07.06.14 – 07.07.14

Ciao Venezia!

You were very lovely and very Italian. Although our first day, we fortunately got by on English. The streets are a labyrinth of endless alleyways and corridors – all of which are beautiful, but very similar. It doesn’t help that every building is at least three stories high, meaning we could not even make out landmarks to see if we were headed in the right direction. It took us an hour and a half to find out hotel, which ended up being behind a church and right on the canal.

One of the first things that stood out to me about Venice was they had a number of shops selling cat-related items. And not like, cat toys, or cat food, but cat-themed merchandise. And also postcards with cats on them. I wasn’t sure what this obsession with cats was, but we didn’t see a single cat in London. As a cat-person, I wasn’t complaining.

Food

when in Italy, you must have pizza. It’s just that no one informed me that in Italy, pizzas aren’t cut into slices. And that you use your fork and knife to cut up the pizza, as you would cut steak or something. I mean, I was hungry too, so.
where we stayed included breakfast, and we were served wonderful honey croissants, tea, and cappucinos. Waking up and taking my tea out on the window ledge as church bells rang next door… ahhh.
having an unsatisfied sweet tooth, and also a limited budget, gelato was had for lunch (more of that “when in Italy…” mindset). It was expensive to eat out in Venice as it was in London, and we knew we weren’t going to find a Sainsbury here.
It was in Italy where we learned that if we wanted good gelato, to satisfy our cravings by purchasing gelato from places with “artigianale” in their names, meaning “artisan,” aka homemade with real ingredients and authentic.
While the areas we wandered through in Venice during our stay didn’t have a Sainsbury’s or traditional grocery store per se, there were lots of places to eat, from upscale restaurants right on the canal, to literal hole-in-the-wall places. It was from one of these small, local joints where we picked up something quick to eat for dinner our last night, as we strolled alnong the Canal Grande. I got a slice of margherita, but the gent called it “Pizza Italia.”

Sights

Unarguably, Venice was beautiful. Everything from the many colors of the buildings, to watching gondolas and boats float down the canal. Even the small plaza our hotel room looked open to. Seeing laundry hung from lines outside and between buildings felt so much more romantic and beautiful than any laundry lines I’ve seen in America.

It took us two hours to find the Basilica di San Marco from our hotel, even though it was really less than two miles from us. But that was because we got lost. There aren’t exactly street signs everywhere, and I am not exaggerating when I say that everything looks the same. Beautiful, but all the buildings and alleyways are very similar. But through getting lost and wandering, we stumbled upon “The Most Beautiful Bookshop in the World.”
- Also known as the “Libreria Acqua Alta,” books spamming every subject filled this bookshop, all of its walls, every crevice and its courtyards. It was in one of the courtyards where books were stacked like steps to climb. And to make this bookshop even better, there were cats. We didn’t see a single cat in London, so the fact that 3/4 of us are cat-fans, made this bit of getting lost a little bit more exciting.
- I didn’t catch the name of the gentleman who owned the store, but we spoke to him for a bit. He was an older gent, very sweet. It was from him that we learned that during the Plague in Venice, the cats became very important to help control the rat situation. Even after the Plague happened many years ago, cats are still thoroughly admired and loved throughout Venezia. He also told us that if we were all flowers, we would make the most beautiful bouquet. When in Italy…
- There was even a little nook that opened up right onto the canal with chairs for you to just sit and watch boats go by, or just to take in that Italian summer air.

- It was free to visit Basilica di San Marco, but be aware that your shoulers and knees have to be covered as a sign of respect. This was a rule we learned that applied to the rest of the churches we visited on our trip. Wraps were sold by the entrance, but some fellow travelers on their way out handed us theirs! We paid it forward and passed our shawls onto others in line who hadn’t known about the bare shoulders rule either.
  - To be honest, I wasn’t crazy about the interior of the Basilica. Granted, a lot of it was under reconstruction, but I just remember it being very dark and very depressing. Piazza San Marco (or St Mark’s Square), where the Basilica is located, I liked a lot, though. There were shops to peruse, live music, restaurants… a lot of hustle and bustle going on (as was to be expected for the main public square of Venice). But it was just such an amazingly beautiful “urban space” if you will, despite all the traffic.
- The Doge’s Palace is very near to the Piazza and just absolutely stunning. We arrived too late to visit the museum, but it is definitely a must for next time. I just remember falling in love with the architecture of this building in an art history class. I could spend forever taking in all the details of the palace, and to be right on the canal… *swoon*

St Mark's Square with the Campanile (bell tower) in the distance. — St Mark’s Square with the Campanile (bell tower) in the distance.

No photos could capture the beauty of Doge's Palace. — No photos could capture the beauty of Doge’s Palace.

If you are a fan of contemporary art as we were, visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice (yes, as in that Guggenheim of NYC!!!) Admission is €9 with a student ID.
- I was so surprised, yet so delighted to learn that this modern art collection existed in Venice. We were not disappointed. We saw works from René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Yoko Ono, and a personal favorite, Jenny Holzer.
  Jenny Holzer, 2001.
When in Venice, one must go on a gondola ride. Turns out that while it is €80 for a gondola ride during the day, the price is €100, and it is a fixed price throughout Venice, regardless of how many people ride in the gondola. So if you’re traveling solo or as a pair, it wouldn’t hurt to befriend a couple of fellow tourists to split a gondola ride!
- Despite the fact that we got rained on and our ride was short-lived, it was incredibly relaxing and worth every penny to be able to tour Venice via boat. I only wish our gondelier had sung to us as well. But he did point out a few buildings, including where Marco Polo had lived.

This gondola ride marked our last adventure in Venice. It rained on our last day in London, so it was only tradition. Venice gave me a bit more of that romantic European experience I was looking for. I think our gondelier expressed our feelings about Venice the most appropriately. We are all thumb’s up. Onward to Florence next via train. I couldn’t wait to see what else Italy had to offer.

Ciao, Venezia!

Windsor, Bath, Stonehenge // 07.05.14

Windsor

I loved the countryside. The next time (hopefully there is a next time) I end up in the UK, I would love to stay out in the country. I mean, we were only there for a day, and we rode for hours through so many meadows and hills… but it was all so peaceful and lovely. Windsor Castle was a beauty, but moreso for the nature surrounding it, and the gardens within it. There was no sign of the Queen, although it was a Saturday and Windsor is where she spends most of her weekends.

Highlights of Windsor Castle included:

– The state apartments and Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. The apartments were grand, as was to be expected and I was especially in awe of the ceiling work. Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House is the largest doll house in the world! I remember it being taller than me, with several floors featuring everything from a garden, nursery, wine cellar, and more. It even had electricity and running water. The details were amazing for the scale it was constructed in. Unfortunately, photography was prohibited for both areas.

– the changing of the guard at Windsor Castle > the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. We were only separated from the procession by waist-high metal bars, as if we were watching a parade. Our view was better overall, and we could actually hear and see the gents playing their instruments. We stayed and thoroughly enjoyed the entire procession.

– a letter Prince Albert wrote to Princess Victoria during their engagement. During their engagement, they corresponded mostly through letters. He wrote to her: “I need not tell you that since we left, all my thoughts have been with you at Windsor, and that your image fills my whole soul. Even in my dreams I never imagined that I should find so much love on earth…” and he signed with “promises of unchanging love and devotion. Your ever true Albert.” *swoon* *heart eyes for days* *le sigh*

Bath

Bath, Somerset was absolutely beautiful!!! We spent some time touring the Roman baths, but I enjoyed myself a lot more wandering about town. I visited a local bookshop and antique store where I purchased a Rhubarb & Ginger candle for my sister. It was handmade locally from 100% plant wax, and if everywhere I went smelled like that candle, I would 100% okay with that.

I wish we had more time to explore this area. Bath felt a lot like St Augustine. Quaint, and oh, so charming. Despite the fact that I got separated from the girls, I felt very safe wandering about by myself. I’d love to revisit Bath. I think I’d move to Bath. Even though we were only there for a few hours, I enjoyed two servings of homemade clotted cream ice cream by a locally owned placed called Marshfield Bakery. I decided on vanilla with chocolate syrup and a wafer — a simple combo, hard to mess up. But boy oh boy, did they get it so right. I decided to be a little more adventurous with my second helping, and tried their Heavenly Honeycomb. And heavenly it was.

Fun fact: Jane Austen lived in Bath during the 19th century. As a fan of hers, I was disappointed we didn’t have time to take a tour… but just another reason to come back. ♥

Stonehenge

Due to erosion and vandalism concerns on and around the monument, these days, you can’t get that close to Stonehenge (although they do offer private night tours with very limited space). In person, especially at a distance, it’s not much of a looker. But, it sure is fascinating. I still stand with the theory of aliens being responsible for constructing this monument, but that’s me.

Stonehenge was the last stop of this bus tour and marked our last bit of sightseeing for the London leg of our travels. We had an early start at 4AM the next day for our flight to Venice. We were excited to be Italy bound!

CHEERIO, LONDON. UNTIL NEXT TIME.

London // 07.01.14 – 07.04.14

Cheerio!

London was the first stop on our European adventure. We took the Gatwick Express, a train from the airport to where our hotel was located, in Victoria. One of the first businesses we passed was called St George’s Tavern, which was so ironic and so special to us because in St Augustine, there was a bar by the exact same name that we used to frequent. Crazy, huh?

By the time we located the hotel, it was 10AM London-Time. But Florida Time, we would have still been asleep. Unfortunately, we couldn’t check-in until 2PM, so we dropped off our luggage and decided to explore a little. It took everything in me to not take a nap on the grass in Beesborough Gardens (and I’m sure my fellow lady travelers felt the same way). Not only was I tired, but I noticed that the grass in London is very much like the grass in Toronto, where I grew up. It was cushion-y and soft, perfect for napszZZzZz and so much more appealing in my exhausted state of mind… Just kidding. I snapped outta that funk. Onward we marched, towards Tate Britain, the closest gallery to our hotel.

We spent five days and London, and I filled a few pages of my journal for each day. Rather than go into detail here about specific meals or what souvenirs I picked up, I’ll share some highlights, things worth noting for future London bound travelers (as well as some pictures, because one of my favorite parts about London was the architecture: grand, detailed, inviting… I was in love).

Looking up in our first museum stop, Tate Britain.

Food

The first thing we learned during our first meal in London (which ironically was pizza), was that you have to pay for water here. Expect to hear “still or sparkling?” from your server.
Nando’s is a popular fast food joint. Think Boston Market crossed with Chick-Fil-A. I ordered their veggie burger with lemon herb seasoning and it was delish.
Continental breakfast in London is very simple compared to continental breakfast in America. Corn flakes, jam, toast, and English Breakfast Tea, of course. No waffles, blueberry syrup or bagels here.
For Chelsea’s birthday, we dined at a Singaporean restaurant, called Rasa Sayang. Their tofu was really good and it was reasonably priced. The best part of venturing out to this restaurant was that it took us to London’s Chinatown. Who knew London even had a Chinatown!? Not us. Got my taro boba fix, of course.
Spotted: a pizzeria in London’s Chinatown.
Our favorite meal, we decided unanimously, was afternoon tea that we enjoyed in Kensington Gardens, ironically, on July 4th. Mini sandwiches, scones, dessert, and I’m pretty sure I drank 12 cups of tea during what was probably our most filling meal here.
Eating out for the portion-size we also agreed was expensive for our unemployed-college graduate budgets. Our saving grace was a grocery store called Sainsbury Market, which had the vibe of a 7-11, but with the selection of a Publix. A deli, a bakery, frozen foods, you name it. We didn’t starve in London, and we have Sainsbury Market to thank.

