Falling For You

It's been a while since I've posted here -- but I'm happy to be back, sharing a shoot brought to you by Pitusa! I guess you can say I have been busy getting to know our new neighborhood ~ and I am beginning to fall in L O V E with our surroundings.

Even though I haven't been as active here on the blog, I have been creating more than ever. Inspiration is everywhere you look here on Pine Mountain - and Darren and I are always feeling that urge to get out, explore, and document our dreams by turning them into reality! As we explore we discover new places, and one of those places is the location here in this shoot.

A short 10-minute drive from our house takes you here, overlooking layers of mountains being backlit by the setting sun, and oh my is it dreamy! We can't stop going back ::)

I think I have found my new happy place - where I will go to wash all of those worries away and let my mind wander into those endless layers of mountains! Or just to enjoy a nice beer with my love! Ok, now enjoy the rest of the photos! 

The End! Now keep your eyes peeled for new content, I wasn't joking when I said we've been out creating more than ever! ::) 

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.

Southwestern Wanderers

'Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road' says Jack Kerouac, and I raise my glass to that.

There are people like me who find themselves by wandering. By welcoming a world of their own with each and every step they take, without limits or boundaries; because by wandering, they are experiencing, discovering, and understanding themselves and the world around them better. They are free spirits. They live to love and love to live in peace and in liberation.

I recently returned from a long road trip through the Southwest, passing through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. That's 6 states in the span of a little more than a week! So, I've decided to put together a little recap so you can feel like you were right there with me.

Here I am enjoying a glass of Liberated's Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc at Zion National Park in Utah after a long day of travel. We stayed here for golden hour, the sunset, and even the starry night sky, because 'half the park is after dark.' What a bright moment, just look at those stars!

Before our Zion travels, we stopped by the Valley of Fire for a night. Those vibrant red sandstone formations are all over the park - each unique in their own way. This one looked like cheese ^_^

Here I am drooling over fall in Zion - we never see leaves change to vibrant yellow and orange hues in Southern California (since there doesn't seem to be seasons here). 

Before leaving Zion, we stopped to defy gravity for a little bit. Look at those textures!

Now it's on to the next location: Page AZ - where we will see both Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Let's just say many hours of listening to really good music and non-stop staring outside the window, wondering how something could be so beautiful.

Well, we made it to our next destination: Horseshoe Bend. And to celebrate, we had a glass of Liberated. 

While, of course, taking in those stunning views. 

It was pretty much a dream.

The next morning, we stopped by Antelope Canyon to see the location we had been curious about for a while. Let's just say it was like walking through a maze of sandstone art. You can only access it by tour, but luckily they give you a lot of time to take photos!

Next up on the itinerary: Monument Valley in Utah. Here I am trying to blend in with the environment. Don't those formations look like hands?! 

Here I am reliving my favorite old westerns by John Ford. Yes, that is me on the horse!

Well, now that we've seen Monument Valley, it's time to move onto our next (and final!) destination: White Sands. But first, let's stop here because the golden hour light looks so dreamy!

And, let's stay for the sun to set because look at how big that moon is!

Well, we finally made it to the last location on the list - a place I have been dying to see for as long as I can remember in a small little town called Alamogordo, New Mexico. 

Nothing but pure joy. White Sands, you are one majestic beauty.

One final glass of Liberated to end the trip the right way.

Which left me dancing and feeling alive!

And in love.

'Peace, love, and liberation' -- three words that perfectly describe my life on the road, traveling throughout the Southwest where some of the most beautiful locations in the world exist. Thank you, Liberated, for the journey and for your crisp tasting Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc.