23rd Month In Iceland By The Numbers

Month number 23 is in the books and I am quickly approaching my two year mark in Iceland!!!

Two years in Iceland, I can’t believe how fast time has gone by!

I started this “by the number” series my first month in Iceland as a way to remember all the adventures I got up to each month, big or small. I am so happy that I started writing these monthly recaps, just a glance through each post takes me back to that month and all the feelings I felt during that time. When you are an expat there tends to a lot of feelings and changes constantly happening, I am glad that I have all of mine documented here on my blog to see how I have grown and changed over the last two years.

I have loved writing these posts each month, but as I settle further into my life in Iceland I have decided to end the “by the numbers” series and move on to something else. My life has settled into a routine and while there are still changes happening it is not as many or as big as the changes that have occurred during the first two years. I feel like my first two years were a special time of learning and growing and I am happy to have those memories in my “by the numbers” posts, but am now ready to move on from them. I will still be recapping all about life in Iceland though, I mean that really is what this blog is all about!

But before I say goodbye to my “by the numbers” series a recap of my 23rd month in Iceland needs to happen!

I will admit, this past month I was not the best at capturing life happenings, but my month was a busy (and fun!) one. From game nights with friends to my first dentist appointment in Iceland, a weekend in the Icelandic countryside and a trip to Prague month number 23 was full of firsts and happy memories!

So with that little spiel let’s get into my last “by the numbers” post shall we?!

Four hours spent on a sunny Saturday capturing my neighborhood

For all the exploring I get up to around Iceland I am not the best at exploring my own neighborhood. So one sunny Saturday a few weeks ago I vowed to change this. During my two hour walk around my neighborhood I gained a new appreciation for the area where I live and for all the charming colorful houses in our neighborhood. Lesson learned, explore your own neighborhood more!

Twelve meetups hosted as a Girl Gone International Community Manager

Becoming a Girl Gone International community manager with my friend was one of the best decisions I have made in Iceland. I have made several wonderful friends through this group, and even better, I have seen girls new to Iceland quickly hit it off with other ladies in the group and now they hang out outside of the monthly meetups! I know what it is like to be the new expat in town so I feel so happy to be able to help make that transition easier by having a group they feel welcome in.

One luxurious stay at Hotel Rangá

I may sound like a broken record, but the Viking and I’s weekend at Hotel Rangá was seriously amazing you guys! From the cozy room to the beautiful landscape, delicious dinner and the amazing Northern Lights, it really was a weekend for the books!

Two hours watching the Northern Lights

If only every Friday was spent watching these beauties dance in the sky! I have been quite lucky and have gotten to see the Northern Lights multiple times since moving to Iceland. But the Northern Lights we saw during our stay at Hotel Rangá where truly amazing, by far the best Northern Lights I have seen yet! If you dream of seeing the Northern Lights while in Iceland I highly recommend a stay at Hotel Rangá, they even have a Northern Lights wake up call so you won’t miss the show!

Second trip back to my favorite place in Iceland

Oh how I love this fairy-tale land! Gjáin really is the most beautiful place in Iceland.The best part is that hardly anyone visits there, so you can enjoy the magic of Gjáin all to yourself! If you are planning a trip to Iceland visit Gjáin, you won’t be disappointed!

Two new waterfalls visited

A month in Iceland wouldn’t be complete without some waterfalls! These two new to me waterfalls are definitely at the top of the list for the most beautiful waterfalls I have seen in Iceland. The waterfall Háifoss recently came onto my radar (thanks to Pinterest!), and since we were in the area after a lovely stay at Hotel Rangá I had to take advantage of it and make a visit to Háifoss and its neighboring waterfall Granni. They both were incredibly beautiful, I have a full post full of pictures of these beauties, stay tuned!

Weekly skype dates with my family

This picture just makes my heart all kinds of happy. It is no easy task to find a time where we can all sit down to Skype, but when but these Skype dates, they really make my week. And when the dogs get involved in the Skype action that is the cherry on top! Opal is much more curious about the whole Skype thing than Azora, she kept staring at the screen and looking around trying to figure out where my voice was coming from. Azora on the other hand, she won’t even pause to look at the screen, although once she licked the screen like she was giving kisses, and then I cried, because I am a crazy dog lady and miss my pups.

I have to share one more picture of my favorite pups (told you crazy dog lady over here!). My family went camping a few weeks ago and my mom sent me this picture. Apparently Opal’s idea of camping is sitting on top of Azora, because you know she can’t get dirty:)

Gah they are too cute!

Five days in Prague

More like 5 days eating and drinking my way around Prague ha. Our trip to Prague was amazing, the weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the city was just as charming as I thought it would be. I have lots of pictures to go through and share on the blog so stayed tuned for more on this lovely city.

First James Bond themed party in Prague

First off, I have never seen any James Bond movies. So when H told me that while in Prague we would have a James Bond themed party all I knew was that I got to get all dressed up for the night. This night, it has to be my favorite night in Prague! This party was an absolutely blast and worth the little amount of sleep we got that night. I have way too many blurry pictures from this night, few of which are blog appropriate, but here is one fuzzy picture that gives you an idea of how I spent my night.

I love to dance, and I love it even more when you can just be silly and let loose on the dance floor.

Four hours spent wandering around Prague with no plan

Our last day in Prague was spent with no plan other than walking and seeing where we would end up. I am pretty happy with the result #castleviews #prague

A photo posted by Kaelene (@unlockingkiki) on Sep 29, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT

Just one more from Prague for now. On our last full day in the city H and I set out with no real plan. My favorite way to explore a new place is to just wander around and see what you find, and what we found in Prague was a beautiful park with some amazing views of the city! These kind of moments, they are my favorite travel memories.

