Land Of Marvels

A Travel Blog

A Quick Guide to Saving Money on Airfare and Hotels

 We are back from Southern Oregon and our holiday weekend and I can’t wait to start posting again, with lots of great posts I’m excited for this week and coming in the next month!  I hope all of you (Americans) had an amazing Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to head into the Christmas season now, with lights sparkling and temperatures dropping.  I’m also hoping all my feeds are updated by now from the switch to WordPress and everyone is getting posts, if not let me know, but to get going again, here we go!
quick guide title 
 
While travel can definitely add up very quickly when looking at a budget for a trip, there are also some great but lesser known ways to save quite a bit of money.  I’ve been traveling for many years now and over time, I’ve picked up numerous ways to save here and there on travel so that you can do more with the money you’ve budgeted for a trip.  When you’ve saved a chunk of money and are ready to start booking your trip, here are some great ways to save money on hotels and airfare.
 
Sign up for email notifications from airlines and hotel sites
This is perhaps the most under-acknowledged and unused way to save money on hotels and airfare.  Whichever airlines you use the most often or the sites you like to book with, sign up for their email newsletters.  I subscribe to 10+ different airlines and websites I like to book travel with and watch for their emails that advertise sales.  You’ll be shocked at how much just watching the websites’ emails will help with finding amazing flight and hotel deals.  You’ll also be the first to know when a sale is happening to make sure you get the best deal possible.
 
Follow Travel Blogs
Many of the incredible flight deals I’ve gotten over the past few years have been because I’ve seen them mentioned on large travel blogs I follow.  My favorite is The Points Guy, who has amazing advice for using miles and posts amazing flight deals as soon as they are shown.  
 
Fly on Tuesdays or Thursdays
When booking, if your dates are flexible, you’ll be amazed at how much cheaper airfare is when you fly on off days.  This means trying to avoid Fridays and weekends and Mondays.  Middle of the week is best and I’ve had best luck on Tuesdays and Thursdays over the years for the best airfare deals.  Flying on off days also helps with your chances for upgrades as well when there will be more seats available since fewer people are traveling.
 
Buy your airline tickets mid-week, in the morning
This still blows me away and I can’t believe that companies still do this, but believe it or not, you could pay a ton more when booking on weekends or evenings.  Websites raise their prices during peak booking hours, that means that whenever most people are booking (ie. when they are home on weekends or evening) fares and costs can be way higher.  I’ve had them sometimes $300 more during those times from when I’ve looked at other times like on weekday mornings.  I try to do all my fare research in off hours to see what the lowest fares are and then make sure and go back and book during off hours as well.
 
Book award travel more than 6 months in advance or last minute
If you’re thinking of booking travel with your points, it’s best to either book way far in advance (6+ months before travel) or last minute.  Many airlines only open so many award seats (especially internationally) on flights early on and then may open up a few more last minute to fill seats.  I prefer to book ahead of time to confirm dates, so make sure to plan ahead when using miles.  But it is also often easy to get award booking seats a few days prior to departure, so if you can do it last minute, that works often too.
 
Don’t travel during peak times (yearly and daily)
You’ll find way cheaper fares in non peak travel times during the year, such as fore-going travel in tourist seasons like Summer or during holidays, specifically Thanksgiving and Christmas.  If you can be flexible, it’s best and cheapest to fly and travel in early Spring (February-April) and late Fall (October-November).  
 
Another great thing to keep in mind if you want to travel over the holidays is to travel to regions that won’t be celebrating whatever holiday it is.  For example, traveling to Europe over Thanksgiving you can find pretty good deals since it’s not a holiday there.  Same with Christmas, traveling to places like the Middle East that won’t be celebrating Christmas, you can find better deals than traveling to places where everyone will be traveling.  
 
This also relates to flying in off peak times during the day.  For example, fares are going to be more expensive in the morning and evenings since that’s when most people travel.  But looking into red eye flights or mid day flights can often cut back your expenses drastically.

5 Totally Underrated Spots in Europe

Before we get into today’s post, just a little note to let all you lovely readers know that I made the switch from Blogger to WordPress this week, so if you notice any glitches or little formatting issues, please excuse them as I get to know WordPress and the new layout.  So thank you for your patience!  And now on to today’s post…
 
Europe is full of tourist spots, cities that everyone knows of and are the places that most people head to.  But the continent is also full of places that are still relatively unknown, or at least not bogged down by tourists like some of their counterparts.  There are lots of spots that are totally underrated in Europe but here are five of my favorites!
 