Sights

Despite our excitement and the huge, equally excited crowd that gathered for the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, it didn’t quite live up to the hype for us. The palace itself, though, during sunset was glorious.
The majority of museums in London grant free/donation-based admission whilst churches and cathedrals had entrance fees. There were so many museums, and we only got to visit a handful of them. While we didn’t get to spend a ton of time in the Museum of Natural History, the Romanesque style the building of the building left me speechless. The details, the ceilings, the arches… it was all just striking.

I think what was so appealing about London architecture was the variety it offered. You can’t categorize the style of London architecture in just one category. The exterior of flats, everywhere we walked in London… I had to control myself from taking photos of every building we passed. London as a whole, at least the part we ventured to, was just so clean. I remember thinking that the hustle and bustle in certain areas, such as Oxford Street, Piccadilly, and Chinatown reminded me of New York on a smaller scale. But everything just seemed a lot more organized. Neat architectural details on every façade, and such clean lines… I’m just going to let the pictures speak for themselves.

I have to talk about London’s green spaces. I’m a huge fan of public urban spaces of parks and greenery, and how they can really bring people together for events, or picnics. Even naps. Lots of nappers. London had plenty of them. Hyde Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens… just so much green!!! It was lovely.
I was especially fond of the Canada Gates (which I didn’t know existed until we stumbled upon it). The Gate serves as a formal entrance to one of the “Royal” parks presented to London by Canada in honor of Queen Victoria.

10527654_10152161612512547_2144535658263037723_n — Your fave Canasian in London representin’ at the Canada Gates.

The best way to see sights, as expected, was by doing the double decker tour best. We covered so much more ground than we would have on foot. It took us to St Paul’s Cathedral where we walked the Millennium Bridge across the River Thames and right up to Tate Modern. With exhibits featuring works by Rothko, Louise Bourgeois, and Robert Mapplethorpe, it felt like a smaller version of MOMA in New York, one of my favorite museums, so I was a huge fan.
Via double decker bus, we hit up all the major London tourist spots: Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, the Elizabeth tower, Big Big Ben and the London Eye. We didn’t have time to ride the London Eye, but given there is a next time (hopefully), that is something I would love to do!

Looking out from Tate Modern to the River Thames & Millennium Bridge.

Our final day, we took a bus tour out to Windsor Castle, Bath, Somerset, and the mysterious Stonehenge. I remember being really excited to get out of the city, to see more of the UK outside of London. I remember how it hadn’t really hit me that I was in Europe, because in London, so many things reminded me of America, or Toronto. It didn’t feel very European aside from the opposite traffic flow, certain brands, and the accents. Granted, it was incredibly easy when asking for directions around here and I think a smart first stop for us to ease into being on a completely different continent. I’ll post about our visit outside London soon (and of course about the rest of our adventure abroad)!

The First Fourth

Last December, I was very, very blessed to participated in a beautiful, emotional naturalization ceremony where I became a citizen of the United States of America. Today is my first Fourth of July as an American and I’m really excited about that. Not everyone lives with the same freedoms and rights that we as Americans have, and celebrate. And not just on the Fourth of July, but everyday. Patriotism is such a big part of American culture. And boy, is it everywhere today.

My family and I are staying in Fort Lauderdale this holiday week. Our timeshare is right across from the beach. There are Fourth of July activities on the pool deck and along the beachfront all day, complete with BBQs, a handful of different contests, a DJ, and of course a fireworks show later tonight. And despite the fact it’s a little overcast today, the beach is still busy and bustling.

•••

Even though I’m not much of a beach person, we haven’t gone on a vacation as a family in awhile, and seeing as I don’t know when our next one will be, I rearranged some of my summer plans so I that I could be here. So far, I’ve spent most of my time in our hotel room watching movies, or keeping the balcony door open to listen to the ocean. Beach life can be nice, I have to admit it.

