A Wee Dram of Whiskey

After we got home from Italy in June, Mike and I agreed that Scotland would be our next travel destination.  We both wanted a Scottish adventure before the end of this year.  November has been a great travel month for us in the past when we hopped over the pond to Ireland in 2010 before we got married.  And what is more festive than some cozy weather, a fluffy sweater, a nice warm fireplace, a hearty meal & some delicious whiskey.  So when I found out that I had to travel to Scotland for some work on the Dewar's account, Mike and I immediately turned that into an autumnal dream vacation.

Prior to Mike and I reuniting for a Scottish adventure in Edinburgh, I spent 4 days traveling through the Highlands of Scotland exploring the wonder that is the world of Dewar's scotch whiskey.  We had some very serious (I kid) meetings in different areas across the country to ensure that we were all extremely versed in the distillery process and able to participate in many whisky tastings.

In all seriousness though, the people of the Malt Camp were taken on a once in a lifetime tour of the intricacies and the charm that makes up the Dewar's brand, and we got to experience all of the magic that can't be described in a power point presentation or in any brand summit.  When the daily grind of a tough job gets you down, it's extremely rewarding to get to be a part of a brand that has this much history and enables us to be able to take such a special trip out to the home of the brand.  I'm extremely grateful that I got to be a part of that.  Here are a few pictures from the work portion of my trip to Scotland:

View from our first stop - the MacDuff Distillery

Just a little competitive research at Macallan

My little cabin getaway for the night

Dewar's Distillery in Aberfeldy!

Happy Halloween from Aberfeldy

Bottled and sealed all by myself!

The Fellowship of the whiskey

While I was working in Scotland, Mike was on a London "mancation" with our bestie Mike Keohane.  They packed their best tweed and Barbour jackets and charmed what seemed like every lady in London before joining me in the great city of Edinburgh.  My last night with the Dewar's team was not kind to me, and I woke up in rare form, with a beast of a headache.  I was definitely caught up in a Halloween night on my first evening in Edinburgh, along with my last night with some extremely fun work colleagues.  So I MAY have had a few too many whiskeys, and I MAY have stayed out a little too late, and I MAY have forgotten to take my contacts out.  Nevertheless, I was THRILLED to see both Mikes in the lovely city of Edinburgh. I'm pretty sure that was the longest period of time I'd been away from my husband since we got married - so it was a very happy reunion - despite my hungover condition.

"Do I get to kill the English?"

There were a few highlights on our trip, and since I'm on my 3rd year of this blog, I don't feel the need to take you through the day-by-day, and I'm PRETTY sure you don't really want to read about it, so I'll once again, I'll summarize some of my favorite things about exploring one of my new favorite countries with "the Mikes'.

Edinburgh Dungeons: On our first day that the three amigos were reunited in Edinburgh, a few of us were feeling the pain from the night before, so we had a somewhat soft agenda.  But as we settled down in the Doric pub for our first meal of the day around 2p, we were staring straight into the entrance of the Edinburgh Dungeons.  While there IS a real under-ground tour (we did the real one the following day) that you can take in Edinburgh, this is more of a "theme park".  We meandered into the dungeon experience somewhat unsuspecting and rolled our eyes during the first lame acting attempt by the overly enthusiastic characters that greeted us in our first room.  But as we continued through the dungeon experience, we spent the next hour being ridiculously scared by the haunted stories and terrifying surprises that lurked around every corner.  I think this one picture just captures our experience perfectly.

Edinburgh Castle:  We had some fabulous weather while we were out there.  Expert travelers had told us that November would be crummy weather, and that it could be quite miserable, but we had some gorgeous days.  One day in particular, was the day we all decided to head up to the Edinburgh castle at the top of the hill in the city.  Once you climbed the cobblestone streets to the top, it was an unbelievable view...you can see  miles and miles of medieval excellence and rolling green hills.  We spent the better part of 3 hours up there admiring the history and the views on what was quite possibly the perfect day in Edinburgh.  Sure, my

Mike & I keep guard - don't worry!

husband took a scary tumble down 8 stairs, and Keohane had a borderline concussion when his head didn't clear the 5'6" door frame at the chapel, and sure, I feared that I might have to carry BOTH of them down steep hill - it made for some great laughs and the panoramas were worth battling the numbing wind gusts at the second highest point in the city.

