Anna Taylor

Day 5

2013-05-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

We left Lake Bled and headed for Reutte, Austria. We made a pit stop at Krimmler Waterfall.

That's not the waterfall. That's just a little stream that sidetracked me on our hike. This is the waterfall:

That's not me jumping across it. I wish it were.

If you're ever on the road in Austria, I definitely recommend making this little pit stop. It's quite a hike all the way to the top of the falls, but the view is spectacular.

Europe Day 4 - Ljubljana

2013-05-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Ljubljana. Pronounced Lee-oo-blee-ahna. Think of the Js as Is. Liubliana.

Anyway. It's the capital and largest city in Slovenia. We spent a day there during our stay at Lake Bled.

We spent the morning walking up to the castle and then enjoying the view from on top of the tower. After a few days of rain it was nice to be able to soak up the sunshine.

We grabbed lunch at a sidewalk cafe downtown. The sun played hide and seek for the rest of the afternoon but it came out while we were down by the river. I could have stayed there forever.

Eventually we headed back to base camp at Lake Bled. We took a quick stroll by the lakeside and scoped out some photo opps.

We rented a little row boat and took a spin on the lake for an hour or so, and then we walked to town for ice cream while we watched the sun set over the mountains.

In the morning we headed back for Austria.

When you give a kid a camera

2013-05-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

I got my first camera sometime around 2000 or 2001. It might have been for my birthday while we were living in London. I was instantly obsessed with photography and can't even estimate how many rolls of film I went through.

I'm up at my mom's and was going through some things in my room (I call it my room but I never actually lived in this house) when I came across a drawer full of old pictures. Most of them were just blurry snapshots from school or sleepovers with my friends. I am the type of person who is easily lost in nostalgia, so it was nice to look through them. I am also the type of person whose awkward phase lasted several years longer than is generally acceptable, so they were also somewhat cringe-inducing.

Anyway.

I found a few gems from some of my travels in Europe with the family. I giggled at many of them - poorly composed, half of a stranger's body in the foreground, tops of buildings cut off, the usual mistakes people make. Of course, I was 11 years old and didn't know what I was doing so I shouldn't be too hard on myself. I also found a few kind of cool pictures. I will call them happy accidents.

That is my mom sitting on the bench and my dad holding the sheep.

I've always felt more confident expressing my emotions through words. I don't think that is any secret with people who know me best. I'd rather think than talk, and I'd rather write than think or be alone with my thoughts. I get out of bed a lot to quickly jot down lines that run through my head - to get them on paper before they float away.

I love photography because it's another way to feel connected to something without having to formulate a verbal emotion. Sure, I'm taking pictures of buildings or flowers or inanimate objects that don't have any feelings to relate to, but it's still a type of expression and I find the process therapeutic.

I'm really glad I found these pictures.

Day 3

2013-05-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Even though it rained all day we still adventured around the town of Bled. We went up to the castle (I say "went" but I mean ascended a very steep staircase and slippery rock driveway), walked around the lake, and managed to find time to eat.

I did not even remotely enjoy Slovenian food. I ordered french fries twice in an effort to be a really insulting American stereotype, and one night Mike and I went to a pizzeria and that was probably the best meal I ate during the whole trip. Pizza.

Day 2

2013-05-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

The day we left Salzburg the sun finally came out. Before heading to Slovenia we walked down by the river for a little while. I wanted to make sure I had some pics of Salzburg with the sun.

We got into Bled, Slovenia in the early afternoon.

We saw a little bit of sun at Lake Bled, but then it clouded up and started raining. It rained and rained. Being a tourist is never as fun in lousy weather.

Day 1

2013-05-03T14:53:00.001-04:00

Day 1 we spent exploring Salzburg in the rain. We made a stop at Mirabel Gardens to see some Sound of Music landmarks and also ventured up to Nonnberg Convent.

The first Europe Post

2013-05-02T14:48:00.001-04:00

I finally made a dent in my 1200+ Europe pictures. Tomorrow the recap posts start. I know you're excited!

A Road Trip

2013-04-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Mike and I spent the last 10 days touring Germany, Austria, and Slovenia in a rental car with my Dad. Here's a graphic itinerary of our trip.

I'll start recapping as soon as I'm caught up on sleep and no longer operating in a jetlag-induced haze.

Our Engagement

2013-04-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

Mike and I celebrate a lot of anniversaries in the spring. We met on March 16th 2010 (albeit online), met in person April 16th, (give or take a day or two on the dates...my memory is hazy), he asked me if he could date me on May 17th 2010, asked me to marry him on April 20, 2011. We got married March 17, 2012.

