Four young women sitting on the grass facing away, looking at a wooded landscape during sunset.

women’s breast massage training, virginia

layers of healing with the most incredible women I now call friends, held by the steward of such sacred work and the land itself.

A woman in a floral dress and wide-brimmed hat sitting on grass and taking photos with a camera in a field during sunset.

where ideas take shape, tanawha trail

creativity in the company of friends is often where my best work takes place. the curiosity, wonderment, and silliness that comes from that level of comfort, while being seen in a way that feels rare, and worth holding on to.

poem by mary oliver

mysteries, yes. truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood. how gras can be nourishing in the mouths of lambs. how rivers and stones are forever in allegiance with gravity while we ourselves dream of dising. how two hands touch and the bonds will never be broken. how people come, from delight or the scars of damange, or the comfort of a poem. let me keep company always with those who say “look!” and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads.

People on a sandy beach near large rock formations in the ocean,Some are sitting and some are walking,Under an overcast sky

seafood ceviche & sweaters in july

my travels to the oregon coast were a mix of planning and serendipity. I met up with a friend in seattle and together we drove down the coast in her vw vanagon. this trip also marks my first time ever experiencing a camp fire on the beach. we built it just in time to watch the sun set with haystack rock showing off in the background.

A dog wearing a brown coat standing on a snow-covered trail in a winter forest with bare trees and some evergreen bushes.

winter wonderland

rarely does it snow in my neck of the woods, but when it does, we play. there’s a kind of purity to snowfall, an excitement in bundling up and stepping outside to a world that feels softened and brand new. the untouched blanket of white always makes me pause, that brief hesitation before making the first set of tracks, and then the pure joy of giving in to it. snow feels gentle and wild at the same time, quiet and honest. it’s a reminder of the fragility of life and how quickly everything can shift. it doesn’t ask for performance, it just shows you what is, and somehow that makes it feel even more sacred.

A view of a mountain landscape with hills and clouds, seen from a balcony with a potted cactus in the foreground.

colombia in color

Film frames from busy corners and quiet pauses—textures, color, and the sweetness of getting lost on purpose.

A man sitting on a beige couch playing guitar in a living room with large windows, orange walls, and various objects on the floor and furniture.

the stone people’s lodge

a Native American ceremony meant to acknowledge all that has come before us and all that exists around us, giving us a space to pray and offer gratitude. we enter the sweat with the help of the stone people, and in that heat we’re not only sweating, we’re shedding, opening, praying, and honoring. there’s an honesty that rises when we strip ourselves of comfort; we start to see what truly matters, what’s been holding us back, what needs healing.

People outdoors in a wooded area with trees and a dirt path. One woman is taking a photo with a camera, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and blue shirt. Other individuals are walking or standing nearby.

love valley

a one-of-a-kind, western-themed town tucked into the foothills of North Carolina’s Brushy Mountains, Love Valley is famous for prohibiting cars on its main street, asking you to slow down and travel by foot or horseback instead. with a saloon, a general store, and a rich history woven into every corner, it feels like stepping into another time.

A wooden table with a bowl of red and purple grapes, a magazine featuring outdoor furniture, a magazine with a woman on the cover, and other magazines or catalogs laying on top.

vision boards

when you take the time to think about what you want and actually visualize it, you create possibility. your goals stop being some far-off, made-up idea and start to feel tangible, real, reachable, already in motion.

A rustic table setting with a moss and lace table runner, pink wine glasses, a brass candlestick with a pink candle, fall-themed decorative apples, a napkin with a leaf motif, a clear glass plate, and orange flowers with green leaves.

woodland feast

we set the table with care, and let the evening move slowly: plates passed around, laughter drifting through the air, light changing gently as the sun dipped. It wasn’t just dinner, it felt like a quiet little ritual, a reminder that celebration doesn’t need much… just the right people, a beautiful setting, and the intention to make it tender and special.

An elderly woman and an elderly man stand outside a decorated rustic house surrounded by plants and garden decorations. The woman wears a colorful patterned jacket, and the man wears a beige shirt and camouflage pants. The house has a stone and wood exterior with various ornaments, including a sun face and star, on the wall.

eden lane

phil and venus are the kind of friends who just get you. the kind who make you feel gently seen, where you don’t have to perform or explain, you can simply show up as yourself. they can be found at all hours of the day tending to their little pocket of earth like it’s sacred. I had the honor of taking photos of them together and the life they’ve built on Eden Lane, rooted, playful, and quietly magical in all the ways that matter.

A scenic landscape of a vineyard with rows of grapevines, a few residential buildings, and a forested hillside with mountains in the background.

12th annual grape stomp, linville valley winery

a dreamy summer afternoon with friends in the western north carolina mountains. the winding road to get here make it all the more magical.

Two women sitting on rocks beside a river in a forest, wearing hiking boots and casual clothes, with backpacks nearby.

paradise falls, nc

a weekend of adventure and art, swimsuits and sunlight, film frames and river rocks, painting by day and a fire-lit circle by night. that weekend in the woods felt alive with laughter, like summer at its sweetest.

A woman in a yellow dress walking through a field of yellow flowers with a forest in the background.

blue ridge parkway

I feel so lucky to be able to hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway so easily, where time just slows down. the winding roads, the endless nature that surrounds you, the way it all holds you. windows down, air in your hair, that quiet kind of freedom that doesn’t ask for much. there are so many ways to spend a day up there: tucked-away spots to camp if you want to stay the night, trails to wander, river holes to swim in, or simply an easy drive with a brief stop in a field of flowers, just because it’s there.

A rural landscape featuring a small pond with yellow wildflowers in the foreground, a weathered building with a red roof, a greenhouse, and rolling green hills under a partly cloudy sky.

lady luck farm

LADY LUCK FARM is a pick-your-own flower farm, and it’s the kind of place that makes you want to kick your shoes off and run around barefoot, hair wild, heart soft. they host events from time to time, or you can simply stop by if you’re looking to bring home (or gift) a fresh bouquet. a huge plus: they don’t use any chemicals or pesticides, and you can feel that care in everything, the whole place feels whimsical and beautiful, and it’s clear the owners treat the land with real love and respect.

Photograph of a dense green forest with tall trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

boone fork trail

this is one of my favorite summer hikes in north carolina. mostly because there are so many little swimming holes along the way to stop and cool off in. it’s the perfect trail for taking it slow: bring a lunch, find a spot for a picnic, swim for a while, and let the day stretch out. the terrain shifts in the best way too—open field you can run through, pockets of dense woods, and lots of variety that keeps it exciting. but my favorite part will always be the water: those hidden, refreshing dips that make the whole hike feel like a summer ritual

A woman with dark curly hair lying on her back on a bed of pink flower petals outdoors, resting her head on a pillow, with her eyes closed, in a shaded wooded area with green trees and grass.

resting in the after-blooms

I hired alexis to take a few photographs of my yoga practice, and next thing I knew she was teaching me how to use the film camera my mom gave me—one I was still pretty intimidated to touch at the time. what started as a simple shoot quickly turned into something sweeter: our relationship blossomed into many film photography adventures and trips, sharing our love for film, creativity, and the kind of wandering that always seems to lead to a good story.