Santa Fe Overview

If you follow me on Instagram or have read any of my last few posts, you may know that I went to Santa Fe for the first time a few weeks ago. I'm pleased to announce that I'm in love with Santa Fe and the South West. Wide, open spaces, green hatch chiles and Georgia O'Keefe. The South West gets me. I also just could not get over all of the orange blue - aka one of my favorite color palettes to ever exist. Here's a little overview of our trip, including the most ridiculous travel arrangements I've ever made.

Day 1: Drive 2 hours to Harrisburg. Drive 1 1/2 hours to Baltimore. Fly to Albuquerque. Drive to Santa Fe. Dinner at Rudy's BBQ.

Day 2: Breakfast at Starbucks (sorry, not sorry). Grocery shopping. Hiking at Bandelier National Monument. Visit the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Dinner at Tomasita's.

Day 3: Hike Mount Taylor. Delivery pizza from Rooftop Pizzeria.

Day 4: Breakfast at the Plaza Cafe. Hike Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks. Dinner at Blue Corn Brewery.

Day 5: Explored Santa Fe plaza. Dinner at Il Piatto.

This was my first big girl vacation without my parents. I went with my best friend from college and we had the absolute best time. We were lucky enough to stay at my aunt and uncle's condo, which made the trip shockingly and pleasantly affordable. Between the sun, girl time, food, drinks and of course one hell of a summit, I can back blissfully relaxed and dreaming of my next trip to Santa Fe. Hopefully I can go when they're roasting hatch chiles and when I can attempt to summit Baldy. I can't wait for my next big girl vacation. And to tell you more about some of our explorations and meals.

Sunday Thoughts

I sat down to write yesterday after a month-plus long hiatus. And, instead, I ended up watching several episodes of The Slap on Hulu (it's completely intriguing [Correction: in between starting and finishing this post I finished the series. Oh my goodness. So good.) and not doing much else. I think the only thing consistent about this blog is the fact that I often disappear without warning shortly after I promise to write consistently.

Sometimes it's because I truly forget. Sometimes the world gets crazy - good or bad - and I can't bring myself to write. Sometimes its because I'm not sure if anyone even reads this. But most often it's because life is hectic, and busy and oft changing. And as I try to keep the ground from spinning out from underneath me, trying to keep centered and on course, things get left behind.

Life lately has been crazy good. With lots of new adventures in new places. It hasn't left much time for writing. Between work and vacation and maybe a new special friend, my life is wonderfully full and my cup - indeed - runs over.

Here's what you can expect to see over the next couple of weeks -- recaps from my fabulous trip to Santa Fe. Short, brief restaurant reviews of places I've tried recently and recipes that I cooked while I still lived at home because I haven't figured out how to get decent lighting in my new place. That is if I ever actually get motivated to write anything.