Dissolving Innocence

Merry Christmas ❤💚❤💚 . . . . . . #Christmas #highcountryorchard #greenbluff #spokanesymphony #nutcracker #ballet #statestreetballet #boyfriend #trees #lights (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CX8AoTBL-1f/?utm_medium=tumblr

They don't tell you how windy the Greek Islands can get lol But what a view! . . . . . #eegreece #expatexplore #greece #santorini #view #caldera #yellow #windy #travel #vacation #summer #tan #europe #Island (at Santorini, Greece) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTH0J1eI72t/?utm_medium=tumblr

I'm the king of the woooorrrrld!!! Such an amazing view! . . . . . . #eegreece #expatexplore #greece #meteoramonastery #meteora #greece #travel #vacation #summer #europe #view #sunset (at Meteora Monasteries) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSxK01AIhHm/?utm_medium=tumblr

Just casually hanging out with King Leonidas.. THIS IS SPARTA!!!! . . . . . #eegreece #expatexplore #greece #thermopylae #sparta #300 #battleground #kingleonidas #travel #vacation #summer #europe (at Thermopylae Greece) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwhAHQIybZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

The road not taken looks real good now. . . . . . . #sunrise #trees #road #cottoncandysky #driving #lyrics #taillights #headlights #colors #forest #snow #spring #contemplative #nofilter #nature (at Washington State, USA) https://www.instagram.com/p/CK7uorkhTOL/?igshid=1he1a8fbs9l7y

I wonder if you ever think of me.. because I'm always thinking of you. . . . . . . #selfie #sweater #thinkingofyou #moody #work #orange #newyear #sameproblems #filters #fallvibes #idowhatiwant #closeup (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJuKh65Bzk7/?igshid=2hhsehmnkkll

Got one of those clip on ring lights.. the middle of a chemistry lecture is totally an appropriate time to be practicing my selfies right? . . . . . #selfie #ringlight #school #zoom #bored #practicemakesperfect #sweater #greeneyes (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJsTox0BxzD/?igshid=mq61hn7ukbdg

Did you vote??? . . . . . . #vote #election2020 #election #baloons #ballot #ballotbox #ballotdropbox #selfie #adulting #civicduty #democracy #democrat #bidenharris2020 #biden2020 #library #spokane #washingtonstate #hillyard (at Spokane Public Library Hillyard) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHKcwrPBEQ-/?igshid=1mjpy2utz7ewr

Yeah. I'm THAT person lol I couldn't resist making my pinterest dreams come true with my baby neice and her first Halloween! . . . . . . #neice #family #baby #babygirl #halloween #pumpkin #lights #firsthalloween #pinterstdreams #photoshoot #costume #sleepingbaby #holiday #fall #autumn (at Spokane, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHFQml9BncU/?igshid=1jfb3td4kwr0g

Happy World Ballet Day! I really miss being in the studio and on stage. Dance is such a beautiful mix of artistry and athleticism, I wish more people gave ballet a chance. . . . . . . #worldballetday #ballet #balletshoes #costume #dressingroom #lights #glitter #tutu #competition #dance #art #artistry #athlete #athletisism #backstage #recital #studio #performance #bingcrosbytheater #theater (at Bing Crosby Theater) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG9Nv04hjha/?igshid=13bv8q3gpa625

It's kind of crazy that this little piece of tranquility is literally behind a gas station... The first time I ever visited this spot along the Cowlitz River was right after my great uncle passed away. This was the first time that I took part in a lot of our traditional practices. I love coming back here whenever I get the chance because whenever I'm here, I always feel a lot more connected to my heritage. . . . . . . #nativeamerican #native #nativeculture #culture #travel #adventure #forest #trees #river #hiking #nature #cowlitz #cowlitzriver #peace #tranquility #reflection #summer #water (at Cowlitz River) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGbkf5-hht9/?igshid=vf3nhc12rjpr

The Laser Cave was abandoned 4,000 years ago around the time Mount St. Helens erupted, blanketing the area in ash. Why the cave was never reoccupied is one of the great archeological mysteries of my tribe. . . . . . . #nativeamerican #native #nativeculture #culture #tribe #travel #adventure #washingtonstate #hiking #nature #cowlitz #Taidnapam #uppercowlitz #pacificnorthwest #laysercave #cave #history #mystery (at Washington State) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGT2Fl8h4qx/?igshid=bxcgf0369htf

