Where I've Been, Where I'm Now, and What's Ahead

Caroline, you had ONE job. ONE. Document Europe. You spectacular failure. Good going, loser. However, if there ever was a time to completely drop off the face of the Internet planet, I'm glad it was during the summer, more commonly known to bloggers as "hiatus-bernation" season when we all abandon our posts in front of the bright glare of the computer screen in favor of pools and boats and BBQs and in my case, about seven countries in Europe.
I have a heck of a lot of stories to share with you. So many misadventures, beautiful moments, tough lessons learned, and funny anecdotes that I want written down for posterity's sake, as well. And I can't wait to get started.
But, briefly:

Where I've Been:

+ London (plus a short visit to my old stomping grounds, Oxford), Paris, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Capri, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Greece, and quite the number of airports, and bus and train stations in between. Wow. Written out, it seems a bit much and the task of recapping it all appears to be quite daunting. Never fear, I say. I... won't, you reply.
+ Being completely in denial about, and therefore kicking and screaming my way through, college graduation.
+ Holing up in Southern California for a week with my (former) roommate's fam.
+ Couchsurfing and having the BEST peek of post-grad life back on campus (seems rather contradictory, but I shall explain) and in San Francisco as I hunted for a not-so-temporary place to live. THE BEST PEEK. 

Where I'm Now:

+ Home in Houston, and you can see the sweat puddles as evidence, if you really really want.
+ Desperately binge-watching the entirety of Parenthood. 
+ Whittling my Bloglovin' feed down from 800+ unread posts to a grand number of zero. (Check, as of last night. I really need to get a life.)

What's Ahead:

+ Bridal showers and bridesmaid dress finalizing and minion-to-the-bride-ing and eventually watching my sister get hitched in October!
+ A big girl job and a big girl apartment in San Francisco, and all of the trials and errors that come as a package deal.
+ Giving in to all the blogtalk that urges "finding a niche" etcetera etcetera despite the fact that the little voice in my head keeps on whispering, this is gonna be a lot of work. What's going to be your speciality anyway? Brunch? EVERYONE SPECIALIZES IN BRUNCH. I'll slowly but surely tweak this space into one for the "new girl in the real world," just. you. wait. 
+ In the meantime, brace yourselves for the post-tornado coming up as I switch between Europe, graduation, apartment-hunting, San Francisco, scary thoughts, funny thoughts, and um, whatever the heck this thing called adulting could be.
I'm so happy to be back. I've missed you all like I currently miss those Italian carbs.
What've you been up to? Do tell.