BACK HOME

Posted by kait / July 13, 2014

We just returned home after a nice week long camping getaway to the Okanagan. It was a much-needed vacation for both of us – we both had a bit of the wanderlust after such a crazy long winter. The fresh fruit, the supremely hot weather, the lakes, the wine (for Byron) and the slower pace of life was all so wonderful. I love being able to live outdoors for entire week – it totally changes your perspective on how you live your life indoors. When I am home, I always feel so lazy – I get caught up working on my laptop or Netflix instead of spending more time outdoors.

The best part of going away on vacation is returning with a fresher, brighter mind. We definitely had a lot of time to contemplate life and get excited for our little baby. I’ll be spending the week catching up on emails and working on new projects. It was really amazing that we were able to unplug for (almost) the entire trip and I even left my phone dead for a couple of days. But now that I am back at it – I can’t wait to get rollin’. See you on here more soon!

THE PIN PROJECT NO. 6

Posted by kait / January 20, 2014

We’ve got an itch. An itch to travel like crazy. Scandinavia is calling our names and all I can think about is AirBnB lofts, Lonely Planet guidebooks and design blogs inspiring us to just pack up and go. Of course, a trip like this requires some planning. In the meantime, I am trying to resist spending money on unnecessary things like new clothing and housewares and instead banking dollars and images from Pinterest. Where have you traveled to in Scandinavia? Denmark and Sweden are at the top of my list.

“Be in love with your life. Every minute of it.” – Jack Kerouac

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A CURATED GUIDE: VICTORIA, BC

Posted by kait / January 15, 2014

Gone are the newly weds and nearly deads; the new Victoria is a vibrant hub where mixologists thrive, indie boutiques flourish and an excellent café is around every corner. You’ll find the freshest ingredients and the friendliest folks. Here is my guide for your next visit to the British Columbia’s provincial capital.

STAY

The Magnolia Hotel

An elegant boutique hotel (only 64 rooms in total), Magnolia has been beautifully redesigned into a chic modern design while somehow still maintaining that old-fashioned charm that has made it a staple in downtown Victoria. Just moments away from the inner harbor of Victoria, Magnolia boasts a stunning spa, a top-rated bar and restaurant, along with numerous other amenities. If anything, the view of the harbor from your room is worth the visit.

EAT

If meat is on your mind, you’ll want to stop in at ROAST Carvery at the public market for some fresh meatballs or raclette cheese over baby potatoes. Truly a meat lover’s paradise, you also won’t be able to get enough of their local sodas and desserts!

TREAT

Bon Macaron

Delight in this pure European treat as you head for a jaunt sea-side. With both sweet and savoury macaron flavours available, it is hard to pick just one but we couldn’t resist the White Truffle & Sea Salt.

SIP

Heist Coffee

Good design and great coffee go together so well! Just minutes from Victoria’s harbor, Heist Coffee has made a name for their impeccably crafted espresso drinks. Using locally roasted Bows & Arrows Coffee and keeping a simplistic home on Courtney Street, this a spot you’d want to make your regular morning stop.

SHOP

Victoria Public Market

Newly opened on Douglas Street, the Victoria Public Market is a bustling destination for foodies and vendors alike. From great eats via , the latest addition to the renown Vij’s family of restaurants to the for the best fleur de sel this side of the ocean, this market is rapidly filling up with the best of local BC producers. Drop by on Wednesdays for their weekly Farmers’ Market featuring fresh produce, preserves and baked goods.

GUIDE TO AUSTIN, TX PT. 2

Posted by kait / December 19, 2013

Part two of my Austin City Guide takes our adventure to some of the best shops Byron and I found on this trip. From records and books to just darn good groceries, Austin welcomed us with open arms (and our open wallets!).

Book People: As self described book people, we just couldn’t pry ourselves away from the shelves of Book People, Austin’s best indie bookstore. Two floors with literature on just about any topic, a cafe, amazing gifts and a rotating calendar of events – Book People is more than just a book store – it is a community space. We spent over an hour poring through their 50% off sale section for last copy books and magazines and ended up leaving with a healthy stack to last us well into the fall.

