travel love // champion lakes, british columbia

 

Just returned from the best time ever camping at Champion Lakes, BC with our lovely friends The Millers. While it wasn’t exactly my first time camping (slept in cabins many times) it was my first time sleeping in a tent – I have to admit I was a little bit scared at night. What can I say? I am a total wimp.

Anyways, it was so perfect to have a long weekend of being outdoors 24/7, exploring small-town BC and snoozing on a raft on a lake in hot weather. I only came away with a slight burn and no bug bites. Incredible as I normally attract mosquitos like it ain’t no thang. Guess BC skeeters aren’t into me.

Now that I am back in action, I’ve got loads to catch up on so there won’t really be the usual features this week but I will try my best to share a good DIY on Friday!

The Calgary Folk Music Festival starts tomorrow evening and Beirut + Chris Isaak are the headliners for the night. This is the third time (first + second here) I am seeing Chris Isaak in three consecutive years!!!! Can you say superfan? I can’t wait!

xo

 

 

 

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style // tavi

Oh, Tavi. You’ve done it again. I just love how she pulls off these looks so effortlessly, as if she was truly a child of the sixties. Old soul, that she is.

(tavi images here) (flamingo sign) (flowers)

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travel love // I Love Alberta {guest post by CAMP + QUARRY)

One of my go-to camping experts is my friend Sarah who blogs and designs gorgeous jewellery and hand-dyed scarves over at Camp + Quarry. I can always peruse her blog or instagram photos and pick up useful tips and ideas for hanging out in the great outdoors. It doesn’t hurt that she lives in Vancouver and is minutes away from the ocean and other beautiful camp spots nearby. I am so excited that she is sharing some of her favourite spots on the blog today. - Kait

 

Elbow Lake Sheep River Valley

When Kait asked me to contribute a guest post on one of my favourite subjects (the outdoors) I admit, I felt totally overwhelmed. I have so many photos and stories and routes that I would like to share here. So many memories and mountain-y good times (and wild camping trips) that I really can’t begin to scratch the surface with words. So, instead, I’ve decided to share some photos from some of my most favourite places (all two hours or less from Calgary) in the hopes that you’ll be inspired to get out there and enjoy the Rockies. Looking through these old shots I found myself wishing I was spending the summer back in Alberta messing around in the mountains. I hope you’ll get out there this summer, too, whether you spend the night or not. And, Kait, thanks for inviting me to share on your blog and happy first camping trip ever to you!

I miss you, Alberta!
Larch Valley
Sheep River Valley
Chester Lake
Chester Lake
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka
Larch Valley
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thirsty // coconut + rhubarb + gin in a jar {camp edition}

This has got be my new favourite cocktail. Forget the Pina Colada – this frothy coconut milk drink is a true dream. It is almost a milkshake, almost a float, almost a bona fide cocktail. The delicious fresh rhubarb does it give it a bitter edge so if you like super sweet drinks this is definitely not for you. It is also perfect for camping. Freeze up in your mason jars until you are ready to hit the road. Once they have defrosted, top up with some ginger ale and a straw and you are ready for slurping!

what you’ll be putting down:

1/2 cup Lite Coconut Milk
3/4 cup frozen cubed rhubarb
1 tbsp of Lingonberry Syrup (IKEA!)
1 jigger of gin
Ginger Ale

tip! add fresh grated ginger into the mix too if you like a little bit of zing!

 

mix it up, honey:

Throw all your ingredients except the ginger ale into a blender. Blend until totally smooth. The rhubarb can be a little string at times but just keep pulsing until it is in tiny little bits. Yum. Pour into mason jars and store in the freezer until ready to drink. Or serve up immediately and cool off.

Rhubarb is a pretty weird thing to serve up in a cocktail. What is your must-have weird ingredient?

 

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work it out // the 10 cent designer hikes {guest post}

In keeping with the camping theme this week, I have asked my friend Lori Andrews (aka the 10 cent designer) to share some of her campy wisdom with ya’ll. xo Kait

When the lovely Kait Kucy asked for a blog post on hiking, I jumped at the chance! I adore hiking. Specifically, back-country hiking. As a lifelong Albertan, growing up near the Rockies and an outdoorsman for a Dad, I have been hiking and camping since my earliest memories.

