sorry gifts are the best

Last week, in the middle of a multi-day argument with the husband, I came home to find a wonderful surprise. An "I'm sorry" gift that worked wonders - the Gorman backpack (or mochila as I'm calling it, since it's so much like the traditional Colombian craft) that I had been coveting ever since this post.

I've worn it every day since, and I've been surprised at just how useful a backpack can be. I can fit yoga clothes, a snack, a notebook, a book, a litre of water, sunscreen and various other bits and bobs and not feel like my arm is falling off. I'm totally converted!

Thanks again husband. I love it (and you too).

who takes your blog photos?

photo by Ellen Arthur

My husband takes mine, though somewhat reluctantly, truth be told. Lately I've been thinking that behind every great blog is a partner who's been roped into being an unofficial photographer. 

And I'm not even a style blogger! I honestly don't understand how style bloggers get such great photos day in, day out. Are they all married to photographers? Or do their partners just really enjoy having stumbled into their roles as accidental fashion photographers?

My husband doesn't particularly like taking photos, so generally I have to ask very nicely, set up the shot I want with him playing model, then quickly swap. I also have this unfortunate habit of becoming incredibly self-conscious if there's anyone around while we're taking photos. And living in a big city, there is always someone around! This has been particularly true the few times we've taken bump photos. On this day, for example, I was hungry, tired, and hot but I still insisted on getting some quick shots. I was also feeling super awkward because there were people everywhere, so it was no surprise that within 5 minutes I was snapping at my poor husband. He really is a good sport.

So I'm curious... who takes your blog photos? And do they like doing it? Do you get embarrassed when there are people watching you have your photo taken? Or do you like playing model?

Edited to add: I just wanted to clear up 2 things... I take all of the photos on my blog with the exception of the ones that I'm in. My husband takes those. He also wanted me to point out that I don't always set up shots for him; he does a lot more than I gave him credit for. Fair point :)

p.s. I'm going to see David Byrne & St. Vincent tonight, so excited!

finding inspiration

Today I'm finding inspiration in all of your interesting and insightful comments on changing your name. And in this nighttime stroll we took last night. But first, so many interesting points of view on marriage, family and the names that bind us.

I was a bit surprised to find that most of you did take your husband's last name, while just a handful took both or found a new name. The point of family solidarity came up often, as did the legal mess that double-barrelled names can cause. I totally get this, which is one of the reasons our dual citizen children should probably only have one name because their bi-continental lives will be complicated enough as it is!

Something else that came up quite a bit was using your middle name as a way of compromising. Interestingly, this is exactly what my parents did. I go by my father's last name and have my mother's last name as my middle name. I think it's likely that this is what will happen with our offspring as well.

Imogen Eve made the point that since most of us have last names passed down from our dads, isn't there something un-feminist in that? Yes, I think there is. Some Latin American readers explained that every child gets two surnames where they're from - one from their mom and one from their dad. But even in this seemingly egalitarian model, those names come from the paternal side. What's a feminist to do?

I could go on forever, but I'll cut myself off here. Me and my husband of the different last names went down to the sea last night to catch the sun going down through the clouds and take some photos. I am finding so much inspiration lately through the lens, and in this vintage dress that belongs to my mom.  Happy weekend friends!

would you take your husband's last name?

When I got married 3 and a half years ago I kept my last name. It never really occurred to me to take my husband's name; I always knew that if and when I were to get married I would keep my name. There are a few reasons I was so confident in my decision: I'm a feminist and think changing your name is a choice; my mom and most of my female family members kept their surnames; lastly, I love my name.

The one issue that comes up is what to do now that there's a baby on the way. I've heard people say that they want to have the same name as their kids so they feel like a family. To be honest, I would like to give this baby a hyphenated last name but husband hates double-barrelled names! And while I admire couples who create new last names, or use both their last names like this awesome couple, I could never get my fairly traditional husband on board with this idea. That said, I grew up with a dad and a brother with my last name and a mom with a different one. It never seemed unusual to me, and I never questioned that we were a family.

I'd love to know... did you/would you take your husband's last name? How did you decide? Do you like your name? What about kids? SO many questions!

p.s. this is one of my favourite wedding pictures, you can see a few more here

well maybe the table didn't want to go to ikea

Have you seen the episode of 30 Rock where Liz and her boyfriend go to Ikea on Valentine's Day? It gets me every time. All the couples there are bickering and breaking up. My favourite is the couple using the furniture as a metaphor for their relationship: "Well I think the table needs to stop listening to its mother." Ha.

