Our Weekend - April 5-7, 2013

So both Chelsea and I have the lucky privilege of being bridesmaids this September! We both did our brides maids duties this weekend - my duties involved driving to Johannesburg to go the Bridal Expo with the rest of the bridesmaids. Before heading to Johannesburg I headed to the farm to see Rog ( see photo 6 - look how cool I am on the back of the truck will all my macadamia friends).  After driving to Joburg we started the night off at Mantra (3), an amazing Indian restaurant ( what made it even more amazing was the fact that we could bring our own booze...). After lots of champers and wine we headed to Mamma's Shebeen and drank far too much more and danced our bridal party asses off. I have only two pictures from that night, and you do NOT need to see those. I also believe there may be a video floating around of me trying to rap the entire "I like big butts" song...

Saturday we woke up with KILLER hangovers and decided that the bridal fair was something we were not capable of doing - so we made appointments to go Wedding dress shopping instead. I think Tanya ( the bride) found "the one". On Sunday, after a big breakfast with the gang, I rushed home to spend some quality time cuddling with my  darling cat on the couch (1) and of course R.

Didn't chat with Chelsea that much since I was away in Joburg but from the sounds of it the weather was quite crappy so she spent some time indoors drinking tea and reading 419 by Will Ferguson (2), then also headed bridesmaid dress shopping (4) on Saturday for her friend Amanda's wedding, and then escaped the cold again on Sunday to go on a date to see Jurassic Park in 3D ( I must be living in a cave, I had no idea this was out? I LOVE jurrasic park!) and then ate at Clive Burger (5).

yumm.. I could really go for a clive burger and beer right now...

Plains War Bonnet - Aboriginal Headdress, Canada

Growing up in southwest Calgary only a few minutes from the Tsuu T'ina Nation, I’ve always been fascinated by Aboriginal culture and, more recently, troubled by the misappropriation of it. Despite having long been a recognizable and archetypal American Aboriginal symbol, headdresses, or war bonnets, such as this were worn exclusively by the Plains People, a group of tribes that spanned a massive region including Southern Alberta. War bonnets are most often ceremonial, worn by honoured male warriors as symbols of success in battle and of prestige, earning a feather for each act of bravery. Despite their cultural significance, war bonnets are constantly misappropriated in fashion and popular culture as discussed in this article, Hey, You in the Headdress! by Chelsea Vowel.

Chinooks - Unique Weather in Alberta

(scroll down! white was a bad choice!)

Growing up in Calgary, chinooks were one of those things I totally took for granted. I just assumed they happened everywhere and was so disappointed when I went elsewhere and learned that they only occurred at home. Chinooks are unseasonably warm winter winds, often raising temperatures by as much as 20 degrees, accompanied by stunning cloud formations called the "chinook arch" which, while appearing menacing, rarely ever bring rain or snow. They may not be as exhilarating as a Lowveld thunderstorm but a chinook across the Alberta prairies is one of my favourite things about home.

Our Weekend - February 15-18, 2013

Chelsea had a lot of work to do this long weekend including a branding project, blog updates and a birthday campaign for PARK (6). She also found time for a lazy brunch (2) and a Sunday night out for the Sled Island fundraiser at Republik (4).

Charlotte had a very productive weekend around the house with R. They spent time in the garden ripping out old plants and replanting new ones, as well as creating an outdoor space in front of their new french doors (5). They painted Murrays old room (3), squeezed in an engagement party and had two special girlfriends over for a salad lunch on Sunday (1).