I know I could share a nice little day hike with you but I really want to get you pumped up for something a little more challenging.

One of my favorite hikes in Kananaskis Country is Buller Pass. You could easily do this as a simple day hike, enjoy the view at the top and be done.  But why not stay the night?  Look down and you will notice a pretty little blue oasis called  Ribbon Lake. It’s just a hop skip and a jump away from the top of the pass!  Ok not really – it’s still several hours away but such a wonderful place to spend the night. I would not recommend this to novice hikers. You will need to pick your way up and down some fairly steep scree paths to get there. Plus, of course, there will be that pesky additional 30-40 pounds on your back. Please take a friend along – Kananaskis is bear country.  It’s always best to hike in a group.

I have had the pleasure of camping in this spot twice now. You can actually approach it from three different locations. Ribbon Falls is a popular choice but unless you are comfortable scrambling up sheer rock faces with chains and a heavy pack, you might reconsider this route. Quinn’s pass is gorgeous however I only used it once as an emergency get away during a forest fire. It is steep and less charming that the Buller approach. I say you try the Buller Pass route.

Once you get into camp, you will find excellent facilities including bear proof lockers for your food and anything scented, a group firepit area with tables and firewood, a crazy looking fiberglass outhouse on a stand that looks like something out of “Heart of Darkness”, and some very well maintained  private camp sites. There is NO vehicle access to this area.  All other campers will have hiked in just like you.

You will also get a beautiful lake and sunset, wildlife galore and probably the best sleep of your life since you will be so exhausted.

Back Country camping is quite inexpensive. ONCE you have all the right gear.  You will need to purchase more than a few items if it is your first back country trip.  That said, I have had the great pleasure of sitting around a campfire with a young couple who just made do with what they had. They were a sight to see both heading into camp and out with very heavy gear and sweatpants, plus they were ill prepared for emergencies but they had wine! And they were perfectly charming.

Backcountry camping in Kananaskis requires a permit. Visit!

You will need:

1. A good  lightweight back country pack. (Mountain equipment coop has some excellent choices in all budget ranges).  Your pack will need to have good support around your hips. Staff at any outdoor store can help you find the right fit.

2. Sturdy hiking boots. I choose leather boots as they easily withstand a little mud and water.  Trust me, your feet need protection from the hard rocks and your ankles need good support. Also, I use hiking poles. Two of them. I find it really helps take some of the weight off my legs and with balance on steep descents.

3. A variety of clothing layers for any conditions. Weather changes quickly in the mountains. You can be in sunshine one moment and a snowstorm the next. In the middle of July! Choose modern breathable layers from companies like Ice Breaker and Patagonia.  Be sure to take long underwear, a hat, gloves and a waterproof layer!

4. You will also need – a lightweight sleeping bag that is good to well below 0°c  (It can get very cold at night); a lightweight thermarest to keep yourself off the cold ground; a lightweight tent of course; a small campstove (and matches); lightweight food and dishes; plenty of water (and a UV water sterilizer!); sunscreen; bugspray; LED headlamp; sunglasses; sun hat, first aid kit; trail maps; a spot emergency beacon is a good idea; as is bear spray. Feel free to write me if your serious about trying this for the first time and I will give  you a complete list of everything I carry. I believe I may be the only person I know who carries her makeup kit on such a trip. Hey!  It’s important for the photos. Oh right, the photos!  Bring your camera.  If weight is an issue, I recommend carrying a lightweight  film camera like a Holga!  Plus, you won’t care so much if you accidentally destroy it.

From Buller creek parking lot to Ribbon Lake – Total km return (about 20 km) elevation gained (and lost and gained and lost again) over 671.

 

Lori Andrews is an insanely happy interior designer and photographer living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

the10centdesigner.com

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design love // carolyn quartermaine

Just fell in love with Carolyn Quartermaine‘s beautiful textiles and styling. Her upholstered chairs are so stunning that if I owned one I swear, I would just sit on another chair and gaze at it lovingly. Everything about her colour palette makes me happy inside and I wish I could deck out my whole house with her beautiful fabric panels.

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hungry // mushroom sage gnochhi

I am a total sucker for pasta. Homemade pasta is even better and since I am the cook ’round these parts it is usually me rolling out the dough. I started making gnocchi a couple of years ago but I have recently started experimenting a bit more and trying out some delicious new combinations.

