The Scotland Adventure Begins ... First, in Ireland

May of 2015 will forever remain among one of the very most favorite and unforgettable times of my life, for it is when we adventured to the land Matt and I had always longed to see: Scotland.

Thanks to the generous help of our families in helping to watch Makenna back at home, Matt and I were able to plan a fun-filled extended vacation including a two day stop in Dublin and seven full, glorious days to explore Scotland's cities, villages, and countryside at our leisure.

I've long mulled over how to share about our dreamy experiences on this here blog of mine. Should I do a day by day recap? No, there were too many days. On top of that, so many of our experiences in Scotland involved visiting castles and estates {I believe we saw at least fifteen!}. Nothing could be more fun for Matt and myself--we are, after all, history-lovers who both majored in history during college. However, I realize that perhaps seeing countless photos of countless castles may not be the most interesting thing for my readers?

Thus, I have decided to break up our Scotland post into sections regarding sights, food, Bed and Breakfasts, the countryside, etc.

But first I shall begin with a big, fat posting about experiencing the lovely city of Dublin, Ireland!

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A bright and glorious sunrise greeted us as we rolled off the airplane in Dublin. Our adventure had officially begun!

We took a taxi into the city center to our hotel. Our taxi driver was especially lively and chatty for it being 5:30 in the morning. The city seemed to be still sleeping for the most part, and with the time difference, our bodies were crying out for some rest. We checked into our room, showered, and set our alarms to sleep for several hours.

By about 12:30 pm Dublin-time, we were awake, dressed, hungry, and very ready to explore this famed city. We had only the latter part of Monday and most of the day on Tuesday to see the sights before we would hop on another flight to Edinburgh.

Dublin is a lively, bustling city, full of charm. Just walking from one destination to another afforded us wonderful sights and experiences.

A delicious pub lunch with a view of the city from Arthur's Bar.

We made multiple coffee stops to rest our tired little feet. I was delighted to indulge in some Costa coffee again. Costa is a coffee chain in the UK I fell in love with when I spent a summer working in England back in 2008. There was a drop of sentimentality in each sip.

We ventured to the incredibly lovely Trinity College.

For the die-hard book lover in me, we first saw the ancient Book of Kells. It is an illuminated manuscript of the gospels dating from about 800 AD--an unimaginable work of art and beauty. A single page laid open, and I could have stared and studied it for days. It is forever etched into my memory.

We then got to see the monumental library itself. A dream among dreams for book lovers like myself!

A morning view of the river Liffey spurred us on to fresh adventures on our second day.

A simple and perfect breakfast: a latte, freshly squeezed orange juice, and the most delicious raspberry scone I've ever tasted at the Queen of Tarts.

We stumbled upon this tiny and serene cemetery located within the city center.

Before we had to end our tour of Dublin, we stopped for a delicious supper at the Pieman Cafe.

We have vowed to return to Ireland again, one day. The emerald isle fills my heart with happiness, and I feel so at home there.

{Not pictured are the several lovely museums we visited. The history fanatics within us both leave us desiring a good dose of museum-exploring during our travels. We are the couple who carefully examines artifacts and stands around reading all the plaques. Aren't we a match made in heaven?! Dublin has some outstanding museums unlike any others we've ever visited.}

An Epic Trip

I have some very exciting news to share!

In exactly two months from this very moment, Matt and I will be here:

Via

That's right--SCOTLAND!

Matt and I have no words to express just how excited we are. This is truly a dream-come-true trip for us, at the very top of our list of desired places to visit in the world.

We'll be beginning our trip with a two-day stay in Dublin, Ireland, to see that wonderful city. I have visited western Ireland before but not Dublin, and Matt has yet to see any of Ireland.

Then it's off to Edinburgh, Scotland for two days. From there, we're renting a car and will spend five days exploring the beauty of Scotland, including traveling far up north into the Highlands.

It goes without saying that this trip would not be possible without both of our amazing families. It is because of their generous flexibility and aide to care for Makenna while we're gone that has made this dream trip a reality for us. Saying thank you seems so incredibly inadequate!

You can best believe that I will have an obnoxious amount of photos to share upon our return, which will be exacerbated by the fact that we'll be bringing a new camera along with us.

I haven't been back to anywhere in Europe since March 2011, when I returned from my long-term stay in Hungary. I had been to Europe every two to three years or so between ages 19 and 27, so to say I've been itching to travel overseas is a huge understatement. And to have the opportunity to explore Scotland over a week's time is truly as much as I could have ever hoped for.

