A Light Carry-On and a Full Heart: 48 Hours in LA with TWOPAGES
A reminder that travelling light often lets you return with more than you left — calm above the clouds, community on the ground, and inspiration in between.
I’ll be honest — I’m not a relaxed flyer. The moment my feet leave the ground, my mind does that familiar looping of what-ifs. And then something beautiful happens. High above the clouds, as the world below shrinks and the hum of the engines becomes a white-noise lull, I feel strangely liberated. Detached from the universe, weightless, with no control over anything except the luxury of a few uninterrupted thoughts.
In those few hours, I worked on current client projects, but also on a few exciting ventures quietly in the works — projects that won’t see the light until 2026 📖.
Visiting LA is a little leap for someone like me who lives just under the YYC flight path. My kids get the airport view from our backyard; Carlos even spotted my plane and waved goodbye. But being on that flight, headed for my first trip to the City of Angels, felt like stepping into a new chapter entirely.
When I landed, it was fast, full, and unforgettable. I waded through the terminal and bumped straight into the singular wonder that is LA: traffic. That stop-and-go rhythm felt like a rite of passage, part of the city’s pulse. My sweet friend and fellow creator, Val (@thegroundedhome) — yes, my gorgeous pen-pal I’d only ever known through screens — pulled up to pick me up, and we laughed at the little absurdity of it all: me, disoriented in the concourse; her, navigating LA like a pro.
The sun was already dipping behind palm-fringed mountains when I caught my first glimpse of the cityscape. It hit me: as a westerner from the foothills of Calgary, I’m used to dramatic peaks and crisp snow-caps. Here, the mountains were gentler, the light softer, and that first look felt poetic in its invitation — stay awhile, you curious design-lover.
Dinner was at the famed Din Tai Fung. Two-hour wait for a two-top? We took the bar instead, sidestepping the queue. No complaints, just the joy of being face-to-face in real life, dumplings steaming in front of us, spicy cucumbers sizzling with flavour. Later, yes, I may have popped my first In-N-Out Burger cherry on the way back to the hotel — because, why not?
The evening turned into late-night conversation about everything: authenticity, why we create, who we serve. (More on that in a moment.) Before sleep, I did what I always do — unpacked my carry-on, laid out my skincare products, and took a deep breath of gratitude. I pack light, really light. One carry-on, minimal fuss. But I never skip the ritual that grounds me.
Day of the TWOPAGES Together × Design Contest Finale
The big day arrived. I slipped into what I jokingly called my Canadian tuxedo — denim on denim, because sometimes true style is about feeling yourself and representing home while away — and headed into an entirely different energy.
The evening, captured beautifully by Homeworthy, was less “industry” and more “a gathering of kindred spirits.” Thousands of design submissions had been made, and six finalists from around the world came together to showcase their work. The mood? Warm. Elegant. Human.
As a panelist alongside my fellow TWOPAGES ambassadors, we spoke about authenticity, curiosity, and honouring the craft — about how our collections are born from lived experience and inspiration rather than trend. The brand’s ethos, rooted in marrying modern ease with timeless artistry, is one I deeply connect with.
Meeting the finalists was a highlight. Their work ranged from restrained to romantic, reminding me that sometimes the simplest gestures in a home are the most profound. We celebrated their hard work, their passion, and the truth that design is never really about rhetoric — it’s about connection, memory, habit, and joy.
I left the event inspired, not only by what was presented, but by the sense of community in the room. In design, community doesn’t happen by chance — it happens when people lead with intention.
All of the finalists’ collections — including mine — are available here. You can use code REUNION to save 27% off your order.
A Detour to Inspiration
No LA trip of mine would be complete without a stop at Olive Ateliers. I wandered through the space, let myself be immersed in texture, tone, narrative. I bought nothing (tiny carry-on, remember?), yet I left with a suitcase full of ideas. Inspiration is free, after all.
The only downside? The carry-on. I may have cried a little (ok, yes I did) over how little I could pack. “One carry-on, that’s it,” I said. Light. Minimal. But those pared-back decisions somehow amplify what you bring home—not objects, but energy, mindset, creativity.
Back in the Sky, Back to Ground
Back in the sky, the cabin was alive with chatter — the Blue Jays and Dodgers were deep into the World Series, and nearly every Canadian on board was following the game mid-air. There was this funny juxtaposition: the Jays playing in LA while we were flying out of it, heading home. A little piece of Canada suspended above the clouds.
As the miles unfurled beneath me and the world softened again in that sky-detached way, I reflected on what those few days gave me: a reminder to be brave, to stay rooted in purpose, to travel lightly — literally and figuratively — and to keep dreaming.
To my fellow creators, to the finalists, to the community that showed up with heart: thank you. Here’s to the next decade of craft, of connection, of beautiful living together.
Stay tuned. Because from the clouds comes the musings; from the quiet altitude comes the ideas; and yes, from one carry-on we sometimes launch a whole new chapter.
Until the next landing,
Britt