NEW VIDEO: Want a tour? Check out the video for more info and a peek at Market & Co.




Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but as always the opinions expressed on my blog are my own. And Market & Co is seriously awesome!

Photo: Kailee Mandel

I was invited to Hillcrest Mall last week to get a glimpse at their brand new wing, along with new stores and upgrades being made to the mall. 
I have fond memories of Hillcrest Mall, and used to shop there with my mom and sister when it was one of the only malls in York Region. This $90 million dollar Glow Up, along with huge expansions in the past, have really changed the old Hillcrest. I love that it'll now have must-visit stores, but still maintains that community vibe.

Photo: Kailee Mandel

You know what else is pretty cool? Hillcrest's commitment to its local community. From September 22-Oct 5, Hillcrest will be creating a staged HomeSense area at Centre court where customers can donate housewares, toiletries, clothing, toys and books. All the items collected will go to Sandgate Women's Shelter in Richmond Hill. Amazing. 

Plus, the mall will also be hosting coding corner workshops benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of York Region inside Old Navy. 

For a sneak peek at the new reno, check out my first ever VLOG!

Beans are obviously the main ingredient in this soup, making it extra wholesome and filling. And combined with lots of garlic that melts into the soup, you're left with a savoury dish that is stacked with different flavours. And it may seem obvious, but garlic and beans are both pretty gassy, so be aware!
Also, to note: this recipe is super simple, and if you're a meal planner and prepper like me, you can make this in advance and store it in your fridge. It's perfect for those days you have nothing to do. Set it on the stove and check on it every once and a while.

Oh, and it's vegetarian and vegan-friendly, too.

Recipe below.

As you may know by now, I love water, the beach, and I'm a Pisces. BUT I can't swim. As in, I don't know how to. I took swimming lessons as a kid, and honestly, the smell of chlorine still makes my stomach knot. My husband and I always agreed that swimming lessons wouldn't be optional for our kids. It's an important life skill, and I want (and need) my kids to be confident in the water -- a skill I don't have.

And so, we put them into pools from when they were babies, and in Parent and Child classes. For the most part, they enjoyed it, but as they became toddlers, they each (and at separate times) developed fears. Fears of what, I'm not sure -- maybe drowning, maybe floating, maybe not having a strong footing, maybe being alone. They fought the lessons and so, we decided to park it. While the lessons were important to us, I didn't want to create an environment or experience where they hated the concept of swimming.

A couple of years later, I was ready to re-introduce them to the pool, and I knew it wouldn't be easy. Friends suggested I look into private swimming schools, and potentially semi-private lessons. It meant they could go into the pool together, and even at the same time. I was hesitant for one main reason -- the cost. I knew it would be more expensive, but I didn't completely understand the value. Then I visited Splashville.



Splashville has been around for quite a few years in Vaughan, and many of my friends enroll (or have enrolled) their kids in swimming lessons there. They have two pools -- one lap and the other splash -- and offer swimming classes from ages 2 through adult. Their guards are Lifesaving and Red Cross Certified and offer low ratio class sizes: 3-1 for regular classes, 2-1 for semi-private and private lessons also available. The pools are warm (88 degrees Fahrenheit), and salt-water, and there are lots of open windows for viewing.

So there's the goods -- the basics. But let me tell you what they truly offer:

• A kind approach to swimming. My girls have been re-introduced to the water with patience and motivation. Our teacher is encouraging and always smiling, and truly gets excited when the girls successfully complete a drill or skill.
• An approachable staff. If I've ever had a concern or question, it's dealt with promptly. There is always a staff member available to chat, and the instructors also make themselves available if you need. 
• The ratio. I mentioned the numbers above, but what this meant for me was that I could have both kids in class at the same time. Learning different skills. For busy parents, this is a win.
• At your own pace. Splashville offers weekly classes in the Fall or Winter Terms, or Accelerated Programs in the summer. If you're interested in semi-private or private, you can customize your own schedule (we swam twice a week all summer)
• Badges and Curriculum. Everyone wants to see their kids pass and succeed. Here, you'll learn (as a parent) what it is they need to accomplish and the tracking system. 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed on Simply Suppa are my own.

Summer Fresh Snack 'n Go Products are great for busy parents on the go -- especially now that Back to School is upon us. Check out my latest YouTube video for an example of how to use Snack 'n Go Products in your kids' (or your) lunch!




Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed on my blog and YouTube channel are my own.

As summer comes to an end, I've been reflecting back on the last couple of months. It was the first time I, and our family, made no plans. We had no vacation plans, no camp plans, no weekend plans. While that may seem ideal for many people, I didn't like that feeling of uncertainty.

Yet slowly, the pieces came together. I enrolled the girls in swim lessons, a short art program for Isabelle, and my highlight: we booked a fabulous last-minute cottage vacation with my whole family. We saw friends and ate tons of ice cream, we went to the park, the beach, the lavender farm, the scenic caves. And we did it all without a plan. And you know, it was ok. More than ok. Much like the rocks I'm holding in the photo, it was beautiful, even without a formation.

And so, as I look onto September as the start of a new year, while I'm excited about getting back into a routine, I'm also going to try and take life in stride a bit more. Embrace the unknown and see how the pieces come together. Wish me luck.