Music Row | Nashville, Tennessee

Back when Markus and I were driving from Tampa to Chicago in September, we made a stop in Nashville. My dear cousin, Joy, was on holiday and she invited us to join her for a couple days. Markus and I visited Nashville for a quick day trip back in 2009. I loved the city then and I still love it. We revisited Music Row and it was still a dynamic and thriving part of the city. I wish we could've spent more time there, but that just means we have to go back!

Itsukushima, Japan | August 2013

After we visited Miyajima Shrine, we explored the sights around Itsukushima. It's such a lovely little island. I will say that it was quite packed since it was a school holiday. I was still able to capture many of my favorite places and without the crowds! There were so many people packed onto that little island, but it was still amazing and I enjoyed every minute.

Memoirs of a Geisha | Kyoto, Japan

One of my lifelong dreams came true in Kyoto. Markus and I walked the lovely alleys of Gion dressed as a geisha and a samurai. It was pretty awesome. I can' even imagine what it's like being a real geisha. It took 45 minutes to put on my hair and makeup and another 40 minutes for the kimono. There were so many layers and I think they added on an extra 20 pounds of fabric.

I remember the exact moment I opened my eyes and saw myself dressed as a geisha. I didn't even recognize myself. It was like looking at the face of a completely different woman. When I walked into the waiting room, Markus didn't even recognize me until I spoke. I wish I pretended I was someone else, that could've been fun. Either way, it was an unforgettable experience and one of my favorite things we did in Japan!

Miyajima Shrine | Itsukushima, Japan

While Markus and I were planning our trip to Japan, we tried to think of all the places that we wanted to visit. As much as I like to think we can travel anywhere we want, the reality is we can't. We don't know if we'll ever be able to go to Japan again, so we packed our itinerary full of hotspots. Traveling within Japan is quite easy and most places are accessible by train.

One of the places that we had to see was the Miyajima Shrine, off the coast of Hiroshima. When you think of Japan or see photos of the beautiful country, there are three places that consistently appear, Tokyo, Mt. Fuji and Miyajima. We planned it so that we visited on our eight year wedding anniversary. Last year, we were at Chatsworth House in England. It's kinda crazy that we've spent the last couple holidays in exotic places. The shrine was absolutely beautiful and surreal. I had to pinch myself because it felt like a dream.

Happy Christmas from Chicago!

With all the craziness that's been going on, we weren't able to send out Christmas cards. I was a bit upset, but I can at least share the photo with you! The photo was taken in the heart of Chicago in front of Buckingham Fountain. I love this city and I'm so thankful that we're able to live in such a great place.

We'll be spending our first Christmas back in the states in Florida. It might be warm, but it's what we're used to. It's been a while, so it'll be nice to be around friends and family. So with that, Markus and I hope that you have a wonderful and lovely Christmas!