Fresh air, blue skies, the feeling of grass between your toes, and a basket full of goodies! Roll up the checkered blanket, pack up some treats, and don't forget the bug spray! With the warm weather upon us, picnic season has officially begun! Now more than ever, this classic pastime has become the latest trend in spending some quality (socially distanced) time together.

Hosting a picnic can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. For essential items, there's the blanket, basket and all-important bevvies. Sure, the menu can range from sandwiches to cheese and crackers or a full-on MasterChef feast, but the most important element of a perfect picnic is the location. Parks are a great go-to destination for finding a spot on the grass, but if you want to add a little extra pizzazz to your picnic game, check out our picks for the best areas to enjoy a fun afternoon in the shade or sun.

THE CLASSIC PICNIC PARKS

Trinity Bellwoods – Hip and happening, it's officially and literally a scene of social circles with lots of space to spread out your blanket, catch some rays, make a splash in the wading pool, or simply keep a lookout for the park's infamous white squirrel.

High Park – Discover a natural haven with over 400 acres, in Toronto's largest and oldest park. Explore extensive hiking trails, visit the museum or zoo, and then find your perfect spot by the pond, under a cherry blossom tree, or in 18 designated picnic areas.

Withrow Park – Located just off the Danforth in Greektown (grab some souvlaki to go) this park is a hub for celebrating culture. Fully stocked with baseball fields, outdoor tennis courts, a volleyball court, a wading pool, an off-leash dog area, and a playground. In addition, there's the very popular "Dusk Dances" to enjoy – an enchanting outdoor dance festival that makes people picnic at dusk.

AN ISLAND GETAWAY

Ward's Island Beach – Hop on the ferry with your picnic essentials and head over to the easternmost part of Centre Island. Here you will find a charming, quiet island community vibe, with a lengthy sandy beach that invites a refreshing dip in the lake.

LAKESIDE LUNCHES

Scarborough Bluffs – Set a place to picnic amongst some of the area's most breathtaking scenery, with wildflower meadows and incredible views of the escarpment and lake. Wander the pathways through nine parks along the bluffs, making sure to stop at Bluffer's Park and score one of the few picnic tables along its sandy beach.

THIS WAY TO THE BEACHES

KEW - Balmy Beach - KEW Garden is a lively public venue in the Beaches neighbourhood, with lots of grassy spots and a central bandstand. Just a few feet away, KEW Beach connects with Balmy Beach, inviting a picturesque sandy escape featuring man-made rock "fingers", reaching out into the lake to preserve the narrow beach.

Woodbine Beach – Picnic while witnessing a great serve!  This active waterfront beach is home to over 90 beach volleyball courts, with plenty of sand for sunbathing and swimming too!

Cherry Beach – Pet-friendly picnics welcome!  This part of the waterfront has more of a grassy presence with picnic tables and grills. There's plenty of sand, and the water's great for SUP and surfboarding post picnic.

HIKE, BIKE & BASKET

Etienne Brule Park – Work up an appetite for your picnic by cycling the trails along the Humber River in Toronto's west end. Find the perfect spot to fish before heading to one of the many picnic points.

Don River Valley Park – Find the perfect forested spot along this 200-hectare trail that runs alongside the river from Pottery Road south to Corktown Common. Hop off at the Evergreen Brickworks and pick up some fresh food from the farmers' market as you continue on the trails.

A GARDEN PICNIC

Toronto Music Garden –Nothing says romance like a garden setting with classical music. Enjoy both as well as beautiful views of Lake Ontario, in this picture-perfect place for a picnic date. Artistically landscaped to reflect Bach's work, the park hosts summer music in the garden as well as guided tours.

BEST SUNSET VIEWS

Riverdale Park East – Perfect for picnics and late-night lounging under the stars, cuddle up hillside or grab a bench at the top of this famous hill, and take in one of the best sunset views of the city skyline.

Freshen up for spring!

Yes it's been a long winter, you've been cooped up inside forever, and you've become BFFs with all the dust bunnies under the bed.  Come out from hibernation because the countdown to spring is on and that means it's time to clean up your act…or at least your apartment! Now is the perfect time to make tidy & toss your mantra so you can celebrate the arrival of spring!

Sure, doing chores isn't the most fun you'll ever have, but you'll feel great when you can cross it all off your to-do list. Speaking of lists, first and foremost begin by putting together the ultimate cleaning playlist to move you to shake that mop and booty! So put on your grubbiest grubs, rock those rubber gloves, and get set to become a mean cleaning machine with these handy tips that will get the job done.
 

