Put The Lime In The Coconut

No words can really describe my trip to Dominican Republic. Actually, the pictures do not really do it justice either. From day one when the McRobimiller clan (19 in total) had one hell of a traveling experience, the moment we set foot on the Melia Caribe resort, we felt like royalty. Fresh fruit cocktails, warm hospitality, and gorgeous weather were offered to us on silver platters. I spent 7 days lying on the beach, taking jewelry making classes, learning Spanish from the locals, and devouring pineapples and coconuts all day. When it was all said and done, I felt accomplished but also a pain in my heart when my passport was stamped for exiting the island.  It's funny, the two times that I traveled out of the country was to Espanola. Not sure if this means I will travel back there, or if that is a chapter closing. Either way, I couldn't be more thankful.

Southern Charm

When it comes to fight or flight, I've always been more suited for flight. Feeling anxious? Drive away. Bored? Take a mini road trip. Find out my summer plans of interning has changed? Flee the scene of the crime and head to New Orleans.

That's what I love about my home. I can always come back. Although Louisiana is constantly changing, my feelings never do. My impromptu voyage led me to reaching out to some local friends and getting lost in the city. A childhood friend, Madi, showed me around her favorite spots which included The Orange Couch, The Spotted Cat,  Euclid Records, and Oxalis (which has amazing Bloody Marys and Rosemary tonics). Every time I visit Nola, I always find new discoveries, meet new people, and leave as a different person. A little piece of my heart is always left behind, and I am counting the days till I graduate so that I can pack my bags and make Nola my permanent home.

Are You Leaving For The Country?

Here is a sneak peek of my latest photo shoot! I got to collab with some seriously talented and amazing people, and the results are pretty epic. These are just my simple iPhone snapshots, but Shawn and Michelle will be sending me the edited photos soon. Thanks again to Mother Nature for cooperating, Chiara for being a gorgeous gal both inside and out, and for the lovely Olivia for shining light and giving face <3

Check out the links below to see all of these amazing artist doing their thang:

Michelle

Shawn

Chiara

Olivia

Avy E

Love and light,

~Madeline~

Listen To The Wind Blow, Watch The Sun Rise

We texan gals get a little too excited when our weather drops a few degrees. (78 degrees literally turns 60% of girls into basic bitch status of Lulu Lemon yoga pants, Ugg boots, and pumpkin spice lattes galore) But I will say that our latest cool front makes for a pretty glorious photo shoot. I have met some amazing and beautiful people in the past 5 years, and I was thrilled to get them altogether to see what magic would happen in front of the camera. They make it all look so easy.

Thanks again to the babest of babes Chiara, Veronica, Gigi, and Thuy!

Country Roads, Take Me Home

Nurture kinship. A term I can finally use to describe my family life. For those that know my family life, it involves a mixture of some related and unrelated human beings (which include 3 sets of parents and 13 siblings). Family getaways can become more stressful than our actual daily lives.

But the farm is the exception.

I extracted myself from the city for the Labor day weekend, and ventured on out to Homer City, PA. You may think that you have been to the country, but you haven't unless you have been to Homer City. You don't know country until you have seen a horse and buggy crossing (yes, you read that correctly). I ate my weight in fresh and homegrown ingridients, I filled my lungs with sweet summer air, I spent more time on our front porch than an actual bed, and set my feet free under the fresh cut grass.
I felt home. And it wasn't just because my country girl soul was back in its natural habitat, but it was because of the people I call family. Sure we may not all be blood related, but my family in PA have made me feel a part of something that I don't think I have ever felt before. Our nuture kinship was rooted from a family love and bond that I will always be grateful for.

A bonus for the farm getaway? I FINALLY met my long lost Aquarian twin, Jessica, whom I discovered through the magical world of Tumblr. Sure I may bash on technology every now and then, but when a social media site leads you to a beautiful soul like Jess, you make an exception. She is the vintage queen, and everyone needs to buy a piece or 2 from her etsy shop- and add a gorg crystal wrapped necklace to complete your life.

Possibly thinking of returning to school, being near family, and becoming a hippie. Idk. I just want it all.

Toodles,
Mads

Feels Like Home

The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. 

-Maya Angelou

Life is too short to skip out on the scenic routes. I rolled down the windows, I turned my music off, and I just cleared my head. The sticky heat seeped in to my skin and the sweet scent of summer honeysuckles filled my lungs. I was home.