Christy Dawn Photo — My Adventures

Do you crave adventure?

I’m right there with you. I love carrying my camera wherever I go to capture what I see. Every day can be an adventure, just see where I’ve been!
Want to see where I’ll go next? LET’S GO

Golden Birthday Weekend Adventure

Golden Birthday Weekend Adventure

Last Friday was my golden birthday - that’s when you turn the age of your date of birth. So, you guessed it, I turned 27. I wrote a blog piece on how I feel about turning this age and everything leading up to it, if you want to check it out. But one thing that I have learned over the years of existence is that I am the creator of my own happiness. I had hoped for a long while that someone would throw me a surprise party, but with the fear that I’d be let down, I planned my own birthday weekend celebration. I decided that I wanted to go to Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

Christy SwanbergMay 4, 2018friends, hiking, red, river, gorge, kentucky, cousinsComment

Golden Birthday Reflection: Turning 27

Golden Birthday Reflection: Turning 27

When I was younger, I took celebrations quite seriously. It was probably based off how how it made me feel - which was amazing. Anything I could celebrate, I would do so with such gusto, especially for other people. I would even wrap up things that my brothers already owned to give them to open as pre-Christmas gifts. I just seriously loved giving gifts and making people feel so special.

MusingsChristy SwanbergApril 27, 2018golden, birthday, old, age, april, 27, reflectionComment

Carissa + Brent's Bridal Shower

Carissa + Brent's Bridal Shower

As you all probably know, my little brother is getting married this summer! I was even asked to take the proposal pictures and made it all a surprise! The hardest part about this upcoming wedding is the fact that it’s in a completely other state: Colorado. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be the most beautiful wedding ever - the location, her wedding style and colors, and her dress will all be radiant. But since both Brent and Carissa live in Colorado, it’s hard to plan things with them or be a part of the process.

MusingsChristy SwanbergMarch 31, 2018bridal, shower, party, brother, Brent, Carissa, familyComment

Chicago’s Green River - St. Patrick’s Day

Chicago’s Green River - St. Patrick’s Day

This past weekend was one of the coldest St. Patrick’s Days that I can remember. Although, the past 4 years of celebrations were in Louisville, KY which is more warm anyhow. This year, since I’m in Illinois, I wanted to take advantage of where I live and experience what Chicago offers. Do you ever take for granted what’s easily in reach for you? Because out of all the years I’ve lived outside of Chicago (with my math, that looks to be 22...woof), I’ve never seen the Chicago river turn green for St. Patrick’s Day.

Christy SwanbergMarch 20, 2018green, st., patrick's, holiday, chicago, downtown, river, dye, boats, irishComment

Why I Moved Back to Illinois

Why I Moved Back to Illinois

About 5 years ago, while I was doing homework for a class at Millikin University, I got a call that I was officially offered a full-time job as a graphic designer starting a few weeks after I graduated in Louisville, KY. I had worked so hard during this semester to really focus on preparing myself to get a job that was in my field and that would get me out of Illinois. I applied to a minimum of 2 jobs a day (I’m not even exaggerating) starting January 1st of my last semester in college. Ideally I wanted to get out West towards Colorado, but I was open to anywhere BUT Illinois.

MusingsChristy SwanbergMarch 9, 2018louisville, home, kentucky, illinois, manhattan, loans, dreams, goals, familyComment

My Feelings About Winter

My Feelings About Winter

When I moved to Louisville, KY from right outside Chicago five years ago, I quickly realized how much I actually appreciate the seasons that Chicago experiences. Most people in Louisville look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them how much I love winter.

MusingsChristy SwanbergMarch 3, 2018winter, break, season, don't photograph, Love, natural, lightComment

NYC Adventure

NYC Adventure

So did y’all know that I love my brothers? Well, newsflash: they are the freaking best. And my youngest brother, Joel, is wrapping up his time at Marquette University as an athlete. He’ll be graduating this Spring with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, but he’s savoring his final year with his track and field team as a pole vaulter.

Christy SwanbergMarch 1, 2018manhattan, new york, city, downtown, nyc, walking, train, subway, staten, island, track, indoor, pole, vaulting, joel, brent, ferryComment

Frozen Wonderland

Frozen Wonderland

One of the things I love most about the midwest is the fact that we get to experience all 4 seasons. Now that I live back up around Chicago for now, I’m loving getting to feel the bitter colds that come through this area.

Christy SwanbergFebruary 17, 2018winter, frozen, ice, barn, farm, abandoned, wonderland, manhattan, snowComment

Charlestown State Park

Charlestown State Park

Since I have moved back to Illinois, I have been DEEPLY missing what Louisville, KY offered. I miss the local food, the bourbon, the breweries, the people, the church that I call home - but I especially miss the vast amount of options for hiking and exploring. One of my go-to places that is only a 30 minute drive from downtown Louisville, is right across the river in Indiana: Charlestown State Park.

Christy SwanbergFebruary 11, 2018charlestown, state, park, hike, hiking, waterfall, winter, louisville, kentucky, indiana, trailComment

Colorado Winter Trip!

Colorado Winter Trip!

My brother planned a short, but fun-packed winter trip up in the Rocky Mountains to Grand Lake, Colorado. Sleigh rides, frozen lakes, great family and friends, and even tubing - one of the more fun adventures I've been on in a while.