I designed our wedding website (A March Wedding) on my own using fairly simple one column blog design. After the wedding, I took over the site's URL and A March Wedding the blog was born.

But before it was the blog, it was a fun engagement announcement and information portal for guests and friends. This is what the Love Story page looked like:

Yes, the date is wrong. We had to change date and venue half way through planning. That was fun.

It was simple, a little over the top, and my color palette was clearly on Easter Egg Acid, but it did what it needed to do.

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-04-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

The first time Mike needed a passport was when we visited my Dad in Italy over Christmas holidays in 2010. It was also the first time the two of them met - quite a monumental trip.

If you're going to pose with one of the many costumed actors at the Roman Forum, be prepared for them to ask for 20 Euro after the photo has been taken and without any notice beforehand. Also be prepared to only give them 2 Euro despite their demands for more.

In addition to Rome, we did quite a bit of exploring in Naples and Cuma. Mike and I are heading back to Europe at the end of April for an anniversary/birthday trip.

**In preparation for my trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia in April, I'm going to start a temporary travel series that revisits some of my favorite places and photos.**

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-04-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

The engagement edition.

I lived in Asheville for a few months while interning at WNC Magazine.

On my 22nd birthday, Mike drove up with a little surprise. You can read that story here. Tomorrow is my 24th birthday and the 2 year anniversary of our engagement.

This post is mostly about the hike: Pisgah Trail to Looking Glass Rock. 6 miles round trip. The trail is lush and the vegetation abundant during a western North Carolina spring. It was a mild afternoon in the mid 60s and I remember it being unusually humid after a morning rain storm. Because the whole excursion was a surprise, I didn't quite dress appropriately. I opted for shorts and a tank top when I made the hike for a second time with my parents.

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-04-16T11:00:00.000-04:00

New York. The City. The Countryside.

I visited the city in December of 2010. It was my first time there and I was absolutely enthralled. I don't know what it is about the place...the energy, the lights, the limitless capacity for exploration, all of the above? I think the fact that it was Christmas time might have played a part.

In September of 2011 we visited the a different part of the state for a wedding that would NOT be stopped by a little torrential rain and flash flooding. The bride's hometown was hit hard. I originally wrote about it here.

Oneonta is a small town not too far from Binghamton. It was about a 15 hour drive from Aiken.

It was something to see, that's for sure. Thankfully by the time Saturday rolled around, much of the water had receded and didn't interfere too badly with traveling in/around the Oneonta area.

**In preparation for my trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia in April, I'm going to start a temporary travel series that revisits some of my favorite places and photos.**

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-04-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

I would go back to Wyoming again and again. I loved it there. The remoteness. The mountains. All of it. We went in May and the entire world was still frozen and silent.

Downtown Jackson was adorable, albeit crowded with novelty stores and tourist traps. It reminded me of a smaller (MUCH smaller) Gatlinburg with better scenery more rich people.

**In preparation for my trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia in April, I'm going to start a temporary travel series that revisits some of my favorite places and photos.**

Life of Late

2013-04-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

LOVING// Kittens. Cats. Felines in general. Shocker.

LISTENING// Randy Houser! I wasn't a huge fan we he first started getting played on XM but now I can't stop listening to "Running out of Moonlight" and "How Country Feels."

READING// The Hobbit. I just finished Anne of Green Gables and Cat's Cradle (gotta cross those off my list), so now I'm back to the Hobbit. I started it a few months ago before the movie came out and got sidetracked about half-way through.

SAVING// For our deck! Mike and I want to build a deck off the back of the house and I'm so excited to start this project. I hope we have it finished in time for summer.

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-04-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS.

If you ever visit western North Carolina, make sure you do a waterfall tour. Below is my friend Megan at High Falls.

This is the two of us at Hooker Falls.

A lot of the falls require a short walk/hike to get to the best vantage points but it's completely worth dedicating a day and a few miles of trekking to see even a fraction of what the Appalachians have to offer.

Lake Lure was one of my favorite places to visit. There's not a lot happening during the winter, but thankfully the beauty is not seasonal.

If you have the opportunity to leave downtown Asheville but aren't in the mood for a long car ride, mosey on over to the Grove Park Inn for some wine with a view.

I spent a lot of afternoons here.

**In preparation for my trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia in April, I'm going to start a temporary travel series that revisits some of my favorite places and photos.**

COUNTRY THUNDER

2013-04-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Kelsey and I are somewhere in the Arizona desert at Country Thunder from now until Monday morning!

