A Love Letter to my Husband

Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes

Today, I find myself staring in the face of a very significant milestone - the one-year anniversary of your death.

It's hard to believe that I have gone 365 days without you here…It's a day that carries a weight of emotions, a mix of sorrow, reflection, and perhaps even a glimmer of acceptance.

In the days leading up to this anniversary, my mind has been a whirlwind of memories, both joyous and painful. I've found solace in revisiting our cherished moments together, reminiscing about the laughter we shared, the adventures we embarked on, and the love that bound us together.  I listened to an episode of our podcast today…and laughed along just as I did when we recorded it.  Your humor and ridiculousness are missed in such a huge way! I am so thankful to have these recordings!

I remember how I felt when I first realized that I loved you.  I remember it well because, to this day, I still feel the exact same way.  They say that if you feel grief in a big way, then the love was even bigger.  I keep telling myself that despite the circumstances, I AM a lucky girl.  I am lucky because I have felt the most ultimate love imaginable...the stuff fairytales are made of! 

Now that you are gone, there's an undeniable ache, a longing for the presence of the one who once filled my days with warmth and companionship.  I have spent the better part of the year putting on a brave face...only showing vulnerability with those I trust the most.

But grief is a complex journey. In the past year, I've experienced moments of overwhelming sadness, anger, and confusion. There have been days when the weight of loss felt unbearable, when the world seemed to blur into a haze of numbness. But amidst the darkness, there have also been moments of unexpected light - the kindness of friends and family, the comfort found in sharing our stories about you, and building our business with the help of our kids! I know that you are so proud of us.

As I approach this anniversary, I find myself reflecting not only on the loss I've endured but also on the resilience that has carried me through. I've learned that grief is not something to be overcome or conquered, but rather something to be carried.  I have also learned that not everyone handles grief the same way. 

As I light a candle for you, I'm reminded that love transcends the boundaries of time and space. Though you are no longer with us in the physical sense, your spirit lives on in our laughter, the echoes of your voice in our heads when we wonder “what would George do?”, and the enduring bond that connects us, now and forever.

Loving you…forever and always. 143

Maximize Your Time AND Money in Dublin (When You Only Have Two Days)

If you are anything like us, you have limited time to see ALL of the sites of Dublin!  We spent 16 days traveling ALL over Ireland, but that only left us two whole days to see Dublin.

So, how do you pack as much as you possibly can into two days?  Lets us show you!

We chose to purchase the Go City Pass for two days.  After figuring out which destinations we wanted to visit…and factoring in the hop on hop off bus as transportation, this really was the best value for the money!  The two-day pass was only 16 Euros more than a one day pass, so it totally made sense.  The total cost for the pass was 86 Euros per person…and that included admission into 36 different attractions!!!  There are options to purchase the pass for 1 to 5 days. 

If you would like to get $20 off of $200 or more when buying a Go City Pass: Click Here! 

We started the Hop on, Hop off bus at the first location of the tour…and rode for about 20 minutes.  Our first stop that we “hopped off” for was Dublin Castle.

Dublin Castle was the seat of English rule in Ireland, until the country gained its independence from the British in 1922.  The castle was originally built as a fortress.  In April 1684 there was a fire that caused major damage to the castle. 

After this fire, the castle was rebuilt from a medieval fortress into the palace that it is today.  The property is used for special events and state dinners…and has hosted some famous names like Benjamin Franklin, John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, and Queen Elizabeth II.  Now, you can enjoy spending some time in this beautiful and historic place too.

When we left the castle, we walked a couple of blocks to the Christ Church Cathedral. This Cathedral was originally a Viking church and is located right in city center.  In fact, we joked that we passed it a million times…like we were going around in circles!

Some notes of interest about the Cathedral: Strongbow is buried here; the heart of St. Laurence O’Toole is on display (after a 6 year stint of being missing); they have a rare copy of the Magna Carta; and don’t forget to visit the Crypt to see the mummified cat and rat!

Right next door to the Cathedral is Dublinia, which is a Viking museum.  The two buildings are actually connected via a bridge over the street, so if you start in Dublinia…it flows right into the church.  We discovered this after our visit to the church. 

