camping suitcase

Summertime has always been synonymous with camping  to me. I love getting out of the city heat into the crisp cool beautiful days of the Rocky Mountains. The skys are usually blue and clear. In the morning it’s cold and crisp, perfect for cooking some eggs on the fire and sipping hot coffee before a hike.

The afternoons heat up and create the perfect time to hang around in the shade and play games. In the evenings we cook our meals, drink our beer, and look up at the bright speckling of the stars. So many stars up that high! It’s awe-inspiring.

Here’s a little list of what I like to take camping.

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CAMPING SUITCASE

1. Coleman^® Steel-Belted Cooler on L.L. Bean 2. Ray-Ban Aviators Small in Gold by Ray-Ban 3. Gingham Utility Shirt in Navy by J. Crew 4. Texsport Heavy Duty Camp 24″ X 16″ Grill on Amazon.com 5. Enamelware Dinnerware Set in Black by West Elm Market 6. Byer Amazonas Barbados Hammock on REI 7. Mexican Blanket in Dark Brown & Mocha 8. Barebones Forest Lantern in Nickel on REI 9. Sensitive Facial Cleansing Towelettes with Cotton Extract by Burt’s Bees

summertime camping

Hey all! I swear I’m still here. I seemed to have taken a short break from blogging – mostly because I seemed to lack the proper inspiration. But after taking some time off, I feel properly inspired to tackle some new posts on the blog, and have a renewed spirit that’s going to stop analyzing my posts so much.

And here’s some proof. Just a quick snapshot from this last weekend with Rus in Granby, Colorado; a tiny mountain town with some great secluded camping spots. He’s gearing up for hunting season and wanted to scout the area a bit more. I wanted to get out of the muggy hot city and into the cool crisp mountains. So we made a quick summertime camping trip.

It was a nice trip and worth the journey. The first day rained quite a bit and was perfect for an afternoon nap and dinner in town. The next day was clear, bright, and cool – so we went for a long hike/scouting adventure through some dense aspen forests and fields. All this rain has made the mountains insanely green lately! Rivers were running everywhere and wildflowers literally covered fields of grass. It’s really special to live so close to the mountains, so I love taking advantage of it when I can.

lake ouachita II

A couple years ago some pals and I jumped on a plane to Hot Springs, Arkansas where we spent several days dipping our toes in the water and sipping on cold beers. We didn’t get our things together enough to go last year, but when my friend made the offer this year, we had to take it.

This time wasn’t too different. We spent our days riding the speedboat out to our own ‘private’ island and running into town for the necessary supplies; beer, bbq, and of course my favorite – dill potato chips. The highlight of the day was soaking up the sun and floating around in the open cool lake. The water is so clean and clear. I am always amazed how Lake Ouachita doesn’t have any lake-y smells or trash. It’s such a well maintained piece of paradise.

The whole time we were there the sunsets were spectacular! The colors ranged from bright burnt orange to deep sapphire blues. It was so gorgeous and visually stunning. The nights were warm and not too humid which we felt extremely lucky to experience.

Before the sun went down we would prepare a fire and play some yard games, which I was definitely ready for. Then once the sun set we’d hop back on the speed boat and cruise on home to crash and do it all over again.

I hope you had a great 4th of july weekend too! I’ve been super slammed at work so I’ve been a little MIA from the blog these days, but I’m hoping that will resolve itself very soon ;)

life lately

Life lately has been a blur (what else is new?) Besides working my tuchus off I’ve been trying to get outside and enjoy summer as much as possible – when I can. Concert at Red Rocks with my college gal pal, sunday’s in a tepee with gin + tonics, adventuring around town, and jumping in volleyball games after work. I would love to get more out of the summer season and plan on it!

The next best thing about summer is the produce. I love me some fresh berries, corn, tomatoes and more. If you’re looking for a new summer dish to try, this one is my favorite right now - mini roasted poblano risotto cakes with grilled corn salsa. Also I’ve been inhaling these non-dairy Outshine Coconut Water popsicles. They are so light and refreshing, I also can eat a couple and won’t feel guilty at all. My favorite is the one with pineapples!

I’ve also just started reading #Girlboss and love it so far, it’s full of motivation and great quotes – I’ve been writing them down as I go! Annnd shopping. Donating so much of my closet has left me feeling a bit naked (ha!) so I needed to get some shopping done. I’ve finished the t-shirts and now it’ll be time for the button-downs and bottoms. Can’t wait to get more put together.

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LIFE LATELY LINKS
playing / photo by observant nomad / cucumber, mint & lime gin and tonics by bread & butter
eating / outshine coconut waters with pineapple popsicles  /  mini roasted poblano risotto cakes with grilled corn salsa via how sweet eats
reading / #girlboss by sophia amoruso / lips in red lippy project via topshop / #girlboss gold iphone 5 case via nasty gal
shopping / photo by observant nomad / vintage cotton v-neck t by j crew / strappy cami by zara (similar)

destination dinner + movie

Last weekend I saw the new movie, Chef by Jon Favreau, and it was great! Chef is a feel-good movie centered around delicious food, family, and culture. The setting and killer soundtrack of the movie completely transported me to Little Havana, Miami.

It got me thinking, some movies are crafted in such a way that takes you somewhere new and exotic. So why not round-up my favorite destination films that inspire me to get out and travel the world. I even set each movie up as a date night so you can really transport yourself while still on your own couch.

I had to start with the movie, Chef. It’s a great little film about a chef who struggles working for a restaurant owner and loses his creative spark. So after a meltdown he goes back to Miami where it all started to pursue his food truck dream. The soulful latin music topped with some drool-inducing food shots will transport you straight to little havana. So make your own cuban sandwiches and after dinner keep the grooves going and try some salsa moves.

The shooting in The Darjeeling Limited always makes me want to hop on a flight to India. The rich colors, portrayal of the brothers, and Indian culture make this a vibrant movie. For dinner whip up green chickpea chicken coconut curry and pair with some Indian beer. Afterwords relax with sandalwood or flowery oils and massages.

Any movie set in Paris almost automatically whisks me off to Europe, doesn’t matter. I picked Midnight in Paris because I’m a sucker for this film’s dry witty dialogue centered around the city’s magic across time. Get lost with your own parisian picnic on the floor and plenty of red wine, naturally. Then after the movie take turns writing silly stories, or making lists of what you’re thankful for about each other and your lives – just how they are.

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