I went to Europe.

Oh, that's right. I knew there was something I had been meaning to talk about. I went to Europe on a work trip and visited 4 cities in 3 countries in 2 weeks. Things have been in full force since returning to New York a few weeks ago and I haven't had a single minute to figure out how I wanted to share my trip. It was a jam-packed, exhausting blast with many great memories that I'll hold dear to my heart forever and new friends made around the globe.

However, I thought a quick summary was in order. And if I sum up the 15 days I spent abroad, this is what it looked like:

bonjour, from the paris airport ladies room

Somewhere in the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport today I was washing my hands in the ladies room while waiting for my connecting flight, and as I glanced in the mirror, I could've sworn that a tall, scary woman was lurking behind me as I was trying to freshen up a little. Turns out it was just an art installation. But, hey, you never know. And being stuck in an airport terminal all day will certainly do crazy things to your brain. That's for darn sure.

bon voyage

Is it appropriate to wish yourself a nice trip?

I'm not sure, but I just did it. Mostly because I wanted to sound like I knew a tiny bit of french. And also because I'm running pretty low on sleep and didn't know what else to entitle this post. And finally, because I actually am wishing & hoping for myself a nice trip. In case you're wondering what this is all about, I have a pretty big 14 days ahead of me. For the first time ever, I'll be darkening the door of Europe, if you know what I mean. But you'll have to wait and see exactly where in Europe I'll be because I think it's more fun that way.

But I'll tell you this much. I'm typing this from a terminal in the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on a layover to my first destination and the teenagers here are just as rowdy and obnoxious as I've seen anywhere else. Although, one of them happens to be wearing a Boston Bruins beanie, so perhaps they belong to us afterall and have no bearing on teenagers elsewhere. Anywho. We'll see how my first impressions pan out.

I plan to post more pictures from my travels to twitter and instagram if that's of interest to you.

Bonne journée!

hi, from denver!

As a result of growing up in warm, balmy Alabama, I don't have much experience with scraping the ice and snow off my frozen car. Luckily—my rental car in Denver last weekend had a Florida license plate allowing the fellow motorists to keep their expectations low.

hi, from beacon

Last week I went on a quick trip to Beacon, NY for a staff retreat at work. If you haven't been there, you should definitely make the effort to go. And make sure to check out the Beacon Roundhouse. Because there is a waterfall there, and you will feel like you are a million miles from the city.

africa in new york city

Brendan and I went to eat dinner downtown last night (at our fave taco place) and while we were waiting in the subway station I couldn't take my eyes off this: Africa. What some would see as an ugly mess of missing subways tiles was - to me - such a beautiful reminder of a wonderful time and place in my memory and heart. Take me back to those African sunsets, puuhlease.

hi, from alabama!

A full and happy heart from all the festivities of today. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

last year on Thanksgiving:

It was my birthday. And that morning, I did a turkey trot hike up Table Mountain. I went to the beach in the afternoon. And that evening, I attended a Thanksgiving day braai. All in Africa.

Not your traditional Thanksgiving, but one I'll never forget!

Glad to be celebrating stateside this year. But, such wonderful memories thinking back on last year.

home again, home again

jiggity jog! 

back in the south again.

remembering cape town

One year ago, today, I landed in South Africa after an 18 hour flight across the oceans. I was tired and having my first experience with jetlag, but boy was there an amazing week waiting ahead of me. It's a week I will never ever forget, and quite frankly I have trouble holding back the tears when I think on that week for too long in one sitting. If I get sappy over here, don't mind me.

I'm thankful for all of the memories and stories and friends I still hold dear after an entire year has passed in this place. What a beautiful picture. What beautiful hearts of such a precious team.

Last year I blogged all about my trip here: Big Apple Pear: Cape Town

good morning (in) chicago

This was my view in Chicago from the moment I woke up - literally, from my pillow in my bed.

Not too shabby, I must say.

[thanks again Julie for being the hostess with the mostess!]

a quick glimpse

...of my life flashing before my eyes.

at the SkyDeck Ledge in Chicago this weekend. In case I haven't mentioned it before, I'm deathly afraid of heights. I couldn't even take this picture because I couldn't look down, nor could I put my entire foot on the glass floor - a few inches was far enough. Thank you LeeAnne, then, for helping me to document this death-defying experience and taking the picture. 

hi, from chicago!

[note to self: I love this city! & sorry I'm not sorry for all the Bean pictures to come. Here's no. 1]

chicago bound.

I am Chicago bound tonight! I'll be hopping on a plane with LeeAnne for a short, fun-filled weekend in Chicago to visit an NYC friend transplanted there for law school. If you have any suggestions on what I should see & do there, please share. It's my first time! I apologize in advance for the 500 pictures I'm sure to take at The Bean in Millenium Park.

take me back.

dreaming & wishing I was here again today.

middlebury

During my weekend trip to Vermont a couple weekends ago, B made a quick stop at his college alma mater, Middlebury, to show me around. I'm excited to get my pictures together to show the true beauty of the campus, but for now: check out this waterfall. Right beside campus. I'm an Auburn girl thru-and-thru (and made only a few number of comparisons between the two while I was at Middlebury), but that waterfall is beautiful. And this picture doesn't do it justice. Not at all.

this is only the beginning.

Yep, this is only the beginning of the fun we had at the wedding in Vermont this weekend. Brendan, John and I (almost missed it, but) hit up the Photo Booth at the reception which was sooooo.fun.

I never met the bride - only the groom as I was walking into the wedding - so hopefully this will be a warm introduction for the bride when she sees these photos in her guest book!

my very own.

And now I have my very own! Thanks so much to Bethany for bringing this back to me from Israel!

shalom y'all

Southern love...all the way from Jerusalem! 

[Thanks for sending Bethany! Safe travels!]

weddings

It seems I'm still a day late and a dollar short. I'm already on to (and, er, done with now) wedding #2 of the season, and I'm just now blogging about #1. I've been back in Alabama for the last 10 days to get ready for Rose Lynn's big day, and now I'm already headed back to the big apple this afternoon. Sigh, how times flies...

I've completely deserted this blog over the last two months, so I'm hoping to give snippets of where I've been. Sadly (and happily, at the same time) so much of the last couple of months has been spent on airplanes, which doesn't leave much time for blogging. All for happy reasons, though!





























We went to our friends' wedding, Mark & Lucy, in Mountain Brook at the end of April. It was a beautiful wedding and fun to have worlds colliding a bit with Alabama and New York connections. The church Mark and Lucy were married in was so beautiful! I had an especially fun time with so many New York friends spending the weekend in my old stomping grounds!