Friday 13 March 2015

INTERVIEW: MELISSA SONICO


I've always wanted to be a California girl. Not one of the bleach blonde, surf chic stereotypes -  but a hip young creative who explores every inch of her eclectic surroundings. Melissa Sonico has inspired me ever since I first stumbled across her Instagram feed; introducing me to the rocky beaches, dusty deserts, humid cacti greenhouses and cool cafes that I long to explore.

Follow Melissa on Instagram: @melissasonico


GF: What's your name and what do you do?

MS: My name is Melissa Sonico. I am a fiction writer, fashion/lifestyle blogger and burgeoning shop owner! I'm also a college English professor and a wife of almost 3years.


GF: What's your favourite thing about living in California?

MS: I love the different types of landscapes and climates! It's a misconception that California is just sun and sand and palm trees; we've got snowy mountains in Big Bear, redwoods in Big Sur and the desert - as well as big city life. We have it all!


GF: Can you share your favourite secret spots with us?

MS: For breakfast/brunch - One of my favorite breakfasts out here is the LA Chapter at the Ace; their ricotta pancakes and avocado toast are so good.

For coffee - I'm actually a tea drinker, and my favorite is a chai tea latte from Augie's, my local downtown coffee shop!

 For exploring - Big Sur for sure

For tranquility - The library or, more recently, art galleries

For swimming - Malibu!



GF: If you didn't live in California, where would you live? 

MS: I think I might like to live in Portland or Washington  for a bit-- maybe Brooklyn - but I see myself settling somewhere in California!



GF: Where's your favourite place in the world? 

MS: Under the covers at home watching Silicon Valley or whatever new TV show my husband and I binge watch, eating pizza



GF: What's on your travel bucket list?

MS: The Midwest. It's a mystifying place  to me and I think I'd like some time away from the hustle and bustle. But on a grander scale, Vietnam or Spain.



Follow Melissa on Instagram: @melissasonico

Wednesday 11 March 2015

ROAD TRIPS: INSPIRATION


My favourite holiday I ever went on was a road trip. Two summers ago, my boyfriend and I drove around Normandy and Brittany in the north of France in a tiny little Smart Car, our tent and an impressive amount of belongings carefully stacked in the back. I felt completely free for that fortnight, without the usual public transport travel restrictions a holiday normally throws your way. If we read about a tiny little village in the middle of nowhere (or a bizarre theme park based around discovering hilariously bad dinosaur statues in the middle of the countryside), we could just hop in the car and head that way. We had a rough route planned in, but anything could happen.

This summer will be our second mammoth road trip. I'll go into it in more detail soon, but we'll be exploring somewhere very close to home where I've somehow managed not to visit previously: Scotland. In preparation for this adventure, and those to come in the future, I've planned in a series of road trip themed posts for Girl Folk. Expect playlists, planning tips and my ultimate road trip bucket list.

Let's start things on the right foot with a little inspiration.











INTERVIEW: ADRIANA SINKE


I've been stalking Adriana's Instagram feed for some time now, in awe of the landscapes that she shares. I was delighted when she agreed to be interviewed for Girl Folk, and I'm thrilled to be sharing her tips for the best hikes in the Vancouver area - I only hope that I can get out to Canada and try her recommendations for myself one day!

Follow Adriana on Instagram: @adrianasinke


GF: What's your name and what do you do?

AS: My name is Adriana. Currently I live in Vancouver, BC with my husband and work as an accounting assistant for a small non-profit organization. We will be making some big life changes in the near future so both where I live and what I do will be changing dramatically within the next year. While I love our current situation, I am really excited for this new season of my life and the next adventure!


GF: Where is your favourite hike in the Vancouver area?

AS: Oh this is a tough one, there are so many wonderful hikes that are just a short drive away. My favorite hikes are the ones that are a bit off the beaten path. I love quiet trails that aren't crowded with people. 

If I had to pick a favorite (or two), I would choose Brandywine Meadows and Russet Lake via the Musical Bumps. Brandywine Meadows is just over an hour from Vancouver. The hike can easily be done in a day, however I would recommend staying over night if you can! The meadow is so gorgeous, and we have never encountered more than a couple of people while there. I've done the hike in summer and fall and was surprised by how much the landscape changed with the seasons.  

Russet Lake is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, just outside of Whistler, and can be accessed a number of different ways. Hiking the Musical Bumps trail to Russet Lake was one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever been on. The alpine landscape is truly something else. I really hope to do this hike again this summer, it doesn't disappoint.


GF: What are your essentials to take with you on a day's hike?

AS: For a day hike I always make sure I have plenty of snacks and lots of water. I am always surprised by how much food I can eat while hiking and try to plan accordingly. I try to bring food that is light weight, but will also provide a lot of energy. Things like nuts, dried fruit, trail mix and peanut butter are always staples.

I also make sure to dress appropriately for the hike.I find dressing in lots of layers is best, that way you can take layers off or put them back on depending on your temperature. A good, sturdy pair of hiking boots is another essential. I purchased waterproof hiking boots, and am glad I did as they have saved me from having wet feet on more than one occasion! 

Other essentials I always bring on hikes include; a headlamp (because you never know when you are going to be hiking back in the dark), a second pair of socks, a knife, a book and my photography equipment.


GF: Can you share your favourite secret spots with us?

AS: For breakfast/brunchLe Marche St. George or Nelson the Seagull

For insane sceneryThe Chilcotin and anywhere with an alpine landscape
For coffee - Vancouver has plenty of great coffee shops, but my favorites are Matchstick and Revolver.
For getting away from the crowds - It's not easy to avoid the crowds in and around Vancouver. People around here are fairly active and love to get out and do things. Cafes and shops are usually quite busy on the weekends, as are the local trails. Truly getting away from the crowds requires a bit of a drive and a willingness to get off the beaten path.
For getting a bit of culture -  Vancouver is a fairly multicultural city so it's not hard to find culture within the city.I love walking around Chinatown and taking in the sights and smells.I also love finding small art shows to go to.

GF: Where would you most like to explore in the world?

AS: Oh this is a really tough one because there are very few places in the world I DON'T want to explore. If I had to narrow it down I would pick either Mongolia or the Faroe Islands for their wide open spaces and lack of crowds.



GF: Where's your favourite place in the world? 

AS: I'd have to say Şirince, Turkey.I have such fond memories from the day my husband and I spent there on our honeymoon. Şirince is located near Ephesus, and it's this beautiful little town situated against the hillside. We met some locals who lent us their scooter for the day (the kindness of the people we met in Turkey was like nothing else!). We rode up the hillside and spent the most perfect day there. When I think of one of my happiest days, this one always comes to mind. 


GF: What's on your travel bucket list?

AS: It's too long to list! Within the next year we plan to do a bit of travelling around SE Asia and some local travel as well. Some of the countries we will be heading to are Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, India and Turkey (to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary we went to Turkey for our honeymoon). We will also be taking a trip to the Yukon this summer and then driving across Canada at the beginning of fall. I'm pretty excited about a year of travel, and I will definitely be checking some items off my bucket list. 


Follow Adriana on Instagram: @adrianasinke