Birthday Boy!

husband,

happy 29th year! thanks for not just being the best travel partner, but also the best life partner. Let's make this next year the best yet!

xo,
wifer

Leaving Boston Behind

We're gonna back-track a little bit to our last week in Boston.  It was all a bit hectic and exciting.  We both worked through the end of April, which was Monday the 30th.  This also happened to be the night we had to be out of our apartment and have our car packed for the trip... there was a solid 24 hours of no sleep and, of course, we managed to lock ourselves out of our building with just an hour left to be moved out. Fun! We spent Tuesday through Thursday nights with our families, then hit the road Friday morning. Throughout our last week we managed many farewell dinners and some fun around Boston. It rained during all the big moments: as we left the apartment, our last night in Boston, the morning we left for the trip... good thing rain means good luck!

-Amanda

 Both of our companies we so supportive of our endeavor, and made sure we had the proper send-offs.

Leaving our apartment was probably the most difficult part of the week.  This had been our only home together. Locking up the apartment truly seemed like the end of an era. And that's me zonked out after unloading the U-haul!

Our last big event in Boston was the Saturday before we left.  We went with friends to the Bacon and Beer fest and it was pretty perfect - all the beer and bacon delights you can imagine.  Then we came back into Boston on Tuesday night for our private farewell to the city.  We had been given tickets to a Sox game and imagined we'd bike to the game and frolic in the city - perfect, right?  But it was raining and miserable.  So we cabbed to the game, stayed only for a couple innings, then called it quits and ate oysters and had cocktails instead.

On Thursday we had a little farewell gathering in New Hampshire with the families and some friends. It was so good to spend time with everyone before we left.

Then we headed out bright and early Friday morning!  Russian tradition is to "sit for the road" which is basically sitting down for a second before leaving on a big trip.  This is Taras's mom and I taking a sit!

We cannot thank our families, friends, and coworkers enough for all the support and encouragement they have given us these last few months!  You all truly made this decision a million times easier.  xo

Amanda's Birthday

Sunday was my birthday. Yep, on Mother's Day! I turned 29 - now I'm officially in the last year of my 20s (and technically a cradle robber for the next two weeks). I think this little road trip of ours is the perfect way to celebrate the end of a decade, for the both of us.

We didn't do too much to celebrate, but we did enjoy a few cocktails around Cleveland, OH and I got to catch up on Gossip Girl and eat the best guacamole I've ever had - they put goat cheese in it!  I didn't get a cupcake (shame on you, husband!) and my official birthday dinner was at a chain restaurant in Toledo, OH because nothing birthday appropriate exists here, or so it seems. But, oh well!  This is shaping up to be my best year to date, so no complaints here!

-Amanda

My first birthday drink: a delicious Manhattan at The Velvet Tango Room. This place had great quality throw-back cocktails and housemade bitters.

Happy birthday to me!

Photos originally from my instagram (@amandabouzakine).

Introductions, et cetera

Hello, friends!

We'd again like to thank all our guest bloggers from last week: Sarah, Amanda, Emily, Natalie, and Nicole. Your favorite spots from around the US have us even more excited to explore this beautiful country!  We had such a great response to our guest posts that we have decided to feature one guest post each week - email us if you'd like to be added to the line-up!

Also, welcome to all our new friends!  It's time to formally introduce our little travel family:

Taras: The leading man, designated driver and bicycle repair specialist. He's excited for the first time he gets to launder his boxers in the river (using biodegradable soap, of course).
Amanda: The professional car napper, trip budget coordinator and excessive shoe packer. She dreams of hosting a dinner party at a campsite picnic table.
Zion: He was a little sad to leave his beloved prior family, where he could play with an adorable little girl and a fluffy dog.  So far, he's adjusting well to the new gig and just got his tires rotated and oil changed today!
Theodore: Taras's trusted companion.  He's been in the family for a few years now, enduring his share of scrapes and bruises.  Poor guy had the first mechanical casualty of the trip when he popped a tire yesterday.
Shelby: She is the newest addition to the family! She's sporty and lightweight, making her the perfect companion for our cross-county adventures.

If you'd like to know more, check out our about us section.

-Taras & Amanda