Glasgow. Take 2 (J. Roddy Walston & The Business).

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You guys, I really believe that we need three-day weekends. Saturday and Sunday just aren’t enough. Ugh.

Anyway, a couple of weekends ago Will and I went to Glasgow. This was the first time we explored Glasgow together… the first of many!

We went to go see our friends J Roddy Walston & The Business play and to hang out with them. While the band was doing their soundcheck, Will and I explored Glasgow’s West End. We loved walking through Kelvingrove Park, the University, and that whole area. It was really nice hanging out, exploring, and just being together—but I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of us being together. :)

Afterwards, we joined the band for dinner and hung out with them until it was their time to go. And oh man, they did not disappoint! They’re all so very talented and really enjoy playing their music; and it shows! I love all of their songs and the energy they bring to the stage. I don’t know why they aren’t bigger because they’re absolutely amazing! I mean, they’ve recently been on Letterman and Conan!! And, they’re currently playing at South by Southwest right now! Seriously, you’ve got to buy their album and see them live. Now.

It was such a treat to be able to see these guys again! And we got to explore a little more of Glasgow too. I’m telling you, Glasgow’s growing on me. If it wasn’t for the fact that it rains 50% more on the West coast than it does on the East it’d be cooler than Edinburgh. <gasp!>

Logan, Rod, yours truly, my love, Billy.
Apparently their tour manager didn’t feel like including Steve, even though he was standing right there?? Sorry Steve.

We loved the whole day: a lazy morning,  borrowing our friend’s car to drive out to Glasgow, catching up with friends, exploring a wonderful city, and listening to some awesome live music. It was a fantastic day! Oh, and I was DD so I drove us home… at 1:30am! I deserve a medal for not killing us because I get narcoleptic when I drive at night. I’m not joking, I can down a Red Bull and still fall asleep behind the wheel.

On that note, I will leave you with the music video they made for “Heavy Bells” because it has a lot of our friends in it!

Yay for friends in music videos!

March Madness

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George Street, Edinburgh  June 2013 (taken with the Minolta)

Today is the first day of March. It’s not normally a big month but this year it’s pretty huge:

1. I signed up for a half marathon and today is the first day of training. So, I have to run three miles today. I consider a 10k a long distance run. I am going to die.

2. I am going to take a break from baking sweets and try to hone my skills in breaking bread. Close friends of ours bake their own bread and it’s delicious… and I want my kitchen to be filled with that delicious freshly-baked bread smell!

3. Some of our closest friends here are moving away tomorrow to go to Germany to do the same exchange program Will did. I have no words to describe the degree of sadness I’m feeling because unlike Will, they’re not coming back.

4. Last but certainly not least… Will and I are going back to the States to spend some quality time with our families! With having spent a lot of time a lone recently the homesickness has overwhelmed me. I miss my family so much. It’s been just under two years since I’ve seen my parents and more than two years since I’ve seen my brother! A trip back home is way overdue. The amount of amazing things that are going to happen while stateside are too many to count!

So, that’s the madness that is my March this year.

Oh, and spring is just around the corner; I can feel it!

<insert happy jig>

As It Should Be

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Venice

You guys, Will is back!

My husband is hooooooooome!

Last Saturday was a bit emotional for me. Both of his flights home were delayed. BOTH. Instead of coming home at 3:45pm he landed at 9:15pm. It doesn’t seem like it was that much later but I was not handling it well at all. I pretty much cried all day. Fortunately I had great friends who came over to distract me.

Coming home from the airport was surreal for both of us. We were both so ready for this that with it actually happening we had to pinch ourselves. We both had to remind ourselves that this wasn’t a long weekend together. This was how life should be… together.

Our first week had its up’s and down’s. We’ve already fought about money and hogging the blankets and making time for each other and doing the dishes! But we’ve also had friends over, re-instated date night, come up with a budget we’re both happy with, gone out to friends’ flats, and have enjoyed each other’s company so much. It’s been great!

Right now we’re sitting on our couch (side by side!), sharing a blanket, working on our laptops, while listening to WFMU (“Give The Drummer” Radio) and munching on some baked camembert and artisan bread. Life couldn’t be any better right now!