Whole Foods HQ: Every wonder where Whole Foods was founded? Austin! Yup, this incredibly huge Whole Foods flagship store is every foodie’s dream world. With over 8,000 square feet of delicious food, wine, craft beer and more, it is nearly impossible to leave without stocking up on at least the essentials (those being prosecco, coffee beans, organic produce and some fresh sushi). Just don’t forget your reusable bags…

Waterloo Records: Music junkies will delight in spending several hours flipping through vinyl and CDs for the perfect find. Waterloo’s staff is chill and informative – leaving you be as you go back and forth from stack to stack. They have loads of in-store performances and album releases so be sure to check their store calendar often for updates. Did we happen to mention Happy Hour? From 7pm – 11pm every Tuesday night shoppers will receive a 10% all non-sale priced new and used vinyl. Get there – now!

Barton Springs: It ain’t summer in Austin if you are not perched at Barton Springs with a cup of shaved ice in your hand. The popular swimming hole is the perfect spot to indulge in a bit of summer sunning. The water is usually around 70 degrees making it excellent for swimming year round. Get there early though – this joint gets busy so claim your spot!

Spartan: A beautifully curated boutique, Spartan is filled with carefully sourced design objects and accessories. A great spot to find gifts for others and yourself, this shop will inspire you to think about adding more independent designers to your home decor roster. We couldn’t leave without the golden handled scissors – for DIYs, of course.

: Every other Wednesday during the hot hot summer, Zilker Park takes on a new persona – Blue on the Green. Lined with picnic blankets and lawn chairs, folks from all over Austin to come check out the live music programming. Be prepared and pack a cooler full of water and snacks – you’ll want to stay hydrated while you rock out to the free tunes.

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This post was originally featured on Standard Issue.

GUIDE TO AUSTIN, TX – PART 1

Posted by kait / December 12, 2013

Every summer Byron and I get a bit of wanderlust that takes us on a journey least expected. This past August, we could be found in the hot and steamy depths of Austin, Texas. Yep, those 42*C days were a lot to handle for our fresh Canadian blood but we survived and came out the other side with all sorts of eating, shopping and music adventures to share with you.

Austin is a bustling city full of creativity and a sweet sort of laid back style. Known for their music scene made famous by SXSW and Austin City Limits, many musicians have been handpicked from the stages in this town. With so much to see, we’ve divided up our journey in Austin into two parts of must-sees, must-eats and must-dos. Enjoy!

Tiger Blood Snowballs: A must on a hot day, we couldn’t resist tracking down some Tiger’s Blood after hearing about it on The Cuisinerd’s post about Austin. The perfect combo of Red Dye No. 9 and cherry coconut goodness, we left feeling a bit cooler and with decidedly neon red tongues.

: One of the sweetest little joints we happened upon while adventuring in South Congress, Elizabeth St. Cafe is the home of some fabulous French Vietnamese cuisine. Bursting with charm, the tiny but spacious cafe hosts some of the most stylish locals we had seen thus far. We highly recommend the Rose Monsoon Cocktail and the Broiled Niman Ranch Pork Belly noodle bowl – their Nuoc Cham packs a real punch into the meal leaving your salivating for more.

Lumiere Tintype Photobooth: If you are a fan of photography and portraiture, you’ll want to check out this gem of a place on South Congress. A mobile studio, gallery and darkroom, Lumiere offers the amazing service of capturing you on a tintype photograph. Once your photo has been taken, it will take them just under an hour to develop it – creating a brand-new family heirloom of yours truly. If you are going to get any kind of souvenir in Austin, make it a tintype.

UnCommon Objects: For collectors, UnCommons Objects is exhilarating, overwhelming and incredibly intimidating all at once. Chock full to the brim with vintage, kitsch and antiques – this never-ending shop of treasures has more than meets the eye. Much like their slogan, ‘raw materials for creative living’ each and every corner you encounter has even more goodies (coloured blocked at that)! Highlights of our visit? The vintage neon and metal signs, old horseshoes for good luck and antique sports game paraphernalia. Go team go!

If you are looking for the most authentically ‘Austin’ shop, look no further than Parts + Labour. Jam-packed with completely locally made goods, this sweet boutique is the best way to get a sense of Austin’s indie scene. We walked away with a tank top appropriately labeled ‘Local’.

This post was originally featured on Standard Issue.

THE POWER OF PALS

Posted by kait / November 4, 2013

On a recent trip to the desert, where we had been promised (a strong word, I suppose) inspiration, empowerment and next-level networking, some friends and I encountered quite the opposite. There was the three of us, sauntering around the pool at our beautiful hipster hotel, mystified as to how we had ended up in this bizarro gong show of a ‘retreat’ that we had spent thousands of dollars to attend. And while I am sure there were people who walked away from the experience feeling excited and inspired, until we took things into our own hands there was perpetual yawns plastered on our faces.

