Where did summer go?

Leave a comment

It’s already mid-August and our summer family road trip is officially over. I don’t even want to know what is waiting for us back in Arkansas. A lot of dead plants.

As we packed up to leave Salida, CO this morning Caleb and I started the “where did summer go?” conversation. According to him we lose an hour of daylight in August.

We make a Colorado summer trip every year with various stops on the way to our final destination, Salida. This town is where big mountains, desert vibes and river fun all intersect.

There is a lot to do in such a small town. Biking, running, surfing, rafting, shopping, dining + community events to name a few.

We have the best local guides and spend our time here like one.

What I did

biked on S mountain and Monarch Crest
played in the mud + enjoyed family

What I ate

Craft beer & food trucks

Where we stayed

This year we stayed in an airbnb loft style home that inspired me with its attainable interior design and zen qualities. I read a couple of the host’s books that were displayed on the shelves and really enjoyed the stay here.

This book was a good concept for me to come across. As someone who finds life to be mostly mundane and depressing the idea that some enlightened and spiritual paths are “laundry” was incredibly comforting.

Exposed brick
Lots of stained glass
Early 2000’s touches
Art from all over the world
West elm duvet cover 10/10 on softness and comfort

As I wave goodbye to summer and all it offered this year I’m looking forward to fall, pumpkin spice and being a homebody.

xo,

Just Another Taylor

Family Vacation 2025

Leave a comment

I had waves of anxiety leading up to our trip to Taos. Not unusual for me to have anxiety so I flatly asked Caleb if he could cancel the Airbnb reservation. To my luck he couldn’t and wouldn’t. 

As it turned out, New Mexico cracked my heart open offering tingly feelings of happiness and gratitude. 

Family vacations the last few summers looked different. Breastfeeding and what I will simply call my “zombie mom” post(partum)apocalyptic phase. Trips that we spent money and driving time to be put inside since you don’t skip naptime or bedtime when you are a parent to Kessler Jane. She’s three now and her little personality made this go round more fun to include her. Maybe she’s aware we’re going to drag her to things regardless.

Backing up, I wasn’t stoked on getting out of my normal routine again this year because I have an attachment/love for my normal routine. The “can we cancel?” came when Caleb told me that the Taos House didn’t have air conditioning. 

It’s a good thing neither of our negativity hung around long because vacation actually slapped. 

My Highlights: 

  • Swimming in the Rio Grande. Walking across the Rio Grande Gorge.
  • Morning walk through Taos backroads w/ Rudy 
  • Visiting Taos Pueblo
  • Taos Mesa Brewing Mothership concert- Rebirth Brass Band at sunset was medicine for my soul 
  • Yoga at Aurafitness

Calebs highlights: 

  • Green chile burritos
  • The views
  • The sunsets 
  • South Boundary IMBA epic trail 

Kesslers Highlights: 

  • Twirl 
  • Watching Smurfs episodes on our drive 

Lowlights: 

  • No air conditioning in the Airbnb with 90 degree temps during the day 

What I wore 

Flower print mini dresses, linen pants from Anthro, Flip flops 

What I ate 

Margaritas with a salt rim, blue corn chicken tacos 🤤, so much ice water, car snacks

What I did  

Slept like shit, kissed Kessler a lot, colored pictures, played with magnitiles, went to yoga x2, walked, visited Taos Pueblo Reservation, bought some jewelry while I was there, took photos with my Nikon, bitched at Caleb, danced, laughed & swam. Didn’t clean 💯

Lake Wedington, Fayetteville AR

Leave a comment
These views are ones you can expect to see when you visit Lake Wedington at sundown. SO gorgeous!
_dsc0534_dsc0535_dsc0541_dsc0552_dsc0558
Lake Wedington

Wedington Township, AR 72704

Spring Fever

Leave a comment

Winter weather has seriously been putting a damper on my mood. In years past I have taken comfort in the winter season as a time for bettering myself. A time to work extra hard at my job, write more, save money, start a new exercise routine, etc.

But this year I have found it difficult to enjoy any of the winter routines I have in the past. Moving twice since the start of the new year has put a pause on activities I definitely took for granted last year. For example sleeping in the same bed for more than three nights in a row.

I promise I’m not complaining– very happy with the choices I’ve made the last few months. (It’s been way too long since my last post so here is a quick update.) In November I took a leap of faith, quit my job and have been working on growing my photography business. I love it more than I ever could have imagined but constantly being on the go during the winter season has made focusing on my own well-being a challenge.

