As I mentioned in Monday's post, Lonnie and I went on an overnight camping trip for his birthday. We decided the best camping method for us was to drive around Pisgah National Forest and park at one of their several roadside camping areas, which meant that we wouldn't be in a campground, but we also didn't have to hike to get to our tent-pad and fire pit. We ended up finding a really good spot, with enough space to park the car off the road closer to the tent. The site was close to a babbling creek, which we later found out was more than likely a part of a larger river that we could easily access by driving a few minutes down the road. Our site also had a trail we could hike, and there were plenty of other trails nearby.

S'mores were assembled and eaten, and hotdogs were grilled over the fire. The weather the whole trip was some of the most gorgeous we've had all summer. Yellow monarch butterflies breezed by as we set up camp and gathered firewood. At night, fireflies started to appear one-by-one and the stars tagged along. The main focus of the trip was to get away from the city and the traffic and the people, and in that sense it was a total success. Time passed without knowing what hour it was. We didn't have any service, so the only photos I took were on my camera and none were shared on Instagram. Instead, we shared quiet moments together, listening to the stream and the cicadas.

Looking back, this little camping trip highlighted that sticky-sweet deep summertime feeling that really only lives in the tail-end of the season, and I'm so thankful for that. Living in the mountains for this past summer has been very different than the others I've known growing up, the ones spent at the beach and by the pool. This summer has felt less like a big long vacation and more like summer camp, especially with it being my first summer not living at home. None of this is bad, especially considering that I never went to summer camp as a kid. Overall, I'm thankful for the ways that I've grown, been bit by the adventure bug, and gained independence, and this little weekend getaway was just what I needed to take the time to reflect on those things.

hike to crabtree falls.

Lonnie and I had a shared day off last week, so we decided to make another trip up to Blue Ridge. We drove until we got to the Crabtree Falls trailhead and decided to give it a shot. The trail starts out really easy since it's mostly downhill to get to the falls. The greenery was gorgeous and little light purple flowers seemed to follow us the whole way. The falls themselves are massive, the grandest ones I've ever seen. It was definitely an incredible tiny journey, and I'm so glad we went. Though the hike back from the falls was pretty strenuous, I enjoyed the workout and feeling sore the next day was a nice change from how lazy I've been feeling lately.

parkway adventure.

I mentioned in my last 10 things post on Friday that Lonnie and I spent the day together up on the parkway when we both had a day off. Today I'm sharing photos from that trip. The weather was beyond perfect, so we originally decided to make a trip to Skinny Dip Falls. But when we got to the overlook where the trail was, it was super crowded so we decided to just keep driving until we found another trail. The day ended up being even better than expected because we were able to explore a completely new part of the parkway.

In the summer when I'm out of school, I tend to be kinda a homebody, so getting outside and taking little trips like these is so important for me to stay happy and healthy. I had such a great time spending the day in the sun, getting exercise, and bonding with my guy.

summer silence.

Sorry about the radio silence, y'all. I don't have an excuse. It's summertime, and I've been all over the place and that's okay. I'm trying to go with the flow and live each day as it comes. I'm in a really weird place in my life where summers aren't this huge amount of freedom like they used to be growing up, but at the same time, I'm not in any kind of routine. This is really hard for me, but so far I'm learning as I go what I need to fill my days with in order to feel fulfilled, and also what I don't really need.

I need productivity. I need to blog. I need to have school or work or something on my hands to keep me busy. I kinda need a little routine.

I don't need to live my life according to how I'm supposed to be living it. I've said all of this before, but it's something that I struggle with daily. I think anyone in my generation struggles with it at times, so shout out to you guys.
Scrolling through beautiful adventures posted by others in explicit detail on Instagram or various blogs, I'm constantly feeling like I'm not keeping up with everyone. My summer isn't "summery" enough. I haven't caught enough lightning bugs or gotten a deep enough tan line. I didn't wear enough neon shorts or took enough of the same pictures of the ocean. This sounds like a bitter complaint, but really it's a reality check to myself from myself.

I need to remember that life doesn't stop because the season does. Summers are fleeting, yes, but so are all the seasons.

I don't need to waste each one by not taking it all in, but I also don't need to waste them by worrying about whether or not I'm taking it all in, you feel me?

Here's a ton of pics from our annual trip to the mountains for my dad's birthday to make up for the silence. These photos are well over a week old, and I actually just came home from a trip to Asheville to see my boyfriend, and the short trip only made me miss it all more. As much as I'm always sad about summer ending, I look forward to going back to school and enjoying the fall. Another season, another chance to take it all in.

a snow day.

It snowed here in Asheville the other day. Like an all-day, over-an-inch kind of snow that's still on the ground as I type this. Classes were cancelled both Tuesday and Wednesday, so I drank hot chocolate and then ventured out with a few friends to take photos and walk around campus. Snow in the mountains is truly a magical thing. It definitely made my January one of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen.