My Best Friend’s Wedding: The Maid of Honor Speech

Dear everyone/anyone/whoever stumbles upon this blog,

On the off-chance that you’re a bridesmaid or maid of honor for an upcoming wedding and you’re looking for some inspiration, look no further. Below you will find my incredibly embarrassing-but-for-all-the-right-reasons-speech I presented for my best friend’s wedding last summer.

If my speech eases your burden of one of the most dreaded wedding party duties in some way (maybe you needed a reference, or what’s more likely, reading my speech has made you ten times more confident about yours because you think mine sucks), please do share!

•••

Good evening everyone.*

For those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet tonight, I’m Jackie, Kim’s right hand lady. And on behalf of the Bride and Groom, thank you all so, so much for coming out to celebrate their special day.

Now, once upon a time, Kim and I both ended up in Ms. Noel’s 9th grade English Class. And in class, you know, we were assigned some really wonderful, classic texts to read. But in our freetime, we liked to enjoy our own books.

One of the series we got into, which you may have heard of, goes by the name of Twilight. I’m sure some of you are familiar with the story, don’t be ashamed! But for those of you who aren’t – it’s a love story between a girl who falls in love with a guy who ends up being a vampire.

And we loved this series to pieces. We memorized quotes, dreamcasted our own characters for the movies, and when the cast of the film was announced, don’t even get me started. We may have gone to every. single. midnight. premiere. It’s safe to say we were obsessed.

We became one with the characters, the plot line, the passionate and forbidden love between Edward and Bella, forever cheering them on. The only time Alex, Kim and I ever played hooky in high school, we ended up at Target where we bought matching Team Cullen T-shirts. Yup, that was thing. It was ridiculous how crazy we were about the characters in a novel. Looking back, it’s downright embarrassing – but I’m proud to say it was all just a phase. As obsessed as we were with this series, we couldn’t help but wonder about our “Edwards.” Kim got so depressed after reading the second book that she died her hair black as an act of mourning!

She was so worried that no one would love her the way Edward loved Bella and she’d end up much like Jane Austen who we learned about when we were assigned to read Pride and Prejudice for class. But as her best friend, I knew she was being silly. She’s beautiful, talented in so many ways, and has one of the biggest hearts out there. All the guys we went to high school with – they just really sucked (no offense to Henrique). They just didn’t stand a chance to our Edward Expectations.

Enter David. You should be really proud of yourself, sir, for sweeping Kim off her feet. But it’s not like you had to try so hard since you’re just so naturally dashing, charming, and most of all, have such heartfelt affection for Kim. You two are truly meant to be.

I only wish you guys the most dazzling future – an eternity of happiness, love, and adventure – strength to overcome whatever hurdles test your relationship, and everlasting joy in each other’s company. I adore you two. Here’s to Kim and David’s Happy Ever After ~

*Disclaimer: I have never been comfortable about public speaking. Of all the duties being a maid of honor requires you to fulfill, I was dreading completing this one the most. The struggle was REAL. But I did it. It happened. I know I talked way too fast because I was so nervous and just wanted to get it over with. And then I burst into tears afterwards. And that was that. So if you’re nervous, from one incredibly anxious public speaker to another: you. can. do. this!!!

POW! is right. Despite my nerves and feels, I think I did a pretty decent job. Anything for this gal. ♥

I’m a very lucky girl.

My parents celebrate 24 wonderful years of marriage today. Congratulations you two crazy kids! This post is for you. It expresses a smidgen of how much you guys inspire, motivate and have taught me about support, teamwork, love, and hard-work. I’m lucky to be your daughter. I adore y’all, so much. ♥

•••

Dearest Mother & Father,

You two have always been my biggest fans. Through every little victory of mine (like, everytime I finish a meal that weighs more than me), and every major milestone (such as graduating from college), you two have been there, and I am so fortunate to constantly have your support. I don’t think I could put into words how grateful I am for both of you. You taught me discipline, the value of a penny, and the importance of having a goal and working towards it. Despite the fact that my sisters and I grew up without having a so-called “allowance,” we were never without anything we needed. You guys always made sure of that.

