Our Five Year Wood Anniversary Gifts

On July 25, Chris and I celebrated our five year anniversary. We I decided that we should do the traditional anniversary gifts every year. The first few years were easy (though last year’s fruits and flowers was also tough. I ended up doing a play on words since no guy wants fruits or flowers as a gift…but that’s a story for another day).

When I looked up the five year anniversary gift and saw wood, I had no idea what to do. All I could find when I searched for gift ideas was cutting boards, wood jewelry, and furniture, and Chris wouldn’t exactly appreciate any of that. Enter Etsy. I had no idea what I was looking for, but I am glad I found it.

Personalized wood greeting card:

I was so excited when I saw this anniversary card. It was neat to have something personalized to remember our anniversary.

Paris photo on wood:

I knew I wanted something personal that we could hang in our house. I loved the options for photos on wood that MadeforMineBoutique had, and I think our sepia Paris photo is such a great reminder of our time in Europe.

Chris got me this wooden sign:

I love it, and I’m going to put it on my desk at work for those long days when we don’t get to see each other.

But the best part of his wooden gift was… 

About a month before our anniversary, Chris told me he was working on a project for me in the laundry room (which he called his “lab”) and that I wasn’t allowed to go in there (fine with me if he wants to do the laundry!).

He spent hours creating wooden earrings for me! He painted them, drilled holes in each earring, and assembled the hooks. He even thought to buy the protective backs! He painted Baylor earrings, Texas earrings, America earrings, and lots of different colors and stripes. Here are three of the earrings he made:

Now I need to start thinking about candy and iron!

Three Relaxing Destinations in Italy

Italy is full of so many must-visit places, especially the popular cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice. After we visited Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples all in a row, I was both physically and mentally exhausted from trying to visit as many cultural sites as possible in a limited time. I was incredibly thankful that we had decided to add a number of places to unwind to round out our Italian itinerary. During that trip, we picked five relaxing destinations. Today, I’m sharing three of my favorites.

Capri:

Capri is not just my favorite relaxing destination in Italy—it is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. After two weeks visiting museums and other attractions, there was nothing better than walking around with a local lemon drink in my hand, looking out at the breathtaking scenery. I also really enjoyed taking a boat tour of the island with a stop at the Grotto Azzurra, where the light turns the water in the cave into a brilliant blue.

See: Grotto Azzurra (The Blue Grotto), boat tour from the Marina Grande, take a summit up to Monte Solaro in Anacapri for incredible views of Anacapri and the Gulf of Naples, and Villa Jovis.

Stresa:

I asked my husband to pick a random city in Italy where we could relax for a few days, and he picked Stresa, a city on the banks of Lake Maggiore. I had no idea what to expect, but we had an amazing time. We spent our days walking along the banks of Lake Maggiore and taking boat rides to the Borromean Islands. It was so relaxing to explore the gardens at Isola Bella and the colorful markets at the small fishing village of Isola Pescatori.

See: Lake Maggiore, Isola Bella, Isola Pescatori, cable car to Mount Mottarone, and Alpine Gardens.

Cinque Terre:

Although the hikes in the five villages of Cinque Terre are not always relaxing, I was able to unwind by sitting on the patio of a restaurant, looking out towards the gorgeous seaside views. The Via dell’ Amore is an easy walk that offers incredible views of the sea. We stayed just outside of Cinque Terre in the city of Moneglia to save money, and Moneglia turned out to be a treat! There was a beautiful beach away from the crowds where we could relax after a day in Cinque Terre.

See: Via dell’ Amore, hiking trails, explore all five villages. 

Friday Favorites: Residency, Football, and Vacation

Phew, what a week. Is it just me, or do four-day weeks seem more chaotic? Work was so busy this week that I felt like breathing was optional.  Needless to say, I am so glad it is Friday. Here are five things that made me happy this week.

/ / One: 

Chris and I spent hours narrowing down his list of residency programs. It is tough because there are so many factors, but I finally feel like we’re in a good place with it (which is a good thing since his application is due in less than two weeks).

/ / Two:

I am about 25 percent of the way through The Escape Artist by Diane Chamberlain, and I really like it so far.It is not one of my favorite books by her, (that honor goes to The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes) but it is keeping me interested.This one is about a mother who loses a custody battle for her son and decides to run away with him instead of give him up. Diane Chamberlain’s books are quick and easy reads with many twists and turns (some are obvious, but others have blown my mind).

/ / Three: 

I finally feel like we are getting closer to our vacation! I can't wait to be back on a boat. We booked it back in May so it has been a long time coming. We love traveling with family so we haven’t taken a “just us” trip in years. We are also celebrating our fifth anniversary late, and this is our last hurrah before Chris starts traveling all over the country for interviews so I am ready to get this party started.

/ / Four: 

I am so excited to watch football this weekend (both college and NFL football) and to play fantasy football for this first time. I have no idea what I’m doing, but it should be fun!

/ / Five: 

Speaking of our vacation, I am in full fall clothing and formal dress shopping mode right now. Never mind that it’s 100 degrees outside. A girl can dream, right? 