Our Weekend - November 23-25, 2012

Our Weekend - November 16-18, 2012

Our Weekend - November 2-4, 2012

Our Weekend - October 26-28, 2012

Our Weekend - October 19-21, 2012

Our Weekend - October 12-14, 2012

Our Weekend - October 5-7, 2012

Our Weekend - September 28-30, 2012

Our Weekend - September 22-24, 2012

Our Weekend - September 14 - 16, 2012

Our Weekend - September 7 - September 9, 2012

other places we went and things we did in Calgary: 
wine at Vin Room | Wurst | pints at Local 510 | pizza and wine at UNA | wine at Caffe Rosso |  PARKSALE | photos with Natalie

What we love about Calgary - Snapshots

What we love about Calgary

Our Weekend - August 31 - September 2, 2012

other places we went/things we did: drinks at fiddlers | Dan's birthday at Diner Deluxe | Calgary Pride Parade

Sarin Harrison - What I love about Kananaskis Country

While we're in the same place for the next few months we've invited guests to contribute to There & Here by telling us what they love about their favourite place in the world. Our guest this week is Sarin from Calgary, Canada.
 

What I love about Kananaskis Country is the escape into peace and tranquility it offers.

This place cannot be adequately described in words. In fact, pictures don't even do it justice. I've spent summers and winters in the parks of Kananaskis Country and every time I travel here, I'm reminded why I'm drawn to this part of the Canadian Rockies. It's not just the immense snow-topped mountains that humble you with their presence; or the crystal-clear glacier-fed waters that flow from mountain to mountain; nor is it the winding trails and pathways that you can explore at end... these are all wonderful parts of Kananaskis, but not the best part.

No, the best part is how each experience of whatever you are doing in Kananaskis brings you back to a simplistic and pure point of living, where you rely on yourself and the company you're with, where you feel the joy of being alive in such a beautiful place that your heart almost bursts, and you forget about everything else in your life that can, for the moment, be forgotten. The fresh air, big skies and serene landscapes are perfect elements to escape into from a crazy, busy, non-stop life which many of us live. For that, Kananaskis is my favourite place to be.

Sarin Harrison resides in Calgary, Alberta - just a hop, skip and jump away from her most favourite place ever. You can find her on Instagram at sarin_dipity as she captures moments with her favourite people in her favourite places doing her favourite things. 

Maia Fuhrman - What I love about this summer in Calgary

While we're in the same place for the next few months we've invited guests to contribute to There & Here by telling us what they love about their favourite place in the world. Our guest this week is Maia from Calgary, Canada.

Required cliché shot of the tracks disappearing into nothing…70s film reel style.


What I love about this summer in Calgary is exploring Inglewood.

If you’re a native Calgarian, you know that our city is most famous for its raucous, mid-July western extravaganza: the notorious Calgary Stampede. However, if you venture just past the grounds (up the hill and over the bridge), you’ll find reprieve from the raucous crowds amongst the historic buildings of up-and-coming Inglewood.

This neighborhood lies just East of the downtown core, and just under the city’s radar – not quite yet a regular destination for most Calgarians, but long-practiced at serving and connecting its residents. Studded with heritage buildings, converted lofts, art galleries, dive-bars, boutique cafes, and curio shops, 9th Avenue SE presents endless fascination for (this) Calgarian, who thought they’d seen everything.

Eat: Without Papers Pizza, Eat Eat, Fine Diner.
Drink: Hose & Hound Pub, Swans Public House, The Ironwood Bar & Grill.
Listen: The Blues Can, The Area, The New Black.
Shop: Pretty Little Things, Mid-Century Dweller, Etsy.
Curiosity: Silk Road Spice Merchants, Knifewear, DaDe Art Gallery.

River-side bike path curves around the Deane House patio.

Built by the Hudson’s Bay Company, this little structure has survived since 1847.

Original Calgary Zoo sign.

Streetscape of 9th Ave SE & Ironwood sign.

Basement showroom of Mid-Century Dweller.

Nerding out and planning fun with the Sled Island schedule.

The Area functions as a music venue, community garden and youth center.

Prairie sky dwarfs the abandoned shacks that line the railroad.

Just a man and his bicycle, looking epic.

Maia Fuhrman is a Communications student currently working for Critical Mass, and excitedly anticipating her final semester on exchange to Oxford, UK this September. She doesn’t have a website, but you can find her on Twitter @maialoren, and (if you really want to) on Facebook. You know the drill. ‘Nuff said.