I'm back!

Let’s start with a quick recap: 2020-2025, where have the past FIVE years gone?!

2020 - Moved to Colorado

2021 - Got engaged to the love of my life

2022 - Worked, cooked, planned a wedding

2023 - Got married in South Africa

2024 - Became a mother

2025 - Where I am now

For those who are curious to know a little bit more:

2020

Some thought moving in the middle of a pandemic was pure craziness, but I was moving to a place where I could be outside more, doing the things that I love - how could anything possibly be wrong with that?!

When I set out on my cross-country move to Colorado, I was so excited to move to a state I dreamed of, where I would be able to gallivant through the mountains and fish the streams, documenting my journey along the way. “There will be so much to share!” I thought, thinking about all of the things I could photograph and write about… well, a funny thing happened: I got too busy living and enjoying life, writing and posting about it were no longer in the forefront of my mind.

A week following my move, I made the decision to go fishing with a new friend who I had previously only known through Instagram as I admired his fly fishing photography. Realizing I didn't know anyone, his family adopted me that same night, and it ended up working out so well I would later marry his brother. (One of the few times jumping into the truck of a stranger you met online and heading into the mountains actually worked out for the best, haha.)

2021

One cold January night in 2021, after deciding I was not going to attempt the long drive home in the quickly accumulating snow, I had a heart-to-heart with one of Tanner’s friends. He told me how behind my back Tanner would always exclaim how I’m “sooo hot.”

Although I was drawn to his outgoing and friendly demeanor, I had no clue he was into me because I never noticed any signs of flirtation (apparently earlier that night when he gave me his bison burger and took my mistakenly grabbed Impossible burger was a HUGE giveaway.. but I just thought he was being nice. There was also the mustache...)

After learning this, I thought “what the heck, let’s see what happens” and made the first move asking him to come over to watch a western and try a bowl of my favorite homemade noodles. He brought Modelo and limes. A few more westerns and many more bowls of noodles and bottles of Modelo later, I learned to love the mustache.

We traveled and explored, and even bought a camper! We had so much fun learning about and living the weekender-camper life, exploring more of our state and even into Wyoming. One of those camping trips that fall even resulted in our engagement!

2022

The goal I had set for this year was to collect my family’s recipes and write them down in a cookbook — which is still a goal and work in progress. I didn’t anticipate wedding planning, and all that goes with planning a destination wedding, to take as much time and attention as it did.

Went fishing.

We traveled to Cabo to celebrate my sister-in-law’s birthday and enjoyed some Mexican sunshine, cuisine, and deep-sea fishing. I didn’t realize how easy it is to get to Mexico from Denver - it was such a short flight compared to traveling from the northeast.

Went hiking.

Turned 30! I treated myself to a cute photoshoot that I justified by also doubling it as a photoshoot for my eventual cookbook.

Went hunting.

I didn't have luck my first season strictly hunting with a compound, but we went out as often as we could — and any day spent outdoors is a great one in my book. I was however happy to aid in my brother-in-law's harvests and proud of Tanner for filling our freezer with elk! I had a congratulatory and b-day charcuterie spread waiting for him when he got back.

OH, and I spent alot of time planning a destination wedding.

2023

More wedding planning — I probably spent more time on this than I should have. The life of an indecisive over-researcher…

In March, we celebrated my bachelorette with a trip to one of my favorite places: Fort Worth, Texas. There were tornadoes and some of the girls’ flights got rerouted and/or delayed - and the girls that arrived on time got to experience tornado warning sirens — they literally weathered a storm for little ol’ me. Thankfully everyone eventually made it, and I got to share and run around cow town with my girls!

GOT MARRIED in South Africa!

In 2010, my family went on our first trip to South Africa where my dad hit it off with our Professional Hunter. Our families bonded that trip and my dad ended up going into business with him. Shortly after that my dad made an offhand comment about the possibility of getting married there one day. I never actually thought that it would become a reality — and that it would turn out better than my wildest dreams!

That same spring, we got super into our health and learning about food sourcing, which led us to starting a new business growing aeroponic vegetables. With Tanner and Levi busy running their company, my sister-in-law, Steph, and I started to take over the farm as we were getting up and running. We had fun at the farmer’s market (until we got kicked out.. a story for another time, haha) and donating quality veggies to our local food bank.

In November, I quit my job shortly after finding out I was pregnant. It ended up being a good thing, as I was so nauseated my first trimester, I lived on the couch, surviving on applesauce and pretzels. Talk about God’s timing! I definitely wouldn’t have been functioning at my best for our clients, and it was a blessing I was able to stay home.

2024

The year of travel. I believe baby girl ended up going on something like 20 flights with me in the months before she was born!

Visited my grandfather's home country

My family traveled to the Philippines in January for a wedding and got to also explore some of the country. I got to visit with distant relatives and see the town where my Lolo (grandfather) grew up. I was close to my grandfather and dearly miss him since his passing in 2016. Being able to experience his home country as an adult let me feel closer to him. Everyone was so welcoming, the food absolutely delicious, and the islands paradise!

Girls trip to 30A

I had never heard of 30A until our group played “girls trip roulette.” We had each picked a few locations for a possible girls trip, assigning each location a number, before eliminating them one at a time. The area was super cute with each of the beaches having their own style and vibe. The weather may not have been ideal, but the time we got to spend together was.

Belated honeymoon / first anniversary trip / babymoon to Scotland

South Africa was such a big and long trip, we decided it would be best to have a delayed honeymoon. (We actually thought we could squeeze a in mini one in the last few days before heading back to the US, but that got turned into a family vacation…)

Since he first saw Braveheart at five years old, Tanner has always been proud of his Scottish heritage, and I was game to go anywhere. (Plus, I'm also like, 3% Scottish 😂.) We got to experience Scotland, especially the Isle of Skye in all her moodiness. I may have huff and puffed my pregnant belly around the country, but it was so worth it! We met some lovely people and enjoyed lots of fresh, quality seafood!

Showering our little cutie

Instead of having a US wedding reception, we decided to have a co-ed baby shower where our family and friends could meet and we could all celebrate something even more joyous: the coming of our little cutie! Tanner and I call each other "cutie" and for whatever reason, I ate my fair share of them while pregnant, so the theme was fitting!

WE HAD A BABY

7.11.2024 - the day our lives forever changed. And for the best!

Over the year, we unfortunately slowed down growing veggies, and eventually closed our farm business as a whole at the end of 2024. When the two wives who were keeping the company going got pregnant six weeks apart, it was hard to keep steady when focusing on our new babies was our priority. We sold to another local group and can’t wait to help them get up and running so we can continue to get the best tasting and quality produce out there!

2025

Motherhood and beyond

And here we are.. I’m starting to get the hang of my new life as a mother. It keeps me on my toes and fully occupied, but I could no longer keep my creative outlets at bay; I have always loved writing and the creative process of taking photos and making videos. I'm excited to share more from these past few years as well as everything else we're going to be getting up to!

Thanks for catching up with me, I hope these past five years have blessed you as much as they have for me.

See you in my next post!

Alex :)