Michael and I recently made the great decision to go to the desert in the middle of summer 😅Wow, y’all. It was HOT.

Okay so obviously I’m talking about one of our favorite places ever, the Anza-Borrego Desert. It is a very wild and beautiful place.

It’s a MASSIVE piece of land (600,000 acres to be exact). To explore this desert you really need a 4wheel drive vehicle, as most roads are primitive 4×4 roads.

What’s nice about going in the summer is all the popular scenic points are deserted, because the temperatures outside are literally deadly. The winter and spring are a lot more “crowded”.

While we were there, we impulsively decided to hike a very popular trail called “The Slot”. It’s a very short, but very stunning trail through a slot canyon. Real Indiana Jones-type vibes.

So anyways, there I am, wearing my black Doc Martin boots (which are NOT suitable for hiking as they’re black leather and just not great for trails) out in the middle of a desert, in 105f degree weather.

We start the trail, and smart ole’ me saw a bunch of rocks on the ground, almost blocking the trailhead. Hmmm? Could this be a sign not to go this way? No, let’s DEFINITELY go this way.

We walked a MILE AND A HALF in the wrong direction. Next thing I know we’re out in the badlands, summiting desert ridges in the blazing sun. At this point I’m realizing my black leather boots were absolutely the wrong choice for this venture.

We were gaining elevation as we hiked further into the badlands — no desert canyon in sight. Finally, we realized we made a mistake and turned around. We hiked the mile and a half back to the trailhead. This time took the CORRECT turn, and within minutes were walking in cool, shaded desert canyons.

The canyons were so narrow we had to shimmy through and sometimes climb over things. Seriously, so cool.

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But anyways. We spent the rest of the day exploring other parts of the desert, and trying out some new off-road trails with our Jeep. It was a great day out on the dirt.

I wore this black floral summer-to-fall dress from Target. The pattern is a bit more moody and sophisticated than a floral dress you’d find in the spring time — perfect for transitioning from the summer temps into the cooler days of fall.

It fits TTS and can be worn a few different ways — with a leather or jean jacket over it, with sandals, or with booties.

Okay guys, that’s it for today. Michael and I are currently in Reno and it’s almost 1AM here. I’ve gotta get to bed! We’re planning on exploring Lake Tahoe tomorrow.

For more Jeep adventures, see HERE. Fore more outfit posts, see HERE.

For daily pics you can follow along on INSTAGRAM, and for daily inspo you can follow along on PINTEREST.

Xx, K

outfit details: DRESS