A post long time awaited as the end of summer approaches, but still daydreaming in awe of being able to explore one of the greatest natural monuments in North America this past month! You forget just how beautiful this country is when you've been isolated to the great plains for over a year. Seeing it in pictures never does it justice, but I thought I would share a few snapshots of our much anticipated family vacation of the summer.
Yosemite National Park
My dad was invested in this trip, so much that he had planned three separate days in both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks which are located just outside of Sacramento, California. With mid-90 degree days, we were lucky enough to have a well air-conditioned house so we could reset and recharge for days of hiking, swimming, lots of sight seeing, but unfortunately—no bear sightings. Although, maybe it was for the best?
My absolute favorite moment was when we first arrived and drove through Tunnel View which gives you an insane panoramic view of El Capitan and the Half Dome as your drive through the inside of a mountain. We were truly expecting crowds as everyone and their families had planned outdoorsy vacations this year, but to my surprise, we had the view to ourselves. It was like looking at a painting and I think we were catching flies because all of our jaws instantly dropped.
Vernal Fall was definitely the most difficult hike we took because you had to hike up about an extra 1,000 feet from the footbridge which was already 400 feet from sea level. With rocky, slippery stairs and trails, I felt like Lara Croft sitting on my hands and knees basically hoping I wouldn't just fall into the abyss and rocky waters down below. I was proud of my sisters and even my dad for thinking it was a good idea to hop the safety rail just to get this amazing picture of us all conquering the waterfall. My mom was smart and waited for our return at the bottom. We were all definitely ready for a drink after that.
Sequoia National Park
We saw and did as much as we could in Yosemite and said goodbye to the stellar Tunnel View as we made our way south to the Sequoia National Forest. Our journey took us to what was the more conventional and traditional abode—a cozy cabin! A step up from our normal tent we use, so I can say that it was a bit of luxury having a more updated cabin (with running water and electricity wow!). Apparently those who booked cabins only weeks in advance got the cabins without either, so I was grateful my dad knew what was up.
Just when you thought you've seen a really big tree in your neighborhood...this doesn't even compare. Our first destination was Mariposa Grove which is a mile hike to this meadow of massive redwood trees. We were joking that our kitchen was not even the width of these beasts. The General Sherman Tree was like looking at something from Avatar. It was the world's largest tree by volume, 275 feet tall and 36 feet in diameter. There was a very big windstorm recently that had taken a couple unlucky redwoods out from under the ground and caused a lot of damage to the grove.
The rangers are particular about letting natural disasters occur on their own without manipulating the grove unless it obstructs pathways, so there were a lot of huge tree trunks lying on the ground which was devastating. Preserving these giants has been an ongoing feat because their bark is very durable and is actually waterproof so a lot of construction companies like to use redwood for decks, patios, and roofing. I can't even imagine what it was like trying to transport these bad boys during the colonial era when logging trucks and cherry pickers weren't around.
Holy Water
After long days of hiking more than we expected (I wasn't complaining), it was about time to cool off so we headed to Hume Lake for a much needed beach day. The water up there is incredibly clear—so much you can see the minnows breezing past your toes as you enter the water.
Hume Lake in Kings Canyon was actually a part of a Christian camp, which we only found out after we got there, but it was open to the public and I swear it was like the place to be! We were able to find a secluded little beach and picnicked while kayakers and paddle-boarders passed us in this little inlet we found.
As for food during the trip, we were thankful that the campground we stayed at had a little market for us to pick up pre-made salads and sandwiches for us to take on our hikes. There were some families who brought coolers of food and were able to use gas-powered skillets to cook due to fire laws, but I knew my parents wanted to relax and not worry about preparing meals while we were up there.
Giddy Up
Our last adventure of the trip was booking a spontaneous horseback riding tour because when is the next time you'll be able to ride horse back in the Sequoia? I was hysterically pleased that both of my parents were in for the ride.
So, we headed to the Horse Corral Pack Station for an hour long trail ride. Luckily, we have all had some riding experience (thanks to Girl Scouts), but you always have a little nerves when you're riding a random horse that knows the trail better than you do.
Thankfully, the horse I rode was an award-winning American mustang named Coffee.
He was a trooper and like him, we both wanted to just gallop away from our single-file line and be free, but alas we all did our jobs of guiding our horses up and down the mountain—for the most part. We were more worried about crossing paths with rattlesnakes or bears, but again, we got lucky on that front.
More to Explore...
Being with nature has a special place in my heart. Not only because I am passionate about the outdoors, natural conservation, and of course animals, but over the years nature has brought me so much joy and nostalgia from all of the fun memories I've had with friends and family. There's nothing like being able to experience wholesome moments with them in beautiful places.
The simple life is waking up and trudging out of our cabin just to watch shooting stars at 3 a.m. or discovering secret dunes at our special campground. I knew I've always had a connection with the outdoors and being able to share that with those I love made it all the more worthwhile.
There are many national parks on my bucket list and more scenic beauties I want to discover. I wouldn't ever want to limit my future family's exposure to our nation's beauties, but also being able to allow others to appreciate and value it just as much as I do. I live in the city, yes, but my heart yearns to just create a lifestyle that is surrounded by nature all the time.
My hope is that we can continue to respect and value our protected parts of nature, and I know this post wasn't about my stance on the climate crisis (don't worry I can dedicate a novel to it later), but seeing these places in real life makes you wonder about all of the ridiculous politics that controls whether or not we get to see these skyscraper trees or if they actually turn them into concrete skyscrapers. So, my advice to you is, go out and explore.
“Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”- John Muir
On warm summer nights you'll find me running out the door with my sister and best friend, carrying only our wristlet keychain and phones, ready to get Dairy Queen for the fifth time that week...pure bliss right? There is no better feeling than finishing a work day, wearing your pajamas, and going on a joy ride with a cherry dipped vanilla cone in hand.
Relaxed summers are what I'm all about and there are just a few common essentials I have at all times. With the blend of work and play, I'm always at the ready for spontaneous summer outings. Before I'm out the door, I'll probably spritz a little bit Ralph Lauren Romance on my neck and wrists because who knows what summer love you might fall into at Dairy Queen amirite? I might even feel a bit more saucy and pop on my absolute go-to lipgloss, Gloss Bomb by Fenty Beauty. It's like ice cream on your lips all the time. I'll swipe on some Diorshow and we are ready for the ball! I mean mall...like there's a difference?
You probably won't even recognize me because I have my Ray Ban Aviator shades on 24/7. It took awhile to convince myself that these would be worth buying, mainly because I am just obsessed with collecting and wearing different styles, but for a long time I was looking for the perfect pilot aviators that fit my face and I will never go back to any pair. If you're even thinking about Ray Bans...do it. I also highly recommend trying them on in store before ordering from any resale site...wink.
Along with accessories, I've been really into dainty gold jewelry. I just think it looks so timeless and delicate. Just one simple gold chain and a stack of rings is all I need to feel like I'm put together during my Zoom meetings. I get a lot of my jewelry from Madewell, but whenever I go on vacation or visit new places I constantly look for unique pieces.
As much as I love a good bag with any outfit, I'm actually not that into big bulky purses. A simple wristlet will do for me.
I really wanted a small wristlet to have for quick trips to DQ, Target, or anywhere else to be honest. This is the Kate Spade laurel way bitsy and I found it on sale about a month ago and it has been the perfect bag for holding my card, license, and links right to this wristlet strap I found on Amazon. It's like a leash for my wallet and I love it.
I've had some pretty blissful summer nights and not worrying about what I need to bring or carry is preferred. Worry free days in the sun can outlast as long as it pleases and I am not complaining. I've got just what I need and sure—there's plenty of ice cream to go around.
I've become a bit of a dreamer lately. You can usually find me overthinking everything, but I guess having so many ideas needs to manifest itself in some shape or form, so that's why I am so grateful for my love of creating. These past six years of blogging have definitely molded into this huge timeline of my life, big accomplishments, goals, and everything and anything I'm thinking about in that given moment. Reflecting and saving those benchmarks of my life is not something people normally do nowadays, or if anything, journaling and keeping a diary seems so taboo now that we have social media and our camera rolls to mark those events. I thought it would be a good time to reassess what the future of this blog, my social platforms, and my personal brand is going to look like and where I hope to be heading from here on out.
Natalierohman.com
This blog is my main gig and what has been an extension of me for so long—my first big platform and what I absolutely love working on. It has evolved in so many ways, as of I, but for a while I've come to a creative plateau where TikTok and YouTube have taken over the blog space. There was actually a time during high school where I was posting constantly every single day and I wonder where I got that motivation and how I was chugging out posts left and right. It also seemed that in college I had much to talk about during the transition and living in the hustle and bustle of the city, so I think now is a good place for me to step back and rethink what I want this blog to be moving forward.
With all of the artifice that comes with digital life and social media, I've prioritized sharing real life and less "perfection" as most blogs do. I love the laid back style, impromptu bedroom photoshoots, or just candid iPhone pictures that aren't staged. I've also made it a goal to focus on my passions and interests, leading my own creativity and exploring out-of-the-box ideas that aren't cliched or already done before. It's easy to get lost creatively when there is already so much being put out there on the internet, so focusing on ideas that I love and am passionate about only matters to me.
Sometimes the old beauty updates or quick personal updates will always be my go-to, but there are definitely a ton of different topics I want to explore and express more about. Stripping back my platforms, like getting rid of Snapchat, has allowed me to focus on the type of presence I want to have online and what I want to be communicating and putting out there to everyone moving forward.
I feel like my Instagram is filled with potential in what I imagined it to be, however, it definitely is catered to an aesthetic. I want to relax a bit with it and just have more laid back postings. I also really want to incorporate my blog on there a bit more and get creative and in tune with stories. I love watching quick, daily snippets of people's lives rather than long haul videos, so I've been dreaming up ideas about how to bring my blog to a new video element on Instagram.
Either showcasing or previewing what could be on my blog for the week or just engaging or interacting a bit more with other bloggers and sharing what I'm loving live. I'm not one for the spotlight and dread watching myself on video, but hey, we have to get out of our comfort zones as creators a bit right?
General Creativity Goals
I've definitely rebranded and transformed this blog multiple times, but I want a new dedication to connecting with other bloggers and reaching out further to blogger communities online that are still thriving. I was once an avid Bloglovin' user, a blog sharing platform, and would stay up to date with my favorite writers and creators. Now that I've transitioned my work priorities, I've set my creative goals on the back burner and I really want to elevate this blog in a way that is still true to me and is connecting with those who find interest in it.
Stepping back and taking a look at what I'm doing and my future plans has definitely been top of mind. It's hard to do more than what I am already doing based on how much time I have during the day—especially fitting in exercise, fun summer activities and dinners with friends, or just logging off and having time without a screen.
I've always been dedicated to my work, but I don't envision myself as someone who is constantly consumed by it. Balance is key, but I am also thinking that now is the time to start changing it up a bit. This quote resonates a lot with me: “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got”. Making small changes to my work and focusing on my future creative goals is definitely something I want to focus on in the coming months, so stay tuned!
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