cabin life

One of my favorite highlights from 2015… our first family vacation with our sweet (and crazy) girls!  We were lucky enough to stay in a friend's cabin near Taos, New Mexico this past fall- just as the autumn colors were starting to emerge, and boy was it breathtaking!  The grey girls did lots of nose-to-the-ground exploring, and really enjoyed walking the golf course each day as the guys hit a few balls.  Let's just say we could get used to life in the mountains!

vanilla chai jax weekend

Well this post may be a bit behind schedule, but the title is pretty self explanatory… toes in the sand, South Jax Beach, & drinking vanilla chai lattes all day, right?  Uh huh- sounds like perfection.  Okay great, where do I sign up?  -Well that's exactly what a few of my college besties planned and made happen.  Now I won't bore you with all the girlie chit-chat and bracelet making that happened during our stay.  (Shopping?? Check out Rosie True!!)  Instead I'll just share a few pics of our weekend getaway that will be sure to make you jealous & will have you planning your next beach vacation in no time!  Ps. You MUST go to Lillie's Coffee Bar… TRUST ME.  You'll thank me later!!

forgotten, a lonely ghost town

On our way home from Santa Fe, we happened upon this little ghost town.  I honestly didn't even know these things really existed… When I think of ghost towns, I think of movie sets.  We didn't spend a lot of time here.  Rumor has it, there are still a few inhabitants.  And as much as I wanted to explore every corner, I also wanted to be respectful.  The vibes you get here… well let's just say you want to get in & get out… We almost got stuck on the first road we traveled down, literally had to back all the way out- thankfully without incident.  So here are a few snaps of Cuervo, New Mexico & all its abandoned, eerie charm…

the 50 states » Santa Fe, New Mexico

So although we've visited a few states together already, we are hoping to visit each one with fresh eyes & a sense of adventure!  And what better way to start than with an impromptu vacation to visit family… Santa Fe, you say?  The halfway point between 2 houses… sounds perfect!  Plans were made, we arrived, and a few pictures were taken.

There was a wonderful farmer's market to visit… so many yummie aromas to fill the air, including fresh roasted green chiles!  Sadly, we wandered the market prior to purchasing anything, and by the time we made it back to the entrance, the green chiles were sold out.  The hubby was really disappointed to say the least…  So buy them first thing, folks!  In addition to the local flavor, there is also an artist market at the Santa Fe Railyard.  A few other shopping highlights included the Traditional Spanish Market and the Contemporary Hispanic Market, both of which were also happening during our stay there.  Sadly, not pictured are some of the jewelry & textiles I found… but I mean, really good.

While the majority of our snacking was done from our vacation rental… we were able to rest our weary legs during a few of our shopping extravaganzas.  The Coyote Cafe was perfection.  We were able to get out of the heat by visiting their rooftop cafe, where we promptly ordered a few cocktails.  We chatted about the sights as we awaited lunch, and oh boy… we were not disappointed.  The veggie tacos were my choice, and they were mouthwatering.  I may recommend sharing your plate if you still plan to wander the city, because I was really sad not to be able to finish my order (believe me, I tried!!).  Another yummie stop is The Pantry, where I ordered the huevos rancheros, Christmas style (that means covered in both red and green chile sauce) and yumtown.  Lastly, we ventured to Draft Station for a few local brews.  And although we didn't have any, the pizza there looked amazing!!!  The upstairs patio gave us a great view of the Santa Fe Plaza, which of course made for great people-watching.

Now if shopping and stuffing your face isn't your thing… the sights are breathtaking of course.  We did some running, biking, and even brought back the 90s with a little rollerblading on the nearby local trails.  PS, running in the desert is no joke.  Overall, we had a wonderful time in the little artsy town of Santa Fe.  We witnessed gorgeous sunsets and a storm that was something straight out of Oklahoma!!  Stop 1 of our 50 states = success!  And because I couldn't decide between filmstrip size (I'm a sucker for anything miniature, you see) or a little bit larger, here's a closer peek you won't need your glasses for… haha, enjoy!

a few of my favorite grams...

So… I don't think I've mentioned that Instagram is one of my favorite & quickest go-to's for documenting and sharing our travels and day-to-day memories… or wait, maybe I have a few times, haha.  Now if you are a lover as much as me, then you MUST check out copygram -a company based in Sweden, with an eye for artistic perfection.  For my first purchase, I decided to go with the 4x4" matte 300 gram cardstock.  The best part? -they put all the pertinents on the backside.  Date, location, & even your written sentiments… perfect for recalling the memory of that special moment you captured, so when you feel like reminiscing… all the details are there!  They are so clever.  

Gracie's first ride in a convertible, complete with winding German roads. 

A few random chairs in… hmmmm, where was that again?  Oh wait, just flip over the card… and yep, there it is… those chairs were in lovely San Gimignano!!  

Cochem Castle silhouetted by the gorgeous sky, during our cruise along the Mosel River.

A few vintage street signs at a local Oklahoma salvage yard.

Bierre vom Faß :: translation- beer on tap, need I say more?

Oh & that time I went to Oktoberfest and did a jumpshot in front of a ferris wheel with my sis!

a handwritten menu, from an amazing little restaurant nestled next to the Mediterranean in the south of France… first time I ever tried mussels, and they were yumtown.

Sunflower fields (or "girasole" as they say) in the Tuscan countryside.

my sweet Gracie girl… Oklahoma sunsets… doorways in Siena… 

I even spy a piece of my alma mater… BOOMER.  Campus Corner, University of Oklahoma.

Oh just a few vintage CHAIRS that really wanted to come home with me… 

A handful of my all time favorite family snapshots atop our hand-stitched wedding quilt.

Grace snoozing… you know, the usual.
Visiting Volterra, one of the many hillside villages in Tuscany!!

Oklahoma ice storms, the Tuscan countryside, jumping & celebration, Deutschland castles, fests & more fests, good times with FRIENDS, walks with Grace, windows & shutters & doors- oh my!! beachside sunbrellas in France, springtime blooms & wandering butterflies, colorful little German villages, Florida starfish, naptime & playtime, FAMILY. College Graduation, Italian Cathedrals, sweater weather & the changing autumn leaves, Oktoberfest, those matchstick trees in Austria, HAPPY vintage finds, train rides thru Europe, parked vespas & pretty window boxes, wine tasting & olive picking, new business ventures, daytime exploring, the golden hour, farmer's markets in the piazzas of Italy… It's these treasured moments… looking back, experiencing & loving LIFE!!  I mean… so many pretty places I never even would have imagined visiting, and yet somehow we were able… And these little coffee table copygram gems make looking back so much fun & an even better conversation piece when sharing the memories with family & friends.  

So what are you waiting for?  Go get yours!!

a sandy retreat...

It's no surprise that my hubby's job requires us to be apart alot.  However, I was able to get away with him recently.  We had a few short days together in the Netherlands, and honestly I've never seen so many people on bikes!!  Near our hotel was an interesting find, and I must say Grace loved her first time in the sand… 

so this was our little day at the "beach," minus the water… where we got to kick off our shoes, do a little exploring, & Grace even got to meet a few other pups.  The winds were perfect for kite flying, & although the day started out gray, it turned into a thing of beauty.  It's creating these moments… which I can look upon & cherish during the times that we can't always be together that I find most important.

not all who wander are lost…

This is such a great story that was shared with me, so I just wanted to take a moment and share it with all of you too. There are 3 parts to the story and I've posted them in that order. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

part one