Il mio viaggio

New Space!!

2014-06-05T14:12:00.005-07:00

Hey! Long time no see!

I'm making strides here on the website side of things… you can now find me HERE :)

Updates as of late...

2014-01-13T12:17:00.002-08:00

Hm. Not too many updates… I've been traveling, wedding thinking & planning, and organizing things around the house. I haven't had many things to blog about, but it's been in the back of head my that I really need to get back at it!

I had a lovely Christmas relaxing at home for a week. Most of my wonderful family was in town to celebrate and spend the days with... always my favorite! This year was obviously different though. Derek and I split up our time with his family and mine. We drove around a lot and got a ton of congrats over the holidays! So this Christmas, I was thankful for my new family and their traditions! I love the idea of combining new and old when Derek and I create Christmas memories for our kids (not for awhile folks).

For New Years, Derek's parents treated the kids and their significant others to a vacation in Florida! YAY - Sunshine and warmth! It was much need :) and much appreciated!!

Grace has some beautiful photos on her blog.

One of my fave's is the last one, the Burtch family cheesin'!!

{ First time sugar cooking baking' with the Wessels }

{ Chsristmas Eve }

{ Thanks Michelle! }

{ Christmas on Doten }

{ Biking on Sanibel Island }

{ Sand, sun, and rainbows }

{ Parasailing and paddle boarding!! }

{ i love the beach }

{ Many lovely dinners out }

{ Travis & Blythe }

{ NYE }

ENGAGED!

2013-11-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday evening, Derek asked me to marry him and I said YES! He had the whole thing planned for weeks. Weeks!? I couldn't believe his creativity, thoughtfulness, and shear element of surprise. He done me good, real good…. Would you like to hear how!?

A week ago Derek told me that we were going to this little event at the Zoo. I assumed it was the Columbus Zoo Lights event, but he also mentioned his friend works with some of the animals and we would get to pet a few of the small ones. The weather was terrible, so windy and rainy, so they closed zoo lights early. He told me not to worry, we can still see the baby animals! Of course I was on board. So a couple of friends (Courtney, Kyle, & Joey) came with us. So the evening proceeds... we're all gawking over an adorable and friendly little penguin when his friend who works at the zoo, Shannon, says let me grab this african fox - you'll love it! She hands me this cuddly little fox and I spy the note... "Jackie, will you marry me?" OMG. WHAT?!?! Actually, I said "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" as if he would pull an awful prank like that! We were lucky enough to have his friend Jake video the entire thing; notice he was speechless and so was I! I said yes, of course!!

The next part of our story still warms my heart… This kid got my family there to share the love as we celebrated with dinner and champagne toasts at his sister's house! I mean, c'mon. {Pinch me now} So many tears, so much love, and soooo much excitement for our future!

These are all pictures from Derek's sister, Grace! Head on over to {her blog} to see more of her awesome photos!

{my family}

{derek's family}

{the friends}

{he's a keeper}

Oh, did I mention the ring? Dang. All I have to say is he knows me, he knows my style, and he really hit a home run with his ring choice!

{it has a touch of rose gold… perfection!}

Tricks & treats

2013-10-31T13:01:00.001-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

One of my favorite holidays :) Tonight I plan on watching all things scary, eating lots of candy, and crossing my fingers for little trick-or-treators in my neighborhood!

On the topic of costumes... This is pretty awesome!

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/girls-want-monsters-sluts-halloween-video/

Last year's Halloween in the office was Pantone color chips,

this year... WIGS! Simple, yet highly entertaining!

The Franklin Conservatory

2013-10-07T07:54:00.001-07:00

I had a fancy little date at the conservatory last week to see this fantastic light exhibit by Bruce Munro. Derek and I knew about it from our last visit to the Franklin Conservatory and I immediately put it on my to-do list. For my columbus friends, this is a must see! That field of light... it's so peaceful to sit and watch the slow pulse of the color-changing lights!

Fancy Friends

2013-10-02T10:46:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of chatting with this lovely gal last week. She is about to embark on a serious mission. Laura was accepted into the Peace Corps earlier this year and shipped off to Costa Rica in July. It is now time for her to go to her site assignment location where the real business starts! Much less internet time and staying in-touch with her for the rest of us, but it sounds like it will be an amazing 2 years!