Let the countdown begin to our wee adventure in bonnie Scotland!

Back to Oregon

The recent passing of my Grandma, although heartbreaking, provided the happy opportunity for Matt and I to return to one of my favorite places in the world: Oregon.

It is my home away from home. And I will tell you that last night I dreamed about Portland's old, distinct, and famous (well, at least to Portlanders) airport carpet, which is set to be replaced.

Most of the extended family on my Mom's side reside in Portland. I was so excited to see them all again! But I was most excited to see my brother, Brandon, my sister-in-law Karyl, and my niece and nephew Krista and Sam. It had been a year and a half since we'd last seen them. They used to live in Portland, but moved over to the Oregon coast about one year ago.

We decided the trip would be too hard on Makenna at this age with the flights, funeral, family gatherings, driving, hotels, etc. Thankfully Matt's parents were available to watch her for us and Makenna had a blast staying at "Nana and Papa's" house. In retrospect, we absolutely feel we made the right decision in not taking her along.

We squeezed in so much in the four days we were in Oregon and it was just lovely. Besides reuniting with extended family (and I must say that time was far too brief), I arranged for my first friend in life to swing by our hotel room for a quick visit.

The lovely Katie

The day after the funeral, we visited my "happiest place on earth," Powell's bookstore in downtown Portland.

It's an entire city block of new and used books. I know precisely where to find their archaeology section. I have lugged so many books home to Michigan from this section over the years.

We left Portland behind and headed west to the beautiful coastal town of Astoria, where my brother and his family now live. Portland bid us farewell with this gorgeous view of Mt. Hood.

We arrived in Astoria at sunset and met Brandon at the prime lookout point in the town. There are no words to describe this beauty.

Astoria is nestled on the shores of the Colombia River {the river which runs between the borders of Washington and Oregon}, right where it flows out into the Pacific Ocean. It is simply breathtaking, and the weather was perfect, especially for the winter time.

We hopped into Brandon's truck and he drove us down to a spot along the ocean lined with big boulders. We arrived just after the sun had set.

Brandon and Matt climbed down to pick mussels off of the rocks for our dinner that night. Karyl was cooking us a seafood feast with homemade clam chowder, crab, and mussels {of course!} cooked in a rich and delicious sauce. Quite fitting for their new home on the seashore!

As the guys were busy at work, I sat and enjoyed a gorgeous view of the Oregon coast.

It was just what my soul needed. Watching water has a way of calming my heart like little else in this world, and I find myself deeply drawn to the shore, whether it be the beaches of Lake Michigan, where I was fortunate enough to grow up, or the mighty oceans.

I visited the Oregon coast with my Mom and sister just after my Grandpa Dorsey passed away. It seemed only right to return here again after Grandma passed, too. Some of my last memories with them in the years before their health started declining were trips to stay along the Oregon coast. We always had amazing views because they so loved to just sit and watch the ocean. It felt like a small homage to them, to return to their beloved Oregon coast after both of them had passed.

After plenty of mussels had been gathered, Brandon drove us down onto the beach. There was barely enough daylight left, but we were able to catch a glimpse of the remains of a famous shipwreck which hauntingly protrudes from the sand.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with Brandon, Karyl, and the kids in their home. It was so lovely. Although, we had to laugh...the kids weren't able to stay awake until midnight and us four adults barely made it. {Matt and Sam had fallen asleep cuddled together on the couch!} The fact that it was almost painful to stay awake that late certainly made us feel pretty old!

We enjoyed a wonderful New Year's Day brunch together at a restaurant after sleeping in. Then they showed us around downtown Astoria {so quaint--I wish I had more pictures!} and took us down to the docks to watch the seals.

Another highlight was stopping to see the house from the beginning of the movie Goonies. It was filmed in Astoria and the private owners of the house welcome visitors to walk up to their house and check it out, from the outside, of course.

The "Goondocks:"

We also went to the Astoria Maritime museum. It was especially fascinating because Astoria is located on some of the most treacherous waters in the world for sailors--it is there that the powerful Colombia River flows into the mighty Pacific.

We stopped to check out antiques and finished our busy day with a quick visit to a nearby waterfall. Waterfalls are one of my very favorite, plentiful features in Oregon. It wouldn't seem right to visit Oregon and not see a waterfall.

It wasn't frozen, but the mist from the waterfall covered the surrounding area in a thin layer of frost.