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! This summer I got the chance to explore some of my ancestral lands. Walupt lake sits on the border of the Goat Rocks Wilderness and Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This spot took over an hour of hiking, a good portion of which was through thigh deep water to get to. This bank was the home to a Taidnapam village site. My tribe the Cowlitz is made up of upper Cowlitz and lower Cowlitz, the Taidnapam are the upper Cowlitz which is where my family is from. . . . . . . #nativeamerican #native #nativeculture #culture #tribe #travel #adventure #forest #trees #lake #hiking #nature #cowlitz #Taidnapam #uppercowlitz #village #waluptlake #goatrockswilderness #giffordpinchotnationalforest #IndigenousPeoplesDay (at Walupt Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGRRwGVh8US/?igshid=fxzlxlz465u3

When I was in Tokyo last summer I bought a package of disposable masks while I was in a 7-Eleven one day. In Japan, wearing masks was already a well established habit, so I figured when in Rome. I wore the mask all day, it was July so the climate was hot and humid and I spent the day crisscrossing the city. I remember thinking very vividly that I did not like wearing the mask. It made my face hot lol It's still weird to think that something that a year ago was a cultural experience taking place in a country so different from my home is now an everyday part of my life. . . . . . . #japan #japaneseculture #tokyo #mask #selfie #travel #adventure #summer #vacation #traveler #light #night #culture #habit #reflection (at Tokyo, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGCLE2-hrRm/?igshid=92z15tef5qlr

One thing that was really important to us was the opportunity to stay at a ryokan or a traditional Japanese hotel where you sleep on futons on tatami or rice mats. We booked one in the town of Hakone. I don't think we were really expecting to see much outside of the ryokan, but we ventured out in search of food and were amazed at what we found. For starters it was finally dry lol we were up in the mountains so the humidity was considerably lower and while it was still warm, the dry air and cool breeze coming off the lake made it feel like summer nights back home. It was also stunningly beautiful. This little lake town up in the mountains was incredibly peaceful and the views were amazing. The ryokan itself was also great, we were provided with the traditional yukatas to wear and we all got to try the onsite onsen or hot spring. For those of you who don't know, you go into Japanese hot springs naked. Like completely bare. I won't lie, it was a little nerve racking at first but you definitely get used to it. You get past your jitters once you realize that no one cares because everybody's naked lol The long winding bus ride was definitely worth getting to cross this off of our bucket list! I'm already looking for ideas for when I get to go back to Japan, so I want to know if you have anything you don't want to miss if you go to Japan? . . . . . #japan #hakone #lake #ryokan #tatami #yukata #mountains #travel #traveler #vacation #adventure #summer #selfie #nomakeup (at Hakone, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8F83jTh5V7/?igshid=a1sysun8j7ft

The Kyoto bamboo grove was insane.. you're walking through streets full of colorful shops and then all of a sudden everything is just quiet. The temperature drops (which was a welcome relief) and it's like you've entered a different world where time stands still. As you walk through, you can hear the wind rustling through the bamboo canopy above, and the temples and shrines dotted throughout the grove are certainly worth taking the time to stop. This was such a peaceful place to just stop and reflect. It's so important to me that nature be a part of my travels, yes I want to see the people and the stuff they've built and the food they cook, but I feel like you haven't truly been somewhere until you've seen what's underneath the lights and innovation of humankind. . . . . . #japan #kyoto #bamboo #kyotobamboogrove #bamboogrove #temple #shrine #nature #travel #traveler #vacation #adventure #summer #flowers (at Kyoto, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8CqSdNh2Ei/?igshid=1ah5usexq2f9n

Kyoto was a different world entirely. So far the major cities we had been to hadn't been so different from the ones we were used to back home, but exploring Kyoto was like taking a walk through time. There are temples and shrines everywhere you look and entire streets dedicated to preserving traditional style shops. It was also hottest and most humid place I have ever been to lol There was definitely a lot of things that we wanted to see that we didn't get to because walking around in the heat and humidity was just completely draining. That being said, I absolutely cannot wait to go back! . . . . . #japan #kyoto #japaneseculture #japanesehistory #japanesearchitecture #temples #shrines #emaboards #torigates #kanji #summer #travel #traveler #vacation #adventure (at Kyoto, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B73e-vYBcXX/?igshid=1o6fpm34gc8cc