Pike National Forest, Colorado
Hiking with the heelers is everything we hoped it would be! Their first time experiencing snow was so glorious. Look at them? Don’t they look like they are having the time of their lives?!
Garden of the Gods, Colorado
MINGLE Magazine -WINTER 2018-
*It’s been one of my dreams for years to be published in an issue of Mingle. That dream was realized on January 1st, 2018… I couldn’t be happier with the event they chose to publish. Bohemian picnics are effortless to pull off and it just so happened to be for two of my favorite people in all of the world.
Im so thankful for the continued support and opportunities Stampington & Company has provided me and many other talented artists. Thank you a million times over! Go grab your copy of Mingle to read/see more about the event and get comfy! XOXO
Purchase HERE or head to your local Barnes&Noble
Savannah, Ga Birthday Getaway
I came home to a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, chocolates, coffee and macaroons topped off with a love letter. He then took me to BB’S restaurant where we ate scallops, quail, drank wine and ate a cappuccino mousse cake. Then he said: “Pack your bag I booked an Air BnB.” Swoon!!!! This year my love went above and beyond for my birthday. He has known this year has been a rough one, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to this birthday for a number of reason.
We ate at The Wyld Dock Bar for dinner with plans of going out for drinks afterward. However the food and location were just so dreamy that we stayed for hours. We watched a storm roll in and then out. We watched the sun set and food disappear. Drink rounds come and go. It was just too good to leave. (If your ever in Savannah The Wyld Dock Bar is a must stop for a unique dinner experience, try the Okra for sure and the Pain Killer tropical slushy!)
Don’t sleep in, instead go to The Collins Quarter for breakfast/brunch… Trust me this place is worth sacrificing the sleep. Try the “Tag the Hash” its a unique dish that balances fresh and fried perfectly! Sip on a lavender mocha while your at it, or at the very least stop by and pick one up from their to go window and walk around the historic district.
Because you went to The Collins Quarter and you have already walked around the historic district for a few hours with your love stop into The Paris Market and purchase a unique trinket, drink a french press and munch on a croissant.
*Stop by Th Spice & Tea Exchange pick up something for the cook in your life.
For lunch eat the best noodles in Savannah at The Flying Monk. I tried a real hot number from Japan called the Suki Yaki, filled with shrimp, squid, shitaki mushrooms and bok choy. Soooooo Good!
27 Things to do before Turning 28 *revisited*
1: Go orange picking
Didn’t know Orange season in Florida is in the fall, which means by the time I got around to planning a day to do it, it was spring. Waaaay past when we could go. So this November we will be picking oranges and making marmalade for sure.
2: See a manatee
We made two conservative attempts to see a manatee, even going as far as purchasing a guided snorkel tour… to no avail! We ended up going to Ocala’s Zoo which had two in captivity that were rescued due to illness and were being nursed back to health. So there is that right?
3: Go camping on the beach (Something I have always wanted to do)
We love going up to Talbot Island they have cute little campgrounds that back up to the water with easy access to the beach and hiking trails. While this isn’t directly on the beach itself it is as close as it gets.
4: Purchase a travel french press and mugs for said camping
Purchased a stainless steel french press and two travel mugs with locking lids for our hiking/camping needs. Because no matter how much I love nature I love my coffee just as much! My love thinks its ridiculous that I pack my own brewing method when I travel, until he wants coffee on a sleepy morning and then I whip own my magic french press.
5: Visit an orchid farm
Nathaniel took me all the way to a HUGE Orchid greenhouse which we proceeded to purchase this orchid from. I have an obsession with them, if I could I would have hundreds of them.
6: Explore Florida Keys, take my love scuba diving
No Keys
7: Go flea marketing/antiquing for art supplies
I came… I saw.. but I did not conquer. Apparently Jacksonville doesn’t have the greatest of antique stores. Didn’t find a thing for art.
8: Buy a good piece of handmade pottery
I was lucky enough to have a beautiful hand thrown mug made for me by a dear friend as well as purchased a mug on our recent travels to Arizona. Im in love with them!
9: Get a tattoo
Finally joined the club! Thank you Maya Angelou for your poems that have metaphorically and literally marked me. “Still I Rise” is my anthem for overcoming depression. These words/poem have time and time again kept me going. *Thanks to @thedeadart at Florida Velvet Tattoo for tattooing on the fly and making this piece a reality. *Thanks to @penabranca for designing the gorgeous geometric art that I immediately fell in love!
10: Photograph epic mountains
Do you think The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley or Zion National Park count? Ha! Ya, I thought so. I would consider this quadruple checked!