But it was because I was raised without an allowance that I knew I wanted to be able to earn and pay for things myself without having to go to you guys. You’ve always provided me with anything I could ever need, and you both work so hard. So from my thirteenth birthday and every Christmas for those next few years, I saved money I had been given, giving it to father to put towards what I called “My Retirement Fund. To be thirteen and saving for retirement… yep, I’m definitely y’alls daughter.

You two have always stressed the importance of school from when I was very young. In high school, I became aware of how important grades were for scholarships and getting into college. I’d always been a good student (I like to think), but I made sure to work extra hard in high school, completing the IB program and receiving both my high school and IB diploma come graduation. All that hard work paid off. I got into a beautiful school with a great art program located in the ever-so-lovely St Augustine. Fortunately, I also received a generous amount of financial aid between the school, Bright Futures, and private donors. Again, getting into college and receiving the financial aid I did would have been more difficult to accomplish had I not had you two behind me, cheering me on and encouraging me to put 110% into everything I do.

I worked through college, holding a few different part-time jobs. Like you two, I like to stay busy. While not completely aware as to how student loans worked as a college Freshman, I knew what interest was and that it was not in my favor when it came to student loans. So, I started to pay off a bit of my loans with each paycheck, also budgeting for rent, books, art supplies and other necessities.

I am very proud of the fact that I never asked you guys for money towards school. Although, I knew that if I ever needed some extra funds, you wouldn’t hesitate to send me some. But that just made me want to work even harder to be able to support myself. You guys raised an incredibly independent daughter (arguably a little too independent). Although I have to say that I was always thankful for your visits during my college years when you would bring me groceries. Freshman Year, you told me that if I kept up my grades throughout school, you would pay what was left of my student loans upon graduation as my graduation present. I had forgotten this until you announced it as my graduation party *cue tears* in front of everybody.

Being the kind of driven student and person that you raised me to be, I am proud to say that I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree debt-free. Not too many graduates can say that. Money I would have spent paying off that last chunk of loans I instead put towards my month-long European trip post-graduation (another thing I had been slowly saving for for ages). I would not have had the same great experience on that trip without your support.

Even when it does get tough and you’re living that broke college student life where you’ve been living off nothing but pasta for weeks… we’ve all gone through, or are currently experiencing those tight times. But even when you feel like you’re at your low, things can only go up from there, especially with support behind you. Thank you mother and father, for pushing me to work hard, because hard work really does pay off. I learned that emulating the strong work ethic of both of you. I know better than to let anyone tell me otherwise.

I owe everything to you two for helping me see the silver lining through anything life has or will throw at me. Thank you guys. Love your favorite eldest daughter, Aiko. ♥

Rome // 07.10.14 — 07.12.14

Hey now, hey now Roma!

It was a little more than hour train ride from Florence to Rome. Going through the countryside was beautiful. Fields upon fields of sunflowers to look at! ♥ How I wish we could have stopped to run through them! Incredibly, our first day in Rome marked a halfway point for our trip. So unbelievable.

Our train station in Rome was in Termini. That area of Rome has a bad rep, so just have a heightened awareness of your things and your surroundings if you need to go through there to get to your hotel, like we had to. Some kid attempted pick-pocketing my friend as we made our way from the train station to the hotel. Despite the fact that all that was in that pocket was a Maxi-pad, that was not quite the welcome we were expecting shortly after arriving.

After that little incident, I’m sad that I have to report that our hotel was disappointing as well. Only one room ready, and we ended up being put on completely different floors! The one redeeming quality of our room was that we had our own balcony overlooking Rome’s rooftops. But to be honest, between the pickpocketing incident and having to sleep three floors apart from each other, we just didn’t feel safe there.

