Vintage Trailer Reno | 1970s Triple E Camper

 OH my goodness you guys!!  I got an email from Alberta Parks saying that we can start booking camping sites at the end of the month! When I read it, two things immediately crossed my mind:

1. That's flippin' crazy.  Its FEBRUARY.  I don't plan that far in advance.
2. Weeeee camping!

And now I keep finding myself daydreaming of summer, and actually considering camping sites in February lol. So since I can't get summer off my mind anayways, I figured now would be the perfect time to share our little trailer reno here on the blog.If you follow me on instagram you have probably caught me over-sharing about our beloved little trailer already. But for those of you who haven't, I inherited this teensy little home-on-wheels when my Dad passed away and proceeded to spend a good chunk of last spring giving it a bit of a face-lift. I can honestly say that it turned out to be a wonderful healing process for both me and the trailer! We are both feeling lighter and brighter and less leaky.Here is a little glimpse at the BEFORE pictures:[gallery type="square" size="large" columns="4" link="file" ids="4725,4723,4726,4721,4724,4722"]My grandparents bought this trailer brand new in the 70s, so it is filled to the brim with road trip memories. The fabric on the cushions has already been replaced at some point, but I really wanted to keep as much of the rest as original as possible. The hardest part really was tying in the new fabrics with the (awesome) existing patterns and colours of the 70s. Not gonna lie, I think it was a wonderful success. Everything feels fresh and clean, but nothing is so precious that dirty camping fingers and muddy paws can ruin it. Last summer we gave it a good test-run. We enjoyed every bit of our hard-work, and I reveled in the fact that I get to keep this little piece of my dad's childhood alive with my own family. To say we are excited to make some new memories this year would be a giant understatement..... So I just might have to be that person who books their camping in February lol️. How about you? Do you book early to get your favourite spots? Or do you do what I usually do and just call around until you find something available haha?P.S.  If you have any questions regarding the reno let me know!!  Just didn't want to bore y'all with the details 😉

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HUGE thanks to Suzanne Taylor Photography for taking some photos of us hanging out on a perfect Alberta summer night.  All the lovely photos of us are by her.

Randee For The Skinny | Lifestyle Fashion Brand

Randee.  "I hate getting my photo taken".  Also Randee.  "I need to apologize in advance for how awkward I am going to be!"Well I am so glad that despite all of her fears this lovely babe travelled down from Edmonton to model some clothing for the beautifully curated shop she works at, The Skinny.  I have worked with The Skinny before, but this was my first time shooting some of their women's wear and I LOVED it.  So much goodness.Also, it was summer.  Man, I really miss summer.  Anyone else pretending this warm 0 degree day is the beginning of spring??XO,KarmenP.S.  There is a part two of this shoot coming and it is fire!  So stay tuned! 

Travelling with Kids | Maui Family Vacation

 We’ve made a lot of little mistakes while travelling with the girls.  But I feel like this time we got a whole lot right!  And I thought I would share a little about what has worked well for us just in case it might help you (and to remind myself for next time!)So, first and foremost, I always head into a trip with the mindset that travelling with kids is going to be an adventure.  Maybe not the type where you go cliff-jumping or climb a mountain, but literally ANYTHING can happen and you are just going to have roll with the punches and laugh off all the crazy. Ohh and that time change… give it a day or two, sleep will come haha.Lol so have I sold you yet?  But honestly, nothing quite compares to the trips we have taken as family, they are beyond special.This list is pretty specific to Maui but would be useful for any hot destination!  So here we go! Here are some of things that have worked best for us:  1. PACKING.  Pack light.  If you are lucky enough to be travelling to a warm destination like we were.  You honestly are not going to need a lot!  Bring things you can mix and match (and don't bother bringing those jeans, you are so not going to wear them!  It's 27 degrees every single day!).  And when you are lugging two carseats and stroller through the airport, you really don't want to have a whole bunch of bags as well.AND if you pack light, it means you can rent that mustang convertible.  Not sure if there is anything better than driving along the ocean with the top down (and the kids napping in the backseat).  Not to mention all the people waiting at the airport will cheer you on as you fit those carseats and stroller in.  Haha, no joke.  2. BOOK A PLACE WITH A KITCHEN AND WASHER/DRYER!  I know it's a vacation.  But my kids are always hungry.  And you know whats less fun then making a few meals.... dragging tired kids to a restaurant three times a day.  (hard-pass on that one!)  And the best part is, you can save so much money and time doing it this way.  When we travel to Maui, we stop at Costco right after picking up our rental car.  It is super close to the airport so even though we are a bit tired from the trip its totally worth the effort.  We have booked through VRBO or AirBNB and have no complaints!  (I find the reviews oh so helpful)And I don't know about you guys, but my kids will take any opportunity to get filthy lol.  The washer and dryer was my sanity.  And as much as I hate laundry at home, I really didn't mind throwing a load in every couple days.  It meant we always had fresh bathing suits and made packing light super easy!  3. THE FLIGHT.  From Edmonton to Kahalui it is 7 hours and 50 minutes.  That is a very long time for a 2 year old and 4 year old.  If you are travelling with young ones it can get a little rough at times (like anytime the seatbelt sign is on haha).  I've found packing lots of non-sugary snacks (gotta keep that sugar0-high at bay) and filling up the Ipad with books, shows and games has been the easiest and lightest way to travel with this age.  We usually let them pick a toy and a coloring book to bring as well.  Our girls surprise us every time we fly with how capable they are.  PS.  Depriving them of any TV the week or two before means they will be glued to that sucker.  P.P.S. Don't forget some fruit snacks for the descent.  Helps their little ears pop!  Oh and we have always flown WestJet and have found the staff is so good with kids!  4.  GET FASTBREAK.  Seriously, just do it.  We have used Budget for our rental car every time.  Fastbreak is FREE (you just have to sign-up ahead of time) and means you get to skip the long line-up!  After a long flight, the last thing you want do is wait an hour with all your luggage in 27 degree heat to get your rental car.  Been there, done that!

