, make sure you head to Dairy Queen to grab a Jurassic Smash Blizzard.  (Peanut Butter Cookies, chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter, and choco chunks blended with creamy vanilla soft serve)

2. HONDA INDY TORONTO: I had never been to a racing event of any nature before, but now I know why people love attending this event. All I can say is “see you next year at the races” (with ear plugs). LOL

3. BEAN AND BAKER MALT SHOP: (327 Harbord St.) This adorable shop just opened a few weeks ago and is Toronto’s only fountain soda malt shop! I had a spectacular cherry pie but I know I will be returning for a float one day soon and/or one of their milkshakes.

4. SAMSUNG SUHDTV just launched a new TV with 60 x more colour. Seriously, this TV is brilliant (sorry for the pun) and delivers “colour” like never before. PS this photo was taken with my new Samsung S6 #justsayin’

5. Lastly, I discovered that I really like “plating” food!

Do you have any “discoveries” you would like to share? Please do!

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Now that the Sporting Life 10k is behind me, I feel that it’s time to sign up for a Sprint Triathlon. I haven’t done one since 2011 and I miss the cross training.

To psyche me up for this new goal, I did a few things:

a) I bought a road bike. This was a huge step for me (ie huge investment) but it feels good. I went to the EnduroSports annual swap event, and bingo I walked out with this beauty for $500. #totallyscore

b) MEC (otherwise known as Mountain Equipment Co-op) helped me out in regard to some accessories. For example, a pair of sun glasses (which are critical when you are out there riding), and a pair of gloves (again, critical) .

Of course, I needed a pouch to hold my beloved Samsung Galaxy S5, keys, and gel packs.

I’ve actually been a huge fan of MEC ever since the kids were little and I bought a MEC snowsuit. To this day, I still think they are the most brilliant snowsuits out there!!

To be honest, when my cousins were visiting from Israel, we put MEC on the list of “tourist attractions” as it truly is a spectacular store with quality products and service.

Now it’s time for me to get in the pool, get out there and ride, and continue to run. Wish me luck.

Promise to keep you updated

Disclosure: Some products were provided to me that were mentioned in this blog post, however all opinions are my own

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It’s that time of year when I get super busy going to as many events as possible so I can embrace Spring and Summer as much as I can.

Here we go:

1. Currently I’m busy watching as many films as I can at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, which is taking place till May 10th. I’ve watched the first three episodes of the Israeli hit TV Series “Hostages” and will be back for more!! Seeing as I’ve just returned from Israel…this is the perfect festival for me.

2. I’m off to Ottawa on Sunday May 10th to see the Canadian Tulip Festival. I think this Festival which is taking place May 8 to 18th, is nothing short of spectacular… so I try not to miss it. Check out http://tulipfestival.ca/ for more details.

2. On Saturday May 9th it’s the Mount Pleasant Village 3rd Annual Kids’ Fun Day. Nothing beats a community festival. Not to mention, I’m a huge fan of the restaurants/bakeries along this street!! Check out www.mountpleasantvillage.ca for more info about all the fun events that will be taking place.

3. Recently I was introduced to U-Feast. Their tag line is:  Exclusive Food and Wine Experiences for people with a passion for life. UM…Hello…That’s ME!!  Lucky me, I will be attending their upcoming event on May 19th called: Campagnolo’s Greatest Hits 2010 and 2015.  Believe it or not, I’ve never been to this restaurant so I’m super excited. Check out their website for more details  about all their upcoming events. www.ufeast.com

4. The Stop’s Night Market will be taking place on June 17 and 18th at a new location!(181 Sterling). This event will SELL OUT fast. This is what you need to know: Mark down – May 13th at noon and PRE REGISTER your account. Important details are here:  http://nightmarket.thestop.org/#details. Seriously this event is NOT to be missed.

5. The Social Good Conference, on May 25th and May 26th at the Telus Centre, has caught my interest too. I especially like the “pay it forward” registration fee. Not to mention there’s a wide variety of speakers.

Have I missed any other events. LOL. I’m sure there’s lots more!!

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I turned 50 on April 2nd…. and guess what? It feels GREAT. You see, I decided to really celebrate my birthday….one could I say I genuinely EMBRACED this milestone. Here’s what I did:

I threw a big party at the end of March. Plus I went to Israel and Italy for 2 weeks. (which I will be blogging about next so hang in there!!)

More than 50 friends and family members showed up at La Bamboche to help me celebrate this important occasion. Naturally food was a big party of the party. Let me go into more detail about that!!

Here’s what was served:

-A 6 ft sub from Subway. This was a HUGE hit. What’s really funny is that my mom also served a giant sub when she turned 50. #likemotherlikedaughter

-A sushi platter from Sushi on Bloor

-A stunning vegetable basket from Lesley’s Party Sandwiches and Catering.

-Organic cotton candy from Lola’s Clouds

-Strawberries infused with alcohol from Shotberry. 

-Handcrafted Caramel Corn from All Mine Caramel.

-A velvety chocolate Opera Cake from La Bamboche (ps my guests are still talking about this cake)

-Macarons from La Bamboche  that were in a unique “50” formation!

I even ordered a special balloon so it could really feel like a party!

I’m a pretty happy 50 year old!

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Here’s a few shows that should be on your radar!

1. Green Living Show

March 27 – 29, 2015 at the Metro Convention Centre. (255 Front St W)

Love this incentive: FREE ADMISSION WITH E-WASTE, courtesy of Solve For Tomorrow & Samsung.

2. One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale:
 This show features over 450 artisans and is truly one of my favourite shows.

Dates:  March 25 – 29, 2015 (5 days) Place:  Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., Hours:  Weekdays & Saturdays: 10am – 9pm; Sundays: 10am – 6pm;  Late Night Shopping: March 26, 9am – 11pm.

If you are a foodie like me, then you will want to read this blog post by Yum Yum Factor called: What’s Cooking at This Year’s Spring One of a Kind Show- My Ten Favourite Food Treats.

3. Toronto Food + Drink Market …April 10 -12, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

As always, no shortage of fun activities to do in Toronto.

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