Albuquerque, Family Time & a New Friend Named Alberto
Sometimes a trip is less about where you go and more about who you get to be with while you’re there. Our trip to Albuquerque was definitely one of those vacations.
Chad and I headed to New Mexico knowing we’d get to do some exploring, but the best part of the entire trip was simply having time with family—my parents, my sister and her husband, and their three kids. And, of course, finally getting to meet baby J. ❤️
There’s something about holding a new baby in the family that makes everything else disappear for a minute. Getting to love on him, watch everyone together, and just be present for the everyday little moments was such a joy. Seeing the kids with their grandparents—and looking back at how much they’ve grown—made this trip feel especially sentimental.
Family Time… and a Little Time for Us
One thing Chad and I managed to do almost every day was sneak away for a little time together. Nothing particularly fancy was required. Sometimes the best part was simply walking around, people watching, wandering into shops, grabbing a drink, and doing whatever touristy thing caught our attention.
And New Mexico gave us plenty to explore.
We spent a few days wandering around Old Town Albuquerque, which may have been one of my favorite parts of the trip. The adobe buildings, courtyards, shops, artists, turquoise, silver, food, and people made it very easy for me to lose track of time.
Naturally, I found jewelry. 😂
I had the opportunity to buy pieces directly from artists, talk with them about their work, and even sit down and have a beer with a Zuni artist. As someone who now spends so much of my own life at the jewelry bench, experiences like that hit differently. I love seeing someone else’s craftsmanship up close and hearing even a little bit about the person behind the piece.
There may have also been a jewelry haul that came home with me. Okay… there definitely was.
Meet Alberto
Of course, no vacation is complete unless Chad and I bring home something completely ridiculous.
Enter Alberto.
While we were out exploring, we found the greatest yard decor—a wonderfully oversized, weathered little character who absolutely had to come home with us. We named him Alberto, buckled him securely into the back seat like the precious cargo he is, and drove him back to Arizona.
The picture of Alberto strapped into the car next to Chad’s giant hat pretty much sums up our relationship.
We go on vacation.
We come home with a yard animal.
Perfectly normal behavior.
A Day in Santa Fe
We also made our way up to Santa Fe, where the entire vibe changes again. One of our stops was Meow Wolf, which is probably one of the hardest places to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it. It’s colorful, strange, immersive, creative and a little bit like walking around inside somebody else’s imagination.
Basically, there is something interesting everywhere you look.
From there, we experienced the completely different atmosphere of the Loretto Chapel. I loved the contrast between the two experiences—one wildly modern and immersive, the other quiet, historic and beautiful. It was one of those days where we got to experience completely different sides of Santa Fe within just a few hours.
We also made time during the trip for a stop at Big Jim’s Farm, where we picked beautiful flowers and grabbed freshly roasted green chiles—because you cannot spend time in New Mexico without appreciating just how seriously they take their chile.
The Parts You Don’t Plan
Looking back through all of the pictures and videos, though, my favorite memories aren't necessarily the places we visited.
They’re the pictures of the kids being silly.
They’re my parents sitting with their grandkids.
They’re seeing a tiny baby curled up comfortably in Grandpa’s arms.
They’re conversations around the house, laughing with my sister and her husband, and getting to spend time together without everyone rushing off to the next thing.
They’re Chad and me wandering around somewhere with absolutely no agenda other than seeing what we could get into.
And apparently, they’re driving around Albuquerque with Alberto buckled into the back seat.
Those are the things I’ll remember.
Back Home, Back to the Bench
Vacations always seem to go much faster than you expect them to. One minute you're packing, and the next you're looking through hundreds of photos wondering how you're already home.
But I came back feeling full—in the best possible way.
I got time with my parents.
I got time with my sister and her family.
I got to meet baby J.
Chad and I got time together.
I got inspired by New Mexico, its artists, its jewelry, its history and all that incredible turquoise.
And we got Alberto.
So I’d say Albuquerque treated us pretty well.
Now it's back home, back to real life, and back to the bench—with a few more memories, a little more inspiration, and probably way more turquoise than I left with.
Until the next adventure, Legends. 🤎
— Lauren
Golden Rune Jewelry | Wear Your Legend.