Instead of dwelling on this and retreating out of the beautiful hot sun, we decided to make our time there AMAZING. Since we all live in the same city, it worked out like gangbusters that the three of us ended up spending our days together. It meant we could actually go home and do something groundbreaking with what we had learned – from each other. The power of pals is an incredible thing, my friends. Not only can a good pal inspire you to achieve your dreams but they also make you smile, laugh, cry and learn how to be a better person. I relished in the power of my pals that weekend. We brainstormed and laughed and met people from all over. We made it completely worth our while.

My lesson learned from this? Never do anything you don’t want to do. Especially, if you know it is not going to help you in any sort of way. Abandon it and feel good about your decision. Find something new that inspires you and lifts you up. In our case, it just happened to be the decor, the cocktails and the people of the Parker Hotel in Palm Springs. Cin-cin to that!

Photo via

ULTIMATE OKANAGAN DREAM TOUR

Posted by kait / September 22, 2013

Just returned from a beautiful press trip to the Okanagan with Wine BC. Probably the most inspiring press trip I have ever been on, I met some incredible fellow female journalists, learned a ton about Okanagan wines and got a taste of a second summer. I’ve started writing some articles about some of the amazing wines, hotels and creators that I encountered on our journey and I can’t wait to share those with you as soon as they are published! For now, a couple snapshots of my time in the OK.

P.S. Seriously considering moving to Kelowna permanently.

GO DO SOMETHING! x FIESTA MOVEMENT

Posted by kait / September 17, 2013

Hello my lovely pals. Happy Tuesday! I wanted to share a bit about the Fiesta Movement. What is Fiesta Movement? Well, it’s all about getting ramped up for the arrival of the 2014 Ford Fiesta and celebrating the fun adventures that life takes us on. The Ford Fiesta Movement is inspiring me to stop messing around and do something worth talking about! Over the next four months, I’ll be taking on fun projects inspired by the Fiesta Movement, and how I spin it is up to you and me! Yes, you, the reader can help me decide how to make the most of each and everything month!

This month’s theme is ADVENTURE. Hey wait, I am pretty sure this whole year’s theme is adventure – at least for me. I’ve been lucky to do some amazing traveling this summer so I am hoping to make the most of this last month of warm(er) weather before any water freezes over. The photo above was from my recent adventure to the Okanagan and Wine Country. We kayaked up Okanagan Lake and it was stunning. I would love to hear any ideas of an adventure I should go on or partake in this month.

I am particularly inspired by Fiesta Agents Justin + Kyle’s Go Do Something! video. The idea of jampacking a whole day, from sun up to sun down, with adventure and fun sounds like the perfect way to take advantage of the Adventure theme. Maybe I could jampack a day with as much adventure as you can find in Calgary in one single day: Ziplining, rafting, bike riding, bowling, etc…. I’m up for a challenge so please send me your ideas! In the meantime, watch Justin + Kyle’s awesome California adventure here:

This is a sponsored post and I was compensated for my participation by the Ford Fiesta Movement. The photos and opinions expressed are my own unless otherwise stated.

#montanaslim

Posted by kait / September 6, 2013

Still daydreaming about our Labour Day weekend in Montana. An absolutely beautiful trip, we can always rely on Montana being hot, sunny and restful for a late summer visit. We headed down for the Vintage Whites Market – the last one of the summer – to scope out some sweet vintage finds. We actually booked a cabin in the woods this time through Gaynor Ranch & Resort which was a nice change from regular camping and staying in a lodge. It was a bit of a bumpy drive but it was totally worth it being secluded in the beautiful mountains.

The best part of the weekend was floating around Flathead Lake for a few hours basking in the sun and finally getting to be in some water. The whole summer all I wanted to do was jump in some water.

The market did not disappoint, of course. I found the perfect vintage metal cart that I am going to transform into a beautiful bar cart (just you wait and see!) and a tiny wood + metal chair. Top it up with some huckleberry iced tea and a brie + pesto buckwheat crepe and you’ve got a very happy Kait and Byron. So, when can we go back?

SF, I love you.

Posted by kait / July 17, 2013

Sitting in a beautiful Italian cafe called Fiore, amidst the hustle of the Wednesday morning commuters, sipping coffee – I am in San Francisco. The best.

I am here for Alt Summit SF – Alt’s one day version of the design blogging conference. Staying with one my super generous Alt SLC friends has made this trip even more special.

Off for an adventure today. xx