The Scottish city is one that often gets overlooked for busier and more well known London.  Edinburgh though is a gem not to be missed, from stone buildings that look straight out of Harry Potter to an old world feel that feels unique to Scotland, from the heavy Scottish accents to amazing countryside that surrounds the city.  The city is becoming more and more of a tourist destination but in the off season you can still wander the streets alongside the locals.


Perhaps because of its fraught history or because most tourists block to Dublin and the Irish countrysides of County Kerry, but Northern Ireland is still a relatively unknown spot for tourists.  Home of the Giant’s Causeway and the tiny town of Bushmills famous for its whiskey, Northern Ireland is gorgeous and quiet.  Rent a car and drive the countryside, through tiny towns and green fields full of sheep.  The North also boasts incredible cliffsides above the ocean and incredible food.

 

Often overlooked for its famous neighbor, Cannes, Nice in the South of France is still fairly quiet in the off seasons.  While the Summers stay busy with tourists, an escape here in the early Spring is the perfect time to wander the Riviera city without being overwhelmed.  The mixture of a laid back lifestyle and French food and culture makes Nice a fantastically underrated spot.

 

While Iceland is becoming more and more popular, there are still a ton of people who say, “why would I go to Iceland?”  An untouched world of beauty and superstitions, Iceland is one of those places that you’ll leave saying “why haven’t I been to Iceland sooner?”

 

The Scandinavian city is often overlooked by tourists who tend to stick to mid to Southern Europe, Denmark’s capital is a great spot to experience Scandinavia and Northern Europe.  With a definite charm and super walkable streets, Copenhagen is a great escape from the typical European cities like London and Rome.

What to Wear in Northern Europe and Paris in October

Travel Style for Northern Europe and Paris in October

Packing for Fall in Northern Europe can be unpredictable and knowing what to wear can be challenging.  Traveling through Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Bruges, Brussels and Paris in October, we encountered everything from gorgeous blue skies to pouring rain to cold temperatures, so it’s important that you pack to layer for your trip through Northern Europe in October.

And if you need advice for visiting the spots we traveled through – here is everything you’ll need to know:

Copenhagen | Amsterdam | Bruges | Brussels | Paris

What to Pack:

  • A couple options for coats – I packed a raincoat with a hood and a trench coat for this trip to cover all types of weather.
  • Thick sweaters that you can layer with – I wore a few think sweaters throughout our trip which were perfect when the weather was a little on the warmer side without a jacket, but also kept me warm under a jacket once the temperatures dropped.
  • A crossbody purse – This will save your arms from carrying a heavy purse while exploring.
  • Comfortable Boots – I like traveling in boots in the Fall months as they keep your feet warm but also are comfortable to walk around in.
  • A few options for scarves – I like to switch up my scarf each day and feel like my outfit has changed while traveling, plus they’ll keep you warm!

What I Wore:

Travel Style for Northern Europe and Paris in October

Outfit Details:

Gap Tan Trench Coat (similar) | Paige Flare Dark Denim (similar) | J Crew Sweater (old) | Tan boots (similar)

Dooney & Bourke Cross Body Purse (similar)| Lumix Camera

Travel Style for Northern Europe and Paris in October

Outfit Details:

Gap Tan Trench Coat (similar) | Madewell Scarf (similar)

Travel Style for Northern Europe and Paris in October

Outfit Details:

Long Black Cardigan (similar) | Bandana Scarf (similar)

Travel Style for Northern Europe and Paris in October

Outfit Details:

Black Calvin Kline Raincoat (similar) | Madewell Dark Denim | Madewell Scarf (similar) | White Low Top Converse

Dooney & Bourke Cross Body Purse (similar)| Lumix Camera

Travel Style for Northern Europe and Paris in October

Outfit Details:

Long Black Cardigan (similar) | Bandana Scarf (similar) | Madewell Dark Denim | Lumix Camera

Madewell Gray Long Sleeve T-shirt (old) | Tan boots (similar) | Dooney & Bourke Cross Body Purse (similar)

Travel Style for Northern Europe and Paris in October

Outfit Details:

Long Black Cardigan (similar) | Bandana Scarf (similar) | Madewell Dark Denim

Tan boots (similar) | Dooney & Bourke Cross Body Purse (similar)

5 Times When It’s Worth the Extra Money

Travel is expensive, it really isn’t worth in saying it isn’t.  Even if you employ techniques to save money and even when you get deals, it’s still expensive.  And while I do my best to cut back where I can while traveling and use as many miles and points as I can, there are also time when it’s worth the extra money to splurge on your trip.  
 