SIGHTS

Both the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain were undergoing construction when we went to visit. All I wanted was to have a Lizzie McGuire moment throwing a coin into the fountain and making a wish, but it wasn’t meant to be. Another disappointment.
Looking up from those sights, The Pantheon was glorious. Seeing that dome and actually being rained on through the oculus as a choir sang (no, really, the timing was impeccable) made up for the sights we had seen (or barely seen) thus far.
Take the Metro in Rome! €1.50 Euro every one-way is definitely worth it. Especially if you’re an hour’s walk from the Vatican, which is also a must-see while you’re in Rome. We spent a little under 5 hours in the Vatican museums, and a head’s up: five hours is not enough to explore those grounds.
- I was expecting to see mostly art from the Ancient Period (which I definitely did), but I was delighted to learn that the galleries housed a contemporary art collection, with Van Gogh and Fontana pieces. Something from every time period, so something for everyone to enjoy.
- My favorite gallery had to the be the Galleria della carta geografiche, or the Gallery of Maps. This room featured amazing handpainted frescoes of maps that just covered the ceilings and walls. They were all maps of Italy, and the details of the landscapes were so gorgeous.
- It was unbelievable to be in the Sistine Chapel. I spent a good half hour just admiring the figures, colors, and taking in the different stories different areas of the frescoes told. A priest gave a blessing while I was in the chapel, which was very special.
  Featuring a part of the Colosseum that was not under construction.
  
  The world’s largest dome.
  
  Favorite gallery at the Vatican.
St Peter’s Basilica was incredible. Such a huge, huge space. Next time, going up to the Dome is on the list. Also, side note: the postcards there were some of the most affordable I’ve found in Rome!
There is an unassuming church in Rome worth visiting, called the Santa Maria della Vittoria. My favorite aspect of this church was it’s ceiling. It was the first thing I noticed walking in. The colors were so dreamy, and the details were mesmerizing. Don’t forget to look up after stepping foot in this church. I think a lot of people tend to take in what’s at eye’s length, but whenever I explore new places, my instinct is to look up… #petitegirlprobs
- You never would have guessed it just passing the outside, but it is also the home of Bernini’s the “Ecstasy of St Teresa” (and what puts this church on the map for visitors to Rome). Bernini had a way of capturing expressions and body language to create a sense of drama through his sculptures. I saw this piece first on a slide in class, and then in person… boy, was I lucky.
Less than a mile from Santa Maria della Vittoria is the Borghese Villa, which was owned by the Borghese family. They were avid patrons of artists, and the villa is now a gallery featuring works of Bernini, Raphael, Caravaggio and the like. We did not get to visit the museum, as they were sold out for the day (I can’t stress enough how purchasing your tickets for as many sights and museums as you can in advance will save you a lot of trouble later!!!)
- Despite the fact that we didn’t get to visit the gallery, we spent a lot of time exploring the grounds and gardens of Borghese. It was a lovely area with a huge park that included a zoo! They even had bikes to rent. Strolling that area was really nice. The amount of greenery took me back to London’s urban spaces.
The Spanish Steps are worth seeing, despite the fact that all there is to them is that it’s a set of steps. But, the Steps are the widest stairways in all of Europe, a very popular spot for both tourists and locals. There were quite a few artists and vendors at the top of the stairs selling their goods. Down below in the Spanish Plaza, we recognized some familiar brands: H&M, Foot Locker, Vans… it felt a lot like the Premium Outlets we have here in Orlando. It was a very busy, very nice area.
- The Spanish Steps are actually very close in proximity to both the Trevi Fountain and The Pantheon. The street you want to remember to visit all three is Via del Corso. All three can be found right off this main street. There are even signs!
  Golden hour at Saint Peter’s Basilica.
  
  Looking up at Santa Maria della Vittoria. These colors, ahhh.
  
  Artists at the top of the Spanish Steps.

