Two Trips to the Southwest

March 10 - 12th & March 15 - 16th

Blake & I took two trips this past week to New Mexico! We always love going back for a visit, walking down memory lane, and absorbing the slow paced living of the southwest.

For the first trip, we drove down with my brother, Anthony, and my dad, Bob. Being there with them was important to me because my family wasn't able to visit us while we were living there in 2011-12, so I was happy we had the opportunity to show them parts of why we fell in love with it and why it was a good place for us to be at that time in our lives.

When we got into town we were able to walk from our hotel to The Plaza to check out the pizza place I used to work at, Rooftop Pizzeria. An old co-worker was our server, which is always great! Blake ran into a couple of his friends, and we felt right back at home.

((Side Note: A lot of posts I do on Facebook and Instagram are through my health page, An Herbal Perspective. Blake & I are new vegans, so when we travel we like to check out places that have options for us. The places don't necessarily have vegan options on thier menus, but we know what to look for, and as long as we ask, every place has been accomodating. I will be posting more of those things on this blog shortly, but for now, if you are interested in what vegans road tripping, traveling, cooking at home, going out, or juicing looks like, check out my page on Facebook or Instagram!))

A few months ago Anthony got accepted to the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Blake & I jumped on that boat right away! We had planned on taking my brother down there for a few days to show him around town and to get his barings more for what it would look like to live in this small, quiet, artistic town. Anthony has a serious passion and talent for the film industry and is looking forward to their film editing program. My dad & I were able to walk the campus, look at the dorms, see the art studios, and talk to some of the students and professors in the film program. I expected nothing less from Santa Fe with their quirky statues, buildings, and even students. What a blessing it would be for my brother to be able to grow his passions in this environment.

When Blake & I lived in Santa Fe, it was during the winter season. Hardly anyone knows that Santa Fe has it's own ski mountian. We lived just at the foot of the mountain and I worked for one the ski shops on the way to the lifts. Before my brother's college tour, we took Blake to the top so he could spend some time in the trees & snow. What a happy man he was, getting to ride his board with the sunshine on his face, hanging out in the fresh desert mountain air.

After I picked up Blake again we all walked to The Plaza and the surrounding areas. We went through La Fonda Hotel (my favorite breakfast place), checked out the mysterious spiral staircase at the Loretto Chapel, and of course walked the amazingly artisitic Canyon Road. For our one Mexican dinner, Blake & I insisted on Maria's. We had to take my dad here for the history, homemade tortillas, an entire book of margaritas, and the best sopapillas you'll ever have. After dinner my dad & Anthony headed in early and Blake & I went to see a friend. The thing about being open to who's house you visit while in Santa Fe is you never know what kind of a place it could be; this friend's friends' place was incredible! I should have taken pictures, but I didn't want to be weird. It was a huge, 1970's "party house" as Blake called it. The Southwestern architecture blows my mind. I'm so in love with the adobe, family style housing hidden up a winding road, but yet still right in town. But the best part was meeting cool, new people and seeing an old friend.

The next day we got up and took my brother and dad to our favorite juice place, BODY. It was an accomplishing breakfast because my dad had a fresh made juice and my brother chose a fresh made smoothie. This opened up the conversation for them to understand a small part of what Blake & I are so  passionate about. It's difficult to "spread the word" when the people aren't open to something new, and my family isn't quite open to new things yet. It's a hard conversation and even harder to watch them not quite grasp the health of this lifestyle. We both want so badly for our families to be healthy and live long, full lives. Not to say that by drinking juice we ourselves will long, full lives, but why not try?!
The time Blake & I spent away from home changed us. While we were living in Santa Fe we weren't quite ready for the vegan/juicing lifestyle, but looking back I can see how the healthier options this town has to offer helped plant a seed for the lifestyle we later took on. Juice bars, raw cafes, yoga studios, natural healing remedies, farmers markets and grocery stores like Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Sprouts were all right around the corner. The people are earth hippies and creative. I love this town.