It’s important to know though when it’s worth the extra money and when it’s not.  For Nick and I, we like to splurge in certain areas of our trips but over the years we’ve realized when we can handle cutting cost and when we really should spend a little extra.  Here are the areas I would suggest splurging on and when it’s really worth the extra money.
 
Plane trips over 10 hours.
The majority of the time, we’re just like everyone else and smashed into economy seats on airplanes with bad food, no leg room and the person next to us taking up half our seat.  Isn’t that always the case?!  However, there is a limit to what we’re willing to endure aboard an airplane.  When we’re traveling somewhere on a plane for over 10 hours, that’s sort of my limit.  Over 10 hours is worth upgrading, even if it’s just to Premium Economy which is becoming more and more affordable.  
 
A good night’s rest.
One thing I’m not willing to skimp on when we travel is a good hotel or apartment.  My sleep is really important to me and I’m always willing to pay more for good accommodation.  Especially towards the beginning of your trip and at the end when you’re tired from traveling or feeling ready to head home, it’s important to get good rest and spend the money on a decent place.
 
Train rides over 4 hours.
I love traveling by train and particularly in Europe, the trains are pretty good and comfortable for quick trips.  Though when you’re spending 4+ hours on a train, it’s often worth paying not much more for a first class ticket.  We did this on the 5 hour journey from Milan to Nice a couple years ago and got our own first class cabin.  It was by far worth it for not that much more money.
 
Special occasions.
I’m a big fan of celebrating special occasions and trips can be a great way to commemorate birthdays or anniversaries.  But don’t skimp on these trips, these trips are the ones that everyone will remember for years to come and it’s worth spending a little extra for a special memory.
 
Amazing Views.
My one major weakness when we travel are hotels that have amazing views.  There is something about waking up and opening up your windows to see Notre Dame across the street or panoramic views over Brussels or seeing your private infinity pool overflowing down the hill into Lake Pichola in Udaipur or watching a lightening storm behind the Taj Mahal from the privacy of your hotel room.  A fantastic view from a hotel room is always worth the extra money and will often make your whole trip.  

7 Cities You Must See in Europe

There are certain cities that whether you fall in love with them or not, you just need to visit in your lifetime.  Europe has lots of those cities and while I have so much more to see still throughout the continent, there are spots I have seen so far, that I would say you need to see, to take them in, to feel their charm, to feel their identities and experience them.  So here in no particular order are 7 of those cities that you must see in Europe at some point in your life and you won’t regret a single one.

There isn’t another spot quite like Amsterdam anywhere in the world.  With waterways and canals at every turn, tree-lined cobble-stoned streets and a charm all its own, Amsterdam is a not-to-miss destination in Europe.

Oh Dublin, a city with an electric energy, beautiful colored stone and brick buildings and a character totally unique to Ireland.  I could wander Dublin for days, taking in everything it offers, with that quintessential Irish charm.

Edinburgh surprised me, in the best possible way.  It’s magical, it’s old-world, it’s so unique and yet at the same time, so Scotland.  It’s one of those cities that you feel like you’re in another time and place, with stone buildings that seem straight out of a magical land, views of the city from multiple points and a landscape that is literally gorgeous, Edinburgh will surprise you too.

London, London, what is there not to love.  A wonderful city filled to the brim with culture, architecture and history, this English city is a must-see for so many reasons.  Let’s just say there is a reason that it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and always has been.

While Italy and I have some issues we’re working through, there is definitely a reason Italy is so high on everyone’s travel lists.  The thing is, each part of Italy is different, and so is the case with Milan vs. Rome (both of which are on this list).  Milan is in the Northern part of the country and the differences are worthy of experiencing, add colorful but restrained buildings, brick and stone architecture and a chic charm to it and you have Milan, a spot worthy of adding to your list.

I don’t think Paris needs an explanation of why it’s on this list, but none the less, the French capital holds a unique position of being one of the most visited destinations on the planet.  Add to that the charm of the city, the landmarks and the museums and Paris is definitely a must-see in Europe.

As I mentioned above, Italy has so many spots to see, but perhaps the most famous would be Rome.  With culture, history and colorful buildings, Rome is a city that you really just must see and experience in your lifetime, enough said.