Dublinia takes you right back to the times when the Vikings lived in Dublin.  This interactive museum puts you right into that history.  This is your chance to experience what it was like to be on a Viking ship.  Learn about the clothing, the weaponry, the fairs, the disease, and the “medicines” of the time!  This is a great museum for the whole family!

If you have ever seen a picture of a pub associated with Dublin, it was probably Temple Bar.  This Iconic red pub is a favorite for tourists!  The bar was established in 1840 and is said to have over 450 different kinds of rare whiskey. 

Even with Covid-19 looming, there seemed to be quite a crowd at the pub.  We did not go into the bar because we were traveling to another country in a few days and did not want to risk being around larger crowds.  Check out their web cam to see the bar in real time: Temple Bar Live

Even though we did not go to the pub, we did wander around the Temple Bar Area.  We decided to have lunch in this area.  We ate at a BBQ restaurant – Smokin Bones.  The pulled pork was the star of our meal!  So, if you find yourself in the area and have a craving for BBQ, this is your place!  If BBQ is not your thing, this area has just about any type of food you could be craving…so, this neighborhood is a great place to grab lunch! 

If you are looking for a sweet treat, we recommend grabbing a gelato from Cloud Nine, which is right next to the Temple Bar. 

After lunch, hop back on the bus and head to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  This Cathedral was founded in 1191 and is the National Cathedral of Ireland.  St. Patrick is known as the Apostle AND the primary Patron Saint of Ireland. 

Over 500 people are buried at this church, including Jonathan Swift. Swift was a satirist who is best known for writing "Gulliver's Travels" and "A Modest Proposal." He was also a cleric who became Dean of the Cathedral.  Make sure you get the free audio guide that is available with your admission. 

There were a few other locations we could have fit into this day of sightseeing, but we had a date at the Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium.  We were there at Christmas time, and they were hosting a Christmas Party.  We sat in the clubhouse, enjoyed a fancy Christmas dinner, and cheered on the dogs!  It was definitely a fun night out! 

After a good night’s sleep, it is time to hit the ground running again.  We recommend starting the day at The Sweetest Thing.  Order one of their amazing hot chocolates…and why not have a delicious piece of cake for breakfast.  After all, you are on vacation!  Enjoy it! 

I stumbled on this café because I searched for best hot chocolate in Dublin.  After visiting this place, I can attest that it fits the bill.  I got some kind of mint hot chocolate.  They literally melt a Cadbury mint chocolate candy bar in the hot milk.  It was divine…and I am still thinking about it a month later!

Covid-19 has changed the way we travel…and today’s itinerary reflects this.  In the past, you could have showed up at Guinness or the distilleries and waited for your turn to enter.  But because they are limiting the number of visitors, we had to schedule our visits ahead of time.  I contacted the venues the day before via email to schedule our visits.  This is great because you don’t have to wait in line, but for us the downside was that I did not plan very well around the bus schedule.  So, if you want to use the hop on bus for your travels, my advice to you is to plan around the bus schedule.  We ended up walking and using Uber to get around for this day of sightseeing. 

A trip to Dublin MUST include a trip to the Guinness Storehouse!  Even if you are not a beer drinker, this place is fascinating!  The first impression…it is HUGE!  They really cover EVERYTHING!  The exhibits walk you through the entire brewing and storing process.  They also have an entire section about their advertising past and present.  There is a scent lab and an option to learn to make the perfect pour.  Your tickets also include a free beverage up in their Gravity Bar, which has 360 degree views of Dublin from above!  Expect to be here for a few hours, so you can really enjoy all that they have to offer!

You can either hop on the bus, walk, or Uber to the next location – the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum.  EPIC is an interactive museum about the achievements and history of the Irish people.  So many people have roots that can be traced back to this wonderful country.  Neville Isdell, founder of the museum, was inspired to open this museum because of his own immigration experience. 

At the start of your journey, you are given a passport that you can stamp in each room of the museum.  The museum is very interactive and even includes an area where you can learn to do an Irish dance! 

I was really excited to go to The Irish Family History Center at the completion of the museum.  You give the genealogists the information that you know about your family roots and they will help you discover more.  Unfortunately for me, they closed five minutes before we arrived.  I was pretty bummed!

After the museum, we headed over to the Teeling Distillery for a tour and tasting.  This was another venue that required an advanced reservation due to Covid.  Plan ahead! 

