Marta & Astrid 🌙 || big & small adventures

It’s about time for a proper reintroduction. We’re usually found somewhere between a wilderness trail and Toronto, chasing moody views and trying to keep up with one very talkative husky. Whether you’ve been here for a while or you’re new to the pack, we’re glad you’re following along 🫶🏻 P.S. Big things coming this spring —Astrid is finally getting her European “passport”!✈️ So stay tuned to see what we will be up to!

This is one of those rare shots where everything came together: Astrid, the Tetons, and a golden-hour drive. Definitely one my favorites from our trip. Moments like this are exactly why I love photography. #roadtrippingwithdogs #dogsthattravel #fujifilmx_ca #toyotacanada #toyotalandcruiser2024

When the mountains are calling but the plot is too good to leave… 📖🌲 ____ I haven’t updated my book reviews all summer and fall but no worries - they’re coming 👀 I’ve been reading tiny bit less than in spring as we focused on adventuring and spending time outdoors. But I still read over 15 books since my last reviews post so I definitely need to write about them. What are you currently reading? And what’s the best thing you’ve read recently? I’be just finished the Kindred’s Curse series by Penn Cole. Court intrigue in a world full of magic - gimme more please. The first book (Spark of the Everflame) was ok but not great so don’t get discouraged by it too early. That’s because the second one (Glow of the Everflame) is a lot better - better pacing, better character development, better world building. The third one (Heat of Everflame) is really enjoyable as well and ends with a good cliffhanger so I strongly recommend this series to all romantasy lovers ✨ Also - I wasn’t lying when I was saying that our car sleeping setup is super comfy 🤭 . . . . #escapism #roadtripping #toyotalandcruiser #bookish #bookstagram #vanlifestyle #agirlandherdog #hotgirlsreadbooks #romantasy

I’ve been looking back at these photos from @flxaframe by the Seneca Lake and honestly, I just want to be back. It’s so hard to find a place that’s actually designed well—with those huge A-frame windows and brass details—but doesn’t make you feel guilty for bringing a dog along. Our mornings there started exactly like this: making coffee using local beans provided by the wonderful hosts, Lauren and Dustin, watching the fog lift off the trees, and just chilling out in that big, open living room. It’s one of those spots where you can just breathe. We’d spend the days wandering through the wineries nearby (some are literally 4 min drive away!) and hiking the gorge at Watkins Glen, but the best part was always coming back here. It felt less like a rental and more like a quiet hideaway where we could actually slow down for a second. Play board games, enjoy local wine, read. And Astrid definitely didn’t mind having a whole deck to herself, either. She napped there each afternoon 🤭 If you’re looking for a dog-friendly getaway in the Finger Lakes that has a bit of soul to it, this is the one! @flxaframe thank you for hosting us and sharing your beautiful space with us! #hosted #sponsoredstay #dogfriendlycottages #dogfriendlytravel #fingerlakeswinecountry

Looking at the camera is overrated anyway. She said paparazzi shots only 🤷‍♀️ Be honest… do your dogs listen to you or are they all tiny divas with selective hearing too? ✨ bandana @studiozorya | leash @northtailinc (code: TMASTRID)

The paint-spilled fields filled our hearts with colour. Nature’s alchemy is something else when the soil finally gives up its winter secrets. The science behind these hues is actually pretty cool. The rich reds and velvety purples in tulips come from anthocyanins — the same pigments found in blackberries, cherries, and autumn leaves. Different anthocyanin structures, pigment concentrations, and cell chemistry allow tulips to produce saturated, dramatic hues that can appear almost luminous or ink-dark in certain light. Pale pink tulips carry softer concentrations of those same pigments, giving their petals a watercolor translucence, while yellow tulips glow from carotenoids — sunlit pigments that reflect warm golden light instead of shadowy depth. Nature turns chemistry into poetry long before we ever give it a name. ➡️ What’s your favourite colour of the tulips? 👀

Monday mood: blooming, but barely functioning. 🌸 How are you doing today? This is my favorite from our cherry blossom shots — it feels so dreamy.

I’m always so sad that the blossoms don’t stick around longer, but I suppose that’s what makes them so special. It’s a good reminder to actually stop and take it all in. Drop a 🌸 in the comments if your neighbourhood is blooming, or a ☕ if you’re still waiting for the spring to arrive. Also, look at this good girl patiently posing and rocking her stay 🥹 (disclaimer: leash is edited out on the first photo) ✨ leash - @northtailinc (code: TMASTRID); bandana - @studiozorya

The 5:15 am wake-up call was rough, but having the High Park cherry blossoms completely to ourselves at 6:00 am was worth every second. The cotton candy sky was unreal this morning. I just couldn’t get over how perfect the light was. A photographer’s dream! If only Astrid was in the mood for photos and didn’t give me sad dog look or RBF on each shot 😅 Anyway, this pink canopy and the crisp spring air are so temporary… Just a piece of fleeting beauty before the season changes. Glad we caught it before the rest of the city woke up and could enjoy the blossoms without the crowds. ➡️ Scroll to see the changing morning light. All photos were taken between 6:10am and 6:30am, and the transformation in just those twenty minutes is pretty amazing to see.

Just phone photos from our yesterday’s walk around the neighborhood 🌸 We live in Roncesvalles / High Park in Toronto — close to downtown, but it somehow feels like a little village tucked inside the city. Historic homes, old trees, so much greenery, and streets full of local gems like artisan shops, butchers, bakeries, and a farmers market every Monday. Astrid, of course, is on permanent sniffari mode. 🐺🌿 So many people have really beautiful front yards, and Astrid just can’t help herself from stopping and sniffing every single one 😂 She really took the extra generic saying “stop and smell the flowers” to heart. Maybe we all should slow down a bit? Would you guys like a neighborhood walk guide from us showing our favorite cafés, shops, parks, and local spots in the area? Or in general more daily life, candid phone photos posts?

Found a nice spot, sat down, and refused to move. Typical. Spring is here, which means Astrid now walks at turtle speed because she has to smell every single thing, roll in every patch of fresh grass, and stop every five steps. Is your dog the same? 👀

Throwback to last year’s visit to Nakijin Castle in Okinawa. Okinawa is the first place in Japan where the cherry blossoms bloom -> this photo was taken in the beginning of February. How wild is that?! Watching the winter cherry blossoms blooming around the ruins of these limestone walls which have been standing there for 600 years was such a magical experience. While ruins tend to look like relics of the past, somehow the deep color of the Kanhizakura (winter cherry blossoms) blooms seem to add another dimension to the place. It makes it look like a fairy tale castle. Is anybody else fascinated with places that started to be reclaimed by nature?