Sea World

Where do I begin? Jason deCaires Taylor's breathtaking underwater sculptures are nothing short of pure genius. I am obsessed.

Over 400 life-sized sculptures have been permanently anchored on the seabed of the National Marine Park of Cancún, Isla Mujeres, and Punta Nizuc. These sculptures are the first installations in Cancún's new underwater museum, Museo Subacuático de Arte.

Each sculpture was cast from a real person to represent a cross-section of Mexican society. They are formed with a special pH-neutral cement, designed specifically to support and encourage aquatic life while acting as an artificial barrier to protect nearby reefs. Some of the earlier installments are already flourishing with new coral growth, which completes the sculptures and brings them to life. In Taylor's words, "It is a symbiosis of humans and nature living in this cycle in harmony with each other."

A little eerie and spooky? Yes. Completely and utterly fascinating? You bet! Can you imagine going for a dip and coming upon these statues? I would probably freak my freak, but these living sculptures are undenyably gorgeous and spellbinding.

Rome Antics

Many of you can probably relate to my insatiable hunger for travel. The thrill of abandoning the comfort of familiarity in pursuit of unaccustomed cultures is absolutely intoxicating. I am fortunate to have had numerous opportunities to travel the world, and each journey has uniquely impacted and influenced the person I am today.

Chris and I recently spent a week eating our way through Italy. As our bellies grew, so did our relationship. What a wonderful way to enjoy our marriage! Here are a few of my favorite photographs from our escapade~

I fried our converter on the first day with my T3 travel dryer. Oopsies. As a result, we were unable to charge anything, including my camera, and I didn't get as many photos of Rome as I would have liked to. Not that my point-and-shoot could have done this marvelous city any justice. The Vatican City is insanely opulent, although I found the Sistine Chapel a bit underwhelming in person. Nevertheless, I was deeply inspired by the city's wealth of art, history, and stunning architecture. We had tons of fun reliving Gladiator scenes at the Colosseum, and ended our visit with an evening at the Spanish Steps.

It was rainy during our stay, which made the city even more dreamy. We did all our sightseeing on foot, wandering through a beautiful maze of cobblestone streets, and stopping to savor pudding-thick hot chocolates at the Rivoire. Florence is a living museum filled with breathtaking cathedrals, galleries, markets, and piazzas. We had a blast geeking out at the Museo Galileo. It was mind-blowing to see the original instruments used by pioneers of chemistry, physics, and astronomy. The museum didn't allow photography, but I couldn't resist sneaking one of Antonio Santucci's monumental armillary sphere.

Hands down, one of the most breathtaking, enchanting places I have ever seen. We spent the final days of our trip getting lost on purpose, exploring mysterious alleys and crossing countless bridges. Each turn revealed another glimpse of the decaying elegance of this ancient city. It felt almost mystical, and incredibly romantic.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." 
- Saint Augustine  

Beam Me Up

Escaping to Punta Canna last week was exactly what I needed. The trip was as exhilarating as it was relaxing. Traveling is one of my greatest loves, and it's especially memorable with good company. I am so blessed to have such kind, genuine, and encouraging friends! As five couples experiencing different walks of life - dating, marriage, pregnancy, parenthood - it was refreshing to share and enjoy our relationships with each other while soaking up some serious sunshine. It was quite lovely, and absolutely unforgettable.