Cannon Coffee Co.

 Ahhh the Cannon!  I really do love this place <3 .  Typically I pop in for a latte and a treat (the muffins and cookies are delicious) before a walk at Gage Park with the dog.  The vanilla and maple lattes are wonderfully warm, smooth and just sweet enough!  I am also a huge fan of the cold beverage options year round.  Sometimes a latte on ice is just what I need on a mild winter day.

Latte love

We headed to Cannon Coffee Co. this morning for a brunch treat at my daughters request to celebrate her sixth birthday.  After all, who am I to argue with a feisty kindergartener?!  So off we went mid morning in hopes we would find a table.  If ever you have been there you will know it is always hopping and finding a seat can be a challenge.  As luck would have it, there was indeed a spot for us, it was a birthday miracle ;) .

The California Sandwich

As always the food was delicious!  We had the California Sandwich, Black Forest Sandwich and the little humans shared a Classic Waffle with chocolate sauce.  The kids received theirs first which is always a bonus since they lack patience like most children their age do and ours came soon after.  Zero complaints, it was all fabulous.

There is such a pleasant vibe in the shop.  It's easy to feel through the friendly service, lovely music in the background and the hum of chatter from the other patrons.  And the smell of coffee and waffles - so good!  Another plus is quality ingredients - they truly care about using carefully sourced products so you can feel good about what you are eating or sipping on.

The Cannon Coffee Co. is a small business I am so happy to have found!  I very much look forward to seeing what the future holds for this darling little place and the wonderful women who own it!

Happy waffle eating! ;)

Check out the menu! 

Follow the Cannon Coffee Co.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cannoncoffeeco/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/cannoncoffee/

Local Bounty Box - The Mustard Seed

Today I picked up a beautiful full bounty box from the Mustard Seed Co op.  I have purchased these in the past and have always been satisfied but this one I found to be especially wonderful and wanted to share it's contents!

The large box this week contained the following most of which is organic:

This weeks Local Bounty Box

-spinach
-collard greens
-swiss chard
-kale
-leaf lettuce
-cucumber
-3lbs apples
-2lbs potatoes
-2lbs lemons
-portabello mushroom caps
-beets
-grape tomatoes

All of this wonderful produce was $34.99!

I am a huge fan of produce boxes/bags but this one I especially love as you do not have to commit long term to buying them, you just pay as you go!  There are weekly or bi-weekly subscription options as well if you are really enjoying the program.  Wednesdays and Fridays are pick up days with Monday night at midnight being the online order cut off.  There is also a regular size box option at a lesser cost, the larger just suits us better at this point in life!

While picking up our bounty box I picked up some other staples - milk, cheese and cereal making it a one stop shop this week!  There are many things to find at the co op aside from the boxes.  They have everything from dairy, meats, breads, produce, confections, vegan and vegetarian items etc.

The Mustard Seed Co-op is committed to supporting local and organic as much as possible in it's offering.  Much of the store and behind the scenes is run by volunteers and it is supported in part by members (you can read more of this in the link I will share below) making The Mustard Seed a true community grocery store.  It is all inclusive and you do not need to be a member to shop in store or buy the bounty boxes so if you are not a member don't fret!

The local bounty box is definitely worth a try if you are looking for excellent quality produce for an affordable price.  While you are there you can check out all the other local awesomeness The Mustard Seed has to offer!

Happy shopping!

Read more about The Mustard Seed and local bounty boxes here:
https://mustardseed.coop

Mela Bath

Coco Coffee Scrub - one of the first products

There are so many wonderful businesses in the greater Hamilton area that do not have brick and mortar locations, one of my favourite is Mela Bath!  Mela Bath offers a variety of natural handmade bath and body products – things like shea butter soaps, lip balm, make up remover, bath truffles and bath salts! 

I have known Melanie since grade school and she has always been a strong and ambitious individual so it didn’t surprise me when she launched her first creation, a body scrub, via Facebook!  She was looking for a natural product she could make to both use and gift to friends and family for Christmas.  With 3 scents she shared her new found love and in three weeks sold 800 jars of her homemade body scrubs!

After the boom of the scrubs Melanie found herself looking for a natural solution to help her sons cradle cap.  The typical go to’s with their unpronounceable ingredients just weren’t going to cut it so she went to work.  With a combination of coconut oil and other natural goodies she created her froth!  This hydrating product was tried out by several friends and family with positive results so Melanie launched it and it took off too!

As time went on bath bombs became another signature product, the scents are abundant and ALL wonderful.  My children love the little “ice cream scoops” for their bath, in fact it’s the only way my son will get in to the tub without a fight.  The sangria scented bath bomb is a favourite of Melanie’s and I too am a huge fan! 

A Bath Bomb "Scoop" in bubble gum scent

Melanie is always coming up with new things and now has a wide variety of products available with more to be added in the near future.  My absolute favourite product is the vanilla whipped body butter, it is AH-MAZING along with the coconut coffee body scrub!  I love the clay face masks as well which are one of the newer additions to her collection.

