Friendsgiving

First official Friendsgiving.

Definitely won't be our last.


Since Aar and I leave for China tomorrow, I figured we better celebrate Thanksgiving before we leave!


Nothing replaces turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, stuffing, and PIE.

So Friendsgiving happened.

Becca & Johnny, Spence & Lexi, Quinn & Erika, Aaron & I put on ties and dresses for the occasion.

Becca is officially the dessert contributor.

Chocolate cheesecake.


Apple pie.


Pumpkin pie.


Pie heaven!

And Lexi kills it with the hand-mashed potatoes.

We didn't forget the Diet Coke.

Or the notes under your chair/plate like Grandma :)


And of course we ended the night with UNO!

ATL

Weekend officially OVER.


Sitting here bummed as I



type.



scroll.



export.



attach.


back to reality..... in the ATL airport.


Rewind back to the weekend before I stress too much about work....


Spence, Lexi and I flew into Atlanta to surprise my mom for her BiRtHdAy!

Well, sorta surprised.


My parents had to drive 2 hours to pick us up in ATL.


But my dad has an office in Atlanta so it was sort of an excuse.


We got in at 7:30 Friday night.

Pit stop at Panera and then back to my parents in Birmingham.


Hot tubbed.

Admired their new backyard.


The next day we drove down to Auburn to watch #1 Georgia and #10 Auburn play.


Georgia got beat.

BAD.

But we had some of the best BBQ around.

Hickory sauce.

Fall-off-the-bone-ribs.

Maple baked beans.


Capped the night off with more Jim N Nicks Barbeque for dinner.

A trip to Walmart for Diet Coke and plenty of candy junk.


Sunday we had breakfast crepes and a yummy birthday dinner for my mom.

We watched old family movies and wedding videos.

Played Quarto and ate birthday cake.


And before we knew it a short 5 hours later and we were waking up to trek back to Atlanta.


Spence and Lexi were the first stop- we dropped them off at the Atlanta airport to catch their 11 am flight to SLC.


We had a bit before my 7:45 pm flight to Lousiville[for work:/] so we headed to Athens to have lunch with David and see his new house.

It smelled brand new and was in a cute new neighborhood.


.... And then it was back in the car to Atlanta.... we've been in the car for about 10 hours by now.

Quick stop at Georgetown cupcakes and here I am sitting at the airport...


Catching up on work prepping myself for the first of 3 more flights before heading HOME.


I guess work travel makes the road go round.

And also gives me medallion status on Delta.

Milan

Milan.

Last stop of our trip.


Myself, Aaron and my parents hopped on a train and headed from Venice to Milan.


We utilized a lot of transit this trip.



After getting situated at our cute AirBnb, we jetted to the historic city center of Milan.

Where this happens.

AKA the Duomo.



It was GINORMOUS!

Aaaaand screaming for us to take hundreds of pictures.



Aar got a little distracted with more pigeons and started feeding the birds again.


The line was hours long to get in, so we just enjoyed it from the outside.

Although now that I google 'inside the Duomo' I'm sort of sad we didn't wait to go inside.... it looks ah-mazing!

Next time.


We spent the rest of the day walking around Milan.

Through the giant historic mall.

Eating gelato.

Walking through charming European parks.

Stopping and admiring fountains and castles.

And spent dinner on the swanky city trolley.

We had plenty of great food.

Seafood lasagna.

Octopus.

Lamb.

White chocolate orange pudding.


All while driving around and seeing Milan.

Pricey.... but definitely recommended.


And we ended the ride right next to the stunning Duomo at night.

The next morning was spent casually walking around the city and enjoying a typical European breakfast of pastries by the lake in Milan.

It was a perfect casual fall morning before we parted ways and my parents headed back to Paris and us to Rome.

But first Aaron HAD to make a detour to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.


I wasn't mad.


It was a 2 hour detour, but it was screaming for us to check it off our bucket list.

We raced a mile from the train station to catch a glimpse of this

 and this

while we acted like typical tourists.

Pisa is right on the coast, and there were palm trees lining the streets.

The sun streamed golden light as it set.

The air was warm and comfortable.


Worth the extra 2 hour detour.


Before we knew it, we were waking up the next day to head to the airport to go back to the states.


Such a memorable trip, and hope we can go back someday to explore more of Italy!

Venice

Convinced there is nowhere in the world more dreamy than Venice.

