Get out there, enjoy life, and realign your priorities. I know I am. Now get out there and outlive the bastards!

This particular hill was a bit of a challenge for Westy Girl, but she took it like a champ! Only got stuck on a rock once.

The sand, however, was a whole other story. Westy girl got stuck in the sand, but the best part about Westy meetups--every SINGLE driver jumps out of their van to help you. We had the whole group digging and pushing to help Monique out of the sand trap. I LOVE VAN PEOPLE.

Unfortunately I didn't really get excellent pics of the tunnel since it was pretty dark. Thus this blurry picture of Riley. But you get the idea! It was pretty phenomenal. But then again, most of southern Utah is phenomenal.

I would sell my soul to be back at this meetup right this instant. I really would.

1.) You see so much more at 55mph. Why do we all move so fast? What's the rush?

2.) Priorities have a strange way of realigning when you meet others with stories different than yours. Take, for example, our new Westy friends Dana and Mark. They've been on the road for 7 months. They started in Boston, made their way to Florida, to Texas, to New Mexico, to Moab for the meetup. They'll stop when they find "home" whatever that may be. They are not retired--they are young and hopeful and so entirely full of life. Talking to Dana was the biggest breath of fresh air and one that my stagnated life desperately needed.

3.) On that same note, you don't need what you think you need. Everything you need can and will fit inside a van, and you will find happiness living that life.

4.) Life is all about helping people and letting them help you. Vans broke down on the trip as 30-year-old vans tend to do, and everyone rushed in to lend a hand where they could. People shared their food, their games, their chairs, their beer--everything. Community is what makes life worth living. Not money, not success, huge houses, or expensive clothes.

5.) Everyone has a story worth telling. Everyone. We watched this documentary called "The Bus" on a projector in the middle of the desert, and this guy in an interview says that everyone that owns a Vanagon is worth a campfire and a beer. It's true. I met another astounding woman named Valerie who has been on the road for 10 months with her beautiful and incredibly outlandishly sweet special needs daughter Camilla. They started in Quebec and went all the way to Costa Rica and back to Utah. The stories and the light and the life that emanated from both of them blew my mind.

Anyway, all deep thoughts aside, the time spent at camp was definitely as much a highlight as the offroad trips. We even got these super official and/or super awesome "Westy Camper Life" hats that are my new prized possession. We ALSO got our stove to work!! Meaning we can boil water/make grilled cheeses anywhere we go. YES! Win!

Westy Camper Life. I want that life. I want to travel like Dana and Mark and Vallerie and Camilla. Someday it will happen. There's too much to see to not make it happen.

For those of you new around these parts, Syncro Solstice is an annual Westy meetup in Moab, UT. This year there were 55 vans at the meetup, meaning the good times and amazing people were bounteous. I really can't describe to you how awesome Van people are. They are the salt of the Earth, I tell you WHAT. You will never in your life meet people as good and kind-hearted as a Vanagon owner. I promise you that.

ANYWAY--the first day at the meetup was an offroading trip up Onion Creek. I'll let the pictures show you just how insanely beautiful it was. Utah really is amazing, folks.

Our friends Riley and Paige came to the meetup with us, and Riley strapped his Nikon 1 to the roof. Booooooy oh BOY, we are all in for a treat. As soon as he edits and posts, I'll post it here so you can see just how amazing Vanagons are!

We ended the day at the swimming hole since it was 95 degrees in a van with no a/c. Welcome to Westy life, kids!

I'll be back all week with more Westy meetup goodness, so stay tuned! I hope you enjoy these silly Westy posts. I love nothing more than my van, so to share our adventures with you is pretty awesome for me. Enjoy!

In preparation for the meetup, Mitchell and I took Westy girl out for a ride to the mountains for a picnic. We sat in the woods, ate our soft mozz sandwiches, and planned out improvements to make before the big trip. This weekend we're heading to Moab, UT for Syncro Solstice, and I absolutely can't wait. 4 days in the desert with 40+ other vanagon enthusiasts going off roading and having a generally awesome time. You can read about last year's meetup here.

I love the versatility of this tunic. I wear it with leggings, bell bottoms, and just around the house when I'm feeling like a lazy bum, which is 99% of my life.

tunic: thrifted ($2) // jacket: thrifted and restyled // shoes: c/o Blowfish // hat: target // sunnies: zenni

I love my van. So so so much.