ColoradoChristy SwanbergJanuary 31, 2018Colorado, Grand Lake, Lake, mountains, rocky, winter, snow, sleigh, ride, tubing, family, brother, cousin, Coors, Brewery, pizza, park, go proComment

24 hour Trip to Minneapolis, MN

24 hour Trip to Minneapolis, MN

This year marks my youngest brother’s last year in college and his last year doing track and field for Marquette University. Which means, traveling when I can to see him compete doing pole vault. This past weekend he was in Minneapolis, Minnesota and flights up there were so cheap! So off I went for a 24hr trip to Minnesota.

Christy SwanbergJanuary 30, 2018MN, Minnesota, Minneapolis, north, travel, pole, vault, brother, joel, Marquette, university, track, field, meet, flight, short, tripComment

Wild Flowers - Part Two

Wild Flowers - Part Two

This year, I wanted to make it a tradition to pick a wildflower bouquet on a walk of mine. My favorite part of doing this is being able to spend time with my mom during the exploring and the researching part. (Check out part one!)

MusingsChristy SwanbergDecember 27, 2017wild, flower, wildflower, mom, illinois, midwest, bouquet

My Hike in Starved Rock

My Hike in Starved Rock

I decided to set aside one day a month to do absolutely nothing. This doesn’t necessarily mean that I can’t do anything, but it does mean that I purposefully don’t plan or schedule anything on that day. My to-do lists, hanging out with friends, editing photos, they all take a pause on this one day.

Christy SwanbergDecember 23, 2017illinois, hiking, starved, rock, nothing, hikeComment

2017 Chicago German Market

2017 Chicago German Market

Every year for most of my life, my family makes a trip downtown Chicago in December before Christmas to see the German Market: Christkindlmarket. It’s an annual outdoor market that’s only up right before Christmas in Chicago. It’s always festive, freezing, and magnificent, and so amazing.

Christy SwanbergDecember 11, 2017chicago, illinois, german, market, christmas, christkindl, christkindlmarket, winter, homeless, annual, spiced, wine, downtown, shopping, potato, pancakesComment

Hiking the Flat Irons - Boulder, CO

Hiking the Flat Irons - Boulder, CO

Because the last time I was in Colorado it was to capture my brother proposing to his now fiancé, I didn’t really have time to enjoy Colorado the way I wanted to: hiking those mountains. So I made another weekend trip out there to hang out with my brother, his fiancé, and my cousin. I knew I wanted to explore Boulder some more, so they suggested hiking the Flat Irons – even though none of them had.

ColoradoChristy SwanbergNovember 11, 2017Colorado, Boulder, Flat, Irons, hiking, hike, rocky, mountains, travel, adventureComment

2017 Solar Eclipse

2017 Solar Eclipse

About a week or two after moving back to Illinois from Louisville, KY, on August 21st, 2017 one of the largest events in the US in 2017 occurred right through Illinois. The solar eclipse. Some weren’t convinced that this wasn’t a huge deal – but I have NOOOO idea how these people made those decisions.

Christy SwanbergAugust 26, 2017eclipse, solar, 2017, illinois, travel, star, view, sun, vineyard, winery, starviewComment

What You Need to Know about Jury Duty

What You Need to Know about Jury Duty

I was recently “summoned” to participate in everyone’s favorite civic responsibility: jury duty.

When I was first notified, I felt a little apprehensive. I didn’t have many details about the process and was unsure about what to expect. So, if you’re still waiting for your fateful day to come, I hope reading about my experience will help you to feel a little more prepared.

MusingsChristy SwanbergAugust 21, 2017jury, duty, louisville, tips, process, need to know, insightComment

#SwaninLondon - Day Ten

#SwaninLondon - Day Ten

As this trip carried on, I continually felt more and more exhausted. It was probably because I’m not used to being such a tourist – moving around from place to place with a schedule. However, after my freezing cold sleep in Dumfries, Scotland, I was ready to hit another milestone in my travels.

#SwanInLondonChristy SwanbergFebruary 26, 2017dumfries, scotland, castle, caerlaverock, green, uk, abroad, stoneComment

#SwaninLondon - Day Eight & Nine - Edinburgh

#SwaninLondon - Day Eight & Nine - Edinburgh

The depression and loneliness were still heavy on my chest as I woke up this day. I decided to try and conquer it by getting out of bed and doing something. Although Edinburgh Castle was on my list to see, my host turned me off from it. She said that it was a waste of money and definitely better looking on the outside. Plus, I was kind of tourist-ed out and tired of paying for a ticket to enjoy a place. I just wanted to enjoy Edinburgh and the culture and scenery.

#SwanInLondonChristy SwanbergJanuary 29, 2017edinburgh, scotland, lonely, travel, botanical, gardens, depression, dumfries, rowlingComment

#SwaninLondon - Day Seven - Edinburgh

#SwaninLondon - Day Seven - Edinburgh

At this point in my journey, I started getting more and more tired of being a tourist without anyone to share the experiences with. I started getting extremely lonely. I think the train ride out to Edinburgh was a nice relaxing break. It was about a 5-hour train ride through the country-side of England and it was lovely.

#SwanInLondonChristy SwanbergJanuary 23, 2017edinburgh, scotland, arthur, seat, hiking, cliffs, rockyComment