Make a TO-DO list

From Molly Maids to Martha Stewart there are lots of great Spring Cleaning Checklists online for inspiration on where to start. Get organized and get a plan in place today!  Check the best printable spring cleaning checklists on The Spruce
 

Stock up on supplies

No excuses that you don't have what you need in your home! Make sure you gather all your supplies and equipment beforehand. Consider using green cleaning products, or even better make your own with simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. 

Clear out the clutter

Go room by room and open every drawer, closet, and container with the intent to purge!  If you haven't worn a piece of clothing in over a year make a pile to donate. Store seasonal clothing and items in bins to give space, go through your desk papers, magazine piles, scraps of who knows why you saved it and either keep it in a file or trash it. Toss out expired cosmetics and toiletries and for larger items that you just don't want anymore – consider selling or donating to a local charity. 

Top to bottom clean

Now that everything is neat and tucked away it's time to start at the top and work down. Look up …begin by dusting/washing upper cabinets, shelves, and tops of picture frames. Move down the wall onto bookshelves, hanging art pieces, and clocks. Next dust surfaces, polish wood furniture, and vacuum upholstered furniture. Lastly, dust the baseboards, sweep the floors, and vacuum area rugs.

The Big 3 – Go big and go deep clean! 

The Kitchen

Clear out expired food in the fridge, freezer, and cupboards. Wipe down the cupboards, soak the faucet in vinegar and consider reorganizing your dry goods into containers to keep things tidy and fresh. Give all the appliances a good cleaning.  Also treat yourself to new dish rags, sponges, and tea towels!

The Bathroom

Clear out the vanity, wipe down the mirror, clean the tub, and tackle the toilet. For a sparkling, germ-free space you'll also want to scrub the tile and grout where mildew can form, as well as descale the shower head by soaking it in warm vinegar for a few hours. Also replace the shower curtain liner regularly.

The Bedroom

Create a sanctuary of serenity with a thorough decluttering and dusting.  Consider a closet organizer system to keep everything in its place.  Launder the bedding and pillows, plus sanitize your mattress by sprinkling it with baking soda then vacuum. 

Final touches

Beautiful to look at, great to smell and offering your home a little bit of fresh air, fresh flowers make a room feel special and your home smell great. Along with flowers, flickering flames are the king of home ambience, casting light and a feeling of warmth. Scented candles add a nice smell to a home, too. 

Now go out and treat yourself to some tulips because you're ready for spring!

Have the winter blahs got you down? Are you bored of spending time indoors? Does it feel like your walls starting to close in on you? With the advantage of extra free time on our hands these days, now is the perfect chance to add a little personality and pizzazz to your place with some easy DIY projects that will brighten up your everyday.

Even if you aren't especially crafty or handy, here are a few simple ideas to inspire your imagination and creativity.

Pot a plant
Green up your scene by bringing a little bit of nature indoors with potted plants. For those without a green thumb, cactus and succulents are fairly low maintenance. Choose from a variety of planters, from teacups and tin cans to colourful plastic and classic terra cotta or retro macramé hanging plant holders that look great and save space. 
 

Show your walls some love
Whether you're a budding Picasso, a snappy photographer, or prefer to support local artists, you can easily create a unique showpiece by hanging some art. Gather a gallery of themed or eclectic prints, mix up the sizes and frames and make this easy display picture rail as a focal point in your room.  Check out how at Juniper Home Blog. 

Welcome yourself home
Set the scene for a happy arrival with an easy to make doormat. Simply pick up an affordable sisal mat at your local dollar store, along with some craft paint and stencils, or let your creativity go wild free hand. Check out Sarah Hearts' blog for some more unique ideas.

Have a sweeter sleep
Bring some style to your slumber with a stunning headboard. No need to spend hundreds of dollars, simply pick up a few rubber doormats, decide on a colour theme, and this DIY dream easily becomes a reality! Check out this Moroccan style design for inspiration!  

Fake a linen closet
No linen closet in your bathroom? No problem! Create some extra storage space with style by attaching baskets to the wall for a spot to stash extra towels and washcloths.

Here's looking at you
Mirrors are an easy way to update your space. They reflect light which helps make rooms appear bigger and brighter. Almost anything can be used to reframe a mirror, from fabric and beads to driftwood, baskets and more. Scratch and Stitch have a few more ideas to inspire your imagination. 

