Traveling itch

I got this world map for Mike for our first wedding anniversary (paper!). Now before we talk about how that means we've been married for over a year, let's talk about wanderlust. Mike and I have been all over the place, and I'm itching to plan something new.  We're headed back to Asheville/NYC over Thanksgiving week but I think it's time to plan somewhere new. The question, is where?

We took a Cruise with Mike's folks and I really enojoyed it. I'm not a huge beach person though, but an ALASKA cruise.. well, that could be awesome. 

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or Portland?

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or somewhere outside the US - on a safari?

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What's that? You're only still reading for pictures from the travels we've already taken?

Why haven't I blogged about these? OKOK. Got it. 

Sydney, Australia on the Harbor Bridge

Iao Needle, Hawaii

Harry Potter Studio Tour, UK

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Somewhere in the Atlantic, Bahamas-ish

San Diego

Wine Country

On Saturday Morning, 

we dropped Shiva off at the boarder, 

and headed up to wine country. 

First, we stopped in Santa Rosa. 

The weather was perfect, 

so we meandered a bit, 

before our table at Russian River Brewery was ready. 

To say the place was "packed" is an understatement. 

BUT, the "everything" sampler, totally made it worth it.  

You HAVE to get it if you go. 

It's really not -that- much, 

especially when drank with food and over time. 

AND it's tasty. 

Then we drove around, looking at vineyards, 

sampling some of the wines, 

and generally enjoying the day. 

We eventually found ourselves at Red Car Winery. 

If you're in Santa Rosa, you should really stop by. 

Fun atmosphere, great people, even greater wine.  

We might have joined their wine club. 

OH, and all the artwork on their bottles is STELLAR. 

Check out this set, which have a boxing theme going.  

Finally, we went to Rosso for dinner.  

While the pizza is excellent, 

the bruschetta is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G  

Sunday, 

we headed over to our meet our wedding coordinator, 

and walk around our venue. 

THIS is the only photo I have. 

I didnt take a lot of pictures, 

because I was getting a lot done. 

I'm not going to tell you anything about the wedding, 

except its going to be beautiful and perfect. 

I'm so excited. 

We had one last chance to grab some food in the Valley of the Moon, 

before heading back to the work week.  

<3

Weekend Update

This weekend was definitely fantastic. 

After such a good Valentine's day,

 it had a tall order to fill, 

but, it did. 

Oh, it did. 

Saturday

Mike flew in late Friday night, 

so Saturday afternoon we were thrilled to head to our first

San Francisco Beer Fest event. 

It was really close, so we cabbed it out, 

in BEAUTIFUL 70* weather. 

I also found this..it's a beer, 

that is brewed like a sparkling wine. 

Quite tasty. 

Sunday

We dropped Shiva off at the boarder and headed north. 

We stopped in Calistoga at Hans Fahden for a little tasting and tour. 

(Beautiful grounds)

Then, we headed to Chateau Montelena. 

If you've seen the movie "Bottle Shock" -this- is the vineyard. 

If you haven't seen the movie. Go do it.

They had beautiful grounds (I sense a theme here..)

and fantastic wine. There was also a nice hallway full of the winery's history.  

Our last stop was out to Paradise Ridge. 

The owners had purchased a large amount of Burning Man art, 

that was located on the grounds

And again, the views and wines were terrific.  

After we checked into our hotel, we found ourselves at risibisi for dinner. 

FANTASTIC risotto with shredded beef. 

Monday

Although the weather was less cooperative, 

we started out at Cline Cellars. 

If you go there, ask for Gayle in the tasting room.
She's FANTASTIC, and really makes everyone feel special. 

We then went across the street to Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. 

They also have an olive oil press, which is very cool. 

Can you guess how the wines were? 

I loved the look of this place, old world Italian architecture and wines. 

For lunch, we went up to Viansa,  

then back down to Gloria Ferrar to see the grounds and 

check our their award winning sparkling wines. 

Eventually, it was time to leave.
We stopped on the way home for sushi, 

at our new favorite sushi place, 

then headed home to open a bottle of wine to celebrate 

-my new job!-. 

(Yes, we opened more wine..don't judge)

It was actually a bottle we picked up in Kansas during our road trip in November. 

So, it was a little sweet to feel the circle come all the way around  

One final shot, 

my tulips started to bloom! 

Another excellent weekend, 

and another set of venues to look at. 

