Picture this: after hitting it off in the wild jungle of the internet, we wasted no time in meeting in the real world. So, on June 10, 2014, at 6:10 pm (I was running late), we braved the wilds of Buffalo Wild Wings – because nothing says “let’s get to know each other” like bonding over a mountain of spicy chicken wings (mango habanero), am I right? We ate, talked and laughed until almost closing. I love that it’s 2024 and we still laugh every day.
We picked a B-Dubs smack dab that was in the middle of us, each about a 30-minute trek away.
Why? Well, we figured if the sparks didn’t fly, at least we’d get to indulge in some seriously delicious wings. But little did we know, that night would be the start of something wonderful.
Alright, buckle up for this whirlwind of adventures! So, picture me, the eternal wanderer, already with a few escapades up my sleeve for that fall – Octoberfest in Germany, a romp through Italy, and a Turkey Day trip to the Big Apple to catch the Macy’s Christmas Parade, mostly thanks to my trusty miles and points stash, of course.
Fast forward just a couple of months after meeting and feeling a bit daring, I decided to throw caution to the wind and popped the question – no, not that question, the other one – you know, “Will you go on a cruise with me?” And you know what? He was all in faster than you can say “anchors aweigh!” We set sail in February 2015 and the rest as they say, is history!
That year, we had our 1st unplanned travel adventure on a trip to Niagara Falls which turned out to be a beautiful trip, despite the chaos at the onset, and took a trip to Vegas. We planned a dream cruise out of Venice, Italy in May of 2016. In Nov. 2015 I was surprised and excited when I hacked my way to a Southwest Buddy pass which was good from November 2015 through December of 2016.
I immediately cancelled our Vegas tickets and rebooked the trip using the buddy pass to save points, we pulled out our calendars, maps, and took advantage of every holiday and 4 day weekend we could then we packed our bags and off we went! We wanted to create our own fun memories so since we had both been in long term relationships before, we tried to pick fun places that neither of us had been or been with other people as much as possible.
In 2016 we went to San Juan, Chicago (2x), San Francisco, Napa, New York, Venice, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Cape Cod, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, and Phily!
Here is out little souvenir-saving secret. Between kids, grandkids, friends, and the whole family tree, souvenir shopping is just not feasible. So, we came up with the three-souvenir plan (which also saves on extra suitcases).
When we travel to a new destination, we grab 3 things. He’s all about the baseball caps – I swear, that man’s got more hats than a hat store! I’m not kidding…it’s now 2023 and he has hundreds. I’m on a mission to deck out our Christmas tree with ornaments from every corner of the globe. And last but not least, I love Pandora charms – they’re like little treasures I can carry with me wherever I go. I have 3 bracelets….1 for international travel/destinations, 1 for the US and 1 that has family, anniversary charms, etc.
For us, it’s not about stuff. It’s about collecting memories, not things. So, while our suitcases might not be overflowing with souvenirs, our hearts are bursting with the adventures we’ve shared and the memories we’ve made. And, if anyone ever doubts the amazingness of our travels, we’ve got hundreds (ok maybe thousands) of photos to share!
Now, who’s ready to start planning their next adventure? 🌍📸✈️