Our Highland Road Trip: Mike and I have learned from our trips to Italy and decided that our favorite days were when we explored the countrysides with our drivers.  We scheduled a trip for the three of us that proved to be one of the most special days I've had in a long time.  Our driver, Ian, was an adorable Scottish man who was a living history book (which Mike appreciated immensely).  On our way out to the Highlands, Ian took us to Dunfermline Abbey - a quaint surprise that provided some of the most picturesque settings of the entire trip.  After an unchaperoned, self-guided tour through the Abbey (where some claim Robert the Bruce is buried),  we decided to explore the little park below the ruins.  And it was like stepping into a fairy tale.  A crystal clear brook tricked through a landscape of trees that were so beautiful it appeared as though they were lit up by fire.  There were bridges, benches and nooks covered in soft, bright green moss that could have accumulated over hundreds of years!  I wouldn't have been surprised if little glittery fairies came out of the foliage or maybe a unicorn was sipping from the stream- it was THAT whimsical.

Menzies Castle:  One of the most important things on our agenda was to visit the Menzies castle.  My husband is extremely proud of his Scottish heritage, and couldn't wait to show us the home of his family clan.  BUT, one problem - the castle was closed after 10/31.  So Mike, being a member of the Menzies clan, was able to call the castle and arrange for a private tour - for just the three of us!  That alone was extremely special - but what made the trip even more memorable was the proud Scot who actually gave us the tour!  The three of us were guided through a severely haunted castle for two hours listening to the riveting stories of the clan and their history.  Luckily, he saved the ghost stories until the end....otherwise I might have been hesitant to climb several stories of a winding stone staircase.  But the stories he told made every hair on my body stand on end...I had goosebumps all the way to my face!

Stumbling upon the MOST festive Christmas bar ever made:  As most of you know - the Mobleys live just a stone's throw away from Rolf's - arguably the most festive Christmas bar to ever open.  And one of the best things about visiting Europe in November, is the fact that there is a chance that you'll get to enjoy some early Christmas decorations as Europe doesn't wait to observe Thanksgiving. So it was like a Christmas miracle when the three of us stumbled upon a building illuminated in what seemed like millions of tiny white lights and the most beautiful wreaths you ever did see.  So what could make this experience even better?  This location was a BAR!  Not a fancy hotel, not a government building, and not a private social club.  A perfectly inviting, festively illuminated drinking establishment.  Granted, it was the most crowded place I had ever been, but the three of us appreciated the delicious pints as we watched the room change colors.  What a nice little surprise!

A Night at Monteith's:  The Mike's did a fabulous job dressing in all the festive attire that you'd arm yourself with in Scotland.  They had plenty of tweed, tartan and plaid to survive the week.  But they quickly found out on the first night that they were missing a festive accessory - so naturally they bought pipes.  However, you can't smoke anywhere in Scotland indoors, so they didn't get to enjoy their pipes until our last night, when we visited Monteiths.  This restaurant was the quintessential Scottish nook.  Complete with tartan booths, antlers mounted on the wall, lambskin throws and an arbor decorated with tiny white lights - it was the perfect setting for our last night as a trio.  AND the best part, the boys could smoke their pipes under the comfort of the twinkling arbor on the outdoor patio.  Not to mention, it was hands down the best meal we had on the entire trip.  After our meal, we all sipped some triple cask Balvenie from a tweed flask and the boys puffed on their festive pipes and it was absolute bliss.  I haven't laughed that long in a while.

Our tribute day to Mary Queen of Scots: After Keohane left us to return to the states, Mike and I woke up sad.  We missed our friend and we knew it was our last day in Scotland, but we were determined to leave Scotland on a high note and make the most of our last, gorgeous, sunny day in Edinburgh.  I had made it 8 days without stepping foot in a museum, so Mike and I headed to the National Museum of Scotland to catch the Mary Queen of Scots exhibit before it was gone!  I'm rarely blown away my museums, but this one was GOOD & it was worth the time indoors.  We continued to retrace Mary Queen of Scot's steps by walking the entire length of the Royal Mile to end up at Holyrood Palace where she spent her time while in Edinburgh.  And to top it off, we stopped in a quaint little tearoom on our way home for an afternoon tea - because that's what queens do.