11: Photograph elk, bison or ram (Not picky)
Asheville surprising has a tiny elk population that I was lucky enough to sneak away and photograph in January. (The two end photos.) Then as we were driving into the Grand Canyon National Park my jaw dropped when I saw four beautiful elk nestled in the shade of tree’s. I had never seen elk before this year but I have fallen in love with them.
12: Curate & photograph a bohemian picnic
My cousin is this incredible boss lady with incredible friends and last summer when I was staying with her we curated this beautiful picnic for them. Mostly I was in it for the photographs. ;)
13: Scan all India collages, begin compiling book
I spent a lot of last year creating content for this book and gosh darn it I have to get my S*** together and create it. The “I need it to be perfect to finish it” anthem is strong in this one. I have never prolonged a project as much as this one. Either because I have actually finished it or decided I just wasn’t into it anymore. This project is different I still want to finish the book, it just scares the S*** out of me! You feel me? Have you ever had a project like that? Here are four pages out of the book:
14: Get a puppy
We went above and beyond on this one. Why get one puppy when you can get two? The adventures of Samsara and Ronin have begun!
***Seriously the hardest part of this post was choosing which puppy photos to use. TOO.. MANY… CHOICES!
15: Road trip the good old fashion way
Can we say UTAAAAHHHH to AAARIZONAAA. Damn if this wasn’t just a trip to die for. Hard as it was physically man was it easy on the eyes.
16: Hold a fox (Seriously can someone help me out with this lifelong dream? Pleeeeease!)
I have to plan a trip to Japan so I can finally make this dream come true.
17: Take an art workshop or go to a retreat
Had to cancel going to an art retreat this year because I had recently gotten a new job. You know life…
18: Become a brand affiliate for someone
Nope
19: Visit Utah… Hike, camp, photograph.
See 15, because I absolutely combined these two! Man I am so glad we did. A road trip through Utah and Arizona was just what we needed after a looooong year of changes and many months apart.
20: Write blog posts about being self employed in the art world
Did a few tiny ones and also a few more that were never published. But the whole not being self employed in the art world anymore… kinda side tracked me.
21: Hire a photographer for my own brand portraits
opps!
22: Learn how to photograph the stars
I read some articles. Where we live in Florida there are not to many stars to be had. While in Arizona I tried my hand at photographing the moon but had forgotten the lens needed for it. Also it is just waaaaaay harder to do than I thought. So mad respect for those perfect starlit mountain photos I see on Instagram. Because WOW it’s hard!
23: Learn more about my genealogy
Loved learning about my family and seeing all the gorgeous photographs.
24: Take my love to the local farmers market
We have this incredible farmers market in Jacksonville that has been here for years. I love going and getting a coconut to sip out of while we shop for produce.
25: Go horseback riding with my love
Nathaniel took me on a stormy beach adventure VIA horse for our anniversary and fella’s take note because it was magical.
26: Attend a stargazing party
Could not find one in Jax to save my life.
27: Read 12 books
1: The name of the wind by: Patrick Rothfuss
2: The wise man’s fear by: Patrick Rothfuss
3: Love Warrior by: Glennon Doyle Melton
4: Harry Potter and the cursed child by: J.K. Rowling
5: The Graveyard Book by: Neil Gaiman
6: Podcast S*** Town
7: Podcast Serial Season 1&2
8: Salt & Honey by: Isabel Abbott
9: Letter to My Daughter by: Maya Angelou
10:
11:
12:
***Bonus adventures included sky diving, eating Chick-fila chicken between Krispy Kreme donuts, shooting a shot gun, sleeping in a converted gas station.***
28 Things to do Before Turning 29
1: Attend a proper wine tasting
2: Eat a traditional Korean meal
3:Take a floral milk bath
4: Make a video of 28th year using: 1 Second Everyday
5: Prepare a five course meal. or go eat one out
6: Go to an archery range or gun range
7: Go to a drive in movie theater, because my love has never been
8: Purchase a new camera
9: Take photos in a photo booth with my love
10: Have a fancy cheese night where I try cheeses I have never heard of
11: Get in-design
12: Own our very own house… dwelling… abode… home…
13: Find myself in a spontaneous adventure I couldn’t have imagined
14: Make Artifact Uprising vacation book
15: Buy plants/grow herbs again
16: Focus on living healthier together
17: Write a Florida adventure post for people living in Jacksonville
18: Take pups to see snow
19: Plan a Christmas cabin getaway. Wear plaid and make fires
20: Visit Savannah
21: Drink a Florida Mule from Ice Plant Bar
22: Hike with the pups
23: Visit Harry Potter World. Try every butter beer
24: Purchase sage/Incense
25: Purchase a book by the artist Peter Beard
26: Try an amaretto sour
27: Learn to make my father-in-laws famous oyster stuffing
28: Begin dreaming more, because this list was so fucking hard to write this year