Roadtrip Weekend

David and I are going away this weekend to visit his oldest friends.  The people we'll be staying with have known him since he was a wee one and I'm looking forward to hearing childhood stories from their time together in Africa.  Old friends and family allow us to see a different side to the people we're closest to and I'm happy to drink wine and learn more about the ancient life history of this man who I've fallen in love with.

Have a terrific weekend, dear reader.  xox

The Majesty of the Sea

I love the ocean best when it's cold and the beaches are barren.  I like how my boots sink into the sand and the way the wind rips through my hair, making it a salty, knotty mess.  The crash of the waves seem louder, too, when they don't have to compete with the noise of bathers, as do the eery calls of the gulls hovering above, riding the wind like surfers do the water.  Just as Maria runs to the hills when her heart is lonely, I escape to the ocean.  I want to feel small, know my problems are but a drop of water in the greatness of the sea.

Photos taken near Rye, UK in late October.  The model is my beautiful mother. 

@ Oxford

We spent a cold and rainy afternoon in Oxford last week.  While David ducked into a meeting, my parents and I visited some of the colleges.  The campuses were intimate, layered with tradition, and gorgeous.  It must be so delightfully surreal to go to school there; I'd have to wake every morning and pinch myself. 

The sun sets quickly these days and as the shadows grew, we found warmth from the cold in one of the city's many pubs, crowded with students and heavy with the smell of beer and cider.  While the city has a strong creative vibe and forward momentum, which is undoubtedly largely attributed to the number of young people that temporarily call the city home, there's also a palpably deep admiration for the customs of the past.  It's a good place, Oxford, and I'm looking forward to visiting again. 

@ Bodiam Castle

I always have the best time visiting old castles and my trip to Bodiam this past week was no exception.  All I needed to enjoy my visit was a warm sweater, some waterproof boots, and an open imagination. The views from the grounds and the views of the grounds from atop the castle wall were equally breathtaking and I was filled with an otherworldly joy- one without nagging emails or modern woes- as I roamed the grounds, daydreaming of Bodiam's finer days. 

Just a note: I will not be posting a Tuesday With Moi this week because I just don't feel like it.  Okay?  Okay, great. 

Cotswolds Escape: Old Campden House

Whilst my parents were visiting, we spent a weekend away at the Old Campden House in Chipping Campden.  For those of you who are trying to locate Chipping Capden on a map, it's in the Cotswolds.  Like Gargunnock House in Scotland, Old Campden House is part of the Landmark Trust, which is a wonderful organization that refurbishes old homes throughout the country and rents them out to nice people like us who want to drink wine in a new environment enjoy a quaint vacation in a historic home.  Not only do they rent homes in the UK, they also have some in France, Italy, and the United States.  Though we've only stayed in two so far, staying at the Landmark Trust properties are quickly becoming my favorite way to travel. 

The above photo is of the home in which we stayed as it's viewed from the back.  It is called the East Banqueting House.  Here is what it looks like from the front (say hi to my dad, everyone).   

Pretty regal, huh.

In the surrounding fields were (surprise!) lots of sheep.  They roam freely throughout the fields eating the lush grass and walking past the original Old Campden House ruins like it's no big deal.  Which to them, I suppose it isn't.  They are sheep, after all. 

When you rent the East Banqueting House, which can accommodate four with two bedrooms and one bath, you are also free to use an additional bedroom and bathroom in the gate house.   This is great if you are traveling in a group of six and two of the people are totally weird.  Simply banish the weirdos to the Gate House and voila, problem solved! 

Books and board games can be found in the large living area on the top floor of the home so when you finally tire of the breathtaking views (or the sheep), you can attempt a deceptively difficult puzzle, play cards, or read through the log book and giggle at how earnestly insane people who write in log books often seem to be. 

Across from the East Banqueting House lies the West Banqueting House.  You can rent that, too, but it doesn't look as fun.  This is mostly because it seems to be seriously lacking in windows...

All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable place to disappear to for a few days and we had a spectacular visit, which included but was not limited to:

• Introducing my parents to the wonderful treat that is fatty chips and mayonnaise
• The best Sunday lunch ever at the nearby Ebrington Arms, which we brilliantly decided to walk to.  We attempted to walk back home, too, despite it being completely dark but soon found ourselves going in circles, almost being attacked by farm dogs and writhing in mud (ahem, dad). All this led us to,
• Hitchhiking through rural country towns (a first for both me and my mother), and
• Getting a little sloppy in the local pub.  

Glorious, absolutely glorious!  Oh England, I sure do love you. 

Tuesday With Moi

Tuesday, October 30

Sitting in Restaurants & Losing Track of Time Edition

The morning started as any other, slowly.
The Redcoat and I tip-toed around the apartment drinking coffee and reading reports from the storm with our eyes wide and our mouths hanging open as we waited for my parents to get up.  Around 9:30 I realized Oh, it's Tuesday! and fetched my camera.

This is what my boots look like after our long and muddy walk through the Cotswolds on Sunday.

Mid-morning came and went.  I continued to scroll through the news as I finished some work.

Around noon I had a small bite to eat and prepared to leave for a day of playing the tour guide and eating a lot.  So so so much eating.  And drinking, too.

I haven't been using it as much as I ought to these days, but I still never go anywhere without my pen.

