Amy Buff Jordan

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From House to Home

Casey and I just bought our first house. This is what we're doing to make it an awesome place to...

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Reflections and Farewell

I seem to say that every year is my best year ever. But 2013 TRULY was the best year of my life so far.

I married the most amazing man on this planet in what turned out to be an absolutely perfect celebration with our closest friends and family. I'm not exaggerating. Our wedding day was the stuff of dreams.

The awesomeness continued throughout the year with simple pleasures and just a general feeling of content I haven't felt before. It's quite nice.

We rounded out the year with a trip Thailand. Each of our adventures have had their own merits, so it's hard to crown a favorite. I really want to say hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was the best, but if I'm being honest, what we saw and felt in Thailand wins. Just me and my love, enjoying a wonderful country I strongly encourage everyone to visit. I will never forget how I felt as we enjoyed our own happy hour watching the sun go down on Ao Nang after a day on Railay on one of our last days. Just *sigh*

I feel like 2013 was the year I grew into a person I'm very happy to be. I feel confident, I feel more calm, I feel loved without insecurity and I feel like everyone around me knows exactly who I am. I'm a wife now, a role I take seriously. I try to be a good friend and I try to be a hard worker who puts positivity into any situation.

Finally, I'm blessed to feel so much love and appreciation for my family, my in-laws, my friends and my colleagues.

2014 is likely to be a monumental year for us as well. We'll be traveling to visit friends we miss in Utah and Montana. We will be buying our first home and starting our family with a dog. We will attend the wedding of my little brother to a woman I'm thrilled to call sister. And hopefully we'll be announcing a baby on the way later in the year.

All that said, my life has become incredibly dull to everyone other than myself. I've never used this Tumblr to share cool internet things, so there isn't really a point in keeping this up. The humblebrag gets old, I know, and as one friend told me yesterday, "I am such a grown up now." Maybe I'll read more books in 2014.

[amybuff]

We're back

And the stress just hits like a ton of bricks. I miss my life without overwhelmingly long to-do lists. But, at least I now know what that feels like and can work to better how I handle stress. Get me back to my zen place!

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Our last (and best) masaman and green curry in Thailand at Krua Aroy Aroy. Perhaps a bold move before beginning a 24+ hour journey home.

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Tomorrow is our last day in Thailand. This truly has been the trip of a lifetime. Yesterday on Railay and Ao Nang was the second most perfect day I have experienced. It's safe to say we are both different and better people after this adventure. P.S. Tales of our horrifying ferry ride (no joke at least one 15 foot wave crashed over our boat and cracked the window right behind me - I thought for 100% sure I was moments from losing all my stuff and floating in the Andaman Sea) spread through the islands. We met a woman yesterday on Railay who was like "oh my gosh you were on the ferry from Phuket that had to turn around?" I just hope the profit hungry Ao Nang Princess company suffers some sort of consequence for taking us out there when apparently the captain had doubts from the start. As you can see, I haven't been able to let this go yet.

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We'll call the final phase of the honeymoon The Great Feast in Bangkok. Tried miang kam tonight - dried shrimp with other goodies wrapped in betel leaves. Pretty delicious.

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I wish I could hike to lagoons for a living.

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Thailand Day 10. The sun is finally out and we get to eat lunch at places like this.

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We are very happy to finally be in Krabi after a harrowing ferry attempt this morning. Seriously experienced the scariest hour of my life today. Time to hit up the pool bar.

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I'm so glad that all of my very favorite life memories have been shared with this handsome guy.

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It hasn't been great weather wise in Phuket, but we're making the most of it.

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Today was a day of firsts. First time kayaking through caves (one with bats!). First time touching bioluminescent plankton and first time swimming in Thailand. The rain didn't hold us back!

[amybuff]

Another rainy day in Phuket. Sitting on our porch catching up on trip writing. We're about to go on an 8 hour kayak tour, and while I don't mind a little rain, I really hope it doesn't storm. And I'd really love to see a good sunset.

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It may be raining in Phuket, but when you're surrounded by this much beauty and peace, nothing can bring you down!

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Another bucket list item checked off.

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Spent our last day in Chiang Mai learning how to make our favorite Thai dishes. Up next is Phuket.

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It's our last day and night in Chiang Mai

This place is starting to feel like home. Perhaps it's because we partied with the locals last night in a downpour for the end of Loy Krathong. Maybe it's because we haven't eaten in an actual restaurant in two days now (the street food is exciting and awesome.) Whatever it is, we will miss this enchanting city.