I should probably start planning my trip now... who's with me?!

Safe travels on your wonderful journey little miss Getzy :)

Follow her adventure { HERE } !!!

Fab

2013-09-26T12:47:00.001-07:00

I came across this neat piece fun the other day and wanted to share!

{ It's from FAB.com }

Rule the World

2013-09-24T14:22:00.001-07:00

{ HOW TO GET FLAT ABS, HAVE GREAT SEX, AND RULE THE WORLD IN 8 EASY STEPS }

1. Stop believing your bullshit.

2. Be happy now.

3. Look at the stars.

4. Let people in.

5. Stop with the crazy making.

6. Learn to apologize.7. Practice gratitude.

8. Be kind.

A friend shared this article with me this morning. It's a must read folks... go check it out!

The Skimm

2013-09-18T13:17:00.002-07:00

I've recently started getting my daily news dose from The Skimm. Like their website says, The Skimm is a "daily newsletter that simplifies the headlines for the educated professional who knows enough to know she needs more." I like it because it simplifies and condenses the info. I don't ever sit and read the news paper and I rarely watch the news, so this helps me to feel informed & up-to-date! Check it out : http://www.theskimm.com

Lately...

2013-09-13T13:06:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday! I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by. Fall and football is about to be in full swing and I've been able to see Derek's coaching skills in action - Go wildcats! Although I don't know much about the game of football (yes, I'll to admit that), I thoroughly enjoy the company of friends and family and the beautiful fall colors that accompany football season! Bring on the boots, sweaters, & hot beverages :)

A few things as of late... I made a trip to Michigan with Derek & his family Labor Day Weekend. Next I made a much needed Cedar Point trip with friends & co-workers. Then adding to my travels and fun, I have a friend's wedding this weekend. Yay! I will certainly enjoy celebrating an adorable pair of newlyweds with my friends! There will be lots of wonderful people I haven't seen in awhile.

Friday Inspiration

2013-08-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

Check out these New York now & then images! It's cool to see how much of old New York has been preserved. One of my favorites it's the Madison Square Park one; it seems like there are more trees now, which only makes the park that much more beautiful!

{http://www.nyc-grid.com}

Have a fantastic Holiday weekend!

Weekend Recap

2013-08-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the Summerfest concert, with headliners: Cold War Kids and Matt & Kim. It was a lot of fun and the weather was perfect for being in the sun all day! As far as Sunday's activities; Derek and I rode the Olentangy River bike trail and stumbled upon the Park of Roses (which I've been wanting to visit all summer)! So beautiful... such a wide array of colors! I'm sure it's even more beautiful at the start of summer!

{ Derek & Joey }

{ J Roddy Walston and The Business }

{ Park of Roses - Clintonville }

Love Languages

2013-08-22T10:12:00.002-07:00

My friend, Alyssa, recently told me about the 5 different type of languages pertaining to love! I was immediately interested in which aspect I was, and of course what Derek would be. The five aspects are; touch, time, affirmation, gifts, and actions. Not too surprised that Derek and I scored similarly. Our strongest love language is time, or quality time;

In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.*

This means giving someone your undivided attention. I don’t mean sitting on the couch watching television together. What I mean is taking a walk, just the two of you, or going out to eat and looking at each other while talking. Time is a strong communicator of love. The love language of quality time has many dialects. One of the most common is that of quality conversation – two individuals sharing their thoughts and feelings. A relationship calls for sympathetic listening with a view to understanding the other person’s desires. We must be willing to give advice, but only when it’s requested and never in a condescending manner.

Time spent together means the most to both of us? Easy compromise. My next highest score was touch, and his was affirmation (or words of kindness & love). The artist and the English teacher. Shocker!! Haha! In other words, he enjoys hearing how much I care for him, or how great his butt looks on any given day ;) - while I enjoy hugs and kisses galore!

