// los vientos hideaway //

Are you looking to get away anytime soon? To find that remote, dreamy location to leave all your worries behind and soak up some alone time with you and your loved ones? Well, I have found the perfect location to do just that - and it comes with one of the best views out there. Welcome to Los Vientos Hideaway, y'all!

I gotta say, I don't think I've ever stayed in a house with a more breathtaking view than this charming location! At all hours of the day, sitting on that couch and looking out at those canyons was such a refreshing experience that I'll never forget. So when you take that view and add a little Mister Zimi and Eliza Designs LA in the mix, you can do no wrong. I think that golden hour light shining through the windows helped a bit too, huh? ::)

We all need a little break from reality every now and then to remind ourselves of what's important in life - and what's a better way to do that than to surround yourself with 360 degree views of Pipe's Canyon? I highly recommend this location to all of you adventurers! I never wanted to leave. 

First image by Kelly Lee Barrett // Other images by Darius Twin

// ghost //

Welcome to Uncertain, TX ladies & gents - the city where the mysterious Caddo Lake exists and many big foot sightings have occurred! While cruising through the area, and becoming more certain about Uncertain, we stumbled upon this hauntingly beautiful wooden pathway that guides you through the swampy lake. It was unlike anything we had ever seen before, so of course we pulled over and began creating.

Photos shot by Darius Twin.

Tree of Life | New Orleans

I recently took a trip to New Orleans for one of my best friend's weddings, and (oh my!) I adore that city! We flew into Dallas, hopped in my parents' motorhome, and went on a road trip adventure to New Orleans. On the way, we stopped at Caddo Lake for a few nights - but we'll get to that in another post!

Once we arrived in New Orleans, the first thing on our to-do list was to see the Tree of Life. This knobby and droopy oak tree is absolutely massive and believed to be 100 to 500 years old! I just love how mysterious and beautiful it is, especially when lit with the last light of the setting sun. I definitely recommend visiting the tree and the park it's in (Audubon Park). 

To compliment the tree's mystery, I wanted to go with an elegant and romantic look - so I wore that stunning cobalt blue dress from Haute Rogue and shiny jewels by Eliza Designs LA. Not gonna lie, I felt like a princess in this shoot! The breeze was blowing both the dress and my hair just right, the temperature was a perfect-70-degrees, and I was surrounded by beauty. I don't think the conditions could have been any better - but I guess that's what Spring brings in the bayou!

Photos shot by Darius Twin.

Superbloom in Death Valley

We finally did what we absolutely had to do - chase the Death Valley superbloom - and those beautiful, desert wildflowers were exploding with color everywhere I turned! I visited Death Valley during spring of last year and there were tons of flowers, but nothing quite like this. Flowers smothered the surface of the valley and added a whole new essence to the park.

We shot this series of photos when we had first arrived -- when it was raining and the winds were up to 50mph! Oh, and our plan was to camp in our tent -- which ended up being the worst idea (ha!) so we slept in the car! But hey, weather added a sense of mystery to these photos and I love it! Those thick, layered clouds and moody skies created such a nice contrast. Check out what I'm wearing below -- my new favorite outfit for springtime ::)

Photos shot by Darius Twin.

// snow queen //

Many of my adventures revolve around spontaneity, and I find this often causes me to think outside of the box when creating imagery, and to make the most out of every situation I come across. Like this blizzard for instance that we drove through in Utah, we had no idea there would be this much snow but this was the perfect opportunity to wear this beautiful dress by Adriana Papell and jewels by Eliza Designs LA to create the visionary world of the Snow Queen. 

"Life is a journey, not a destination" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote really means something to me because of these spontaneous circumstances we always find ourselves in. We'll be driving down a road we've never been on (and sometimes roads we've been on a lot) and discover something new, beautiful, and exciting. So much that we have to pull over and create something with it. That's what happened with this small road off of the highway, framed with a mountainous landscape full of glistening snow. I couldn't even tell you the name of the street, but it was pure magic. So when you find yourself on an adventure, keep your eyes peeled for other highlights along the way. You may find something even better than your destination!

Photos shot by Darius Twin.

Playing with Fire | Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire has become one of my favorite destinations to explore. This was my second time visiting the area, but I found myself continually discovering something new and exciting. Everywhere you turn, there are these vibrant red rock formations resembling the color of a burning flame. What excited me the most was seeing the colors of the landscape change throughout the day, from the morning light, to the intense afternoon sun, to finishing with the colorful golden hour & sunset.

So when life gives you a scenery full of 'fire', play with it. And by that I mean add some ELIZA Designs LA. All of her pieces are handcrafted here in LA, and carry the most brilliant gems. I love that she always includes the meanings of the gems as well when purchasing her pieces. I found that the Herkimer Diamond piece hit closest to home - not only because it is absolutely beautiful, but because it 'helps the wearer remember their souls purpose on earth, while opening them up to angelic guidance from the highest, purest source. Herkimer diamonds awaken inner light in the wearer, allowing it to radiate outward to the positive benefit of all.' This means so much to me, because I feel like knowing oneself is key to living life to it's fullest potential. Check out her amazing work, and read up on these gem meanings here. I've also included the exact pieces I'm wearing below!