{adventures abroad} london: day six - museums and mayfair

A's work trip was over - today we started our us trip! we left our hotel in kilburn park and checked in to the pretty one that i picked out in mayfair {complete with faux-library elevator and laura ashley wallpaper}.

then we headed over to the british museum. amazing: assyrian lions, the rosetta stone, egyptian statues and mummies, the elgin marbles, easter island statues, sutton hoo helmet, awesome awesome awesome!

after several hours and a lunch break at the british museum, we made our way to the british library. we had a spot of tea before exploring the two large rooms that house amazing historical written treasures {the magna carta, illuminated manuscripts, handwritten beatles lyrics, etc}.

as it was getting dark, we hopped on the tube and took it back to the south bank to go to the tate modern, an absolutely incredible collection of modern art: matisse and monet and dali and picasso and calder and pollock and rothko and warhol and everything in between {including a particularly fantastic gift shop!}.

it was cold and dark and drizzly when we left the tate modern, and we were starving. we crossed the millennium bridge towards st. paul's in search of food and found it at a dark and crowded old pub with a whole lot of history and art nouveau style. we claimed a little table by the fire and took a much-needed seat for dinner and drinks, after which we went back to our pretty hotel and fell fast asleep!

{adventures abroad} london: day seven - all the rest

this was the last day of our trip and there was still so much to see and do. there was no way we were going to get to all of it, but i was determined to try {because i am crazy}!


we started our busy day in notting hill on portobello road, shopping the famous street market in the rain. i could have wandered for days, admiring all of the pretty things and adorable pastel houses. we picked up some vintage souvenirs and grabbed a bite to eat at a sweet little cafe.

after our shopping adventure, we headed back to the city center to tour westminster abbey, where england's kings and queens have been crowned and buried for centuries {and where william and kate would be married in a matter of months!}. 

from westminster abbey we walked over to the churchill museum and cabinet war rooms, easily A's favorite part of the whole trip. it was a fascinating {if sometimes just a little cheesy} tour of the underground headquarters of the british government during the second world war.

we left the war rooms and strolled through picturesque st. james park in the direction of buckingham palace. we'd missed the changing of the guard, but it was fun to look at anyway.

chilled to the bone and half starving, we made our way to trafalgar square for afternoon tea at st. martin-in-the-fields cafe in the crypt. i could've eaten fifty scones with clotted cream, they were so delicious. in the end, i exercised some small amount of restraint. 

on our way back to the hotel, we stopped to pick up a few small trinkets for our families and some food for dinner. then we packed our bags and went to bed early{ish} to prepare for the long trip home the next day.

{homebody} february snow day #4

it snowed last night! and yes, there's still lots of scary dangerous ice underneath it and no, we won't be driving on it, but it sure is pretty! 
we got all bundled up {seriously, i felt like the kid in a christmas story} and went for a walk in our pretty snow-covered neighborhood. fat fluffy snowflakes were still falling all around us. we walked around our little pond and then up to the shops. when our shoes and the bottoms of our jeans were sufficiently soaked and covered in snow, we took refuge in our local starbucks and sat for a while, savoring the day and our warm drinks. 
after defrosting and discussing our weekend plans, we went to a cafe for some provisions {aka lunch to go} and headed towards home. snow angels were made and someone may have started an epic snowball fight. by the time we got home we were ready for a nap...

{homebody} february snow day #3

day three. we can't take it anymore {mostly, we  need cat food}.


we ventured out and it took us forty-five minutes to get to the cat food store. luckily, the cat food store is conveniently located next to the shoe store, which is conveniently located next to the grocery store. success! we will live to see another day!


to celebrate, we opened a bottle of wine and spent the evening coloring at the dining room table {like grown-ups do}.

{art by A, from left to right: our cat; redskins logo}

{art by O: illustrated map of barcelona}

{homebody} february snow day #2: cabin fever sets in...

so yesterday, fully expecting to be going back to work today, we did all of the productive stuff there was to do around the house. and now it's done. and there's nothing left to do. and we're snowed in again.
so here's how my day has gone: slept in. did a little bit of work. watched more nate. photo shoot with the cats. feared for my sanity. workout video. now, back to the couch i guess. i'm exhausted.

{homebody} february snow day!

it's crazy cold out there with a wind chill factor of -1 and ice on top of snow on top of ice... according to my mom, it's colder in dallas today than it is in buffalo - and it's only getting colder!


{the good news} no work today!
{the bad news} it is way too cold to even try to play outside!


so far, A and i have cleaned the entire apartment from top to bottom, gone through our closets to sort out clothes to donate, done two work-out videos, and watched three episodes of the nate show {compliments of the dvr}. now we're about to enjoy an early-bird dinner and finish watching our netflix dvd before turning in early!


stay warm and be safe!

{history maker} martin luther king, jr.

"faith is taking the first step

even when you don't see the whole staircase."

- martin luther king, jr.

{homebody} snow day!

an unexpected sunday snow day turned our neighborhood into a postcard-perfect winter wonderland! {you can tell that texans don't have much experience with snow by the height of our snowmen...} 

hope you had a fantastic weekend!

{art nerd} and speaking of resolutions...

my friend just shared this website with me...

{homebody} happy new year!

"some of the most life-shaping decisions you make

in this season will be about walking away from good-enough, 

in search of can’t-live-without."

we rung in the new year at our friends' house last night with a small group of good friends, way too much yummy food, and a very respectable amount of champagne. it was low-key and exactly what we needed after the crazy few weeks we've just had. 
today i'm feeling so thankful for another year with my husband, my family, and my friends. i'm thankful for both good and bad, for celebrations and growth opportunities. 2010 was a good year for us, and i have high hopes for 2011. resolutions have been made, black-eyed peas have been eaten, and the entire day has been spent in my pajamas {after all, it's tradition}.


happy new year! may 2011 bring you all the best!