How to Dress Like a Girl Without Really Trying

When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I decided that skirts were a hassle and I wasn't going to wear them anymore. Shorter, flowy skirts were comfortable in hot weather, but they required constant vigilance to avoid flashing people as you went about your day. Tighter skirts didn't have this problem, but they restricted your range of motion, which was even more annoying to me. And long skirts just seemed to get caught in everything -- nevermind that you had to keep one hand free in case you came across a staircase. All of this added up to "too much trouble" in my books.

So for 15 years, I just didn't wear skirts and dresses.

In fact, I eschewed all things girly, including fashion and makeup. But over the last five years, I have discovered that embracing my feminine side does not have to mean discomfort and inconvenience. Nowadays, you can have your cake and eat it too! Who knew?

Me and my favorite skort,
Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa

Looking back, I think my little epiphany began with one item of clothing: The Athleta Whatever Skort. I had never heard of Athleta, when I read this review of the Whatever Skort, but I was so intrigued that I ordered one online, fully expecting to return it when it didn't work out. But not only did it work out, it worked out a little *too* well! This skort started my (expensive) love affair with the Athleta brand!

Beach vs. Boardwalk: Penguin Viewing in Simon's Town

I love penguins. I'm not entirely sure what it is about them that I find so endearing, but I could happily watch them waddle around for hours! I was so excited when I learned that a large colony of African Penguins (formerly named Jackass Penguins) was just 30 minutes from Nicks' house in Cape Town!

But Nick? Well, he just views them as a nuisance. According to him, they are, and I quote, "noisy, smelly and they've taken over the nicest beach in Cape Town!".

View from the boardwalk at Foxy Beach

Unfortunately, for my adorable little friends, this is all true. But depending on when you go and the direction of the wind, you might get lucky on the noise and smell front! And even if you don't...well that's all just part of the experience, eh?

Kirstenbosch Gardens

As an avid hiker and all-around outdoorsy person, I have seen my share of unique flora, fauna and jaw-droppingly beautiful vistas. I've been very lucky in that regard. But all of these amazing outdoors experiences come with a price. And the change was so gradual that I didn't even realize it was happening! You see, I've become a bit of a nature snob :(

If a nature spot is too close to civilization or too manicured, I find myself taking off points in the rating system in my head.

I know that national parks and manicured gardens are two very different types of beauty and that there is room in this world for both. I also know that botanical gardens make rare and exotic plants, that would be very difficult to see in the wild, more accessible. But unless there are young children in tow or health issues at play, I feel like there is no excuse to cheat yourself out of a more "authentic" outdoor experience by going to a garden over a national park.

I am working to conquer such thoughts. But even unrepentant nature snobs will be able to enjoy the Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town. Kirstenbosch somehow manages to zig-zag across the line between wild and manicured without going too far one way or the other. In fact, I felt that the gardens were as memorable an experience as hiking Table Mountain itself!

Pincushion Protea, Kirstenbosch Gardens

The Slightly-Less Beaten Path: Cape Town

This holiday season, we decided to spend time with Nick's family in Cape Town, South Africa. Since it had been a few years since his last visit, I wasn't expecting very much to happen on the sight-seeing front. But looking back on our visit, we managed to cram in a lot!

This was my second trip to Cape Town, so we ventured a little further afield and were able to explore some of the lesser-known, but no less beautiful, parts of South Africa. Here are a few things I had never seen or heard of before, but really enjoyed.

Beaches Galore!

Rocky, sandy, warm, cold, with penguins, without penguins...South Africa has a beach to suit every taste!

One of the nicest off-the-tourist-track beaches we went to was in Noordhoek. The crystal clear waters, soft white sand and green, hilly backdrop made it a visual treat. There's even a nifty, 100 year old shipwreck about 2 kms down the beach.

Noordhoek and the remains of the 'Kakapo'

There's just one little catch...Noordhoek is on the Atlantic. So even in the height of summer, the water is ice cold! If all you're looking for is a place to dip your toes on a hot day, this is perfect. But anything more than a toe and you might want to head to Simon's Town or Fish Hoek.

The Best Little Daypack in the World

When I travel, I usually take both a small purse and a small daypack with me. The purse makes an appearance on short urban jaunts and travel days, and the daypack comes out whenever I plan to be out and about all day.

The Northface Flyweight Pack has quickly become my favourite daypack and I wanted to share the reasons why I love it so much. I don't know why I have this burning desire to evangelize about gear that I really like. But blogging about it is a great way to get it out of my system without annoying my family and friends!

The Flyweight Daypack at rest

The Flyweight Daypack in action

My criteria for a good daypack is pretty simple,

Must Haves	Nice to Haves
Packs down small	Light-weight
Comfortable to wear all day	Small pocket for phone/wallet
Big enough to carry water, an extra layer, lunch, phone, wallet etc.	Easy access to my water bottle
Strong fabric that can take a beating	Clip for keys so they don't fall out accidentally

The Northface pack meets all requirements except one -- the key clip.

Hidden Lakes Loop

We managed to sneak in one last camping trip before winter by heading up to the Lassen Volcanic Park area for the Canadian Thanksgiving/Columbus Day long-weekend. We had a wonderful, albeit slightly chilly, time!

The Hidden Lakes Loop in Caribou Wilderness proved to be a super easy and relaxing one-night backpacking trip. This would be a great route to do with kids, or a first-time backpacker, as the distances are reasonable, the trail is mellow without being flat and boring, and there are spacious, well established campsites around many of the lakes.

One of the Hidden Lakes

And did I mention that it was really pretty and serene? The pin-drop silence in the middle of the night was amazing; just what we needed after a busy few weeks at work!

	Posey Lake	Hidden Lakes Loop
Distance	5.3km one way from the Hay Meadow Trailhead	12.3km loop from the Hay Meadow Trailhead
Difficulty	Easy	Easy
Scenery	Nice, 6/10	Nicer, 7/10
Elevation	~1900m	~2100m
Elevation Gain	~50m	~200m

Twenty Lakes Basin

We have our friend Kelsey to thank for introducing us to this gem of a hike hiding in the shadows of Yosemite.

Saddlebag Lake is just a few kilometers from the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite, and it doesn't really look like much. So it is a total surprise when the barren trail suddenly opens up to reveal a whole string of picture-perfect alpine lakes and meadows!

Greenstone Lake

	Twenty Lakes Basin
Distance	11km loop 8km loop if you take the water taxi both ways
Difficulty	Easy
Scenery	Awesome, 9/10
Elevation	~3000m
Elevation Gain	~100m

This is a great hike to sandwich between more strenuous endeavours, as you have the option to take a water taxi to/from the far side of the lake if you're feeling tired. The boat ride shaves off 1.5km (each way).