knapsacks

You may think February is the wrong time for a post about backpacks, but this is about the time when you find out whether that sweet little piece you bought back in the summer or autumn is actually able to hold up the wear and tear of student life/camp life/commuter life. 

A few weeks ago, Nikki was looking for a new backpack. She mentioned it to me and found one the next day but it got me wondering what is out there. I rock a MEC bag for its durability and waterproofing or a really beat up orange American Apparel backpack but there are definitely more stylish options out there. As per usual, I went with a masculine approach...

the field pack by Poler

 the kletter flip by kletterworks x mark mcnairy

  

shepard fairey campus pack by incase

brooks pickwick backpack

 

packable day pack by herschel

little america - studio by herschel

 

master piece x nowartt

 master piece potential

Images from Poler, Mark McNairy, Incase, Brooks England, Herschel, and Master Piece. 

sole searching

I have a lot of appreciation for masculine style. I often dress like a boy and sometimes, for a brief moment as I rifle through his dresser, I wish Connor was shorter just so I could borrow more items. 

What I have noticed in my constant observation of what the men are wearing theses days is that some of these boy-creatures do not understand how important their shoes are. Why are shoes important? Because the third thing I look at when checking out a man is his shoes. 

And one pair of shoes is not enough. Especially in Vancouver, how could you possibly think that a single pair of sneakers is going to get you through the wet weather?

Anyway, my friend Malcolm asked me to recommend some shoes so here we go, for the boys!

You need a pair of boots, nice boots. Maybe high lace-ups. 

Vintage Shoe Company, "Ian"

Maybe low. 

 Vintage Shoe Company, "Vaughn"

Dr Martens, "Wilson"

Or these. I cannot say enough good things about these.

Blundstones

You also need a pair of shoes. 

CLAE, "Jones"

Maybe even two. 

Gravis, "Quarters"

And if you are feeling adventurous, check out my favourite - solestruck. 

Zuriick, "Oscar"

The Damned, "Pyr St Man"

Generic Surplus, "Borstal Stripe Mens"

Disclaimer: This post assumes you are comfortable with internet shopping (which I hope you are as it is 2013). If you are not, check local stores to see if they carry the brands you are looking for. The stores that do will probably also have other stuff you will like. 
 

adventure

Something I keep planted in the back of my mind is to take a sabbatical, load up the van with my (future) young family, and drive away for awhile.

Obviously I am not alone in this. 

Adam and Emily Harteau are artists and are currently engaging in an "experiment in living simply while working to create great things" on the open road with their young daughter. 

Learn more here. Watch the concept video here. See the adventures unfold here (I love "Waking Up" and Con and I have been to Big Sur!). 

All photos from Our Open Road.

big plans

Ever since I have been with Connor, we have been campers. Van campers. Con has had Carol (the Westie) for longer than he has had me and she is an excellent companion. We are completely outfitted for camping with the van which is great for extended roadtrips and day hikes but really marries us to our home base. 

For Christmas, Con's parents got us a tent from Asolo! So we are going to pick up some sleeping bags and a wee stove. I am terribly excited.

This tent!

For Con's birthday last July, I got him a backpack from Poler. Poler is a very cool Oregon brand that makes very cool gear. The blonde man stared at the bags for a few months so we finally locked one down for him. Reasonably priced.

 

Another wicked brand I have discovered is Scout, a Seattle-based operation that also offers some super neat gear. Less reasonably priced.

 

The point of this post is that it is sunny and dry and we should all be making camping plans. Big, big plans. 

Photos from Asolo, Poler, and Scout.

get outta town

And into a town that is so adorable, you forget why you need to get back at the end of the weekend. 

Welcome to Coupeville, WA, a 100 year old log inn, and some seriously famous mussels (Penn Cove). Welcome to Fort Casey and a feeling of being very out of place in your 1985 VW Westfalia while driving past a camp of cadet-type individuals out for their daily jog/run/training of some sort. Welcome to double bluffs beach, farmer's markets, picnics and good wine in a cheap mug. 

Washington is fun because, although it may seem like you are simply trading one grey sky with sunny periods for another grey sky with sunny periods, it is different enough that you feel like you went away. Going on absurdly quaint explorations is also helpful. And don't forget to eat too much.

Some photos from me, some from Con. 

my bad

 
I know. I missed a Monday post. And I am sorry. I got the cutest little text message from the one and only Melissa today and it politely let me know that at least one person was "patiently waiting for my next post". I would blame school, but you wouldn't care.

So let's move on. You look really nice today. (Did that help? Do you forgive me?) I am going to look for a suit tomorrow. Barf. Do you know I would like to go look for? A desert inspired sweatshirt dress, a denim button-up, a gold talon bracelet, a sheer striped sleeveless top and an oatmeal-coloured thick knit fisherman sweater. I am really looking forward to my grandfather's birthday this year... and I am pretty sure it is because I get to dress up, well my version of dress up (gawd I am selfish sometimes). Clearly I need to get out more. Let's make a date, go to a show, throw our hair around and call it "dancing". I'm in if you're in. 

Photo of the unhappy boy on Tomboystyle. Photos of Con and I at the Biltmore by Lindsay's Diet. Photo of Con at the Waldorf by the Futurists.

return from the brink

Hi! I've been a bad blogger, I know. The key to a blog is updating and I have been sick and then off in Washington for our annual Sasquatch Music Festival trek. Forgive me. I am home and healthy now. I essentially work every day this month but I will try to be more available for you so you have something to peruse when eating your cheerios with your laptop on the kitchen table in the morning. Just so you know, !!! stole the show, the day and, really, the whole festival. The Decemberists are always a spine-tingling pleasure, Surfer Blood is better live, Yeasayer was tight and professional as always, Wavves was an early morning delight (11:30 am), the sound on DFA was not great on the hill but, still, fantastic energy and Sleigh Bells has no new material but it is always fun to watch that banshee onstage.

Top photo by Gorrman, van art by Connor. All other photos are mine.