Utah Day 2 - Skiing Alta

There's something special about Alta that is often hard to describe to those who have not skied her slopes. That something special goes a little like this.

Alta is untouched by the fussiness of skiing. Alta is simply all about skiing. The mountain is the priority and everything else is sort of some standard-essential.  In an age where we are starting to realize less is more, there's something simply perfect about this "focus on the skiing" philosophy.  

Antelope Island State Park - Utah Day 1

Somewhere along the way, I started ditching the typical warm-weather winter getaway.  

Instead of heading out on dive trips to the Carribean or sneaking south to soak up some sun, I started doing the exact opposite.  I started booking trips during the winter here to go somewhere with well, more winter.  Useful winter if you ask me.  

Because one thing you need to know is this: winter in Connecticut is not useful.  No mountains to ski or snow to play in.  Just some often bitter cold wet windy weather that makes playing outsider harder, not better.  So instead of heading south to the warmth, I started heading northwest towards the copious amount of white fluffy powder.

Livs Shack - CT Lobster Shack Tour

Well, it's my first post of 2020 and I have been a little MIA in the way of social media.  

Why?  It's painfully simple - I've been living my life.  Like spending time with family, friends, Adam, our dogs, and my horse.  I've been working on the house and planning some big events for 2020.  It's been less on the adventure/travel parts of life, and more of enjoying the moments, getting things done around the house, and not worrying about blogging or life between the squares.  

That gap between the holidays is closing and I am back to planning adventures.  I am heading to Utah and Wyoming next week to ski and in the meantime, I'm working on old posts that never quite made it into 2019.  

This lobster shack review? It's a summer treat that is making it's way to Katie Wanders in the dead of winter.  No, the lobster shack isn't open right now but yes, I am beyond excited to talk about shellfish and buttery rolls even if January is bitter cold and the idea of eating outside is a distant memory. 

Year in Review 2019

Every year when the last week of December comes into view on my calendar, I stop to reflect on the year behind me.  It's the best way I know to really appreciate all of my adventures throughout the year to really love and appreciate my life, taking a minute to revisit the memories from local hikes to trips abroad.  These posts are highlight reels - my life in snapshots - a way to savor some of the best memories of each month.  

Because it's the end of the decade, this year in review is a little special.  I went back through all my years in review (2014 to now) and relived some of the memories of the last five years.  In those years I moved across the country and yep, I moved back. I loved and I was loved. I broke my own heart and I experienced loneliness in its different forms from holidays alone to the pang of a Sunday morning for one.  

Paris Eats - Travel Through Food

When Amanda and I were planning our trip to Iceland (the land of insane scenery and expensive food) we had very different priorities when it came to where to dine, what to eat, and how much to spend on food.  I'll never forget when Amanda told me that all my money goes to my stomach.  I laughed because of just how true it was.  While food was more of refueling between destinations for her, it was so much more to me.