Elsewhere on the thrifting block, Phaydra from FashionFoodFeminism thrifted these fabulous vintage sunnies for $4. Ahhhh yeah. You can see her post about it here! Thrifted sunnies are my favorite fo sho. I'll show you a pair of my own tomorrow!

Happy thrifting!

Until then, here's a Westy-inspired ensemble that I went to great lengths to photograph. I stood in front of what was probably 98% of my condo complex to take these and endure many a strange stare. BLOG LIFE.

PS...here's the inside of our sassypants van. Isn't she glorious? Ha! She's a 1984. Be kind.

shirt: BellaVive Vintage // pants: UO // shoes: Gavina c/o Blowfish // glasses: Tumbleweeds // ring: Strozzi

This is probably my favorite part of our van--the sticker that came hidden in the glove box.

I don't think I'll be getting off my hippie ass anytime soon, but I will be planning for our next Westy excursion, which I hope will be soon.

Happy weekend, sweet champions!

Also, I have the best news. I'm leaving to Portland today! Whaaa? It's true, and I am wildly excited. I'm going to visit my lovely bff Emily for the weekend where we plan to thrift until we can't thrift anymore as well as sew our hearts out for something exciting we're planning. Kinda can't wait.

Anyway, back to Diana. I didn't want to overload you with Westy goodness last week, so I didn't post these. Also, I'm pretty sure I did overload you with Westy stuff last week. Sorry. Thank you for humoring me. And this will be the last of it for awhile. Maybe. Maybe?

These pictures represent yet another learning triumph with the Diana. I did a lot of double exposure madness out there because I haven't really had a chance to make those work quite yet. Again, the trick with the Diana: PLENTY of sunlight. Plenty.

(be warned. photo dump ahead.)

Pretty sure the above photo is the best Diana picture I've shot yet. I sure do love my Westy.

See my cool Syncro Solstice shirt? That's what I'm talkin about. I'm at Dead Horse Point here.

Any of you have a Diana out there? What's your secret to Diana success? And have you tried the 35mm back? I'm curious about that thing.

Have a fantastic weekend! Hopefully I'll have some Portland updates soon!

On Saturday we ventured out on the Mineral Point trail to see what Monique, our 1984 Westfalia Vanagon, could really do. And let me tell you what--homegirl can do A LOT.

The weather was right on the verge of rain, which made for a stunning contrast between the clouds and the red sand of Moab.

The following photos are all taken by Riley Onyon and they are absolutely incredible. I can't thank him enough for taking them and letting me share them with you here.

This one here MIGHT just be my favorite. Who doesn't love multiple exposure shots? The Westy with the lights on reminds me of a Jawa. Kinda love it.

Once we got to the top of the trail and saw the view overlooking the Green River, it was like the greatest Westy victory ever. Not only had Monique made it, but we were at the top of this crazy amazing view.

Honestly, there is nothing in the world that makes me happier than 6 Vanagons lined up in Moab. BEAUTIFUL.

You can see the view here. It looks almost smallish here, but the drop was HUGE.

And while I realize that Westy trips probably aren't as interesting to all of you as they are to me, here's a little 3-minute video I threw together of the off-roading trip. (All vids taken with the 8mm app!)

We also made a quick trip to Dead Horse Point before we left back to Salt Lake. Mitchell is either looking saucy or incredibly flustered to be in the 90-degree heat here. Not sure which.

Dead Horse Point is spectacular. And at this point, I'm going to go ahead and say that if you're ever in the market for an amazing camping vacation, come to southern Utah. Moab and Zion are definitely my two favorite hotspots here, and really the only thing cool about Utah. But that's a lie. The mountains are pretty much the best.

Sigh. I hate that it's over and can't wait until next year. I already miss our Canadian brother friends and the awesome van with the solar panels. I'm going to go ahead and say that the Westy was the best purchase we'll ever make as a married couple.

That being said, the only thing getting me through this Syncro Solstice hangover is to plan our next Westy adventure. Who wants to go camping?!

Ps--if you missed volume 1, go check it out here!

