Four year anniversary!

I can’t believe David and I have been married for FOUR years! Time goes by so fast. We celebrated by going to Wink, an amazing restaurant we’ve been talking about go to for years. They pride themselves on utilizing local produce and only the freshest ingredients in their ever-changing daily menu. We made the last reservation for the evening, and we completely closed the place out! We had the 7-course tasting menu and it took us nearly two hours to get through it all! Highlights were the crisp duck breast on orange glazed cippolinis with romano beans and rapini, and tart lemon curd in a crisp meringue cup with candied lemon zest and berries for dessert. YUM. We also got a signed menu from the chef

Ian’s First Birthday

David and I went up to Dallas to visit the Kim Family for Ian’s luau-themed first birthday. In Korean culture, a baby’s first birthday (called Tol)  is an important milestone and includes praying and giving thanks, wearing traditional birthday clothes, sharing food, and preparing a birthday table with fruits and gifts, as well as performing the Toljabee, in which the baby is  placed in front of different objects that predict his future. The first object the child grabs is considered most important! (money=wealth, stethoscope=doctor, microphone=entertainer, string=long life) Ian went straight for the Benjamins! LOL. It was a lot of fun and it was great spending time with good friends.

The most amazing cupcakes EVER. Society Bakery.

David is a cupcake monster. Somehow this is not surprising.

Friends from Belgium

One organization that added another dimension to our travels was an organization called Couchsurfing.org. It’s  a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit. We have met several people along the way who have shown us amazing hospitality and who have given us local insights on food, politics, and culture.

When we returned from our trip, we thought it was our turn and decided to pay it forward by hosting Couchsurfers from Belgium. Nicolas and Wendy, along with their American friend Josh, were taking a classic American road trip from Atlanta to San Fransisco!! They stopped through Austin and got a little taste of Texas, and even left with cowboy hats and boots.

Bev and David’s World Tour!

So I have been completely MIA for the last couple of months, but with good reason! David and I took seven weeks off to go on this amazing trip around the world! Yes, that’s right…we circumnavigated the planet. I’ve always wanted to do it and after a year of active planning, saving, and making a few sacrifices, the finally the stars aligned and we DID IT!

In the span of seven weeks we flew over 25,000 miles, visited 6 countries, 13 cities, ate amazing food, rock climbed in the most beautiful areas, saw inspiring architecture, experienced different cultures, and met some of the most interesting and adventurous people with whom we will stay in touch forever. No words can describe how important this trip was for my soul. We are very blessed to have such an opportunity to do something like this, and I encourage each and every one of us to get out there and experience the world, even if it’s just a few feet from your front door.

Enjoy the photos!

Shibuya Station Crossing, Tokyo, Japan

130 ft. cave, Crazy Horse Buttress, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Barong Dancers, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Calling for customers, Djemma el Fna, Marrakech, Morocco

Jamon Iberico Bellota, La Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain

Walking along the Irish coast, Howth, Ireland

Ian and Aria

David and I drove up to Dallas to see our good friends Kenny and Yoon who flew down from Birmingham to visit family. They have two beautiful children, who were so much fun to play with. We got to eat yummy Korean food all weekend. BONUS!

Aisles of kimchi and other staples at the Super H Mart, a great asian supermarket that has EVERYTHING.

If you order fancy “Ankimo” nigiri at sushi restaurants, it comes from this ugly fish! Blek! …but yummy.

Aria loved the lobster tank. David got a kick out of her reaction.

Mmm…sashimi. Can’t beat the price.

At a great playscape near the house.

I am in love with that hat!

Aria yanked this tulip from the landscaping. (I swear I did not instigate this) We ran before anyone caught us :)

With auntie Gina