Three Days in Louisiana

Way back in June, we took a trip down to Louisiana before roadtripping to Florida. We visited New Orleans to soak in the culture and experience something very different than our little bubble of a suburb in Colorado.

New Orleans is something crazy. It was hotter than hades and the people there sure are a hoot. We explored the French Quarter, took a swift walk down Bourbon Street, walked along the Mississippi, and were entertained by the hundreds of street performers. My favorite part was the beignets from Cafe du Monde. They exceeded all my hopes and dreams for fried dough coated in powdered sugar.

Absolutely breathtaking views of Lake Pontchartrain at dusk

Apparently red/pink is a favorite shirt color for my family 

These days everyone thinks I'm the younger sister :/

Aunt Sue and the boys 

What would life be without the endless hours of entertainment from Snapchat filters? 

 Day one of exploring...

 My cousin Michael is a HUGE Saints fan. Seriously die hard. So the first thing we did Thursday morning was go to watch their training camp. Guys, it was hot and humid and just death. They had paramedics there specifically for the people watching because people get so HOT. Luckily, us non-Saints fans found a patch of shade, had some water, and played Heads Up.

Masquerade mask stores along the French Quarter

Jackson Square

I LOVED the architecture

STELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love forcing him to take pictures with me

Beignets and cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde

 The next day it was so sticky hot that I barely used the camera. Laziness induced by heat, whoops!

Ending the day with ice cream

I'm not really dying to go back to NOLA anytime soon, but it is a unique place with a ton of history. I highly recommend getting a trolley pass so you can ride around a see a lot of the city, including some gorgeous million dollar homes, Tulane University, the Superdome, etc. In my opinion, a long weekend is the perfect amount of time  spent there. It was a short, sweet, sticky, sweaty few days but lots of fun!

xo
Hannah

Summer in the South

In June, my family took a little summer vacation down south. We went with my grandparents and two of my mom's siblings and their families. It was a great trip, beginning with 3 days in New Orleans, which was a fun experience and then headed four hours east to Destin, Florida for a week on the Gulf. I made a little video (duh) about our trip and thought I would share it before doing a photo dump, which will be it's own post soon to come!

Happy July!
xo
Hannah

FoCo with 5ever

Last weekend, 5ever was reunited for the first time in six months as we roadtripped (lol it was 1.5 hour car drive soooo not really a road trip) to Fort Collins! Sierra is up in Fort Collins this summer so we thought it would be fun to see her, explore the town, and be together!

Adding people as we go

We took turns choosing the music, got smoothies, and decided to hike Horsetooth Falls. It was a short hike but completely gorgeous.

my people.

The actual falls were small but pretty much what I expected haha. The water cooled the entire area which was a nice break from the heat.

As we hiked back to the car, it started to rain and we were starving. We had dinner at a great BBQ place called Serious Texas Barbecue where we all had these brisket tacos filled with cheesy potatoes, jalapenos, and onions, that were SO good. Highly recommend it, especially with pickles on the side and lots of BBQ sauce. Dinner was followed by dessert at Walrus Ice Cream. We hung out for a while before hitting the long road home. Sierra and Riley drove separately as Sierra was heading home for a day or two, so Jessica, Mackenzie, and I drove together. Both of my parents went to CSU so as we left, we stopped by to see their sorority and fraternity houses.

We needed some provisions (candy) for the drive. Of course, we got lost and ended up going in a huge circle and it took a solid 30 minutes longer than we thought. But it was all good as shared cherry sours, sour patch watermelons, airhead sour chews, and chewy sweettarts- we have a thing for chewy sour candies. It was such a fun day and SO great to be back with my best friends. I can't wait for more summer adventures together!

xo
Hannah

I Am Alive

Life is swell, yall

Greetings friends. I figured after a month of radio silence I would poke on over to the blog to alert you all I am alive. I've had this blog for four whole years (happy 4th blogiversary to me!) and have truly loved pouring into it.

Blogging is something that has slowly declined over the years, not just for myself, but for many of those I follow. One of my favorites, Natalie of Hey Natalie Jean, just bid adieu, breaking my heart, but at the same, receiving my utmost understanding. These days, most people "blog" via Instagram, which is super sweet, but oh man is there such weight in an actual blog post.

I'm not done with my blogging days, but I'm certainly trying to determine which direction I'm headed with this. oh the drama.