First of all, I must say that if you are going to make gnocchi, you have got to use potatoes. They have just the most amazing pillow-y texture compared to flour gnocchi. Believe me, you won’t regret it.

what you’ll need for the gnocchi:

six potatoes – my faves are the white almond fingerling
one 1/2 cup chopped spinach
1/4 cup parmesan
one egg yolk
one tbsp salt
two cups gluten-free all purpose flour

what you’ll need for the mushroom sage butter sauce:

two cups chopped mushrooms
fresh sage
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon

how-to:

Bring a large pot of water to boil, add potatoes and cook until each potato is tender. Drain and let cool. Once cool, peel each potato (alternately – you can leave the skins on for a different texture to your gnocchi) and place in fridge until cold.

Mash potatoes thoroughly. Mix in the egg yolk and a pinch of salt. Slowly stir in the flour. Remove from bowl and start to knead on work surface. It should form soft somewhat sticky dough. Divide into eight chunks. Roll your dough out into one-inch thick strands and cut every 1/2 inch to create about 30 pieces of gnocchi. Gnocchi ain’t nothing without the signature ridges created by the back of a fork. Lightly roll each pieces down the back of the fork to create the ridges.

to cook:

Bring large pot of water to boil. I totally used the same water as the boiled potatoes.Using a slotted spoon, place half of the gnocchi into the boiling water. When the gnocchi floats to the top it is ready. Serve hot.

make some SAUCE:

In a sauce pan, heat butter over medium heat and stir in chopped sage leaves and pepper. Add mushrooms and cook until all is softened. Pour over gnocchi and sprinkle with parmesan.

Bon appetit!

 

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CAMP STYLE

I am so looking forward to going camping this weekend that I pulled together some camp-cozy must haves based on what my camp-savvy pals Sarah, Lori and my husband advise. It is clearly all about comfort when you go camping but why not be super cute at the same time? I just bought the little windbreaker from HBC and I am in love.

photo from my fave cookbook Donna Hay’s Seasons

napsack … … windbreakerboots

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life lately

Live. Life. Happy. My dear friend Karen recently gifted me this super special charm bracelet that she designed for Good Charma. It’s a daily reminder to remember the small and happy things in life. And there has been many small and happy things in our life lately. Whether it is spending time together in the sun or family get-togethers for weddings, Canada Day or Stampede – we’ve been having a ball. You can follow me on instagram here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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happy friday!

Happy Friday, pals! This was a great week. As I have mentioned it is Stampede right now here in Calgary so my week has been full of fun and raucous parties involving hay bales and lots of plaid. Byron and I were really lucky on Wednesday as we got to go to two awesome concerts in one night. First we attended the Stampede Roundup at Fort Calgary which was quite the party. The line-up was full of Canadian music icons including 54-40, Matthew Good and The Tragically Hip. We hung out in the media beer gardens for most of it which was nice. Who can say no to free drinks and good company?

Then, thanks to my amazing friend Barnaby Bennett, we were put on the guest list for The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary show at the Saddledome. It is no secret to anyone who knows me personally that I love The Beach Boys or that in particular I love Dennis Wilson, the original drummer for the group. Sadly, he passed away before I was even born but that hasn’t stopped me from having a full out crush on his music and his adorable face. It is sad when amazing and talented people leave this world too soon. The remaining three original members Brian, Al and Mike backed up by some of their original session musicians and their new touring backing band put on an incredible show playing everyone’s favourites as well as some more obscure tracks I never EVER thought I would hear in person. It was incredible. One of my favourite albums, Sunflower, that I was introduced to by our friend John Miller last summer, is an album full of surprises, raw emotion and an awesome early 1970s vibe. The Beach Boys played four songs during their show from Sunflower. It was amazing. Not only that – one of the songs on the album Forever was written and sung by Dennis Wilson (popularized by Uncle Jesse on Full House in his first music video) was specially dedicated with him and they performed with his original vocal track. It was super touching and I couldn’t help but tear up as I watched the tribute video of him. You can listen to the song below. It is really sweet.

So anyways, I had a really great week and I can definitely check off seeing The Beach Boys play live on my life list. It was definitely a very special moment. Thanks again, Barnaby!

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