Beautiful Places

My brother and my mom have amazing photography skills. I was convinced that I could develop them, so in my quest to be just like my older brother I took the same photography class that he did at our high school. I quickly learned that I have next to no artistic talent... I have since given up hope, and appreciate their great photos instead.

My parents went on another weekend road trip in New Mexico. They went to Bosque del Apache and Socorro, here are a few highlights from my mother:
Bosque del Apache

Snow geese at Bosque del Apache












This shot reminds me of the road I grew up on.












My brother took a motorcycle trip through Colorado and took some amazing pictures. He lives in Denver, where I used to live before I moved to DC for grad school. I miss it every day.

Isn't this shot amazing??

His bike and the mountains.

















The ski tracks in this shot just kill me. I miss skiing so much... Open mountain, untouched snow, it's bliss.

Sleepy Monday

I spent the weekend in New York visiting a friend from college. I had a fantastic time, ate too much food, stayed out too late, and caught up with old friends. I managed to get out without spending too much money too, always a plus. Downside: I forgot to take pictures.

Blazer: Banana Republic
Button Down: Ralph Lauren
Skirt: Old Nacy
Tights: Target
Boots: Frye

I can tell that I am getting older because recovery from a weekend like the one I had takes much longer than it used too. Class was a little rough today, my caffeine intake was unnatural. This skirt was insanely cheap from Old Navy. It is corduroy and has pockets. I haven't been to Old Navy in years, but my roommates went recently and got some great basics for less than $10 each, last time I was at the mall I stopped by. This jacket has great velvet patches on the elbows, it makes me feel a little professor-y.If you have never tried Poshe Super Fast Drying top coat you need to know. It is amazing. The product has a little thick after you have used it a while, but it dried so fast it makes DIY manicures much less of a hassle. When I went back to school, regular mani/pedis got cut from the budget, this is the next best option! I ordered this online last night because I ran out, can't wait till it gets here.

Photos that make me homesick

I am from New Mexico. It the most majestic, unique state in the union (in my humble opinion.) The views and endless, and the mixing of historic Mexican and Native American cultures makes it colorful, rich and delicious. I mean the food not the dirt. Although the dirt is red like the chili. My sweet parents still live in NM, and sent me some pictures from their weekend. They took a little road trip to Taos. I miss the fall at home, it smells like wood smoke and pinon nuts.

This is my mom trying to look rugged. I am actually quite impressed. (She is not the outdoorsy type. She is more likely to drink Earl Grey tea and read on the plaza at our house than hike anywhere.) Yes there are rivers in New Mexico, no it is not all cacti and dirt. That's Arizona.


The most beautiful churches in the world are in New Mexico. Rome has nothing on these. They are tough, forlorn, and dusty. They are made of wood and adobe with huge vigas in the ceilings holding up the towers. (A viga is a large circular wooden piece that runs across the ceiling, each about a foot apart for support. They are visible on the inside and make adobe structures feel very warm and earthy.)






A general store along the drive.

No trip with my mother would be complete without a least one activity involving wine. She is wearing the chicest drapey cardigan/wrap in this photo. Sorry it's so little!

The dried chilis hanging on this building are ristras. My mom picked one up for me at the Indian market and sent it to DC, I hung it in the kitchen. I think my roommates were a little confused by they obliged. :)









I love the wooden patios/porches. Just tell me somewhere is more beautiful than this. Actually don't, because I won't believe you.

School Days

Figuring out what to wear to class in grad school is a bigger challenge than one would think. I want to be sure to not look like an undergrad, but business casual is a little too much. General rules: No leggings as pants, nothing short/tight, no flip flops and hoodies are reserved for finals week.

Cardigan: Target

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Unknown

Tshirt: Madewell

Necklace: American Eagle

These jeans have a cute bow shape on the pockets, it's a nice girly touch for black denim.

I love this necklace. It was less than 20$ from American eagle, and it has a great fenton fallon feel.

