Happy Anniversary to us!

I remember the phone call well. It went something like, "Hey, Mom & Dad, you know how you've always wanted to go live in Ireland for a few months? Well, you'll have to visit me in Dublin, because we're MOVING there! Oh, and... you know how you're coming to visit for St. Patrick's Day weekend? We're getting MARRIED on that Saturday!" 

It's hard to believe it's been a year since I dropped that bombshell. It feels like it was just yesterday that our families traveled from near and far to convene in a tiny room in Chicago City Hall and watch us promise our lives to one another. I still remember the butterflies I felt in that little room, the tears of joy that sprung to my eyes (and his :) ), and the surrounding smiles of our loved ones. Someone up there was smiling down on us that day too, gifting us with a gorgeous rarity in March - 80 degrees and sunshine. It was simply the perfect day.

If you don't know the story already, we started packing up our apartment the day after we got married. 2 days later, we drove a U-Haul to Ohio to put our things in storage, returned to Chi town for a final going away party and offensive celebratory "Irish car bombs" shots, and moved to Ireland a week later! 

Our time as newlyweds has flown! I recall mentioning to B that we passed the 72-day mark and had beaten Kim Kardashian (which he was obviously thrilled about). Then we hit the 6 month mark. Before I knew it, St. Patrick's Day came again and we were toasting our 1 year anniversary.

And what an amazing first year of marriage it has been. Full of highs, lows, world travels, and cozy nights by the fire. We've taken countless "trips of a lifetime" and have added incredible memories to an already long list. It hasn't always been the easiest year (very different than I'd ever imagined), but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Funny to think how hesitant I was to tell everyone we were getting married. I worried that people would judge our "shotgun" wedding of sorts, that it wouldn't be as "special" because it wasn't what I had envisioned for us. 

Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Our family and friends were and have continued to be nothing but supportive. Not only do I think our story is more special now, but I want to shout it from the rooftops how happy and proud I am to call B my husband. I truly feel like I'm married to my best friend and biggest fan.

So, here's to our 1 year anniversary and many more to come!

And... of course, the best part is we get to do it all over again in July :) 

2012 Recap

Happy New Year!! I hope you all had a fun and safe NYE, and I wish everyone a happy & healthy 2013! It's hard to believe that another year has gone by so quickly. 2012 was one hell of a year! As we begin another year, wipe the slate clean and make unrealistic resolutions, here's a recap of one of the most eventful years of my life...


January: 1 year ago we rang in the New Year in Breckenridge, CO, I made President's Club at my company for the previous year, and the ball started rolling for the rest of the action-packed year when I found out my boyfriend received and accepted his job offer in Dublin.

Breckenridge, CO

February: We decided to move and get married before our larger ceremony this summer, and I experienced sporadic panic attacks while holding in my giant secret until I finally put in my 1 month notice at work.

3.17.12 :)

March: This was arguably THE biggest month of my life to date, including a much needed girls trip to Scottsdale before the insanity to follow... engagement, marriage, resignation from work, goodbyes to friends and family, and a move to Dublin, Ireland! This was a month that will be hard, likely impossible, to top!

DUBLIN

April: After arriving in Dublin and briefly acquainting ourselves with the city, we took a mini honeymoon around Ireland, spent Easter in Barcelona, I started looking for a job, and we found and moved into our Dublin apartment.

Aran Islands - Ireland

May: As we started adjusting to life in Dublin and meeting new people, we took a lovely weekend trip to Paris, and I went through the interview circuit, culminating in my acceptance of a great job offer. 

Paris

June: After accepting the job offer, I began my now infamous work permit process, blissfully naive and unaware of what I was in for at the time. We also traveled to Italy twice, taking back-to-back weekend trips to Venice and Rome!

Rome

July: We traveled to Amsterdam, went home to the U.S. to be in a good friend's wedding, started planning our 2013 wedding, and I received the unfortunate news that my first work permit application had been denied.

Fellow Bridesmaid and Maid of Honor in our upcoming wedding!

August: We took a memorable road trip through Belgium, my previously anticipated employer reapplied for my second permit, and I decided to take advantage of my involuntary sabbatical and ventured out on my first solo trip to the gorgeous beach towns of San Sebastian, Spain and Biarritz, France.

San Sebastián

September: September was the month of visitors! Friends came for the American Invasion, otherwise known as the Notre Dame vs. Navy game in Dublin, and my parents came to visit for about 2 weeks. B and I traveled with them to Northern Ireland, and I took a trip with them back to the southwest of Ireland. At the same time, another Chicago friend visited. The month ended with my 2nd permit denial and my starting back at square one after 6 months here.

Malinhead - Northern most point in Ireland

October: After some soul-searching, I started my job search all over again, then achieved a personal milestone when I started this blog. My In-Laws came to visit us in Ireland, and the 4 of us traveled to Munich for Oktoberfest and Madrid in back-to-back weekends. AND... more Chicago friends came in to complete another month of visitors!

Madrid

November: The month started off well, as I accepted a new job and turned in my third permit application, hoping that the third time was the charm! We traveled to London for a weekend, and met friends in Lisbon for Thanksgiving.

Lisbon

December: We traveled to London again to see friends, took a short weekend trip to Belfast, and went home to the States (Chicago, Cleveland, and Cincinnati in 1 week!) for Christmas. We returned back just in time to spend our first New Year's in Ireland....

NYE 2012 - Dublin

Now, that may or may not sound like a lot, but it is the abridged version to me. I have experienced a roller coaster of emotions and experiences over the past year, so it feels like much longer than a year (or maybe a dog year!). In retrospect, I'd probably choose to delete the recurring theme of work permit trials & tribulations, but this seemingly never-ending saga has made me a much stronger person. I'm of course hoping that 2013 will bring a less bumpy road, but I'm grateful for what I have here and now and, whatever comes next, I'm ready for one unforgettable ride!