The Norwegian Adventure | The Streets of Stavanger

If you haven’t already caught on by now, you are either new here or not reading any of the words I have written and simply scrolling to look over my photographic feats- either way I will repeat it- for repeating sake- I am in Stavanger Norway; hence the recent titles “ The Norwegian Adventure”.



I have been taking in the café culture, hanging out with children, enjoying the view from my temporary home; and being awe struck by the beauty that is Stavanger. This city is an eclectic mix of artsy, historic and modern- all the styles harmoniously coexisting to create a wonderful experience for any new comer. Although all the signs are in Norwegian- which I am beginning to pick up (takk- thank you; hei- hi)- everyone here knows how to speak English; which is comforting for this Canadian girl.



As anyone in my position would, I have been taking pictures like a Los Angeles paparazzi- of absolutely everything. There is so much to take in, it’s almost overwhelming thinking of all the things I want to see and do- I have been doing my best to manage my expectations; meaning, if I don’t see it all, I won’t let myself get too upset; I mean, I’m in Norway for heaven sakes, that is huge in and of itself.



These are my favorite shots of the week, the streets of Stavanger as I have affectionately titled them. The church in this photo is said to be one of the oldest churches in Europe; it’s funny to see locals, just going about their business as usual in such an breathtakingly historical and culturally rich setting; my jaw has been on the floor for the better part of the last week, I still cannot get over how beautiful it is here. It is nothing short of inspiring!




Have a wonderful weekend, Happy Halloween; and Takk for reading!

Xoxo
Bianca


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The Norwegian Adventure | Cafe Culture

The café culture in Norway is out of control- in a good way! There are so many cute little cafes sprinkled all over the landscape; even in small little suburbs one can find a cute café or bakery without too much effort. I have been allowing myself to indulge in $10.00 lattes and baked goods every time the opportunity presents itself- what are vacations for!

My cousin and her friends hit up cafés at least twice a week- and you will not find me complaining. I don’t need any excuses to lounge for hours over warm drinks and delicious baked goods. Although my cousins friends are slightly unfamiliar with the whole blogging thing, I have gotten more than a few sideways looks from some of her cohorts when I bust out my camera, hoping to capture every moment- one of her more outspoken friends exclaimed in her heavy Scottish accent “ Cassandra, your cousin is a fruitcake, she’s taking a picture of a latte”- one day in the far off future she’ll understand!



I’ve been here a week and I have been to a café almost every day; and, after spending hours with a group of mothers, I know WAY more than I care to know about the whole new motherhood experience- that alone is the BEST.BIRTH.CONTROL.EVER.



‘Nuff said.


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The Norwegian Adventure | The View From Here

Oh Norway you are ever so beautiful; no seriously, you are! Back when this vacation was off in the distance, I didn’t really know what to expect; I mean, I knew that there would be blond beauties everywhere- and there are; I knew it would be expensive- and it is (in fairness I was warned); but I had no idea it would be as astonishingly beautiful as it is. And all this beauty right in my very own temporary backyard!

I’m talking rolling green hills, glistening water and architecture to rival some of the best cities in Europe- London beware, Norway is coming for you!



My cousin’s condo backs onto a fjord and it is absolutely breathtaking; her view is worth the astronomical amount they pay to live here- I kid you not dear readers, Norway is SUPER expensive; I have been here for a week and I am still getting sticker shock. But, I don’t think I could ever get used to paying $10.00 for a latte, no matter how delicious and creamy- and OH MAN, they’ve been delicious AND creamy!



These are the pictures I took of my cousins view- and one at the train stop by her place; and can you believe I didn’t edit these photos AT ALL?? Nope, this is just the raw beauty that Norway has to offer.

I would say this is the BEST place in the world, to gain some- much needed- perspective; wouldn’t you?!


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The Norwegian Adventure | Cuteness Overload

So I have settled nicely into life in Norway; I am lunching with my cousin and her mom friends at cute little Norwegian cafes, doing my best to communicate in Norwegian (failing), changing dirty diapers and taking tons of pictures of cute kids. WARNING: I will not be held responsible for the reactions to the cuteness overload that follows.

These are my cousins 2 boys; Haydn is the 2 year old- and yes, he is behaving as all 2 year old's do; like a split personality psycho, happy one minute and screaming the other. Good thing he is cute, is all I have to say to that.

Hendrix is 3 weeks old; and, truthfully, he doesn’t do much, not even cry, he just sleeps and eats- which explains why there is only one picture of him at the moment. I find myself reaching for my camera whenever Haydn does something cute, but Hendrix does the same thing all day so he’s getting less film, but I’m going to work on that.



This past weekend, my cousin and I went to Clas Ohlson and she decided she wanted to pick up a razor and trim Haydn’s little curls; the lesson here folks is that a $15.00 haircut is worth more than a completely avoidable hair mishap.