11719876_10153001687007547_579899239_n — A little overcast, but look at all that bluuuuue

I haven’t opened a playlist since we arrived. Between the sounds of the sea, and a DJ spinning tunes out by the pool a few floors below our room all day, we’ve been covered. I imagine that we won’t even have to deal with crowds when fireworks start going off, and instead be able to enjoy them within the comfort of our balcony. I really am in love with our ocean view. I just think it’s easier to appreciate the beach and the ocean when there aren’t so many distractions and a lot less people. So while I spent my morning watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding, half of Brideshead Revisited, and the people on street/beach level below me, I decided to participate in my first ever pie-eating contest this afternoon. I tied for fourth, which I’m pretty proud of, considering I had some preeeetty worthy competitors (two of the guys I went against had the unfair advantage of being superheroes)!

Anyways, I hope everyone is enjoying, and enjoys the rest of their Fourth! I’m really looking forward to the fireworks tonight. We are celebrating the birth of ‘Merica today, after all. Don’t let me down, Ft Lauderdale!!! Stay safe out there, y’all. And if you’re heading back home after this weekend, safe travels.

Baby’s First Trip Abroad

One year ago today, myself and three gal pals embarked on a 30 day trip across the pond. And I’m going to do something I didn’t do when I went abroad… I am going to blog about it. I did however, keep a journal throughout the trip, which re-reading, has allowed me to do some reminiscing about this trip. Most of the details in this post I’m probably going to take directly from my journal. I don’t have the best memory. Writing down things always helps.

To start, I’ll tell you about who I went with: Stephanie, Gabriela and Chelsea. We were all recent graduates and friends from college. Steph and I hadn’t been abroad before. Steph had never even ridden on a plane before this trip. Aside from Gaby, none of us had never been to Europe before. But all four of us were ready to take on these three weeks of fun, fun, fun!

: Steph’s mom took this at the airport. Us U.S. gals, ready to take on Europe!

Now, where did we go? We visited three countries: the UK, Italy, and France in that order. I don’t want this post to be a million miles long, and as there is A LOT to say about this trip, so, I think I might indulge and dedicate a separate post for each city we stayed in. Yes. I think I will do that. It will give me another reason to re-live some great memories. ♥
We spent months planning before we left. And even after all the work that was put into planning, I don’t think we could have been prepared for how overwhelmed we were going to feel after arriving. There was just so much to do and see, and plenty of moments where we were like, “what now?” And boy, did we got lost. A lot. Basically 90% of the time we weren’t exactly sure where we were.

An 8+ hour flight is the longest flight I’ve ever been on. Flying isn’t my favorite form of transportation, but this flight was so incredibly smooth and comfortable. A toothbrush, pillow, and blanket were waiting for each of us in our seats and every passenger had their own personal television with an incredible selection of movies to choose from. I played Her, Labor Day and Winter’s Tale — and I fell asleep halfway through all of them. This is what happens when you’re the sleepiest person on the planet and a flight includes complimentary wine.

Around 5AM, we were served breakfast. I enjoyed traditional English breakfast tea as we were flying over the UK and I remember being over the moon thrilled about that. We landed on schedule, 6:50AM and stepping off the plane you could already feel a temperature difference. We definitely weren’t in Florida anymore and even though we would have been sleeping Florida-time, we were running on excitement once we landed (although that was a little short-lived)… more on London Town, soon!

I still can’t believe we left for Europe a year ago today. Things were so different. I think we returned from Europe as different people, our worldview widened, and our hearts and minds still in travel-mode but also in that “I’ll be home soon and will have dependable WiFi again” mindset. Despite the fact that this trip had it’s stressful moments, we learned a lot about each other as fellow travelers. This trip undoubtedly strengthened the friendship I have with Gaby, Chelsea and Stephanie. And if y’all ever read this, know how I much I love you girls. And miss you. It’s been a few months since I’ve seen any of you (and this needs to change). I couldn’t think of a another group of friends I would have wanted to share this experience with.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

People my age (and younger) are getting married. That’s a thing. It’s always been a thing. My mother got married at 23. As did my Lola, my father’s mother. At 23, my Nana, my mother’s mother had been married to my Tata for a year. My best friend Kimberly (Kim, Kimy, Kimy-Dee-Dah), also 23, has been married for a year, and today is her wedding anniversary.

