That post title sounds a little more risqué than I intend it to! I pulled together a few clips from our European travels this summer, and made a video! Bear with me...I'm still an iMovie beginner...

If the Blogger video format doesn't work for you, try watching it on YouTube!

{Music: Hunter Hayes, I Want Crazy}

A Day in Dublin

Andrew and I traveled to the British Isles for our honeymoon, and I'm still reminiscing about it. We both wanted to do a big trip...and didn't want the typical beach/resort honeymoon scene. Honestly, I feel like we went on the trip of a lifetime! 

One of our favorite days was spent in Dublin. We grabbed a few city maps and chose to explore on our own. Here's our recommendations for what to see if you only have seven hours in Dublin. Ready? Go!

1. Jump on a bus to see the city (and sit on the top deck if it's sunny!). We found this was the easiest way to see most of the big touristy attractions. And saved our legs a lot of pain. :)

 

2. Look right! A bit of an adjustment for Americans!

3. Visit Christ's Church (founded in 1028!) and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Both churches charge an entrance fee, but you can enjoy the outside view for free.

4. Buy a rugby ball as a souvenir!

5. Visit Kilmainham Gaol. The history of this former prison is fascinating. Several groups have filmed music videos in the middle of the prison, including U2.

6. Stop by the Jameson or Guinness distilleries for a tour (and a sample!).

7. Walk up and down O'Connell Street (in the heart of the city). The shopping along O'Connell is fun, and the restaurants are a perfect place to grab a bite of lunch. You can also cross over the River Liffey, which offers beautiful views of the city.

8. Our last stop of the day was Trinity College. We waited in line for about a half hour to see the Book of Kells. If you have the time, it's worth the wait!

And you're finished! A whole day in Dublin. You could wind out the day with a hot toddy...or maybe just a nice long nap. 

76th International Gold Cup

It's taken me most of my 20s, but I finally discovered my kind of tailgating...horse racing! A group of us headed out to The Plains this weekend for the 76th running of the International Gold Cup. We brought along a potluck assortment of food...including cheese samples and Pinot! We spent the afternoon relaxing on the lawn, holding our breath during each race and swooning over the stunning parade of hats. 

My husband picked up KFC before we left for the races. It had me tickled all afternoon to be drinking Pinot while eating fried chicken. I can't think of a better combination, can you?

Guest Bedroom Before & After.

Our guest bedroom has been a work in progress for awhile, but we finally have a few before and after photos! Isn't it amazing how a fresh coat of paint can transform a room? To get this room ready for guests we:

1. Painted the walls and ceiling

2. Dismantled the curtain fixtures

3. Rearranged some furniture

4. Added bedsheets and a lamp!

Andrew and I have been so blessed to have a lot of the furniture in our home gifted to us. It may not be our particular style, but we are so grateful for it!

Here's a few photos chronicling the progress of the room. We still have some work ahead of us (those windows are crying out for drapes! and don't get me started on the shades...), but we're so happy with the beginning stages. I'm convinced you don't need a perfect house to be a hospitable host. We're ready for house guests! :)

{Sherwin-Williams paint: Extra White Satin on walls // Extra White Flat on ceiling}

Harvest.

I had never seen a soybean up close and personal until I started dating Andrew. Now I feel a sweet affection for these beans...I've learned so much about them (and the farmer who grows them!) in the last two years.

A farmer can't enjoy his harvest until the beans are ready. And those beans have to be just right. The right kind of feel. The right kind of dry. The right kind of firm. Beans can be so temperamental. 

In the span of just a few short weeks the beans stalks have shed their golden yellow leaves. The bean pods are bulging. The harvest is here!

Just a few real life pictures.

It takes time to make a house a home. And this little Virginia homestead is no exception.

Here's a glimpse at a few projects we've been working on recently.

We're pulling up flooring, stripping wallpaper, painting bedrooms, and (still) unpacking. Real life! But, I'll be honest...there's nothing I'd rather be doing than making this home with Andrew. I love being his wife.

The Virginia Creed.

My mother-in-law gave me this mug for Christmas last year, and I still get a kick out of it.

via

The creed on the mug reads:

To be a Virginian either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one’s Mother’s side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign country and a Benediction from Above.

I love my home state of Maryland, but I am having so much fun discovering all the beautiful parts of Virginia!

the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains // via

p.s. A huge thank you to Bobbi at Ready to Blog! She's given A Virginia Homestead a whole new look! I'm so happy with it!