I am so thankful for all we did and saw in Oregon, but most especially the wonderful memories we made with Brandon and his family. It was perfect in every way, except that it was far, far too short.

Until next time, Oregon.

Travel Memoirs: A Dreamy Train Ride

It was one of those moments when you wake up in a strange bed and feel disoriented, wondering where the heck you are. And then I remembered, Oh yes, I'm on a train.

It was five weeks in during my semester studying in France when classes halted for a two week-long break. In these five weeks, I had made friends with two American girls from my study abroad program and another Swedish girl from one of our classes. Together we had decided to set off to southern France and then on to Barcelona to fill our two weeks with as many adventures as possible.

I had volunteered as trip organizer, booking our flights and accommodations. Though we could have flown to Nice, it was cheaper to take a train, and after all, why not take advantage of France's famously speedy and efficient railway systems? I also had always thought the idea of taking a sleeping car and traveling overnight on a train to be appealing, and perhaps even slightly romantic. Thankfully the girls seemed to like my idea and I booked our tickets.

We knew full well that our sleeping car wouldn't be spacious or glamorous at the rate we paid, and we were curious to see how six individuals were to fit into one sleeping compartment. Yes--we would be sharing a compartment with three other strangers! We ended up sharing with a mother and her two children, both of whom were extremely quiet, well-behaved, and slept soundly.

The beds pulled out of the wall and were stacked three high on either side of the compartment. By the sheer kindness of my travel mates, I ended up on the lowest bed. Our train had departed around 10:30 at night, and by 11:30, we were all tucked into our beds, partially as a courtesy to the very sleepy children curled up opposite from us.

As I lay there, I stared at the twinkling stars out the window by my feet. The clickity-clack of the train quickly lulled me to sleep, and I slept deeply and soundly the whole night through.

I awoke early, as sunlight began to peek into our compartment. I propped myself up on my elbow to see out the window and stared for many moments, certain what I was seeing was an illusion. It was the sea!

There was my first glimpse of the Mediterranean, seemingly yards away outside our window, sparkling with the most gorgeous shades of orange and red from the sunrise. I was in awe, feeling I had stepped into a dream. This--this was one of the most beautiful sights my eyes had ever seen, and appearing at such an unexpected moment.

A huge smile crept across my face as I took in the beauty of the sea in the utter quiet and stillness of our little train compartment. What a glorious beginning to our adventures along the sea.

Travel Memoirs

My little blog here began as a way to share my overseas experiences with family and friends while I was away. The travel theme has been recurring here many times since I have been so incredibly fortunate to have traveled and spent time abroad in my life thus far.

I think of these many travels daily. Most often I am thinking of dear friends I made during my travels and missing them terribly. Other times I think of little things: the quiet restaurants, the amazing coffee, the fresh bread and pastry shops, walking everywhere, lovely architecture. I love these little moments of remembrances that transport me back to these special places where I've visited, lived, studied, or worked, even if only for a tiny instant.

These little memoirs that are a part of my daily life are very special to me. Travel is sacred to my soul. Travel is something I desperately need in my life. I had felt a longing for it ever since I was a young child, but until I first traveled abroad at age fourteen, I never really knew how deeply I needed it. I still feel the call of travel tugging at my heart each and every day, beckoning me to adventure and new discoveries.

I am a firm believer in living in the present and enjoying it to its fullest potential, however I find it to be quite refreshing to my mind and heart to pause and reflect upon my travels. I believe that is what travel is all about. It's excitement, discovery, stepping outside of one's own comfort zone--these things inevitably change a person, be it in big ways or small. The times I have studied or worked abroad have been especially intense times of growth for me--personal growth, spiritual growth, academic/linguistic growth, and thousands upon thousands of enriching experiences. I feel that if I were to forget these times and not pause to let the memories flood my heart and mind once again, then it was all for naught.

Strasbourg, France

Because I recently read a book on French parenting, France has been especially on my mind. I essentially spent eight months total there--two six week-long study programs in Normandy and five months studying at the University of Strasbourg. Oh! How I adore France! I lack the words to convey how deeply I love the French language, culture, and people. Yet in my recent remembrances of France, I've felt inspired to start sharing some of these travel memoirs that cross my mind--not just of France, but everywhere else I've been, too. It may be something as small as foods I came to love or something as big as a specific event that was quite memorable.

I hope you will enjoy these snapshots I will soon begin to share!