Once we were back home in Colorado, Blake & I worked and moved our things out of his brother's house and up to his parent's house. About once a year for the six years we've dated we've moved places or states, so we are used to packing up our things and getting comfy in a new space. Because we are having a home birth it is important for us to be in a place we feel comfortable and quiet in. I think Blake feels a little sentimental about this house and his parents are supportive of this move & decision to have baby up here. And also because Blake's brother's family will be growing this summer as well, so they need the space for baby and family to come visit. It was a win/win for everyone. Blake & I are taking one event at a time, once the baby comes we will discuss our future plans for a place of our own. We don't want to rush into anything, so while we have family willing to put us up we will look for something just right for the soon-to-be three of us.

Two days later Blake & I packed up for a quick road trip back to New Mexico, this time Albuquerque via Santa Fe. Our favorite band started up a new tour and was going through New Mexico. Yes, they will be coming to Colorado eventually, and yes we could have waited, but that's not what we do. It's not just about the band, but it's a little trip we can take to get away and spend some time together. I'm learning to really cherish and enjoy these last few trips without baby. Time alone with Blake is hard to come by since moving back home, so these trips to see bands are really special to me now. We have gotten really good at packing up road trip snacks and finding the right places to eat at. Once we got into Albuquerque we picked up dinner for take-out at Annapurna's. Blake wanted to take me there because he used to work at the one in Santa Fe, I had never been there, and they have GREAT vegan options. We ate our Indian food at our hotel and then walked to the Sunshine Theater for the Tribal Seeds show. I like going to different towns and venues for shows because we usually get to walk around and see a little of the towns. Albuquerque was a lot more artistic then I had thought it'd be.

On our way back home we stopped off in Santa Fe to check out a new juice spot we had seen the trip before, Modern General. What a... swanky... place it was. We felt underdressed. But it was beautifully designed and the cafe kitchen was immaculate. My favorite thing on their menu, though I did not get it, was the only sandwich option, a pb&j. The girl who made our juice used to work with Blake at San Q in The Plaza.

We took Highway 285 north so we could check out Ojo Caliente Hot Springs. I'm happy we made the decision to stop. After the whole week of traveling, moving and working I really enjoyed relaxing in the sun and soaking in mineral springs. The drive up 285 was fun to see because it's the same road Blake took, going south, when he biked from Monument, CO to Santa Fe, NM in 2011.

I'm thankful for the trips Blake & I get to go on together, whether they are near or far. I know that a whole new phase of our lives is about to start. The closer we get to a different way of life the more I am thankful for the adventures we have been on. Keeping my memories & pictures in this blog will be invaluable in the years to come. As we read books to the nephew & niece and are about to read many stories of adventure to our little one, I hope that Blake & I's wild journey will be motivating to look beyond the familiar and the comfortable.

Dream Big Ride Far

Monument, Colorado

September 1st - present

Blake & I have been back in Colorado for seven months now. We drove back from Orange County with all of our possesions in our tiny Jeep. After visiting for a few weeks in August we decided it was best for our relationship, families, and finances if we left the beach and came back to the mountains. We've lived away from home for three years now. I feel like it was exaclty what we needed. In some ways it may feel like we took a step back with spending money on living the day to day in an expensive beach town, or traveling the way did, or working jobs that could barely keep us afloat. But we gained so much more then what money could ever buy us. Individually we saw things we needed to see, worked where we needed to, made friends with people who pushed us forward and challenged us, worked for people we'd never want to be like, and experienced different ways of life and people then what Monument has to offer.

I was so scared to move back home, to get stuck in a rut of the same things. There's not too much to do in this small mountain town, but that's not what makes home "home." The routines we got into while in New Mexico & California will stay with us always. Our lives changed in those three years, so being back home will never be the "same." I see our town & community differently now. I am thankful for the things I took for granted. I pursue more then I thought I ever could growing up here. We are blessed to have family and a strong friend base right here.

The biggest change we have been going through is growing a little baby! We found out the week after we officially moved back that we would be expecting our first in May. I can't believe the timing of how everything worked out. When we were living in California we knew there was a chance we could get pregnant. I strongly felt I didn't want to move home right away if we did, I didn't want moving home to be because of baby and me to possiibly be upset about that. When we were home in August I unknowingly got pregnant and that's when we made the choice to move back home. Leaving California and saying goodbye was a decision Blake & I made on our own, for ourselves and our relationship.