AirBnB Apartment in Paris : Review

See more Reviews!

For our stop in Paris on this past trip, we decided to do something different in terms of lodging.  On our previous trips, we’ve fallen in love with a couple different hotels, our favorite being the Le Notre Dame Hotel and it had become our regular spot in the French city.  Though with a $350/night price tag, we decided for this trip, since we were there for 3 nights, we wanted to save a little money and try something different by renting an apartment.  Hence, our first experience with AirBnB was born and I can say overall, I was pleased with the experience.  

APARTMENT on the ÎLE ST. LOUIS
Paris, France

A-

When we stayed: October 2014  |  Price Range: $220/night  |  Website: AirBnB Apartment
What I Loved
Decor – The thing that first caught my eye on this apartment was the lovely decor.  The apartment is furnished perfectly with so much character.  The rock wall, the wood beams on the ceiling, the furniture, the ladder, everything screamed “cool Paris apartment.” And in person, it did not disappoint.  Come to find out, the owner’s dad is an interior designer and you can really tell.Location – The location of this apartment is another big reason of why we picked it.  We love the Ile St. Louis and many of our favorite spots are on the island, our favorite boulangerie, our favorite restaurant the St. Regis Cafe and it’s also really central and a great spot to be based.  Knowing the apartment is in that area, was really convenient and a great selling point.

The view from our windows.

Comfortable Bed – I was actually most nervous about staying in an apartment not knowing if the bed would be great.  I really like a good bed and a long night’s sleep, particularly when traveling, and the bed in this apartment was great.

Good Wifi – Another thing I was curious about, but the wifi here was great.  The owner’s gave us the passcode when we arrived and it worked perfectly the entire stay.


What I Didn’t Love
Stairs – The apartment is up 3 flights of wooden windy old stairs and believe me, by the last day we were swearing every step up.  It’s killer, particularly with suitcases or heavy bags.  Of course this is something you can deal with, but to keep in mind.

3 flights of these wooden stairs were hard to climb.

Towels – I wasn’t crazy about the towel situation in the apartment truthfully.  There were no hand towels, only washcloths and only a few of those.  I did miss having fresh towels every day like in a hotel, but it would be an easy fix to just bring a couple small towels of your own, which I would totally do next time.

Notes to Keep in Mind
Read the reviews of the Renter – I read through every single review from this renter before we booked because I wanted to make sure other people had good things to say.  You can tell a lot by reviews, for hotels and apartments online, they are the best way to get real information about the place.  But also keep in mind that you should take everything with a grain of salt, some people just complain to complain, so try to figure out what’s important that they’re saying and what’s not.

Be Comfortable but Polite – Particularly when renting an apartment, it’s important to make yourself comfortable but also be polite with the space and with your neighbors, even more so that in a hotel.  Put things back they way you found them, don’t open cabinets you’re not supposed to or make an effort to clean up a bit before you leave.

Travel Tips : 5 Tips for a Better Trip to Paris

Paris is one of those cities that millions of people visit and yet, many times, asking those who have visited, they will tell you they either loved or hated it.  Or that they aren’t sure how they felt about it because their itinerary was so jam packed while there, they didn’t really experience Paris itself, but instead just the tourist spots there.  It’s a common problem with tourists to the gorgeous French capital, many people spend so much time trying to fit in seeing everything they are “supposed to” see, instead of just taking in the city and really “seeing” it.  Paris is one of those places that is meant to be explored, not just seen, a place that is more about the feeling, the wandering, the insignificant sites around the city instead of the grand monuments.  And while those grand monuments and tourist spots are still worth seeing, don’t base your whole trip around them.  Instead, here are five tips for a better trip to Paris!

1. Don’t overdo your itinerary.
9 times out of 10, this is what I hear from people who visit Paris, they packed their days so full of seeing everything in the city from their guidebook, they didn’t actually see the real Paris.  It’s important to mark down the things in your guidebook that you really want to see, I’d say pick your top 5.  Then after that, don’t worry about seeing the other things.  You’ll probably end up seeing them as you wander or walk around the city anyways, but it’s more important to spend your time really taking in Paris itself and enjoying the aura of the city instead of overwhelming yourself with too much on your itinerary.

