arbor day (and some winners)

i'm off, yet again.
this time it's back to colorado celebrating my good friend and her bun in the oven.
we'll be spending a night in boulder (can't drive through without some pearl street mall action)
and then hitting denver for a sunny and warm-ish weekend.
did you know tomorrow is Arbor Day?
i won't have time to do anything cool like plant a tree but i will be making a donation here.
check out some other ladies of the mountains arbor day plans: michelle, lena, gentri, kelley, nicole, and brandi

and drumroll please....
winner of the Lindsay's Necklace Give-Away
winner of the New West Knife Works Shopping Day

what i drank in argentina.

many of you have been asking what the heck i was doing down in argentina anyways.

besides exploring and sipping vinos, i was helping out these two beautiful people, adam and myfanwy.

they own Mendoza Wine Camp, an incredibly fun and educational wine touring company.

you can choose from 1-day to 7-day vineyard adventures that include meeting wine makers, learning to pair delicious lunches with certain vinos, making your very own argentine blends, and much more.

i tagged along on tours to snap photos and helped a bit with social media.

if you are planning on making a trip to argentina, make sure to contact Mendoza Wine Camp!

follow them on facebook and twitter for updates on all things vino.

argentine wine from left to right

1. Mendel Finca Remota Malbec

2. La Azul Reserva (blend)

3. Pulenta XI Gran Cabernet Franc

the three wines chosen are all available in the states,

including my personal favorite slash new obsession pulenta estate's gran cabernet franc. 

to. die. for.

south america goodness.

{yummy mid day snack}

{the vineyards}

{pops of colorful flowers everywhere}

{malbec ice cream + spices at the central market}

{oaked barrels.  i wish i could bottle up the smells}

{beautiful (and cool) trees throughout downtown mendoza}

{how i feel everyday}

just a few photos of my south american adventures.

i'm off to celebrate thanksgiving with expats, a traditional asado, and a pool party.

pretty certain that i like november in south america much more than the states.

wait....yes, i am very certain of that.

make sure to check back tomorrow for an amazing giveaway!

argentina week 1.

{roses are in full bloom}

{lunch IN the vineyards, perhaps?} 

{malbec.}

{sunny afternoon winery exploration.}

{uco valley.  vineyards and mountains.}

{happy vines.}

{deep dark cellars of clos de chacras winery} 

{you and i have a lot to talk about, mr. malbec.}

{dusty reserves.}

a lot of you have been asking me what the heck i'm doing down here in argentina.

i decided to travel a bit until the holidays.

i wanted to see the world but also expand my mind, hence choosing mendoza for the world class wines.

a friend of a friend (whom i didn't meet until i showed up at his doorstep) graciously offered me a room to stay with him, his beautiful argentine wife, and their two big black labs. 

they've been beyond helpful and really taken me under their wings!

they own a wine touring company together and i'm helping with social media, marketing, and photography.

in return, i'm tagging along on tours, meeting winemakers, winery owners, and tasting a lot of vino.

pretty sure my teeth will be permanently stained purple by the time i leave here.

week 1 highlights:

a winery chef asked me how i'm enjoying the appetizers.  i respond "DELICIOSO!" my friends laugh and in english say, "no, he wants to know how you want your meat cooked."  

awesome. i just shouted that i want it cooked delicious to his face.

the neighbors upstairs teach opera lessons.  all day.

experienced 104* heat yesterday while tasting red wine.  good thing siesta is from 1 - 5.

i repeat, siesta is from 1 - 5.  every. single. day.

taking my first cab ride home solo and giving directions in spanglish.  the cabbie just laughed and instructed me to sing the american songs on the radio for him all the way home. 

 ^^^^ i'm making so many new friends.

the biggest rookie move.

i have a confession to make.
{deep breaths}
i lost my passport.
i know. i know. i know.
i'm an idiot.
like, biggest rookie travel move, ever.
i hesitated for a few days before deciding to post this but i gotta keep it real over here at the egg.
and since i'm blogging about my adventures, i couldn't leave this minor detail out.

first of all, i took it out to the bars.
dumb. dumb. dumb.
in new york city.
dumb and dumber....the sequel.
do you know how much a us passport goes for these days?

anyways, my anxiety level the next day was through the roof and i immediately panicked as i thought about my entire trip ending right then and there.
all the money i had saved.  all the plans i had made.  all of the places to see.  people to meet.  WINE TO DRINK!
alas, my girlfriends forced me to take many a deep breaths and i was able to get an appointment at a passport agency in connecticut the next day.
"soooo, you were born in ohio, your old passport is from colorado, you now live in wyoming, your parents are in florida, and you lost your passport in nyc while making your way to argentina......and now you are in connecticut?????" says the agent.
"yep.  oh, and not sure if you noticed but my birthday is tomorrow.  just in case you needed to know {eh hem} my birth date."
8 hours and $200 later..... i am again a traveller of the world.

upstate ny {part 2}.