Pamper your pillows - Whether brightly coloured, boldly patterned, or neutral, pillows add instant style to a sofa, chair, or piled on the floor. Update old tired pillows with these easy no-sew DIY tips by Monica Skov.  

Step up your shelving
Looking for a cool idea that saves space, creates style and gives you somewhere to display things? A single or double ladder is just the thing. Easy to refinish, stain or paint, blankets and magazines look great on a single rack, while books, plants, or a display of your collectable knickknacks create instant interest. Here's an easy DIY hint HGTV shared. 

Bench it
Practical and fashionable, this DIY bench is the perfect place to tie your shoe, toss your keys, or add an easy accent piece to display plants, books or pillows. From rustic to retro, brightly painted or even decoupage, simply attach hairpin legs to a piece of wood and create a little style nook. Check out how on Garrison Street Design Studio blog! 

Pretty up old pieces
Give that old desk, tabletop, mirror frame, or even appliance an instant make-over with easy to apply contact paper or vinyl wallpaper. With hundreds of patterns from nature-inspired and vintage prints to abstract and retro designs, the possibilities are endless! Learn more over at the Wallpaper from the 70's blog! 
 

Kickstart your Winter Bucket List!
Happy New Year! There's officially only 170 days until the first day of summer! Yes, winter is still here – it's cold outside, we haven't even hit the February blues, and you've been stuck in the house for what seems like forever. Stop your winter whining and welcome the wonder of winter while earning some badges on your Winter Bucket List! If you don't have one, now is the perfect time to start! Every season presents a unique opportunity to discover something special and create new traditions both indoors and out. So bundle up and buck up little snowflakes - it's time to give old man winter a hug (virtually, of course).

Winter doesn't have to be a time to hibernate. Here are just a few ideas to inspire creativity, learning, and fun. 

1. Go for a wintery walk in the woods
Nothing says magical like a snow-covered forest. Winter is a spectacular time to see some of nature's most hidden wildlife at play. Tommy Thompson Park/The Leslie Spit is a bird watcher paradise, ideal for spotting snowy owls, cottontail rabbits, snow hares, foxes, coyotes, and if you're lucky, deer. Be sure to bring your camera!

2. Explore outdoor art
Check out the giant art installations at Winter Stations 2021, a competition that invites the international design and art community to reimagine the lifeguard stations along Toronto's east end beaches.

3. Make a snowman
Get creative and bring some fabulous fashion sense to Frosty or invite your friends to show off their snowman skills and end the day with a good old fashioned snowball fight!

4. Heat up the comfort food
Mac n Cheese, lasagna, hearty chili and Guinness stew…getting hungry yet? Discover your culinary prowess in the kitchen with classics to keep you warm and cozy on the inside. Get creative and explore new recipes like spicy curries, jerk chicken, and your own version of hot and sour Ramen soup.

5. Stir up something hot and steamy
If you're feeling the chill of winter, now's the perfect time to warm up to a fancy mug of love. Take your hot cocoa up a notch by making chocolate bombs or mix things up with some spicy mulled wine made with cloves, cinnamon, and a shot of brandy.

6. Learn a new stitch
Pick up the needles and knit or crochet yourself a cozy wooly scarf. There are a ton of easy tutorials online and if you start now, you'll have it ready for next winter!

7. Movie Marathon
Call it a snow day, stay in your jammies, cuddle up on the couch and settle in for the biggest binge
fest or movie marathon. Extra butter on the popcorn, please.

Is this your first time moving into an apartment? Moving can be overwhelming for many of us, regardless of it being your first time or even your tenth time. Doing it amidst a global pandemic takes the stress of moving to a whole new level. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to do your research to ensure that the whole process goes as smoothly as possible while taking the extra safety precautions due to COVID-19. We have compiled a list of 4 key things to take into consideration when moving into a new apartment. The KG Group Concierge team and XYZ Storage are here to help.

1. Remembering Important Dates

Moving is already stressful enough without having to remember important key dates. Planning your moving process can take a lot of the stress off your shoulders. Some of the more significant key dates that you should mark down in your calendar or simply keep in mind are:

• The move-out date from your current home as it will help you coordinate the rest of the moving process
• Confirm the day and time you are picking up the key to your new home with your landlord
• Confirm your official move-in date with the landlord which will also help you decide when to book the elevator for as well as the moving truck

2. Packing Your Belongings

Decluttering: When packing your belongings, you should consider decluttering all of your belongings first. This can help you avoid bringing belongings that you no longer want to keep in your new home. If this is something that interests you go through each of your belongings and decide whether you wish to keep, throw away, donate, sell, or store elsewhere such as a self-storage unit. 

