Jackson Folk {meet ashley}.

this gal is one of my favorites.

she's so genuine and sweet and insanely creative.

i love grabbing coffee with her while we pick each others brains.

remember this post?  

all from this girl with the cutest southern accent!

get to know ash as she is a joy to work with.

name: ashley pitt merritt

occupation: photographer at ashley meritt photography

hometown: shelby, north carolina. 

i still try to get back to the South as much as i can. can't think of a better place to spend time than here and there.

how long have you been in jackson?

moved here 5 years ago this month!

interesting fact?

hmmm...its always a fun fact that i was a nanny for the Hanson family (MMBop!) and got to travel all around the world with them for a few years. thats actually when i got my first camera and started taking pictures of all of our travels and adventures. guess thats where i got my first start as a photographer.

What brought you here?

my hubby. john had a summer job as a fly fishing guide at 3 Creek, we had just gotten married, and this was going to be our "summer adventure." ;o)

What made you want to start your photography business?

i studied photojournalism in college and loved learning how to tell people's stories through photographs. had awesome opportunities in college to pick and choose a lot of the stories i did, and realized in the "real world" of photojournalism, that was a rare luxury. i took a break and worked for a non-profit that developed water sources around the world, and that's where i really started putting it together that i could still pick and choose what i wanted to photograph. i started my own business so that i could tell the stories i wanted, whether it's a wedding, a new baby, an engagement, or the stories of people's lives around the world. i still shoot film, and love the classic, timeless look that film produces. in this digital world with all the filters and post-production tricks, there's something really authentic and true about film that i love.

{all photos from ashley merritt photography}

Favorite subject to shoot out West?

i love shooting people. i think having coming from a documentary background, some of my favorite photos are ones where people are unaware of the camera, capturing real moments. babies, kiddos, people in love - people are the best! but i also carry my camera with me most places and love just documenting my life and the things i see along the way. my family and friends have just gotten used to being photographed...a lot.

Are you taking new clients?

always excited to photograph new people! what seems to happen a lot is that someone will start out as a client, and then let me in to their lives during a special time, we'll connect and become friends. it's an awesome job to make friends with the folks you're working with. 

***Ashley is offering ALL egg readers something special.  if you book your session with ashley by june 14th, she'll throw in a complimentary disc of all photos from your session.  (session can be booked for a later date.)

{follow ashley's gorgeous photography facebook page} 

brickmakers table.

dating a carpenter has major perks.
including awesome new furniture. for way cheap.
i've been eyeing a brickmakers table for a long time
and when i finally showed jeff my "jeffers projects" pinterest board
(i know, i'm a nerd.  but whatever, look at my new table!)
he decided he would give the table a try over the weekend.
it was such a hit and so gorgeous that my friend down the street wanted one too.
SO....if anyone in jackson (or anywhere) wants one of these beauties, let me know.
my man's got talent.

thank God for gay weddings.

and for gay wedding xanax!

i'm off to LA for a fabulous gay wedding.

can't wait to strut my stuff in my amazing designer dress from dubai.

where else would i wear it?

hoping no one breaks out a new beyonce dance or i'm in trouble.

around my hood.

{fun new bag my friends brought back for me from mexico, thanks ladies! // flowers are in full bloom}

{hunter wellies weather}

{jeff working on the most gorgeous brickmakers table // osker enjoying the ride}

{one of my favorite old cabins down yonder}

{i mean, just look at them!}

{wellies}

{this rusty old truck reminds me of Mater from Cars.  anyone?}

it seems like over night everything in the valley has turned bright green

the flowers have started to sprout and open!

and i sure do love tulips.

osker and i went on a drive this dreary sunday and snapped some photos.

everything looked so bright and beautiful.

the sun will come out tomorrow (literally) and i have a little photo shoot planned.

can't wait to share with y'all what the egg has been up to.

feeling...

today is rainy and cool in the mountains
and i'm craving some military-esq pieces for my wardrobe this spring.
above are a few i've found around dem internets.
happy shopping and happy weekending!

1. kate spade saturday weekender bag

2. madewell leather belt

3. gap skinny mini pants

4. scotch nail polish

5. rhyme studded camo jacket

6. elizabeth and james shades

7. michael kors sports watch

8. tinley road blouse

9. forever 21 military jacket

10. steve madden troopa boots

11. one by twill jacket

guest post {salt style}.

today i'm doing a style swap with the ladies from salt style blog.

they are adorable mountainistas from utah.

make sure to check them out, i love these girls.

take it away ladies!

Hey Everyone! We are Steph (red head) and Jess (blonde) from SALT Style. We are super excited to be guest posting on The Egg today. We love Meg, and her local small town feel, so it has been fun collaborating!  So here is a little bit about us. We are both located in Salt Lake City and have always had a love for fashion so we decided to start a style blog to give inspiration on incorporating current trends into your wardrobe in a chic and classy way.  Our motto is, when you look good you can accomplish anything! So check out our blog at www.saltstyleblog.com!

Shirt: DownEast c/o, Skirt: DownEast c/o, Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell, Bag: DSW, Necklace: Forever 21 (Old), Shades: Vince Camuto, Bracelets: GroopDealz & Forever 21

Thank you Meg for letting us stop by and we hope you all visit SALT Style soon!

Steph & Jess

roadhouse brewery.

