It was such a treat to see Dale Chihuly’s exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston! Mr. G and I got a chance to see his work in Vegas at the Bellagio a few years ago. This time we got to experience these spectacular glass sculptures with some special out-of-town guests. I would venture to say that this was a definite highlight during their busy stay.

A little tip about the MFA: if you happen to get there about 45 minutes before they close, the admission is free!

I coming out of hibernation. This was my first winter in New England, and what a winter it was! Have a look at that hilarious graphic above – the snowfall was just short of Shaq! I’m happy to report that I made it through one of Boston’s worst winters. It was dark by 4:30 pm, in January we had weekly snowstorms and temperatures dipped below 0 degrees – which I’ve been assured is not normal – but I pressed on and Spring is finally popping up everywhere which is making me very happy!

Here’s the final collection of photos from my Summer Wrap Up series.

Chinatown

We ventured down to Chinatown for their Main Street Festival. I enjoyed perusing the many vendor offerings. I really wanted a little cute bonsai or bamboo, but I refrained. I have a tendency to kill greenery. Not at all my intention, of course.

Did you notice that Hello Kitty is reading the paper on the loo? That’s different! *blush*

On this excursion we tried Dim Sum for the first time. Oh. man. We were so lost, and thus, had a disappointing experience. I do want to give it another go, but only with someone with dim sum knowledge. We went to a top-rated eatery that was packed – always a great sign. But nothing was in English nor did anyone speak it, so we did the best we could.

Had I registered what was hanging in that window, I probably wouldn’t have even gone in! Yikes!

Hugs and Hope Meetup

I discovered Meetups this summer. I figured since I was new in town, it’d be a great way to get to know the city and meet some new people. I went to few different events, but my favorite was this one put on by the Boston Volunteer Meetup group. “Hugs & Hope” and “Make a Child Smile” : Making Cards for Sick Kids brought together some Boston young professionals and their craft supplies. We were given the profiles of a few terminally-ill children and their siblings. We then created cards based on their likes and interests. It was both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, but I thought it was a great way to use my talent to brighten someone’s day. I really wish I took pictures of some of my creations – they were so cute!

Labor Day, Red Sox Game!

We had another opportunity to see the Red Sox at Fenway. I was so excited to see a night game this time and would you look at our seats?! They were amazing – 5th row behind home plate. It was an exhilarating game, though I can’t remember all the details. I do know that we beat Tampa Bay 12-5 and I got a chance to see Big Papi hit a home run and another guy hit a grand slam! Even though we had incredible seats last time, I think the game was much more enjoyable at this angle. And speaking of Big Papi…

He totally waved at me! Or… maybe he was waving at his little fan in front of me? Whichever it was, Mr. G and I had a great time.

So that’s it – goodbye Summer, hello Fall!

Today I’m continuing to share snapshots of my first full summer in New England. We spent some great days on the coast.

Gloucester

The Fitz Hugh Lane House was perched atop a hill and got our attention immediately. He was a local painter and printmaker in the early 19th century known for nautical subject matter and his attention to detail. Gloucester had the Fisherman’s Feast going on when we were there. We also explored Main Street and grabbed a bite at Passports and thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. So much so, I’ve been wanting to go back up just to dine there. Check out those heavy duty Birkenstocks!

“Step into my shoes and become inspired.”
Love that.

Rockport

Rockport is such a sweet taking. Cute shops and restaurants line the picturesque coastline. I can’t wait to see what this charming little town looks like in the winter!

Portsmouth

I love how close other states are! Portsmouth, New Hampshire is only an hour away and has quite an eclectic downtown. This colorful garden was a delightful retreat by the water.

Hull

Unfortunately when we went to Hull it was a chilly, overcast day. We did make the best of it: a nice walk along the water before and after a delicious pizza lunch and an impromptu shopping jaunt at a community used book sale.

Though the summer seemed short, I’ve still got more pictures to share! Stay tuned…

{ Photo credit: Flickr }

What a month! Mr. G and I landed a couple of great jobs and quickly hit the ground running (thus the hiatus in posts). The timing was pretty impeccable, too – with Summer fading into Fall, the vacation is officially over!

Well, it’s been nearly 2 weeks since my birthday. But, I’m a big believer in celebrating for as long as possible. Birthday-week, birthday-month – it’s all good!

Ladies and gentlemen: I got a CharlieCard! I think my enthusiasm of possessing this free, plastic card amuses the natives, but I never really experienced public transportation growing up. Up here, it’s so common. But I think it’s fantastic! Of course there are pros and cons, but I love having the freedom of exploring Boston and the surrounding cities without the stress of driving. And with the card, I just tap, tap, tap into any turnstile I wanna go through and I’m on my way (barring that there’s money on my card, obviously)!

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“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Boston is a fantastic place to spend this patriotic holiday! The weather is divine, there are celebrations everywhere, and the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular is indeed, SPECTACULAR!

The roadtrip up from Florida was a success – huzzah! We made two overnight stops and only lost each other twice, but only briefly (I’d like to take this moment to thank the inventors of the TomTom and the iPhone). Mr. G and I are settling into our new surroundings, though we kind of feel like we’re on our usual summer vacation. Reality slips in and out as we juggle job interviews with leisurely walks through our new hometown. This is a seriously gorgeous city with tons to offer. I’m looking forward to becoming a new Bostonian!

This is a BIG deal. I’ve been a tropical, small(ish)-town kinda girl my whole life; but all of that’s about to change. In just under two weeks, Mr. G and I, will be making the drive up! Though we’ll be leaving Florida and a lot of our family and friends behind, we’re looking forward to this new adventure. For me, New England is something I’ve always wanted to experience: the 4 seasons, the insane sports culture, and the immensely rich history – just to name a few. It just makes me giddy!