Certainly can't complain about life right now :)

2012

2012 will forever be remembered 

as one of the best, 

and busiest, 

years of my life. 

---

January

We saw American Idiot. 

We celebrated Mike's birthday. 

We got a touch of wanderlust. 

We hung out with old friends, and celebrated new ones. 

February

We had the first special lady weekend. 

We painted & watched football.

We celebrated April's engagement, Valentine's Day, 

the science of wine, and the love of painting

March

We celebrated St. Patricks Day,

 our Anniversary, (where we won trivia)

We enjoyed our weekends and weekdays

April

We celebrated Eastover,

ate chili, drank wine, and went to DC.

Read More: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

My knee and I broke up (again.)

May

We watched some baseball,

celebrated Mother's Day, and my Birthday. 

Mike went to China

We went to Asheville. 

Read More: (1) (2) (3) 

June

We saw concerts & went painting.

We went to Durham.

We found Shiva.  

Here's our updated family :) 

July

We brewed, 

I went to New Orleans, & hardly blogged about it. 

We went to the Outer Banks, 

introduced Mama and Daddy to Shiva

and crossed a goal off my list. 

Mike interviewed in California. 

August

We went to Beer, Bourbon and BBQ,

 and celebrated Raleigh Beer Week. 

We traveled to New York and announced our move,

September

We went house hunting and succeeded.

We said our goodbyes to Raleigh. 

Mike drove to Cali and I got real.

We celebrated weddings, & packed.

October.   

We went to Europe,

and packed some more. 

I got engaged to my best friend. 

I went to Charleston for April's Bachelorette.  

I quit my job, went to Charlotte, 

and made one last trip home. 

November

We went to April's AMAZING wedding. 

We traveled 3000 miles across this AMAZING country. 

We had our first California weekend. 

We went home to NY for Thanksgiving.

December

We said goodbye to Grandpa Joe & Mike went to Brazil. 

I decorated for Hanukkah & Christmas. 

We went to Ikea. 

We traveled back to NC for Christmas. 

We were overwhelmed by the presents. 

Mike's family came to visit US the week after. 

We celebrated NYE on our couch, in pajamas. 

HELLOOOOOOO 2013.  

You're gonna have to be pretty spectacular to beat 2012. 

I have faith in you though 

We're going on a Road Trip!

Well, actually, we went on one. 

But, the above title should be said as if you were "going on a bear hunt."

If you're still lost, let's just move on. 

Mike and I,

along with Shiva, Olive and Oi, 

drove across country one week. 

It sounds hectic, crazy, terrifying and intense, 

but, aside from our attack on Donner Summit,

it was nice. 

Here, in all it's glory, is our 5day, 3000 mile trek. 

Leaving our Home in Raleigh

0 miles. 

Saying goodbye to North Carolina

Saying Hello to Tennessee. 

Nashville!

Illinois!

Sleepy Shiva

Kentucky rest stops are weirdly decorated. 

Kentucky. As far as you can see/drive..just Kentucky

They did this the -entire- time.

St. Louis!

I-40, somewhere...

Kansas City, here we come

We watched Monday Night Football with takeout pizza and local beer... in our hotel. 

Pretty fabulous choice for our only pitstop if you ask me. 

Windmills in Kansas

Great Plains sunset.

Celebrating the election in Golden, Colorado. 

Colorado. 

Idaho Springs

No Name, Colorado. Yes, it's a real place. 

Somewhere on 1-70, I hit a milestone with Bella.

heading into Utah

Whotah? Utah?

Utah

Black Dragon Canyon

Not hiking..this time. 

Black Dragon Canyon

Mike took a quiz somewhere along the way...

Shiva kept the troops entertained. 

Classic car spotting for Dad. 

Eureka Nevada!

Nevada Dust Storm

Dust storms aren't fun..

Mike will never trust Diners, Drive-Ins and Drives again. 

our first attempt to leave Nevada

Blizzard Traffic. See those trucks? GOING 50. I was going 20 and scared-crying. 

Turning around

Our car back at the Reno hotel. 

Take 2 to make it to California. Note the SNOW in the background. 

Men who put the chains on your car. 

Donner, party of 5. I will Hike this pass one day. 

Shiva was not concerned with death. 

The chains came off!

and down the mountain we chugged. 

We chugged. Shiva chewed. THROUGH MY SEAT BELT. 

CALIFORNIA!

Into San Jose, now!

Home.

3109miles. If you can't read it.