It's honestly just laziness that has gotten the best of me, but there is also a fair amount of what do I say?!?!  that goes on in the blogging block of my brain. I already know how much I will regret not blogging more in the past year because I love reading my old posts and remembering bits of life, but life has picked up and I am busier. Oh well, I suppose my journals may fill in some of the blanks, but probably not since those are just even more dramatic versions of my thoughts.

So what has happened in the past month? I know you're dying to know.

I completed my second year of college and am so freaking happy I made it out alive with a decent GPA.

I moved back home for the summer. For some people, they would be sad. Not me! I so love being home!

Hanny the nanny is back in action!

I've only run into Mackenzie in a matching outfit once. But I have been called my nanny child's mother twice.

I spent five days working my tail end off in the mountains getting YoungLife camp ready for my cherubic (lol) 6th graders in August. It was the best week ever, even if some old guys thought I was a guy.

Guys, who watches Grey's Anatomy still? Because after that season finale, I'm just SO wanting Japril to be back together! And also Arizona?! wow what a gal.

Also, watched the movie Concussion. SO good. Loved all the pathology. 10/10 recommend.

I'm in the process of purchasing tickets to Florence + the Machine to see later this week.

I read the weirdest thread of comments on Facebook regarding colon cleanses. TMI means nothing to quite a few people, obviously.

I have a few online shopping carts filled with various clothing items I "need" to make up for the 50lbs of clothes I decided to get rid of upon moving back into my room. Because I definitely need 3 more black and white stripe shirts.

I have been very much enjoying catching up on TV shows that I actually watch on the TV, not my iPad. Personally loving the newest season of Little People Big World, but I am partial to Audrey Roloff, so bias bias bias.

Summertime is great, friends. Bring on more warm days, long nighttime walks, and popsicles forever!


Hopefully I'll be back soon, friends.
xo
Hannah

Good Grief

It’s been three months now since my cousin, Ben, passed away. There are still moments where I am caught off guard, as my mind wanders, and I realize I will never see him again. I think of his voice, his laugh, of some of my memories with him, and that makes me so unbelievably sad. But here’s the honest truth: Ben and I were never super close. We were closer when we were kids, but grew into very different people over the years. Blood and age were our common bond. I’m not going to pretend like we were best friends who always talked and had intertwined lives. In fact, we were the furthest thing from it. The last time I saw Ben was on Christmas. We barely had a conversation. The last interaction we had was when we were helping my grandma clean up and were putting away the rum that some of adults had added to their eggnog. He joked with his little sister that he had put some in her cup, and then I asked if he would put some in mine too. We laughed, and that was that. 

Ben’s death left us all grieving. I am devastated by the loss in our family and how there will always be a hole, an ache that nothing will fix.  I hate the sadness the people I love so much feel. I know things will never be the same and we will never "get over it". 

I think it’s a very human thing to wonder what would happen if you were to unexpectedly die. Would I leave my "mark"? Who would come to the funeral, who would send their condolences, who would still feel wrecked months after? 

I remember once telling my friend that I would be so mad if people who weren’t super close to me acted like they were so sad by my death.

But Ben’s death has left me with a heaping dose of perspective. 

Again I say, Ben and I were not that close. Yet here I am, months later, still talking about it, still saddened by it. I’ve realized now that it’s not necessarily how close you are to a person that determines how their passing affects you. Death leaves a very unique impression on everyone. 

Since January 19th, my priorities have been completely shuffled and realigned with my heart. I think about what's important to me, what I will make sacrifices for, and there is peace. My decisions carry more weight with them, as they aren't made lightly. There's more balance between putting others first, and self care. Far less explanation when saying no. 

For me, Ben's death hasn't been this big "live each day like it's your last" scenario. It's been loving others the best I can. Allowing myself to relentlessly feel my emotions. Relishing the normal moments. More giving. Growing faith

It's the good grief. 

There is no timeline to grief, no limitations, no explanations. You feel it how you feel it. And I hope as you feel it, there is grace, there is peace, and eventually through it all,  there is goodness. 

xo

Hannah

Links + Loves

Mother freaking nature sure puts on one heck of a spring show

Halllooooo and happy Monday! Well is happy Monday actually a thing? Mondays are Mondays and I just don't think they're ever happy, more just motivational, which I really needed today since I woke up to the rain. But I bought myself some flowers and a latte, and got back a history midterm with a big old A at the top, so I can't say it was necessarily a bad Monday.

First and foremost, a shoutout to my clogs. They never got the blog attention they deserved. Bought them after hours of research (aka reading Grace's suggestions) and have never looked back. I may be the only 20-year old on the planet who loves Swedish wooden clogs but so be it.

