Tofino

California Poppy Reserve

For someone who loves flowers as much as I do, it feels like a bold statement to say California Poppies are my favourite, but they easily are. I love how they seem to be so many things all at once, and how many of those qualities are contradictory. They are delicate yet wild, cheery and bright while also having calming properties that help reduce anxiety. Actually, whenever I am feeling anxious, my husband tells me, "you're just a poppy in the wind." You might feel like you're loosing control or all over the place but you are rooted and will be just fine. Fittingly enough, when we arrived to the poppy reserve, the winds picked up, the poppies danced and we wandered around the orange fields completely smitten by the sweetest flower.  

Kauai

Hackwith Basics

I've been following along and wearing the beautiful work of  Hackwith Design for a few years now. I love the simplicity of their pieces, the quality of their fabrics and that they are made to order by a team of amazing women in Minnesota.  So, I was beyond excited when they asked me to take some photos of a piece from their new basics line. 

This top is lightweight, loose, and just so comfortable. My new spring/summer staple. 

I recommend taking a look at the rest of the collection here. 

Winter Warmth Part II

EAT

During the darkest time of the year, there is a great need to connect, celebrate and share. The Winter Warmth dinner, hosted by HOLD and prepared by Tonya from The Well Woman, did just that. A three course plant-based meal was thoughtfully made using many local ingredients and then beautifully displayed, blurring the line between food and art. We visited farms and collected winter greenery, which filled the space at HOLD with some winter cheer and the warm glow from candles burned into the night.

road trip

In May, my husband and I drove to California for a wedding I was photographing in Petaluma. Having done the west coast drive many times, we wanted to experience some new adventures while still visiting some of our favourite spots. Here are some of the highlights from this trip.   
 

picnic at point reyes
a soak at orr hot springs
oregon sand dunes
sea ranch chapel
the arches in brookings, oregon
sunset at mount shasta
big sur highway
a hike in the redwoods
a quick jump onto the PCT via highway 224
frequent stops to pick salmon berries + wild flowers

Tomorrow morning, we leave for California again and have a very different trip planned out. Can't wait to share our adventure! 

west coast drive

I recently travelled to California to photograph an engagement session and decided to make a road trip out of it with my best gal, Marla. You know you are the best of friends when you travel over 5,400 km in 10 days and still want to hang out. We didn't quite experience sunny California as we traveled the week of El Niño but the beauty of the coast is undeniable regardless of the weather. This is a collection of photographs taken throughout our drive in Washington, Oregon and California. 

winter solstice

the returning of the light. winter solstice is one of my favourite things to celebrate. it signals that we've made it through the darkest days. it feels like an accomplishment of some sort. a small victory to help us get through the winter and a reminder that warmer days are ahead. 

this year, we had a small gathering with close friends in our home. I wanted to bring as much of the outdoors in and fill our home with the natural beauty of cedar, hemlock, pinecones and beeswax. a local grocery store was disposing a box of oranges which I happily took home to turn into something beautiful. this simple little garland filled our home with so much cheer. I am so grateful for this time of year, for a chance to slow down and appreciate the subtle shifts from the darkness to lightness. 

waking dream

We woke early that morning, the sun hardly visible behind a dense layer of fog. It was one of the first cold mornings after an even colder... our tent weighed down with condensation. As we walked down the road, hundreds of webs lit the way. An open field too bright for tired eyes held in it the most magnificent sight. Had we not been close enough to touch, I would have sworn it all a dream.