5.

SIT BACK AND RELAX

.  My biggest suggestion for enjoying your family vacay is to not get too carried away with planning (or worse yet, expecting things to go as planned lol).  Leave lots of room to just jump in the pool or chill by the beach.  We usually book only one or two things and then play the rest of the trip by ear.  That way if the girls fall asleep in the stroller on a morning walk, we can just grab a beer and sit by the beach, instead of worrying about the next thing on the schedule.  Or if someone is feeling the jet lag we can take the day slow, think naps and hanging our poolside.  For us this slow pace, is absolutely perfect.  We also often rent paddle boards and bring snorkels so that we can head into the ocean whenever possible.  So easy when it's only a short walk away.

 6. BABY BEACH IN LAHAINA.  There are an endless amount of stunning beaches to explore on Maui.  And we often visit a few different ones.  But with our brave little water babies, the baby beach in Lahaina is absolutely perfect!!   We pack  a cooler of food and stay the whole day!

Pros: NO waves, lots of shade, occasional glimpse of little fish in the crystal clear water, close to where we we were staying, tons of restaurants and shops in town

Cons: It can be hard to find if you've never been, can be hard to find parking, it's not perfectly cleaned up like the beaches outside the resorts.

SO there you have it!  A few of the things that make our trip all the more enjoyable.  Not that you can really have a bad time on Maui.  But take this as a grain of salt.  I am no expert; just a Mama hoping to save you from airplane meltdown =P

 Warmly,KarmenP.S.  If you would like hear more about some our favourite spots on Maui, let me know!  I'd be happy to spotlight a some favs in detail.P.P.S.  I am so stoked to shoot the above  images for THE SKINNY again this year.  The Skinny is a local YEG shop and they carry some fantastic childrens and women's wear!  We basically wore them all on repeat for the whole trip!! (thanks to that washer and dryer haha) 

Why I haven’t gone shopping for myself in 4+ years…

  OK, so that’s not entirely true, I have picked up the odd item here and there but it has pretty much been out of necessity!  I have honestly not just gone shopping or purchased clothing that I love AND feel amazing in (and about) since I became pregnant with my oldest, and here are a few of the reasons why:

1. A changing body and breastfeeding.  The past 5 years I have been reluctant to invest in much clothing because I just might not fit in it a couple weeks later.  I don’t know what other ladies have experienced, but I found that it drove me crazy that none of my clothes fit for more then a week or two.  And I am not just talking about pregnancy, but postpartum as well!  I basically lived in dresses, cardigans and leggings during this time.  And now let’s talk breast-feeding for a second, if it doesn’t unbutton, pull-down or lift up it’s a no go.  I really don’t have the time or patience to change in order to feed my child.  And let’s be real, I didn’t really have much time to think about this whole fashion and shopping ordeal during this little phase of my life haha!!
2. I’m not a impulse buyer.  I don’t see something I like and swipe my card.  Much to the dismay of my shopping companions, I generally need to research and compare what I am buying. I DON’T WANT A LOT OF STUFF, I JUST WANT A FEW GREAT THINGS.
3. Ethics.  I feel completely overwhelmed when I walk into a mall and see thousands of things for sale, many of which were essentially made to be disposable.  I can’t help but wonder who made them, where they are made and where they will end up.  I often don’t even bother with ‘fancy expensive stores’ because I just am not all that fancy, and yet in the same breath how are all those fast-fashion chains selling these clothes for so cheap?!  I am not saying that clothes shouldn’t be affordable (trust me I LOVE a good deal as much as anyone!) but it’s just the lack responsibility that I cannot get behind.
4. I am picky.  If I am spending my hard earned cash, I want to love the way it fits and feels and I want it to last!

So ya, I guess now you know.  I am a super up-tight shopper, a total prude really.  But my body seems to have found it’s new normal and I am no longer nursing!  And I am sooooo, so ready to LOVE getting dressed in the morning.  I want my wardrobe to feel like an extension of myself, rather then just something I have to put on in order to leave the house.Like with most things, I likely won’t rush into this little project and I will probably start with researching ethically and locally sourced companies.  I am also debating creating a capsule wardrobe (because after 4+ years sans shopping I am basically starting from scratch anyways)!If you guys have any advice or tips or favourite shops, designers or makers I would LOVE, love, LoVe, to hear from you!  I have tried to navigate into ‘slow fashion’ previously and found it incredibly difficult (and kind of depressing).  But I am hopeful that after nearly 5 years away from the shopping game that there are lot’s of hidden gems to be uncovered!   And I promise to share any little nuggets find you <3.  EEEK, wish me luck!Warmly,KarmenP.S. Thanks so much Erinn, from www.shoptheskinny.ca, for sending this amazing dress with me to Hawaii!  I had so much fun wearing and photographing it (and it is bonkers comfy) 💜.   I am so stoked for you to be launching a ladies clothing line next month!  YAY!!!  Heck here's one more of The Skinny's 'Willa' dress, just for good measure ;) 

The Skinny | Curated Adorableness for Adventurers

I am so excited to share a few images that I shot for THE SKINNY in Maui earlier this year! If you haven't already, stop by www.shoptheskinny.ca and peruse a wonderfully curated selection of clothing for adventurers of all ages!!  ENJOY!