Mocking Bird l Vancouver Film Photographer » Moving

Moving Weekend!

Amanda — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:00:03 +0000

This time next week I will be writing from my new desk which rests beneath a gorgeous, big window gazing out towards the local Vancouver mountains. Said desk will be sitting in new apartment that the Canadian and I are moving into this weekend. I cannot contain my excitement. I am being a total nerd about it. You’d think I’d never had my own place before the way I’m carrying on.

I plan on using our picturesque viewing area second bedroom as a study/photography studio. I’ve already scoped it out..the light in there is awesome and I’m super excited about that. The best light in our old place was in the bathroom, so it will be nice to set up my mini studio without having to rest against a toilet. Classy!

As hard as it was leaving all our old “stuff” back in Sydney, we have had some fun picking up new pieces to make our rented apartment seem more like a home. Some of it has been packed in boxes since Christmas, so I can’t wait to get into them and see what’s what. New couch and new bed, here we come.

I plan on blogging my new home and neighbourhood experience here on Mocking Bird in the coming months. Even though my first year in Vancouver is coming to a close, it’s like a whole new chapter is beginning and I cannot wait to get right in the middle of it- like jumping into the discarded wrapping paper pile on Christmas morning.

Signing off for the last time from my temporary Vancouver residence…

Wish me luck!

p.s. Thanks for all the wonderful conversations in the Inspiration Overload post. You guys are awesome!

Let It Go

Amanda — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:00:31 +0000

I probably should have mentioned that I was taking a blog rest for a week but I never really like to commit to things like that so I went with the flow. The flow unfortunately did not direct me towards writing anything meaningful, so silent ole Mocking Bird sat.

My mind has been filled with all things moving, furnishing and decorating for the past month and my poor noggin is starting to spin. We will be moving in a month ( if everything goes to plan) and I can’t wait to share my new little place with you all once we are moved in.

In my never ending searches for items to make my house a home, I find I become obsessed with the hunt. Are you like this? Once I get an idea in my head that I want a cream coloured, ceramic utensils pot with a little circular detail, I don’t stop until I find it. Half the time I think I invent these things in my head. After much searching, I’ve had to settle on a white, ceramic utensils pot that has no detail whatsoever. Sometimes you just need to let it go. I mean, really, it’s a pot for holding spatulas and wooden spoons!

I did however find the most glorious, girly lamp that I’m over the moon about. If you’re ever in Vancouver and you have a penchant for French inspired white girly things, you must visit Stella Bleu. It is my absolute favourite store.

Here are some of the places that have had my attention captured for the past few weeks:

Apartment Therapy
Lovely Design
Maillardville Manor
The Happy Home
Whole Lotta Lovely

Home Decorating Mistakes

Amanda — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:51 +0000

As this is mostly a photography blog, talking about houses and homes and all things decorating isn’t usually on the menu. However, one thing you should know about me, author of this here blog, is that I am a housey decor fiend. When most teenagers were reading Smash Hits and Dolly Magazine, I was checking out my mum’s Better Homes and Gardens and Country Homes mags and salivating over the latest kitchen designs and Italian pasta bowls. I think it’s all part of that Cancer Crab Domestic Goddess thing.

The Canadian and I are moving into a new apartment come September and I cannot express how excited I am. We have found a new place in a great part of Vancouver, surrounded by restaurants, cafes and transport, and all within walking distance of the beach.

I have been furiously pinning housey things to Pinterest and checking out furniture store after furniture store. Before we left Sydney, I had to really just deal with the fact that when we moved, we would have to start over. I hate the fact that we have to buy everything again but it is kind of fun. I also get a re-do and know what mistakes not to make!

So here are the mistakes I made and will not make again:

Mistakes Not To Make When Furnishing a House

1. Don’t buy a white couch unless you never plan on sitting on it.

2. Don’t buy “for now” furniture. “For now” furniture ends up costing you more in the long run because it will need replacing after about a year.

3. Don’t get a place with “on street parking”. This is pretty hard to avoid in Sydney as so many places only have on street parking. If you can avoid it, do! Having to drive around the block a dozen times before being able to park your car at your own house is a pain in the butt. It used to drive me insane.

4. Don’t buy just one chair/sofa/couch. It makes entertaining very hard when your guests have nowhere to sit or have to B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Chair).

5. Nobody should ever live without a dining table for 4 years.

6. Don’t buy a sofa so small that it can’t be laid upon.

7. Don’t take hand me down furniture if you hate it. It will depress you.

8. Cheap vacuum cleaners are cheap vacuum cleaners.

9. If you like coffee, you should be able to drink coffee in your house.*

10. Square plates and bowls are very hard to stack in a dishwasher.

* My friends think I’m weird because I don’t drink “house coffee”. I only drink coffee in cafes and restaurants. I am going to be brave and invest in a good quality coffee maker because having to drive to Starbucks when I get a coffee craving is just silly.

Have you got any home decor/furniture mistakes that you wish you could correct? Anything that drives you crazy about your place?

Drawing Closer

Amanda — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:12:13 +0000

Hello!

Image by Pia Jane Bijkerk

Life is still crazy around here for me as I embark on my last week in Sydney before we jetset away to Vancouver. My posts have been sporadic, but I can’t wait to settle in a new city to have time to blog all about my new adventures. We have been doing the ‘last’s of everything, including catching up with friends, reminiscing about past times and trying to see all those places we love just one last time.

I broke the news to my students this week too and it didn’t go down very well. There have been tears, lots of questions and promises of Canadian gifts for them. I never imagined my leaving would create such strong reactions.

We are off for our last wander through the city today to soak up the glorious 30 degree weather- probably my last for a very long time!

Link Love for the week:

Pia’s Polaroids are magnificent.

Susannah’s thoughts on her Unravelling Course: I am signed up for the next one and SO excited!

Are you enjoying Beatle Week?

Sketch design site- how pretty is it? Via Tracey.