Today I am pleased to share the following guest post from Michelle Panting of Full Belly, Worn Soles. This local blogger and travel writer shared her September adventure of Winnipeg on her blog and now she is here to share it with you.
September always kicks off a number of changes in my life: the start of a new school year (I’m an English teacher and university student), the beginning of fall, and an end to the lazy indulgences of summer. In many ways, it feels more like a new year than New Year’s. So for this September I decided to set a few achievable goals – a September New Year’s Resolution – and write about them on my travel blog, Full Belly, Worn Soles.
The focus of my blog is to assist readers in a manageable travel lifestyle. I write about travel abroad, but I also blog about bringing the spirit of travel home. The idea is to find that wonder and relaxation in daily life, rather than waiting for those few weeks of vacation every year.
With the idea of being a tourist right here in Winnipeg (and the travel wallet a little light after a few trips you can read more about on my blog) I decided to keep the focus of my resolutions local. For each of the four weeks in September, I set myself a challenge to get me out and exploring Winnipeg.
The first week’s challenge was to get back to nature. One thing I love about Winnipeg is the mix of urban and natural. So that week I hauled my dog Slim along with me to explore the Brenda Leipsic Park and walk along the banks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. It was rejuvenating, beautiful, and a great way to cap off the summer.
For the second week the challenge was to eat local. In preparation I made my way over to the Saint Norbert Farmers Market and picked up crab apples, plum jam, Ezekiel bread, zucchini relish, pickles and raspberry preserves. I snacked on the crab apples all week long, slathered jam on thick slices of Ezekiel bread and topped it with brie, used the pickles and zucchini relish to spice up a sub sandwich and poured the raspberry preserves over Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. And I finally got around the trying The Red Ember: a pizza truck with a built-in wood burning stove that uses almost entirely local ingredients. The challenge was not only delicious; it helped me to be more mindful of my food choices.
In the third week I sent myself out on a sign hunt. I’ve long admired signs with a vintage appeal and I wanted to make a true effort to notice and seek out interesting signs this week. My search led me into the Exchange, along Main Street and down to the Forks. I enjoyed running around Winnipeg with my camera in tow, seeking out beauty in unexpected places.
For the final week of September I challenged myself to eat out more often. To keep the budget reasonable, I stuck to breakfasts, lunches and snacks. During this week I checked off a few restaurants and one bakery that had been on my “to eat” list for years. The food was delicious, the spaces where inspiring and I ended the month with a full belly and a smile on my face.
Overall, I feel this weekly challenge helped me to explore Winnipeg in new ways and get to know the city that much better. Sometimes with all the rush of work, family and daily life it can be difficult to take a moment to appreciate your surroundings. This challenge helped me to do that in an enjoyable and affordable way. If you’re interested in reading about my challenge in greater detail, head over to my blog, Full Belly, Worn Soles.
Only in The Peg Chronicles the adventures of the peg family–Missus, Mister and Lil’ Peg as they discover everything there is to see and do in Winnipeg. Follow them at @tourismwpg on Twitter or visit them on Facebook. For even more info on Winnipeg, visit www.tourismwinnipeg.com.
