COOL KIDS // NORQUAY CO.

Now, to be totally honest - camping is definitely not my thing, I much prefer the 5 star treatment. However the romantacism of getting out into the wild is not lost on me - especially when it includes good looking equipment like these artisan canoe paddles from Norquay Co, a new Canadian brand dedicated to the art of camping.

Founded by a camping enthusiast obsessed with the great outdoors and equally for great design, the  paddles are made from 100% cherry wood and hand finished in Montreal, Quebec. And while they are expertly made to withstand the elements, luckily for the camping impaired, they also look just as handsome hanging on your walls.

And to experience the wonders of the great outdoors from the comfort of your desk, Norquay Co. also have a beautifully curated tumbler page you must check out too!! You can almost smell the marshmallows roasting.

COOL KIDS // HANNAH LEMHOLT

Warning. I have a new girl crush!

Thanks to Holly at decor8 I have now spent hours (practically stalking territory) pouring through Swedish photographer Hannah Lemholt's dreamy blog HoneypieLIVINGetc. While it's written in swedish and I cannot understand a word her pictures do all the talking. It is easy to get lost within this amazing space Hannah has created online, a feeling of time almost standing still, of silence, romance and beauty - and can you believe she's only been taking photographs for 4 years???

We can also learn a thing or two from Hannah about how to take a selfie - the girl is just gorgeous (both inside and out) is she not? A true bohemian spirit as well as one quarter of the magic behind interior designers and online store Love Warriors who I will be sure to profile shortly, I just need to tear myself away from HoneypieLIVINGetc first.

(images: hannah lemholt)

cool kids: meals on wheels

I'll admit it. Sometimes Sydney falls a little behind Melbourne on the trend scene, but i'm happy to say that Sydney is finally getting on board the Food Truck invasion.

Made popular in the urban LA scene, gourmet food trucks have been rolling in all over Melbourne since Raph Rashid opened Beatbox Kitchen (voted Melbourne's best burger) over a year ago,  followed by his second pop-up kitchen Taco Truck.

This week it was announced that 10 food trucks will offer a diverse range of tastes across Sydney from early 2012. Can't wait to track one down, plant myself in the gutter and get sauce all over my face.

cool kids: ms g's

By no means am I a restaurant critic, but when you find something this good you just can't help but want to share. A few months back the work girls got together for our not-regular-enough 'wine & dine' at the latest Merivale venture Ms G's in Potts Point (can Justin Hemmes ever put a foot wrong?)

As soon as you step foot in the door you can't help but absorb the 'hip' air. Hip decor (who else but Sibella Court), hip soundtrack, hip staff and hip menu: one that can only be described as modern asian share food. Too cool to take bookings, you can however wait for your table in the upstairs bar where you can sip on bubble-tea inspired cocktails in sealed cups with giant straws - the Good Morning Vietnam goes down a treat.

Food wise, most of the meals are designed to be shared and you really can't go past the pork belly or chicken katsu mini bánh mì, prawn toast with yuzu aioli, fried baby chicken with kimchi mayonnaise and last but not least Ms G's grilled corn on the cob with parmesan and lime.

Even for the sweet tooth, the Stoners Delight is a dessert best shared. Doughnut ice cream, mars bar slice, pretzels, peanut brittle and marshmallows all on the one plate may sound like someone raided the pantry of left overs but gee whiz the combination is amazing!

Pictures courtesy of Spicy Ice Cream 

cool kids: lomography

At the top of my Christmas wish list this year is my very own Lomography camera.
Sure, we've all played around with the digital Hipstamatic or Instagram camera apps on our iPhone's but there's just something special about traditional analogue photography straight off a roll of film.

The seemingly humble 'new generation' of Lomo cameras capture soft & dreamy images boasting
super-saturated colours, unpredictable blurring and random contrast. Raw and gritty, lomographs have a character all of their own.

Now, what I can't decide is whether to go for the traditional styling of the cult favourite Diana F+ or one of these amazingly drool worthy new La Sardina Pattern Editions.

The full range of Lomography cameras, film and accessories are available at www.lomography.com where you can also view some fine examples from the photo gallery including the ones below.