Truth be told I’ve never taken a sauna, but as we stepped off the bus in Philadelphia I figured it was about as close to a deep sweat sauna experience as I ever hope to get, which is never.

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Eve and all that it entails.  I’d much rather snuggle up for the evening with the one I love most, sip a bottle of bubbly and watch a classic movie, such as the one I share every year at this time.   Cheers!

Having never been one to make New Year’s resolutions (I’ve always thought that if I’m going to do something important I better get to it, not wait for the New Year and then spend a year worrying if I’m living up to my self-made promises) I’m not about to start this year.

Each year for the past few years I’ve published a list of Christmas quotes.  It’s no surprise that I think this year, in particular, we may all be in need of an extra dose of holiday inspiration; something to help us find joy in the moment.  Maybe some sort of Christmas miracle?  Or, at the very least a beautiful Christmas melody to make us smile and cry with emotion at the same time.

Christmas Lights in Porto

I don’t know that we’ve ever seen a city more decked out with Christmas lights than we have here in Porto.  We spent 3 days in Santiago de Compostela and the city was definitely illuminated, but nothing like what’s on display in Porto.

A Return to Santiago de Compostela

After 35 days and 350 miles we walked in to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on May 17, 2015.  We were beyond tired and physically beat.  The next day we witnessed the pilgrims mass at the Cathedral and garnered our certificates of completion from the pilgrims office.  The day after that… we boarded a train for Porto.  Our 48 hours in Santiago were not much more than a blur of exhaustion.

It’s more than a bit odd to be in a place where there is not even a whiff of the Thanksgiving holiday, which I find hard to believe is the day after tomorrow.  As we experience the subtle change of seasons here in Porto,  we are thinking of those we love most and missing them.  It’s bittersweet.

Norooz and the Haft Seen

In March of 2015 we were in Iran celebrating Norooz, the Persian New Year, with our BIG extended family. It was my first trip to Iran and it was quite the exciting experience to see the whole country come together in celebration of spring and the new year. It is the #1 celebration in the lives of the Persian people.

As we climbed the flight of stairs, to the second level of the mansion at Mount Vernon, we ran our hands over the centuries old wooden railing; the same railing George and Martha Washington ran their hands over as they climbed the stairs of their home.

On this soon to be upon us day of giving thanks, I find myself thinking of something a guest said during a newsmaker’s panel discussion I watched, in reference to the results of the 2016 presidential election. The panelist suggested, that when we sit down to give thanks this year surrounded by those important to our lives, instead of stating what we’re thankful for, take time to think instead, of what we’ve learned.

Halloween.  It’s not so much that I’m madly in love with the holiday, although I do think it’s crazy fun, but rather I am in fact madly in love with autumn and all things related to the cool crisp change of the season and of course, Halloween falls into the mix.