The Craziest Date I've Ever Gone On

So, this is a story that most of my family doesn't even know... :)

Greg and my relationship began long distance after meeting at a work conference. While we lived on opposite sides of the country, we both had trips planned to Newfoundland and Alberta respectively in the near future when we began to see that our relationship might be going somewhere, so going on a date was actually something we could plan. We spent a whole month looking forward to our first date in Edmonton in mid April (Greg had romantically sent me a plane ticket to fly up to Edmonton from Calgary, where I was visiting family, so that we could spend a weekend together).

But as the days passed, I couldn't wait for our date.

After perusing Air Canada's website to book my ticket to Calgary, I noticed that it was basically the same cost to buy a frequent flyer pass for one month (there was an amazing sale on at the time) as it was to buy one round trip ticket. So for the cost of one ticket to Alberta, I could also take weekend trips to Fredericton and Toronto, cities where some of my best friends lived, so it made perfect sense. I booked all my flights and let my besties know that I was coming to crash.

Then, one evening a few days later, I realised that my frequent flyer pass would allow for one more trip. A caveat was that I could only fly on Tuesdays, Saturdays or Sundays in April. So, it occurred to me that I could fly to Edmonton first thing on a Saturday morning and could fly back on Sunday - free. I had to do it. Obviously.

And I did it...and made it work on Monday morning on time to boot! Image via Gravesland.

Scandinavia

One of our long-term plans is to spend a sabbatical in Norway (or Sweden or Denmark... we're flexible). Having only ever spent one weekend in Scandinavia (a cold and dark November weekend in Stockholm and Uppsala), I'm curious to experience more. My curiosity for the place melds with my love of all things modern and white (I know I'm on repeat here), and draws me towards the most fantastic Tumblr - From Scandinavia with Love. The eye candy is out of control.

P.S. Have I mentioned that we might take advantage of the sour, rainy weekend coming up by painting a large swath of our house white? I am so excited.

California

I'm daydreaming about a trip to Manhattan Beach, California in the 1950s. Via Like Cool.

Berlin

Berlin is our next must-visit European city as we've both studied German (Greg far more seriously than me) but having never visited the city. I may have overdone it with the uploads, but aren't these typographic depictions amazing? If curious, there are tonnes more here too.

Voyage

I've been spending a lot of time on planes lately, which equals blog neglect. Opps! I'll be back to regular posting next week. I'll also be back to helping with the household chores next week, dear husband. Promise! Image via MonkeyC.

Ace

As Igor rages, I'm dreaming of a vacation at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs (or a February interlude in Tulum, Mexico). Keep safe friends and loved ones!

NYC

I am having a significant internal debate on whether or not now is a good time to book an impromptu trip to New York City. Image via Stacey Whitaker.

Skerwink

This past weekend, we took a little road trip to Port Rexton and discovered the most fabulous walking trail - the Skerwink Trail in Trinity East! Do you like hiking? Hiking is the perfect remedy for a gal like me who disdains gyms and longs for exercise that's also entertainment. Image via incogkneetoe.

Rio

Wow! These houses make jelly bean row in St. John's look bland. Via Oh Joy!

Copenhagen

I think part of me belongs in Copenhagen. Images via Copenhagen Street Style.

Jetsons

As a child, I wasn't one for cartoons, but I made an exception for The Jetsons. While eating breakfast this morning, I came across grain edit, a fantastic modern graphic design inspiration blog. I stopped to ponder this post for two reasons: the lead image reminds me of (a) The Jetsons and (b) a presentation I observed last week on smart grids and emerging energy technologies while on a work conference in Massachusetts... And who said you cannot appreciate modern design while also being a public policy wonk? Image via grain edit.

America

I'm feeling an increasing curiosity to visit the US. We spent our honeymoon in California. I have just returned from a business trip to Massachusetts. I was once stranded on a bus on an interstate for two days in a snowstorm in Pennsylvania. My first trip to the US was when I was 19 for a Model United Nations conference in New York City.

Beyond this, I'm a stranger to our neighbour to the south.

Greg and I think about vacations and dream destinations from time to time. We have a curiosity to drive down the Oregon Coast, to spend a sleepy week in Savanna, to explore Philadelphia. Frank Chimero's illustrations are a fun and quirky depiction of the US of A and they help to sustain my curiosity. Via Jeremy and Kathleen.

Hello

We've been gone far too long - heaps of apologies for the radio silence! But we're married (for 16 days now). And it's swish. And lovely. And I highly recommend honeymoons. We'll be sharing all the details of our special day here, so please do stay tuned.

I've returned from our honeymoon reinvigorated for some new projects that germinated over many delicious dinners (think Bouchon in Yountville and Swell in San Francisco and Bin 941 in Vancouver). While my musings and plans are decidedly in the incubation phase at this point, I'm feeling inspired by weddings and design boards and DIY businesses and creative industries. I'll be sure to share more as my thoughts focus.

Greg and I are also feeling inspired by the likes of Cook St. Helena. I'm feeling the urge to make my home, and my neighbourhood more specifically, exactly the sort of haunt I want to happen upon, instead of just waiting for someone else to nurture such.

Nautical

Let's run away on yachts in the Mediterranean! Images via wit + delight. These havens provide plenty of opportunity to laze about in one of my many horizontal striped tops.

Knitwear

Last night, my brother arrived home from studying abroad after being delayed in the UK for five days as a result of the Icelandic volcano. We're happy to have you home, Gary! Thank you for the lovely presents (the picture above is one of the beautiful AND striped sweaters that he gifted me). Now that he's back on this side of the pond, I have plenty of tasks to keep him occupied as my Man of Honour.

P.S. Less than one month until I become Mrs. Katie Clarke!

Napa

I was super excited to find this guide to Napa Valley today. What perfect timing for our honeymoon planning! Image via Julia Rothman via Design*Sponge.

San Francisco

I'm super excited about our honeymoon! These sights and these colours, oh my! Image via The English Muse.

Bridges

We've finally settled on our honeymoon destination(s)! We're bookending our trip in beautiful coastal cities with stunning bridges (San Francisco and Vancouver) and taking a midpoint relaxation foray in classic (American) wine country (Napa Valley). We love the West Coast and had a wonderful time at Mission Hill in Kelowna, BC last summer, so we thought 'why not do much the same again'? Vineyards seem so exotic to an East Coast girl like me! Plus neither of us has been to SF before, so we're quite excited. Any recommendations are appreciated. Image via ecstaticist.

P.S. We've decided to save the European vacation for our first anniversary!

Headphones

Am I the only one who often finds her headphones in a snarl at the bottom of her purse? While traveling for a work conference this past weekend, my white ear buds were a constant messy knot in the bottom of my satchel. This Ford commercial reminds me of this enduring struggle. This advertisement also reminds me of my inability to master knots as a Girl Guide despite the fact that I even won a handbook on tying knots at Ranger camp! Image via Ads of the World via Black Eiffel.

Tropical

Now this is what I call a room with a view! 

The tail end of tropical storm Danny yesterday, combined with this blog on Desire to Inspire, make me think a tropical getaway this winter may need to be arranged. True story: Neither Greg or I have ever been on a real tropical (read: Caribbean) vacation (though Greg did travel to Hawaii as a child and I sunned on the beaches of the South of France as an undergraduate).  A week in St. Marteen or the Turks and Cacos sounds like the perfect prescription for winters like this.