See ya when I get back!

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-04-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Today I am San Diego bound! California twice in one year, what are the odds?

Here are some photos from my first time to California way back in 2008.

It doesn't seem that long ago. Stay tuned for an update after I get back!

Married to the Law

2013-04-08T09:32:00.001-04:00

I might get in trouble for posting some of these pics. OH WELL.

I get a lot of questions about Mike's job. His schedule. His duties. Things like that. When I tell people, their reaction is usually either awe, curiosity, or pity. Sometimes a combination of the three. They say, "wow, you must worry constantly."

I worry. A lot.

When we first started dating, he worked "the road." His shifts were ridiculous and it was virtually impossible to date him. When I'd drive up on the weekends, he'd be sleeping for the majority of our visit, and I'd be left alone during the day to occupy myself in a strange city and strange house. Plus I never got to play with his sirens and I found that to be incredibly stupid. What's the point of dating a cop if you can't push the buttons? He still won't let me play with the sirens.

Eventually he made the transition to Special Ops and started working with the Bloodhounds. Not only was it a promotion for him, it provided me with certain perks.

After we got married, he was able to bring home Ginger. Our yard and home were turned into her personal Bloodhound Retirement Community. It was special because Ginger was the first dog Mike tracked with, and Mike will probably be the last human Ginger knows.

After Ginger came another milestone. Cooper the bomb dog.

So now not only does he track criminals & lost children/elderly people, he answers SWAT and Bomb calls.

So what is it like? Every day when he leaves for work, it's like a 9 hour mini-deployment. What will the day hold? Will this be the day things go wrong? I'm woken up at 2 AM by the most annoying ring tone known to man, and while I roll over and plug my ears, Mike gets up, gets dressed, and puts bad guys in jail. Sometimes things happen that he tells me about. It makes me sad to know he sees the worst in people on a daily basis. He's seen things that would scar me for life.

It would be easy for him to quit. To find something less heart-hardening and more rainbows/butterflies/cupcakes frosted with dreams and sequins. A job that didn't require seemingly endless periods of being "on call." A job that paid him adequately for the work he does. A job that didn't require him to cancel plans on a dime or squeal out of the driveway at 4 in the morning to chase a belligerent, worthless, waste of humanity through the woods.

And really the worst part about his job is the lack of respect or gratitude society has for Mike and his fellow officers. Sometimes we sit on the couch and watch videos about cops. Cops getting bested by drunk thugs, surrounded by a mass of ignorant partiers. Cops doing their job yet being put on blast for using force. And people laugh and make comments about the "pigs," their "self-righteousness," their "racism."

Yes. That's the worst part about the job. Knowing the sacrifices he and his co-workers make for our home. And 99% percent of the population would rather laugh at their missteps than applaud them for their successes.

Life of Late

2013-04-05T09:00:00.001-04:00

LOVING// All these sweet critter pics I'm posting on Pinterest.

PLANNING// Our trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia. I am so excited!

SHOPPING// My boot problem is rearing its ugly head again and I felt the familiar pangs of compulsive shopping when I saw these boots online. Thank goodness they were unavailable or I might have made them mine.

EATING// I've eaten like...10 grilled cheese sandwiches in the past 3 days.

How To Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

2013-04-04T08:56:00.000-04:00

Somewhere along the way I discovered I've been making Grilled Cheese sandwiches WRONG for the past decade. On Monday I tried making one the right way for the first time and it was life changing.

The first step is to locate some bread, preferably home-made by your mother in law. Cut said bread into uneven slices doing your best to tear it in the process.

Now here comes the secret. DO NOT BUTTER THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR BREAD. I repeat: DO NOT butter the outside of your bread. Instead, apply a generous coat of mayonnaise. Yes. MAY-OH-NAZE. Put it on the outside of your bread where the butter normally would (and ought to) go. I'm not usually a mayo eater so this is all we had in the fridge. I suppose it might be even BETTER to use mayo that isn't almost expired. I did not execute a control group in this experiment. My apologies.

Now we cook it. Or them in my case. I made two.

I put sliced Kraft AND shredded cheddar on mine because I am straight up living the American Dream. Also, portion control is not even remotely a part of my vocabulary.

Grilled Cheese is best eaten on your finest paper plates. Don't even waste time getting a napkin.

