Moments of Musing

A Change of Honeymoon Heart

Filed Under: wedding planning //

Change is always fun… right?
 
If you remember, Tim and I were originally headed to Bora Bora for our honeymoon. We were going through someone’s timeshare and, as such, would stay at Le Meridien for next to nothing. Well, those plans fell through. 

Upon further research into Bora Bora, I started to dislike the idea more and more. Now, don’t get me wrong — the views look gorgeous. But to me, so does every other island’s views and I don’t think one week in a non-overwater villa (which is what we’d budget for and which is still really expensive) is worth the over-20-hour travel there and back (making it 40+ hours). Add in the zero nightlife and $100+ meals, neither of which we were digging. At all. But now we were stumped on where to go. 

When we went back to the drawing board, we were still looking abroad — South Africa, Fiji, Thailand, Brazil, and Peru. We’re hoping to visit Australia when my brother studies abroad there so we didn’t really consider it. Europe isn’t warm in November so we didn’t look there either. One of my top bucket list destinations is the Machu Picchu in Peru but the area is not tropical, which Tim and I would both prefer for our honeymoon. Overall, we found that flights abroad were very long, which isn’t really feasible with my limited time available to take off from work. We therefore kept going back to Mexico and the Caribbean because they offer so much and are SO close. 

So we brainstormed and brainstormed and brainstormed … and ultimately decided on here!!! 

Isla Mujeres and Cancun, Mexico

Both Isla Mujeres and Cancun satisfied all our criteria and seemed like the perfect fit.  
Tropical✔️
Relaxing ✔️
Nightlife✔️ 
Mayan ruins✔️
(The Chichen Itza is actually a New Wonder of the World!) 

We’re extremely excited because it’ll essentially consist of similar things as Bora Bora and Machu Picchu except it’s much closer, cheaper, and offers more adventure and nightlife!! …And we’re not stressing over the honeymoon anymore 🙂
 
 

Happy Monday!

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

That title might seem odd since so many people dread Mondays. I try to have a positive attitude about it, though, because I think/hope it sets me up to have a positive week. 

This weekend I fell in love with Chicago all over again. Maybe it was due to my fun weekend and the lovely spring weather. 


Chicago is really a lovely place, and while it still doesn’t have my whole heart (not sure it ever could), it definitely continually wins me over. 
Just in case you needed some reasons to love it here, too, here ya go:


And now I’m off to work and hopefully enjoy myself while doing so 🙂


Happy Monday!

 

Why I Left Paradise

Filed Under: aloha, Chicago //

I am currently here in Chicago wondering if this place really gets warm weather. Is spring a thing here? And oh boy, summer seems like a huge myth — because it feels more like fall on the brink of winter around here. 

And it got me to thinking that maybe I should be somewhere with a longer spring/summertime. Why did I choose to live in a seemingly arctic zone again??? And then I realize I sound like other people. Because sometimes oftentimes, when I tell people that I briefly lived in Hawaii before moving to Chicago, they ask some kid of variation of the question, “Why would you ever leave Hawaii?” 
 
I’ve got to admit that sometimes I wonder the same darn thing. But mostly only on days when I’m missing T extra or have super stressful days. Never on my normal days. Because I am genuinely really happy here and, in my opinion, I left Hawaii for really good reasons.
 
For my dream job.
 
For my independence.
 
For the opportunity to live in a beautiful new city.
 
To be able to have a stable life when T gets out of the military.

Sure, living in paradise would be amazing, and I am so happy for those who get to do so. Ideally, I’d live there during winter months and live on the mainland all other months. But that sounds more like a retirement life and surprise, surprise I am nowhere close to retirement. 
 
So the next time I get asked this, I’ll just laugh like I always do, half in agreement but ultimately knowing in my heart I’ve done the best thing for myself, and for us.
 

 
Besides, who says Chicago, Illinois can’t be paradise, too? …Ha!
 
Now, where are ya Friday?! 

NY Girls Chitown Weekend

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Two of my childhood best friends and bridesmaids flew in from NYC to visit me this past weekend. Said visit commenced late Friday night with girl chat and fro yo (and Baked by Melissa cupcakes not pictured) . 

On Saturday, we did the touristy things, I.e. The Bean and Willis Tower. 



We even saw a bride taking photos during out taxi ride back to my neighborhood. 

The visit was full of unhealthy foods. I’m talking deep dish pizza… Followed by this from Eataly’s Nutella bar a few hours later. #NOMNOMNOM

On Sunday, we did what weekenders do — brunch. It’s my fave weekend meal and I loved my company 🙂

 And then we did some more shopping, which ended with them helping me pick out a dress and necklace for my and Tim’s couple shower (I’ll blog about that someday)! We decided that they’re pretty much my bridal fashion consultants. 

This was such a fun weekend. I’m so glad we got some much-needed girl time and I’m already excited to see them next!



Fridays are for FUN {30 before 30}

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

 Since Fridays are for FUN and my best friends are flying out tonight to COME VISIT ME (can you tell I’m excited?!), I figured why not share something else fun with you!

This is my first bucket list of sorts that I am sharing with you. I still have quite a while until I’m 30-years-old but that age might be extended because this is a lot of traveling to do by then … 

I made this list shortly after my 25th birthday, since which I’ve completed/accomplished most of the things that are crossed out. Others that were accomplished beforehand, e.g. live abroad & swim with sharks, were always on my bucketlist so I included them. 

  1. Engagement
  2. Marriage
  3. Children
  4. Machu Pichu
  5. Live in a city in a doorman building 
  6. Become a lawyer
  7. Get dream job
  8. 5-10 Midwest states while in Chicago
  9. Buy a house
  10. Live on an island 
  11. Live abroad
  12. Australia
  13. Run a 10K
  14. Skiing in CO
  15. Cliff jump
  16. Zip line
  17. Swim with sharks
  18. Donate hair to cancer patients
  19. Scuba dive
  20. Nashville, TN
  21. Cedar Point
  22. Skydive  
  23. Send my parents on a trip
  24. Try out snowboarding
  25. Disney World with Timmy
  26. Puerto Rico (I haven’t been in almost 10 years!)
  27. Donate blood
  28. Pay for a stranger’s coffee or meal
  29. Volunteer at a charity event
  30. Go back for a weekend at Penn State