JOFFRE LAKES

For years I've been wanting to hike Joffre Lakes and finally this past weekend we got to go.  The three lakes were absolutely stunning and ethereal. It's the hardest hike I've ever done but it was totally worth the pain, sweat, and mosquito bites.

Joffre Lakes is about a three-hour drive from Vancouver. Hiking up to to the upper lake and back takes about five hours to do round-trip. The hardest part was going from the first lake to the second lake. I felt like giving up and turning back, but we stuck to it and were well rewarded by the view of pristine turquoise-coloured Middle Joffre Lake. The colour of the lakes was really unbelievable. We took a lunch break at the edge of the lake soaking in the spectacular views.

It didn't take long to get to the final lake from Middle Joffre Lake. Upper Joffre Lake is quite impressive because of Matier Glacier towering over it. You could see the melting glacier feeding the lake. Out of the three lakes it looked the most stark probably due to its high elevation.

Lower Joffre Lake

Lower Joffre Lake

Hiking from Lower to Middle Joffre Lake

Middle Joffre Lake

Joffre Creek

Upper Joffre Lake

Matier Glacier

CHAIR OBSESSION

I know there are a lot of people out there who share my obsession with chairs. I don't know why, but I love, love, love chairs. Maybe it's because they seem like sculpture. A well-designed chair is truly a work of art. If I could, I would have a room devoted to my chair collection.

I particularly like midcentury modern chairs. Who doesn't really? I will probably never own the authentic designer version of the chairs pictured above but they will continue to haunt my daydreams as long as I live. Although I'm perfectly aware that these chairs have become a cliché in interior design these days, it doesn't stop me from admiring and coveting them.

Here are some photos from my Pinterest boards of these beautiful chairs in action.

Source: designspongeonline.com 

Source: style-files.com

Source: housetohome.co.uk

You can find more information on the Eames molded plastic chair, the wishbone chair, and the Series 7 chair on the DWR website.

WHITE FLOORS: LOVE OR HATE?

The Dude and I like to have pseudo-arguments about white floors. I love them. He hates them. He thinks they're an abomination. He argues that it looks too cold, sterile, and stark. I can see his point. But I've seen interiors with white floors that look cozy and inviting. It's all about layering and using different textures to add warmth to a space. I love how white floors make a room look more spacious and freshly clean. We'll probably never have white floors but nothing can stop me from daydreaming about them.

Source: kelseykruer.tumblr.com

Source: frenchbydesign.blogspot.com

Source: decor8blog.com

Source: kitkadesigntoronto.com

Source: luellaloves.tumblr.com

Source: velvetpalette.wordpress.com

In personal news, we are about to move again. We just moved five months ago, and I can't believe we have to do it again. But our current place continues to give me headaches, and it became clear that we have to move out of here. I tried all sorts of treatments and medication but the headaches persist whenever I'm in the apartment. So in a couple weeks we'll be in our new digs.

SHOP UPDATE: FIRST ANNIVERSARY SALE!

It's been a year since I opened the LAX TO YVR shop! To celebrate I'm offering 20% off everything (excluding shipping) until Sunday, June 17. Use coupon code FIRST at checkout.

It's amazing how fast a year goes. I remember in the first month I launched the shop, Canada Post went on strike! I had to go down to the U.S. in order to ship my orders. It goes without saying that it was a pretty stressful way to begin a new business!

In this upcoming year, I'm planning on introducing more new designs. And, of course, I'll continue using environmentally friendly supplies and methods in creating my products.

Above all, I'm grateful to all my customers for supporting my creative business. It wouldn't be possible without you!

PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON MY TASTE IN MUSIC

NPR is currently doing a series asking people how their parents influenced their taste in music. So I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane and highlight some of the music I grew up listening to because of my parents.

My dad introduced me to Frank Sinatra in the mid-1990's when he got Sinatra's Duets album. I probably would have discovered the greatness of Ol' Blue Eyes on my own later when I got into swing dancing. My favourite tune that Frank Sinatra sang is "I Thought About You," and my dad and I danced to it at my wedding. Listening to Frank Sinatra was probably the gateway into my discovery of jazz.



My mom introduced me to some pop icons of her youth, namely Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters, and ABBA. Although I was introduced to them when I was in high school, I didn't really come to appreciate them until I was in my 20's. One of my all time favourite songs to sing at karaoke is "Superstar" by The Carpenters. I probably came to love cheesy music because of all the ABBA and Carpenters songs I listened to.



So how about you? How have your parents shaped your taste in music, for better or worse?

SHOP UPDATE: NEW ITEM AND A GIVEAWAY

This new item is now available in the LAX TO YVR shop. I came up with the design a while ago but it always takes a while to get new products off the ground I find.