Food

Rome disappointed me in a few ways, and one of those ways was in their gelato. Maybe we just didn’t look in the right places, but I found myself really missing the gelato in Florence.
If you’re looking for a treat while at the Vatican, they serve a variety of pastries in their little cafe. I picked up a mini mixed berry pie to-go that I enjoyed at Saint Peter’s.
There was a bar right outside the train station in Termini that served calzones, sandwiches, and other authentic Italian fare for under €4. The area is rough, but they’ve got some cheap eats. I ate a cheese calzone and a couple of rice-filled balls called “suppli” from this eatery, and everything was delicious.
For our last Italian supper, we treated ourselves to dinner at a bar called Cafe Luna D’Oro, which was not too far from the Spanish Steps. Our waitress was so incredibly nice. Despite there being a bit of a language barrier, she was very accommodating to my food allergies. I had a plateful of gnocchi, and I have absolutely no regrets about that meal… except for the part where we tried Limoncello. Let’s just say that I was not a fan. I felt like I was drinking Lemon scented Clorox wipes in liquid form, but that’s me. Limoncello is not for weak, as are my tastebuds, apparently.
Cafe Luna D’ Oro.

My last treat in Italy was a cannoli. It was wonderful. I enjoyed it watching the sunset from our balcony. A sweet ending for our Roman adventure that had the most unexpected twists and turns out of all the cities we had visited so far. I remember feeling so incredibly excited to be in France the following day. Our of the three countries on our itinerary, I was looking forward to visiting France the most. Nice bound tomorrow!!!

10533698_10152181480447547_5947273536700950941_n — Ciao Roma! Arrivederci Italia!

Florence // 07.08.14 — 07.09.14

•••

I remember we all slept through our alarms the morning we left Venice for Florence. But somehow, we managed to make it to the train station in 40 minutes (which doesn’t sound like much, especially considering Google Maps said it was a 10 minute walk, BUT it was our most efficient trek through the Venetian jungle since we’d been there, so we were pretty proud of ourselves).

None of us were too experienced with riding trains, so it was in Venice where we learned that departures were listed by their final stop, and that we were in the right train station after all. The ride was very smooth. We had assigned seats and sat in two pairs facing each other, with a table between us. T-minus about two hours until we arrive in Florence!

CIAO FIRENZE!

My goodness was Florence different from Venice. You know how when you leave New York, everywhere else just seems to be going at a much more relaxed pace and your anxiety levels are no longer off the charts? Right off the bat in Venice, we were greeted with what felt like so much space and open air. It also only took us 10 minutes to find our hotel, not ninety, if that says anything about how easy getting from Point A to Point B will feel compared to Venice.

It was in Florence where we got the real hostel experience, staying at a really neat place called Hostel Archi Rossi. There is both hot and cold water readily available in the lobby, as well as access to a fridge, microwave, laundry facilities, and computers. I should mention that the previous two places we stayed at in London and Venice did not offer any of these amenities. Best of all, our hostel has a cafeteria, and all three of us were immensely excited for the continental breakfast this place offered!!!

I really enjoyed staying here because even though we were only in Florence for a couple days, there’s a certain sense of community this hostel gave us. Almost all of our fellow guests were youngins, the walls were covered in really fun murals and bright colors, and it felt very much like dorm-lyfe in college, except that we were in Italy. And that we had a huge room to ourselves (we lucked out and the four of us ended up sharing a room meant for 8 people). This hostel also offered a free walking tour, which was the first thing we took advantage of after checking in.

FOOD

Of course, one of the first things that was asked while we were on the walking tour was “where is the best gelato in town?” Easily the best gelato in Florence, and of the entire trip (I think), was at a place called “Gelateria Santa Trinita.” I think we had gelato there three times our first day in Florence. It was both a blessing and curse for this place to be within walking distance of our hostel. The girls and I ate more gelato than anything else in Florence (I mean, when in Italy…) This place is an absolute must if you have a sweet tooth!
Now if you need something other than dessert to sustain you, we adored our dining experience at a little place called Cucciolo, a little off the Piazza del Duomo. It had the best price in town for the quality of food, and the size of the pizza I had was more than enough! The gentleman who I believed owned the restaurant, was also very sweet. As soon as he saw us walk in, he immediately cleared off the counter and waved us in to sit. We just felt so welcome there. SIGHTS