Alright, you guys. Here's the deal. This weekend at the Westy Meetup was easily one of the best trips we've ever taken. While I won't bore you with minute details (as most of you aren't Westy fanatics like we are) I do want to share some photos with you, seeing as 40 Vanagons in one campground really just can't be described with mere prose.

We pulled in Thursday night to see this. Vanagons back to back, pops all topped, ready to get their camp on. I about died with happiness right then and there. The best part about the weekend was the camaraderie between all of us Vanagon lovers. We're all driving 25+ year old vans and veer toward the fanatical side, so when we get together, it's REALLY exciting.

A bit of Americana for you as Mitchell and I prepare for our first drive through the La Sal Mountain Loop. I knew there would be tomfoolery in a creek later on, so this constitutes as my swim coverups. Navajo print gone wild!

Love these boys. That kid there on the right is our bff Riley, who is the amazing photographer behind the pictures with the little RO logo on them.

Love this boy. Hippie deep down inside but killer Vanagon pilot on the outside.

This little creek was definitely the best part. We spent both of our afternoons lazily lying on the red rocks and cooling off in the freezing water.

This night shot by Riley is fantastic. I would sell my soul right this instant to be back there. We spent each night at the bonfire catching up with other Vanagon crazies in our area. Nicest people you will ever meet.

Monique was completely and totally in her element this weekend. I'll be back tomorrow with part 2--our first off-roading adventure!

I love music. So so much.

So, here's 10 reasons why this concert meant the absolute world to me.

1. I found a copy of Belle & Sebastian's Dear Catastrophe Waitress at the West Jordan library early on in high school. I took it home because I loved the orangey photograph cover. Love at first listen.

2. That album lead to the discovery of their previous albums, which lead to Belle & Sebastian's role as a hugely formative band for me.

3. High school painting class with Mr. Powell. Belle & Sebastian.

4. Discovering what would later become my career in a very random desktop publishing class that I only took because there was nothing else to take. Belle & Sebastian.

5. Andrew and Christopher.  An epic friendship. We would later go together to see Belle & Sebastian at the Hollywood Bowl in 2006 with the LA philharmonic. Still reigns today as one of the greatest nights of my life. (Andrew and Christopher--I will pay you good money if you can dig up a photo of this night. I mean it.)

6. First years of college with Emily staying up all hours of the night, mid-day naps, and lunches at the market. Walking across campus at 7:30am, freezing, donning scarves and totes boots. Belle & Sebastian.

7.  Mitch. Our first band in common. Although he would later admit he only downloaded the discography because he had seen me wearing my "Scotland's for me!" B&S shirt and wanted to impress me. Cute nonetheless and effective--he ended up loving them.

8. So so many countless drives to and from Logan in every season. Belle & Sebastian.

9. Driving 13 hours in a 1984 westfalia vanagon to LA with Mitchell. Just to see Belle & Sebastian. (and Jenny & Johnny)

10. And the real reason I love Belle & Sebastian occurred to me halfway through the show as they played Sleep the Clock Around. I looked around and saw thousands of crazy vintage-clad, music-loving kids just like me smiling and singing along with every single word of the song and realized that Belle & Sebastian has been everything to everyone there through the years. And I got the feeling that I wasn't the only one that had 10 very strong ties to Belle & Sebastian.

And in that moment I was just a little overwhelmed with how much I love music.

Anyway, enough with the sappiness. Just let it be known that this concert was a hugely personal and mostly incredible experience. I mostly wish I could relive it every night.

Dirty Westy, iron maiden-clad traveler so pumped for the show.

Jenny. Looking amazing as always in a red dress and white tights. LOVE her.

Stuart. Plaid jacket. Amazing.

We waited in line for 2 hours for this spot. Worth it.

"sitting prostrate on the floor" singing Piazza New York Catcher.

I love Stuart Murdoch. So much. Mostly for his dancing seen above and below.

Yes, this is really my picture. Yes, he really was that close. And yes, I did touch him. Sigh.

Easily the best show of my life. And if you really want to get emotional, let's talk about Jenny Lewis coming on stage. Maybe just take what I said about the sleep around the clock moment above and times that by bajillion. Life changing for sure.

And of course, if you're a B&S fan, here are a couple of videos. The first one is mine, but I had to include a couple of other amazing songs from some other fans. They took much better video. Also, Stevie the guitarist is amazing. Just sayin'.