Go West!

Yes! Finally! Boys and girls, I'm about to embark on a little trip and I just can't wait!

Y'all know I'm at my absolute finest when I'm travelling.  And I'm at my equal, yet different, finest when I'm hanging out with my family.  And this coming week I'm combining the two!

The whole family is heading out West to be with my sister and her husband for Easter.  First, though, my brother and I are sight-seeing in Vancouver and spending some time with my sister in Victoria before my parents arrive.  When my parents get there (from their own little trip in Arizona), we'll be heading to a cabin on Salt Spring Island tout en famille (plus an extra aunt and some of my sister's oldest friends).

Despite throwing my knee out at work yesterday, I'm super excited.  I've twisted my knee pretty bad a few times before, so I know the protocol of constant icing, wearing a brace, and hobbling about.  I'm pretty bummed that I won't be able to take hikes with the family, but I should be ok to take walks around the city.  My brother even said that we could rent a tandem bike in Stanley Park and that I could just come along for the ride.  I can already tell it's going to be a memorable trip!

Just a few of the (too many) things I'm packing

Jean Shirt - H&M
Lace Shirt - Forever 21
Striped Circle Scarf - American Apparel
Green Sweater - Thrifted
Silk Scarf - Thrifted

Apparently the weather out there is only going to be a smidge warmer than here, but that's ok with me!  The knee brace I've got is a bit of a monstrosity, so better for me to be able to cover it up with pants and leggings than have it's black and red glaring against my alabaster legs.

Seriously thought dudes.  I've only ever seen mountains from the Alberta side, and I was six so it doesn't count.  I've NEVER seen the Pacific Ocean.  I. AM. SO. EXCITED.

I'll send postcards!

Love,

Your friend Lina 

The Dutchman

Blogland is a wonderful land, boys and girls.

I stumbled across this marvelous little corner of the internet last night, and have been doing little else but reading The Styling Dutchman's back catalogue since then.  A few of her outfits put me in mind of something I would like to throw together, so here you go!

This outfit also does some heavy duty in the "recently acquired" section as well.  The dress is new from my trip to Montreal last week, the boots from the week before, and my ring is a Christmas gift from my cousin who's now in Wales!  She knows me like no other :)

Dress - Forever 21
Tights - My mom's 
Scarf - Forever 21
Socks - Who knows?
Boots - H&M
Ring - Gift from my cousin

I couldn't call this post  "The Dutchman" without including this little memory.  On one of my favourite trips when I lived abroad was to the Cliffs of Moher in western Ireland.  It was literally the most beautiful natural sight I've ever been to.  And since my friends and I were so in love with it, we tried our hardest to take jumping pictures.  But my camera was not quite up to snuff, so mostly there are just crouching pictures (one of which my friend Clara had framed as a gift for me!).  This one though, the closest we got to capturing airborne-inity, my friend Ariana dubbed "The Flying Dutchman Emerging Out of the Sea":

I've got the day off today, so I'm off to run errands and get my day started (at one p.m. . . . ).  Have a good one, boys and girls!

Love,

Your friend Lina

Living Vicariously

Last night my cousin crossed the Atlantic, boys and girls.

She's off for a semester abroad in Wales and I COULD NOT be more excited for her.  Not only is she my cousin, but my best friend as well.  And soulmate?  What I'm trying to say is she's arguably my favourite lady on this whole planet and I am feeling nothing but anxiety and joy and excitement for her right now.

Last week I took a little day trip to Montreal to see her off.  Here's a few shots from that lovely day.

The evening's entertainment of trying to throw a grape into Emma's mouth

Which just turned into whipping grapes at Emma's face

So close and yet so far

Prettiest girl I know

My cousin Kyle also got in on the action

I'm pretty sure she's all settled in Wales by now, so all that's left is to wait 'till she gets the internet so I can hear her stories and impressions.

Love (vicariously),

Your friend Lina

Canada is for Parkas

If Paris is for lovers, then Ottawa is for Parka-wearers, boys and girls.

I mean, I'm sure there are lots of romantics in Ottawa too.  But it's hard to express those feelings when it's -20 and colder outside, you know what I'm saying?  Doesn't matter if you're in Paris, Ottawa, or the blend-of-the-two, Quebec City, that I'm in in these pictures.

So this, boys and girls, is my parka.  It's like wearing a sleeping bag.  Which is more necessary and less cumbersome than you would imagine.

I had a red one a few years back that had mange on the hood, the stuffing all fell to the bottom, and the zipper was broken.  Which meant I had to step in and out of it.  And can I tell you, that's pretty hard to do in a giant lecture hall.

Through the grace of good friends who bought fancier coats, I inherited this beauty to replace ol' red.  The hood is still in furry glory, the stuffing is where it's supposed to be, and the zipper does as I tell it.  It's a very good little parka, and in exchange for my fondness, it keeps me warm when mother nature is telling you not to go outside.

So warm that you don't even need a scarf or hat!  Now that's a COAT.

Take that, mother nature.  I don't listen to nobody, not no how.

Homage to my friend Clara

Hooray for fur-lined hoods!

I love cannons.  And matching the relief on my parka.

I also love Winston Spencer Churchill.

Because we look the same.

Parka - Hand-me-down from a friend
Mittens - Church rummage sale
Tights - two pairs, American Apparel
Boots - foolish of me, should have brought my Sorels, Chinese Laundry

So don't go outside without one, boys and girls.  Together, we can enjoy winter!

Love,

Your friend Lina