This distillery opened in 2015 and was the FIRST new distillery in Ireland for over 125 years!  While this distillery is only a few years old, the Teeling Brothers come from a long history of whiskey makers (dating back to 1782)! 

Our tour guide took us through the distillery where we learned about the process of distilling and storing the whiskey.  After the tour, we went to the tasting room where we were able to try some of the whiskey and also a cocktail made with their whiskey. 

Technically we could have probably fit in a couple of more attractions, but just based on the things we did during these two days, the Go City Pass was the way to go!!!  We actually saved 36.50 Euros by buying this pass…AND it includes transportation!  It does not get much better than that!  See the price breakdown below!  And if you want a discount when buying your pass, don’t forget to use this link: Go City

Click the link below to hear more about our time in Dublin!

Whatever you decide to do in Dublin, enjoy every minute of it!

Erin go Bragh!

A Visit to the Dingle Peninsula Needs to Be On Your To Do List

If you love car rides with beautiful scenery, a road trip to Dingle should be on your itinerary! This was one of my favorite drives on our epic road trip around Ireland!

The scenery along this stretch of Ireland’s southwest coast is AMAZING! You get farmlands, the beach, and cute towns all along the route! Next time we come to Ireland, we will definitely plan a longer visit in this area!

If you don’t already know, I LOVE cows! I literally brake for cows…or at least George does! He is always the one driving, so he knows if I can get close enough to get a good look, he should probably stop the car! While driving in Ireland, the carefully placed hedges that surround people’s property really inhibited my chance to see cows close up…but the ride to Dingle change it all! See below!

We were also in awe as we were driving and saw Inch Beach! We had to pull over and take in the views! Inch Beach is about 3 miles long. I imagine that this is a very busy beach in the summer. The waves are pretty rough here, so as you can imagine it is a surfer’s delight! During the summer months, there are lifeguards here. However, during our visit we just saw some walkers and a few pups!

We did not have anything planned for our day in Dingle. It is a seaside town…and it was rainy (and during their off season), so we just wandered around, enjoyed the town, and visited some local businesses! As you can see in the pictures below, there is plenty to see here…even if you do not have a plan! Take a close look at the sign for Foxy Johns pictured below…now that is a PARTY!

While you are in Dingle, we would recommend that you visit the following local businesses!

1. Murphy’s Ice Cream - We will start with the one business that WAS part of our plan for the day. It is on our Ireland Bucket List.

This ice cream has been made in Dingle since 2000. There are quite a few locations throughout Ireland, but I wanted to get it from the original location!

The owners use fresh milk from Kerry cows, loads of cream, and free range eggs. These high quality ingredients produce a delicious treat! Pro-tip: Get the Honeycomb Caramel…and thank me later!

2. Sheehy’s Fish and Chips - Who can say no to some cheesy potatoes out of a food truck? Not this girl! But in Ireland, they take it one step further and add a Garlic Mayo sauce on top. I imagine this is their equivalent to our ranch dressing.

Don’t ask questions, just get them! You won’t be disappointed. Of course they also serve fish and burgers, but we had already had lunch a little bit earlier. So, this was the perfect late afternoon snack!

3. Bacus Bakery - This locally owned bakery serves up delicious bread and desserts. Originally started in 2009 at home, owner Orla Gowen believes that simple ingredients are the key to creating a delicious product. Their products are so popular that they are sold in shops and restaurants throughout Dingle , Tralee, and Killarney.

Because of the popularity, the bakery moved into this location in 2018. And for that I am thankful. It is here that I ate THE most delicious dessert in all of Ireland: Guinness Chocolate Cake. Trying this cake, was another item on my bucket list. I am so glad that THIS is the place we were able to try it. My only regret is that I did not buy the WHOLE cake! DO NOT MISS THIS!!!

4. The Little Cheese Shop - I love cheese…and especially sharp, flavorful cheeses. In a lot of places that we have travelled, the cheese are too mild for me. But, I was super excited to try cheese in Ireland because I knew this would not be the case!

Most of the cheeses in their shop, come from Irish pastures. If you are a fan of cheese, you must visit this shop!!!

5. Paul Geaney’s Bar & Restaurant - Because Dingle is a seaside town, there are tons of fresh seafood restaurants. We are not huge seafood fans, so we were looking for a place to have lunch. This place was recommended by one of the locals. Below is a picture of George’s lunch, which made him very happy!

