Married for a Decade

I can't believe that Markus and I have been married for ten years today. Honestly, it doesn't feel like that long. I know it sounds cheesy, but it's the truth. Marriage isn't easy, but it's easier when you're married to your best friend. Markus has managed to make my life so fulfilling and giving me what I've always dreamed of as a girl, adventure.

When we first got married, Markus and I were poor twenty-somethings and never had the chance to have engagement photos taken. We both thought that this anniversary was the perfect time to finally have them done.  We found an amazing photographer, Mark Federighi. He was fantastic to work with and he couldn't have chosen a more beautiful place, the University of Chicago. We're both so pleased with our photos and are so happy to share them with you!

Toei Kyoto Studio Park | Kyoto, Japan | 2 of 4

So this one time, I travelled to a far away land called Japan. In the beautiful city of Kyoto, I found a village that was somehow lost in time. It was the middle of August and the days were long and hot. I was incredibly parched as I walked through the village. When I thought I would die of dehydration, I saw this well. Luckily, a handsome gentleman offered to fetch me some water. I believe I would've perished if it weren't for him.

Okay, but seriously, can we just talk about how dreamy my husband is? He's gonna be so embarrassed. Oh well! I can't help it if I'm one lucky lady.

Cruz Family Christmas Card

For the past nine years, all I've wanted to do is send customized Christmas cards. The most important part of this process? The photo. Thankfully Markus booked a couple nights at this awesome bed and breakfast, Goldberry Woods, for my birthday. Goldberry is in Michigan and just an hour and half outside the city. It's definitely an idyllic spot and the perfect place for a festive photo.

On Saturday morning, we woke up early and donned our matching outfits. It snowed the night before and it created a beautiful winter wonderland. We trekked through a nearby forest and found so many great spots. We took so many photos and in the end, had way too many to choose from. The photo above is the one we ultimately chose. We thought it was playful and perfectly showcased our personalities. I'm a bit sad that we can't use any of the other photos, but at least I get to share them with you!

Celebrating Ten Years at Vitos | Busan, South Korea

I can't believe that our ten year anniversary was only two months ago. It feels like our time in Korea was another lifetime. I'm so glad that Markus and I were able to spend our ten year celebration somewhere amazing like Busan. It's not every day that you can celebrate a decade with the same person and in a great place like Korea. I never would've thought that my life would end up like this! 

 

For dinner Markus found this great Italian place, Vito. It was in the heart of Seomyeon and had great reviews online. Vito, the chef, trained in Italy and makes all of the pasta fresh everyday. Koreans love Italian food, but they tend to add a Korean touch to all international food. I was really eager to eat authentic Italian pasta. The ambiance of the place was nice and cozy. It was a lot smaller than I thought. There were only a few tables and the restaurant probably only sat 15 people. People were always waiting to be sat, so I knew we made a good decision.

When we ordered, we both decided on pasta dishes. Ever order came with a complementary appetizer of cream soup and mushroom crostini. Both were really delicious and I wish they gave us more. I can't really remember the names of the dishes, but I do remember how they tasted. I had an olive oil based pasta cooked with garlic, basil and tomato. It was so good. Markus had a creamy shrimp pasta. His was also really yummy. When the plates came out, I was worried that it wouldn't be enough food, but it was the perfect amount. After dinner, they gave us complimentary tea to finish off the meal. I remember we chose Vito because we missed the taste of home. Now that I'm home, I miss the taste of Korea. It's really funny how that works.

When we left Vito, we walked around a bit and looked for a cafe. We decided that since it was a special occasion we should be a bit more adventurous and find a new spot. We finally found a great cafe called, Cafe Verre. It's a bit hidden, which is perfect because less people know about it. It was super cute and had lots of nice brick-a-brac. We sat at a table next to the window and people watched for a bit. We both ordered an Americano, our favorite drink, and a raspberry tiramisu. We really enjoyed the cafe and we went back at least a dozen times before we left Korea. It was a great find and one that I was glad to experience before we left. I'm so glad that we were able to have a nice memorable anniversary and I wonder where we'll end up next year! 

Ten Years

As of today, Markus and I have been together for ten years. I'll never forget the first time I saw him. I was 17 years old and I was at PhilFest, an annual festival that celebrates Filipino culture. I was sitting in a friends booth and spent my time people watching. I was looking around and all of a sudden this boy came into view. I don't know if it's my memory or if this really happened, but I swear time slowed. He didn't look like anyone else. All the other Filipino boys tended to look the same and this one, he was special. I could just tell. I remember thinking, "Dang, he's one handsome boy."  Little did I know that moment would change the rest of my life. That moment was only the beginning and the rest of the journey has been the greatest adventure of my life.

So, here's to ten more years of adventure and love. I can't imagine my life without this boy. He's truly the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I'm so thankful for him!

*Photos taken on our Fifth Wedding Anniversary by my extremely talented best friend, Ashley Sellers. 

How We Met | His Version

This is the story of how Markus and I met, told from his perspective. One day, I will make my own version. I never knew his side of the story. I'm the one that always tells the story, so it was nice to finally hear his side of the story.

I love this boy. He's so amazing. Check out his other vlogs and website! He's so talented and so funny and I'm honestly his biggest fan.

Valentine's Day Card 2013

When I have the time, I like to create personalized cards for every occasion. Markus is the master of personalized cards. He's an illustrator, so his cards are always amazing. One Valentine's Day, he showed our love conquering Londy Town. On my 27th birthday, he illustrated what the world would be like if I "got my way". It was a wonderful world indeed. One of my favorite cards was the Tardis he made for me, it was even more special because there was a video that accompanied it. I always try to be clever with the cards I make for him. I might not be a great artist, but I think I get the job done. 

It should come as no surprise that Markus and I are big geeks. We spend a lot of our date nights at home watching Doctor Who or marathoning 80s movies. It's with this shared passion that I found inspiration for this year's Valentine's Day card. I definitely went for a time traveling theme and showcased three of our favorite things, Doctor Who, Back to the Future and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.  

Dear readers, I hope all of you have a wonderful Valentine's Day with your loved ones and remember, "Be excellent to each other!"

Chatsworth House | Derbyshire, England 3 of 5

The gardens of Chatsworth House were more than I thought possible and just kept going. When you thought you had seen it all, there was more.  After seeing the typical English garden, there was an area of looming trees, rock formations and exotic flowers. It was like an expedition to another part of the world. It's amazing that someone could own such an elegant home, perfect manicured gardens and a vast forested area. The English nobility really live a charmed life. 

It's like having my own Mr. Darcy. Maybe, I live a charmed life as well. 

Chatsworth House 1 of 5, Chatsworth House 2 of 5