Puddle Splashing

I hate rainy, humid, warm weather. I grew up in desert, and the nasty frizz inducing damp fall humidity (with high 70s temp) just drives me nuts. Here was my attempt to cope.

Sweater: Banana Republic

Button down: J Crew

Shorts: Anthropologie

Tights: Gap

Boots: Hunter

Watch: Target

I don't like wearing skirts with rain boots because I feel like the skirt is too formal, or trying to hard. Stuffing jeans into rain boots is too hot in this awful weather. Solution? Shorts and knit tights. I have actually never tried the tights with shorts thing before. I had no idea how comfortable it is! Plus I feel a little bit like a pre-schooler, which is always fun. It's not something I plan on rocking all the time, but I thought it worked alright with the high waisted dark denim.





I majorly struggled in my attempts to get a decent picture of this necklace. I got it from a jeweler in Boulder, it has a little pearl and a tiny heart with S's initials on it. It's a little cheesey, but I love it.

Fuzzy Wuzzy

AC had some old friends visiting Friday, AZ and I went to meet up with them after dinner for some drink at Local 16. There must be something I am missing about Local 16, I am just not a fan. Strangers are always talking to you (not in the fun, nice way, in the creepy, I'm talking too close to your face way) and it's always too busy. I did have one great night there, but that's because it was a friend's birthday. We quickly moved on to Wonderland, much more my pace. Vest-Fabulous Furs (Faux)

Shirt-Gap

Jeans-Banana Republic

Boots-Frye

Watch-Target

Necklace-Ross Simons

a) Yes, I cleaned my room the next day.

b) The vest is faux, I love animals too.

Everyone else was wearing dresses and heels, I just wasn't to in to wearing the expected that night. I did feel like I should have been carrying a shot gun or something though.

Closer up shot of the vest. Excuse the mess!

I love this watch. It was about 15$ from Target, and I wear it all the time. S has this awesome Gold Rolex that I want to steal, but it was a gift from his dad, so it's off-limits. The cheap-o Target version will have to sustain me.

The Best Place on Earth

I went to Denver for six days for my Fall break. I used to live there, and my boyfriend and brother still do. I absolutely love Denver and had a fantastic weekend.

I wore this out to dinner. I picked up the sweater from a consignment shop in Georgetown, Second Time Around. The gold sequins make me so happy! I love the idea of thrifting/consignment, there is something so romantic about breathing new life into forgotten clothes. Although in reality I don't have the patience, and the musty smell gets to me. Second Time Around is an exception, it has some great designers and you don't have to do too much digging.

Sweater-thrifted

Silk tank-Nordstrom

Jeans-James

Pumps-Zara

Bag-Foley and Corina

Ring-Rachel Roy

Every time I go "home" (aka Denver) S and I go to Stuebens. On the way home at the airport, I made him stop there so I get could one of their killing strawberry shakes. Stueben's is a modern take on traditional diner food. It is wonderfully updated and hip without being kitschy or too greasy.

They give you these awesomely vintage signs while you wait. Then you hear, "Kevin Bacon, party of 2?"

We went to brunch when I was feeling a bit... let's say sleepy. They fly in H&H bagels from NYC, and have fantastic lox. It's a great cure for whatever ales you, as is their banana bread french toast.

Sweater: Banana Republic

Dress: Asos

Boots: Frye

Headband: JCrew

Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Purse: Cole Haan

(Still angry that Target made knock offs of these boots after I invested)

Glasses: Oliver People

Scarf: Ralph Lauren

Jacket: JCrew

Sweater: Zara

Button down: JCrew

Jeans: James

Boots: Frye

My friends from college, J and S, had a dinner party while I was in town. S made prosciutto wrapped chicken stuffed with goat cheese and figs and hand-made rosemary thyme pasta. J made tempura squash. My salad was very outdone by their culinary skill. Someone even made homemade baklava!

Now I am back in DC, back to the grindstone. I ran the Army ten miler this morning actually, it was a beautiful morning for a run!