We miss our friend!

Its not unusual for me to be distraught upon departing from a fabulous vacation, but this one was particularly disturbing - and that's because I fell absolutely, head-over-heels, in LOVE with Scotland - all of it.  I love the scotch, I love the tartan, I love the Highlands, I loved the autumnal breeze, I love the kilts, I love clean rain, I love the bagpipes, I love the salmon, I love those silly furry cows that are dotted across the highland farms, I love the rolling green hills, I love the tweed, I love that they have Belhaven on tap, and I love the accents.

The sun setting over our Balmoral hotel on our last night

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip that surpassed every expectation I ever had about Scotland and I would not have changed ONE THING about our trip. I'd love to get another trip out there soon, next time with some family because that country has completely stolen my heart.  Scotland - you gorgeous country - thank you for the scotch, the adventures, the fall foliage & most importantly - the memories!  We'll be seeing you soon!

Halloween with the Mobleys

Last year, we got robbed of our Halloween.  Sandy took away all of the costumes, candy and festivity that accompanies one of our favorite holidays.  And THIS YEAR, Mike and I were determined to soak up ALL THINGS Halloween - until we found out we were going to Scotland over October 31st.  So that meant that we had to fit in all of our Halloween traditions before the 27th of October.


 Luckily, Bob & Cortney Novogratz hosted a Halloween party early this year, so we got a chance to actually dress up!  Since we've been dating, Mike and I are all about the couples costumes - and NOT because I insist.  We actually enjoy the challenge of coming up with costume ideas that suit both of us.  Although, I do feel like I got the short end of the stick when we were dressed up as Bill & Ted - and I vowed never to dress up as a dude again.

Well that didn't last long because this year, we were WHAM!  Although I did get to be George Michael, which I think is a great compromise since he's so pretty.  It was one of our easiest, yet effective costumes and I'm pretty thrilled at how it turned out. And it felt so good to dress up again!

The rest of October had been filled with scary movies, spiced pumpkin candles and Oktoberfest beers in an effort to do something Halloween-y.  But there was obviously one last thing to do before we left for Scotland - carve pumpkins!  One of our favorite fall time activities is an autumnal visit to the Farmer's Market, where we carefully selected our blank canvases.  Mike is pretty pro at these things, and has managed to conquer some advanced designs over the past few years, and this year was no exception.  This year, he carved the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man!

While I'm going to be sad to miss Halloween in the city, I know Scotland (particularly Edinburgh), will provide a variety of spooky and haunted activities for us to participate in, but no one REALLY does Halloween better than the states!

The Chicago Bears & the Mobleys visit DC!

My family comes together every year to go to celebrate our annual Chicago Bears weekend.  Unfortunately, this year, our schedules just could not align.  With all of the travel the six of us are doing for work, and all of the planning for Garrett & Jenny's wedding - it just wasn't in the cards.  I'm not alone in saying that it broke all of our hearts...It was a sad realization when we just couldn't make it happen.  So when we got the invitation from the Novo family to join them in Virginia for the Bears vs. Redskins game - we started to plan immediately!

If it wasn't enough of an incentive to get me out there to see the Bears - I was further enticed by the fact that this would be my first trip to our Nation's Capital, AND....my first time in the state of Virginia!  We rallied quite the crew to head down on the train to DC for our friends weekend part II.  And after 3 hours on Amtrak - we arrived right in the heart of Washington DC for a gorgeous fall weekend.

Mike and I are on the same page when it comes to touring monuments, museums, and attractions.  We have a short attention span for these types of things and believe that any great attraction can be conquered in an hour or less - and thankfully our friends were on the same page as us.  Within 1.5 hours, we had visited the Jefferson, the FDR, the MLK AND the Lincoln Memorials.  We spared our feet and our pregnant friend, Nadean, from multiple hours of unnecessary walking, and were ready for a hearty lunch and a Guinness with Matty's parents in Old Town Alexandria.