Organizing: Once you have done that it may be a good idea to take an inventory of all of your belongings. Make sure you keep track of where you pack each of your belongings by labelling your boxes. XYZ Storage has many supplies to help you with labeling, packing and sorting your belongings for your move.

3. Booking Your Rental Truck and Movers

Based on your belongings you then have to decide whether you need to rent a moving truck or not. This depends on whether you have alternate modes of transportation whether it is using your vehicle or borrowing one from a friend. Booking your rental truck is something that needs to be done promptly to avoid any issues. Unable to move all of your belongings yourself? Ask your friends if they are willing to help you out while socially distancing or you can hire professional movers to get the job done as well.

4. Logistics When Moving into Your New Apartment

Before you can actually start to move into your new place, there are quite a few logistics that you need to sort out and confirm to avoid any problems on your move-in date. Trust us, it will make your move-in day go a lot smoother when you get answers beforehand.
 

Reserving the Elevator

With keeping COVID-19 in mind, apartments might seem busier than usual with the number of people allowed in an elevator being kept to a minimum for social distancing reasons. Reach out to the KG Group Concierge team and ask about reserving the moving elevator for your day and time slot. This will ensure that you have the elevator booked on time and you can move-in accordingly. You do not want to run into an issue where you booked your moving truck for your planned move-in date but have yet to reserve the elevator.
 

Loading Zone

You should also ask the KG Group Concierge team where to park your moving truck. This is a crucial question to ask as you do not want to have the elevator booked for three hours, but you are spending half the time trying to figure out where the loading zone is.
 

Moving Day Parking

If you have a parking spot, please ask the KG Group Concierge team where your parking spot is located. This will be helpful to know especially if you plan on taking your vehicle with you in addition to the rental truck. It will save you a whole lot of confusion on your move-in date! It is also good to know especially if you are planning on parking your vehicle there in the future. If you do not have a parking spot, please ask the KG Group Concierge team about visitor parking if you need It.
 

XYZ Storage can help!
 

XYZ Storage is a self-storage facility that offers customizable storage solutions for your business or personal needs. Throughout the pandemic, XYZ Storage has responded in a way to protect their customers, staff, and visitors that come into their facilities. They have minimum contact solutions in place to ensure a safe experience for all. If you need a temporary storage unit or are looking to book a truck rental, XYZ Storage can help with that. They also have moving and packing supplies to help you with your moving process! XYZ Storage has it all as they are the one-stop-shop for all of your storage, packing, and moving needs. With their help, it can make your moving process a whole lot smoother and easier. 

Holiday cheers!

'Tis the season to stir up some serious holiday cheer! Let's face it, this year the holidays are going to be a little different. You may need a little extra help to get in the spirit or help you get through the season. Whether gathering with friends and family from a distance, sidewalk caroling, hosting a holiday Zoom wonderland, or perhaps a private porch party asking friends to BYOB (blankets), now more than ever we need to find a way to be together and share in goodwill to all. And in the theme of good cheer, nothing says celebration like a festive holiday drink (and frankly couldn't we all use a little extra cheer right now?)!

Pull out your ugly holiday sweaters, crank the festive music, and share some holiday joy! Raise your glass to a great selection of seasonal sips, sure to lift your spirits!

Tequila Eggnog

Originally inspired by the 13th-century monks known to sip a posset with eggs and figs, this traditional holiday milkshake gets a make-over with the magic of tequila! Worm optional. Check out the recipe at Huffington Post.

Hot Buttered Whiskey 

Nothing says warm up the cockles of one's heart (what the heck are cockles, anyway?) than the smooth, suave warm taste of whiskey. Add a dollop of butter and you're melting. .PS. warm-up the cockles of one's heart means feeling good! Here's how to make this whiskey cocktail.

Cranberry Apple Mojito

Easy to make and even easier to sip, the classic Cuban highball goes a little fruity with a festive addition of apples and cranberries. Punch it up over at Teak and Thyme!

Gingerbread Man-Hatten 

Cute, clever and the perfect match, make a batch of cookies to enjoy with this ginger spiced classic on the rocks. Find the recipe at Jillian Rae Cooks!

Baileys Candy Cane Cocktail​

Candy is dandy but Baileys takes the cake in this creamy, smooth, rich, and delicious cocktail. Bottoms up over at Slow The Cook Down!