2. Use the metro. 
The metro in Paris (their Subway) is one of the best in Europe and is so easy to use and get around the city.  We’ve only used a cab 1 time in Paris and that was the first time we went, since then we only walk or use the metro.  It’s cheap, efficient, and will get you anywhere, often without a lot of changes.  To get your true value out of the metro though, it’s important to know how many trips you’re going to be making per day to get the best value ticket.  If you’re going to be using 6 or more one way trips per day, the day passes for around 10 euros are the best deal.  If you’re making less trips than that, then the t+ tickets are the way to go for cheaper.  Just keep your tickets handy as you’ll need them to enter and leave the station.  Also, carry around a metro map with you at all times.  Mine is 4 years old and is ripped and torn all over, but it’s my lifeline to getting around the city.

3. Don’t just see the tourist spots.
Paris is filled with tourist spots, but in truth, many of my favorite spots are not found in a guidebook. They are found by wandering the city, taking in places that you might never hit had you followed your guidebook and finding those spots that speak to you.  While the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe are wonderful, there are so many spots in Paris that are just as beautiful and just as “Paris” as those, if you take the time to look for them.

4. Wander.
One of the most important things to remember when traveling to Paris.  Take the time to just wander. I like to have a direction in mind, but on the way, you might venture off your path a bit or walk a zig zag path to your destination, but the journey is often more important than the destination in Paris.  Pick a spot you’re headed to and then make up your path along the way.  You’ll be amazed at what you come across.

5. Learn some French.
I would suggest this tip for any country you visit, learn a bit of the language.  However, it’s particularly important in Paris.  While a large majority of people do in fact speak English there, it’s polite and helpful to know a bit of the language.  Just to be able to read signs, menus, ask for the bill, it’s easier if you can say certain things in French.  After all, we are in a French country, why shouldn’t we make an effort to speak their language?

Headed to Paris?

Here are all my posts on the city.

Where to Stay in France

Day 7 : Paris

On our last full day of the trip (we left the following morning mid-day), we got up for the sun rise and wandered around the Ile St. Louis, taking in the early morning quiet before any one was up and about.  We wandered along the quays of the Seine, took in the views of the morning clouds over the city and watched as the restaurants and cafes began setting up for their morning routines.  We watched as the garbage collectors stopped for espressos (only in Europe) and watched locals taking their dogs out for morning walks.  It’s moments like this while traveling that are my favorite, seeing the city how it should be seen, with no tourist crowds, no worrying about getting from one place to the next, just taking in Paris, breathing it in.

After an hour or so of wandering our neighborhood, we ran by our boulangerie St. Martin, picked up some croissants and pain au chocolat to take home with us for breakfast.   We returned to our apartment, ate breakfast, got ready for the day and headed back out a couple hours later.  We strolled across the River to the Right Bank, wandered through the Louvre square, then over to the Le Nemours Cafe (the spot where Angelina Jolie has breakfast in The Tourist) to have lunch.  We sipped on cafe au lait and ate sandwich mixte and watched Paris flood past us.  After lunch, we wandered over to the Tuileries, which are always gorgeous this time of year.  Paris does parks so well and the Tuileries are always a favorite of ours.  We wandered through the falling leaves, taking in the Autumn colors and enjoying the mild weather.

After a while of wandering, we jumped on the metro and headed up to the Opera district for some shopping.  After a bit of exploring and shopping, we jumped back on the metro to the Eiffel Tower.  Seeing this landmark really never gets old and every time I’m blown away by its sheer size and what it represents.  For me, it’s always represented the world out there to explore, a landmark that showcases how much is out there to see and travel to and it blows me away every time.

In the late afternoon, we headed back to our apartment on the RER to rest a bit and then headed back out after a long late lunch at our favorite spots, Cafe St. Regis, and jumped back on the metro to the Tour Montparnasse, a spot Nick really wanted to check out on this trip.  We watched the sun set over Paris, high above the city with 360 degree views of the whole area.  It was truly a gorgeous spot and I can’t believe we’ve never checked it out before.  As the sun set over Paris on our last night in Europe, I couldn’t help but feel like this city has come to mean so much to me.  I fell in love with Paris years ago, but with each subsequent trip back, it feels more and more like a home away from home, a refuge in the crazy world, a place that makes me feel safe and inspired and always in awe.  It’s a place that will always be a spot I can escape to, a place that will hold my heart and a place that feels like my spot in the world and I’m so thankful for that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headed to Paris?

Here are all my posts on the city.

