Vacation Spot- South Dakota, Day 1.

It was after a most strenuous and exhausting red-eye flight that we finally arrived in the beautiful Black Hills.

Please, don't judge a book by its cover and automatically assume that South Dakota is a punishment or icky state. It really is rather lovely and it holds lots of memories for me.

Anyhow, yesterday was the first official day here, but we mainly spent it sluggishly attempting to shop and sleeping. I'm telling you, flying red-eye, especially the route we took, just took the life out of you!

So to begin afresh, we decided to spend our first "wide awake" day here in the wilderness, with a proper hike.

There are a lot of gorgeous hikes here in the hills (you only call me when it's half past five… casually quoting The Weekend because I can't resist) and the weather was stupendous that after a hearty breakfast, complete with coffee, we were out there ready to go just past nine, which is rather early considering our family!

Today, we explored the trails of the Cathedral Spires. Well, besides the company of my family (minus Dad, who's back home in Alaska for the first part of the trip… we just can't tear him away from fishing!) and my grandma (who we can't keep up with!), we had the pleasure of Jan Conn, who happens to be a world renown climber and caver, best known for her work in the discovery of Jewel Cave (and also 91 years old), as well as a gal named Bridget who owns an outdoorsy shop in Rapid City. We had quite the crew, and quite the hike!

And look what we ran into! A momma and baby mountain goat right off the bat. 

What a day..

Miraculously enough, we had nature's best right at our fingertips. Fresh raspberries for the taking- we didn't even need to pack snacks!

I myself was rather fond of all the wildflowers..

Mom and Grandma!

Manton and Shebs..

That sisterly love..

Anton, as it turns out, is quite the mountain man. He would run off up ahead and crawl up these giant cliff faces, only to scare us on his climb down! But I was there to catch him… on camera. 

I hope I'm half as active and fit as my grandma someday!

There he goes again..

Alyeska even went up on those rocks!

I enjoyed it too.. until I noticed how far up I was! Yikes!

Alyeska and I don't share much.. but we do share logs. 

And of course, being the stylish woman I am, I found myself this all natural wood ring! Thoughts?

Now on the way there, we took the traditional trail. But we were in the company of some very adventurous and off-the-beaten-path kind of ladies and so on the return trip, we did a little backwoodsing. Let me tell you, that was the best part of the hike!

You go from crawling in the deep shaded brush to climbing down Lord of the Rings style spires..

And we got to walk on quartz.. how wicked is that?

So Alyeska and I are just chilling on this quarts seat when Jan comes crawling up beneath us! How fun. 

Alyeska, forever the dancer, never misses a chance to strike a pose!

Just look at them go!

And we came out on top.

The walk back was rather humorous. It spiked a bit in the temperatures, putting us at around  ninety degree hiking weather, and Alyeska, forever the pale white girl, sprinted from shade spot to shade spot to keep from getting burned. 

So many nooks and crannies out there… you never know what you're going to stumble across when hiking off the trail!

Dinner tonight was Grandma's famous spagetthi and meatballs, as well as some wine. What kind of wine you ask? Well I don't even know!

A Song for Sunday- Growing Up.

Macklemore and Ed Sheeran. I guess you could say I've been waiting for this.

I've always loved Macklemore, and as you know, have been an avid fan of Ed, and so to see them do a song together really is the crema on top. 

But instead of your average Thrift Shop style rap full of beats and expletives, Macklemore takes it back to the heart and brings in some deeper lyrics. 

Growing Up came out just a couple of days ago, and after my sister told me about it, I gave it a listen and instantly loved it. 

It's a song written for Macklemore's daughter, but I think it's relevant to all first time parents. You've got Macklemore singing bout the love he has for his daughter and the strength from his wife, and the advice to young kids growing up and it really is rather touching. 

And once Ed comes in there belting that chorus, you can't help but love it a little more! 

I think we need more songs like these. Songs about positivity and love, about encouraging things. And Macklemore talks about his music career and how he's struggling to juggle both (bring a father and musician) but that he'll always love him and support her. 

And the love at the end, where you see Macklemore holding his newborn in the music video... Makes your heart melt.

I recommend that you read "The Alchemist" 

Listen to your teachers, but cheat in calculus

Tell the truth, regardless of the consequence

And every day, give your momma a compliment

Take your girl to the prom

But don't get too drunk hanging out in the limo

Slow dance with your woman in your arms

Sneak her in after but boy, you better tiptoe

Don't wake your mom up, do yoga, learn bout karma

Find God, but leave dogma

The quickest way to happiness?

Learning to be selfless. 

Ask more questions, talk about yourself less...

Growing Up (Sloane's Song)

Sister, Sister.

August, where the last hints of summer remain but the taste of school is in the air. 

For most people, anyway. 

Well, included in that category for the very first time this year, is my sister Alyeska. But instead of putting up with another miserable year of high school, she is now off on a new adventure: college. 

Alyeska has been accepted into the University of South Dakota, and before you go off and scoff Ugh, is that punishment? please be courteous of her choice. We have family in the Dakotas (in fact, we're jet setting there in just a couple of days), and the school has some family history, as well as some great programs that fit her just so. She will be double majoring in Business Administration and Musical Theatre, as well as minoring in dance, and I could not be more proud. 

But as much as I'm proud, I'm also a little selfish at seeing her go. I know she's had to see me disappear twice (once in my junior year of high school, and another when I myself went off to college), but I've never had to see her leave home. 

I've gotta say, it's a strange sight to see her room packed up. It's sad to know that we won't be able to have our Teen Wolf nights where she pulls me out of the shower and heats me up an ecstasy bar (the best desserts ever). It's change, and no matter how many time life changes, you can never fully say you're comfortable with the feeling. Like squats, only emotionally so. 

So due to this upcoming change, Alyeska and I have been spending more and more time together, me secretly reveling in her hilarious potato company, and her hopefully reciprocating (she's not always the most emotionally expressive person). 

Bathroom selfie at Nordstroms. Cheesy, but they've got great lighting. 

Elan.... Come on over!

-Alyeska

Love you, Shebs. 

My Feline Friend.

So my dad came to visit me at work today, and after I showed him these incredibly adorable pictures of Fudge ( I usually take some everyday), he says to me Élan, you need a boyfriend. 

It cracked me up it did, because I do realize that I have a slightly strong love towards cats, especially Fudge. 

I am, in simple words, a cat lady. 

I dote upon my cat, I own cat sweaters and mugs, I pin cat pictures, I emphasize with the cat van that pulls up to Kaladis everyday with four cats in the front window ( me in twenty years), and I always talk about Fudge to my friends, probably when they don't give a fudge. 

But you know, I'm okay with it! Fudge makes me happy and it's not like I'm replacing boys with cats, cause lord knows I love me some guys. I'm just at that phase in my life where I have date nights with Fudge instead of with boys. She's also the only one who gets to sleep with me, so there's that.The right guy just hasn't come along yet! And you know, I'm willing to wait. 

Well, Fudge and I are willing to wait. ;)

I had half an hour before I had to go to work and after seeing this, I decided to lie down for a quick nap. 

Fudge and I are so close.. Literally and figuratively. 

Don't we make a fine pair?

What I wore: black TOM FORD sunnies (used), lavender stone necklace, pink lace HIP peplum top (used), black CAbi capris (used), and light pink CHINESE LAUNDRY sandals ( Tj Maxx).