Guest Post: Have a Wonderful Family Getaway

I am absolutely delighted and honored to share a guest post from travel expert Kendra Thornton today! Kendra appears regularly on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CW affiliates to share her expansive travel knowledge. Her world travels began at three months old and eventually led her to be the Director of Corporate Communications for Orbitz. Now, as a full-time mom of three, she is especially helpful in offering tips on traveling with family and little ones.

Whether you're planning to travel over the upcoming Labor Day weekend as we are, or planning for other future family vacations, you'll find these tips especially insightful.

Have a Wonderful Family Getaway

While your calendar will soon be filled with school, fall sports, and dance recitals, it’s not too late for one last getaway. Make the most of this time and create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Figure out the details ahead of time, and the whole family will have a stress-free and fun vacation!

1) Memories to Last

Make it a trip none will forget. Buy a disposable camera for every member of the family. Announce a photo contest with categories like ‘funniest photo of Dad’, ‘cutest picture of the baby’, and ‘most touching moment between siblings’. Once you’re unpacked back at home, make a scrapbook of all the photos. Your kids will love being able to take these photos, and you will equally enjoy seeing their creativity at work.

2) Destination Fun!

Make vacation exciting for everyone by choosing a family-friendly destination. Think about what your children love: nature hikes, amusement park rides, or a trip to the aquarium. Choose a place that offers these activities onsite or nearby. I have found that traveling to big cities, like my hometown of Chicago, can actually be the best way to incorporate activities the whole family will love. To determine where to stay in a big city like Chicago, read user reviews about the hotels you are considering on a site like Gogobot when traveling this season. Many resorts include excellent kids clubs that provide parents time alone. Adults can relax at the spa, play a game of tennis, or simply enjoy the hotel room amenities– with no interruptions!

3) Baby on the Go!

Toting along a full-size stroller can cause a full-size headache. However, there are other options. You can purchase an inexpensive umbrella stroller. This will be easy to transport, and will leave you without the worries of damaging it like you would normally have with the expensive, brand name stroller. Also, you may be able to rent a stroller at your destination if you can do without one at the airport.

4) Cruise through Security

Plan ahead of time to speed up airport check-in and security procedures. Print out your boarding passes the day before your trip and you’ll be able to cut down one trip to a counter at the airport. Be sure that everyone wears slip-on shoes to save time and hassle. Also, review what you can bring through security in your carry-on bag prior to packing.

5) Be Worry-Free

After the kids are exhausted from a day of exciting activities, it’s time for you and the hubby to relax together. Do this worry-free with a little help from technology! The Presence by People app converts your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch into a video camera with a motion detection feature and a two-way conversation mode. You can go down to the hotel pool together, or enjoy a drink at the hotel bar all while knowing your little one is safe and sound a few floors up in the hotel room.

With the fall season nipping at our heels, there is no better time than now to enjoy a family vacation. Use these tips to help minimize the stress and hassle that can sometimes come with traveling, and remember, have fun!

A big thank you to Kendra for stopping by 'Delighted'! 

Mackinac Getaway: Part II

Mackinac Island is among the most charming of destinations. A day spent here is a retreat from the rest of the bustling, modern world. Matt and I visited the island at the very end of tourist season, so the busy and noisy summer crowds had all but dissipated. It was so deliciously calm and quiet, and that element combined with the absolutely perfect autumn weather made our day simply dreamy.



Our day began {true to our history-nerd-selves} by touring Fort Mackinac, which also provided us with the most breathtaking views of the island. We strolled the quaint streets hand in hand, browsing the lovely shops and picking out a few treasures to take home.

One of my favorite elements of the island is that no "horseless carriages" are allowed. The perfectly-groomed streets are traversed by walking, biking, and carriages. I love hearing the clip-clop of horse hooves on the pavement acting as a sort of soundtrack to a visit to the island--a reminder of simpler times.

We of course ended up at the Grand Hotel, that magical Mackinac destination. Matt and I treated ourselves to afternoon tea in the hotel's parlor. The pastries and finger sandwiches were oh-so-scrumptious, and thankfully the menu allowed for substituting a delicious sparkling juice instead of champagne!

By the end of the day, the streets were almost ghostly quiet. The beautiful sunny sky was slowly beginning to be replaced with grey rainclouds. Matt and I took a ferry back to the mainland just in time to witness the beautiful golden colors painted behind the Mackinac bridge.

I really could not have imagined a more relaxing and delightful day to celebrate two very special things: Matt's 30th birthday and our "babymoon" before baby girl arrives in 2013. What lovely memories we made to celebrate our love, our life together, and our growing family.