The Mela Bath website is user friendly and all products have in depth descriptions.  As an added bonus there is delivery with a minimum purchase which is fantastic for those who are too busy or can’t get out and about!

I love that all of the products can be used on every family member safely and as a double bonus all of the prices are incredibly reasonable.  The bath bomb scoops are only $1.50!  

If you ask Melanie what truly inspires her, she will tell you her son and growing family.  She began this journey on mat leave hoping to create safer products for her new bundle of joy and other loved ones and discovered a passion she now shares with hundreds of customers.  I think that’s pretty awesome right there.

Happy Friday!

Check out the Mela Bath Website:

http://melabath.com

Follow along on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/melabath/

Little Brown Cow

Lucky <3

I have followed this lovely little farm on Facebook for ages, watching all the farm updates and dreaming of the day I would venture out to the shop in Brantford.  This past week I decided to send a message to the farm requesting 2kg of cheese curds – the bulk price is fantastic AND they are freezable!  I packed the littles and the dog up when I received the message they were ready and off we went to pick them up!

Lovely noticeable signage

The farm is super easy to find, you can’t miss the big sign!  Jenny, the co-owner, greeted us inside.  She was so friendly, easy to talk to and very informative.  Before we left, Jenny put our things in our car and took us over to see a new calf named Lucky!  My kiddos were thrilled and talked about it the rest of the day. 

Jersey is the breed they raise and after some research I can see why!  Though they are small in comparison to other dairy breeds they have a high butterfat milk content and are a calm, docile but curious breed.  There are many other reasons why one might choose Jersey cattle, these are just the ones that stood out to me – a curious consumer.

Our goodies 

Though Little Brown cow is well known for their amazing cheese curds that are available fresh every Friday afternoon, they offer so much more.  Artisan cheese varieties, cream cheese and both white and chocolate milk (in this house we really love chocolate milk ;) ) all of which are processed entirely on site.  Quiche and cheesecake varieties and other meals are also made in the shop.  Frozen beef is always available and often fresh on Fridays!  There are many other offerings at Little Brown Cow, these are just some of the ones that stood out to me.

One of the things I always love about the small business owners I meet is how passionate they are about their work.  It just radiates off of them and leaves you feeling inspired.  That is definitely how I felt after I left Little Brown Cow.  

Overall our experience was a wonderful one and we will definitely be adding Little Brown Cow to our permanent list of farms we love.  I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this wonderful farm and the checking out the new location when it opens this spring!


Thanks for reading!

Follow Little Brown Cow on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/littlebrowncows/

More than just a latte

This rainy October morning I walked in to Cake and Loaf bakery just as I have 100 times before though today was different, today I am different.  This past Tuesday my I had to say goodbye to my canine companion Toby who has been my best friend for the past 16yrs, my heart is broken.  

Yesterday was a blur as I was swallowed in the shock that follows great loss but today I knew I needed to take a step and venture out.  It was very scary because it meant I had to acknowledge the fact that my old boy wasn’t going to be with us for the drive, nor would he waiting for me at home.  But I did it, my son, 6mth old pup and I got in the truck and off we went.

I pulled into the parking spot and braced myself as I opened the door, knowing this was step two of our adventure – no Toby to say stay to as I took my son from his seat.  We headed in to Cake and Loaf for my usual latte + extras when Amanda (the wonderful store front manager) asked how I was - almost always, I say great – after all I’m about to be sipping on a delicious beverage, how could I be bad?  But today I was honest and admitted my pain and you know what, I am glad I did.  The love I felt was something I really needed, it made me feel human again.  

I spoiled my son with chocolate banana muffins, a candy corn brownie to share and I bought delicious homemade soup because I want comfort food but have no one to make it for me (the Mr cannot cook anything but meatloaf which I despise). I took in the warm shop vibe as I put the lid on my beautiful latte and I walked out the door.

As I drove home I couldn’t help but reflect on the impact small businesses truly have on people.  These places feel warm, inviting and safe.  There is no rush, you can take your time and those serving you will certainly take the time you need.  It isn’t something that can be experienced in a boxed store because even if the cashiers haven’t been weathered by the retail storm they most certainly are required to get that line moving as fast as humanly possible numbing the experience.  There is an exchange that happens when you shop small - more than just monetary – you make a connection vital to the human experience. 

I am no stranger to great loss but this one is hitting me incredibly hard.  Toby was more than just a pet; he was my support, listening ear, comfort and provider of unconditional love.  I feel truly blessed we had each other for as long as we did and will always be grateful for his presence in my life.

Feeling lost and disconnected is something I will be facing for a while but I know that I can count on small business love to help push forward and see the beauty in this world.

My latte was extra special today; it softened the sadness and warmed my soul. <3