I was on the computer when she was started cutting his hair; and all I heard was “BIANCA, COME QUICK!” I thought she cut his ear off or something completely horrific that would warrant such a glass shattering scream. NOPE, she just cut his hair down to the scalp.

Lesson two: Use the guard.



I could NOT stop laughing the moment I saw him; he looked so cute with one huge strip cut out of his hair. And he- bless him- was none the wiser, as long as he had his Chupa Chups sucker in his mouth, nothing could bring him down! My cousin and I stood there for 10 minutes in shock- she didn’t know what to do- but, I mean, the only thing left to do was cut the rest and hope the kid likes wearing toques- it’s chilly here in Norway; I would know, I have short hair and my noggin gets a little chilly on our adventures out and about.

So now little Haydn is a cue ball; but as I had to repeat- over and over- to my bewildered cousin, it’s just hair, it will grow back.



And through the whole ordeal- earth shattering screams (her) and guttural laughs (me)- baby Hendrix did as babies of 3 weeks do- he slept.


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In Transit

I am here, and settling into life in Norway- thank god.



Traveling is grueling no matter what; taking planes across the ocean is draining on the best of days- but my journey saw me on three planes, in three airports- waiting for a total of eight hours, two in Vancouver and six in Amsterdam. Which would have been fine, but I was lugging around a computer, duty free liquor weighing no less than 20 lbs AND my purse.



I was cursing my computer the whole time because it was completely and utterly useless to me on the journey, as EVERY. SINGLE. AIRPORT was without free wireless- ah, the perils of no credit card. And I cannot be certain whether it was the short hair- contrasted against the long braids in my passport picture- my red sleepy eyes or the fact that my scent preceded me- another peril of long journeys- but I was “randomly” selected, not once, not twice but three times for a routine pat down- the last round being the most intimate; but you won’t catch me complaining as it is probably the only action I will see while I’m here. Thanks for the love customs;)



And as if that wasn’t enough, the airline lost my luggage, which I was told- after the fact- is a part of the deal when flying KLM out of Amsterdam. But they did give me a “care package” with a flimsy brush, a toothbrush and an XXL men’s t-shirt; thanks KLM (said with complete and utter sarcasm).



But despite it all- the long delays, the 40lb carry-on, the frisky security and the lost luggage- I’m here!




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The Merits of Soup

I love soup; it is no secret that soup is one of my favorite dishes to make. Soup to me, is so many things, comforting and filling, complex yet so simple. When I indulge in the pleasure that is soup I find it conjures up a feeling of coziness- soup is familiar. The idea of so many ingredients, playing so nicely together is the true spirit of soup; soup shared between friends on a cold day is the definition of hospitality. The art of making soup is like building a house, when built- made- on a strong foundation of quality ingredients, the result is something magical.

The merits of soup are not only rooted in an emotional response, soup is also one of the cheapest ways to eat; in soup, the “bad” cuts of meat are given the forum to shine, and “back of the fridge” finds read: leftovers, are given the opportunity to shine once again. Soup is equal opportunity.



Fall has fully descended on Edmonton, the Indian summer has long passed, the trees are bare and it’s cold. Old man winter is circling the block and soup has become more fitting than ever. I- getting into the full fall spirit- made a soup last week that still has people talking; I was calling it southwest soup- because of the black beans, corn and cumin- but my friend Sarah called it Sante Fe soup and I like that much better. It is the simplest soup to prepare; all it requires of you is assembly and BOOM hearty home cooking in minutes!

We enjoyed this after our- very frigid- pumpkin carving adventure- and it was perfect.

The recipe is posted on my food blog and isn’t titled Southwest Soup or Sante Fe soup, it’s actually titled Hearty Chicken, Vegetable and Bean soup- what can I say, I like variety! Check it, prepare it and be warm and fuzzy on the inside- in that exact order!

Hearty Chicken, Vegetable and Bean Soup



My Friday gift to you is soup! Happy Friday everyone!


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Pumpkin Carving

Carving pumpkins- unlike the now defunct cereal Trix- is not just for kids; all that is required is a childlike spirit, sharp knives and someone who doesn’t mind a little elbow grease. Make no mistake, I’m not referring to myself- I discovered that day that I am more of an observer an “idea woman” if you will- but we had Suzy and Katie, 2 very crafty ladies. Katie drew and Suzy cut- Caitlin and I enjoyed our wine and took pictures! I’d say it’s better that way, I am in no way crafty or desire to be.

I did, however, make a few slices on the old squash, just to say that I did!









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The Norwegian Adventure | Norway Bound!

Norway! I’m going to Norway today. As you are reading this, I am probably en route to Norway; and holy hell do I need this getaway. Lots of things have been clouding my mind lately and I have been feeling distracted by it all; so this trip couldn’t come at a better time, as I feel that I need to gain some much needed perspective.