I encourage you to take the quiz online [here]. And no, you don't have to be in a relationship to take it. It will help you understand your language with your friends as well! So instead of sending a card with kind words, maybe they actually need a little visit to feel comforted, appreciated, loved (whatever it is they communicate that is lacking). There is also [this] explanation of the love languages and little notes about how to meet your significant others' (or friends) needs.

Weekend recap

2013-08-15T12:14:00.001-07:00

This past weekend was filled with sun, reading, and adventure! I spent Saturday by the pool reading a new book that reminds me of my summer in Italy. The book is titled Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, and I want to share my very favorite line thus far; "Then she smiled, and in that instant, if such a thing were possible, Pasquale fell in love, and he would remain in love for the rest of his life-not so much with the woman, whom he didn't even know, but with the moment." I think that is so eloquently said.

{teal toes & coral nails... I can't believe summer is almost over}

Sunday... was much more of an adventure... Derek & I went skydiving!! It was SOO exhilarating! The free-fall portion was freezing and I could barely catch my breath, but the gliding along after the parachute deployed, was warm, quiet, and serene! Such a rush!

Marblehead

2013-08-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Derek and I planned a fun little getaway to a small Marblehead community, Lakeside. We booked through AirBnB (ever heard of it?), it was cheaper than a hotel and super convenient! We brought our bikes, some wine, and spent lots of time on the beach!

It was fantastic :)

{Lake Erie, not the most beautiful, but I can dig it}

{had to improvise because we forgot chairs... clever fella!}

SPAIN ((Part 3))

2013-08-05T10:14:00.002-07:00

{La Sagrada Familia... WOW}

{Gaudi designed the interior to be reminiscent of a forrest -
tall trees, branching out to meet one another...

...do you see it!?}

{hands down, one of my favorite tourist stops - inspiring & calming}

{stumbled upon a hotel with an amazing view & lavish garden}

{Erin loved this knobby tree and crazy roots}

{awesome graffiti never gets old}

{where I almost got successfully pick-pocketed! yikes.}

{banana & Nutella crepe - largest one ever!!}

Ahhh Spain. I miss your beautiful views and bustling streets... 'Til next time!

SPAIN ((Part 2))

2013-07-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

More photos of beautiful Barcelona! We really jam-packed our sightseeing within the first few days in Barcelona - it had many things I wanted to see and many things we just stumbled upon. It was a lot of fun to discover the city mostly on foot and sometimes by Metro. We had some confusion and miscommunication when it came to the Spanish Metro... but nonetheless we conquered it!

{Parc Guell}

{the guards house}

{bargaining}

{we spent most of the day hiding from the rain in here... and I didn't mind it one bit!}

{Casa Batillo - a Gaudi attraction. His design has a very natural & under-the-sea feel}

{Another one of Gaudi's works}

{Arc de Triumph}

{I'm a sucker for sticking around to watch street performers... until they ask for money}

{Parc de la Ciutadella}

{stumbled upon a park designed by Gaudi - where a movie was being filmed!}

{do you see it!?!}

SPAIN!!

2013-07-30T12:36:00.002-07:00

Member the Spain-insta-pic post? Well, finally I have my photos ready to share! Bear with me here, the Spanish adventure from May will be posted in 3 separate posts. Here are some photos from our brief stay in Madrid and some moments from Barcelona - my favorite of the three cities Erin and I visited :)

{Madrid}

{Hostel in Barcelona}

{Bachelor partiers from London}

{searching for parc guell}

Birthday Booze Cruise

2013-07-29T11:39:00.001-07:00

This past weekend was a lovely little reunion with my college gals :) We celebrated Catie's 24th birthday by purchasing booze cruise tickets for a little trip up & down the Chicago River. It was a chilly evening, but super fun! We had a great view of Navy Pier, and ended the evening with fireworks, before heading out to a Chicago bar to karaoke the night away!

Some pictures from our reunion & birthday celebration weekend:

{Jeni's vending machine is the only compensation I want for a delayed flight}

{stolen from Sam's instagram}

{a gorgeous chicago sunset}

{stolen from Alyssa's instragram}

{beautiful chi-town skyline}

{stolen from Catie's instagram}

{stolen from Margaret's instagram}

I love that my friends make such a point to try to get together each year on separate occasions for everyone's birthday. I know it means a lot to me, and I wish I could see them twice as much!