Not today though. Today the sun is shining. It’s 69 degrees outside. I was able to run my favorite trails this morning and now I am at the coffee shop working on photos. Basically today is a little sneak peek of my spring and the perfect push to get me through winter. I also forgot how much I love spring clothes. Check out todays outfit!

image1-1image1-3image1-2.jpgimage1-5

If you’re having trouble finding happy days in winter just remember that brighter, warmer ones are just around the corner. Do at least one thing that makes YOU happy tonight, tomorrow, and the next day and winter will be gone before we know it!

img_7476

You don’t have to like each other but you still have to love each other

Leave a comment

This is what my mom used to say to my sister and I when we were arguing about the name to give our new beanie baby, what movie to watch next, or whose turn it was to play computer pinball– you name it, we probably didn’t agree.

It’s just a 15 word line, and I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times if you have siblings– but really let the words sink in. They hold so much meaning we can learn from.

 

The events going on in the United States regardless of race, sex, occupation, financial standing, etc., are not okay.

 

Killing each other should not be a option.

 

Just as Milan and I did not always like each other when we were little, adults don’t always see eye-to-eye or like each other at all. That doesn’t mean we should hate one another over controversial matters, whatever they may be.

 

You don’t have to like everyone. 50% (maybe more depending on the day) of humans I interact with get on my nerves. Still doesn’t mean I want to pick up a gun and kill them. So I repeat: You do not have to like everyone. But you can still respect them, which is the most important form of love we need right now.

 

Killing will not stop until the hate in our broken souls is RESOLVED.

Start resolving in other forms than by blaming and pointing fingers. Start resolving by doing more than posting your opinion on social media.

 

Start resolving by being kind to one another. And remember, we will always have to share the earth we live on regardless if we get along or not. Wouldn’t it be better if we did?

Fathers be good to your daughters: from a daughter’s perspective.

1 Comment

I stumbled upon these {amazing} photos of my dad while looking through my phone this morning:

dad!

Look how much swag he had. An “Italian Stallion” shirt on in one. A crop top on in the other. Also, let’s just take a moment and appreciate those tube socks. I don’t think it got any cooler than this in the 80’s. Not to mention his prized possession: a 1974 Camaro.

Then Kylie, my oldest sister was born. And guess what? He gave up ALL that to take care of his new family. Seven years and three extra daughters later (yes, there are four of us) he started driving a mini van in order to haul all of us around. Look at the cars he was used to driving before us! I’ve asked him on multiple occasions why he EVER drove a mini van and he told me because he didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t afford anything else and we were the only thing that mattered to him. I know there are a lot of you who don’t know how that feels, and I am extremely thankful that I got this lucky in the “Dad Department.”

To this day, my father is hands down the hardest working man I know. (If any of you know him, you know this is true!)  And you wanna know why he works so hard? Because he wants to provide for his family, for my sisters and I.

What I am trying to get at is that he instilled his good work ethic and family morals into all of his daughters. We all have college degrees. (Mallory is a doctor.) None of us got pregnant in high school. None of us are addicted to drugs. Kylie and Mallory are married to WONDERFUL men that I am proud to call my brothers-in-law. And I’m not saying we’re perfect, I mean look at me. But we did all turn out pretty normal.

Dad has set the bar of being a good husband and father extremely high. He raised me to realize my own self-worth by treating my mom with love and respect. (Mom says he wasn’t always been so awesome and mature, but they got married at 22 and I think shes just trying to find something to complain about. She knows she lucked out too!)

I also give him credit for my excellent taste in music, cars, motorcycles, and over-all badassness. He is always there when I need him, even if he doesn’t know exactly what to say.

IMG_6280

“So fathers, be good to your daughters. Daughters will love like you do.”- John Mayer

And daughters will also appreciate it more than you will EVER know.

IMG_8367

 

What I have learned in 1 year of loving my job

Leave a comment

image1 (27)Today marks my ONE YEAR  anniversary of working at Cocos Boutique in Joplin. Which is both rewarding and scary. –Rewarding because I get tired of everything way too fast and the fact that I have stuck with this and still love it makes me happy. Scary because a whole year has passed and I’m not sure where it went or what I’ve done?????? Mostly hate that I am a year closer to 23 (insert vomit face emoji.) Buttttt I am pretty excited about the amazing cupcake they got me ^^^^^.

