Joyeux Noël 2016 | Chicago, Illinois

For the past two years, Markus and I have sent out Christmas cards from some of our travels. The first year was from the woods of Michigan at this quaint bed and breakfast. I loved that photo and was worried that the next year wouldn't be as good. Thankfully, Markus and I went to Iceland last year and took an awesome photo at Jökulsárlón, Iceland's Glacier Lagoon. Since our apartment was featured in Apartment Therapy this year, I thought it would be nice to showcase some of our favorite pieces in our home. All of the pieces are vintage and most of them are from our favorite shop in Chicago, Vintage Quest. I was really pleased with how the photo turned out and I'm already thinking of what next year's photo will be! I hope all of you have a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year! 

Married for a Decade


I can't believe that Markus and I have been married for ten years today. Honestly, it doesn't feel like that long. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's the truth. Marriage isn't easy, but it's easier when you're married to your best friend. Markus has managed to make my life so fulfilling and giving me what I've always dreamed of as a girl, adventure.

When we first got married, Markus and I were poor twenty-somethings and never had the chance to have engagement photos taken. We both thought that this anniversary was the perfect time to finally have them done.  We found an amazing photographer, Mark Federighi. He was fantastic to work with and he couldn't have chosen a more beautiful place, the University of Chicago. We're both so pleased with our photos and are so happy to share them with you!


Toei Kyoto Studio Park | Kyoto, Japan | 2 of 4


So this one time, I travelled to a far away land called Japan. In the beautiful city of Kyoto, I found a village that was somehow lost in time. It was the middle of August and the days were long and hot. I was incredibly parched as I walked through the village. When I thought I would die of dehydration, I saw this well. Luckily, a handsome gentleman offered to fetch me some water. I believe I would've perished if it weren't for him.

Okay, but seriously, can we just talk about how dreamy my husband is? He's gonna be so embarrassed. Oh well! I can't help it if I'm one lucky lady.


Joyeux Noël 2014 | Union Pier, Michigan

For the past nine years, all I've wanted to do is send customized Christmas cards. The most important part of this process? The photo. Thankfully Markus booked a couple nights at this awesome bed and breakfast, Goldberry Woods, for my birthday. Goldberry is in Michigan and just an hour and half outside the city. It's definitely an idyllic spot and the perfect place for a festive photo.

On Saturday morning, we woke up early and donned our matching outfits. It snowed the night before and it created a beautiful winter wonderland. We trekked through a nearby forest and found so many great spots. We took so many photos and in the end, had way too many to choose from. The photo above is the one we ultimately chose. We thought it was playful and perfectly showcased our personalities. I'm a bit sad that we can't use any of the other photos, but at least I get to share them with you!

Celebrating Ten Years at Vitos | Busan, South Korea


I can't believe that our ten year anniversary was only two months ago. It feels like our time in Korea was another lifetime. I'm so glad that Markus and I were able to spend our ten year celebration somewhere amazing like Busan. It's not every day that you can celebrate a decade with the same person and in a great place like Korea. I never would've thought that my life would end up like this! 


For dinner Markus found this great Italian place, Vito. It was in the heart of Seomyeon and had great reviews online. Vito, the chef, trained in Italy and makes all of the pasta fresh everyday. Koreans love Italian food, but they tend to add a Korean touch to all international food. I was really eager to eat authentic Italian pasta. The ambiance of the place was nice and cozy. It was a lot smaller than I thought. There were only a few tables and the restaurant probably only sat 15 people. People were always waiting to be sat, so I knew we made a good decision.


When we ordered, we both decided on pasta dishes. Ever order came with a complementary appetizer of cream soup and mushroom crostini. Both were really delicious and I wish they gave us more. I can't really remember the names of the dishes, but I do remember how they tasted. I had an olive oil based pasta cooked with garlic, basil and tomato. It was so good. Markus had a creamy shrimp pasta. His was also really yummy. When the plates came out, I was worried that it wouldn't be enough food, but it was the perfect amount. After dinner, they gave us complimentary tea to finish off the meal. I remember we chose Vito because we missed the taste of home. Now that I'm home, I miss the taste of Korea. It's really funny how that works.


When we left Vito, we walked around a bit and looked for a cafe. We decided that since it was a special occasion we should be a bit more adventurous and find a new spot. We finally found a great cafe called, Cafe Verre. It's a bit hidden, which is perfect because less people know about it. It was super cute and had lots of nice brick-a-brac. We sat at a table next to the window and people watched for a bit. We both ordered an Americano, our favorite drink, and a raspberry tiramisu. We really enjoyed the cafe and we went back at least a dozen times before we left Korea. It was a great find and one that I was glad to experience before we left. I'm so glad that we were able to have a nice memorable anniversary and I wonder where we'll end up next year!