Back to the honeymoon posts! đ Albuquerque, New Mexico did not disappoint. From the delicious food to the kindest people, I highly recommend paying this city a visit. My only regret is that we shouldâve spent more time here instead of Santa Fe, but câest la vie!
Highs
Our AirBnB was super cute!
We drove by the Breaking Bad house, and didnât get screamed at by the paranoid lady who lives there haha!
We had the most delicious dinner and mezcal drinks, and the restaurant was super dog friendly. Our server loved us and Linley even got a free chicken dinner from the owner!
We walked to Bar Uno, a super dog friendly bar downtown, and our bartender was incredible. He was super nice and loved Linley, too⌠as did the other patrons.
Simply walking around and exploring our area with Alex and Linley was so much fun; itâs always the little things!
Low
I had the *worst* bloody nose at night. It woke me up and I had the worst night sleep of the entire trip that night by far.
Buffalos
At Bar Uno, a lady came in who was clearly on pills. Our lovely bartender actually cut her off and called it out. It was sad to see someone going through that, but really responsible on our bartenderâs end and Alex and I sincerely appreciated his nonjudgmental approach. Well done, sir!
I missed the morning walk before heading east because of my stupid bloody nose and shitty nightâs sleep, but Alex and Lin saw some hot air balloons together! Although slightly jealous since theyâre a New Mexico staple, I was happy they got to experience them together!
Sedona, Arizona – although touristy – didnât disappoint!
Highs
We lucked out weather-wise! It was a little hot on our way to the car, but Iâm so glad we visited and hiked when we did!
Linley had a big ole smile on his face the entire hike! đ
Alex and I wore our matching dog fist shirts, and we met a sweet couple and their young daughter who wanted to pet Linley. They apparently had the same shirts as us, and also a small, white dog named Waffles, but didnât wear them or bring him along. It reminded me of how much Alex and I love bringing Linley wherever we can!
The views were absolutely stunning! I mean, they were truly breathtaking (proof below).
We met so many friendly people on the hike, all of whom loved Lin!
Lows
The parking sucked. The touristy energy of the area sucked. It definitely wasnât our vibe, but we had a great hike as a trio regardless!
I had to carry Linâs poop bag for a while, and because of the heat, it stank BAD haha! đ¤Ł
Buffalo
Linâs paws were stained with the orange-colored dirt from the hike. He majorly needed a bath and a good grooming after our trip haha! All the dogs at the parks and along walks wanted to smell him after that⌠đ
We definitely had fun in Flagstaff between visiting the Grand Canyon and hiking in Sedona the following day!
Highs
The brewery we stopped at was awesome! Bummer we had to sit outside, but other than that it was great!
Our Thai takeout was wonderful, and enjoying it at our cozy AirBnB was perfect.
Stargazing at both our AirBnBs was amazing! I wish we wouldâve enjoyed it a bit moreâŚ
The distillery we found after our Grand Canyon adventure was so great, that we visited three times while we were there!
We stopped for lunch and great cocktails after hiking in Sedona, and a kind couple paid for our drinks!
Lows
We couldnât sit outside at the brewery, and it took us so long to find a spot that we could actually bring Lin into for dining⌠which just so happened to be our AirBnB! It was a headache but it was all good in the end.
Alex definitely got sunburned from sitting in the sun after hiking in SedonaâŚ
On our last night in Flagstaff, we picked up some Indian takeout and it was absolutely horrible. It was flavorless, watery⌠none of what we were expecting. We love Indian food and we definitely need to order some soon now that weâre back in Atlanta!
Buffalo
When we visited the distillery for coffee on our way back East toward Albuquerque, Misty (our lovely bartender and barista!) accidentally made Linley three pup cups instead of one. She thought we asked for two to go, but we really wanted to mugs to go! It was sweet and Linley definitely enjoyed them.
Iâm going to put a pause on the âhigh, low, buffaloâ theme for our honeymoon posts; the Grand Canyon was absolutely beautiful, it was the perfect day, and it was an incredible first visit for all three of us! I promised Linley that I would take him someday when I first rescued him over seven years ago, and it meant so much that we finally made it together â with our other best friend right by our side, too! đ
From all the adults and kids who were smiling and greeting us as we walked by, to the kind gentleman who took his dog on a similar road trip just because, and the two young women who gave Linley some love on our way out: we had the best day as a family and couldnât have asked for anything more. đĽš
Media taken Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the Grand Canyon. â¨
The ranch we stayed at in Flagstaff, Arizona deserves its own post. From location to views, appliances to coziness, this place was just what we needed and then some. Weâll be back and this was probably our favorite AirBnB of the entire trip.
The best parts? Our big, family breakfast, seeing the gophers dig in the neighborâs yard, and seeing Lin run around and have so much fun!
Media taken Wednesday, March 19 & Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Santa Fe did not disappoint! From the food and drinks, to the beautiful hiking, and all the crazy weather in between: I highly recommend paying this unique town a visit.
Highs
Our AirBnB was awesome! It was the quintessential desert stay that we wanted and needed. We also enjoyed nice breakfasts there each morning; Lin enjoyed sitting at the table with us! đ
The rail yard near our place had some amazing breweries, and it was cool to see the trains roll by while we walked and enjoyed our time in the area.
It took forever to find a good, dog-friendly spot for dinner, but once we did it was worth it! We enjoyed good food and spicy margs before our next day of adventure.
We had a very fun, windy hike in the morning during our full day there. We almost got lost of the hike, but luckily we didnât, and it was great to beat the crowd and the heat!!
Our lunch spot was wonderful and I enjoyed some of the best nachos to-date. They also let Linley hang out inside with us, and he was getting all the attention per usual.
After an eventful drive, we hung out at a brewery outside of the city center, and had a blast making it a restful part of our afternoon.
We stopped by a really cool pottery bar for a drink before dinner, and it was fun to watch people make pottery while we had great martinis out of pottery glasses!
Lows
Santa Fe really isnât as dog friendly as Iâd thought it would be. Even some places donât seat you outside during certain days or times of the week⌠in hindsight, I wish weâd spent more time in Albuquerque as opposed to Santa Fe.
Linley actually had some bad altitude sickness in the morning on our second day there! Iâd had it bad in Peru with my mom in 2018, so I knew all the symptoms he was experiencing. He bounced back in time for the hike, but definitely look for warning signs in yourselves and pets (nauseous, cold and shaky, etc.)
Buffalo
We really had a wild full-day of weather, including a dust storm AND a snow storm in the same day! It was wild, but very cool to experience.
Like the places we visited in Arkansas, Oklahoma City was a very underrated place with some really surprising, unique spots!
Highs:
Our garage-style AirBnB was super cool! We loved it and had the best time. We barely stayed in, but we enjoyed coffee and laughing at the local news the next morning before we left. (Shout out local news⌠itâs always so much better than the other garbage!)
We enjoyed drinks and brunch in a cute part of town that actually reminded me of a small, beach town Iâd visited near San Francisco. Linley, of course, got more attentionâŚ
The park downtown that we walked through was absolutely beautiful! So many families were out and about, and it was a gorgeous day overall.
We popped into a cool library-style distillery before dinner, and when I say we had the most creative cocktails yet, I mean it! Alex ordered a pho-nomenial drink that literally tasted like Vietnamese pho! Our minds are still blown⌠10/10 would recommend!
Believe it or not, we had dinner on a âlakeâ with the most beautiful sunset. It was a lovely way to continue our trip out west. And my gluten free vege burger with a gin and tonic didnât hurt either!
Lows
Bricktown was super crowded! The river walk was way too touristy and packed, and that part of the day really wasnât as enjoyable. But we quickly remedied that with the distillery visit I mentioned above.
I slept like *garbage* that night, because Linley kept pushing into my back the entire night. I love when he snuggles up to me, but it was a little too far⌠he made my stomach push out and it was feeling it for a while there! (Heâs worth it, but still!)
