Engagement Pics Are HERE!!!

We only had to wait exactly one week for our pictures and I am SO excited to share them with you guys. Our friend is a great photographer and mostly did scenic shots but is just starting to get into doing people, weddings, etc. And in my opinion, he’s off to a great start! It certainly wasn’t easy with two languages flying back and forth plus a VERY rambunctious 3.5 year old puppy! Harley was playing with his frisbee all morning and being a big crazy. For the “picnic” shots I put his frisbee in our picnic basket to make him sit there! lol. It’s not as easy as it looks!!

The most special part about our pictures is that all were taken here in our little town. This way, no matter where we are in the world, we can always look back on these pictures and have a piece of this chapter of our lives with us forever. We could have gone somewhere else around Germany or even had the pictures done in the US but then Germany would just be a blurb. Somehow we have to mix both worlds in this whole process and this was the best option! I hope you like them!

Note: Images are not as sharp as they should be because I had to downsize the file! 🙂 But you get the idea!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxoxo

Spice Gets Engaged!

Moving on with our journey through Ireland, I wanted to get to the greatest part!!! So… ON WITH IT, right?!

Day 6 started with us in Kenmore at our B&B called the Hawthorne House where I had porridge with cream and brown sugar. DELISH!  It was pouring rain so the morning of shopping in the town was out of the question so we just jumped in the car and headed towards Galway. Of course stopping  along the way to check out what there was to see!

We hit up part of the famous Ring of Kerry. This “ring” is just a loop you drive around but as you’re doing so you hit all the best parts of Ireland. You see mountains, waterfalls, the beach, ocean,castles, lakes, rivers, green hills, etc. To do the whole thing would take about 4 hours driving and of course to add in stopping for pictures so we decided to just head on our way to my favorite place in the world! But first some shots from the piece of The Ring of Kerry:

And a stop at the Killarney National Park to see the Turoc waterfall which just so happens to be hidden among a fairytale land. Like seriously…fairies live here. I can feel it! See for yourself!! And Note: I did nothing to enhance these pictures. It was literally that green. In fact, these were taken with my iPhone!

See what I mean?? Fairies. Definitely leprechauns and fairies. After being totally blown away by this whimsical fairyland we drove on towards the next destination. My favorite place in the world….*drum roll*…..The Cliffs of Moher.

When I was young my dad brought me here and I knew I always wanted to get married there. I thought it was the most incredible place I had ever seen (and for being 12, it was!)

Check this out…a little bit of old school for you:

It was just as I remembered. Most places where we once were able to lay close to the edge was now blocked off….for obvious reasons. Lots of death is happening up in here. Dumb tourists as you know. But it was fun to relive a memory I had since long forgotten!

We walked our way up to O’Brien’s tower. Just a small place to get a better view. To really feel like you’re on top of the world. As we headed into the tower the man at the door asked for 2 Euros per person to go all the way to the top. Toblerone, being the Schwaebisch German that he is would not want to pay 2 Euros for views that we could see on the ground as well. I told him the situation and he immediately said, “Yeah ok! Let’s go!”  So I was shocked and starting to get a little suspicious. Odd behavior for him!

So we head up to the top and there is a small platform that can hold maybe 3 people at most so we had to wait our turn to get up onto this platform. We were packed like sardines at the top of this tower and finally it was our turn. We stood up there and Toblerone snapped away with the camera as I was off in my own memories snapping away with my iPhone. At this point there was only one other man up top really getting into taking his own pictures. Whether they were any good or not, we’ll never know! As I’m turned away from Toblerone he says, “I’m just going to switch lenses real quick.” Again, I thought it was strange that he was telling me that. Then all the sudden I hear a big *THUD* and I hear a sweet little voice say, “Babe?”

With that I turned around and realized the loud thud was Toblerone’s knee hitting the platform and there he was with a little box in hand. I don’t remember exactly what he said but it’s the same as most I would assume! The man that was still on top of the Tower came over to us and he said, “Is this a happy moment?!” In broken English. He tells me to hand over the camera which I did and although the angle wasn’t so good at least we have the memory.

It was a beautiful moment! Getting married in Ireland would be out of the question considering the two other countries our families come from but an Engagement was the most perfect thing for me. I’m a lucky girl!

After the moment of shock we walked around the Cliffs. Toblerone almost tripped off the side which was very close to becoming a tragic wedding proposal day! He is a bit clumsy at times 🙂

Then it was time to go celebrate the Engagment (EEEEE!!!!) and head into Galway for a nice dinner. We found a cute B&B, got settled in and had dinner at a bar/restaurant. Toblerone had the steak and I had salmon.

We ate and went out in search of a cool bar which we did find. A huge place called Skeff Bar where we got to pour our own pints from our table. Such a cool contraption. I’ve gotta get one of those put into my dinner table!

