The weekend, my darling readers! After a week spent blogging about my travels to Ireland and Paris, I have to admit: one of the best things about vacation is coming home, especially to a city as amazing as New York. This weekend is filled with lots of only-in-New York things. Broadway, the ballet, and given the sunny forecast, hopefully some time spent in Central Park, too. What do you have planned? Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:
Ode to the little things.
I wish my bookshelves looked like this.
Reasons to love October.
Can someone buy me these lovely purple shoes? :)
How to be a tourist in Notting Hill.
Sunny vases.
I think I want a puppy.
Oui, je t'aime Paris! (Plus: the city in Autumn.)
Fall salads I can't wait to try.
Run away.
(Image via Note to Self)
If you read yesterday's post, you saw incredible photos from my friends' Irish wedding. Hard to believe that was only day one of our trip! From Clifden, we drove back to Galway, where we checked into the most lovely B&B I've ever stayed at: the Kilcullen House. If you ever find yourself in Ireland, book a room at this place—it's reasonably priced, centrally located, and run by the most welcoming staff you could possibly imagine. We dropped our bags, and got back on the road—this time, traveling down to see the Cliffs of Moher. We took the scenic route, which made for a tight squeeze when passing others on the road, but was completely worth it since it meant we could drive along Ireland's beautiful coast.
Other Ireland favorites:
*The Guinness Factory tour in Dublin was touristy, yes, but tons of fun. It also features one of the most impressive views of the entire city!
*The castles. I felt like I fell into an episode of Downton Abbey every time we passed a magnificent castle, like the one pictured above near Clifden.
*I grew up in a small town, but I couldn't get enough of the cows, sheep and horses, roaming in the sweeping fields along the roads as we drove by. Also, amazing—the stone walls! It's incredible to think about how long ago they were built, and how they've withstood the test of time...and inclement weather.
*The food. We had the pleasure of dining at Kai, a delightful spot in Galway, where I enjoyed one of the best meals of the entire trip. Matt's steak—pictured above—was so tasty, with all organic ingredients, too.
*Last, the very best part of Ireland is the small town vibe of a country so lush, green, friendly and kind. Everywhere we went we either made friends or ran into them, which is exactly why I posted the pic of myself and my friend (and fellow wedding guest) Stephanie. Matt and I ran into Steph and her husband Tom the last night of our trip at a pub in Dublin. Together, we walked over to the Ha'penny Bridge over the Liffey River — a magical way to say goodbye to the city, and get ready for our next destination: Paris!
At last! Time to update you on my lovely and delightful trip across the pond. First stop: an Irish wedding. Our friends Shalah and Christian got married just outside of Clifden on the western coast of Ireland. We were amazed at how green and gorgeous everything was as we made our way from Dublin to Galway.
The wedding took place at Rosleague Manor, a stunning spot with breathtaking views of the Irish countryside. After an outdoor ceremony, we enjoyed a five-course meal, and dancing late into the night. The biggest struggle for Matt and I? Our jet lag! We took the red eye into Dublin the night before the wedding, and managed a couple of hours of sleep before the ceremony began. But it was absolutely worth it! The pics above should give you a glimpse of the day—the beautiful bride, the map filled with place settings, the blessing I got to read during the ceremony right after the couple said 'I do'.
Have you ever been to Ireland? More to come on my travels this week!
I know I said I wasn't going to blog about my trip to Ireland and Paris until next week, but then Kate posted the image above and I couldn't resist. What an amazing reminder—in the midst of a chaotic day/week/month—to stop, even for a minute, and appreciate the view.
The shot directly beneath Kate's image is one I took through the windshield of our car while driving in Ireland. The speed was 120 kilometers per hour on that road(!), but I got Matt to slow down for a second—long enough for me to take this pic. We were driving just south of Galway, and the natural beauty here (and everywhere in Ireland) was astounding. Just looking at this photo is all the reminder I need to slow down and take a deep breath.
Wishing you a lovely Tuesday—more about my trip next week!
(Image via Wit & Delight)