Twenty percent discount on my sponsorship spots!

Yay discounts! Who doesn’t love a little discount right? :) As a thank you for reading along each month and for your continued support use the code THANKYOU for a 20 percent discount on all my ad spots! This code is only available until this Monday so be sure to head over and check out my ad options! I would love to work with you and get your blog name out there!

This next month is a big one. My two year expativersary is coming up, as well as my two year blogiversary! H and I have a trip coming up to DC and NYC in a few weeks, oh and I am doing this crazy thing and running the NYC marathon, eekkk. So even though the weather in Iceland has already took a turn towards winter there is still lots to celebrate around here. But first I must get through these last few weeks of training, and then the fun begins!

Here is to month 24 and many more!

October 2, 2015 by Kiki

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http://www.heartmybackpack.com/ Silvia

1. The picture of the pups camping. 2. The picture of you dancing. Ahh so much to love! It’s also so great to hear that you’re really feel settled into life in Iceland now, and so cool that we’re all able to look back through your journey to see how you got to this point!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Thanks so much Silvia! I am loving reading your monthly recaps about life in Norway!
http://www.adventurings.com Cynthia

That photo of Opal sitting on Azora…… OMG. LOVE IT. Do they do this regularly??
I know what you mean about recaps and such: my third year as an expat will be next month and the amount of culture-shock things are becoming fewer and fewer. At some point, it just becomes your new life, ya know?
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Isn’t it so cute ha. Opal does it quite often actually, and Azora just sits there and lets her ha. And yes, so true, at some point life as an expat just turns into your new life.
http://www.rhymeandribbons.com/ Amanda @ Rhyme & Ribbons

Opal sitting on Azora is AMAZING! X
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Haha isn’t it so cute, Opal is always sitting on Azora:)
http://ofgoldenroses.blogspot.com/ Sara Rose

23 months! That is crazy!! And Opal knows how to find the best seat in the house! Lol
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I know right, it has gone by so fast! Haha Opal is ridiculous, she thinks Azora is her own personal couch ha.
http://www.alifeexotic.com/ Julie @ A Life Exotic

Hahah the photo of your dogs camping is HEART-MELTING. So sweet! Good luck with marathon training… the weather here in NYC has actually been amazing lately (except for rain from the hurricane right now) so I’m sure it’ll be a great race day!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Isn’t it just the cutest! I am hoping for some nice weather on race day, as long as it is not a hurricane I will be happy as my training runs in Iceland have been full of stormy days!
http://treasuretromp.com/ Nicole @ Treasure Tromp

I’m sad to see by the numbers ending, but it completely makes sense since you’ve been there 2 years. Speaking of which - damn, 2 years! What an amazing month you had :)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I know right, two years it just seems crazy! Thanks so much for reading along, I am sad to see by the numbers end as well but feel like it is time as I settle more and more into life here:)
https://theredphoneboxtravels.wordpress.com/ Tanja / The red phone box trav

You’ve had a great month!:) never seen a Bond movie?!:) Oh, there’s new one coming soon:)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I know right, how have I never seen a Bond movie, I may have to give the new one a chance :)
Kristjanfreyr

Loving this post - btw, I have no idea where Gjáin is, guidance needed!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  You guys will have to check out Gjáin next summer!
http://www.alkeksabroad.com/ Courtney {Alkeks Abroad}

Happy almost two years! I love the dancing pic, Trav took many similar ones of me throughout our Thailand trip. Gjain looks like somewhere out of a fairytale!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Thanks Courtney! Ha are boys are good at capturing us in the best moments right:)
http://www.adventuresofalondonkiwi.com/ Emma @ AdventuresofaLondonKiwi

Does it feel like those two years have raced by!?
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  It really has gone by so fast! After those first 6 months time started flying by!
http://ashleywanders.wordpress.com Ashley

Gjain looks so beautiful, and those waterfalls - wow! Thanks for the Gone Girl International tip! I moved to Edinburgh earlier this year, and have been looking for a way to meet fellow expats - this sounds perfect!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  I hope you find a GGI meetup near you, it really is a great way to meet fellow expats!
http://notinthepink.com Ceri

Two years just seem to fly by, don’t they?

Wow, you got up to all of that all within the space of a month? Incredible.

I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Here’s hoping one day. :)
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  They go by so fast! The Northern Lights are amazing, I hope you get to see them one day!
http://www.beingleanna.com/ Leanna @ Being Leanna

oh man, 2 whole years already! I’ve been reading along and it seems to have flown by! Happy early Blogiversary and Expativersary!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Thanks so much Leanna, and thanks for reading along:)
http://voyageofthemeemee.com/ Amanda MeeMee

Awww… I love that you Skype with your family on such a regular basis! So cute! :D
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  It makes it a little bit easier to be so far from home :)
http://www.seeyouinaporridge.com/ Kristen @ SYIAP

you look like an epic dancer ;) lol. looks so fun!
Brittney

Kiki, I am visiting Iceland over Christmas and I need to invest in a good pair of snow boots AND hiking boots. I always use my regular sneakers to hike over here in DC area, but I don’t think they’ll cut it in the snowy terrain of Iceland. Can you please share with me the brands of some of your favorite hiking boots/snow boots? I would be SO appreciative!!!
- http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene @ Unlocking Kiki
  
  Hi! So I don’t really have any specific shoes, I just picked up a pair of boots here in Iceland, I don’t know the brand sorry! I usually just use those with some warm thick socks when I am out in the snow. I know that Sorel is a really popular brand and I have been checking out their boots. Hope this helps and that you have a great time in Iceland!

23rd Month In Iceland By The Numbers

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