Tea, Scones and Cowboy Boots

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mandy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:24:28 +0000

I really do love Valentine’s Day. I like planning a special evening just to celebrate love! So cheezy but I don’t really care. We are cooking a special meal at home tonight and having some champange! Should be wonderful.

Days like today do make me think and appreciate the people I love. I do miss these people dearly. I wish I could fly them over just to give them all a hug- and then show them my city of course! Instead I’ll just have to tell them and make sure they know they are special to me.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Looking Forward to the Weekend

Mandy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:55:48 +0000

It was a strange week. Power outage in the office building that lasted a day and a half really put a kink in those days. Oliver was gone every night through Wednesday so it was a lot of down time by myself, watching movies, doing some yoga, eating random leftovers for dinner. Although on Thursday there was an exciting flight around north east England. Flying in serious style! Private jets really are a true super-luxury.

But now it’s the weekend and I can’t wait to turn the alarm off and put on some warm comfy sweats and not have any need to venture out into the cold if I don’t want to. I always have these grand ideas of what I want to do on the weekend but more often than not, I end up getting lost in a book and reading for a good part of the time. So no plans this weekend, just taking it easy and relaxing.

A snowy London and Things to Look Forward to

Mandy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:33:09 +0000

It was one snowy playground around here this weekend. We spent the weekend in Yorkshire visiting family and there was so much snow. It was absolutely beautiful!

It’s always kind of strange/nice when you go somewhere where you’ve never seen anything like it. That was how I felt in Yorkshire. I’d never seen these stone walls or these vast moors with roaming sheep. I guess I’ve only seen it in movies. It was absolutely lovely. The moors were slightly romantic and haunting at the same time. And then down came the snow!! Honestly, where were the film crews?? It was perfect!

There are lots of things to look forward to this month. One being of course Valentine’s Day, which I love! It’s for the best I have not found a craft store here or else I would have bought some supplies to make a craft I’d probably end up throwing away February 15.

Also, someone dear is having a very special birthday on the 16th! And I love any day I get to celebrate him being here so I’m looking forward to it. I hope for lots of champange and good food. Of course I do.

And there’s an airplane ride tomorrow I’m really excited about. As well as an upcoming trip to Cannes. (Please let there be good weather!)

In the mean time, I’m going to bundle up and drink some hot tea.

Getting Ready…

Mandy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:21:49 +0000

It’ almost 5 and I can’t wait for the weekend! We are going to visit some friends tomorrow and have to take a train ride to go see them. I just love taking the train. I love that there is nothing I can do but sit there and rid my book and sip my coffee. Unlike a car where I get uptight about traffic or missing a turn or something like that, I have no control on a train. Just sit there until they call my stop. And visiting my friends will be so much fun and relaxing- lots of good wine, good food, and laughing!! The perfect combination.

Happy Weekend!

Things I’m Craving

Mandy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:47:49 +0000

Fresh Flowers. (The rain and dreariness need a lift)

A duvet day. (watching movies and drinking hot tea all day!)

Some sunshine!

A trip somewhere romantic.

Yoga. Everyday.

A Cold Monday Morning

Mandy — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:52:46 +0000

It’s the start of what is looking to be a busy week. I awoke to a very chilly London morning which didn’t exactly make me want to jump right out of bed when the alarm went off. Drinking tea in bed and reading sounded like a much better idea.

It was an incredibly relaxing weekend, where I did my very best to ignore the things I knew I needed to do (namely mop the kitchen and wash the clothes that have to be handwashed).

We took a long leisurely walk on Saturday that left us both tired and exhausted for the evening. So tired that dinner ended up consisting of leftover mashed potatoes, wine and the last segments of my dark chocolate orange. I was totally ok with that.

Sunday consisted of lots of laying around and reading. We roasted a delicious ham last night with polenta. It was so good. Should make some tasty sandwiches this week.

And now it’s Monday. Again. The weekends just aren’t long enough. I’m on my 3rd cup of tea this morning and it’s only 11:45. It’s just so cold INSIDE the office.

Have a wonderfully productive and enjoyable week.

Weekend, Oh How I Love You!

Mandy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:22:10 +0000

The weekend is FINALLY here. It was a long week full of fun and not so fun activities, but the to-do-list has all been checked off. I’m ready to go home and not think about work until Monday. Or at least try not to.

I’m looking forward to sleeping in, eating delicious food and drinking a little too much wine. Should be perfect and just what I need.

What’s Exciting?

Mandy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:09:34 +0000

I’ll tell you what’s exciting — Coming £636.62 under our projected yearly living-expenses budget. So proud of us!

Happy New Year

Mandy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:36:06 +0000

I know a lot of people hate January- my partner included. It’s dreary, cold, and the vacancy of Christmas is overwhelming. I, on the other hand, love it! I like to think of all the great things that will happen in the coming year, and the awesome places I’m going to go visit. I get excited about the new things I will learn and do in my work and personal life.

I have a feeling that this year will also be full of challenges. Having started a business last year, 2012 will be a year of really working hard and trying to make it work. I have no doubt that it will all be worth it though. And it will be exciting to look back on these times and see how far we’ve come.

Here’s to a new year that makes us stronger, happier and is full of wonderful suprises!

It’s time for mistletoe and holly….

Mandy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:11:40 +0000

My boyfriend has been singing the song “Mistletoe and Holly” non stop for two days now. Except he thought the song went “It’s time for cigarettes and holly” which I quickly corrected.

I’m just loving London right now. Everyone is in full Christmas swing. I think every office, store, pub, restaurant is decorated. It’s great to walk down the streets and see all the tall Christmas trees in the huge office lobbies. Something different here is that the majority of the Christmas trees are real! I love that! You hardly ever see real trees outside of people’s homes in the US.

Monday night was the Candlelight Carol Service at St. Giles church. We went and tried to sing along to the English versions of the carols. The choir was really good and sounded great in this old church. St. Giles is the cutest little church. It was built in the 1500s and London has built up around it. After the service there was mince pies and mulled wine for everyone.

I had never had a mince pie until I moved here. Honestly I think I had never heard of them except for maybe in A Christmas Carol or something like that. I assumed they had meat in them. Silly me, because they are amazing! I can’t turn them down. I love the plump fruit and spices! We found some gluten free ones that are really good, so it’s nice that everyone in the household can eat the pies.

Last night was a quick trip to Harrods for a gift and down to Chinatown to our favorite chinese restaurant. We felt like splurging so we went out to eat. And, of course, it was delicious as always. The hot and sour soup is perfect on a cold night. I could almost eat it every day. With a mince pie.