Sunday was game day.  Nadean and I woke up early Sunday morning and went for a 4 mile run along the Potomac River up to Mount Verson.  After 58 days of Insanity, I forgot how nice it was to run outside and feel the fresh air in your lungs.  But even better was the view.  The rich golden colors of the trees reflected on the glassy water to look like a painting!  Nadean and I crunched leaves along the path as the chatted during our run - and those 4 miles went by super quick.

But after that, it was time for the main event - the Bears vs. Redskins game at FedEx Field.   As usual, we never have a shortage of Bear gear, and we brought a little extra flair this time in case someone forgot...eh hem...Keohane!  Of course I made sure to bring the foam Bears finger along for the ride, because I'm not even sure how I would high five other Bear's fans without it.  We took the Metro out to the stadium with just a few minutes to spare before kickoff.  The only thing more perfect that our experience on the immaculate public transit was the day.  We were extremely lucky to have a clear blue sky, the sun shining on our faces, and a light breeze, perfect for "football weather".

I have to commend the Bear's fans who all traveled out to Virginia to the game - we were amazingly represented, and they came ready to fight.  I'm always impressed at what these fans can pull together to show their support.  We found a guy who was the perfect imitation of Mike Ditka - I almost died.  I'm angry that it wasn't me or Mike, but he looked perfect.

As with any away game, you have to hope that your neighbors at the game are also going to be Bears fans, and they were!  The Bears were plagued with a few injuries during the game, and didn't end up leaving the stadium with a W as I had hoped, but at least I had some new friends around us to commiserate with over the four quarters.  Yes, the Skins ended up being the victors, but the game was close and we got the lovely treat of a Devon Hester punt return - I think that's the third one I've seen in person!  Sure I had a few "words" with some Skins fans, but I managed to keep my husband and friends out of any fights, which is KIND OF a miracle.

After another stint on the Metro (seriously, so convenient), we ended the evening with more exploring and joined some more of the Novogratz family for snacks and cocktails to celebrate the 30th birthday of Matty's sweet cousin - Maureen.  Although we aren't family, we were so happy to be there to toast to Maureen and toast to a BIG birthday for her.  It was such a lovely way to end the night and as always, we're so glad that we got to see everyone!

 If that wasn't enough of a jam-packed weekend, we had one more destination before starting our journey back to New York - a "power hour" at Mount Vernon.  It's never a bad Monday when you start it off touring the mansion of the Father of our Country while over looking the Potomac River on a crisp autumn day.  Similar to our tour around the monuments in DC, the five of us took a similar approach to the grounds of Mount Vernon.  In less than an hour, we had toured the mansion, the tomb, the warf, most of the land, and most importantly, the gift shop.  The DC monuments were impressive, but Mt. Vernon was particularly awe inspiring.  George Washington is literally THE most American person ever born.  When I heard the stories and lived his live through the tour of  his estate, it was the most proud I've felt to be an American.  It was comparable in pride to how I felt about being Catholic while visiting the Vatican.  It's truly, truly humbling.  

In no time, we were back at home and all of us had returned to our prospective apartments in various places across Manhattan.  My first time to DC and Virginia COULD NOT have been more perfect or more fulfilling.  I'm so appreciative to the Novogratz family for being our gracious hosts for the weekend, but I'm also so grateful for the PERFECT weather we had during our 3 day trip.   I hope we're invited back down there when the Bears come back in 2015.  While I'm still pretty bruised about not getting to see a Bear's game with my family this year, this was an excellent alternative!  Thank you again to the Novogratz's for hosting us and for showing all the best of our Nation's Capital & the beautiful state of Virginia.

Fall on the Hudson

We've missed our friends.  We've missed them a lot.  August and September went by extremely fast - and we went almost the entire two months without seeing people who live just 2 or 3 miles away from us.  With New York being in the peak of fall, an autumnal weekend with our buddies was in order.