Over the last six months I couldn't be more grateful to be around family and friends with the support I never knew I needed during this time. We are living with Blake's brother, Travis & his wife, Danielle, and their two precious babies! It's been the greatest blessing to spend time with this family while we are thinking about our own little family. We missed the births of Blake's nephew and neice, so being able to watch them and live with them now is so rewarding. My parents both still live in Monument, and my two youngest siblings are just down the street from us. One of my brothers will soon be attending college in Santa Fe, NM, and my other brother will hopefully be moving back up to Monument soon! Blake's parents own the local Mexican restaurant here in town where we work with Travis & Danielle, so we are always around family.

Moving back home we knew we'd want to spread the word about what California has on every corner -  JUICE! Blake & I are into juicing veggies & fruits daily. Blake worked at a few juice bars while we were in Orange County, and fell in love with the business and what it has to offer the people of the community. We check out juice bars wherever and whenever we can, and have discussed and re-discussed how we would like to start up something here in town. There's not a single juice bar in Monument, which could make our endevour a hit or miss. Thanks to Blake's Dad for being a smart business man and supportive of Blake's dream, we will be opeing up a juice spot through the restarurant here shortly! I'm so excited for Blake to be doing something he fully supports and wants to share with his family, friends, and community. Our other baby will be this new business! Come check us out if you're in town!!

I like this picture because no one but Blake's brother & sister-in-law, knew we were pregnant. I think we found out the day before this picture was taken. We were visiting Blake's Grandma and then went to dinner. It was so hard not to say anything but I was only five weeks pregnant.

We stayed in Durango, CO for a reggae show. It was special not just because we have good memories of Durango but because we got to be by ourselves, do something we both love, drive through the mountains we had been missing, and talk about future family things. 

Summer Harley rides to the top of Pikes Peak. 

Summer runs at the reservoir. 

I love this picture with my best friend Lauren, her baby Luke, and her twin sister, Lee, with her baby Brody. Lauren was visiting from Georgia and I got to tell her that when Luke turns one in May, I'd be having a baby of my own. We hadn't announced our pregnancy yet, which made this picture that much more special to me, that I was able to share this news with my friends. 

Our announcement photo on Halloween.

Hi Baby!

Blake & I's favorite date nights; seeing bands at awesome venues all around Colorado. 

Blake's nephew, Cash, three years old. 

Morris Christmas card, 2014. In this picture, there are four grandbabies for Mary & Shawn; Cash and Marley, my baby bump, and Danielle's tiny baby bump - she's due with their third in July!

  My two awesome siblings, Bella & Anthony, on my 27th birthday. 

My brother, Matt & his gf, Stacie, on New Year's Day, running a 10k with Blake. 

20 weeks, around Christmas 2014. 

24 weeks. 

........................................................

I started a health page on Facebook & Instagram called An Herbal Perspective soon after Blake & I changed our lifestyle habits towards vegan. I had friends & family asking what we ate and why we were doing it. The best way to keep people informed is through social media, so there it was. I post inspirations, articles, recipes, and my own pictures of the juices, smoothies, breakfast, and dinners we make or order while we are out as motivation for my friends & family to choose a healthier option daily. I am really enjoying keeping up with this page because it keeps me accountable & it inspires me to do better and be more creative with the options vegans have in this world. It's not an easy journey, but it is doable as long as you are willing and have an open mind to the different things that are available to us other then what the media & large companies show us.  

One of the conversations Blake & I had when we decided to eliminate animal products and try to have low amounts of fat was to prepare my body for a baby. We started this in April 2013, and went off birth control in December of that year. Being pregnant now, and remaining fully vegan I can say that I am so thankful for a supportive partner who cares deeply about our health as well as how we set our kid up for having limited health issues in the future. My first trimester was rough, but I never had animal products. As I hit my second trimester I was feeling much better and have had a juice six or seven days a week since. I eat a large salad every day and take in as much carbs as possible. Yes, I get a lot of questions and debates for protein and what's "best" for the baby, but I know what I believe and what works for me and my baby. I know what's in the foods that is the typical American diet and as much as I'd like to burn down every fast food joint, factory farm, and huge cooporation who makes billions off of feeding us poison and torturing animals, I can't change any of it. So I can do what's best for me and my body and hope that I can be an example to future generations. 