I have to add a note to myself (& anyone willing to listen) don't fly American Eagle. So many absurd delays and there was zero communication about it! I had to reference the departures board for 3 different delays and 2 gate changes... with both my flight there and back!! Sheesh.

Forecastle

2013-07-23T12:35:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Derek and I went to Forecastle Music Fest in Louisville KY. It was super nice to stay at his cousin's house (as opposed to camping like I did at the last music festival I attended; Bonarroo).

Three days spent on the river front, listening to great music for majority of the time and the rest was spent meeting lots of Derek's extended family. It was all fantastic!

Some of my favorite shows include; Big Boi, Young the Giant, Old Crow Medicine Show, Black Keys, Matt & Kim, Wheeler Brothers, Houndmouth, Grace Potter, Dawes, & Avett Brothers

DAY ONE:

DAY TWO:

DAY THREE:

Retirement...

2013-07-18T13:25:00.001-07:00

Honest-to-pete I just found my future retirement plan!! Yeah, ok so I would need to start saving for this, like yesterday, but hey: it sounds like my travel dream come true, then multiplied by two!

Read this article: "The Let's-Sell-Our-House- And-See-the-World Retirement."

photo cred

The woman sounds... so cool! Like, I kind of want to be her best friend. Forever!

Some things that really stuck with me about their life-style:

"Connecting with people we would never have encountered in our

regular lives is the most thrilling part of our lifestyle."

"For us, giving up 2,500 square feet of gracious California living for a 500-square-foot apartment in Paris or Istanbul is more than a fair trade-off. In place of our heavy-duty gas stove, big-name pots and pans and enormous refrigerator, we now find ourselves using Barbie-size sinks, bar fridges and some pretty sketchy cookware. We share bathrooms with one sink and watch movies on a 13-inch computer screen. At the same time, we enjoy lunches where the paté comes from heaven, drives through the luscious French countryside where even the cows are beautiful, and strolls along the Arno River in Italy for our after-dinner exercise."

Sounds like some pretty awesome trade-offs. Oh and you can follow her & her husband along on their journey through her blog: @ Home Free Adventures

This retirement plan certainly suits my traveling soul!

Special thanks to Kelsey, who sent it to me - after her friend Maggie sent it to her!

(( 2 thumbs up ))

Hot hot hot!

2013-07-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

It's been quite hot & humid the past few days here in Columbus, OH!

Makes me want to go spend all day by the pool or on a beach... not confined to an office!

#workinggirlproblems. Summer time to me:

images not mine own from: sandals & old-fashioned girls

What inspires you?

2013-07-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

What inspires me?

So many things inspire me! How do I even begin to layout it all for you... Of course I can only hope that this blog helps you to understand more about what truly inspires me. Put simply, all things wonderful inspire me and motivate me daily. All things wonderful doesn't simply mean the good and the beautiful though, I am also inspired by the ugly and the bad. Isn't that what drives us to become better, stronger, and more passionate about things we already love?

On that note, what inspires you?

Ps. Watch the other videos on the site @ http://bonjourlife.com/videos/ : super neat!

The weekend of the fourth

2013-07-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

The weekend after the fourth of July, I was lucky enough to head to Michigan to spend the weekend at Derek's family lake house! It was fun to spend Friday evening playing cards with the whole fam & Saturday in the sun with his sister, Grace, & her fiance! That evening we watched fireworks from the back deck & played Cards Against Humanity - new favorite game! Derek laughed so hard, he cried and I laughed so hard at him giggling away, I thought I pulled a muscle (not really... but you get the point)!

How amazing is this Coldwater, MI, sunset!? WOW.

i like this one :) photo cred to Grace @ sunbeamsandsnapshots

Lots of wonderful things to post about lately (yes... I am still editing through 500 photos of spain. Yikes)!
Forecastle Music Festival was this past weekend - that will most likely be up before Spain. Oops!

Happy Independence Day!

2013-07-04T12:10:00.001-07:00

Craftin, cookin, and drinkin! It's finally time to cook-out and enjoy the afternoon with some friends!

Hope you all enjoy your festivities!