Our trip to Edinburgh - Part two

H A P P Y   T H U R S D A Y  ///

Here is my second (and final) post about our trip to Edinburgh. Oh how I loved this place, just look at these photo's. We got to experience such a gorgeous day!

After exploring the city a bit, we went to a place called "the baked potato" where we got (giant) baked potatoes and ate them on a bench in the most beautiful park. We kept walking and exploring and finding more and more lovely spots.

We got to see the Scott Monument which is special to me because my Dad was there when he was 18 with his Grandmother when someone he knew from back in Toronto recognized him! So cool. 

As you will be able to tell from these photo's, I literally lost my mind over the cherry blossoms because they were ACTUALLY perfect. Everything is just so beautiful in Edinburgh and it was perfect timing because the trees and flowers were in full bloom.

I took a lot of photo's of the cherry b's and was just in love. That smell! Oh, perfection. We went to the Grass Market, which was a great little spot with shops and restaurants and overall cuteness.

We didn't get to spend too much time in Edinburgh, but we got to see a lot during our visit. Pete and I absolutely loved the city! I would most definitely recommend visiting it if you ever get the chance. The people were just lovely, the city is beautiful to look at, there was good shopping, delicious food and just an overall really good vibe.

Our adventure - Edinburgh (part one)

So now that we have been back for a week and a half and getting back on track with life, I am excited to share some details of our trip with you all!

Pete and I were so excited about planning our next adventure as it was our first big trip in 2 years.  We've always wanted to go to Scotland and Ireland and we've now crossed both of these beautiful places off of our list!

We started our trip in Edinburgh, Scotland. I didn't know what to expect but I had heard that it was a beautiful city. That is an under statement! It's honestly, an incredible city and both Pete and I fell in love with it right away.

As soon as we got to the airport in Edinburgh we encountered a lovely man who helped us get tickets on a tram towards our hotel. We stayed at the Crown Plaza and it was lovely and very central and close to so many amazing spots.

Edinburgh is so visually pleasing! It's absolutely incredible to look at, and I think that is one thing that really shocked and excited me about this place. EVERYTHING looks so pretty and picture-esque. I definitely took a lot of photo's here, and it helped that we had such lovely sunny days while we were there.

The cobble stone streets are cute as can be and every building has such character. One thing I will say about this city, is that it's a good work out! There were a lot of hills during our walk so we were feeling that while exploring the few days we were there. 

Our first night there we went to have one of the most DELICIOUS meals everrrrr, at a place called "The World's End"  - Pete had their award winning fish & chips and I had a steak & ale pie that I will literally DREAM about for years to come. This was also our first meal in a day and a half so I think that helped.

We did some serious exploring and here are a few highlights ; this Christmas shop that I checked out, as I entered the employee yelled "Merry Christmas" to me! Best ever, sitting outside in the sun at a little cafe with my main squeeze, admiring the most INCREDIBLE view a top of the city, right outside Edinburgh Castle. 

Here are a few photo's from our adventures in Edinburgh, I will post more in another post soon! ♥ 

Home SWEET Home // We're ENGAGED!

Oh hello there, and Happy Monday(!!!)

Pete and I got back from our trip on Saturday afternoon, and oh boy have things been really really good (and exciting) >> In case you don't happen to follow me on Instagram or any other social media, I am beyond excited to share that Pete and I are engaged!!!

Even though we have been together for close to 7 years, I still cannot believe it and am still on cloud nine because of the news! ♥  - the reaction from our family and friends has been beyond incredible and makes us so happy. My heart feels like it's going to explode! 

Today was my first day back from work and I got SOOOO many hugs and congrats from everyone, it was such an amazing welcome and I was feeling even happier! In the afternoon my colleague asked me to go in to one of our meeting rooms, and as I opened the door all my co-workers were inside and yelled congrats and had flowers, balloons and cupcakes in there to celebrate. The photo I posted on Instagram to announce our engagement was on the projector, our amazing photographer was snapping photo's and I was balling (lol) Then they put me in the hot seat and made me tell them all how it all happened! So speaking of that, I will share (some of) how Pete proposed...

Pete and I were in Connemara which is not far from Galway in Ireland. We were lucky enough to stay in an absolutely beautiful place called Ballynahinch Castle that is basically the most magical place ever. We checked in on the Monday afternoon and would be there for two nights. The castle was absolutely beautiful and so old and classic. On Tuesday around lunch time we headed out to go explore on one of the walking trails which are part of the grounds of the castle. I thought nothing of it, and I was decked out in my wellies, a casual outfit and my toque! We went for a walk on the first trail, and Pete said oh let's do one more! The second trail was even more beautiful, everything in Ireland is so beautiful and lush, and the sights were just perfect. We were walking along the trail when we came up to a big open spot right on the water. There was a cute little bench and in the distance, a mountain, big green trees and a little bridge across from us. I had my DSLR camera and I was capturing one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen, after I was done taking the photo, out of the corner of my eye I saw Pete, and when I turned around there he was DOWN ON ONE KNEE, asking me to MARRY HIM! I can't even remember what happened next! Other than a lot of tears and excitement, and really just pure joy.

After I said yes and he put on my ring, we just hugged and celebrated and sat on that perfectly cute bench by the water and had a drink and took it all in. Oh it was just perfect! On the walk back we took lots more photo's because it was just incredible. As an older Irish couple walked by Pete yelled "We're Engaged!" and they hugged me! hahaha, and said congrats and took our photo. The staff at the hotel got us some champagne and were all SO sweet! We went and sat in the living room by the fire, and read our books. During this time a guest from the hotel came in an played piano and it was so beautiful, it was absolutely perfect. This all happened just after lunch time in Ireland, which is 5 hours ahead of back home. We waited until our friends and family were home from work so we could call and FaceTime them! It felt crazy but awesome to have so long to take it all in and just be soooo excited to share the news. After calling and texting a bunch of close family and friends, we posted it on Instagram & Facebook and were just so beyond happy to read everyones kind words. 

As you can imagine the rest of the trip was pretty damn amazing too! We celebrated Pete's birthday the next day and just everything was even more awesome than ever before.

Pete and I are so excited to plan our big day! We just love being hosts and planning fun parties and such that we are really stoked to make this such an amazing day to celebrate with the people we love most!

And to be honest, I don't even know where to start! Believe it or not, I have never been the type of girl who knows exactly what dress she wants, the colour scheme and every last detail. I am excited to get crafty and creative and plan the most special celebration of our lives!

I AM SO HAPPY! 

take me away.

// happy sunday, babes.
winter can be very wonderful, and it was this past weekend when i went to the cabin with my whole family. but this winter has also been very very very cold. it's done nothing but have me daydream about our next adventure. travelling has been such a huge part of my life and will continue to be! i just took some time to look at some photo's from our travels over the past few years. so many amazing memories.

this is a photo i took in haarlem, holland when we visited my dutch bestie sjarde. this place was just so adorable and lovely and there was so much beauty everywhere. i snapped this cutie during a little walk in town and i just adore it.

i found this photo and felt it was just perfect for how i've been feeling lately. i love that pete loves to travel as much as me and i found such a perfect person to go on adventures with!

all this freezing cold gloomy weather has had me jonesing for a vacation! we're planning on going back to new york in the spring (april, i believe!) and then a bigger trip in the summer. hoping to go to ireland and scotland! which i think would be so an awesome & fun trip!

does anyone have any exciting travel plans in 2014?