I have learned a few things in the last year about myself and what my wants/needs from a job are. It has made me a better person and I know for as long as I live I will NEVER work for money if the job makes me unhappy. Unless it’s a million dollars. Then I’ll consider it…. Anyway, here are some important lessons I have learned at my job the past year:

  1. When you love your job, all other aspects of your life get better because you’re in a better mood and don’t dread waking up everyday.
  2. Feeling guilty for taking a personal day is dumb. Life is short. Take off early to go to a concert or to go see your friend out of town because that’s what life is actually about.
  3. Getting along with (or even just tolerating) the people you work with is the difference between being annoyed 24/7 and acquiring new friendships. (PLUS, you never know when these acquaintances might come in handy!)
  4. There is no such thing as too much caffeine on Monday.
  5. Knowing your worth is IMPORTANT. Make a list of everything you bring to the table. Here are mine: photography, social media skills, killer looks, amaze-balls personality– okay sorry, I got carried away there. But seriously, if you feel like you’re getting taken advantage of, you probably are- and you should address the issue ASAP or you’re just going to continue to be unhappy.
  6. Not being able to answer a e-mail or text immediately is not going to kill you. Or your boss. So chill.
  7. Saying “I can’t do that” isn’t going to solve the problem at hand. So come up with a better solution. (STILL WORKING ON THIS ONE.)
  8. If you love your job, a 30 minute commute seems like a cake walk. It actually becomes one of the most relaxing parts of your day. –If distance is something stopping you from taking a job you know you’ll be happier at, I am telling you- it’s not that bad. I am starting to have such an eclectic taste in music as well.
  9. If you bring fish for lunch, everyone is going to comment on how bad your food stinks. Everyone.
  10. You spend FORTY hours of your week at this place. FORTY. I’m terrible at math but that’s a serious amount of your life. FIND SOMETHING YOU ENJOY!

1 year

–P.S. how funny is this picture that they posted of me as a “meet our new employee”  HAHA I love it. Nothings changed and beer is still my favorite.

IMG_8367

Marketing on Instagram

1 Comment

Instagram is one of the best ways to target consumers right now. It’s easy and so far they haven’t put as many restrictions on your posts as Facebook has.

I manage an Instagram page for the Boutique I work at and I have learned a trick that really makes a difference in how many people engage with my photos.

The type of camera you are using!

marketing tip

Neither picture has any editing done to it. Obviously the composition of a photo is also important, but which would stand out more to you if you were just scrolling through your feed?

Take the photos you want to use on a DSLR, email them to yourself, and THEN upload the pictures to Instagram. You’ll notice a difference!

 

IMG_8367

Loving yourself and reflecting it into others (A lesson from my portrait photography teacher.)

2 Comments

Today in my photography class the instructor gave us a presentation over the psychology behind portrait photography, and it really hit home with me.

Starting off, he showed a picture of David Beckham (Sexiest Man of 2015) and some really skinny brunette (Sexiest Woman of 2015) and told us that this is not the type of people we were going to be photographing in our lives (unless of course we work hard and become celebrity photographers.) But rather that we would be photographing “everyone else.”

This is true! Not much of the population has a team of experts to do their hair and make-up before every photo taken of them, but that doesn’t mean that “everyone else” doesn’t want to feel just as beautiful and confident in their portraits.

He went over techniques and suggestions such as getting to know your subject before hand, making small talk at the beginning of the session so that they are comfortable with you, giving specific posing directions, etc.

But the part of this presentation that evoked my attention the most was when he talked about us as photographers loving ourselves. What I took from his lesson is that we all have flaws, but it is our CHOICE whether or not to accept/love them. It is unrealistic to think that we are going to look like movie stars and the sooner that we learn that, the sooner we will take better photos.

blog post2

Looking at this portrait of me, I immediately pick out characteristics I don’t like. Big nose. I  obviously haven’t learned to accept and love every part of my features and our instructor pointed out that this lacking of acceptance will reflect in the portraits that we take of others.

For example, If I am not comfortable with my imperfections, I will notice the same imperfections in others. Even if it is subconscious, I’ll want to “fix” these on the person I am taking photos of. When he said that, I could think of a couple of times that I had done just that.

But what if your client loves and accepts their imperfections? Who am I to make that call? After all, this is part of a persons character and also what makes them unique!

Basically, what I took from this lecture was– don’t project your own insecurities onto other people through your photography.

The same thing can be said for other aspects of our lives. I not only want be comfortable in my own skin, but also love what is on the inside of me so that I can extend that love to those around me.

Moral of this blog post– build other people up, but more importantly build yourself up so that you can.

IMG_8367

 

 

Leopard Sleeve Casual Dress

Leave a comment

IMG_3567

This dress is super lightweight and comfortable. I love that it’s long enough to wear without leggings in the spring!  But for now, throw on some leggings, mix with green accents, and you have yourself the perfect winter outfit.

Kate Dress $36 | Burgundy Heel Bootie $19

Signaiture