There's a chance for you to win my latest creation in a giveaway that's going on right now on the La Chapstick Fanatique blog. Hurry to enter because it ends this Wednesday! The contest is open worldwide.

INSPIRATION: BLACK AND WHITE INTERIORS

The other day I was at the bookstore browsing the home decor section. I picked up a book called Black and White (and a Bit in Between): Timeless Interiors, Dramatic Accents, and Stylish Collections by Celerie Kemble. I was a bit skeptical about the premise of the book but curiosity got the better of me. Wow, was I blown away by the amazing interiors I saw. I was expecting to see stark black and white interiors but I was totally wrong. There was a vast variety of black and white spaces with a surprising amount of colours mixed in.

As I browsed the photos, I noticed that successful black and white rooms have a lot of different textures in them that adds visual interest. Also, I noticed layers of white and black. The spaces I liked best were the ones with wood accents or pops of colour.

I also found myself actually reading the text. I have to admit that when I look at interior design books I only look at the pictures and rarely read the copy. Celerie Kemble offers good advice on how to pull off the look so that you don't end up with a space that looks too stark and sterile.

I scoured Pinterest to look for examples of black and white interiors that I like. Here's a sample of what I found.

Source: whereisthecool.com via Alice on Pinterest

Source: kitka.ca via Alice on Pinterest

Source: the-brick-house.com via Alice on Pinterest

Source: browndresswithwhitedots.tumblr.com via Alice on Pinterest

Source: things.konradolsson.se via Alice on Pinterest

Source: themarionhousebook.com via Alice on Pinterest

Source: themarionhousebook.com via Alice on Pinterest

NEW IN THE SHOP: WHALES

Growing up summer and the beach were synonymous to me. So with summer coming, I can't help but think about the ocean. This inspired me to to design a new item for the LAX TO YVR shop featuring whales. Whales are such fascinating creatures. Everybody seems to be awed by them. I can't help but see them as gentle, benevolent monarchs of the oceanic kingdom. Am I the only one who thinks of whales in this way?

I think this piece would make a great addition to a nautical themed kid's room or to a beach house. It is available now in the LAX TO YVR shop.

On another note, I'll be traveling to Los Angeles this Saturday and returning next Wednesday. The shop will remain open but orders received during that time will be shipped out on Thursday, May 17. I'm looking forward to spending time with my nephew, a fun-loving adorable toddler whom I barely get to see.

ACE HOTEL SEATTLE

Part of our trip to Massachusetts involved staying in Seattle overnight as we were flying in and out of Sea-Tac airport. So I booked a room at the Ace Hotel, of course! We so enjoyed our stay at the Ace in Palm Springs that we want to try to visit all the other Ace Hotels.

The Ace Hotel in Seattle is in a historic building and it's chock full of mouth-watering vintage decor.

I especially loved the horse themed wall paper in one of the bathrooms in the lobby. I've come to love using horses in my own decor.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to take photos of the room we stayed in because it was too dim even with the lights on. There were no windows, just a door to a covered courtyard. All I can say is that it was not your typical hotel room. It actually reminded me a lot of the room we stayed in at the Craft Hotel in Buenos Aires.

We also got to tour around Downtown Seattle for a bit. The weather was gorgeous and made exploring very easy and pleasant.

When we visited Pike Place market, it was during a Sunday morning and the place was abuzz with shoppers and tourists. There were so many yummy eateries and I wanted to eat at all of them.

Even though Seattle is less than 3 hours away by car from Vancouver, we rarely go there. I hope that we can spend more time exploring this super cool city in the future.

VISITING BOSTON

The Dude and I spent last week visiting his family who live right outside of Boston. We went into the city a few times to see the sights and meet up with the Dude's friends who live in the area.

I happened to discover during our trip that Instagram is finally available for Android phones! I was so excited because I've been wanting to use Instagram for so very long and it was the only reason why I'd get an iPhone. I still do want an iPhone because it has a superior camera; the pictures I take with my Android phone are so, so sucky. Even though it's kinda embarrassing that I'm posting my crappy photos, the fact that I processed them through Instagram kinda redeems them.

Paul Revere statue in the North End.

Cool old building in the North End.

Main drag in the North End. 

Newbury Street. Known for high end designer stores. 

There also seems to be an old church on every block in this part of town. 

Fenway Park. Celebrating 100 years. 

Boston was a nice change of scenery from cold, gloomy Vancouver. There was a heat wave so we got to enjoy unseasonably warm, toasty weather. I loved that it was sunny every day we were there. Now the Dude and I are wondering if we should move to Boston. We've been vacation-seduced!

If you'd like to follow me on Instagram my user name is laxtoyvr.