First off, congratulations to the Joys! I can’t believe it’s been a year since your wedding, Kimy! It’s been a year since all of us ladies in your wedding party sat and ate pizza around your parents’ dining room table before church, a year since I realized your ceremony was *surprise!* entirely in Spanish, and a year since I assumed the role of your maid of honor and all the responsibilities that came with it.

•••

Two of many weddings where I was the best flower girl ever.

Being a maid of honor was such a special, well, honor. Especially to be Kim’s maid of honor, my best friend since high school. It’s funny, because my parents were among the first of their families and friends to get married and have a daughter. So by default, I was everyone’s flower girl as a youngin’. Fast forward and I was a junior bridesmaid once, and fast forward a little bit more, and boom! I was a maid of honor (because I mean, once you’re a maid of honor, being a bridesmaid is a breeze, right?)

For the most part, I have to say that I enjoyed being a maid of honor. I enjoy planning things. When it comes to projects, I’m an Executor. I know how to make things happen. Also, what girl doesn’t like working on Pinterest projects?? Being a maid of honor was a *little* stressful at times, sure, but it was all part of the experience, and I definitely learned a lot.

I mean, before Kimy’s wedding, the only things I really knew about being a maid a honor I knew from a favorite childhood movie of mine, My Best Friend’s Wedding and the 2011 classic film, Bridesmaids. Needless to say, I referenced a few other sources to make sure I fulfilled this role as best as I could, and I think I made a pretty darn good maid of honor, if I do say so myself.

As a maid of honor, the most important lesson I learned was to be prepared for anything, including:

the groom crashing the bachelorette party
splurging on a room in the most expensive hotel in the city for bachelorette party fun, because how many times does your best friend get married?
the week leading up to the wedding being a lot like finals week: no sleep and lots and lots of coffee
getting hit on by the bride’s teenage relative
a torrential downpour the evening of the outdoor rehearsal dinner
having to write thank you letters, pack the bride’s suitcase for the honeymoon, and create the playlist for the reception
stepping in to be the DJ and MC for the wedding reception (“I need all the single ladies on the dance floor for the bride’s bouquet toss!!!”)
trying not to cry every five seconds throughout the day so instead, absolutely losing it after your speech at the reception in front of 150+ guests
feeling overwhelmingly happy, sad, sentimental, joyful, and so much love all at once for the bride, groom, the whole wedding party… weddings just give ya all the feels.

So all in all, I’d say my best friend’s wedding was one for the books. To play such a meaningful part in their wedding was really special.

10451690_10152154378962547_1446671245562616681_n — My darling dear on her wedding day.

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The kids table is always the best table.

If you disagree… I mean, to each his own. But really? What kind of person would prefer to talk to older and taller humans about grown-up things (whatever those things are), when you can laugh at fart noises without being judged and nobody feels guilty about having three servings of cake?

I recently got back from a month long visit to Canada. I was born there, and that is where most of my extended family lives. My parents, sisters and I try to go once a year, but the past couple of years I’ve been visiting on my own. It hasn’t been the same, but nonetheless, I’m always so grateful to spend time with my family up North, since it’s really only an annual thing.

It’s so crazy how much can change within a year. I’m the eldest grandchild on both sides of my family, so everytime I visit, it seems that more of my cousins have outgrown me. I can’t believe that two of them graduate high school this upcoming week, and that another two are moving to California in August to go to school and all my little cousins aren’t so little anymore!!

I can always be my silliest self around my younger cousins, and it’s always the most fun… #kidstable4lyfe.