They do not shy away from their portions of meat and potatoes in Ireland. If you are looking for a hearty meal while you are visiting, check this place out!

6. Kathleen McAuliffe’s - Because we own a gift shop, I am always on the hunt for cute, locally owned shops when we travel. This particular shop had clothes, candles, skin care products, art, and more.

The shop is filled with lots of cute gifts! We really enjoyed our visit to this shop…AND I bought a super cute sweater (see below)! The shop owner, Kathleen, is a Milliner. A milliner is a women’s hat maker. She studied the art of hat making at the London School of Fashion. She actually learned under the woman who makes hats for the Queen of England! Kathleen’s hats are sold in the shop!

Our trip to Dingle was definitely one of our favorite day trips. This is an area that should not be missed!

Listen to our podcast to hear more about our travel to Dingle: Off Your Beaten Path Podcast

Exploring Limerick - One of Ireland's Oldest Cities

During our visit to Ireland, we used Limerick as a jumping off point for our visit to The Cliffs of Moher.

Limerick is a city that definitely deserves more time than we had available on this trip.  That being said, when we come back to Ireland, we will spend more time in this area!

Some highlights that you should not miss in Limerick include the following:

1.  Breakfast at Bakehouse 22 

This family run business is located in the Old Limerick Quarter.  They serve a full breakfast and lunch menu, but they also have a bakery with delicious cakes and treats.  It was a great way to start our day! And they even gave us a couple of free mince pies to try! If you have never tried one, George says they taste like Christmas!!!

2. A Visit to King John's Castle 

This castle is right across the street from Bakehouse 22! This castle brings over 800 years of history to life! Learn about the many sieges and triumphs at this castle, which has been around since the Vikings!

There are many interactive activities throughout the castle.  Due to Covid-19,  some activities are inaccessible at this time (like archery)!  But there is plenty to keep you busy and learning in a fun way!

The land that the castle sits on has been discovered to be inhabited for over 1000 years.  While restoring the castle, they unearthed some houses that are believed to have been Viking houses.  You are able to see some of the remnants of these buildings, while touring the castle.

Of course, if all that history isn't really your thing, the tour allows you to explore the castle towers which leads to beautiful views of the city! Adult ticket prices start at 11.70 Euros. There are lower prices for kids... and they even offer family pricing packages.

3. St. Mary's Cathedral

This Cathedral is along the banks of the Shannon River... and is just a quick walk from the castle! It is one of the oldest buildings in all of Limerick.

It was originally the Royal Palace for the Kings of Thomond and was gifted to the church in 1168.

The Cathedral is open every day, but we happened to arrive during Mass.  Therefore, we did not want to go in and disturb the activities in progress.

The cost for admission to explore the history and art of the Cathedral is 5 Euros. 

4. Hunt Museum

Also important to mention, we had two locals tell us we should visit this museum. We did not have time because we needed to make our way to the Cliffs before it got dark. However, if locals recommend it... we must add it to the list for our next visit…and we want to share it with you!

Whether you have a few hours or a few days to explore Limerick, you are surely to have an enjoyable time!

Witness A Piece of History in Waterford, Ireland

Every visit to Ireland should include a trip to Waterford, so you can pay a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal.

We love factory tours, so this was right up our alley. Due to Covid restrictions, the tours were "self-guided". However, there was a person at each place along the tour that was there to explain the process...and it was a fascinating experience.

So many times, we have had Waterford Crystal in our possession, and I never really even paid much attention to it. After seeing the process of making it, I can assure you that I will never look at it the same way ever again!

These craftsman are highly skilled in each of their areas, with their apprenticeships lasting 5-8 years. Glass blowers use wooden and hand tools to shape the crystal. Each piece is inspected several times. If it is not perfect, it is scrapped and sent to be remelted and used again.

Once the Crystal passes inspection, it is sent to the cutters. These artists use removable marker to make the geometric patterns onto the Crystal. The cutters have to learn a series of 600 cuts before they can complete their apprenticeship. It was astonishing to watch them create these cuts!

There are also sculptors that sculpt pieces from a solid block of crystal and engravers who spend hours and days engraving the crystal.