Tomorrow we’re gonna have another lazy morning and then head over to Glasgow to see our friends’ band (J Roddy Walston And The Business)! We haven’t seen them (our friends)  since we went back to the States in June 2012, and haven’t seen JRWATB since we rang in 2011 in Baltimore! I seriously can’t wait to see them again!

So, that’s our first week of experiencing life as it should be… together!

Here’s to plenty more weeks together!

Venice

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WILL COMES HOME TODAY!!!! WILL COMES HOME TODAY!!!!! WILL COMES HOMES TODAY!!!!! WILL COMES HOME TODAY!!!! WILL COMES HOME TODAY!!!!!

This is my mantra this morning. It was my mantra when my alarm went off at 6am so I can call him before he headed off and it will be my mantra as I’m vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom and putting a ham in the slow cooker and baking! Lots of baking today!

But on to business: Venice!

I’m STILL pinching myself that we were just there two and a half weeks ago! Oh it was amazing!

For starters, we traveled to Venice together. That was huge for me because I had been doing a lot of traveling by myself lately and I was getting tired of it. I prefer my 5am explorations for bus stops to include my husband. It’s just better that way.

Second, our hotel was awesome. We weren’t sure what kind of hotel the Groupon deal would land us in but I’m pretty sure we hit the jackpot! We stayed at the Hotel Pausania and couldn’t have been more pleased. Everyone was really kind and helpful and we loved it’s location. It’s a short walk from where the airport bus drops you off but in a quiet area. We weren’t surrounded by other hotels which means we weren’t surrounded by tourists. There were a ton of local bars and restaurants by us too. And, it was only a short walk from the hotel to the main piazza (San Marco).

Third, we didn’t break the bank. So many people write about how Venice is expensive because they have to import everything and that made me nervous. We got an amazing deal from Groupon (which we saved on our flights and hotel) and we were smart about food.

And fourth, Will and I were both on the same page with exploring. That’s all we wanted to do. And we all know that’s huge because I’m not a walker. But I was so entranced by the city that walking was all  I wanted to do. And Will and I both loved getting lost in Venice. Not that you could because it’s so small, but it was fun trying!

When you guys go to Venice (because it’s an absolute must!) you have to check out Bistrot Ai Do Draghi. It’s a cute little bar we found trying to get out of the rain that was such a gem! The snacks they provided were all homemade and delicious! And really good wine as well :)

Our last day in Venice was super cool. First of all, we experienced acqua alta (“high tide”) where everything was covered in water. People were walking in water up to their shins! It’s was crazy. The hotel was prepared for it and had the furniture up on platforms the night before. Will and I were on the second floor so it didn’t affect us until we went down for breakfast the next day. We were not prepared so we stayed in the hotel that morning but the tide had gone back down and everything went back to normal by the late morning. Which, I was grateful for because I did not want to walk around in sopping, wet clothes. It also smelled rancid. But that was life in Venice and it was cool to experience it. Another bonus for our last day was that the sun came out! <insert angels singing>

Oh he’s so handsome!! (I can’t believe he comes home today!!!!!!!)

Oh Venice!

In my head Venice was this magical floating city and that’s exactly what it is. There’s no other city in the world like it. It felt like a time capsule that transported me to another time or another world. It really did feel magical to me. I mean, there are opera singers floating down the canals and aqua-colored water and delicious food everywhere… if that doesn’t scream magical I don’t know what does!

Cafe Love: The Chocolate Tree

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For chocolate lovers in Edinburgh, or visiting Edinburgh, you have got to visit The Chocolate Tree! It’s such a wonderful cafe AND a wonderful company! The Chocolate Tree not only provides locally made Scottish chocolate but also strives to “better the lives of the farmers and promoting biodiversity” (their words).

I’ve been here a handful of times and just love to indulge. It’s one of those places where you have to. It’s hard to pick between any of their hot cocoas, gelato, macarons, cakes, truffles, and of course, their chocolates. Good luck trying.

I love their white chocolate hot cocoa and Aya and I couldn’t resist trying some of their macarons.

I first discovered The Chocolate Tree a couple of years ago at one of the weekend markets. Will and I bought some chocolate from them to bring back home to our families… which, I’m pretty sure we’re gonna do again. If there’s something the UK does right, it’s chocolate… and sweets in general really.

So, if your’e looking for a little chocolate indulgence, you’ve gotta hit up The Chocolate Tree.

You’re welcome.