Where to Stay in France

Day 6 : Paris

For our final stop on our trip through Europe in October, we ended with a few days in an old favorite, the lovely city of Paris.  We really try to make it through the French capital at least once a year if we’re going to be near by, as both Nick and I feel so at home there and thoroughly enjoy France, and Paris specifically.  We arrived the previous evening on the Thalys train from Brussels, arrived at Gare du Nord and jumped on the metro to the Ile St. Louis where our apartment was located.  Though it was our first time staying in an apartment through AirBnB (more reviews on that to come soon), we know that area well since it’s where typically stay.

We arrived in a down pour that previous night, so the next morning we were happy to wake up to a beautiful Fall day.  It was warm enough for just a sweater and light scarf, so we had a slow morning, complete with croissants and Orangina from our favorite boulangerie St. Martin, then headed out for a day of exploring.  We set out on the Left Bank, headed toward the Pantheon (which I’ve meant to see on a few previous trips and never got there), then wandered over to the Jardin du Luxembourg.  I first found the incredible park last year when I visited Paris on my own for work and I was really anxious to show Nick on this trip.  The Luxembourg Gardens are gorgeous, but the Fall colors and cool temperatures made them even more enjoyable.

After a few hours just wandering and taking in the park, we headed toward St. Germain, one of my favorite areas of the city, and stopped at Laduree to pick up some salted caramel and chocolate macarons.  We at them as we wandered through the Left Bank and back to our apartment for a couple hours of rest.  Later in the afternoon, we meandered back up to the Seine and spent the evening while the sun set and Nick took photos of the Pont Neuf bridge as it lit up against the twilight light.  We had no real plans for our days in Paris other than to hit a few spots we love, and in my opinion, that’s the best way to see Paris, to just take it in, to wander, to revel in the beauty of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headed to Paris?

Here are all my posts on the city.

Where to Stay in France

 

Holding on Together

I wrote this post on my way to Hawaii to see my parents last week, watching the sun rising outside the plane windows as the Portland rain faded into fluffy white clouds on the horizon over the Pacific.  There is something about watching the sun rise high above the world, about watching the colors spill across the sky that makes me always want to reflect, to take a moment high above the Earth to realize where I’ve been and where I’m headed.  And perhaps it’s because this past month has brought many challenges that it’s made me think about things more deeply than usual, but I find myself thinking so much lately about this life we live and perhaps most importantly, the people we choose to spend it with.  

Today Nick and I celebrate four years of marriage, an anniversary that brings with it so many memories, so many moments.  And as I reflect and as I get older, I realize more and more that this life we are given, this life that we spend every day living is nothing if not with those that we love.  With each year that passes, I hold all the memories, good and bad, all the moments, all the tears and all the joy, all the moments of pure love and the moments of heartache, I hold them all and let them piece me together piece by piece, holding me together in moments with the ones that I love.  Love does something to us, it changes us molecule by molecule, it binds us to another person, it makes us worry about them, it makes us cherish them, it makes us want them above all else and when you really stop and think about that, it’s a pretty incredible concept.  That as humans, we pick one person, out of the billions of us out there, one person that seemingly completes parts of ourselves that we might not have even known were missing before.  

In four years of marriage (and nine years of being together) I have learned a lot about myself, about love and about the human spirit.  But perhaps the most important thing I have learned is to hold on.  We must hold on to those we love, both emotionally and physically and spiritually.  We must hold on when we are pulled apart, when time and distance work against us.  We must hold on when it seems impossible emotionally.  We must hold on through that big fight or the stupid little arguments that always arise out of stress.  We must hold on to our loves on those cold winter nights and hold on to their hands as we walk down the street.  We must hold on to those morning kisses and those conversations throughout the day.  We must hold on to who our lovers are, we must hold on to their thoughts and what makes them happy.  And when time changes us and time moves us forward, whether we want it to or not, we must remember to hold on to the memories and all the moments that came before that moment, we must hold on to who we were when we fell in love and learn to move forward together.
My marriage is not perfect but one thing we have always done is to hold on together, through the storms, through the distance separating us, through the time and space we’ve encountered and I am so thankful that we’ve held on together over all these years.  And so today I am thankful for my husband, for the man he’s become and the people we’ve become together.  There is not a day that goes by that I’m not so thankful we said those I do’s four years ago, not a day that goes by that I don’t stop and smile to myself at all the amazing memories we’ve created together all over this world.  

And so my love, thank you for marrying me, for showing me what true and unconditional love is.  It’s not without its heartaches or its challenges, but what we have is real and I can’t wait to see all the amazing moments to come that await us.

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