Have I mentioned how much I love being out at the family vacation home in Utah?  This place is my heart home.  I feel so grounded when I am here.  Even if I am stuck at the computer all day, I can just look out the window at those glorious mountains and feel at peace.   I was lucky to squeeze in a 2-week trip out here this fall, which I am more than halfway through now.  I think most people assume when I go out to Utah that I am on vacation, but in reality, I am just living out my daily life and to-dos in a different location.  I spend just as much time working on videos and blog posts as I do at home.  I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to do so in this setting and I figure it’s better to grab the opportunity while it exists.  This beautiful home that I have free and clear access to is available to me in this beautiful place, so why not come and enjoy it?  I can still be productive and reap the benefits of how much this place relaxes me at the same time.  It’s a no brainer, if you ask me.

Enjoying the Beauty of Fall

I spent the first few days of my trip out here with just Winnie as my companion.  As much as I love my husband and dearly miss him when we are apart, I think a little distance every once in awhile is actually a very healthy thing for our relationship.  Especially considering that we see each other a lot since we both currently work from home, it was nice to have a few solo days to just do my own thing (plus it made our reunion that much sweeter!).  Winnie and I took advantage of the warmer weather early last week with some beautiful long walks, including a mini hike up at the Uinta National Forest.  I’ve wanted to explore that area for a long time now and it was fun to enjoy a short trail hike with my favorite canine companion in tow.  Winnie absolutely loved the hike.  She may look like a frou-frou kind of dog, but she’s one tough cookie.  Shih Tzus are known for their sturdiness.  The foliage was breathtaking!  I found the hike very therapeutic in combatting some pretty intense cramps and coming down with a nasty cold.  Being out in nature always makes me feel better!

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

I was happy that my cold didn’t stop me from experiencing a new first – collaborating with a fellow YouTuber to make videos together!  I’ve watched many other YouTubers collab videos and never really thought that would be something I would have an opportunity to do, seeing as how I am very shy in person and really don’t know any other YouTubers in the Chicago area.  Kristina from StarOfMay on YouTube reached out to me couple of months ago after watching my vlogs and learning of my travels to Utah, inquiring if I’d be interested in shooting some collab videos with her since she lives in the general Salt Lake City vicinity.  I was super excited to hear from her, especially considering how much I love her channel and her beautiful blog where she showcases her stunning paper crafts.  We met at her house this past weekend for a fun day of chatting, crafting, nail stamping, sharing organization tips, and filming.  She even invited me to bring Winnie over, which is a great help to me especially in new social situations.  Sadly, Winnie and her cat Mannie did not become fast friends as we had hoped, but we had a really good time nonetheless.  I am very proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone to not just meet someone new, but actually collaborate with a fellow YouTuber.  I don’t have the easiest time meeting new people and making new friends due to some issues with social anxiety, but Kristina’s warmth and kindness made the experience a truly positive and enjoyable one for me.  I hope to share the videos we filmed very soon, so stay tuned if you’re interested!  I also highly recommend checking out Kristina’s channel and blog (links above) to see her beautiful work.

Even though I am still under the weather at the beginning of this week, I am so enjoying these last few days in Utah with the beautiful mountains, gorgeous fall colors, and my sweet husband and pup to complete the experience.  I hope you are enjoying your days as well, and finding moments to enjoy the beauty of the season amidst the daily to-dos.