Every one of us lives by a set of favourite things that make up the fabric of our interests, hobbies and habits. Whether it’s an heirloom passed down from a loved one, a gadget that serves the purpose of simplifying our routines, or a delectable dish that we go back to time and again, we turn to these things out of necessity, to seek pleasure from them, or simply because they exemplify our idea of happiness.

In the spirit of sharing the rituals and items that are part of our everyday lives, I have decided to launch the L.O.V.E. (Living Off Valuable Essentials) feature to get a glimpse of the likes and passions of the people I collaborate with on my projects. To get this new column off to a great start, I have turned to the one person who knows me better than anyone and without whom life wouldn’t be so sweet: my husband, Wil, a freelance photographer and the founder of Dreams II Photos. It’s a treat to have him take part in this little initiative because if you should know anything about mi amor, it’s that he’s a humble man of very few words – he prefers to hide behind his camera and be the silent observer whose style translates into his photographs. He has been my #1 supporter and advocate in everything that I have ever done and he’s always up for the challenge of contributing his skills to my projects. Our working chemistry is insane (which, surprisingly, has been more of a blessing than a curse) and we feed off of each others’ ideas, energies and expertise. If it wasn’t for this man, I would have never launched WhoIsArlette.com; he was, after all, the one who suggested that I translate my WhoIsArlette Twitter persona into this modest little blog and I owe him everything for pushing me in the right direction. All in all, to be his wife has given me the greatest thrill of my life.

So, I present to you my hubby’s L.O.V.E. list. What is your list made up of?

Avec amour,

- C