The amazing part of the tour is that you get to see these craftsman performing this work up close and personal. The cost of the tour is only 15 Euro per person.

After the tour, you can shop in their retail store...and visit the Crystal Cafe.

We made this visit in a day trip while heading to our next destination. Don't miss your chance to witness this 238 year legacy in action. You won't regret it!

Check out this video from behind the scenes!

While you are here, check out the town. This seaport has a rich history dating back to when the Vikings found the area in 914 A.D. There is plenty to see and explore while you are here!

And make sure to check out this adorable shop with great items Made in Ireland - Bebhinn!

For more information about the town, click here: Waterford

Kilkenny, Ireland: 1 Day Itinerary

Short on time, but want to maximize your time in Kilkenny? Here is our guide for a great day in Kilkenny, Ireland.

A good breakfast is always a must when starting your day of sightseeing.  That being said, we recommend that you start your day at The Fig Tree on High Street. This is also when I figured out that I should ALWAYS order hot chocolate while in Ireland…because it is SO good!

The Fig Tree is conveniently located down the street from the castle.  The first stop on your ultimate day in Kilkenny should definitely include a visit to Kilkenny Castle.  This was actually our first castle of many while on our ultimate road trip around Ireland! And it just so happened that admission was free during our visit!!!

Kilkenny Castle was originally built by William Marshall in the 13th century.  The building of this castle was a symbol of Norman control of the area.  It also marks the beginning of the Butler Dynasty, which would last for over 600 years.

The views of this castle are spectacular...and the gardens and park are definitely worth exploring too! The picture below is the view from one of the bathrooms!!!!

After the castle, we wandered down to St Mary's Cathedral.  When we were visiting there was a baptism taking place, so we just observed from the back of the church.

The next stop on our journey led us to the Black Abbey.  This was one of our favorite stops of the whole trip...and easily one of our favorite churches that we have ever visited.  I normally drag George to all of the churches...and he is rarely impressed.  But, this one was different.

Everything about the Abbey is special.  You can feel the history in this place.  It is dark and only inside...and the stained glass is spectacular.   This is a definite must!!!

The Abbey was founded in 1225 and gets its name from the "Black Friars", which is what the Dominicans were called.  It was opened to the public as a place of worship in the 1800’s...and contains the only remaining statue of St. Dominic in all of Ireland.

Another church that should be on your visit list is the Cathedral Church of St Canice.  At this Cathedral, there is a tower that you can climb for great views of the city.  Unfortunately, it was closed the day that we were there.  Cost of admission to the Cathedral and the tower is 15 Euros.

After all of our sightseeing, we were ready for a snack.  We visited Cakeface Patisserie on Irishtown.  If you are looking for a sweet treat that is as beautiful as it it is tasty, you should definitely go to this bakery! 

After leaving the bakery, make sure to take a wander down Butterslip Ln from High Street to St. Kiernan's Street. This cute little alley will lead you to one of the main shopping areas in town. 

Butterslip Lane dates back to the 17th century.  It was an area that was built below two houses and used to be flanked with stalls of butter vendors on market day.  Now it is a picturesque alley that connects two busy shopping areas.

Make sure to check out the adorable shop Butterslip and The Gift Horse.  Both are on the corner of Rose In Street and St. Kieran's Street.

If you are looking for a place top have a pint, stop by the Kytelers Inn. This place has been around since 1263!!! It is one of the oldest inns in Ireland. And has an abundance of history to go along with it. It was originally owned by Alice de Kyteler. She was eventually accused of witchcraft and was sentenced to burn. Luckily because of her connections, she was able to move to England before this took place! It is now a popular tourist attraction!

As an extra bonus. We were there in early December,  so we go to enjoy the Christmas Market by the castle. 

It was here that I was able to buy my first piece of art from a local artist.  I purchased a ceramic Christmas tree for my collection of Christmas items from around the world.  The market had some yummy food vendors, as well as live music playing! It was a great introduction to the happy, lively spirit of the Irish people!

We hope you enjoy this beautiful Irish town filled with history and merriment!

Travel Checklist

After forgetting our passports while traveling last time, I created a travel checklist. This has ALL important items, so I don’t forget to pack anything! It helps to keep me focused when preparing for a trip! You can download a PDF version here!