I really love this video from Kate. Curling my hair is something I feel like I'm forever learning how to do correctly.

My dear friend Emma started a blog! I love, love this post about brunches in Boulder.  Mmm, if I could eat brunch everyday all day, I would.

A while ago, my mom sent me this article. Why yes, I do question my sanity all the live long day! But I can also tell you about each cranial nerve and the epithelium lining the esophagus or how to separate copper, barium, nickel, and manganese metal cations so that's pretty neat. Because obviously these tidbits of knowledge are useful in day to day life. #sarcasm

I've taken to working out right before bed. I was worried it would give me more energy/adrenaline but I assure you, I still fall asleep quite easily. I am loving this playlist to pump me up.

I got a new Fitbit Alta for my birthday! I love it SO much! I love that it has a watch function, I love that I can see exactly how many steps I've taken, but more than anything, I love that my texts/calls come through on it. During class, I put my phone on do not disturb, and have missed some important/time sensitive texts and calls. Now I can screen each message/call and it's freaking the bees knees.

I've got my eye on these Patagucci shorts.

I love stumbling across med student/residents Instagrams/blogs. Franish's is awesome and I love her day in the life posts.

Peeing. my. pants.

Guys, this is the perfect drapey v-neck. Old Navy does it yet again.

I think I'm going to have to head on over to Target to pick up these sandals for summer. I love the toe strap and that the simple laces.


Well now I should probably study some chemistry, seeing as I have an exam tomorrow. Solubility, crystal field theory, complex ions? I've got this. Or I will watch last week's episode of Grey's Anatomy. Decisions, decisions.

xo
Hannah

The Importance of Video

This past week's weather has been glorious! 70 degrees and sunny, a prelude to the best season to come, summer. I did quite a bit of driving this weekend (ok, not that much, but enough) and was listening to my Summer playlist folder on Spotify. It made me so nostalgic and so excited for summer, which is less than a month away for me! Cheers to finishing the semester on May 4th! One of my favorite Katie Herzig songs came on at one point and had me crying. With the sound of a song, I am instantly transported through time, and live through the memories from videos.

One drive to Sonic, senior year, at the light to turn onto Santa Fe, Mackenzie told me she was going to use the song "Summer" by Katie Herzig in the graduation video she was crafting. We listened to that song after the quick discussion, and then a few months later, when I was sitting poolside in San Diego, Mackenzie texted the link to the finished video.


We really went to Sonic a lot, Mackenzie ate a rancid graham cracker, wearing those blue gowns was surreal, I peed my pants (well, technically Mackenzie's lol) when Riley and Sierra jumped in the river, it was the best day of my life.

Details, details, I know. But these are details of something that happened two years ago that I can remember because they meant so much to me! And I equate this all the sweet gift of videos.

I first stumbled across the video sharing platform, Vimeo, my junior year. I watched a few different videos from similar people who all made "memory" videos, if you will. It was simply video footage from a specific event, usually with the voices and noise taken out, with music overlay. I was instantly inspired by the videos and was determined to become a video maker myself, especially since sentimental is my middle name. So, the first video I made was from the adventures of me and 5evers first day of summer.

Oh, it is shaky, oh it is the furthest thing from stunning HD quality footage, oh I added pictures in it. But it brings me right back to that day, as we hiked up the side of Jessica's mountain, ultimately resulting in Riley hurting her already injured knee, as we did spit takes off the porch, drinking Sprite out of plastic shot glasses while listening to LFMAO's "Shots" and Demi Lovato's "Something That We're Not", sleeping in the tent, watching "Sleepover".


People still don't always know what to do when they see I have my camera out and am clearly recording the current setting, but in the end life just happens and everyday moments are captured. And when it all comes together, it's the most incredible way to commemorate the past, while giving to the future.

I distinctly remember a conversation I had with my friend Kylee in 7th grade. I told her that I wished every minute of my life could be recorded so I could go back and watch it. She poignantly pointed out that if every minute was recorded, I would only get to live to the point where there was enough time for me to record enough and watch what I got. A pretty profound observation from a 13 year old. So my sweet little Vimeos fill my cup of desiring recorded moments.

I know there will be video from the day I get married, to the days my children are born. There will be video of the small things to, like trips to Sonic,

and afternoons at the ice rink

Growth and time will be visible




Cities are imprinted.








Time stands still, and it is all in perspective.


SO when words cannot be explained, and pictures do no do justice, I lean on video to tell the stories of the things in life that fill me up!

xo
Hannah