I can't even put into words how delicious these ended up tasting. This isn't one of those, "sort of a better take on an old classic" type of recipes. This is DEFINITELY the secret grilled cheese experts have been keeping from us and you will never be able to thank me enough for sharing.

Me

2013-04-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Every morning I wake up and brush my teeth. I always grab the toothpaste with my left hand and my toothbrush with my right. Then I do this strangely complicated juggling act with the toothpaste lid, my toothbrush, the water faucet, and eventually my mouth. It's like a really beautiful act of synchronization between my body parts and teeth utensils.

Then there are the mornings when I mistakenly pick up the toothbrush and toothpaste with the wrong hands. I have a mental breakdown. My motor skills collapse. It's like I don't know what the process is if I have to apply the toothpaste to the toothbrush with my hands flip flopped.

Yes. I realize how pathetic that is. It just feels unnatural. It's like how I usually chew my food on a dominant side of my mouth (depending on the texture, consistency, and taste of said food...)

I have to have everything in my car set to multiples of three. My radio volume will always be on 9, 12, or 15 (usually 9. 12 if I've got my heat blowing full force or if the road is particularly loud. 15 if it's a windows down, sunroof open type of day). My temperature settings will always be on 69, 72, or 81. (if not a multiple of three, they have to at least add up to something that is) When people ride with me, they'll change the temperature (I have a dual climate control thing) and I will reach over and adjust it to the nearest acceptable number. If 69, 72, or 81 is too dramatic a temperature for you, get out and walk. The only exceptions are if it's set on LO or HI because no temperature integer shows.

I am literally not OCD about anything other than that stuff (although my uncontrollable urge to top all of my food with cheese might count). Although we did pick our wedding date based on its ability to add up to the number 9. 3/17/12 - 3 plus 1 is 4, minus 7 is -3, plus 12 is 9. I don't know if Mike knows that or not.

Around these parts

2013-04-02T08:53:00.001-04:00

1. DIY jeans to shorts complete with distressed flare. // 2. It's SPRING! // 3. Waiting patiently at the Vet. // 4? New reading material. // 5. Spending all my money at the gas station. // 6. Cheering on Logan at his baseball game. // 7. Easter "basket" from my Mom // 8. Won $100 Erin Condren gift card without even entering a competition! // 9. Waiting for all the blooms to open. // 10. Roasting my toesies by the fire pit. // 11. South Boundary tourists. // 12. Happy Easter!

1 - 9. Animals... //

I hadn't done an Instagram dump in a hot minute so that's why this is happening.

Happy Tuesday!

Easter 2013

2013-04-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

Easter Sunday was a combination of cold/cloudy/hot/sunny/rainy/delightful weather. It wasn't as nice as last year but it was a great Easter Sunday nonetheless.

Like last year, I demanded we take some family photos after church. By demanded I mean I asked really nicely and said only if everyone else wanted to and we could do it another time...

I just really feel it's necessary to document days like this but I know my incessant picture taking sometimes borders on annoying.

For one thing, you get to see how big those small changes in life really are. Porter and Jamison are now one year older than they were, and Tim has lost almost 100 lbs. Left, 2012 & Right 2013.

We only spent 5 or 10 minutes out underneath the oak trees before dispersing to head home and change into our lunch attire, but here are a few of the photos:

I wonder how much will change between now and next Easter?

We spent the afternoon at Barbara's eating Easter Dinner and enjoying the kids. Cooper was there, too.

I hope your Easter was a full of faith, fun, and family as ours was.

If you'd like to see last year's photos, look here. The sun was shining through the trees and I do think the lighting was much better, but OH WELL CAN'T CONTROL THE WEATHER.

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-03-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

PRAGUE.

Prague was another trip my dad and I made on our own. In 2008, we visited for a week or so and did a LOT of walking. It was one of my favorite trips - I wish I'd taken more pictures. The architecture was so interesting.

**In preparation for my trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia in April, I'm going to start a temporary travel series that revisits some of my favorite places and photos.**

Favorite Places Revisited

2013-03-26T11:00:00.001-04:00

SOUTH CAROLINA BEFORE IT WAS "HOME."

The Christmas of Sophomore year my dad and I took a trip to Charleston. I'd never been before, and it was a great couple days just the two of us. At that point, I don't think I'd ever dreamed I'd live in South Carolina.

Charleston became one of my favorite places that trip. My dad showed me much of the area's rich history, and in the times I've been back since, I've experienced a lot more of this big city with a small town personality.

**In preparation for my trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia in April, I'm going to start a temporary travel series that revisits some of my favorite places and photos.**