Rocking and Rolling and Crawling

March 15, 2015December 15, 2015Leave a comment

Hi hey there hello! This week’s adventures featured a pub crawl and showed me rural England, on a trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury (like the steak- didn’t have any there but I did have a nice “Sunday Roast”- nom).

The drive from Stonehenge to Salisbury is beautiful, with rolling hills of green grass and farmland, even some sheep scattered about the landscape. We managed to get a little turned around thanks to the GPS, and happened upon some lovely little towns along the way.

We also saw the gorgeous Salisbury Cathedral. That place is huge and so beautiful–I have a thing for some stained glass, it’s beautiful! Le sigh, gets me every time.

Oh right, we actually saw Stonehenge too. It’s really quite amazing physically and conceptually. Although people can no longer wander about the stones, but instead must gaze on from a distance, the land and structure itself exudes a kind of mystically beauty despite the distance and limiting wires. Overall, I think Stonehenge is a must see, despite what some people might say about it being overrated and touristy–I mean, yes it is touristy, but isn’t that the point of seeing something like that? I mean, no one heads to Stonehenge thinking, oh hey, I’ll go see this unheard of beauty that no one really knows about and I just happened upon it while I was gallivanting around the English countryside.

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Any who, I digress.

Next weekend I take a trip to Dublin to visit some friends and maybe find the luck of the Irish. I’ll see what I can do.

Also, My friends and I pub crawled around Camden–which was amazing and I cannot wait to do another crawl. Long live liquor, and long live the Queen. That is all.

Stay beautiful and warm

XOXO

T is for Tea

March 9, 2015December 15, 2015Leave a comment

Hello World! I’m basking in the aftermath of a lovely weekend with my parents who flew all the way from Florida to visit my twin sister and I. They are the cutest. We showed them around London, despite the fact that they took us here when we were 10, and each has been before on different occasions. So, this time around we felt less rushed and focused more on what we all wanted to do- like see a show, 39 Steps, go to some amazing meals, the Victoria and Albert museums, and Spitalfields Market. (Or as my dad likes to call it, Spittle).

I know, I’m sure you’re wondering what my favorite part of the weekend was. Well, I won’t make you wait any longer… getting high tea at the Wellesley.

Cheers mate!

We’re talking some complimentary Champagne, (still don’t know how we swung that) cucumber sandwiches, mini brioche buns with smoked salmon fresh cream cheese and dill, buffalo mozzarella and sun-dried tomato mini bagels, an assortment of desserts ranging from Red Velvet cake to chocolate moose, some panna cotta, chocolate, raisin and regular scones, and to finish it all off? They gave us an extra desert as a belated birthday gift. It included a candle, so how could Laura and I turn it down? le sigh, I am still full thinking about it. Oh, and did I mention the lovely tea? My mom, dad and I ordered the Churchill blend, a yummy vanilla and basic tea flavor that was perfect, while my twister (twin sister-duh) proved her adventurous personality and went for the vanilla toffee, which she loved.

The first round

Needless to say, high tea at the Wellesley is a must when visiting London. Just make sure that you don’t eat for the week after, because I’m pretty sure my blood sugar and waistband went up. ha ha. But actually, insulin is my favorite.

On a completely different and randomly hilarious note, my roommate is discussing self-tanning, and I hear her say, “I did my ass cheeks and they look amazing.” Bravo world, now you can go to sleep happy. (before you freak out, she gave me permission to say that).

Stay on the lookout for a post next week on Stonehenge and perhaps a fashionable friend of the month.

Stay warm classy and beautiful people

XOXO

The Book of Mormon and a Mushroom-named road

March 2, 2015December 15, 2015Leave a comment

Howdy all. Shalom. Bienvenue. Hola. Cheers. That about covers my insight into language. Now, let’s get down to it, I know it’s been a while. I’ve been busy with my internship, class and trying to be a Jetsetter. LOL. Ok, but seriously…busy times. Any who, I would love to jump right in and say that I saw the Book of Mormon on Thursday, and ’twas fantastic. That’s actually an understatement, IT WAS AMAZING.

*Warning, to all of my Mormon friends I apologize and hope you won’t find my love for this theatrical genius offensive*

But in all seriousness, Book of Mormon is one of my all-time favorite productions that I have ever seen. I recommend it, give it 2 thumbs up, and maybe a few extra fingers thrown in there as well–it’s one amazing play. But, don’t take my word for it, go see the production yourself! I can’t give a fair testament of how amazing it truly is! See what I did there… testament… get it? haha I really am my own best audience.