{cutest little house on lake george}

{fall foliage in the north east}

{teaching me to sail}

can we talk about how cute that house on lake george is?

or how pretty the fall foliage was?

or how awesome it was to sail with jeff's family?

that part was my favorite.

or....how about how disheveled i look after i arrived back in NYC?

that's what i'm looking like these days, my friends.

backpack...leather coat...covered by rain jacket...two totes...a suitcase...and heels.

i'm not lying when i say i knocked over 4 people on the train.

all i need now is a neon sign that flickers vagabond above my head and things will be just perfect.

upstate ny {part 1}.

this is my first time to upstate new york and it won't be my last.

we've been staying on beautiful lake george eyeing the vibrantly changing leaves.

and taking full advantage of the empty lake with quiet boat rides and sails all to ourselves. 

jeffers made this adirondack chair a few years ago and it now lives on a point of its own.

we are here until tomorrow so stay tuned for more photos!

my key to packing.

i'm now in NYC, the second stop on my 3 month excursion.
while i'm here i'm stocking up on transitional pieces for all of the quick seasons i'll be experiencing.
autumn in new york. > beach time in charleston, s.c. > spring time in argentina. >
holidays in ohio. > a wedding in nola over new years eve.
all out of a carry-on and a backpack.
how is it possible you ask?
my solution: versatility!
i'm eyeing the above to work well on many stops throughout my journey.

peter pan collar tee // j.crew

shoes // aldo

embellished tee // topshop

gray skinny jeans // madewell

fun scarf // forever 21

this week.

this week is race week.

its been 9 months of training and i'm ready for the chicago marathon.

i think.

this week has been gorgeous in the tetons.

i love me some indian summers and bright yellow aspen leaves.

happy to experience fall in the mountains this year.

this week is the start to my trip.

packing for 3 months is a hard task

but i'll pick some things up along my way.

this week is the week i've been dreaming of for years. 

you only live once, people.

get out and see the world.

two for one. shell yeah!

{lilly pulitzer shell yeah necklace}

there's no denying that my favorite thing about the off season are the 2-for-1 menus around town.
welp, i found something to top that.
i was shopping for a girlfriend's birthday and stumbled upon this 2-for-1 stylish gem.
necklace + bottle opener.
done and done. shell yeah!
couldn't really think of a better bbq accessory this summer.
besides a summer pale ale, of course.

*local note: many still available at rock lobster on town square**

top 10 travel checklist.

tomorrow i'm off to nicaragua with my best friend.
ask me if i've even looked at a map yet.
i've backpacked a few times in my life
and the best way to travel is with no plan at all.
i've also learned the necessary items to keep me company along the way.
the theme here people is cheap, cheap, cheap.

above is a look into my personal top 10 backpacking essentials:
1. cheap sunglasses: protect my baby blues but these eyes won't be watering if they happen to fall into the ocean during a booze cruise.
2. cheap bathing suit tops: i usually pack more as they act as not just swim wear, but my every day support system.
3. panama hat: i found this gem at a vintage store in town. it adds a little style to my trip.
4. the cheapest clothing you can find: worn multiple times throughout the trip and absolutely no concern if they gather a few stains. immediately throw out upon return home.
5. chacos: crocs ugly step sisters.  those multiple straps help my bad back when i'm literally...backpacking. hottest tan lines ever.
6. medications: thank you dad for prescribing me the goods just in case the worst happens. no one likes montezuma's revenge.
7. a damn good book: i'm not talking your chick flick beach reads but rather something with substance. john steinbeck and his travel stories will fit nicely at the top of my pack.
8. jhorts:  no reasoning needed.
9. cheap small purse: to hold my passport and money.  easy access while shopping.  no need to go digging through my bag when i don't speak spanish anyways. let's not make this completely awkward.
10. comfy flip flops: to get rid of the nasty chaco tan lines.

there you have it!
please stay tuned while i'm away as i've got some ah-mazing guest bloggers lined up.
adios!

nicaragua.

you guys.
i just booked a trip to nicaragua for the off-season!
click here, here, and here for previous off-season jaunts.
i'm so freaking excited to head down there with a good friend.
a few weeks of backpacking.
a few attempts at surfing.
a lot of much needed sunshine on this pale face.
have you been?
if so, where should we go?  anything we must do?
any recommendations are welcome!

*all images via my pinterest

"off-seasonism."

its november. its cold.
and there is no snow.....yet.
my bosses are off in hawaii and thailand and i'm here holding down the fort.
instead of traveling for this off-season,
i'm heading back home for christmas to see my entire clan
(which is way better than traveling)
but i have the travel BUG.
and i've got it bad....

{cashew, sri lanka}

{tuk tuks}

{pinnawala elephant orphanage.  such a magical place}

{rescued elephants}

{i heart backpacking}

{Team Lanka}

photos from my trip to sri lanka this spring.

have a happy weekend!
i'll be scouring the internet for my next great adventure~

penny lane.

{penny lane and russell hammond from stillwater.}

how'd we do?
i know i look pretty much exactly like kate hudson...
almost famous is one of my favorite movies.
what were you this year?

happy halloween!

jellystone wildlife.

{howling coyote}

{hundreds of bison in the roads} 

{can you spot the grizzly?  i didn't want to spook him with a flash}

{bison sitting in front of our cabin.  i was laughing too hard to get a good photo!}

{this monkey}

we also spotted 2 wolf packs but my lens wasn't capable of zooming that far!
i do however, have photos of the wolf pack PEOPLE.
stay tuned...

twenty six.

today i turn 26.

craaaazy.

for my birthday weekend i hit up jellystone national park.

2 wolf packs, 1 grizzly bear in the road, tons of bison.

zero. tourists.  which equals the best time to be there!

more photos to come....

{trail mix. driving essentials}

{lower falls}

{mammoth hot springs}

**photos by me