ireland, i love you.

It's no secret that I spontaneously flew to Ireland to meet + spend a week with pen pal who I kind of had a crush on...and that man has become my husband.

But here's something my husband doesn't know: On my last night in Ireland, I returned to my room in Dromoland Castle to find a card on my bed, left by the staff during turn down service. I've carried this little card around in my wallet from that day forward. It reads  like this:

When my feet trod Irish soil,

I felt that I had come to a magic country

And now as I said goodbye,

I know it truly as an enchanted island.

I pulled it out on my wedding day and couldn't stop smiling. Enchanted, indeed. Our ceremony included an Irish blessing...and I had a hard time keeping it together while it was read!

Because of Gabe's international job, we haven't yet spent a St. Patrick's Day together. But I spend mine cooking a traditional dinner of corned beef + soda bread + apple cake and throwing a dinner party. Full disclosure: I also usually flip through our photos from the trip...and get my nostalgia on.

Here are the photos I loved most this year. :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends!:)