In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community. We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
“Providing unique, high quality, homemade jams, jellies, vinaigrettes and condiments – free from artificial preservatives and chemicals.”
Whether you’re from Muskoka – or have been lucky enough to visit Muskoka – there’s a good chance that you have come across the oh-so-yummy Yummies in a Jar. For almost 30 years Lynn & John Murden have been the dynamic duo behind this incredible line of homemade jams, jellies, maple syrups, dressings, BBQ sauces, marinades and many other pleasant preserves.
Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Yummies in a Jar not only continues to operate from home – where they always have – but they have also recently expanded their inventory and revamped their website as to allow for on-line ordering for pick-up or delivery.
We applaud Yummies for their hard work and commitment to ensuring our community will continue to have access to all their favourite happiness-inducing Yummies in a Jar products!
Since 1981, the Bracebridge Business Improvement Area(BIA) has been building a vibrant and prosperous business community. Now made up of over 200 diverse businesses, the BIA continues to grow. Led by Administrator Tracy Larkman and a dedicated Management Board, the Downtown Bracebridge BIA has adapted to these tough times by working from home and holding their board meetings through video conferencing software such as Zoom and FaceTime.
The BIA’s work is vital to the Bracebridge business community as they continue to market & promote the businesses who remain open, as well as serving as a helpful resource for information and business supports. One initiative worth noting is their LOVE LOCAL giveaway that includes $500 in gift certificates to various downtown businesses and has drawn plenty of buzz for the businesses involved.
Today we salute the Bracebridge BIA for their hard work and dedication to our community. Keep up the great work guys!
Bracebridge BIA Management Board: Lindsay Alexander (Little Black Bow), Cindy Rushton (CR Flowers), Claire Jordan (Kala House of Colour), Chris Wilson (Councillor), Archue Buie (Councillor), Randy Mattice (Town of Bracebridge), Penny Burns (Martins Framing), Scott Creed (Camp Muskoka), Carmine De Santo (Dr. Comics), Karen Fish (Studio K)
Founded by Danielle Ryan in 2018, Lifestyle by Design is a mobile wellness studio curating yoga classes, guided meditations, and mindset coaching services across Muskoka and anywhere with an internet connection.
Lifestyle by Design had originally planned to open a new home-based studio this year right around the time that the State of Emergency was declared. It forced them to take a step back and take time to re-evaluate, but ultimately, they decided that they were committed to carry on. There was still a need in the community for programs that were geared to protecting and nurturing mental & physical health, so they didn’t let the challenge prevent them from switching things up and focusing more on digital and virtual experiences. Lifestyle by Design offers one free yoga class on their Facebook & Instagram Page each week that has been attracting a growing following.
In May Lifestyle by Design will be launching a private membership service and enhancing their Soul Society program. This will include more livestream yoga opportunities such as a new 30 Days of Yoga for $27 program geared at helping people keep active at home during covid-19.
We want to recognize Danielle and her Lifestyle by Design tribe for all the amazing work they’re doing and love they’re spreading during these tough times. Working from home isn’t easy, so considering how they can motivate others and help to transform their lives, from home, is quite the accomplishment. Namaste.
For some, the fight against covid-19 has meant time away from their jobs and the normal day-to-day, while for others, some continue their fight directly on the front lines. But there’s also a third category during these challenging times… those working from home; caught in this strange in-between space where one moment your Zoom-calling your colleagues and the next you’re walking around in your housecoat and slippers.
Well, you aren’t alone – Muskoka Bear Wear is here to help you keep it comfy while you work from home!
Business on top and cozy on the bottom. Go ahead… schedule and conduct all the FaceTime, Zoom & Skype meetings you need. Your boss or co-workers only really need to see you from the waist up, right? Keep it profesh on top with a button down, a tie, maybe even a blazer. Then slip into a comfy pair of Fleece Paw Shorts or Men’s Cottage Comfy Pants and enjoy the soft, comfy bottoms – your colleagues will never know!
2. Bad Self Haircuts Keep it covered with a Ladies Cabin Hoody now available in Lilac with Lilac Plaid OR a Men’s Sherpa Hoody now available in Navy with Charcoal.
You went for it. You probably thought to yourself ‘just a little off the top’… ‘maybe just a bit here’… ‘maybe another snip there’… and the next thing you know you look like an early 90’s Andre Agassi or a 2007 Britney Spears meltdown. We’ll give you an ‘A’ for effort and applaud your handiwork. Now you’re wondering what to do to cover that mop until the quarantine is over and you can rush to your local salon. Solution. Rock a Ladies Cabin Hoody or Men’s Sherpa Hoody and hide that melon at all costs! No one needs to know what’s going on under that hood!
Want to show off your love for Muskoka while making all those extra Zoom calls? We got you. Download our Muskoka Background Image for Zoom and let people know where your heart truly is: in Muskoka.
Keep it comfy & cozy while you work at home!
Be sure to check out this week’s #MBWShoutOuts Week 4 Round-Up for local businesses that are doing what they can through these tough times to continue to serve our awesome community. You may notice a ‘Working From Home’ theme there as well.
In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community. We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
“Chocolate is
the food of the soul, and the answer to all questions.”
Conveniently located in
the heart of Muskoka, right in downtown Bracebridge, Momma Bear’s Ice Cream
& Sweets serves freshly brewed local Muskoka Roastery coffee, warm butter
tarts & date squares, generous scoops of Kawartha Dairy premium ice cream,
AND hand-crafted on-site chocolates and confections.
