I Tried It & I Loved It Vol 4

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Hello friend,

It’s time for another edition of I Tried It & I Loved It. I spend a lot of time researching brands. I look for products of exceptional quality, branding that is compelling and interesting founder stories. I write the stories I share with you after I have a conversation with the Founder. Quite often, her story is so inspiring, I will purchase the product after our call. Sometimes founders send me product as a thank you and a way for me to experience it first hand.

In this latest roundup of products that have become personal favourites, there are some delicious bites and sips, a trusty and sweet smelling deodorant and a clever way to take a load off.

Thank you to 1440 for sponsoring this week’s newsletter. I am grateful for the support. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and if you’re committed to shopping Canadian, I hope you discover some new brands to love.

 Chewy, but not gooey. Sweet, with just the right amount of salt. Decadence in every bite. Salted caramels are a small town Canadian success story. Meet the three women who came together to make it happen and why their caramels are coveted.

I love a good cup of coffee. My husband and I are making an effort to make coffee at home. We’re grateful to the Toronto-area woman who sources coffee beans from women farmers in places like Colombia, Brazil and Rwanda. As I always say, when women support other women, good things happen!

I’ve tried a lot of natural deodorants. Some work, others don’t. This one is not only a winner for it’s efficacy, but it also glides on like a dream. And the scents? Oh, the scents! They make this daily ritual a calming, olfactory experience.

I found this freeze dried fruit snack at my local grocery store and was intrigued. When I tried it, I was delighted. Nothing but fruit and a little bit of a crunch, they are delicious on their own and the perfect yogurt topper.

These wheels were lent to me by the Founder of VOOMcart to test drive. Built like a baby stroller, and strong enough to move 70lbs worth of groceries, art supplies, gardening tools, or whatever you need to move from A to B, I was immediately impressed. I then let my father take it for a spin to get groceries and it changed his life. I can’t recommend it enough.

Watch this space for five quick things to make your life a little richer.

Ready to throw your kids’ smartphones out the window? Some parents are looking back in time for an alternative. Could the landline be making a comeback?

Green beans are the one vegetable everyone in my house can agree on. I find it a little boring, but with the most gorgeous beans at my local market and this recipe that gives green beans a glow up, I’m actually looking forward to serving beans again!

Heading to the Toronto International Film Festival? Not sure what to wear? You may not be walking the red carpet, but walking King Street is a fashion moment. Here’s some advice on creating your look.

And in other Justin Trudeau news, he’s at TIFF to announce a new venture…in the entertainment business?

Your search for the perfect nail colour for September stops here. This journalist did the digging on the fashion world’s guidance on all matters manicure and the results are truly perfect.

Every headline satisfies an opinion. Except ours.

Remember when the news was about what happened, not how to feel about it? 1440's Daily Digest is bringing that back. Every morning, they sift through 100+ sources to deliver a concise, unbiased briefing — no pundits, no paywalls, no politics. Just the facts, all in five minutes. For free.

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Last week, I shared the Fall fashion trends I’m most excited about and the Canadian woman-owned brands that are bringing them to life. Get the Five Fall Fashion Trends Issue here.

If you love jewellery with vintage vibes, you will love the Canadian woman with a penchant for brass and baubles and how she scours the world for vintage elements to create her modern pieces.