Home for Christmas

I'm dreaming tonight, of a place I love, even more than I usually do

And although I know it's a long road back, I promise you...

I'll be home for Christmas!

I kept listening to this song in the days before our trip home and the lyrics took on a new meaning for me this year. It's written from the perspective of an overseas WWII soldier, so our situation is clearly incomparable, but I can certainly relate to the feeling of longing to be with friends and family for the holidays now more than ever.

Our trip home was short-lived and logistically chaotic, but well worth it. In one week...

We landed in Chicago on the 22nd and spent the night with friends

Left the next morning to drive to Cincinnati and stay a few days

Drove to up to Cleveland on Christmas morning

Flew to Chicago on the 28th and stayed one more night

 (B drove back home to Cincy and drove back to Chi town with his family)

Flew back to Dublin on the 29th

Talk about a whirlwind!

Best airport greeting EVER! 2 of B's sisters, dressed up as Xmas trees (with working lights and all), surprising us at O'Hare Airport 

During our lightening-speed midwest tour, we saw lots of friends and family and even managed to squeeze in a little wedding planning. To anyone I didn't have a chance to see, I apologize and hope to do it next time (since next time will likely be our wedding!). Family always comes first, so I was extremely happy that I was able to see all of my family, even if it wasn't all at the same time!

Christmas Day 2011 when we were all together - missed you this year, Captain Billy!

As an added bonus, we got to see the first big snow of the year (without it affecting our travel!) and celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple :) It wasn't your typical relaxed time off, but it was a fantastic trip. Big thanks to everyone who made time for us and arranged their schedules around our limited time home... it means the world to us!

I miss everyone already, but I'm glad we had safe and smooth travels back to Dublin. We're excited to ring in the New Year with friends and welcome the start of what promises to be another crazy year!

Beakers & Babies

A week from tomorrow, we head back to the states for the holidays. I can't believe it's that soon and I can't believe it'll be 5 months since we were home last. Our upcoming trip would probably have been our first, had it not been for a good friend's wedding this summer. It's a long trip home, but we're glad to make it for our loved ones. So, in preparation for our approaching travels, I thought I'd share a bit from our previous trip. 

My time home in July made me feel like a grownup, featuring Beakers and Babies... not to be confused with beaker babies or test tube babies. Our good friends, Sarah and Craig, dubbed "The Beakers" years before they made it official, got married in Ohio (actually in/near Dublin, Ohio, which was pretty coincidental). I was thrilled to be standing beside my college girls, synchronously crying, watching our good friend take her vows!

So lovely, right? It was great to be back home and share in the happiest day of their lives... Which brings me to babies. Nope, no babies for the Beakers yet (for anyone who was confused at the title haha)! 

Another dear friend, whom I've known since first grade (coincidentally another Sarah), had her first baby! She and her husband, Shaun, welcomed a baby boy the same day that my other friend got married. Big day for the Sarahs! 

As I'm rarely home, I had joked with her about working her birthing schedule around my visit. I tried to persuade her to put extra jalapeños on her burger when we went out to eat, strongly encouraged different oils, long walks and well, other things, ha. Luckily, none of that was necessary and she had her baby a week or two before her due date! I'm convinced the precious little guy was listening to me :)

So, even though I'm far away most of the time, I was lucky enough to be there for these important firsts... the first wedding of my college friends, the first baby of my friends from home. I'm not sure when we became these grownups, but I have to say I kind of like it! 

These joyous occasions, paired with much needed family time (including wedding dress shopping with my Mom, yay!), made for such a great trip! I'm so looking forward to being back with friends and family again soon. Now, who wants to get married or have a baby this time I'm home? Think about it.

"It's Nice to be Home"

I don't remember when it happened. Somewhere in between moving into my studio in Wrigleyville and moving out of our shared apartment in Lincoln Park, Chicago became home. I know it didn't happen right away there either... but eventually I reached a point where it was always nice to go "home" to Cleveland, but I would look forward to returning to Chi town. We would go away on weekend trips and, when we returned, I would ride home in a taxi and breathe a sigh of relief when I caught my first glimpse of that beautiful skyline.