There's just something about the Swedish megastore that leads to mega meltdowns. Nevertheless, husband declared last week be-nice-to-chica-week, so I dragged brought him to Ikea with me. And we spent the whole time referring to each other as 'the table' and 'the chair.' But we also had lunch first (definitely helps meltdown avoidance) and got in and out nice and quick, with a whole bunch of new fabric for me :) 

Do you and your spouse fight at Ikea?

p.s. all photos edited with VSCO on my iPhone

berry

 As much as I love living in the city, sometimes I just need to escape and find wide open spaces. On Friday husband and I did just that, with a spontaneous road trip to the south coast. 

We made it all the way to Berry, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch of veggie pizza (for me) and grilled fish (for him) at the Berry Sourdough Cafe, before wandering around the main street. My favourite stop was definitely Lisa Madigan's The Store, which I found thanks to Jodi's recent post. Me oh my, it is magnificent. I wanted to buy everything, but I settled on a sea urchin candle and a cute chalkboard (I wanted the heart shaped chalkboard but husband convinced me to buy the circle...).

When the sun started to set, we headed for the beach where husband decided that a swim was in order. It was so, so cold and 5 pm but he dove right in. I stayed warm, obviously, and then we got back in the car and drove home in the dark. Refreshed.

his & hers

She is tidy and has dry skin. She likes: burning nice smelling candles before going to sleep, wearing pretty jewellery, fresh flowers and the sea.

He is slightly more dishevelled and falls asleep with a book on his face most nights. He likes: reading, wearing a watch and the mountains.

taking it easy

Photos taken at the market by husband. Shots set up by me, still working on manual. Still not quite happy but getting closer...

Husband and I have been taking it so easy lately. After being wiped out by a killer cold last week and still having to teach heaps of yoga classes, I needed to spend the weekend recovering. Other than teaching yoga, Saturday and Sunday were spent napping, reading good books, skyping, baking, and going for a wander at the markets. I picked up my favourite green drink from Common Ground, fresh pasta, veggies and devoured a yummy tofu burger for lunch.

This week I hope to slow down even more, bake some bread, nap some more. Yes, that sounds perfect. Hope you're having a wonderful start to your week!

do you call your partner 'baby'?

via

My husband calls me Chica, and I call him Chico. I can't remember when it started, but one day he just began calling me Chica (because I'm half Colombian) and it stuck. Those of you who speak Spanish will know that it means 'girl' - thereby making it a completely nonsensical nickname, but there you have it.

Other than that, we call each other by our names. Never babe, baby, honey, sweetheart, darling, pumpkin etc... It's just not how we roll. But lately I'm starting to think that we are, perhaps, the only couple on the planet who don't call each other 'baby.' Am I right? What do you call your significant other?

bicycles and beaches

Above photo by husband

It rained this weekend. A lot. But in between storms there were pockets of blue sky and bright light, the kind that makes you want to run outside to soak it up. On Saturday afternoon husband and I took advantage of one such pocket of time and hopped on our bicycles for Surry Hills.

Just as we got there the skies opened up and we were lashed with rain. We ducked into a cozy cafe to wait it out, where we enjoyed chai and fries in the meantime. On the way home, the sun came out and I stopped to pick these stems, now adorning the walls. I'm not even sure what they are, but I love them.

These 2 pics by husband. On another note, isn't it the best when you rediscover things in your closet? I've had this skirt for oh, about 10 years, but had completely forgotten about it. Now that I've remembered, I don't want to take it off.

Yesterday the pocket of sun was in the morning, so husband and I headed to Dee Why for a swim after I finished teaching. The power of an Australian ocean never ceases to amaze me. Where I grew up in Vancouver, the ocean is almost always calm. Here, you're pummeled from all sides as soon as you step in.

But the thing is, once you get used to it, you start to crave it. There's nothing quite like ducking and diving through big waves to make you feel alive.

my creative space: the girliest pillows ever!

It is really hard to take nice, light photos in my house!

A while back I went through a pillow making phase. I think it's because making pillows is really easy, and therefore appeals to the side of my personality that needs instant gratification. Then one day husband was all: "Will you stop making pillows already?!? We're running out of places to sit." This was followed by something to the effect of: "It's nice that you make things for the house, but can you please try to use less pink? It's getting kind of girly in here."