NOWHERE.



We took the train from Rome to Venice, and upon walking out of the train terminal,

there.

it.

was.



Views like this

 and this

People going on with their lives like living on the water is normal.

But I guess it is for them.


As we water taxied- to our AirBnb through the Grand Canal, we were like kids in a candy shop.

Gaping at the views and taking pictures of e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.


Because you don't see this sort of stuff every day.

Our AirBnb was one of the best we've stayed in.

Tucked away in a maze of cobblestoned alleyways with towering apartments, bridges arching over the canals and gelato on every corner.

DREAMY.

While waiting for my parents to arrive, we took in a few of the sights.

The Bridge of Sighs.... the famous corridor from the free world and into the Venice prison.

St. Marks square home of the clock tower, Doges Political Palace and of course... pigeons.

Aar was a bird whisperer.

He LOVED it.

Just spread out your arms.

Cup your hands so it looks like you have food.

And wait for the birds to flock to you.


He only got pooped on once.


Finally my parents arrived in a rainy night and it was straight to dinner.


Pruscetto, melon and lasagna.

Solid Italian meal.


And then in the morning we woke up to this.

Sunny skies.

Green canals.

And all day to explore.


So it was off to Doges Palace.

Rooms and rooms full of ornate sculptures, wood carvings and paintings where in the early days of Venice all the politicians would meet to discuss important matters.

And then onto the famous Acqua Alta bookstore.

Jokes on you, we don't really read....

Because of flooding in Venice in the winter months this bookstore keeps most of its books in bathtubs and up on high shelves.

For the books that get wet and ruined, they add it to the stair stack for tourists.

Gelato break.

Aaaand you can't go to Venice without taking a gondola ride.

It's a requirement.

It was a blast.

And gave us a break from walking through the crowded corridors.

We saw Marco Polo's house.

And enjoyed the quiet, peacefulness while gliding along the water.


After we walked along the eastern, less crowded part of the island. Through parks and along the water.

One of my absolute favorite things was ending the night and a canalside restaurant.

Outside, next to a waterway.

Perfect weather.

Caprese salad.

Ravoli.

Lava Cake.

And most importantly, good company.

Rome

October has been a crazy month, but we are back from Italy! [Although wishing a little bit we weren't]


Italy was a dream.

From the weather.

To the gelato.

Spending time with my parents.

No work.

New experiences.




I tried to take in




every.


single.


second.


We started in Rome.

Figuring out trains and public transit is always a strain... but we did it and saved a lotta $$ in the meantime.

Our AirBnb was thee tiniest. Buuut located in the cutest, most picturesque street. Aaaaand super close to the Colloseum.

I mean just look at this street from our window.

We literally took 2 steps out of the train station to cobblestone streets, colorful tall buildings, small smart cars, vines and shutters.

THIS is Italy!

A quick freshen up and we were off to the Colloseo!

It was a quick 5 minute walk. We turned out of a sharp Italian ally way and BOOM there it was. 

Surprisingly, everywhere we went in Rome was crazy busy!

Tour groups and tourists E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E!

Sort of a bummer since it was the end of October and not in the busy season, but what can you do.

It was even bigger in person and so cool to actually BE in a place where study and learn about in school and growing up.

Just across from the Colloseo is the Roman Forum.

More ruins of ancient city squares and living spaces.

And not to mention gorgeous views of the city.

Poor Aar was so jetlagged, every time inside the Forum we would stop to sit on a bench, he would fall asleep.

#jetlagisreal

After the Forum we had our first Italian meal.

What better than pizza and fettuccine?

Aaron couldn't keep his eyes open for another second, so he hunkered down for bed at 6:30 pm.


Embarrassing moment here: we didn't wake up until 11:30 am the next day!



eleven.

thirty.

am!


I don't think I've slept that long in like... forever!


After realizing the time, we rushed out to check the sights off our list.

First stop: Trevi Fountain

 ^Remember what I said about Rome being super crowded?

And of course we had to go back at night!

Second stop: Vatican City(with a detour of food)

The Vatican museum was HUGE

so.

much.

art.

If we were more into art, that would have been heaven.

After a while though, it all seems to blend in.

But we saw the Sistine Chapel.

And the Catholics version of Temple Square :)

Aaaand you can't visit Rome without a visit to the Colloseum at night!

Such an AMAZING place!