The juice bar Blake & I are starting has a lot to do with our future set up as a family as well as suppling nutrition to our community. 

Blake's niece, Marley, is one awesome eater. She wants smoothies, juices, salads, and sushi whenever we are having it. 

The journeys I have been on have shown me that life can change in a second. Whether you are home, alone in a new town, renting, owning, travelling, or growing a family you should always be seeking for something more, something greater. Because there is something more, something greater around each corner! Everything in this life is here to teach us lessons and show us the beauty of free choice. 

No matter what you are doing, 

Dream Big Ride Far!

Welcome to California

July 23rd - 28th

Bandon to Gold Beach, Oregon to Cresent City to Arcata to Eureka, California...193 miles.

While Blake and I were still in Bandon we rode around the neighborhoods on the moped together. We wanted to explore some of the towns we were in, and jumping on Pearl together was the quickest way to do that.
Yesterday I recalled those little trips together because we had to get something done and jumped on Pearl for the first time since our trip ended. It was rainy and moist out and we were both wearing our rain jackets that were always out while we were coming down the coast. All the memories of riding on the back of the moped with Blake came flooding in and despite riding 40mph in the rain on a cold morning, it was sentimental.

 *These logging trucks were a nightmare. They were huge, loud, fast, and frequent the entire time down the coast. I'm glad I got a picture of them because they were very much a part of the trip. 

 *Stopped for construction, this guy on his bike offering ME water... so sweet. 

In Gold Beach we stayed at a little cottage-type motel. We walked into town and grabbed dinner. In the morning I went for a run on the beach and Blake made breakfast. This day was the day we'd ride into California! The state border was about half-way down the coast.

*SUCH a stud.

I feel more emotional about the moment we got to California because after living here for now eight months (not including the month on the road) I know that I love California. I know that crossing that state line on that day in July we had no idea what was ahead of us. We didn't know if we'd even settle down in this state. We didn't know that we'd make it nearly all the way through it. NorCal could be it's own state. It's so drastically different then the south. The people, weather, buildings, roads, atmosphere, and beaches are all so different. It took us less then one month to get through Washington and Oregon and we weren't looking back!

We stayed in Crescent City for three days! The first time we stayed anywhere for that long. Blake needed to rest his body and I needed to rest my anxious brain. We set up camp at a large campground next to the water and chilled out! The fog was heavy and quiet. We saw two movies at the theater, ate sushi, grocery shopped, explored, and rested in the tent. There was nothing special in Crescent City other then the campground being decently priced and quiet and it being a home base for a quick day trip into the Redwoods. Blake rode his bike and I took the moped in, wanting to avoid getting pulled over. At one point we just locked up the bike and rode throught the giant green trees together on Pearl. With a  lunch packed and hiking trails to explore, we were happy to not be on the road travelling. This was the first time either of us had seen the Redwood trees. Talk about putting your ego into check. They were monsters. I imagined George Lucas seeing them and envisioning "Return of the Jedi." Riding on my moped felt like I was riding through the trees zipping by like they did in Star Wars. Jurassic Park was also filmed in these woods located in Northern Humbolt County, California. Being in it felt dense and dark. You feel so small in the world when you have to crank your neck all the way back just to see the tops of the trees. It was incredible.

Aracata, California...The first hippies and palm trees I saw on this trip. Before I left Santa Fe, a friend told me we would love Arcata and he was right. It's like Santa Fe, NM, Manitou, CO, and California combined. There was a farmer's market going on when we arrived. We grabbed some bakery foods and produce and explored the little town. There we saw a group of biking tourist hippies putting on a music show in the park. I got a few crafty items and sent them home. We ended up having to ride to Eureka to find a place to stay for the night.

Thanks for reading about this trip we took last summer! It's hard to believe we are one month shy of 1 year leaving everything behind in Colorado.

Dream Big Ride Far!