Since I've moved to New York, Mike has raved about how West Point is not only a beautiful campus, but it's a great place to witness the wonder of an American tradition - an Army football game.  Army was honoring the the 55th anniversary of the 1958 Undefeated football team at the game & Mr. Novogratz was a part of that team - so our friend Matt rallied a festive crew to spend the day up at West Point.

We didn't take a train, and we didn't take a car - we took a ferry up to the game!  The early morning wake up call was 100% worth it when we got down to Pier 11 and it was an absolutely perfect day.  The sun was coming up over the Brooklyn bridge, and the Hudson river was sparkling.  We boarded our ferry with our bellies full of pumpkin spice lattes and climbed to the top deck to take in the breathtaking sights of autumn on the Hudson River.


After about 2 hours of unbelievable views and hills full of gorgeous fall foliage we arrived at the fortress that is, West Point.  The ferry left us little time to tour the campus and take in the scenery, but we did get a chance to grab a few brews and stock up on Army gear before heading into the stadium.  Once we were in for the game - it was impressive!  The stadium was a modest size, but it sure didn't SOUND that way!  Between the band and the core of cadets, the cheers and chants rivaled that of some Big 12 and Pac-12 football games I have been to.

After witnessing Army DOUBLE the score of their opponent - Eastern Michigan, we boarded our ferry once again to head back to the city.  We spent a few minutes admiring the view and the leaves from the top deck of the ferry before heading back down for a cozy beer and snack.  The only thing that kept us from spending the entire two hours enjoying the view and an amazing sunset was the brute force winds that can happen in the middle of fall when you're on the Hudson going 25 knots (ok, maybe that's an arbitrary number because neither of us are nautical experts, except when it comes to costumes!).  But we were lucky enough to see the sun setting on the Hudson behind my girl - Lady Liberty.  October sunsets are just THE BEST!  We were all home shortly before dark to end a fabulous day with some of our favorite people.  We're off to Washington, DC next weekend for friend's weekend part II - can't wait to share highlights from my FIRST TRIP TO OUR NATION'S CAPITOL!

We Got a Car!

Ah October - one of our favorite months of the year.  The leaves are changing, football is in full swing, and the holidays are almost upon us.  This month's travel itinerary is modest, which means that we finally had two weekends in a row to enjoy home in beautiful New York City.

Mike and I almost didn't know what to do with all the extra time - so....we BOUGHT A CAR!  It's been almost 4 years since we've owned a vehicle.  Almost four years since we sold our matching gunmetal and black BMWs before leaving LA.  And close to 48 months since we've gotten behind the wheel of something that wasn't owned by Avis, Hertz or Enterprise.  Since Mike and I moved to New York, we have spent a small fortune on rental cars for trips out to Connecticut, the beach and even New Jersey for trips with friends and family.  And during those getaways where we couldn't take a car - we spent a fortune on boarding Winston while we opted for trains and planes.

But that all changed just a few days ago when we stopped by the Manhattan Jeep dealership to "browse". We had done quite a bit of research over the past few months - and we felt like in 4 years, we had been on over 50 "test drives" after renting quite a few different cars.  We both agreed that the Jeep was our choice as the first car for us to get as a married couple!  But five long hours and what seemed like 100 sheets of paper later - Mike and I left the dealership in our fully insured, fully registered, shiny new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD! She's a lovely gunmetal gray, she's got all the important upgrades and best of all - she has that "new car smell".

First order of business was programming Hair Nation - DUH!

It's crazy to think of how this big gray beauty will play such a bit part of our lives in the years to come.  She's going to hold our stuffed suitcases as we go on our family trips, she's going to have a trunk full of presents when we drive around Connecticut at Christmas, she's going to have drool marks from Winston sticking his head out the window, she's going to move us into our first home, she's going to have remnants of sand from our trips out to the Cape, she's going to take our first baby home from the hospital, she's going to hold all of the coolers and provisions for next year's tailgate when the Chicago Bears come to town to play the Giants, and she's going to be the host for many, many metal Mobley family sing-a-longs.

Sure, we may only be driving once a month for these first few months, but I can't wait until the three of us take our first road trip in our brand new Jeep!