Buffalo
We made the most of our dinner, but boy did it get cold while we were sitting outside! Next time, Iâll remember to bring blankets for all of us.
Our first stop on the honeymoon road trip was Arkansas, which may not seem super glamorous, but it didnât disappoint! Here are some of my favorite photos and âhighs, lows and buffalosâ from the first state on our journey:
Highs
Our AirBnB in Russellville was amazing! 10/10 would recommend the home. Seeing Linley run around in a yard was a big plus, too.
Hiking in the Ozarks was amazing! Although rainy at first, this was an underrated hiking spot that everyone should check out at least once.
The distillery we found in Little Rock was amazing! They had the best service and St. Pattyâs Day drinks, and we ran into some kind strangers there and along the way.
Lows
Our county was a dry county, and we had NO idea! We tried ordering margs at two different places, only to realize the nearest liquor, beer or wine was at least 40 miles away! We still have a good laugh about it hahaâŚ
Of course some family stuff had to go down during this leg of the trip, but so it goes. Alex and Linley are my family, and thatâs all that matters. đ
Buffalo
Alex was whistling while we walked through a creepy Dollar General, and the cashier commented and said it felt like a horror movie. Way to go, Alex, for creeping out a complete stranger! đ
March 14-27, 2025… what can I say! Those were the two best weeks of my life. Alex, Linley and I went on the honeymoon road trip of a lifetime.
As excited as I am to write alllllll about it, I probably can’t; it’d take too long and I’ll always have the memories in my heart. Instead, I’ll share stories “high, low, buffalo” style. Haven’t heard of this? Well, I’ll share a few highs, lows (or weird situations, I should say!) and “buffalo’s” are random things that happened on the trip.
What qualifies as a “buffalo?” Well, the fact that we encountered a severe dust THEN snow storm in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the same day definitely qualifies. More to come on that later đ
Stay tuned in the coming weeks! In the meantime, here’s some disposable camera photos from our trip of a lifetime.
March was our best month yet! Our best friends got married in one of our favorite places, we were married at one of our favorite places, and we had the honeymoon roadtrip of a lifetime as a trio. Although more photos of all that will come, I wanted to share the disposable camera photos our friends and family took during our reception. I immediately knew having these out would be a hit, and what a great idea it was! I look forward to seeing more photos soon, but hereâs what we have so farâŚ
Maddie and Quinten, our officiant (on my right)The one and only Sahil!Ariel and Alex!Our venue and second homeCousins Catherine and ReaganOur signature drinksMom and Linley, our bestest ring bearerOur lovely bartenders, Justin and Kyle!Jesse!!!My lovely best friend, Carolinaâ¨Wait, there were three Mattâs?!Our lovely photographer, Trizzie!Uncle Ray⌠hahaReagan, Alex Matlock and cousin JasonDancing as newlywedsOh boy⌠hahaOne happy brideOne hammered groom⌠haha
Photos taken Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Bantam Pub in Atlanta, GA. â¨
I canât help but feel incredibly blessed lately. I have an amazing group of friends â afar and in Atlanta, Iâm enjoying my new job at a different organization, therapy continues to go great and Iâm seeing major progress with acceptance lately, and the quality time with Alex and Linley post Linâs surgery couldnât be better.
Last weekend, we hopped in the car (I was a little hungover from a fun night with Evelyn before, but I donât regret it!) and drove down to Savannah, Georgia. It was a lovely belated birthday/early Halloween celebration and everything about the weekend away was wonderful.
After a long drive and some interesting OPL podcast episodes, we finally arrived and walked around Savannah while we waited to check into our Airbnb. We went to one of our favorite brunch spots, Collinâs Quarters, and grabbed a drink and lunch after a beautiful walk through historical Forsyth Park. Luckily Linley was exhausted, so once the Airbnb was ready, Alex and I were able to walk through a historical Civil War cemetery, enjoy a nice seafood dinner and some drinks â followed by a nightcap at a rooftop bar overlooking the river. I love spending time together and walking around with Alex, laughing and getting excited about plans, and checking out new places together.