Knowing the joy and the
up-lifting power of something sweet, ‘Chocolate Margaret’ and her team strive
to keep the sweets flowing through these tough times by offering curb-side
pick-up and free in-town delivery. Take advantage of their pick-up/delivery
menu that includes tubs of Kawartha Ice Cream, custom ice cream cakes, butter
tarts, date squares, dipped Oreos, fudge and an impressive list of other candy
and treats!!
We’re tipping our hat to
Momma Bear’s and her amazing team for adapting to these challenging times and
ensuring everyone has something for their sweet tooth!!
It’s one thing for these
tough times to be having an affect on us, but it has yet to truly be seen what kind
of affect it will have on our children. One local business is doing everything
they can to keep children playing, creating and learning and that’s Minds Alive
Muskoka Toy Store!
With locations in
Bracebridge, Gravenhurst & Huntsville (PLUS: Midland & Collingwood),
Minds Alive offers a wide variety of toys and teaching tools from books &
craft supplies to board games, puzzles, baby toys, outdoor activities, building
toys, figures and so much more.
Despite their physical locations being closed to the public, they are still offering on-line shopping on their website for curbside pick-up in Bracebridge (and once a week in Gravenhurst & Huntsville). Their dedication and commitment to supporting youth in our community is inspiring and we are very grateful to have such a wonderful team in our community.
It is critical during
this time to ensure we’re eating healthy and continue to have access to fresh food
– especially produce. And boy oh boy are we ever lucky to have a business such
as Northern Produce based right here in Bracebridge!
Northern Produce is
Muskoka’s year-round, one-of-a-kind market. A family-run business serving
Muskoka for over 20 years, Northern Produce offers a wide variety of grocery
items – from fresh fruits & vegetables to dairy, cheese, pastas, soups and
honestly too much for us to list.
Despite the challenges and tough times that we’re all facing with COVID-19, Northern Produce continues to step up to offer curbside pick-up on everything they carry. They typically post an updated inventory list on their Facebook Page, patrons call to submit orders, and then are given details as to when they can pick up their order.
The number of families that Northern Produce is supporting through this pandemic is incredible and we couldn’t possibly run these shout outs without giving them a special mention.
Thank you so much for all you’re doing!!
If you know a local business who deserves a
shout out, send us a direct message with a photo and why they should be
featured.
• And Remember • #StayHome
#StayHealthy #StayComfy
We know it can be difficult having to remain at home as Spring begins to roll in. The days are getting longer, that sunshine a little warmer and the call of Muskoka is getting louder and louder. But it’s okay, we have some great tips on how to bring Muskoka TO YOU and how you can enjoy some Muskoka-themed Staycation activities right at home!
S’Mores by theFire • What You’ll Need: Graham Crackers;
Marshmallows; Chocolate Bar (Hersey works great!); a Laptop or Tablet with
internet connection; somewhere to cozy up.
Few things can replace the actual
feeling of sitting around a fire with friends and family to roast marshmallows
under the night sky, but this is definitely the next best thing. Set up your
tablet or laptop somewhere that you can gather around to see it. Pull up
YouTube and search for one of the many great several-hour-long campfire videos
(here’s one).
Set up some blankets, and pillows. Now, run back to the kitchen and get those
s’mores ready (quick how-to here). Return to your cozy set-up, dish out the s’mores and enjoy your
S’Mores by the Fire!
Stargazing • What You’ll Need: A backyard, or somewhere that
you can relax outside while still practicing your social distancing; a clear
dark night; added bonus: binoculars or a telescope.
While you may not have the dark sky required to see the entire Milky Way band of stars due to nearby ambient light, you should still be able to make out some of the more prominent night sky objects on a clear night even in the city. For starters, about 90 minutes after sunset, you should see the planet Venus in the west. It will appear as one of the brightest objects in the sky (next to the moon!). Without the help of binoculars or a telescope, you should be able to find the stars Sirius, Vega and Betelgeuse. Orion is often an easy constellation to spot as well as the ‘Pleiades’ cluster.
Bundle up nice and warm and lay under the stars for hours. You may notice the International Space Station passing by, or several other satellites that you never noticed before. You might just be surprised at what all you see when you take the time to look!
Home Spa Treatment • What You’ll Need: Your preferred home spa
essentials (might include: face mask, home pedicure kit, hair mask, nail
polish, bath bomb).
Sometimes the trip to the cottage is about unplugging and getting in some good self-care. And while you may not be able to connect with your favourite Muskoka spa right now, there are likely some local options you can find in the Yellow Pages who can help arrange curb-side pick-up for some home spa supplies. If not, your local Pharmacy or Grocery Store should have some essentials as well. The key here is to focus on things that make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Rock a face mask while you give yourself a pedicure. Do up your nails. Treat yourself, you deserve it!
When you’re all finished, cozy up with a book or maybe play a board game with those you’re sharing your quarantine with.
Hang in there friends! We hope you enjoyed these Muskoka Staycation Ideas. Do you have any of your own? We’d love to hear about them!
But why stop there! If you loved the Ladies Cabin Hoody and
Quarter-Zip, then you’re going to love what drops next… COMING SOON… we will be
introducing the Lilac colour combo for our Ladies Cottage Comfy Pants, Youth
Cabin Hoody and Youth Cottage Comfy Pants! Soon you and your littles will be
able to show off your love for lilac.
We want to thank everyone for the incredible support during these tough
times and for sharing with us all the photos of you rocking your Bear Wear at
home as we practice our social distancing.
And while our stores remain closed, you can still shop online – where we’re now offering free shipping on all orders over $49 (before tax).
EDIT: April 29th • The wait is over! The Lilac colour combo is now available in our Ladies Cottage Comfy Pants! They will go live on our website on Friday! Stay tuned!
