Category: 2015

For years now, Justin has described the stunning beauty the American Southwest to me, and we’ve discussed how we wanted – no, needed – to take a trip to this region and give it the proper attention and exploration it deserves. (In the state of Utah alone, you pretty much can’t shake a stick without hitting something incredibly beautiful.) So this year, with a slight ulterior motive that will be detailed later on, I promise, we hopped a flight for Albuquerque and set off on a fantastic adventure.

After we landed, we rented a Toyota Prius and put 2,200 miles on that fuel efficient baby!

First, we spent a day exploring the city of Santa Fe, and even caught a preview of Jurassic World at the Jean Cocteau Cinema with George R. R. Martin. (I’m not kidding, that really happened. We had the good sense to just sip our White Walker cocktails and not to ask him when The Winds of Winter will be published, although we desperately wanted to…)

Then we hit the road to check out a few of the many National Parks in the area. If you’ve ever doubted that this land of ours is naturally beautiful, I guarantee that a trip to the Southwest will set you straight. Now I’m a Midwest girl, born and raised, and I will have words with anyone who contests the beauty of the Great Lakes State, but the Southwest is just breathtaking, as I hope my next few posts will prove.

We began at Hovenweep National Monument, positioned on the Colorado/Utah border. And, like the song from the end credits of National Lampoon’s Vacation (the original 1983 classic, not the 2015 monstrosity), we went dancin’, dancin’, dancin’ across the USA. 

As we were leaving Hovenweep, just minding our own business and driving down the road, a horse walked up to the car. Yes, really! I could’ve reached out the car window and petted him.

I tell you, the Southwest is magical!

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, my niece, Gracie, turned 13 this year (and no, I still can’t believe she’s a teenager now). For her yearly portrait session, I thought it would be cool to recreate a concept from a session I shot when she was just a year old. Here’s how the little toddler looked exactly 12 years ago:

And here’s the teenager she’s grown into today:

In the Wizarding World, April 1st is known as “Confusing the Muggles Day”. Traditionally, there are a couple of pranks involved in executing successful Muggle confusion, but I think the best place to begin is by getting them drunk. So here are a few cocktails to share with your Muggle friends on the morrow…

First up is Polyjuice Potion, inspired by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Combine 1.5 ounces gin, 1.5 ounces green juice, 1 ounce green Chartreuse, 1/2 ounce lime, and a splash of Sprite.

Overall, it’s very light, crisp, and refreshing, with a bit of a bitter finish.

Next is The Phoenix Feather, inspired by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Take 2 ounces of Lillet Blanc, add 1.5 ounces of Campari, 1 ounce of grapefruit juice, and some Sprite to sweeten it up.

I’m not a huge fan of Campari to begin with (it’s just too bitter for my palate), so combining it with grapefruit juice resulted in a drink that was a little too sour for me, but it would cast a perfect spell as a sour sipper.

And finally, Felix Felicis, inspired by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

This one calls for 1/4 ounce simple syrup, 1/4 ounce lemon juice, and 1.5 ounces ginger beer, topped off with champagne or sparkling wine.

Sweet and spicy, this drink will definitely make you feel lucky!

Once your Muggle has consumed a few of these drinks, they should be well on their way to confusion. Intoxicatus Totalus!

While taking a winter’s walk around the farm in South Lyon last weekend, I noticed that the landscape is so different when everything is frozen and covered with snow, it’s like the place is another planet. I imagined how cool it would be to have the TARDIS appear here – there are so many amazing things just waiting for the Doctor to discover! I think it would go something like this…

Look out, Doctor! Here comes a Dalek to EXTERMINATE!