The Ponte Vecchio: the walking tour was great. It gave us a good sense of where things were in the city, and we learned a lot. My favorite tidbit was how the Ponte Vecchio, one of the most, if not the most iconic bridge of Florence was originally occupied by butchers. I never would have guessed that, considering there were mostly jewelry shops bustling with shoppers the first time we walked that bridge. I also never would have guessed there was a secret passage above all of these shops built by the Medici family, just so that they could efficiently get from their home, the Palazzo Pitti, to Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall.
We saw the Santa Maria Novella!!! I wrote a final paper on the façade of this stunning structure and Leon Battista Alberti’s work on it for a class in college. I was literally shaking as we came upon the plaza. Being in Europe felt like one big dream, to be honest. I kept having to remind myself that I was really there. It’s one thing to learn about things in school and see them in textbooks… but to be able to see things in person… indescribable.

Despite the fact that we waited an hour in line for the Uffitzi Gallery, it was worth it. You definitely want to try and get there early. But time flew swiftly as the courtyard next to the gallery entrance had tons of local artists selling their goods and skills. There was lots to look at. In the gallery, we spent three hours looking at pieces by all the major Renaissance and Baroque artists (Bernini, Caravaggio, Da Vinci, Cimabue) and three hours was not enough!
A must see in Florence is the Duomo. You can climb to the top, which we didn’t get to do, and looking back, I wish we had. We strolled through the cathedral though, and while I didn’t love the interior as much as I was impressed by the exterior (aside from the marble details on the floors), I remember enjoying it a lot more than San Marco. The main difference in architecture between Venice and Florence is evident when comparing their churches. The green and white marble exteriors of the Duomo and SMN are very distinctive.
Caravaggio, anyone?
When in Florence, visit the Bronze Boar or “Little Pig” located at the “Little Pig Market,” where our tour-guide suggested we do most of our souvenir shopping. The myth of the Bronze Boar as told by our tour-guide was this: rub the nose of the boar, and you will return to Florence. Visitors upon visitors participate in the bronze boar tradition, so instead of dealing with the daily crowd, we took it upon ourselves to go on a little evening adventure to find the boar, which we did!
- We returned during the day, though, to visit the Little Pig Market, and it was really neat. There were plenty of goods to look at, from coin purses, to bookmarks, to stationery. It was quite the bustling little area. I think all four of us left the market with a souvenir or two in hand.
Before stopping by the “Little Pig Market,” I recommend that you walk along a sidestreet called Via Faenza, which was not too far from our hostel. Despite the fact that our tour-guide recommended the “Little Pig Market” to pick up souvenirs, we wandered down this street afterwards and found a shop that was selling souvenirs for a much better price (ex: 7 postcards for 1 Euro, the best deal I’d seen our entire trip). I didn’t write down the name of the shop, but a little old lady was running it, and she was a little bit sassy towards us (although we did arrive around closing time/her dinner time).
Our last day, we took a trek to Piazzale Michelangelo. While it was a bit of a workout going up a hill, the view was more than worth it. There was a lovely garden called Giardino della rose about halfway up that featured a handful of bronze sculptures throughout. And then at the very, very top: a panoramic view of the city, which was breathtaking. Oh, and a copy of David was up there too, but when you’re surrounded by that view…

That hike marked our final outing in Florence. I definitely enjoyed our stay here moreso than Venice. Coming off the walking tour, I was surprised at how small Florence was. It makes a lot of sense at to why visitors take trains to nearby cities such as Sienna or Pisa while they are in the area. I would absolutely return to Florence, if only for some gelato. I mean, I rubbed the nose of the boar, so I know things will fall into place for me to visit again. ♥

Onward to Rome in our sweet ride (I wish).

Venice // 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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