Why am I going to Norway you ask? Well, I am going to be inspired, to take copious amounts of pictures, to immerse myself in another culture, to visit my cousin and her lovely little family- she just had a baby boy Hendrix, who joined her, her husband Jamie and 2 yr old Haydn; and I get to go and help out for a month! And- most importantly of all- I am going to Norway for a little bit of personal development, to explore myself away from the distractions of home. I am eternally grateful that I have been given the opportunity to spend some time with my cousin’s family and with myself.

And I likely wouldn’t have met Hendrix- the newest addition- until next year, and I love new little babies- especially Cassandra’s! So I can’t wait to be baby/toddler paparazzi for a month. And like I said before, the ability to gain some much needed perspective gets me giddy on the inside.

I’ll be blogging all my adventures for your viewing pleasure; and I can’t wait to share them with you.

I also need to give a shout out to my lovely friend Kristen, who I refer to as Miss Zagat, because she is a pro travel itinerary planner; she found me soooo many cool things to do- where to shop, what to eat, where to be seen and so forth. She even found me a legion of blogs so that I can make some friends! What a gal!

Wish me luck on my journey- customs and all that airport security stuff fills me with a certain kind of dread. I’ll see you on the flipside!


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Ear Candy | Fridays are for Music

Music makes me happy; music is a universal language; music is life. However you say it, music is rad! I depend on music to get me through the day; and I came upon this mix a few weeks ago and I cannot stop raving about it. Since it’s Friday I thought I would share and give you some tunes for your weekend.

Oh and this mix is a goooody; it comes from the c90s; and this whole thing- from start to finish- is pure dance genius. There’s disco, funk and a little bit of minimal in the between; I repeat- for it is so necessary- it’s GOOD!

c90s September chart mix (click for download link)

One listen and you will be saying “thank you Bianca”- you’re welcome!


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Fashion Post | Her name is Tassles

This past Friday night marked the 2nd annual Lucha Libra Celebration- essentially where we get down in the name of all the lovely libras in our lives; 5 in particular are in my circle of friends. After the bar, my roommates and I hosted an afterparty that was meant to be small, but we are fun lovers, so it ended up being huge.



At one point my friend Caitlin and I decided to have an impromptu photoshoot to capture the wonder that is this jacket- I call her Tassles; and she’s sassy! Caitlin is the one who found this gem; initially it was for her but it didn’t fit her properly. So, once again, my broad shoulders saved the day, and the jacket was mine!



We also decided that the debut of Tassles was the perfect opportunity for a photo shoot with just the 2 of us, since the jacket was a gift from Caitlin to me; complete with ground shots, standing shots and all sorts of poses. I spared you the duds- some are FAR too embarrassing for my memory card, let alone the world wide web- and I shared the best shot of the bunch!



A short and sweet post; just like the tassles dangling from my divine new jacket;)


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Weekend Color: O.P.I Nail Color in “Jewel of India”

Nail polish is my new favorite thing! Since painting my nails last week- after having not painted them in years- I am completely in love with colored nails. Where I once used to pass the nail care and polish aisle, I now stop and linger, imagining what colors would go with what outfits- the possibilities are absolutely endless.

This week’s color comes from O.P.I once again; why? Because O.P.I has an amazing color selection AND it applies/dries really quickly and evenly; which is key for last minute applications before walking out the door. I wanted to go with a bolder color this week, because last week’s nail paint was matte and didn’t pop quite as much, suede-like if you will. Last week’s color mantra was “mute”, this week’s mantra is “drama”!

At my thanksgiving dinner this past Sunday, so many people complimented my nails; even making mention to the fact that they hadn’t seen my nails painted in…ever. It really has been that long. I’ve enjoying painted nails so much, that last week I broke the rules slightly and kept the polish on all week- a major kitchen NO NO. But in life, some rules are made to be broken or- at the very least- slightly bent;)

xoxo
bianca

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Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

This weekend was thanksgiving and the occasion of thanks got me thinking. Last year at thanksgiving, I was hating where I was in my life- I was broke and I had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up. In short I wasn’t thankful for much (and yes I realize how much of princess I sound like, seeing as I had and always have had a lot to be grateful for).

But what a difference a year makes!

Every year my grandmother hosts thanksgiving and usually we go around the room and each person has to say what they are most grateful for; this year, however, we didn’t. So I thought I would start the tradition here!

Bianca’s Gratitude List
My family~ this one obviously goes without saying, but it’s something that bears repeating as much as possible. I love my family sooooo much, they are amazing; EVERY.SINGLE.DAY I am grateful for them and how they have molded me.

