We are slowly but surely putting our stamp on our new home. We have a lot of big projects on our list but I'm finding great joy in the smaller ones. One big problem we currently have is that there simply isn't enough light in the house. It's winter, so it's dark already and there aren't many light fixtures in the house right now. I bought a couple of cheap lamps from Kmart just to help out with the lighting situation, but I barely took them out of the box before I knew that there was no way I ... Read More
A Sentimental Visit to Butler’s Chocolate Factory
It would be difficult to visit Ireland and not see boxes of Butler's chocolates. There are cafes scattered around the country and boxes of their chocolates can be found in train stations, airports, and gift shops. Our first exposure to Butler's, though, was in New Zealand way back in 2006. A new cafe opened in our local mall that specialized in chocolates and hot drinks. The flavours were intriguing and they had the best mocha. Getting a box of Butler's became a special treat for us and we said ... Read More
Statue of Liberty Embroidery Hoop
My first visit to New York City was for a school trip during my senior year of high school. We did all of the standard school trip stops, including visiting the Statue of Liberty. I absolutely fell in love--so much so that I returned for university the next year. My school was downtown and I spent many an evening wandering down to Battery Park and just watching the Statue of Liberty stand proud. If I were able to visit NYC tomorrow just for a day, I would go say hi to Lady Liberty. I ... Read More
Where to Get American Food in Edinburgh
I LOVED our time in Edinburgh and was sad to leave. We had moved there intending to stay but it turned into a less than two year home. Reasons happen and we're pretty good at rolling with the punches but it still hits me that we're not currently on vacation and heading home to Scotland soon. The funny thing with me and expat life is that for the most part, I'm perfectly fine with having left the States. I miss my friends because we all know that I'm much better at staying in touch when I see ... Read More
Six Reasons to Take a Road Trip Instead of Flying
There are several reasons to take a road trip instead of flying, but for me it mostly comes down to three things: budget, timeline, and preference (I'm of course talking about those trips where driving is a possibility in the first place!). If you’re on a tight budget, a road trip is going to win almost every single time. However, if you’re on a strict timeline and not as strict of a budget, flying is probably a better option! There are some flights that are cheaper than driving solo (say, ... Read More
Cool & Creative Wood Pallet Projects
We've been getting a lot of flat pack furniture delivered lately and because our house is up a hill from the driveway, the delivery people stack it onto a pallet and wheel it up. I have been eyeing those pallets with each delivery and nearly had one, but Scott had him take it as I was carrying a box in. I love seeing what things people make from pallets and I'm always looking for easy pallet projects--even if I don't have a pallet on hand. I've rounded up 16 unique pallet ideas to inspire you to ... Read More