{the brewmaster himself!}

the roadhouse brewery co. (formally known as the q roadhouse) is having a grand opening!

my friends and i stopped by last night to test out some new concoctions.

all paired well with some favorites like jalapeno hushpuppies, fried pickles, and wings.

these guys are passionate about beer and you can tell with your first sip.

their new brews are delicious and fresh.

we were happy campers.

stop by the grand opening for a fun brew filled night to start the summer off right.

date: monday may 13, 2013

time: doors open at 5:00 (no cover charge!)

where: roadhouse brewery, 2550 moose wilson rd, wilson, wy

music: live music from jet black ninja funkgrass unit

fun: new beers to be released at the party // food and drink specials

*all photos by moi.

happy weekending!

{via}

this weekend is supposed to be in the 70s and sunny!

summer, is that you?

i'll be participating in the tough towner with some fellow ninjas so watch out.

let's see if i can survive this one...

p.s. i'm guest posting over here at this great new travel blog today

lotm: nature's treasures.

{from a favorite store of mine, twenty two home.}

want an easy way to make your home more rustic?
just add pine cones!
or any other of mother nature's fine elements.
don't pick the wildflowers though, mmmk?
the rangers won't be happy about that.

here are more posts on nature's little treasures: here, here, here, here, here, and our guest here!

altitude sickness.

people always laugh at me when i warn them of altitude sickness.
but i've had a handful of family and friends who have experienced it.
headaches, vomiting, one friend's mom even needing an oxygen tank!
going from sea level to 6,327 feet can throw your body out of whack.
if you are traveling to the mountains this summer,
here are a few altitude sickness tips.

Preventing Altitude Sickness
- drink plenty of water.
i warn people to start drinking way more water than normal about two weeks prior to their visit.
and take lots of h2o with you on your adventures.
-acclimate gradually.
start out slow and steady when heading out on a hike or climb.
-take it easy on the booze.
alcohol will hit you a lot harder so be careful when you head out to the cowboy bar.


*the following tips on treating altitude sickness are brought to you by Valerie Johnston at Healthline.com.

Treating the Three Types of Altitude Sickness

The world is indeed getting smaller, and as that happens, more people are pushing the limits of where humans can go for adventure.

Some people head up into the mountains just to enjoy some new scenery. Others like to push their own limits, participating in all-terrain races up and down mountains. Whatever the case, travelers and trekkers of all types need to be aware of the effects of altitude sickness. This form of illness can affect all sorts of people, particularly those that live at lower altitudes and are accustomed to the atmospheric conditions of those areas.

Higher altitudes differ from lower altitudes in a few ways. First, their air is thinner and air pressure is lower as the altitude rises. This means that the body has less access to oxygen, and the changes in air pressure can cause their own issues, as will be discussed. Beyond that, the air tends to be drier at higher altitudes. This, combined with the fact that the air is thinner, results in decreased athletic ability: Any amount of exertion can result in dehydration and exhaustion at very high altitudes.

Read on to learn about the three types of altitude sickness and how they can affect the body at higher altitudes.

Acute Mountain Sickness

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most basic form of altitude sickness, and it comes from rising in altitude at a rate that is faster than your body is able to adjust. This is because of the rapid change in environment that you experience as you ascend. The thinner air causes a variety of symptoms if the individual rises too quickly, including dizziness, headaches, and decreased appetite. This form of altitude sickness is brought on by lack of oxygen as well as lack of moisture, as dehydration tends to be a problem for people who are experiencing AMS. This form of altitude sickness feels like fairly common nausea, and the way to combat the effects of this type of altitude sickness is to descend the mountain.

High-Altitude Cerebral Edema

Beyond AMS, the lack of oxygen can have much more extreme effects on the body, such as a high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). The latter part of that phrase refers to a lack of oxygen traveling to the brain, leading to confusion, nausea, and loss of physical coordination. HACE is considered more dangerous than AMS and can even result in coma or death. If you are ascending with an individual that starts to act in a way that is out of the ordinary, characterized by irrational behavior, you should suspect HACE. The best way to test for this condition is to conduct a brief coordination test. If the individual is unable to walk in a straight line, you should descend as quickly as possible.

High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema

A third type of altitude sickness is a high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). HAPE is different from the other two forms of altitude sickness in that the previous forms come about as the result of a lack of oxygen. HAPE arises as a result of another change in the environment at higher altitudes—lower air pressure. When the air pressure is too low, fluid can begin to gather in the lungs. When this occurs, the individual may start to feel symptoms that are similar to the other forms of altitude sickness, in addition to taking on a pale complexion, with shortness of breath and tightness in the chest, among other symptoms. Treating HAPE is similar to treating AMS and HACE: The individual should move down in altitude in order to gain access to better air pressure and more oxygen.

~Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news!

featured in {Design*Sponge}

today i'm featured on the one and only Design*Sponge!
not gonna lie.....pretty excited about it.
head on over to check out a list of my personal favorites in jackson hole.
thanks to the staff at DS, you rock!

Mountain Mamas!

with mother's day right around the corner,
make sure to stock up for all those mountain mamas you know!
a few helpful ideas i promise she'll love:

1. turkish nine space beach towel

2. patagonia nano vest // can never have too many

3. ray ban cat-eye wayfarers

4. marc by marc jacobs ring

5. ikat scarf

6. banana republic tile bracelet

7. gap tote

8. wrap watch

9. essie In The Cabana polish

10. laura mercier honey bath wash

11. set of four chevron glasses

12. bauble bar bracelet

13. frye ballet flats (more colors!)