We walked around Galway a little bit and I tried to remember the place from when I was young. I started to feel a bit yucky so we went back to the hotel where I was plagued with food poisoning until 4 or 5 in the morning. Nonstop puking for hours. I was exhausted and had to get up at 9am for breakfast the next morning. Lord help me!! What a dream on our Engagement night.

All in all it was a magical day! From fairy land to fairy tale Engagement… life was good on June 18th! A happy Irish girl indeed!

Until next time, Readers!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Taking A Time Out!

HELLLLLLOOOOOO!!!!!! I feel like it’s been so long since I’ve written! Granted, I was in the US for 10 days and what a WONDERFUL ten days it was!

Love from my bestie!

So, last time, I told you that I was headed back home to NY. What I left out was the precise reason why. The obvious is that I need to restock on my reese’s pieces cups and BBQ sauce but what I didn’t tell you since I was sworn to secrecy was that I picked this time frame to be there to share in the fun when my best friend got engaged!!!!! Her boyfr….ahem…fiance… had contacted me several weeks in advance so I could try to get home for on or around the 25th of February. SO thankful I was able to be there so thank you to Toblerone for giving me the greatest gift for Valentine’s Day and to M for trusting me by telling me the plan way in advance!

For me this has been so thrilling! I don’t have my sparkler yet but just watching the joy that comes along with it all got me really looking forward to whats to come! I was there the day these two met and now I’ll be there while they start the next chapter…holy cannoli…there are no words! Let the planning begin!!!!

I tried really hard to fit everyone/everything into my schedule but I ran out of time. One week really does fly and with a stomach bug for 24 hours that made it extra pleasant. I went to Green Beer Sunday for the first time in my life (which is when they bring a truck full of green beer to the Irish pub in the Irish section of town), Had a green beer for the first time ever, went shopping, was part of an engagement surprise party, went to see a movie (The Vow) for the first time in months, went to Zumba, and hugged everyone before I left! Phew!!!

Proof that I had a green beer 🙂

It was tough having to leave again but this time I did it without tears. I managed to get myself on the plane and I suppose having breakfast with my mom helped. Needed her to remind me that I’m stronger than I think! And quite possibly the many glasses of wine I had waiting for my delayed plane helped. The bartender is this guy I see everytime I’m in this airport. He’s older, hilarious, and just all around charming for a 72yr old. They called my flight to board and I didn’t want to gulp down the last remains of my wine so he said he had just the thing for me. He put it in a coffee “to-go” cup and told me that they do this for all the pilots. Hmmm…….that scares me. A plane full of pilots that are 10 sheets to the wind. Fabulous! And there at that moment went my “strength” I got at breakfast!

Wine to go! (sorry it's sideways!)

Anyways, the trip was good and now I’m waiting for March 14th to hurry up and go. This is when I head to the specialist for my Endometriosis (GRAND!) and then after that I can start the partying for St. Patty’s Day. Somehow, I have to get these Germans to appreciate a day dedicated to drinking!! It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it!

Am I glad to be back in Deutschland? Not particularly, however, I’m going to make the best of it even if I can’t get decent Peanut Butter here. It’s been 60+ degrees and this is helping to mask the sadness that I miss America, deeply. Oh and by the way, as of yesterday…I have been in Germany for 1 year. Isn’t it ironic that I flew to Germany the exact same day I flew there one year ago? Crazy beans!!!

So here’s hoping we see each other again soon, America. Man, how I miss you!!!

Until next time, Readers!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sparkler

Two years ago my lovely adorable boyfriend picked out the ring he thought would be perfect for our engagement. For two years, I have been drooling over this piece of sparkly wonder and literally dreaming about it being on my dainty left hand showing the world, naturally.

On a Friday night he was a little tipsy after a night out with friends over in Germany. He called me in the states to tell me goodnight per usual and happened to slip about maybe having picked up something special from the jewelers. He’s good at manipulating my mind on this stuff and making me believe one thing and then changing it around so I’m confused. I know he wants it to be a surprise but I have such a hard time with this!

I really need to learn not to control every aspect of my life. It’s causing be to have premature gray hairs! I think i’m just overly excited. I’m most definitely one of those girls that has been dreaming about my wedding for ages and living vicariously through Barbie and Ken – minus the hot pink convertible and matching speed-boat. Damn them!

This is what he showed me years ago…and obviously I’m super in-love with this idea. He nailed it. This basically should be named “SugarandSpice.” It’s speaks to me…I want to bathe in it’s lusciousness… ok ok…I’m getting a little crazy but you get the idea of how much I LOVE this ring. And dammit it all to hell…I better have it!! I sound spoiled, but I promise you I’m not. Just for once I want a dream to come true…I’ve waited so long to have it.

There….now can you blame me for acting like a psycho girl from “The Bachelor.” Yes, I will accept this rose…and the fabulous one-on-one dates to Italy…and this sparkling ball of fantastic pink love! I do!