My Life :: Autumn Snapshots

Asides from these past few days, so far it has been the most gorgeous autumn in the Midwest that I can recall.  Sunny days, crisp clean air, and foliage slowly changing from vibrant greens to golden yellows and fire reds.  I've been taking full advantage of the weather - hikes with Yoda, visits to the farmer's market, dinners al fresco with Ryan - knowing all too well before we know it winter will be here.  And of course, I've been trying to capture as much of the season as I can with my trusty Nikon D5200.  So today I simply wanted to share some recent snaps in hopes that it inspires you to head outside and soak in all the beauty autumn has to offer!

Wanderlust :: Patagonia, Chile

As many places as I have traveled, I still have not yet visited the Southern Hemisphere.  So when I do, I might as well head down, down, down to the tip of South America -- to the beautiful and rugged region of Patagonia, Chile.  I cannot get over how absolutely stunning the landscape is -- lush and alive yet lonely and barren, it is so remote that it has not yet been completely taken over by buses and tour groups like many other natural wonders in the world.  Adventurers go to see electric-blue lakes, massive glaciers, otherworldly sunsets, craggy mountains, and endless land unpopulated for hundreds of miles except for perhaps a lone gaucho on horseback.  When we go, I would most certainly stay at one of the amazing domes at the fully sustainable Ecocamp Patagonia {it even has a yoga dome!}  But, I'd also love to spend a few days at the award-winning eco-friendly Remota hotel -- famous for it's architecture and sweeping views of the fjord and glaciers.  It amazes me how much beauty we have on this earth and I want to see it all.  For as St. Augustine once said, "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."  

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Travel :: Camping

Last week I told you about one of my favorite fall traditions, and this week I will be telling you about another - camping.  I have been camping since I can remember and has always been one of my favorite weekend getaways.  There is something about sleeping in under the stars, cooking your food over an open fire, breathing in the crisp, clean air, and being surrounded by nature in all its glory that seems to hit the refresh button on my life.  Being outside is the best way for me to clear my head and reenergize my spirit.  

A few weeks ago Ryan, Yoda, and I headed east to Versailles State Park to meet my mom and stepdad.  It was a perfect fall weekend - cool and breezy in the evening and warm during the day.  The leaves had just started to change and floated gracefully down to the ground like rain.  Friday night we cooked pasta, vegetables, and chicken over the fire for dinner {with a drizzle of Truffle Oil I had brought them back from Tuscany - yum!}.  Afterwards we sat by the fire and roasted marshmallows, ate smores, and gazed up at the stars.  Saturday the boys went mountain biking and my mom and I went on a long hike with our dogs.  We had a simple dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup and spent the last few hours of the night talking around the fire.  Sunday morning we gathered our belongings and headed back to the hustle and bustle of the city.

PS - Follow Dreams in HD on bloglovin' here.

Travel :: Hiking the Cinque Terre

For those of you who haven't been following my blog, we recently vacationed for two and a half weeks in Italy - five days of which were spent in the breathtakingly beautiful Cinque Terre {meaning "Five Towns" in Italian}.  One aspect of the area that makes it so special {besides the fact that it is absolutely stunning} is that there are hiking trails that connect the five little towns to one another.  The trails get progressively more difficult as you go north, with the route from Vernazza to Monterosso being the most challenging.

A few of the trails were closed this year, so we weren't able to do as much hiking as we would like.  However, we did spend the afternoon treking the Monterosso - Vernazza path.  The first part of the hike was really, really hard, as you essentially climb straight to the top of the mountain.  That, coupled with the fact that the trail was absolutely packed with tourists, made it exhausting and a little terrifying.  But we were rewarded for our efforts with the most gorgeous views of the sea, hills, cliffs, and towns.  Plus it always feels like such a great accomplishment knowing that you perseverance won out against that little voice in your head telling you to give up.  

The trail concluded with postcard-perfect views of Vernazza, where we stopped to rest our legs and have some much deserved pasta and wine.  All in all it was a day I will remember for the rest of my life, and just one more experience to cross off the bucket list.

More from our trip here: Genoa, Lucca, Manarola, Riomaggiore; Follow Dreams in HD on bloglovin' here.

Travel :: Riomaggiore, Italy

Last week I showed you photos of Manarola, the town we stayed in during our five days in the Cinque Terre.  One of the aspects I liked best about the area was the fact that it was super easy to visit each of the five famous towns in the region {by foot, train, or ferry}.  Each town was unique in it's own special way, but Riomaggiore was especially special for us.  It was just about a kilometer from Manarola so we visited the town twice, once to explore and swim and the other to hike.  Besides being absolutely gorgeous it was also quite lively, especially considering how tiny it was.

I loved just wandering around the colorful little town, stopping for gelato and foccacia, picking up a few local goodies to bring home for friends and family, and snapping away on my camera.  Most of the towns in the Cinque Terre do not have any classical beaches, so locals and travelers alike intermix on the rocks where many spend an afternoon swimming, laying in the sun, picnicking, and cliff jumping.  It was perfect weather, so we decided to join in on the fun {Ryan braved the icy water and swam, I laid on a rock and read a book}.  

We also spent a morning hiking high above the town to see the Santuario di Nostra Signora di Monterono.  It was a grueling 90 minute hike straight up the side of the slope, but we were graced with gorgeous views of grapevines, hills, the sea, and the towns.  Surrounded by fog, it felt a little eerie but totally ethereal.

The end of our first day in Riomaggiore we were treated to a postcard sunset over the sea.  We watched as the sky turned vibrant orange and red to soft pink and purple with a smattering of tiny clouds, all reflected in the crystal clear water.  It was truly the perfect end to a perfect day.    

More from our trip here: Genoa, Lucca, Manarola; Follow Dreams in HD on bloglovin' here