View from our apartment on Fullerton - I miss this!

I had my first Dublin moment like that last night. We had just returned from a weekend trip to London (which I'll cover another time!) and I felt a sense of calm come over me as the taxi turned onto our street. I didn't mind that it was raining -- it even felt fitting (I know, I'm quoting myself on liking the rain and will claim someone else wrote this if anyone tries to hold it against me!). But really, it was nice to be "home." Or to a "home away from home" at least. 

Walking around our neighborhood today, I had to smile to myself, because the canal outside our apartment is becoming my skyline... the scene that gives me comfort upon returning from travel. I've watched the trees go from bare to budding blossoms, from lush green to the brilliant colors of fall, and now I'm watching them fall and become bare again. Like the changing trees along the canal, my feelings of being home are evolving. 

I still have a long way to go before I really feel settled here. Maybe I'll reach it by the time we leave! Although, the more we travel, the more Dublin feels like home. Sure, it's not easy to come back here after being in the U.S. with family (and I imagine it will be hard again after the holidays), but it's nice to know that we're getting there. I'm comfortable in Ireland and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Who knows how long we'll be here and who knows where we'll be next, but, no matter where we end up, we'll always feel home here long after we've left.

Home Sweet Home

After our mini moon, we spent a few weeks in temporary housing provided by B's work, while we hunted for an apartment. We had the option to stay for up to 2 months, but we were eager to find a place where we could get settled and start to feel more at home. 

Many of the buildings are much older here, so good apartments go quickly! I'm actually pretty sure we stole ours from another couple, ha... I went to go see the apartment on a Friday and another couple was leaving as we arrived. The agent told us that it was no longer available because they wanted the place and would be coming in the following Monday to do paperwork. However, if we put down a deposit that day, it was ours. We hadn't viewed many apartments, but we liked the place and jumped on it. You snooze, you lose!

Grand Canal

Our apartment is located along Grand Canal, on the south side of the city. Just like Chicago, Dublin is divided when it comes to "north siders" vs. "south siders," and people proudly identify themselves as one or the other. 

Little park in front our apartment

We live in Dublin 2 (the neighborhoods are numbered up to 24), next to the "posh" neighborhood of Ballsbridge (where you're likely to find a real housewife or two!), literally a minute walk from my husband's office. He really couldn't have an easier commute, if that even counts as a commute! We're also close to the grocery, pharmacy, pubs, Starbucks (score!), etc., which is necessary for the sake of walking everywhere.

I wanted the yellow door, but settled for black!

As for the interior, our place is a nice mix of old and new. We have very high ceilings with ornate detailing, a [somewhat] updated kitchen, and an allegedly functional fireplace that we have yet to try, but will be necessary come winter (note to self: test it out!). We also have a second bedroom, so visitors are welcome!!

Since all of our stuff is in storage back in Ohio, we opted for a fully furnished apartment (much more common here). So please note, I did not choose our ever-so-stylish purplish-red with gold polka dot wallpaper (it's not so bad in person)! 

And... like any apartment, it comes with its quirks! For instance, we have the typical European setup with a mini fridge (makes bulk grocery shopping impossible!), and a washer/dryer (yes, 2 in 1!) in the cabinets under the kitchen counter. What most people use as a beer fridge, we use as our entire fridge, AND the freezer is miniscule, fitting only a couple bags of frozen veggies (at least it prevents me from stocking up on Ben & Jerry's!).

Last but not least, we have an electric shower. Yep! I have to flip the red power switch and then turn on the shower inside. Thankfully, we get hot water right away and don't wait 10-20 minutes, which isn't always the case for showers here. Now, instead of worrying about turning the coffee maker off, I think "I hope I remembered to turn the shower off!"

So, there are a few amusing idiosyncracies that come with our place! All in all, it's a great apartment in a lovely area and we enjoy having a place to call home sweet home in Dublin.