I also hit up Portobello Market with some pals, and basked in the glow of all things vintage and food. I scored some cute clothes, a great meal (and a great brownie… what is diabetes anyways? Insulin is my favorite invention in the world. I am also the worst diabetic these days… oops… #diabetethis?)

Noms at Portobello Market

After stuffing my face and walking a ton (that counts as exercise, right? DONT JUDGE ME) I managed to find some cute side streets that really embrace the whole Notting Hill vibe, and by managed to find I mean every street looks like Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts might come strolling out of a bookstore at any moment.

I hope you enjoyed this random, short post! I will try to be more consistent and update you all on my thrilling life across the pond.

Sending love from LondonTown.

Stay warm, beautiful, and hell–stay Goldman while you’re at it. (Damn I have a pun problem)

XOXO

Amigas, Cheetahs… A Spanish Story

February 23, 2015December 15, 2015Leave a comment

iHola! Just touched down in London Town (again) and am feeling some type of way. I love Spain. Spain is the best. I love London, London is also the best. Ugh, so many conflicting feelings! That being said, my Spanish proved helpful, useful, and simultaneously pathetic. I’d like to thank the academy (SO sad I’m missing the Oscars right now) my amazing Spanish teachers from high school, and my astonishing inability to remember things.

Okay, I’m done being random for the moment. Now that I’ve had some time to nap and sleep off the exhaustion associated with a holiday in Spain (walking, eating, dancing, clubbing=no sleeping), I’m finally able to reflect on a spring break well spent. I saw the sights, I drank Sangria, I danced in clubs cooler than anything I could imagine, I saw another Royal Palace (check it out below) and I basically had an amazing time. I even managed to see a few familiar faces from Boston studying abroad in Spain.

Royal Palace in Madrid framed by the gated entrance

Although this trip served as my third time in Barcelona and second in Madrid, I realize now that I would not spend my spring break in any other place, with any other people. Traveling with friends proves a difficult feat in that everyone prioritizes different sights, experiences, etc., not to mention the extreme stress associated with traveling within a country that speaks a different language. Despite the differences in opinions and overall sass (I can be sassy, you can be sassy, just admit it and accept that we all have a little flava flave in us all), the drunken nights spent dancing, the silly pictures and phrases, the smiles and sun–all helped make one unforgettable trip.

Anywho–moral of the story? Visit Spain. Visit Spain with your family, your friends, your lover, your dog, your llama, do you–no judgement. Just visit Spain. Fall in love with Barcelona’s coastline, see the various religious artifacts in Toledo, be Royal in Madrid (we all know that we’re all queens and kings, so no need to pretend–I’m looking at you Lorde). Just make sure that you do yourself (and I) a solid and visit the party-hard-totally-tapas-feisty-Flamenco-loving country.

Okay, time for bed. Stay classy and avoid the snow you beautiful people!

XOXO

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Maybe a Little Too Much Icing

February 17, 2015December 15, 2015Leave a comment

Long time no blog! I was busy studying for finals and turning 21. I cannot believe i’m 21.

To be honest the milestone was kind of anticlimactic compared to a celebration in the States. After all, 18 is the big birthday over here. But I had an amazing birthday with the help of my beautiful friends, despite the fact that I could legally drink 3 years ago.

The real MVP’s of this year’s birthday were my amazing friends i’ve made abroad, (giving me a chocolate cake!), and my besties back in Boston. I don’t like to be sappy, but they sent me cupcakes and a bouquet of flowers, and made sure that I got all of my presents in time for my birthday…all the way from Boston. I mean who does that? I think I lucked out.

Anywho, the cupcakes proved a real test to my will power (and blood sugar), but I managed to share more than half and eat small amounts of the cupcakes over time. I deem my first diabetic birthday a success (minus the occasional high numbers)!

Thanks Jen and Kat!

21 feels the same as 20, with a few minor differences. This may seem obvious, and we all know it’s happening but seldom acknowledge this fact: we’re growing up. I say we because we all do it, it cannot be stopped. Peter Pan had it wrong. Why would you want to stay young forever, when the future holds the potential of new adventures?

Speaking of adventures, I’m headed to Spain for the week to brush up on my Spanish and feel the warmth of the sun on my extremely pale face.

Have a great week everyone, I’ll post again once I’m back from España.

Besos,

-Em