Simply put, the kids table is the simplest. It’s a retreat back into the easygoing, good ways of childhood. No one is asking any serious questions (the most serious question being: can you break-dance?), and there’s no pressure (unless it’s to get up and demonstrate said dancing skills). Really, you don’t have to say or do much as an older, bigger kid at the kid’s table. Just sit back, let the kiddos do the talking, hence all the entertaining (their conversations are ten times more fascinating than any grown-up conversation I’ve been apart of) and be prepared to bring your a-game should you be challenged to a dance off.

Once upon a time…

… there was a gal named Jacqueline who wanted to start a blog. And not just any blog, but a blog she would hopefully update, and not lose interest in, or forget about as she had done one too many times before (bye Tumblr, see you on occasion, Pinterest).

I’ve been pretty good about posting something at least every couple of weeks, but I am leaving the Sunshine State to do a little bit of traveling for the next month or so. And once I’m in vacation-family-reunion-mode…

I’ll be going from: Orlando – Toronto – Quebec – Toronto – New York – New Jersey – DC? – Orlando? I’m still trying to organize my itinerary.

I will keep my Instagram as up to date as I can. Just a little hiatus, blog. I’ll see ya real soon!

The big 2-3

It doesn’t sound that intimidating: “twenty-three.” I’ve just never been one for odd numbers, so I’m expecting 23 to be an odd year. And I say bring on the dancing lobsters!!! Just kidding. I’m allergic to lobster.

So, after you turn twenty-one and before you turn twenty-five, you’ve got these in-between years that aren’t quite milestones… but that’s not to say these years aren’t a BIG DEAL. I mean, with Year Twenty-Two down, I’ve only got two more filler years to go and I think that’s something worth celebrating!

I had an exceptional birthday weekend filled with friends from out of town, and family. Saturday began with lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, followed by a scavenger hunt at IKEA, my favorite cake from Publix (vanilla with a raspberry jam topped with a cream cheese frosting… ahh! I’m so glad I saved some leftovers), & drinks at a dueling piano bar.

A scavenger hunt at IKEA? It's on! — A scavenger hunt at IKEA? It’s on!

Sunday was a well-spent afternoon with lunch at the Boardwalk Hotel and some Epcot fun with co-workers, and my birthday ended with dinner and dessert with my family at the Polynesian Resort (can you say dole whip ice cream?!?)

A lil post-lunch birthday adventure at Epcot.

Not a bad birthday, whatsoever. In fact, I think it was one of the most special birthdays to me, for two main reasons: 1) this was my first birthday I’ve spent at home since I went away for college. I got to spend that time with my parents and sisters and it was so great! and 2) even though it was my first birthday post-graduation since I moved back home, I’ve really been missing my alma mater. That’s something I’m not afraid to admit that I miss everyday… so it really meant a lot to me that college friends were able to take time away from school and work and come from out of town to celebrate with me. Now, it’s past midnight and I can say I survived Day One of being Twenty-Three! So far, so good.

Disney + ice cream. Two constants in my life. I hope that never changes. ♥

Things I’ve Done… Things I Will Do

I think it’s important to reflect on your achievements, however glorious or frivolous they might have been. They might not be the biggest nor most important accomplishments, but when you think about the people you may have shared some of those moments with, what doors those events opened up, and what obstacles you’ve overcome, everyone has something they should be proud of. You are where you are today because you’ve done something, because you’ve had the support of people who care about you, and you’re a human being with goals and their own battles to fight, just like everyone else.

I was the 2nd place winner of the 2006 Imagine Schools State Science Fair. I’m a blood donor. I once out-ate all of my cousins at Cici’s Pizza when I was like, 12. I’ve held a job since I was 16, supporting myself through college. I’ve been a pescatarian since I was 18. I recycle. I make magic happen on the daily for guests at work. I am a college graduate. I was the Maid of Honor in my best friend’s wedding. I planned and saved for a trip abroad to Europe for the longest time and actually made it happen as a post-graduation present to myself last summer…

I’ve got things I have yet to do, goals I’m determined to make. When it comes down to it, aside from my accomplishments, I’m most proud of how good I feel about some big, somewhat nerve-wracking things to come.