Linking up with Lauren, Amanda, Karli, and Amy.

Texas, Our Texas: Pros of Living in The Lone Star State

Fall is a popular topic in the blogosphere right now, but I am having trouble thinking about fall as I sit in an apartment with broken air conditioning and 100 degrees outside. This is the time of the year when living in Texas makes this Siberian feel like she’s about to melt the minute she walks out the door so I thought it is also a good time to remind myself what I love about this crazy state.

The food: 

If Chris and I ever leave Texas, the food is what we will miss the most (other than our families, of course). We are not alone—our friends who have moved away always ask to stop for Tex-Mex, barbecue, or Whataburger when we pick them up from the airport. I could seriously alternate between Tex-Mex and barbecue every single day and not get sick of it. That brisket gets me every time, and Blue Bell Ice Cream is the best. You get the point—I need to stop talking about the food before I have to drive over to Rudy’s to get some barbecue.

The people: 

Oh, Texans, how I love you. The people here are so friendly and down to earth. One of the things I missed when we lived in Europe was smiling at everyone we passed on the street. I know there are friendly people everywhere, but Texans are their own breed, especially when it comes to state pride.

The sun: 

One of these days I’ll write a list of the things I dislike about living in Texas, and the weather will be high on that list (tornadoes and persistent 100 degree heat, anyone?) One of the things I do love about the weather is the abundance of blue skies and gorgeous sunsets. Other than our crazy spring, we don’t get a lot of rain, and nothing makes me happier than a blue sky, especially in the winter.

The State Fair of Texas: 

I look forward to the State Fair of Texas every year. From the insane food options (fried Thanksgiving dinner, anyone?) to the pig races, the Texas Star Ferris wheel, and the fun shopping, the fair is one of my favorite events. I am already trying to figure out what weekend I can go this year.

Football:

In Texas, football is way more than a sport. The atmosphere is incredible and is something you have to see to believe. My first experience with Texas football was at my large high school, and I was shocked at the commitment of the fans…and I quickly became one of those fans. Football is taken seriously, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The closer it gets to the possibility of us leaving, the less I want to leave. Texas is home, 100 degree heat and all. 

Three Cities to Visit in France (Besides Paris)

Paris is almost on everyone’s bucket list. If you haven’t been, you want to go. If you’ve been, you likely want to go back. Though I can’t deny the magic of Paris, I think France has so much more to offer. To be honest, I love so many places in France that I could have written a “Ten Cities to Visit in France” list. For your sake (and mine!), I decided to stick to three.

Marseille

I was honestly surprised by how much I loved the city of Marseille. Before I left for three months in Europe, I asked my French professor for a list of cities in France to visit. He gave me 20. I don’t know why, but Marseille caught my eye. The city is right on the Mediterranean Sea, and the views are phenomenal (especially if you huff and puff (or is that just me?) up to the Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde. The view from the top of the cathedral is breathtaking). 

Then there’s the calanques. I had never heard of the Marseille calanques before, but I am so glad we hiked to them. I could have sat there for hours and admired the view of the formations. To top it all off, we took a boat ride to the Chateau d’If, made famous by Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. Unlike Edmond Dantès, no one ever escaped the prison, but it is worth seeing for the history and the views.

See: Basilique de Notre Dame de la Garde, Marseille calanques, Chateau d’If (boat ride from Marseile’s Vieux Port).

Strasbourg

Strasbourg instantly captured my heart. This adorable city on the border of France and Germany is a great blend of the two cultures and is a place I would want to visit again and again. (Especially during Christmas time for the Christmas market!)

The Notre Dame de Strasbourg is a towering presence as one of the tallest gothic cathedrals in the world. The inside is just as beautiful as the outside, and an astronomical clock showcases an animation of the apostles every day at 12:30 p.m. (€1 to see the animation, €4.40 to enter the cathedral). You can also climb 300 steps to the cathedral platform for magnificent views of the Black Forest. (€3)

The must-see for me in Strasbourg is La Petite France.  With its cobblestone streets and beautiful medieval buildings, La Petite France was such a cute place for us to shop, eat, and just stroll along the riverside.

See: Notre Dame de Strasbourg, La Petite France, Rue Rohan (by the cathedral, for lots of shops and restaurants. This is also where the Christmas market is held during the winter.)

Annecy

It was so hard for me to pick the third city for this post. There’s the foodie heaven of Lyon, the gorgeous French Riveria city of Nice, and Dijon, famous for Dijon mustard. I feel like the city of Annecy isn’t talked about as often as the others so I wanted to talk about my love for this beautiful city nestled in the French Alps.

Annecy has so much to see and do, but one of my favorite things was just to take a stroll by Lac d’Annecy. The lake offers so many water sports and boat rides, but I was mostly impressed by its beauty. With crystal clear water and views of the French Alps, Chris and I spent hours relaxing by the water.

We also loved exploring the lovely La Vieille Ville (the old city) area, the Chateau d’Annecy, and the romantic Pont des Amours (Lovers’ Bridge)

See: Lac d’Annecy, La Vieille Ville, Chateau d’Annecy, Pont des Amours.