Being the nice wife that I am, I obliged. On both matters. Until this weekend when I was sitting in front of a pile of beautiful fabric that my friend got me in Turkey. Most of it was pink, and I wanted to make something quick! So I whipped up these very pink, very girly pillows. Sorry husband.

A note on the sewing: very basic. I sewed up two pieces for the front. The back is lapped (i.e. two pieces of fabric that overlap each other, thereby creating a gap to put the pillow in) because I'm afraid of zippers.

For more creative spaces, go here

new zealand: part 4, the end!

Our last stop in New Zealand was an actual stay in Christchurch. We'd passed through very briefly upon our respective arrivals, and JUST missed the earthquake before Christmas. We knew that the city was still experiencing aftershocks but we decided to go anyways.

On our drive from Mt Cook to Christchurch we stopped for lunch. I had this instead. So worth it.

We arrived in town on New Year's Eve with no plans, and no idea whatsoever of what we could do. But I had the blogosphere on my side, enter Alice from Sew Logic... We had emailed before and planned to meet up while I was in her hometown. I contacted her with a semi-desperate "What should we do tonight??" message and she graciously responded by inviting us to her friend's NYE barbecue. Problem solved!

We ate, drank (a bit too much, truth be told) and were merry. Oh, and I may or may not have tried to steal Alice's puppy...

The next day husband and I headed to the beach to recover. We also get the authentic Christchurch experience of a string of aftershocks beginning that night. The first one scared the crap out of me, as did the two during the night that woke us up. But it is true that you get used to it.

The day after that, Alice and her boyfriend took us to check out Akaroa. The weather wasn't ideal, but we still appreciated the beauty of this gorgeous harbour. To see pictures of this spot in the sun, check out this post on Alice's blog.

This is the part where I gush about how much I love the blogosphere. Husband left the night before I did, and not only did Alice and her boyfriend invite me to stay at their place, they took me out, gave me a tour of the city and helped me shop for gifts for people back home.

Alice even took me to a fantastic vegetarian restaurant in the city! The generosity of our online community astounds me, and makes me so grateful. I had a wonderful time in Christchurch, thanks to Alice and her insider info.

And that concludes the last of my New Zealand posts, only 3 short weeks after returning home ;) Thanks for coming along!

New Zealand: part 3

Next up on our tour of New Zealand was Milford Sound, Queenstown and Mt Cook. All were wonderful, but I would say that Milford Sound was a major highlight of our whole trip.

The above two photos were taken by husband in Bruce Bay. It reminded me so much of the West Coast of BC, where I'm from.

Milford Sound! Like I said, Milford Sound was absolute magic. When we first got there, after a very long drive, I was a bit nonplussed. It was beautiful, but so was most of the country. We got settled and went to bed super early and rose before the sun the next morning.

By 7 am we were on the water for a kayak tour with Rosco's Milford Kayaks, along with two other couples and our hilarious guide, Ollie. We were lucky in so many ways that day. For one thing, it was sunny and clear, a rarity for a part of the world that gets as much rain as my hometown. Starting so early also meant that there was hardly anyone else in the sound (which is, incidentally, not a sound at all but a fjord), just us and our kayaks.

The other people doing the kayak tour were awesome, we even ended up driving one of the couples all the way back to Queenstown later on. Our guide was wickedly funny while also being super knowledgeable. At one point I asked, "Are there dolphins?"

His answer: "You mean, do dolphins exist? Yes they do. But we probably won't see any."

On the topic of capsizing he explained without cracking a smile: "If one of you capsizes, the rest of us will raft up [line our kayaks up side by side] so that we have a more stable base... from which to laugh at you."

Luckily for us, no one capsized. Even more luckily for us, we saw dolphins! I was pretty delighted at the dozens of seals we saw. Friendly little guys who would dart under your boat and then come up to get a look at you. But when we noticed a pod of dolphins I gasped and started clapping my hands and jumping up and down, as best as one can jump in a kayak.

I thought that was as good as it could get, and then a few minutes later a second pod passed right by our boats. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

Highways in New Zealand are dotted with these beautiful lupins.

Mt Cook! To be perfectly honest, Mt Cook wasn't my favorite part of the trip. It was the first time we had bad weather, and we allotted a bit too much time to this part of the trip. We did do one great hike though that took us up past tarns and spectacular views of Mt Cook, ending at Mueller Hut.

Me in my Canadian tuxedo, as husband calls it. Denim on denim, oh yeah.

A much deserved hot chocolate after our 6 hour hike!

Thanks again for having a look at our New Zealand photos! Only one more post to go, Christchurch...