Our First Trip Around the Sun

Well, it's officially been a year. As it goes with living abroad and in life generally, some days feel like they'll never end, and some days just fly by. But when we look back on the past year, we reminisce about the adventure it's been and smile at the thought of our second year as desert dwellers in this crazy little city.

On the occasion of our one year anniversary here in the Middle East, two photos of our living room, taken exactly one year apart.

2012: Sad. Like a cheap, soulless extended stay motel. Do you feel as sorry as I do for the people who live here?

Fast forward to 2013: Still not ideal. But thanks to Ikea, an excess of Christmas lights and ditching the world's ugliest living room set, it feels a little more like home each day.

And our living room isn't the only thing that's changed. In other news from the home front, we took the plunge and bought boxed wine. We are officially drinkers of wine out of a box, something that isn't acceptable unless you live in a college dormitory or are a card carrying member of AARP. How did this happen to us, you ask? That's a story for a different post.