Oh. My. Wine-Design!

I would love to design wine labels. When I go to buy wine, I'm not thinking about the year, the location, the type of grape in-season, and what-not... I am analyzing the labels. Do I like the organic lines in that one, or the geometric nature of this one... but then again I'm always a sucker for texture! I buy based on what I'm liking that day. Weird? Psh. I think not! I bet some of you do this without even realizing it!

Take a look at some that I am really in-love with right now...

{found at TheCoolist }

{see that beautiful scorpion bottle there, I need to try that one}

Thanksgiving Instagrams

{wednesday night out with friends}

{christmas ale}

{happy turkey-day! photo cred. to michael kenneth}

{family fun on a friday night}

{check this beautiful sky out - holy moly!}

I am so very thankful for my friends and family and the ability to travel home to see both over the Holidays. Many are unable to make it home, and one day that may be me - but for now I cherish each Holiday I am fortunate enough to make it back to Cleveland to spend time with people I love!

Hope you all had as deliciously filling of a Thanksgiving meal as I did :)

 I am also thankful for some little things that make me smile! As pictured above; a good light-up sign that brings some festive element to the bar atmosphere, Great Lakes Christmas Ale (the best seasonal beer EVER), selfie-photos, and amazing sunsets on a road-trip!

Windy City Love

I just adore Chicago and all of its charm! This past weekend, Sarah and I visited our college roommate who recently moved to the city, for Sarah's birthday weekend - mine was the weekend before and every year since sophomore year we have celebrated them together. Now, being in different cities (for now - she is soon moving back to Columbus- YAY), it is hard to round up all 7 of my roommates to get together for each birthday celebration. This weekend Margaret, Alyssa, and Sara Lyn were around to celebrate - but we are soon venturing back  to Chicago for T-Box and Sam will join us then!

Twelve bars of X-mas.... a bar crawl with Christmas costumes. 

YUP. You guessed it; totally my kinda thing!

Birthday Celebrations

Last Thursday was my twenty-fourth birthday; Almost a quarter of a century old. ALMOST people, that means one bore year ((yikes)); I celebrated it all weekend long! Starting with thursday evening, my roommate surprised with wine, dinner, and a game night with friends! Simple but perfect, considering I love most games ((i.e. catch-phrase))!! So much fun!

Then friday, we planned a Brazilian birthday party with dips and cairpirinhas ((the national drink))! So many of my co-workers showed up and I was surprised by so many different friends, not from Columbus! Two of my college roommates made the truck down from Cleveland, a friend from Dayton came up and showed up a few minutes after my roommates. Then my two best friends from high school showed up!! Also- two of my guy friends surprised us all with an amazing piñata filled with little tequilas, candy, and mustaches!!! Ohhhh how I love surprises :) I genuinely had no idea that any of them were coming! I used to think I was not easily surprised, nor caught of guard; but props to Erin for successfully doing both from thursday through saturday!! 

And I can't forget to mention my Dayton visit! My brother is a junior at UD and I visited him for part of my birthday weekend! He and his girlfriend made me a delicious cake that was devoured within minutes! I always have so much fun visiting.

{desk @ work – thanks Melyssa!}

{flowers, favorite snack, and a stash? ha}

{college roomies}

{dayton friends}

{co-workers}

{yuppp. note the faces}

{high school friends}

{dayton love} 

{brotherrrr}

Thanks to all who really made this birthday super memorable and absolutely amazing! I love my friends dearly and cherish the importance of having good ones in life :)

Ps. Erin: you rock at surprises ((I don't... ha))

The Cristo! Rio De Janeiro {Part 3}

On our very last day we packed in anything and everything we could! Of course we had to start our day at Cafeina, with fresh OJ, fresh papaya, bread, cheese, turkey, and honey & jam! And then we spent the rest of the day venturing up to the Cristo. WOW. Words can't describe how amazing that statue is – and the view of Rio was spectacular!! At 130 feet tall, the Cristo is a religious icon for Christianity as well as a cultural icon for Brazil. His open arms represent peace, but originally the plan was to have a globe in one hand and a cross in other. At the bottom of the statue, there was a beautiful little chapel. Photos were not permitted, but I will tell you, it was small yet wonderful!

I had to end with one of my favorite snacks (while in Brazil) from BB Launches, a little Suco Bar on Joe's street. Pastel de carne, somewhat like a beef empanada, but there's a small surprise in it... half of a hard boiled egg! Call me crazy, but they're delicious and I guess you'll just have to try for yourself! Oh yeah, and of course I couldn't leave with out fresh acai and granola.

Brazil, I miss you dearly!

Rio De Janeiro {Part 2}

The adventures continued, from late nights at Vellosa Bar, to the steps of Santa Teresa, and one of my favorites: hang gliding! We really packed in a lot in our 10-day trip. Joe's friend, Brad (an american also working in Brazil), was a wonderful asset to our trip. He spoke Portuguese very well, and was willing to talk for Catie and I (major relief!) and hung out with us for most of the trip while Joe was working. Like I said, one of my favorite adventures was hang gliding; the first series of photos. Our guide, Paulo, was a peach. He let us each have an almost 35-minute ride (usually 15-20 minutes)! We were up in the mountains and clouds, looking down upon the beach and the gorgeous houses with their own fancy pools. We also landed on the beach!

Another must-see in Rio, that we did was the tiled steps of Santa Teresa. They were truly amazing! Selaron, the artist, was actually sitting on the steps painting that day! He claims they will never be finished; he is always adding and editing, like a true artist! 

*Note the Michael Jackson, Guns & Roses, and Bob Marley tiles. YUP-– my favorite ones!

Oh, and that mouth-watering sandwich, lunch at Cafeina of course!

{what? I told you we love that little spot! Oh, and we almost always sat at the same table}