TURNIPSEED TRAVEL
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Partner With Us
  • New Visitors
  • Social Media

What I'm Loving in June

3/6/2015

 

Here's what's making June a happy month for me.

Bloggers take photos of a mural

The Blogcation Retreat was a smash success!

Jams and crackers and cheese in a kitchen
Photography, food, friendship - this pretty much sums up the awesomeness that was the first Blogcation Retreat. Leading such a group of fantastic bloggers was a hugely rewarding experience and we couldn't have asked for a better location than the Towers Manor house in Prince Edward County. It was so inspiring to work with the local entrepreneurs of the region and I think we truly accomplished our goals of rejuvenating our minds, bodies,and blogs!
Packing a truck with bags and boxes
Ryan packs a red SUV
I have to give a huge thank you to Ford for providing us with an Expedition for the retreat. I don't know what we would have done without it! As you can tell, it took all of our packing skills to load up the back with our endless coolers, swag bags, suitcases, and supplies but there was still plenty of room for the 4 of us in the front. We rode in comfort and style all the way to Prince Edward County. As chief driver for the first part of the trip, I was hugely appreciative for the back up camera (you did see how stuffed things were, didn't you?) and for the rear climate control. It took us a while to figure it out but once we did it was heavenly! 
Coconut covered candies in a glass dish

Our homemade Blogcation brigadeiros

Prior to the Blogcation Retreat, one of our local partners - Cocoa Camino - sent us a box of their fantastic, fair trade, organic baking supplies to create desserts and treats for the retreat participants. Challenge accepted! I got together with one of my Blogcation Retreat co-organizers, Sandy from Canadian Blog House, to channel our inner Martha Stewart and come up with some incredible chocolate concoctions. 
Cocoa powder in a pan
Milk and cocoa in a pan
Rolling candies in coconut
Have you ever had brigadeiros? They are a Brazilian specialty and they taste like a cross between chocolate truffles and Bounty chocolate bars! Here's how you make them:

3 Tablespoons of Cocoa Camino cocoa
1 Tablespoon of butter
1 can (14oz) of sweetened, condensed milk 

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, stir all the ingredients together and cook the mixture until it thickens (about 10 minutes - it will be about the thickness of brownie batter). When the mixture has cooled enough for you to handle it, you roll the batter into small balls and then into Cocoa Camino coconut - you'll need about a 1/2 cup. (The recipe originally says it will make 20 brigadeiros but we doubled it and we only got 30 balls in total). 
Beware - things will be STICKY! We found the best method was to place a large sheet of parchment paper on the counter and cover it with coconut, then use our fingers to grab the desired amount of mixture out of the pot. Yep, sticky and messy! But once they're rolled in coconut things become much easier to handle and the end result is delicious!

Heading back to London - Ontario that is!

We loved our visit to London in February and we're so excited to be going back in mid June to attend Fiesta London. There's a jalapeno eating contest but don't worry - this is one anti-adventurist challenge I have the good sense to turn down in advance! I can't wait to share all the stories with you!

Being behind the trend on reading

I absolutely adore independent bookstores and I found one of my favourites in Kauai, Hawaii. The Talk Story is the westernmost bookstore in the United States and stepping inside is the literary equivalent of mashed potatoes and roasted chicken - it's comfort food for the soul! 

I'm finally getting around to reading the book I picked up there: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. The irony of me being behind the times when it comes to reading a book about trends that were trending several years ago is not lost on me but I'm really enjoying it all the same!

Triumphant backyard makeover

Stone patio in a backyard with chairs and flowers
Flowerpots and gardens in a backyard
Flowerbed in a backyard
We did it! Finally, after hauling and heaving so much soil, it finally looks like we've got our backyard act together for the first time. Now our biggest challenge will be keeping the raspberry shoots in check!  You can remove raspberry canes, but they keep coming back! I'm also looking forward to finishing my book (and starting some others) out here in the sun.

In case you missed it, here's what January 2015, February 2015,  March 2015,  April 2015, and May 2015 were like.


Tell me about your June. What's making you happy and what are you looking forward to?
Layne
4/6/2015 10:57:54 am

Your backyard looks like an Oasis! Love it!

Vanessa
4/6/2015 11:20:26 am

Thank you so much! That's exactly what I want it to feel like for us.

paula schuck link
8/6/2015 02:35:41 am

Is this your backyard makeover?? I love it. I haven't heard of the Fiesta festival in London and I live here so I will have to look that one up. I will not be eating jalapeños though. LOL.

Vanessa
8/6/2015 04:00:01 pm

You sure about that with the jalapenos? Cause I can always do you the favor of signing you up for the competition!


Comments are closed.
    Recent Posts
    Posts by Location
    Turnipseed Travel Category Canada
    Turnipseed Travel Category USA
    Turnipseed Travel Category Europe
    Turnipseed Travel Category Africa
    Turnipseed Travel Category Australia
    Turnipseed Travel Category Asia

    Post Categories

    All
    $200 Challenge
    200m Challenge
    Accommodation
    Africa
    Amsterdam
    Anti Adventurist
    Asia
    Australia
    Belgium
    Business Travel
    Camping
    Canada
    Central Counties
    Cozy Travel
    Destinations
    Europe
    Experiences & Activities
    Female Travel
    Food And Drink
    Gear And Packing
    Golf
    Greece
    Guest Posts & Interviews
    Health
    Inspiration
    Making Travel Memories
    Montreal
    Most Popular Posts
    National Parks
    Norfolk County
    Ontario
    Ottawa
    Paris
    Partners
    Pet Travel
    Photo Essay
    Preparation
    Press Trip Portfolio
    Reviews Accommodation
    Reviews Gear Packing
    Round The World
    Saving
    Toronto
    Transportation
    Travel Cooking
    Travel Memories Series
    UK & Ireland
    United States

    Posts by Date

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

Disclaimers, Privacy, and Cookie Policy

Top 100 Travel Influencer
As named by the Obama White House in 2014.​
White House Study Abroad Logo 2014
Turnipseed Travel Logo 2019
DMCA.com Protection Status
© COPYRIGHT 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Partner With Us
  • New Visitors
  • Social Media