After a great nightâs sleep at our Airbnb, we got ready for another great day at Hilton Head. We arrived at the beach where Linley could run free and enjoy the calm water. We met a lovely couple who Lin kept running up to, but for the most part he was by our side the entire time. I love taking Lin to the beach and itâs really special to share these moments with Alex, too!
The beach was extra special this year because I proposed to Alex. đ Iâd known Iâd wanted to do this for a while, and knew this trip – specifically on the beach – would be the perfect place. Unfortunately, I left my note and ring in the bag at our spot, but while walking with Alex, I told him my intentions â sharing that heâs the best gift Iâve ever been given. I donât want to wait for our forever to begin. Alex said yes and after our family walk, I gave him the ring and letter from my bag. I could tell Alex was surprised but flattered; all I wanted him to feel was special. It was such a lovely morning all around!
We went to our favorite restaurant afterward: Hudsonâs on the Dock. The drinks are delicious and the food is seriously amazing. Itâs probably the best seafood Iâve had at a more casual, local place before. Linley enjoyed the sun and meeting other pups on the dock while Alex and I enjoyed some oysters, crab, and other delicious food.
After the hour-long drive back and a solid nap we all needed, we wandered around with Linley once more before heading out on our cemetery tour. Our guide at the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah was incredibly knowledgeable and the cemetery itself was gorgeous and full of history. We heard stories about the Free Masons, different witch doctors in the south and sadly, how young children was buried there due to lack of medical advances leading up to the 1920s and 30s. I would highly recommend doing a tour of Bonaventure if you ever visit Savannah!
The rest of our evening was great! Alex and I ventured back to the Irish pub we visited last year, saw some friends from Atlanta and met their friends, and enjoyed a nice nighttime walk together. Next year, Alex and I decided that weâll make our own pub crawl, and each pick a couple bars we want to check out one night.
The next morning was lazy but much-needed before the drive back home. We grabbed coffee then strolled through Forsyth Park once more and dressed Linley up as a ghost again. He did much better in the costume this year, and even got some encouragement from strangers who walked by!
Both trips to Savannah and Hilton head have been lovely, and Iâm super excited for next year already!
Media taken Friday, October 25 â Sunday, October 27, 2024.
A few weeks ago, we celebrated our safety during the tropical storm that hit Atlanta â and we hit the Georgia Aquarium for a private wine-centered event. The aquarium hosts Aqua Vino events where guests can dress up, sample wine and see all the animals⌠with no crowds or kids to worry about! It was the perfect excuse to dress up, sample some wine, listen to live music and explore the aquarium. I felt like a classy adult and a kind again all in one! We even got our picture with a beluga whale within the first half hour.
I bid on a silent auction painting from a sea lion named Finnian (spoiler alert: I ended up winning it!) and pet some sting rays along the way. I felt like I was reclaiming my not-so-fond childhood memories during vacations and such⌠so it felt special in more ways than one. I also found the Alex and me âin another universeâ with these koi fish!
We continued exploring the different areas of the aquarium â including the tunnel and massive viewing room â to see some really impressive sharks. We wandered through different exhibits and joked about the fish and their names along the way. Laughing with Alex is my favorite thing to do and I had a blast. I canât wait for more adventures like this to come!
And of course, I had to stop by the penguin exhibit before I saw one of my favorite animalsâŚ
The otters were actually awake! I was so surprised and happy, so Alex and I spent a good deal of time watching them play and swim around. The same employee who helped when I pet the sting rays was also there to tell us more about these cuties. I was so excited I had to take a video!
Alex and I had a wonderful time getting dolled up and enjoyed a near-private walkthrough of a typically chaotic and popular place. Itâs great that the aquarium hosts fundraisers like this, and I hope to attend many more!
Traveling with the Traceys 