My friends~ another “goes without saying” one, but- again- it bears repeating. When I moved back to Edmonton from Toronto, I was so defeated; but I held on to the thought that there HAD to be a reason that I was coming back; and undoubtedly the reason was the amazing friends I have made and reconnected with since returning home 3 years ago. Among these wonderful people I have found dreamers, supporters and some of the truest gems ever- these people are the family I have chosen!

Clarity~ throughout my 24th year- more than any other year before- I felt so completely lost; I didn’t know who I was or who I wanted to be and I felt like a stranger in my own life. I thought I knew what I wanted but I didn’t and I didn’t even know where to begin figuring myself out. Throughout the year there were many growing pains, but now having gotten through the gauntlet, I feel like I am- finally- figuring out who it is I want to be- and it feels so amazing!

*Note that I am also grateful for the small things, like the roof over my head, the clothes on my back, the car I drive and so forth; but I wanted to keep the list to the big stuff.*

For the longest time I thought life was about the destination and I was getting fed up with the journey; but I finally figured out that life IS the journey. Cheesy I know, but so damned true!

And one more cheesy moment, I am thankful for you- the people who choose to read the words I write and take time to comment- it means a lot. I have grown so much through blogging and writing, the whole process has ignited so many things inside me that I never knew existed. I always thought I was the type of person that couldn't commit and it just happened that I needed to find something that I felt committed to- this place has shown me that. So thank you again for stopping by!

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving and have many things/people/experiences to be thankful for.

Indian Summer

Cree, Iroquois or Sarcee; however you say it, we have been enjoying our very own Indian summer here in Edmonton; and I’m ever so grateful for it. Our summer was atrocious, wet and cold- not just chilly but straight up cold; so I was hoping, with my fingers and toes crossed, that fall would deliver us a season we could proudly enjoy!

Way to go Mother Nature, you’re grumpy phase has passed and you’re finally in a better mood!

This past weekend, I dusted off the ye olde Sprinter-my sweet bicycle- and the ladies and I went for a ride at dusk, admiring all the lovely fall leaves and taking in the sweet and warm fall air! We also enjoyed some wine on the patio- an Indian summer must! I find it amazing to see the trees barren yet the weather is above 20degrees Celsius; like 2 seasons in 1, the beauty of fall but the warmth and enjoyment of summer!

When I saw the sunshine, I knew right away that I was going to wear this striped button up top from the swap; being the fall season and all, it was slightly chilly so for the bike ride, I paired it with- yet another swapped item- a taupe sweater. The swap really is the gift that keeps on giving!

Here hoping that this weekend is exactly- degree for degree- like the last!

Happy Friday wonderful people!

xoxo

bianca

Autumn Leaves

Autumn, Autumn, Autumn...I love you!

Autumn Leaves~ Nat King Cole

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

…beautiful.

xoxo
bianca

Weekend Color: O.P.I Suede in You Don’t Know Jacques

I love painted nails; the right nail polish can complete a look. But since I work around food from Wednesday to Friday, I was depriving my nails of the pleasure of polish; until this weekend! My roommate Suzy said the simple statement “paint your nails on Saturday and take it off by Wednesday”- so simple, yet I never even thought of it. I immediately got painting!

I painted my nails with O.P.I Suede nail polish; and I’m finding myself posing my hands, so I can admire the paint job! This amazing polish dries in only 10 minutes- maybe even less- and the color is so dynamic.

All this time without polish, I had almost completely forgotten how much I like my hands!

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Meals with Friends

One of my favorite ways to spend my time is enjoying meals with my friends. There is nothing like a good meal shared between great friends.

I have the wonderful pleasure of being with my friends around food all the time; we love to meet for lunch, we plan dinners on the regular and we love wine; and wine- naturally- goes best with food.



This past week I went to Café Select with my lovelies Caitlin and Suzy, and if you follow my Twitter, you would have know that I was all a-twitter over our delicious French feast! Café Select has the most amazing French food, we dined on Mac & cheese, steak tartar, grilled romaine salad and baked goat’s cheese; washed down ever so nicely with the best Sangiovese red wine I have ever tasted!



My lovely friends Tiffany and Danielle hosted myself and 2 others to a pasta feast- oh and what a feast it was. Goat’s cheese (noticing a cheese trend?!) on warm baguette, spring green salad with balsamic glaze, homemade lasagna, garlic bread and macaroons for dessert; and of course wine- gimme a break, I’m in my twenties!



Saturday was unseasonably warm in Edmonton, so, naturally, I met up with Sarah and Tony on the patio at Café Leva- the coolest euro style coffee café- for a sandwich and a latte! I was really hoping Edmonton would be gifted with an Indian Summer, as summer was complete bubkus this year; and we did! If we get 1 or 2 more weekends like the last, I will be forever grateful. I hope you heard that Mother Nature.



And, lastly, the spread the ladies and I enjoyed at the swap- Italian meats and cheese, bread, bruschetta salad, wine AND Caesars!


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