After walking through Hobbit Town, which my parents loved, of course, we stopped in a restaurant for a proper midday meal. 

Mum and Dad came here with the opinion that English food is terribleterribleterrible and thought they'd likely starve for most of the trip.  They're happy to report, however, that they've actually loveloveloved the food in the UK and are dining like foreign dignitaries.

(If there's one thing I can consistently deliver on, it's finding a good meal.)

The Redcoat and I left my parents to an evening of solo exploration and hopped on a train to London to meet some friends visiting from California.

We met them at the St. Martin's Lane Hotel.  Owned by the Morgans Hotel Group, the bar consistently delivers on both style and quality cocktails. We like that.

Somewhere around this time, I think I lose an hour, but bear with me...
Our friends, who are lovely, admitted that they hadn't eaten well since arriving in London.  They found the food mediocre and the restaurants unwelcoming.  David and I were appalled and decided to save them from another terrible meal by making a last-minute reservation for the four of us at St. John, a restaurant where I would happily dine every day for the rest of my life.

I get a little self-conscious whipping my camera out at dinners with people I've only just met, so I escaped to the bathroom for this shot.  I look vacant and terrible, but whatever.

My necklace and my camera strap are BFF. 

After a stunning dinner, David and I took our friends to the St. Pancras Hotel.

Perhaps you remember the stunning tequila drink I once had at the Booking Office?

Well, I asked the bartender to re-create it.  This was the first attempt.

And this was the second.  It was quite delicious but not as exemplary as the cocktail on my previous visit.

Like I said, we lost an hour somewhere, but I know for certain that I took this picture at 22:00.

After a night of much laughter, David and I made our way home where we promptly went to sleep after an ever-so-brief visit with my parents.

Happy Halloween, friends!  And, as always, thank you for reading!

Boxed Wine & Tough Times

I just returned from a weekend in the Cotswolds with my parents.  We've been drinking too much red wine and laughing long into the nights.  I'm really glad they're here and am looking forward to much more laughter throughout the rest of this week, too. 

That being said, not everyone is having such a spectacular time these days and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who's been affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Be brave, you guys, and be kind; you'll be back on your feet and running in no time.  xox

Minnesotan in England

I woke up to mail from Minnesota yesterday- it was just like Christmas!  Behold the best coffee in the world and my new Minnesota tea towel, which I will probably never actually use but occasionally take from the drawer, unfold, and then fondly gaze at before carefully folding it and placing it back in the drawer where it belongs.  Oh Minnesota, I will always love you!

Thanks for the package, Mom!  xx

Tuesday with Moi

Tuesday, September 11

A Day of Remembrance

Gladiolus petals always remind me of betta fish.

Making the Redcoat a cup of coffee.
He takes cream and sugar, I absolutely do not.

Channeling with my inner geisha.

Remember when 'paint it black' was my mantra?  Well, yesterday's mantra was paint it grey!
Let me introduce you to my grey nail polish and grey lip gloss by Diego Dalla Palma, a super fierce cosmetics brand based in Milan.  I was introduced to the line by a former client, Katrina Hess, whose studio is one of the few in the United States to carry the brand.  The pigments are rich, the pallets are silky, and the finish is perfect.  If you're in the market for makeup, do yourself a favor and try Diego Dalla Palma, it'll make you feel like an Italian supermodel and there is nothing more luxurious than feeling like an Italian supermodel, am I right?!

Cat food, cat water.
Ew.

The Redcoat got a haircut.  He looks so handsome and dreamy!

Wrote the handsome, newly-shorn Redcoat a love note with my fancy pen.

My chalk mug.  It's funny how some chalk colors fade in the sunlight.  Now I have ombré chalk.
It's very high fashion!

For all of you who were wondering what grey lip gloss looks like, well, here you have it.  It's subtle and glossy and beautiful!  Plus, it pairs perfectly with my grey nail polish, grey sweater, and grey C-3PO leggings, which you'll get a glimpse of in a moment or two...

David made a delicious chorizo and vegetable scramble for dinner which paired beautifully with this bright red table wine.  He's too good to me.
(Fun Fact: Sometime within the next month or so, you will be able to see and recreate some of David's culinary creations via his very own blog... v. v. exciting!)

Checking in on Bernadette.  She keeps blossoming and growing, which is absolutely grand.
Our other plant babies, which you met last week, are also thriving.
Operation Greenhouse is well under way!

C-3PO leggings.  Basically black, ribbed leggings with grey denim patches.
They're kind of weird, but I like them.
And if you didn't know who C-3PO was without clicking that link, then GET OFF THIS BLOG RIGHT NOW!  I'm serious, if you don't know C-3PO, you have no place here.
(Fun Fact: Han Solo was my first love and Star Wars makes up, like, 3/4 of my childhood.)

I don't know why, but we're making our Tuesday Night Drunk Dial a thing, I guess.
Last night, we talked to a handful of friends in Boston.

Brother Luke, in Montana.

And my pen-pal and real-pal, Natalie, in L.A.
She's really awesome.

After we talked to a couple more fabulous friends, it was time for bed.
David was asleep by the time I got into the bedroom and was draped all over my side of the bed.
Alas, the life of a married lady!

As always, thank you for taking a peek at my simple little life.
I'm really flattered that you made it all the way to the bottom of this post.
It means a lot.  Really, it does.

xox