EUROPE PART THREE | ZURICH, SWITZERLAND

Oh, Switzerland. This country has my heart. There's so much rest in this beautiful place. As if the country and people have this innate ability to be so assured amidst the mountains and breathtaking water. The architecture was incredible and the whether in July was perfect.

The best, best part of our trip- we took a train, a ferry, a shuttle and our own two feet to the top of Mount Pilatus in Lucerne. From the very top we saw all of Zurich with overlapping green hills, snowy peaks, and green-blue water. The views, my good gracious, they knocked my socks off and made me fall even more in love with this incredible place.

Part one coast of Italy here // Part two Rome here

Getaway

This girl. Good gracious, she is amazing. An incredible friend and a spectacular photographer, she consumes half of my instagram feed and perpetually keeps me giggling. I've had the privilege of having her second shoot for me twice this year, we've gone on some of the greatest most misfortunate adventures together, we both have a tendency to sprain ankles when we're abroad, and she gives great hugs.

We dragged our tired feet to the beach during her stay here in North Carolina a few weeks ago, ran to opposite ends of the beach, read our books, listened to the waves crash, and didn't talk for three hours. Rest and the ocean were exactly what we needed…

LEX & BILL | BEAVER CREEK, MN

Love second shooting alongside Gina Zeidler every single time! Gina & I road tripped it to the tiniest town in northern Minnesota to shoot this breathtaking wedding at the Ottertail Creamery. From the start of the day with prep at Lexi's parents gorgeous new home to the last dance, Lexi and Billy knocked my socks off. The way they love each other and everyone around them amazed me!

WINTER HAPPENINGS

Resting and refreshing in the midst of closing chapters, ending semesters, making decisions and searching for new doors to open. One of my favorites, Sarah Delanie, is staying here in North Carolina with me for the next week. See a smidge of what we are collaborating on for S&S issue 4 below!

EUROPE PART TWO | ROME, ITALY

I was trudging out of our hotel in Rome at 5 in the morning to catch our taxi to the train station.... As I was lugging my massive suitcase already filled with treasures down four hundred year old steps I stumbled, twisted my ankle and rolled onto the cobblestone street just in time for our taxi driver to pull up and see my graceful fall.... I know what you're thinking… It does take quite a bit of skill to trip on four hundred year old steps.

I would like to think travel is always sunshine and roses in my family, but I don't think that will ever be possible with the way we travel at lightning speed. I felt and looked ridicules as I limped through Zurich and Paris on the second half of our trip, but I made it home alive! Needless to say, three months later I can finally run, and I can't say I didn't milk it just a bit with extra gellato trips. I also like to pride myself on the fact that I apparently looked and/or sounded very Italian (with the few phrases I know!) due to the fact that I constantly had locals trying to make conversation. What can I say, apparently my German roots have been replaced.

What I loved about the Rome- cobblestone streets(killer on the feet though), historic architecture draped with violets and moss, flower markets with buckets of roses and hydrangeas, street performers, the most incredible soft light, fountains, and breathtaking structures. I loved the time I spent on the coast with my dad the first several days of our trip and Capri is absolutely one of my favorite city's, but nothing quite feels like Rome. It seems so familiar and warm. I also love that my oldest sister Morgan joined us on our second day in the city(along with receiving requests for "English lessons" from two waters in one day), and two of my other siblings, Alex and Taylor got on board on our last morning in Rome… Just in time to catch our train to Switzerland.

Now, on to the lovelies...... Enjoy!

My favorite image from Rome- the city view from the top of the Spanish steps.

 And of course, a peek into our instagrams! You can see more of our trip with the hashtag #seekenziegotoeurope